Marriage is Murder

"I thought I asked you to stop cussing at me, and the first sentence out of your mouth is more cussing," she repeated firmly. "I thought I was very clear that I dont' deserve that from you. I'm not taking anyone with me who treats me like that. You swear at me one more time, and you're going to be in one of my father's bug jars. I'm not going anywhere with you. And the shawl is magical. I don't need the coat."

Kate heard Khaat's angry voice and got up and went from her room across the hallway.

"What's going on?" Kate asked. "Were you thinking of going out for Brian?" Khaat didn't reply, not taking her eyes off Jim. "He's alright for now, Khaat," Kate said gently. "I can still feel his energies."

Khaat hurled her shawl to the bed and glared hard at Jim. "Get out of my room," she ordered angrily. "I do not take orders from you. Not ever."

Jim looked as Kate walked in and sighed hearing the voice of reason. He placed the coat chair and looked at Khaat as he took off his own." my oplogies for the cussing at you Khaat, I guess i am feeling the tension of the battle." he said but a figure spoke that stood in the door way.

" This no excuse " she said as Jess stepped into the light her face like thunder as she glanced at Khaat " I'll deal with him for you, cussing in any form is...well its wrong especially in a house with children" she grasped the lobe of his ear and dragged him out of the room" and into his own. " Jim you of all should know better having kids, you wouldn't do that to your daughter,Now go work it off in the gym or swim do not take it out on a patient , do that again I'll put you in a jar myself" she said and watched as he walked down to the pool area.

"Thank you, Jess," Kate said quietly. "I'll have Robert look into assessing the team when he gets back to see if they need a couple days off. Perhaps the stress is too much. Oh, by the way, do not feel that you need to wait for the guys to come back to go check on your house if you want. My best guess is that they did their own idea of fixing it, and then I would guess Robert sent them back to recheck it to be sure that it was right. We'll be fine if you want to go make sure that it meets at least your minimum expectations. Do let Robert or I know what else needs to be repaired or replaced.

"I'm guessing that Brian's just irked with finding however they used your house to get onto the grounds. He'll be okay. He's got something to come back to now, and thats more important than taking chances."

Khaat glanced up at Remus briefly, not sure she believed her mother.

"He's not going to be grossly silly," Remus said. "He will remember you."

Jess looked at Kate and nodded " of course they will forget things there men" she said and chuckled as she looked at Khaat " Remus is right he won't do anything silly and he'll be back, if you need me just call,now I'm going to check on the house ." she said moving down to the main living room. She ported over to the house and looked around , she waved her hand at the walls changing the paper to something different. then she changed the drapes to match the wallpaper then worked on the furniture while she saw Steven and Brant standing in the kitchen. " this is the living room now." she said and moved to the kitchen. she moved around the room changing everything.

"Very nice," Robert said, coming back upstairs after double checking the house was safe from any more magical spells that weren't welcome there. "Alright. Since you lot have it in hand, I think I'll go back to the house. Somehow on battle dasys, there is never any shortage of things to do." He walked back to the house, taking the moment or two that it took to walk the distance just in order to have a moment to himself to breathe and to rest his mind for just a moment.

He noticed the sun was beautiful and the flowers were starting to bloom around the estate. He had almost missed that. Somehow there just didn't seem time for noticing the little things anymore. He went inside and looked at Angus.

"Are we in one piece here?"

"More or less," Angus said with a slight smile. "Tea?"

"What don't I know? A bit of post fighting stress?"

"A bit."

"More than usual?"

"I think so," Angus said. "Its been a lot thats close together. They're stressing."

"thank you. I'll take care of it," Robert said. He went to his office and took a few moments by himself. He appeared a moment later with a stack of envelopes. It had prepaid vacation checks for a weeks' vagaion for every member of his staff, with a brief note as explanation. He floated them off to each employee.

Jim walked back up to find Robert and Angus he took a deep breath in as he saw the envelopes he staid quiet. Jess walked down after checking on Jack who now walked down his chest still wrapped but was able to walk. " what those for Robert?" he asked leaning a little on Jess more for balance than any other reason. Brant apperated in and dove to the kitchen to wash his hand and face. Walking back out he wiped his hands as he walked.

" you do not want to know where I have been" he said and looked at Robert and Angus " ow want me to leave?" he asked.

