The Dreaded Dinner of Doom

"Oh alright," Nicolas said to Eliza, "Go on read. She wouldn't be listening in anyway." He said to Ana. Of course, if their guest was anyone but Reginald, Nicolas would have to agree with Ana. But alas, it is Reginald.

"I like to read about hexes and spells." Will said. "Darius can't read yet."

"I do too!" Darius said.

"Do not," Will said grinning. He liked to tease his little brother a little bit.

"I do!" Darius said getting slightly red in the face. "I read about Ponies!"

At this Nicolas chuckled, but it was however, drowned by choking sounds as he was drinking water at the time.

Ana sighed. Eliza cheered and stood up. Then she paused, deciding to show off a little bit. She concentrated, and the book shot down the stairs, landing on the table...after narrowly avoiding Ana's plate.

"Careful Eliza."
"Sorry Ana."
Ana smiled slightly. "But nice work, you're getting better at aim."
Eliza smiled and sat down.
"Indeed, Brava Eliza." Reginald appraised.

Reginald turned to face his grandson, unsure how to respond to that. But he guessed he should have expected it. Darien had always been a strange boy...and apparently weirdness was hereditary.
"Um...Like..." He glanced at Ana for help.
Black Beauty? A voice prompted, poking at the outer barrier of his mind.
Thank you Ana. "Like Black Beauty?"
Eliza fought back a laugh. Even she didn't read pony books...anymore.

"No," Darius said shaking his head. "Not about normal ponies, magical ones. Like unicorns and Ath... Athen..."

"Athenons," Nicolas provided for him.

"Yes, Athenons!" Darius said smiling widely. "I like riding Persephone."

"Darius," Nicolas said stealing a look to Ana, "That was supposed to be our secret."

Darius looked apologetic. "Sorry Daddy."

Ana immediatly became very interested in her food.

Reginald decided to change the topic to one slightly less...odd...

"So...what Quidditch teams do you all support?"

Eliza gasped. "It was the butler!"

Ana raised her eyebrow. "But it's never the butler."

Eliza frowned and re-read the line, then the next few. "Oh no...The butler was framed."

"Puddlemere United," Will said his eyes shown bright.

"I like that one too!" Darius copied.

Will laughed. "I thought you liked the Holy-Head Harpies Darius?"

"Yes, that one too!" Darius said charmingly.

"Do you like all of the Quidditch teams?" Will teased.

"No..." Darius denied.

Reginald laughed. "Support them all and you'll never lose."

Ana smiled slightly. "Yes, but it will also cost a fortune in merchandise."

Eliza glanced up. "I prefer the ones with the orange uniforms...What're they called again, Will?"

"The Chudley Cannons?" Will supplied. "They're good too."

"I like them too!" Darius said grinning.

"A fortune indeed." Nicolas said shaking his head. He was only joking of course, he didn't really mind spending a fortune on the kids. Besides he had quite a bit to spare, being the Casillas heir and all.

Eliza shrugged. "I just like the colour. It's bright...and happy."

Reginald nodded. "I've always preferred black and green myself..."

"I wonder why..." Ana muttered.

Eliza poked Darius under the table. "Hey Darius, there's a bug on your leg."

"Bug?" Darius said looking down on his leg, and sure enough there was on. He picked it up with his hand. "Bug!"

"So Reginald, how are things at your end?" Nicolas asked not really interested... or was he?

"The usual. Shares going up...minor losses in the steel industry...nothing major. Nasty incident with Ignatius and a bee salesman..." Reginald gave a bark of laughter.
"Rather amusing though, it has to be said...."

"Interesting," Nicolas said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

"I'm done," Darius said. "Can I have ice cream?"

Nicoals gave him a nod of approval.

"Yay! Killa!" The elf appeared. "Ice cream!"

"Me too Killa," Will said.

"Me three please." Eliza requested, not looking up from her book.

Reginald smiled at the children. Ana continued eating.

The ice cream appeared on the children's places.

"Granddad," Darius said. "How come you only come now?"

Reginald paused. "Well...I've had a lot on my plate...And family business to take care of."

"For five years?" Eliza raised an eyebrow.

Reginald shrugged. "After a while, travelling all over the place takes a lot longer than expected. Everytime I tried to stop by, something else would arise. Running a business...and a family, takes a lot more time than you'd expect."

Ana glanced at Nick, wondering how to divert the subject to less...dangerous territory.

Nicolas shrugged. He should try to help...

"Darius it's because you're Granddad doesn't like me very much." Nicolas said.

"Why don't you like Daddy, Granddad?"

Okay or make it worst.

Ana closed her eyes briefly.

Reginald looked uncomfortable. "We just don't see eye-to-eye, that's all."

Eliza blinked. She did not like awkward situations. She wanted to help.

"THE BUTLER DID IT!" She yelled.

Reginald blinked. This was when ice cream soared into the air, flipped from a spoon and splattered droplets all over those sitting around the table.

Ana cringed, but gave Eliza a grin.

"Yay! Ice cream rain!" Darius laughed.

Suddenly Fitzwilliam gave a sharp intake of breathe. "I remember you!" Will remembered shouting and the accidental magic on his part.

Eliza glanced around. "Huh? You didn't remember me before?"

Ana looked at Nick for support. "Who Will?"

Reginald frowned slightly, wondering what the boy was on about.

"You!" William said looking at Reginald with glassy eyes. "I think I was six or something at the time but I remember you."

Reginald thought back.
"Sorry, I can't remember ever meeting you before in my life."

Ana shrugged. "Well at six, all adults look pretty similar..." She glanced swiftly at Nick.

"No no it was you," Will said getting slightly frustrated. "I remember, I was watching you from the stairs, you and Nick were arguing about something. I got upset and accidentally used magic."

Darius was looking at Will very intensely, wondering why his grandfather hadn't shown up before.

Ana raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Nick...do you remember this...fight?"

She really hoped he was going to lie...

Reginald looked confused, and frowned slightly. "I'm not sure I do..."

Nicolas was slightly torn. Apart from the tiny fact that he told them and Darius was his and Ana's son, he'd never lied to the children. In fact, it was because of that fact he didn't lie to them, he figured a large pink elephant like that was enough lies for one family.

But to tell the truth could be detrimental. What Reginald and him where fighting about was Darius' mother, Darius' real mother and who his father was. This is the very thing he didn't want Darius to know about.

What it came down to was choosing between Darius and Fitzwilliam...

"No..." Nicolas said avoiding Will's hurt gaze. "I don't remember it."

There was a loud commotion and Will dashed out from the Dinner table at to his room.

Eliza sighed and closed her book, marking the page.
Without another word, she left the room, following her elder brother.

Ana bit her lip awkwardly.

Nicolas closed his eyes. "Reginald I think it's best if you leave. Darius say good bye to your Granddad."