by Crook, Amy
Julian giggled. “I didn’t, he clearly needs the love of a good man or woman to reassure him he can make do with a smaller car.”
“Amen to that,” said Alex. “I know you’ve done me wonders.”
Julian felt a wave of warmth cheer him to his toes. “The feeling’s entirely mutual, my love.”
They shared a moment of perfect, comfortable silence, then someone in the background said something and Alex sighed. “I’ve got to go, but Murielle’s promised not to talk too much about the case tonight, so we’re fresh for tomorrow.”
“Oh, Father Stephen called me, he’s still okay to meet us. You didn’t tell me you were at a Temple!” said Julian.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t think… Have you been to this one? It’s the little one out in Gainesbury,” said Alex. “It was quite nice before this, I think, very green.”
“I have a few times, but not in years,” said Julian with a sigh. “This feels worse than the nursery, somehow, but I know the Temple can fix it easier than Mary Margaret.”
“They can, and they will, love,” said Alex. There was more squawking in the background. “I’ve really got to go, but I’ll bring Geoff over. And Lapointe is telling me to tell you to keep ignoring Fischer if he calls.”
Julian giggled. “All right, love you. Stay safe.”
“You, too,” said Alex, and then he was gone. Julian sighed, then went and deleted Fischer’s message with glee, and sipped his tea for a moment before calling Father Stephen.
“Hello?” said the voice at the other end.
“Hello, is this Father Stephen? It’s Julian St. Albans,” he said formally, in case this went to a main line instead of directly to the priest.
“Julian, my boy, how are you?” said Father Stephen, his voice warm and familiar now that he knew who was calling.
“I’m fine, Father, Alex is taking good care of me. It’s just a big bruise,” Julian reassured him. “I’m sorry to hear about the Temple, though.”
“Thank you, we were all quite shocked to hear of it. The Gainesbury Temple was a very peaceful place, though attended quite sparsely,” said Stephen, his expressive voice full of sadness. “We’ll rebuild it, though, it’s been there too long to abandon over this tragedy.”
“Good,” said Julian. “And you’ll let me know if we can help, right?”
“Of course, my boy,” said Stephen, and Julian could hear him smiling. “Though at this rate the Temple is going to end up owing you.”
Julian laughed. “Well, next time I need Guarding I’ll remember that,” he teased. “James and Jacques would have made short work of our incompetent mugger.”
Stephen chuckled wryly. “I’m sure they would have. Well, thank you for calling me back. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“See you then,” said Julian warmly, feeling less scattered and worried as he hung up. Father Stephen always had that effect, even on the phone, and even Alex appreciated it. Well, most of the time.
He finished off his tea, then curled back up and hit the button to return Tiny’s call. “Officer Engebretsen, it’s Julian St. Albans,” said Julian, when he answered the phone.
“You don’t have to, I mean, you can call me Tiny,” said the man awkwardly, which Julian found charming.
“Only if you tell me your first name,” teased Julian. “Engebretsen is a bit of a mouthful, I admit.”
“It’s, uh, Tjostolv. My pappa was Norwegian, wanted me to have a proper Nordic name, so it’s been Tiny since I was a kid,” he said, with a laugh.
“So you were always a big boy, then?” said Julian, then he chuckled. “Sorry, habit, I shouldn’t flirt. I really do appreciate you calling to check up on me.”
“I was always tall for my age,” retorted Tiny, and he sounded more relaxed. “You’re really all right? You’re so small, it seems like you’d just break in half.”
Julian chuckled wryly. “I’m not so fragile as all that. I’ve got a big bruise on my shoulder, but I managed to keep from getting a lump on my head. Alex made me a really good protection amulet, and it gave the attacker a nasty zap.”
“Are they meant to do that?” said Tiny curiously. “I thought they just did passive stuff, like making you less prone to accidents or…”
“Or getting mugged?” said Julian. “Most of them do, but Alex built in a kind of one-shot active protection, because of the trouble last year. He’s going to fix it today before we go out again.”
“It’s good to know he takes care of you,” said Tiny, sounding shy again. “I try to take care of my girl, but she’s really strong and independent.”
