Chapter 26 - Sometimes life requires planning.
December 24-25, 2005

Oh brother, this was dangerous. He never would have risked kissing Deirdre if she hadn't made that comment about wasting the mistletoe, and now he couldn't stop, letting his lips trail over her cheeks and nose. Her lips were so soft and she tasted of peppermint, and for quite a few minutes Gareth felt as addle-brained as he had on the potions. He broke away to take a breath and step back, holding her at arm's length so he could rally his befuddled thoughts. "We have to stop," he breathed.

She nodded, blinking at him, a bit glassy-eyed. "I…yeah…it's better if we…stop," she said, pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks.

He smiled. She was so rarely flustered it was all he could do not to step towards her again. "I'm going to go back to my house now," he said, taking another step backwards.

"Yeah, you definitely should," she laughed. "And I'm going in the opposite direction."

"Good," he said, sure he was grinning like a complete fool. "I may have to walk around in the snow for a while first, or run through it, or roll around in it to cool down."

She stifled another laugh and turned to head away. He walked backwards, watching her, until she turned back. "Gareth?" she said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Happy Christmas," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.

He crossed the snow towards her in just a few steps, kissing her soundly once more. "Merry Christmas," he murmured in her ear, before letting her go and turning away, transforming and running as fast as he could through the white drifts towards the dark woods, grateful for the cold clumps of snow splashing up into his face as he ran.

Deirdre trudged off through the snow to her little house. She couldn't sing at all, but if she could this would have been the moment for it, she was so filled with happiness. She let herself in and came face to face with Gemma, sitting on the sofa in the little living room, clearly waiting for her.

"Do I need to say 'I'm sorry' or 'You're welcome'?" Gemma asked, leaning forward expectantly with her hands clasped together.

"I'd have thought you'd still be out with Joel looking to cause more mischief," Deirdre laughed.

"We ran off and ran right into Mum and Dad," Gemma shrugged. "That put an end to that. I was escorted right back here. I started some hot chocolate, do you want some?"

Deirdre accepted, and changed into her pajamas while Gemma fixed the drinks. The two of them curled up on the sofa, and Gemma wasted no time getting all the details. "So, did he kiss you?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"And, what?"

"Oh you're a beast! You know what! Did you want him to? Was it like kissing him before? What are the two of you now? Is he a good kisser? No, don't answer that one, I don't want to know, he's like my big brother."

Sipping her chocolate, Deirdre took her time. She wanted to hold on to the memory of the kisses for herself, just for a bit.

"Come on, I'm dying to know!"

"Yes, I wanted him to. Yes, it was like kissing him before, but also better. I don't know what we are now," Deirdre answered succinctly.

"You're impossible," Gemma sighed. "Are you coming back to England, or are you going to Peru with him again?"

Deirdre shrugged.

"Well, you have to talk about all those things," Gemma cautioned, sounding for all the world like an old biddy. "You're both too old to just live like you're on a perpetual holiday."

"Thanks awfully," she huffed, and drained the last of her hot chocolate. "On that note I am going to bed. Happy Christmas."

Gemma set her cup down and jumped up, hugging Deidre tightly. "You two are my most favorite people in the world," she said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "So I want the pair of you to have the fairytale ending. Sorry if I'm being too nosy."

Deirdre hugged the younger girl. "I know you're just being nosy because you love us. And don't worry, you're one of my favorite people too."

Gareth raced over paths long familiar, dodging trees and leaping over small streams. It had been so long since he'd run for the pure joy of it. He plowed through snow drifts, jumped fallen logs and ran down a rabbit to its den. Near the eastern edge of the magical boundary line he caught the scent of his brother, and followed it to the very end of the reservation, where Joshua, in his own wolf form, was sitting on a large boulder. Gareth stood there for a moment, panting, breathing clouds into the night, until Joshua turned towards him and whined.

They both changed back and lit the ends of their wands, human eyes not able to pierce the darkness of the forest the way their wolf eyes could. Gareth walked over to join Joshua on the boulder. "Reacquainting yourself with the old homestead?" Joshua said, sliding over to make room for him.

"I was walking Deirdre back, there was mistletoe, I got a little carried away and needed to run it off," he replied, half laughing and half still trying to catch his breath.

Joshua nodded with a soft laugh. "I remember those days. Almost afraid to start something because I wasn't sure I could keep my hands off her."

"And now?"

"It's different…more settled, comfortable" Joshua smiled. "I've always found that excitement and anxiety are a little too closely related for me. Daisy is everything I ever wanted, and I appreciate the…familiarity of how things are now."

"Why'd you come out here?"

"I just needed a break from being around all the noise and the people all day long. And this used to be the furthest we could ever get from home," he shrugged. He gazed out into the night, the tip of his wand illuminating nothing but trees and more trees. "Although I guess my life isn't really too different from what it would have been if we'd stayed here."

"But you're happy, right?" Gareth asked. "I mean, you're okay with how things are, working the farm?"

