Dinner for Seven?! (503)

[Straw Buckett]

Screaming, squealing, a few tears and excited shrilled laughter fill the Buckett-White house. Toys scattered the newly clean lounge room, an ignored episode of Ninaja Turtles played on repeat across the television and half drawn and coloured pieces of paper scattered the nicely decorated dinner table. A very flustered Straw was dressed in a nice blue shirt (which now had it’s sleeves rolled up out of stress), black jeans and his nice brown boots which now had a lovely red tomatoe sauce stain on the tip of the toes; a kitchi apron with a picture of a man’s torso holding BBQ tools. Hung from his neck. He was flustered, not only was he behind after burning the spaghetti sauce but the triplets were not dressed or ready for their mother who was due at any moment.

The house was full again and Straw couldn’t be happier to have his children home again. “Daddy? Daddy? ‘scuse me Daddy?” said one little Buckett who was tugging on his trouser pants in the kitchen, “What is it buddy?” Straw replied trying to give his child attention as well as avoid burning the dinner a second time. “Daddy’s kinda busy right now, have you had your bath yet with Queety?” he cooed trying to keep the stress out of his tone. “No…” replied a shy Spaiden who now began to suck on his fingers in shyness, “Can you come play a fun game with me?” he requested beginning to tug on Straw’s pant again,
“Sweetie Daddy’s busy at the moment, can you go find Queety for you bath please?”
“Ok…” he replied in a disappointed tone then turned and dragging his feet slowly out of the kitchen. Straw rolled his eyes and smirked at the over acting from Spaiden. He knew he’d get over it soon. Trying not to destroy the second batch of spaghetti sauce was Straw’s first priority next to bathing the children. Thankfully Queety wasn’t home to see what he’d done to the first attempt but Straw was determined to cook for his family and guests. He had a lot to tell them tonight.

Just as he set the sauce to shimmer the door bell range which resulted in a very naked, and dripping wet Scarlett screaming and running from the bathroom into the lounge room yelling, “Mummy, Mummy, Mummy?!”
“Scarlet Hyacinth Buckett,” yelled Straw from the kitchen, “Go put some clothes on right now young lady!” Oh how he loved fatherhood, how his mother seemed to keep better control over all of them better than Kat and he could combine would always be a mystery, he put it down to practise and pure skill.

The doorbell rang again and Straw quickly skipped over. “They’re here!”

[Queety White]

The night before had been so calm and peaceful. It completely juxtaposed the next day when the kiddos were back home from their stay with their grandmother. Josh sat on the couch, his hand in a box of cookies he managed to find. Spaiden had left his toys all over the floor and was trying to find someone to play with him. Straw was attempting to be useful in the kitchen and it may or may not have been working. It was complete chaos. However, as she chased after the naked Scarlett who was spreading bath water everywhere, Queety knew she would not have it any other way. This was her home and her family and she loved them all. She quickly scooped up Scarlett with the towel so she would not get her own clothes wet. She was wearing a tank top and shorts and was glad she did not put on her nice blouse quite yet. Holding Scarlett on her hip, she looked over at Straw who was heading toward the door. 

"You're looking very handsome this evening," she commented, coming closer. "But you got a little sauce on your cheek." She grabbed his arm and pulled him close. Instead of wiping it off with her hands, she instead kissed his cheek, tasting the sauce. "Hmmm... not to bad," she muttered before giving him a peck on the lips. "Needs a little more seasoning."

"Ewww!" Josh cried out from the couch, which lead to a fit of giggles from Scarlett. They were starting to get to the age where kids of the opposite gender had "cooties." However, Spaiden did not laugh as he was still distraught from not having a playing buddy and being told he would have to take a bath soon. He sat down in the middle of the ninja turtles and began to play with them. 

"Josh, what are you doing?" Queety cried out, running to the couch to take the cookies away from her nephew. "Straw, do you wanna trade places? I can make the-- Spaiden, I told you to clean up your toys!"  

Spaiden looked up at her innocently. "Do you wanna play a game with me, Auntie?" 

Queety sighed. She knew she was more frazzled than usual and not on top of getting the kids ready like she usually would be because of the uncertainty of the events that would come up that evening. Revealing that she and Straw had been secretly together for so long was going to result in either a very positive or very negative reaction. She felt like there was no in between.

"Spaiden, we're gonna play the game of 'get your little butt into the bathtub now or you won't be getting any dessert!'" she said sternly. "Don't want your mum thinking I'm raising smelly kids."

[Kat Samuels]

It was weird for Kat to have to ring the doorbell of her old home. If Kelly had been with her, she wouldn't have bothered and just let herself in, but Kat had sent Kelly an owl earlier that day saying she'd meet her friend there. In hindsight, the quicker option may not have been the best option. She didn't have much time to postulate on it though as the door opened and a rather dressed up Straw stood in front of her. She blinked for a moment, taking in his appearance with a coy smile before saying, "So, we're having spaghetti tonight are we?" as she reached out and brushed away a small spot of pasta sauce from his collar. "Now if you excuse me Buckett, my children await!" She brushed past him with ease taking in the situation before her. Josh, elbows deep in a box of cookies, a naked yet towelled Scarlett on Queety's lap, and a dejected Spaiden on the lounge room floor. Her babies. She felt a small pang of regret to be the outsider walking into this chaotic situation but brushed it aside. Her life was a chaotic situation, she was only eternally thankful that Straw had someone as balancing as Queety to help him raise their children. While she sometimes felt as if she was a fly on the wall to her childrens lives, she knew everything worked out for the best. The kids were surrounded by love and happiness on all sides, and they were some of the most well adjusted kids out there because of it.

