Beau sauntered into the bedroom carrying a mouthwatering breakfast tray. The strap of her silken negligee sliding from her shoulder as she slipped carefully into bed next to Thomas; keeping the tray carefully balanced as she leaned over and placed a featherlight kiss on his cheek. "Mornin', Sugar... we fixed your favourite." The smell of breakfast had roused him long before the sound of her voice... but he lingered in bed nonetheless for the sheer joy and pleasure of such treatmet. It hadn't been long... but she was quickly becoming a source of solace and peace for him the like of which he'd never known. And he hoped... at least in some small way... he could be the same for her. And if not... well, at least the smile on her face each morning was some small consolation. 

This morning, though, she seemed extra chipper as she nibbled at a bite of waffle with peanut butter. "The shower is warming, and I've layed out your clothes for the day. I went with a spiffy set since we'll be on business. I've phoned down to Elysium's  and arranged a private consultation with Mr. Quinn... no mention of the Black Business. Just an appointment. And I had Tim drop the LeBaron out front. So, everything is in order just as soon as you're ready." 

Sliding the tray over into Thomas' lap, Beau slipped out of bed and wiggled out of her nightie; letting it fall to the floor with a sly smirk. "You take your time. I'll start getting ready," she called over her shoulder with a wink as she skipped off to the shower. ...partly because she was a terrible tease of a little minx and partly because she was truly excited about their plans today. Through the open door, Thomas heard the metalic hiss of the shower cutain closing as Beau called out over the running water, "I figure we can hit Harvey's first and then decide where to go from there... unless you have a better idea?"

Thomas smiled, the smell of food, the soft lips on his forehead, the tray slid over into his lap as his eyes opened, and the most alluring slip of a nude Beau skipping happily off to the shower... Everything moved just right on that woman and he couldn't help but readjust in his seat, his waking stiffness assuredly being because he slept wrong. Everything seemed to crack and pop as he heard the shower curtain close, her silhouette not helping his current pre-dick-ament much.

"I figure we can hit Harvey's first and then decide where to go from there... unless you have a better idea?" she had called.

Thomas, with a full mouth of food, tried not to immediately answer, instead choosing to swallow the food and wash it down with lemonade. "No darling, that sounds perfect..."

He couldn't help himself any longer and he slid the tray of food off his lap, slid out of the bed, removed his ... never mind, he'd slept naked... He shrugged and headed for the shower...

A quick _**** and _**** never really hurt anyone, right?

...

...

...

After the shower, the two hopped out, the red blush flushing Beau and Thomas' faces enough to make Kovi roll his eyes. "Perhaps it will be less awkward in the house now, Kovi hopes?"

Thomas smirked as he tossed his towel over Kovi's head and started getting dressed.

Gun in place, wand in place, shoes on the right foot, and a dazzling Beau on his arm, Thomas made way for the front door this time... "We'll show you the front today."

Thomas swung the door open and a large foyer was exposed. "Welcome to the epicenter that is the Order's headquarters." He smiled and waved a hand around, things flying and moving around the room... Including little creatures and other humans. "The... magical side of the headquarters where the No-Maj's don't generally come..." He chuckled and headed toward an elevator. "From here, we take the elevator as a portal back to Seattle, and the outlet is the Order's No-Maj headquarters."

Thomas hopped into the elevator and held his hand, "Come come! We've got a world to entertain, and another to explore and conquer."

Beau, still pink and panting, chuckled in baffled awe and glee as Thomas ushered her out the door. Even after everything she'd seen, there was no part of th is that didn't utterly dazzle her. Wait... back to Seattle?? Where were they now? Don't ask that question outloud here. Not smart. 

Smiling with delight, Beau took his hand and skip-stepped into the elevator. Shoving him against the far wall and kising him hard as the doors slid closed. "I don't think it's going to be any less awkward, do you," she asked teasingly as she stepped away, straightining her hat and fluffing her curls. 

As the elevator settled into place, the doors slid open with a tell-tale *ding*. 

Thomas grunted as he was pressed against the wall. THAT wasn't expected. Naughty little minx that one was... Readjusting his tie and straightening his vest, he chuckled. "No, I can assure the poor Elf it will only get more awkward."

