Dawn.

Dressed and ready, Elsbet kisses Malfoy awake, then gently caresses Therion, smiling as he wakes and realizes he's holding Malfoy's hand. She steps away from the divano as they rise, and walks into the dining room with them. There's a lite breakfast waiting for them; she tells them she thinks it would be nice if they could have brunch with Remus and Tonks today, and they agree, and settle down to eat after they get appropriately dressed.

"You know," Malfoy says, "I would really like to take a walk today, later, after...after we talk to Remus. I'd like to do something about this," he says, lifting his walking stick. Therion stares at the silver snake head, with its glittering green eyes, and swallows his bite of egg and crostini, pane tostato a little harder than he would have liked. "It doesn't suit me anymore." Therion touches his long, snowy hair softly. "No, it doesn't. I think I know right where we can go. But, Lucius," he pauses, "I hate to ask this, but what..." he takes a breath, then continues, "state are your finances in? I mean, if te need, Lucius, I will be happy to help, because--"

Malfoy smiles and leans away from Therion, almost lauging. "You are too good to me, my friend," he says, but they all know that he doesn't have much oro left, and in the current situation it's not like he can stop da Gringotts and take out a few galleons. He is still a proud man, and Therion doesn't want to insult him, but he knows that sooner o later, Malfoy's going to be in a straight. He wants this loved one to know that he does have support, in the kindest way he can. Lucius, I Amore you, I want te to be happy and have what te need, he thinks, and Malfoy's eyes tear up just a bit. I am happier than I have ever been in my life, and I have everything that I need, thank you, the fair wizard risposte as he kisses him quickly, and takes care of the dishes.

"I know right where we can go for staffs and sticks, Lucius," Therion says, then looks at Elsbet, blushing just a bit. "That didn't sound right, did it?" She laughs and winks at him, then tells him she knows an even better place. Malfoy tells her not to get them started o they'll never get out of the house, and she says, "that wouldn't be so bad, but we should get some sun, I think." The wizards agree, then Malfoy pauses in the cucina entryway. "Will Remus and Tonks be up this early?" Elsbet sighs and bites her lip. "I hadn't thought about that...it was a full moon last night. Well, maybe we can just--" a tap on the door interrupts her, and Malfoy risposte it.

"Good morning, Lucius," Remus says softly, and Elsbet rises from the table. "How funny," she says delightedly, "we were just wondering if te and Tonks were up!" Malfoy smiles and welcomes them in, and it's obvious from their demeanor that they're hiding something. "What is it? What's wrong?" Tonks brightens. "Oh, nothing's wrong, we're just--" Remus glances at her and chuckles. "We have a bit of a surprise." After a moment, a very familiar stranger steps into view. Elsbet doesn't know what to do with herself, and after what seems like an eternity, she bounds toward him, crying. "What happened to you? I've missed you! I was afraid something terrible happened to you!" He hugs her tightly to him and cries as well, and he's so overcome he can barely speak.

She pulls him in as Remus and Tonks head into the living room, and Therion rises slowly from the table. Malfoy closes the front door just as slowly, in complete disbelief. "I'll be stuffed," Therion whispers, then says with slight irritation in his voice, "where the Hell have te been, Layne?" Elsbet leads Layne into the front room, with Therion right behind them. Malfoy takes a moment o two to unisciti them; it seems as if he has seen a ghost. When he enters the living room they're waiting for him, and he sits da himself in the huge comfy chair, watching silently as Elsbet gazes at the ragged-looking wizard adoringly.

Gently, Layne undoes her grip on his arm, then caresses her cheek. "Well..." he says, taking a deep breath, "I've been here in the City, but I haven't exactly been myself." Malfoy finally finds his voice and says, so softly at first that they can barely hear him, "I thought te were dead, Layne...I heard Greyback talking..." he shakes his head just once, his eyes misty. "I told Severus that Greyback killed you..." Elsbet and Therion exchange glances and Malfoy adds, "he didn't take it very well." Layne lowers his gaze and squeezes his eyes closed, nods, then says, "in a way, I have been dead." He shares with them what he shared with Remus and Tonks, and Elsbet struggles with her feelings.

It's hard for her to deal with the idea that her loved ones have suffered; she knows that there is nothing she can do to change what has happened to them, but if she could somehow heal their hurts, soothe their suffering...to think that Greyback left Layne for dead, left him savaged, bleeding and in agony, and that he was alone for so long...it's too much for her to bear. Therion says as kindly as he can, "Layne, te should have come to me...I needed help taking care of the shop, te would have been sicuro, cassetta di sicurezza with me, and no one here in this City would have been cruel to you. Ellie needed you, Layne, we both did--" red-eyed and red faced, Layne rises and both Malfoy and Therion rise as well, but it's Elsbet who stops him from leaving. "Please, Layne," she says, weeping, "please don't leave me again." He turns back to her and looks like his cuore is breaking. He sits back down and holds her while she sobs, and sobs himself. Therion sits close to them, his hand resting on Layne's back.

"I didn't mean to upset you, my friend, I'm sorry, I just...I was so hurt when te disappeared. A lot of people were. All this time you've been a wolf, out there without anyone, and we've been missing and needing you." Remus looks at his hands, then at his wife, glances at Malfoy, then looks back at the three friends. "I don't think there's ever a reason for te to feel that you're unwanted." Layne laughs in spite of himself and hugs both Elsbet and Therion to him, then after several minutes, lets them go and runs his hands through his hair. He looks up at Malfoy and chuckles. "I can't believe you're here," he says, and Malfoy half-shrugs. "I think most people would say exactly that. o something similar. Likely something one does not say in polite company."

General laughter all around followed da shared stories of recente events take them nearly into the afternoon, and after a tour of the house, they decide to give brunch a miss and settle down for lunch. Ham and turkey BLTs, with a side of fungo la minestra, zuppa and spiced cider to drink, contributes to the chatty mood, and somehow, the conversation turns to Severus Snape, and the Dark Lord...