Marriage is Murder

Cassidy smiled and nodded as Jess moved to the kitchen to make the tea that Kate had suggested for Khaat . Returning Jess held a pot of tea and two cups on a tray " there we go" she said and walked up to Khaat placing the tray down " the other cups for Brian when hes ready" she said and sat back in a chair not far from her leaving her to drink the tea Cassidy moved back to the nursery and to settle the other children and Dakota who she found drawing on the walls . Cassidy sighed and cleaned it up telling her not to do it again a she placed Fallon in her cot to nap.

"Thank you," Khaat said, wrapping up in a robe to ward off the chill she got from being out without her coat. She had found a warm robe made of gray sweatshirt material and she wrapped it around herself. It didn't look very glamorous on top of the silk, but it was warm. She mentioned nothing of Brian or how stressed she felt. She knew it was normal for every couple to fight.

She picked up the tea mug and sipped at it. "New blend, huh?" she said. "I don't know where Daddy finds the time." She recognized the cinnamon cookie flavor and also some chamomile in with it. "Smells like my mother's cookies," she said. "Brian will like it. Jess, I'm thinking I need to go back to work. I have two jobs and a business. Its time I got back at it. I can't stay away forever."

Jess smiled and nodded " don't rush it Khaat " she said " take the time to heal your wounds " she said and drank her own coffee as she too sat with her legs up resting against Jack " thought I would talk to Brian about it first " she said " helps if he knew" she snuggled close to Jack and smiled as he smiled down at her also. Jim sat looking at the chess board while Steven looked out the window watching for the black bat should it appear in the darkening sky around the main house. Once the children were settled she walked back down to the main room and chuckled " your looking well " she said to Khaat a she sat in the chair apposite Jim .

"I know you're right," Khaat said, hoping it would be really soon so that she felt like she was contributing again. Brian returned, having settled things in the playroom.

"Fortunately the attention span of a three year old doesn't last more than about 3 minutes tops," Brian said. "Its all good again now. At least with my daughter. I don't know about things with my wife."

"As you said," Khaat replied, without any emotion, "you wanted to take care of it yourself. So apparently you did."

"Do we have a problem?"

"Now why would we have a problem?" she asked with a slightly edgy tone to her voice.

"Alright," he replied quietly. "We'll talk later, then."

"Whatever you want," She said, sipping on her tea. Brian headed to the kitchen to get some coffee for himself. She looked up to see her father watching the exchange. He knew she was still unhappy with Brian but was not in the mood to discuss it.

"You need to find something productive to do," Robert told her.

"I was just thinking that myself," she said. She put the mug down and excused herself and went upstairs.

"You're an idiot," Kate scowled at Robert.

"Why now?" he frowned.

"Productive? Seriously? After she was nearly hung? What are you thinking? Do you know how she's going to interpret that?"

"A book, perhaps?" he shrugged.

"No, you git. She's most likely trying to get dressed to go in to work."

"She's not duty fit," Robert frowned.

"Then go tell her yourself," Kate said. "But do it now."

"Women!" Robert sighed, frustrated, going upstairs.

Cassidy and Jess both looked at Robert and shook their heads " when will men get to know what we like" they said, Jack and Steven both laughed.

" I think we two do well in that department " Steven said and Cassidy chuckled looking at Jack as they sat with a cup each of tea. Jim smiled and continued his studying of the board and his thoughts.

" well Margaret and I get along just fine " he said " I do my part when home and she understands that we have our time when I'm home. " he said smiling.

"I'd go up and help, but I don't appear to be on her good list at the moment," Brian said.

"No, you're not," Kate said. "Neither is her father. You're on her other list because you were in a lousy mood. He's on her list because he was just being unreasonable. Again."

Robert went upstairs and found Khaat in her closet. She had changed to a black midi length sweater dress and black boots. She was casting a glamour spell to do her hair and makeup.

"And how do you plan on hiding that ugly mess around your neck? Do you think your glamour spell willl do it?"

"Clearly it did not. A scarf should do it."

"If it goes down into your shoulders and halfway up your jaws, then yes," he said.

"You're a git," she said.

"So your mother tells me. I haven't released you for duty."

"And you work for me."

"In every area but that one. Your fitness for duty is up to me. Now--stand down. I will not released you. Not today." He flicked his wand and turned her dress back into a nightgown and her boots into slippers. She was so infuriated that thunder rolled through the house. "Temper, temper," he said.

"I liked that dress and those boots!" she bellowed at him, clutching at her throat. Yelling hurt.

"I'll change them back later," He said.

Jess looked at Kate as Robert headed up to Khaat she stood and followed close she didn't go into the room but heard Khaats shout and sighed shaking her head as she walked in to see Khaat holding her throat " Roberts right and I'm not just saying that because he's my employer, its because hes like a father to me and every one in this household" she said softly as she walked over and drew off Khaats pain from her throat " as for the dress and boots they will be just where you got them from in your wardrobe" she added then stepped back " um.. I'll be down stairs , please don't kill each other, your both both the only people who can heal each other " she said and chuckled.

Khaat gave up. Her father always did seem to have the upper hand. And, she truly did know she wasn't up to it. And she was grateful for Jess' pain relief.

"When I told you to do something productive, I surely didn't mean a return to work," Robert said. "Why would you think that?"

"Because maybe I need to be useful again?" Khaat asked.

"Maybe. But not today," her father said. "Where's your tea?"

"Downstairs."

"Then if you want to be useful. go and get it and drink it," he told her. Downstairs did seem farther than she had realized. She didn't really feel up to going clear down there to get it. She waved his concern for the tea aside and curled up on the sofa in the bedroom with the book Michael had left there earlier.

Jess listened and accioed the cup when Khaat didn't go down for it. " here I fetched it for you" she said placing it next to her on a small table next to the couch. " I rewarmed it for you" she said and stepped back " ok if you need me I'll be down stairs" she said and left heading down she looked at Kate and smiled " well there not fighting " she said and sat with Jack and cassidy who was reading a mystery novel with her legs pulled up against her. Jim looked up and turned the chair from the board , turning it into the room " that's good I hope" he said looking at Kate.

"They don't usually fight for long," Kate said. "He does something she doesn't like, she calls him a name, he blows it off, and she has nothing to fight back with. My guess is that it lasted less than a minute."

"I wish I had a galleon for every time they've done that," Brian said, bringing in his coffee.

"And what would you use all that ridiculous wealth for?" Kate laughed.

"I have no clue," he laughed. "I could probably buy England by now."

"No doubt whatsoever," Kate said. Than you for taking her tea back to her Jess. I can't blame her for being edgy today. Its not every day that one is hung by the neck until nearly dead. Its unusual even for us Lupins."

"Give her a day or so. She'll be herself again when the upset of that wears off," Brian said.

"She'll be better when we get to dinner tonight," Angus said. "Michael is pampering her with one of her favorites. She'll be pleased."

"What is he fixing?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you, but you should all be prepared to be hungry tonight," Angus said.