The Depths We Will Go To

Part 2: Mischief, Mayhem, and Malice

Chapter 2: The Potters (And Company)

Fandom: -man x Harry Potter

Characters: Kanda, Allen, Komui, Albus, Scorpius, Harry, Ginny, James, Lavi, Lenalee

Summary: What better way to spend a birthday than with friends, family, food and fun? James certainly can't think of one.

Warning: Violence, language, shonen ai

Rating: T

Written by: Azhwi and Lost to the Hoping

"Of course it was a trap, Komui," Kanda said flatly. "When is it ever not a trap?" Sadly, now a days, that was the truth. "There never was any Innocence here, just Road."

The golem dipped in the air, almost transmitting the distress from the Chief. "So many... You said she even took out the finders? That's the third massacre this year." Which was saying a lot, since the year wasn't even close to halfway through yet. "What about Allen? Is he at least conscious?"

The youth in question looked up from the chair he was resting in.

"He's awake." Kanda shot the injured exorcist a glare. He shouldn't be, but he is. "Hold on." And he gestured at the golem to hover over Walker.

'Massacre' was an apt description. Half the town dead, the other half converted into akuma. Walker had nearly walked into a wall when his eye started up. Somehow Road had hidden the damn things behind one of her doors. Once the two exorcists had wandered into the deserted town, the akuma had been turned loose. And in the flood of level ones were three level twos and a smug Noah. They had only found the ashes and uniforms of the two finders after the battle, when Road had blown a kiss at Walker and skipped through her red-padded door. Kanda was getting tired of their 'dates'.

Allen blinked and waved, smiling wanly. "Hi, Chief," he said. "I'm alright. Be good as new soon."

"Good to hear," Komui said, relieved. "How soon can we expect the both of you back?"

Shrugging, Kanda answered, "Three days. We can probably reach a train station in the next town." He grimaced. "Provided that one is still intact." With their luck, Road was waiting there too. Or Tyki.

"Alright. Good luck, and be careful. Oh! Also, pick up a belated present for James' birthday! You wouldn't want him to think you're-"

Allen was grinning when Kanda slammed the phone into its cradle. "James' birthday... that's right, he's eighteen now. Hey, Kanda, that means he's legal..." He was still grinning as he leaned to the side, dodging the golem as Kanda pelted it at him.

"You shut the fuck up."

The other male stuck his tongue out in answer.

Kanda sat down and glared out across the wreckage of the school they sat in, broken chairs and crushed desks scattered in shards of wood. Fuck. "I don't even know what he would want," he admitted softly, then hit himself in the head as Walker snickered. "Well what are you getting him?" Kanda demanded.

"I was going to give him a photo book," Allen replied, grin softening. "He kind of seems like the sort that would want the thoughtful things, so I figured he could take pictures and stuff... maybe you should get him the camera."

Kanda was already nodding. Wait. "You got him an album, and you know he doesn't have a camera."

The pale-haired exorcist gave Kanda an innocent look. "Must have slipped my mind," he replied.

"Fucker." Kanda turned and went back to gazing over the shells of former shops.

A calculating look settled over Allen's face, lips pulling upwards into a grin that was probably far too sinister for Kanda's good. Luckily (for Allen), the Japanese exorcist didn't notice, since he was looking the other way. "Oh, you know... I know exactly what you should get him. I think it's something he'll really like!" The smile turned kindly as soon as Kanda looked at him.

Skeptical, but still willing to go along (the camera wasn't a bad idea), the other exorcist narrowed his eyes and asked anyway. "What?"

The beatific smile didn't change one iota. "You should give him your body."

Two minutes later, Kanda was again scowling out at the scenery, only this time he felt a little better.

Moyashi on the other hand was only looking at the inside of his eyelids and would be for a few hours yet.

xXx

A little bit after lunch, Albus went off in search of Scorpius. He found his friend sitting on his bed, reading a book. While it wasn't out of the ordinary for Scorpius to want alone time, it was a bit strange for him to do so in his room. The place was all but bare, and Scorpius liked to actually do things. Albus wouldn't have been surprised if the Malfoy were... say, in the library, for instance. He just rarely ever shut himself up in his room.

Still, the Potter shrugged it off, spying the pile of books beside his friend. "Ah, socializing getting to be too much for the snakey Malfoy?" he asked, grinning in the doorway.

