Chapter 2
The next morning they were up bright and early, going over their various work spaces while the brownies got their bags packed and ready to go to Chudleigh's.
At some point, one of their families had gifted them an absurd traveling trunk designed specifically to keep suits neat and wrinkle-free, so they were somehow obligated to haul the thing out to Chudleigh's full of the sort of outfit Alex preferred to avoid whenever possible.
There was also the cats' basket, the three of them now the size of any normal cat and still growing after more than half a year.
They'd considered driving themselves, but Jones had overridden them, citing both weather and that everyone else would be dropped off by a driver, so it would be strange for them to need parking for the duration.
"Everything's fine here," said Alex, looking around his work room.
He'd bottled the last dose of the new energy-healing potion they'd been working on with Geoff, designed to heal someone's damaged energy pathways.
It was inspired by Alex's dramatically broken arm from this fall, as well as the experiences he'd had with people whose magic had been wounded by dark artefacts and the like.
Everything was put away, work spaces neat as a pin, and he had no more excuses. Julian had already checked over the specialised greenhouse table and declared it fine for the weekend without him, even.
Alex sighed and went upstairs, dragging his feet just enough that Alys scoffed at him.
"Get yourself by th'fire, lad, we'll feed you proper before trusting you to Chudleigh's." An already-prepared teacup floated past him, followed by a saucer and a single ginger biscuit.
Alex chuckled and complied, glad for the excuse not to dress in his finery just yet.
Food floated in, followed shortly by Julian coming through the French doors to the conservatory, laughing and talking. "I'm going, I'm going! I was done, anyway," he told Nat, who strode beside him.
"Ye weren't," said Nat with a little snort.
"He zapped me!" said Julian, as if telling on a naughty child.
"Ye prob'ly deserved it," said Alys. "Sit and eat. There'll be snacks in yer trunk, too, in case those people don't feed ye right."
"Yes, Alys," said Julian, sitting despite his cheeky singsong.
Alex rolled his eyes and kissed Julian's flushed, cool cheek. "And how is your wintering greenhouse?"
"It's mostly asleep, aside from those things from other climates that are enjoying being sort-of-indoors for the winter," said Julian with a sigh. "I just worry, you know how it is."
"I do know," said Alex, kissing his nose this time. "Alys also worries, however, so it's best that we stuff ourselves silly."
Julian huffed a small laugh and took a sip of his tea first, then turned his attention to the other things on the tray, so Alex followed suit.
First there were stuffed mushrooms, a treat in the dead of winter, full of cheese and herbs and breadcrumbs from Alys' own good bread.
She'd also given them bread with a different, softer cheese spread on it, as well as dishes of her spiced pickled carrots and the less-spicy gingered peaches she'd canned this summer.
The main dish was roast pork with apples, potatoes, and leeks, a sweet-savoury treat covered in a rich sauce that combined all those flavours and some herbs and spices besides.
Alex set to feeling very spoiled indeed, and despite the giant spread, was hoping for dessert as well.
Once he'd finished his carrots, he found the bowl replaced with crispy Brussels sprouts roasted with bacon, the tray still nearly as full as when he'd begun.
He dug into those alongside the rest of his triple plate of pork, saving the peaches for small treats when the rest seemed too heavy.
The mushrooms, too, went fast, but those she didn't bother to replace.
When every bite of pork and crumb of bread were gone, the trays emptied themselves, leaving them with fresh cups of tea and rather full bellies. Julian was radiating satiation through the bond, though Alex could tell they'd both be able to make room, in the way of mages, should there be yet more.
"That was amazing, Alys," said Julian, flopping against Alex with a hand on his stomach.
"It was really delicious," agreed Alex. "You really went all out for our going-away dinner. Well, lunch."
"Meal," said Julian with a giggle.
Alys rolled her eyes at their antics, but preened under the praise anyway. About halfway through their respective cups of tea, another course did make an appearance, a sweet fruitcake laced with rum and topped with both a rich custard and a honeyed whipped cream.
"You're lucky we have magical places to put this," said Julian, eyeing the triple slices of cake.
"We're lucky you're such a good cook," added Alex, digging in shamelessly.
They hadn't had much to say during the meal, too intent on eating and the time ticking away until they were expected.
