A/N:
This was added in at the last minute, folks. You might have noticed I took a short vacation there for two weeks. It wasn't intentional. I am trying to post at least once a week. But, sadly, PAR had a death in the extended family. The grandmother of my sister-in-law died suddenly from complications of a surgery. She was 84 and lived a very full life. The family was very close and the death was very hard on them. So, if you could keep them in your prayers, as well as Lyda Padgett, I would appreciate it.
And now the rest.
Just a quick little chat, folks, then I'll let you get on with things.
You remember a few chapters back (what was it, three?) I said that in Family Relations Orion had kids, you just wouldn't be seeing them? Well, here's the hard part of writing four stories at the same time. You make mistakes.....over and over and over....and over. So, just to make sure you're really confused, allow me to make the following amendment to the story line.
No, Orion has NO children in Family Relations. I looked at my story line, compared it to my time line, and things just didn't work out very well. So poor Orion will just have to wait a little while longer for fatherhood to arrive on his doorstep.
The author seriously apologizes for any and all non-intentional harm done to the readership by constant shifts in storylines.
Oh, and by the way, to all of you who think you have Enemies figured out, allow me to lob the ball back in your court. No, Katlin is not the mother.
Also, author made a bad error in one of the Q&A answers last time where I told FairyTale that 'Orion likely hasn't had a relationship in his life that didn't last over a week'. When I re-read that, I realized I had said the exact opposite of what I meant. It should have read 'Orion hasn't had a relationship in his life that lasted over a week'.
And just to prove you how much of a sense of humor God really has, allow me to offer the following. My ex-boss (some of you might remember this, as that I think I mentioned it before) applied for a job where I now work. Happy, happy. Joy, joy. I really liked my old boss. Well, being overall the most qualified candidate (the man has 21 years experience in one location), he got offered the job, AND TURNED IT DOWN! I could have killed him. I called a friend of mine and cussed up one end and down the other about him. I had done everything to help get him that job. Picked up and delivered resumes, and some things I can't discuss. But I did a lot. And he turns it down. Humph!
Well, as things would have it, my old workmate, who I really liked working with, also applied for this job. As well as two others he didn't get. With that average against him, I didn't think he stood a chance.
Guess who got the job?
So folks, God works in mysterious ways. And other times, he just wants to prove to you you really don't know what he's up to!
And as always.....,
Enjoy.
Chapter Five: Well, You Didn't Kill Me, So I Must Be Making Progress
The very next night Orion sat in a small, secluded room of an even more secluded restaurant. He had sent Katlin a owl that morning asking her to meet with him that night at the restaurant. The owl hadn't returned by the time he was getting ready to leave and he had taken that as a good sign.
But as five minutes became ten became fifteen, Orion began to wonder if he was just in for another long, lonely night.
But with head resting on folded hands, a small smile suddenly crossed his face. Without looking up, he listen to the sounds around him. In a slow, but steady wave, the restaurant began to fall silent in the back ground. Like a silencing spell passing through the crowd, Orion listened to the din of voices cut short, then slowly start again, moving through the crowd toward the alcove that his table sat sequestered in.
He followed the sound carefully. When it came close enough to him, he slowly started to get to his feet as he turned around. But half way up, he stopped, his eyes resting on the figure before him.
Dressed in a startlingly short but impossibly tasteful black dress, was Katlin Griss. Perched majestically on her arm was a large, black owl, who quickly hopped from her arm to his master's shoulder.
Her long, dark auburn hair was pulled up in a manner that perfectly accented her high cheekbones and softly curved jaw line. Around her neck, laying in just the right position to highlight the whole ensemble, was the small diamond pendent.
Katlin gave her date a small, well-tempered smile as she walked past him to her seat. Orion barely made it in time to pull the chair out for her.
"Well," she said casually as a waiter rushed over to hand her a menu, lingering just long enough admiring the view to earn him a warning stare from Orion, then leaving quickly as he snapped the curtain to the room shut, "up until you turned around, you didn't seem the least bit surprised that I was here."
Orion gave her a pleasantly happy smile. "Because up until that point, your arrival was well announced."
"Really?" Katlin looked interested. "In what manner?"
