Marriage is Murder

"Apparently I'm not on kitchen duty this morning," Angus said, watching the not-so-controlled chaos in his kitchen. "But I'll send the coffee and tea trays."

"Coffee trays? Tea trays?" A younger man asked, a dishtowel flung over his shoulder.

"Relax," Angus said. "Its not a big thing. I'll do this much myself." He quickly assembled two trays, with tea and coffee and sent them upstairs. The two trays were becoming so filled with Angus's magic that they almost wanted to take off by themselves without the coffee and the tea. "I do need to have Michael have a talk with them," Angus sighed, watching the trays almost jet off upstairs. "They've been getting worse and worse at that. They're going to spill themselves some morning."

Robert saw the trays flying into the bedroom at almost ninja speed. "Whoa!" he said, lifting an open palm to slow them. "Slow and graceful. Friendly service. Not warp speed, please." Brian came out of the bathroom, with a towel, drying his hair, and one of the trays unceremoniously began hitting him repeatedly in the elbow to get him to take a cup of coffee.

"You really are getting a bit insistent, arent' you?" Brian frowned at the tray, taking a mug of coffee. "Can you get Michael to talk to these two?"

Jack ran up behind them and stopped " hold up you to" he called and stopped in front of Brian " sorry they got away from Angus, hope they didn't make a mess" he asked some what out of breath " okay " he said and took a deep breath just as Brant walked out of the bathroom.

" wow there" he said and stepped back out of Jacks way " I smelt tea " he said and glanced at the tray floating next to Brian. and the second in with Edward and Robert.

" ow no yours is downstairs Brant" Jack said " those are for Edward, Robert and Brian" he added and Brant nodded.

" okay " he turned and headed down the stairs to the dinning room.

Robert checked Khaat and let her wake, despite Remus's protests.

"Shut it, or I'll shrink you and stuff you in an envelope," Robert told the portrait. When Khaat woke, she reached her good hand up to her shoulder. "How's the pain?" Robert asked, watching where she felt the first need to try to grab.

"Not as sharp," she said.

"Good," he said.

"I need to go with you," she said, trying to wake.

"How about you get a bit of coffee first and then we'll decide that. You have a little time yet."

"And how do you know how much time we have?" she scowled.

"Its just a calculated guess," Robert said. "Edward, could you please make sure everyone downstairs gets food and gets warmed up for today's little exercise?"

"My pleasure," Edward smiled, heading downstairs. He checked on the kids who were still asleep, and found some of his own household taking over nanny duties there to protect the kids today.

Jack chuckled and smiled as Khaat woke " I'll head down" he said leaving them alone as he went down to get some food. " Steven chuckled as he saw Brant and Jack heading to the dining room.

" okay who ruffled your feathers" he asked and saw the look the pair of them gave him but seeing each other give the same look they burst out laughing.

" okay that was weird" Brant said as he pored out and took a sip of his coffee as he picked up a slice of toast and glanced up the stairs to Khaat room.

"What was weird?" Michael asked, arriving.

"The trays are getting a mind of their own," Angus laughed.

"You've been casting a new spell on them every morning," Michael said. "The same spell every morning. And its been a bit too much power for what you need. So they're becoming enchanted. Are they misbehaving?"

"They're little leadfoots," Angus sighed.

"Speeding? A little or a lot?"

"Like a pair of tiny jets."

"Oh. Okay. I'll talk to them and bring them in line," Michael said. Behind him the dogs came in, and Faline was carrying a black sock in her mouth. Michael didn't pay too much attention, figuring it was his, until Faline teased a hungry Otto with it. Otto was going to take the sock from her but then smelled it and dashed the other way, finding the sock entirely too filthy and rank for his likings. Michael took the sock from Faline and looked at it. "Dear God, who wears them for 6 months at a time? There better not be any more of these things in this house." He set the sock on fire to get rid of it. He looked at Faline. "You do not need to eat those. I give you nothing but brand new socks. You do not have to be that desperate. Where'd the other one go? Fetch it." She looked at him and spun around and fluffed her little tassel tail at him to tell him she didn't fetch for anybody--not even him.

"Little diva pink chintz," Michael sighed. "Oh well, I'm sure we'll find it."

Brian had helped Khaat clean up and dress. He helped her choose just jeans and found her one of his old soft denim shirts that he managed to help her put on, with a bit of magical help. He brushed her hair and put it into a ponytail to get it out of her way. Then he added a glamour spell to let her have some makeup. He knew she looked like hell, even with the spell. But it was the best he could do. Magic just was not all powerful. He made sure she had pain potion, put her wand in her pocket, and helped her downstairs very slowly, motioning at the tray to follow him. When they got downstairs, he helped her to her recliner in the living room.

