“I was surprised you suggested this, Bones,” Iona greeted her friend and healer with a grin as she held the door to her small flat open. “Starting to think our evenings before were out of pity for the jobless old cripple.” She knew that wasn’t so because she and Bones had known each other for a long time. Decades of being sewn back together had a habit of bringing a certain bond. They’d both been busy, of course.

With a click, the door shut behind Athena, and a few locks clicked into place. 3 more clicks sounded than several months before. 3 magical bolts that hadn’t been needed before the threats falling from editions of the Daily Prophet.

“You look good. Healthy. Not exhausted at all.” Hand free of cane, Iona carefully limped down the short corridor, a hand tracing along the wall to steady her as she made her way to the kitchen island. It hurt like hell, but she made the short journey. Atop the island was a bottle of wine. It was a bit more expensive than her usual tipple because not everyone enjoyed wine tart enough to strip your insides.

“Zo had to work. Some idiotic excuse about a glowing liver has her covering a shift. So, you’re stuck with your favourite patient.” After giving her friend a wink accompanied by a dazzling smile, Bruce started to pour two glasses of moderately priced white wine.

"You're a pair, the two of you," Athena said. She was a head and more taller than anyone else who normally stalked Bruce and Zora's place, excepting maybe their all-grown daughter who was shooting up. The tall blonde witch - called 'Bones' or 'Sawbones' by some friends and foes, hung her long white trench coat on a hook but kept her purse with her. It was Saturday night, coming up on eight.

"If it weren't for me and that bottle, tha'd be at the Ministry just the same as her. I'd say I'm no better, but I am so much better. I've even told Vincent to be scarce. That's how much I've missed our Bruce. And Zora. And Waverly - where's she at tonight?"

Clearly she wasn't at home, but Athena took a little walk around the kitchen. Officially, Athena hadn't seen Bruce's daughter for a few years. Unofficially, it had been six weeks ago when Waverly had been delivered to her flat by a mind-reader for secret treatment of a vampire bite.[1] Athena had been busting to blab it all to Bruce and Zora, but had kept her oath. She hadn't seen Waverly since, nor the little Seer Virgil Carstairs.

1.	12 Feb 2012 - The Dark Receives You

Iona and Zora had often been called a pair. They had always just fit. Always friends first. Athena was quite right, if they hadn’t had plans, Bruce may not have been hanging around at home waiting to head to bed alone. For a woman so strong and independent, she hated sleeping alone. Having that presence next to her was calming, especially when she was still sometimes haunted by nightmares of the night that had turned her from hunter to hunted.

“Wav moved out months ago, Bones. We’ve got an empty nest, now.” That came with both its advantages and its drawbacks. No more half-finished drinks lying around or late night wake ups by the drunken young witch coming home. But away from home, they had even less idea what their wayward vampire meeting daughter was up to, a fact which often kept Bruce awake at night.

One glass was offered to Athena and they clinked glasses in a quick toast across the counter before Iona lifted hers to her lips for a swig.
“Vincent,” She crooned, grinning. “That’s lasting.”

"He is! He does," Athena said through a big cheshire cat grin, said of Vincent Fournier. She'd dipped at the knees to emphasize her delight at her current pairing.

"He bakes, love, I can't very well put him out," she added almost apologetically. Truth be told, Athena wasn't much sorry at all. She was cavalier about him, but the beast handler was a good and true wizard. A real genuine sort, not just fun and games.

 She found a stool to perch on, and returned the quick clink of a glass so they could proceed. Speaking of entanglements on the Creatures Floor...

"Is Wilhemena still trailing a werewolf safe house clerk?" she asked the Head of the Werewolf Wing. "She fancies herself subtle. Imagine."[1] The spokewitch of the Werewolf Wing has been having a little affair with some young wizard since April. There was nothing subtle about Wilhemena who behaved as if she was the star of her own WWN period drama.

1.	19 May 2012 - I'm Allowed A Little Fun