"I followed every step you took by how quiet everyone got when you walked past. My bet would be mostly the male population of the restaurant, followed rather quickly by the irritated silence of their own dinner companions as the former stared after you."
"How very perceptive." Katlin stated, watching as the black owl stepped off of Orion's shoulder and onto the chair behind him. "So, what's his name?"
Orion turned briefly to the bird behind him. "Oh, him? This is Rupert."
Katlin gave a sudden snort of laughter. "You're joking!" She gasped. "You named a beautiful, majestic animal like that....'Rupert'?"
"Trust me, if I hadn't given him some sort of name like that, he'd be impossible to deal with. Takes a bit of the wind out of his sails, if you know what I mean."
Katlin gave the bird a sympathetic look. "Poor Rupert." She cooed at him. "Giving you such a name."
The owl paused, then took a leap into the air, gliding gracefully across the table to Katlin's chair, where he perched himself comfortably. Turning around, he shook his feathers indignantly at the person across the table.
"Oh, that's lovely." Orion lamented. "This is just what I'm talking about." He stated, gesturing to the owl. "He's got you pegged now and he'll play you for sympathy all night."
Katlin reached behind her and gave the bird an affectionate scratching on its head before turning her curious violet eyes slowly back to Orion.
"So," she asked in a low purr, "what was so important about tonight that you wanted to see me?"
"Life was losing meaning for me?"
Katlin gave him a sideways sort of stare. "Oh, honestly. Could you try at least to be a little original?"
Orion's face softened into a smile. "You look very lovely tonight."
"A pretty little Deatheater?"
"A very beautiful woman." Orion replied. "Who I am sure has captured the attention of every man in this restaurant. And who I am very pleased chose to sit with me."
"You were who I was meeting with. Where else was I suppose to sit?"
"You could have chosen not to come."
"I could have. But then I would never have found out how very sorry you can be."
Orion smiled slightly at her as a nervous waiter carefully slid the curtain back.
"Are you ordering then, Sir?" the young man asked cautiously.
Orion never took his eyes off Katlin. "A bottle of champagne." He replied. "And tell Mario I want it from his private stock. Not that watered down grape juice he serves the rest of his customers. And then I want the chef to cook this beautiful lady whatever she wants. I couldn't care if its on the menu or not."
Katlin gave Orion a small smile as she looked over the menu.
"There's no need to be so particular, Orion." She said softly. "I'm sure such a fine restaurant will have something to my liking."
Katlin briefly glanced over the menu, then turned to the waiter. She quickly addressed him in perfect French, asking a question about an item on the menu. The young man immediately brightened at the question and answered his guest in kind.
Katlin smiled at him, and after a short conversation, gave him her order. The man bowed to her with a few more words and turned to Orion.
"And you, Sir?" He asked.
Orion hadn't even looked at the menu, his gaze still resting happily on his dinner companion.
"I'm sure whatever the lady is having will be fine."
The man left quickly with a slight bow.
"So," Orion asked, "what am I having?"
"You are having Entrecote Avec Riz. A very lovely cut of steak, removed from the bone, cut in strips, and covered in a light wine sauce, served over rice. You will love it."
"I'm sure I will."
"Are you going to be this accommodating all evening?" Katlin frowned.
"Too agreeable?"
"'Boring' is a better word."
"I can be a bit more disagreeable if you like."
"I would prefer you just be yourself. Or at least be the man I had dinner with in Austria. He wasn't so bad."
Orion gave her a small smile. "Really?"
Katlin favored him by returning a small portion of the smile. "Really."
"Just so I know," he ask, "have I been forgiven then for my 'childish act'?"
The smile just barely disappeared. "You're being given the opportunity to show me how sorry you can be." She replied formally.
"Then I'll do my best."
Carefully unfolding her napkin, Katlin settled it in her lap before turning back to him.
"You seem to know this place fairly well." She said conversationally.
"The owner is an old friend." Orion replied. "I come here when I want....privacy. Mario guarantees that for me."
Katlin made a small sound as she looked about the small room they were in.
"This looks very......"
"Romantic?" Orion ventured hopefully.
"Expensive." Katlin stated, turning back to him.
Orion shrugged, but said nothing.
