Marriage is Murder

Jess smiled knowing it was a good secret " I don't know Brian but he does Hes playing now but I think Jack you need to talk to him and let him know hes om to be himself " she said Jack nodded and stood up but on the smell of cider sniffed the air.

"ow nice " he said but seeing Jess pointing he chuckled " yes dear" and left the room to get James. Walking back James looked at Jack who nodded "go on" he said and James walked over to Abby his head down as he spoke.

" sorry mabby" he said softly then looked at Brian " sorry promise I no do again.. " he said again then moved to Jack " can I have special drink?" he asked Jack looked at Angus.

"Any left?" he asked then smiled poring a small amount into a dark blue sippy cup and James smiled as he sat on the floor and contently sipped it then smiled.

Brian watched Abbey when James came out with Jack. She had merely sat quietly with her pink mug. When James came towards her, Brian very gently tapped her leg twice. She looked at him.

"Be nice," he told her quietly. She was tempted to scowl at Brian and then saw that Brian meant business. When James apologized, she hesitated. "What do you say, Abbey?" he prompted her.

"Okay," she said to James. It was the only words for forgiveness that a child not quite three knew.

"Better," Brian said. "Thank you, James." Abbey sipped at her cider and devoted her attention there.

"Daddy," she said. "I wanna kitty."

"You have two already," he said.

"I want more," she said.

"Let me think about it," he said. "Mama might not like all kinds of kitties in the house."

"She let me have what I want," Abbey said. seeming certain Khaat would not possibly turn her down.

"Oh is that so?" he laughed. "Drink your cider."

James moved and sat holding his sippy cup with his warm cider in it at the feet of Jack who smiled and nodded to Brian he looked at Max and Mo who walked past to the look out the double doors Max moved behind the couch while James watched him he looked at Jack but Jack shook his head telling him to leave the cats be and he staid sitting. Jess let the others find places to sit Caitlin sat with a white stuffed rabbit in her arms while Jaylen sat with her she held a floppy eared brown and white dog she clung to one ear as she walked around half dragging it behind her they too saw the cats and giggled. " maxie, momo" Jaylen said and giggled.

Abbey watched the cats come into the room. Somehow she didn't think they were as fun as the little ones in the barn. She finished the cider in her mug and handed Brian the mug.

"All done," she said.

"I see that. You don't want to go play? You have that pretty new playroom, you know."

"Maybe," she shrugged.

"How about coloring a picture for Mama?" he asked.

"No, but I do one for Bat," she smiled, bouncing up and heading off to the pink playroom. Brian was quiet, watching her go. he didn't speak until she was out of sight.

"I don't know why that bothers me," he said.

"You're jealous of a rodent?" Angus asked.

"They're not rodents," Edward said. "Bats are mammals. Either way, he's just new in her life. Its just a phase. She'll get over it. Let it go. Do you really see Escobar understanding the drawings of a two year old?"

"No," Brian said absolutely.

"Then don't trouble yourself with it," Edward said.

Steven looked up and watched Abby go he heard Brian talking and sighed " hes right they all grow out of phases " he said as Jaylen tugged at his leg to be lifted up. Jack smiled and nodded .

" I hope this one " he motioned to James as he finished his words " grows out of his stubborn phase thought I never so I don't see him anytime soon. Cassidy stood up deciding she needed to make something and so moved to the kitchen her mind on a lemon drizzle cake she loved the taste of.

"Well, do encourage that to continue, by all means," Edward teased Jack for mentioning in front of James that he wasn't going to expect James to behave.

"Oh, lets not get him started," Angus laughed, knowing that his grandfather had utterly refused to spoil his children or his grandchildren or great grandchildren. It just hadn't been part of Edward's makeup.

"What?" Edward frowned. "You have a complaint, Boy?"

"Oh, no, certainly not," Angus teased him right back.

"Enjoy it. You at least learned from little up how to hold your own with almost any magical creature around. You never had a problem with your Defense Against the Dark Arts classes."

"That's because they were boring," Angus said.

"That wouldn't be because you'd already been there and done that, would it?" Brian asked.

"How old were you the first time I took you with me?" Edward reminded Angus.

"I don't know. 10, 11, maybe," Angus shrugged, refilling his own cider mug.

"You were five," Edward corrected.

"What? I was five? And you took me on a werewolf hunt?"

"Why not? You were perfectly safe," he said.

"I thought they were camping trips!" Angus protested.

"And they were. Camping trips with some business thrown in," Edward said.

Jack chuckled at the banter between Angus and Edward he smiled as he looked down at James and thought harder that it would not be bad having him independent and head strong. He looked back at them both at the mention of wear hunting and frowned but only slightly " your ether a very wise or very foolish man for taking some one so young with you" he said " ether way I respect you more seeing how he is now" he said and bowed his head a little in respect to him. " maybe James and I need time alone " he said " kinda a bonding session?" he looked down at James then at Edward " of course not until the danger has passed ".

"If you want bonding time, take him to my compound and go down by the beach. You'll be perfeclty safe there and its nice and warm," Edward said. "You'll be alright. And I'm sure we can deal with it sufficiently for a couple of days. If we need you, we can send for you. It would be good for him."

"You shuld certainly go if you feel it would be good for him," Brian agreed. "We could go for days and not see any sign of the beast. Its alright. And, if we don't go outside, then the beast can make as much noise as he wants, even if he does come, and he won't have anything to do but to merely wear himself out."

"Which may be precisely what we do the next time," Edward said. "I, for one, would like to see how long he can last just running about and howling and making a general nuisance of himself."

James looked up at Jack and smiled " sleep out?" he asked Jack who smiled and nodded James stood up and ran to his room shouting 'yay' as he went. Jack stood up and smiled .

"Guess I'll take James down to the beach for a few days. " he said accioing some camping equipment and two sleeping bags along with a large backpack . James ran back his small back pack and jacket dragging behind him and a smile on his face. Jess chuckled and helped him on with his coat and bag.

" now behave for your dad and Jack behave yourself too" she said and kissed his cheek " look after him" Jack smiled and nodded.

" of course " he said and lifted James into his arms he turned to look at Brian and Edward " be back in three days" he said as James bounced in his arms.

" come on daddy , sleep out , sleep out now" he said and Jack chuckled aperating out with James held tight.

Angus watched them leave and then headed back to the kitchen to start working on the evening meal. He had a simple chef salad in the fridge for lunch whenever anyone wanted it.

At St. Mungos, Khaat had taken on her rounds. She had spent part of the morning working with the women, who often preferred a woman healer to a man. She had found that Escobar was readily accepted by most women whe he wanted to be. He had some sort of mystical seductive charms, and there were few women who could resist him. She found he was able to calm the women who were in the waiting room.

But one of her clients had not gone well for her. It was an exam Escobar could not follow her into. While they were alone, the woman transformed to a werewolf and clutched Khaat around her bruised throat. The stone burned the female at once, and fired some sort of spell at her. The werewolf had tried to maintain her hold but the stone refused to allow it. When she could not maintain her hold,s he immediately apparated out.

Khaat slid to the floor, gasping for air, momentarily stunned. The whole incident had happened in mere seconds. She sat in the dead silence of the exam room, sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall. She could hear a soft dripping sound. It took her several moments to realize that she had fresh claw marks around her already injured neck. She sat in the stillness, trying to regain herself.