Marriage is Murder

Jess smiled and nodded to Khaat " of course sleep well " she said and pulled her legs up to her chest again. Jess opened her eyes watching Brian open and close his eyes as Robert passed them both " yes that and the head ache he will have as well" she said Jack was asleep in the chair close by him to keep and eye on Brian. Next morning Jess woke and stretched out her body as she looked and checked on Brian smiling as she found him sleeping.

Jack walked out with a tray for her " hey was going to surprise you with breakfast" he said and Jess smiled kissing his cheek as she took the tray and sat back down to eat.

Abbey woke early and dashed downstairs in her pajamas. She found Brian asleep on the sofa and jumped, full force, on him. He woke with a jolt, starting to sit up before his head stopped him because of the pounding pain.

"Abbey?" he frowned. "Where am I?"

"Silly daddy," she frowned. "It morning! You with me!" Then she scowled at him. "You make it dark last night?"

"Huh?" he frowned. "Make it dark? Me? I dont' know. Did I? What did I do?"

"You make it all dark. I have to sleep with Papa," she scowled. "You no do that anymore."

"I'd like not to do that anymore either," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"You gots a boo boo?" she asked.

"Um...I dont' know. Maybe," he said.

"You don't know much, do you?" she frowned, not happy with him.

"I certainly don't," he agreed. "Where's Mama?"

"I no know. Papa and Gam still sleeping. I get up early."

"You certainly do," Brian said. "Why are you up so early?"

"I go find Angus. He make me pink pancakes if I ask," she nodded.

"Ewww," he said, before thinking. It didn't even sound good. Coffee sounded much better.

Jess chuckled and looked at Brian poring out coffee a cup of coffee and walking over as Jack helped Brian to sit up as Jess gave him the cup. " you knocked your head hard last night in the pool " she said " we watched you all night , might be what Abby meant by all dark" she said sitting and picking up her own cup of tea and the scones Jack had made.

Jim came down soon after tucking his shirt into his trousers and brushing his hair " sorry over slept some one turned off the alarm in my room" he said and chuckled deeply.

"Thank you," Bri9an said as Jess gave him the coffee. It smelled divine.

"Ewwww," Abbey curled up her lip at the smell of the coffee. "Nasty. What that?"

"Fuel for daddies," Brian said, taking a sip.

"I never gonna drink that," she said.

"Thats probably a good choice."

"What it taste like?" she asked.

"Mornings," he said.

"I wanna taste," she said. He gave her a tiny sip. She immediately began to cough and sputter.

"It taste like dirt! Yucky!!" she was unhappy. "I no like that. Never."

"Then how about you go and get Angus to make your pink pancakes?" he asked. She nodded and bounced off and dashed off to the kitchen, shouting for Angus at the top of her lungs. Brian sighed, laying his hand on his head. "I really wish she wouldnt' yell, but the pink pancakes clearly are more important."

"Pink pancakes are everything," Robert said, coming downstairs. "I take it she woke you up?"

"Ever so gently," Brian said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"You hit the snooze a few times this morning, did you, Jim?" Robert laughed.

Jess smiled as she listened to Abby Jim chuckled as he looked at Robert " must have done Robert never slept this long before " he said " so, hows our boy this morning?" he asked as he sat down accioing a cup of coffee to his hand and chuckling as he heard Abby calling for Angus and her pink pancakes. Jess looked at them both and smiled as she stood up and walked over to them. Placing her hand on his head gently she drew off his head ache.

" that better Brian?" she asked as she checked his wound , satisfying herself he was healing up to nothing but a small scar." he'll live " she said and moved to sit back down.

"Much," Brian replied to Jess. "Thank you."

"Do tell me," Robert said to Brian, "what did you do?"

"I don't bloody remember," Brian said. "I just remember I wanted to swim. The next thing I know, my daughter is jumping on me, demanding pink pancakes."

"Why on earth did you go for a swim after the tai chi we did? Wasn't that enough for you? As I recall, we were all tired. How superhuman do you think you are?"

"What?" Brian asked.

"What were you trying to prove, and to whom? Its not like I question your abilities. Nor does anyone else here."

"I wasn't trying to prove anything."

"Bull," Robert replied.

"Bull, bull, bull, bull...." Dakota sang loudly, skipping through the living room to the kitchen.

"Oh, lord, can I tape their mouths shut?" Brian sighed. "Little parrots. All of them."

"At this age, yes. At least she doesn't know what she's saying yet. Wait until she learns what that all means and knows how to use it," Robert laughed.

Steven stood listening and watched as Dakota walked past copying what Robert had said " ow that's true wait till teens you'll her that a lot" he said and chuckled Jess checked Brian and looked at Robert before she moved back to the couch.

"don't worry its won't last long soon it will be no way or get a life" she said sounding like a teen and chuckled " I wouldn't worry too much Brian " she watched as Cassidy walked down tucking her hair behind her ear " wow morning sleeping beauty" she said as Jack chuckled.

" morning , sorry I,m let over slept, some one turned off the alarm when he got up" she said moving to Steven

"Looks like there's been a fair amount of that today," Robert said. He saw Kate and Khaat coming downstairs, with the triplets. The triplets were dressed, and Khaat was clearly dressed for work. "Did I release you for work?" he asked her.

"No, but I"m fine," she told him, sending the little ones to Angus.

"You will give me time to dress, right?" Brian asked.

"And where are you going, Mr. I've-Been-Unconscious-All-Night?"

"With you, Miss I-Need-A-Bodyguard," he replied sarcastically.

"You are not the only one I have," she said. Then she deliberately threw in a comment specifically to irk him. "I'm sure Emilio is outside someplace and will be happy to escort me today." Brian shot her an angry look. She smiled sweetly and shrugged at him, going to the kitchen. "I'm gonna hurt her," Brian muttered.

Steven looked at Khaat then at Brian as he spoke when Khaat left " might have others after you if you do " he said and chuckled knowing he was just joking about hurting Khaat.

"if she needs some one I'll go with her " Jess said and smiled " my shift starts this afternoon anyway " she said smiling as she stood up and looked at Robert then Brian. Steven sat down looking at the unfinished game in front of him . He smiled as he moved a piece and sat back.

"Are you lot going to let Michael and Angus's breakfast go cold, or are you going to eat?" Robert said.

"Uh...I think I'll pass," Brian said.

"I think you'll let me check your head if your stomach is bothering you," Robert frowned.

"He probably just drank half the pool," Angus joked. "But Robert is right. Breakfast is ready. I made homemade Hawaiian Sweet Bread and made french toast with coconut syrup, and all the other usual fixings."

"No pink pancakes for Abbey?" Robert laughed.

"Um..I cheated. She's got pink french toast. Its all the same to that child. I think she'd eat anything if I hexed it pink."

"I wish it had been that easy to get Khaat to eat," Kate smiled.

"She's not picky now," Angus said.

"No. Remus managed that by exposing her to all sorts of foods from all over the world before she even went to Hogwarts. Alright, enough chit chat. I'm starving," Kate said, heading for the kitchen. Robert went to double check Brian's bump on the head.