Marriage is Murder

Jess watched Brian and saw the changed she gasped " ow my very fetching" she said and laughed Jack saw and pointed Andrew to see both laughed " uncle Brian funny shorts " said Andrew as he now clung to Jack in the water.

" ow boy don't... and you went there, now your for it Angus" Jack said laughing again " you'd better watch your back mate" he continued to teach Andrew how to swim that was till Jess slipped in along side him and he slipped an arm around her gently coxing her to them as they floated in the water Andrew moved to Jess and held tight leaving Jack to moved to kiss her gently making Andrew make funny noises as they did.

Brian ignored Andrew. Andrew hadn't typically been rude about his parents' behaviors but he was being rude lately. Brian just figured he was going through a phase. He worked on teaching Abbey and Dakota swimming. He love children, but he didnt like rudeness. Brian didn't find it funny, especially in light of how they all, as adults, put their lives on the line daily to protect the ones they loved. He knew Andrew didnt understand that, but Jack and Jess had the right to enjoy each other's company. Dakota didn't seem to like the water and didn't stay long. She got out and went in the house. Abbey just had no intention of ever getting out of the water--ever. Brian concentrated on her, and he was able to teach her several different strokes and ways to keep herself safe in the water.

Dakota, in the meantime, went inside and to Angus. She used her little baby words telling him she wanted to play. He got out some pots and pans and a couple of wooden spoons and put them on the floor. She sat down and began just banging on the pots and pans. Khaat looked up at the new din in the house, and she just shook her head.

Andrew looked up and moved from Jack climbing out of the pool and running into the house to sit and watched Dakota playing with the posts and pans. Jess chuckled but staid with Jack in the water " he'll get over it " she said softly and saw Cassidy with Steven she lent against him , Steven's arms around her waist as they enjoyed each other once again this made Jess smile. It was then Andrew walked back out and sat on the edge of the pool feeling some what frustrated he threw a ball into the water splashing Jack.

" hay Andrew, that's not nice some one could get hurt " he said but Andrew pouted as he looked at the adults.

Robert went over and sat with Khaat. "Do you know how fortunate all these kids are?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Most kids are lucky if they have two parents to get through life with. Your girls didn't start with two reliable parents, but they have scads of parents now. They have grown up in a whole world full of adults and they are comfortable going to any one of us. They dont have any doubt that they are loved. They just know. They've known from the start that they're loved. That makes them in a wonderful minority."

Brian watched Abbey dive deeply to the bottom of the deep end of the pool. He just automatcally followed her. She seemed to be all caught up exploring the bottom, but seemed to not realize she needed to come up for air. She tried to breathe in and started to get herself into trouble. Brian realized she was going to drown without his help. He swept a strong arm around her and pushed back up to the surface. When they broke up above the surface, she started to cought and wail and cry, upset. Brian wrapped her in his arms and held her close, comforting her.

Jack climbed out ad moved to Andrew " whats got you in a mood?" he asked but Andrew ran back inside to his room and sat on his bed. Jack looked at Kate confused.

"Whats wrong with him?" he asked as Jess joined him placing her hand on his shoulder. " Let him be, hes probably a little confused at lots gone on" she said " let me talk to him" she moved inside to Andrews room. " hey whats up" she asked and sat down on the bed next to him. Andrew turned his back to her " Andrew angry. " he said simply his arms folded across his chest. Jack sat on the lounger and sighed.

" I hope this phase passes soon " he said to Kate.

Khaat had seen the scene unfold where Brian had rescued Abbey. Khaat was learning that the labraodr urge in Abbey was going to be hard for Abbey to overcome. She was glad that Brian had been there to take care of her. When they were done swimming, Brian sent Abbey inside and Kate took her to get some dry clothes on. Brian went for a swim by himself until he felt refreshed.

By the time Brian got back in, Khaat had dozed off with a cup of coffee growing cold beside her. He said nothing. He was relieved that she was resting.

He found himself being fascinated again by the large ring and all the different colored stones. He sat and worked with it awhile, still frustrated it wasn't finished and that he didn't know what it was for or what it did. He sat with each stone, one at a time, trying to put it into the right place and only knowing if the stone glowed when it was in the right spot.

Cassidy moved out of the pool and inside transfiguring her clothes so she wore a pair of loose slakes and a tee shirt she moved to grab a book and sit down to read. Steven moved out and changed too he stood at the main doors " hum not seen you read before " he said and cassidy looked up over the book.

" well you should try it your self some time its enlightening what you can find out from them" she said and looked back at her book with a smirk as she heard him walk over to her. she saw his hand pull it down and she looked at him " hum maybe I will" he said and she smirked at him. After a moment she closed the book and looked at Robert and Kate out side. " I just wish I could find out his next move that way we'd be ready for them but I know its a big risk" she said sitting back " James actions are so unfair on Jack , hes got to see his family all evil like , but also know he was left at his mothers command " she chuckled " I know how that feels " she said and watched him sit down.

Khaat got bored sitting and soon dozed off. She saw herself dressed in some odd black dress, working for James. She had turned all her good magic to dark arts. She had tossed out all of what she believed in. She woke with a jolt.

"Bad dream? her father looked at her. She sat and saw she was still in the safehouse. Nothing had apparently changed or gone wrong.

"I..guess," she said. "Daddy, can we get Lee to check the American government records about James? Can we see if there are any sort of docments that tell us what his skills are? Or any of the rest of his crew?"

"well certainly we could do that," Robert said, "but there is no way of us knowing that we have the complete information. What are we lookin for?"

"Mind control skills," she said. "Potions skills."

"Just what exactly were you dreaming?" Robert frowned.

"I saw myself changing sides to the dark arts," she said. He laughed.

"There is just not a snowball's chance of something like that happening," he laughed. "I wouldn't give that one instant of thought."

Jack caught Khaat's words and a cold chill ran down his spine as he walked passed he glanced at Robert but said nothing , he had seen his mother mixing potions one day when he'd come to pick up the children. he sat at the bar on the other side of the pool poring out some fruit juice and drinking hoping he could clear his head a little to try and remember anything about his brother yet all he could think of was that dark cold night he was lead out into the forest and left. He sat alone on a tree crying as his mother walked away then it happened as if a wild animal attacked he felt cold claws run down his back the heat of the cuts burning into his small frame as he was flung first one way then the next against trees. soon he saw himself laid on the ground as small boy um moving yet shivering his back bloodied. He threw the glass against the wall and looked around but soon took control of his emotions again.

When the day started to fade, hours later and it started to get dark, Khaat suddenly felt a lot more uneasy. She changed into black jeans, black boots, tucking a wand in each boot and a plain black cotton shirt. She wasn't sure why she was gearing up, but she just felt like she was compelled to do it.

When Brian saw her changing, he didn't ask. He just followed suit and changed, readying himself. If it turned out to be nothing then he had merely changed his clothes. But he knew that when she looked that sure, something was coming. And in this case, he believed it was James.

Meanwhile, Kate perked up from doing the after dinner dishes and laid her dishtowel aside. "I hope you lot are in the mood to tangle a bit," she said. "Because I can feel an increase in dark energies. I don't know if its james but I do know its dark. Go ready yourselves."