Marriage is Murder

Jim nodded and drank his coffee as he too moved to help with the children lifting James into his chair them Catlin who giggled as she was lifted into her chair near Cassidy. Jess lifted Andrew and Jaylen then the others before sitting down her self and smiling as she saw Robert head out side knowing he was about to talk to Michael about returning inside to have some hot food. Jack and Steven joined them both and started to feed the children James choosing to feed himself as did Catlin, once the others had seen this they too followed suit much to the adults relief as they too could eat.

Robert walked a long time with Michael, talking with him, helping him put his concerns to rest. By the time they had talked it through, breakfast was overwith, and Khaat's kids and climbed down from the table to go run off and find toys. Angus had gotten up and began to clear the table. He glanced out to see that Robert had accio'd a softball from someplace and he and Michael were just playing catch in the morning sun.

"Where'd he get the softball?" Angus frowned.

"Softball?" Kate asked. "He's got that old thing out?"

"Yep."

"He's kept that stupid thing for years. He and Michael went to New York years ago and saw a baseball game and took a liking to it. They wanted to get balls and gloves but some American sitting next to them in the stands told them that if they weren't going to play regularly and just wanted to play catch every so often, a softball was better. Didn't require the gloves, and apparently the gloves take maintenance that neither Robert or Michael really have ever had time for. So, they each bought a softball and they've kept it. Once every few years, they actually get one of the softballs out and play catch. I think its just a stress reliever for them now. Its probably good for them."

"Do I keep food hot for them?"

"No," Kate smiled. "They know when we eat. They're big boys. They know how to find a piece of fruit or a scone if they want it when they get back. If they're playing catch, things must be a bit better. Let's just move forward with our day."

Jack looked up and chuckled at the mention of the soft ball "I remember those things not played with one since I was small" he said and chuckled as he ate his breakfast with Jess and Cassidy Steven looked up and just nodded as he fed James Jim didn't even look up he just and moved to sit in the living room knowing Michael would eventually come around his own thought went to the fact he would have done the same in his position and he didn't envy him that task nor would he have held it against him if he had carried it out.

Upstairs, Brian was starting to feel tired. He picked up Khaat's untouched scone and ate it with his cup of coffee. She was tired but not able to sleep. She was worried about Escobar and the beast.

"Brian," she said. "Where is my pensieve?"

"Right where its supposed to be. It wont help you, you know," he said. "It won't help you see into the present. And there is no memory from the past that will help you find him now. You really do have to stop worrying," he yawned. He leaned back against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes, the silence of the bedroom luring him into a deep, exhausted sleep the instant he shut his eyes.

The sound of his even breathing told her he was in a sound sleep. She knew to keep her back and neck straight, and she got up. The spinal pain and head pain seered, but she managed to get up. She found clean clothes and managed to shower. The marks of the chain were horrid looking around her neck. And they hurt. She was in too much pain to really dress. She found sweat pants and one of Brian's old football jerseys. She looked like hell, and she knew it. But if life was going forward, so was she.

Jess looked up and at Kate " Khaat" she said softly " do you want me to sort it or you Kate " she said as James took some food from her hand and ate it as she looked up to the room " I think Brian is sleeping , shes in pain too" Jess said and gave the food to James standing she wanted to go up but held back feeling Khaat had something she had to do and Jess was not going to even think of stopping her Robert was the only one she would listen too him and Kate. Jess glanced at Kate staying stood watching her, Cassidy looked up as she heard foot steps.

" I think Khaats up and out of bed , isn't it too soon for that?" she asked looking to Kate and Angus.

"I feel her anxiety. She can't settle," Kate said. "She's got something on her mind. Obviously Brian hasn't been able to resolve it for her either."

"If I know her, she's thinking about the fact that Escobar saved her by apparating out with the beast and nobody knows how that resolved," Angus said. "He saved her life, and he's been watching her for some time now for exactly that purpose. She feels like she owes him."

"Jess," Kate said. "Perhaps just offer her a bit of pain medication for now? If you give her a bit of the stronger pain meds, she's either going to sit down or fall down. One or the other. And I'm betting she hurts enough she wont refuse you. You wont have to urge her to sit down. It will just happen. You can just be her friend, then. That will go further, I think."

Jess nodded and moved up the stairs to Brian and Khaats room knocking she entered " hi you should rest" she said softly as she walked over to her " here " she said and placed her hand on her shoulder a she moved her back to the bed taking the pain gently from her she let Khaat sit on the bed. "what got you up?" she asked in a low voice so not to disturb the sleeping Brian in the chair close by. " you know he left you here because he knew we could help" she said " I'm sure hes fine and will contact you in what ever way he can " she said " I don't know what it was that possessed him to care for you I just hope it continues in a sense that he understands your married to an equally strong man" she took her hand and checked her pain it was to her tolerable and she stood back up to face her " rest Khaat , rest and recover for all of us" she smiled and looked to Brian taking a blanket she draped it over him." he kept you alive without him you would have passed " Jess turned and walked to the door " I'll let Robert know your up , hes talking with Michael out side right now."

"He won't interfere with Brian--if he's still alive," Khaat said quietly. "He knows where I stand. He's learned his lesson on that, I think." When Jess mentioned Michael, Khaat sighed. "I asked a lot of him. Only because I knew he was capable of it. I was counting on his love for my father to be greater than his love for me."

"And you miscalculated there, my dear," Kate said, passing by the doorway. She stopped only momentarily. "Much as Michael loves your father, he's not his godfather. He is yours. If it came to it, he would rely on your father to know how to take care of himself, and he would protect you. No doubt whatsoever. He would surely have voted to tell your father up front and let your father make the choices you tried to make alone. But--Michael is resilient. He's alright. And your father's steadiness and the fact that he supports your choices makes it easier for Michael to realize he almost had to use that spell you asked of him. Anyway, I was chasing some sort of runaway stuffed toy. Best I'd find it." She went down the hallway looking close to the floor to see if she could find the toy that somehow had gotten a mind of its own.

Jess looked at Khaat as she spoke softly " I know Khaat " she said softly smiling a she saw Kate at the door and a small toy disappear into a room close by. As Kate stopped Jess looked " um I think its in that room I saw a small bear walking in " she said and shook her head . " she is right Michael I think it struggling with his feelings that you asked him to make that choice" Jess said quietly and looked at Khaat , " but your here now and he didn't do it I for one am glad he didn't " she said taking Khaat's hand and taking away her pain as she felt it was growing again. Jack sat watching Robert with Michael talking out side .

" been awhile " he said Steven just nodded but Jim stood up and looked out the window.

" yes , yes they have " he said and looked to Jack " takes time to talk through emotions Jack"

Michael and Robert continued to play catch until Robert overshot a pitch and Michael missed catching it. It broke a window. The two of them laughed like schoolboys.

"I refuse to pay for a shitty pitch," Michael said.

"It wasn't a shitty pitch. You can't catch," Robert teased.

"Can so," Michael said. "You throw like a girl."

"Careful. Khaat can outpitch both of us," Robert laughed.

"And so can Kate," Michael laughed. They walked back to the house to go find the ball and to check the damage to the window.

"Figures," Angus sighed. "Give two old men a baseball, and see what you get. On the upside, wizards can throw worse things."