Marriage is Murder

Breakfast was good, and Brian had enjoyed his swim with Abbey. It seemed to start his day off in right. He realized that it was not just that he had gotten back to spending time in the gym first thing in the day but that Abbey had urged him to do it. He delighted in the fact that Abbey seemed to be taking after her parents in enjoying the idea of working out to start their day. It made him feel like he had done something right as a father.

"Brian, you owe me a shopping trip today," Kate said firmly.

"You really werent' serious about doing that, were you?" Brian laughed.

"I most certainly was. I expect you to go with me--right after breakfast. Do I look like I'm laughing?" she asked.

"I suggest you take her seriously," Robert looked at Brian. "She has errands she wants to run, and you have appointed yourself to take her."

"You are serious, aren't you? Brian said.

"She certainly is," Angus said. "Shall I get a set of keys for you?"

"Can I have a second cup of coffee before I go?" Brian asked.

"That depends on how long it takes you," Kate replied.

Steven on smelling breakfast was ready told Cassidy to go and eat he followed after putting the equipment back in its place. He sat next to Cassidy who screwed up her nose a little. " you smell like a sweaty horse" she said and Steven chuckled.

"What do you expect, we did just work out , I'll shower after breakfast , and you don't smell like a bed of roses ether " he said and she chuckled some what agreeing with him that they both smelt sweaty.

" ok ok we'll shower after breakfast " she said smiling " ow good idea I have to...um...get some undergarments " she whiskered the last part " mind if I tag along?" she asked Kate then smiled " promise no talk of weddings, I just need some new ones and I have been banned from talking about it." her cheeks blushed as she looked at Steven who nodded and continued to eat.

"Fine by me," Kate said. Then she looked at Robert. "You'd better remember your promise to me today too."

"What promise was that?" he asked, his face blank.

"You know exactly what promise," she scowled.

"Oh, you did mention something about something you wanted to do this evening, didn't you? What was it again?" he asked. She began twirling her finger his direction, and he noticed the napkins beginning to flutter a bit. He laughed. "Alright, alright," he gave in. "You made me promise to take you out for a dinner for two tonight under the stars. I do remember, Kate. And we'll go. Providing all is well here and that no one has any issue with our going."

"We can stay out of trouble that long, I think," Brian said "Go enjoy yourselves. There are a lot of beautiful places to go."

"I know. I checked that out a long time before we ever came here," Robert said.

"Do you think Khaat will be here for dinner tonight?" Angus asked.

"Probably," Robert said. "And if I know Michael, he may well stay for dinner and might even take over your kitchen for you."

"A night off? Oh darn," Angus laughed.

Cassidy looked at Kate and shook her head " nope no problems here " she said and Steven chuckled behind her then looked at Angus.

" ow a night off, what will you do " he said grinning jack chuckled too.

" just relax Angus enjoy it for once you work way too hard " jack said finishing his breakfast " besides its been far too long since you took a day off " Jess nodded a she stood up her cup of coffee reheated after going cold as she moved to the couch and sat down.

" yes, let some one else hold the fort for a change" she smiled and sipped her coffee.

"Actually," Angus said, "I was thinking of asking someone on a date."

"No," Brian said. "Abbey's too young." Angus hurled his napkin at Brian, who simply caught it and laughed. "I don't think I have ever heard you talk about going on a date. Anybody we know?"

"Do you really need to know?" Angus asked.

"No," Brian said. "Alright, ladies, you have ten minutes and then we're out of here."

"Go?" Abbey wanted to go too.

"You," Brian kissed her little cheek, "stay here with Grandpa and I'll bring you a treat." her little bottom lip stuck out and began to tremble.

"Daddy no go," she said, reaching for him. He picked her up out of her high chair and she hudddled tight to him. He began to just carry her and walk the floor, cuddling with her.

"She feels lost without Khaat," Kate said, "And with Brian going out too, its causing her to start that separation anxiety stuff that every other kid her age goes through."

"She'll be fine," Robert said. "She has to learn that Khaat and Brian will go out but they will also come back. Every kid goes through it. I'll be sure she isnt traumatized, I promise. Make your date plans, Angus. We'll manage somehow, I promise."

"Thank you, Robert," Angus smiled.

