Marriage is Murder

"I know he means well," Khaat said. "He's just insecure. It will pass once he's been back a bit. He'll be fine."

Robert was finishing a mug of tea when an owl arrived. He struggled a bit with the envelope but he got it.

"I hope thats not important," Khaat sighed.

"They're always important, Dear," he said. "Its from Kieran. I've sent him word that I think we need to consider a fall weekend teamwork training. This team needs to learn to function together again."

"You mean we won't be out in the snow?" she asked.

"In the Colorado mountains you could be--depending on when we might go. But..we can't afford for both of us to go this year. One of us needs to stay behind and run things. But, when we have dinner tonight, I'll discuss it with everyone together. We could always wait til spring too. But no, I dont' want to do snow again. You lot think you'll be okay if Khaat and I take off for a couple hours?"

"Do go and get it overwith," Kate laughed. "I'm sure we can function just fine."

"Then we'll get ready to go," Robert said, and he and Khaat left the table to go get ready to apparate the short distance to the farm for a couple hours.

((OOC: WOW!! 369 words best yet ))

Jess nodded and could not disagree on the team building in fact she had hoped some one would think of another one to help pull every one back together. Cassidy returned from the nursery and heard Robert “ I like the sound of that Robert” she said as she sat down Jim nodded and chuckled.

“Me too, sounds something good for us all, once your up and back on track “ he said and opened a book he had in one hand in his other he held a cold cup of tea as he read. Jess chuckled a she wiped down the kids mouths again and chuckled as Alex smooshed his bread and ate it in a small ball. “ seems he prefers to eat it all rolled up “ she said smiling as he finished it. Cassidy cleared up the table or what was left on it and wiped the hands of Alex and Caitlin before taking them out of the high chairs and letting them play on the carpet in the living room Alex chose blocks while Caitlin chose to play with a toy car happily pushing it back and forth.

Jack and Steven walked back in talking. “ you sure that's what it said?” he said and Steven laughed and nodded.

“Sure, but he was about to nick the nut, of course he could have been just saying it but that button says he was on the level” he said and showed Robert the gold button. “A squirrel found it thought it was a nut but he couldn't open it so we traded for a real one, he was happy.” Jack nodded and chuckled.

“Strange though it sounds, he's right, ow that team building thing I like that idea caught you as we came in. “ Jack said and moved to Jess kissing her cheek as he took a bread roll and ate it as she chuckled and shook her head. Steven nodded he agreed with Jack knowing it would ether bring every one back on the same track or show they were divided once and for all he hoped the later of the two and they could pull together once again.

Khaat and Robert changed to go take a few hours for quiet paperwork at the farm while the kids, who were feeling better, were getting loud and rowdy.

"We'll discuss the training tonight at dinner," Robert said. "Khaat and I do have some work to do. Do try to keep the place from burning down. We'll see you all a bit later, then. Behave." He put his good arm around Khaat's waist as she picked up the bag and they apparated out.

"Actually, its rather nice seeing her spend an afternoon back home," Kate said. "She and Robert work very well together really but giving them a little alone time is not a bad thing." As she spoke Dakota began to wallop baby Michael with a toy, and Michael began to cry. "I wonder if she's still going to be doing that when we put her on the train to Hogwarts," Kate sighed.

Jess smiled and nodded with the others as they watched Robert and Khaat leave. Jess looked at Kate as she spoke and nodded again. “ yes it is, now I hope she will relax.”She said then stood up and walked over to Michael, placing her hand on his head she made the bump he'd got slowly disappear and looked at Dakota. “ I wish she would not be so destructive but I guess its her nature.” she said as the bump on Michael disappeared completely and she gave him a sweet “ your a good boy Michael” she told him then moved to Dakota accioing a toy that she could hit. “ If you want to hit something, hit this, its made for it.” she told her placing it down in front of her.

Standing Jess moved to Kate “ she has some temper that one” she said sitting down and sighing deeply. Jack and Steven sat talking but steven stood up and headed out to the grounds returning several minuets later.

“ sorry thought I saw something but it was one of the guards who was checking the grounds” he said sitting nest to Cassidy on the couch who then leaned against him and sighed smiling happily at him.

It felt strange to Khaat to be in the farmhouse. Not much remained of the place where she and Brian had grown up but her rooms, her father's library and his potions lab. The rest had had to be totally reconstructed. The layout was much more organized. She knew that the enlargements to the original house had been a bit hodgepodged out of necessity. She liked that bit, actually. This was much more reflective of her father's very logical and organized mind, combined with her mother's artistic sense. This was, most likely, their version of a dream house. She was glad they had it. Still, it felt largely like she was in someone else's home. It didn't feel the same.

"I know how you feel," he smiled, watching her look around. "I felt the same way for awhile. I miss the old place too. But your mother decided if we were doing it again, we should bloody well do it right. And I can honestly say I thought she was wrong because she wasn't. Shall we work in more familiar surroundings perhaps? The library?"

"Please?" she asked. It wasn't that she didn't like the new place. it was just that the new surroundings were distracting. He smiled, making a pot of tea.

"Lets' go get set up while the tea brews," he said.


Back home, Kate was glad for Jess's quick thinking with Dakota. "Mis has a quick temper but she's not violent. Not unless she's in werewolf form. And we honestly never did know much about Dakota's biological father. I am presuming she's just not weathering the terrible two's as well as Abbey is."

