Marriage is Murder

Jim nodded to Robert " don't worry I'll let the others know" he said watching as Robert left he looked at his clothes and transfigured them into a smart dark blue suit. He was about to get a cup of tea but as he started to walk to the kitchen he heard the sound of porting and he stopped. Turning he young a youngish man, smartly dressed who spoke to him “ of course he's expecting you, Mr Belby” he said and motioned to him to follow him.

Leading him up the stairs he spoke with an air of wisdom in his voice. “ My names James Cummings” he said simply as he knocked on the door. “ Sir your guest has arrived” he announced then opened the door. “ he's inside and expecting you” he said and stepped to one side to let him pass.

"Cummings," Jim repeated, to get the face and the name firmly in his memory. "Do you prefer Jim or Cummings or something else? Just so I know what you prefer."

"Thank you, Jim," Robert said. "Give us about fifteen minutes or so, and then please have everyone gather in the living room. I'm afraid I haven't exactly broken the news of the addition to most of the others yet. I need time to brief Mr. Belby and then introduce him to Khaat and Brian.

"Oh, and do please ask Jess if she will prepare the room with the brown leather furniture for Marcus. I think that will suit his tastes rather well and will give him the sort of proximity to Khaat and the children that he will certainly prefer at least until he gets to know them.

"And I meant to tell you. Paychecks need signed again at Sparks, and bills need to be paid. Khaat or I are the ones that have always done that, but she's not really up to that, and I haven't had time. Do you feel capable of managing the restaurant accounts? I'm hoping Lizzie also has the summer menu well in hand, but do let me know if it is not." He went over to Marcus and shook hands with him. "Good to see you again, Belby. Are you ready to work?"

"It is my pleasure, Minister," Marcus said.

Jim smiled at the man as he asked what he would like to be called “ Jim's fine” he said and looked at Robert “ of course, I'll get Lizzie to send them over and I'll get to them once the meetings done” he said “ welcome to the house” he said and  moved into the hallway passing Jess who smiled as she stopped and looked  to Robert.

“ Mr Belby, I'm Jessica Dark Heart, Jess is what every one calls me.” She said “ Robert, that room would be perfect or him , I'm on my way now to air it out and change the sheets ready” she said then moved down the hall as Jim headed down to gather every one below. Soon they all stood in the living room. Steven stood with Cassidy, Jack sat next to Jess, Brant sat at the table still with a quill and paper making the list he glanced up every now and again but went back to his list. Jim stood in his suit  by the fire.

"Thank you, Jess," Marcus said. "People just call me Marcus or Belby. I don't have a nickname. Not that I know of. Don't go to a lot of trouble for me. I am very self sufficient."

Brian got the message, the same as everyone else did that Robert wanted to see everyone. He knew that was usually introducing either new developments that affected them all or someone new to the crew.

Upstairs, Khaat knew someone else was in the house. Someone strange. It raised her anxiety. That was definitely not typical. She didn't know if this was good news or not.

Abbey had managed to open the window in the downstairs playroom and she had found a bug on the bush outside and had it crawling on her little hand. She plunged ahead into her daddy's office to find Papa there with a stranger.

"Hi!" she said boldly to Marcus.

"Hi,' Marcus laughed, amused by the fearless tot.

"My granddaughter," Robert said. "Abbey, this is Marcus. Marcus, this is Abbey. Abbey, Marcus is going to work here."

Abbey thought about the name hard to get it straight in her head. "Mar...cus..." she repeated.

"Very good," Robert said to her. "Abbey..."

"Papa! I has a bug! Looky!" she opened her hand to show Robert the white and yellow and black caterpillar.

"Ah!" he smiled. "He's a nice one."

"He tickles," she laughed.

"That is a caterpillar, Abbey," he said. Abbey scowled, not able to say caterpillar. "He's going to change into an outstanding orange and black butterfly this summer."

"He a wormie!" she said.

"Well, sort of. How about you go show Auntie Jess or Uncle Jack your wormie?"

"Can I keep it?" she asked.

"If they find you a jar to keep it in," Robert said. "But it needs a jar with a stick and some leaves and some other things. I bet if they can't help you, Uncle Steven can. He's good with animals."

"He not an aminal. He a wormie," Abbey said.

"I bet he knows wormies too," Robert kissed her forehead. "Now don't squish him, Sweetie. I'll be downstairs in a little bit."

Abbey raced downstairs to where the others were. "I gots a wormie!" she announced to anyone that would listen. "And Papa says I can keep 'im! Wanna see?"

Jess smiled to Marcus and nodded “ Of course Marcus, but its fine, you probably already have guessed I'm a seer like Khaat.” she said softly then moved to his room and began preparing it for him. Steven was sat with Cassidy when he saw Abbey walk down with her caterpillar.

“Nice caterpillar, ow I mean wormie, Abbey.“ he said and grabbed an empty jar placing in a few leaves he moved to kneel in front of her “ here this will be his home” he said as Jack placed some holes in the soft metal lid then handed it back to him. “You know you have to feed him every day” he said softly as he placed the caterpillar in the jar and gave it to her back.

