Marriage is Murder

"Tea?" Robert frowned. "Michael shouldn't have been able to fight that potion off."

"Its amazing what one can fight off when someone is screaming in your ear," Brian sighed, taking is cup to put more coffee in it.

"I heard no screaming," Robert said.

"Same thing applies if someone is pounding the shit out of you. Wakes you straight up," Brian said.

"You think she's having nightmares still?"

"Not a single doubt in my mind," Brian said. "I don't jump like a madman anymore when it happens. Michael's not gone through it. I think she probably terrified the sleep potion right out of him."

"I don't know if that's even possible," Robert said, thinking.

"Trust me. Its very possible," Brian said.

Michael was glad for the tea. He hadn't thought about cookies until Jess brought them. "Good idea. Thank you," he said to her. He was hoping he might get a bite to eat into Khaat with her cup of tea. "I think I can handle it for now. Maybe," Michael said.

Jess nodded " ok I'm right down stairs if you need me , both of you" she told them and moved to the door glancing back she gave a last smile and closed it quietly and headed down to the main living room to sit with Jack again. " the tea was for Khaat " she said and looked at Brian " and yes he looked wide awake maybe once she is settled again he will sleep more thought I dough it, he seemed wide awake" she told Robert and Kate. Jack looked at them as they talked and sighed.

" the mind is a strange thing , you should know Robert how it goes " he said softly moving to let Jess sit with him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders letting her rest once more against him.

"He does and he doesn't," Kate said. "I don't believe I've ever awakened him that way."

"No, but Khaat did for awhile. After Remus died," Robert said.

"She was down the hall. That doesn't count," Kate said.

"That's not nearly the same as having someone's face right up against your eardrum," Brian said.

"Are you saying you need a sleeping potion?" Robert asked.

"No," he laughed. "Nor her. I dont want her trapped in a nightmare. Nor do I not want to be there for her. Michael, however, you might want to put at the other end of the house if he'll go."

"He won't," Kate said. "I'll tell you what will happen. They'll get used to being home and then they'll relax and rest. Michael might well talk a bit about the action of it. The facts. Not the feelings. I dont' honestly know if Khaat will discuss it at all. But, I'm guessing we'll be getting them back up within a day or so, and then we'll need to try to get them finding some things in life worth getting excited about again. If you lot think you can find anything worth being happy about."

Jess nodded " I agree with Kate , Khaats still not found her voice yet " she told them both " well there is Christmas coming maybe some Christmas shopping would work" Jack chuckled " what?" she asked a slight chuckle in her voice.

" ow nothing just thinking anything to empty out the vault" he told her and he chuckled as she thumped his chest.

"Well its about time we spent something" she said smiling at him " all the kids need new things there growing so fast" she said and he chuckled nodding he agreed " or maybe a spar day to help Khaat relax a little, you too Kate and Cassidy too" she added.

"They're both good ideas," Robert said. "Brian, have you had a chance to talk with her yet?"

"Uh...no. Not really. She's gotten clingy to Michael temporarily."

"Wait, then," Kate said. "you'll get a chance to talk to her once the worst of the fear wears off. My thought was going to go in a bit of a different direction. She does love Christmas. So does Michael. Perhaps we ought to decide if we're staying home this year or travelling. If we're travelling, we ought to do it. If we're staying home, then let's slowly, at a pace they can both enjoy, start decorating and baking and all the holiday nonsense as they can cope."

"Not too fast on that," Robert cautioned. "Its a good thought, but lets see where Khaat's head is at first. I don't want her to link trauma with Christmas. If she's ready to see them as separate things, then by all means. But if its still too close, then perhaps we need to take a couple days and play chess or cards or do puzzles or have a couple of quiet days by the fire."

"That might work," Angus said. "My grandfather mentioned something about thinking snow would come early this year. He said we need to get our warm coats out very soon. Said the cold is coming sooner than the snow, but its coming quickly."

Jess, Jack, Jim and Cassidy all nodded they agreed with the idea of taking it slow " here seems a good idea " Cassidy said smiling at the thought of decorating and cooking for Christmas. Jess looked at Jack who was sat smiling at her she could not help but chuckle and shake her head.

" bet I know whats going through your mind " she said softly and jack pulled her closer to him and kissed her cheek.

" bet you don't, I was thinking of a nice picture I saw and how it would suit Kate as a Christmas gift , and a nice little book store I found that sold limited edition books for Robert" he whispered Jess smiled.

" wonderful Idea Jack" she said and smiled at them both.

"Well, it is getting that time to think of shopping," Kate said.

"And I leave that entirely to you," Robert said. "I trust you have ideas?"

"If you're going to leave it to me, then do so," she gave him a slight smile. "Otherwise I will leave it to you."

"No."

"Thats what I thought," she laughed.

Upstairs, Michael had simply held Khaat. He'd gotten her to lay back down and he'd just laid his arm across her. Eventually, he'd slipped deep into sleep, unable to fight off his own exhaustion anymore. She'd been quiet and calmer with him closeby, and it enabled him to go to sleep. Once he'd given into it finally, he seemed to fall into one of the deepest sleeps he'd ever experienced. Khaat knew he was finally resting. She wasn't going to disturb him. She got up to avoid waking him if she, by chance, dozed off accidently herself. She found her largest oversized shawl and decide to go outside, depending on the cold air to keep her awake.

From where he was, Robert glanced out the window and saw she was walking slowly alone across the yard. "Head's up," he said quietly. "She's just trying to get some air, but its too cold for her to be out long. That, and she's just not strong enough after all that business for her to be up long. Don't hover, but don't let her get into difficulties either. Let her walk a bit but then encourage her to come back. Brian, you are going to have to take a stronger role in getting her to rest."

"If she's up and by herself, then I trust Michael finally gave up and went to sleep," Brian said.

"Not intentionally, thats for certain," Robert said. "If he's asleep, I'll levitate him to his own room--if I wont' wake him. We'll put him back in his own bed."

Jess glanced out of the window and smiled , standing she moved to merely watch as she saw Khaat walk in the garden . Steven stood up and slipped on his jacket. " going to check the green house I think the flowers are in bloom " he said " thought they would look god in her room " he said and stepped out side Shadow running up to join him, Steven patted the wolfs head who seem to perk up at the sign of affection. Steven walked close to Khaat and smiled seeing her " ow hey Khaat I was on my way to the green house to check the flowers some are blooming now , you wanna come see?" he asked hoping it would do her some good to see the colors of the flowers.

She knew what Steven was trying to do. He was only doing his job. Part of her was glad he was there. And part of her was unsettled. She didn't know why, but she attributed it to nerves. She tried to merely give Steven a slight smile and to indicate, with a simple gesture that she wasn't going far, that he could relax. She felt like she had to build her confidence again. She pointed him to the greenhouse and gestured that she was going the other way--at least for a short bit. She knew even there he was still within eashot. That seemed like a compromise to her. He could go to the greenhouse and she could have just a wee bit of space.

She just wanted a few minutes by herself to reassure herself that she could be alone in her own yard without fear.

Steven smiled and nodded " would you mind if I escorted you there " he said and offered his arm to her. shadow huffed and followed close by to them both . reaching the green house Steven opened the large glass doors and lead her to a seating area by the water fall and sat her down " ok I have to check some seedlings but I'll not be far if you need me" he told her and walked to the other side of the green house. Shadow staid sat by Khaat's feet he soon lay down and fell into a soft doze. Steven glanced over his shoulder and smiled knowing he was working but at the same time close if she needed him.