Steven looked stunned " wow, way to go Angus " he said and stood up to stand behind Cassidy smiling " well I'd just say don't so anything I wouldn't do " he said and jack chuckled. Jess smiled widely.

" you go an have fun on your date ignore these two " she said and smacked Jack on his chest lightly " I hope she appreciates what a catch she's getting" she said smiling softly to him.

" yeah I agree " said cassidy before she headed to quickly shower and dress to go shopping returning she wore alight chemise and her jeans and boots her wand down the side of the left one " well I'm ready" she said and walked over to Steven who handed her a muggle credit card.

" that's just in case, please don't go barking the bank" he said and chuckled as he kissed her and sighed again happy to have her in his life.

Brian got a set of keys to the smaller suv and when Abbey saw the car keys she began to cry, clinging tightly to Brian. Robert went over to her and simply took her from Brian and walked outside with her towards the beach and the water. Brian knew Robert was deliberately distracting her.

"I think we should go now while he's gone. I take it the rest of you can manage the kids?" he asked. He didn't realy give them time to respond. He escorted the ladies out to the car and took them to a very large multiple story mall filled with hundreds of stores.

"Shall I go with you or go do my own errands?" Brian asked, not wiling to reveal his own secrets.

"I think we all have separate errands," Kate said. "I suggest we start by synchronizing our watches and taking a bit of time for ourselves to do what we came here for and then if we want to just have some fun, we can meet back here and do just that. What do you both think?"

Steven chuckled and returned to his paper as Cassidy moved with them out to the car . In the mall she listened " yea I agree don't need you looking at my undergarments " she said and chuckled matching her watch with Kate's and Brian's before heading out to a garment shop she had seen with a nice light blue chemise hanging in the window. she moved inside and smiled as she moved to pick out a pink one with flowers on she took both to the counter along with other things and paid for them looking around she saw several othre shops and decided to look around one was a wedding shop but she rembered Stevens threat of poring cold water over her if she went near one and so turned towards a baby store. walking in she saw the cutest little pink baby dress and smiled she found matching shoes and bought it. Now she felt tired and headed for the nearest cafe grabbing a coffee as she sat waiting for the others.

Brian headed into a rather exclusive ladies boutique and bought Khaat several beautiful pieces of clothing. Things he knew she would dearly love. He fell in love with some white lace dresses and lace tops and a few beautiful chemise style nightgowns trimmed in lace. And then he found some jeans and some leggings he liked for her and bought them. From there he went to a jewelers and could not resist several special pieces for her. He also started some Christmas shopping.

Kate went to a shop to get a dress for the upcoming wedding. She didn't want anyone to see it. She had arranged for a new tux for Robert and it was to be sent any time. She found lovely dresses for her three granddaughters and two little baby tuxes for Robert Remus and Michael Brian. They were wonderful and done entirely in satin. She made sure she had five little pairs of shoes and all the trimmings. Then she had them put her purchases in plain shopping bags. In the mall's restroom, she shrank her packages and put them all into one white shopping bag.

She stopped at a jewelers too, and bought jewelry to go with her outfit and with Robert's tux and some pieces to go with Khaat's dress. She shrank them and added them to her bag.

She was coming out of the jewelers when she saw Brian coming out of a different baby store that she had not been in. She noticed he had one large shoping back that was jam packed full of litle boxes. Clearly he had been buying and shrinking and buying and shrinking. It made her laugh, pointing to his bag. He laughed, pointing to hers. They met midway.

"Did you get all you wanted?" she asked.

"No but I got all i needed," he replied. He checked his watch. "Cassidy is due back here any time now."

Cassidy looked around spotting Kate she stood up and began to move to them her arms holding three large bags a she moved past one man he stood up bumping her so she fell onto a step hitting her head but she got back up. " hay jackass watch it " she said feeling a bump start on her for head along with a head ache. The man turned and walked towards her " you knocked me over" she said squaring off to the man who after a moment surprised her.

" ow, I'm so sorry, forgive me " he said and picked up a bag for her . Cassidy took a step back and took the bag from him and she moved to Kate and Brian.

" wow some people still amaze me" she said taking a deep breath " not going to help my head ache much" she glanced at Kate " but it can wait no rush"