Scorpius gave his contented cat smile. "No, I'm socializing," he replied calmly.

His friend frowned at him suspiciously. "With who?" He glanced around just in case he'd missed anyone, but there was no one else present.

"It's a secret," the blond replied. "Did you need something?"

That reminded him of his mission, and he promptly forgot all about the weird conversation. "Oh! Right, my mum and dad are here. C'mon, they want you to join us for a little bit."

Getting up and closing the book, his friend nodded. The mask settled on his face once more. "Of course. I'll have to stop by here before dinner, though."

"Huh? Why?"

But his friend didn't answer and shoo'd Albus from the room, before closing the door. "Alright."

Albus huffed and grabbed him by the wrist - Scorpius knew better than to fight it - and dragged him off to meet up with the others in the lounge. "Mum! Dad! I got 'im!"

Looking up, Harry smiled as he watched his youngest pulled the smaller version of Draco into the room. "I see what you mean," he said to James, and the two shared a grin. In a way, getting the two young wizards out of Hogwarts was a good thing. They seemed much more at ease without the expectations from the wizarding world.

Grey eyes narrowed thoughtfully at him, but Scorpius offered a nod. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Potter," he greeted.

Albus smirked. "Don't mind him. He still likes to pretend he's Mr. Snakey Slytherin."

"I will always be a Slytherin," was the predictable retort.

There was a chuckle from the elder Potter. "And Draco thanks Merlin for that every day," Harry assured the Slytherin, "especially after you met first James and then Albus. How have you been Scorpius? Your father and mother send their regards."

"Please return them. I will send a letter as soon as I am able," Scorpius replied. "I am well. I have been... ah, experimenting with some spells lately. Wards on the door and one or two on my trunk..."

Ginny grinned. "Are you enjoying yourself here? Albus tells us that you've fit in since day one!"

"Ah, I suppose. The people are nice enough," Scorpius said, then added mentally, even if a few lack basic common sense.

Over on the couch, James coughed. "Most people are nice enough," he corrected, thinking of course of certain people. "The exorcists are definitely eccentric. Even by wizarding standards."

Harry turned to regard his oldest. "What about the finders? Or the science division?" The letters from Albus were full of details and ramblings of the day's events. James' in contrast were far more subdued.

"Finders make a point of being able to blend into muggle populations," James said with a shrug, "and the science department... well, they have their own oddballs." The Chief being king of them all.

"Like that pain in the ass Komui!" Albus growled, grimacing. "He's been-"

Scorpius "accidentally" stepped on his foot, Not Smirking when his friend yelped. "Oh, apologies. You should watch where you're standing," he said flatly, and offered the elder Potters a smile.

Ginny's smile twitched. She knew exactly what that boy had done. But she decided to let it go. "Alby, sit down."

Glaring mutinously at his friend, the youngest Potter obeyed.

"He's been our host for the past three months? Given us a place to train and learn and feel accepted for all that we are or have been?" James asked archly, head canted to the side. "Granted, he did poke and prod when we first arrived." Not to mention, slap them into quarantine and ran several tests on their wands before dragging them out to the next available akuma sighting to judge the effect the spells had on the abominations. I don't blame the man though.

Scorpius finally sat down, thoughtful. "Well, I'll admit that Chief Komui is a bit... unorthodox," he said slowly. "But he's an effective leader. It's thanks to him that things run so smoothly." Though, from what he'd gathered by listening to candid conversations around him, that was stretching things a bit. Still, Komui did what he could, and Malfoy couldn't really fault him for that.

"Anyway, how have you been? What's the local news from the wizarding world?" he asked, deciding it was prudent to change the subject before Ginny found out about Albus' multiple turn-downs.

Sitting back in his seat, James listened with half an ear as the talk turned to the various mysteries that the Aurors were dealing with now: a few disappearances, some odd break-ins, the occasional family heirloom gone missing. There was some happy news with weddings that had happened or were in the planning stages. Unsurprisingly, George's business was doing rather well. In short, after a few minutes of letting the updates flow by, James was a little alarmed to realize that his father was just a bit... bored... with his current lifestyle. Oh dear.

"-and then that was it," Dad muttered, shrugging. "Ron locked the fellow behind bars, Gringotts was appeased, and I didn't even... er... no one needed to lift a wand."

"Oh, I see," Scorpius murmured thoughtfully. "Well I'm glad the matter was closed so... cleanly."

