Marriage is Murder

"Dakota!" Brian said, lured downstairs by the crying. He had seen her hitting Kate. He stormed in, outraged. "With your permission,..." he said to them all. He intended to parent his own child. He picked up the tantruming 2 year old who proceeded to smack him in the face. "Oh really?" He looked at her.. "You're coming with me." He took her out and left with her, heading upstairs again.

"I think her daddy is going to take care of that attitude," Robert said. "My guess, Jack, is that the toy was simply bewitched by her anger. She wanted to strike out at Abbey and didn't realize she was activating the toy."

"I am concerned about her anger, Robert," Kate said.

"Well, first of all, shes 2. Part of that is normal. The other part of it is her parents' biological lineage. That could be causing part of it. She will have their personality, to a given extent, no matter what Khaat and Brian do. If Brian can't bring it under control, I'll deal with it. Right now, I intend to deal with my girl here." He kissed Abbey and soothed her. He wiped away her tears and got her to feel better. Before long, he had her giggling and then he soon set her back to play with Andrew. "Check that toy, Jack, and let me know. Dont destroy it unless you have to. It isn't the toy's fault. Its Dakota's."

Jack nodded and looked back down at the toy and spoke again. "Specialis Revelio " he said softly and he saw Dakota angry the lion walking across the floor to charge at Abby and he sighed " it was accidental magic her anger brought it to life " he said and looked at Robert placing the now lifeless toy down next to Robert and stepped back " you can check for your self, her anger transferred just as you said, that's one hell of a bad temper " he looked at Jess as she put Andrew down to play with Abby again laughing as he ran over to her.

"I believe you," Robert said to Jack. He watched Abbey step around the lion and avoid it. "I think they'll be fine now. "

A few minutes later, Brian brought back a tearful and sniffling Dakota. He simply brought her in, kissed her and told her to play nicely. He put her back on the floor with the rest of the kids. She seemed to not know what to do and just sat down on the floor. Brian accio'd a harmless stuffed bunny to her and went over and whispered in her ear very softly and kissed her cheek again. She sat and hugged her bunny.

"She'll be fine, Brian," Robert said. "She just would much prefer getting her own way, Son. Let her deal with the fact that her daddy means no when he says it. All kids have to learn that sooner or later. While you lot sort out the kids,..."

"I was about to work on that," Brian sighed, remembering Khaat.

"I'll go with you. How about the rest of you put something together for dinner so that afterwards we can shhower off all the smoke and soot."

Jack looked at Brian as Steven walked in and looked at them all " did I miss anything " he asked and looked into the nursery. Jack chuckled and looked at Steven " just a two year old temper tantrum" he said and Steven pulled a face.

"Wow, been there with John " he said " I take it Brian sorted it all ?" he asked and Jack nodded " Good ow the animals in the barn are all find they say thanks for the extra feed and bedding it made the difference." he said and turned walking down to the living room and getting a cup of Coffee for himself to warm himself up.

Kate decided to leave the kids to the others and leave Khaat to Brian and Robert. She went downstairs to find Angus putting together a beatiful chicken stew and some fresh bread. When her eyes met Angus's all she saw was how badly Angus felt for the fact that they had just lost almost everything. He wrapped her in a warm hug.

"How are you doing it, Kate?" Angus asked.

"You know," she said, pouring herself a cup of tea. "I have watched Robert and I watched Remus over the years leave the house every day and didn't know if they were coming back alive or not. And I prayed each day that I would give it all up if they just came home alive. For me, its a no-brainer. I'll choose my family every time. All that stuff, my house, it can all be replaced. The house can be rebuilt. And, honestly, antying of any substance was store in that 4 story library that we still have. And--Khaat will still stay sane knowing that Remus's rooms are still in tact. What are you working on?"

"I"m just going to make a chicken stew once I get this bread finished,"

"How about I work on the stew? If Cassidy and Jess get finished, we'll have one of them finish that raspberry lemonade you wanted, and the other can do dessert. I bet one of the guys can remember how to set a table."

"You think?" he laughed.

"They'd better," Kate said.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Robert and Brian were tending to Khaat's burns on her back where the hot beam had laid across her back. Robert was also addressing her smoke inhalation and a huge knot on her head where she had hit her head. There was an enormous knot and a deep black bruise on her forehead.

"She's going to look like she was through the front lines of a war," Robert sighed. "And she isn't going to feel any better." Robert put the ice pack on her head where the huge knot was.

"I'd feel better if she were conscious," Brian said.

"I don't think she'll be unconscious much longer," Robert said. "How are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Brian said, brushing any concerns for himself aside. "I'm going to take care of my family."

"Brian," Robert laid his hand on his shoulder. "We're in this together. All of us. No matter what. I'm right here. We're alright. We have what counts."

Jack smile and left the nursery and headed to the kitchen " smells good " he said and looked at the table " ok time to lay this table" he said and chuckled as he began to lay it cassidy was next to walk down seeing Jack laying the table she chuckled.

" Want me to do anything?" she asked but saw the makings of the raspberry lemonade and began to finish it off she made a simple syrup by combining the sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. then placed it over a medium heat and heat until the sugar in completely dissolved. Swirling in the pan occasionally she then let cool.
after she then measure 3/4 of fresh raspberries and puree them in the blender. then she pushed the raspberry puree through a fine mesh sieve to separate the seeds from the pulp. Once the simple syrup cooled she combine the raspberry puree and simple syrup and lemon juice in a large pitcher.then she add 4-6 cups of cold water. tasting it as she went poring it out once it was cold.

