Marriage is Murder

"Yes," Khaat said. "Brian's been working hard on that. I'm feeling good again."

"And she's working again," Brian said. "Sorta. Not exactly full time, but she's doing her best to hold things together."

"Excellent," Robert said. He saw Dakota ready to throw a piece of fruit. "Duck!" he laughed. Brian ducked his head to see the piece of melon fly over where his head had just been.

"Really?" Brian scowled at her. "Already?" Dakota giggled at Brian, truly amused.

"You know you're a father when your child misbehaves and then laughes about it," Robert laughed. "Welcome to fatherhood."

"Yeah but someday she's going to be old enough for me to throw it back at her someday," Brian laughed. He motioned them to sit down and eat. Khaat and Brian sat between all the kids to help them and Robert and Kate sat with them to help. Angus and Michael continued to deliver food and drinks to the table.

Steven, cassidy and Jess laughed as Brian spoke of throwing things back at Dakota " that's when you start playing games with her like baseball" Steven said as he drank some coffee and sighed as he lent back in his seat then took some food for breakfast as did the others enjoying every bite of the food that Angus had made for them. Jess smiled as she watched Dakota throw her food and at Robert Ducking it just in time.

" good reflexes Robert " she said smiling at him " could put some of the younger men to shame " Steven looked shocked as Jack walked back in looking at Jess as he sat down.

" Ok, what I do this time?" he asked and Jess shook her head as she looked at him.

"Nothing dear, nothing" she chuckled

Dakota seemed to be excited about being home and having everybody home again where they belonged. She was ore than wound up at the breakfast table. She was bouncing up and down and babbling and sometimes loud and overly energetic. Robert had chosen to sit beside her and allowed her to be that excessively happy. He sat passively, doing nothing and let her throw grapes at Brian, one after the other. Brian looked at Robert, frstrated that Robert was doing nothing about it, and Robert laughed, truly amused at watching her try to get her father's attention.

"She's not going to stop until you give her your undivided attention," Robert laughed.

"I think we need to take the kids outside today. Its going to be warm enough that they could all go out wearing sweaters," Khaat said. "What do you think?"

Jess smiled as she fed Catlin , Jack fed Alex and they both smiled " yes that would be a great idea a bit of fresh air will do them some good " She said cassidy nodded she agreed as well as she fed Fallon and Catlin.

" we could spread out a blanket for those who aren't crawling or walking yet " she said and noted Jaylen's instance at being fed by her right away reaching out she pulled the spoon to her mouth. Steven just left James to feed himself getting more on himself and the highchair than in his mouth.

"The ground could be a bit cold yet," Kate said. "Robert would you do the honors?"

"Certainly," he said. He got up briefly and went over and looked out the door and put a 3 foot tall, screened in railing on the patio and cast a spell to heat the stones gently so that it would be a very comfortable temperature, like the warm water of a heated pool.

"Thank you, Daddy," Khaat said.

"I think it should be baby proof now. And they can't get to the pool. I put a protective barrier around the pool that is 3 foot tall. They arent' going to be able to get over that. You can let them out on the patio without worry now," he said.

"Thank you, Robert," Kate smiled.

"But you will indeed need sweaters for them and long pants. No shorts. Its still a bit chilly even in the sun. But, yes, it will be good for them, and the triplets probably don't remember what its like to be outside in the sunshine."

"Well, neither do I," Khaat laughed. "I really want to plant some flowers--by hand. The muggle way."

"Oh, you're just like your mother," he frowned. "They're the same plants whether you plant them by hand or magically."

"It doesn't feel the same as it does if you put them into the ground with your own hands," she said.

"See? Told you," Kate beamed at him.

Jess accioed a change of clothes for her three and smiled " ow to true Kate nothing like soil under your nails and that sense of a job well done" she said smiling at them both as she dressed Andrew in a sweater then Catlin leaving Steven with Alex who flatly refused and Steven struggled to get it on him. Cassidy did the same or James and jaylen but had no problems even Fallon put on her jumper giggling as she did . Steven heard the pool was safe and smiled.

" good idea Robert don't need any one going swimming till they've learn how to first " he said and Jack nodded as he had a mouthful of food.

