Marriage is Murder

Jack smelt him even with the soap covering the stink he'd once hand he could smell his rancidness and gave a soft growl of disapproval as he watched him move to his food that Angus hand left and Robert gave him back his ring. He always felt he would never keep his word and now he had James and Gelding to worry about. He listened to Angus and nodded. " good, I like the shrimp cocktail" he said watching Gelding as he ate. His eyes never leaving Gelding for a moment. He didn't like this plan one bit but he knew he could say nothing to Brian or Robert being they were his superiors and had a god reason for doing what they were doing.

Brian took Gelding into the interrogation room. "Food," he told Gelding. "I know you're hungry."

"Prime rib? Wait. Lupin was in a tux. You lot having a Christmas party or something?"

"Something like that," Brian conceeded.

"Well," Gelding said, sitting down and diving into the food like a truly starving man. "I won't bother you. Not for awhile anyway. I gave Lupin my word."

"Thank you," Brian said.

"But you and I still have a score to settle--someday."

"I know," Brian said.

"Damn. You lot live the good life, don't you?" Gelding asked, eating rapidly, his mouth full. "You didn't always eat this good."

"No. I didnt. But I"m a father now."

"Oh thats right. Congratulations. What is that? Four for you now?"

"Five."

"Oh thats right. Your granddaughter is with you too."

"Yes."

"She gonna be a werewolf like her mama?"

"Who knows?"

"Got more?" he asked, as he finished his slice of prime rib.

"Certainly," Brian said. He sent a paper bird to the kitchen, asking for a second tray. Angus brought it in seconds, and included a serving of Christmas rum cake with it.

"He your chef?" Gelding asked, motioning to Angus. "I thought he was an auror."

"Some of us have more than one note to play," Brian said.

"Touche," Gelding responded, pulling the second tray over. Brian couldn't blame him. Gelding had been in a spell for months, and no doubt was desperate for food. Brian was kicking himself for not having thought of providing a double portion to begin with. "Is that coffee I smell?" Brian took the lid off a large travel cup of French Roast. "God, that smells insanely good," Gelding said, taking a sip of the coffee. "That is the best coffee I've ever had in my life. You're not such a bad lot, are you?"

"We keep our word," Brian said.

"What kind of coffee is it?"

"French roast," Brian said.

"I'm definitely buying some," he said, almost inhaling the contents of the second tray, along with the rum cake. He looked at Angus.

"You ever want a job, come look me up, Auror," he said.

"No, thank you. I work for Khaat," Angus replied. "For life."

"Understandable. Beautiful women are worth the effort." He finished his coffee. "Quinn, you got a cigarette, by chance?" Brian took out his cigarette case and lit one for him and gave it to him.

"One," Brian ordered. "And then we go."

"Good. Damn, you even get gourmet tobacco? What is that? Firewhiskey in that blend?"

"Napoleon brandy," Brian said.

"You have to tell me where you get these."

"I would, if I knew," Brian said. When he finished the cigarette, Gelding stood up.

"Shall we go?" Gelding asked.

"Yes," Brian replied. He looked at Jack. "You don't have to come if you dont' want to. You could go back and reassure our families. Or you can go with me. Your choice."

Jack looked at Gelding then at Brian, " I'm not leaving you alone for one moment with that man. " he said his eyes still boring into the back of geldings head as if he was driving nails into him . Nope Jack was in no hurry to leave yet he would be at his side till they both returned back to the safe house and the others. Jack crossed his arms and looked at Gelding unmoving again as he ate his second tray and commented on the cigarette Brian gave him . " if you haven't guessed it Gelding, I'm not happy about all this " he said

"I'd have never known it," Gelding said sarcastically.

"Easy," Brian said to Jack. "We gave our word."

"You're werewolf, aren't you?" Gelding said to Jack. Gelding had only seen the large man a couple of times, but he still could smell the faint, telltale scent of a werewolf. There were two things Gelding hated. First, self righteous people. And second, he hated werewolves. And this man seemed to be an odd combination of a self righteous werewolf. "Put your defenses down," Gelding said to the werewolf. "You havent' been in this contest enough to know me well enough to hate me that much. Quinn, here, on the other hand, hates my guts and I hate his. And we both know it. However, we are men of our word. So--if I tell him I won't kill him tonight, he knows I won't. Likewise, if he says he didnt poison that lovely prime rib, I know he didnt. Flat out. So, siince you seemed to have missed the news bulletin, your boss and I have a truce tonight. Call it a Christmas gift. So get over yourself. If you'd just give me a bloody wand and my own powers back, I'd be happy to take myself home."

"You know I'd rather escort you there myself," Brian said. "Grab my arm, you two. Let's go." Gelding grabbed Brian's left arm as Brian took a grip on a Paris portkey. When Jack had grabbed hold,Brian ported them near the foot of the Eiffel Tower. It was deep in the night there. Just an hour or so before dawn. "To your house, I presume?" Brian asked.

"No," Gelding said. "I need to muster some backup to get my estate back. You can leave me here. And don't worry, I couldn't find my way back to you if I had to."

"I know," Brian grinned. He handed him the spare wand. It was a student level wand but it would get Gelding far enough to get him where he needed to go tonight. He uncuffed him and then laid his hand on Gelding's forehead, returning his powers to him.

"One more thing, Quinn. What's the name of this ass that's taken over my company?"

"He's had a name change. He goes by James. James Blood. Last name used to be Heart," Brian said. Gelding nodded slowly, processing the name. "What is it?" Brian asked.

