Marriage is Murder

"No thank you," Angus said. "I have it under control. I made a breakfast casserole last night. This morning all I need to do is to finish the fruit salad and wait until the coffeecake I made to finish in the oven. I know its simple, but it should be filling."

"Sounds more than sufficient to me," Brian said. "I wish I could help you with those trees, but I really do need to concentrate on going to St. Mungos with Khaat today. She's decided she has to go back to work, full time, no matter how she feels. I can't help but being a bit concerned, but I do understand it. And I will support her with it."

Brian went upstairs and he and Robert brought down the kids for breakfast. Khaat came downstairs, dressed for work, carrying Abbey, who was clingy and whiny. Brian scowled at her. She had chosen a pale dove gray silk dress, and Brian knew she was trying to minimize the flush that her fever had caused to her face, but Brian didn' think it was working. He still saw it.

"How the hell are you carrying her and wearing stilettos when you can barely carry yourself?" he sighed. "I'd have gotten her in a minute."

"I can't stay home anymore," she said. "We all know that. I might aas well do my best to at least look functional."

"While you're home?" he was a bit irked with her.

"Call it practice, then," she said.

"Somebody take Abbey and help her to the table please?" Brian asked. "Before Khaat drops her?"

"Thank you, Jim," Brian said. "Khaat, get yourself some food." Khaat noticed his statement was not encouragement. It was an order. She wasn't hungry. She glared at him. He simply walked over to her and hissed something strongly in her ear. She narrowed his eyes at him angrily. He merely gave her an insistiing stare.

"Stop fighting, Kiddies," Robert said, passing by them as he came past them to the dining room. "Khaat, get some food if you intend to work."

"Told you," Brian snarked at her.

"There are more than enough bottles in the potions cabinet," Robert said. "I've been keeping it stocked."

"Daddy," Khaat asked. "I have to ask. Have you had any of the symptoms?"

"Some. Of course. So has your mother. The potions is keeping the congestion under control, but we both have some of the rash," Robert said.

"How are you working your full pace?" Angus asked.

"I dont' have a choice," Robert said. "That's how. We do not have another potionsmaster around here. We have other potions makers, but not potionsmasters. Someone has to work on this business. And there is a ministry to run."

"I'll take care of that," Khaat said.

"And how will you do two at once, my dear?" he asked.

"Like I always do," she shrugged.

"Not if you dont' eat," he insisted.

"Yeah, yeah," she sighed, bored. She didn't want to further infect any of them. Angus motioned to her, and she followed. He took her into Brian's office and helped her get settled to eat there, away from the others. "Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," he told her, "but we'll all be glad to have you at the table again," Angus said. "Let me know if you need anything." He left her to eat and returned to the table with the others.

Brian found Abbey just not interested in eating. She just began to cry. Brian took her on his lap and held her and rocked her gently while he sat at the table. She huddled in his chest. Abbey's pitiful cry brought Khaat out of Brian's office.

"She's alright," Brian quietly reassured Khaat, holding Abbey and kissing her head. "She's just tired of feeling lousy."

"I'll take settle her before I leave for work this morning. Angus, did you do as I asked?" Robert asked.

"Yes," Angus said, getting up. He went to the kitchen and came back with a bowl of pieces of fresh fruit that he had frozen so that it was icy and just a bit crunchy and sweet and soothing. Brian picked up a piece of a strawberry and put it into Abbey's mouth. She didnt' want it at first but he simply told her to eat. She obeyed and found it was helpful. He noticed her looking for more. He picked up a little champagne grape and fed that to her.

"That seems to be the ticket, Robert," Brian said.

"Of course it is," Robert said. "Go back and finish eating, Khaat. We've got this."