Marriage is Murder

"She's really getting tired now," Michael said quietly to Jess. "She's had more than enough for one day." He was concerned about how overheated she was from the pain. He knew she usually handled pain well but this was getting to be too much because she was tiring. He knew the cold soda would bring some relief.

"Feeling a bit of battle tension, Brant?" Robert asked. "I think its not the adults. Its the little ones. They're not used to so many people in the house at one time. Its not normal. It makes them nervous. We'll make sure they have a few more cuddles tonight, maybe an extra story...maybe an extra cookie. They'll be fine."

"Cookies, Papa?" Dakota asked.

"Yes, my Sweetheart. Cookies. At storytime tonight," Robert laughed.

"Papa?" Abbey asked. "I sleep with you?"

"How about I stay with you until you go to sleep?" Robert asked.

"But, Papa, there monsters...."

"I'll make sure no monsters get in. I promise," he said.

"You look under the bed?"

"Uncle Jack is very good at chasing out monsters. I'll have him check your rooms. Twice if he needs to. Okay?" Robert asked. Abbey nodded.

Brant looked at Robert and sighed " I guess, I'm just tired of seeing everyone acting like were at a wake " he said and continued to eat , Once finished he picked up his plate and walked into the kitchen looking at his cousin as he did. " how do you cope with them Angus?" he asked now leaning ahead against the counter. Jess looked as Brant spoke then left she shook her head then fed James.

"He doesn't know us at all does he." she said continuing to feed James as Jack fed Catiline quietly. Steven looked at Cassidy both shook their heads and sighed.

" nope but if hes going to be here he will , quickly" Steven said and chuckled." maybe I should get him drunk one day.

"What do you mean, how do I cope with them?" Angus frowned. "I don't have any problem. I spent a lot of time training with Grandfather, and then under Robert and Brian. Brian and I have been mates for a long time. Here perhaps is the history you don't know. Brian and Khaat grew up together. Brian's parents were killed when he was 8. He and Khaat were friends. Robert and Kate were all he had then. Fi and Kieran were at Hogwarts. Robert raised him and Khaat in the same household, and they trained under Remus and Robert from almost day one.

"Brian moved to Paris after he graduated and he worked for Robert there as the commander of Robert's fighting forces there. Khaat was married once before and got pregnant. The pregnancy nearly killed her. The night she went into labor, her husband told her he was the biggest illegal potions dealer the wizarding world have ever known. And then he left her. Khaat had a miscarriage and Robert called Brian as an extra healer to help try to keep Khaat from dying in the delivery. It took her weeks to recover, and technically, she was homeless at that time. Brian brought Abbey here as a newborn and when Khaat was able to be released, he brought her here and took care of them both and promised they'd never want for a thing.

"That's when he called me. He needed a bodyguard for Khaat and someone to help him run the estate because it was too much for him to take care of it and them. I've been here ever since. They're family, Brant. And they have the same ethics that the Donohues do. They will stand together until their last breaths.

"I know their priorities because they're the same as ours would be. I don't know what it is you don't understand or have trouble with. Maybe you've just been alone too long."

Brant sat and listened to Angus to all he told him about Brian and Khaat he raised an eye brow at the mention of Khaats other husband being a potions dealer. " I heard about that, nasty business" he said and let Angus continue he grew more to like the Lupin's the more he heard about them. Brant sighed and nodded " he does sound like our family and I guess I have been on the road too long Angus" he said and gave another sigh. " I really should have come home sooner, but the tombs of the pharaohs in Egypt were just so interesting " he said looking at Angus.

"I did come once I heard how bad things had got" he said " I think I'm ready to settle down Angus , if that's possible with me, shesh I think I'm actually all traveled out" he said and chuckled softly.

"Dead people," Angus wasn't imporessed with Egyptian mummies. "We get enough dead people and ghosts and weirdness here. I don't have to go to Egypt to find it."

