Atticus couldn't remember the last time he had seen someone start baking so much. For a moment, he was sure he never had, but he couldn't even be sure anymore. It was like as soon as one batch of muffins was done, another was going in the oven and these weren't small batches either. She would likely be able to gift muffins to everyone in the castle at the rate she was going. Still, once the blueberry muffins had come out of the oven, he saw her slide on in front of him after buttering the top and he smiled. "Thank you." he said, and he ate his breakfast before he got up and went into the bathroom. It was still pretty early, but he wanted to have gone to the castle and gotten back before Kat woke up so she wouldn't be onto him.

He got dressed and came out in a pair of jeans and t-shirt, pulling on his hoody as he re-entered the kitchen. "Do you need me to get anything else while I'm over there?" he asked Lia who was putting mixing another batch of batter before she nodded. She set down the bowl and the spoon she was using to mix before she took up the list and scribbled down a few things. 

"If you just hand it to them, they'll fill the basket for you. At least that's what Mitch usually does." she said, and he noted a soft look to her face before he took the list and her basket before heading out on the porch. He put on his shoes, noticing the light was starting to come through, but the clouds were remaining. It was chilly, and he was glad he had pulled on his hoody before he had gone outside. The walk to the castle was nice, the air feeling good on his face, and he headed into the kitchens once he got there, but he stopped upon seeing Cass and Elder Dana and he leaned back against the wall.

"Thanks, Dana. I'm hopin' that Helena and Luke will be here a few days 'fore the ball. I know Check would be delighted." Cass said, and Dana's voice came.

"Plus, it would be nice if Helena and Luke could meet the witches too. I don't even think they've met Mitch or Atticus. I know Luke will likely take to Mitchell, solely for the fact that Issack speaks so..." Dana was trying to place a word.

"Issack can remove his head from his ass and still sound like an asshole, Dana." Cass said. "'Sides, he's biased. An' he says one more bad thing 'bout witches, I know Check is gonna snap."

Dana sighed, "Yes, but they've been discussing some kind of business. You know how Checkov is with his business. He might not appreciate Issack's opinions on Ophelia and Kathleen, but he's handling them."

Cass's voice came a bit harsh. "Yeah, well, given Issack's history with witches... I'm shocked he ain't been burned yet. Leavin' Sanctuary and New Salem in that mess. If they'd have been a little closer to my borders..."

Atticus finally bounded the corner, and he smiled to them. "Morning, ladies."

"My, my, mornin' yourself." Cass gave a smile, though Atticus could still see a bit of red in her eyes. "And where are your lovely ladies? And Mitchell? I'm to be heading off at sundown."

"Mostly still sleeping, just came here on an errand for Lia." Atticus said, and Dana chuckled.

"Kitchen duty? Come on, let's get you set up." Dana chuckled and soon he was being brought into the kitchens with Dana and Cass and he watched them take the list and fill the basket, even putting in a few extra things. "You be sure to let Lia know I put this in here." Dana said, slipping in a bottle of red wine.

"You're hor'ble!" Cass laughed as she rummaged through a few cabinets. "Aha!" she proclaimed and she placed a bag of graham crackers in the basket as well. "Ask her to make her s'mores pie. It is absolutely amazin!"

Atticus just nodded and was soon shooed out of the kitchen as the cooks came in and he just shook his head and laughed a bit. He looked to his watch. Damn! It was already almost 7:30! He headed back to the cottage and noted the sun finally coming through. He took in a deep breath and when he got back he noticed Lia was making yet another round of batter and there was a bunch of muffins already on counter and table. He began putting up the things in the basket before he held up the bottle of wine. "Elder Dana said to let you know she put that in there for you." Atticus said to Lia who looked up and just shook her head a little.

"Leave it to her... Put it in the fridge please?" she said, and Atticus did so as he continued to put up the things and he saw Lia go over to what was left in the basket. "Graham crackers?"

"Cassandra said you needed to make s'mores pie." he said, and Lia just shook her head some more.

"Okay, I will later. I think Mitch ate half of the last one I made though, so if you actually want any, you have to get to it before he does." she said, and he Atticus nodded.

"Like with peanut butter cookies." He half laughed before he sat back down and soon Kat joined them as Lia put another batch of muffins into the oven. Atticus was a little surprised to see Kat just walk over and hug Lia like it was nothing, and then even more surprised to see that Lia hugged her back.

"Good morning." she said, and she gave Kat a gentle squeeze in return before watching as she took a muffin and sat with Atticus. "I've got chocolate chip in there now. If you want I'll make something else for breakfast. And I'm sorry, but we won't be having lessons today. I'm not exactly feeling up for it." Lia told her as she pulled out another mug and began making another pot of coffee. "But, it shouldn't be rainy today, so if you wanted to practice a bit more, the garden is there for you to practice what we covered yesterday." 

She let out a quiet yawn and pulled her robe closer around her, a shiver running up her spine as she set the timer and began washing the dishes she had made. She would need more mixing bowls clean if she was going to be baking more things. She would probably make some more brownies, and she said that later she would make that pie... Not to mention she still had to find something to make them for dinner. But at least she was keeping her mind busy, and she was sure that the amount of food in the house wouldn't be minded, especially with Mitch and Atticus staying over for a bit. 

Atticus turned his head to Kat and gave her a soft smile. "You were really tired, Kat. I can always tell it to you later if you want me to." He got up and he started a pot for tea before looking over at Kat. "And, if you want to go outside today, it's a little bit cooler than yesterday." he said, and once the tea was done he made himself a cup and sat back in his spot, taking another muffin when he did. He looked to his watch again and then at Lia. "Where's Mitch? I thought he'd be up by now."

Lia looked up from her dishes and then at the stairs. "Probably still sleeping. He should be getting up soon. He hasn't slept past nine but a few times in the last 45 years. Checkov said before he was assigned to my guard detail he could sleep well into the afternoon."

Atticus gave a chuckle. "I don't blame him though."

Lia gave a shrug. "I've always been one to get up early. After I got moved here, after about the third or fourth month, I got used to his routine and I started having him at least coffee ready. Always insisted I didn't need to make him anything else, I did anyway, I don't like cooking for just myself." Atticus watched her pour the coffee into the mug and set it where Mitch usually sat along with a muffin.

He leaned over to Kat and whispered. "I swear this is going to be the weirdest thing I've ever seen if she's right about this."