Marriage is Murder

"We were tired," Brian said. "I don't think we moved." He and Khaat both saw the not so subtle signals that Jack and Steven often passed about their "nightlife." Brian and Khaat never discussed theirs. Ever. they simply so treasured the moments of privacy that they did have that they didn't share the details of it with anyone. Not ever. "Come on," he nugged Khaat. "We have a run to finish. It looks like you two are finished. We'll be in, in a bit. We have about an hour before breakfast, Guys. You might suggest the ladies take a run. It sounds like Robert wants us all in top shape." He motioned to Khaat and they headed on down the beach at a run.

In the meantime, Robert and kate had the kids up and dressed and were feeding them. Robert had a file of paperwork laid at his place for the meeting. Robert and kate never missed a chance to feed and take care of the kids. Khaat had been an only child, and they enjoyed having loads of little faces at their table.

Jack looked at Brian and nodded " sure thing " he said and headed inside making sure to let Cassidy and Jess know they were to go on a run Jess kissed Jack and moved out for her run making sure she kept up with cassidy who ran beside her both watching the beach ahead of them for any sigh of things that might have been left from the night before or some one after Khaat " I wonder why Robert wants us in top shape " Cassidy said while she ran next to Jess.

" I don't know but you don't question Robert he always has some reason for it " Jess said and looked at Brian and Khaat as they ran. She felt her muscles ache and realized just how long it had been since they had ran like they were.

Brian and Khaat had some inkling of what Robert was doing, but they didn't understand how it could possibly be the right timing. Obviously, Robert knew something they didnt. Neither of them spoke. Brian concentrated on being alert and watching everything around them to make sure they were safe. they turned and came back, merely waving as they passed Jess and Cassidy who were just starting their run. Brian and Khaat had pushed themselves not only for endurance but also for speed and were out of breath from how hard they had pushed. When they got back to the house, they paused to regain their breath and then went upstairs and showered and dressed for the day.

They both just chose jeans. Brian chose black jeans and a dark green shirt. Khaat chose just her regular blue jeans and shirt that was white with a pink plaid. They armed themselves, and Khaat returned to carrying her own wand and Remus's both.

they went back downstairs together and took their seats at the table, as Angus brought them fresh coffee. With the kids fed, Kate set them all to play in the living room with a large pile of new toys to keep them all busy. The kids were delighted. Her hope was that it would give the adults time to talk.

Jack showered and changed grabbing some food and a coffee from the kitchen he ate and waited for Jess and Cassidy to return from their run on the beach. Jess finished her run and entered the house to go and wash and change for breakfast. Cassidy did the same wearing a pair if blue jeans and a loose white shirt the necklace Steven had given her showing along with her new wedding ring that seem to sparkle bright in the light. Jess chose loose slakes and a tee shirt that had lace down its front with pumps. she walked to the kitchen and took some food and a cup of orange juice from the fridge. "So why do you think Robert wants us fit all of a sudden?" she asked sitting down to eat.

"Because," Robert said calmly, returning to the table, as Angus served breakfast plates to them all and then joined them himself as Robert had requested. Kate joined them as well. "The time has come. Michael and I have both slpped back to England to Order meetings. I have decided that Khaat and I have absolutely no choice. We are seen as law and order back home. We have to be seen openly--in public. Grindlewald's hold on our world is becoming very very fragile. If we are going to defeat him, it must be in the very, very near future. I do not know if it will bring war or not. But I do know this. She and I have no choice but to offer ourselves up by openly defying the arrest warrants. We must go home. She and I must resume our lives, openly and calmly. And if it brings our demise, then it simply does. Khaat--everything Remus and I have done to help make you and Brian fighters may rest on this. Perhaps. Are you ready and able to follow through with me? It might well mean that Brian will raise your children alone."

"I am," she said firmly. "We knew a long time ago this moment would come. We're ready."

"Brian?" Robert asked. Brian nodded. Robert looked at the rest of them. "I have no hesitation about asking you all what I am going to ask you to do, because I know where your loyalties lie. I am going to ask you to follow Brian and Kate in protecting those kids. If it means you leave Khaat and I behind, then you need to be ready to do it without question. I cannot promise you that you don't risk your lives to stand with us. But then again you know that. Are you all ready and able for the danger to go up dramatically because we need to go home?"

Jack looked at Jess and Steven at Cassidy every one thinking the worst but they all, knew that Robert's word was the last and they would follow it " yes sir we will all follow Brian and Kate and protect the kids with our lives" Steven said and looked at the others who nodded their agreement to it " we'll stand with you and Brian here or in England doesn't matter to us" he said all of them agreed and nodded.

" I think were in agreement when I say it will be nice to go home" Jess said as Jack , Steven and Cassidy nodded.

"We've been out of our homes for months," Robert said. "I have had staff from Colorado go to open our houses again and to restock them and clean them for us. So, you'll all be going home to clean houses. Consider it a small thank you from us for following us all over the world all these months.

"Khaat and I will be resuming our jobs at St. Mungos and I will be having Brian follow her everywhere she goes. Michael will be able to support us whenever we need extra staff. I want you four..." he looked at Jack, Jess, Steven, and Cassidy, "to stagger your shifts so that we have coverage at Brian and Khaat's aroudn the clock. If we get short, Angus and Michael will work a shift. Kate is also available.

"Be very careful for now not to be seen with Khaat and I in public. I expect Brian to be seen with her because his marriage to her is public knowledge. Just as I expect Kate to be seen with me at times. But the key to our safety is in the rest of you not being seen with us unless there is no other choice.

"I do not think this can go on very long before we can go back to some sort of normal life, but for now, in order to keep everyone safe, you have to be willling to be my secret protection squad awhile longer. Am I making sense?"

Jack looked at Robert and thought long and hard he was still confused at going home but this just confused him more " so we will still be with you but not with you hows that going to work?" he asked " nether Steven nor I have any other jobs to do but body guarding" he said and looked down at Jess.

" I have the shop I'm sure we'll be fine, you could help there " she said and herd him hum that he was thinking about it " Robert wold I resume working at St Mongos?" she asked hoping she still had that at least as she'd already lost one job at the Hogwarts. Cassidy sat quiet she was hoping they could live on Steven's ranch and she would help with the day to day things.

"I was rather hoping that you four would split shifts at the house. If you don't want to work 12 hour shifts, then we can make 3 shifts. Michael and Angus could take the night shift, if you like, if soomehow you four could manage day shift and evening shift. If you're good with splitting the day into two halves like you've always done, I'd prefer that, really. If you would rather go back to your shops and not bodyguard, then you can certainly do that. The choice has always been yours to make." Robert did not believe they would not want to guard anymore, but he was considering a backup plan in case they did want to go back to the shops or the hospital instead. "I am hoping that this living in hiding in England will be rather short lived, but I don't know. Living out of England lasted longer than I wanted too. So, I don't have any definite answers because Grindlewald is not in my control at the moment. You have to choose whatever career you want."

Jess looked at the others who nodded " that's fine while I'm at the shop Jack can be with the kids and Steven too then evening Cassidy and I will do it" she said and they agreed finishing her food Jess placed her plate in the sink and walked out onto the warm sand she looked around Tuscany was nice and she could see hr own home from there she stood and knew they could return anytime they wanted. Jack stood up with his plate.

" Robert when we get back I'll take the first 12 hour shift " he said and placed his plate down " when do we do this?" he asked as cassidy walked to the nursery hearing Fallon wake from her sleep along with two of the triplets.