Albus looked bored too, though in a bit of a different way. "Hey... Dad, can I have a word? It's uh... important. Yeah."

Curiosity piqued, James watched as Dad merely nodded and excused the two of them from the room. He glanced at Mum and raised an eyebrow. "Is it just me, or did Dad sound restless?"

Ginny sighed. "No, it's not just you," she murmured. "I think he misses the old days... just a bit. And now that you three are out here fighting, he can't even protect you like he used to."

"He does seem to have gotten rather good at his job," Scorpius said, brows lifting. "It's to be expected that things would get peaceful."

The birthday boy shifted uneasily. "He can't jump into this one, Mum. Curses work on the lowest levels of akuma, it's proven, but Komui won't even try us on anything higher unless he has absolutely no choice. You know Dad would crash headlong into any fight, even if he's told to stay behind. Maybe later, much later, Kumoi would allow Aurors to join. Just, right now, things are almost changing on the exorcists on a weekly basis."

It felt so weird to be the one to tell Mum that Dad was safer at home. It was strange and worrying. It wasn't that Dad was old in any sense of the word, the man was still fit as a fiddle. No, it was that any non-exorcist was in danger. One scratch, one too many breaths of poison, and that was all it took.

Brown eyes lifted to meet green, and Ginny swallowed. "War is always dangerous, James," she murmured. "You're right. I'll try my best to keep him idle a while longer, but... you know as well as I do that your father won't be appeased by that for long. As soon as he figures out a way that he can help..." She grimaced. "Well, he knows magic works, but for now that isn't enough and he knows it."

Scorpius frowned as he looked between the worried two. "I ask that you please excuse me for saying so..." He waited until the attention shifted to him. "But Mr. Potter's presence on the field would only endanger James and Albus, both of which would undoubtedly risk their lives for him. Not only that, but if he died..." Scorpius' eyes narrowed. "Albus isn't strong enough yet to resist the Earl, not if his father is involved."

Distressed now, James shook his head. "But he knows what the Earl offers. We all do." It didn't matter though, knowing or not. Losing Dad... He shook his head harder and chafed his arms. "In any case, he has to stay away. Maybe there's something else besides fighting he can help with. I can ask the science division. A lot of the times, I don't have the answers to their questions. Maybe Dad will?"

Ginny looked relieved. "We'll see," she said with a faint smile. "Thank you both for your concern."

Before either of them could reply, the door opened and Albus trounced back in, followed by his father. "Presents, James! All for you!" he chirped, and paused. "Eh? Where's the funeral?"

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "James, perhaps you should make sure those aren't hexed before you open them," he said, nodding to the parcels that both newly returned men carried.

Barely with-holding the flinch that his younger brother had induced, James snorted and glanced at his mother. She only smiled. No help there. "Alright, put them down here," he patted the empty spot on the couch beside him. I'll just deal with my challenges one at a time.

And the cheerful presents tumbled down.

xXx

A rumble fit enough to rival Allen's echoed through the shadowy space inside Malfoy's trunk. Lavi didn't even bother to blush. There wasn't anyone around to notice anyway. Besides, the family album he had dragged up was fascinating.

The pictures move! Lavi was beside himself with glee. If only there was a way to take pictures like this out of the wizarding world. Brief snippets of personality. The few flickers of lightning over the mountains. The clash of armies, swords, words. The people in these pictures frowned, scowled, smiled, turned their heads, gestured, twitched, shrugged, or stubbornly stayed still. Actually, most of them took on the icy demeanour of Kanda two seconds before Mugen cleared its saya. Family trait for sure.

Straightening up from the last page, Lavi chuckled and gazed down at two pages dedicated to the second youngest Malfoy. "Awww, look at those chubby cheeks!"

That was when there was the sudden sound of metal clanking on metal, followed by the tumble of a lock. The lid was lifted, and before he knew it, Lavi was tumbling out onto the carpet. "Enjoy yourself?" a voice demanded flatly. Pause. "Snoop." The trunk slammed closed.

Blinking up at the stone slabs that made up the ceiling, Lavi felt the world settle in place. Then smiled. "Immensely. You could have left me a book," he said smoothly, "or taken me out of there immediately." Tilting his head from his position on the floor, he grinned at Scorpius. "Your pictures move!"

