I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Side Dishes

36th Course – Burnt

Takes place a few weeks after the last chapter, after some time has passed with Harry being in Japan and after his visit home that was seen in the 170th course in Taste.

Harry opened his eyes slowly and it took a few moments for him to register that they were open. He was looking blankly at the ceiling, not focusing on anything. He blinked slowly, staring myopically at nothing, not caring that nothing was clear or in focus.

He was tired. Beyond tired. Beyond weary.

Despite having just woken up, after a reasonable amount of time being asleep, he was still incredibly tired and drained. The kind of weariness that had sunk deep into the bones, the kind that a night's sleep and rest did not shake off.

The last few weeks had been grueling. He was no stranger to toil, to hard graft. He had worked long hours before in many different environments. He more or less grew up that way at the Dursleys and the environment then had been some of the worst. The cold indifference from the Dursleys, the snide comments and bitter critiques, the incredibly high expectations and the punishments when he failed to meet them.

And yet, somehow, his current work environment was surprisingly almost as challenging. He knew he would be in for a culture shock moving to and working in Japan. He knew that he would be put into a completely different place and have to adapt and do his best. He had tried his hardest to learn some Japanese before arriving, wanting to put his best foot forward.

Shukaku continued to be incredibly challenging in every way. The food was still exquisite and while Harry was learning how to make a lot of it, it was still a level that he was not quite at. He got closer every day and even Akari had said he was doing well, but it was still something that he was trying to become more familiar with and get a grasp of. Morimoto zu Maketto, while being more approachable, was still quite challenging. Harry was getting better at recognizing Japanese words and orders and things, while still relying on the translator plug of course, but it was still an effort to get there.

Aikawa no Boto was a reprieve in a lot of ways. The food there was the simplest and the most accessible, yet still foreign to him still in many ways. However Harry did not feel nearly as stressed or focused there as he was at the other locations. He frowned, waking up more, as he pondered why. If anything, it should be slightly more. While the two other restaurants were more formal and large, they also had more scrutiny and more expectation than the bento restaurant. Also, the bento restaurant was a family establishment with the livelihood of the family relying on it.

Harry then realized why he found it to be less stressful and hard. It was because of the people there.

At Akari's restaurants, Harry had no one he would call a friend. Not like at La Brasserie when he was there for almost four months. Leslie had been friendly from the first day and Callie and Andres by the end of the second and third respectively, with the rest becoming more or less so by the end of the first few weeks. They had treated Harry with some professional detachment but had warmed up to him and treated him like a fellow cook and friend. There was genuine disappointment when he left and he still regularly exchanged messages with them when he could.

Aside from Hinako, no one at Shukaku or Maketto were friendly. They were professional of course, but it was the cold kind of professionalism where they held him at arm's length and did not try to be any friendlier or more approachable. Akari was a good mentor to him, checking on him and training with him often, but she ran both restaurants with an intensity that was admirable and intimidating in equal measure. Anthony had his restaurant and enjoyed his time off and was always happy to share stories and exploits and shoot the breeze with fellow chefs and friends. Whereas Akari focused more on her work and craft and while she had her friends, she did not bring Harry along or do much with him out of work hours.

Even now, nearly five weeks or so into his time in Japan, the other cooks and crews of both restaurants were wary of Harry, treating him with polite professionalism that had a slight undercurrent of disdain there. They watched him, judged him without saying or seeming to. Corrected his attempts and took his efforts without saying good or ill about them. Politely declining his attempts at getting to know them.

At the Aikawa restaurant, the people there were night and day compared to the others. They laughed with him and not at him. They chided him teasingly when he said things wrong, happy to help him learn. They asked him questions about Wizarding Britain and his time at Hogwarts and his friends and family. They shared their time and culture with him unreservedly. Sota, Chiyo, Tsumugi spent time with him when they could, happy to take him around and show him their culture too. Harry also managed to visit Kaito and the Sakai family restaurant and it was wonderful to see them and eat there.

Were it not for them, Harry would be feeling very different right now. And with his busy schedule at the other two restaurants, he could only go to the Aikawa's once a week or so, sometimes even longer.