The waiter suddenly reappeared carrying a bottle of champagne. As soon as he had his customer's approval of the selection, he quickly set about opening the bottle and filling the two glasses on the table.
"But," she added, picking up her glass and carefully rolling the pale amber liquid about in it, "I suppose for a man who lives in a mansion, this is quite a common situation for him."
"Common?"
"Having a private dining room for himself and his guest."
"Hardly," Orion replied as the waiter quickly slipped back out through the curtain, "I'm usually here alone."
Katlin raised a well-lined eyebrow. "Alone?" She asked. "Really, Mr. Black. Where are all the pretty little things who are trying snare the eligible bachelor?"
Orion picked up his own glass as he leaned back in his chair, giving his dinner companion a mischievous smile.
"Really, Katlin." He stated. "Hardly subtle for a woman of your persuasion."
Katlin raised an eyebrow at him again.
"If you want to know about me, just ask. And as for those last two references, 'yes, I am very rich', and 'no, I am not currently seeing anyone'."
Katlin paused, but then shrugged slightly as she took a sip from her glass.
"I'm just making conversation." She answered in a pleasant but bored fashion.
Orion placed his elbows on the table as he leaned towards her. "Fine. My turn then. Who's Johnathan?"
Katlin looked up over the rim of her glass. A small hesitation showed in her movements as she slowly placed it back on the table.
"Why would you want to know about Johnathan?"
"Just making conversation." He replied with a small smile.
"Well, it'll be a short subject. Johnathan is.....what I am." She replied carefully. It was always safer in public places, no matter how secluded, not to say the word 'Deatheater'.
"An Elite?" Orion questioned.
Katlin nodded.
"So, why was he testing you back in the lair?"
"Who said he was testing me?"
"You did. I asked why you were being tested by 'someone'. You said the test wasn't his. That left one other person."
Katlin stared back at him across the table, a small smile creeping across her lips as she noted his exclusion of using Voldemort's name. Like the word 'Deatheater', it was one best not used in public.
"So, why was he so interested in testing you? Fail the last one?"
Katlin's stare shifted almost immediately to a very cold look. She paused for a moment, then abruptly got up from the table, throwing her napkin down on it as she headed for the curtain.
But Orion jumped up from his own chair and blocked her path.
"All right." He stated quickly, holding his hands up in front of him. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
"And rude!" Katlin snapped at him.
"And very rude." Orion agreed quickly. "I apologize."
Katlin considered the apology, then slowly turned around and went back to her seat.
Orion quickly held her chair back out for her as she slowly seated herself again. As she carefully laid the napkin back in her lap, he leaned around the side and lightly touched his lips to her cheek.
Katlin watched him walked back around the table and take his own seat again.
"What was that for?" She asked.
"For staying." Orion replied with a pleased smile. "Despite my very crude attempt to 'go fishing'. I suppose I'm not as subtle as you are."
Katlin thought over his statement for a moment.
"Ahhhh, I see." She replied finally, picking up her glass again. She stared at the small bubbles forming about the rim for a few moments before turning her eyes slowly to him. "My relationships, Mr. Black, are 'business'."
"All of them?"
"All of them, as far as you are concerned."
"Well, at least my subtlety wasn't completely lost."
"Nor was it terribly easy to find amid the flattery you mixed in for good measure."
Orion sighed quietly, but then turned a small smile to her again. "Well, I hope Johnathan's test didn't provide him with too much satisfaction?"
Katlin considered her answer for a moment.
"I would suspect very little actually. Sometimes Johnathan over-steps his boundaries, and has to be reminded where they are. His 'test' proved nothing to him, and in the end it worked substantially against him."
"Meaning?"
"I merely pointed out to 'someone' that I had informed Johnathan that you were dangerous and questioned his wishing me to escort you alone. But that he had insisted on it."
"Wouldn't 'someone' have questioned 'why' he insisted?"
"I'm afraid he was long past caring about such 'trivial' matters." She replied. "His entertainment for the evening was gone and he was simply looking for who was to replace it."
Orion frowned slightly. "Well," He stated, "I'm sorry it had to be you that he chose to punish for my escape."
Katlin looked up at him suddenly.