Making a beeline for Spaiden on the floor, Kat scooped her surprise miracle into her arms, covering him with warm kisses and relishing at the feeling of his little arms wrapped around her neck. "Mum!" he exclaimed, and she laughed slightly as she heard it echoed in his two siblings. "Did you miss me baby? Because I sure missed you." Her son nodded, surreptitiously glancing over her shoulder at Queety and the imposing threat of bath time. Kat had heard Queetys stern offer as she had entered the room and now turned to face her with a smile. "Don't worry Queets, smelly kids is kind of an outcome I wouldn't be surprised with. Not with Buckett genes. You're absolved of all blame in that scenario."

Taking the long way around the couch so she could stop and ruffle the hair of Josh, taking the moment his big eyes were looking up at her with a smile to free the box of cookies from his hands. "After dinner" she murmured to him with a wink before his signature indignant look could cross his face. Josh could give Scarlett a run for stubbornness sometimes, which was saying something. Those two bounced off each other like nobodies business, where as Spaiden, the ever observant angel, watched all but thankfully never mimicked his siblings brattier habits.

Circling the couch now, she tossed the box of cookies to Straw but didn't watch to see if he had caught it. She knew enough of the ex Quidditch players reflexes to know that chances were, he would. "Now," Kat said, as she reached Queety, "I'll trade you? I'm not exactly dressed to go for a swim with this smelly monkey.." with a gesture at the black dress and heels she was wearing, her long blonde hair a cascade of curls down her back, "but Scarlett and clothes is always a welcome combination". Her daughter whose eyes at been intent on her from under the towel in Queety's arms lit up at that. "Can I dress like you Mummy?" and Kat couldn't help but smile. Spaidens hand was playing with her hair, and she could here Josh behind her mimicking his sister, and in that moment everything was right. Never enough, but right.

And then she smelt it.

"Straw, are you adding a little extra spice to the pasta tonight, because something distinctly smells like burning. "

The spell was broken and with a laugh she wrapped her free arm around Scarlett and the towel, bringing her towards her and resting her on her other hip and placing a warm kiss on her cheek. "Spaid... Aunty Queety is going to give you a super quick bath, and if you're good for her Mummy will come play Turtles with you when you're done okay?" He nodded solemnly at her and she kissed him on the cheek as she passed him over to the other woman. She was exercising super mum powers in this moment, she knew that, but mostly it was because she didn't have to exercise them all day every day. She loved her children with every bone in her body, but three was a lot to handle at once, even with help, and God knows there was endless help to be found.

Turning back around to check on Josh, her brow furrowed at the sight of the cookie box in his hand again as he munched away, caught up by the Ninja Turtles on tv. She had a distinct feeling that the eldest triplet was beginning to show signs of magic, but that was a conversation for later when the children were tucked away in bed. Squeezing Scarlett in a one sided hug, Kat kissed her daughter on the forehead and whispered into her ear. "I want you to go pick out your favourite dress and I'll be in in two minutes to help you get dressed and do your hair okay princess?" Scarlett giggled and nodded up at her and as Kat bent to put her down the five year old took off racing down the hall - sans towel - and into her bedroom. Shaking her head with a sigh Kat plopped herself on the couch next to Josh. "Can I have a cookie?" She asked and as he nodded and handed her one she scooped the boy into her lap attacking him with tickles and kisses. "Nom nom nom!" she giggled at him, "I think I'll eat you instead, you're much sweeter!" That indignant "MUUUUMMMMMM!" came squealing out of his mouth but Kat smiled through it, bundling him up in a cuddle and stealing a bite of the cookie. "I missed you kiddo!"

Scarlet was waiting for her, and it was general chaos all around, but this was family and she loved every minute of it.

[Kelly Evans]

She wasn't late, she wasn't late, she wasn't late.

Kelly may or may not have fallen asleep on her couch once she'd returned home from work for a few moments (it was really hours, who are we kidding?), and so when Kat's owl tapped on the window to let her know that she would meet Kelly at Straw's apartment, she'd had a rude awakening. Having quickly showered and brushed out her once again dark hair, Kelly had dressed quickly in black slim-cut jeans and a sparkly, navy blouse, took one quick look at her reflection in the full-size mirror in her bedroom and nodded, content. She'd picked up three bulging bags, full of gifts for the children, and thrust her wand into the holster strapped to her hip, and, pausing in the hall way to slip black ballet flats onto her feet, almost skipped out the front door. Narrowly avoiding Mrs. Cadwallader of Apartment 110, who looked like she'd wanted to give Kelly one more piece of her mind, Kelly had run up the stairs and came to a stop outside Straw and Queety's apartment.

She paused for a moment before she entered to catch her breath, and she smiled widely at the sounds of chaos that drifted through the front door. Just as her apartment had been too quiet, Straw and Queety's had been too. Each time she'd visited in the last few months that the children were away (though it admittedly hadn't been often), Kelly had missed them, their fighting and playing and laughter and tears. Now that she had finally admitted to herself that Kat and well and truly moved out of her apartment, Kelly had had to admit that she was going to be hard-pressed to see the children much, at all. But, she was here now, and she was going to make the most of it.

