Marriage is Murder

Robert and Michael took the car and went into the village to do some shopping at the muggle shops. Kate and Angus and Kieran and Fi took the kids into the kitchen and left them decorate batch of cutout cookies however they wanted. There was more frosting on the kids and all over the kitchen than there was on the cookies, but the kids were happy.

In Venice, Brian got Khaat up and refreshed and dressed, and when he was dressed, he diverted them entirely. He took her to Switzerland to do some shopping. His thought was to take her to a place that was out of the reach or out of the thinking of those who were following them. The village they visited was completed decorated for Christmas, and he discussed with her what he had already done in their shopping, and he let her do some, with frequent resting. They skipped lunch and enjoyed some holiday snacks, and then he diverted her again to Germany that night for dinner at a local restaurant. His thought was that she was safer in plain sight of the muggles, out in the open, but keeping her moving.

Steven drove back with a boot full of parcels each he had bought for the kids and one for Cassidy a special one or two. pulling in he shrank it all and slipped it into his pockets as they would not all fit in one. Jack chuckled as he walked out into the garage to make sure everything was al right.

" did you by out the shops?"£ he asked and Steven chuckled and shook his head.

" nope but just" he said handing Jack the last few gifts " come on don't want the kids seeing them" he said " we can put them in cassidy and my bedroom for now" he said walking over to the room. Jack glanced out the garage door hoping Brian , Robert and Khaat would be safe but he knew any problems they would signal them.

Robert and Michael shopped and were delighted to find that they had not been followed. They had looked. They were not only finished with their shopping but they'd bought extra. They'd done very well. They drove the car back, but apparated up to Robert's room and hid the packages there. They'd cast spells on the packages for them to wrap and label themselves. It was not the way Kate wrapped gifts, but Robert preferred to use his time a bit more effectively while he was this busy. Once the packages were wrapped, he and Michael hid them.

In Germany, Brian had treated Khaat to a meal of traditional German favorites. It was wonderful. Brian had a whole backpack full of shrunken shopping bags, each bag all jammed with packages. After dinner, he took her on a nighttime sleigh ride in the snow with a wellpaid hired driver. They were huddled under blankets with thermal mugs of hot cocoa, his arm around her, drawing her close to him. It was lovely. They had one more night they could spend away because by morning, they would be facing Dec. 24, and they both felt the need to be with their family. Not being watched here had been amazingly good for Khaat, and Brian chose not to take her back to Venice and to let the suite sit empty tonight.

Instead, he found an old friend--an organization member who posed as a muggle and ran a little tiny bed and breakfast in the snowy mountains in Austria. They'd been to four countries in one day, but when Brian arrived with Robert's daughter, they were welcomed like royalty and given the best room the tiny inn had to offer. After they were shown to their rooms, they were brought their own hot cocoa recipe and a plate of german traditional Christmas cookies and asked when they wanted breakfast. The inn served breakfast by 8, and Brian agreed. He asked for some coffee sent to their room before that, and the innkeeper was more than happy to oblige.

Brian gave Khaat a warm flannel nightgown and warm slipper socks--an early Christmas present. White flannel, beautiful lace, and a pink satin rose on the v neck of the nightgown. They curled up in front of the fire in their room, enjoying their snack and watching the snow fall outside. Tonight, Brian didn't have to worry. Tonight, he could let his guard down and just enjoy being with her. And he fully intended to.

Cassidy set the spell to warp the gifts and hide theirs in the closet Steven wrapped Cassidys of course then Jack and Jess looked after the kids playing a game of find the cat which they knew Mo or Max would not mind as they deliberately moved and hid then moved on once found. Jack chuckled and sat down with Jess " do you think Khaat and Brian will come back for Christmas?" Jack asked Jess sighed as he asked hoping they would return and celebrate with the kids. Steven walked in and chuckled as James ran across his path after Mo giggling as he ran and so did the others.

" well some ones having fun " Steven said as he moved to stand by the fireplace.

"You two worry too much," Angus said, carrying in Abbey who was clean and in clean pink pajamas with feet that had kitty faces and ears. He'd braided her long hair into two braids to keep her hair from tangling during the night. She was cuddling a pink kitty made of soft terry, and she was cuddled into Angus. "He isn't Rob. He wont' forget his kids. We're looking for Papa and Gram. She would like a story before bed, and she wants either Papa or Gram. I won't do tonight apparently. Got a clue?"

Dakota was asleep already, with the other kids, but Abbey was finding all the excitment of Christmas was making it entirely too hard to go to sleep. Angus had tried hot cocoa, rocking her, and all the tricks that usually worked with Abbey, but she understood that she was getting presents in a couple days and was finding it entirely too hard to sleep.

Jack thought a moment " try their bedroom but I'd knock first I saw them with something earlier " he said and smiled as Jess nodded to him she too had seen them. Cassidy walked out and over to the kitchen grabbing some juice for herself and walked back out.

