Kael looked around Hogsmeade taking his time as he meandered through the streets. It had been a while since he had last been here. He tucked a bag into his pocket and smirked. Linus always begged for presents and he was a sucker when it came to that kid. He'd known the Hughes since he was in school with Flynn, though he saw him a lot more since becoming a dragon tamer. He worked on what exactly he was going to say to Audrey this time as he walked towards her house. He had given Linus some prank candies and he'd gotten himself into detention because of them, Audrey was furious.

Of course the normal vases and silverware were thrown, he was used to that by now. After years of teasing Mrs. Hughes and Audrey there wasn't anything they would do that could surprise him. Well there were some things but that wasn't the point. He walked on hands in the pocket of his pants. For once he'd given up the black leathers and dressed in a light blue tee and jeans. Still too hot for jeans but he wasn't a shorts kind of guy.

Reaching the door he paused a moment and took a break, preparing to duck. It was going to be painful, he knew she was still angry with him. Knocking on the door he prayed that some poor vase wasn't going to come crashing out past his head the moment it unlatched.

There was something absolutely wrong with all the men she knew. Her father, her cousin, her brother and her brother’s friend were all guilty of the same crime. Or similar crimes. Each of them had actively parcipated in giving her son prank products. Half the time it was harmless, but lately the fad was joke candies. And those, those could seriously hurt someone.

Her son, her wonderful, mischievous, charismatic, fun-loving son was given yet another detention. He had apparently started bawling in class (and admitted to her via letter that it was due to a prank candy). He had also given one of those candies to a classmate and disrupted the learning environment. That had happened weeks ago, but Audrey could hold onto a grudge like no other.

Through the front window, she saw a familiar face approach the door. Audrey picked up her broomstick (a well worn, but well taken care of Nimbus 2001) and answered the door.

She made a move to jab Kael with the pointy end of the broomstick. “Why in a blast-ended-skrewt’s blasted end are you here, you dim-witted, dull-minded pygmy puff?!” Audrey growled, prepared for war.

The door opened and immediately there was a jab to the stomach with her broom. Rubbing his 'battle wound' he grabbed the end of the broom. Fiery as always, he laughed and smiled at her. He was still attracted to her it was true, but he had been around her long enough to know that it wasn't only the veela charm. He tugged the broom out of her grasp in one swift motion and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. No matter how old he was he still loved messing with her too much. Smiling at her he chuckled again.

"I can't just stop in for a visit? I brought Linus a present. And I promise this time it won't get him into trouble," he said as he reached into his pocket. "He wrote me and mentioned that he was asking for a frog. I figured a live one would be bad so I bought him a big chocolate one."

Pulling out the box he showed it to her. He handed it to her and leaned against the door frame making sure that she couldn't close the door on him like she had to many times before. Smirking he pulled her to him suddenly and hugged her close. It wasn't anything romantic but a familial hug.

When he pecked her cheek, her face turned bright red. Not out of embarrassment. Not out of any sort of romantic feeling. But out of pure, blistering anger. “What do you think you’re doing?! I’m angry with you!” Audrey exclaimed, letting go of her broom and throw her hands up in exasperation. When he hugged her, she stood there, basking in her rage. They were both so infuriating—Flynn and Kael. But they were her brothers, even if one wasn’t in blood.

She turned her back on him and walked into the living room, expecting him to follow. Audrey had a feeling that if she slammed the door on his face he’d just stand there like a wounded puppy. She couldn’t deal with pathetic right now.

She looked at the box in her hand. “A frog? Another gift?!” Audrey did appreciate most of the gifts that Kael gave her son, but her child had a trickster’s heart, and even innocent gifts could be used as weapons of class disruption.  “He’ll like that.” She said curtly, “Li likes frogs. I didn’t give him one but he adopted one at school. He gave it a name. Francis. After one of the Pepper cousins.” Now she couldn’t make him release it into the wild. She turned around sharply.

“You’re still in trouble!” Audrey snarled, “What in Merlin’s name were you thinking?! PRANK CANDIES!!! Without consulting me first?! I. Am. His MOTHER. You should have discussed it with me first!!!”