Without standing on pretence Kelly pushed open the door with her hip, her hands full of gifts, and her smile grew even brighter as she made her way through the hallway and gazed on the sight before her eyes. Kat and Josh were cuddled together on the couch and she could hear Straw singing (badly) and swearing to himself in the kitchen. "Okay, Aunt Kelly has arrived and she has presents!" She winked at Kat as the witch looked up at her, and then laughed aloud as she heard at least one pair of tiny feet thundering up the hallway. A very naked Scarlett came running into the living room and bounded into Kelly's arms, causing her to drop the bags at her feet. Kelly squeezed the little girl tight and planted lots of loud kisses all over her face. "Where are you clothes, Missy? Aren't you cold?" Kelly tickled her ribs and gently put her on the ground only to replace her with Josh. Josh, already taking after his namesake in his antics with the ladies, kissed Kelly's cheek in return, then grinned up at her. "Aunt Kel, I think I heard you say you have presents?"

Laughing, Kelly placed Josh gently on the ground next to Scarlett and nodded. "You heard right, Mr., I do have presents. There's one for each of you," she said. She picked up the bags she'd discarded and handed one package each to Scarlett and Josh, who took off into the living room and proceeded to rip open the paper. Kelly took Spaiden's gift out of the bag and carried it over to join Kat on the couch, squeezing her friend's hand gently as she sat down. "Where is the love of my life? Spaiden is usually the first to jump up into my arms when I enter a room." Kelly noted however that she couldn't see or hear Queety either, and given Scarlett's nakedness assumed it may be bath time. She took a deep breath and then wrinkled her nose. "Straw, are you burning dinner in there? Are you a wizard or not?" she called, a wry grin on her face.

[Queety White]

"Kelly, don't say the P word so loudly!" Queety hissed from the bathroom. She had the door slightly open so as her nephew would not escape. However, he was peaking through the crack, shampoo still in his hair. "Come on sweetheart," she said, bringing him back into the tub. "As soon as you're nice and clean, you can go see Aunt Kelly."

She bathed him properly but swiftly, as he was eager to get out of there. She knew that she spent more time with the kids than anyone else, so they were used to having her around as opposed to the treat of seeing Kat or Kelly. But she just felt a weird pang of jealousy. They were never that excited to see Queety when she walked through the door. They loved her, of course, but she was the disciplinarian, the one who told them to not get into things they were not supposed to, who told them to eat all their vegetables. Daddy, on the other hand, let them get away with anything. Mummy spoiled them rotten. Aunt Kelly brought them gifts every time she visited. Auntie Queety was the one who made them go to bed when they wanted to play more. 

After Spaiden was dried, she walked him over to his room to get him dressed. She was less worried about the smell of something burning. She knew by this point, Straw was trying to do something to fix it. Plus, she had whipped up a batch of spaghetti sauce earlier that day, and kept it hidden from him. Just in case something like this had happened. She was not the best cook herself but she kept the family well fed. And she had a lot more practice over recent years. She was quite talented in her sauce making skills. 

She noticed that Scarlett was still butt naked, looking at her new present. "Scar, honey, go get your clothes on. Your dress is on your bed. Mummy can help you put it on." 

Scarlett got up and immediately ran into her room and Queety went pale. The room was not the one that Scarlett used to share with her brothers but rather the bed that Queety once used for herself. She and Straw thought that now that the kids were getting older, Scarlett would want her own bedroom away from the boys. Since Queety rarely slept in there any more, spending most nights in the same bed as Straw, it seemed perfect to let Scarlett take the now vacated room. They, of course, had not told anyone about the new bedroom redistribution. And until that moment, Queety had forgotten that it would probably seem a little out of place to Kat and Kelly. 

Scarlett came back in, holding the dress up in front of her. "Oh, it was on my bed," she said quickly with a nervous chuckle. "I'm glad you remembered. It's so hard keeping track of all your stuff." Her heart was pounding but hoped it was a good enough save. She knew that her friends had to find out tonight, but this was not the way she wanted them to do so. 

[Kat Samuels]

As Kelly walked into the room, any sense of calm was once again broken, especially at the mention of presents. Kat rolled her eyes playfully at her friend as Josh's attention was immediately gone. He struggled to get out of Kat's grasp, wide eyed at the mention of presents, and at the sound of little feet thundering down the hall she could see he wasn't the only one. She held him back long enough for Kelly to scoop Scarlett up first, then let him go with a shake of her head, watching amused as he ran towards his Godmother, all charm and niceties.

Kat opened her mouth to answer Kelly's question about the other terror when Queety returned, and a clean yet unimpressed looking Spaiden followed after her. At least the difficult part was out of the way. With a smile she picked herself up off the couch and crossed the room to her precious youngest, kneeling down and taking his hand in her own. "I think Aunty Kelly has something for you darling, why don't you go over and give her a big hug and find out?" she murmured quietly to him, as Queety shouted out to Scarlett above her. His wide eyes stared back at her for a moment before he took off running around her and clung himself to Kelly's leg. Always the shyest of the three, but Kat didn't doubt for a second he had the biggest heart. He certainly saw the most. Looking back down the hallway now Kat saw Scarlett leaving Queety's room with a dress in her hands. She was thankful in that moment that she was still down on the ground so her face was hidden from Queety because it was getting harder and harder to play the 'I don't know that thing I really actually know that you think is a big secret' card.

Standing up again, Kat made her way down the hall to Scarlett, stopping short of the door she had just exited. Taking the dress from her daughters hands she smiled warmly at her as she raised her arms above her head and Kat was able to slip her arms through their respective holes and pull it down over her head without much hassle. "Oh my, you're growing up fast! You look beautiful sweetheart". And it was true, Scarlett was almost a mirror image for Kat at her age, except she had inherited her fathers eyes. Either way it was a striking combination. "Come now, let me do your hair". She clasped her daughters hand and walked her was back towards the lounge room, Sitting down on the lounge once more with her daughter in her lap, Kat muttered a quick charm to remove the moisture from her hair before she started to braid it.

