Marriage is Murder

Cassidy nodded and stood up wa;king to Steven they both walked up to the room and pushed open the door there in front of them was a rainbow of colors sprayed across the room. Cassidy chuckled " okay this is one for the book" she said and accioed her camera and took several snaps of the room.


Steven once Cassidy was done and had Dakota in her arms he began to clean up the half empty and empty tubes. Cassidy picked up the now empty case they had sat in and handed it to him. She then looked at Dakota and sighed “Dakota, as nice as this might seem your Papa and Kate prefer their room as it was” she said “ these aren’t Dakota paints there kate paints “ she told her as Steven case a leaning spell together they stood watching the room clean and return to its once normal state. Cassidy walked with Dakota down to the living room. “ now, Kitties do not like being blue, they like their own colours, it hurts them if you do that, and we don't want to hurt animals.” she said then looked to Robert.

Dakota watched them take away their artwork and was tempted to throw a tantrum but there were too many adults in the room. She was definitely not happy. She didn't say anything to Cassidy, sensing she might be in trouble--especially when they took her downstairs to Papa.

"Miss Dakota," Robert said, looking at his granddaughter--well, technically, she was his great granddaughter. "Come tell Papa what you were doing."

"Making pretties!" she said brightly.

"Were they your paints?" he asked.  She nodded.  "They were?" he asked again.  She nodded. "Where were they?"

"In a box," she said. 

"Was it your box?" he asked.  She nodded again.

"You do know that Papa likes it a lot better when you tell the truth, right?"

"What's that?" Dakota asked.

"Robert," Kate said, coming in, and clearly getting the gist of what was going on.  "Let me."  She picked up Dakota and whispered a long moment in her ear.  The tot's eyes grew red and she started to cry.  Kate soothed her and looked at Cassidy, speaking quietly.  "Cassidy, would you please remove the children from the playroom and lock it until after naptime please?  If someone takes my toys and wont own up to it, then nobody will have any toys until after lunch."  She knew that lunch would be served shortly, and then the kids would have their naps, so it wasn't going to be a harsh thing necessarily.  Only for the few minutes that they needed to wait on lunch.  Dakota already seemed to know the other kids were not going to be happy not having any toys for abit.

Cassidy put Dakota down close to Robert and stepped back listening both looked at each other and knew she was not telling truth. when Kate asked her to lock the play room Cassidy walked out the room and did so returning she placed the key in Kate's hand " there all locked " she said and moved to sit with Steven beside Jim who still held the kitten. 

Brant walked n and headed to the kitchen sending back up a tray of a coffee pot and cup up to Khaat he saw the  scene and said nothing knowing the tone Robert had Edward had used with him when he'd done something wrong.

Khaat appreciated the coffee and decided that she didn't want to take her edginess out on anyone else.  She knew it was coming from not just the pain but the difficulty she was having in accepting that she believed her arm would be, for all purposes, paralyzed for the rest of her life. 

She did know her father was bullheaded and wasn't going to give up, but she didn't believe that his skills were good enough to make that big of a difference in it.  She knew there was bone that had been either missing or crushed, muscle torn out and just gone, tendons and ligaments either gone or irrepairably damaged, and massive nerve damage.  As good as she believed her father was, she just didn't believe he was that good.

Angus and Michael put lunch on the table.  Homemade chicken and noodles, a lovely large salad, and little bitesized peach pasties, glazed in sugar.  Comfort food.  He saw the unhappy kids and saw Kate standing firmly at the front of the hallway.  The kids were all looking up at her, none of them making a peep.  The clearly understood "Gram" meant business.

"That the first time I've ever seen them all awake and not making noise," Michael said.

"Shhh! Don't ruin it," Angus laughed.  "Enjoy it while it lasts.  What else do we need for lunch?"

"Just drinks," Michael said.

Cassidy stood up " I'll get them " she said and moved to the kitchen returning with the drinks on a tray she placed them down on the table and pored out the glasses one by one. Brant sat quiet as he watched Kate and the kids Jim made sure the kitten was warm as he held it and gave it some warm milk to drink as he held it against him for warmth.

"Hows she doing?" Steven asked trying not to move the warm towel so not to let any of the warmth out

(not ignoring your question.  I just don't know who steven is talking to or about whom.)

"Thank you, Cassidy," Michael said.  "You all could move the prisoners to the dining room if you intend to feed them."

"Shall we feed them, Kate?" Robert asked, slightly amused at how Kate hadn't had to say a word for the kids to get her message. 

"Yes," Kate said. "I think they get the point." 