Harry closed his eyes and snorted softly. It was very strange, to him, to feel that way. Considering he grew up cooking for the Dursleys and working for them as a personal chef essentially, all alone, he thought he would be used to this sort of treatment. This type of working environment. It seemed after actually having friends at Hogwarts, gaining his family with Sirius and Remus, the Dumbledores, the Tonkses, the Flamels, and everyone else, it changed him. He no longer was used to being alone.

It was a humbling thought and feeling that somehow made him feel even more lonely.

For a very long moment, Harry thought about leaving Japan and going home.

Suddenly there was pressure on his chest and he looked down, squinting slightly. "Hi Hedwig," he said, voice still raspy from sleep. He smiled more easily when he heard her coo at him. The owl had woken up and seen him lie there, staring blankly at nothing. She hopped out of her futon and climbed onto his chest, looking down at him with concern.

"I'm tired," he confessed as she leaned closed, her round amber eyes peering at him closely. He smiled when she nuzzled him gently, hooting softly. "At least I have the day off." After some more nuzzling, Hedwig hopped off his chest and waddled to his glasses, bringing them back to him. He slipped them on and sighed again. He looked up after he felt her tug on his hair some. "What's up?"

She fluttered to the window and pulled the curtain aside. The sun shone in brightly and she barked a few times, pointing with a wing at the outside.

"You think I should go out?" he asked. He hummed when she bobbed her head at him. "I don't know…"

Hedwig fluttered back to him and bit his finger gently, tugging on it. She let him go and barked again, puffing her chest out at him. She took deep exaggerated breaths, stretching her impressive wingspan wide and flapped her wings. She walked around his prone body, making a show of looking at things and tilting her head in contemplation. She then waddled back and sat on his chest again and opened and closed her beak at him several times, licking her beak in between bites.

"Just go shopping and look around? Just because?" He softened at her nodding. "And then get something for us to eat. You know what, I think that's a great idea." He smiled genuinely at how plump and pleased she looked. "Yeah, let's do that." He sat up and hugged her. "I love you, Hedwig."

She cheeped lovingly back, bonking her head against his with warmth and adoration.

-0-

Harry stepped through the torii gate with Hedwig sitting on his head. He had learned that the gates came in all shapes and sizes and colors and were a part of the history of Japan. They were seen as symbols of the natural world and the spiritual world meeting, where one passed through the gate to go from one to the other. Wizarding Japan also used them abundantly as stable anchor points between magical areas and non-magical areas, as well as their form of Floo travel.

The one leading into the local magical market acted a lot like the Leaky Cauldron or the way to get onto Platform 9 and 3/4s. Where the non-magical population saw the gate, they did not seem to see people entering and leaving it as long as the people doing so did it more or less normally. After walking through the market gate, a large expanse of land opened up, showing all kinds of stalls. While Kyoto had a large shopping district much like Diagon Alley, Foro della Magia, and Rue Magique, there were a number of smaller market areas scattered about the city. They typically had stalls where locals sold groceries and other small goods and services with even some of the small markets having their own specialties. For more variety and things, one went to the bigger districts like the central Kyoto one or the one in Tokyo but for small things, the locals preferred their small markets.

The one closest to Harry was along the riverbank and it had the best fish market stall there, at least everyone who lived there said so. Harry had visited it a few times and by now, he was a somewhat familiar sight. Most recognized him, and Hedwig, and were polite and cordial, just shy of being truly friendly. Harry walked up and down the stalls, taking everything in. He was now more familiar with the different ingredients and things, though he still relied on the charms on his lenses and the plug in his ear.

As he stopped and looked at the butcher's stall, thinking about everything and nothing, something caught his eye. He noticed a small boy that was there, looking at things too. He looked very young and while young children at the market were common enough, he noticed no one seemed to be with the boy. The boy was walking slowly, both hands clutching a small bag in front of him.

"Have you noticed anyone with him?" Harry asked softly. His eyes narrowed slightly when Hedwig shook her head, also noticing and looking at the boy. Harry felt something in his stomach shift a little as he looked at the boy's face and felt a form of recognition in his expression. Something achingly familiar. He took a deep breath and walked to the boy who looked up and immediately looked at Harry with suspicion while eyes widening while looking at Hedwig.

"Kon'nichiwa, Hari Pottadesu. Tas…Tasuke ge, I mean, ga, uh, bloody-hell-" he stammered.

