Marriage is Murder

"It hasn't been fixed yet," Angus said. "We just haven't had time to get to it. The most I could do last night was to put a water barrier spell up to stop it from getting a lot of water damage. But Brian might have to replace that tan leather sofa in there. Looks like the leather took a massive damage hit to it from the tree branch.

"That is very replaceable," Brian said. "I never liked that sofa much anyway."

"I did. I expect it replaced," Khaat said. "Immediately."

"As in today?" he frowned.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" she said. "I like that sofa. A lot."

"You do use it a lot."

"Yes I do. Replace it or I will."

"I'll do it or you'll redecorate the whole house," he scowled at. "And no, you cannot put pink roses in our bedroom."

"Then buy the sofa."

"FIine," he sighed.

"You go, Girl," Kate laughed. "Get him trained early. He needs to find out quick that it could always be worse."

"He learned that the hard way, as I recall," Angus said.

"Oh just once or twice," Khaat said. She saw the package float in and up to her father. She wanted to intevene. Her father needed to rest. She bounced up from the table and up to her father's room, following the box. As she got to the door, he clutched the box out of the air.

"I can open my own mail, thank you," Robert said.

"I want you to rest," she said. He picked up his wand and cast a spell on the box. He didn't like some of the energy inside the package.

"Later," he said, now intensely preoccupied.

"You're acting like its got a muggle bomb in it," she said.

"Possibly worse," he said. She went over to him and sat on the bed.

"Can I open the paper wrapping?"

"Let's use a spell." He cast an enchantment to unwrap and open the box. Inside was a letter and a woman's ring. And old one.

"That's Cassidy's," she said. "Steven bought it for her in Hawaii." Robert cast a spell on the ring. She went to pick it up out of the box.

"Don't touch it," he told her firmly. "Its cursed. " He opened the letter and read it and then closed the box. "Take the box. Do not open it. Give the box to Michael. And tell him to get rid of it. Tell him Rule 2."

"Rule 2?" she frowned.

"Rule 2. Now go." She took the box and took it downstairs and went quietly to Michael's chair.

"I'm to give this to you. And I'm to tell you 'Rule 2," she said. He became stonefaced and took the box and got up.

"I'll be back," he told them. "Hold my plate please."

"Why exactly are you asking?" Robert asked quietly. "Are you asking because you're questioning my judgement? Or are you just curious about what was in the box? Or are you trying to decide when to actually sign the divorce papers?"

He wanted to say more to her but he kept his mouth shut. He had been providing for John since Steven had become ill and had paid every penny of the expenses. He had made sure that John had new school clothes and all his school supplies and sufficient spending money and had made sure that John and Andrew had gotten to the train on time.

He had also been working with Jeffrey on arrangements for where Steven would stay after his discharge so that he would not be alone and could start to train again to get back into shape and to see for himself if he could resume his old job anymore.

Robert had taken several trips for even an hour or two to Switzerland. To the best of his knowledge, Cassidy had only gone once, and that was after Jess had goaded her into it. It hadn't been a clear choice for her.

"Leave John alone," Robert said quietly but very firmly. "I took care of him. He understands his father is ill. He gets that. No matter how busy Steven was, he always made time to drop a line or make some sort of contact. But I don't know if he even knows what to do with you. You're the third stepmom figure he's had in the last couple of years, so I don't know how much he invested in you. But..I doubt you made any points with him.

"John is not your problem. What is your problem is that I've been to Switzerland almost once a week, and I've paid for everything Steven needed, took care of all his business affairs and yours and John's, I got weekly written reports on Steven and his health, and I've been working with Jeffrey to design a discharge plan for him.

"I know you were hurt when you were a kid, but lets get to the here and now. You're a grown up. Your husband has been ill for months. You went to see him once and you talked a great deal about how painful it was and what a rogue Steven is.

"I am not giving you any information until you decide if Steven is worth investing in--whether he is well or whether is permanently stays as mad as a March hare," he said firmly. "I don't know about your wedding vows but mine said 'for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.' If you promised that, what part of it did you not understand?"

"He was bewitched," Robert said simply. "He remembers what he did but in much the same manner as a muggle who has been on some odd drug or medication. Its foggy and fuzzy for him. And, of course, as with many dark hexes, it takes awhile to wear off and a bit to get a grip on the things you've said and done when you were out of control.

"He's fought a long hard battle, and whatever hurt you think you felt, believe me, it doesn't compare to what he's had to fight over there to get back to feeling like himself. Jeffrey has told him that I am taking care of things, and Jeffrey has advised that we leave it that way until Jeffrey believes Steven can do it for himself. Especially where John is concerned. The boy is safe and is back at Hogwarts where, right now, he feels like he has some consistancy and believes he is provided for. You do whatever you feel you need to do with Steven but I expect you both to be somewhat realistic and leave him to me for now.

"You are, of course, welcome to go see him. We will handle things here.