Marriage is Murder

Jim smiled as he saw the bottle of white " nice choice and yeah guess we are " he added walking back up the stairs to the living room where Jack sat with a book and Jess sat pencil sketching some ideas she had. Cassidy was stood by the window with Steven both talking about the woods and what could live in it Cassidy holding her cup of tea in one hand . Jim moved back to the chair he had occupied and smiled at how normal things seem to be but he also knew as normal goes something was usually just around the corner to knock that out for all of them.

Brian went up to the bedroom and found Khaat sleeping heavily still. He checked her to see that it wasn't the pain potion that kept her sleeping so soundly now. It was her own fatigue. He transfigured her clothes to a nightgown and easily slid the covers out from under her to pull them over her. He decided it was just best to let her rest. He checked the swelling in her neck and drew it off for her again and turned down the lights. He glanced out into the trees but now he saw nothing in the darkness. One just didn't typically see bats in the dark.

He went down to the playroom and called the kids for dinner. Food always got their attention. He led them out to the dining room.

"And here they come," Robert said, hearing the patter of many little feet down the hallway. Michael took the bottles of wine. "I hope they're hungry. It looks like we could feed a platoon."

"That's because we house a platoon," Michael said dryly, uncorking the white wine. He poured it into the glasses at the places for the adults. He took the champagn to continue to let it chill. "Come and eat, Everyone. That is, if you're hungry."

"This lot is always hungry," Robert said. "Angus, do ask your grandfather to join us in the morning for breakfast. Ask him to stay a few days, please."

"Certainly," Angus said, understanding Robert's reasoning.

Jack chuckled hearing the stampead of tiny feet hurrying to the table James moved to Take his hand leading him to the table then he motioned he wanted up Jack lifted him up to a " whee" sound and he chuckled placing James in his high chair as he too sat down " yeah I'm starved " he said as he grinned at Robert . Jim sat down chuckaling " hey your always hungry Jack " he said Jack pulled a tongue but chuckled " good wine Robert" he said again now that it was chilled . Jess left the wine feeling she wanted to keep a clear head Cassidy took a sip and found it to her liking and sipped more of it Steven staid clear knowing one sip and he would have fallen off the wagon he was not going to do that.

Michael and Angus served the plates, and Brian joined Robert and Kate and the others at the table.

"Khaat's not hungry?" Robert asked.

"No, still asleep," Brian said. "I decided to just let her rest."

"That potion should not have..."

"It didn't. It's her. She's just tired now," Brian said. "She's alright. I checked." He helped guide his sons to the popcorn shrimp and the french fries. The girls were already eating their dinners. Once he had the boys busy, Brian devoted himself to the lobster tail he had. "Incredible," he said. "I never get tired of really good food."

"As well you shouldn't," Michael said, "Its one of the things that make life worthwhile. Simple foods, prepared well. Part of the spice of life, Boy."

"Indeed," Kate said. She tasted her wine. "Lovely choice, Robert. I never get tired of that. Do you remember when we had this the first time?"

"I do," he smiled. "Paris. A few years ago." She laughed out loud.

"A few? A trip we made before we got married so I could buy the lace for my wedding dress."

"And you havent' aged a day," he said.

"Liar. But I still can fit into that dress, and with room to spare," she said.

"I wonder what happened to that suit I had?"

"You ripped it up in that squabble with the troll, remember?"

"Oh, yes. That's right. Irrepairable."

"Yes, and you were nearly irrepairable too. Had it not been for Remus saving your behind."

"How'd I miss that?" Michael frowned.

"You and Alette were robbing the Louve--again," Robert said dryly.

Steven and the others sat listening chuckling as Kate spoke to Robert Jess noting Kate's love of the lace noting it for her birthday . Jack ate his food as did Jess who had a light prawn platter in front of her with a salad and dressing in front of her. the children ate there food James taking a prawn from Jaylen but she shrugged and looked at Jess who smiled. Jim sat watching the window as he ate his oysters then sat back he handed Caitlin her drink and smiled as she drank and let him place it back down " you fought a troll, what started that?" he asked " and why was I not invited to that rumble?" he said and chuckled.