“Oh, well, I wanted to be a consort before I met Alex, you know, like in the tales? I almost was, but Alex helped me get out of it after my fiancé was murdered.”
“So you are the one that was in the papers last year?” asked Tiny curiously. “What are you doing working at the nursery?”
“Actually, I’m her apprentice,” said Julian. He explained about his apprenticeship and how he came to be working for Mary Margaret, and Tiny told him about how he got to be a cop, and before Julian knew it his phone was beeping with another call. “Oh! That’s Alex, wow, time flies. Call me again, though? We’ll take you and Gemma to Padma’s.”
“I’d like that, thanks. You take care, now,” said Tiny.
“I will, promise.” He switched over to Alex’s call and just barely caught him. “Sorry, I was calling back Officer Tiny, who says you have to keep taking good care of me.”
Alex laughed. “I accept his assignment. Are you going to be ready for company when we get there?”
“When are you going to get here?” said Julian right back.
“Oh, um, it’s about forty-five minutes, we’re leaving now,” said Alex, after consulting with what sounded like Lapointe. “Murielle’s going to meet us directly at Thomas’ place.”
“Then yes, that’s plenty of time to shower and dress, I’ve already returned everyone else’s calls,” said Julian. “I’d better go now, though. Love you.”
“Love you,” said Alex, and they both hung up.
“I’ll be looking at your shoulder before you bathe, lad,” said Alys, coming out of the kitchen with a little dish of what looked like pesto.
“I don’t have too long, should I wait and put that on after?” asked Julian. “Assuming it’s a poultice and not a condiment.”
“Nah, it’s got a little extra something to make it sink in quick-like,” she said.
Julian obediently removed dressing gown and pyjama top, trying to ignore the goosebumps that rose up. She looked and hmmed and did some things, and then he felt the cool paste smoothed over his bruise all the way out past where he’d been able to see colour in the mirror. “How long should I keep it on?” he asked.
“Brush your teeth afore you shower, and it’ll be fine,” she said. “I’ll have biscuits and tea when you get out for being a good boy,” she teased.
He giggled and stood up, leaving the clothes where they sat. “You’re a gem,” he said, and headed into the bathroom. He rushed a little in the shower, then dressed partway in a button-down shirt and trousers, well aware that Dr. Tamlinson would want his own peek at Julian’s shoulder. It did feel better after both Alys’ treatment and the warm shower, less stiff and achy, though still sore.
Julian smiled to see tea and biscuits set up at his writing desk as he emerged, along with paper and pen, and he whistled to Horace as he sat down. The little bird flew over to chirp and twitter at him while he wrote a short love note to Alex, and then he folded it up in a flower-shape and hid it in Horace’s chest. “You give that to him in a little while, when he’s in there alone, okay?”
Horace chirped assent, nibbling Julian’s fingers gently, then hopping up to his shoulder to preen his damp hair.
“Oh, now you’re not afraid of a little damp,” said Julian, checking the time. “They should be here any minute, let’s go start a pot of tea.”
“You just have a sit, dear, I’ll have tea and b
iscuits ready when the boys arrive,” said Alys, though Julian wasn’t quite sure where she was at. The brownies didn’t do their invisibility thing often anymore, but sometimes she just felt like it, especially when company was coming. Julian went and stood by the window instead of sitting, looking out at the city and thinking about having some plants there to soften the man-made landscape.
Horace hopped down his arm until he could be petted comfortably, which made Julian smile. “I’m glad you like this, even though you’re metal,” said Julian softly. Alex had never really explained what made Horace the way he was, but in a way Julian didn’t want to know. He knew it was magic, and that was all that mattered.
“How could anyone not like being petted by you?” said Alex, coming up to hug him from behind.
“Oh, I didn’t hear you come in,” said Julian, turning to steal a kiss, though he kept his hands as they were. “I’m not just keeping you for your bird, but he is an excellent perk,” teased Julian.
“If you two are done being disgusting,” said Geoff with mock-irritation, “I’d like to make sure someone with actual medical training sees to Julian’s shoulder.”