Scorpius looked surprised for a moment before his usual mask returned. He held out his hand for Lavi. "Yours don't?" he asked curiously.

Somehow, Lavi managed to look tragic even while sprawled upside down, legs half propped up on the bedside stand. "No," he sniffed, grasping the wizard's hand. "Just still images. Wait! Do you have a magic camera?" he asked as soon as Scorpius half-pulled him up to stand.

"What do I look like?" Scorpius snapped icily, turning away from him to lock up the trunk. "Of course I don't."

"Hmm..." Lavi paused. Looked at Scorpius, head to toe, and back again. "Like a Malfoy." Family traits after all. The teen really did resemble the family: blond hair, pale skin, pride and glory, and a slice of icy contempt for idiots.

The blond stood, frowning suspiciously at the other exorcist. After a beat, he decided to take the words at face value. "We should hurry to dinner," he said. "It's going to start in a few minutes."

A wide smile split the exorcist's face. "You did let me out for our date!"

"Uhg," Scorpius said in response, and stalked to the door. "Out. Now. Or I will hex you."

Lavi wilted. "Aww. Um, well, can I take the book with me? I didn't get a chance to... read it..." Cue the puppy eyes. Big shiny emerald eyes. With a hint of tears.

Grey eyes narrowed, and the blond snatched the book in question off the bedside table. "I said you can have it, didn't I? I have no use for that anymore," he said, holding it out impatiently. "Keep it."

Once again, Lavi took the book reverently. "Thanks Scorpius," he said. And then as he walked out of the room, "I'll return it later!"

Scorpius huffed. "Fine, do what you want," he said, and closed the door behind him, having also stepped out. He took out his wand and quickly cast the warding spell, before heaving a sigh. Stupid, frustrating, irresponsible... Potters. Uhg, and that Lavi too! The lot of them. And the worry on Mrs. Potter's face... He swallowed, eyes narrowing on the door. He clenched his fists, then lifted his right hand.

The sight of the ring calmed him somewhat. He let the irritation seep out of his expression, and turned. Scowled instantly. So much for calming. "Didn't you leave already?" he demanded.

The non-Weasley redhead was standing just a yard away, nose buried in the first two pages of the textbook. He waved a hand. "Waiting for you," he murmured. "This is great!" And miracles of miracles, didn't say anything else.

Oh Merlin, give me patience please. Obviously I don't have enough on my own to deal with this twit. Without a single word - he just knew he was liable to just hex the older boy - Scorpius stalked down the hall toward the stairs. However, rather than continuing down four levels to reach the dining hall, he only went two and headed toward the lounge.

Two minutes down the hall and he stopped. Turned. Glared. "The dining hall is that way," he said, pointing at the stairs.

Even with all his attention seemingly on the historical text, Lavi nodded. "Waiting for you." And glanced up only long enough to grace Scorpius with an absent-minded smile.

"I'm not going to the dining hall," Scorpius replied flatly.

That's when they were spotted. "Oh! Scorpius! There you are!" Albus called, hurrying over. He'd been on his way to see what was taking his friend so long. "Hurry up! You should see the- oh, hi, Lavi. You coming too? So that's where you went, Scorpius."

"Hum?" Lavi blinked, glancing from one wizard to the other. "Uh, yes! I'm along for the party!"

Scorpius' face had gone very, very blank. "I really don't-"

"Great, the more the merrier! Jeri made a lot of food," Albus said, grabbing Scorpius and dragging him along down the hall. "Mum gave him the recipe for pumpkin juice! He made it!"

Standing in the middle of hall, dazed and alone, Lavi gaped after them. "Pumpkin juice? Oh, this I gotta try!" Snapping the book closed on one finger, the bookman chased after them.

Once they'd entered the lounge - which was decorated with streamers and balloons and a big banner saying 'Happy Birthday James!' - the two wizards were all but pounced on by an excited Ginny. "There you are, Scorpius! Ohh, who's this?" she asked, eyes focusing on Lavi. "A friend? Hullo! I'm Ginny Potter, Albus and Jimmy's mum!" She held her hand out.

"Hello Mrs Potter!" Lavi shook her hand enthusiastically. "Lavi, Bookman clan. I heard there was pumpkin juice! But first, I gotta say hi to Jimmy." He grinned all the wider. "Nice to meet you!"

