A/N Got lots of unsolicited pm's on my first chapter, I was pretty surprised, since this platform has never really had much of an issue with that before. The worst I've ever gotten are 'join my roleplay group' types. So, for the record: I don't have time to roleplay or write other people's stuff when I'm in the middle of a 37 book series, and I'm not paying for ai art I can make myself. All solicitation id's in my pms will be blocked from now on.

With that bit of business out of the way, Happy Yule! Have another chapter. ~DQ

Chapter Two

A Strange New World

Bres watched Lunette intently as they got settled in the Enchanté Tea Room and Patisserie, intent on following her queues as to what might be expected of him in such a place. Lunette gazed at him fixedly and he smiled softly, knowing that she'd pick up that he was much too curious about the world around him to be overwhelmed just yet, content to absorb as much as he could now to be processed later. Lunette smiled knowingly at him, ordering some strawberry tarts and tea before turning her attention to Roy.

"So, from what I read off of you, your job has something to do with Ron owing Harry a favor?" Lunette prompted curiously.

"Ah yes," Roy said with a smile, carefully stirring his tea without hitting the sides of the cup and setting it aside. Bres watched carefully, attempting to do the same. "Even before I stepped foot in Genoa, I had already gotten the sense that it was time for a change in how I was approaching things… call it a course correction of sorts," he attempted to explain. "After going on an expedition where everything went wrong and the only saving grace was what friends I had chosen to go with me, I felt it was time… long overdue… to get back in touch with my other self… the person I was before my memory was restored. Because after I regained my memories, I had trouble finding my way… and thanks to plenty of therapy sessions I really don't want to get into, I discovered that I really didn't like myself all that much, and my attempts at gaining forgiveness from the surviving wizards I had wronged weren't really giving me any relief from it. During that last adventure to help Emil Trench on his futile quest for Pandora's Box, I realized I had lost my motivation for that sort of writing altogether, and I certainly didn't see the romance in becoming a hero any longer. So, over ales with my friends, they noted that I had developed a sharp eye for detail and nuance in interviews which was, admittedly, honed during my years of gathering other people's stories for my own use. They suggested that I develop my talent in a more constructive way. And while I would prefer a presence on WizTV, I need more of a foundation to learn how to translate that which I know… writing… to where I want to be. Those who don't me may think it's taking a step down, but really, I don't give a damn what they think any longer considering how much support I've been getting from my friends recently. Of course, Ron still doesn't like me, but one can't expect to please everyone, can one?"

Lunette put a hand to each side of her head and then spread them out, making an explosion sound.

"What is that?" Bres asked curiously.

"I'm mind blown. In other words, the Rip Van Winkle Effect has already set in. You've really changed, Roy," Lunette said.

"Well no, but I'm working on it," Roy said with a shrug. "Is there anything else, or?"

"Ask me anything," Lunette told him enthusiastically.

"Perhaps you could start by telling me what you've been doing since your retirement five years ago?" Roy suggested, getting out a pad of paper.

"I've been busy getting married," Lunette explained and Roy paused and glanced over at her dark companion, who was sipping his water and gazing at it curiously before looking over at her. She put her hand on his shoulder. "This is my husband, Lord Bres from Tir Na Nog."

"I'm from Svartheim, really…"

"Don't confuse him," Lunette suggested.

"You're worried about me confusing him?" Bres repeated in apparent amusement. "What about me?"

"You'll manage. I trust you," Lunette informed Bres.

"Perhaps we need to start at the beginning," Roy suggested.

The three of them sat there long enough to order elevenses, when Roy ended up having the honor of explaining to Bres how to use the loo. Many people passed by the window at the three of them at the table, curious as to what Vallid was going, but no one really approached them until John came into the adjoining bakery to drop their daughter Sharon to help with lunch.

"I'm not sure I want our daughter here. There's a strange man in the tea room," Mitch murmured worriedly to John.

"Strange man? Was he making a pass at you, then?" John teased him.

"I'm serious, John. He reminds me ever so much of Mirage," Mitch whispered.

Suddenly alarmed, John ignored Mitch's protest and strode out into the tea room, immediately honing into the foreboding stranger sitting near the front. Then he tilted his head in confusion when he saw him sitting with Lunette and Roy, going over to the table.

"Do my eyes deceive me, then, or 'tis one of my old Counselors come back from Otherworld?" John asked, earning a smile from Lunette.

"Good to see you John! I thought you'd be at the castle by now," Lunette said warmly.

"I've a week, yet, enjoying some quality time with Mitch and our daughter," John said, Lunette blinking at that.

"You have a daughter now?" she repeated in surprise.

"I surprised Carol with that one too," John said with amusement. "Would you like to meet her? She helps my Mitch for a couple of hours in the afternoon in the summer and I just dropped her off."

