Tav and Kay's (Late 2054)

(( Two weeks after the events in Widow))

Kiara stood outside her oldest son's house, a thick black scarf wraped around her neck along with her black robe she usualy wore... her skin look white in contrast..

And the fact there was a light snow on the ground didn't seem to help either..

Kiara sighed...her breath being seen in the cold air as she moved forward to knock on the front door... She could have used the floo.. but she hadn't been outside in a while and she needed fresh air...

She hadn't been to visit for a while... like for a real visit... last time she was over she had been rather lost in her own mind... still in shock of Ciarans death... she had been silent and numb to the world...

This time would be different...

Lifting up her hand, which has lost the heaviness now... and knocked.

She then waited for a answer.

Tav sat, relaxing in a chair by the fire. The Quibbler was opened to the Quidditch scores and he was shaking his head at the poor time his team was having that season. The knock on the door was unexpected but delighted to have a guest, he called for Kay as he went to the door.

The door creaked slightly and he suddenly remembered that oiling the door hinges had been on his 'To-Do' list.
"Mum!" he exclaimed, taking in her tired figure. Gently, he pulled her into a hug. He'd missed her and although he knew everything was different now that his Da had passed away, he was still terribly glad she had come to see he and Kay.
"You look lovely." he smiled, closing the door and offering her her choice of chair, couch seat or rocker.

"Kay, Mum's here!" he called again.

Kiara took a deep breath as she hugged Tav and she kissed his cheek. With a tired and sad smile at her son she shook her head, lovely? hardly...

"Thanks Tav" she said patting is arm.

"I am sorry I haven't been over earlier..." she said with sigh. She needn't explain why... at least she hoped so.

She took a seat on one end of the sofa and removed the scarf form around her neck as her daughter in law came from up stairs. "A lovely surprise to see you Mum" she said as she lightly hugged her mother in law. Relieved to see her, she had been worried for the woman.. worried for how she was coping with the loss of her husband.

"Thank you dear" she said she lightly to the younger woman.

"Would you like any Tea? or anything to eat?" Kaylie asked.

Kiara wanted to say no, as she had afew cups of coffee already and felt ready yo float way... But wasn't about to seem rude. "Maybe just a small cup dear, thank you" she said.

Kaylie smiled and went to the kitchen to setup the tea, "Would you like anything Love?" she asked Tav.

With Kay in the kitchen Kiara turned to Tav, "How are you, Kay and the Children?" she asked knowing the kids were back at school.

"Ah, it's fine. Great to see you." he smiled. In truth, she looked horrible, but he wasn't about to say anything of the sort. Building up he could do; even if it was a vain attempt.

Tav took the seat across from his mum and gave her the complete look-over. He was worried about her not eating properly; not sleeping, and most likely a mixture of the two.
"Yes, coffee would be lovely, Kay." he smiled.

"We're all good." he nodded, almost returning the question, but then deciding against it. "Caleb and Rose are both great. Grow up fast don't they." he chuckled lightly.

Kay returned with the drinks ad a small plate of oatmeal cookies in case anyone did change their mind and want something to snack on.

"Here you are" she said putting the tea down on the coffee table infornt of her mother in law.

"Smells lovely Dear" Kiara said holding the hot cup in her hands to warm them up, she did take a tiny sip.

She smiled and even chuckled at Tav's statment about kids growing up so fast..

"Tell me about it... " she muttered looking at Tav breifly and almost being able to see 8 year old Tav again. "Seems like only yesterday...." she closed her eyes breifly letting the sentence slide. "Yes it hard to believe, you have all grown so much"

"What about your brothers and Sisters have you heard from any of them and how they are doing?" managed to make herself ask. Feeling rather foolish asking Tav this... but no harm in asking.. at least she hoped.. She was going to see all of them when she could, but if any of them were having a harder time then the others... Well she was still there mother. Grown adults now or not.

Kay looked at he mother in law still worried for her, it was obvious she still held alot of pain.. She couldn't even begin to imagine what she was going through, and she didn't want to.
She spoke up of the brother and sister inlaws she knew how they were doing..

"Beagan seems to be alright, seen him at the ministry. Looked a little tired but otherwise fine. He was with that lovely lady firend of his Abby" She said with a slight chuckle.

Kiara smiled in relief that her youngest seemed to be more or less alright and moving on.

