Marriage is Murder

"If its how I want it to go?" Kate looked at them, astounded at their insensitivity. "Are you serious?" Did they seriously think she and Robert wanted Khaat and Brian to leave? How could they, are parents themselves, not understand the pain it caused Kate and Robert to have their children both gone and right at Christmas?

"If I had an easy answer, I would give it to you," Kate said to them trying not to let their remarks wound her. "Personally, I think you're all trying too hard. You're trying too hard to walk on eggshells around her, and she's not got anything for you to walk on eggshells about. She's not stupid. She can clearly see you lot are not being yourselves around her and that trying to be someone you're not isn't working for any of you. This isn' about some terrible trauma she needs protected from. This is about the fact that she was hit by a car and has a horrible head injury. There is nothing for you to be so cautious about. When she sees you acting abnormally for what any normal adult would do, she feels responsible--such as stressing oneself so much that they can't even eat dinner with us because events in this house have been such a dreadful drain? How else should Khaat interpret that?"

"Kate," Robert said quietly. "This won't help. The fact is that Khaat an Brian have gone, and the rest of the crew here needs to take the time to recharge and regear. Its fairly simple."

When the branch broke through the window, Robert saw them respond quickly to it. "Go swim, Kate. Or sketch. Go do something, Dear," he said softly. Kate got up and left, heading upstairs without saying a word.

In Tuscany, Khaat sat alone in front of the fire with a mug filled with warm spiced wine. Edward had gone to take care of Brian. Khaat was frightened at being without him. She didn't move from her place on the sofa where Edward had put her. He finally came back, but it felt like it had been forever.

"He's fine," Edward said. "By morning, he won't even need bandages on it. It may be a bit stiff for a couple days but he's alright. How's the wine?" She nodded, approving. "Are you hungry? Brian said you had just eaten, but if you want something...." She shook her head. "You want to go to your room? He wanted me to make sure you were alright." She shook her head. She didn't want to disturb Brian if he were resting. "You don't have to just sit here, you know," he said. "You're family here. I expect you to make yourself at home. Do you remember your way around?" She shook her head. "Ah. Well, let's remedy that." He drew out a tiny, miniature chair from his pocket and resized it. It was her wheelchair. He helped her to it and then took her on a tour of the compound.

Kate had gone to Abbey and Dakota and Julia's room and had taken her large sketch book and sat in the dim light of the nightlight and sketched her granddaughters as they slept. Kate was dealing with her anger by withdrawin and wanting to be alone.

Robert heard them mentioning needing to shovel snow. "We'll see to it when the storm dies down," he said. "Not now."

By morning, Brian was up and was in the shower before Khaat had even moved. When she woke up alone, she panicked. Startled, she scrambled out of the bed and fell flat on the floor. Brian wrapped himself in a towel and came out.

"What's the matter?" he frowned. "Trying to go someplace?" He went over to her and helped her up and felt her iron tight grip on him. "I reallly didn't leave you. I was just in the shower." She looked at his shoulder. There were no bandages there, no cuts, no scars, not a trace. "What? Did you think I wouldn't be all attached?" he laughed. "You must have been tired. I dont think you moved all night. Come sit and I'll hand you your coffee." He put her back in bed and covered her and brought her a mug of coffee. "Now--give me just two minutes to dress and I'll be back." He kissed her.

Meanwhile, back at home, the storm had subsided. Kate had gotten up and dressed and had gone already into London. Robert was up and dressed and had gone outside. He had enjoyed the quiet of the wee hours of the morning and had shoveled the snow away from the barn doors by hand. He needed the chance to work off his own stress, and spending some time outside, alone, in the dark, with a little manual labor felt like a tremendous relief to him.

Angus had left him alone but had apparated to inside the barn to tend to the animals, and Michael busied himself in the kitchen with preparing breakfast while he had the kitchen to himself.

"I rarely worry about those two," Robert said, out of breath from hard work in the bitter cold. "Brian appears to have a plan in mind, and I think I'm going to let him work that out. I worked out my marriage. Now its time to let him work out his own. Khaat needs someone to relate to, no matter what. He wants to be that person for her. He always has been. He wants to help her get back some sort of trust in him, so that, no matter what else might happen around them, he knows she's sure of him. And I'll support him in that. It will help her feel like this really is her home. She'll start to see him as not just her past but her present and her future. And that will reduce her feeling like such a stranger here. She won't feel like so much of an imposition. She'll start to feel more at home again. He may well have the right idea."

When Jess brought out the tea, Robert was glad for something hot. "Sounds good. Earl Grey. Michael is clearly in the kitchen," he said. "Oh, Kate got an owl in the night from Tobias. Evidently one of you had ordered some handmade Italian leather shoes and handbags. They arrived in the middle of the night, and Kate went in to take care of it. She wanted me to ask you if you would take care of the kids for her this morning. She said the other clerks are due in by noon today, so she figures she'll be home by then."

When Kate saw Jess come, she immediately thought of the children. Kate had asked Jess to see to the kids while Kate took the time to sort Tobias's order. Kate became instantly concerned that with Cassidy helping in the kitchen, there was no one seeing to nearly a dozen kids.

"I guess I'll have to leave you to sort this out," Kate said. "We can't both be here together. There's nearly a dozen kids at home with no one looking after them. I'll see you later, I guess." She laid down her clipboard, immediately stopping her task to go look after the children and apparated back home.

"Back so soon?" Robert asked her.

"I evidently miscommunicated or something," Kate said, sending her cloak back upstairs. "Jess decided to come into the shop instead, so I didn't have a choice. I had to come back. Someone has to take care of the kids. I'll see you a bit later. I have work to do." She headed for the bedrooms to get the kids up and dressed for the day. Robert set his tea aside and went upstairs to help her.

Michael had seen the momentary confusion over the kids. He said nothing. Instead, he tended to breakfast. When Cassidy asked about helping in the kitchen, he merely nodded.

"Whatever you like, Cassidy," Michael said. "I'm about ready to serve breakfast. I'm plating the kids' servings right now. And then I'll get to the adults."