Who: Audrey and Izzy When: After the invasion plot Where: BB2 What: Talking about the demons and stuff Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Audrey had just finished taking down the massive wards around BB1, and had replenished the minor wards. She arrived at BB2 to give it the same treatment, inspecting the parking lot and the exterior of the building so she could make sure there wasn’t any unseen damage.
Then she headed inside. It was already late, so she’d texted Merlin to let him know she’d be a while. It was cool and quiet inside.
“Izzy?”
“I’m here” Izzy said, popping up from behind the counter where she’d been cleaning, “I sent the girls home but figured I’d do a bit of a clean up since I knew you were coming round. Wards okay?” she asked, she was surprised Audrey was on her own as she knew Merlin tended to help her with the magics protecting both bakeries.
“They held strong,” Audrey said with pride in her voice. Her chin held high, she gazed with fondness around the room. Even though she was already exhausted, she was still very proud of her husband's wards. “How are you?”
“Wonderful. I’m so glad” Izzy said, she knew they were very lucky to have Merlin and Audrey’s magic protecting them all. “I’m okay, glad that bout of madness has passed now” she admitted, “How about you? Merlin and the kids okay too?”
“Yes.” Audrey set down her keys and purse on a table near the kitchen, and drew her wand out as she crossed the lobby. “It was a pretty serious bout of madness, wasn’t it? I mean, Orange County doesn’t mess around.”
“Yeah it was intense even for this place” Izzy agreed, “But amazingly enough I don’t know anybody who got hurt. I figure that’s pretty lucky”
“That’s really lucky. Actually… I don’t, either.” Audrey let out a little sigh of relief. Thinking about it that way made her feel a little better. “Knock on wood, this is the worst we’ll see of it from now on.” Audrey found a wooden tabletop to knock, but she knew that there were going to be other crazy things. How could there not be?
It definitely helped to focus on the positives after whatever crap they’d gone through, “Hopefully. But at least we know we can help and keep people safe, that’s such an amazing thing Aud and it’s all thanks to you and Merlin”
“Mostly thanks to him, really. He’s the one who does the wards. I’m just lucky that I can get them down and put up the regular ones. His magic is the most powerful thing I’ve ever known.” He was Merlin after all. “Would you mind brewing me a cup of tea? This is gonna take a few minutes.” Audrey drew her wand up and started to encircle the lobby, taking down the strictest wards.
“Yet you really wouldn’t think it to look at him, he’s the most unassuming guy” Izzy commented before starting on the tea, “Of course. Cookie too?” she offered, “Gotta keep your sugar levels up doing all this magic right?”
“He really is.” Audrey couldn’t help but smile at the mention of her husband. Even after all this time, she was still more in love with him than ever. “Oh, yeah, definitely.” Audrey nodded, sagely. “Gotta keep up those sugar levels. I’d love a cookie.” Audrey gave Izzy a bright smile, then took a small lap of the lobby to put up the new wards. She’d have to hit the bathrooms and the kitchen, and the parking lot, and a lap around the building.
Izzy hoped she still looked like that when talking about Simon after they had been married for a few years. It was super cute. “You got it boss, one sugar laden cookie coming up” Izzy grinned, “I wish I could do more to help but magic is sadly not part of my arsenal of skills”
“It’s totally okay. Honestly, it just takes a while.” Audrey’s magic wasn’t the best--she’d never been a strong witch in her world--but she could get it done eventually. Sometimes she just had to double or triple up on the spells to make them stick. “I appreciate the company and the sugar.”
“Company and sugar are definitely two things I can provide” Izzy promised her friend as she brought over a cookie on a plate to where Audrey was literally working her magic.
Audrey had to focus a little bit. When Izzy came back over, she barely noticed, working until the outer rooms were all protected. She lowered her arms after the last charms went up, then shook them out. Her wand gave off a set of tiny sparks at her side. Audrey smiled over at Izzy, a little sore and breathless, and then pounced on the tea and cookies.
“You okay?” Izzy checked, watching Audrey work was fascinating and Izzy had remained still and quiet once she had put down the goodies, she knew it took a lot of concentration.
“Yes,” Audrey replied, giving her friend a tired smile. “It takes quite a bit more out of me than it does my husband. I’ve never been really strong in the magic department...unless it came to baking. That I was remarkably good at back in my Dream World.”
“Well he is the king of magic, it’s hardly fair to compare yourself” Izzy pointed out with a smile, “And you are more than remarkably good at baking here, while I was absolutely awful in my dream world. In fact my lack of cooking skills were often mocked” she grinned.
“That’s a very good point.” Audrey said with a smile. A tired smile. She popped the last piece of her cookie in her mouth. “You’re so sweet. Thank you, izzy.” What would Audrey have done without her best friend and business partner? She grinned warmly, a little less tiredly, and then climbed up from her chair. “Now that’s all taken care of, I should probably go home and collapse!”
“You’re welcome” Izzy said moving to give Audrey a hug, “Thank you for doing that, I appreciate it a lot” she said warmly, “Make sure that husband of yours spoils you when you get home” she said with a smile, knowing that Merlin would.
Audrey returned the hug. She smiled at her friend. “It’s no problem. And I definitely will. I think I need a foot massage.” Audrey teased. Then she turned to head out of the shop. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow!”