"Great! They can meet my husband Bres at the same time!" Lunette said. It was John's turn to blink.

"Your husband! This is your husband, then? After that display at the weddin' where you stomped on the bouquet and swore you'd never go through it again?" John asked, causing Lunette to grimace. Bres gazed at his wife's new expression with fascination.

"Yeah, okay, I did do that, and I did say that, and I'll gladly eat my words," Lunette said. "It was worth it, because I've never been happier."

"I am happy for you, truly! I'll go get our Sharon," John said.

"And Mitch?" Lunette said.

"Ah, that might be more of a challenge," John admitted. Lunette read his expression, glancing at Bres and back.

"Tell you what… how about I invite myself to the Black Mansion tonight? Maybe we'll surprise a few people there," Lunette suggested.

"Savage! Let's do that, then!" John readily agreed with a smile.

"It's a plan!" Lunette said cheerfully, and John stepped back into the bakery, Mitch ducking back behind the corner from where he had been watching nervously.

"I should get the bill," Roy offered.

"What, on your wages? I know better. I've got it, Roy, you just worry about getting that interview to Ron before he skins you," Lunette suggested.

"Thank you so much, I'm very grateful," Roy said sincerely as he got up, bowing his head before hurrying out the door and towards the Daily Prophet once more.

"Where to next, Islene?" Bres asked.

"A quick check in with Royal Seamstress Minerva to let her know we're here," Lunette suggested.

"Is the Seamstress going to offer tea as well?" Bres asked concernedly, making Lunette laugh.

"If she does, I'll decline politely," Lunette promised, but then grew thoughtful as she gazed through the door to the empty bakery counter. A student came in with some sickles in hand, and she wasn't surprised that it was John who ended up getting some biscuits for her.

"Your emotions are strange right now," Bres said solemnly, and Lunette's eyes shifted over to him. "The excitement and anticipation had turned into concern."

"It's nothing," Lunette said, despite the fact that she knew it wouldn't work with him, his fixed gaze remaining steady on her. "They're very uneasy about your presence."

"Oh yes, I noticed. I warned you they might be, did I not?" Bres said with a thin smile. "Historically speaking, we are all mortal enemies, after all. But have you not told me many times that the wars that damned my kingdom are hundreds upon hundreds of years in the past here?"

"Yes, but Mirage was only five years ago, and that is who they remember when they look at you," Lunette said.

"Mirage?" Bres repeated.

"The Gardener's Uncle, one of the condemned for striking the Diamond," Lunette explained quietly. "He's dead now, but not before killing an incredible amount of humans in his wake."

"I see," Bres said, quiet and thoughtful. "But their sin is not our sin. The svartalfar have no reason for such hatred towards humans. Our main enemies were always other Fae Races, for participating on the losing side."

"Just like most humans can't see auras, most humans also can't tell the difference between different kinds of Dark Fae races unless they look less human than you do," Lunette explained.

"I most certainly do not look like a human," Bres said indignantly, then waited by the door for Lunette to pay the bill.

"I meant obvious differences, Bres… dramatic differences… dark goblins, satyrs, slaughs and the like…" she explained as they stepped out the door.

"How could you possibly even put us in the same category as slaughs? Are humans so simple to think we are anything like them?" Bres protested.

"It's simply lack of exposure, Bres. With the exception of portal breaches, most Fae races are either exceedingly rare or they don't exist here," Lunette explained.

"If that is so, what is that presence I feel?" Bres said, looking around.

"Presence?" Lunette frowned.

"The presence of an enemy," Bres said simply.

"Wait… hold that thought, Bres. Considering how different things are here and it's likely for the people here to mistake your own aura as a threat, maybe you shouldn't immediately label anyone you're picking up as an enemy. Whoever you're sensing may be as harmless as you-"

"MAGE!" a witch's voice yelled, and Bres saw a dark entity barreling for him. He immediately jumped away from Lunette and into the middle of the street, putting his hands up in a defensive stance. "Mage, don't!"

"Bres!" Lunette shouted in return, running up to him.

A blonde man in Ministry Robes and fierce blue eyes stood in front of Bres with his own hands up, but in a much more threatening stance.

"Mage, what are you doing?" Alex scolded him as she came up and tugged on his arm, but Mage refused to put his hand down.

"He means Beatrice harm," Mage said firmly.

Lunette's jaw dropped, especially after seeing the baby strapped to Alex's front.

"Alex?" Lunette said unsurely, stepping closer. Alexandria blinked.

"Lunette? When did you get back? Is he with you?" Alex asked in sudden realization.

"Alex, my husband, Bres," Lunette introduced quickly.

"This is my husband, Mage," Alex explained.

