Chapter 90

Heather arrived and Tim and Hadrian's doorstep that Monday night, shaken but unhurt. The Admiral had lost his temper once they arrived home, demanding that she promise never to disobey him like that again. Timothy was no longer their son and that was the end of it. He'd raised his hand to strike her and been petrified by the security team who then used spells to make her ignore his strange stillness and encourage her to pack up and leave until he cooled down.

"I don't know what happened exactly. One minute I thought he was going to slap me across the face and the next he seemed frozen in horror at what he'd been about to do. I wanted to stay and reassure him that it was okay, that he hadn't hurt me that he had stopped himself in time, but something told me I had to get out of there, so I just threw things in my cases. I couldn't even tell you what I've packed, probably all the wrong things. I don't understand though, he did stop himself, why then was I so convinced he would hit me if I stayed?" Heather rambled.

Tim glanced at Hadrian and he nodded subtly. Her guards had thought she ought to leave and had made he want to go. He only hoped they'd read the situation accurately and not made things worse, but he thought they'd been correct, if they had to stop him hitting her once he was likely to do it again next time they fought.

"You're always welcome here," Hadrian said swishing his wand and levitating her bags upstairs. While they weren't heavy he'd bet that her guards had helped her pack without her realizing they were there, and that those bags actually contained everything from her wardrobe, drawers and vanity, all her children's photos and most if not all of her most precious items.

-o0o-

After dinner to distract Tim and Heather from stressing about the Admiral, Hadrian brought out his pensieve.

"What's that?" Heather asked curiously looking at the ornate marble basin that Hadrian was floating into the room. It looked like a baptismal font she'd seen in a catholic church at a friend's child's christening. She hadn't paid it much attention last time she watched the wedding in it.

"This is a Pensieve, it allows people to view memories. Tim and I promised to show you our wedding again, and our first meeting memories next time you visited," He said smiling.

"How does it work? Will it be like a video on the surface of the water or can I go into the memory again. Can you and Tim come with me?" Heather asked eagerly leaning over to look into the basin.

"I can't exactly explain how it works, it's runic magic. I pull my memory out like this and drop it in and then you take my hand and we can enter the memory together," Hadrian replied putting the memory in the basin and holding out his hand.

Heather took his hand and Tim grabbed hold of her other hand as Hadrian put his wand into the potion in the bowl and they were all sucked into the memory. Hadrian stopped it from playing until Heather could get her bearings.

Heather looked around, "It's beautiful! Where are we? Can we leave the room and walk about?" She was fascinated by the pensive and the property, Hadrian had pulled more of the wedding and reception this time, last time she'd only watched the exchange of vows.

"We are in the greenhouse of my family property in Boston, Massachusetts is the only state that had legalized gay marriage in the nonmagical world at the time and we wanted our marriage to be legal in both worlds. We can't leave the room in this memory but I can show you other memories of other parts of the house, or we could go and visit it sometime if you like," Hadrian replied. Before he started the memory he walked his mother-in-law around the room and told her who all the people she didn't recognize were. She tried to hug the memory Tim but he didn't seem to notice.

"He can't feel you and you can't change anything in the memory or interact with it in any way, it's just a recording" Hadrian said gently.

"Sarah and Penny were there for you. I'm glad you had some family present," Heather exclaimed.

Hadrian started the memory and soon the mother of the groom had tears running down her face as she watched her son and son-in-law exchange vows and rings.

"The vows were so lovely, were they unique or is that a traditional wizarding ceremony?" Heather asked.

"No there isn't a lot of difference between traditional wizarding wedding vows and traditional nonmagical vows, even the ceremony isn't too different except for the fact that more wizards are pagan than Christian. We chose our own vows, neither of us wanted to be magically compelled to obey the other" Tim replied.

"You told me that the vows are magically binding? I didn't see any magic, are all vows made by a wizard magically binding?" Heather asked.

"No, this was the public legal wedding. The magical binding ritual was done privately," Hadrian said, saving his husband from having to try to explain a sex ritual to his mother, and hoping the vague answer would satisfy his mother-in-law.

