Marriage is Murder

Robert took the bottle, held it up to the light and then opened the bottle and sniffed it. "Very good. Thank you," Robert said. He poured the powder into the wound and watched it bubble like a boiling cauldron for a couple minutes. Then he and Brian bandaged it up.

"Let her rest," Robert said. "I'm going to add to the anaesthesia. At least she gets an escape from the pain that way. Just let her sleep. Now...I take it you're going to try to be here tonight?"

"Where would I go?" Brian scowled.

"Look," Robert said. "I need you rested. You're my second. You find people to spare you so you can sleep. I want you there tomorrow. We have more people in the house tonight than we've ever had. You find backup, and you get some sleep. Now--I have bedtime stories to read and cookies to eat. And I need to recruit a monster chaser." He headed out of the bedroom.

Brant nodded at Roberts praise and he stood and watched as he placed some on Khaat he heard them talking and stepped further forward " may I help, I am use to being up late and getting little sleep and yes I'll be okay for the fight too" he added " he looked at Brian as he spoke again " hes right you need to be well rested so you can think and give orders " he said moving to stand next to the bed " if anything changes I'l call you" he said " I promise" he looked at Robert " um if you will allow me to that is" he asked rubbing the back of his neck in his nervousness at facing the minister of magic and being in the same room as him. Steven looked at Robert and Brian as he spoke.

" would make sense . means you can sleep and so can all the first squad" he said , I'm next door I'l hear if he calls " Steven added and moved to the doorway but he paused looking back. " Khaat would want you fresh and rested Brian , might mean the difference in this battle " he said " I know for me it is" he turned and walked to his room feeling he needed a change and a rest.

"Alright," Brian said, allowing Brant to stay the first watch. "You call me if she needs anything. I'll be down in my office. There's a sofa down there, and we're going to be a bit tight on space tonight." He whistled for Archangel, and the bird glided in within seconds. "Stay with Khaat," he told the bird. He looked at Brant. "He's well trained. If you need me, he'll come find me if you just tell him to find me. He will also go get Robert or Kate on command. It at least allows you to stay with her and send him instead of being forced to leave her." He had an afterthought and accio'd the gold potion and put it beside the bed. "Just in case," he said. "But I don't expect her to wake for during your watch." He looked at Remus's portrait. "Remus..." he began.

"I've been looking out for her since before she was born, Brian," the portrait said. "And looking out for you almost as long. Stop fussing."

"I'm not fussing," Brian said.

"And you're still a miserable liar," the portrait laughed. Brian shook his head, sighing

"Alright. I'm going. Goodnight," he said, leaving.

Brant watched the magnificent bird fly and rest on Brain as he took a step back " magnificent " he said and smiled at Brian" good thinking and don't worry " he said sitting down close to the bed as he watched her breathing softly as she slept soundly in front of him. He watched Brian and the portrait talking then have a lively discussion then he took chuckled. " night " he said and lent back in his chair. Steven left as well but to check on the children , he moved into the nursery and smiled seeing Jess and Cassidy tucking in the last sleepy child and kissing his cheek as Cassidy walked over to Steven taking his hand in her own.

" come on sleep, big day ahead tomorrow" she said as Jess smiled and nodded she could go.

Downstairs, Edward and Lee were busy plotting and planning. They strategically had decided to make the house look very lively and active until about 2 am. Then they dimmed the lights, as if the house was settling in for the night, unprepared and blissfully unaware.

Near midnight, Edward made rounds. He found Brian sound asleep in his office. He checked the children's rooms and found Julia had kicked off her covers. He gently recovered her and made sure the rest of them were sleeping soundly. He paused at Khaat's room and found Brant there still on watch.

"You ought to get some sleep yourself," Edward told him. "Old men don't sleep much. At least not at my age. I'll have plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead. I'll keep watch for the rest of the night if you want. We need to be up in the next four hours, so you should get a bit of sleep if you can."

Brant had been on watch for several hours when Edward walked in and checked Khaat he looked at him when he spoke and sighed he was tired but he had his duty. " I don't know Brain asked me to stay with her, I think it was kind of an order" he said but could not stop a yawn leaving his mouth. He looked at Edward and sighed " okay , okay guess I am tired , she's been sleeping, good thing I guess" he said as he stood up and stretched out his body. " okay uncle i 'll go sleep , um it is good to be back in the family again" he said and moved to face him, " I'm not running away again uncle, not this time" he said softly as he moved to the door " I'll be next door..sleeping" he said with a yawn. Moving to the room next door he slipped in lay down on a cot bed and no sooner he closed his eyes he fell asleep.

Edward made himself at home in Khaat's room, deciding to have a discussion with Remus. He enjoyed discussions with famous werewolves, particularly those who were defending the greater good, even if it was a portrait. And he wanted to know more about not just the stone, but anything else that Remus might know that might help them. It was an outside chance, Edward knew, but it was worth it.

Robert and Brian both rose at three am. Brian made his way from his office and heard people in the kitchen. He looked in to see some of Lee's crew starting a massive breakfast so that the fighters would be well fed. Brian just shrugged. It was fine with him. He grabbed two mugs of coffee and went upstairs. He could smell the scent of Robert's soap as he passed Robert's door. A sure sign they were awake.

"How'd you get second shift?" He asked Edward.

"Volunteered," Edward said.

"How's she been?"

"Still out," Edward said. "We don't have to take her today, you know."

"I know," Brian said. "And I might not." He felt her forehead. "She's more stable now. The rest is doing her good."

"And whatever patchwork you lot did when you brought her up here. Seems like the wound isn't as inflamed and angry. I'll stay while you shower," Edward said.

"Thank you. I won't be five minutes."

"Oh, be generous with yourself. Make it six," Edward said. Brian laughed and headed for the shower.

Brant woke as he was unceremoniously pushed from his cot as men moved past it to start their day. He lay on the floor and groaned before pushing himself to sit up and brush himself down. " thanks for the wake up call" he said and headed for the bathroom to wash and wake up more. Brant passed Jack who had just left the bathroom and he nodded to him.

"Rude awakening?" Jack asked as he chuckled seeing the ruffled look Brant had about himself . Brant nodded and ran his fingers through his hair.

" yeah one guy thought it funny to tip over my cot" he said" now if you'll excuse me I'd like to shower before breakfast" he walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Jack walked passed Khaat's room.

" hows she doing today" he asked walking into the room.

"Still resting," Edward said. "Lord, they're slow on the tea this morning."

"No," Robert said, coming in. "You're early. And it doesn't sound like this is the normal morning crew anyway. "

"I hope they know to brew some decent Earl Grey," Edward sighed.

"Depends on whether they're Brits or Yanks, I suppose," Robert said. "Kate's decided she's coming. She's insisting on dressing herself, so she tossed me out." He went to check on Khaat. "You feeling ready to battle a pack of these beasts if we have to, Jack?"

Jack smiled hearing Edward say Khaat had been resting he jumped when Robert spoke behind him and he backed way a little " god don't do that, you made me jump." he said . Hearing his words he smiled and nodded. " yes sir ready and willing" he said with a glance at Khaat. " I need payback" he said then looked back at Robert " good to hear Kate's on her feet " he said " I'll send up a tray for you both" he said and Khaat " I'm going to take pleasure in cleaning up this mess." he said and headed down to the kitchen.

"Angus you got a tray for two ready " Robert and Edward are awake and wanting food" he said " I'll take it up" he offered.