Marriage is Murder

Khaat let her father take her inside and he lowered her to the sofa.

"Rest a second while I get my bag," he told her.

"Its just ribs, Robert," her voice said.

"Are you back?" Robert asked.

"I never fully left. I just got tossed behind her," the voice said.

"Is she alright?"

"Pissed off. But, yeah. She's alright. Damn. I forgot how these could hurt."

"How could you forget? I patched enough of them for you."

"I also forgot what decent tea tastes like," the eyes looked up at him with boyish amusement.

"Cassidy, get him a cup of tea, would you?" Robert asked, heading up for his bag.

Cassidy nodded and headed for the kitchen to make some tea returning soon with a pot and to cups " its almond tea" she told them and pored a cup handing it to Khaat/Remus and she smiled " good to see you again" she said softly as she then handed a cup to Robert " here this ones for you" she said as Steven walked in and looked at Khaat.

" all clear in the east side " he said " Jim's out front with two of lee's men " he took a deep breath in and smiled " Almond tea, good tea that" he said as Jack and Brant walked in together Brant holding him slightly.

" I think he got more than he wanted " Brand said " I put a salve on to start the healing but he needs a healer" he said as Jess chuckled and took Jack from him.

" come with me dear" she said and lead him to their room leaving Brant stood in the living room.

" so far no sign sir, I see why Unc..Edward came that's some beast" he said checking on tricks as he rubbed his shoulder slightly.

"Thank you," Khaat said, taking the tea mug. Brian studied her, and decided something was still not completely right, but he couldn't figure it out. He went to check on Abbey. He woke her from her sleep spell while Robert worked on Khaat's broken ribs. Brian soothed away Abbey's horrifying 'nightmare' from her, and soon, he picked her up and carried her downstairs, the child curled into his neck.

When Abbey got downstairs, Robert had finished setting Khaat's ribs and had wrapped a binder around them. He was just helping her lower her shirt again when Brian arrived with Abbey. Abbey's eyes grew wide with utter delight. She forgot all about the bad dream and squirmed out of Brian's arms and jumped down to the floor.

"Unca Ree Ree!" she exclaimed, running and throwing herself up on the sofa.

"Uh...that's your mother," Brian said.

"Noooo. He a boy. It Unca Ree Ree," Abbey said. She looked back into the eyes in front of her. "Hi!!"

"Hi," 'Unca Ree Ree laughed. "How'd you know?"

"I see you. You a boy. Not a girl."

"Very good, Sweetie. She's brilliant, Robert," he said.

"Too early, but yes," Robert said.

"It happens once in a blue moon," he shrugged.

Jim watched and smiled seeing Abby cheerful and not the scared little girl he'd witnessed out side in the grounds. Cassidy smiled as she knew Abby recognized Remus within Khaat. She walked over to Jim and sat next to him " Remus is inside Khaat Abby recognizes him " she said and Jim nodded.

" means shes an early bloomer for a seer" he said and Cassidy nodded she agreed" not sure if that's a good thing from how Khaat's visions are going" he added Cassidy sighed as she inside agreed it might have been better if she had not developed this quick.

Brian watched and started to remember some of Remus's old mannerisms and recognized that this was just another visit.

"Tell me story," Abbey begged her uncle.

"I can't stay long," he said. "You know that."

"I know. You got time for story."

"A short one, then," he replied. He started to tell her a story, and it was one of the same stories that Brian had heard as a boy. Robert poured some pain potion into the tea mug.

"She'll need that very soon," Robert said.

"Most likely," was the response, "But you're interrupting the story."

"Oh. Sorry," Robert smiled.

Kate came downstairs and saw what was ahppening and smiled. She had hoped he would get the chance to spend some time with his family. It wasn't the way they had counted on, but it was time nevertheless.

Edward and Angus and Michael came in from their patrols outside, followed by Lee and one of his aurors.

"Lee, can I do anything to help with the man you lost?" Robert asked.

"No, I've got it, thanks," Lee said. "He had no family. We were the closest he had."

"I'm sorry, my friend," Robert said.

"Its a calculated thing. We both know that. Don't let that stop you from sending for me. This thing needs to be stopped," Lee said.

"Thank you," Robert said.

Steven walked in and looked at sight and smiled at Khaat/Remus as he moved to hang up his coat on the rack beside him Brant looked at every one and lent back on the wall " so one big happy family" he said softly and Jack poked him as he walked back in.

" yes we are, get use to it " he said and chuckled as James ran past and stopped in front of Khaat sniffing the air.

" he smell funny" he said and tipped his head as he watched Abby and listened to the story soon he sat down to listen as well. Jack looked at Brant and sighed and spoke softly.

" see we work better as a family you should know that being from a large family yourself" he glanced at Edward as he finished.

When the story finished, Abbey gave her uncle a little hug and a kiss and jumped down and ran off, contented.

"I have to go," he told Robert.

"Yeah. I know," Robert said. "Thank you." He nodded and left. Khaat's head spun for a couple moments as she regained control.

Edward listened to Jack and Brant getting to know each other. "Stay close to the house," Edward said to Brant. "Inside would be better. It isn't going to be safe out there tonight. They'll be looking for the slightest hole in our protection grid before we can uncover it. And, if I'm correct, they'll be doing more tinkering with that thing's genetics before they bring him back on the grounds."

Brant nodded and sighed " as much as I hate it I'll stay inside " he said Jack chuckled " hope you don't snore my rooms next to yours" he said and patted Jacks shoulder and walked of accioing his tent and things shrinking them as they flew to his hand and he placed them in his pocket. " okay I'm going to be no good to any one if I don't wash and rest" he said. Jack looked out of the window and nodded.

" yeah I c an still smell him out there" Jack said and turned to face Edward as he moved to check the other doors and windows.

"That's residual," Edward said. "Thats from how badly we tore him up. They had to take him out before we offed him. They'll be working on tuning him up to try to make him more invincible. The sad thing is that it has to be painful for any creature for what they have to be doing to him to make him indestructable. This really has gotten to the point that as dangerous as he is, its now come to a mercy killing. If we don't, what they will be doing will be beyond unspeakable. And no creature, good or evil, deserves that."

"Indeed not," Robert said. "But there is another consideration in my mind."

"Yes," Edward said. "If they're doing this to him, do they have any more in the works? I've thought about that. We'll have to try to find the lair of the pack and try to break it up. Are you even familiar with doing that?"

"Yes," Robert said. "We are."

"Good. Because it may come--and sooner than your people could train for," Edward said.

Jack looked at Edward and sneezed " yes " he said and listened he had to agree with Edward " I'm ready as well." he said watching as Brant walked back in his hair wet but he wore a clean shirt and trousers but bare feet.

" count me in too uncle" he said as he dried his hair which still looked straggly and unkempt " so you have any intel on where their base could be?" he asked sitting down accioing a cup of tea and reheating it with a ball of fire under it.