"Well, it was shortly after Kate and I were married. remus and I had been wedding attendants for Tom. You remember him. He married Janet and then they moved off someplace. I lost track of them. Anyway, Remus was having an...offnight," he explained. Remus missing his wolfsbane had always been a dangerous business. "I saw it was a full moon before he did and apparated him out into the woods. He started to transform the instant we got there, so I had to run like hell. Ran straight into a mountain troll. Barely escaped with my life. It wasn't one of my better nights either. Kate learned how to do a lot of first aid that night."

"I already knew, you git," she frowned. "I'd been bandaging you and your brother all the way through Hogwarts, or did you forget?"

"Well, you hadn't done anything like this."

"No, I hadn't. That's true. But you must admit, after all the blood I saw that night, I don't flinch at much now."

"I'm rather proud of the way I raised you," Robert grinned. Kate picked up a dinner roll and threw it at him. He caught it with one hand. "Thank you. Saves me from asking for one."

"I could serve you several more," she said.

"No thank you. Let's not encourage the children to start to food fight again," Robert laughed.

Jim chuckled and smiled " ah one of those nights " Jim said " sounds like I should be glad to not have been there" he said finishing his food as he looked at them both. " sounds like a wild night" Jim accioed some tea and blew over its rim as he watched every one he chuckled as Kate threw a roll at Robert and he caught it. He could not help chuckle at the banter that came after he saw Jess and Jack chuckling at the banter. Steven handed Andrew a piece of prawn and he ate it . Cassidy had chose just a salad with dressing and was loving each bite she took Fallon had a piece of carrot and was chewing on it happily.

"He was damned near killed," Kate said quietly. "He had more blood out than in. We knew so few people in those days. I sent an owl to Dumbledore who sent us a healer in the dead of night. It took him several days to recover. I don't remember how Remus got home."

"Dumbledore sent Hagrid to get him and bring him home," Robert said. "Hagrid hadn't been working at Hogwarts very long. We hadn't graduated that long before. I did survive, though. And I offed the troll."

"You did not. Dumbledore offed him two nights later. Remember? You were the one that ran like a little girl."

Robert scowled at her. "I was just 18. What the hell did I know about trolls?"

"You'd have known a great deal more if you'd paid more attention in Slughorn's class our last term," she said.

"Oh, here we go," Michael sighed. "Robert, do be so kind as to not take the bait on that this time, would you?"

"Good suggestion," Robert smiled, lifting his glass. "We shall discuss Horace Slughorn another time, my dear."

"You're welcome, honey," Michael grinned. Robert threw the dinner roll now at Michael. Michael caught it, laughing. "What do you think, Jim, can you catch it?" He threw the roll at Jim just for sport.

Jim laughed and caught the roll one handed " ow easy Michael " he said placing it next to his plate as he chuckled softly as he looked at them both. Jess chuckled as did Jack both watched the roll fly to Jim who caught it one handed Jess looked to Jack who smiled as he finished his food . Fallon chuckled and threw her carrot at Jim who again caught it and frowned " we really should stop throwing food " he said handing her the carrot back , she took it and ate it smiling at him.

"I really do not want to teach them not to throw food all over again," Robert said. "So you all know, I intend to go have a talk with the bat after dinner."

"My bat?" Abbey asked.

"Yes. Your bat. Do you know where he'll be?" Robert asked.

"Inna tree," she nodded.

"In a tree," Robert repeated. "Which tree?"

"His tree," she said.

"Can you show me?" he asked. She nodded.

"Alright. After dinner, you and I will go for a walk. I would like the rest of you to remain in the house on alert. Remember, he could have killed a long time ago, and he hasn't. Let's not give him any reason to think we're on the offensive right now."

"Wouldn't it be better to let Khaat talk to him herself?" Brian asked.

"I want her to rest," Robert said. "If he won't talk to me, then, yes, I'll send her out then."

"And he may not talk to you," Michael said. "Realistically, he's not in love with you."

"I should hope not," Robert frowned. "But I'm hoping he's dedicated enough to Khaat to talk to me at least within shouting distance. If he turns on us, someone needs to be prepared to apparate Abbey inside. Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"He no hurt me, Papa. He my pet," Abbey said. "And I love him."

"I know, Sweetheart," he smiled. "I just want to talk to him. Okay?" She nodded.