Marriage is Murder

"I appreciate that," Brian said. Edward had felt Brian's mood shift too, and he followed.

"What is it you think she might gain from being in St. Mungos?" he asked Brian frankly but quietly.

"I haven't the foggiest," Brian said. "I keep wondering what I missed."

"That sort of deep, parasitic sort of dark magic takes a lot out of a person..."

"I know. We have some wizards permanently placed in St. Mungos because they never were themselves ever again. And she's so different now...."

"Is that what this is about? You're seeing her distance on top of how injured she is? Is there a part of you that is afraid you won't get 'her' back as you know her?"


"I don't know," he said irritably, brushing Edward away.

"Liar. Its all you see. You're afraid she won't ever be totally rid of the dark magic and you won't get the real Khaat back."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. Jess is right. She needs time. I honestly think what you're seeing is the effects of the nearly intolerable pain. If Khaat were truly following what Robert wanted for her, she'd be completely sedated to stop her from having to deal with this level of suffering. As it is, she's doing her best. Give her some credit for trying to have some grace about it."

"If she'd have listened, she wouldn't be in this now!"

"If she'd have listened, she wouldn't be a Lupin, now, would she?" Edward laughed gently.

Jess stepped back as Michael started to talk " my thoughts exactly and that was what I was trying to tel him" she said and sat down on a chair close by letting Michael take over on hearing Michael talk about Khaat being a Lupin she smiled and headed inside just as Steven arrived with boxes of Cheese cakes balanced on his arms.

" okay unless you want a cheese cake disaster , some one help" he called Jess ran and took several as Cassidy took three and together they walked them through to the kitchen setting them down on the counter. Jess noticed a special box wrapped in pink ribbon " ah ah, that's Abby's special one" he said and smiled.

(it was edward, not michael.)

Brian saw Jess leave, presumably to go help in the kitchen. He finished his cigarette and snuffed out the end of it in the ashtray.

"Are you up to helping to take care of them today?" Edward asked. "I can help if you're not."

"And what do we do about the beast? Do we let it run out of control?"

"For now, yes," Edward said quietly. "We're not up to fighting it right now. Not physically, not mentally, and not emotionally. When your fighters just arent' ready, you don't go fight. You know that."

"Then I'll get him by myself," Brian said.

"I didn't recall saying you were ready either. Give it a rest. We'll get him. I promise you. It just isnt' going to be today. Today you need to take care of yourself and your family. You coming?"

"I suppose," Brian said. He followed Edward back out to the living room. He saw a glimpse of the others unloading what looked like endless boxes of cheesecake. It didn't bother him. In this house, that many cheesecakes never lasted very long anyway. He glanced over at Khaat who had fallen into a half sleep. He decided to let her rest. Abbey was quietly curled up with Kate, snuggling, and appeared to be content. Robert had taken a seat in a chair between Kate and Khaat and was opening the morning newspaper. There was a part of him that wanted to rant at Robert for finding it a good time to read a newspaper. And then again, there was another part of him that was almost glad to see some normalcy coming back into their lives.

Cassidy and Jess both finished helping put the cheese cakes away , Jess walked back into the living room and sat facing them all she felt Khaat sleeping and Kate all was peaceful apart from the nagging worry from Brian " you can sense his worry can't you?" she said softly to Robert as she picked up a magazine and opened it to read a piece on art that she liked. Cassidy looked at the pair of them and sighed shaking her head.

"Okay, I'm going for a swim" she said and headed down to the pool to swim and stay out of the way of the tension even she could feel, and she wasn't a seer. Steven walked out and looked at Jess.

" leave that pink box alone" he said and Jess chuckled " where'd Cassidy go?" Jess pointed to the pool and Steven smiled " see you all later " he said and dove off after her.

"I don't have to sense it," Robert said with a slight smile. "I raised that boy. I know when he stresses. And this bugs him. She's going to be alright. Its just going to take time this time. I think part of what he's seeing is the emotinal fatigue she feels from the dark magic and from that much pain. That injury was nasty. If she'd been muggle, she might have bled to death before we ever got to her. And if she belonged to any other family than this one, she'd at least have been in St. Mungos. The fact remains, though, that she didn't even make a sound, despite all of this. I don't know of very many that could have dealt with all that without a sound. She can be tired if she wants to be. That's fine."

"Robert," Kate yawned. "Did you drink all the tea this morning, or did you leave me some?"

"I think that's code for 'Robert, refill my mug,'" Robert looked at Jess and laughed.

