Marriage is Murder

Jess chuckled as did Cassidy and Steven seeing how flustered Brian was Jack was busy feeding James the dip and chicken together. Jim walked in and sat down taking some dip and chicken he ate and smiled.

"Sorry for being late had to check something" he said and smiled to them all " nice dip Khaat goes well with the chicken, I'd say compliments it perfectly." he said taking more  then poring some juice for himself as he looked to Jess and Jack he rolled his eyes " what is it with you two?"he asked Jess looked at Jim.

"What do you expect its Jack's birthday soon." She said and looked at the others and nodding. "This trip to the beach is perfect timing." she said looking at Jack. " Ow don't worry,we'll just sneak away for a meal, one evening. " she said.

When Khaat finished her lunch she realized that she was really hurting and starting to feel tired. She glanced up at Marcus who was looking far fresher and alert than she felt.

"You know," Kate said, not needing her seer's powers to see Khaat was tired and hurting, "you do have full use of the spa at St. Mungos, Khaat. Why don't you go let them do a good professional massage on those muscles while the kids napping this afternoon."

"Massage?" she said. It hadn't even crossed her mind.

"You know," Brian said to her, with a very slight flirting tone to his voice, "I could take care of that for you."

"Oh, lord," Michael rolled his eyes. "One lovesick couple is enough, thank you. Or you're all going to need to get a room." Kate and Edward burst out laughing.

"He's so tolerant, isn't he?" Kate laughed.

"Oh, indeed. He needs to be glad he didn't have a whole house of teenage girls, if he thinks this is bad," Edward said.

"Touche," Kate laughed. "He'd have never survived."

Jess looked at Khaat and then to Kate also seeing how pale her face was and tired her eyes were " yes shes right as a patient and head of the hospital its open for you, there masseur is first rate" she told Khaat. " maybe you should rest this afternoon" she said softly hoping Khaat would listen to the advice and take it ," I'm sure Marcus could stand by while you sleep in case anything should arise." Jim looked at them both.

" yeah " he said " not that much is going to happen " Jim finished his meal and took his plate through to the kitchen returning he gathered the empty bowls seeing several kids with sleepy faces . Jess lifted the sleepy Catlin into her arms while Steven held Jaylen in his.

"By the looks of it, she'll fall asleep on the massage table, and I'll need to simply wait."

"I'd bring her home if I were you," Brian said. "Naked or not."

"Do you really want him porting home naked?" Khaat teased.

"My dear, you can't miss what you haven't had the chance to appreciate," he deliberately teased her back. The others laughed.

"Oh, you're going to fit into this madhouse just fine," Edward laughed. "He does keep up, doesn't he?"

"Very well," Kate agreed. She stood up to help take kids up for their naps, noticing Abbey stuffing both o her cheeks, like a squirrel, full of berries. "You can have more berries when you get up from your nap. You don't have to eat them all now," Kate said gently to her. Abbey nodded and decided she was going to stuff her shorts pockets full of berries. Brian just shook his head, dreading whoever was going to have to get berry juice stains out of her shorts.

Jess chuckled and nodded " ow he'll fit just fine" she said and with Steven they carried the kids up to the nursery for their naps. Jim sat by the window looking out quietly as he tried not to think about his pip which only now he had realized he had not smoked in months. Jack cleared the rest of the plates and bowls from the table then cleaned it ready for supper later on. Jess and Steven came back down a few minuets later and sat together on the couch.

"Out like a light" she said to them as she lent against Jack feeling the sun on her face as it now shone threw the open window and into the room. Jack wrapped his arm around her and smiled.

Marcus talked Khaat into taking the suggestion of going to get the massage. He was a tad uncomfortable at not being right with her when he was in a somewhat unfamiliar environment, but he knew better than to assert himself in the room unless he had to.

Word travelled quickly that Khaat was in the building, and Robert went downstairs to be sure she was alright. It took him a bit to find out where she was exactly, and he was relieved when he found that it was just for a massage. He talked Marcus into taking advantage of the massage service for himself while Khaat was busy. Robert managed it by agreeing to provide her the necessary protection himself until Marcus was free. Robert positioned himself outside the door, reading the newspaper calmly, his ears tuned in for the sound of any distress.

Kate and Michael busied themselves in the kitchen, and Brian hurried outside to find Kieran and Fi who were hard at work helping him with his projects.

Edward happened to see Brian dash across the yard and then just utterly disappear. Edward laughed out loud. A cloaking spell to hide an area of the yard.

"That boy is working awfully hard at something," Edward said. "He's using a cloaking spell on something and hiding something."

Jim nodded " been watching for hours must be good " he said not taking his eyes of the point that Brian disappeared " he's been out all day" he said folding his arms across his chest as he glanced at Edward then looked back. Steven walked over and looked out the window" at the space that looked normal but yet he knew it was not something was out there and was big so he felt.

Jack took Jess by her hand and walked her out the door he wanted time alone with her as he slipped his arm around her slender waist and began to walk the grounds holding her close.

"He's showing his true colors," Edward laughed. "He works so hard to treat her with dignity and respect, but the bottom line is that this is a man who was a confirmed bachelor who has decided that he is in love with having a million kids around and having a family of his own. I'm just not sure if whatever he's doing is for her or for the kids. It seems like a toss up to me right now."

"You're asking the wrong question," Michael said. "Its all about her. The question is whether what he's doing is an adult thing or a kid thing or a family thing. And as hair-brained as that boy's schemes can get, who the heck knows?"

"My guess is that that the answer is yes," Edward said.

"Yes to which one?"

"Yes to all of them," Edward laughed.

Jess listened to Michael and nodded " yes is" she said softly as Jack held her close to him every onw ondering what Brian was doing out in the garden. " I have to admit hes got me curios at all that to and frowing." Steven looekd out and sat back down not intrested one bit.

"Hey we'll find out soon enough and when hes ready to let us know" he said and looked up " standing and watching aint going to make him tell us any quicker." he said "Come on sit down, you too Jim " he said as Jim moved to a chair and sat downn opened a paper to read. Jack took Jess by the hand and nodded.

Robert was calmly reading outside the massage rooms when Hannah brought down Marcus's St. Mungo's identification and pass that gave him clearance to follow Khaat through the hospital.  Robert took the pass and took it into the massage room where Marcus was finished and was dressed, except for his shirt. Robert immediately saw that Marcus had large black bruises over his rib cage.

"You didn't tell me your ribs had decided to bruise," Robert said.

"No, Sir," Marcus said.

"Painful?"

"No, Sir."

"And you're a liar," Robert said.  Marcus looked up at him and saw he'd been busted.

"Yes, Sir," Marcus replied.

"In the future you're to report those things immediately. No exceptions," Robert said. "Understood? You're not a force of one anymore. You don't need to work off grid to get things done."

"Yes, Sir."

"Get Khaat and take her home. You're still on leave until I tell you otherwise. Don't make me send a note home with you." He didn't want to have to have the others keeping an eye on him.  Marcus scowled at him, and Robert stood unmoved.

"Yes, Sir," He said.  He collected Khaat and headed home with her. She knew already that her father was starting to set some limits on the man who was far too used to making his own choices and limits.

Back home, Edward had turned away from the window and was heading to sit down when Marcus ported in with Khaat. Edward and Marcus collided as Marcus ported in.

"Warn us if you're going to do that," Edward frowned.

"Shall I order bells for myself, Sir?" Marcus asked. Khaat elbowed Marcus. She was hoping he could soon find a way to lighten up a little. He was fine when he was alone with her. When he was with the others, he seemed to go back to being formal. She knew it was a hazard of working so long in the government. She figured the others would help as he got to know them.