Marriage is Murder

Every one sat and  listened to him each just relaxed a little “ of course we will continue to do our jobs “ Jim said “We're all behind you and the family, no matter what happens.” He said Jack and Jess both nodded as did the others. Brant stood up and walked over to him once Robert had stopped talking “ I finished that list of equipment I was going to send the orders on to the relevant departments but thought you would like to check them first in case I missed off any thing important” he said and took out the folded piece of paper to give him.   Brant then moved to the kitchen and pored some water. He glanced at Angus watching him cook.

“ How do you do it, cook so calm?” he asked “cook so calmly “ he asked “ what ever it is can I have some?” he said and sipped his water.

"Thank you," Robert said. "I honestly don't know if Khaat will ever get her life back again, but if we just keep things moving forward, hopefully Brian will adjust and he'll be able to help her adjust. But that doesn't mean I'll quit trying to fix her shoulder. will keep trying."

Brant passed the list to Robert, and Robert took a look at it. He believed Brant was going to do well with it, and he almost had given the list to Brant and told him to just send it. Instead, he skimmed the list and signed off on it.

Angus listened to Brant but was looking over his shoulder at Robert.

"He almost just let you send the list out without looking at it," Angus smiled. "That's saying something. As for me, how do I cook? I'm focused in on Robert's priorities. He's struggling to keep his own life moving forward and in keeping Khaat from giving up. And that means he needs every bit of help he can get. So, I'm following Michael's lead--he's planning on pampering her with food. Sounds good to me," he shrugged. "Its as good a plan as any, I suppose."

"Brant," Robert called. "Come send these out, please. They're fine."

Brant looked at Angus in some what surprise and drank his water turning back he placed the glass in the sink and walked over to Robert “ Right away.” he said and began making individual lists as he sat at the kitchen table. “ may be I'll get to that point he doesn’t have to check the list” he said softly as he worked with his head down. Jim smiled as he walked past and patted Brant's shoulder.

“ worry less about that and more on getting that list off, he trust you, that's enough.” he said moving on to the fridge and taking out a cup cake he looked at Angus. “ Mind if I help my self?” he asked holding up a cup cake with blue frosting on it as he saw Brant return to his list.

Angus rolled his eyes towards Brant. "Excuse me," he told Michael and walked out of the kitchen. He promptly headslapped Brant and, without a word, walked back into the kitchen.

"What was that for?" Michael asked laughing. "Help yourself, Jim. We're a couple hours from dinner yet."

"If he remembers, my grandfather used to do that when he thought we missed the obvious somehow," Angus said.

"Ah," Michael said, "I see."

"Your dessert looks like its coming along very well," Angus said.

"It is," Michael said. "How long has it been since she's really eaten?

"I don't know. I haven't gotten to the point where I've kept track yet," Angus said.

Khaat and Belby came back in the house, Belby's arm slipped gently around her waist. He had an amused smile on his face. They had been laughing just a moment before. Khaat had no objection to Marcus. He was, from the outset, treating her like a friend. But he was also talking to her about what she did like in--not only her interests, but what she liked about staff. He was also asking her what her dislikes were, including what she disliked in her staff. That impressed Khaat. Belby wanted to please right from the outset. He wanted her to feel comfortable with him constantly in her shadow and not feeling like she needed to try to escape his watchful eye.

Likewise, Marcus had already come to see that Khaat was a very seasoned business woman and a skilled fighter. He was impressed with the Minister's daughter. He didn't usually intend to make personal friends in his life, particularly if it mixed with business, but he was starting to feel already like it was going to be very hard for him not to feel some loyalty to this family and his new co-workers.

Brant felt the slap and rubbed the back of his head watching Angus leave the room " yeah and nine times out of ten I'd be receiving them," he said but chuckled "but I know what he means, I know it was a compliment that Robert just glanced at it " he said and smiled looking at Michael for a moment as he chuckled.

Jim nodded and closed the fridge and started to eat the cup cake smiling " you make the best cup cakes Angus" he said and looked to Michael. " if it was me I'd do the same, he doesn't see the oblivious does he" he said chuckling.

"It was a compliment, and, yeah. He missed it," Angus said.