*Ding*

As the door opened, there was a tram station directly to their left, and a line of doors on the right. A small ticket booth beside the tram station had a ghoulish looking being hidden in the box and taking people's tickets. Others came and went through the doors quickly. Thomas headed for the one that took them to Seattle...

"So this is a hub, much like a normal No-Maj train station. Except ours are... Different." He chuckled.

"Anyway, this will take us to the tunnels beneath the Order of the Phoenix in Seattle. The basement, basically. Shall we go?" Thomas opened the door and on the other side the dark tunnels beneath the Order's HQ could be seen. "Easy to make logic explain that these tunnels lead to the bay; a secret entrance and exit for the Order. Something no one questions..."

He stepped through and then held his hand out, literally placing himself in two different places at once. "Oh, you're in New York, by the way. The Ministry of Magic..." Thomas chuckled.

Beau chuckled as she took his hand, "Thank you." She continued to giggle as she stepped through, "I wasn't going to ask." Taking just a moment to marvel at the literal magic of it all, she chewed her bottom lip impishly, "Man..." she pressed him against the doorway gently for just a milisecond moment, "How amazing would it be to 'be' in two places at once?" Winking she stepped past him, still holding his hand as she bopped down the tunnel, humming some jaunty little show tune happily. 

HOW was she so happy? How was she so utterly unflapped by this world of his? Both sides. What had her life been like that this life made her so... that?? Thomas' mind twisted and spun as he watched her twirl and skip and saunter down the dimly lit tunnel as if it were a VIP garden entrance to Disneyland.  And suddenly the weight of that thought seemed almost too much for him to bear. What had he drug her into? How was he ever going to...

"Hey," her chipped voice echoed down the tunnel, "Don't do that." Beau smiled at him over her shoulder as she continued pulling him along, eager to learn all that she could,"I already told you, sugar. It's my choice. And that's never on you. Now come on," she tugged at his wrist playfully, "We have work to do!" 

Pulling him close, she wrapped his arm around her waist; leaning in to rest her head on his shoulder. Her blue eyes sparkeld up at him adoringly as she whispered, "Just enjoy letting yourself make me happy. I know you like it. And I like that you like it. So don't worry so much." Giggling softly she hummed a little tune in his ear... his skin crawling with electricity as the air around them sparkled, "Don't worry, be happy." 

"Now!" she proclaimed in an almost childlike tone as they came to a fork in the road, "Which way??

Thomas smiled and kept moving as she stopped to ask, tugging her along the sidewalk to the left of them. "This way, my dear. We'll hop in the limousine and ride to the library." Thomas waved as a driver hopped out of a long, black vehicle and opened the door.

"City morgue?" Thomas mentioned as they slid in.

"Yessir!"

The driver shut the door and moved to the driver seat, readjusting his mirrors before putting the vehicle in drive.

"So whatcha lookin' for at the morgue? Don't look dressed for a funeral... Sorry for the blatant honesty" he started as he let off the brake to pull forward then slammed it back down. "EY! GET OUTTA HERE YA ROTTEN BI..." he paused and looked at Beau before correcting his speech... "YA BASTARD! LEARN HOW TA DRIIIIIIVVVVE!" Turning back, he apologized and pulled the car out. "Sorry about that, damn wops don't really know how to drive 'round here. Anyway, whatcha lookin' for at the morgue?"

Thomas chuckled at the whole incident then smiled. "Not often I get a driver that talks. It's oddly kinda nice. Just some old family business stuff, and some fun talking about the history of families. Then, if you wait, we gotta head to the library for some interesting searches on old heritage and mythical beasts and legends... Just to blow off steam and let the mind wander."

"Ah? Then you need to hit a little bookstore named 'The Dragon's Lair'! I hear it's chock full of old materials and stuff! I hear they even play games and dress up with swords and stuff to have fun, pretendin' they're some hot shot knights or somethin'..."

Thomas smirked, "Oh? That sounds interesting... Maybe we'll check that out too." He smiled and leaned back. "Mind if I smoke?"

"Nah, go ahead... Actually, can I bum one?"