"Now Queety, I'll let you go change out of those wet clothes, but first I absolutely need to know what shampoo you're using, Scarlett's hair has never looked or smelt better!" The small girl giggled at the mention of her name, and Kat pulled on the braid she was creating playfully. "I know I don't say it often enough, but you really are incredible with them".

[Straw Buckett]

“Why thankyou” he smiled enjoying the tender kiss to clean his cheek, “ What do you think? Needs more salt?” he winked as he moved towards the door, “Oh I can’t Sweety, I’m just getting the door and I still have the garlic bread to finish, I’m sure Kat will help,” and no sooner had he opened the door and greeted the ex-wife did ‘Super-mum’ kick into gear as she assisted with the dressing and wellbeing of their children. Not thinking Straw caught the cookie box Kat tossed at him however on the mention that something was burning quickly tossed the box back onto the couch and ran into the kitchen.

With the girls now in control of the children, Straw was free to continue to not burn the dinner. He dances around the kitchen, chopping garlic, parsley and slicing bread. He was on game for this dinner, well, for his second attempt that is. He heard the soft tunes of Kelly enter the flat and smiled as the ‘P’ word went ringing through the apartment with excitement. “What have we got here?” he smiled exiting the kitchen with a bowl in hand and mixing. He stepped into the longue to watch the joy of present opening, “And no, I haven’t thankyou very much,” he said to Kelly at the mention of burning dinner again, “Where is the faith?!” he grinned watching Josh shake the present knowing he was not allowed to open it till everyone had their present. “Arh, arh, arh, wait for Spaids,” Straw ordered as Scarlett looked like she was about to tear it open with her eyes. “Why is she still naked?” he asked looking at Kat. “You say I’m easily distracted?! You’re just as bad as the kids you know!” Thankfully Queety stepped up and ushered Scarlett to her room, one he forgot used to belong to Queety and might look a little suspicious to the visiting ladies.

Straw watched as Spaiden now found his gift from Kelly and sat next to Josh waiting like a puppy for the ‘ok’ command to open the presents. Straw had taught them well, as a twin himself, there were rules to opening presents as they were usually the same and each twin must equally be given the chance to be surprised. So of course he had instilled the same principals to his three. “But we’re all here!” wined Josh as he fingered the paper, “We wait for your sister buddy, she just needs to get dressed!” and shot a sneaky smile at Kelly, “You’re too good to them, you realise you’re training them wrong?! They’re gonna expect present with every visit now,” he smirked. His eye found Queety and he winked at her, the announcement was coming but how he was going to do it was not scripted. He mouthed the words, ‘Now?’ wondering if she’d like to announce their news.

[Queety White]

"Yes, I should change into something nicer," Queety agreed, looking down at her clothes with splashes of water and soap all over it. She was grateful she did not put on her actual outfit before. Previous experience had taught her that wearing nice clothes during bath time was never a good idea.

"And thanks..." she added quietly to Kat's compliment. She had come into this position of caring for the kids full time by her own decision. But she still felt like she was thrown into it years ago without much thought of it becoming like this. At the time she thought it was a temporary thing to help Straw out. And then it became a permanent thing. And now she did not want to leave these kids for anything. They really had become like her own. But she was always hesitant about admitting that out loud. Kat was the one who carried these kids and birthed them. She was their mother, not Queety. And Queety felt that she should never take away that truth. So when Kat complimented her, she felt like the stress and chaos that had become the norm of her life, between raising the kids and feeling like she was stepping on eggshells around their mother, was well worth it. She smiled warmly at Kat before heading out the room to get changed.

She quickly slipped down the hall and when they weren't looking, slipped into hers and Straw's room to get dressed. She came back a few minutes later dressed in a pale yellow blouse and jean shorts. She quickly charmed her hair to be less tangled and rather flowing down as it fell down to her shoulders. She then accentuated her outfit with jewelry and made her way back out to see all the kids enjoying their new presents. 

Straw gave her a signal and she temporarily forgot how to breathe. She shook her head fervently. "No," she mouthed back. She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the kitchen. "Let me take a look at what you've been doing in the kitchen and make sure it's actually edible," she said loudly, hoping her voice wasn't trembling too much. By the time they got into the kitchen and out of sight, she sighed, leaning her head against Straw's chest. 

"You were not about to just spring that on them right in the middle of happy reunion time where you?" she asked. "I know we're spontaneous people but damn, think about the right time before you go out and say something." She moaned. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm freaking out about. It's not like I need their approval to be with you. I'm just so afraid of them getting mad or telling us we're crazy." 

She then looked over at the food that Straw had prepared and chuckled. "Well I'm surprised," she said, reaching to dip her finger in the sauce and licking it. "Wow, you actually did a good job with this." 

[Kelly Evans]

Kelly winked cheekily at Josh, who had sat himself down on the couch and was currently jiggling up and down with impatience, waiting for his brother and sister to join him so they could all open their presents together. As an only child, Kelly had never really been taught to share, and it wasn't until she started school at Hogwarts that she had to learn, and fast. She was not selfish by any stretch of the imagination, but she knew that even now, at almost thirty years old, she had led a privileged life. At Straw's teasing comment that she was too good to the children, she shook her head. "No way, mate; it is in the Aunt handbook that we're all given at the birth: the spoiling of nieces and nephews is not only allowed, but welcomed." Kelly had been cut off from her family trust fund once or twice when she was younger and had pushed all the wrong parental buttons, but now that she was making her own money and her way in the world, she had enough to spare.

