Marriage is Murder

Jack looked at Robert and nodded " we heard the roomers in Italy they were going to try something " he said and sighed " should have told you sooner but didn't want to spoil Abby's birthday. " he said but then looked out the window at the setting sun " yeah I do know, sorry" he said as Jess walked over to him. Cassidy looked at them both but it was Jim who spoke

"give them a break Robert , every ones on tender hooks now" he said " Edwards right how we going to tel them to get out and we mean business" he said rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Why are you all edgy? I honestly dont' understand," Robert said. "You've all just had a full two weeks holiday with no attacks, no stress. If you're not rested and you're not up to this, then you'd better say so now. No, on second thought, consider this mission tabled. We're not going. Brian, we have an errand to do. You come with me. Edward, please keep the house safe for a few minutes." He impatiently looked at Brian. "Now, Brian. Not later."

"Yes, Sir," Brian said, knowing better than to not respond when Robert wanted something done then. He drew his wand and joined Robert, who apparated them both out. Kate sighed heavily. Robert didn't typically get like this. It wasn't generally good when he did He worked hard at being patient, but apparently that wasn't going to happen tonight.

"I suggest you all simply do your jobs here," Edward said gently.

Jim and Steven looked at each other and sighed shaking their heads " were not edge we just don't want anything to harm Khaat or the kids again." Steven said but Robert and Brian had already left . " damn it " he said softly as he moved to sit back down in his chair . He looked to Kate. Brant sat some what stunned.

" um.. what just happened?" he asked and Cassidy spoke rather harshly.

" ow nothing , Jack just put his big foot in his mouth again" she said and sighed deeply as Jess nodded her agreement.

" yes now we all know Robert and Brian are going to deal with the wears them selves" she said " all because Jack couldn't stay quiet" Jack folded his arms across his chest.

"You shouldn't be surprised at that," Edward said, sitting down and sighing. He didn't understand how Robert had these so called trained fighters and still see this out of them. That didn't speak well of their abilities. Not at all. Edward understood why Robert was so sorely disappointed in them all.

"And, for the record," Edward continued, "don't blame Jack. Jack didn't stick his foot anywhere it didn't belong. This time it was Jim. Clearly. He's the one who, basically, told Robert you all weren't duty fit less than half a day after getting back from a two week holiday. Incidently, Robert treats you lot all too well. I don't know of anyone who gives his employees two weeks paid leave, and all expenses paid, anywhere on the planet. And then for you to respond like that to him? Really? Honestly, under the circumstances, I wouldn't have taken any of you either if I were told that.

"You're perhaps forgetting that Robert is running both Khaat's position and his own at St. Mungos. He's responsible for every patient and every employee there. Not to mention his work in the Ministry, and his work at the organization...."

"Not to mention that its full time just keeping me alive--for a whole army of people," Khaat said very softly.

"Agreed," Edward said, understanding the pressure she often felt being used as the primary target to get to her father. "You all had better decide if you're going to be duty fit warriors or maids and butlers and gardeners because unless you prove you're more than that, and you're able to hold up under fire, he's not able to take you anywhere. No soldier comes back from a paid two week leave unable to bear up with the mere discussion of a mission and keeps his job. I honestly don't understand what you meant either, Jim, when you wanted Robert to ease up because you were all on edge. What the heck do you have to be that on edge about at the moment?

"But, yes. He and Brian are taking on that pack of werewolves by themselves because Robert didn't believe he could risk your lives by taking you if you weren't duty fit. Is that honestly what you wanted him to think?"

Brant sat and listened keeping quit and out of the conversation. Jim looked up as Edward spoke then stood up " we are on tender hooks to react after a battle with the wears, how else do you expect us to react, we come back and have Khaat be bombarded buy a dead man with info she can't even decipher pointing to a wear attack on ether Roberts home or the hospital." He turned to the door and walked to it . " we're in no way servants" he said and walked out into the sun to walk off his anger. Jess sighed holding Jacks hand tight as she sat with him.

"Um... I'll check on the kids." Brant said and left the room breathing out as he left feeling it was so me what stuffy in there and he needed air. He found himself in the kitchen and sat down."Seems I always find my way to the kitchen."he said and chuckled.

Angus clearly heard Jim's remark as Brant came into the kitchen.

"I think that's generally because the kitchen is out of the line of fire,' Angus said quietly, his fist balling up as he struggled to try to deal with his rage at Jim. "But that might not be so true today. Excuse me one moment." He walked straight out of the kitchen, making a direct line out of the house to follow Jim. Khaat could see the rage on Angus's face, something Angus rarely ever felt. This was liable to not be pretty.

