Marriage is Murder

Cassidy stood up and moved to the stairs " on my way " she said and headed to the nursery with a presession of children each holding anothers hand as they walked behind her and down to the dining room f or breakfast each giggling as they moved to their highchairs and Steven lifted them on one by one. " pancakes?" Jaylen asked as she was lowered into her chair.

" I'm not sure Jaylen you'll have to wait and see what Angus has made" he told her handing her her sippy cup with fresh juice inside it then moving around and repeating the action with each child before he sat down with a cup of coffee.

Angus had made french toast with fresh homemade cinnamon bread, and a number of other side dishes. He'd cut the children's french toast already into little square pieces. He and Michael floated the plates to the table.

"Smells great," Brian said, sitting in between Dakota and Abbey.

"Daddy?" Julia asked timidly.

"Yes?" Brian asked, knowing how timid Julia was and how rarely she spoke.

"Zoo? We go zoo?"

"The zoo?" Robert looked at Julia. He'd never heard the tiny girl mention wanting to go anywhere before.

"I read them a new storybook last night," Brian said. "It was about the zoo, and the pictures had some really wonderful enchantments on them. I can't blame her for wanting to go. Julia, its supposed to be cold and rainy today. I'll check the forecast for a sunny day and the first good sunny day we have, we'll go. I promise. Is that okay?" Julia nodded, seeming at least momentarily satisfied.

"Daddy?" she asked a moment later.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Can I haz a giraffe?" she asked. "I share my room with him."

"A giraffe?" Robert asked. She nodded.

Steven handed the others their food and smiled as Julia spoke softly about a zoo then a giraffe. " Maybe you could enchant one for her" he suggested " just a small one" he added and smiled " would that be ok Julia?" he asked hoping it would " then he could sleep in your bed too" Cassidy chuckled knowing just what Steven had in mind .

" ow Stevens good at that he enchanted a butterfly for Jaylen once when she would not sleep" she and took a sip of her coffee smiling" hes actually quite good at it"

"It would be safer for Steven to do it than for Khaat to do it," Michael said dryly, thinking of his own house in which everything was enchanted down to the dishes and the linens.

"That was accidental, and you know it," Robert laughed.

"You still won't let me undo it, though," Michael said.

"Because Khaat is quite fond of them all," Robert replied.

"Its furniture!" Michael said. Otto whimpered at hearing himself being demeaned back to funiture again, and the footstool pouted hurtfully on the dining room rug. MIchael sighed. "I didn't mean you, Otto," Michael said. "Of course I'd keep you. And Faline. But the rest of them really do need to be furniture."

"Think of it this way. Do you ever have to dust or vacuum or do yard work while you're gone?"

"Nope. Don't have to do it when I'm there, either. The furniture does it."

"Then why give up a good thing?"

"Daddy, I want my giraffe," Julia whispered softly to Brian.

"I know," Brian said. "I'll see if I can buy you a giraffe that Uncle Steven can enchant for you, okay?"

"I want an elephant!" Robert said loudly.

"I want a gorilla!" little Michael

"I want a zebra, Daddy!" Dakota said.

"And I want lots of big kitties!" Abbey sang. "Real ones!"

"Oh dear," Kate laughed.

Cassidy chuckled and accioed a giraffe for Steven " go on then" she said and he took it waving his hand he sent a shower of sparkles falling down on it and the small toy shook its self he smiled and placed it in front of Abby then he slowly did all the others son small stuffed animals ran around and the children giggled in delight " I hope this is all right Robert might want to make a small zoo for them all to sleep in at night " he added Cassidy chuckled as did Jess as she handed James a monkey that swung from her finger which he took and gigged as it climbed on to of his head and sat watching every one.

The toy elephant went charging down the hallway, sounding its trunk loudly. Robert looked in that direction and looked back at Michael.

"Get it," Robert ordered.

"Am I an elephant wrangler?"

"No. You're in inanimate objects wrangler."

"I presume you mean enchanted objects," Michael sighed, getting up, seeing the cats run after the elephant.

"Boys!" Michael called the cats, "Leave the toy alone. I'll get him." The cats ignored him, chasing the elephant. Michael walked down the hallway. "Oi! Get back here before I make you into a sock." The elephant turned and charged on Michael, sounding an attack sound. Michael was not impressed. He stood firmly in the hallway and when the elephant ran at him in a full charge, Michael just picked the toy up. "That's enough out of you," he told it firmly.

Cassidy chuckled as she watched the elephant dive down the corridor she heard Michael and laughed out loud " sorry its just so funny" she said covering her mouth as she sat with James and Jaylen who both sat holding monkeys James was blue while Jaylen's was a pink. Steven looked at Robert and shrugged.

" well they did ask" he said trying to stifle a giggle himself at the sight of Michael with an elephant dangling in his hand.

"Mine!" little Robert said, jumping, trying to reach the squirming elephant in Michael's grasp.

"Not until he learns some manners, he's not," Michael said firmly. Little Robert gave Michael a big pouty lip and Michael just looked at him. "If you think that works on me, go right ahead."

"Michael," Kate scowled. She called her grandson who went over to her. She picked up the boy and put him on her lap and soothed him, promising he'd get his elephant back and gave him a hug, a little kiss and a tickle until he giggled. Michael shoved the elephant at Steven.

"You made him, you fix him. Or he's a sock," Michael said.

Steven looked at the elephant and then at Robert " but..but there's nothings wrong with it " he said but sighed taking back some of the magic he made it some what slower. Lifting it he then gave it to little Robert and smiled noting not to use so much magic if he had to do it again. Cassidy smiled as he finished her food.

" well I'm going down to the gym to work out" she said as she stood up leaving Steven at the table with Jess and the others.

" Guess I should go too " Jess said and stood up " been leaving it way to long " she said transfiguring her clothes into gym clothes as she moved behind Cassidy.

"Why do you take things so personally?" Michael was irritated. "Its not your magic. Its his personality. I presumed you knew that if you could do the enchantment. Oh, I think I'm going to go do the dishes." He headed off to the kitchen.

"You must remember," Kate said, "Michael lives in a house that is entirely enchanted. He just deals with it. It doesn't generally happen so much around here."

"Not unless Khaat's magic goes wonky," Robert said.

"That is how Michael's house got so sideways in the first place," Kate laughed.

"I think I'll go check on her," Brian said.

"Why dont' you just let her sleep?" Robert asked

"I dont' know. I just would feel better if I checked on her," Brian said.

"Suit yourself," Robert said.