"Too private for me to see?" Heather asked.

"Yes Ma'am," Hadrian said, his over-formality betraying his discomfort.

"Would I see the magic in that memory?" Heather asked.

"Yes Ma'am, the magic was visible," Hadrian replied.

Heather got the picture and dropped the enquiry. "Half of Tim's team were there, where were Tony Ziva and Abby?" she asked instead.

"Tim planned to invite them but he hadn't told them about our relationship before that and they refused to believe him when he told them he was getting married. They called him a liar and Tim came home and tore up their invitations," Hadrian said quietly. "Tony and Ziva have come around, but not in time for the wedding. Abby was angry about the whole relationship and destroyed their friendship over it."

Did you want to see the dinner after the wedding?" Tim asked, not wanting her to talk about what had happened with the team any further, it was enough that they accepted him and Hadrian as a couple now and had made the effort to repair their relationship with him. They watched the wedding dinner and then Heather laughed at the memory of their awkward first ten minutes meeting at the airport and then on the plane. Tim showed him the memory of his first seeing the house before it was renovated.

"I can't believe this is the same house, or that you bought it in that condition," Heather commented.

"He'd already bought it before he showed me," Tim replied laughing.

"Well at the time I thought you were never going to speak to me again," Hadrian admitted.

Tim frowned and hugged his husband. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

"It wasn't your fault," Hadrian reassured him.

"What happened?" Heather asked.

"We had an argument and then there was a series of unforeseen events that delayed us sorting things out. I told him about being a wizard and he thought at first that I was crazy and then once I told him I was pregnant and started explaining about the spell he thought I'd done it on purpose. He lost his temper before I could explain properly. We fought and he walked out to clear his head and then left directly without informing me when he was called into work and worked all night. This was the day before he was shot in the shoulder and his phone was destroyed in the incident. His team didn't know about me, so they called you to tell you he was in the hospital instead of me. As you know he was admitted for five days. I thought he was just staying away to give me time to clear out my things. Then Teddy's grandmother died and I had to go to London to get him. I needed a house without neighbours for Teddy and the baby, and the manor was really too big for the three of us but it could be easily fixed up with magic. It had the privacy I needed and it was a decent commute to the Navy Yard if Tim ever wanted to start over," Hadrian explained.

"Well you certainly did a lovely job of renovating and I'm glad you've got the extra room for me to stay without being an inconvenience," Heather said.

"You'd be welcome to visit anyway," Hadrian said smiling at his mother-in-law.

"But you must admit that it's easier when you have a spare room and separate bathroom for me, so you can still have your privacy" Heather replied.

"And silencing charms on the bedrooms to prevent you being disturbed when one of us gets called in to work or the kids have a bad night," Hadrian added.

-o0o-

Tim got a panicked call at work the next day. "Tim, Mom's missing. The Admiral said they argued and she just drove off. Heaven knows where she went," Sarah almost yelled.

"Sarah calm down. Mom's staying with me. And I don't know how long she's planning to stay but she didn't just drive off on the spur of the moment, she packed up and brought her entire wardrobe," Tim replied.

"Why would she leave the Admiral like that?" Sarah demanded.

"Do you remember what you were worried about at the wedding, they fought over what happened that day and he didn't hit her but she left because she felt unsafe," Tim explained.

"He threatened her?" Sarah said incredulously. "He said they'd had a minor difference of opinion and she just up and left. There's a big Admiralty dinner at the base this weekend and he was hoping she'd come up to DC to buy a new dress for it, he even said money was no object, he was happy for her to have a new outfit. I think they're going to announce his new promotion at the dinner, Mom's got to go to it."

"No Sarah," Tim began.

"What do you mean no? If Mom embarrasses him by not showing up to an Admiralty dinner he's going to be honoured or promoted at, he won't forgive her," Sarah stated.

