by Amy Crook
"Thanks," said Alex. He took a moment to get his bearings and headed off into the Temple. He was whistling as he went, and Julian had a feeling he was sneakily using his magical senses to find the other mages instead of trying to remember the way.
Not that Julian blamed him.
"All right," said Julian. "What can we do today while we wait for the things we need for terracing?"
They got back to work, mostly rearranging and sorting, though Julian planted a few more things and scattered wildflower seeds in with the grass seeds, and then watered everything before they declared it a good day's work and sent Horace off to find Alex.
"Is there a wish tree here at the Temple?" asked Julian, settling into a chair in Father Stephen's office.
"There is, it's quite old. It's in one of the open courtyards, we can visit later," said Stephen.
"The wards do cover those courtyards," said James. "But not a long visit, still."
Julian sighed, but nodded. "Not a long visit, I promise."
"What are we visiting?" asked Alex, looking tired as he followed Horace into the room. He had his bag with him, though, so Julian had hopes that his task was done.
"The wish tree," said Julian. "Father Stephen says that have a nice old one here."
"We could make a wish," said Alex, plopping onto the chair next to Julian. "Are we eating in here?"
Julian chuckled. "Thinking with your stomach again," he teased.
"We'll eat in the dining hall again," said Father Stephen, which prompted a gathering up of the necessary items. "I'll call in our supply order and be along, I have to see if we can get everything by tomorrow morning."
"If not, I'll take the day off and read up on terracing," said Julian with a chuckle. "I haven't done much of this sort of thing yet."
"We've made a very good start," said Father Stephen. "Go on, I'll just call it in now," he said. He picked up the phone and they all filed out, Jones with the box of goodies and Brianna with the tea tray.
The dining hall was empty this time, but there was hot water for the tea and plenty of places to sit, so it was perfect for their needs. Julian remembered to put in a call to Saveur, and they promised to make up some boxes of treats for him and have them waiting for Jones, to be billed to the St. Albans accounts. Father Stephen joined them in time to pour the tea, and they all settled in for their snack.
"It seems rocks and dirt are an easy delivery," said Father Stephen cheerfully, "so we should have what we need tomorrow. I'll arrange for two more stout lads to help, perhaps?"
"That's a lot of people in that little room," said Julian dubiously.
"Ah, well, I have meetings I can't get out of," said Stephen sheepishly, "so I thought perhaps I could give their service in my stead."
"Will you still eat with us?" asked Alex. He'd already messaged Alys about Brianna, but they'd need to let her know if there were going to be yet more box lunches needed.
"I probably can't," said Father Stephen. "Perhaps tea, though, if it wouldn't be too much trouble?"
"You just want to get chocolates," said Alex, but he was already sending Alys a message. "I won't be here for lunch, either, but I'll try to make it back in time for tea, too."
"I'll bring the proper clothes for hard labor," said Jones wryly. "And I'll ask Uncle Josh how he did the terraced bits in our garden, he'll give me all the advice I could possibly need."
Julian laughed. "I'll read up tonight, and we can always call Mary Margaret if we get stuck. She's got to cover my shifts, but a phone consultation won't be a bother."
"So we have a plan," said Father Stephen, sounding very satisfied. "I'll commandeer a pair of young lads for you, so make sure your Alys gives them lunch fit for teenagers."
Alex chuckled. "I'll make sure," he said. "I think she's enjoying the excuse to take extra care of us."
"Or you'll find all your shirt cuffs sewn closed again," said Julian.
"At least she's unlikely to turn me blue again," said Alex. "I always check the soap now."
That required a proper explanation, and by the time they were done telling tales they'd all finished their treats and tea. An acolyte came in looking for Father Stephen, so they all took their leave, promising Brianna she'd be able to join in their picnic tomorrow, and Julian that they'd visit the wish tree then, too. They went through the dance with the car again, and Jones drove them home and dropped them off at the apartment with no problems at all.
Nat appeared downstairs to get them to vet his load of wood, and then he and it vanished while the humans took a more mundane route up in the elevator, headed for a quiet afternoon and evening, or so everyone hoped.