"I can speak English," the boy said in lightly accented English, staring up at Harry.

Harry flushed but breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank Merlin. Sorry, my Japanese is still a work in progress. I'm Harry and this is Hedwig. Do you need some help?"

"No," the boy said shortly.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked. "Are you with someone?"

"No," the boy said again, eyes narrowing at Harry. "I do not need help." It was the boy's turn to flush when others looked at them with open curiosity and suspicion. "I am shopping for my father."

"Where is he?" Harry asked, looking around.

"At home." The boy scrubbed at his eyes. "He is sick and I need to get him food."

Harry's gut twisted and he knelt down until he and the boy were eye-to-eye. "It's just you and him?" he asked softly.

The boy nodded, not looking at Harry.

"He must be pretty sick to be there and you here," Harry said gently.

The boy rubbed at his eyes again. "I am not supposed to leave without him," he mumbled, lip trembling. "But he is sick and needs to eat and I need to get him something. I need to make something so he will get better."

Harry looked down at the boy with a complicated expression. He smiled softly when Hedwig fluttered over to the boy and she nuzzled his hand gently, making him look at her with shock. "That's my girl," he said softly.

He rose to his feet and looked around the market stalls. "Right. Let's see here." Moving with purpose, he filled a small basket with ingredients.

"Father said I should not accept anything from strangers," the boy said, looking at Harry.

"Well I'm going to make something and show you how to make it," Harry said. "And Hedwig is nice to you, so she's not a stranger anymore, right?"

"I do not know," the boy said slowly, looking at the snowy owl who barked at him in a comforting way. "But…I cannot use a knife. Not without Father near."

"No problem, you can do things without one," Harry said. He finished buying things and gave the wide-eyed stall owner the money for the groceries. He then walked to a small sitting area and Hedwig gently pushed the boy to follow Harry, butting him with her head and hooting encouragement.

Harry poured water into a small pot that he grew back to normal size, taken from his bag, and set it over a small portable burner, another invention by Nicolas and Perenelle. He then put chicken wings into the water and watched as the water began to bubble and boil. "We're going to par cook them a little," Harry explained. "Once the water boils, carefully pour out the water and clean them a little to make a cleaner broth."

The boy watched with big eyes before they narrowed in focus. He took some parchment from Harry and began to write on it with a charcoal pencil.

"Pour more water on top and bring it to a boil again, then simmer for some time. We're also going to put in ginger and scallion. The scallion you wash and break apart by hand and throw it in and the ginger you peel with a spoon like this. See? Nice and easy. Ginger will add flavor and is good for people who are sick. We are also going to put in some shiitake mushrooms and snap off the stem like this. If you see some of this cloudy stuff on top, skim it off."

After the water simmered some, Harry strained out the solids and put the broth aside. "That's the chicken broth. Save the mushrooms and the wings, we'll use them again. You will also use your hands to peel the skin off the wings and put the meat aside, but be careful, it's hot.

"Now we wash the rice, which I'm sure you knew of course, and then add a bit of salt and a little oil and let it sit for a couple minutes. Then we add the broth and let it simmer for a while." Harry put the lid on the small pot and then stripped the meat off the wings and set them aside with the cooked mushrooms. Then there was nothing to do for some time aside from sit there in a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

"Are you a cook?" the boy asked after the silence dragged for a while.

"I am," Harry said. "I'm here learning how to cook Japanese food and to learn how different kitchens and restaurants work."

"Why?"

"I like to cook," Harry said, thinking deeply and feeling relieved that despite his current mood, it was still true. "I like to learn how to make different things and was given an opportunity to learn here in Japan."

The boy blinked at him before looking down at Hedwig who sat between the two, fluffed up and enjoying the breeze and the sun. He gently patted her, growing more confident when she barked happily at him. "Hedwig? She is very beautiful." He smiled when she looked at him proudly and nodded in agreement.

"She is. She's the best," Harry grinned.

"My name is Kazuhiko," the boy said shyly.

"Nice to meet you," Harry said, offering his hand. After a moment, Kazuhiko shook it. He smiled again when Hedwig offered a leg and the boy shook it just as politely.

"Why?" Kazuhiko asked after another long moment. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because I know what it's like to want to try to help and you don't know how to do it," Harry said softly. "I know what it's like to be alone and to try your best."