Tav took his cup of coffee and thanked his wife, smiling gratefully. For obvious reasons, he felt as though he loved her even more, at least her presence now that he knew the pain of losing someone. He'd lost people before, but it was hardly the same thing. His Da had been there for nearly every moment of his life. From his earliest childhood through his Hogwarts years through his Auror training and career. The idea that he was gone was still a foreign one. Still, he was glad his father was no longer in pain... he had suffered so before death.

Kiara's words touched his own thoughts on his childhood and he couldn't help but smile. There were so many happy memories of the years he'd spent with Kiara and his Da...
"That we have..." he nodded, sipping the warm liquid.

He knew Edan was well, still a confirmed bachelor and researching in Florence. Only Merlin knew what he was researching exactly. Rossa seemed happy and content with Demyan, a fact he would be quick to make the former pay dearly should the man do anything to upset his precious sister. Their little girl was an adorable bundle of energy that reminded him of Rossa at that age. And their son was 4 now... my how time flew by. Greta was her usual social butterfly self, flitting from one man to another like most bees did flowers. She was on his team of aurors and a damn good one. Although he was worried about her; she'd been acting strange since their father's death, almost careless when dueling and fighting. He knew Beagan was dating steadily, a delightful young woman who he heartily approved of. Working to become a Charms master and doing well, Beagan had a bright future ahead of him in both family, should he pop the question, and occupation.

This he recounted in bits and pieces to his mum, smiling and chuckling as he did so.

Kiara sigh and smiled glad the hear her children were more or less doing well.. Though it concered her to hear Greta was acting careless in what could be a dangerous situation to begin with. And that this behavior started since Ciaran died made her worry even more.

She made a note to talk with her daughter soon, to see if she should be worried or if it was just her daughters way of greiveing..

" I will talk with Greta soon" she said hoping her worry was just her being her worrywart self...

Then putting her hand into her robe pocket she fiddled with the keys to her and Ciaran's house.. was it to soon after Ciaran's death to ask this? She wasn't sure.... but it was entriely up to Tav and Kaylie if they wanted to...

"Ummm... I.. wanted to ask the two of you something" she said holding the key's in her hand... This was harder then she thought it was going to be.

"I... will no longer be living in the house, I can't.... Not ... not without your father.." she said quietly, more to Tav then to Kay.

"It is a house ment for a family to live in... it is to empty, to lonely with just me..." she explained.

"You two don't have to take if you don't want to.... I thought I would offer.." she said opening her palm and holding out the key.

It seemed right it go to Tav and his family he being Ciarans oldest son and the fact he had grown up there.

"That would be good." Tav nodded, knowing that Greta and Kiara both could probably gain comfort from a chat.

His eyes stayed to his mum's pocket, curious as to what she was going to ask. The key. He felt his heart drop into his boots and then sharply bounce back into his chest. Not the house his Da had bought... it just wouldn't be right to take it from Kiara. Where would she live? When not at Hogwarts... Didn't she want a place she could hide away from the papers, ministerial and students?

But then his logical side kicked in. His mum was lonely and in the empty house, with his Da's stuff everywhere for her eyes and memories to see, it probably only compounded the loneliness. He looked at Kay, wondering what she thought at that moment. Rising from his seat, he went to sit beside his mum, taking her hands in his.

"Mum... We're very thankful for this offer. Honestly we are." he knew Kay well enough to say that much.

Kaylie's eyes were as wide and even began to water as she looked at her mother in law. She was givng them her house?

She looked at Tav when he glanced at her, if he wanted to take the offer she was more then happy agee as well. Plus it seemed really important to Kiara, how hard this must be for her. To leave and give up the house she had rasied her family in with the man she thought the world of.

Kiara blinks threatening tears in her eyes.. she promised her self she wouldn't cry infront of them when she did this.. Swollowing and trying to get rid of the growing lump in her throat she looked up at her son and clasped his hands lightly taking some comfort in his touch.

"Will you accept it then?" she asked hopeful, she had taken a few items precious to her in memory of Ciaran, they were already in her room at hogwarts...
"You will have all the time you want to think about it, and I fine in Hogwarts... it was my second home... I am used to it" she explained not wanting Tav to believe he was leaving her homeless... casue he wasn't.

Kaylie placed a comforting hand on Kiara's arm looked at Tav... and nodded, This was obviously important to Kiara and to her home was where the heart was... If Tav wished to live in his childhood home she wasn't about to object.

