Marriage is Murder

"Well, as he tells it, neither of them were looking for it," Angus said. "She was homeless and in critical condition when he took her in. She had nearly died trying to have Abbey. She was hospitalized a lot longer than Abbey was. Robert was going to take Abbey home with him, but Brian took her home and took care of her himself around the clock. He was an incredible dad right from Day 1.

"When Khaat was released, she had no intention of going home to live with her parents. Although she could have done that. And she didn't have any of the wealth she has now. She was broke. Brian had money. Lots of it. Khaat's wealth came later in her divorce settlement--long after she was living at the estate with Brian. But since Brian had been her best friend her whole life and had grown up with her, he took her home to the estate.

"I think over time that nature sort of followed its course with them. They actually tried to talk themselves out of romance. The only ones who didn't see it coming was them, in all honesty.

"But if you want a woman, it seems to me that you're going to have to either look for a forest ranger, or you might want to consider a house with four walls and a roof, not a tent. And maybe a more female friendly sense of fashion. Maybe a haircut? And some clothes that aren't so ancient looking? You aren't a bad guy, but really, any woman would have to get past the image of Gandalf living in a pup tent. Its a big adjustment before the first date."

Brian saw Khaat getting sleepy soon after she ate. He hadn't thought about the fact that the pain had kept her from eating for a long time. But she had enjoyed the fish tonight, and now without the absence of hunger, she was getting sleepy. He stood up and simply picked her up. She just curled into him, glad for his closeness and his comfort. She was glad she didn't have to work so hard to get up and go to bed. She was glad for his help.

The lovely stylish Japanese bed was close to the floor but very comfortable. He simply transfigured her clothes and tucked her between the covers. He opened the rice paper doors in the bedroom to let in the view of the sparkling lights in the garden. Khaat didn't get to enjoy it long because she fell asleep almost instantly.

Brant sat and listened to Angus speak as he slowly took the meat from the scallops one by one." I heard about that, was the talk of wizarding world for some time." he said and threw yet another empty shell unceremoniously into the bucket, it clattered against the sides then settled among the others that lay at the bottom. Brant looked over at a glass door that sat half open next to him and at his reflection in it and sighed deeply. " You might be right there, I do look a bit...old fashioned, Okay how about we do a shopping trip, after dinner of course." He asked picking up yet another scallop, now with renewed enthusiasm that he might, in time find such a companion as had Brian and the others had. He though he was happy to be himself free and single, but now inside himself he was not so any more.

Brant finished the scallops and lifted the filled bucket with shells. "So where do you want this putting?" he asked glancing out at Edward in the courtyard tenting to his flowers. " Do you think he would ever retire from all this , the wear hunting I mean?" he asked as he paused by the door still holding the bucket of scallop shells watch him. Brant glanced at Angus and knew what his answer would most likely be. Slipping off his coat finally he picked up his back pack slinging it over his shoulder. “ okay, spare room?” he asked and motioned to which direction he was to go “and no time like the present to start I guess, besides now I smell like scallops and need to wash.” He smiled a little knowing it would take time but he had made the first step in settling down back with the family.

Angus smiled slightly at the question about his grandfather retiring.

"He thinks he is retired," Angus laughed, putting a bowl on the table for the scallops. "He used to be gone for weeks at a time if the assignment called for it. Now, the only time he's gone is when Robert asks for his help. Its changed a bit since Grandmother died. He doesn't feel the need to be here quite so much now. The only little ones now are his great grandkids, and they're well provided for as it is.

"I did get the idea from a conversation he and I had awhile back that he does actually have some sort of either house or apartment in England someplace, but he doesn't talk about it. I think he doesn't use it much. If I know him, its probably pretty sparse, and in a weird place. He really does seem to enjoy being with some men closer to his age. He enjoys the company of guys like Robert and Michael and such. But, I think he really would give it up if he thought he was beyond being able to do it.

When Brant mentioned a guest room, Angus said, "You might choose the north tower room. It has that balcony on three sides that overlooks the sea and is open to the sea air. Its got an outstanding view at night. And the sound of the waves is just amazing. Its one of the reasons I took the south tower room here as my own. Its got just about the same set up."

Brant listened to Angus and chuckled " ah " was all he said then on hearing about the room he smiled " sounds perfect" he said " I'll take it" he added and chuckled as he placed down the bucket and picked up his back pack. Slinging it over his shoulder he headed to the north tower finding it just as Angus had descried. He dropped his bag on the bed and open the double doors to the balcony and stepped out on to it. leaning out he saw Edward below in the garden the scents wafted into the room and he smiled " perfect" he said , seeing another door he opened it to find an en suit bathroom. " Even better" he added and moved to his bag. Taking out a change of clothes he headed to the bathroom to shower and change ready for lunch.

