Finding Femininity

"Including..." Khaat said, pausing, "Wait for it." She waited a few seconds and then Dakota began to wail as well. "That. They want what they want when they want it. And I have what she wants." Khaat pointed to Dakota's juice bottle. "Abbey has some patience, Dakota has none whatsoever."

"I have been talking to Brian about soon making separate rooms for them," Khaat admitted. "So far they're still young enough its working out. But the day is going to come when Dakota is going to grate on Abbey's nerves. She really does need to be able to get away from her at some point or another."

She felt Brian's presence back in the house. "Brian's back," she said. "I' dont' know where he is, but he's back. Wherever he went, it didn't take long. " A few moments later, he came back downstairs.

"Sorry, All. Robert sent me to Paris momentarily. It couldnt' be helped," Brian said. "Everything ok?"

Steven nodded " yeah, total opasite in personalitys " he said " yeah they will soon john went into his own room at 18 months , he was a bit of a clinger " he said and smiled remebering " the first few nights were bad but he soon settled in to a routine" he said and sat back in his chair. He could not help remember how the hyears hand flown by til the day he recived his leter and he'd been so proud of him and yet alittle scared ltting him go out on his own but he knew he would be alright with Andrew at school . Now he ahd two more on the way both growing up together walking talking and going of to school at the same time but he was sure he was ready to cope again.

"Maybe I need to hire Rob's friend Chris to decorate like I did in Tuscany. They did a great job with the nursery in Tuscany. Maybe I ought to ask them to do a room for Dakota," Khaat said.

"We dont' need Rob for anything," Brian said, with just a tinge of bitterness to his voice.

"Now that's not like you," Khaat said. "When did Rob ever bother you?"

"When did he not? I tolerate him because unfortunately you two do share Abbey. That's all. He's still the same nice man who walked out on you the night you were having his child and never looked back."

"He was gone, really, a long time before that. Just about the time I got pregnant, actually, which was about as soon as we said I do. It was all stupid."

"So, no. You decorated Abbey's nursery yourself. I tolerated Chris at Tuscany because you asked me and because it was a vacation home. I don't want Rob Dent in this house or any of his buddies knowing how to get here. Thats my final word." He went to the kitchen. Khaat sighed heavily. In all the time she had lived here, he had never pulled the "MY house" card. He'd always seen it as their house. She was starting to worry about whether the recents that had happened in the last day or so had changed how he felt about her. Maybe it really was all over. She fell silent--full of guilt, feeling like perhaps if she asked nicely, Michael might take her in, in the cottage in Hogsmeade again. But she'd have to leave her children behind if she did. The truth was, since the last attack, Brian didn't seem, to her, to be seeing her in the same way. And it hurt.

jess sat listening to them both and sighed as she shook her head lightly at them she could not understand why she felt that way " Khaat don't think that way he still loves you deep inside " she said looking at her as she picked up a magazine as she opened it she smiled seeing a cute oufit she knew jacob would loe then she tured another page to fine a second cute dress " i realy need to do some clothes shoping for the twins they are growing so fast" she said hoping to steer the confersation and khaats thoughts away from Brian.

Khaat couldn't let it go. She got up, despite her painand went out to the kitchen.

"Do you want me here or not?" she asked him. He turned and looked at her blankly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Answer me," she said quietly. "Or do I need to look for another place?"

His eyes narrowed at her. "Stop running from me, Khaat. I"m not your enemy. I didn't assault you. No, I wasn't there in time to stop it, but...."

"Shut up!" she found herself shouting at him. She couldn't even think about it, much less talk about it anymore. She looked at him. "I'm going out." She apparated out quickly.

"Khaat!" Brian called uselessly after her. "Damnit! Again? Really?"

jess shook her head not realy knowing what she could do for her , she too had been abducted years ago yet khaat and her were two doferant people she took it and made herself stronger khaat seem to be pusing every one away from her who cared about her. she walked to the kitchen and saw no Khaat she sighed " gone again?" she said " I wish she would stop running " she said as she pored a cup of coffee for her self.

"Me too," Brian said quietly. "She is trying too hard to bounce back, and its not even been 24 hours. She really does need to give herself some time. She's not thinking the way I'd like her to. Its going to take time. I just need to find her now. I don't want her wandering around the planet in her mindframe. Any ideas where she would go? The last thing she mentioned was wondering if I still wanted her here or not. She's being ridiculous. She is understandably insecure. I just need to slow her down until her emotions straighten out. She is entitled to take a few days to do it."

jess sighed and nodded " yeah but i have no idea where she would go, her fathers farm or remuses grave or to work " she said as she picked up a cup and pored herself some tea. " i just feel I wish i could help her more than i am but jeffery told me i have to keep distant as it could trigger me again and i don't want that ever to happen " she headed back to the living room and sat down " she'll be back if you want to go looking i'll be happy to come with " she said

"No," he sighed. "There's no point. She's not thinking like she usually does. She won't go to any of those places. Don't ask me how I know that. I just do. No, we're helpless. All we can do is wait." He got out a piece of paper and wrote a note and sent it to Robert. "If anybody can find her right now, it will be either Robert or Kate. Until then, she's on her own."

Ten minutes later, Kate apparated in alone, dressed for work, in olive green slacks and a cahsmere v necked sweater in a vanilla color, with a brown jacket. "Robert sent me. Said my daughter left. Said you might need my help. So? Let's find her, shall we? Which one of you all pissed her off?"

jess looked at kate and sighed she didn't know what had set her off " kate i don't think any one of us did she's been " she saghed " off since she came back , im worried shes not coping as she wants to " she said softly as she accioed her jacket a deep red swade short jacket and slipped it on " ok where would she have gone to ?" she asked as she zipped it up and placed her hands deep in its pockets.