"I did think you were brighter than that, Brant," Edward said, coming in and pouring himself a glass of perfectly chilled wine, an Italian tradition for late afternoon. "Or did you forget that, first, Robert hasn't known you that long. Second, the only thing you've done to prove your skills is to make a couple of potions, really. And third, St. Mungos is the largest and finest hospital in the wizarding world. The potions lab is depended upon by every magaical creature on the planet. I saw exactly what Robert did. He didn't read your list, he only skimmed it. And he only did that because you honestly did appear to need his validation that the list was good enough. For him to blindly sign your list as if it were his own order and then ask you to send it yourself...really, its is probably the highest compliment anyone at the hospital could give you. And yet, it wasn't good enough for you. What exactly was it that you wanted him to do, or do you know? You truly don't know him very well. If I were you, I'd spend some time with Jack and Steven and Jim getting to know how they get along with him."

Brian came in, massaging his temples. He rarely got headaches, but today was different. "Anybody seen Steven?" Brian asked. "I was going to take a pack of horses and tether them together and take them for a long walk on the trails, but...I'm not going to get to it today. I was hoping he'd find a way to take them on a lap on the outer trail around the edge of the property. The estate is big enough that taking them one la around the borders of the estate would be a good work out for them. Unless a couple of you want to go take them?"

Brant looked at Edward and nodded " I understand" he said but Jim chuckled and shook his head as he walked over to him.

"No, no you don't "he said but stopped short of continuing as Brian walked in " ow Brant and I will find him and we'll get on it" he said and pulled Brant to his feet " come on, it will be fun" he said just as Steven walked in his hat in his hand.

" what will?" he asked and Jim explained" I was just on my way out to do that, do you ride Brant" Steven asked. Brant thought for a moment.

" not sure" he said and Jim smiled as he pulled him close to him.

" well my boy, your about to find out." he said and Steven looked puzzled at them both but shook his head as he walked out side. " leave it with us Brian" he said and walked Brant out side and over to the barn where Steven had three horses saddled.

"Thank you," Brian said, relieved, and glad to see Jim and Jack and Steven taking Brant in hand to help him fit in a bit easier.

Khaat looked up and noticed the look on Brian's face. She knew what it meant. Brian rarely ever got a severe headache, but she saw he had a migraine. A nasty one. She raised her hand, automatically, to try to ease his pain and touched him to draw off his pain, but with her wonky magic, all she did was transfer it to herself. Brian felt his pain leave quickly and he frowned at her.

"Did you get your magic back?" he frowned.

"Must have," she said, outright lying to him. And she knew immediately, this was no lightweight migraine. This was one that even her father would need to work on to relieve. "Belby," she looked at Marcus, "let me give you a tour of the house."

"After you," He said, looking forward to seeing how an Englishman could create not just a log cabin but a log mansion. The living room and Khaat's bedroom had both been impressive, and so was the estate--or what he had seen of it so far, but he was looking forward to seeing the rest of it. She led Marcus down the hallway to show him the wing with the office, the potions lab, the playrooms, the laundry, and the rest of it before taking him either to the basement or to the upstairs.

Jess finished the room and walked down pausing only for a moment to change direction to find Khaat " Hi Belby, Khaat " she said and placed her hand on her good shoulder smiling as she did so. Jess drew off as much as she could to at least ease Khaat's pain a little. She looked to Brian but said nothing about the migraine. " did I see Jim, Steven with Brant on horses?" she asked as Jack walked in carrying an arm full of chopped logs.

" we were running low so I took the opportunity after my patrol to do some chopping" he gave a smile to Belby. "Evening," he said as he stacked the logs by the fire. " names Jack, would shake your hand but.." he showed his dirty hands to him.

"I'm not afraid of dirt," Marcus said, shaking his hand. "Marcus Belby--new shadow in the house." What little he knew about Khaat from the walk they had together had told him he was going to like her. "Do you need to go get more wood? I can help, if the lady of the house is going to be alright for awhile."

"I'll be fine, Marcus," she said gently. "You don't need to work this hard in the house. I'm generally safe inside the house. Its just the rest of the world that's a pain in the ass."

"Okay," Marcus laughed gently.

"I'll finish the tour later, if you like," Khaat told him. "Or you can just feel free to wander around. You might well be interested in the basement. Its that way." She pointed to the kitchen where the basement door was.

"What are you keeping in the basement?" he asked suspiciously, with a grin.

"All my secrets," she said.

"Firewood first, unless he's got it," Marcus said. "More wood, Jack?"