"Yeah. I like the work. I like rhythm of the seasons and knowing that for the most part things are going to happen the way they've always happened. But there's enough of the unexpected to make it challenging too. I'm a creature of habit," he added, a half smile on his face. "I work, I spend most evenings at home with my wife, I go to the pub with Xavier once or twice a week and we're pretty well accepted among the other farmers now." He nudged Gareth with his shoulder. "What about you? Do feel welcomed back into the fold?"

"The prodigal son returns," Gareth said wryly. "And it's been wonderful, far better than I ever deserved."

"Well, as long as you recognize you don't deserve it," Josh quipped. "But I'm glad you're here. What you said about Sirius…about him giving us a chance…I didn't know that's what you were trying to do with Valentina. I thought…well, I just thought you were all swept up in your new life. I'm sorry I didn't try to understand. As angry as I was and as much as I wanted you to suffer," he sighed, "things don't feel right when we're all separated for so long. I'd rather have you around and driving me crazy than not around at all."

"Thanks," Gareth said, feeling his voice dangerously close to cracking. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize how much I need all of you."

"Do you need help with the business?" Joshua asked. "Honestly, we can work something out if it's too much. I don't think Papá would have ever wanted you to sell your soul to the place just to make sure we're provided for. The farm's turned a profit almost every year, so we've just been squirreling away the company dividends and donating chunks of money here and there when Daisy sees some organization she wants to help."

"No, I really think I'm good with the work," Gareth said. He cast a slightly stronger warming charm as the cold stone of their seat began to seep through his clothes. "I just got stuck in my own head, thinking you guys didn't want me around, that I'd already caused so much trouble…" His voice trailed away and he shrugged.

Joshua made a face. "I guess I did think that for a while, but I'm sorry. I just didn't know how to…to choose, I guess. I didn't know how to grieve and be there for Daisy and keep the farm going and still be there for you too."

Gareth exhaled slowly. "Let's just start over. Would you and Daisy want to come to Peru over New Years? Have a beach holiday before the baby comes?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," Joshua said, a small smile on his face. "The baby's due in another six weeks or so, just in time for lambing season, so things will be crazy then. It would be nice to get away while we have the chance."

Gareth grinned. "Good. You'll love it there: quiet town, remote house, huge private beach. Perfect getaway."

"And you don't think you'd prefer to have Deirdre all to yourself there?"

Gareth laughed. "If tonight's any indication, I'll need all the chaperones I can get!"

It was easier than Deirdre had expected falling asleep. Maybe the day had been so full that her brain decided to shut down rather than do it's normal carousel of second guessing and worrying. Whatever the reason, she was grateful that as soon as she was tucked under the covers her eyelids grew as heavy as they had with Professor Snape's potion.

Gemma woke her up with a cup of tea at seven. "Sorry," she yawned. "The other kids are already up and making noise about presents. Dad's trying to hold them off, they're building snowmen. Your stocking's on the sofa. I waited to open mine with you."

It took Gemma repeating the whole thing over again before Deirdre was awake enough to understand and accept the cup of tea. "Ta," she yawned in return. "So sweet that Ellie remembered my stocking. I wasn't thinking about that at all." She'd actually never had a Christmas stocking until that first Christmas after the war. She'd been quite surprised to come down Christmas morning at the farmhouse and see one with her name stitched on it, hanging in a row with all the others.

The two of them curled up on the sofa and slowly unpacked the little treasures in the stocking, the traditional tangerine and chocolate coins, along with new earrings, and in Deirdre's stocking a tiny pocket-sized Spanish dictionary. "That's from me," Gemma said with a smug smile. "I bought it the moment I heard you'd gone to Peru. How brave are you feeling?"

She shot the younger girl an exasperated smile. "If you must know I spoke with Professor Snape yesterday about him teaching me how to fit in better with all those rich business types that Gareth has to deal with. So the dictionary will be quite helpful, thank you."

Gemma squealed and clinked Deirdre's teacup with her own in a toast. "It's like Cinderella! And Professor Snape is your fairy godmother!"

After walking back with Joshua, Gareth had finally unwound enough to sleep, and slept hard until he was woken by a snowball spattering against his window and the shouts of the younger kids out playing in the snow.

Stockings and presents had never been part of their traditional Christmas morning, so he was as surprised and touched as Deirdre had been to find a stocking with his name on it the first Christmas after the war. But the next several years had been so chaotic and busy that he'd completely forgotten about the tradition, and was just as surprised as he'd been that first year to find his stocking waiting for him in the living room of the little house. He ate the tangerine, set the chocolates aside for later, and laughed at the little phone book and pre-paid calling card that was labeled from J, D, C, and I - no excuse not to call! He got dressed and wandered out to scrounge up a cup of coffee.

It took a longer time than usual to actually make it to the dining hall, since he kept getting stopped by people giving him hugs and saying Merry Christmas. But thankfully when he finally entered the large room, an urn of coffee was there on the counter waiting. He poured a cup and went to sit by the fireplace, wanting a moment to just sit and bask in the love and joy that was happening all around. He'd never expected things to feel so easy and comfortable again.

Professor Snape strode through the door a few minutes later, Lina with him. He paused to survey the room and spotted Gareth, heading straight towards him. "I presume you know that Miss McIntyre has asked me to assist her in learning Spanish and some of the customs of South American wizarding society?"

