Where The Chloe Meets the Country

Mel had given him very clear instructions 'You'll know you've got to the right place because there's a bloody big bird out front'. Marcus hadn't quite gotten what she'd been on about until low and behold, turning off from the highway onto the sideroad there was a bloody big bird next to the sigh declaring Gumbuyua Park to the world at large. Marcus had been a bit quiet since the Funeral, he still hadn't quite come to grips that Molly was gone but wost was that he was no coming to grips with the fact that Chloe, his sister, his LITTLE sister (who was well over a inch taller then him) was seventeen. Yep, seventeen and legal to do magic whenever she wanted.

The world would never be safe again!

With school holidays stretching on till the end of next week it seemed like the perfect excuse to get out of the house and go away, while okay it felt a lot like they where forever on the move, only having been home a few weeks from Glastonbury before he and Rowan had needed to take a couple of days to go to Scotland in order to attend the funeral and organize things.. there seemed a endless amount of 'things' everything felt too real and so in between helping move boxes Marcus had started thinking on the scarier prospect of what on earth to get Chloe for her birthday... and what they should do. It felt good to have something positive to think about, after all the mess last year it really did feel like they had something to celebrate.. the ultimate win that despite the large and bulky package that had arrived by one very cross owl thismorning (who had flown all the way to France before being re-directed) Chloe wasn't going to spend her seventeenth being squeezed into fugly dresses and put on show under a pile of makeup and beauty charms. Nope, today they where going to have a BBQ, eat cake and sweets until they where sick.. chase a emu, crash a gocart and try to convince the guys that mini-golf would be improved with explosives.

Marcus was smirking, okay so maybe that was his aims for the day! Kat of course had heard the word 'Kangaroo' and been over the moon and while they're chances may have been a bit flimsy Bertrand was coming along under the 'dogs welcome' clause. They'd gotten Sophia to write him a note to explain that he was excused from being a goat on account of his good behavior. It probably wouldn't work, but Marcus was grinning with the idea of finding out. Kat had taken her car, his was full up with people, gifts, dragons (under a disillusionment charm.. though what use it was when she kept talking was anyone's guess) and food. "All Out!" Marcus called as they pulled up.. at a rather wonky angle in the carpark. It was a sunny day with a hint of cool breeze, a relief since it had been pouring most of the week and freezing the rest.

"Right!" Marcus said digging though the junk on the back dash to find 'the hat' which was of course big, and purple and hat candles and happy birthday written on it "Chloe.. your mission if you chose to accept it is to wear this hat all day.. to lord over the world as you see fit" Marcus was grinning, it seemed a million years ago that he'd first stumbled across the strange girl with scruffy hair and brown eyes sneaking around the common room. Marcus wasn't one to believe in fate but sometimes he did have to think about the odds that she would happen to stumble across him of all people. The one person who their father no doubt would kill to know was indulging her to do what she wanted, to be free. Marcus couldn't help but feel good today, today Chloe was seventeen, today (in the magical world at least) she was free. That was worth celebrating for sure.

((OOC: info on Gumbuya Park : Ad/Virtual Tour :: Wiki Page :: Offical Website :BIC))

Chloe was ever so excited about her birthday. It meant great things. For one, she was turning seventeen! People who complained about getting older were silly. Didn't they realized that the older you got, the more freedom you gained? She was 17... Yep... great things.

While Marcus was busy thinking long on hard over her budding maturity and the like, she had rather simple thoughts. With the occasional wonder of what would happen. She didn't think she truly had like a major sweet sixteen but it had been a good day anyway. She had her cake and her precious people. Really, that was about all she could ask for. At least until she had to return home and things grew ever so boring.

But today... today was proving to be special. Chloe could hardly sit still in the car because she was so bloody giddy. They were going to Gumbuya park!!! She was hardly able to contain herself. Her mind was picturing all kinds of possibilities. Stuffing her face, riding on the animals and just having a blast. When her brother told everyone to get out of the car, Chloe did not hesitate.

She stood around, bubbly. And then there was the hat. Grinning like a ninny, Miss Hobson put on her most serious expression and saluted. "I, Chloe Hobson, accept this mission". If she took a moment to give this some thought, she'd probably cry and that would suck. Because Chloe hated crying. Even if they were tears of joy.

Kat was, as always nervous as she pulled up in the carpark a couple of spots over from where the ute that her brother owned was parked. "A-choo!" she sneezed, two weeks of almost nonstop rain didn't gel well with Kat but it didn't matter, today she was going to a party so she had to think positive.. after all there was going to be Kangaroo's. It was days like this Kat was glad her brother's car only had three seats, while it had been more then a year now that she'd first met her brother at Glastonbury she'd never quite gotten used to being a 'older' sister, she'd always been the baby of the Davis kids and while she was trying her best to get to know her half sister Kat did still worry sometimes that Chloe didn't like her and she was only invited because they where related.