They'd already made sure Alys and Nat would be fine without their idiot humans for a few days, possibly to the point of annoying them, and there was no more to be said about the disposition of house or expectation of their return.
All there was left was, well, leaving.
The fruitcake was heavy, yes, but laden with good dried fruit that had been soaked in tea and rum before baking, giving everything a lovely flavour that went well with the creamy custard, which proved to have a bit of ginger and spice in it, as well.
It was a very rich dessert for a very rich meal, and a sign of Alys' worry for them, that she'd load them up like they were off to be mages rather than guests.
Alex rather adored the unspoken concern, as no one else in his life had ever cared much about what he ate, other than Lapointe making sure he didn't fall over on a case.
Again, anyway.
"All right," said Julian, once the last bite was gone and the tea with it this time, no longer magically refilled. "I suppose that means we've got to go dress."
"Ugh," said Alex. "Dressing up."
But he still went upstairs after Julian. At least the view was good.
They left their work clothes in heaps on the floor and shared a quick, refreshing shower to get off any unlikely dirt they might have picked up.
Then there was nothing for it, and Alex layered on the suit with the purple pinstripes, which Alys had chosen as most appropriate for the early festivities.
He'd have to make use of both of his dinner outfits and then swap them around during the party, but he refused to buy more clothing for one single event.
Julian, of course, had plenty of clothes, because he actually enjoyed that sort of thing.
They checked each other over and put on the suggested jewellery, Alex with his watch and fob and the amethyst set of cufflinks and tie pin.
Julian had his own gems, peridot this time to go with the greens in his suit, especially the pop of bright colour in the embroidery on his waistcoat.
His listening bracelet hid itself on his wrist under the cuff, but his wedding ring, like Alex's, was on full display.
Alex kissed the twine of gold-and-platinum vines and emeralds, then he kissed his husband as well. "You're gorgeous as always."
"With a gorgeous husband," Julian replied, smiling as they moved apart to check pockets for the various small magic items they often carried, Alex's insight stone and the water-conjuring vial he'd made for Julian.
Alex's new cashmere coat also had its own stash of this and that in the pockets, because Gerard had kept his promise and put in a literally magical number of them, which meant Alex actually wore the thing willingly.
Julian had his own new coat in camel-coloured cashmere, which fit him beautifully and fashionably complemented his colouring and clothing.
Alex's was, of course, black.
Fully outfitted, they headed down to find Jones just coming back inside from loading up their luggage, a grin on his face and Horace on his shoulder, the bird dusted with snow and looking triumphantly tired after having to go visit Cody in the oncoming storm.
He flew over to Alex and burrowed into his overcoat, broadcasting his intention to sleep it off and avoid the early part of the festivities.
Alys handed Jones a thermos of something and a lunch tin as well.
"You always take good care of me, ma'am," said Jones, doffing his cap at her with a cheeky wink.
Alex chuckled. "No flirting with my brownies, or I'll tell Jenny."
"She's still gonna move in when the house is done," said Jones. Work had slowed for winter but not stopped entirely, and everyone involved was hoping it would be fully updated and refurnished by April. "You can't change her mind now that she's seen the house."
She'd also grown tired of the life of a waitress, and was ready to let Jones whisk her off to the country.
"What's she going to do all the way out there?" asked Julian curiously, coming up beside Alex.
"Oh, they're going to have her work up at the house, serving meals, and let her have the rest of the time off to keep up at the house. Everyone's hoping for a baby once we're, you know." Jones had proposed and been accepted, but they wanted the house done before they actually tied the knot.
Alex grinned. "Well, more power to you both, then. I hope to become a doting distant uncle to whoever you two produce."
Julian laughed and tucked his arm in Alex's. "I'd say he doesn't mean it, but he does."
"Are we ready, or does Alys have more food to burden you with?" asked Alex.
"Ye'll do," said Alys, after giving them a once-over. "Bring 'em home in one piece," she told Jones, and then the door opened on its own, letting in a swirl of wind and a few stray snowflakes.
"Brr," said Julian, huddling closer to Alex as they made their way briefly outside and then into the relative warmth of the car.
Alex snuggled his husband and felt very lucky indeed.