"Ours know at least the fundamentals," Brian said.

"Well thats because you thought they needed to be in the pool when they were newborns," Khaat said.

"I don't see any of them complaining when its time to go in the pool," he said.

"The only one that complains is Abbey when you don't let her swim," Robert laughed. Angus brought new spring jackets for Khaat's kids. They were made of windbreaker material and lined with white flannel. Abbey's was bright pink, Dakota's was lavender, Julia's was a peach color. Michael's was a spring blue and Roberts was a spring green. Each jacket had some sort of spring applique in a printed fabric and had each child's name appliqued on the back.

Kate summoned a number of toys and put them in a plastic basket and set them outside on the patio and got a number of juice boxes out of the fridge for the kids. Brian picked up the twin boys and Khaat put Dakota and Abbey on the floor and picked up Julia. They took the kids outside and put the triplets on the patio. Abbey was immediately intrigued by something she saw on a bush. She went over to the bush and crouched down to watch.

"What do you see?" Brian asked her.

"Bug," she told him, pointing. He went over to her and looked.

"Yes," he said, "that's a bug. That's a grasshopper." She did try to say grasshopper but wasnt' quite able to say it. She managed to call it a hopper. "Close enough," he laughed. When it jumped off the leaf, it startled her and made her jump. She nearly fell, but Brian caught her.

"Bad bug," she frowned.

"No," he said. "He hops. Thats what he does. He wont hurt you."

"Me no like," she frowned. He laughed. "Look over there," he pointed. "There are 2 bunnies."

"Where?" she looked.

"Over there," he pointed them out to her again.

Jess placed on Catlin's coat it was bright red with polka dots and a bow on the front with buttons, Alex's was blue and gray with a hood on he smiled liking how it looked all grown up and big boy style lastly was Andrew his coat was light and smart thought gray it had big boy flames up the front and he grinned seeing it as Steven slipped it on him and he ran out side to play with a ball kicking it back and forward, Catlin and Alex were a bit apprehensive and clung to Jess and Jack. Steven smiled and dressed James and jaylen , Jaylen's coat was pink with spots also. James was a light blue with white fur inside lastly was Fallon her coat was light pink and purple she giggled at wearing hers and toddled out to the grass sitting as she watched the grasshopper hop past her happily James ran for the ball and kicked it best he could back to Andrew smiling, Catlin staid with Steven.


The kids coats

Abbey went over to sit with Khaat, alwasy seeking her mama's attention. Dakota wentover and tugged on Brian's pantlet. She pointed out to the grass. He picked her up and stepped over Robert's screened in barrier and put her in the grass beside him. She took off at a run across the yard, enjoying the completely unrestrained space. He walked along beside her as she ran. There was nothing that replaced seeing the kids feeling safe and secure and enjoying the sort of fun that he and Khaat so loved the outdoors for.

"Do you want to go play?" Khaat asked Abbey softly. Abbey shook her head no.

"I bet I know something you would enjoy." She picked her up and went to the barn. A few minutes later, she had gotten the large male unicorn to let her ride. She got up and rode the magnificent beast bareback and put Abbey on his back in front of her. He seemed to sense that Abbey was a baby, and he was extra gentle. The female unicorn followed them outside, with the foal following outside to go learn how to feel safe here in the resence of humans. The foal shied tight to the female.

The male unicorn walked gracefully across the yard and Abbey was delighted. Khaat was extremely careful that Abbey did not pull on the unicorn's mane because of how much harm it did to a unicorn to pull even one hair out of its mane.

Jess smiled seeing Andrew and James playing and laughing together as they should she saw Abby on the males back with Khaat " looking good " she said and Steven looked up smiling.

" I'm surprised he let you do that Khaat what with the new foal and all , guess its your charm hay" he said and smiled watching them both and especially the rainbow foal that stuck close to its foster mother. But he smiled seeing how much she had grown since he'd been away. Jack saw James running away from them and ran after him.

"ow no you stay where we can see you" he said and placed him back with the toys he found some blocks and stacked them before crawling to a bush and sticking his head into it then shouted loudly as a frog jumped out.

" fog fog" he said and giggled pointing at it.