The witch returned Spaiden's warm hug and sweet smile before he scampered off to join his brother, and as Scarlett was released from Kat's grasp, clothed and hair newly braided, she smiled brighter as wrapping paper was torn into and thrown away with abandon. In each wrapped parcel was a pack of muggle colouring books, three each, full of pictures of magical creatures, flowers, and muggle cars and other vehicles. She hadn't discriminated based on gender, and she'd learned the hard way with previous gifts to these three: each colouring book in the pack was the same. She'd also included a variety of crayons and coloured pencils, and as the triplets' eyes widened in fascination at the books, she knelt down next to them, drawing out her wand as she went. "I know they seem boring, because you have tons of colouring books already, but look at this," she said to them conspiratorially. She waved her wand over the books and whispered an incantation, which brought the previously still images to motion, just like magical photographs. The triplets oohed and aahed and she smiled, and looked up at Kat. "So when you've coloured in the pages, you can get Mummy, Queety or Daddy to help you with the spell, and they'll move."

The triplets kissed and hugged Kelly once more as thanks, and settled down on the floor in front of the coffee table, already shaking out their coloured pencils and choosing which pages they would transform. Kelly rose from her kneeling position and sat down next to Kat on the couch. She smiled warmly at Queety as the woman rejoined them, dressed and no longer dripping in bath water that hadn't been her own. Before she could say anything though, Queety had grasped Straw's arm and pushed him backwards into the kitchen with a muttered excuse of checking on the dinner, and Kelly raised her eyebrows at Kat. "Surely tonight's the night they come clean," she said quietly, her eyes bright with amusement. "How should we play this, surprised and angry or hurt, or just politely inform them that they are the worst Secret Keepers ever?"

[Straw Buckett]

Now Straw was all for sneaking around and if he was being honest, the way Queety grabbed his arm and lead him back into the kitchen and pressed herself into his chest was making him a little hot under the collar. “You realise this is turning me on,” he smirked kissing the top of his head and giving her a quick hug. “It’s not fair that you’re wearing that by the way. How on earth am I supposed to pretend to be your housemate all night when you’re dressed like that?” and poked his tongue out at her, “And thankyou, see I can cook,” he smirked serving up three mini plastic bowls with cartoon figures on them with spaghetti and equal small portions of tomato sauce. He handed Queety one of the bowls and picked up the other two. He paused before leaving the kitchen and turned to her. “Well you know what the best thing about a ‘happy’ reunion is? I’ll give you a hint, it’s the part where everyone is happy, happy guests make for more happy news and happy times,” he teased, “don’t forget I still have to tell them about Josh,” and moved to leave the kitchen.

“DINNNNER!” he announced walking back into the room. Putting on only his best Italian voice, Straw walked toward his babies who were playing with their new colouring books. “Spaghetti, get your spaghetti and meat’a’balls!”
“But Daddy there’s no meatballs!” giggles Scarlett as she licked her lips and peered into the bowls Straw was offering.
“Look at my book!” cooed Josh as he lifted the drawing up for Straw to see,
“And look at mine too!” copied Spaiden who lifted it higher than Josh,
“And mine!” giggled Scarlett who now was shoving a picture of a unicorn into Straw’s face. The three giggled in harmony with amusement as Straw made a squinty eye and pursed lipped face as the books got closer to his face, “Ok, ok, up on the table my darling artists,” they all giggled again and gathered around their min table Queety had set up for them. “Here’s one for you, one for you and one for…..me!” he laughed and pretended to start eating Spaiden’s dinner. “Omm nom nom nom, oh no, no more pasta for Spaiden,” The boy just giggled and reached for this bowl, “Heyyyyyy,” he hissed, “You didn’t eat it” to which Straw simply winked and handed over the bowl to him.

“And now for the grown ups, if you lovely lady’s would take you seat and raise your glasses. A toast!” And Straw pulled out his wand and waved it in the direction of the wine glasses on the nicely set dining table. They filled instantly with red wine, “A toast to having the triplets back, and catching up with old friends!” smiled Straw raising his glass. “And to my new room!” added Scarlett very quickly (she never seemed to miss a beat). “Have you seen it Mummy? Aunty Queety gave it to me cos she’s in Daddy’s room!”

[Queety White]

Queety rolled her eyes and gave him a playful little shove. "Of course it turns you on, you little perv," she giggled. "And of course we don't have to pretend to be housemates all night. We'll eventually let them know that you're my..." She faded off for a moment. Saying boyfriend sounded kind of weird as neither of them have actually put any name to their relationship. But before she could have another moment to think about it, Straw thrust a bowl of spaghetti into her hands and was heading out the door. Queety pulled her wand out of her pocket and quickly got four more plates that floated behind them and to the adult table. That's right, she thought as she set down the bowl for Scarlett and took the glass of wine from Straw. They don't know about Josh. Who knows how they're going to react to that news.

She did not have to worry about that for too long though seeing as Scarlett was super busy outing them with the announcement of her new bedroom. She nearly dropped the glass in her hand. But before she could shush her, Josh chimed in with his own thoughts. 

"It's not fair that Scarlett gets her own bedroom! I want my own bedroom."
"It's fair because I'm the girl and girls get their own bedroom," Scarlett responded matter-of-factly.
"Auntie Queety doesn't get her own bedroom now and she's a girl," Josh reminded her. "She has to share with Daddy."
"It's because she's a big girl and big girls have to share with big boys that they want to kiss."
"Says who?"
"Says Spaiden!" Scarlett pointed at her younger brother. 

Spaiden was busy consuming his spaghetti. "One time," he said quietly as he continued to eat. "I went to Daddy and Auntie Queety's room even though I wasn't s'posed to because it was early and I saw them kissing. It's like Mummy and Daddy used to do."

