Marriage is Murder

(skipping til morning)

Michael had never slept that long or that hard. He'd fallen asleep in the afternoon, and the next thing he knew, the sun was coming up the next morning. The stiffness and soreness was now setting in thoroughly. He got up slowly, feeling old. He managed to shower and shave and dress. It did help him feel a slight bit more human but not much.

Brian had managed to keep the house quiet during the night. Khaat had jolted him awake so many times, despite the potion he'd given her, that he had only managed a light doze. He was starting to feel very sleep deprived, and she looked worse than he felt. It was taking a toll on both of them. Nevertheless, they both got up and showered and dressed. He skipped his workout today. He was just too tired.

Robert was nursing his second cup of Earl Grey when the three of them came downstairs. First, Michael, looking about ten years older than usual, and then Khaat and Brian, looking like hell. Michael didn't even speak at first. He went out to the kitchen and poured himself a mug of Earl Grey and went in and sat down beside Robert.

"Feeling better?" Robert asked.

"I'm an old man, Robert," Michael sighed, smelling the tea in the mug.

"No," Robert said with a gentle, supportive smile, "you're stoved up. I'll send an owl to St. Mungos spa. You need a long, deep massage to loosen up those muscles again. You'll start to feel like yourself after that."

"I'll manage," Michael said.

"Just do it. You want me to go with you?"

"I think I still know the way," Michael said dryly. Michael watched Khaat and Brian comes downstairs. He could see she hadn't been able to stop the nightmares yet.

"It'll take some time," Robert told him, seeing it too. "My guess is that Brian knows what to do with it."

"I figured you did," Michael frowned.

"Well, I do, but its Brian's call this time," Robert said.

Steven walked in with Shadow at his side after his morning run Steven told Shadow to wait by the door. Jack emerged from the gym a towel over his shoulders as she wore his gym gear he walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. " Good to see you up and awake " he said and smiled at Michael and Khaat.

" yeah " was all Steven said as he moved to the kitchen and to Angus a basket of fresh veg in his hands. " Hey Angus got these from the green house sweet potatoes, leeks and runner beans think you can use these?" he asked placing it down on the table.

"Certainly can," Angus called. "I was considering making a large kettle of homemade minestrone for lunch today and my aunt sent me a recipe for a lovely dish of chicken and sweet potatoes in a spiced white wine sauce I was considering for tonight. Bring them through to the kitchen, please. Breakfast is almost ready. Dont laugh, you lot, but Miss Abbey made a special request. She wanted pink oatmeal."

"You hexed my oatmeal?" Robert scowled.

"Hexed? No, no," Angus laughed. "I made a coulee of berries--you know how she likes berries--and I added it with and cooked some berries into it. It should be sweet and delicious and bright pink. But completely healthy. And, there are enough other things to eat that even those who are too wimpy to try Abbey's pink oatmeal won't go hungry." He filled two mugs with French Roast and took them to Khaat and Brian. "I didn't know whether you'd be sleeping in or not so I didn't send your tray. My apologies."

"No apologies needed," Brian said, taking the mugs and handing one to Khaat.

"I missed you in the gym today," Robert said to Brian.

"I skipped it."

"I expect you to go," Robert said. "Go for a run after breakfast. It would do you good. Khaat, would yo be so good as to escort Michael today to the spa for a massage, please? Make sure he doesn't skip out on it? He's very stoved up." Khaat looked at her father and at Michael. She could see that he was hurting. But she was as stoved up as he was. And she hadnt told a soul but she was thoroughly bruised now. The tortures had left bruises that had now come to full color--and she was more black than not. She suspected Michael wasn't any better. She remembered clearly, hearing his screams. For her, screaming was not an option. She had become mute quickly and could not make any noise.

"You really dont' have to go with me, my dear," Michael said to her softly.

"I am not trusting either of you to go by yourselves," Robert said. "I expect that Jim and Jack will go with you and make sure you go and come back in one piece. Brian has work to do. He skipped his workout. I expect him to follow up on that while you're gone."

"I had intended to go," Brian said, frowning.

"I And I intend that you should not," Robert said calmly.

Jack and Jim both nodded they would go with Khaat and Michael " of course we will " they both said " well once I shower and change " he said and quickly left to do just that . Jim looked at Khaat not saying one thing about her bruises that he saw on her body. Jess smiled and handed Jim a cup of coffee as she walked out of the kitchen.

" I think the spar would be wonderful especially since at this time it will be quite empty " she said " so you'll have all the amenities to your self. " Jess sat down and drank her own cup floating a cup of tea over to Robert and one to Kate as well. " fresh made this morning" she said .