Jess nodded she agreed then on hearing Kate chuckled and nodded " allow me" she said and pointed to the cup refiling it with hot tea for Kate to drink " I have told him all that " she said " even Edwards spoken to him to, but , he still has that dough that she will be herself.." She could not help show her own worry's over Khaats lack of emotion towards what had happened to her " I just hope that that's her defense against the pain as you have said" she spoke softly so not to wake her. Jess looked at Brian and Edward outside and sighed " will he be strong enough to cope I have seen marriages brake up over this exact thing in the hospital , I guess she does have the fact she is a Lupin, who are suborn and determined to a fault" she chuckled as she turned her page.

"It is," Robert said, watching Jess refill Kate's mug.

"Thank you," Kate said.

"Cookie?" Abbey asked, looking hopefully.

"No," Robert said, "Not now. You just had breakfast. You can have some fruit in a little bit if you want, though." She looked at him with a pouty lip, and he merely looked at her over his glasses and then went back to reading his paper.

Khaat woke up with a jolt. It was hard enough that it hurt. Really hurt. She froze for a moment, closing her eyes, absorbing the pain. Robert looked at her, seeing how hard she jumped. He could almost feel how much that had hurt.

"Relax slowly," he told her gently. "Relax your arm and your back first, then your neck and that will make it easier to relax your shoulder." He talked her slowly through relaxing the tensed up shoulder. When he saw her finally able to breathe again, he folded his paper and got up and went over to her. He checked her. "Still some muscle spasm. I'll take it away, but you really do need to get something to drink at least. You need the fluids." He noticed the pain was making her sweat. He figured he'd be able to talk her into something cold to drink easier than something hot. "Were you dreaming?" he asked.

"Yes," she said quietly. "Just a nightmare."

"What was it?" he asked.

"Just that confusing nonsense that happens after a fever," she said tiredly.

"Are you sure that's all it was?" he asked.

"If it happens again, I'll tell you," she said.

"Fair enough. How about we try a few ice packs on that shoulder?" he asked.

"No," she said. "Don't touch it. Just leave it alone." He knew her too well to accept that. He laid his hand very lightly on her shoulder and drew off a bit more pain.

"I'll get you some more potion," he told her. "The next couple days will be the wost of it. We'll stay ahead of it as best we can." She nodded.

Jess looked up as Khaat woke quickly she felt Khaats pain and winced at the pain she felt from her. Jess looked to Robert " you need my help?" she asked but heard Khaats words she wondered just what nightmare could make her jump like she had. Jess moved to give Robert the pain potion and some sweet tea to hide the bitter taste that she knew it had. She wondered just how long Jack was going to be away for, though in her mind she hoped this time he would get it straight and not hesitate ever again where a wear was concerned. As she knew it might be her or one of the children laid out next time when he hesitated in battle. Steven walked back in and smiled as Abby asked for some cookies but Robert told her later and told her to eat her berries.

" ow berries make you big and strong, like your dad" he said and sat down to eat his food.

"I no wanna be a boy. I a girl," Abbey said firmly, as if Steven hadn't noticed.

"Thank you, Jess," Robert said, feeding Khaat a few sips of the sweet tea. "Better?" he asked Khaat. Khaat nodded slightly, leaning back again into the recliner. "You sure you don't want to talk about that dream?"

"Positive," she said. "Its just random nonsense."

"You mean you just don't understand it," He corrected.

"I don't eve know where to begin. Its not important. Honest," she said. "If I think there's more to it, I'll tell you."

"Promise me," he told her.

"Yeah, yeah," she said, reaching towards the glass of tea. He fed her a few more sips until she'd had enough.

"Good. Very good," he said. "You need to start getting food and fluids again."

"Not hungry," she said,. "Just thirsty."

"Then I'll leave the tea over here where you can get it with your right hand," he said. "Michael is fixing something. You do need to try."

"I'm just so tired," she said softly.

"You're weak," he said. "You lost a massive amount of blood."

"Did I?" she frowned.

"Yes. You nearly bled out yesterday. You don't remember?"

"Its sketchy. I just remember the caves and..the beast."

"Yeah, well, it didn't go so very well."

"I remember that. I don't remember much after that."

"Its okay that you don't. Do you need anything?"

"I'm cold," she said. "A fire,maybe?"

"How about a blanket?" he said. "The only one who is cold is you."

"That's fine," she said.

"Jess," Robert said. "Can you find a blanket and then go get in touch with Fi about that other business we talked about?" He didn't want to spoil the surprise for Abbey.

Jess nodded and stood up placing her magazine down on the seat and she smiled to Khaat , walking to a cupboard she took out a blanket and walked back changing it to and afghan blanket that would rest softly on her and feel warm too. After placing it down she moved to the window and ported to Fiona's Steven looked at Abby and chuckled.

" I know your a girl but even girls have to be big and strong look at your mother and how strong she is" he said " or Kate now she's a strong woman to" he said as he ate a blackberry and chuckled. He watched Jess go and smiled knowing she would be back soon.