"Yeah!" Scarlett said in a fit of giggles. "Auntie is doing all of Mummy's old jobs. She makes food. She brings us to school. She reads stories. And she kisses Daddy."
"Kissing is so gross!" Josh groaned. 

Throughout all of this, Queety wished she had an invisibility cloak so they could not see her. She covered her face with her hand as the kids went on and on. There was no way she was getting out of this one. She had not once thought about the fact that the kids were not good at keeping secrets. And each comment they made meant lead to her face getting redder and redder.

"Okay, this is too spontaneous," she muttered to Straw. 

[Kat Samuels]

With the children happily distracted by Aunt Kelly’s presents, and Queety and Straw distracted by each other in the kitchen, the air in the living room relaxed, and Kelly’s question hung in the air unanswered for a moment. Kat herself had had plenty of time to think about how she would react to this news. Truth be told, she had reacted to it months ago, and continued to react to it every day now, and would probably continue reacting to it for many days to come.

Finally, Kat let out a low laugh, shaking her head at the situation, but her eyes glistening at the potential to cause some mischief. “Oh, I’m thinking an outstanding performance of option a, followed by a little insulted b. We worked it out months ago, they deserve a little torture..” She laughed again and Spaiden looked up from his colouring book at her, Kat smiled and held her finger up to her lips in a shushing symbol and the young boy turned his head back around, frowning slightly.

As Straw returned, bellowing his arrival out with the promise of food, Kat pulled herself off the couch and headed into the dining room to sit at the table. Awkwardly, it was the same one she was 90% sure her children had been conceived on, but she pushed the thought from her mind at Straw’s mention of a toast. Her glass raised, ready to say ‘cheers’, her voice caught in her throat at Scarlett’s words. Beautiful, attentive Scarlett who was making this almost too easy for her. She fashioned a confused look on her face and took a look at Queety who was visibly shaken, and perhaps a little red at the announcement. Before she could properly react however, Josh chimed in and the kids went on a little monologue outing the couple before they had a moment to defend themselves.

To say she wasn’t a little hurt at the proclamation that Queety was basically the new mum would be lying, she’d surrendered to that fate a long time ago, but it still niggled at her heart a little to hear the children speak it. So her voice, while she was genuinely putting it on as a little punishment for the pair, was coloured with a distinct real hurting when she spoke. “So. Straw…” she said, her voice acidic as she stared daggers across the table at him. She made a mental note to apologise to Queety properly once this was all through, because she wasn’t particularly proud of the next thing that came from her lips, although as a reaction was what she was probing for, this would certainly garner one.

“When exactly were you going to inform me you were messing around with the babysitter?”

[Queety White]

She obviously couldn't be mad at the kids. They did not know any better. Kids always said exactly what was on their mind. 

Queety just could not look at Kat. She looked down at her lap, continuing to cover her face with her hand. The kids continued to eat their food and changed the subject of their conversation to their new coloring books, unaware of the pained silence happening at the adult table. She took a deep, shuddering breath as she heard Kat's words pierce her as well as Straw. This was why she was afraid of telling her. This was why she had insisted on being so secretive for so many months. She did not have the heart to just come out and admit to Kat exactly what the kids admitted for her. However, it was the wrong choice, because the kids admitted it for her. Now the punishment was going to be worse because not only was the truth revealed but she now had to apologize for not being the one to reveal the truth. 

"I'm so sorry," she responded before Straw could speak. "I swear we were going to tell you today. We were just waiting for the right time to bring it up." 

She still looked down, afraid to see what Kat's face looked like. She could tell by the tone of her voice though, that she had done exactly what she had feared. She had hurt her. In more ways than one. Queety was sure that Kat wouldn't have been too upset to know that Straw and Queety were now involved with each other. But it was the other words that Scarlett had professed that truly shook her up. Queety really had taken a lot of the roles that were meant for Kat. And that was something that she could blame no one for but herself. She could have walked away at any time and continued her role as just a godmother, a friend, an aunt that came by with presents once in a while like Kelly. But she had chose to take on the role as their primary caretaker and she chose to continue doing it. And frankly, the real reason Queety stayed around all these years was not because of her feelings for Straw but her love for the kids who she now considered her own. She loved raising them. Heck, she felt a warmth within her the few times the kids had accidentally called her "mummy" and a few times, did not correct them. Though that was something she would not admit to anyone, including Straw. 

But she had never done it with the intention to hurt Kat. Unfortunately, she know she did. But it seemed that at the time, Kat's focus was more on the relationship. She still felt the anxiety but knew that it would be another discussion for another day.

She looked up at Straw to see his reaction. He was probably a little smoother with words at this point since she was still incapacitated by anxiety to say anything more. 

[Straw Buckett]

Only from the mouths of babes, Straw really wasn’t surprised that THIS was the way in which the girls found out about him and Queety. It was kind of funny in all honesty but he also knew this was the worst possible way for Queety and she’d be dying inside right now. Straw was waiting for the two to start laughing and admitting how they knew all along but was taken back by Kat’s tone.

“Babysitter? Hang on a sec!” Straw interrupted and stepped forward with a frown to grab Queety’s arm, he slipped his hand into hers and moved himself close to her side. “There’s actually nothing to be sorry about,” and in all fairness Straw was not about to apologies to Kat, not when she was the big dam reason he was now free to date someone else. Keeping his eyes on Kat Straw wondered how hurt she actually was by this. Her tone suggested so but He knew her well enough to know she really wouldn’t care but he wasn’t entirely sure right now, “Officially about a year now I guess, it’s been so long I can’t really remember. Can you?” and glances over to Queety. Straw’s tone was possibly a little sassy but he couldn’t help but feel Kat would get her own back up at them. “Is there a problem?”