Of course maybe it was a natural thing, like how Ellie and Owen didn't always see eye to eye but you knew they loved each other? Kat didn't know but she'd put all the effort she could into making Chloe a really cool birthday gift, even though she didn't have much money on hand due to the surf school being closed for winter she'd done her best and there was even a little envelope that her Mum had given her to pass on. Blowing her nose after she'd turned off the engine and listened to the 'put.put' as it cooled Kat was just glad that it wasn't raining today. Her enthusiasm for the whole trip had been somewhat marred by the cold but now, today she was beginning to feel excited again.. even if Chloe's birthday was a reminder that somehow they where born two years apart to the same father but never even known each other existed.

"Cold..cold..cold.." Kat whined to herself as she climbed out of the car and went to help the others coax Bertrand out. "I remember when I turned seventeen we where in Chile in the jungle and I went on a spirit walk...." Kat said as she bounced into talking distance.. she was jumping slightly from foot to foot to stay warm as she'd insisted on wearing a dress despite the odd weather. "We should go on a spirit walk sometime.. it would be fun.... oh and apperating.. now your old enough I should totally teach you!" Kat offered, she always felt a bit desperate and wanting to make Chloe like her but at the same time awkward in knowing that they'd grown up in such different places and had a bond with Marcus that she'd never be able to share.

While it was hard not to dwell on the fact that being Chloe's older brother meant that he was now very old Marcus couldn't help but feel a bit more optimistic to know that 'the trace' as they called it was gone, he'd always had that lingering anxiety that one day their father would pull strings and discover that Chloe wasn't in France but had never left the country.....well okay apart from a odd sedgeway into Europe to sign forms and check out Glastonbury. What it meant Marcus didn't fully know, he'd never been around long enough to see what happened apart from vague memories of posh parties thrown by people in their houses, some larger and others slightly smaller then their own. He'd only attended them as a child before managing to make excuse on account of being too embarrassing to be seen by polite company on account of his height being so much below expectations.

Glancing over at Rowan he couldn't help but wonder if this wasn't a mistake.. too soon from everything else that had happened. Maybe it was, but now was hardly the best time to admit it. "So what first oh mighty Birthdaygirl?" Marcus asked as he returned the salute before helping Bertrand down from the tray of the ute. So far he'd been able to keep to the 'no goats in the car' rule..well except on a wet day of course. Of course who would then come bouncing up but Kat, Marcus rolled his eyes "I spent mine getting pissed on the roof of F3" he admitted, it sounded a bit stupid now in hindsight, he'd climbed up there with Mel, Nathy and a couple of others to play cards and ended up falling asleep on the roof to wake up the next day freezing cold, but then again he'd been rather stupid back then.

"Spirit walk.. that wouldn't happen to include large quantities of hallucinogens?" Marcus asked Kat suspiciously, giving her a warning look that while she might be a guest and a blood relative it wouldn't stop him coming down on her should she encourage Chloe to do something stupid. Chloe wasn't like him and he was trying his damnedest to keep her away from harm. He wouldn't be able to live with himself to know that Chloe had come all the way to be with him only for him to let her get addicted to something horrible. Yes, he was overprotective but Marcus had been seventeen once, he knew all the trouble someone that age could get into and was more then a bit weary of Kat with her 'relaxed' view of it all rubbing off on his sister.

Rowan had been quiet since their return from Paisley, understandably so, especially when she would spend time sorting through the various crates that had been shipped to her thanks to Gerard's handling of all the arrangements. But it had to be done and Rowan had also realized that the longer she put those things off, the worse it would be.

However, there was nothing wrong with taking a break from it for a day, especially to celebrate a family birthday! An important birthday! Chloe's seventeenth birthday and the day of adulthood within the wizarding world. Marcus had hinted around at maybe delaying the plans but Rowan was having none of it. She may not be in her best frame of mind but she needed this day just as much as Chloe needed to have this type of fun and celebration. It was time they did something family.... Besides moving!

And Rowan was already having a good time, laughing at the birthday hat Marcus presented to Chloe and pulling a pepper up cold potion from her bag for Kat when she sneezed, before turning to help Marcus get Bertrand out of the vehicle while Lady M circled above.

Chloe smirked at her brother before wearing a thoughtful expression on her face. What did she do? A day like this didn't come every day. She had to make it special. As a result of such a momentous occasion, Miss Hobson was more than willing to take any suggestions offered.

Her brother's was interesting but she had to look at him for a moment. "Does that mean that I can get as full as I'd like?" Chloe asked with a growing smile. She was almost certain that when he took the time to think about it, knowing he threw that out there would be quite a horrifying idea. And then it was Kat's turn for suggestions.

