After many whimpers and shed tears between mother, daughter at the manor and then as the sitter (many thanks to Quincey offering) made it at last, Gabrielle Pepper was headed back to the Ministry at the same time as her husband. Various baked goods from the night before along with the intention of making coffee, tea before the rest of Level Five showed up was there with her. She realised that her extended maternity leave had caused many sore spots and also more than a fair share of whispers whether or not retirement was in the works.

But now.... Gabrielle Pepper was moving herself back as department head, reestablishing her role aptly. There was plenty of time to get assimilated back into the folds, that was absolutely certain. Her eyes misted a little as husband and wife separated themselves as the lift opened for Level Five, Gabrielle stepping out and sniffling a little. Clearly motherhood was a lovely mark on her heart but also one that had to be managed most appropriately.

After all, sobbing uncontrollably would make her look like a complete fool in front of all the department.

Once at the break room, the baked goods were placed on the well worn and used wooden table, the samovars coming to life as tea and coffee would be contained within, beginning to bubble and start. Gabrielle was well aware that food and drink alone would not mend the delay in returning to the department, but surely.... it would be a start.

Wednesday was like any other Wednesday on Level Five. The floor hummed with activity, a steady stream of colourful paper airplane memos skipped along the ceiling. There was a rich smell of coffee, of someone’s less than appetising breakfast choice, and freshly applied cologne. The clusters of desks were slowly coming to life as witches and wizards arrived in the London office.

“And so I said to her, you can’t be putting your parrot in the floo, just because you can’t deal with it yelling scourgify every ten minutes.” Higgins from Six had got out of the lift onto Five to finish the story he’d begun in the lift. Johann raised his eyes to the ceiling and uttered a curse under his breath, though his wand was in his coat pocket.
“Oh dear,” sympathised Pinn who was behind him, with Orr. They were both young and unwise to humour Higgins.

“Would you look at the time!” Johann exclaimed loudly, turning round with the same expression he tended to wear if someone suggested he had got his facts wrong. Higgins had stopped abruptly, looking up at Johann in surprise. The linguist fixed a happy smile on his face. “Sorry Higgins, got an important meeting, you know how it is.” The ginger-haired floo expert muttered apologies, gave a shy wave and turned back to the lift, and Johann’s friendly smile had already vanished.

“Come on,” he told the other two, “got to catch the boss up before Iravani gets her oar in, or worse.. Hamilton.”

Between the three of them, it didn’t take long to locate their long-lost leader, Pinn’s exclamation of “in here!” from the break room door. Like baby birds poking their heads out of the nest, Gabrielle was greeted from the door by three expectant faces.

“Is this an apology, or bribery?” Johann asked, eyeing the table. He’d seen Gabrielle umpteen times since she’d stopped working, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t pleased to see her. “Welcome back, boss,” he smiled genuinely this time, allowing Pinn the first hug, Orr a little awkward nod or bow before greeting his cousin with a kiss on both cheeks.

The memo had gone round that the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation was back from family leave, and so Quill Som the counterpart for Accidents and Catastrophes was on her way see her. Quill had spent the beginning of the winter dealing with the rise in Dementor incidents, the strange object in a Scotland Loch that the Department of Mysteries was meddling with, and lately the magic/mundane fall-out from the new werewolf problems. The latter had taken over the consciousness of both Level Two and Four, so Quill's notion to embed Obliviators into those levels' response teams had taken a backseat. There simply wasn't the wand power for the training.

When Quill arrived on Level Five in her simple violet robes, she was helpfully directed to the break room where Gabrielle Pepper was meant to be found.

"There's not a party is there," Quill asked the assistant.

"Oh no, madam, it's informal. Madam Pepper's brought in baked goods," replied the assistant.

Quill lifted an eyebrow. She could go for a croissant. In the breakroom Quill found Pepper attended by a small knot. Quill announced herself as she approached.

"Good morning, Gabrielle, welcome back."

Her face broke into wide smile and grin upon the arrival of Orr, Pinn, and Storm. She returned the affection warmly, kindly for each of them, disregarding (save a cheeky, knowing smirk) Johann's remark about bribery. So what if it was ever so slightly? She'd taken more than a lingering maternal leave, had she not? Ever still, take care of your family and they're sure to be on your good side once more.

"It's beyond proper words, supposing all, to see the three of you again in the professional setting once again. Thank you for holding the fort from crumbling to pieces and for also spoiling Mia aptly. I swear it seems a lifetime since she came round, but I don't think us older four wouldn't know what to do without her either."

Positively true, dirty nappies aside. Ambrose and Tim were wonderful and dutiful older brothers, Francis a wonderful doting father, Gabrielle herself a protective but warm-hearted mother. All in all, the five of them fit together in their own ways. "That said, the boss is back and that's that, right?"

"Good morning, Gabrielle, welcome back."

