Marriage is Murder

Cassidy and Steven both put the kids to bed as they fell as sleep one by one soon every one was tucked up nice and warm and sleeping soundly. "Thank you" Cassidy said to Edward. Jack smiled.


"Seems you have quite the talent for storytelling" he said softly as he placed the blanket over James who held in his arms a small blue stuffed puppy. Jack ursary and headed down to the living room he saw Angus leave Khaat and walked over to him. " sleeping?" he asked him noting the fire that as going in the bed room “ don't worry I'll keep and eye on her and that fire I have first watch “ he said smiling

"You've got a deal," Angus said. "I'm going to head to bed.  3 or 4 am comes very very early.  Goodnight."
He headed upstairs, knowing the others had it under control. 
 

By two am, Robert and Brian were up and showered and dressed for the next day.  They both had more sore muscles than not.  They had both found they were thoroughly bruised.  The open wounds that had been either tended at St. Mungo or by Jess were still healing but they were well enough to be up.

They were quiet when they came downstairs, neither feeling energetic enough for talking. They merely headed to the kitchen for mugs of coffee.  It felt like it was going to be a rough start to the day.

It was only two am, and Angus didn't usually get up til 4, but he couldn't sleep. He was just arriving in the kitchen, two hours early, when Brant asked him about a full breakfast for Robert and Brian.

"I'll get it," Angus yawned, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Take your time," Robert said. "The toast is sufficient for now.  Personally, I'd rather eat with my family."

"So would I," Brian agreed. Yesterday still was fresh in his mind.  He and Robert had been hopelessly outnumbered, he thought.  He still wasn't quite sure what exactly it had been that Robert had done that had finally turned the tide in the skirmish and had driven them out of the cellar of the hospital. But once it happened, it ended quicker than it had begun.  Brian was still feeling a bit surprised that they both had survived at all, much less to be relatively unharmed.

.    Brant smiled but saw Jack start to doze off " hey go bed there up and awake " he said Jack looked up and nodded.


"That okay with you Robert?" he asked yawning once more as he saw Brant shake his head but he too looked to Robert and Brian knowing  more coffee and tea would be needed be for the sun rise. Jack said good night and headed up to his room passing  Khaat on his way past. He paused to pull up her blanket and smiled as he them continued up to his room slipping into bed with out waking Jessica who rolled over and held him close.

"By all means," Robert said.  "Brian and I can manage.  We're in one piece, it seems."  He looked and saw Khaat asleep in the living room chair.  He realized she had had no bed for the night.  "Now, that was my fault," Robert said.

"She's fine, Robert," Brian said.  "We've spent more than one night in the living room.  At least she's sleeping.  Do you want to have a meeting with staff?"

"No, actually," Robert said, sipping his coffee.  "I want to read the paper when it gets here, hug my grandchildren when they get up, and have a proper breakfast with my family.  I don't want to give any more thought to battles today whatsoever."

"And I was going to ask you how it went," Edward said, coming into the kitchen. 

"We survived," Robert said.  "That's all there is to tell."

"No, its not," Edward countered boldly. "Are they all still alive or are they dead?"

"We killed 5 werewolves and two beasts.  There are still survivors unless they died after they escaped," Robert said.  "Now, enough. I will discuss this no more."

"One more question" Edward said.  Robert looked at him, annoyed. 

"Make it quick," Robert said tersely.

"What does this have to do with your brother?"

"How the hell should I know?" Robert said.  "Now, unless you are a newspaper, I fully intend for you to leave me alone for a couple of hours."

"Fair enough," Edward said, fully intending on making Robert answer more later.

Brant hearing the paper and Robert's words stood up walking to the main door. He took the newspaper from the box and walked back to the table placing it in front of Robert. "There you go."he said poring more tea for him as he too sat down. Jack fed James and Jaylen while Jess fed Catlin and Little Robert while Steven fed Dakota. Brant sipped his coffee quietly. Jess looked over at Khaat and smiled to her she felt thing were settling down in the house.

Jack looked up at Robert as he spoke “ well that's something at least” he said and saw the look on Steven's face. “ what?” he asked.

“ Robert just said no shop talk at the table.” he said and frowned but smiled as Jack chuckled and continued to feed James.


“ Jess and I are going to dyagon alley today I got a book put aside that I need to pick up, any one need anything while were there?” he asked

Kate came downstairs with the rest of the kids and put them into their seats at the table as Angus began to put plates onto the table for breakfast.

"Thank you, Brant," Robert said. "You're all up a bit early. What has you all awake before your usual time?"

"I think the little ones were tired yesterday from the activity of the party," Kate laughed. "And when parents of a lot of little ones get an early evening, they almost always are too tired to enjoy it. How are you feeling?" She kissed his cheek.

"I'm fine, Kate," Robert said, adjusting his glasses on his nose and opening the paper.  Kate took notice of the very tiny icy edge to his tone.  Evidently the skirmish yesterday hadn't been at all pleasant, and he wanted to put it out of his mind quickly.  She glanced at Brian. He appeared to be more focused on enjoying his family and just wasn't going to give much thought to battles.

Khaat was awakened by Abbey running out to the living room and climbing up on her mother's lap and deliberately tapping Khaat's cheek. "Mama! Mama!"

Khaat jolted, not expecting it, and saw Abbey on her lap, her smiling face looking at her.  "Hi!"

"Hi," Khaat said, not feeling a bit awake. "What's the matter?"

"Pancakes?" Abbey asked.

"What?" Khaat asked, foggy from sleep and confused.

Jess saw Abbey get down and walk over to Khaat she watched her close and stood up herself walking behind her. Hearing Abbey and khaat's response she spoke softly to her " I think she wants you to eat some pancakes for breakfast" she said moving to stand close but not too close " you want some coffee?" she asked and accioed a cup from the kitchen filling it then placing it on the table next to her for if she wanted to drink it.


Jack chuckled and nodded as Brant put up his hand. “ there's some potion bottles I need you to pick up for me “ he said and looked at Jack “ if you want that is?” he said softer Jack chuckled and nodded.


“Sure, just write down how many and where they are” he said “ ow and don't be scared to ask were all family” he said and grinned.

"Yes, please," Khaat said, glad to have someone explain what the pancakes were about.  Jess put the coffee close to her chair.  Khaat looked back at Abbey.  "If you eat anymore pancakes, you're going to turn into a pancake."

"I like pink ones!" she nodded.

"But what if they were green dinosaurs instead of pink kitties?" Khaat asked. Abbey scowled like she'd never heard of such a foul idea.  "I bet if you got with Aunt Jess, she'll find your breakfast for you.  And I bet that if there aren't pancakes, she can find you some berries. What do you think, Auntie Jess?"

Brian was hoping Khaat would want to eat too at some point, but he also knew that she truly did need her first cup of coffee before she could think of food.