Marriage is Murder

"Thank you," Brian said, taking the plates for himself and Khaat. Robert set his plate temporarily aside.

"I should go find Kate," he said. "She must be working on something. I'll be back." He went upstairs to look for her and heard arguing. He looked into Khaat and Brian's room and found Kate in a bitter arguement with Remus's portrait about Khaat's ability to be involved in the morning's battle. Robert went over to her. "Dear, don't argue with the artwork."

"He is an insufferable know-it-all!" Kate fumed.

"Well, maybe its not all that off after all," Robert laughed. "What's he on about?"

"He thinks she can do this," she huffed.

"On that, I agree with him," Robert said. "But I'll tell you about that later. Come eat."

"I shan't say I told you, Kate," the portrait smirked at her.

"How would you like to be scrap paper?" she scowled.

"Kate," Robert urged. She turned and followed him downstairs where he settled her in a comfortable place and helped gave her his untouched plate. Brian was not having much luck in getting Khaat awake and interested in eating. She was tired and hurting and just wanted to sleep. "More potion, Brian," Robert said quietly. "That will help. Then give her a few moments." Brian nodded and went to find the bottle.

Brant sat and listened standing he walked up the stairs to see Robert and Kate. Kate arguing withe the portrait of Remus and he chuckled " wow what he do now?" Brant asked having heard of Remus but never seen him . Walking in he looked at the picture and stood for a moment. " um...good to see you Remus" he said " names Brant, Edwards nephew" he introduced himself to the picture feeling a little out of his depth in doing so. Brant left the room and went back down the stairs. Steven watched and chuckled as he saw the look on Brant's face.

" you met Remus" he said and Brant nodded " you'll get use to it " he said as Brant sat down poring a shot of whisky.

Brian had given Khaat more pain potion and was trying to get her to feel like trying to eat when the subject of Remus came up.

"Remus?" Khaat asked, frowning.

"The portrait, Dear," Brian said, seeing she looked like she had shifted to an uncomfortable position. He shifted her back to a straighter position, making her cry out sharply. "Sorry," he said, quickly soothing her. "I'm sorry. But you really can't sit like that. I'll draw some of that off..."

"You'd better let me," Robert said. He went over to her and drew off as much as he was able. Brian brought a cool washcloth and sponged gently at the good side of her face and her neck. She was trying to reel in her emotions and get a grip on it. She was trying to get a decent breath in again. "Calm," her father said softly. "I'm right here. We'll get through this. I promise. Just breathe." It took her a moment but when the potion kicked in, she managed to stop holding her breath from the pain. Robert had a feeling he and Brian were in for a long night. "Now, get yourself together and then try to eat."

"But what about Remus?" she asked, trying to regain herself.

"You can talk to Remus all night when we get you up to your room after dinner," Robert said.

"I am not moving," she said firmly, dreading anyone touching her or trying to move her again.

"It'll be alright," her father promised. He was quickly starting to doubt she'd be able to be at the battle in the next few hours.

Steven listened and sighed as he heard Khaat talking " yes I think he and Kate had an argument" he said softly " but its all sorted now" he moved and sat back down " you want my help" he offered to Robert " when the time comes of course " he added knowing Robert would prefer Khaat in her own bed and not on the couch as she was. Brant moved to the kitchen to find his cousin and if he needed any help.

Jess had moved out onto the balcony after making sure all the children were sleeping. Jack moved out to stand close by her. He kept glancing over at her but she kept her eyes outward looking over the grounds.

"Yes," Robert said to Steven quietly, double checking to be sure Khaat was going to be alright. Brian seemed to be stepping in to soothe her. Robert knew that Brian's very necessary repositioning of her had been excruciating for her. He hadn't talked much to anyone about the real damage, but they all had the general gist of things. "I don't want her down here in this recliner all night. She can't sit up all night. It will put too much pressure on that shoulder from the weight of her arm all day. But we can't move her upstairs the same way she came down. She's gotten too tired from trying to fight this all day. I will need to move her another way--much more carefully."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," she said tiredly.

"Oh, let him go," Brian told her. "We'll just talk about him too. It'll all be alright. Here. Have a couple sips of my iced tea. It'll help." He fed her the tea. It was icy cold and helped all the overheating she was feeling because of the pain. He was going to give her a moment before he asked her to consider eating.

"You have this?" Robert asked Brian.

"Yep. We're good. Go eat," Brian said. "If I need help, there's about a million people within earshot at the moment. I think we're good."

Steven nodded and continued to sit and watch. Jim chuckled as he watched Jack and Jess out on the. balcony.

" okay seems Jess is Jack a hard time too" he said as Steven looked over at the balcony and shrugged his shoulders.

" he deserves it" Steven said " after what he did" he said folding his arms across his chest as he watch them both. Jack said something to Jess making her slap Jack across his cheek. Steven could not help chuckle " now that he didn't deserve, shes really giving him a hard time" he watched as Jess walked back in.

" the nerve" she said and sat down next to Steven.

"Save the fighting til tomorrow," Robert told Jess. "You and Jack either need to call a temporary truce until afterwards or stay your distance from each other. We cannot afford to have anyone's attentions divided a second time, and if his presence here is a deterent, I will simply send you both off the grounds until this is overwith. I cant afford to have even one of you with your heads elsewhere. Let alone two of you. Get over yourselves at least long enough to deicde if you're going to fight the werewolves or each other. We don't have time for this."

He looked out to the balcony. "Jack," he called. "You and Jess get it together--now! Either you two call a truce until after this fight is over in the morning. Or you're both out of here until then. If you two can't be more professional than that, I won't take either of you into a fight. Am I making myself very clear?"

Jess heard Robert and nodded " yes sir" she said and glanced back at Jack "don't worry i'll leave him alone." she said as she saw Jack walked in having heard Robert call his name . He heard his words and nodded as Jess said she would stay clear of him.

" agreed no fighting , except against wears" he said and headed to the kitchen , finding Brant there he sat down at the table poring a glass of Juice for himself and drank it.

" never mind once this is over you can fix it " Brant said as he stood at the counter not far from him.

Robert joined his grandkids at the table, and they seemed grateful to see their papa's strong, confident presence at the evening table, especially when there were so many strangers in the house. It helped when Auntie Fi and Uncle Kieran sat down to join them. The kids were a bit uneasy but friendly faces helped. Robert turned his attentions to them to calm them.

Brian stayed with Khaat and Kate to be sure they could eat. Khaat's appetite wasn't good, but he didn't pressure her. The lack of appetite, given her injury, was completely normal. When she was finished, Khaat asked Brian to take her plate and set it aside. He ate while Kate finished her meal, starting to pick a bit as she got full.

"Kate," Brian said, "you've been up long enough. Let me take you upstairs."

"I'd fight you if I werent' so tired," Kate admitted.

"Fight me tomorrow," he told her. Michael got up and went over to make sure Khaat wasnt' alone so that Brian could help Kate upstairs to bed. Brian wasn't ignoring that Kate had almost been killed just a couple days before. He excused the two of them and took her upstairs while Michael got Khaat one of Angus's homemade sodas, put it over ice and helped her with it, one sip at a time.

Steven looked back at Kate as did Jess but it was Jess who spoke first " would you like a hand Michael" she asked getting up from the table as Jack gave all the children some food to tea and their sippy cups with juice in. Brant shook his head and pored a drink for himself.

"your all acting like their on death door their not and their healing so get over it" he said rather forthright making every one look up at him." this fight it going to come fast and hard and yet your all sitting here acting like this is the last supper , its not and sure as hell..., excuse my language, but I will for one want to live and go one at least one date" he said downing his drink and walking out onto the balcony.