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She waved her hand carelessly. "Well really, how does one compete with the disembodied upper torso of a gigantic woman? I'm sure N'awlins will have nothing like it. We do everything extravagantly, darlin'," she said, her full New Orleans accent on display. "It's the only way to live."

Abby silently watched as they approached the building. She reminded herself that the Parisians attending this concert probably thought very little of the grandeur of the building. "Hmm. I think they were compensating for something," she finally said, dryly.

"I'm not, sadly. I love music, but I'm mostly familiar with the music from home. New Orleans has such a rich tradition of it's own. But I'm looking forward to hearing something new. And I've rarely had the chance to hear large ensembles like this."

"You say that so casually. 'We secretly searched his workshop.' She shook her head. "Your career path definitely took you to a lot more interesting places than mine did. But I can't say I'd want to trade with you, not after the past few days."

"If they were designed to attack, you're sure it's entirely safe to be using them? Sounds like the kind of thing that might have been better left alone."

"We did. She helped me sort out my thinking on a couple of things, and basically told me to stop feeling sorry for myself," she laughed. "That wasn't precisely what I was doing, but I was worrying over things that aren't worth worrying about. And you're welcome. I didn't want to see you chewing...

Abby sat back in the carriage. Gods, people from other planets, now some kind of automaton. Well, at least she didn't need to feel guilty about keeping the driver up and waiting for them.

Abby stuck her head out the door and said to Cal, "You're a fool if you didn't tell that woman that you love her like family, that you appreciate everything she's done for you, and that you'll be there in a moment if she ever needs you."

"My arms sure wish I had considered at the time. I jumped off a flying carpet to unlatch some kind of magical boat engine and it took off with me. They are still aching something fierce. How's that for heroic reflection?" she laughed. "Maracita, I am sorry to see you go. I know I'll be leaving...

"I'm an uncultured American, I couldn't have named them the day it happened," she teased. "Alright, alright, I give in. To be honest, I was just rather shocked by the whole business. Don't fret, I have a pretty good handle on my own worth, and I don't hold it cheap. It sounds like I don't feel...

"Or he realized what a terrible idea it was to sit on top of the carriage and wants it to be over as fast as possible. If I stop complaining, then you have to stop thinking Cal actually wants to be rid of you," she said with a bit of a smirk. "I'm sure he'd listen for hours if he thought it...

"I have no interest in impressing Callum's father. I ought to, I suppose, but he passed judgment on me long ago. I won't go out of my way to offend, of course. But I fear warmth may be beyond me. As for the rescue... The impetus was Cal's, of course. He had the magical potions we used to make...

Abby laughed. "I can just picture it. If he's smart, he's tucked the fabric under his legs so it can't, but we both know he's not smart. He's sitting on top instead of inside with two beautiful women!" She sat smiling for another moment. "I know this knighting is the best thing that could have...

"I refuse to believe we won't see you again. Even if it's some day far in the future, if he does ask that question and I can accept. And try not to feel too badly that he isn't inside with us... if you want to have a few words with him in Paris, I can stand a few feet off. But don't part...

"Maracita, I am not ready for that commitment. when I chose to be educated and pursue a career, I knew that love or marriage was far less likely for me. Now, it might be in my future. But I have a lot of adjusting of my expectations to do. I told you last night I wasn't ready to be a lead on...

Abby looked down for moment, obviously pleased. Color climbed up the back of her neck and into her cheeks as she lifted her eyes again. "I'm not sure what I feel. When we were separated... I knew it had to do with his family and I knew it wasn't his idea. But neither of us had any idea of being...

"There is a reason we plan for the future. We don't have much of it. Things will surely resolve themselves with time, but it's often far more time than we have. So we scratch and fight now for fear that tomorrow will never be. I will never reach your age, so I will never have as much wisdom as...

Abby sighed. "I have met some people I couldn't work for, I do understand that. But it can't be easy to leave something you've been working toward for so long. And to go knowing Pepe intends to return? The whole situation makes me uneasy and sad, and I have only the slimmest connection to it."

"In my completely uninformed and unasked for opinion, you're right. She shouldn't have been allowed to attack and cut down others and be rewarded for it. Plus with Cal going away again, and you and Pepe gone, there will be only Charles here to counter her. If nothing goes wrong she will take it...

"I didn't get a full accounting of the meeting, but I didn't get the impression he's angry with you, although he is upset and sad. Perhaps he just wants to avoid hashing over something when more talking obviously won't change it. I think he was more worried about you being angry with him."