"Mom needs to do what feels right for her and her safety. I can guarantee that he's not getting another promotion and if he thinks he is then he's going to be quite upset that night. He's already angry with Mom and I don't want him taking his disappointment out on her," Tim said quietly.

"Even more reason for Mom to go to the dinner, otherwise he's going to blame her for being passed over for promotion," Sarah said anxiously.

"I think he will either blame her anyway, or blame me and blow up at her for supporting me, and if he does then it's better if Mom's not in shouting range until he calms down," Tim countered. "I will give her a choice but I strongly recommend she doesn't go. Besides the dinner is in DC it would be stupid for Mom to travel all the way home, just to turn around and come back."

"Wait a minute! What do you mean? How the hell do you know that the Admiral isn't getting a promotion when he thinks he is?" Sarah asked shocked.

"Any further promotion he gets will be politically motivated and to be honest, Thomas McGee isn't what the Navy wants in its top executives," Tim replied.

"What does that mean?" Sarah demanded.

"The Navy is trying to move away from a dictatorship to be seen as more of a team leadership image and they're working hard to stamp out homophobia and sexism, and promote equality in the ranks. They're not going to promote an Admiral that's well known for disagreeing with that agenda," Tim began explaining.

"So you're telling me that Dad won't get another promotion because of his reaction to you and Hadrian?"

"That's part of it but I'm sure I'm not the only person he's treated badly because of their sexual orientation. I would hate to be a homosexual sailor under his command. He also campaigned against women being allowed to serve aboard ships, which will also be hurting his chances at promotion to a decision making role," Tim replied.

"You knew when you came out that you could this to him. He would've known too. No wonder he was so angry," Sarah said sighing.

"Sarah, my coming out and marrying Hadrian didn't cause the problem. His reaction to my relationship or my marriage is not my responsibility he chose to attack me in the middle of the bullpen in the Navy Yard. In fact, he went out of his way to enter the NCIS bullpen specifically to tell me how he felt about my marriage being publicly known, and then he decided to tell me with his fists. I did nothing wrong," Tim replied firmly.

"Are you sure? Who said something to him?" Sarah asked.

"Nobody said anything negative, SecNav complimented him as my father for something that the team had done and mentioned my marriage. He didn't know at the time who I'd married. The only embarrassment for the Admiral was because he failed to hide his anger at me and SecNav realised that he hadn't known about the wedding," Tim said bluntly.

"I didn't realise that you knew SecNav personally, well enough to tell him about the wedding," Sarah commented, surprised.

"I didn't at the time. I'm a member of the top major case response team. We are allocated to work on all the biggest security threats involving the Navy. We didn't have a honeymoon and the team were on a case when Gibbs and I got back from the wedding. Director Vance had told him to explain why we couldn't just be called back from leave early," Tim explained.

"But you said SecNav knows that you're married to a man now?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, Hadrian and I met him and a couple of senior Admirals at Marcel's a couple of weeks ago. Brett Spender was one of the Admirals with him," Tim replied.

"You stopped to talk with him at the table?" Sarah said surprised.

"No actually I wouldn't push my way in like that, he stopped to talk with us and introduced me to his companions. I think he forgot that I would have met most of them before through being a Navy brat," Tim said.

Sarah laughed. "So SecNav came across the room to talk to you personally for no special reason other than to introduce his staff? You're getting to be a pretty important person Big Brother. No wonder Dad's pissed that he can't brag about the son he'd disowned," she said impressed.

"That's his doing. I hadn't told anyone except Hadrian. He could have changed his mind and been proud of me," Tim replied.

"So you really think Mom isn't going to go home for the dinner?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know Sarah, but it's Mom's decision, not yours or mine," Tim reminded his sister.

"I suppose you're right. Do you know why she isn't answering her phone?" Sarah asked.

"No but Rosie had playgroup this morning. Mom might have gone with them. I doubt she's screening your calls unless she wanted you to talk to me first. I'll let her know you have," Tim suggested.

-o0o-

"Sarah knows you're here, so I'd expect a visit tonight or tomorrow," Tim told his mother.

