Marriage is Murder

Abbey was momentarily confused when Steven spke to her.

"He's asking if you want a treat from the city," Angus said softly in her ear.

"Ohhhh," she said, understanding. "Cake! Like Lizzie's!"

"Ah," Angus laughed. "Her Highness requests cheesecake from Sparks. What flavor do you want?"

"All of them," she nodded.

"Oh dear," Angus laughed. "All of them? Are you sure?" She nodded. "You heard her. Lots of cheesecake. Just have Lizzie put it on Khaat's account. Its fine. Who knows? It might lift everyone's spirits." Angus was thinking about how the cheesecake was always a soft spot in Khaat's heart too.

Steven chuckled and nodded " cheese cake it is " he said and stood up grabbing his coat he ported to Diagon alley and walked down to sparks smiling all the way. Pushing open the door he saw Lizzie and waved to her " hi, I've come for some cheese cake um Abby wants all the flavors and Angus says put them on Brian's tab" he chuckled as he sat down to wait for her to let him know they were on their way.

Jess smiled " its okay even I didn't quite understand what he was asking , glad some one did" she said after Steven had left the house.

"Coming right up, Steven," Lizzie said. "You do realize thats about 8 different cheesecakes, right? You sure you all like cheesecake that well?"


Abbey was glad she wasn't the only one that had needed a translatino at first. She was about to say something to Jess when she heard a noise. She looked towards the stairs and then looked at Jess, wide eyed. "Mama!"

"What do you mean, 'Mama'?" Angus frowned. "Mama is in her bed."

"No," Abbey shook her head. "She not. I hear her."

"Huh? I don't hear anything," Angus said.

"And you dont' have the hearing of a labrador, either," Michael reminded him.

It took a few moments, but Abbey turned out to be right. Brian was helping Kate downstairs, very slowly, and behind them, Robert had firm hold on Khaat and was helping her downstairs too. Abbey leaped up with all intends of flying at them to wrap them into a huge strong hug, not even seeing all the bandages they both had.

Jess saw what was about to happen and moved quickly grabbing Abby before she could do any harm to Kate unintenshionaly of course. " Abby remember what we spoke about , gentle, remember Kate and Khaat both have bad boo boos, now you can hug, but gently , okay." she said and walked her over to Kate and Brian. As Kate sat down on the couch Jess placed Abby next to her and smiled " okay Abby gently okay" she said and stepped back knowing she would do just as she was asked. Jess staid watching in case she was needed but was glad that Kate was on her feet.

Steven smiled at Lizzie and nodded " ow I know and yes I for one love the cheese cake from here , personally strawberry's my favorite but i'm guessing i'm in competition with Abby for that one" he said and chuckled " but I'm open to try any and all flavors, if it keeps Abby happy, were trying the Arabian knights theme since Khaat is having to wear a veil for a while, kinda so not to scare Abby." he mentioned as he turned the page on a paper that had been left on the table.

"No," Lizzie laughed. "That's not the one she'll fight you for. Her favorite is one thats not on the menu. But...I made a couple because of a special order. The customer ordered one, but the recipe makes two." She opened the cooler and brought out a pink cheesecake.

"Its a raspberry champagne filling," Lizzie said, "And I have a raspberry topping for it." She added the topping and then began boxing the cheesecakes up. "Abbey will be fine. She knows she's loved. And she's a smart little girl. She knows she has a big family, and I dont think she worries any more about being alone like she used to. She's seen a lot already in her young life, and she's learning how to just roll with it."

Abbey curled tight to Kate, and Kate kissed her. Abbey's gaze was fixed on Khaat, a bit fearful.

"She's alright, Sweetheart. She hurt her shoulder, but that's all," Kate said. "Here." Kate put her hand on Abbey's shoulder. "But its going to be fine."

"Papa help?"

"Absolutely," Kate said. "We're all helping."

Jess smiled and nodded " yes all of us in our own way " she mirrored softly as she saw Abby gently rest with Kate. Steven chuckled and looked at the pink cheese cake " that's good she loves pink in all things" he said and spotted a fluffy pink cat sat in a window " she'd love that might get it and others for the kids" he stood up and walked over , buying them he shrunk them into his pocket before he returned to the cafe and waited for the cakes. Jim watched as Cassidy cleared the table and relay it ready for Lunch with a clean table cloth and cutlery. He moved a piece on the bard and watched as Cassidy walked over moving a pawn , soon they say facing each other and played a game.

Robert flicked his wand at the large leather easy chair and transfigured it to a recliner and helped Khaat to it. She didn't even take a chance on breathing out until he'd made her comfortable and had taken away the paian of moving.

"You really should be in bed. Both of you," Robert said to them.

"I'm fine, you old worry wart," Kate said. "The kids need their grandma." They noticed Khaat didn't reply. She merely leaned back in the new recliner and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Brian looked at Khaat. Really looked at her. He didnt like what he saw. He said nothing, but he was really feeling like he needed a cigarette. Kate looked up at Brian, not entirely sure what was bothering him,but she felt his energies turning negative. She could feel him dealing with depression and some fear and some grief, and she wasn't entirely sure why. She wasn't going to bring it up to him. Not while Khaat was here. But apparently he had seen something that she hadn't.

Jess looked at Kate then to Brian and back " I think its best to let him deal on his own and in his own way , I feel it too" she said softly to Kate " but I'll keep and eye on him" she knew it would pass as she got better but right now he needed support just as much as Khaat did. she moved to walk and follow Brian. Accioing a cigarette she held it out to him " here I know you have been wanting one" she said and lit it for him before placing it in his hand. " smoke it and calm down her energy is all over the place as she has gone threw a really bad thing, give her time to recover in all things, if she was in the hospital she would not even be out of bed she'd be on full sedation and bed rest" Jess moved to lean on the railing of the balcony.

"Thank you," Brian said quietly, grateful. "All I saw when I looked in her face was death. Like she was gone already. I've...seen a lot of death. And there's always a certain dark empty look...when there's nothing left and the soul goes blank. That's what I saw in her eyes. The gray color to her skin, the dark circles under her eyes..." He inhaled off his cigarette. "She told us she was going to be up. She's pushing. I don't know why, but she's really pushing. And we all know she'd surely be either in intensive care or just out of it. One or the other. I have no idea what Robert is thinking. I just don't get it."

Downstairs, Robert accio'd a couple of blankets. He laid one beside Kate and draped the other one over Khaat who was shivering.

"I don't have to tell you to rest, do I?" Robert asked her.

"No," she said quietly.

"I mean it. You're not to even think about being on your feet without help. You won't make it, and then I'll have you in surgery again. You do know that."

"Yes," she said, no emotion in her tone. He stroked her good cheek. He wasn't as far off as Brian thought he was. He knew this was going to take time. He knew that when she felt comfortable, she would rest, really rest. And he hoped once that happened, she would feel better.

Jess looked at Brian " its early days yet , it will all come back as she heals I have seen it at the hospital too " she told him " it takes their energy and she lost a lot , that's what you see and feel as she gains strength physicality her energy will come back too" she added looking down at the ground under the balcony. " were all giving her our energy in our own way " she added " when I check her I slip some energy to her as does Cassidy and Steven in their own way" Cassidy walked out and chuckled seeing Brian smoking .

" wow must be bad" she said and saw the look on Jess's face " look Brian we're all here for you and Khaat , she'll get better" she said and placed her hand on his shoulder.