Marriage is Murder

Steven and Jack smiled " that ends wonderful its filled with marvelous view and fresh markets " Jack said Jess smiled at the thought " I think that would be wonderful " Cassidy nodded as she finished her soup.

" I agree , I have heard the spring waters has supposed magical quality's" she said as she took her beef wellington " be nice to see the south of France, be warmer than here " she added Jess , Jack and Steven all nodded they agreed.

"When were you ever in the south of France, Jack?" Brian asked. "I didn't know you'd been there before."

"It might well be warm enough to enjoy a beach or the pool," Kate said. "Unless you want to go to Hawaii, to the tropics."

"I did think about that," Robert said. "I honestly am sick of snow. So choose whatever climate you like. But..not to dampen anyone's dinner, but if you've been reading the Prophet, there are a number of half-informed idiots that think that they can run the government better than those of us who are trained to do it. Much like critiqueing a professional quidditch match when one has never been on a broom before. Its stupidity for the sake of it. I'm only telling you this to let you know that I honestly do not know how long I will be employed at the Ministry. I have no clue. It could be a long while, if we can control it, or it might only be a short time, if it gains momentum.

"However, I do want you to know that, just as I was prepared last time, I am prepared for either outcome this time. Probably better prepared. That is why I have purchased numerous safehouses and I am taking precautions to make sure that we will all be safe if we have to leave without notice. We aren't to that point, but, the new safehouse in the south of France is just one of the new locations I've purchased."

Jack looked at Robert then at Jess as he slipped his hand into hers " it was years ago when Jess first went missing, I kinda lost it for several months and ended up in the south of France, even now I don't know why or how I got their but I did in an old shack in the mountains " he smiled as Jess lent against him" but that's history now " he said and listened to Robert explaining " hey Robert we here whether your a minister or not your our friend to and we stand by you as that and head of the organisation to" he said Steven and the others nodded they agreed with Jack.

"That's probably a good thing," Khaat said, "because as this business heats up, I might not be the only one who might need a bodyguard. Daddy will be hated by the ones who want to oust him out of power."

"Khaat Karina Lupin," he immediately frowned at her. "I have not now or ever needed a bodyguard. And I won't start using one for some little ship of idiots."

"Robert," Michael said. "you surely won't mind if we stand by you to protect the ministry, will you?"

"Certainly not," Robert said. "But understand I will not let any of you toss your lives away for mine. I have a job to do, to protect wizarding England as best as I understand our laws to be. And I will do so. But the consequences of that are mine and mine alone. Your jobs, as always, are to keep my family safe, if that means we never return to England again. Are you all sure you're prepared to do that? I hold no ill will against you if you're not. But we face much the same situation, I think, as with Grindlewald. Our public is so bloody gullible that they believe utter balderdash, and they fight for their right to believe in it. I do not have any sort of ultimate power to protect them from themselves. My priorities are only in protecting our government and in protecting this family. Are we clear?"

Steven and the others listened and nodded " we stand at your side Robert as friends " Jack said again " we do what we do because we want to " Jess and Cassidy smiled and nodded as Jack continued " you are family to us and our children nothing can break that bond " Steven and Jim agreed .

"Guess were like the three musketeers all for one and one for all" Steven said and Jess chuckled along with Cassidy who shook her head . Jim stepped forward and spoke softly.

" Robert I have known you for years now and have I ever once left your side...ow not counting that time with the red head before Margaret " he said smiling a little " anyway I stand by your side what ever happens "

"As you recall, I told you that little red head wasn't the woman for you," Robert said. "Didn't like her from the start. You do know she's in Azkaban now, right? About five years ago. Killed her lover with a poisonous potion by slipping it into his morning tea. She sent me a letter last month wanting a review of her case, to see if I would let her out on probation. However, she didn't apparently know that I had also received word that she had attempted to kill one of the guards there just a few days before. And she was almost successful. I daresay if you'd ended up with her, you wouldn't be here now. Her mind seems to have gone a bit sideways, I think."

"Is that the Porter woman?" Khaat frowned.

"Yes, Why?" Robert asked.

"I'm scheduled to go see her at Azkaban tomorrow. She sent me a letter too, last week, asking I come to see her for a possible review."

"Absolutely not," Robert said. "I've already denied her review,and she knew it when she sent the request to you. She knows your rank does not supercede mine. She's setting you up. You are not to go. And that's final."

"Perhaps I should go," Khaat frowned. "If she's up to something, then lets go and put an end to it."

"I dont like it," Brian said.

Jim listened and went sightly red in his cheeks " ah yes I do remember that , its how I ended up with Margaret she was working that case when we bumped into each other" he said and chuckled " thanks for the warning and if that is the case I owe you one still" he said smiling. He stood listening to Robert and shook his head " damn that's not good , glad you didn't let her go she would have caused a heap of trouble " Jack looked puzzled at Jim who just shook his head " don't ask old story I'll tell you about it some day lad" he said and Jack sat back in his chair smiling as Jess cuddled against him.

" I agree she sounds a dangerous woman" Steven said folding his arms across his chest.

"Enough talk of dangerous women," Michael said. "I have some chai tea made that has a similar banana foster flavor if anyone would like some. Robert's new banana chai tea with some additional spices of my own."

"Why don't you just put a pot out and several mugs?" Robert asked. "Leet them help themselves?"

"I'll get it," Angus said. He went to the kitchen, poured a large pot of the tea and fixed a tea tray and put it in the center of the table. Kate poured several mugs and set them out for whoever wanted one. Brian took two and gave one to Khaat. Michael and Robert took one each as well, and Kate and Angus each took one.

"It's wonderful," Kate said, delighted. "I shall want another cup of this later when I'm curled up in bed with my book before I go to sleep."

"Then I shall make some more," Michael laughed.

"It is a wonderful finish to a lovely evening," Kate said.

Steven chuckled and nodded poring a cup for Jim, Jack and Jess Cassidy he pored and handed it to her kissing her cheek gently as he sat down next to her as they all drank. the tea Jess smiled " this is wonderful I agree with Kate its so soothing and comforting I might do the same " she said sipping more of the tea.

" Hum its okay" said Jack drinking the tea and placing the half empty cup on the tray on the table. Steven chuckled as he sat drinking the tea with Cassidy.

" well I for one like it too" he said .

When dinner was overwith, Kate took her leave and went upstairs to read, taking a fresh cup of tea with her.

"I will take a cup of that later," Robert said. "I'm going downstairs for a bit, and then I'll be back." He headed downstairs.

"Will you be alright if I go with him?" Brian asked Khaat softly.

"I'm always alright," she said.

"Except when you're not," he laughed. He gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek and followed Robert downstairs. Robert had decided to do a very advanced tai chi workout to help him stay in shape and to help him relax, both. Brian decided to join him, stepping in to work alongside him step by step.

Khaat was starting to ache again, her neck and her back and her head were all hurting. She simply had been up too long and pushing. She decided she needed to just go up to her room.

"Jess and Cassidy, if you two would check on the kids again, I'd appreciate it. My headache is really coming back. I think I just need to go lay down. I think I'm just going to go up to bed."

"I'll bring you some ice packs," Angus told her. "It will help. And some pain potion. Perhaps in some fresh tea?"

"Yes, please," Khaat said. "Thank you." She got up and headed to her room.

"I'll set the cleaning spells in place if you'd like to go join them for tai chi," Michael offered to Angus. "And I think I"m still capable of sending tea up to Khaat."

"You sure?" Angus asked. "I haven't had a chance to go downstairs for a long time."

"Go, then. I've got it," Michael laughed.