“Alys put a poultice on before my shower,” said Julian. “And Alex has been putting on his own bruise potions.”
“And now I want to see it,” said Geoff, and then he relented and grinned. “I’m sure it’s fine, but you know how it is. You’d want to see it if I got a plant for my desk and tried not to kill it.”
Julian chuckled. “Yes, all right. Here,” he said, handing Horace off to Alex, letting the construct hop up onto Alex’s shoulder. “You go fix my amulet, and I’ll be safe enough in Geoff’s hands.”
“Your wish is my command,” said Alex with a grin. He stole one more kiss, and snagged the cup of perfectly-prepared tea that had appeared on the table, then vanished into his work room.
“Just don’t take forever, I get cold easily,” said Julian. “Hello, by the way.”
“Hello,” said Geoff. “Now, sit here.” He guided Julian to sit sideways on the couch, taking a seat behind him but not so close as to seem untoward. Julian shook off his sudden foolish self-consciousness and unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall down. “So, Doc, am I gonna live?”
Geoff chuckled as he was meant to, and Julian relaxed. “I’m pretty sure you were going to live whether or not I examined you,” he said, “I just want to check for underlying bone damage, so this might hurt a little.”
“Ugh, more poking. You’re putting more of Alex’s potion on after, then,” protested Julian.
“Deal,” replied Geoff, already sounding distracted. Julian felt fingers on his skin, and tried not to twitch as Geoff gently probed the edges of the bruise, then moved carefully to the centre. He ran his fingers up and down the length of the oblong where the pipe had impacted, and Julian remembered what Alex said about him sensing magic through touch.
“Are you using magic to probe me, Doctor?” asked Julian, making it sound flirty.
“Only a little,” said Geoff. “I don’t feel anything broken, though, and whatever they’ve been giving you is working really well. It already looks a lot more than half a day old.”
“Good,” said Julian. “It really does feel better, that hurt a lot less than I was expecting.”
“Let me put this on, then,” said Geoff. “This is the right bottle?” Julian turned; Alys must have brought the bruise potion out for them at some point, probably when she made the tea appear.
“Yep, that’s it,” said Julian, sitting straight again.
Geoff’s fingers were gentle but professional, and Julian relaxed as he rubbed the potion in. “Thanks,” he said, once it was done.
“As I’m not a fairy, you’re welcome,” said Geoff. He handed Julian his cup of tea. “You drink a bit of that while I wash my hands, just to make sure you don’t stain your shirt.”
“All right,” said Julian, giving a little shiver. The tea was warm, though, and Geoff didn’t take but a minute to wash up before declaring Julian shirt-safe.
“You really do get cold easily,” said Geoff, sitting to have some tea of his own, finally. “You must love it outside right now.”
Julian shrugged, but he was smiling. “I do, I always loved August in the orchards, when there’s peaches and trees to climb to get to them.”
“I’ll bet you gave your family a heart attack a time or two doing that, no wonder you’re not much fussed about a little bruise,” said Geoff. They talked about childhood bad habits and Julian’s plans to go harvesting after the equinox, and ate Alys’ wonderful shortbread biscuits until Alex emerged from his work room.
“All better,” he said, holding up the amulet on its cord. It looked a little different now, and Julian was sure Alex had done more than just ‘fix’ it, but he wasn’t going to complain. “Wear it for me?”
“And for me,” said Julian, but he let Alex put it on and tuck it away. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, especially if you saved me a biscuit or three,” said Alex.
A whole plate of them appeared and, a moment later, Alex’s cup, which proceeded to fill itself with the requisite amounts of tea, milk and sugar.
“Okay, that’s just cool,” said Geoff. “That’s your brownies I guess?”
“Yeah, Alys is feeling antisocial today,” said Julian. “I can never decide if it’s cooler when we have stuff serve itself, or when we get to see real life house-brownies in our own flat.”
Alex looked very pleased. “It’s all magic, you’ve enjoyed that as long as I’ve known you.”
“I bet Chudleigh would love it here,” said Julian teasingly.
Alex surprised him by looking pensive. “He would, I wonder what he’s been up to since the Courtship?”