"Thank you," Kate said. "Can you or Jess coome up with some sort of a dessert?" She scooped uup a bowl of freshly prepped and roasted vegetables.

"Nice lemonade, Cassidy," Angus said. "I can smell them. And Kate, nice touch roasting those veggies."

"I cheatted. I roasted them by magic," Kate said. "I needed them done quickly."

"that's alright. They' ll be fresh and sweet. Its a nice touch."

"I wish I had fresh noodles to put in," she said.

"You do," Angus said. He opened the refrigerator and handed her a bowl of pasta dough. "Just have the knife do the cutting magically so you can season the stock."

"Is that left from the pasta you made last night? that was delicious."

"It is," he smiled. "I don't waste food."

"You're a genius."

"Oh, damn. Cassidy, I have fresh shortbread cookie dough in the lower drawer in the refrigerator. I forgot I brought it. I was going to make cookies with the girls. You could use that and perhaps use some of the extra dark chocolate fudge ice cream Lizzie sent. She's experimenting with a new recipe that uses dark belgian chocolate and Honeydukes fudge. It should be wonderful if I know her."

Upstairs, Khaat began to struggle for air and cough, groaning. Brian flew.

"Easy," Robert told him. "Her chest is congested from the smoke. She was in there longer than you thought, by the fluid she's built up in her chest." He laid his hand on her chest to draw off some of the fluid and congestion. and cast a spell to help her breathe better.

"My head," she managed very softly.

"Yeah," her father said very gently. "That lets you know you survived your own stupidity, my darling. I'll draw that off, but you are going to need to be in bed at least tonight. You are far more lucky than you know just to be alive."

"But the house...my room..." she wept. He and Brian soothed her.

"Your rooms survived. And my library. The rest is very, very replaceable," he said. "I'll rebuild." He soothed her nerves with a bit of a relaxation spell. He wanted to tell her how angry he'd been with her, but clearly now was not the time. "I'll go get you something cold to drink to wash the soot out of your throat. You rest. Brian, make her behave." He got up and went downstairs to get her something in a tall glass of ice.

Cassidy chuckled and then heard Angus she thought for a moment and smiled " ok I can do something with that " she said and began rolling out the dough baking it till it was golden brown she placed some on the bottom of a large bowl then scooped the ice cream to make a layer then she placed more on till the bowl was layered out then she placed fresh cream and strawberry's on top to decorate then she placed it in the fridge she hoped every one would like it. Taking some coffee she sat down. " That everything Angus?" she asked.

"It is. Thank you." Then he saw Robert arrive. "Robert?"

"Can I get something cold to drink for Khaat? She's conscious, and she needs something to rinse her throat from that ash and soot."

"My pleasure. Would you like one?"

"No, I'll get my own," he said. He got out the firewhiskey and poured himself a double. He was putting the cork in the bottle and saw Kate take his drink for herself. He kissed her forehead lovingly and let her have it, pouring himself another. Angus filled a large insulated jug with ice and some of Cassidy's lemonade and put the lid on it for him.

"How is she?"

"She'll be in bed tonight."

"I'll send her up a tray," Angus said. "For Brian too?"

"No. For me. The girls need to see their father at the dinner table tonight. We'e moved them to three different locations in less than a week. They need his stability. I'll stay with Khaat. I'll send Brian down in a moment." He took his drink and Khaats and went back upstairs. A moment later, Brian came down, showered and changed in fresh clothing.

"Kate," he said softly. "I am so sorry for all this. I talked to Kieran. We'll move the animals out of the barn over here so they're closer to us for the time being. We have plenty of room."

"Oh, how nice. Thank you," she smiled and caressed his cheek. "What is Robert saying about Khaat?"

"She has a large nasty burn across her back the width of that ceiling beam. We've got it dressed and bandaged, but its going to hurt for awhile. She has the biggest knot I've ever seen and a huge bruise on her forehead from hitting her head when she fell. Her lungs have fluid and congestion from the smoke inhalation."

"Any concussion or broken ribs?"

"Concussion, yes. Broken ribs, no. But several bruised ones. And a lot of minor burns elsewhere. She's going to look rough. But we're making her more comfortable right now."

"Thank you, Brian." He opened the cabinet for the keys and gave her a set of keys to the guest house. "You dont' need to use this, unless you really want to. You're welcome to stay here with us--forever f you like. Nothing would please us more."

"You are very sweet but I"m sure when Robert and I get a chance to talk, we'll rebuild. But its nice knowing we won't have to rent a place that is not as secure until its rebuilt. Thank you," she said.

Jack and Steven walked in " ow we'll help with the rebuilding " Jack said and smiled Steven heard the comment over the animals " they will love that so much " he said " I'll let them know tomorrow" he said and sat down poring some lemonade into a glass with ice in it " this is good" he said and smiled . Jack looked at Robert " I meant it we will help, you did so much for us time we gave back " he said and Steven nodded as he looked at him.

" we can stay for as long as you need us Robert " Cassidy said and moved to sit with Steven taking his glass and taking a drink herself.

" Hay get your own" he said and chuckled.

" I would but I made it " she said and kissed his cheek handing him the glass back seeing Jack chuckle the looked at Robert " glad shes not badly hurt it could have been so much worse" she said.