Angus began serving breakfast as Robert and Kate went and brought down all five of Khaat's children. Abbey raced into the kitchen looking to see if Angus really did make pink oatmeal for her. Angus laughed and gave her a hug and a little kiss and sent her to the table saying she would just have to wait and see. He sent out bowls of oatmeal and he'd cut the toast for the kids in animal shapes. Abbey was delighted.

"Come and get yourselves some food before you go," Robert told Khaat and Michael. "Let's go." Michael just got up and followed Robert. Michael didn't honestly think a thing about the pink cereal. The berry flavor was a nice touch. Khaat managed to eat more than either Robert or Brian had expected she would. It wasn't as much as she ideally should have eaten, they thought, but they also knew it could well be worse.

"And what color cereal are we eating next time?" Robert asked Abbey.

"Pink!" she said.

"No, we just did pink. Pick another color."

"Blue!"

"Okay. Blue it is," Robert laughed.

"Blue. Great," Angus laughed. "Just great. Thanks a lot, Papa."

Jess and Jim chuckled as Jack returned and looked at the pink porridge " hum nice color " he said and sat down to eat " tasty too" he said and looked at Abby smiling as she spoke of having blue next " ow that will be interesting , Blueberry's maybe?" he said softly and smiled Jess shook her head and finished her breakfast . Jim finished and placed his plate in the sink and returned to grab his jacket so he would be ready for Michael and Khaat's trip to the spar.

" Cassidy we'll finish that game when I get back " he said and Cassidy nodded as she finished her porridge loving how the berries made it sweet yet pink.

"Papa," Abbey looked at him. "We swim?" She pointed to the pool outsie that had been drained because of the cooler weather.

"It's too cold, my darling," he said. "But, if you want to swim, I bet somebody would go with you to swim in the pool downstairs."

"I want big water," she told him, scowling.

"Isn't the pool at the spa considerably bigger?" Kate asked.

"Oh, definitely," Robert said.

"Then, Jack, how about you take our little labrador with you and swim a bit with her?"

"He'll look like he fits in that way, at least," Robert laughed. "Unless he can't handle a 2 year old."

"I'm not worried about the two year old but if she goes all animagus, can he get a puppy out of the hospital pool before they go ballistic on him?"

"That puppy happens to be my puppy," Robert said. "If they give you a hard time, let me know. I'll deal with it. What do you say, Jack? Can you handle it?"

Jack smiled " I think I can handle Abby, besides Jess will be on duty anything I can't handle I'm sure she can. " he said and looked at her " we're going swimming " he told her " when your mom and uncle are ready " he said and finished his bowl of porridge taking it into the kitchen returning with a glass of water.

" Yes my shift starts soon but I'll keep my eye on them both " she said softly with a smile " I don't know who I should worry about who wont leave the pool , Jack or Abby" she said smiling at them both Jack rolled his eyes and chuckled softly.

Khaat remembered that Abbey had outgrown her swimsuit towards the end of the season. She nonverbally accio'd a swimsuit that was in her own closet. She handed it to Brian.

"You can do this," he said softly. "Just give it to her." He handed it back to her. Khaat handed Abbey the white paper bag and let her open it. Abbey drew out a pink one piece swimsuit printed with dark pink berries.

"Berries!" Abbey was delighted. "Mama! Berries!"

"If you're going with Mama and Uncle Jack and Uncle Michael to Mam's work and the big pool, you need a suit that fits," Brian told her. Abbey nodded excitedly.

"I go put it on," she said.

"No, let me pack it for you," Brian said. "We'll use one of Mama's bags. You want to come help me pack?" She nodded, and when he headed upstairs to pack a bag to take with them she bounced along behind him upstairs.

"She's never been in the St. Mungo's pool," Robert said. "You sure you can handle bodyguarding Khaat and watching Abbey at the same time?"

"I will definitely be within earshot, "Michael said with iron firmness. "He's not going to have to be that divided in focus."

"And with Jim going too, she'll have more than enough protection," Brian said. "The rest of us will stay here and make sure things don't get crazy here for the couple of hours you're gone."

"That was my plan, actually," Robert said.

Jim and Jack both nodded they would be there but non evasive except for Abby who Jack would enjoy swimming with Abby in the pool " I'll stay close but not that close" Jim said smiling at the thought of seeing the spar again " I haven't been there for a long time " he said and smiled at the thought of returning. Jess chuckled and finished her own breakfast along with Cassidy . Jess cleared the table and fed the other children all ate happily then dove up to the nursery to play once more.

" I'm here for the others, Kate and the nursery staff too" Cassidy said " so don't worry about them" she told them knowing she was guarding Khaat's and the other children.