"Oh, I wasn't punished for your escape." She corrected quickly. "I was punished for allowing an Auror to get the better of me." She took a small sip of her champagne as a smile crept across her lips. "Oh, no," She muttered past the rim of the glass. "I wasn't the one punished for your escape at all."
Orion stared back at her.
"Really?"
Katlin carefully sat the glass back on the table in front of her. "It was Johnathan's choices that allowed you to escape. He ignored my warnings and acted.....rashly. Therefore, punishment for your escape was laid on him. Not me."
"How unfortunate." Orion replied, the small smile on his lips offsetting any true concern.
The waiter suddenly appeared again, pulling the curtain back cautiously to announce his arrival. He quickly laid each plate on the table then turned to leave again. But before he got out of the room, Orion caught his arm, pulling him down until he was level with him.
"I would prefer that we weren't disturbed again." He informed the man.
The waiter quickly nodded as Orion released his arm, hastily vacating the room and snapping the curtain closed after him.
"My, but you indeed aren't very subtle, Mr. Black."
Orion looked up from his plate.
"I prefer my privacy."
"I could give you some."
Orion smiled at her as he leaned on the table edge. "You have somewhere else pressing to be?"
Katlin carefully slipped a piece of meat into her mouth, pulling the fork free again with agonizing slowness. But finally she laid it back down as she picked up her napkin.
"Not tonight." She replied, gently pressing the napkin against her lips.
"I'd died a happy man if I were that napkin right now."
Katlin nearly choked as she attempted to stifle her laughter.
"If that was one of your better lines, it's a small wonder you're currently unattached, Orion."
"I don't get a lot of practice."
Katlin looked him over slowly.
"I find that hard to believe."
Orion smiled at her. "A compliment! I'm honored."
Katlin returned her attention to her plate. "So tell me. Why is such an attractive man so available?"
"You'll allow me the vanity of saying I suppose it's the territory he comes with and nothing else."
"Territory?"
"Most women don't understand engagements being cancelled and no reason being able to be given. Nor do they care for the limited conversation."
"Limited conversation?"
"Well, a large part of establishing a relationship is learning about the other person. But it isn't as though I can discuss in any great detail what I do, who I see, who my friends are. Things of that nature. So, you're basically left with going out with someone you never really ever get to know on any level that isn't fairly superficial."
"Oh." Katlin stated with a bit more understanding. "Then it must be the territory. Since I definitely can't see any other reasons."
"Other reasons?"
Katlin looked at him across the table.
"You're obviously a very rich man, Orion Black. You're attractive. You're single. And you're one of the most attentive lovers I've ever had. You should be every single woman's dream."
"Perhaps." Orion replied, cautiously tasting his entree.
Katlin watched with interest as he carefully chewed his way through one bite, a look of concentration on his face.
"Well?" She asked, barely suppressing a smile. "Does it meet approval from your 'oh so very well trained palate'?"
"Actually," Orion replied, "it slapped my very uncouth palate on the way down. It was just that insulted."
Katlin gave him a small smile.
"So," Orion asked, taking a sip from his glass, "might one asked you why your circumstances are so familiar?"
Katlin gave him a questioning look.
"You're obviously used to the finer things in life, your pose, you're graceful, you're a wonderful conversationalist, you're an exquisite lover, and I not even going to bother with trying to make some hopeless comment on how beautiful you are, because I'll just end up insulting you. So why is such an extremely extraordinary woman still single?"
"I suppose for many of the same reasons." Katlin answered after a few moments, thinking over a sip of champagne. "As do I suppose are they many of the same reasons you appeal to me so much."
"And my appeal would be....?"
Katlin looked up at him. "You know what there is to know, Orion." She replied. "If I say I have to go to a meeting, you're not plying me with questions about it. You know where I'm going and why. You know what I do, who I am, and who I serve. Much as I do with you. There's no.....questions, you see? It all very...."
"Available?"
"Convenient."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"Not here. We're not normal people, Orion." She explained with a very honest sounding sigh in her voice. "We don't have anything that even remotely resembles a normal life. So we make things work as best we can. If a man takes me out, he's looking for something. Usually a relationship of some sort. But that isn't me, you see? I'm not looking for that because I can't have it. At some point it has to end." She said in a quiet voice. But she quickly shook it off as she turned back to him from staring at the plate before her. "But you're different. You are, in fact, perfect for me. There's no questions, no entanglements, no commitments, no problems."