Suddenly, the two witches began laughing and decided to hug each other right in the middle of the standoff, causing both of their husbands to put down their hands in confusion, but still wary of one another.

"I can't believe you remarried! And with a baby already!" Lunette said, making faces at Beatrice when she saw the baby staring at her.

"You can't believe it? You told everyone you'd never marry again!" Alexandria said.

"Fate caught up with me," Lunette admitted ruefully.

"Yeah, me too," Alexandria admitted. "Where were you heading before Mage panicked?"

"To Minerva's to check in," Lunette said.

"Oh, we're on lunch break, so we'll walk you. Mage, it's ok. I'm sure Lunette wouldn't marry anyone who would harm Beatrice," Alexandria reassured him, noticing that he was still squinting at Bres. "Okay?"

"I'd feel better if I was holding her," Mage said firmly.

Deciding that Mage was less likely to do anything rash if he was looking after her, Alexandria quickly agreed, handing her over.

"Now, let's get out of the street, we're making a scene," Alexandria insisted.

"Sorry, Alex…"

"No, no… I'm sorrier, it's Mage, he's very protective right now," Alex replied, conscientious of the fact that Mage still hadn't taken his eyes off of Bres. "So when did you get back?"

"Just this morning. We haven't even made it to Coventry Suites yet," Lunette said.

"I wonder if Bres is going to be able to get in there," Alex said with a frown.

"Why wouldn't he be able to?" Lunette asked.

"Well, Thomas put in all sorts of extra security after Mirage got into the hotel. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't some sort of charm against Dark Fae races in the mix," Alexandria explained. "If there is, don't worry. I'll help you find someplace to stay."

Mage frowned at Alex but didn't say anything.

"Thanks, Alexandria, I'd appreciate it. But our plans aren't set in stone, we're planning to play it by ear for now. If push comes to shove, I can always head to one of my own properties. I chose Coventry Suites out of nostalgia more than anything. I've always stayed there while I'm in the area to save me the trip," Lunette explained.

"I don't see why you'd need to leave, not with how many friends you have in the area," Alexandria said. "You might think about staying at the Black Mansion… they're a bit lax when it comes to Fae detectors for obvious reasons, and I'm sure Anna is going to love having you back. The Lupins are staying on the island right now."

"We were making plans to crash the Black Mansion for dinner," Lunette said.

"That's always fun," Alex said with a grin. "The Blacks will give Bres a proper education on how things are around here. Sure it isn't too much for him?" Lunette glanced at Bres, who was listening to them with interest while still keeping a careful eye on the wary Pooka.

"He's just absorbing. He can handle it," Lunette said.

"He can handle you, so that's saying a lot," Alex teased, and Lunette pointed accusingly at Mage.

"Look at what it took to handle you, Alex, you have absolutely no room to talk," Lunette said, causing them both to chuckle again as they walked down the street to the Lasting Impressions Dress and Robe shop.

"I will stay outside and guard," Mage declared, his arm still protectively around Beatrice in her carrier.

"Alright," Alexandria said, going in. Mage squinted at Bres until he was inside and then turned his full attention on the baby.

"I don't suppose one of your people's sins was baby-stealing, was it?" Lunette murmured to her husband when they went in.

"Possibly," Bres said noncommittally without looking in her direction, then gave Minerva a courtly nod and gesture as she approached.

"Welcome! I see you finally made it back. How was the visit to Isuldan?" Minerva said.

"Let's just say I'm ready for some warmth, and I don't mean just from the weather," Lunette admitted. "Lord Rigbarn and his people are stiff and proper… practically Vulcan compared to my grandfather's tribe. I felt like I was stuck in an intense court trial for two weeks with me being the defendant."

"The discomfort wasn't intentional. My people would have not thought it proper to treat a guest in such a way," Bres immediately defended.

"Of course it wasn't intentional," Lunette said. "Every tribe and every race stuck on the wrong side of the Demon border had to find their own ways to keep from succumbing to Lilith's will, and being so far north, isolation and discipline was your people's best defense."

"So it wasn't simply court decorum that they were so poised? I thought they were stiff during the ceremony, but simply assumed it was diplomatic," Minerva admitted.

"You knew she had gotten married?" Alexandria said, hands on her hips.

"We were attempting to keep it a surprise from Jennifer until they got here," Minerva explained. "Toby was keeping us covered."

"Well, if we don't act fast, she's going to find out about it from the Daily Prophet," Lunette said with amusement. "I took pity on Lockhart and his midlife crisis and gave him an interview."

"But my parents are at Parra! Worse, they're alone at Parra!" Alex said.

"Why do you think I haven't charged in there yet? I did leave myself a summer house on the property there, but…"

"Say no more! I've got this… is it okay if I've got this?" Alex asked Lunette as an afterthought.