A spirit walk? Chloe had no idea what that could mean but it was curious. Although Marcus' suspicions about whether it had hallucinogens made the girl smirk and find it tempting. Just because she was curious. Not to mention how fun it was becoming to see him acting all mature and everything.

Of course, that only caught her interest a little. As soon as Kat mentioned apparating, Chloe was a bundle of energy. "Omigoat! Would you?!" She nearly squeaked, bounding over to her older sister. "That would be totes awesome! I would love you forever if you taught me." And that was only a slight exaggeration. Kat honestly didn't have to do much to get Chloe to like her. But of course, love was a different matter. Still... it was a good start.

There was a part of her that was very aware of Rowan. But the woman hadn't suggested anything yet so it was a waiting game.

"Thankyou.." Kat mumbled to Rowan, blushing a little as she took the potion, it was silly how she often didn't think about her own health but usually she was more interested in everything else going on that she all but forgot. Drinking the dose she scrunched up her face as steam whistled out of her ears before dropping in on the conversation going on between her siblings. She'd been worried about her brother and Rowan because of how they'd gone to Scotland, it had all been such a rush and she'd been nervous as anything to be put 'in charge' with just her and a couple of teachers to keep a eye on everything. Her brother had never given her that kind of trust before so she was sure she'd mess it up. So when they had returned there was no doubt that Kat had been one twitchy teen.

"Eww.. that's so gross!" Kat said misunderstanding Marcus' expression of 'getting pissed' by taking it literally. "Do people do that in Australia?" certainly she'd never look at her brother the same way again, or at least until someone pointed out that it was actually a way of saying that he'd gotten drunk. Kat could understand that one well enough. Smiling as Chloe smirked Kat shrugged "There was this special potion.. but I mean it doesn't have to I guess.. it's more about going into the jungle by yourself to listen and find what makes you.. you?" Kat glanced at Rowan at that, for Kat her spirit walk was mostly a blur, but she remembered a hare and diving into a river with webbed feet instead of hands. It was the first time she'd managed to transform fully into a Otter and her Mum had been so proud when she'd later told her all about it. "If your lucky you find your totem Animal.. like Mines a Otter and Rowan.. yours is a fox isn't it?" Kat asked, she was sure she'd heard something about that once.

Kat was a bit disappointed that Chloe wasn't interested in her idea, maybe she'd been wrong after all.. but then she hardly got a chance to dwell as Chloe seemed to really like the idea of apperating, her brother didn't seem so happy but Kat really didn't know quiet what to say for a moment. So much she had wanted Chloe to like her and tried to think of anything and everything. Who knew something as simple as apperating (or at least simple to her) would be the trick? "I think so.. I can can't I?" Kat asked Rowan and Marcus.. she wasn't sure if there was rules but either way if it would make Chloe love her.. well there was no way she wasn't going to teach her now was there? "My Mum taught me.. she said it's all in the focus and how you move" Kat explained as she fiddled with the empty bottle of pepperup potion. Immediately after she'd said it Kat felt a bit bad for her brother, she'd never seen him apperate anywhere or even do magic. Sure she sometimes found bottles of potions that he'd been working on but never really did any magic except for flying. Kat couldn't imagine how you could get by without spells. Then again she'd never really needed to.

"You can eat until you explode.. or puke allover everyone like ol' Mr Cresote.." Marcus said returning Chloe's smile with a smirk of his own. Ha! She wasn't going to win this one... nope battles of immaturity was one thing he was not liable to concede in to anyone. Of course the fact that he'd probably be feeling more then a bit ill by the end of the day had nothing to do with it whatsoever noo. Talking to Kat however Macus looked at first confused and then grossed out when Kat misunderstood him "Drunk Kat.. it means getting really.. really drunk.. " he corrected rolling his eyes. Sometimes he forgot that not everyone grew up and knew Aussie slang. Strange as it was there was times where Kat did feel part of them, Marcus had his own opinions on it all but most of all he waited to see what Chloe would think or do. To him the wounds of all that had happened was still too raw for him to deal with. In many respects he'd come to terms with his Mum being long dead, he'd gotten used to the idea of Molly being what he had always wanted in a Mum, someone kind who would always have time for him and not mind his dodgy ideas or inability to do up a tie. It all seemed backwards somehow, taking Rowan's hand as Bertrand sniffed about and made a racket Marcus gave her hand a squeeze and a small smile, glad to see her laughing again.