She beamed, releasing his hand. "Nice to meet you too. Jimmy's over there with his father and Miss Lenalee." The ginger lady motioned toward her eldest, whom sported bright fuschia hair and turquoise skin. "Scorpius, introduce him to Harry, please? I have to get a few things from the fridge. Alby, come give Mummy a hand!"

"Erm! Okay, mum," Albus said with wide eyes. He let his mother haul him off for the corner of the room, where two long tables of food sat, accompanied by the lounge refrigerator.

Scorpius' expression was downright chilly. "This way," he grumbled. If he shoo'd Lavi out now, Mrs. Potter would just ask questions.

Thankfully, Lavi's attention was completely taken up by the sight of James under the influence of a few hexes and one or two beers. Though the redhead did ask, "What's written across his forehead?"

Scorpius squinted, stopped mid-step, and lowered his head. A moment passed. "'Albus was here'," he said finally, voice strained.

Satisfied all around, Lavi grinned as he stood by the Slytherin. "Oh, wait, wait." Leaning a bit to the side, he gestured at Scorpius to follow. They circled around to the back of James instead of his the front. Lavi raised an eyebrow. There was another word shaved into the back of the birthday boy's head.

The blond snorted softly and covered his mouth, turning away with shaking shoulders. My best friend is amazing, he thought, hiding his grin. There on James' head for everyone to see, Albus had put the word 'Beef'.

Noting his companion's smug and struggling expression, Lavi smirked. "I can go say hi to Mr. Beef and he can introduce me to Harry if you need a moment."

As if he'd been doused with ice water, Scorpius snapped straight, amusement vanishing. "One does not disobey Mrs. Potter," he replied cryptically, and lead the way back around. He waited for Harry to finish speaking to Lenalee before clearing his throat and stepping forward. "Mr. Potter? This is another associate of ours, Lavi. He's an exorcist as well."

Suppressing an inner sigh, Lavi had said he could wait (and was ignored), the exorcist smiled and offered his hand. "Hello Mr. Potter. Pleased to meet you. I swear, your son was not those colours yesterday."

Smirking, Harry grasped the redhead's hand. "Pleasure is mine." He chuckled. "It's a family tradition to see how many colours we can turn the birthday prey into. I'm looking forward to seeing what the science division can come up with."

Beside the Potter patriarch, Lenalee giggled. "You should go say hi to James-kun, Lavi. Take a good look at his eyes!"

Red eyebrows uplifted, Lavi grinned. "I think I will! Oh Mr. Beef-cakes!" he called out, bouncing off to the blue and pink man.

Lenalee dissolved into laughter as Harry shook his head smiling.

Scorpius grimaced. That idiot would fit right in, wouldn't he? My life is never going to be easy again. I hope they don't try to adopt him. He was the right coloring... Oh Merlin, please no. Get these thoughts out of my damn head!

After a moment, Lenalee excused herself and went to help Ginny with the place settings on the various tables. With Scorpius bringing in an unexpected guest, Ginny was shifting the seats around. Of course, Lavi would be sitting next to Malfoy...

Harry noticed with bemused curiosity as the slim Chinese girl left, a bright grin on her face.

Scorpius turned his attention to the eldest Potter. "I suppose you're still plotting out your own pranks?" he asked suspiciously.

"Of course. Not sundown yet," Harry replied, "though I have to admit, James has deflected a good number of them. How has he been?"

Grey eyes lifted to take in Harry's expression, and Scorpius shrugged. "Much better than I had hoped," he admitted. "He gets along with most everyone, even some that don't play well with others." He looked over as Albus joined Lavi and James, pouncing his brother with a sticky note. "I'm not worried about James."

Humming, Harry nodded. "I heard about Mr. Kanda. Minerva was rather vocal. Merlin, the boy would get along with Moody if the man were still with us." He rolled his shoulders once, then slanted a look at the Slytherin. "Has Albus given you cause to worry?"

Scorpius scoffed. "Albus always worries me," he replied, and sighed. He knew what Harry meant. "Not in so much... sometimes he still treats this like a prison sentence. He's gotten better of course, and before you ask, no he wouldn't leave even if given the chance. I just wish he'd actually try to make attachments. He hasn't been trying at all, except for myself and James."

"So Miss Lenalee and Lavi are here for who? Only James?" Harry frowned. "And what about Mr. Walker?"