"Go for it, we're being flexible," Lunette agreed.

"Then let's handle this as 'an impromptu diplomatic event'. I doubt Bres could get into the Craw Mansion without an invitation, and Mercy probably hasn't stocked the larder at Baker Street so we'll probably have to go with Uncle Sirius. Give me ten minutes to set things up," Alexandria said, taking out a seashell and walking out the door.

"Perhaps some tea? Unless you're interested in the latest fashions of course," Minerva said with a thin amused smile.

"I'm more interested in the latest fashions," Bres said quickly.

"I think he's all 'tea-d out' for now," Lunette explained with amusement.

"Quite alright," Minerva said with a smile.

"I am also interested in who that woman was and what to expect at an impromptu diplomatic event and if I should find appropriate dress from this culture for such an occasion," Bres said to Minerva. "Lunette has been introducing me to everyone she sees and yet hasn't been as courteous as to tell me exactly who it is she's introducing me to in exchange."

"I am? Well, why didn't you bring that up earlier, you goose, instead of asking what's glass and what's a reporter?" Lunette asked with exasperation.

"Typically I don't have to tell you," Bres pointed out. Minerva's laugh interrupted the conversation.

"As often as I've seen Jennifer do this when she gets excited, Lunette, this is the first time I've seen it from you! Never have I seen you let your guard down, even the one time you filled in on one of my Coven Nights, you still held back. Other than attempting to clean up one of Jennifer's calamities, I don't ever think I've seen you this flustered. And is that actual color I'm seeing in those cheeks of yours? This marriage is going to be good for you," Minerva said.

"How about a penalty game?" Lunette threatened.

"I don't think you could afford that right now," Minerva said unconcernedly. "Come, Bres! Let's get you fitted in some local attire. I'll just put it on Lunette's account." Feeling just how irritated his wife was at the moment, Bres wisely decided to follow Minerva instead to give Lunette a moment to herself.

Bres stepped out in a silver silk shirt and trousers, partially covered with a black wizard's jacket with buckles he was fussing with.

"There we are," Minerva said, pleased. "What do you think, Lunette?"

"He definitely looks more local," Lunette said with amusement. "Does it fit alright, Bres?"

"Yes, but there are some missing stitches here," Bres said critically, pointing to his cuff.

"That's intentional, Bres," Lunette explained. "It's a special pocket for a wizard to put their wand in."

"Like the one you wear on your belt?" Bres said.

"Yes," Lunette replied.

"Will I have one as well?" Bres asked.

"I guess that depends if you want one and we can find one that works for you, but you probably don't need one," Lunette replied.

"Then why is there a pocket for one?" Bres pointed out solemnly. "I came to learn about your society, Islene. That includes learning about how your magic works."

"Then I guess we'll have to find something that will work for you," Lunette pondered. "We'll try the regular wand shops first, and if that doesn't work, we'll have to come back and visit Toby."

"Who is that?" Bres asked curiously.

"We'll talk about it when we're not somewhere public," Lunette decided, going over to the counter to sign for his outfits. "Speaking of which, is Ashley around?"

"Babysitting at the Chance's house. They went to New York for the weekend," Lunette explained.

"So many of the people I want to surprise are gone! It's going to be spoiled now," Lunette complained.

The shop door opened and Alexandria came back in.

"Okay! Mage went back to the office and then he's going to visit the Craw Mansion so I don't have to deal with that argument for a while, and Sirius agreed to host a 'Diplomatic Grilling Party.' I told him that you had brought a Dark Fae diplomat back with you, Lunette," Alex updated them. "Sirius invited the two of you to stay at the Black Mansion as long as you like, but he did have one question for you, Bres. Do you eat meat?"

"Only babies," Bres replied evenly.

"Bres!" Lunette exclaimed, while Minerva put the back of her hand to lip.

"You did say people in this region enjoy dry humor, Islene. I for one found that ridiculously funny," Bres informed his wife with an even expression.

Alexandria burst out laughing, and Minerva could no longer contain it and joined her. Bres smiled softly, rather pleased with himself, while Lunette shook her head in exasperation.

"Alright, my life's signed away. Gather up those extra shirts, Bres, and let's head to the Black's Mansion," Lunette said.

"Feel free to drop by later, Minerva, I'm sure it'll be going on awhile," Alexandria offered.

"Thank you, perhaps I shall once the summer help gets here at two," Minerva said.

"Lunette, I'm going to go make sure a few other people are there to share in the 'surprise," Alex said.

"If you could find a way to con your mother into coming back, that'd be great," Lunette said.

"I'll see what I can do," Alexandria promised. "Why don't you two go head on to the Black Mansion while I'm working on it?"

"Sure thing. We'll see you there, then," Lunette said, and the two of them stepped out of the shop.