"Abbey and Dakota, go sit down at the table," Robert told them. "Its time for lunch."  They went obediently. Robert took Khaat's boys by the hand and took them to the table, and Kate picked up Julia and took her.  Brian came down into the dining room just in time to see Kate standing silently and the kids not moving and then saw her take them to the dining table.

"Why does that scene look familiar?" Brian smiled slightly.

"Because we used the same thing on you and Khaat," Robert said.  "Worked then, too, as I recall."

Cassidy helped and nodded that it was okay. she could not help but note how all the children walked into the dinning room and up to the table quiet. " ow I got to learn your secret Kate" she said and grinned at her. Jim placed the kitten on a soft cushion where it curled up and fell a sleep. Jim smiled and looked at Steven to answer his question.

" she'll be okay with some rest and quiet" he told him and Steven smiled nodding as he too moved to the dining room. He lifted James and Jaylen into their chairs while Cassidy helped with the others.

Brian noticed Khaat didn't come down for lunch.  He didn't say a syllable about it, though. Robert merely looked at him across the table to silently tell him to leave it alone. 

Robert's belief was that Khaat was a big girl and certainly knew when lunch was. He wasn't going to coddle her, even though he realized she was more than likely just trying to cope with the pain if it was truly as severe as she said it was.

He finished the salad before he got into his entrée and then changed his mind.  "If you'll all excuse me for just a moment," he said, laying his napkin aside and standing up.  "I'll be right back. Do continue."  He went upstairs.  Khaat was sitting quietly drinking from the mug Brant had sent up.

"Still hurting?" he asked quietly.

"Its easing up a bit," she said softly, staring out the window.

"I'm not giving up, you know," he said.

"And you're a fool," she told him bluntly.  "Its a waste of your time."

"Then if that's true, its mine time to waste," he said.  "When did you ever have such a lack of faith in me?"

"When you try to do the impossible," she said glaring at him.

"Are you blaming me for this injury?" he asked.

"No," she said angry at him now. "But I certainly intend to finish it."

"Lovely," the portrait mumbled.  "I'm sure the werewolves will be delighted by bright pink glitter.  Or have you not told him about that yet?"

"I've been here with you, you twit!" she snapped. "Or shall I hang you in the attic?"

"And when have you ever been this terse with Remus?" Robert asked her.  

"The glitter, Brother," the portrait said. "I suspect her magic has shorted out in her shoulder."

"It doesn't just short out. Its not an electrical circuit," Robert snorted.  Just the same, he checked her shoulder.  "It is definitely not right, though.  Don't use that side for a bit until I can tend it."

"Capital idea," she said, looking at the portrait. She hadn't used her injured shoulder when she'd apparated and it still had gone wrong.

"Are you coming for lunch?"

"I think I'll enjoy my coffee, thank you," she said.  "Thank you for asking, though."  He touched her shoulder lightly and drew off some of the pain for her. She didn't say a word but was very grateful all the same.

"You don't have to wait so long to ask me to draw it off. But you can't expect me to be a mind reader either," he said, turning and going back to the table.

"So," he smiled, taking his place back at the head of the table. "How is the chicken and noodles?"

Every one looked up and nodded knowing where he was headed, up to Khaat. Steven finished his food and moved to check on the kitten who was still sleeping. James wanted down and to play with the kitten but Cassidy shook her head." She needs rest shes been threw some big things today and is having her nap." She explained and saw James nodded and took up his sippy cup to drink his juice.

Brant stood up and excused himself heading up to Khaats room too he stood at the door and sighed as he heard Khaat talking " sorry to interrupt" he paused " I finished that list and I checked it three times over" he said and handed a copy to Robert.

"Thank you," Robert said as he exited Khaat's room closing the door quietly.  "I'm sure your list is fine.  You didn't have to interrupt your lunch to get it to me, though. Go back and finish your lunch.  I intend to. I'll look over the list later while you put together the custom equipment list.  Then when both lists are together, I'll send the owls out to order the equipment. Now--go finish your lunch before it gets cold."

He motioned Brant to follow him back to the dining room, wanting him to just let Khaat deal with her own issues herself for a bit.

"Kate, do you have any reason to go to the farm with Michael and Brant after lunch?" Robert asked.

"More paints perhaps," she sighed.

"I'll get them, Kate.  Just a new stock, then?" Michael asked.

"Yes, please.  Thank you, Michael," Kate said.  "How soon will you be going?"

"I don't know," Michael said. "I suppose whenever we finish eating.  Didn't have a tight timeframe on it, really."