Marriage is Murder

"She is," Robert said. "But the damage to her shoulder was serious. She's liable to have trouble with it for awhile. I'll do the best I can, but its not going to be painless for her. And she's going to have some diminished use of that shoulder and that arm. Maybe her hand."

"What are you telling us?" Angus asked.

"Its going to be immobile for awhile to heal, but even then she's going to have lots of trouble with it. She's going to have trouble just being comfortable. And, so you know, she knows the beast got her face. She's upset about that. She's feeling like she could be disfigured for life. I will do the best I can, but..." he hesitated before he finished. There is a possiblity that she might end up being right if I can't fix it. Its too soon to tell."

Jess smiled and nodded " we'll do our best to keep things normal as possible , so that would mean physiotherapy for her hand and shoulder" she said softy as she finished her food and sat drinking a class of fresh orange juice. Jim looked at Robert as they all waited for his reply to Jess.s question Steven saw an orange flash and grasped it as he sighed again " carrot any one " he said and held it up to show Michael before he walked it back to the fridge and into the cooler draw where it lay down and did not move again. Walking back he looked at Angus " maybe you should consider carrot soup for supper today" he said and heard small cried of anger.

"Yes," Robert said. "Brian, I'm sure, already has ideas for rehabilitation of it. He isn't going to just accept that she wont' use it again. I think he knows he needs to do the fighting for both of them right now. I would expect her to pull away from everyone, though. And probably more when the bandages come off her face than while she has them to hide behind."

"I have never allowed her to reject me, so that isn't going to happen now either," Michael said. "She should still have the veils she used when she was burned. We'll just get them out temporarily if we need to. We're not going to let her just withdraw."

"Good thought. I hadn't had time to remember those. I'll have Brian find them for her. She had quite a selection, if I remember."

"Yes. She does still have them. I know where they are," Angus said. "In the meantime, will she want food?"

"She might not, but I want her to eat. Try some sort of culinary bribery if you have to."

"That would be my department," Michael laughed.

"Indeed," Robert laughed. "You can always come up with something for her to eat that she can't turn down."

Jess and Steven sat watching knowing Michael's soup held more vitamins than any they knew on the market. bRANT SAT AND LOOKED FORM ONE TO THE OTHER THEN AT jESS. " HE MAKES A WONDERFUL SOUP AND IT REPLACES VITAMINS AND MINERALS WIZARDS NEED , HES GOOD THAT WAY." she said and saw Steven nodding as Jim headed to the chess board again she looked at Brian and heard mention of the veils " ow there in her wardrobe in a small draw in the back I saw them there when I was cleaning " she said and smiled " though if I'm right Abby didn't like them much did she" she said and looked to Abby as she gave her a large strawberry.

(sorry about the caps, damn thing came on again, think i'm hitting it by accident)

"She didn't really like them, thats true," Robert said, remembering Abbey's inability to determine that it was Khaat. It nearly had torn Khaat and Brian apart, if it hadn't been for Brian's determination not to lose his family over the upset of a child not even quite two. "But I don't see that throwing Brian whatsoever. It might throw Khaat if its still an issue, but Brian' isn't giong to give in. Brian said she hasn't been awake since her fever broke, so he hasn't had a lot of coherent conversation with her since this happened...."

A note floated down from upstairs. Robert motioned to it with his finger and it floated to him. He opened it and read it.

"Ah. Brian. Says Khaat is awake--or trying to. I need to go upstairs. Her pain is back," Robert said.

"I'll prepare something for her," Michael said.

"Thank you," Robert said, getting up.

"Papa?" Abbey asked, her mouth full of berries, the last in her bowl.

"Yes?" Robert asked.

"I go? I see Mama?"

"Give me a little bit, Sweetheart," Robert said gently. "I know you want to see her, but let me go take care of her first, and then we'll see. I promise. Okay?" Abbey nodded. "Thank you. You're a good girl. Have some more berries, okay?"

"I like berries," she nodded. He laughed and went back upstairs.

James sat and listened sighing as Robert spoke " well if she has to go back to them maybe its better Abby sees her with them on more so she won't be scared as much" he said softly Jess looked at Robert worried it would hurt Abby to see her mother covered again. Cassidy staid quiet feeding Abby strawberries one by one. Steven stood up and walked to the doors.

" well I better do my rounds wears or not the animals still need tending to" he said as he opened the door Jim walked over to him and said he'd go with him for some fresh air.

"Well, thats probably true," Robert said. "but that gives me an idea." He summoned paper and a pen and scribbled a short list and laid it on the table. "How about on eof you going to Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley and gget these story books and bring them back. I think that might help. Along with any others that might have similar illustrations."

The list was a number of story books that portrayed exotic fantasy princesses, all having a nice, friendly reason to wear veils for a short time, as part of the stories. Robert's thought was that he would expose her to the veils, the storybooks, and help Abbey have costumes like the princesses in the storybooks. His thought was that if Abbey had costumes and she had worn veils as well, she wouldn't be afraid.

"Alright," Robert said. "I'm going upstairs." He went upstairs to find Kate not just up and out of bed, but over in Khaat's room. She was sitting on Khaat's bed, tending her daughter. Robert tried hard and fast to reel in his panic.

"Why are you up?" he asked her quietly.

"I'm fine, Robert," Kate said, more concerned with her daughter than herself.

"I tried to tell her,..." Brian began.

"How about you let me do this now?" Robert asked Kate gently, not sure how she was up yet. And he didn't believe she was fine at all.. "Please."

Jess chuckled " Arabian nights is it to be Robert" she said and smiled " sorry couldn't help being on the same tack " she said and whispered to Abby " ow you'll love them a princess falls for a beautifier prince but she comes from a country where veils have to be worn" she said " but the prince falls for her for under her veil she looks beautiful" she told her and finished her food and drink. Steven and Jim walked around the perimeter watching for any signs that any one had left the cave , there was nothing. Cassidy chuckled and nodded her head .

" I remember that , they all looked beautiful in their swish clothes all pink's and purples, they wore sparkler jewelry, ow didn't the guy ride a rug or sorts?" she said trying to remember.

"Well, there are a number of storybooks in that sort of theme," Michael said. "And thae variety might amuse the short attention span of a three year old. Its a good plan. Anyone interested in going to Diagon Alley? Or should I just send the list to them and have them deliver them? I think, if I know Fi, she could whip up costumes for the litle girls overnight if we ask her. I've never heard anyone complain about her stitching, it might be worth a thought...unless Fi's lost her sewing skills."

"Brian," Robert said, "Take Kate and make her comfortable someplace. Just not right here."

"Do I make you nervous, Robert?" Kate asked calmly as Robert poured more gold potino for Khaat.

"Yes. I figured you'd give me at least til tomorrow," he said, deeply concerned. "Here. Drink, Sweetie," he said to Khaat, feeding her the potion. She didn't even try to fight him. She was too glad to have a chance to be rid of the pain. It started to work almost instantly. She closed her eyes, not wanting to show the deep relief she felt by being rid of the pain.

"Well, you thought wrong," Kate said.

"Shall we not give him a heart attack, Kate?" Brian asked quietly, taking her slowly over to the sofa and sittiing her there.

Jess looked to Cassidy who smiled " I'll go and ask Fiona to make the dresses m give me some time to look at cloth might ask her to make me a few outfits myself." she said and Jess chuckled .

" I'll ask Steven to get the stories from Diagon alley" she said just as they walked back in Steven heard Jess and chuckled.

" I shall go" he said and bowed to Abby " if the princess will allow me to leave her side" he said as if wanting for her order " what is your order your highness?" he said and smiled up at Abby in the hope to make her laugh.