" Angus is right though were all thinking of Brian like Rob in a way he'll come back for Christmas he loved the kids that much" she said and sat down next to Jess w h o nodded she agreed.

" they are having a relaxing time to help Khaat recover nothing more and even she as bad as she is won't forget the kids" Jess said |" a mother knows " she sat back and folded her arms across her chest " I trust them to come back" she added.

When Khaat woke, Brian was up and dressed. He had stoked the fire again, and the room was getting warmer again. He'd set a folded stack of clothes in the chair by the fire. The coffee tray had apparently arrived because he was pouring coffee into the mugs. She could smell it. He brought a mug to her nightstand.

"Good morning," he smiled and kissed her. "Did you sleep alright?" She nodded. "I laid out some warmer clothes for you. We'll have to go join the others today. Tonight is Christmas Eve, you know." She nodded.

"It will be cold?" she signed. He nodded.

"Enjoy your coffee. I'll draw a bath for you while you wake up." He filled a bath with scented oils for her while she had her first cup of coffee. He was pleased that, althought Robert would have still probably had her on a very careful diet, there was almost nothing that her system would not tolerate now, if done in frequent small portions. And Brian thought her walking was getting better every day. The few days he'd had her away had made an immense improvement. After her bath, she found he'd provided for her soft jeans, a warm sweater, and tan boots that seemed well worn, seemed almost familiar somehow. He seemed to enjoy brushing her hair and casting a glamour charm for her. He had packed while she was dressing. Once she was ready, he handed her the cane she'd come to rely on and took her downstairs to breakfast.

In Colorado, Robert was assailed by a 2 year old leaping on top of him as he slept and shaking him. "Papa! Papa! We get toys?" the chipper litle voice was excited.

"Tomorrow," he yawned. "Not today, my sweetheart."

"Mama come today?" she asked. She shook him again. "Papa, wake up!"

"Yes, Dear. Mama will come today. What time is it?" he groaned.

"I no read, Papa," she reprimanded him.

"I do," Kate came from the bathroom, buttoning the cuffs on her shirt. "Its well past time your papa was up, Abbey. Jump on him again and get his attention." Robert was going to protest, but Abbey was quick to obey Kate.

"Okay, I'm up," he said. "Go to breakfast with Gram, and I'll be down in a moment."

"Okay!" her little voice was almost a singsong. "Don't be late, Papa." Kate and Robert both laughed as Kate took her down to the dining room.

Jack and Jess woke to the sound of the kids happily running around and they both smiled at each other " almost christmas got to be expected " Jack told her and she nodded her head , kising him gently she slipped form the bed and dressed heading to the nursary as she opendd the door they all filed out heading to the main living room and the kitchen to see what Angus had for their breakfast " ok line up and walk properly" she told them and they did as they were told walking in hand in hand to the dining room read for breakfast . " mummy is father missmus coming?" Catlin asked Jess who nodded and smiled each little face lit up at the thought of gifts coming that night for them.

"So you have to be good tonight " Jack said walking in and sitting with them as he helped feed them all. Cassidy and steven walked in smiling as they saw the children sat at the table eating with out fuss " now thats good to see" Steven said as he sat with them all waiting but not for long as they all saw Kate and Abby " morning Kate and you too Abby" they all said smiling.

"Good morning," Kate said, helping Abbey up to her chair. "Robert will be down in a moment. He was tempted to sleep in this morning, but someone..." she looked at Abbey, "wasn't going to let that happen."

"Imagine that," Angus laughed. "Khaat and Brian only have the next 50 or 60 years to go now with that. That excitement about Christmas never stops. Not even when the kids are grown up."

"You're right, you know," Robert said, arriving. "Sorry, all. Felt good to slow down for a moment last night, so I slept a bit longer. What's the weather out there?"

"Heavy snow coming in from the north later this afternoon," Kieran said. "Could be a couple of feet of it in the next couple of days. Anybody ski? Besides my little brother?"

"Khaat," Robert said. "She loves it. Particularly cross country skiing. "

"I do," Michael said.

"What?" Angus laughed.

"Don't give me that look. Its not that absurd for someone over 20 to ski," Michael said.

Jack and Steven smiled and nodded each chuckaling as Angus spoke of christmas excitment with the children " yeap and some people still get excited even as adults " Steven said seeing the smile on Jacks face. Jack chuckled as Catlin giggled.

"missmus , missmus" she said bouncing in her chair Jack gave her some juice and smiled as she took it and downed it .Andrew just threough his box and Jack caught it .

" thats not the right way to get gifts young man" he said and looked sturnly at him Andrew pouted but said he was sorry and Jess gave him his food. " Robert its ok to slowldown abd boy did you need to mate" he said smiling at him.