[Kelly Evans]

Laughing quietly at Kat's response to how they were going to respond to the news, Kelly stood as Straw's beckoned them all to the table and followed Kat, sitting down in a chair beside her. She felt the familiar twist in her gut that always happened when there was going to be confrontation; even though she was expecting the news, with this bunch you never really knew how things were going to play out. So as they raised their glasses and toasted the children's return and old friends, Kelly wondered just how quickly this would be over so she could eat.

And then the children chimed in. Kelly couldn't help it - she grinned at the triplets' as they let the cat out of the bag in the cutest way possible. She managed to glance once at Kat before she had to look down at her plate, concentrating hard on not laughing aloud, if only because of how awful she knew Queety must be feeling right now. Kat's voice could have cut through diamonds it was so hard, and not for the first time in her life (and not for the last, she imagined), Kelly was fondly surprised at how good an actress Kat could be when she wanted. But Kelly knew Kat well, if not better than anyone, and she knew that on some level, the fact that Queety had stepped into Kat's shoes so easily would leave an itch. To give credit where credit was due, though, Kelly also knew that if Kat had had a choice about who she'd want as step-mother to her children, a woman who would make Straw as happy as he deserved, she would have picked Queety anyway.

She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes at Straw's reaction; she knew he'd have reacted that way, though it wasn't entirely unfounded. Kelly was honestly just impressed that they were buying this. Spaiden, being the most perceptive of the three, picked up on the tension at the grown-ups table and looked up at Kelly, concern written all over his lovely face. She winked at him and smiled and he visibly relaxed, turning back to his spaghetti to babble with his siblings. Probably should have charmed them so they couldn't hear us, Kelly thought to herself, and dared a glance back up at the other three. Queety looked like she was going to burst into tears and Straw was wearing an expression that seemed to be an awkward mix of affronted rage and like a child who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. She felt worse for Queety, who had rarely - if ever - been on the receiving end of Kat's famous death stare, but on the other hand she wondered how long Kat could keep it up.

[Queety White]

Some day, far in the future, she was probably going to laugh about this. But in the moment, Queety was terrified. Terrified of being yelled at (though she knew she was not doing anything wrong at all). Terrified of losing a friend. Terrified of hurting her friends. Terrified of feeling in the wrong for keeping this a secret for so long. She felt Straw's hand wrap around hers and squeezed it. It felt warm and was a reminder that through and through, she could always count on him regardless of what crazy situations they found themselves in. Their relationship may have changed a lot in the past year, but there was no denying that Straw was her best friend first. The one person she could trust with her life, that would take her side and make sure that she was alright. And she would do the same for him. 

"Yeah, about a year now..." she responded quietly. She slowly raised her eyes to look at Kelly (she was still too afraid to look at Kat though she could feel the piercing daggers on her and Straw). Kelly looked a bit annoyed at Straw's rather sassy response (so maybe thinking he would be the smoother talker wasn't the best assumption). However, Queety noticed the corner of her mouth twitching, she she was trying to hold back a smile or laugh. The anxiety that was starting to calm suddenly came flooding back. Why did she want to laugh? Did she already know? Did she not believe it? Did she think they were joking? She wish she knew even a little bit about legilimency to figure out just what was going on in Kat and Kelly's minds right now. 

She dared take a peak at Kat who was still interrogating them with her stare alone. She inhaled and let out a long sigh, trying to will her heart to stop racing. "But we're not messing around," she said, her voice wavering. "We're actually serious about this."

[Kat Samuels]

This was chaos and there was no way she could keep it up for much longer, not with Kelly breaking ranks beside her already, but she’d been practicing this for weeks, no way she could stop now. Wandless magic was such a rarity, for any of them, it was so incredibly difficult and for the most part only ever happened when someone was incredibly emotional, so Kat had been training this spell for weeks, knowing full well that the day the pair before her would come clean was coming. It took several weeks before she could even master the wordless spell, and several more after that before she could cast the spell with her wand still in her holster. Always one for dramatics.

“Is there a problem?” she squawked, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised in disapproval. “Is. There. A. Problem?” her eyes flicked to the toys scattered across the lounge room floor and with a moment of almost seamless concentration they rose six feet in the air and hovered for a moment before darting across the children’s heads and colliding with Straw’s chest one after the other with a thump. Not hard enough to leave a mark but enough for dramatic effect.

Kat rose, her hands fists beside her side, practical years of defiance coming to the surface as she rounded on the pair, scoffing at their promises of seriousness. “A year? A mother flipping year? Merlin’s sake Straw, I’m so mad I can’t even look at you right now!” and as if on queue her voice cracked at the last word, angry tears rolling down her cheeks as she turned her back from them, her body shaking violently from what anyone would assume was rage (but was really silent laughter).

Her voice low and cracked now she spoke once more, small as a child. “How could you? How could either of you?”

“How could you think we hadn’t known about this for months!”

[Kelly Evans]

And there it was. Kelly's wide-eyed, mouth agape reaction to Kat magicking the toys to throw themselves at Straw was only half fake; she had practised the wordless magic along with Kat for weeks, just to see if she could do it (turns out that yes, she can), but Kelly was always impressed when difficult magic came through for those practising it. Her initial surprise slash pride quickly turned to amusement though, as she watched Straw's face turn redder and redder in either anger or embarrassment, she wasn't quite sure. She was willing to put money on the former though.

