Marriage is Murder

"Um...passengers?" Angus laughed. "Don't worry about Michael. Robert sent him out for something in particular. He's doing just what he should be doing. I suggest you pack everyone up except for those things that are not essential for the 24 hours. Robert has paid to keep the rooms for awhile, but he does plan on us not using them for the duration of the cruise. I have no idea if we will hear from Khaat and Brian today or not. If not, then surely by tomorrow Brian will send us some sort of word."


Once Khaat was dressed, in white capris and a teal top, Brian used a pain spell to make her more comfortable and then set out a plate of scones, a pot of coffee, and a wooden bowl of fresh fruit. He hadn't cut the fruit. He'd left it simple, with just a pair of paring knives to help if they wanted to cut something. He sat down beside her outside and cut a juicy pear in half and handed a half to her. She took it, rather mindlessly, and ate it. That was the ticket. Quiet. No muss. No fuss. No pressure. Just eating with her and handing her half of everything he took. He made small talk with her, and she was learning to gesture and communicate in her own way without words. What rang so loudly in his head was that she had forgiven him. She hadn't needed words. Her actions had said all he needed to know. So--life was going to begin again--somehow, and he didn't feel like he needed to have all the answers anymore. It had been a huge relief for him.

Jim nodded "Wasn't going to hes a big boy now" he said and moved to the bedroom and packed the things he thought they would need once done he walked back out the bags following close behind him then sat by the main door. Jack had gone to the other bedrooms and packed for Robert and Kate their bag now sat at the door waiting. " ok there packed, I just packed the essentials and some summer clothes in case they want to sun bathe" he said as he moved to the kitchen table and made a small cup of coffee for himself. Jack moved to sit down and looked at Angus.

"I guess we can do nothing but wait now for Robert or Michael. " he said softly as he folded his arms across his chest .

It was within the hour that Robert came back with Kate and Abbey and Enzo. Abbey was laughing uncontrollably and had bits of bright pink cotton candy stuck to her face and her fingers. Kate had found an adorable pair of pink gingham shorts for Abbey with a pink t shirt and little white sandals. Kate and Robert had somehow avoided getting cotton candy sticky all over themselves, but Enzo did seem to have a bit or two of pink gooey stuck to his muzzle and was trying to get his tongue to go there to lick it off. And that made Abbey laugh all the harder. Robert had left it, figuring Enzo would figure it out sooner or later.

"Ah, good morning," Robert smiled. "I didn't expect all back so soon. I figure you would take the day. Level with me. Are you that worried about my children?"


Brian took Khaat out with him on a short shopping trip. He hid her bruises with a glamour spell. She looked again like his queen. He took her to a couple of boutiques and she bought strands of handmade glass beads, all handmade and strung in Venice. He approved. He saw her eyeing some beautiful art glass sculptures and he bought every one she liked, no questions asked, didn't even bat an eyelid at the cost.

And then he steered her towards a jewelry store. They browsed the cabinets until Brian said that he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to see their 'back room stock'--their very best for preferred customers. They looked at the woman in cotton capris and her t shirt and him in his jeans and his white cotton shirt, and doubted him. Brian merely said, "Bring it, or I will drop my cash elsewhere." Shrugging, they brought out several trays of jewelry to show them.

"This isn't your back room stock," Brian said. "This is the inventory you haven't put out yet. If you have nothing higher end, then my wife and I will take our business to Thailand the next time we fly there. I do have a standing account. I want 14 carat stones or bigger." They returned the trays to the back room and came out with one tray of rings. Brian perused them, holding each up to the light. He was satisfied with the quality of the stones and the mountings. Then a man in a black suit came out with one ring box and opened it and set it on the counter.

"Perhaps," the man said. "this would be more to your liking." Brian knew he'd finally gotten the attention of the owner. He looked in the box. It was an exquisite emerald ring, surrounded by more emeralds and diamonds. The stone was massive. Over the size of an American quarter. "That is a 24 carat Colombian emerald. I have not been able to find larger for some time. And it is a one of a kind piece."

"Now that's more like it," Brian said, "May I?" The man nodded. Brian took the ring from the box and placed it on Khaat's right hand. It was impressive against her long slender fingers and it was a near perfect fit as it was. Khaat was simply stunned. Brian love how the ring made such a statement all on its own. "We'll take it," Brian said, when they finally had agreed on a price. He paid cash. When they got out of the shop, he took her and in his, resizing the ring without anyone being the wiser to it.

Jim and Jack looked at Robert chuckling at Enzo but as Robert spoke both replied at the same time. " yes " they said together but it was Jim who spoke again " there our friends as well as our employers, we worry about them as friends because we care about them " he said gently Jack nodded he agreed with Jim's words.

"Besides that we love Abby's charm too, who couldn't love her." Jack said and chuckled seeing Enzo still after the piece of cotton candy on his muzzle. Jim could not stop a chuckle leaving his mouth as well. " we packed some things hope everything you needs in there" Jack said and pointed to the bags. " Jim did Brian, Khaat and Abby too , but Jess said she'll bring more things for her"

"Hey," Angus said, laughing at Enzo, "Come here, you silly dog." He took the candy off his face and gave it to him. That seemed to make Enzo a lot happier without the frustration of sticky on his muzzle. Kate took Abbey to wash her face and hands.