"Except one." Orion pointed out.
"And I told you," she stated, "I'm not that 24/7. I'm not that now. The question is, Mr. Black, currently, what are you?"
Orion paused for a moment. "Questioning exactly why you're here?"
"Why I'm here?"
"You're not looking for a relationship obviously. So then 'what'?"
Katlin gave him a leering smile. "Why, fun and games."
Orion paused for a moment, then returned her smile, raising his glass slightly to her. The explanation suited him as well as any other. "Then here's to 'fun and games'."
Katlin returned his toast and slowly drained her entire glass as Orion watched with a small smile on his face.
"That's what I can appreciate." He stated as Katlin passed her glass over to him to refill. "A woman who knows how to drink fine champagne."
Katlin made no comment back to him aside from a small, tight smile as she again carefully wiped along the edge of her lips with her napkin.
Orion sighed loudly as he watched her, staring at the napkin again. "Lucky napkin." He said wistfully.
Katlin returned her attention to her plate.
"The napkin isn't so lucky." She replied, not looking up at him.
"Really?"
Abruptly the napkin slipped from the edge of the table where Katlin had laid it. Orion nearly leapt from his chair, catching the piece of cloth before it even hit the floor. Katlin gave him an appreciative smile as he handed it back to her.
"The napkin was only on my lips for a few seconds." She replied, her two violet eyes staring invitingly down at him. "I fully expect you to dedicate a good deal more time to the area."
Orion slowly rose and positioned himself behind her. Carefully he tilted her head back so that she was now staring up at him. "You will let me know if I disappoint you?"
"You can count on it."
Orion immediately seized her lips in a heated kiss.
Reaching up, Katlin wrapped her arms up around his neck, trapping him in the kiss, although it wasn't even remotely necessary. She moaned her approval into his mouth with a contented sigh as two hands ran slowly down her long, smooth arms, shoulders, and front. Reaching their destinations with at first a gentle caress, and then a less delicate squeeze and pinch.
Katlin squirmed in her chair as she brushed him away, pulling away from his kiss as she returned her attention to the plate before her.
"Honestly, Orion!" She stated in a hushed voice, that came out sounding more breathless then the dignified tone she tried to give it. "In a public restaurant!"
Orion leaned over her shoulder. "And why not?" He whispered in her ear before taking the delicate lobe between his teeth.
A sharp intake of breath rewarded him as Katlin leaned her head back ever so slightly.
"Because," she replied in the same breathless whisper, trying desperately to make her tone sound casual as Orion continued to tease her earlobe with his teeth, "whereas 'revanche' may be a dish best served cold, I assure you, Entrecote Avec Riz, is not."
Orion had covertly slipped his arms under her's from the back of the chair and allowed his hands to take up where they had left off.
"I'm sure we can heat it back up." A low, lustful voice breathed into her ear.
"My napkin might get jealous."
"I'll let it watch."
"What about the rest?" She asked, indicating the thin black curtain that was all that separated them from the rest of the restaurant. "I'm not nearly the exhibitionist that you appear to be, Mr. Black."
Orion pulled out his wand and quickly place a silencing charm on the curtain as he used his other arm, already around Katlin's waist to lift her from her chair and seat her instead on the edge of the table.
"I have no intention of putting on a public show." He stated, placing himself between those incredibly long, perfect legs.
A very seductive look stared up at him from under long eyelashes. "The public will be so disappointed."
Orion buried his face in her thick, silky auburn hair, a hand already caressing it's way up her outer thigh towards the hem of her dress. "You won't be."
Katlin pushed him back. "I already am."
Orion gave her a questioning look.
Katlin turned to the table behind her, then returned her gaze to the man before her, clicking her tongue at him a few times.
"Between the Entrecote Avec Riz, Orion." She reprimanded him gently. "Really!"
Painfully tired of the delays, Orion shifted the table cloth out from under her and carefully levitated it, along with it's trappings, to a corner of the room.
