I woke with an idea. “Magnus?”

He grumbled awake, smacking his lips, face pressed into the pillow. He was sleeping on his front to protect his wounded back. He immediately slid closer and put an arm across my stomach.

“Magnus, I have an idea.”

“Umhmmm.”

“Magnus, what if I went with you—"

His eyes opened, focused, sharp.

“Hear me out — I could help. If you found the vessels, or clues, or needed to figure something out — I could help. Plus I can train. Quentin is buying swords and knives for you today. We could start training me, and then I could —“

He raised up over me to a sitting position. “No Kaitlyn. You canna come. You daena know what ye are saying, tis dangerous. Verra dangerous. Ye canna.”

“But by yourself it’s more dangerous, with the two of us—“

“I daena know if ye can journey tae my time. What if tis impossible? What if ye are lost forever?”

“I don’t think — I think I could…”

“I canna risk it. I have come forward, but dinna ken if ye can go back. I winna risk your life. And if—“

“Your father gave those boxes to your mother. I established last night that he went back in time.”

He pushed his hand through his hair. “You dinna ken how he accomplished this magic. He may have done the work differently. I canna risk it. And when ye are back in my time — you daena understand how different it is there. I would have tae protect ye. You would be as a child.”

“It would be better than waiting.”

“It winna be better. I can think of a hundred ways ye could die, just sitting here, and I haena gotten started with the thinking of it.”

But you don’t have to sit here waiting — not knowing if someone I love is dead or alive.”

“Och aye, you are right. But I have tae leave ye. Tis many times harder.”

“But—“

“Please, Kaitlyn, I canna argue with ye about it, please.”

Those blasted tears welled up again. My throat grew tight. It had all seemed so sensible when I was lying there, waking up, but now… “Okay, fine.”

He tried to make it up to me by saying the stupidest thing ever. “Would you want a party?”

I cut my eyes at him. “No, not, I’m not in a party mood at all.”

“Och aye.” He put his elbows on his knees. “I thought perhaps a party might be a good idea. I am only just here for a short time and—“

“Oh, I thought you were suggesting it for me.”

“I would like tae see ye happy, mo reul-iuil. And I would like tae do something besides worry. Being home again feels like a thing tae celebrate.”

I climbed up and held on around his shoulders, mindful of his back. “Of course, let’s throw a party.”

He patted the back of my arm. “Thank ye.”

“You’re welcome. And I’m sorry about the rollercoaster of emotions I’m on. It’s hard to talk about you leaving when you’re only just now home and…”

“I feel much the same way, the exception being I haena idea what that is.”

“Rollercoaster?”

He nodded.

“Oh man, that’s going on the list of things I need to introduce you to. Imagine this — a manmade contraption, steep hills and valleys, and a small cart that shoots around it on a track.”

“And people go inside this cart?”

“Oh do they, they pay top dollar to strap themselves inside and go at high speeds, sometimes they are upside down.”

“I believe you are making this up.”

“I’m not, it’s fun. Really, really, really fun. I’ll take you someday.”

One of his bandages had peeled up. I pulled a corner and checked the wound under it. It looked better, less oozy, though it wasn’t one of the deepest. Those were through the middle. This mark crossed his shoulder, and I could already tell it would leave a nasty scar. Thick and raised.

“When you return. When you’ve secured all the horcruxes, or whatever, and your life is less exciting. We can look for our thrills elsewhere; I’ll take you to Disney World and Universal studios. Maybe Cape Canaveral too. Want to see rocket ships?” I opened the box of bandages and tape that sat on the nightstand.

“Rockets tae go up into the air? You arna planning tae strap me inside one?”

“God no, but yes, to a rollercoaster. I’m going to strap you into one.”

“You will be right next tae me?”

“Yep, listening to ya scream like a baby.”

I patted the bandage down and kissed his shoulder. “Perfect.”

“I was also thinking I would like some new clothes.”

I climbed off the bed and stood in front of him hands on my hips. “New kilts? Emma had to get those special ordered. They wouldn’t be here by the party.”

“Nae, new clothes such as Master Cook wears or Master Peters.”

“Yes! Oh yes! But not like James; he wears pink golf shirts. Okay, awesome, new clothes and a party!” I spun out of the room for the bathroom and raced back. “Want to join me?”

“You ken the answer is aye, but with my bandages my showers need tae be more careful.”

“I’ll keep it running for you when I’m done.”