"So, what do you think the wood's for?" asked Julian curiously.
"You'll find out," said Alex, looking smug.
"Oh," said Julian, rolling his eyes. "It's like that, is it?"
"I promise, you'll like the surprise," said Alex, snuggling him close for a kiss.
Julian harrumphed, but there was no feeling in it. "Well, then, I claim first shower, and then I plan to spend my evening reading in my pyjamas."
"That sounds like a good plan," said Alex. "I've got some reading up to do, too. How about you guys?"
"We don't need to check in since we were just there," said James, "so reading sounds pretty good, actually."
"And pyjamas for everyone," said Jacques.
"Definitely pyjamas," said Julian. They filed out of the elevator the door and wards were checked for interference while Julian was hurried safely inside.
"Someone poked around," said Alex, "I'm not sure if it was our murderer or our pest, though, Fischer keeps trying to find a way inside. Lapointe tells me the yelling was very impressive, but it's only made him more determined that I've got something to hide."
"That man," said Julian, "is a colossal jerkface."
Alex smiled and Julian kissed him, then pulled away. "My shower first," he said, slipping off into the bedroom. He got out a pair of unseasonably warm flannel pyjamas and the very silly fuzzy slippers that Cecil had found for him to help keep his toes warm in the draughty manor house, and then showered away his tension with all the hot water he could stand. Clean and bundled up comfortably, he joined the rest of them in the living room to find that the Guardians had changed in his absence.
They wore t-shirts and simple dark cotton trousers, and were sharing the couch, books on the coffee table and cups of cocoa in hand. "Better?" asked Jacques, smiling at him over the back of the couch.
"Better," said Julian. He went over to the little bookcase and found his text on garden design, adding it to the collection on the table. "Your turn," he said, kissing Alex softly. "You smell like you've been making magic items."
"I do, do I?" said Alex, amused. "And what exactly does that smell like?"
"Exotic burning things, hot metal, and ozone," said Julian, tugging Alex's hand until acquiesced and stood up. "Besides, I want the chair."
"I see," said Alex, as Julian snuggled up in the warm spot where he'd been. "It was all a plot."
"Yep, now go on, you'll be happier in pyjamas," said Julian. "And nicer to cuddle." They'd worked out a way they could share the chair and still both read, so long as it was just one book apiece, and Julian was hoping for a lot of snuggling in with his other evening plans.
Alex grinned and leaned down for another kiss. "All right, shower and pyjamas it is." He wandered off, and Julian got up and went over to his desk where Alex's letter had appeared while he was in the shower. He filed it away and then wrote a quick, sweet note back, giving to Horace for safe-keeping. "You can give that to him tomorrow when he's on his way away from me," said Julian, "All right?"
Horace chirped and nibbled his fingers affectionately, proud to be useful again. He'd enjoyed their day out, too, and Julian resolved to make sure he continued to get more use than just the occasional letter to Emmy.
"He's much smarter now, I think," said Jacques, watching Julian interact with the bird. "I wonder if Alex did that, or if it's from y
ou."
"It can't be from me," said Julian, coaxing Horace up onto his shoulder. "I haven't done anything to him."
"You feed him energy," said James. "Not a lot, but a little all the time, the same way Alex does. Like with your plants."
"Oh!" said Julian, laughing. "I had no idea. Is that why you like me?" he asked Horace.
Horace give him a disapproving chirp, which was accompanied by a burst of huffy offence.
"I guess not," said Julian, curling up in the chair. Rather than start to read, he brought Horace down to his chest to pet him. "Sorry, I know you're better than that."
Horace chirped, mollified, and cuddled up properly, demanding petting like a spoiled cat.
"Definitely more personality," said Jacques, "but Alex didn't pet him the same way, either, so it's probably natural development."
"I don't really understand about Horace's spells and construction," said Julian, "but I'm glad he gets magic from me now, too."
"And cuddling," said James, amused. "Alex used to pet him a little but not snuggle up like that."