Katlin watched the spectacle with a pleased smile. One she turned back to Orion when the mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"I'm going to make you drop that." She purred up at him with a promising smile.
But Orion had already turned his attention to the other task at hand. Only a small fraction of his attention focused on the table settings in the corner of the room. But a few minutes later a loud crash startled him as Katlin giggled underneath him.
"I told you." She stated as a self-satisfied breath of air escaped her lips.
Orion sighed as he pulled back from the two slender restraints currently holding him where he was.
"I apologize." He stated, directing his wand at the remains of their meal in the corner.
"It doesn't really matter." Katlin replied as Orion re-levitated the table cloth. "The meal was a nice touch," She added. "But it was hardly the point of the evening, now was it?"
Orion shrugged as he leaned down to kiss her again.
"Perhaps. But I still need to replace the table setting." He replied. "Mario may not let me come back if we leave things as they are."
Katlin slipped off the table with a slight snort of laughter. "Curtailing gossip is more like it." She replied, adjusting her dress as she seated herself back at the table.
Later that evening, Orion found himself hurrying to keep pace with Katlin as she quickly led them down a sidewalk. He was walking with his hands stuffed deeply in the pockets of his coat while Katlin held her wrap tightly about her own body.
"It's not very far." She promised as they hurried along. "I just need to check a few things."
Orion looked forlornly back at where he had left his car parked on the side of the street.
The street appeared perfectly empty behind them. But parked on one side several yards now behind them was his small roadster. Katlin had insisted he leave it there in case someone had seen them in it. And Orion had insisted on placing a concealment charm on it in case someone tried to steal it.
He glanced cautiously about them. The neighborhood was definitely questionable at best. Without the concealment charm, the best he could likely hope for on returning to his beloved roadster was a few discarded screws and a 'thank you' note.
He looked around him again as Katlin hurried them along. It hadn't taken much to get her to agree to return to the house with him. But he had never imagined, when she had mentioned she needed to stop by her apartment, that they would end up in such a place.
Fifteen minutes later they were standing outside a doorway in a run down apartment building. Paint was peeling off of walls that had holes where plaster had flaked off. The floor they walked on, though carpeted, was so thread-worn it barely qualified as any floor covering at all. And the general smell would get a grimace from most people on first introduction. Quite frankly, Orion had some ideas that the smell was what had peeled the majority of the paint off the walls to begin with. But he managed to keep his expression neutral as he looked over Katlin's shoulder as she fished through her purse.
"Lose something?"
"Just looking for the key." She replied.
"Can't you just.....you know....get in some other way?" He suggested covertly, not sure who else might be around.
Katlin turned to him. "You think I don't have this place protected?" She asked. "It may not be your high-class mansion, Mr. Black, but I assure it is just as well protected."
Finally finding the right key, Katlin opened the door's lock. As soon as the key slipped into the lock, Orion could hear several locks behind the door unlatching at once, as well as sense the magical barrier before them dissolving.
"Impressive." He noted of her 'security'.
"It suffices." Katlin replied, leading him into the apartment.
Orion had expected to find himself stepping into a room that looked just as bad on the inside as it had on the outside. But the inside of the apartment, while not large, was very tastefully decorated.
Katlin quickly noted his appraising look about her apartment.
"Not what you expected?" She asked.
"To be perfectly honest, no." Orion followed her into the small kitchen. "I mean, no offense, Katlin, but I would think Voldemort would pay his Deatheater Elite a little better than this."
"Pay?" Katlin turned back to him. "We don't get paid, Orion. We are his followers, not his employees. We each are there because we have chosen to be. Because we believe in our cause and our ideals."
"What I meant," Orion re-stated, "was that I would have thought as one of his Elite, Voldemort could afford to accommodate you better than in a run down tenement building."
Katlin brushed past him back into the front room.
"He's offered." She replied.
"Really? Was this the best he could do then?"
Katlin turned back to him.
"I turned him down." She replied. "Since my parents died I've always taken care of myself. I've never asked one person for any help. Now, I may not have much, but at least I know what I have is mine. I don't owe anyone for it."
"I see. So aside from being a Deatheater, what is it exactly you do?"
