Marriage is Murder

Steven sat listening he was shocked to know John had taken the port key from Cassidy box. " I agree Robert, as much as I love him, he needs to know its not all about him now." Steven said Cassidy looked at Robert and spoke softly.

"I should have locked my box Robert I'm sorry for that " she said softly " won't happen again" she added and moved stand next Steven ho took her hand in his in her own and held it tight. " I hope he will learn a strong lesson from all this" Steven looked at Cassidy and nodded.

"I'm afraid I have to agree hes my oldest and only son to Janet I just want whats best for him and right now leaving him in your capable hands is best" Steven said looking at Robert and Brian.

"I expect you to keep all your keys with you at all times," Robert told them. "They give unrestrained access to our safehouses. Keep them on an unbreakable chain on a necklace or a bracelet or miniaturize them and put them on a ring...whatever you need to do to keep them. An unwatched key or portkey is a vulnerability. John is settled for the moment. I want you all to get some sleep before the kids get up We are still going to have a good Christmas. We are not about to let the silly choices of one person ruin our holiday for the numerous people here. Go sleep, shower, and come back down here with an attitude of making this a good day for all the little ones we have. If I haven't taught you by now that family is everything, then I've taught you nothing."

"We know," Michael said. "I'll take your boy here up to his room and make sure he gets into bed safely. After he warms up, he'll be right as rain."

"A shhot of firewhiskey will help with that," Robert said. "I'll see you all in the morning, then. Goodnight--again." He headed up to his room to go to bed.

Cassidy nodded and so did Steven both now knowing to keep the keys on them Steven clipped his to his keys making it look like a charm to any on else. Jack looked at Robert and took out his key that hung next to his medallion Jess held out her necklace with hers on. "Don't worry ours are all on us all the time" Jack said then nodded to Robert as he and Jess left for a shower and to change ready for the days festivities. Steven and cassidy headed up to their rooms and showered before returning both now relaxed Steven still thinking of John but knowing this was just waht he would need.

Michael took Brian up to his room. Brian found Khaat had not been able to sleep without him there. She had been laying in the dark, awake, just watching the fire in the fireplace.

"You do have sleeping potion, you know," Brian told her.

"Were you nervous about trying to calculate the dose of a magical potion?" Michael asked her gently. She nodded.

"I'll get you some," Brian said.

"You go to bed," Michael told him. "I think I can still pour sleeping potion."

"Only half," Brian said. "As small as she is, it won't take a full dose."

"I really can figure that out," Michael said. "Bed. Warm up." Michael went into the bathroom and poured her only about a third of a normal dose. He didn't believe she needed all that much. By the tiime he came out, Brian had manged to slide under the covers that Khaat's body heat had already warmed up. "Should I have brought you a dose too?" Michael asked Brian.

"No," Brian yawned, feeling the warmth of the blankets and the warmth of the fire as it all combined with the warmth of the cocoa he'd just had. Michael handed Khaat the tiny dose of potion.

"Take that. That little dose wouldn't even endanger Abbey," he reassured her. She took the potion, and Michael took back the glass. He snapped his fingers, dimming the lights. He added some logs to fhe fire and returned the gass to the bathroom before he left. He went to the door and was going to tell them goodnight but he heard the even breathing that told him that they were both already asleep. He went to his own room, showered and shaved and changed and returned to the kitchen to meet Angus to help the crew prepare for Christmas breakfast.

Jess checked all the gifts under the tree and smiled as did Jack Steven placed his to one side but cassidy mixed them with the others frowning at him for leaving them to one side she smiled when she smelt the food cooking " ow Angus must be cooking up a feast " she said and Jack felt his tummy rumble making Steven chuckle. Jim walked down his arms filled with gifts and he smiled.

"Margaret had made some of these for you all, so I hope you like them." he said and placed them under the tree some he even placed in the trees branches and he stepped back " there that's better" he said and moved to sit down waiting for the rest to awke and arrive.

When they had a break, Michael and Angus took a break and slipped silently up to Khaat and Brian's room and found the packages they'd bought that needed to go under the massive tree and took them downstairs for them before the kids had a chance to wake up.

Robert took a short nap in his room before getting up and showering and shaving and dressing in jeans and a natural colored cable knit pullover sweater over a blue plaid shirt. Kate wore jeans and a natural colored turtleneck with a matching tunic length hooded cardigan and tan deerskin ankleboots. Robert ported out to go see Lee to try to secure John's release, and Kate went to get her five grandkids up. She wasnt' surprised to see they were already awake. Abbey was trying to dress herself and had just about all the clothes ripped out of the closet and the drawers. Kate just laughed. Abbey's intentions had been good. Kate snapped her fingers, sending the clothes back to the drawers and the closets.