"Um, yes," Gareth replied, sitting up straighter in the rocking chair. "Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the other chairs nearby. He'd always found it a little irritating that the Professor tended to loom over people sometimes. "Do we need to discuss anything?"

"A great many things," Lina sighed, pulling up a chair. She was holding a small notebook, and flipped it open, pulling a pen from one of the pockets of her jacket. She was like a human Swiss Army knife, any necessary tool available at a moment's notice. "Severus informed me that you and Deirdre have decided to…rekindle your relationship, for lack of a better phrase."

Gareth frowned. "You make it sound like a bad idea."

"No, not at all, but I don't know that you've thought through the ramifications and adequately prepared her."

"I assume Professor Snape has told you what happened at the apparation center," Gareth replied slowly, running his thumb over the rim of the coffee mug, "so she is aware of some of what she'll be up against. But the people at the company, the culture we've tried to foster there is much better, and I don't have to live in Lima—"

"You are an incredibly wealthy, well connected, and influential person," Lina said flatly. "You also have magic, combat experience, and a bodyguard. You have to put things in place so that Deirdre is not left vulnerable. The moment your relationship becomes public knowledge, she will be at risk from people who would use her to get to you."

Gareth just stared at her, realizing after a moment his mouth was actually gaping. He hadn't considered any of that. His life seemed pretty routine when he wasn't falling apart. He went in to the office, checked on the mines and the factories, went to parties or dinners when it was necessary. He'd assumed Deirdre might struggle with feeling comfortable with wizarding families at the parties and dinners, or even feeling like she had purposeful work and wasn't just some accessory to his life, but… "at risk?" he repeated, already hating the way the two of the glanced at each other before looking back at him.

"Kidnapping, for example," Snape said, waving a hand in the air as though it should have been obvious.

"Kidnapping?!"

"I have someone in mind, you can call her Deirdre's assistant," Lina went on, flipping through her notebook. "She's on a job in Milan right now, but should be available in a few weeks, Severus could oversee things for another week, but then he will be required back at Hogwarts."

"Slow down," Gareth said, holding up a hand and feeling a growing irritation that the pair of them were simply orchestrating things for his life. "I am perfectly capable of hiring her a bodyguard, but—"

"She won't just need a bodyguard," Lina interrupted. "She needs someone to help her with the language, and choose clothes, and learn ballroom and dining etiquette, how to address people of the various classes, how to manage servants." She listed the things, ticking them off on her fingers. "It's better if I pull in someone I can trust before word gets out. There's a chance anyone you hire will be a plant. And I'm tempted to oust that fellow Ramón and get you one of my people as well. If he'd been one of mine there's no way things would have gone as far as they did this last time. Although you apparently were able to function well enough that Ms. Velasquez didn't notice anything amiss."

"Miss Velasquez? The accountant who works with Maria?" Gareth asked, stunned. "She's on your payroll? As what, some sort of spy?"

Lina frowned. "She's an accountant. But she also keeps an eye out for anything that I might need to help handle. For instance, that politician who pushed for you to release a company audit last year. She let me know about that, so I can keep tabs on him and run interference if he starts to become problematic."

"So you have people in my company who report to you instead of me on things that may be…problematic," he said slowly, his voice sharper as his anger grew. "Who else besides Velasquez?"

She raised an eyebrow. "It's best if you don't know. Suffice it to say I have people in the mines, the factories, and the corporate offices. That sabotage attempt two years ago at the Antamina Mine? My people thwarted that."

Gareth scrubbed a hand over his face. "But not Ramón?"

"No, you hired him before I could get someone in place. And I tried to bring him in several years ago, offered him more money to do what the others were doing, his job plus information. He refused. Said he was already doing all that for you and wouldn't go behind your back to tell it to someone else." She gave him a rare smile. "I do appreciate that sort of loyalty."

"So do I," he snapped. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. After everything else Lina had done to protect their pack, maybe this didn't seem as out of bounds to her as it felt to him. But he owed Ramón a raise after hearing this. "Okay, can we revisit you infiltrating my life later and focus on Deirdre?" Gareth sighed. He looked to Professor Snape. "I was planning to ask you and Professor Price to come back through Lima before you return to the UK. I figured you could tour the factory, look over my itinerary for the next few months, and see where to best focus whatever help you think Deirdre might need. But this," he gestured toward Lina, "this is too much. You can't play Pygmalion with her, she'll…" He pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting off a sudden panic. She'd turn tail and run, that's what she'd do. She'd only hear a list of areas where she was lacking and decide all over again that he was better off without her, or worse, that he simply wasn't worth it.

"I appreciate what you mean about putting her at risk," he finally said. "But I need to think this through before I make any decisions about what those protocols are. And I will talk with Deirdre about the risks and your suggestions. Please, don't say anything to her yet. Now can we not deal with this today? It's Christmas. I came in here to sit by the tree and enjoy the fact that my life isn't a total train wreck."

The two of them left him, and he rocked slowly in the chair, cradling his now cold cup of coffee, and for the first time in years praying over all his fears and indecisions.