Without a word, he walked up to Jim and punched him squarely in the jaw with a very practiced right hook. Jim would be lucky if he kept his teeth.

"Do yourself a favor and get the hell out of here until you understand what a family is or is not," Angus said, hoping Jim would take the advice and just leave. Before he could do any more damage, Angus turned and went back into the house. He glanced at his grandfather, who didn't say a syllable.

Jack watched with Brant as Jim was socked hard on his jaw but he stood his ground . Jack shook his head and walked over to Jim "I think its time some one gave you giving it this time" he said walking him away from the house. "Cool it ,we're part of this family and I for one am glad to be in it,my own sucks" he said " look Jim Robert knows about the wears , he must have known before we did as he has connections , trust me the things he knows I don't want to know" he stepped to face him. " you'll have a hell of a shiner" Jim nodded and sighed.

" I'll stay out here for a bit." he said and sat down on a log looking back at the house. Jack rubbed the back of his neck and walked back to the house and into the kitchen.

" where did you learn to right hook like that, that was some punch" he said smiling at Angus.

"I learned it from Robert," Angus said quietly. "He doesn't use it often, but he can be a hell of a brawler. And Brian, well, he's even worse. Brian doesn't know how to stay away from a good old fashioned bar fight. I learned the punch from Robert and sparred by the hour with Brian. I hope to hell you don't get that bent out of shape every time Jess's seer's powers are triggered. If you do, I'm putting you and her in a pup tent down by the barn."

"That isn't what irked you, and you know it," Edward said.

"No. It isn't. Jim has no bloody right to think he's better than I am. And if he thinks that being a servant for those you love is beneath him, then he needs to get the hell out," Angus said. "Or perhaps I should let you all cook for yourselves, do your own laundry, dust and vacuum your own rooms, and..."

"Slow down, Boy," Edward said. "You are not responsible to take care of everyone in the house, and perhaps its time you stopped doing it. You are responsible for taking care of, as I understand it, Khaat and her kids. Did Brian, or did he not, hire a separate outdoor crew now?"

"He did," Angus said.

"You help Brian with Khaat and the kids because he's your friend. As I understood it, you're paid as a bodyguard, as an auror. Having the heart of a servant is what makes you a good man," Edward said, ruffling Angus's hair like he did when Angus was a boy. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. And don't let Jim or anyone else tell you differently."

"Its why we surrounded ourselves with family and friends and not just hired staff," Khaat said to Angus quietly.

Jack smiled and nodded " I agree with Edward " he said " let him sort himself out he doesn't speak for us all and I for one am happy as things are" he said he heard Angus and chuckled " ah if I did that every time Jess had a vision, I would go mad and put my self in a tent" he said and chuckled seeing a cookie jar he walked over and took one out and began eating it taking a second as he replaced the lid and stood looking at them both " what...there good" he said Brant could not help chuckle as he stood behind him.

Angus busied himself with everyday tasks, just working on staying out of everyone's way. He knew Jack was right. Michael had been working on dinner, but he said nothing to Angus about it. He was giving Angus some space. He made a large batch of pizza dough and put it in the refrigerator. He was going to make a large batch of homemade pizzas.

Michael was silently watching the clock. So far no news had come from St. Mungo's. The afternoon passed without a single word from Brian or Robert. As dinner time grew closer that night, Edward and Khaat and Michael were all a bit more anxious, feeling like whatever Robert had had in mind would have certainly been done by now. And by Michael's best guess, they were late.

Angus came back downstairs, realizing what time it was and feeling a bit rattled that he hadn't done anything about it.

"What's the matter?" Michael asked.

"Dinner. I haven't even started it," Angus sighed, frustrated.

"Got it covered," Michael said. "I'm going to order some pizzas from a muggle pizzeria in London."

"London?" Angus was appauled. "Are you out of your mind? Nobody in London knows how to make decent pizza? If you want good Italian pizza, lets do it right."

"I thought mediocre would work this once," Michael said, keeping a straight face.

"Get out of my kitchen," Angus sighed, even more frustrated. He flung open the kitchen door and saw the large batch of pizza dough chilling. He turned on Michael. "One of these days, Michael Tremaine, I'm going to catch up with all of that pranking."

"You can try," Michael laughed. "But you do have a lot to learn. Let's make pizza, Boy."

"I bet you don't even have sauce made," Angus said.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Michael said. "Its in there. Take another look and stop the anxiety."

"They're late," Angus said.

"Calm," Michael said. "They're far from alone there. If they need help, they'll let us know. Make the bloody pizzas."