As Brant stepped out of the shower he looked at himself and frowned, grasping a brush he began to brush his scraggly hair. " this won't work" he said seeing the brush now tangled in it. slipping on his shoes he walked down to the kitchen. " Angus are you any good with scissors" he asked and pointed to the brush stuck in his hair.

"Um...no," Angus said. "I'm a chef and an auror, not a stylist." He disapparated the brush. "I suggest you go to a professional stylist in the morning. Dont tempt Grandfather or he'll just either take a weedeater to it or hex it off. You might well end up bald. Do it right. Go into the village tomorrow and go to stylist next to the mens' shop. The one across the street from the cheese shop. Not the one in the other block across from the tattoo shop. Once you get done at the stylist, then just go next door and let them get you out of the 1600's. They're not cheap, though. But you'll look better. Oh, the stylist opens early. Once you get done there, the men's shop should be open."

He flicked his wand at the dishes to set the table. He put a last lick of flame with a bit of sherry to the scallops for a bit more depth of flavor before taking them off the heat and plating them on top of the pasta and pesto sauce. Then he floated the massive pasta bowl to the table alongside a beautiful and colorful salad and baskets of fresh bread. There were pitchers of ice water with fresh Italian lemon slices. It was simple but delicious.

"Make yourself useful and call the others for dinner, please," Angus said.

Brant was just glad to have the brush out of his hair though still matted he sighed and nodded “ well I probably have enough saved up to cover it “ he said and placed the towel that had sat across his shoulders into the laundry basket. He looked at Edward out side and nodded, walking out he spoke softly to him. “ um dinners ready “ he said softly then moved back inside. “ ow don't worry, I remember that poor man back when we were kids, I wonder if it ever grew back?” he asked more in a query and chuckled as he moved to the door way that lead to the main room and called every one to the table. He quickly stepped back just in time to avoid being run over buy several small children who ran past him to the table and sat down.

Carefully he moved to sit down at the table and pored a glass for one young boy who thanked him and took the glass. “That room was just perfect Angus, the sea air that comes in of the ocean, should help me sleep “ he said brushing a mat from out his face. Picking up his own glass he downed a mouthful of the Ice water and smiled as he felt it cool and awaken his taste buds. He took a deep breath in and smelt the food Angus hand cooked . It made him realize just what he'd missed by being away for so long, a warm bed and good food though when a roll was thrown he caught it and looked at the girl who threw it at a boy close to him. “ food is for eating not throwing, some people aren’t as lucky as you are to have so much” he said and gave her it back she held it and then took a bite. Brant smiled feeling a bit like he'd done' something worth while even in that short moment.

Watching Brant took some food from bowls that sat on the table, making sure he got an equal portion of each so he could try it. “ so how do you know about the stylist in the village?” he asked “ has Grand father had a go at you?” he asked not sure if Angus had already been on the receiving end of his hair removal spell.

"Thank you," Edward said, putting down his trowel. He followed Brant into the house and hung up the fedora and washed his hands.

"I havent' had a proper 'go' at anyone in awhile, Brant," Edward said, not missing the dinner table conversation.

"No," Angus said, "I lived here in the compound until I moved in with Brian. I used that stylist when I lived here. And, a lot of the clients that hire the yacht we have often want to shop or get their hair done for special events. It pays for me to know where the good shops and services are. Our clients pay well for me to know who offers the best quality services."

"That reminds me," Edward said, from his seat at the head of the table. He looked at Angus. "You're the captain still of our ships. That hasn't changed. Nor will it. But--I'm going to buy us a second luxury yacht for charter."

"What?" Angus frowned. "A second?"

"Yes. The fishing boats are very lucrative, but the luxury yacht is vastly more lucrative. I'm expanding our interests. I'm going to buy one ship at a time, but, yes. We need to invest much more heavily in that area. Let us not forget the benefit of a moving vessel as a safehouse, Angus."

Well, yes. That was true. IF someone was in danger, the safest way to protect them was to keep them moving. Reduce their time just sitting still for someone to zero in on them. His grandfather was right. Not only that, but he strongly suspected that Edward was considering that most likely the Lupins were going to need as many safehouses as they could get for awhile when and if things went badly in England. Edward was preparing to help shelter them.

"Are you looking at a larger vessel?" Angus asked, knowing that the Lupins would need a larger ship than what Angus owned now.

"Yes," Edward said casually. "Most of the wealthy have significant entourages. We need to prepare to address all their needs in a self sufficient manner."

"Are we serving muggles or wizards?"

"It doesn't matter to me. Money is money," Edward said. So, Angus knew the course then. If they were serving muggles then no visible magic would be used. If wizards were being served, it would be within their own comfort levels. He was preparing for the Lupins then.

"By all means, then," Angus said. "Let's buy more ships."