"C'mon we'd better get going before you-know-who chases away all the animals" Marcus said wondering just what the Kangaroo's and other creatures would make of Lady Macbeth. That and he was trying to distract Chloe away from the conversation of Apperating.. goat he'd completely forgotten about that spell.. now he felt like a bit of a dolt. "Ro's the boss" Marcus just said, he'd remembered his own apperating lessons where rather.. pointless. He'd stood in the circle and not moved a damn inch to the point where the Ministry approved trainer had gone red in the face in annoyance that he just couldn't do it. Marcus didn't care though, he figured he'd been apperated back enough times to break his neck from falling that he was happy to never apperate again. Driving was good enough, it was a freedom his father would be livid to know that he, Marcus Hobson had a Muggle license to drive a car, and was more then a bit happy for it. Just as they where about to go though the gate another car pulled up.. "Your Late!" Marcus called out as Mel climbed out of the drivers seat of her Dad's car before going around the other side to get Ashleigh. Marcus still thought it was hellaweird to watch Mel being all 'Mummy' but he was glad she was here being that she was supposed to have the cake and pressies! Walking over to the van he took the keys to undo the back where 'the gift' was waiting. "HEY CHLOE!" he shouted to get his sisters attention. After all it was hardly something they could carry around to the picnic table to unwrap.

"Late.. late late.." Mel muttered to herself as she tapped her fingers against the wheel of her Dad's Ford Courier, she'd been out to see her Aunt Urma with Ashleigh while Ethan was at work and to swing by Wal's in order to do a favour for Marcus. But one thing about being a new Mum trying to get used to the world of nappy changing, feeding time and all the rest was that you tended to have trouble judging just how much longer everything took..and not just for the time she'd lost trying to get Ashleigh back from Aunt Urma.. and then trying to get Ashleigh to not cry when it came to leaving.... Mel had no idea why but the fact that Ashleigh had spent much of her time staring at the baby Koala Urma was caring for rather had her worried that Cara had more effect on her daughter then Mel had ever realised. Goat help them. With Chloe's birthday cake safely perched in cushioning charms to stay still Mel felt a odd for having a cake in the font seat while Ashleigh was strapped into the baby seat in the back. It was some kind of safety thing but for Mel she felt edgy when Ashleigh was out of her sight. Maybe it was silly to think it of a month old but Mel tended to have the feeling that if Ashleigh was just waiting for a chance to get into mischief.

It was funny how for all the 'research' she'd done before Ashleigh was born she had assumed that after it would all be 'over' and she could get back to her normal life of not having strangers come up to her in the street or Mum calling every night to 'just check up on things'. After the shock of meeting Ethan's parents in the delivery room Mel was glad to be back to just them and not having to worry about offending anyone or doing the wrong thing. Now she was just supposed to be dieting to get back to the 'pre-baby weight' according to the magazines and websites but more was the case that Mel's thoughts where to screw it. One had to be truly stuck up to care that they'd put on a few ponds.. even if she did on occasion feel bloated compared to her Auror days.. but neither did she miss the hours workouts at the gym to try and keep up with what was expected of the 'buff' bunch. "Yes I know" Mel said as she climbed out of the car, rolling her eyes at Marcus across the carpark before going to free Ashleigh from her restraints... she couldn't help but think of the baby seat as some kind of prison. "Now Ash.... whatever you do remember not to listen to Marcus.. he'll only get you into trouble" Mel said to Ashleigh as she scooped her daughter up, adjusting Ashleigh's blanket before making the most of her larger behind to close the door.

If only someone had given her the same advice she wouldn't be here trying to juggle keys and baby.. "Marcus grab this would you?" Mel asked handing him the keys to unlock the back of the ute. She'd rather regretted selling her Audi now when it meant having to rely on borrowing Ethan's car.. well that and the whole big panic Ethan had when her car had 'disappeared' and she'd forgotten to tell him about the sale. That had been one of the things she missed since he'd gone to work at the town Library, normally she'd see him at work during the day when she was teaching but now she had to wait until he got home unless she made a trip into town especially. Not that they weren't in contact with all the SMS's, Emails and Tweets that went back and forth. Mel didn't even know how many twitpics of 'Ashleigh doing something cute' she'd done but there seemed a never ending supply. "Happy birthday Chloe!" Mel called out leaving Marcus to wrestle with the back of the Ute as she went over to say hi to the others. "So glad to see you Rowan.." Mel said to her friend. Letting the others mill about she waited for them to go off before adding "I heard about Molly, I'm so sorry.." not sure of the right way to share her regret but not able to say nothing either. Turning to more optimistic matters she gestured with her head towards the car "Tiffany insisted on making the cake.. Ethan might be by later if work allows". Mel explained as she moved Ashleigh to a more comfortable position. "The school looks really good.. I can't wait to get back to teaching again.... goat I must be insane right?" Mel joked, it was weird but there had been something addictive about it, the challenge of trying to get kids to want to learn was almost a game in itself.