"Actually, no," Marcus frowned. "I'm afraid I haven't met much of anyone yet. Nor have I been given any dossiers yet. I'm not aware of anyone's skills yet."

"There will be time for all of that," Robert said. "Jess, it really is perfectly alright to no be overusing your energies like that. You do not need to be two steps ahead all the time. I appreciate it, but I'd rather you save those energies for when we truly do need them. Using them on a continuous basis isn't very healthy. I presume Jeffrey did teach you that."

"Jeffrey?" Marcus asked.

"Long story," Robert waved the question away as Jess went to prepare the room as requested. "Anyway, Marcus, you and I need to go see Khaat and Brian."

"Your daughter and..."

"Her husband. This is their house, not mine."

"Ah. Okay," Marcus said.

"Come with me," Robert said. He took Marcus up to Khaat's room, where Brian had gone to make sure Khaat really was still dealing with her shoulder. He was pouring a bit more potion in her mug when Robert knocked on the doorframe.

"You know you're always welcome," Brian looked up, corking the bottle and handing the mug to Khaat.

"I have someone for you to meet. I've added another staff member here," Robert said. "Before you jump to conclusions, just hear me out." He brought Marcus into the bedroom with them all and closed the door.

Jess looked at Robert and nodded “ yes he did, but I thought it imperative to know if he was friend or foe, I will make sure not to again” she said softly smiling as she left. Heading to the spare room. Heading down once the room was ready she paused hearing voices from Khaat and Brian’s room knowing they were just talking she walked down to the living room and sat down to wait.

“ who is he jess?” Jack asked but Jess just smiled knowing Robert would explain in all good time.“ ah Robert will tell us in time right.” he said and she nodded and picked up her book.

“ yes , not my place to fill you in, Robert will do that.” she said softly as she turned a page. Cassidy chuckled and lent back against Steven.

“ that means be patient Jack” she said and Steven wrapped his arm around her.

Robert explained to Brian and Khaat that for awhile, they needed extra help in order to make sure that Khaat could still carry out her responsibilities within reason, and that, especially while her magic didn't work, she needed someone to be with her.

Khaat was definitely feeling the pressure of how far people were going to be stretched because of her and everyone picking up what she couldn't do.

Robert introduced Marcus to her and explained his qualifications and suggested that they spend some time getting to know one another. Brian was a bit protective, but he understood that Robert wasn't hiring anyone to be alone with his daughter that hadn't passed some very stringent background checking.

"You lot get to know one another," Robert told the three of them. "I should go tell the others. Their curiosity is getting the best of them." Marcus didn't reply. He wasn't personally sure why the woman--what was her name--Jess--had had to see if he was a friend or an enemy if he had already passed through the safety checks of the bodyguards and also had the Minister's portkey. Marcus chalked it up to perhaps some extra curiosity.

Brian suggested that he and Khaat and Marcus go take a short walk on the grounds, so the three of them headed outside, while Robert headed downstairs.

Jim sat and worked threw the wage checks and other paper work that needed to be done he never looked up as he spoke . “Jess, he's okay, Robert chose him as he did you, don't question his judgement he doesn’t like it, just trust him and relax.” he said softly to her finally as he closed the book and sent it back threw the floo to Lizzie knowing all was in order once more. He'd included a list of supply’s for the kitchen he knew they needed.

Brant looked up from his list and looked back down “ he's right ,if he was a wear Jack would know, anything else you'd pick it up” he said and looked back at his list. “ and I am done” he said closing the book and slipping the paper into his inside pocket as he was going to give it to Robert when the time was right.

Robert came downstairs and saw them all looking at him as though they hadn't measured up.

"What's with you lot?" he frowned. "Its the man you saw port in, isn't it? Well, let me read you in. He's a new hire. I don't know how permanent he'll be, but I expect you all to welcome him for as long as he's on staff.

"His name is Marcus Belby. He's a well trained auror who specializes in personal protection. You all have not only your own jobs but you're also picking up and doing more of Khaat's jobs because she can't.

"The fact is that while I am doing everything I can to help Khaat with her shoulder, she doesn't believe she will be anything other than disabled. And the truth is, I can't promise her right now that she won't be.

"So until we see whether she's going to get any sort of life back that she thinks she wants, I truly do need you to help me keep her duties covered. She wants to try to work. I don't know if it will work but I have to let her try to do whatever she's able. Which, admittedly, isn't much right now. Belby is going to be her escort. He will be providing the magic she can't do and will be protecting her.

"Its not about what you can't do for her. Its about what I need you lot to do for me. I don't know how much longer the posts at the Ministry will hold for us and how soon we'll have to run from England again. But I need you all to help me shoulder Khaat and Brian's jobs, helping me with my grandkids, and you know I don't trust any of those things except to people I truly trust.

"Now--if you lot don't want to be considered in the inner circle of people I trust, I would appreciate you speaking up now," he said quietly.