"My missions for the Elite keep me quite busy enough."
"Then how do you pay for....even this?"
"My parents left me a small inheritance. Spending it carefully, I can survive for some time."
Orion followed her back to a small room. Sitting there, perched on a small wooden table, he was surprised to see a computer, it's flashing lights blinking in the darkness.
Katlin quickly took a seat in front of it and began working over the keyboard. In a few moments a series a screens flashed up on the monitor, each of which she looked over quickly before deleting it.
Within only a few minutes, she got up from the chair and turned back to him.
"That a computer!" He stated, trying to make his tone sound as surprised an awestruck as he could. The fact of the matter was, Orion was likely about as well acquainted with the muggle devices as muggles were. Part of his work in the department required knowing how to work one with some proficiency.
"They can be useful." Katlin replied as she brushed past him.
"You seem to work it very well." He observed, standing still in the doorway of the small room as he stared at the machine.
"Sometimes it's necessary, when dealing with things in the muggles world, to use their devices." Katlin replied. "But I've done what I needed to here, and we can go now." She said, nudging him slightly.
But Orion turned back to her with a leering smile.
"You know, it's a long walk back to the car," he stated, "it's already well hidden, and we are here." He carefully stroked his hand up under her hair and then back down her neck. "Why don't we just stay here?"
"Here?" Katlin asked in surprise. "You want to stay here tonight?"
"Why not?"
"Because I got the definite impression you would rather not."
Orion gave her a small smile. "Then you need to refine your senses, Love." He replied. "Because I care very little for where I'm at. It's who I'm with that interests me more. We met, after all, in an alleyway."
Katlin paused, studying the man before her. Something didn't feel right. But she slowly let her suspicions go. Being in her own home was a comfort to her and made her more relaxed. She knew the spells better and could feel them easier than at Orion's house.
So with a pleased smile she reached down and took his hand.
"All right." she replied, leading him to the bedroom. "But I'm warning you, it's a small bed."
Q&A
nessie: You're responsible for that author's note, by the way. Another person making me stop and think about timelines and storylines and how they fit together.
It's very hard to place this year-wise. Off hand, I would say it's about a year and a half before Voldemort's fall. But as everyone has seen and been subjected to, that can always change at a moments notice.
Eva Phoenix Potter: Actually, PAR does not like bugs. It is the main reason I keep spiders in my home as pets. They are very efficient.
Glad you liked the Howler.
Sailor Sol: Trust me, poor Orion hasn't begun to suffer Katlin's anger yet.
Silverfox: Harry survived Avada Kedavra. And if a little baby could, surely others could. However, I'm curious as to what brought the point up? So far I haven't had anyone in my stories survive the killing curse.
Trust me. The reason is very good. And so far no one has hit on it. I'm just so proud of myself.
Does Charly suspect who the cute little owl is from? I can't really answer that right now. Too much story involvement here.
What's going to happen when Charly finally meets Orion's girlfriend? Don't miss chapter fourteen.
sweets: In Orion's defense, 'trust' is a big issue with him. As is it with Katlin. These are not two people who generally trust anyone. Least of all each other. It's going to take them a while to learn to trust each other, if they ever do.
Unfortunately, Orion is your typical male who hasn't had a relationship live out the weekend. The boy is just down right inexperienced in the field of a real relationship. Superficially, he's the best. But make it count? We have troubles there.
When does Family Relations roughly come out? (Roughly when PAR gets off her arse and starts working on it again.) Probably the end of this year. Yes, yes. I know how late that makes it from my original projected release date. But be warned, even that could change. Life circumstances changed the last date. Hopefully nothing will this time.
Cypress Gardens is currently being sought by two buyers. One is from Georgia who owns other theme parks and says if he buys the park, he will be adding 'thrill rides' to it. (Great. Just what we need on the lake. An amusement park.) And the other buyer is the State, who I hope does buy and preserve the park. Currently, all offers are on hold while the state pushes a lot of papers around about the selling of the property.
The job is going very well. I passed a large test last week by re-wiring a complete office for phones and it all came up and worked in the end. That was no small feat, and PAR was quite worried right to the end when we flipped the switch and everything came up.