Rowan may have been in a quiet mood but she wasn't in a forgetting to document the day mood which meant she had her camera in hand and as Marcus issued Chloe's mission about the hat and Chloe accepted, Rowan was snapping away catching the event digitally for sharing with all later. So too when Kat made her offers of a spirit walk and apparating lessons. If anything could bring joy to Rowan's heart to help heal the pain of loss, the excited hug between Chloe and Kat definitely was one of them. It was so good to see the girls relationship growing and Rowan couldn't help but smile at the moment as the camera did it's work.

She even managed to laugh at Chloe's question. "Yes, just one condition. If you feel sick on the way home aim for either out the window or your brother," Rowan teased as she looked around to make sure Bertrand had disembarked safely, Lady Macbeth was settling down and everything they needed at the moment was with them. At the mention of Spirit Walk, Rowan looked over and nodded that, yes, she had found her totem in the fox. "Though I wouldn't mind trying the spirit walk one day myself, Kat?" she sort of half commented and half asked as the conversation went on to apparating. "Yes, Kat could work with you on that. I'll have to observe so it can count with the Ministry but yes. So I guess that means, all of the above suggestions?" An apparating Chloe? This could be very bad for the world at large!

It was then Mel arrived with Ashleigh and Rowan waved to her. Hugging Mel a bit as she neared, Rowan nodded. "Thanks Mel, rather a shock to us." Her eyes lit up at the news Tiffany had backed the cake. Tiffany's cakes had already become the hit of Drouin's population, both magical and Muggle. She grinned evilly at Mel's comment. "Okay, so before you can change your mind, class for you starting in two weeks?"

Chloe was amused that Kat seemed to mistake what Marcus was saying. It hadn't even occurred to her at first what was up until Marcus corrected Kat. Then she started giggling up a little storm. Funny thing about language and the different meanings words have. She also knew in other parts of the world, "pissed" could also mean being incredibly angry. Imagining someone wondering what Marcus was doing on the roof just getting furious for no apparent reason was a very amusing thought.

Still... she didn't mind the idea of a Spirit Walk. "Maybe... I can take one of those too. But first, I definitely, definitely want to learn how to apparate first!" Speaking of, Chloe had a lot of mental notes to take. What did Kat say? It was about focusing and how you move and yadda, yadda.

And then all the chatter was paused when a couple things happened. First, Marcus suggested they go before Lady MacBeth scared all the animals away. Valid. And then Mel came who Chloe didn't entirely notice until her brother shouted her name at the top of his lungs. And then she was like, hey look!

Then... she saw it. As she hurried over to help him, feeling just a tiny bit grumbly since she thought the birthday girl should laze about, her eyes landed on a bright, shiny Ute. You could not make her go slower after that. Oh this was just gonna be the best day ever.

"Oooh.. I thought you meant.." Kat said blushing in embarrassment, it was funny how one moment she felt like she could belong and then the next she would say something and make a total fool of herself. It was worse that Chloe was giggling at her for getting it wrong, Kat felt like no matter how hard she tried to fit in there was always going to be a barrier because she hadn't been raised in Australia like her brother and sister. In one way Kat would have been lost had Rowan not been there, maybe it was weird but even though Rowan was her brother's fiancee and her Headmistress or whatever she'd always been nice to her, even after the mistake Kat had made when they first met regarding a certain hippie brother of her using the teapot to store his weed supply. That meant a lot to Kat as did the hug Chloe gave her. Kat returned it a little awkward at the surprise but happy none the less. So many bad things had happened to all of them that if nothing else Kat wanted to make the world happy and while she was in Australia it seemed that her family was one target for her wanting to make the world a better place.

Smiling and enthusiastic Kat nodded at Rowan "Yes!.. maybe Marcus could do one too.. what do you think Marcus?" somehow she had the feeling that of them all her brother probably needed it the most to stop being so grumpy. "This is going to be so great!" Kat said as Rowan agreed to let her teach. "Apperating is the best thing ever.. Dad said I was a natural because I'm always in two places at once normally" Kat babbled not realizing that he'd been making fun of her 'head in the clouds' attitude rather then it being a compliment. Either way Kat was excited, her good mood made better as another car arrived.. Kat didn't recognize it until Marcus called out and she followed the others, curious to see what the big deal was. "Oh wow.. she's adorable!" Kat said to Miss Ashton catching sight of the baby before being called to help get stuff out of the car. Best of all this meant Miss Ashton would be back to teach next term, Kat hadn't been in her class last year but she'd heard good things.