"I knew you'd see the sense in it," Edward said.

Brant sat and listened to Angus as he spoke of the stylist “ I'll head down first thing tomorrow” he said and took a fork of food, hearing Edward talk of yachts he smiled and nodded. “ Muggle's pay good money for luxury extras, you know like jet skis and deep sea fishing off the back of the yacht among other things” he said. As he ate he looked up glancing at both. “ I saw it a lot while I travelled, I did happen to travel by Yacht though I was in the galley washing pots for passage for my travel” he took another fork thinking they didn't want to hear his travel stories but he did like the idea of a yacht. “ so you captain yachts too and cook, man your a jack of all trades “ he said smiling now feeling that Angus had done so much with his life while he had done very little, now he knew what he would do, make something of himself but first he had to finish his food and get his hair cut.

Taking some string he saw left on the table he tied his hair back out of his face and looked at Edward. He wanted to ask his advice but decided to say nothing about his lack of confidence around women. Taking a second bowl Brant looked at the children around them and the others all talking among themselves and he sighed realizing he was starting to push his food around his bowl. Placing his fork down in the half empty bowl and looked at Angus “ okay so whose going to captain the new ship?” he asked downing a glass of ice water, and placing that too beside the bowl. “ what was the extra you added Angus tasted a little spicier” he said

"Angus started on the fishing boats and earned his way up to captain," Edward said. "He loves the sea. I really was a bit surprised he would set it aside like he has to go work for Brian full time. Until I met Brian and Robert. And then I understood."

"I do love the sea," Angus said. "But in a family this size, I had to learn to cook, and it helps to be able to cook to feed your crew on board a ship. I was actually hired as a bodyguard and asked to help keep Khaat and Abbey fed and help with some of the barn chores. I never mind hard work, and the pay was very good. Besides that, Brian is one of my best friends. And at the time, the job was relatively small. I was only cooking for 3 adults and heating a bottle for a baby. Then it became two babies, then five. And then a dozen babies, and almost two dozen people at every meal. It didn't take long, when Brian still expects five star, to earn my chef's certification. It wasn't what I started to do. I thought I was pretty much bodyguarding Brian's lady. And now...."

"Now, you're sleep deprived," Edward teased.

"Sometimes," Angus admitted.

When Brant asked about captaining the new ship, Edward spoke. "Angus needs to take more of a role of a commodore in our little fleet of ships. His brothers have been actually serving on the ships, but Angus doesn't have the time he did before."

"Isn't it a bit pompous of us to create a commodore in a small fleet of private ships?" Angus laughed.

"Probably, but you get my point. You either need to be a commodore over a lot of captains. Or a captain over a lot of first mates, or something of the like," Edward said. "I need your knowledge and your skills at the helm of any fleet we might have, and you know it."

"Yes, Sir," Angus said. "If you'll excuse me. I'll get dessert."

"No," Edward said. "You sit. The women can at least serve dessert and do the cleaning up. This is business. What you're tasting in the water, Brant, is lemon. It leaves a clean, crisp taste to the water. Cleanses the palate and refreshes. We've been adding lemon slices to the water for the last year or so probably. I think its quite nice." He looked at Angus. "And you stop stressing about your friend. He's alright. He's enjoying a bit of time alone with his wife and is enjoying being her sole caretaker for a change. His energy is better already. Get your mind off of them and enjoy your own time off."

Brant looked at his water and then to the jug he had taken it from “ well it certainly makes it taste better, guess I have a long way before I have as a refined pallet as you guys do” he said then listened to Edward with Angus “ better to be a commodore of a fleet the captain of a ship” he said “ wish I had such a chance.“ he added taking another drink of the water. He chuckled as Edward told Angus to stop worrying , he smiled as one of the women took his bowl and he thanked her leaning forward slightly to listen as Edward spoke.

“He's right relax to much stress can cause health issues, take one of those ships, if that’s what you call it and go fishing or scuba diving, something other than worrying” he said as he saw the desert. “ you so know I'm gonna have to go for a run after this to work of all this good food” he said and smiled as he took the first taste of the desert and smiled “ what is this , its good , well everything you have cooked is good so far” he said and chuckled seeing a young girl struggling . He took his napkin and wiped her chin clean her mother smiled at him and thanked him he just nodded and looked back to Edward.

“ um.. would you mind if I took a walk in your garden after dinner?” he asked “ I need a quiet place to meditate” he asked hoping Edward would be okay with it.” I won't damage or hurt anything” he said taking another spoon of the desert and tasting the sweet flavors it gave off in his mouth. Brant wanted nothing more than to move out side as each child started to talk over each other. He took a deep breath in and closed his eyes for a moment letting out a long deep breath. “ sorry its my way of controlling things” he said not going into too much detail.