I'm sorry you are still having trouble finding a job. I know right now it is very difficult in the job market. But keep watching the state job sight and usajobs.com. I never expected to find my job and just came across it completely by accident.
I wish you luck.
FairyTale: Ohhhhhhhh, and I do so look forward to your reviews.
But something to look forward to on Monday.
I am trying to check out your stories. I'll see what I can do this weekend.
Awwww! I'm one of your favorites?! PAR is most appreciative! Thank you!
I'm glad you like my characters interaction. I suppose I simply know them very well, and have very little trouble imagining how they would react or respond to things.
Charly and the owl was one of my better scenes. But it is indicative of Charly's whole character, there. He's a bit of a joker and has a very sharp sense of humor, which is balanced by Orion's rather dry one.
Oh, indeed, the pheromone cloud is shifting with the wind and Orion and Katlin have to start dealing with the situation they have gotten themselves into.
Not so much sparring matches as blinking contests. And never put it past Katlin to bring all her charms to the forefront to get what she wants. The woman knows what she's got and she knows how to use it.
There is definitely more Charly-Orion interaction coming. Especially when Charly gets his first sight of Orion and Katlin together. Keep in mind this isn't just the shock of finding out who Orion is seeing. Charly also has to deal with the knowledge that his partner lied to him. That's very serious between two Unspeakable partners.
Some of the chapters are insanely short (three pages or so) and I will give more than one on such occasions. But this one ran twelve pages, so that should make you happy.
UnrepentantReader: Doesn't she just! I love working with this character. She's just so direct about things sometimes.
That was probably one of the better lines of the whole chapter. What can I say? Sometimes God gifts me with good lines. Other times I have to work for them.
But thank you. Your review made my day. I had so many lovely ones this time. A treat for a chapter I wasn't very happy with when I wrote it.
Skahducky: O.K.. Five chapters in, I have to ask. Dear, what's with the name? You don't just get a name like that by accident. There's got to be a story attached to that.
What exactly could Katlin be punished for? Currently? Well, she's seeing a top ranked Auror behind Voldemort's back and not taking advantage of it. She hasn't told him about the situation. She's lying to him about it. She used her status among the Deatheaters for her own personal use. And, having captured a Auror, she helped him escape. Should Voldemort find out about any of that, she would likely be killed. Favorite or not. What was she punished for this time around? That was explained in this chapter. And it was not because she helped him escape.
FAMILY LIFE
Chi: FANART?! FANART?! Ohhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Goody! Feel free! I always wished someone would do some on one of my stories. I would illustrate a bit if I had the time. But it takes me forever to do a picture. But maybe someday.
Thank you for the kind words, Dear. I to print out many stories to take to bed and read into the wee hours. Beats a lot of the so-called professionally published stuff out there.
coconut-ice agent h/h: WFF? That's a new one for me, Dear.
Another favorites list! Go me!!!!!!! Yah!!!!! And you're very welcome, Dear.
Melissa: Oh, you have not been keeping up with the Q&A. Family Life is being sequeled, Dear. The story is titled Family Relations and is one of three parts to the story arc. It has been previewed at the end of several stories after the Q&A sections. Three chapters to be exact.
Was Sirius freed? That is answered in the sequel.
What about Ron and Hermione? Well, Ron shows up in the sequel. No Hermione yet.
How did the rest of the world react to Lord Voldemort's downfall? Probably much as they did the last time. Generally partying and public disorderliness.
Nightshade Beam: Yes, the site overloads are a huge irritation. But thank you for hanging in there, Dear. PAR appreciates her reviews. And I am very pleased you liked the story.
TRIED AND CONVICTED
Starlette: Ohhhh, a cheering section!
I understand wanting to sit and read fanfictions all day, Dear. Believe me. But my life keeps interrupting my plans. Something about work and paying bills.
Keep up with the dedication to homework thing, Dear. Self-discipline is a good thing. As for Sirius being moved to Azkaban, yes that was a complete surprise to those trying to free him. Especially since they now have to race time to get to him before the Dementors.
Happy ending? Pffft! Again, you don't know me very well. Or maybe you do. We'll see.
Reviews are as of 06062003. Sorry if I missed you. Let me know.