"Sure thing pal!" Thomas offered the man a smoke and lit it for him before taking two, one for him and one for Beau, from the case and putting it away. "Gonna be a Gods be damned good day." With a nod, he exhaled his smoke out of the vehicle and into the world...

Beau chuckled slightly as the men bantered, trying desperately to contain the waves of energy that bounced off of her in her excitement. Just as she reached for the cigarette Thomas offered, yet another car cut them off. The driver, adept at avoiding such accidents, braked and swerved hard. It was enough to save the car, but poor Beau was propelled into the business end of a lit cigarette... burning a hole through the thin cotton of her favourite sundress and searing the delicate skin of her collar bone. Irate beyond what either man usually witness in from a woman, Beau leaned out the open passenger window and screamed over the crowd, "WATCH WHERE THE FUCK YOU'RE GOING, YA CUMMY CUNT BEFORE I CLAW YOUR FUCKING EYES OUT! BITCH!!" Plopping back into her seat she blushed slightly, avoiding direct eye contact as the men stared at her. Pouting, fingered the hole in her dress as she mumbled softly, "Not like you use them anyway." 

Tugging Thomas' cuff, she mouthed silently, 'Can you fix it?' Of course, she knew that he couldn't do so now... given current company. But she hoped they'd be able to find somewhere secluded enough between here and the mortuary that she wouldn't have to walk into a business meeting looking like a street urchin. Not that it was that bad. In the grand scheme of things, it was hardly noticable. But she was obviously nervous and very self-conscious about her first 'official' outting. It was all over her face as she blinked up at Thomas with appologetic innocence. 

Thomas and the driver blinked as the car sat still for a moment... The driver was the first to break the silence. "Well alright then!" he added and laughed, pulling the car out safely and flipping the bird to the asshole that had caused the issue. "You gonna be okay back there, ma'am? I can sew it up if you'd like? I also have something for that burn..." He reached over and fiddled with the glove compartment, then tossed a cream into the back to Thomas. "That'll help..."

The vehicle pulled up next to car that had cut them off and the driver, excited to be hauling this interesting couple around today, reached out and banged on the other's window. As it rolled down, he handed it to them...

"Listen here ya shit stick, no-brained, blind bat! Open your fuckin' eyes and pay attention to the fuckin' road! I got a little lady ruin't her fuckin' sundress cause'a you, dickweed! Next time, I'll fuckin' wreck your piece of shit, and put a bullet in your nice clean clothes, ya understand? NOW PISS OFF OUTTA HERE!!!"

He leaned back into his seat, flipping the bird to the other driver again and pulling away as the light turned green.

"Sorry... Now that I know my two cents is welcomed, I figured I'd join ya, miss." He chuckled as he noticed Thomas flash his gun at the other driver who decided, then, to turn off the main drag and peel away down a side road.

"It's alright, pal... And don't worry about the dress. I can take care of it no problem this evenin'." This evening was of course just a nicety. He'd handle it as soon as they were tucked away. He winked at Beau as he'd said it so she'd understand his meaning. He did, however, lick her collar where the cherry of his cigarette had kissed her skin. The mark was gone like it hadn't even gotten her. Then he bit playfully before sliding away and pouring a drink from the vehicle's reserves. "Quite a mouth there, Beau... I like it," Thomas chuckled. "Remind me not to piss you off more than I already do... I don't think I could handle a berating like that from you."

His arm slid around her and pulled her close. "Anyway. I think you'll like Harvey. He's a good fella... An' somethin' tells me this ain't the real Blacks. Maybe not even the real Messinas... Someone's throwin' clout around. I'd put my money on it..."

Thomas sighed, tossing his broken cigarette out of his window.

"We'll be there shortly, right?"

"Yessir!" the driver responded. "Just a few blocks east here, and one to tha north, and we'll be at Elysium's."

"Perfect," Thomas purred out, and cuddled down into the seat to get comfortable, sipping his drink and offering some to Beau.

Beau hissed and flinched away as Thomas' tongue flicked over her burn, bracing for the sting of heat on seared skin. When it didn't come, she gasped, glancing down before giggling up at him with that familiar expression of astonishment and adoration. "Yeah... I've heard that before," she winked playfully at Thomas, "But don't worry, I could never stay mad at you long." 

