Marriage is Murder

Jess smiled and nodded to Michael "A bit of leniency every now and again is okay" she said to Kate" it healthy to have a varied diet." she said "besides I like chicken and chips once in a while too" she said smiling knowing the kids would be happy to eat it with their fingers. She walked over to Jim and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Go and sit down your like a door stop." she said and he let his shoulders drop as he smiled at her.

"Okay." he said and moved to sit down Jess smiled as she glanced out the window at Khaat and Marcus again.

"Bodyguards usually look like doorstops to me," Kieran said as he ported in with Fi.

"Did you bring it?" Brian asked.

"Do I look like I brought all that?" Kieran frowned. "Its probably here by now."

"You need to stop worrying," Fi said. "I'll take care of it."

Kieran looked at the others. "He's so bad at secrets."

"Am not," Brian scowled.

"He's going to blow this if I don't put a rush on it," Fi laughed. "We'll skip lunch and get right to work before he buggars it." She put their bags on the floor and dragged Kieran outside.

"What was all that about?" Michael asked.

"Never you mind," Brian said. "You'll all find out when its done. Are we ready to eat yet?"

"You ought to get the kids if you lot intend to feed them," Michael said. plating up chicken pieces and chips. "Oh, and someone could set the table, please."

Jess chuckled and nodded " hello Fiona and Kieran" she said and smiled "good to see you again" she frowned at the way they spoke to Brian like some secret was passing between them both but she brushed it off choosing to walk to fetch the kids. " ow Fiona those last dresses and things were wonderful I made a display and almost immediately they were being bought" she smiled" we might even have to place a second order" she said smiling a she headed up to get the children ready for dinner.

Jack chuckled as he saw Fiona and Keiran appear he could tell by looking at them both things were blooming and both of them were happy. He picked up a book and opened the pages to read as Jim looked at the two people who had arrived he staid sat.

"I'll go help Jess in a minute," Brian said. He went to the door and opened it, looking out into the yard. "Hey...Lunch. You two better come in."

Marcus looked at Khaat. "I don't know about you, but I"m hungry," he told her. "Shall we?" He was using some gentle encouragement.

"Okay," she said. "That's fine." HE headed back to the house with her, and Brian headed upstairs to help get the kids for lunch.

"I'll take care of the table," Kate said, simply licking a wand to cast the spell to set the table.

Jess smiled and nodded at Brian's words as she headed up to the nursery , she had them all dressed and read when he walked in " all ready " she said in a sing song voice taking Robert and Catlin by the hand to walk them down to the table to eat their dinner. Each child squealed seeing the chips and chicken Michael had made for them this made Jess smile as she lifted James into his high chair just as Steven and Cassidy returned both holding bunches of flowers in their arms.

" wow that smells wonderful" Cassidy said and smiled seeing Fiona and Kieran " hey good to see you both again" she smiled handing her flowers to Steven then moved to sit down as he moved to put the flowers into vases and sent them to the remaining rooms then he too sat down with Cassidy.

"Shall I ask who they are?" Marcus asked Khaat as he passed Kieran and FI as they headed out into the yard.

"Brian's brother and sister," Khaat said as they went inside.

"Something and chips," Marcus said.

"Oh, that's a fine palate you have ," she said. "Chicken. Its chicken."

"Chicken works," Marcus laughed. He helped her to her place at the table.

"Lovely flowers," Kate told Cassidy. "Its such a nice touch. Delicious chicken, Michael."

"Unca Mikey," Abbey said. "I can has berries?"

"Berries? With chicken?" Michael asked, laughing. She nodded.

"I don't know,' he teased. "I don't know if we have any berries. We might have to have Uncle Steven go get some at the greenhouse."

"Cookies?" she asked, hoping that if she couldn't get berries, she could get cookies.

"You're going to turn into a cookie," he said.

Steven looked up at Abby and smiled as he spoke " we have lots of fresh berries freshly picked this morning" he told her as James took a chip from his bowl and ate it Steven just chuckled as he too ate his food with the others. Jess fed Catlin and little Robert quietly soon Steven stood up and headed into the kitchen returning with a bowl of fresh berries all washed and clean for Abby and the others to enjoy.

Jack smiled seeing the berries he knew they were for the kids but he reached out to take one, Jess caught his hand and smacked it lightly, he pulled a face at her and popped one berry into his mouth and chuckled. Steven gave a mock astonished look at Jack then Abby but then laughed.

"'Sanks!" Abbey's little-girl thank you was bright and cheerful, and she grabbed a tiny fistful of berries and crammed them all into her mouth at once.

"You need to eat your chicken too," Brian told her.

"Noooo," Abbey said, shaking her head negatively. "I like berries."

"I've got this," Khaat said, getting an idea. She got up and headed to the kitchen. Michael frowned. He decided that she was going to be limited in the kitchen one handed.

"Perhaps I should keep you out of trouble," he said, getting up and following her. A few moments later, they returned, and Michael was carrying a larger bowl with a number of tiny dipping bowls. "I do think she's fixed the chicken problem. Voila! Raspberry dipping sauce. And its bloody brilliant. That's why she's the restaurateur. Its incredible with the deep fried chicken."

Michael put some sauce in a dipping bowl and put it in front of Abbey. He picked up a piece of chicken and dipped it in the sauce and handed it to Abbey.

"Eat that," he told her. She eyed him skeptically. "Go on. Try it." She tasted it, warily, and then her eyes grew wide with delight.

"Berries! And chickey!" She was excited. "Yummy! "Sanks, Unca Mikey!"

"Your mama made that," he told her.

"Me too!" Dakota shouted, bouncing up and down in her seat. "I wants some!"

"Hold your horses," Brian said. "I'm sure you'll gets some. Looks like there's enough for anyone who wants some."

Jess smiled seeing Khaat return with a bowl of dip for Abby. Standing she moved into the kitchen and returned with three small bowls and Three larger which she placed each one in the middle of the table before she sat back down next to Jack. Smiling at Khaat she spoke softly " I thought every one could try it since it does taste wonderful" she chuckled " I snuck a taste as I brought it threw" she said as she dipped a piece of chicken into the dip and ate it smiling as she savored the flavors in her mouth.

Jack took some and smiled nodding he agree " yum " he said " Abby I think I might join you liking berries" he said smiling at her as he dipped another piece in the dipping sauce. Jess leaned over and wiped his mouth. Cassidy looked at Steven and smiled seeing how still after all this time they were still like teens in love . Steven coughed and Jess sat back up.

"Yeah well Khaat its wonderful" he said taking some and teating it " could use salt" he said and was elbowed by Cassidy who frowned at him.

"It does not need salt its nice as it is." she told him

"I'm glad most of you like it," Khaat said. "I don't normally have time to cook anymore."

"Shame, too," Brian said. "Sparks didn't get to where it was by frozen foods. You're a great cook."

"So are you," Khaat said. "Are you making a dish for us for dinner tonight?"

"Dish? What?" Brian frowned. "What dish?"

"Can you manage a vegetable side dish? Michael asked him.

"What? I'm missed something," he said.

"Never mind," Kate laughed. "I'll take care of it for you this time. You're busy with whatever it is you're working on."

"I..well, yeah. But...I..um..." he said a bit flustered. Kate laughed out loud, watching him trying to not blow his own secret.

"You're working too hard to cover this, Brian," she told him. "You'd better not be far from wrapping this up, or you're going to burst."

"No," he said confidently. "I've got it under control." Kate and Michael and Edward laughed out loud.

"Sure you do," Michael said, not believing him for one moment.