"Oi!" Marcus said to Rowan in surprise, she was supposed to be on his side, not telling Chloe to puke on him! Honestly sometimes he felt like the entire world was ganging up on him.. like the fact that Chloe wanted to apperate and Kat was going on about spirit walks "Um.. nothanks... figure I've had enough weirdness for one lifetime" Marcus replied to Kat, it had taken him long enough to get to a point of being happy with the world that he hardly felt that a heart to heart with himself would do anything but ruin it. Mind you it was hard to ruin his mood today, things where looking good as Mel showed up with Ashleigh.. Marcus thought it was a bit of a normal name for a half-Timelord but then again what did you expect when even THE DOCTOR! Went by the alias of Ethan. Sometimes he worried that he hadn't done enough to wake the Doctor from his irrational belief that he was a librarian called Ethan, the universe could be at risk any second but then again there was the flipside that he rather liked living and didn't want to end up with Mel killing him. "Ello Ashleigh" Marcus said to the baby before grabbing the keys and doing as he was told. "C'mon Chloe.." he said climbing in the back of the ute before offering her a hand up to climb into the back where her present was. Mel had done a good job with the garish giftwrap but he was just nervous that a. Chloe wouldn't like it, or b. it didn't work at all. That was the downside on relying on so and so knows a guy in order to get stuff.

Not that he didn't trust Mel or anything, hell she was probably the most trustworthy person he knew what with Rowan having ever so recently betrayed him in telling Chloe to puke on him and all! Marcus had to smirk at that, who'd have thought those few short years ago that she'd be here with him? Marcus certainly hadn't. But then again he'd never planned for much in his life, just to escape and then well.. do stuff. The whole thing had seemed such a impossibility that often he thought he'd wake up and find out that the last three years had been one big crazy dream. One thing for sure if it was he'd do what the bloke on Life on Mars did and never wake up again. "Right.. are you ready?" Marcus asked Chloe, it wasn't all that hard to tell what the gift was, there was only so much you could hide the shape under the wrappings after all.

To think just last year she'd been terrified of letting anyone know that she was pregnant, now that Ashleigh was born Mel couldn't wait to show her off and smirked at Marcus before blushing a little at Kat's comments. It was going to be odd getting used to being a teacher again that was for sure. With Kat unpacking the car and Marcus along with Chloe busy in the back Mel left them to it, she wasn't surprised that the pair of them where absorbed in the presents but was glad for the time to stretch her feet and catch up with Rowan again. She still felt rather guilty over her excuse making to avoid the dinner at the school. Giving Rowan a careful hug Mel was constantly aware of Ashleigh staring about the world as if it was all new to her.. which in many respects it was. "You should have seen Ashleigh at Aunt Urma's.." Mel said with a amused expression. "I think Cara must have corrupted her because the moment we tried to leave she cried her eyes out" Mel said "Definitely doesn't get that from me" a firm nod that she'd never cry over getting to 'flee' from a family visit.

Mel couldn't help but share Rowan's expression at the cake, Tiffany had once done a afternoon course at the local neighborhood house in cake decorating and there was no question that what she lacked in formal qualifications she made up for in enthusiasm..and frosting! "Your lucky it survived.." she teased, certainly driving next to such a piece of eatable art was distracting, thankfully Ashleigh was too young to take interest in it beyond being a strange rainbow structure. Or so Mel thought anyway. Who knew what babies where thinking? Mel did laugh as Rowan swapped immediately from 'friend' to 'Headmistress' when the subject of teaching came up. Nodding she grinned "Sounds good to me.. long as Ashleigh doesn't mind" she added placing her hand protectively over her daughter. Ethan of course didn't have quite so much luck in convincing her to do one thing or the other, Mel was a Ashton after all which was another way of saying stubborn.

Was she ready? Ha! What a silly question for her brother to ask her. Of course she was ready! Never been readier. She was Chloe Hobson! This kind of thing was practically a dream come true. She wasn't even going to laugh at he useless wrapping paper that she was pretty sure didn't even cover it all the way.

There were a lot of things that she did want to do in the meantime. Like getting a good look at baby Ashleigh. Chloe had a little soft spot for babies, she did. They were adorable and didn't talk and you could just carry them around with you where ever you had to go. Yeah, babies were nice. But there was also the cake. She had a cake, right? She had to have one. If no one had bought her a cake, why... why she would not be consoled!!

But first? The present. A wonderful, wonderful present.

Chloe decided to take Marcus' question to mean if she was ready to open it. The answer was yes so she didn't hesitate. The girl tore into the wrapping paper so she could see what her present was, as if she didn't already know. But probably she'd have to act surprised...

While Lady Macbeth was quite excited and effervescent over the outing, Rowan was on the quieter side, observing more than talking as she pitched in to help Marcus though at the discussion on lessons for Chloe, she grinned and retorted "Yes, definitely apparating lessons first then a spirit walk!" Rowan couldn't help a smile at Kat's comment about being in two places at once though she refrained from mentioning to the girl that the idea was to end up fully in one place at once. It was going to be a good day and she was doing her best to keep from thinking about 'other things'. Mel's arrival helped and she kept her attention on helping to unload the gifts and food though seeing one of the gifts a thought had struck her, epecially as the talk turned to lessons of various kinds.