Snuggling in as he pulled her close, she nodded in agrement. "I kinda figured. But, whoever it is is keeping a low profile. Betty said none of the girls have heard anything in Seattle. So they're definitely not throwing it around in the streets. They're playing it smart. And that worries me." 

Lighting another cigarette, Beau puffed away in silence as she mulled over the possible implications. After a long moment, she turned back to Thomas with a curious look on her face, "So... you said the Blacks are family... and the Messina's were tied in somehow. So are they... y'know?" 

She watched Thomas' face carefully as the car slid to the curb infront of a sprawling gothic revival facade. The sign on the lawn read 'Elysium's Rest Mortuary and Funeral Parlour' but as she surveyed the building Beau thought the place looked more like an old home than a creepy morgue. With a deep sigh, she smoothed her dress, straightened her hat, and slid from the car as Thomas opened her door. Taking his hand she smiled and stood, "Right, so, anything I need to know before going in?

"The Messina's, no... The Black's, ehhhhh. That's a hard one to get into. But there are ties." He chuckled as they exited. "Keep it runnin' pal?" he called to the driver who nodded, offering a thumbs up and rolling the windows up. He pulled his hat over his head and leaned back. A short nap never hurt, right? Not in the cooled vehicle versus the muggy air of Seattle that day.

"Now... Really quick..." Thomas placed his hand on Beau's collar, over the burn in the dress, then removed his hand. The dress looked new as the day they'd bought it... Or... Transmorphed it from a towel... Odd things cloth could change to be, especially at the hands of a talented Mr O'Malley.

"Things to know... Harvey was Sullivan Black's, my cousin's, protege. Sullivan worked for the Messina's, and married Jacqueline Messina. He became a capo for them, and later sat at Frankie-Messina's right hand after Jackie, Jacqueline, died in a shooting. Anyway, they handled 'New Life' in New York, Vegas, and in Seattle... Sullivan was a forger, and a fixer. Harvey took after him. So... You may see some dead bodies being fixed up in there. It's not always pretty..." Thomas frowned. "Even I don't like visiting some times... But Harvey is a good man. Even raising Sullivan's daughter he had with another woman he met after Jackie's death." Thomas shrugged. "Matty was her name, I think?" Shaking his head, he paused. "I lost track with Sully after Jackie died and they left Vegas... I was a learning, budding wizard then and barely saw them anyway... And everyone knew Vegas was the best place to practice magic at the time." A smile crossed his face. "My cousin was weird, kinda the black sheep in the family too. Surprised the Messina's were okay with Jackie liking Sully... Odd duck. They both were." He chuckled then ushered her to the door where he knocked a few times, then pushed it open.

An older gentlemen was making his way as the door opened and shined light on him. His eyes squinted near closed and he chuckled as he squinted. "Sorry, sorry. It's just so bright and hot today. How can I help you children today? Preparing for a loved one's eternity?"

Thomas smirked. "Only yours, old man... it's Thomas. O'Malley. Sullivan's cousin?"

The older man paused. "O'Malley... Well that's a name I've not heard since Vegas, child. Come in, come in... Let me see ya. That damnable sun is blindin' me more and more..." Harvey laughed. "And who's this beautiful young child with you? She's breathtaking, Tommy... Utterly breathtaking..." Harvey offered his hand to Isabeaux and escorted the lovely lady in.

"So, again, what brings you two to Elysium? I certainly hope it's not normal business... I'd hate to hear of you losing someone."

Thomas chuckled, "Well..." He looked over at Beau, then to Harvey.

"First, this is Isabeaux, she's kinda a big thing to me and the Order. Secondly... it's Family business. YOUR family business... And why is it moving on Order lands."

Harvey froze... "My family business? Son, Messina and Black territory died in Seattle with Sully and Frankie."

Thomas fingered to the documents Beau had in her bag... "These documents say otherwise, but we both think someone's using the names for clout. We need your help. And it may be time to call the Black's... Even if that means exposing Eviee..."

Harvey moved from Isabeaux's arm and plopped down in a chair in the lobby. "Son, lock the door. I'll call Christian."

"Christian? is Christian in charge now?"