"Is she very upset with me?" Heather asked.

"She was worried that you were missing, the Admiral had told her that you walked out without a reason and she was worried that you'd been injured or something. He didn't tell her that the two of you had had more than a minor disagreement or that you'd packed for a stay away from the house," Tim replied.

"Why?" Heather asked. "He's got to know that I'll tell you both the truth about our disagreement."

"There's some Navy function he wants you to attend with him this week," Tim said hesitantly, he didn't want his mom to feel obligated to go home and attend the function.

"The awards dinner," Heather added nodding. "Does he think that he is going to be awarded something?"

"I don't know but that's also when the top level promotions are announced and Sarah said that he believes he will get a promotion to DC," Tim said bluntly.

"And you doubt that he will?" Heather asked.

"We know that he won't. Apart from the scene he caused at the Navy Yard and the fact that SecNav is working hard to eliminate homophobia from the Officer corps the ministry of magic keeps an eye on those who choose to have their children's magic bound and will prevent any of them from being promoted to a position where he could influence Navy policies or government policies," Tim said.

"Why?" Heather asked, shocked and a little angry that they were being kept an eye on like that.

"To prevent a recurrence of the Salem witch trials or the possibility that a government will approve experimentation on witches or wizards to try to discover what causes some people to have magic. They also kept an eye on your interactions with Tim and Sarah to make sure he wasn't abused because he had magic or prevented from having children because you feared his children also being magical and Tim choosing to let them keep their access to their magic," Hadrian explained.

"They think that anyone who binds a child's magic might be capable of atrocities like that?" Heather asked horrified.

"The majority of the rest of the wizarding world sees the binding of a child's magic by a non magical person almost as a hate crime," Hadrian acknowledged. "It's only in America that it's offered to parents and even now there's a growing number of people trying to outlaw the practice."

"So your father limited his career all those years ago. Why didn't they warn him?" Heather asked.

"Why would they. They want protect to the wizarding world from people with the attitude that it's okay to take magic away from someone. If he'd changed his mind about having my magic bound only because of their warning him what it might do to his career, then that doesn't mean that he wouldn't take other steps to prevent me from becoming a fully trained wizard or make decisions that act against the best interest of the magical society and given that he is also is totally opposed to another minority group serving in the Navy as well I can see why the powers that be would be concerned," Tim replied. "Magical America has had equality of the sexes for decades, because there really isn't a difference between the average magical strength of men and women, or the ability to wield combat magic, there are no spells that are typically masculine or feminine other than those specifically geared towards reproductive health, and the lack of privacy in cramped conditions isn't an issue for any decent witch or wizard either, so arguing against female navy personnel serving on ships doesn't make sense to them either and what they get is an impression of a man who doesn't see the rest of the world as being equal and that they cant trust to protect our human rights."

-o0o-

"You're really okay with knowing that your father's actions towards you are the reason his career has stalled?" Sarah asked as Tim let her into the house that night.

"It's not like he's stalled at Senior Petty Officer or Lieutenant, he's an Admiral. Anyone else would call that a very successful career," Tim retorted. He'd already worked through his guilt that if he hadn't been born a wizard his father might have been up for the promotion he wanted. The fact that he had no choice in what he was born as and the fact that he could see the big picture, that it was better for the Navy not to have men who espoused Thomas McGee's sexism, homophobia and xenophobia in policy making positions.

"But he wanted this promotion, he's been working towards it for years," Sarah said.

"Yes I know but I also know that you're well aware that there is a huge difference between wanting something and earning it or deserving it, Sarah. This next promotion would put him among the movers and shakers in Washington. He would write policy for the Navy and I for one am not comfortable with those positions being held by a man as judgemental and closed minded as Thomas McGee," Tim said seriously.

"You're glad he's not going to get the promotion he wanted?" Sarah screeched furiously.