"Oh." Kazuhiko looked away and petted Hedwig.

Harry lifted the lid off the pot and looked at the bubbling mix within. "Now here, the congee or rice porridge or…okayu? Is that right?" He smiled when Kazuhiko nodded. "Brilliant. Now it's basically done but you can keep cooking it if you want it to be more soupy. This is good now though. And now you put the mushrooms and chicken back in and you can crack and beat an egg and mix it in to cook with it for extra protein and filling. You can also season it more with shoyu and goma abura. Even miso but I'm not sure how traditional that is. Just don't boil it. That's bad."

He ladled out two bowls of the piping hot congee and cooled one of them a bit with a wave of his wand and put it in front of Hedwig while giving the other to the boy. Kazuhiko watched Hedwig eat eagerly and blissfully before he blew air over a spoonful and took a careful bite. "It's good!" he said, eyes widening and he ate swiftly, huffing and puffing to cool it.

"You can add more ginger and chopped negi to the top too," Harry smiled. "When you can use a knife that is." He watched his owl and the boy eat and he poured the congee into a conjured container, closing it tight. He put the rest of the things he bought into a bag with the container and gave it to Kazuhiko.

"How much is that?" the boy asked hesitantly, looking at the bag with obvious want and then up at Harry with trepidation, clutching his own bag tightly.

"One Hedwig hug," Harry said. He smiled at Kazuhiko's confusion which went away when Hedwig headbutted his arm, hooting warmly. The boy smiled and hugged the owl and then let go. He picked up the offered bag of things, still looking at Harry with some worry.

"Hurry home," Harry said kindly. "Make that for your father and I'm sure he'll feel loads better."

"Thank you, Harry-San!" Kazuhiko bowed and ran, clutching the bags to his chest and was soon lost to sight.

Harry watched him disappear and he sighed, the sound coming up from deep within him and slowly escaping. He smiled sadly at Hedwig who climbed onto his knee and looked up at him with concern. "He reminded me of me at that age," Harry said softly, eyes distant. "I could have used the help."

Hedwig jumped and collided into his face, knocking him down and back. She cooed and barked, burying his face into her chest feathers as she wrapped her wings around his head, nuzzling and nipping. Harry flailed and laughed, feeling much better and he patted her back as she showered him with affection. She eventually let go and Harry rose to his feet, cleaning the sitting space and putting the burner and pot away in his bag. He walked back to the market stalls with Hedwig sitting on his head.

"That was very good of you," the grocer said, looking at Harry with a soft expression.

"Oh, well, it doesn't take much to be kind to children," Harry said, cheeks flushed. "Besides, it's tough being on your own like that."

The grocer looked at Harry for a moment longer and a few of the other shoppers and stall owners looked at each other. The grocer smiled. "You know, traditionally, we have udon soup for when we are feeling sick in Kyoto. It's very warming and delicious, and easy on the stomach, much like okayu. You should try and make it! Here." He started gathering different things and putting them in a bag.

"You'll need light soy sauce too, nothing dark," another said and brought some over. "And a proper udon needs abura-age."

"Make sure you use kombu for the dashi, something light. You don't want to muddle the flavor with too much other stuff," a third said.

After some time of multiple people giving suggestions and recipes and arguing with one another over what were the best ingredients and best ways to make the udon soup, Harry was well ladened with groceries and words of advice. After a mild argument where the stall owners tried to not take payment, they agreed to a small amount and wished Harry luck in making a 'smashing bowl of udon' and hoped to see him again soon.

"That was really nice," Harry said, feeling better. "That was a great idea, Hedwig."

Hedwig cheeped smugly and tugged on his hair playfully as they left the riverside market.

-0-

"Excuse me."

"Hello! How can I help you?" The grocer smiled, looking up and saw a young man standing at the stall entrance. His eyes moved down slightly and he recognized Kazuhiko standing with the man. "Oh hello there, good to see you."

"Thank you for the groceries," the young man said. "My son was here the other day and I wanted to pay for them, as well as hope to get some information."

"They were paid for, don't worry," the grocer said.

"I told you," Kazuhiko said, looking up at his father.

The man smiled wryly. "I didn't say I didn't believe you, I just wanted to check." He looked back at the grocer. "Apparently a man helped my son? I would like to thank him. An American?"