"No, but he's the only one that will answer a call from Seattle..."

Thomas nodded and went to lock the door, allowing Beau to show the pages off to Harvey...

Beau smiled as she handed the papers over. It was nice to be introduced as a 'big thing'... validating. Leaning over the arm of the chair, Beau slowly flipped through the paperwork with Harvey. 

"These," she said, drawing his attention to a freshly torn ledger page, "We filched from a sharegarden that's been price gouging the Waterfront... badly, I might add." Harvey scoffed softly as he looked over the ledger, the Messina name peppered throughout. "We've tried to work with 'em, but they refused. Greedy bastards even shot down the offer to sell outside the district in exchange for low local prices." 

Flipping to another page, Beau pointed out the name Black on the paperwork she'd found at Benny's. "I picked these up at a warhouse in the same district. The owner recently pulled out of a deal with the Order. No explanation... but I did some digging and it looks like he was working with the same local group to bottle neck produce imports from the bay." 

She smiled sweetly at Harvey, giving a little push as she continued, "Now, I know some families that are willing to do some awful things for profit. But from everything I've been able to turn up your people aren't those kind of people. They funded a clinic, right? I can't imagine they'd be this heartless." 

Meeting Beau's crisp blue gaze, Harvey's eyes dialated as he shood his head, "No, child. Never like that.

Turning to Thomas, he continued, "I'll make the call. You'll need to be available to present evidence. I can't imagine that Hiram is going to be pleased with this." Glancing between the two nervously, he added, "There may be reprecussions, you understand? Are you... are you prepared to stand as a handler?" 

Beau, unflinching, looked at Thomas, "I will if you will," she answered fearlessly.

Thomas nodded at Beau. "I'll handle Hiram. You know we O'Malleys and Blacks go way back." He winked at Harvey. "But what has you nervous? Hiram really that bad now that he's grown up? I mean, I remember roughing him up all the time when he'd try and play sn...football with us." Thomas smirked. "I mean, he was never weak, he was just so little..."

Harvey raised a brow, "Boy you must not remember the same Hiram I do. He's not so little or so nice anymore. He's been the Messina/Black fixer since Sully left this world. And boy has he stepped into his pri~"

Everyone got quiet as they heard the front door open, Harvey mouthing at Thomas,  -I THOUGHT YOU LOCKED IT- and Thomas mouthing back, -I DID!- ... The trio turned to see a tall, slender man walk around the corner and thumbs at the door... Harvey started laughing.

"Why's the door locked, pops?" the man asked, and Thomas smirked. "Fuckin' Eddie!" The man turned and eyes Thomas, "T-...Tommy? What the fuck are you doin' here, mate?"

"Well for one, I'm lockin' the door behind ya. Family business."

"Ah..." the man added before noticing Beau... He ran his hand through his hair and pulled it away from his face. "Hiya doll, James Edward Quinn, but my buddies call me Jimmy Q, or Eddie if your Tommy there."

"She's mine, 'Snailpace'!" Thomas called from the door as he shut it and spun back around the wall that separated it from the lobby.

"OY! Ain' -nobody- called me that in forever, Tombald." Jimmy laughed and hugged him.

"So what's goin' down?" Jimmy plopped into a chair across from his dad.

"Well..." Thomas started, then looked at Beau. "My lovely lady friend and I discovered a couple of certain names being thrown around Seattle for clout..."

James sat up, "Messina and Black? Yeah, a couple of their places just got fucked up... The fellas I work with though, they said it ain't no real Messina or Black doin' it... Say it ain't their style. Besides, they're in New York."

Thomas nodded. "Aye, those names exactly. And 'tween you an' us three? Was the Order comin' down on those little spots. Those were -our- holdings. That was a move on -our- turf."

James nodded, "Ya think I didn't know that? That's why me an' tha gang were lookin' in to who these fake Blacks and Messinas were..."

"Well did ya find anything?" Thomas perked up.

"Nah, not a fuckin' thing," James spat as he sank into his seat, sullen.

"Well, they did," Harvey butted in, "and we're callin' Christian."

James nodded, then Thomas and Beau did as well, Harvey returning the nod before picking up the phone.

