Authors Note: Apologies for the long delay in adding to this story, but as I previously explained mostly I no longer do 'multichapters' much, due to not being able to commit to regular updates because of my deep clinical depression bouts. But thankfully at the moment I haven't got my 'mad head' on and I have finally begun to write creatively again. :o)
This 'not quite multichapter' in intermittent parts is being published irregularly as and when I can write creatively and in small sections as a result, but the story is one I am very committed to completing as my 'open letter' called Of Crossovers and Coincidences regarding Zenna Henderson's legacy which I posted briefly previously explained. Anyone wishing to read this will find it re-published in my profile later today. Hopefully this upswing respite in my 'mood instability' may long continue and I will be able to write more soon, meanwhile, let's rejoin Rolf, Luna and The People, as they continue to make friends back in Cougar Canyon. :o)
Chapter Two: A new day.
Luna Scamander woke up in the comfy king size four poster in the bedroom of their plush Wizarding tent and luxuriated in a good stretch and a huge yawn. Her husband Rolf was still sleeping next to her and only slightly stirred as she wriggled herself awake.
She left him in bed sleeping, assuming that the pain suppressing potion given to them the night before by Beth the local Healer, (a person belonging to the mysterious People community they had met), was still having an effect, causing her newly-wed husband to sleep in a bit late. Luna slipped out of bed and as she almost always slept naked walked straight into the bathroom area of the tent, where she indulged in her morning ablutions including a vigorous warm shower, which helped kick-start her drowsy brain into action.
Magically drying herself she completed her morning routine by brushing her hair and applying minimal makeup after she'd dressed in a light and colourful yellow sundress of her favourite colour. She then finished her wake up process by brewing herself and her husband their morning coffee, a beverage she had become even more fond as a 'heart-starter' than Gurdyroot tea. It was a new habit she'd acquired since beginning to share her life with Rolf, who was completely incapable of doing anything mentally in the mornings until he'd imbibed a strong brew. Since they'd begun living together and then married Luna had become a morning coffee 'addict' herself.
Taking the two big mugs of coffee back to the bed she placed Rolf's on the nightstand by his side, then placing hers on her own she leapt on top of the bed lightly to lie next to her new husband on top of the bedding and leaning over she kissed him awake.
Coming back to the world by being kissed by the beautiful ash blonde whom he was now privileged to be able to call his wife had a not unlikely effect on Rolf and his arms went around her as he tried to drag her back into bed with him. Luna however, although not against the idea on principle, resisted the urge. Remembering Beth's somewhat frustrating warning about not causing further damage to Rolf's delicate and not yet fully healed ribs by indulging in any 'strenuous activities' she squirmed out of Rolf's arms as he groaned in frustration.
Wriggling free she said ,"Oh no you don't young man!" Using a mock stern Scottish voice, closely mimicking her old Transfiguration tutor at Hogwarts. It was a brilliant impersonation of her friend and fellow war hero Minerva McGonagall and like a bucket of cold water had the desired effect of making Rolf give up his undue 'wicked' intentions and reach for his coffee instead, burying his face in the mug and breathing in the heady aroma with satisfaction.
Luna went on more kindly in her own voice saying, "Beth's right, we'd best 'cool it' a bit for a few days Rolf, anything too 'physical' might pop those ribs of yours out of alignment again, so for now I'm afraid you're on 'short rations', although kisses will be in extra supply and some other 'activities' will certainly still be on the menu in abundance. She grinned at him and winked sexily, making her meaning plain.
Rolf grinned back at her and replied, "Well thank heavens for small mercies anyway, if those 'other activities' include the ones I think they do then I'll survive, for a while at least."
Luna cheekily beamed back at him and said; "That's good to hear, as I wouldn't want to become a widow so early in our marriage, I haven't even got your life insurance sorted out yet after all! But as for this morning I think that it'll just be kisses, as I'm bloody ravenous having missed dinner last night thanks to the accident and I can't be bothered to cook breakfast. There's a nice looking small 'diner' I saw last night as Jack and I went to get the tent out from the Landcruiser. It's just down the road next to the local gas station, let's go and see what they've got available for brecky shall we?"
Rolf then revived himself as Luna had, dressed, shaved and generally got himself fit to present himself before the populace of the 'metropolis' that was Cougar Canyon. Leaving their tent they knocked on the door of Valancy's house but received no reply, assuming that as it was after nine a.m. the inhabitants would already be off working, or in Arnie's case at school. So the couple then made their way a short distance up the small town's 'main street', such as it was and entering the neat looking little diner sat in a window booth and began to peruse the menu.
A pretty dark haired waitress in her mid twenties, wearing a neat and clean pink uniform and short frilled 'pinny' approached them, smiled and said; "Hi there, I'm Annabelle, nice to meet yer, I'm guessin' you're the new visitors in town that everyone is talkin' about. Nuthin much goes unnoticed here fer long and anything new gets spread about like wildfire. That's the thing about us being 'pathic I s'pose, makes gossiping easy, we don't need all that computery stuff like Facebook an' such like the 'normals' do. Anyways, what can I get yer, the coffee's good un strong, the pancakes are great and the sausages are tip top, we just found a new supplier who's better'n the old 'un.
Luna and Rolf confirmed to Annabelle that she was right about them being the new visitors and the couple having seen what they'd like from the menu put in their order for a typical 'local' cooked breakfast, consisting of Canadian bacon, eggs 'over easy' sausages and pancakes with Maple syrup, although both of them stuck to being a bit 'English', by insisting on having their pancakes 'on the side' and served with an extra portion of whipped cream.
Their waitress brought over their meals and the couple began to consume their food ravenously, discovering it to be excellent and washing it down with further excellent coffee. The waitress was not very busy as it was past peak breakfast hour, Luna and Rolf having risen a little later than they usually did, due to their previous night's misadventures and once they had eaten Annabelle came back over to their table for a chat.
"I hear you're English and are magical folk, a bit different from us People though. It's nice to know that there's other folks we have things in common with "over the pond". Most of us are 'homebodies' and tend not to move around a lot or travel far as a rule, but I for one have a hankerin' to visit foreign parts and it sounds like Britain might be a good place to start." Annabelle said, beaming a sunny smile at them.
"Well yes, it is beautiful in lots of places, particularly up in the Scottish Highlands where my old school, Hogwarts is located. You'd love it there, the mountains and lochs are magnificent and the green of the valleys and the forest is so lush. Such a contrast to this area, with it's desert scrub and the local bare rock hill, Old Baldy they told me it's called, if I remember rightly. Mind you this area has it's own stark beauty too, the desert is a compelling place, especially in moonlight and the creatures you have around here fascinate Rolf and myself. I can see how your people are so attached to the area.". Luna smiled and continued. "But a word of advice, if you do go to Britain for a visit don't expect anything like as much warmth and sunshine as you get here. It's beautiful but the weather can be atrocious at times, although it changes quickly. In Scotland that's even more true and in Hogsmeade there's a saying, "If you don't like the weather just give it five minutes."
Annabelle nodded in understanding and thanked Luna for the advice. Then, having ascertained they'd finished, she gathered up their plates, cups and cutlery into a pile on the table and without need for a wand or magic words levitated them from their table and out into the kitchen at the back of the diner. Rolf and Luna were impressed at this effortless display of wandless magic and left a generous tip for Annabelle as they departed, deciding to have a stroll around town to walk off their substantial breakfast. It promised to be an interesting day and, it turned out, that promise was to be more than fulfilled by sunset.