"Nothing. We've met before, that's all. So Grayback finally turned him enough that he threw his whole lot in with him, huh? Not surprising. Leave him to me, Quinn. He's mine."

Jack looked at Gelding as he spoke to him " I've been in this ...game , long enough, Gelding and its only the truce that's stopping me from ripping you apart. " He growled at him as he moved to Brian, he took his arm and held tight. He stood with his arms folded as Gelding tried to intimidate him one last time as Brian gave him Jame's name. He could not help but smirked as he added Heart beeing what it had been. He growled as he spoke of his family but he kept quiet, saying nothing else to him or Brian as he knew he would give himself away if he did. Jack was glad Gelding was going to deal with James but wished he'd got a punch off to show him he was no green horn in this game , as he put it.

"Quinn, you'd best get grip on this loose canon of yours," Gelding told Brian. "You and Lupin and I have been gentlemen this evening, and your boy here is being arrogant and rude."

"Don't concern yourself with him," Brian redirected Gelding. "Your agreement is with Robert and me. No one else."

"And i said I'd keep it, and I will. But the next time you decide you need a back up, then do educate them before you attach them to me, would you?"

"I see that you're both irritated with each other. Let's just call it a night. I trust you can get a place to stay tonight."

'i see why Lupin's girl married you," Gelding said. "A nd yes, I do have a place. Bon Soir, Quinn."

"Bon Soir," Brian said as Gelding flicked his wand and disapparated. Brian understood Jack just generally didnt like Gelding, but Brian made a mental note to have a talk with Robert to try to train Jack to reel in that werewolf temper just a wee bit. His temper could have cost them everything tonight. Everything. It hadn't, but Jack's anger had pushed Gelding unnecessarily. "Let's go home," he said to Jack. He took hold of Jack's wrist and ported them back to Colorado to the main house. He let go of Jack's wrist seeing the servers just going through to the dining room with the salads. So, they had missed the shrimp cocktail and the french onion soup but nothing mre. He transifgured his clothes back to his tux and sent his cloak upstairs and sheathed his wand. "Let's go eat, shall we?" Brian asked,, checking to be sure his tie was straight before he went back into the dining room.

Jack stood quiet as Gelding spoke then left he felt Brian aperate them back to the safe house his own suit transfiguring back to the tux he had worn for the ball and he nodded to Brian " yes I'm starving " he said and moved to Jess where he could see she had kept his food for him. " This is delicious" he said and glanced at Robert across from him as he sat eating knowing Brian would ask him to talk to him. He finished and pushed the plate to one side standing he took Jess's hand and moved her to the dance floor where he and Jess started to dance to the strains of a waltz that he'd not heard in along time hoping to gain some time before the lecture.

Khaat was relieved to see Brian back, unharmed. Everyone seemed to enjoy the five star dinner and thens slipped easily into the dancing. Khaat and Brian took just a few minutes out to slip away and upstairs, just in time to see Kieran there with staff, tucking the children into bed. The triplets were already asleep, and Dakota and Abbey were very close to being alseep themselves. Khaat and Brian kissed Abbey and Dakota goodnight and pulled up the covers and put their favorite stuffed toys in the cribs with them. Then they kissed each of the triplets and covered them securely. Khaat was pleased to watch Kieran make a security check on the nursery and the playroom. He was so far from being the drunk he used to be. He was learning to do a fine job in running the now enormous estate.

"Thank you, Kieran," Khaat said to him softly as Kieran turned down the lights in the nursery.

"Youre welcome," he smiled at her. "They are my nieces and nephews--in every way that matters."

"So he told you?"

"Yeah. He did. Besides you gave me a chance when no one else did. That does count for something. Khaat Lupin, you have turned into a beautiful woman since you were that little freckle faced kid." He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. He looked at Brian. "You two go dance. Fi and I have this tonight."

"thanks" Brian smiled, reaching for her hand. When they joined the dancing, the band was just starting to play a slow slong. Nothing pleased either of them more, He couldn't remember being happier than when he was with her, and he loved dancing with her. loved holding her. When he held her and danced with her, nothing else entered his mind. Gelding and James seemed light years away. And tomorrow was their first Christmas together as a married couple. He felt like everything he wanted, he had. He had it here and now.

Jack danced with Jess till the music stopped and then moved to sit back at the table and sat holding each other for a while enjoying seeing Brian and Khaat dancing together along with Steven and Cassidy who hadn't stepped on his toes once that night . Little Andrew had run off to bed several hours earlier and that left Jack and Jess alone to enjoy each others company both smiling as they watched the staff and Brian Relaxing for once and not stressing. Soon Jess became tired and Jack lead her to bed. Steven bid them good night but continued to dance with Cassidy finding it a wonderful sensation to move around the dance floor with her in his arms.

Brian began to sense that Khaat had actally overdone it. He told her he would take care of putting out the Christmas gifts for the kids and he sent her up to rest. She hadn't realized she was tired until she got partway upstairs, without Brian. Then she began to figure out that she was more tired than she thought. Her head began to spin a bit.

Downstairs, Kate and Robert suddenly got the same feeling. They stopped dancing abruptly. "Go," she told him softly, not willing to raise an alarm. He left her, walking out very calmly but then changing to a run when he walked out of the room. Kate poured herself a glass of punch and took a seat ready to simply say she was tired, as an excuse.

Robert went upstairs and found Khaat. She had collapsed on the floor in the hallway just outside her room. He checked her. She had simply overdone it. She wasn't strong enough for a holiday ball. He picked her up and took her into her room and shut the door so he could tend to her properly.