"He's not American," Kazuhiko said. "I'm pretty sure. He also had a beautiful white owl that was very nice named Hedwig. His name is Harry."

"I think Harry-San is originally from Britain, or England," the butcher said. "Which England is a part of Britain? Is that right?"

"Does he live or work around here?" the man asked, surprised when others seemed to know of Harry.

"He lives around here, not sure where," the grocer said. "As far as working, I think he works in both Kyoto and Tokyo. I'm ashamed to say I never asked."

"He works at Aikawa no Boto sometimes," a customer said helpfully. "The bento store at the corner of the district. You might find him there. Their food is very good and they've been selling new and interesting things."

"Thank you so much," the man said gratefully. "Come on Kazuhiko." He and the boy left the riverside market and made their way through the local magical shopping district, finally finding the bento store.

"Welcome," Akane said warmly, seeing them walk in. "How can I help you?"

"Do you have someone named Harry working here?" the man asked.

"Why?" Akane asked, frowning lightly.

The man smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. My name is Ryo Hirata, and this is my son, Kazuhiko. I am trying to find this Harry to thank him. I was recently sick and my son went to the local market to get food and medicine. Harry was kind to him and taught him to make something without using a knife. It was wonderful and now I want to thank him properly."

Akane softened. "That does sound like him. Yes, Harry does work here once a week or so depending on his schedule. He isn't here right now. I don't know if he will be. One moment." She poked her head through the curtain blocking off the front to the kitchen. "Sota! Is Harry coming today?"

"I think so?" Sota called back. "I don't know. I can send a message to ask." He walked out and looked at Ryo and Kazuhiko with curiosity. "Is something wrong?"

"No, they would like to speak to him. For something good," Akane said.

Sota looked at them for a moment longer then nodded. "Let me send him a message and see." He walked back into the kitchen and after a few minutes, he returned. "Apparently it was a short day at Shukaku and he was coming over anyways. He'll be here in a few moments."

After a few minutes, Harry walked into the store with Hedwig sitting on his head. "Hello," Harry said warmly. "Oh, hey, Kazuhiko. Good to see you."

"Hello Harry-San!" Kazuhiko said with a bright smile. "Hi Hedwig!"

Ryo looked down at his son with surprise before he turned to Harry and bowed sincerely. "Thank you," he said in fine English and with evident emotion. "I am grateful for the kindness you showed my son."

"No problem at all," Harry said, offering his hand and shaking Ryo's warmly. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."

"I am," Ryo said. "I was struck with a bad cold and was bed-ridden. I slept for a while and didn't even realize how out of it I was until I woke up and I could smell food. I was so surprised when Kazuhiko brought me the okayu and it tasted good, even while I was sick I could taste it! And he didn't injure himself which is amazing. I didn't know he even knew how to make it. Which, after I recovered some, I learned how." He reached into his pocket and took out some coins. "Please, I can't ask you to pay for anything for us."

"No really, it's fine," Harry said, refusing the money. "I'm glad I could help."

Ryo hesitated and then nodded, putting the money away carefully. "Thank you," he repeated softly. "I feel terrible. We recently returned back to Kyoto and Japan from overseas and I do not really have family or friends in the area. I just got us settled but before I could do anything else, I got very sick." He hugged his son who hugged him back strongly.

Akiko had come out to watch and listen. "Just returned?" she asked.

Ryo nodded. "Yes," he said. "We, Kazuhiko and I, used to live in America with…his mother. Some things happened and he and I moved back here where I originally grew up. I hope to provide a better life for him here."

"So you don't have a job now?" Akiko asked baldly.

"Mother!" Akane gasped.

"No, it's okay," Ryo said, wincing a little. "No, not yet. I have some savings, but I hope to find something soon now that I have recovered."

"What can you do?" Akiko asked.

"Grandmother," Sota groaned, hiding his face with his hands.

"Well I can do woodwork," Ryo said, looking at Akiko with some amusement and miffed exasperation. "Hand and magic. I am proficient at Transfiguration with wood as the medium."

Akiko nodded and walked to the doorway to the store. "Daigo! Come here!"

"What do you want, old crow?!" An older man walked to the restaurant, looking the same age as Akiko. He wore a broad apron over his clothes and a bandanna keeping greying hair out of his eyes. He smiled and nodded at the others before scowling at Akiko. "What?! I'm busy!"