Julian kissed his cheek. “You’re so thoughtful, I forgot how you two got along. He writes sometimes, he’s learning more about his family’s estates. I think he’s hoping to do another Courtship now that they’re in fashion.”
“We should have him over sometime, then,” said Alex.
“You really think so?” said Julian, snuggling up closer. “I’m not sure most boyfriends would say that about a former suitor.”
“Good thing I’m not them, then,” teased Alex, stealing a kiss, and then another two biscuits. These were a lovely soft spice cookie with crunchy sugar on top, perfect for giving a hungry mage back some energy, and Julian took one for himself.
“If you two don’t stop being so cute, I’m going to get depressed,” said Geoff, only mostly teasing.
Julian leaned over and offered him another sweet. “It’s not my fault you spend all your time hiding down in the infirmary instead of up flirting with handsome men.”
“Or women,” said Alex. “I think Geoff likes both, right?”
Geoff actually blushed. “I do, though I’ve been thinking I want to date a man for a while now. I blame Alex’s creamy mounds.”
“They are very pale and pert,” agreed Julian, though he couldn’t keep a straight face while doing it.
They all cracked up laughing, which took away some of the shadow from Geoff’s face. Julian made a mental note for them to have another party sometime, and invite some people who might not know each other. He also made a mental note to write to Emmy, and probably call her, too, before she killed him for not telling her about his latest adventures.
Alex’s phone pinged to inform them that MacLean and Lapointe were on the way to his place, and they were welcome to join them any time.
“Let me eat a few more of these, and we can go,” Alex said, alternating huge bites of cookie with sips of tea to wash it down.
“Alys, did you make dessert for us to take to Thomas’ house?” asked Julian. By way of an answer, a lovely cake box appeared, presumably with some sort of sweet treat inside. “You’re wonderful as always,” said Julian with a grin.
“Ooh, I wonder what she made?” said Alex, reaching toward it.
Julian smacked his hand lightly. “Stop it, that’s f
or later.”
Alex harrumphed, but he went back to devouring biscuits. “Are you ready to go, then?” he asked.
“Well, I’ll need shoes, and I was thinking of taking a sweater in case Thomas has his AC turned up,” said Julian.
“Go get those, then, I’m almost ready,” said Alex, giving Julian a slightly sugary kiss.
Julian licked the sugar and spice off his lips and grinned. “Be good, now,” he said, and got up to go finish getting ready.
“Does he really get that cold?” he heard Geoff asking as he vanished into the bedroom for his favourite lightweight sweater. It was made of wool off their estate, dyed a lovely golden brown and knitted up by one of the older aunties as a holiday gift. He traded his slippers for socks and shoes, then came out to find Geoff and Alex still talking about him.
“I’m not dying, I had it checked out, I just get cold easily,” said Julian. “You examined me half an hour ago, you can tell I’m not sick or anything.”
Geoff flushed and laughed. “You’re not, sorry, it’s just one of those interesting anomalies.”
“I was trying to remember if it’s been worse since you started using your talent,” said Alex, a little sheepish.
“I don’t think so,” said Julian with a shrug. “I’ve been this way a long time, anyway, since I was a teenager at least. I remember when I was fourteen all the aunties got together and made me sweaters and scarves and things from some St. Albans wool, this is one of them.” Julian held up the sweater. “They had it all custom dyed and everything, it was a whole production. The next year I got a quilt they’d all worked on, too.”
“You’ve got aunties like that, too?” said Alex. “Mine mostly spoil the babies now, and leave me be.”
“I do, they went through a couple of quilts, and I’m sure I’ve still got at least one other sweater, though Mother disapproved of anything that wasn’t designer, of course.” Julian turned to Geoff. “How about you, do you have any family that gives you knitwear?”
“Oh, yes, and whenever a new woman marries into the family, they all teach her to knit. So I’ve got this one sweater that’s like a masterwork of fancy stitching and subtle colour, and a hat so ugly even a blind man wouldn’t wear it,” said Geoff with a laugh. “They do a rota and swap around who knits for who, everyone hopes they’ll be Nan’s pick that year.”