The Ties That Bind

"I'm sorry to hear that," Khaat said. "Take all the time you need, of course." She looked at the apparent lack of emotion from Cassidy and figured there wasn't a good relationship between them. It certainly did not appear that there was any great love loss between them.

"Just stay in touch with us and let us know if we can do anything," Brian said. "If you need someone to help you portkey back, just say so. One of us will be take you back. I want you to be sure to get there safely and smoothly. I know you're getting better at that, but stress can make us not really concentrate on portkeying."

"Do you need help packing?" Angus asked her.

Steven stood listening and looked at cassidy who sat with the letter in her hand , he knew how it felt to have that leter come threw he'd had one when his freind had been murderd all those years ago " yeah, were here if you need us " he said and placed his hand on her shoulder reasuringly to her. He would put out the word so that who ever had killed her father would be found and delt with but he could see by the look on her face she realy didn't care that much.

" I guess your not cut up about it ?" he asked softly to her as she stood up and shook her head .

" no , im not it actually feels like pay back " she loked at Khaat and Brian " I would apreciate it please , I don't think i could get from here to acros the room with out reapearing , im just sorry i can't stay for Angus's meal tonight but I should go" she smiled at Angus " I didn't come with much remeber " she said accioing her back pack to her hand as she looked at them all " Brian once this is all over and sorted would you mind if I come back " her face blank only a small corner of her mouth turned up as she faced him to show she smiled.

"Certainly," Brian said. "You're always welcome. Take care of first things first, that's all. You know where to find us."

Robert came in from the barn. He had not been able to overdo himself like he had wanted to and enjoyed doing. He saw Cassidy packed to go.

"Bad new from home for Cassidy, Daddy," Khaat said. "Would you please escort her home?"

"Certainly," Robert said. "Let me wash up and we'll go." He disappeared long enough to wash his face and hands and refresh himself so he looked more presentable. Then he returned. "I'll put you on leave until you decide you can come back. Just stay in touch with me so I have some idea how long you will be gone."

She looked at Brian. He hesitated and then he nodded. "Daddy," Khaat said softly,"When you go back, please, bring the girls?"

"Now thats the best news I've heard all day," Robert beamed. "Can I bring your mother?"

"Of course," Khaat laughed.

"Then I"ll be back shortly," Robert said. "Cassidy? Shall we go?" He reached for her hand with his good hand.

sSeven smiled at Khaats sujestion of bringing the girls " ow no , more hunt the babies " he said and groaned " pull out all the couches hide the kibble " he said and chuckled seeing cassidy chuckle too " see ya cassie " he said and moved to lean on the balcony rail smiling at her.

Cassidy looked at Robert and nodded as she waited for him to return ." that sounds a good idea Khaat they will love the fresh air here " she said then stood walking to Robert she looked at them all and took his hand " you should know Robert , my father was murdered " she said looking at him her face showing no love lose on her part " I hold no love lose with that man" she said and waited for him to port her home and to Clay's waiting arms.

Jack looked at Cassidy and then at jess holding her closer to him " she'll get over it " he said and smiled kissing Jess's head as she lent on him " so Angus what you griling , Im starved ?" he said earning a dig from jess.

" is that all you think with you belly " she asked chukaling as he hugged him " angus i would love to keep helping you in the kitchen thats if you want me too?" she asked him.

"Brian is one of the first to understand that," Robert said to Cassidy. "He learned really early that blood family doesn't mean a whole lot. Its where your heart is that counts. Let's go." He apparated her home and landed them smoothly on her doorstep. "Let us know if there is something we can do," he said to her, letting go of her hand. "Take care," he smiled. He didn't plan on saying goodbye because this was so temporary. He waved his hand and was gone--heading home to get Khaat, the girls, Kate and probably Max and Mo. It was getting hard to leave them behind when the girls were involved.


"I've missed them," Khaat said to Steven. "I've even missed crawling behind the sofas...."

"Behind the sofas?" Kieran asked, coming downstairs.

"Daddy went home--to get my mother and our children. And to take Cassidy home. She had a family emergency."

"Sorry to hear that," he said, "But did you mean it? I'll get to see my...wait...nieces, nephews, what?"

"Nieces," Khaat said.

"You're...going to trust me with them?" Kieran asked. He didn't expect the bodyguards to trust him, but Khaat? She was going to trust him.

"Yes," she said boldly. "I am." He frowned, not understanding her. He went outside, sat down on the picnic table in the yard and lit up a cigarette, far from the house.

"Brian?" Khaat asked.