"Abbey is just very gentle by nature," a new voice said. Edward arrived, almost right in front of Abbey. He looked down to see the tot at his feet and smiled and picked her up. She was delighted to see Edward. He took out a chocolate from his pocket and gave it to her.

"What brings you?" Kate asked.

"I thought you should know. There's been a break in at Khaat and Brian's Tuscan home. Fortunately it wasn't furnished yet so there was nothing to take. I have some specialists combing the house and the grounds for hexes or locations markers. So far, it looks like all we're out is some broken windows. And that's really no loss," Edward replied.

Steven looked up at Edwards voice but stayed quiet as he listened to him and breathed out when he told them all was ok “ That's good, but why there if they know she's gone here would be the logical choice or..the farm “ he said and looked at Edward then at Kate “ maybe we should send some extra man to the farm in case” he suggested as he stood up and walked over to Edward his arms folded across his chest as he did so.

Jess looked at Kate and sighed “They're all are in that stage Kate.“ she told her Jess looked at Edward when he spoke of the brake in. “ Why would some one break into an empty villa” she looked at Jack who nodded and ported to their villa and Stevens returning several minuets later.

“Its ok, both of them are fine, I guess they never knew whose they were or weren't bothered.” he said and saw the relive on Jess's face. “ I still think we should warn Robert about the break in though” He said. Jim walked over to stand with him.

“ why nothing was taken nor have they found any markers yet “ he said “ so why bother them, let leave them be inform the guards and leave it with them if nothing happens no harm no foul” he looked at them “ well at the end of the day its up to Kate its your home after all” he turned to look at her .

"I'm afraid I have no answers yet for you there," Edward said. "Seems to be more of making a statement than any real ability to harm. Unless they were hoping that there was some sort of a portal to one of the other Lupin homes. Unlikely as it is that we would have any portals of any sort. The most obvious seems to me that they merely wanted to announce that they could go anywhere the Lupins go. I don't know."

"If all they did was break windows," Kate said. "My own thought is that we let Edward's men continue their work and not interfere. Its a building. Its not even furnished. I say we leave it go and let Khaat and Robert work. If we need to do anything, Brian can go and one or two of you can go with him."

"We dont' want to leave you without protection, though, in case its merely diversion," Edward said. "I think one of the things we don't want to do is to draw off any of you who might be used against the Lupins or to leave them shorthanded with staff so that they can strike when you might be unprepared here."

"I am never unprepared," Kate said in a stern tone.

Jim sighed and nodded “yeah and just as I said. “ He replied Jack shook his head and looked at Kate and nodded he agreed with her as did Jess. Jack stayed quiet as did Steven but then he too spoke.

“I'll go with Brian “ Steven said his arms behind his back. “Leave Jack here with Cassidy and jess seeing he is the strongest, I'll go with Brian and if nothing happens then we'll come back.” he said moving to grab his coat from the rack not far away from them. Jess looked down at the children playing and smiled as Abby gave Alex a small car to play with. Cassidy picked up all the cups and took them through to the kitchen placing them in the dishwasher and made a fresh pot of coffee.

“Hey Angus what you cooking in there smells good?” She asked walking back drying her hands after she had washed them as one of the cups hand spilt on her hand. Jack took a deep breath and smiled.

“It does that too,” He said and sniffed again wanting to find out what it was. “Could it be apricot scones again?” He asked and looked at Angus but shook his head. “ Nope not sweet enough.” Steven just stood and chuckled softly.

"If you need to go, I'll send for you," Edward said. "I suggest you stay behind and stay on your guard for now. We don't want anyone to infiltrate here because your defenses are lessened here right now. My own thought is that dividing yourselves might be the worst thing you can do for now."

"Robert and Khaat are at our farm," Kate said. "We're already divided."

"I thought he said that the farm has not been penetrated."

"It hasn't. Not ever."

"Then I should think they would be safe enough. Will they be gone long?"

"No," Kate said. "I would expect two or three hours. Or til dinner at best."

"Then they should be fine. Is that a marinara you're making?" Edward asked Angus.

"It is," Angus said.

"Needs more basil," Edward said, sniffing the air.

"I'm a bit shy of basil today, I'm afraid," Angus shrugged.

"Then why are you making it?" Edward scowled. "I'll go get you some. It has to be right or there's no point." He quickly ported out. Angus rolled his eyes. His grandfather was very particular when it came to making Tuscan food right.

"I thought it smelled lovely," Kate said, agreeing with the others.

"My grandfather knows when its just not right," Angus said, with a smile. "You watch. He'll be inspecting my herb beds when he gets back to be sure we're growing enough."

Steven nodded as he listened. “ I noticed the frost got to some of them, we need to cover them over at night. “ He suggested then smiled “ I have an idea if you'll let me try it, might stop the frost destroying the herbs as much.” he asked Angus hoping to steer the conversation away from the worry of attack even though he knew every one would be on there toes anyway. He moved out side taking some plastic he made a small tunnel over the herbs leaving each end open for now.

Jess looked at Angus and chuckled at Edwards perceptive nose where food was concerned “ well if its worth doing its worth doing well “ she said and smiled as Alex toddles over to her his hands up to be held. Leaning down she picked him up and he lay against her sucking his thumb, Jess sighed deeply as she held Alex. “ He's the only one who does that, why I don't know, we've tried to brake him of it but nothing works.” she told Kate as the others continued to play happily on the floor Caitlin just colored all the paper she had in front of her then giggled happily and called out.

“ Kitty , kitty” she said pointing to Mo and Max “ play with Kitty Nana K?” she asked and giggled again.