Gabrielle turned slightly then to see Quill, her smile only seemingly to grow in size, warmth. "Quill! I take it you heard pastries and the reports of my return as well, then? Come, come. There's plenty to go around." She motioned for Quill to join them in the break room, focusing attention to her department colleagues for a moment. "No antlers or any mischief of any kind that you all neglected to inform during my time away?"

“Oh hey Quill,” Johann greeted, wiggling his fingers in the direction of the witch in violet robes at the door. The Head of Three was welcome, especially level-headed, practical Quill. His informal greeting was as much friendship as much as his ease at ignoring professional hierarchy. One could go from helping a bewildered lost visitor in their native tongue to standing at the elbow of the Minister of Magic within the same hour. Everyone deserved the same decency, and most the same warmth.

The Department Heads took a moment to greet each other while Pinn, Orr and Storm took their moment to let their mouths greet the breakfast bribery.

“No antlers or any mischief or any kind that you all neglected to inform during my time away?”

“That was Azize, how many times…” Johann mock rolled his eyes. He had been accused of giving Hamilton antlers one time, when he’d been entirely innocent. He’d even ensured the afflicted got to St Mungo’s - not because he was merciful - because he’d wanted to seal the vision of the predicament in his mind long term. Pinn laughed brightly beside him and shook her head.

“Trading Standards has seen a three-fold increase in howlers though,” she shrugged, holding a napkin beneath a flaky apricot pastry. “But news of that wasn’t a surprise.”
“Only when Hamilton took a day off, his in-tray caught fire.” Orr added, “No amount of charms can fix that desktop. Believe me, I tried.” He looked disappointed with himself, poor lowly office assistant. Fetch this, send that, remove the scorch marks from that…

“We’ve been saving our best for when you’re here to see it.” Pinn suggested jokingly, elbowing Johann, “That and we reckon he’s got a desk on Four.” Orr stifled a snigger.
“I’ve been studying bad tempered animals to better deal with our Rottweiller problem,” Johann protested quietly, eyeing the door for the ‘Rottweiler’ arriving as she was discussed. “Quill’s too polite to speak ill of another senior, but I reckon everyone will be glad you’re at Department Head meetings instead of your deputy.”

Gabrielle had once had grand plans to send Johann to them single-handed, but it had always made sense for Hester Iravani to go instead. They’d quickly established that going to meetings together did not always work out in the Department’s benefit.

Hester had written a very thorough handover for Gabrielle. The day had come. Hester had kept her fingers crossed it would not. That she would hear Mrs Pepper's resignation first. Hester had sent baby clothes. Commented that motherhood suited Gabrielle. Kept her updates bland.

Hester knew there was a welcome in the break room. She kept busy. Avoiding the sucking up. The baby questions. Then she saw Quill Som. Another Department Head. That would change the mood. Now it was worth Hester's attention.

Hester strolled in. Heard Storm holding court. No change there.
"Good morning Gabrielle. Welcome back." Hester greeted. Smooth. "I have prepared everything for an easy first day back in the saddle. Any crisis I will cover. As I have while you were at home with baby. You must be missing her terribly." Emphasis on missing and terribly. Hester had many more cards to play.

Quill smiled a little and stepped forward to the platter to select something more towards savory than sweet.

"With Pepper back, the coalition for reason is stronger than ever," she said with her typical dryness. Quill didn't love an informal office welcome-back, really. No one claimed to be deft with or enjoy small talk, but Quill counted it among the occasional required maintenance of several tiers of personal and professional relationships.

Iravani had started in on asking after the little one. Quill leaned in.

"Did you bring photographs?"

So many remarks, statements, declarations, and anything, everything in between. Her eyebrows rose with the remarking of scorched desks (it wasn't anything new for the Ministry and perhaps, the raised brow was also because of personal recollection of such incident) and happenings on their level. She took note of the  Rotterweiler bit, minding to avoid a smirk, snicker even as the imagery was plainly implanted instead within the confines of her mind.

Then came the drill of asking about Amelia, the longing and the inquiries about pictures. Naturally, she had photographs and the longing was admittedly there, but she again, was no quitter. A Murray and now Pepper would never be a quitter so sudden, so abruptly. A smile came to her lips as she pulled out the small emerald hued leather picture wallet, extending it to Som.

"Here you go. Only a handful, I'm afraid," she teased with a wink before directing her attention to Hester. "I do believe I will miss her terribly, dear, but it'll make the heart fonder to come home to after a long day. Besides, I've my brother and the family in general to look after Amelia. It isn't like I've been asked to be re-stationed Stateside."

And even if I were, I'd handle it with poise and grace, she thought alone to herself, the smile still upon her features. "I appreciate the sacrifices you all have made in my absence over the past months and for it, I'm truly grateful for each of you."