"He's okay. You're just getting to him. Hes not used to anyone being decent to him--including me," Brian replied.

steven smiled and chuckled " ok i'll have to rember to get knee pads for all the crawling " he said and smiled he acttualy loved abby and dakota as if they were his own. he chuckled still thinking of the fun they would bring " it will be great having them here khaat " he said and sat down he listened to Khaat and Brain over keiran and loke at him sat smoking away from the house . standing he walked over to him " hey " he said and sat down " you know those things wil kill you" he said " guiess its beter than being kicked by a hourse " he said trying hard to not say something he could feel ofended by as he wan ted to try and get along with him. " look i just wanted to thank you for what you did for Khaat in the barn , I know we probably won't see eye to eye but we can at least try and get along " he said and folded his arms across his chest looking at him.

"I'm sitting here wondering why I like her," Kieran said quietly, looking out over the grounds. "She could have had Brian kick my ass to the curb, but it seems she has actually stood up for me. Nobody's done that...well, lets just say..its been a long time." He wanted to say it had been since his mother died. Almost 25 years ago.

"She's messing with my head," Kieran said softly. "First, I think she's some harlot he brought with him for company. Then I find out its little Khaaty. The last I saw her, she was about knee high, in little pink shorts, some little printed top, and pink flowered flipflops, with her hair in pigtails and freckles across her nose. She certainly has become a gorgeous woman. Truly, if I had to admit it, she's probably one of the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Its hard to imagine that she came from Robert. If it werent' that she has that trademark Lupin chestnut colored hair, then I might not believe it. Its hard to see what she sees in my brother, but then again, I'm no prize either. Not really. I get my share of beautiful women, but they're not like her.

"But I..I don't know. The night Robert was shot, I saw her, in the wee hours of the morning, sitting on the floor beside his bed. She had fallen asleep, and I could see the fatigue on her face--and the worry and the blame and all the rest of it. And she was shivering in her sleep. I...I couldn't help myself. All I did was put a blanket around her, and it woke her up. And, well, all we did was talk. Its the first time anybody's been nice to me. Its hard to give out niceness and civility when not a single sole gives you anything back but hostility, no matter how hard you do try. I'm not saying I'm a decent person. Lord knows I'm not. But--to see the next generation of Quinns? And that she trusts me? It means a lot, but its alos scary as hell. Why the hell should she trust me whatsoever?" He sighed and took another lazy drag off his cigarette.

Steven sat listening to him and nodded " its because she dosn't judge by the cover but looks deeper , she did that for you coz she saw you can be a nice guy when you want to be " he didn't like how keriean spoke about Khaat but said nothing as he continued talking " yeah you'll love them , abbys cute , dakotas more of a thrower she throws anything and she hits too " he chuckled " just give us a chance and we'll give you a chance , its abit of give and take , just don't take nad take it won't work " he said shifting where he sat. He looked at him " you know Angus is griling and he dose a mean grill , so far hes the best I have found , ow and take no notice of Cassidy shes kinda got her own issuses right now " he said smiling " besides shes had to go home " he slid from his seat and stood waiting " you coming for some grub ?" he asked.

"Yeah. I guess," Kieran said. He put the rest of his cigarette out and followed Steven back into the house. Just about then, Robert arrived. He had Abbey on his good arm, and he had a large carry on bag hanging on his shoulder, and a cat carrier with a shoulder strap hanging from the same shoulder. Kate was with him, carrying Dakota. She had a large shoulder bag too and a cat carrier with a shoulder strap.

Tears came to Khaat's eyes the moment she laid her eyes on her girls. She was deeply relieved. It was like a part of her that was empty was filled. She got up and went over to them, kissed her mother on the cheek, kissed Dakota, and took Abbey from her father. Abbey immediately cuddled right into Khaat's neck as if it was the one place she belonged.

Brian saw Dakota, and his face lit up. "There's my girl!" he said.

"Da Da! Da Da DaDa..." Dakota tried to lunge from Kate's arms, reaching for Brian with both arms. He laughed and took her from Kate, lifing Dakota up high in the air over his head as she squealed in delight and laughed.

"They have so missed you," Kate said. "They know the idffference now when you're there and when you're not. And they have missed you both so much."

"And we've missed them," Khaat said.

"They are getting very hard to carry with one arm now," Robert laughed, trying to rotate a pain out of his good shoulder from carrying Abbey. Kieran watched the scene closely. He looked at the girls and how they were so completely devoted to Khaat and Brian both. He looked at Dakota's reddish chestnut hair and Abbey's blond hair and wondered how the two could be twins when they almost could look no different from one another, but he said nothing. His baby brother had children. It was not any easier to wrap his mind around it now with the babies in the same room.

Steven chuckled as he watched the scene feeling he'd be the same with his twins at that age and saw the look on keirtans face " fracternal twins don't look the saem " he said softly and moved to Kate "see you again kate " he said taking a cat carrier and placing it on the floor " and you too mo or are you max ?" he asked and a paw flew out " ok max , good to see you too." he chuckled and opened the door watching the cat walk out and streach its back as he placed the carrier into the closet then took Roberts and did the same relising Mo .