Scorpius nodded as he looked at Harry. "Allen? Well, I think Allen is fine with Albus, but there isn't an attachment, no. Don't get me wrong, Albus talks to everyone, and hits on the girls a lot. But he's just doing it like it's a game. He knows no one will accept and as long as he keeps his hands to himself, no one minds him asking."

With a soft sigh, Harry seemed to deflate slightly. "I was afraid of that," he muttered. "Maybe if..." he trailed off before rallying. "Thank you, Scorpius. Please, don't mind me. I shouldn't be digging for sour news like this while at a birthday party. My son's no less. Anyway, my wife is flapping her hands at me. I think it's time to sit down."

The youth snorted and walked over to the tables. Frowned at the arrangement of name cards. Or, to be slightly more specific, the seats 'Lavi' and 'Scorpius' right next to each other. He snatched up Lavi's card and switched it out with Lenalee's, then took his seat. So there.

"I saw that," Albus said as he sat next to his friend, grinning.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Scorpius replied stonily.

There was a light laugh from his other side as Lenalee spotted Lavi's card. "Lavi!" she called. "Your seat is here!" And directed the exorcist to sit in his newly appointed seat. The girl ignored the pout from the redhead and ruffled his wavy hair as she leaned down to whisper something in his ear. Giggling, she left him to take her own spot.

"I haven't seen him all day!" Lenalee exclaimed to the blond wizard as she sat down. "How did he end up following you in here?"

Bloody- Scorpius' brow twitched. "I haven't the faintest."

Albus blinked as a thought occurred to him, and he eyed his friend. "Yeah, how did he end up following y-EEE!" He jerked his foot out from under Scorpius' heel and glared at the frosty-faced bastard.

Ginny blinked at them as she sat. "Alby?" Thankfully, she didn't notice the sudden sputtering from the redhead several seats down.

"M'fine," the youngest Potter whimpered, leaning down to rub his foot.

The other girl at the table frowned slightly, gaze shifting between the two friends. Finally, she turned to look at Lavi who sat on her other side. "What is up with you guys?" she asked exasperatedly.

In turn, Lavi gave her an innocent wide eyed look, which was somewhat spoiled by him half covered in pumpkin juice. "'Alby'," he deadpanned.

Albus leaned forward and scowled at him. "If you tell anyone, I will hex you so bad you won't even remember your own name," he growled.

"Albus Potter! That's no way to speak to your friends!" Ginny scolded.

"But Mum-!"

"No buts, sir! If you don't knock it off right now..." she said slowly, and left the rest up to his over-active imagination. Because, like mother like son, apparently. "Apologize this instant!"

The youth in question suppressed a full-body twitch. "I-am-so-sorry-Lavi," he said quickly.

"Where I can hear you!"

"I'm sorry Lavi, won't happen again!" Albus squeaked.

Scorpius suppressed a vindictive smirk.

Wide eyed for now a completely different reason, Lavi quailed under the demanding gaze of one Mrs. Potter. Holy Mother! Not even Ojiji could faze her! "Uh, apology accepted, Albus. No worries. None at all. None whatsoever." Whatever words it took to get Ginny to look somewhere else, he'd say it!

"Ginny, darling," Harry grinned as he stood behind his wife and rested both hands on her shoulders. He leaned down to kiss her brow. "I think they get the point."

Ginny twisted around, expression relaxing. "I hope so!" she replied. "Mr. Komui was so kind, he even gave me a map to Alby's room!"

Oh dear Merlin, save me, Albus thought, paling.

Scorpius coughed lightly into his hand. "At any rate... Mrs. Potter... How's your Quidditch team doing?"

One seat over, Lenalee blinked and turned to face Lavi again. "Quidditch?"

Lavi shrugged. Then brightened. He pulled out the book he had tucked into his jacket, safely away from juice that splashed. He rifled through some of the pages, grinning at Lenalee's startled gasp at the fleeting pictures. Aha!

Leaning right over the book, both exorcists immersed themselves in the chapter about a game on broomsticks and half-sentient flying balls (most of which were as nasty as Kanda).

At the head of the table, James looked over the spread of food, drink, family, and friends. Not bad for my eighteenth. Though, if he could wish...

xXx

This chapter is dedicated to the wonderful summerbirdy, whom prompted me to update with her powerful cross-continental puppy stare. It's a bit more potent than Az's. (Sorry, Az.)