The children, for their part, thought it was hilarious, and had started joining in on the fun, hurling any and all soft objects they could get their hands on at their father, squealing as they did so. Soon, there were plush toys sitting in the spaghetti sauce and Straw, Queety, Kat and herself had even gathered spatters of the dinner. Once again, Kelly marvelled at the ability of her best friend to start a riot with such a quiet voice. It was the hair - it was bigger than most anything else.

Deciding to play this completely out to the end, Kelly in one swift movement stood up and slammed her hands down on the table, making them all jump. "WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN HERE?" She wailed dramatically, shaking her long dark hair out of her eyes, sending little spatters of red sauce all over the table as she did so. Spaiden, Josh and Scarlett stopped mid-throw, their chosen missiles held high in their little hands as they watched their Aunt Kelly, confused but excited looks on their faces.

Kelly, resting on her hands, leaned towards Straw and Queety, with a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry, but I'm with Kat on this one. How could you?" She took a deep breath and then finally cracked, the façade lost, and she giggled. "How could you not know that we figured it out ages ago? The two of you are the worst secret keepers in the history of the world. We noticed every little glance, every quick caress of the hand. Probably poor form on our part, but we liked playing along with the little secret you had going on here."

"Seriously. Don't go into the Unspeakable business. You're the worst."

[Queety White]

Queety would do almost anything to protect Straw, with the exception of the angry ex-wife using wandless magic to attack him with children's play toys. Then all bets were off. Queety immediately let go of Straw's hand as she shielded her face. Luckily for her, none of the toys hit her as they were all being aimed for Straw. By the time she opened her eyes again, she saw that the kids were also participating in the toy-launching fest. Before she could tell them to stop copying Kat, several toys made their way into their dinners and they were all covered in the sauce. Queety squealed as her hair got covered in the mess. Kelly was not helping as she shook her head and splattered more sauce and spaghetti everywhere. Thank goodness for magic or this would all be very difficult to clean up later. 

Just in the height of the choas, Kat and Kelly revealed their own secret and suddenly Queety felt her heart pounding. They knew all along? Feeling the tension, the kids slowly put down the toys that they were holding above their heads. Josh grabbed the ninja turtle he had managed to make float in the air like his mother. Now everything was silent as Kat and Kelly looked as if they were going to burst out laughing. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes again, though she was not sure if it was out of relief or embarrassment. 

"You knew?" she said quietly. "After all this time...?"

She fell down onto the chair, suddenly feeling very tired. "I mean, we didn't mean to keep it a secret for so long but if you guys had known why didn't you just ask us? I think we would have told you."  She looked over at the kids who were staring with wide curious eyes, not understanding exactly what was going on but feeling the overall mood of the situation and ready to jump in with hugs at a moment's notice. 

She looked at Kat who was still turned away from her. Despite knowing that a lot of this was an act, she still wondered how much of it was Kat's true feelings regarding the situation. Those tears could not have been entirely acting. Knowing that even if Kat did not give them her blessing, it wouldn't stop Queety from being with Straw, it still felt right to ask for it. Her voice was quiet. "Kat... I'm really sorry we didn't tell you sooner. I hope... I hope it's all right with you that we're together."

[Straw Buckett]

Straw paused, his eyes firmly on Kat as he watched the blonde’s face harden. In fact this was probably the longest the two had held eye contact for the last few years. Straw didn’t quite regret his sass however was beginning to rethink his choice of words as Kat squawked them back at him. He’d seen her mad before but not like this. The closest he’d ever seen her to loosing it was when he accidently destroyed one her favorite books that Noah had passed on to her, one that they shared a rather deep bond over too. It had started out as just fun and games and Straw really did intend to give it back to her as he pretended to throw it in the fire… he just didn’t account for having such a weaker grip on the dam thing when he mimicked throwing it in the raging fire…. She didn’t speak to him for a week.

Before Straw could react, soft toys rose from the floor and began to hit him in the chest. Straw eyebrows rose in disbelief as the toys hit him one after another. Despite being 6 foot plus, 95 kilos heavy and rather muscular who has broken bones, deals with criminals on a daily basis, Straw was flinching as each toy as it hit him. “What the?” was all that came from his mouth as he raised his hands up to to protect his face. "Come on.. Kat?!" The fact that she was getting upset with him was almost unfathomable to Straw. How dare she be?! Of all people to get into a jealous rage over this, not when she was the one who’d betrayed his trust first.

Straw began to frown and in all honesty their old relationship was still a sore spot for the old Gryffindor. He was civil for their kids and was only beginning to slowly befriend her once more but her reaction was quickly wearing thin and he would not put up with her jealous outburst, not when Queety made him happy again. Kat was not allowed to be mad about this and just as he opened his mouth to make that very point he hears her voice crack and tears begin to roll down her cheek. Straw halted in confusion, he didn’t mean to make her cry about this. He never dreamed his relationship with Queety would cause this reaction. Then suddenly before he could act, Kelly bursts out by slamming her hands on the table and made him jump with some comment about the children. It was chaos, the children started to hit him with toys, Kat turned her back to him, both seemed utterly hurt that he didn’t tell them and then… they're laughing, well Kelly is anyway.

Straw falters and glances quickly at Queety for confirmation that this was really happening. That they arent' crying but laughing, “Wait what?” he frowns as the puts his hands out on the heads of all three triplets who finally stop hitting them with their toys. “You’ve known for months? How?” Straw looks to Kat who's eyes are still looking a little wet, He's not sure how to interpret her mood now. Was she honestly mad with him or was this now a major act put on just to tease him and Queety? Straw wondered how honest her tears really were.

"So you're ok with it?" he asks cautiously looking between Kelly and Kat.