"We need to escape this for a bit," Robert said. "Sometimes too many skirmishes too close together cause difficulties for staff members. And its showing up on our team. Not just injuries but also stress management. I need you all on top of your game. So--this is not up for debate. Take the money, take your families, and go. I don't expect to see any of you for a week. I don't want arguement, I don't want to hear from any of you unless you need help for yourselves for some reason. When lunch is overwith, I expect you to all ship out. Every one of you. Any questions?"

"Yeah," Michael said. "Your daughter? The kids? The estate?"

"My problem," Robert said. "As soon as lunch is over, I expect you all to ship out. 30 minutes after lunch is over, the estate will be sealed for a week. You all have double pay in those envelopes. There's no reason why you shouldn't afford a trip someplace. What's the problem?"

Jack looked at Jess who nodded " need to recover" she said " the Tuscan weathers warm and dry , just what you and the kids need" she said and Jack smiled down at her.

" yes nurse" he said and she nodded. " thank you Robert " he said and took two envelope's handing both to Jess who shrank them and placed them into her pocket . Jim stood up and took his envelope placing inside into his inside pocket.

"I for one and heading home" he said and saw Steven Appear in the kitchen washing up he too walked through. " ah vacation time " he said as Cassidy walked down from the nursery.

" yes , I heard too Robert, be nice to get away for a while " she said " you know spend time with the family" she walked over and held Steven close.

"Then get going and have a good time," Robert told them.

When everyone but her parents had gone, Khaat went to the playroom quietly to see her children playing quietly, and, amazingly, not squabbling. Brian still hadn't come back, and she was starting to wonder how she was going to take care of her children when she could barely take care of herself, given her shoulder. She felt very alone.

"Where'd you go?" her father's voice came from the doorway.

"I...thought you'd gone," she said.

"And how were we going to do that?" He asked. "You can't handle five children under three without help. Hell, you can't get dressed without help. You didn't really think we'd leave you by yourself, did you?"

"Um...yeah," she said.

"Idiot," he scowled. "I'm taking my grandchildren with me--to completely ruin them for a week--without your rigid rules. I'm going to get them completely out of their routine, feed them junk food that you don't allow, and indulge their every whim."

"Sure you will," she smiled.

"That honestly is the plan. When Brian gets back, you two will go wherever it is you two go, and the rest of us will go to the farm I never get to see anymore."

It was a couple of hours after everyone had gone that Brian got home. He was excited. He began immediately telling Robert how he had great plans to go get the werewolves. Robert cut him off.

"Change of plans," Robert said, pointing to a bag that was packed for him and Khaat.

"Huh?" Brian was confused.

"New mission," Robert said. "And this is not a request." He put a portkey into Brian's hand. "Use it. Its going to take you a few days to complete this. I expect you to take Khaat along with you, if you think you can take care of her."

"What do you mean, if I think I can? Of course I can," Brian said.

"Fine. I'll have the kids. We're shutting down the estate for a few days to let this cool off and to redirec them. Once you leave, you won't be able to get back in for awhile. It will be sealed."

"Let me get this straight. I"m being kicked out of my own house," Brian said. "Without the kids."

"Yes," Robert said. "Thats about it."

"We...don't have to go," Khaat said softly from the doorway, wondering if he just didn't want to go with her right now.

"Yes, you do," Robert said. Brian went over to her.

"I think we can manage, dont you?" he stroked her cheek softly and kissed her.

"Even like this?" she asked, self conscious of her bandages.

"I've seen 'em before," he laughed. "Its not news. I think I can take it." Robert put her enchanted pink shawl in Brian's hands.

"Go," Robert said. "Before the spell kicks in. You dont have much time." Brian wrapped the shawl around Khaat's shoulders and picked up their bag.

"Okay," he said, "We're going--I think." He slipped his arm around her waist and activated the portkey, with no idea where they were going to end up.

Jack and Jess packed their bags ate and said good bye and took the kids to the villa Tuscany. Jim made his bag pack itself and sent it on ahead to his home with a note for Margaret he was coming home. Steven and Cassidy packed up once they had eaten. Before he left he moved down to find Brian finding him in the main living room with Khaat. Steven smiled as he saw the interaction between him and Khaat. " rest Brian and recover, that's what I'm gonna do" he said and smiled as waved at him " take it easy and see you in a week."he said as Cassidy walked up with James and Jaylen and carrying Fallon in her arms.

" yes relax" she said then watched them leave and looked to Robert " enjoy spoiling the grand kids" she said smiled.