Going over to where Marcus was, she tugged on his sleeve till he stepped to where others would not hear her words, "Marcus, I just thought of something. Neither of us know how to ride one. Who's going to teach her to use that?" Rowan asked quietly, pointing to the gift Marcus had searched for till he found the perfect one. They say that timing is everything and so it was in this case as the sound of a similiar machine could be heard arriving.

As luck would have it, Mel's words were in the process of coming true for work did allow it and Ethan was currently on his way to the park on his own Vespa, blissfully unaware of any of the events that were currently in progress or of the type of gifts that others may have purchased for Chloe. He was aware of the gifts that Mel had purchased from their family... It still thrilled him to think of 'their family'... But had not inquired as to what the others, in particular Marcus and Rowan might be getting for the teenager.

Nor was he at the park in time to hear Mel's well-prompted warning to their daughter about not listening to Marcus. It was really good odds that Mel was warning the wrong one that afternoon. Especially considering the timing of Ethan's arrival. It coincided with Rowan just asking that very related question of said Marcus Hobson. Ethan's only hope might be if Marcus did not connect the dots to the now obvious answer. Please note that any bets on the outcome are what are known as a 'sucker's bet'.

Marcus had always had a soft spot for pressies and in many cases was more a big kid then anything else. While of course their father had provided Chloe with the finest of the fine Marcus was nervous that their gift wouldn't measure up to what Chloe wanted. It had been easier when she was younger and there had been nothing but brooms and goats on her mind but she was growing up and there was nothing like the 17th birthday as a reminder of that. So like all things he'd ended up trying to remember what he'd wanted at seventeen. Abet it had been a rather long list with Freedom at the top of it.. well after his Dad being Dead and quite a few other morbid things. His life had prettymuch sucked at that age in a number of ways after all. "Whatcha think?" Marcus asked Chloe as he watched her unwrap the Vespa. His logic was that considering how well he and Kat both drove Chloe would be less likely to kill herself that was more like a broomstick then anything else. "We figured that since your always taking Bertrand into town that it might be easier if you didn't have to hike all the way though the bush..and stuff" Marcus explained nervous that his sister hated it. "See it's even got a sidecar for him so you can spread the word of goat and all that" that had been important! Because much as Marcus had been annoyed about it in the beginning it had grown hard to see Chloe wanting to do much without Bertrand by her side.

Climbing back out of the ute as Rowan came over, Marcus looked rather lost for a moment as she reminded him that Chloe would need a teacher. Lucky for Ethan Marcus didn't immediately remember the episode of Doctor Who involving a Moped but instead replied "Whatcha mean? I totally can drive a motorbike right Mel?!" because of course he remembered the finer details of how to ride a motorbike from when Mel had explained it to him once at the farm. That hadn't ended up with anything sinking to the bottom of the dam.. only because he'd never even managed to get the thing started. Of course fate world arrive at that moment on a teal vespa "HEY DOC!" Marcus called out to The Doctor... riding said moped. "Riding one of these is just like riding a broom right?" Marcus asked the word at large. Because of course if there was one thing Hobson's could do it was fly.

Mel was having a good day, Ashleigh staring around as she supervised the others unpacking the car before taking some time out to chat to Rowan and Kat about the upcoming classes. She'd not really had much time for 'social' things since Ashleigh's arrival. Sure there had been tons of family stuff with Ethan's parents and her own but she felt in need of fun and family always had that element of seriousness about it with the unmentioned questions about when they where getting married and what it meant now that Ashleigh was born. That and Mel wasn't sure that her Mum would ever forgive her for not giving her daughter the traditional last name. Getting ready to lock the car up once the others had gotten out Mel didn't hear Rowan's question but she certainly caught the end of Marcus' answer and would have facepalmed had she the spare hand. "Marcus you couldn't even figure out the kickstart" she pointed out using her unflappable logic as ever. It did present a pickle though, Mel had snuck a bit of a test drive of the vespa to ensure it worked and she'd certainly borrowed Ethan's for the odd joyride but she was a Mum now and had to consider the future to a level where risking her life by teaching Hobson's to drive (or her freedom in not murdering them in the process) might not have been worth it anymore.