"Busy being not busy," Akiko retorted.

"Bah! As per usual, you spout nonsense," Daigo sniffed. "You know how overrun with work we are after losing a couple of people. Can barely keep up with the work and since you like to skimp the bento we get, we don't have the energy." He dodged out of the way of a spell Akiko threw at him, shaking his fist at her.

"Hire him," Akiko said, pointing at a flabbergasted Ryo. "He works with wood and can do it by hand and with magic. Knows transfiguration. He just returned to Japan and has to provide for himself and his son. No one else here to help them save for Harry the other day."

"You know how to do woodwork multiple ways?" Daigo asked, looking Ryo up and down.

"Yes Sir," Ryo said, looking and sounding slightly lost, as if trying to catch up to what was going on. "With knife and chisel as well as magic. I grew up doing it. Repairs as well as carving."

"What's your family name?" Daigo asked, peering closely at him.

Ryo coughed. "Hirata."

"Ahhhh, then you probably do know woodwork. You know, I remember hearing about a Hirata that left the family due to some drama."

Ryo flushed. "Will that be a problem?" he asked shortly.

"No. Tarou Hirata is a bastard and we never got along in any way," Daigo snorted and Ryo's eyes widened. "And any chance to piss him off is a chance I'll take. Right, follow me. Let me see what you can do." He walked out and Ryo followed, still looking slightly dazed and Kazuhiko pushed his father from behind eagerly.

"There," Akiko said with satisfaction. "Daigo will stop whining and the poor boy will have a job and his poor boy will be taken care of."

"Why didn't you help me when I was younger and wanted to work there?" Sota asked indignantly.

"Because you're terrible at woodwork and good at cooking," Akiko said matter-of-factly, making Sota and Akane groan and Harry smile. "If you were good at woodwork, that would be a different situation."

"I love you too, Grandmother," Sota said wryly.

"And I love you," she smiled and patted him on the cheek as she walked past. She looked up at Harry. "Why did you help the boy? I know you are a helpful sort but still."

Harry coughed. "I know what it's like to be that age and wanting to help but not sure how to. And not being taught how." He looked away. "The opposite of it really." There was a long beat of silence. He coughed again when Akiko hugged him solidly around the middle.

"You're a good boy," Akiko said warmly. "Come with me. Help me prepare the fish and I'll teach you the family satsuma age."

"Hey! Even I don't know how to make that yet!" Sota cried. "Why not?!"

"Because you're not good enough yet!" Akiko called back, walking into the kitchen and pulling Harry after her.

"You just said I was!"

"I said you are good, not good enough!"

"Grandmother!"

"I feel bad," Harry grinned.

"No reason to," Akiko said, patting his arm.

"Grandmother has gotten much ruder lately," Sota complained, shaking his head. "Must be her years."

Akane laughed and poked her son. "She's happier. It's a good thing, even if we all suffer a little for it."

-0-

Chikao frowned, looking down at the plates.

"Is something wrong Chef?" Harry asked.

"No," Chikao said slowly. He looked at the plates closely and then looked back at Harry with a frown. "No, it is acceptable."

"Thank you, Chef," Harry said. He smiled blandly as Chikao stared at him for a moment longer before the other man left with the tray of plates. Harry turned back to his station and went back to work.

He was still tired, but he was no longer weary.

-0-0-0-

Wentley - Japan is a very different environment with its own difficulties, and I thought it would be interesting to see him navigate it, especially leading into today's chapter which I was very happy with and proud of. He's still going to make the most of things and make it through, but things will be different depending on where he is and this is no exception.

odonnelllzoo99 - That was what I was going for. A completely different work and cultural environment would make things feel very different and he would be affected by it, which culminates in today's chapter. I was hoping for a realistic take that fits the setting and makes sense in the real world somewhat as well, so I'm glad to hear of your experiences.

TheSphynx - That would be interesting.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - She probably ate her fries too. She's a hungry happy owl. Pretty much. You have to do what you must to be successful and fit into the local culture and environment. Thanks for reading.

HoneyBear84 - There are no plans of it currently but who knows in the future.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Not quite, but something will happen soon enough. Pretty much, he has ample older women power behind him taking care of him.