"His loss," said Julian, and he got another burst of smug affection from Horace. "Horace is very snuggly."
"In a metal sort of way," said Alex, coming out of the bedroom in his own pyjamas, black silk with his silly paisley dressing gown. "Have I seen those slippers before?"
Julian blushed and stuck out one foot, which had a fuzzy hedgehog covering it. "Maybe not, I don't wear them much. They're getting old."
"They're adorable." Alex came up and looked it over. "You might ask Alys about keeping them in good repair, if you want to wear them more."
"They could be mended," said Alys, coming out of the kitchen followed by two more cups of cocoa and four honeycakes on a tray. "Roast's almost done, but this'll tide you over while it rests."
"You're wonderful, Alys," said Julian, taking cup and plate.
"Let me grab a book first," said Alex, and his portion floated to the coffee table to wait. He came back with a slender volume with no title, and set it on top of Julian's book, then grabbed his treats and settled in to share the chair with practiced grace. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," said Julian. "All the food is helping, much as I hate to admit it, and it was good to get in the sunshine and work today."
"The garden's really coming along," said James. "I was surprised how fast you got everything planned out and started."
"You're too used to the Temple committees who can't decide on a drapery colour in less than three meetings," said Jacques, licking honey off his fingers. "Julian's not like that."
"It helps that I don't have any real stake in it being a certain way, just that it turns out nice and works for the Temple," said Julian with a shrug. "So I don't feel like I need to argue if someone doesn't like one of my ideas."
"There's no irrigation, will it be watered by hand?" asked Alex.
"Yep, Father Stephen says there's plenty of acolytes to do it," said Julian. "It'll be good for the plants to get regular attention, anyway."
Alex finished off his last bite of honeycake and Julian impishly licked Alex's fingers clean, which got them some teasing from the Guardians that Julian privately thought was worth it for the warm looks he got from Alex. He finished his own, too, and then they got themselves and their books arranged comfortably. It felt good to be friends with James and Jacques instead of the strangers he could imagine they'd been to Alex, comfortable to be able to read quietly instead of having to talk or entertain them.
Julian read through the section on indoor versus outdoor gardens again, and was just getting started on the terracing chapter when Alys came out with trays for them to eat from.
"No need to get you invading my kitchen," she said, "when you're already settled quiet as mice."
"We're tired," said Alex with a fake yawn that swiftly became real. "Mmm, and hungry, that smells wonderful." Books were set aside, and the trays pulled close so they could eat. She'd made a beef roast with potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms, plus there was broccoli in herbed butter and fresh bread with more of the same butter.
The meat was falling-apart tender, and Julian sighed happily after a single bite. "Once again you prove you're a genius."
"It's good," agreed Jacques. "I really like this herb blend."
"Good," said Alys, vanishing with a little satisfied smirk. Her voice lingered long enough to add, "You'll have roast beef sandwiches again tomorrow."
James chuckled. "If they're this bread and this beef, we'll not mind a bit."
They ate their fill and cleaned their plates and settled back into reading, drinking the cups of tea that showed up at intervals and eating any snacks that did likewise. Julian traded his book for a tablet to look up a few things online, and Alex moved to the desk after a bit to take some notes, but in the end they enjoyed the most restful evening in that Julian had had since this all started.
CHAPTER 14
The next morning Jones came upstairs with a special delivery of chocolates for the household, including a box for Alys.
"Ellen says no peeking," Jones told the curious humans. He handed Alys' box off to the brownie, who actually appeared to take it, waving her hand to banish the rest to the kitchen. "There's some in the car for our day, too, she made some little treat-packets."
"And the extra gift for Father Stephen?" asked Julian hopefully.
"That, too," said Jones. He chuckled when five napkins floated out of the kitchen, each with a single chocolate-covered pear slice on it. "She sent a big box of these over." He bit into his and made a very happy noise indeed. "Mm, you guys have definitely improved the quality of food in my life."
"We have excellent taste," said Julian, biting into his own. "Ooh, as does Ellen, this is perfect."