Kate came downstairs, dressed, and looking vibrant, as if she hadn't nearly been crushed two days before. Brian figured it was either rage or glamour spells, one or the other. No one recovered that fast. Brian made a mental note to try to watch out for her too. He just knew she wasn't quite as well as she was letting on.

"Morning, Everyone. Morning, Kate. You're looking well," he said.

"I'm fine," she said. "Lets get this overwith."

"Would you all care to wait for me?" Robert asked, coming in. "I have intel for you. They're here. They've managed to access the grounds, somehow, through Jack's house here on the grounds. I don't know if they got ahold of some of his fur and used it to sniff out a tunnel into the house or what, but thats where they're held up. Looks like they're awake and there is some movement in the house. I've stationed some of Lee's men to keep surveilance inside this house to watch that one, without being seen by the werewolves. We dont have much time now. I suggest you eat if you havent, limber up if you haven't, and prepare yourselves. This looks like it is about to begin very shortly."

Brant stood up and walked over to Michael he looked sheepish and reached out to take the sock " oops that's one of mine, it was in my back pack" he said taking it quickly he stuffing it into his pocket and blushed " sorry no washing machines in Egypt" he quickly headed up to his room and found all his clothes scattered over the floor " ow for goodness sake" he said and began to pick them up stuffing them back in his bag. Jack chuckled seeing Brant's obvious embarrassment but he looked at Robert as he spoke to them, all stood up and finished what they were doing to go and make ready for the battle. Jack just stat down and finished his food he knew there was nothing to do , to make him any more ready than he already was.

A few minutes later, Lee looked in.

"Heads up, All," Lee said. "They're trying to make their way to slip in through the kitchen door."

"Well, now, thats just stupid," Angus frowned. "There is no way anybody's getting in that door. Or into the house."

"Nevertheless," Robert said. "It gives us direction. Its a narrow space. Their thought is to come into a controlled area and find Angus alone, and use that to get access to the house."

"So," Lee said, "Let's send my lot around in a left flank. Your organization, Robert, can flank around to the right."

"Agreed. And I will have my first string at the kitchen door," Robert said. "If there is no break in there, then, we can split up and join the flanks. If there is an attempt at a break in, we can defend the door with a full squad."

"Agreed," Lee said.

"Are any of you lot going with either Lee or the organization, or are you defending the house?"

"I'll take the organization and take the right flank," Edward said.

"And I'll go with mine to the left," Lee said.

Jack stood up as did Steven who moved to his side " okay show time" he said just as Brant came running his wand out and ready to fight " slow down Brant , their not going anywhere" Steven said and Jack nodded.

" nope but they soon will be " he said and took a deep breath in to calm his anger that he felt building inside him" this is our fight, I'll have to clean that house and after we just got done decorating too" he said seeing the look on Stevens face as he winked and smiled. " first team stays to protect the house and that's where I stay" he said.

"Then you follow me," Brian said.

"Brian," Robert began.

"No," Brian said, "You're still the minister for awhile longer. You gave me this command to me. You leave it with me."

"Very well," Robert said. Brian drew his wand. Khaat drew her wand as well. "You're with me," Robert said to her firmly. "I need you alive far more than I need the stone."

"She can stay with me," Michael said.

"You lot remember the priorities are the same as they've always been. Protect my family. Let's go," Robert said. Brian led the way to the kitchen, clearing the kitchen crew and sending them to guard the kids and the rest of the house. Lee took his crew and went out and to the left while Edward took the organization around to the right.

Brian motioned for his people to be absolutely silent and wait. It didn't take long for each flank to actively engage in battle in the side yard. Khaat clearly recognized the roar of the howling of the beast. It had a different sound.

"Stay back," Robert told her. "That's desperation. He has such a strong hunger for blood and he is so injured that he's nearly completely mad. And that means he won't believe he has anything to lose."

Brian was keeping an eye out the tiny window in the door. He could see they were going to try to break in, if they could pull enough werewolves from Lee's and Edward's men.

"Wands at the ready," Brian said.

Steven , Jack, Brant and Jim all held their wands up knowing what was to come . Hearing Brian they nodded and followed him into the kitchen each standing next to him Steven and Jim to his left, Jack and Brant to the right all with one goal to defend their families or die trying. Jack sniffed the air and grunted " he's out side" he whispered to Brian softly " two men with him but more on the way" he looked to Steven who nodded then he looked to Brant. " aim for the head and make it a single strike" he told him" they can't attack if they have no head" he saw him nod then looked back at Brian.