Marriage is Murder

Angus was busy on his duties directing the last few miles of their journey when he heard tiny little feet racing down the hallway. He stepped off the bridge just in time to catch her. He picke her up and swept her up, swinging her around in the air. She squealed in delight, laughing.

"And what are you so excited about?" he laughed, kissing her.

"Pink! You told me pink today!" she said, bright eyed.

"What if I don't have any pink?" he asked.

"I want pink!' she demanded.

"Okay, okay. I did promise you pink," he said. "Come on." He carried her out onto the deck and handed her to Jim. She was bouncing up and down with excitement. "Make sure she doesn't do any swimming, would you? Shes very excited this morning. I promised her a very special breakfast just for her. I'll bring it in a moment."

"Fishy!" she was fascinated watching the whale. It was about then that Robert and Khaat came up on deck. They were showered and dressed for the day. She had light, white cotton slacks and a red tank top and a longsleeved red blouse with a white print to it.

"Papa! Fishy!" Abbey bounced up and down, pointing.

"What was all that excitement about?" He came over, laughing, kissing her.

"I promised her pink pancakes," Angus laughed. He had a child's plate in his hand. "Come on, Abbey. I have them." He put her plate at her place on the table. He had taken strawberry cake batter and had made strawberry pancakes out of them for her and topped them with a special bright pink strawberry syrup. Her eyes were as big as saucers.

"Mine?" she looked at him.

"All yours," he smiled.

"Mine," Abbey said, protective over the pancakes.

"Well, she knows that word," Robert laughed, sitting down beside her. It wasn't long before Kate, Michael, Brian and Khaat had come out on deck and all the kids were delivered to the table for one final meal together on ship. It was a beautiful morning.

The stewards served breakfast plates, coffee, tea, and juice. Robert looked at Khaat.

"You feel a little better about going back?" he asked her.

"Would you be disappointed if I said both yes and no?" she asked.

"No," he laughed. "Would you be surprised if I said I felt the same way?"

"Maybe a little," she admitted. He laughed.

"We will be docking in about an hour," Angus told them as he refilled coffee and tea.

"Thank you, Angus," Brian said.

"Will you be staying in Tuscany or will you be porting home from the dock?" he asked.

"Khaat and I will be going on to England," Brian said.

"As will Kate and I," Robert said.

"Me too," Michael said.

"Then if its alright with you, I'll head shortly to the house in England and make sure the house is open and ready when you get there. I am quite sure my brothers can deal with things for an hour," Angus said.

"Go right ahead," Brian said.

"I'll see you all shortly then," Angus smiled, porting out.

Brian had been awake. Still up. He had been relaxed about it, but the longer it took Khaat to come home the more nervous he got. He was pacing now. He knew Khaat's schedule, and he kicked himself for not going to get her and making sure she got home from Sparks tonight. She had been distant, for the last few days since getting home from Brazil, and he was now believing Angus. He now believed Khaat was under Escobar's spell, and the fact that she wasnt' home at the wee hours of the morning disturbed him.

When the clock started to chime 3 am, Brian grabbed a pinch of floo powder ready to toss it into the hearth, when a voice sounded behind him.

"Please don't shout through there at this hour," the voice said. Brian jumped and spun around, wand drawn, badly startled. It was Robert, and he had Khaat with him. She was leaning on her father, curled tightly around him.

"What happened?" Brian panicked. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Robert said. "The spell is gone. She knows she was bewitched. Be gentle. She regrets entirely too much."

Brian sighed heavily and went over to her. He stroked her cheek. "Look at me," he said softly. She resisted for a moment and slowly looked up at him. "I'm still here," Brian said quietly. "I never left. You were bewitched. You know its not your fault. Its in Magic 101." Robert turned her over to Brian, and Brian wrapped her close. He felt her resist for a moment and then curled into him, hiding her head in his chest.

"You gonna tell me?" he asked Robert. Robert nodded.