"Not today. No." Hester agreed with being re-stationed. But that was today. Hester was sure there would soon be a time for Gabrielle to go away. And miss her baby terribly. Or let Hester go instead. Because she could not bear to be apart. The new mother. "Oh we coped just fine without you." Hester assured her. "You could have taken more time off. Maybe you should. Little ones grow up so fast. You would not want to miss it..."

Of course there were baby photographs. Quill was lucky to have the abridged, rather edited version in that picture wallet, Johann thought in self-amusement. He’d been bundled the live-version on more than one visit, quickly instructed on the basics despite his initial protests. Despite his misgivings that he preferred the grown-up sorts of children like Feliks (though perhaps not so ‘unexpected’ in arrival in future), he did begin to appreciate that humans in baby form did have a particular charm. Though, he was rather conscious his brief experience avoided all the smelly, liquid-expelling and incessant wailing that came with small humans, and he could safely hand Amelia back.

Pinn and Orr flanked Quill in studying the photo album while Johann observed his newly returned Department Head and caretaking Deputy exchanging quips. While it was common knowledge Johann and Hester did not get on, Gabrielle either liked or feigned liking her Deputy to get the job done.

“I appreciate the sacrifices you all have made in my absence over the past months and for it, I’m truly grateful for each of you.”
“Oh we coped just fine without you. You could have taken more time off.” Hester made no hesitation and Johann made a poor attempt to cover his laughter (about the same effort his senior was doing covering her motives). “.. Maybe you should. Little ones grow up so so fast…”

“Not that Iravani’s measured up your office in your time away, or anything,” he shrugged, grinning more at Gabrielle. “We appreciate your sacrifices too, boss. Someone had to marry Francis Pepper and fulfil a prophecy on Nine, or was that just his lonely hearts advert in the Prophet. I forget…” He turned his attention to the food Gabrielle had laid out, rationing his digging so he could have another go later.

The little one in the photos was as cute a baby as you'd expect from warm Gabrielle. There she was, the little baby, all wrapped up carefully and earnestly, hints of mum's fatigue peeking through in the margins. A happy story in the making, another Pepper for the world.

"When you're caught up," Quill said to Gabrielle as she flipped through the photos, "I'll need you for a minute or two. MACUSA is taking issue with how we handled a few of their tourists at Heathrow. They can't remember why they're angry, which is the point."

Quill smiled and handed off the photos. "She's got your eyes."

"Good morning." Said Brin. "Someone told me I would find people here." He stood in the open doorway. There sure were people here. "Morning Quill, Hester, Johann." He nodded at the younger ones. "Gabrielle good to have you back. I have scheduled you in with the Minister." He did not say 'maybe do not take the baby photos' but he thought it.

He saw Hester Iravani look interested. No surprise. He saw the food. "I should come by more often!"

Gabrielle listened intently to those around her, likewise gauging the room's atmosphere. A jab at sizing up her office, in the past, would have made the witch bristle and likely bark. However, it wasn't the case now. She simply gave a curt nod and slight amused smirk, half imagining kicking a shin or two to retaliate for that jab.

Then again, probably best to dismiss such thoughts -- after all, didn't need people in her thought processes when she herself was all too often inside her own head when it came to raising Amelia properly. After all, Jane was wonderful, this much was true, but there were questions Gabrielle often wished she could ask her mother. A smile crept to her lips right as Johann mentioned snagging Francis up, the timing impeccably made.

Then, as oft do moments of happiness, they get interrupted by talks of business. Mm. MACUSA. The Minister. Yes, all in a day's, week's, month's worth of work, eh? Gabrielle eyed Brinley, Quill, Hester respectively.

"See, Hester? This is what I've missed: the organised chaos."

A chuckled grin as Gabrielle continued on. "Rest assured, I'm grateful for all you've done, love. More than you realise and then some. Quill, we'll get down to them before the day, week's out. As for coming 'round more often, Brinley, please do. You're sure to be better fed, literally and verbally. After all, Holmes can make it a bit stuffy for all those involved, eh?"

Gabrielle grabbed the nearest earthenware mug, pouring some tea into it and added a little sugar to it, blowing the steam gently away. "But I'll see to the Minister as well. I'm sure he's thanking the heavens that I finally returned from maternity leave." She took a drink, nodding. "Well, any other bits you lot have for me?"

"Are babies not organized chaos?" Uttered Hester. Folding her arms. Listening to the others.

"He's been fine without you." Said Hester. Perhaps too quickly. "You left him in good hands. I mean." She gestured. "He probably just doing it as a courtesy." She sounded ever so slightly sulky. Raised her eyebrows at Brinley Abbott.

"He can. But he is good at what he does." Agreed Brinley. "Once on Five always on Five. I know how it is." Brinley had worked for the Department of International Magical Cooperation once. It was safe. It had been after the war. While he got back on his feet. Before he joined Level One. He still had many friends here.

"Nothing from me." Said Brinley. "Passing through. Picking up my pastry tax." He smiled. Did just that.