"I am with you love" she said quietly..

A second home... but was it not a bit more than that. He knew he'd want to escape the house if anything happened to any of his family, Merlin forbid... and knew his mum enough to know she was probably giving them the house for more reasons than anyone could possibly know. Ah the weariness of a broken grieving heart. He found himself wondering what they would do with the house they had now if they took Ciaran and Kiara's. No doubt Esis would be interested in it, since she'd actually been house shopping. But with Kay's soft whispered statement of her being with him... he knew what to do and what to say.

"Okay, Mum." he smiled softly, squeezing her hand. "Thank you. We'll accept it, but only on the promise that you'll visit." he teased gently.

Kiara gave Tav and Kaylie a watery smile and hugged them both.

She was so glad Tav and Kay were willing to take the house, she wanted it to remain in the family and live on.

She kissed Tav's forehead in a way that only a mother could, "Of course I will come and visit" she said giving him a smile. "As long as there is family living there I will always visit"

Plus, she thought anyway that Ciaran would like it if Tav and Kay lived there. At least she was sure he wouldn't mind..... No he would be glad Tav and Kaylie were living there.. she was sure.

She placed the key in Tav's hand, " There is no rush.... take the house when ever you wish.. I have charmed the wards... so once you move in they will fall under both your control" She said to both Tav and Kay.

Taking a breath to calm her self she looked at her son and Daughter in law.

"Also... I wanted to applogize for being rather distant the past few weeks... after.. well after Ciaran passed I went back into my workaholic habits" she sighed feeling rather ashamed of what she tried to do.

Kaylie cast a worried glance at Tav, worried for her mother in law..

Kiara caught the glance... "Not to worry, I am doing better.. Eglantine Horatio and Esis snapped me out of it... " she assured.

Though she still worked long hours.. she still ate dinner with Eglantine and Horatio and "relaxed". She didn't sleep all that well yet, always waking up and turning around looking for Ciaran only to remember he was gone....

Oh how so lonely that feeling was...

Tav beamed, overjoyed with his mother's words. He'd love to see her more often and he knew Kay shared his thoughts.
"Then, we hope to see a lot more of you." he subtly hinted, winking jokingly. "Thanks again, Mum." he murmured, kissing her cheek.

Her apology cut him as nearly startling, due to its needlessness and unexpectedness of the shame.
"Mum..." he whispered. "No one could ever fault you for wanting time alone since Da passed on. We understand, truly we do." he assured her. It pleased him greatly to hear that his grandparents and aunt had been able to help her; although he suddenly had a fairly odd picture of how they'd done it.

Kiara smiled and patted Tav's cheek lightly, "Thank you Tav" she said lightly, "You are alot like your father you know" she said with a chuckle. Suddenly seeing quite a bit of Ciaran in Tav. The caring and honourable nature, were deffinately form his father. Probably one of the reasons she was so very proud of him, and it could be seen in her tired eyes.

Kaylie let out a small smile relieved her mother in law was fairing better the previously. She looked up at the clock as it was nearing dinner time, "Would like to stay with us for dinner Mum? We would be glad to have you" she asked. Having no doubt Tav would agree.

"I try to be." Tav murmured, having always attempted to follow in his father's moral footsteps. It had been easier at times than others. He'd definitely formed a different rise of anger than his Da.

He wondered briefly if Kiara was planning to see Greta that week or the next. Again he wondered if his mum was burying herself in Hogwarts even more so than she'd claimed. Not that he didn't trust her... but people had a way of loosing track of time and matter when immersed in grief.

"Yes, Mum, we'd love to have you." he went along with his wife, glad she'd thought of the invitation. His Kay was always brilliant.

Kiara bit her lip at the invitation to stay for dinner, she didn't want to intrude.. and she had kinda dropped in on them... "I... don't know.." she said unsure.

"Mum, as you said, it has been a while since you visited. We can't have you leave with out staying to eat" she Kaylie said giving her mother in law a smile.

Finally sighing Kiara nodded, "Alright thank you, Kay I will stay" She said giving her daughter in law a smile in return.

Kay nodded "Good" then she turned to Tav gave him a quick kiss before getting up, "I will just put dinner in... be right back" she said softly as she headed to the kitchen.

((Would you like to continue this with Greta in another thread or..?))