Marriage is Murder

Jess nodded " if he doesn't he soon will" Jess told them all as she walked back to her seat Jack chuckled and nodded.

" I remember that " he said and listened to them both as Steven walked in from the kitchen his hands holding a tray of warm cookies for every one and a smile.

" ok cookies every one , fresh from the oven and Angus I did make these on my own and I cleaned up after as well so the kitchen so its as I found it " he said chuckling " thought I'd try my hand " he said placing the tray down on top of a tea towel to stop the heat damaging the table. Jack walked over and took one and ate it.

" nice choc chip" he said and chuckled as he moved back to sit with Jess again.

"Is it safe?" Robert teased.

"He can hold his own," Brian replied with a smile. "Most of the time." They took cookies and tasted them.

"Nice job," Robert said. "By the way..." he looked around the room. "Where is John? I haven't seen him in awhile. He's supposed to be with an adult at all times, remember? Anybody seen him since dinner this evening?"

"Not me," Brian said.

"Not me either," Michael said.

"Hopefully, he's doing laundry and packing to go live with the dragons for a week," Kate said hopefully. "Thats a hard training, but its definitely worthwhile."

"Agreed," Brian said.

"You do remember, don't you," Michael said, "that dragons stink?"

"Depends on the dragon," Kate laughed.

Steven pouted then smiled " he's with Cassidy did all his washing and packing an hour ago " he said " he seems to have understood what and why hes going" he smiled as John walked in with Cassidy at his side.

" sorry I was showing John how to use the iron not sure if he knew " Cassidy said as John smiled "lets just say he does now" John moved to take a cookie and smiled.

" I remember you made these when I was little , mum tough you how to make them" he said and ate one and returned for another" remember that it took you a whole day to get it right " he chuckled as Steven went to tickle him.

"Might have took me a day, but I got it in the end" he said smiling at John who smiled back looking at Robert and Brian.

" I will not let you down sir" he said biting his second cookie "Dad, don't mess up with Cassidy please shes defiantly a keeper." he said and Cassidy hugged him smiling at him.

" He won't get the chance to John" she said " not gonna let him, I'm no weak woman like that other one was and I take on being a mother to the twins and you John happily" she said and smiled as John hugged her tight.

"I know you believe I'm being difficult," Robert said to John, "And I am. BUt understand how many people I've watched skate through making one mistake after another and going farther and farther down the wrong path quite easily. Its much harder to do the right thing sometimes than to do what we want. I would much prefer you learn the lesson you need to know very quickly and get this out from over your head as quickly as possible so you can return to your studies. So--I want you to go try to honestly learn something from Charlie Weasley. Learn not only the powerful side of dragons but that they also are animals that need our care and protection. There is a vulnerable side to them. If it were up to the muggles, there would be no more of them. Muggles fear what they do not understand. When you get back, I expect you to be able to tell me how this has all made you, not a better boy but how its taught you how to start to learn to be that man you so desperately want to be. Is that clear?"

Steven looked at John who looked at Robert and shook his head. "No sir, your your not, your being very fair, I did the crime, so I will do my time and learn." he said he listened more and nodded " they are magnificent creatures and I will listen intently and learn all I can from him" he said as he slowly let go of Cassidy and nodded to Robert " yes sir" he said and looked at them both one hand now holding Cassidys in his own as if he felt secure now with her rather than resenting against her being with his father. Steven saw John and Cassidy and smiled.

" so any more progress on Escobar?" he asked looking from Brian to Robert and back.

"No," Brian said. "I honestly believe that in some odd way he's infatuated with her enough that he'd try to protect her rather than hurt her."

"And that doesn't make you jealous?" Robert asked pointedly.

"Not until he decides he wants to add her to his collection again," Brian said. "If that happens, then, yeah. I'm liable to let that bother me." Robert laughed slightly.

"Understood. And probably wise. If he helps to protect her at some point, then he is an asset..."

"Until the asset becomes a liability again," Michael said, sipping on a glass of firewhiskey. "Then can we kill him?"

"Who are you? Van Helsing?" Robert laughed. "You have a beef with him?"

"Suspicions, my friend. Just suspicions," Michael said.

"Don't let them run away with you. Not yet," Robert said. "He might be valuable, if this is correct."

Steven laughed at the van Helsing part and looked at Brian " you mean when he becomes an ass, rather than the asset" he joked and sipped his coffee Cassidy stood up and moved to the kitchen returning with a second plate of cookies placing them down close to John "go on you can have one" he said and John happily took one looking at Robert to ask his permission as well.

" um..would it ok if I took a cookie?" he asked looking at the plate then up to Robert as he spoke of a man John knew little about and by the sounds of it wanted to keep it that way.

"Yeah," Michael said to answer Steven. When Cassidy came back with the cookies and John felt he had to get permission even for a cookie, Robert looked at him.

"I am not your parent," Robert said quietly. "You don't have to ask their permission and mine about a cookie. Try to get this into your thinking. I am not your enemy, whatever it seems like Alright, you all. I do need to be doing other things. I'll head to my room and, provided all goes well, I'll just say goodnight." He got up and left the room.

"I think I will go start one of those books I got today. Goodnight," he said, heading after Robert. Brian knew Michael was going to try to divert Robert into some sort of strategy game--a very common thing for them.

"They really do need to admit they like some quiet time," Brian said with a slight smile, undisturbed.

John nodded and looked at Steven and cassidy who both nodded " its fine with us John" Steven said and he took one.

" sorry sir" he said and ate the cookie quietly , Steven and cassidy watched as Robert and Michael left the room to sleep both sighing and sitting back in their chairs watching Brian now.

" I guess John's still unsure of what hes actually permitted to do" Steven said and cassidy nodded then smiled at John.

" but its ok " she said and saw John give a small smile as did she.

"You're on a short leash," Brian said to John. "You're supposed to feel that way. It does get easier as it goes along if you prove yourself. If not, well, it can get worse."

Upstairs, Michael got out a handcarved mahogany box about the size of a cigar box. He took it to Robert's room.

"Not in the mood for cigars tonight," Robert said.

"Its not a box of cigars," Michael said. "You got another bottle in here?"

"When do I not?" Robert asked, accio'ing the bottle. Michael opened the box. It was a military strategy game. A complex one at that. "This looks like it could take days," Robert frowned.

"Years, sometimes," Michael said. "Unless you're scared."

"Let's play," Robert said, motioning Michael to set the board. Michael grinned and began to set up the board.