Kael knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help but laugh at her anger. It wasn't that he did it for kicks but seeing her angry made her even more attractive, plus as her 'brother' it was his duty to make her upset but not let anyone else upset her. He walked in behind her and closed the door before walking into the kitchen. Leaning against the counter he watched her fume for a little bit.

She had a point. He shouldn't have given Linus the prank candy but the kid had turned on the puppy eyes and there were times that Kael couldn't fight that look. He could say no to the kid, it was just that he didn't get to see him often and he felt like he needed to show him that he had some sort of male figure to care about him. He held up his hands in defeat and smiled at her.

"I know, I'm sorry Audrey. I didn't think he'd take them to school. They were to stay strictly here or to be used when he didn't have classes," he said. "I know that doesn't help my case but there it is."

Audrey clenched her hands into fists as Kael laughed at her. Laughed. How dare he?! Did he not know how much trouble he was in with her right now?!

“You didn’t think he’d take them to school?! He’s eleven years old, Kael! It’s in his nature to cause trouble. I don’t need you enabling him!” She exclaimed, “That’s right. You didn’t think. You didn’t think at all. You should know by now that Linus is not to be trusted with weapons of mass pranking! Who knows how many other students he gave the candies to? This could just be the first time he got caught. I can promise you, it won’t be the last.”

She took a deep breath, and when she spoke her voice was much quieter than before, but not any less harsh. “Please leave, Kael. I can’t even look at you right now. I need my space.”   

Kael stood up and leaned on the counter. As usual he was getting kicked out, though she seemed more angry about it this time that the times before. His smiled disappeared as he moved around the edge to lean back a couple feet away from her. He didn't move to touch her but he didn't leave either.

"Something wrong Audrey?" he asked quietly with concern in his voice.

She was family and if there was something bothering her he wanted to know how he could help. He slid his hands into his pockets as he watched her. He wanted to stay to help but he had to admit he wanted to see Linus too, there would be more ground rules set with the candy as well as presenting of chocolate frogs.

"Let me stay to see Linus, I don't get to see him often."

She shook her head, “I already told you what was wrong. Was I not clear? Was I not explicit?!” Audrey replied, putting her hand on a vase and seriously contemplating throwing it at Kael.  She shot him a dirty look that made it very clear that if he didn’t leave shortly, that vase would probably be headed towards his face.

“Linus isn’t here right now. He’s at school.” Audrey said, “He won’t be back til the middle of June. You can see him then. “ The last time that Kael had seen him, it was spring break. And that was the last time Audrey had seen Linus as well. She wasn’t going to forbid Kael from seeing her son, but she would definitely be keeping a closer eye on those two. It wasn’t likely that they’d be alone in a room together for a long time.

“Kael, it’s time for you to leave. I’m not going to tell you again.” Her voice began to rise again. This was typical of him—not listening.

Kael held up his hands as he set the frog and another box down on the counter. Moving to her he kissed her forehead before stepping back quickly hands in the air. He knew better than to stay any longer and for once he decided to listen to that little voice that said to quickly go the way he'd come in.

"Alright, Alright I'm leaving, I'll be back when he's home," he said as he watched her.

He slowly backed out to the door and then paused in the open doorway. He leaned in to see her one more time as he smirked.

"Happy Birthday a month late," he said as he walked out and closed the door.

He knew it was a bad idea to give her a present and it would send her tossing the vase at his head across the street but he couldn't resist one more little push.

Her eyes widened when he kissed her forehead. He and her brother, they always had the nerve to show her physical affection when she was angry. When would they learn that it only made her even more upset? She made a move to elbow Kael, but he got away too quickly for him to get hit.

Any other time she would have found it nice that he brought her a present. But the timing was awful. Audrey knew he was just pushing her buttons, but she couldn’t just let it be. She picked up the gift, stormed up to the window and threw it as hard as she could at him—aiming for a headshot. She wasn’t the best when it came to spellwork, but when it came to flying, art, and physical tasks, she was a natural.

"I don't want your bloody gift!" Audrey screamed before slamming her window shut.