Robert finished eating and looked over at Khaat. He determined there'd been more than enough. "Jess and Fi and Cassidy, how about you please get the kids their baths and help them into their pajamas? I'm going to get a few people and we're going to get Khaat up to bed. She just simply can't be up anymore." He got up and called Steven and Brian. "We need to move her upstairs. And there isn't any way to do this without causing her pain if she's awake. I'm going to have to cast a bit of an anaesthesia spell in order to numb her from the pain. Once she's asleep, we'll have to be very careful in how we move her. We can't jar that shoulder, and that's not going to make this an easy job. And then I won't want her left alone."

"She won't be," Brian said very firmly.

Brant laughed out loud " ow now, that's worth staying in one place for cousin" he said and smiled as he stood up and moved back to the living room .Steven stood up and moved to Brain's side.

"just say how and I'm there" he said moving to stand at the left side of Khaat waiting.

"Don't worry I think I can help there, sir" Brant said moving to stand with Brian " after the fight do you think I could stay?" he asked " Angus made me realize maybe its time I settled down, I know Edward will be happy about that" he folded his arms across his chest as he watched .

"What's one more?" Robert shrugged at Brant. "Understand, though, given the political situation, we might very well have to be relocating out of England in the near future. And I have no idea if it is temporary or permanent. It seems that the idiots and morons want to take control of the kingdom, and I'm tired of trying to protect them from themselves. Its a hell of a lot like someone who's never ridden a broom trying to tell a professional seeker how to play quidditch. After a point, the seeker decides if the imbecile decides he wants to play, the seeker will let him, and let the rest of the world tromp him into the ground. Well, that's about where this is at. I can move us all into hiding and let them blow the rest of the wizarding world to hell if they want it.

"Robert," Brian said gently. "That reminds me, I bought two more properties today as safehouses."

"Well done," Robert said, sighing. "Alright. Back to business." He didnt ask Khaat whether she wanted to be put under his spell or moved. He just touched her forehead and cast the spell. It took effect instantly. "Now...carefully, boys. Let's get her to her room."

Brant smiled and nodded " hey I'm your guy, I traveled the world looking for remote locations for digs, I know a few places" he said and looked back at Angus " hey cousin! looks like your stuck with me again, I heard about the politics problem, not into them myself, but this time I think there wrong your the best so far." he said and grinned as he walked back into the kitchen. Steven nodded as he listened to Brian and chuckled as Brant told Angus he was staying with them.

" welcome to the fold Brant " he looked to Robert and nodded as he gently lifted her into his arms. " gentle does it " he said softly and began to walk slowly up to Khaats room. Once their he gently set her down on the bed making sure not to jar her in any way. " how was that Robert?" he asked as he slowly slid his arms from around her. Brant had followed and stood in the door way

"I think you did fine," Robert said. He went over to check her shoulder, just because it was time. Brian joined him and they uncovered the wound. It was beyond hideous. It was probably one of the worst either of them had ever seen. Brian could see more clearly now.

"There's bone and tissue both missing, isn't there?" Brian asked.

"Yes," Robert said. "I don't know if I can regenerate it all. And thats part of what's causing her so much pain. That, and this. Look here."

"The shoulder joint has separated," Brian said.

"Yes," Robert said. "I'll reset it. That will definitely help." He drew his wand and cast a spell at it. It made a loud grinding and a crack as it went back into place. It made Brian wince just hearing it. He knew what that felt like to have a shoulder joint replaced. He began sponging at it because the resetting of it had started heavy bleeding again. They began to cast spells to stop the bleeding.

"Brant," Robert said, "Go to the lab and find some of that disinfectant powder. The high grade one. I do not want her to have to content with that on top of the injury. IF its gone, be a good lad and make some up quickly--if you can."

Brant winced as he heard the pop of the joint going back in he saw Steven step back watching he just stood quiet until Robert spoke to him " yes sir" he said and headed down to the lab looking at the bottles he found the one he as after and saw it empty . He shook his head and gathered the ingredients mixing them quickly but carefully soon he had enough to refill the jar. carefully poring them into the jar he set the things aside clean and pushed the stopper into the bottle and walked up to Robert . " sorry it took me so long had to make more you were out " he said and handed him the potion. " its a good batch" he added