"I hope you're ready Thomas." Harvey pressed the switch on the phone a few times until he connected with an operator.

"Connect me to New York, please..."

Beau giggled at Thomas' banter with the younger bloke. He was cheeky... in a way Beau kind of like. It was cute... seeing Tommy with his people. "I'm Beau," she said flatly, skipping the formalities as she eyed the young man. Twirling a single ringlet around her finger Beau yawned, settling in for a long talk as Harvey handled business with the reciever. Standing and stretching, she moved to make her way over to Thomas' chair... but stopped mid step with a fright as a figure caught her attention from the corner of her eye. 

Beau gasped and flinched, the dark haired young woman who'd been watcing from the shadows of the adjoining viewing room giggling melodically. "Please don't worry, Miss. I am just as corporeal as you are," she teased in a silvery, symphonic voice. Her large sea foam coloured eyes peered around Beau, her cheeks blushing a fetching peach. Tucking her dark, hip-length hair behind her ear, she smiled at Thomas, "It is splendid to see you, Tommy. How have you been?" 

Beau, still recovering from her startle, tried her best to hide her unnecessary jealousy as she stared at the young woman. It was like looking at a living snow white. With her dark, voluminous locks; pale, blushing cheeks; plump, dewy lips; and pale sea green eyes, she was stunning... even compared to Beau. "I didn't mean to startle you," she appologized with an expression of overwhelming innocence, "It's just that we do not often have guests. Not of the real variety. I was simply curious. ... and you are so fetching, I could hardly help myself." 

Stepping forward she took Beau's hand and led her back to the chairs, "I'm Eve. You must be Tommy's. He is the only person I know capable of deserving someone so pretty. What is your name? I heard them say family... are you really? I mean no offense, of course. It's just... you are so glamourous. I never thought... well... I mean... Is it not hard? Dealing with men like that... looking like you do? Do they not underestimate or berrate you?" The girl prattled on, still holding Beau's hand even after they sat down. 

"Isabeaux..." was all Beau managed to get in edgewise before Harvey cut the younger woman off. "Evelia!" He chastized, hand over the receiver as he awaited an answer on the other end, "They are here on business. And you have work to do." 

Beau tried to tell him it was okay, but the girl... looking devastated... scampered off down a dim hallway before she could. And the voice that crackled over the phone meant she'd have no more time to argue. It was down to business... at least for now. 

Thomas waved his fingers at Evelia with a smile. "I'm well," he chirped happily before the girl was taken with Beau. He chuckled, that certainly happened a LOT. However, as Harvey chastised the girl, then answered the phone, Thomas slid over to Beau and whispered into her ear.

"She can't be here... Her family doesn't know of her existence, and it's perhaps better that way... They aren't... No-Maj's... Like Quinn. However, there's a chance that Evelia is like Sullivan, and also not magical."

He leaned away from her and smiled as Harvey spoke on the phone.

"Yes, the Black manor in the Manhattan district, please..."

Harvey leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, waiting. Everyone waited quietly and patiently... Finally, Harvey sat up and started talking.

"Heya Christian. How are ya?"

...

"Yeah, it's been a while. Business is good, huh?"

...

"Yeah, I know you can't really talk about that, but..."

...

"Well, no, but..."

...

"Dammit Christian, ya got people in Seattle throwin' Messina and Black around like it's candy. Is it you?"

...

"Y-yeah... Sorry."

...

"Uh-huh."

...

"Right."

...

"Okay."

...

"Good, I'll have our men wait for him at the airport. You said tomorrow?"

...

"Alright, sounds good."

...

"Love you too kid. Bye."

Harvey hung up the phone and sighed. "Hiram's coming tomorrow... He'll snuff it out, but Tommy?"

Thomas looked at Harvey and nodded. "I know. Hiram can be dangerous. I get it. Is he coming here, or should I plan for him to reside at the Ministry with me?"

Harvey chuckled and pointed at Thomas. "He can't stay here, kiddo... His kind? He'll go nuts in a dead house. He needs to be with your kind where he's safe, and so is everyone else."

"I can come if ya need, Tommy." Jimmy added and smiled.

"You know you can't, Eddie... I wish you could, but, you can't. You know too much as is, and you know the Congress isn't keen on you No-Maj's knowing what's really goin' on."