Kate had bought Christmas outfits for the kids. She had, for the boys, warm cordoroy pants and coordinating plaid flannel shirts over plain colored t shirts. For the girls she had knit rompers that had Christmas embroidery on the bibs. Julia's was blue with snowmen and snowflakes and had a coordinating white long sleeved t shirt. Dakotas was black with a starry sky and Santa flying across the sky in his sleigh with the reindeers, and it went with a red long sleeved t shirt. Abbey's was a red romper with a winter scene that looked like a child had drawn it--a house with smoke coming out of the chimney, a brightly decorated Christmas tree, and little forest animals gathered in front of a snowman. Her romper was paired with a tan long sleeved t shirt.

The kids made a dash for the downstairs as soon as Kate let them go. They all headed downstairs--except Abbey. Abbey scampered into her parents' bedroom and leaped on top of Brian, jumping excitedly up and down on the bed.

"Daddy! Daddy!" she jumped up and down. "Daddy! Wake up!"

"Nooooo," Brian pretended to not want to get up. "I told Santa to take back all the toys...."

"No! Daddy! Get up! Up! Get up!" She took her finger and pulled up one of his eyelids. "You in there?" Brian couldnt' help laughing now. "Gam says its time to get up." Khaat was just watching Abbey struggle to wake Brian up. Abbey looked at Khaat. "You do it. Make him get up, Mama." Khaat reached over and tickled Brian relentlessly. Brian laughed uncontrollably. "Alright, alright. I'm up. Give us a few minutes and we'll be down, Abbey."

"No, come now," she insisted.

"Two minutes, Precious," he said. He and Khaat showered quickly. Brian chose a simple pair of jeans and a brown v neck cashmere sweater with the sleeves pushed halfway to the elbows. Khaat wore jeans and a natural colored turtle neck and a long tan beaded and fringed suede duster. Brian kissed her softly. "You are beautiful," he said.

"Daddy! You say 2 minutes!" Abbey tugged his jeans. "Come ON!" He picked her up. and took Khaat's hand and went down towards the Great Hall.

Steven smiled seeing the boys rush in Jaylen and James stopped and ran over to him each standing beside him not sure if they could open the gifts " wait for the others " he said softly Fallon toddles in holding a nursery staffs hand and giggled seeing all the shiny things around her. Andrew and Katlin walked over to Jack and Jess and sat down next to them both.

"Soon?" they both asked and Jess chuckled softly and nodded.

" just got to wait for every one to get here, its more fun that way. " Jack told them smiling as he saw Brian and Khaat with Abby walk down

Angus came in and saw people gathering in the Great Hall.

"I know this wont' be easy, but breakfast is ready in the dining room," he said. "I think the kids will like this breakfast." He looked at the kids. "Santa left you a special treat in the dining room."

"I want to open presents!" Abbey said.

"Well, your first ones are in the dining room," Angus said. "Come on." He motioned to them. Abbey ran to him and Dakota followed. The triplets followed their sisters and went too. Angus took them to the dining room where he had actually cast a magical spell over the kids' plates to cause them to be covered in colorful wrapping papers. Abbey shrieked with delight. She raced to her place and began tearing off the paper. He'd made sugar cookie flavored pancakes for the kids, each one's pancake looking different, and each one decorated with all the precision of a master pastry artist. They didn't need syrup, and each place had two pieces of crispy bacon, a little bowl of fresh fruit, and a cup of juice. Dakota and the triplets were as excited as if they'd gotten to open toys.

For the adults, Angus had a big breakfast buffet, with every imaginable five star breakfast entree imaginable and every feasible side dish, and a whole table full of juices and hot beverages.

"I trust you lot can feed yourselves," Angus told them.

Jack and Steven chuckled seeing the look on the children's faces as they sat and ate their food. Then nodded to Angus " of course looks wonderful Angus " Jack said as he picked up a plate and began filing it Steven did the same but only half filled his Cassidy and Jess followed then sat down to eat Jess helped Andrew while Jack helped Catlin with her food although they did try and use their forks and spoons witch Jack smiled at even though most of it went on the table or back in the bowl. Steven watched James and Jaylen eating with their fingers he smiled as Cassidy wiped Jaylens face clean even with John not their he felt it was still a family occasion knowing he could give John his when he came back or send them out to him, he ate his own food quietly.

Robert was immediately let in to Lee's office and found Lee there. Lee was wearing jeans and a plain gray sweatshirt.

"Did I take you away from your family?" Robert asked, feeling sorry for how many hours that Lee had put into John so that perhaps John's situation could be resolved enough that he could be returned to Robert's control before Christmas was over. "I'm so sorry, Lee."

"Robert," Lee smiled gently. "You are my friend. That's just what friends do. Now--I have the transfer papers. We have legally resolved nothing. He's merely been arrested and charged and is in holding. These papers transfer the legal jurisdiction of the charges to you and released John into your custody."

"I understand," Robert said. Lee handed him a pen and Robert signed the forms.

"John's been given back his clothes. He's on his way up here to my office. You do realize that he has to make things right not only in England but by our laws as well?"

"I do. But how he does that is my choice," Robert said. "I have that all designed. He begins that tomorrow. Thank you Lee."

"No problem. Merry Christmas, Robert."

"Merry Christmas, Lee," Robert said.