Marriage is Murder

Brant walked into the kitchen and heard Edward poring some tea he walked out and sat close by Edward. "Nice view , you could almost see for ever" he said as he sipped his tea quietly " so I miss much?" he asked not expecting a straight answer from Edward . He turned back to look at the view finding it calming almost meditative as he sat. " you know I never thought what you did made you a cold blooded killer, you were doing a job that was necessary" he said softly as he sipped his tea. He did like the quiet that seem to wash over house at that time of night.

"Its one of my favorite views," Edward agreed. "And I don't think you missed anything. I merely gave Angus something to look at. I thought it was time he heard again from his grandmother. He's heard a lot from his aunts lately. I thought he needed to know what his grandmother believed." Edward sipped on his brandy with a contented sigh of satisfaction and peace. His wife knew what Edward did was right and necessary. He had put away his need to justify it to the unresolved childhood issues of his daughter a long time ago.

So tonight, he had let Angus read his grandmother's journal. He wanted his grandson to know that his grandmother was indeed very proud of Angus and of her husband's choices, even though she was aware that the issues around his work had never died.

"I think he'll find some memories that might be a bit healing for him," Edward said.

Brant sat and listened " can't blame you" he said and listened longer he could do little but nod again " he does a superb job , I don't see her problem.a" he said and sipped the tea again he smiled as Edward continued "Good, he needed to hear that" he said blowing to cool his tea a little more sipped re he before he sipped it again. He noticed that some fireflies had come out and now danced over the open flowers. "This place always did have a magical quality to it, even as kids. " he said softly as he finished his tea. " okay its getting late and I should be hitting the hay" he said softly , standing he looked down at Edward " I don't care what they say its because of you I became a potioneer" he said smiling as he patted him gently on his shoulder" thank you for that" he said before he headed to his room for a good nights sleep.

When morning came, Edward had been to sleep, had gotten up, packed, and had had words with his family about his return to England long before Angus had had a chance to even think about waking up. Edward had not wanted Angus to hear what he had to say to them about what Edward thought was unnecessarily hurtful behaviors towards his grandson. He was brutally clear about what he expected of them from here out. He had demanded they serve the breakfast and go back to their regular duties. They understood clearly that the head of the family was taking a dim view of their behaviors.

By the time Angus got up and came downstairs with his pack, the women had set up the simple breakfast on the sideboard in the dining room, allowing people to go eat wherever they wanted. Angus could feel enough tension in the kitchen that he could have cut through it with a knife. He looked at Edward and saw that Edward did not consider the spat over Edward's job to be overwith. Not entirely. Somehow, Edward had made himself clear, and the women didn't like it.

Angus picked up a bunch of grapes from the fruit bowl and was about to simply head outside when Edward stopped him by handing him a plate.

"Eat," Edward said, meaning he wanted Angus to not avoid them but to take a stand as a rightful Donohue. Angus had had to look at him to understand the deeper message Edward wanted to send. He took the plate and put the grapes on it and began adding some of the cheese and the bread and other fruit.

Brant woke and washed packing his things and the box he headed down dropping the bag by the stairs as he headed to the dining room for some food. Taking a bowl he began to add different fruits till he had a type of muesli then he added milk and moved to sit down to eat. " morning Edward, Angus" he said and nodded. He knew they were to return to Roberts home today he was looking forward to being there and seeing them all again. He handed Edward the book he had been reading and smiled " it was an interesting read" he said eating more of his breakfast. " I see you got things sorted" he said some what sarcastically feeling the tension in the air as he ate.

"Good morning," Edward said as Brant came in, sitting with his own plate. "Yes, I did sort things out. For now."

"Meaning what?" Angus asked, sensing Edward wasn't sure this was permanently at rest.

"Meaning, my dear boy, that your aunts don't own this compound. I do. They are here by my permission. I would not like them to move, but its very simple. My house, my rules If they don't like it, they can find their own house and make their own rules."