"Yeah, yeah... Damn Congress always ruining shit." Jimmy laughed and shrugged. "Oh well. Tell Hiram I said hey."

"I'm sure you'll still be dealing with him, Jimmy. You're our eyes out here. So get movin'."

Jimmy hopped up with a nod. "You got it, Tommy. Anything the Q-Balls can do for ya, you got it."

Everyone paused and looked at Jimmy, but it was Thomas who opened the can of worms...

"Q-Balls? Fuckin' really?" Thomas spat with a venomous laugh.

"'EY! We're still workin' on it, alright? ALRIGHT! Gimme somethin' better an' I'll take it to tha boys, eh?"

Thomas looked at Beau and Harvey, then they all started laughing, Jimmy included.

"It is kinna bad, ain't it?" Jimmy coughed out. "C'mon, gimme somethin' to counter that name with!"

He looked at everyone laughing, then stopped on Beau.

Beau eyed him for a moment, lips pursed as she sized him up. "Drop the 'the' shit. It's a gang... a family... a singular unit. Give it an identity and personality of it's own. Make it a proper noun. Autonomous. Call it..." she trailed off a minute, her gaze tracing the lines on Harvey's face as she thought. "QUINtessence." 

Beau spread her hands in the air as she smiled haughtily, "Prime Tommy enough and you could make it a REAL club, too." She chuckled, "Hell, I can even getcha girls." 

Maybe it was shit... but it was better shit than "Q-balls". Beau, chewing her bottom lip, glanced at Thomas seeking approval... as her face slackened under a sudden epiphany. "Tommy... we can find out!" Beau nearly squealed as she lunged for her partner's hand. "I can find out!" 

Of course, unless there was a legilimense in the room, no one would have followed her train of thought.

Thomas shook his head, "Quintessence does have a certain, ring to it, ole chap." He chuckled at the joke, and winked at James who rolled his eyes but nodded. "I actually kinda like that. Maybe I will have the guys open up a place at some point."

Jimmy hopped up and took off from the funeral home, locking the door behind him, as Beau became spastic with her theatrics and excitedly calling out, "We can find out! I can find out!"

Thomas eyed her, as did Harvey... "What are you going on about child?" the older man pressed, and Thomas chuckled.

"I don't read minds, Beau. You could find out what?"

Beau blinked, the realization that no one had followed her dawning with a blush. "Eve," she said heavy with meaning as she met Thomas' gaze. "If I... do my thing," she continued, shooting Harvey an apologetic look for beating around the bush... though she was sure he was used to it, "Then we'd have a pretty good idea if she is or isn't." 

Beau smiled sadly at Thomas, "Y'know... cuz I know what it's like not knowing." Turning back to Harvey she dipped her head, "That being if the two of you agreed, of course. No harm would come to the girl. It's just... a simple suggestion. That's all. How she reacts could tell us volumes. ... if you agreed..." 

Thomas shrugged.

"That's up to Harvey here... Regardless, we gotta get to the library, so perhaps another day we can see how it goes?"

He looked at Harvey and shrugged again, the man sitting there in thought.

"Ya know, there's something special about her. I don't doubt that... I don't doubt it at all. We'll see. Maybe another day though, she needs to finish her work and you have plans as Thomas said." Harvey smiled at Beau, "But I think I'd like to know, and it would excite the girl to know that magic is real."

Thomas nodded.

"Then it's settled. We'll come back after this Messina-Black nonsense is settled, and then we can sit with Eve."

Thomas smiled at Beau, "Sound good my love?"

Beau nodded, standing to shake Harvey's hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Quinn... and you children as well. I look forward to seeing you all again soon. In the meantime, do take care." Unlatching the door, Beau made her way out, allowing the men a bit of privacy to wrap up. As she slid into the back of the limo, she patted the driver on the shoulder... who started from his nap with a snore. 

"We're off to the library, love. Tommy should be out any minute now." 

"Yes, Ma'am, Ms. Duquette. Ready when you are," the man replied, righting his hat on his head. 

As Thomas slid into the backseat next to her, the car glided away from the curb... and on to the next phase of their adventure.