"No Marcus, it's not like a broom at all" she corrected after grinning as Ethan arrived, talk about perfect timing because it seemed they'd just found the solution to their problem (and Ethan had thought it was going to be Marcus who talked him into it HA!). "Chloe if you want, I've taken driving lessons as part of your Muggle Studies assignment so it will count towards your grade if you can find someone to teach.." Mel explained to Chloe before glancing over at Ethan. "That's if you can find someone.." another significant glance. Giving Rowan a wink Mel turned her sights to Ethan, hurrying her step to catch him before he had time to escape. "Hey You.." cue the i want something kiss. "Rowan just realized that Chloe's going to need someone to help her get off the grounds with her new Vespa.. you wouldn't happen to know anyone would you?" Ashleigh was just staring as Mel gave Ethan a mischievous grin that it would be in his best interest to say yes, after all you wouldn't want to upset the mother of your child. Because Mel would never use that to bribe him...eh much?

Chloe had known what her present was going to be. I mean, it was pretty damn obvious. But she couldn't keep herself from reacting like most people do when they have no idea what their present is. Completely thrilled beyond all reason. She looked all over the bike, checking out every feature as her brother explained everything. Perhaps it should have been obvious that she liked it but Chloe actually hadn't squealed yet. Merely let her jaw drop and her eyes go wide. They were still wide when she turned and basically charged into his arms. "It's totes the best present ever!" She exclaimed.

This would be perfect. Now she'd never have to worry about being separated from Bertrand for any real moment of time! That made things so much easier and convenient.

She let go of Marcus eventually to try and see how it would feel to be on the Vespa. As she swung her legs over to straddle the seat when she heard the chatter. Chloe turned curiously in time to hear Mel call out to her. The idea of getting credit for Muggle Studies was awesome! But who would teach her? This was a huge conundrum! Chloe wasn't focused too much on Ethan because Mel was doing the kiss thing and it always embarrassed her to watch something like that.

Now who was going to teach her? This was a wonderful opportunity! She couldn't let it go to waste!

Ethan was not a stupid man which is part of the reason he had given up on trying to convince Marcus that he was not the Doctor and just let his friend call him that. He knew a losing battle when he saw one, at least for now. Obviously, having gone to Oxford, you would realize he was on the smart side. However, Ethan had never really truly dealt with the supernatural phenomena known as "The Hobson Driving Effect". He also had not been fully aware of all that was happening as Mel taught Marcus how to drive. Even if he had been, he would not have thought that Chloe could be anything like Marcus when it came to driving lessons. *pauses while audience finishes rofltao*

Giving his wife the kiss she wanted, easy to tell by the look she gave him, Ethan then greeted the others only to have Marcus ask the rather interesting question about brooms and Vespas. Answering Marcus' question was a bit impossible for Ethan as he had never been able to fly a broom being a Muggle and all. However, the answer to Mel's question was rather easy for the kind librarian who enjoyed helping others. "She does? Well, I can teach her after school hours during the week if she wants," he readily agreed. "Would you like me to, Chloe?" Surely it was a coincidence that Ashleigh was doing the stroller equivalent of headdesking.

Kat tended to be one of those people who couldn't stand around for very long. After smiling at Rowan in agreement with their plan of sorts Kat was all too happy to busy herself in assisting with unpacking the car and sorting everything that they needed to bring with them into the park while Marcus and Chloe where busy, Kat of course was curious as to what her brother had got Chloe but she held back, unsure of herself in what seemed to be very much a private moment between the two. Kat knew enough from Ellie and Owen not to intrude or feel too jealous but made her way over with the others to look, laughing when she saw that they had gotten Chloe a motorbike.. that was so cute! "Wow.. looks like Marcus and I won't have to give you rides anymore soon!" she teased her half-sister gently before listening with interest to the discussion going on around her. It was hard not to smirk down at Marcus when Miss Mel said he'd failed to ride a motorbike.. it was a funny image and made her smile to think about it.

It seemed like it was going to really be a good day as Mr Fitch-Hunter arrived, Kat still tended to be a bit awkward around formality with Anton's family, afraid that she'd say something rude or do something wrong was always there no matter how much reassurance she saw. Then again it was hard not to feel a bit out of place when people where talking about tv shows and movies that she'd never seen or even heard of. Kat tried her best though and waved at Ethan as he came to join them before letting out a surprised 'eek. as she felt Bertrand nibble at the back of her dress. "Hi Bertrand." she said, turning around to give the goat a pat and a scratch under the chin before the goat went about inspecting the new gift to see what it was. "I think he likes it too.." Kat just said wishing as always that Anton was with her, everyone else had someone, Rowan and Marcus, Miss Mel and Ethan.. even Chloe and Bertrand. Kat sighed and did her best to put on a cheerful face, Anton was doing the right thing. It was hard that on one hand she was really enjoying her time in Australia and learning about her brother and his family, yet at the same time she missed being with Wizards Without Borders and her family. Yet at the same time all she wanted was the grades to study in England so she could get her qualifications, and the months of study dragged out before her with the reminder of all the hard work she had to do before then.