They finished off their pear slices far too quickly, and then they headed out. They made it to the Temple without a single mishap, and Jones traded Julian and his Guardians for a pair of the Temple mages, who joined Alex for their trip back to see the hospitalised apprentice. Horace stayed behind with the car to deliver Julian's letter to Alex, but he flew up and landed on Julian's shoulder just as they arrived at Father Stephen's office. Julian was carrying the full box of lunches and treats with Stephen's gift balanced on top to leave the Guardians' hands free, even though they all agreed the danger here in the Temple was minimal.
Alex had proven last year that minimal wasn't the same as nonexistent.
"Ah, good, I didn't miss you after all," said Stephen, though he was clearly getting ready to head out to his day of meetings. "Brianna's already supervising Raj and Roger."
"Do you always pair people up alphabetically?" asked Julian teasingly, stowing the box of food. "This'll be fine here?"
"We don't, those two bonded their first day here over their names and have been inseparable since," said Father Stephen. "I believe they're hoping to be Guardians, so we haven't discouraged the partnership."
"James and I didn't get along at all at first," said Jacques. "He thought my name was pretentious."
"He thought I was trying too hard to make up for being small," said James, smirking. It was clearly an old argument, and one that amused them both.
"Well, to make up for missing lunch, and just because," said Julian, "We got you this." He offered Father Stephen the box from Saveur, which contained two each of the current set of six Benedict and St. Albans truffles, plus a half-dozen pear slices.
"Oh, now, this will make up for quite a few meetings," said Father Stephen with a grin. "I'll just hide this one away here, shall I? No need to advertise." He tucked it away in a desk drawer and came back over to take both of Julian's hands. "If you put that thoughtfulness into our garden, I'll have no worries about the results." He kissed Julian on the forehead, cool and bright magic sweeping through Julian like a breath of fresh air.
"Thank you, Father Stephen," said Julian, and then on impulse he kissed him on the cheek.
Stephen grinned and patted him. "I'll come find you boys for tea, just close the door
after yourselves, no need to lock up." He waved and went off down the hall, disappearing quickly into the maze of corridors.
"Shall we?" said Julian, gesturing. He had some sketches he'd made last night, and otherwise everything they'd need was, hopefully, waiting in the new garden.
"Of course," said James, going first. Julian followed and Jacques turned off the light and closed up the Father's office before following. It felt almost familiar now to take the turnings to their garden room, and he smiled to hear Brianna's voice coming down the corridor.
"Are you abusing your seniority already?" teased Julian.
"Mr. St. Albans!" said Brianna, cheeks pink. "I'm glad you're here, we weren't sure what to do with everything."
"I've got sketches," said Julian, patting his pocket. "Why don't you introduce us around? And please, call me Julian."
"Right," said Brianna, spine straightening. "Julian, your extra manual labor for today will be Raj and Roger, I think you can guess which is which."
Unlike Brianna, these two boys were both quite tall and ill-suited to the loose robes they wore, whose hems were already a bit dirty. Raj had dark skin and Roger pale, but they both had thick, straight black hair and warm brown eyes. Julian shook each of their hands, then took over and introduced his Guardians. "This is James, and this is Jacques. I'm afraid they've got to keep me safe, so they won't be helping much otherwise."
"But we can answer a few questions about Guardianship," said James, seeing the twin gleams in the boys' eyes.
"As long as you pay attention to Julian first," said Jacques, "and do what he says."
"Oh, and this is Horace," said Julian, giving Horace a finger to hop onto and then holding him out. "Alex made him, he's really smart."
"Who, Alex or Horace?" teased Jacques.
"Both, of course," said Julian tartly. "Now, let me see how things are doing, and then we can get started."
He took off his shoes and stepped inside, launching Horace upward to let him fly around in the sunshine again. He reached out with his senses, carefully husbanding his energy, and found the plants all growing happily, the shade-lovers already content in their new homes, the clover getting ready to put out some offshoots, and the seeds preparing to sprout. There were some piles of earth on the two walls where they were planning terraces, but the boys had been careful not to cover up anywhere Julian had already planted.
