#ccsemberclub

*********A week or so later***********

The club's phone rings during the business day as the club prepares for guests in the evening. "Hello, Hugh? Yes. Yes, it's good to hear... yes. You are, Hugh. You are. Listen carefully. Tell Mr DeBuke his services aren't required at Ms. Carolos's tonight, and nor are yours. Just for tonight; assume tomorrow is as normal. Thank you so much, have a good service tonight. Good bye."

Hugh goes and tells the others they absolutely must be here tonight... Rocco shrugs, and says "Guess that means we're not needed. "

Shortly thereafter, Ryker DeBuke arrives at the Carolos residence and checks the interior.

Rocco comes out, "Trouble, Ryker?"

"No. Looking for Ms CC." He says soberly.

"Yeah, she's not here. I thought the call was you weren't needed tonight"

"It is. This is for something else. Nevermind, I'll have a look elsewhere." And off he goes towards the college spots.

A pause before he turns and a lowered whisper from Rocco "William..that you?"

Ryker stops and looks back around. "Pardon?"

Rocco looks about, left, then right.. and then transforms into CC "Hope I'm right about this."

Ryker steps forward, into the house, and takes her in his arms. "Dearest...."

He pushes the door shut with his foot behind him.

She allows this... but once they're in, she puts a hand on his chest. "Stop. Talk."

"I missed you. Desperately."

"And you think I haven't missed you?" She looks up "Are you going to stay looking like that?"

"Just for a little while longer." He clears his throat which in this guise is a low rumble. "Dearest, please, do not over react."

He is coaching for what's to come.

"I prefer you as you" She admits in a low voice, "If you're worried on being spied on...that's done. they were gone after I said CC wasn't here."

He pauses. "I'd like to know more about that but... are you certain we are safe to talk?"

"Absolutely."

He watches her for a moment. "Please remember not to over react. Caesar is back in town, and he knows something is wrong, and he is not inclined to sit idly by."

His dainty lovely lady heart unleashes a string of cursing that would have many nockers sit back and take notes! While there is very little Yiddish, it turns out that there is Vulgar French slang and she knows it. In addition to a whole spectrum of generational terms of outrage

He was braced in a troll-kins's form. He waits it out, watching her carefully... and not without admiration.

"...thickheaded .... meatbrained.... macho........ should have weaned him later... early redmeat made him stupid.... " growl grumble then a deep breath and she calmly shook her hair out, "And what did my dear son say specifically?"

He steps in and kisses her gently but thoroughly first, then says "He -is- your son. He's big, but not stupid, apparently. He's put together some dots from his childhood, Dearest. You did well, but the boy lived through it. And from that, he has suspicions. He's here, and refused to leave, but agreed to not approach you. He has a commerical to shoot in town. He also believes you are stubborn, over protective, and that you have an edge. I cannot imagine how he got that impression, however."

She returns the kiss, and then leans her head against him for support, "Humph... he lived with me is all. Damn...no, he's not stupid, but I did want to keep him very much in the dark. They're going to know. He has the same last name. They're going to know."

"I mean... they already do but damn."

"I'm so sorry, Dearest." Whispered into her hair. "One... more thing."

"Caesar informed me that he's willing to wait two more weeks before he wades in, himself."

"two weeks? Oh dandy! Well, we're heading to Ireland...tomorrow," She fumes, "We're now in an official rush."

"Tomorrow?" His blue eyes grow larger, startled. "Really?" He sounds excited.

"Unless you nEED the delay for something....?" She tilts her head, "We have a temporary window... very temporary. They 'll spy on Caesar, not to hurt, but to try to find a pattern . Caesar won't be on his usual pattern... buying us time to make a run for it now even if were' not as prepped as I like"

"No, I don't need to delay at all! Caesar complied with my request to stay somewhere he usually doesn't, and stay away from you. I felt it was the best I could do at the time without telling him anything."

"I've had a 3-day bag packed for a week." He can't help but grin.

That gets him a HUGE kiss right then and there. "God, when we get to a location where you can be yoruself again, I am so tripping your light fantastic. You actually delayed him and talked some sense into him! And then told me about it... I love you so damn much I could burst."

He chuckles, kissing her back thoroughly. "Oh Dearest." Whispered. "He's a wonderful boy. Despite myself, I like him. And he has your eyes."

"And my hardheadness," She says "Help me pack.... We're taking an airport trip, and then from there a trod. I want to throw folks off."

"Yes, Dearest. Shall I send someone for my bag?"

"Can you do it discr..." A pause, "I'm sorry, silly question of me to start to ask ... of course you should."

He grins at her.

"oh stop" An actual blush

And she uses satyr speed to clean things up

William, meanwhile, lumbers around and helps to pack and clean.

"How long do you plan on looking like that?" She says

He pauses, looking innocently puzzled. "As long as needed."

"I prefer the real you" She admits, "I have my own magics. I can make a sluagh look like my favorite actors. But I can't really recreate my William."

He goes to her and kisses her. "I told you to take a lover as a guard for a reason. And I chose his form today for a reason. I love you, Callidora. Three -hours- is too long without you, not to mention three days, or longer."

She returns the kiss, "Secret for you love... I haven't really had that much sex. Too worried about you. Fine...there are a positions you can take where I won't have to look at that troll face." A wink and she resumes packing.

He seems somewhere between stricken and amused, but lets her go back to packing. His gaze never strays far, however.