"They'll be fine," Robert said. "Kate mentioned feeling some peace this morning, so perhaps thats a good sign. If they were both still upset and disturbed, she would feel something different altogether. So lets not hope for the worst, shall we? It sounds like you did fine in packing for us. And I take it that everyone else made it to the ship safely? Now--let us remember one thing. We are taking an animagus labrador puppy upon a yacht where she will be surrounded by water. Kate has asked Enzo to try to not let Abbey go overboard if she goes all animagus on us, but the temption might well be too overwhelming."


Brian got very daring and ported Khaat eastward. It was several hours ahead. In fact, it was night. He took her to a shop and bought her a beautiful long evening gown in emerald green with all the accessories, and bought himself a sharp black suit. She was stunning. He didnt know if it was the glamour spell or if it was his eyes playing tricks on him, but he thought she was absolutely breathtaking.

He took her for a very private candlelight dinner for two with the best food he could find, and with some slow dancing under the stars. Things seemed to ease as he escorted her to the dance floor and when he held her to dance, she wrapped herself around him again--the way she had before he thought he'd lost her. He resolved for himself. He would never, ever do anything to jeopardize this again. If all it took was just time alone with her, then he would never let themselves get so caught up in the chaos that they didn't take time for love. It wasn't about sex. Hell, it never had been. It was about more. Much more. It was about a love that Brian just rarely saw anymore. He knew a few, but it was few. It wasn't the norm. And he wasn't going to risk it for anything.

Jack and Jim both breathed out and smiled " yeah we understand and will keep an eye on her I told the crew as well to do the same Jess, cassidy and the others are there already " he said now feeling relived and reassure by Roberts words about what Kate had felt this morning. Jim watched Angus take the piece of cotton candy from Enzo and accioed a damp cloth kneeling he wiped the dogs muzzle clean.

"there all destickyed " He said and stood up sending the cloth back to the bathroom sink. Standing he looked at Abby " bet that tastes as good as it looks, but not as pretty as you look, lovely outfit Kate " he said and chuckled. Jack moved to double check the rooms all was fine and he moved back to the living area.

"Thank you," Kate said. Robert put some toys on the floor for Abbey who decided to play with a tea set. Kate poured herself a mug of tea and went outside onto the balcony, absently softly humming some little tune that wouldn't quite leave her head. Robert filled a tea mug and sat down close to Abbey with a newspaper.

"Papa!" Abbey said. He looked over his paper at her.

"Yes?"

"Read me story!"

"I thought you were playing with your tea set," he said.

"You have tea and story. Me too!" she said. He thought a minute and laughed.

"So I do," he said. "I bet there's somebody around here who would read to you or tell you a story."

"And tea?" she asked.

"You can have tea," Angus said. He took her dishes, made sure they were clean, and poured juice into her teapot and put some tiny cookies on the cookie plate. "Now you can have tea."

"Like Papa!"

"Yes," he smiled. "Like Papa."

Jim looked at Jack who moved to sit cross legged on the floor in front of her " mind if I join you miss Abby for tea?" he asked and smiled at her. Jim smiled and headed for a cup of coffee for himself. He sat facing them both and smiled seeing Jack relaxing again with Abby. He glanced out at Kate on the balcony " she ok?" he asked " I know shes connected to Khaat an feels her but how is she really, Kate I mean?" he asked Robert. Jack pored some juice for Abby and handed her the plate with small cookies when Abby said he could have one he shook his head gently.

" sorry Jess would not like it" he patted his tummy " she thinks I'm getting tubby " he said and chuckled.

"Kate?" Robert asked. "She's fine. I think she's happy today. We've always liked Italy, and its good to get away sometimes. I have no idea if she's picking up on Khaat or not, but if she is then, perhaps that's a good thing. Perhaps things are better for her. Perhaps she and Brian are on the mend. I've been trying to arrange for them to have a night or two entirely alone for a long time but something always got in the way. We all know life is hard for newlyweds even without the chaos that comes in our lives, but honestly, I dont' know how their marriage has survive this long. Truthfully, none of us could live with our every move being watched by no less, usually, than at least 4 other people Its a marriage killer. And for him to be in charge of every breath she takes? That's a massively frightening thing for any young groom and young dad. If I've learned anything, it is that we need to give them some time to learn how to be a young couple and young parents."

Jim nodded and drank his coffee and sighed " we have each been there in our time" he said softly and looked at Robert again " me included , but time alone is good for them both , time to connect with each other, inside and out" he said softly and smiled " Margaret and I had our time when we first got together " he said softly and looked into his cup " but we worked through it and are still together, guess that's why she doesn't ask much about the job and just cares for the kids and me of course." he said and smiled. Jack smiled and looked at Robert.

" Jess and I, I guess are just lucky we talk a lot we've had our rough patches too but got threw them too " he said softly and smiled to Abby.