"I'm not here that much right now anyway," Angus said, wanting to be the one to concede so the tension would stop.

"Did you read that book I loaned you last night?" Edward scowled. "Didn't you learn anything? This isn't about you. You're just the whipping boy for it. And I won't have it. Now--eat up. Brant's right. We have to report to work again very shortly, and we need to not do it on an empty stomach."

"Are you sure you want to do this like this?" Angus asked, questioning Edward's judgement about Angus's aunts.

"Eat your breakfast," Edward said with finality. In Edward's mind, his choice was made. He was supporting Angus. It was done, no more to be said. "Are you both packed and ready to go?"

Brant finished his breakfast and nodded " mines by the foot of the stairs, ready and waiting " he said and motioned with his head to the green Duffer bag that sat propped at its base. soon he finished his food and sent the bowl back to the kitchen. He looked between the two men and was glad they were heading back. He felt it would give Angus something to focus on other than the snippy auntie. Brant knew he had everything he needed from the room. " so when are we heading out, I think sooner the better , don't you" he asked still feeling the tension still in the air between Angus and the woman.

"Go ahead if you're ready," Edward told Brant. "But you're still forgetting the time change. Robert is an early riser, but I don't know that he said he'd have the house open before daylight. And I don't intend to go before I finish my breakfast."

"I'm fine with going whenever we decide to go," Angus said. Behind him, he heard his aunt let out an annoyed sigh at finding Angus still at the compound. Angus whirled around, drawing his wand out of his own rage.

"Don't do it," Edward cautioned Angus, not feeling it was worth it. He didnt blame Angus for wanting to strike out.

"Like it or not, my name is still Donohue, you hateful old bat!" Angus bellowed at her, leveling his wand at her. Edward sighed. "If you don't like being a Donohue, go get a life of your own! You and your worthless squib husband! You've never worked a day in your life, and he couldn't fire a rubber band if his life depended on it!"

"You little weasel!" she screeched at him, in a high pitched tone, drawing her wand on him as well. She attempted to fire at him, but Angus had been well trained as an auror and as one of Robert's fighters. He knew how to defend himself. He fired automatically and it blew her back into the stone wall of the dining room.

Brant nodded and sat back down he heard the woman and frowned at her. As Angus drew his wand he stood up between them when he saw that the woman was going to fire he dove to one side , dodging the spell that flew past his head. " wow that was close and so not cool." he said as he stood back up brushing dust from his trousers as he glanced at Edward wondering just what he was going to do. Brant folded his arms and glared at the woman. "what if that has his a child?" he said his eyes fixed on her hoping she would see she could have hurt some one other than who she meant.

"I was fully intending to hit a child," she said bitterly, her gaze fixed entirely on Angus.

"You want a duel?" Angus asked, unbelieving. "You think you can take me? Seriously?"

"You really don't want to do that," Edward warned his daughter.

"If he thinks he's so mighty, let him try!" she laughed, confident.

"Bring it, then!" Angus said, not backing down.

"Not in the house, please," Edward said, seeing Angus wasn't going to be able to not defend himself. Edward watched his daughter stride confidently outside to the courtyard, believing that Angus was no real threat to her. Angus walked outside, furious, more than ready to take on his aunt's conceit. Edward looked at Brant. "It appears our trip to England will be delayed for a moment. I'd better go oversee this." He left his unfinished breakfast on the table and got up and went outside to make sure both his daughter and his grandson survived their duel.

Edward watched them take positions at a distance from each other, and instead of the customary bow, she merely decided to fire at Angus before Angus was ready. If there was one thing Angus detested, it was a cheat. He fired back. Just one shot, and it blew her back so far, she fell over the stone retaining wall of Edward's vegetable garden and hit her head, now knocked unconscious. When she didn't get up, Angus wondered if he had killed her. Edward walked over calmly and peered over the stone wall.

"I think she got your message," he looked back at Angus.

"Stupid cow," Angus muttered. "She seriously thought she could out fight an auror? Even I didn't think she was that dumb."