Marriage is Murder

Jack looked over at Belby and shook his head gently." um I'd do as she says shes a very formidable woman. " he said to him looking at Kate to Belby and back. Jim looked at Belby and smiled as he spoke softly to him.

"I hope your not known for losing in the casinos?" he asked as he refilled his cup again. Jess sat quiet until Khaat said she wanted to go to work she was about to talk hen she noticed Kate so staid quiet her mind n the pain and stiffness she felt radiating from both Khaat and Belby. Standing she moved to them both placing her hands on them she pulled the pain from Khaat and sen it down threw her body to the ground along with some she found in Belby hoping to at least ease it for the rest of the day.

Jack stood up and spoke softly " okay in my experience kids don't have a time table for sleep and wake" he said and smiled as he headed down to the gym to work out. Steven walked don and looked at every one .

" okay, whose turn to cook breakfast." he asked and looked at the stove " if nobody minds I will" he walked over and stood for a moment before starting.

"That would be lovely, Jack," Kate said. "Thank you."

"And Jess is right," Michael said. "Kate can stand her ground. Unless you want to find that out for yourself, Belby."

"No," he said. "Not tossing down a challenge. Merely intending to do my job, and if Khaat goes to London, I go to London."

"Unnecessary," Robert said. "I did not argue with the trains yesterday. I am very capable of handling the hospital..."

"I will not be stopped for a few bruises," Khaat said. "Is that Earl? Or someone new?"

"I recall a patient just a couple week ago," Robert said. "And a 'certain healer' wrote on the chart that the patient was to be permitted a week's medical leave for far less bruising."

"You were checking my charts?" she frowned.

"And you're missing my point. Medical leave until I say otherwise," Robert said.

"Psst," Michael whispered to Khaat. "Yep. Its Earl."

"Give him here," she said, taking the lizard. "I don't know how he got down here, but..."

"Your son," Brian said.

"Which one...oh wait...he's my son when he's in trouble?" she asked.

"Welcome to parenthood," Robert said. He took the lizard back. "I'll put him back in a moment."

"Oh for goodness sakes," Kate sighed, taking the lizard now. "Can we just put him away?"

Jim smiled and stood up walking over he took the lizard from Kate " I'll do it " he said cupping it in his hands and walking own to the potions lab " don't worry he'll be okay and safe from little hands" he shouted back to them.

Jess moved and sat back down taking some tea as she felt her energy was a little low from healing Khaat and Belby. hearing Robert she chuckled " hes right even I tell my healers that"she said and sipped her tea.

Steven finished cooking and placed down toast, bacon, eggs, sausage then followed by a large PAN DI RAMERINO(rosemary bread) and EGG PATTIES smiiling as he did so. " well I hope you all like it " he said smiling as he sat down and broke one of the rosemary bread and ate some.

" I think we should all eat " Jess said taking an egg pattie and placing it carefully on her plate as she began to eat smiling at how well Steven had cooked it. Jack walked up wiping his shoulders just as Jim returned empty handed from the potions lab.

" okay, he's now secure again and won't be ogling any women here." Jim said and smelled the food and looked around. " smells delicious, did Angus break his day off?" he asked sitting down to the table. Steven crossed his arms and looked at Jim then Robert but said nothing waiting.

"Do we stand a chance of making it to London?" Belby asked Khaat, a bit amused now.

"How fast can you run?" she asked.

"I'm usually a bit faster than I feel like I'd be today," he confessed.

"We might be screwed," she said. "You might as well eat."

"After you," he said, helping her to her place at the table.

"Angus is still on his day off," Robert said "Steven made breakfast. "It looks great." He began to fix his plate. It didn't take long to get the kids' plates fixed and for Brian to help Khaat get a plate and to get his own.

"Very good," Kate said. "Nothing replaces simple ingredients done well."

Steven smiled as Kate complimented his cooking Cassidy smelt the food and walked in with several kids following behind her " ow the pied piper" Steven said and chuckled as she helped two of the children into their high chairs while Jack helped the rest one by one they sat down and were handed plates of fruit salad or toast with juice.

Jess listened to Belby and Khaat and chuckled" admit defeat Marcus and relax," she said as James took some rosemary bread and ate it happily." so your resting for today." Jess said to Belby in more of a statement than a question. Steven looked up and watched the two of them.

