Marriage is Murder

"Yes," Robert said, intending to answer both Brant and Cassidy.  "Her pain appears to be fairly extreme. Its going to be hard to control for awhile, it appears. And it has had an effect on her magic.  So, I would prefer she not use her magic unless she has to."

"Is that from the injury?" Brian asked.

"Hard to say," Robert said. "In this case, it could well be from the injury, or the extreme stress its causing.  I've seen wizards' powers react rather strangely under similar conditions.  I will try to control it, but she honestly is trying to do it for herself.  At this point, I think the higher risk is to my brother's portrait. Its liable to find itself in the barn if it doesn't stop being so testy with her."

"That's fine by me," Brian said. "Nothing against the portrait, but I prefer to not have third parties in my bedroom. Even if it is just a painting. It still feels odd."

"That's why he's not ever been in my room," Robert said with a slight smile

Brant looked at them and smiled " want I should move it I don't mind him in my room for a while" he asked " might be interesting to have a conversation with it" he said smiling " plus give her a rest from it" he added Cassidy chuckled as he asked.


" ow trust me it really would be interesting. once he starts he doesn't stop" she added Jack chuckled and nodded remembering how he'd once got into a conversation and it took Jess to come and find him to get away from him. Brant just chuckled and looked to Robert hoping he would agree.

"Its not my decision," Robert said. "The reason she has that portrait and not me is because of her bond with him.  If there was ever one person who understood not only her temper but also understood what it was like to suffer sometimes intense physical pain, it was Remus.  There were a lot of times that his own lycanthropy resulted in some pretty serious battle scars.  The portrait is enough like him that I think the Remus in the portrait understands what she's dealing with."

"I doubt that Remus, even a portrait," Kate said, "was truly pushing her to her limits.  More likely, he was allowing her to be angry and allowing the depression that we all know she's feeling. He certainly knew what that was for himself."

"Definitely," Robert said. "But Brian has a point.  At some point, she does need some time to be truly alone and to work through it."

"If nothing more than to just rest," Brian said. "If she'll give him up.  Even for one night."

"Yeah, well, good luck with that," Robert laughed. "Brian, you have a much better chance of getting her to agree with that than I do. She'll listen to you better than she would listen to me on that."

"I'll try to talk to her later this afternoon," Brian said.

Brant looked from one to the other and nodded he knew what it was like not to give up something special to you. He moved to the door and stood quiet hoping she would even just for one night. Jack had walked the stairs and listened." you have to get through it and move on, can't linger in the past, won't do any one, any good." he finished and looked to Brant.


Brant moved back down to the loving room to finish his list for Robert before bed time came. He sat with the book and wrote down what he knew they would need. 

"I thought you finished that list," Michael said.  "Do we not need the book from Robert's farm?  You do know this is just a start.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  You wouldn't be trying a bit too hard again, would you?"

"I'm sure Robert has figured out that you would like a position with him," Angus said. "He's just giving you a bit of time, I think, to adjust, to start to feel comfortable with all the Lupin nuttiness and to get some experience as a fighter.  He typically needs more fighters, so you might decide if that is something you want to do.  He needs time to see where you fit and you need time to adjust to him and some of the drama that typically follows his family.  Quit stressing about whether or not he's going to reject you."

"Or, try something novel, if you really are anxious and ask the man," Michael said.  "He doesn't usually bite."

Brant looked up at Michael and nodded " ow yes sorry" he said and  closed the book and stood up "  we go now or wait till later?" he asked he glanced at Angus and chuckled. " I can't help it Angus guess I try too hard in trying to impress who ever I'm with" he added as he picked up his cup and reheated it slowly. Jess arrived and smiled at them all.



“ well you don't have to Brant your already part of this family seeing how you help with the little ones and the way you think of Khaat as a sister” she told him

"Do you have the lunch clean up under control?" Michael asked Angus.

"I do, if I'm not putting kids down for their naps," Angus said. "If I'm doing that, I'm going to need more time to get to the clean up."

"You really aren't suggesting I put children to bed for naps, are you?" Michael looked at him dryly.

"I know better," Angus said.

"Then we should go so we can get back," Michael told Brant.  "You have things to do, and so do I."  He apparated them into Robert's farmhouse, into the kitchen. "This way," he motioned to Brant. "Understand there is an enchantment on the library and lab to keep anyone from getting in that he has not authorized.  It is not wise for you to try to come here by yourself.  There aren't very many people that ever get into these rooms."  He drew out the key to the library and drew his wand to open the door.

Jess smiled at Michael and chuckled " I'll do that for you with Cassidy" she said moving to gather all the children who she could see were now rubbing there eyes tiredly. With cassidys help they moved them all up to there rooms to nap. Brant moved to Michael as he aperated them both to Roberts farm.

"Must have some serious potions in there to go to all that trouble"   he said as they walked towards it. He heard Michael and nodded he understood.

Angus was glad for the help.  It helped him to be able to focus on his other duties. He had things in the making for the evening meal, even though it wa still hours away yet.

"There are a lot of serious things in here," Michael said, removing the charm on the door and then unlocking it.  "Its four floors. Robert is a collector of a great many things."  He opened the heavy thick oak door to the three floor library with its immense, wooden spiral staircase that led into the big potions lab below. "Feel free to look.  Just be careful what you touch.  Some things are not what they seem."