"My opinion is irrelevant, I had nothing to do with SecNAV's decision," Tim replied, beginning to lose his temper at his sister's continued accusations that this was his fault. "But no, I don't take any personal joy in the Admiral being denied another promotion. I just think it is better for the Navy that he doesn't move up any higher, and the majority of naval officers who know him would probably agree with me, as would every LGBTQ sailor and most of the female sailors as well. You're such a militant feminist in every other area of your life how can you not see your father for the sexist bigot her is?"

Hadrian who'd been listening from the doorway, stopped Sarah from following to continue the argument as Tim got up and walked away. "Tim's correct, this is not his fault, and I believe you will feel the need to apologise to your brother once you've thought it through," Hadrian said looking at his sister-in-law severely.

"I want to see my mother," Sarah demanded.

"I'm sure she heard you yelling and will be down in a minute or two," Hadrian replied unwilling to leave her alone in the house.

-o0o-

"Mom! What happened?" Sarah demanded, as Heather came downstairs. Hadrian had called for Tollie to take the children upstairs out of earshot as soon as the wards had warned him his sister-in-law was entering the front gates.

"Hello Heather, I'll leave the two of you to talk, shall I bring in tea and coffee in about ten minutes" Hadrian said getting up. He leaned over Sarah. "Be gentle with her, she's had enough being lectured to from the Admiral," he whispered to Sarah as he hugged her before leaving the room, discretely casting eavesdropping charms so he could return to rescue his mother-in-law if Sarah's demands got out of hand.

"Are you alright?" Sarah asked more seriously.

"He never raised his hand to me but he was furious and refusing to listen to reason and not calming down at all, I just felt that I had to leave, I didn't feel safe there," Heather said calmly.

"Are the two of you going to separate?" Sarah asked in a small voice.

"I don't know Sarah. I called your father this morning and his secretary answered so I asked her to let him know that I was okay, I will call again tonight and try to talk to him. I'm hoping we can sort this out. If we can have a calm conversation when he calls me, I will think about going home next week," Heather replied.

"So after the Admiralty dinner?" Sarah asked.

"I've taken Tim's advice on that," Heather admitted. "If Thomas is going to be passed over for promotion he's going to be angry about it and he will probably blame Tim again, restarting our argument. I refuse to disown my son. It's better to let him calm down before I return home."

"He's going to be angry at you not going to the Admiralty dinner with him," Sarah said.

"He will be, but he will get over it, and you know how much I've always hated those dinners," Heather replied.

Tim laughed but Sarah just frowned harder.

"Why don't you ring the Admiral and offer to go with him if you're so concerned about him going on his own," Tim suggested to his sister.

Sarah shot Tim a withering glare, "You know that won't help. People will want to know why Mom didn't come," she snapped.

"It would still be better for him than going on his own," Heather said hesitantly. She wasn't sure if she wanted to encourage her daughter to spend time with her husband, Sarah seemed to be partially blaming Tim for her leaving Thomas and the more time she spent with Thomas the more time the man would have to attempt to bring her around to his way of seeing things. She didn't think her husband was very good at manipulation though, after all he'd never needed to be, he gave orders and expected them to be followed without having to manoeuvre people into his point of view.

A/N: Thank you to Rori Potter, catspaw, buterfypuss, sandipi, daithi4377, aisa.32, charm13insomnia, acherongoddess, Kourtney Uzu Yato, 777angeloflove, icyquest, kirsty21, Ghostisreading, Tetradical, Melikalilly, mizzrazz72, starie78, FraulCruz, Serpent91, knuckles 8, MageVicky, marsy-cat, mooneysfate, mayawene, xDarklightx, serenityselena, Merelyn, Silvermane1, ayanami168, Rainbow2007, sillygabby, siobhan.22, DarkRavie, DS2010, nativelittle-fox, FanfictionLover9, rigger42,Guest, rmiser1994, rigger42, charlotte1217, LightningFuryStrike13, Winged Seer Wolf, HoneyBear84, Village-Mystic, Aria DeLoncray, Sephra, Aliyae41, 16, Beth9891 and all those who followed and favourited for your support.