"Jim could play a game of chess to keep you occupied if you want." he said and Jim nodded.

"Sure I don't mind Marcus" he said and looked at him " I'm a fare player." he added as he finished his egg pattie and took a sausage wrapping it in the bread he ate it smiling as he saw one of the kids copying him.

"That all depends on what she has on her schedule," Marcus said.

"Well, if we're not working, then we'd best go for a walk, at least, to try to walk off the stiffness," she said. Brian looked up at her, poised to protest. But Robert rolled his eyes at her.

"Why must you bait him like that?" Robert asked. "He falls for it every time."

"What? Me?" Brian asked.

"Yes, you," Robert said. "You're the only one who actually bought that. You know she can't, and neither can Belby."

"I know she'd try," Brian said.

"He's right. I would," Khaat said. "And he'd go with me." She pointed at Belby. Marcus laughed.

"You're right," he said. "I would."

"Why don't you lot break out that antique medieval wizarding navy war game map with the ships and have yourselves a lovely sea battle?" Michael suggested. Khaat and Brian hadn't played the game in years. It required its very own large table, an enchanted world map, model sailing ships, and dice to determine the moves and the success of the moves. They both had memories of teaming up together against Remus or Robert--and losing. But it was great fun.

Steven, Jim and Jess sat watching all smiled at Robert as he spoke to Marcus Jim raised an eye brow but nodded " sounds a grand idea Michael" he said and looked to Marcus " well you want to play might while away the time" he asked as he sipped his tea. Jess chuckled and handed Jaylen some orange segment which she sucked on happily.

Jack ate some egg patties and liked it Cassidy gave James some bread and ate some herself that was buttered. Steven stood up and moved all the empty plates to the sink returning with a fresh pot of coffee and topped up Khaat's and Marcus's cup.

"I don't know if he's brave enough for that," Khaat said, deliberately teasing Marcus. He looked up from his tea mug and laughed.

"You really don't know what you're asking, do you?" he laughed at her.

"So, let's divide into teams, then. I'll sink your ships."

"I'm sure you'll try," Marcus said.

"There are at least enough ships for 4 dfferent navy fleets and land troops, if I recall," Robert said.

"There are indeed," Kate said. "Perhaps if the storms set in, we should create teams and we should all play."

"Sounds like fun," Marcus said.

Brian was about to speak when Owens came in, in jeans and a work shirt. He was ready to start his day. Brian didn't seem surprised to see him. He got up.

"Excuse me," Brian said. "Owens and I have business. Its a surprise. So no evesdropping." He led Owens down the hall to his office and shut the door.

"Surprise?" Kate looked at Robert. "Do you know about this?"

"I'm not saying anything one way or the other," Robert smiled. "This is totally his."

Jim chuckled and nodded " I'm sure Jess and Steven would join me on my team" he said and looked to them both looked at each other.

" um..ow hey Owens " Jess said trying to avoid the question Jack chuckled at Jess's avoidance of Jim's question.

" I'll join you Jim" he said and finished his food while he waited for Steven and Cassidy to say if they were going to join him in the match. But it was Steven who spoke first.

" I'll join you" he said smiling " might beat them though something tells me we won't first time around." he said Jess rolled her eyes and coughed.

"Hey you never know if you don't try but I have a shift to start and I'd better get going before that storm hits so good luck guys" she said and stood up transforming her clothes she walked to the porch and ported to the hospital.

"I need to go, too," Robert said, getting up. He picked up his umbrella and his bag. He kissed Kate. "See you all later!" He ported out.

"I"m thinking we should just set cleaning spells in place to clean up the breakfast dishes," Kate said.

"Shall I go to the farm and get the game?" Michael asked. "I need to go in to the market to get some of the things I want for lunch ingredients anyway. Perhaps for dinner, we should just do something very simple. Perhaps some casseroles that we can prepare in advance and imply put them in the oven. Those of us who cook could all take a different course and make a casserole for the oven, and if you need me to pick up any special ingredients I can get them while I'm going."

"Yes, please," Kate said. "You can find the game probably in one of the cabinets in the library."

"I presumed so," Michael said. "Any thoughts for the market, anyone?"