Marriage is Murder

Jess smiled seeing Khaat back in the house she could not help but chuckle at Edward and Marcus's almost collishionebut they didn't and she was glad she didn't need Marcus hurt any more than he was. " welcome back how was the massage?" she asked standing and walking over she smiled at Marcusas she felt his sorness but also that Robert had tended it.

Steven stood up and headed to the barn it was his turn to check on a mare that was expecting adding to the growing number of horses they had along with goats and other animals. Jack watched him go and Cassidy with a wide smile followed behind him, all he did was chuckle and shake his head.

Jim looked at Marcus as he spoke. " so everything was uneventful then?" he asked hoping it was as he saw Khaats relaxed face along with Marcus's own.

"It was actually very nice," he said.

"Were you surprised for some reason?" Khaat asked.

"Only that St. Mungos never was that progressive. It didn't look that good."

"We decided to take it out of the last century," Khaat said. Edward had been watching Marcus.

"Do tell, Boy, why do you look like you've just come from the Headmaster's office?" Edward asked.

"I suppose I have," Marcus smiled slightly.

"We've all been there at one point or another," Michael said. "That should make you more official if you've had your first come uppance. Get used to it. There will be more of them."

"Oh, I can hardly wait," Marcus said sarcastically, willing to avoid more of Robert's "guidance."

Steven laughed as he walked in " first telling off, welcome to the family" he said and grinned " Jack theres been done twice, his wild side seems to come out alittle too often " he said and Jack shrugged as he stood in the background watching.

" hes right , my um...wild side does slip out evry so often and Robert puts it back " he smiled " don't worry about it. " he looekd to steven and grinned as Steven rolled his eyes.

" okay I got told off coz I got a tattoo of some woman after I went off and got drunk " he told him " but the out come was I limit my drinking now and if I do get runk its with Jack and Brian and the others" he grinned at him " no I don't have the tattoo, I have a wife instead." he said to Cassidy who looked a little disapointed to start then blushed.

"Then I'm in good company," Marcus laughed.

"With almost all of us," Michael said. "He sees himself as flexible, and I suppose he is, to a given extent. In most other ways, I think he runs a very tight ship."

"That is as it should be," Marcus said. He understood that sort of thinking. He held himself to a very high standard. He didn't typically work with other people. He was accustomed to working alone and having to cover all the bases when providing protection. He figured if he was going to have a crew, he might have some of the same standards that he saw Robert setting, except that Marcus didn't know if he had the same paternal bent to him that Robert had.

"Alright, you lot," Michael said. "I want to feed those kids their dinner in an hour. I'm sure they're up from their naps. We're running just a little late. Its going to end up being bath time and bedtime for them right after dinner at this rate. Those of you cooking for tonight's dinner, you need to get in the kitchen now."

Cassidy chuckled and stood up " leave that to me tonight " she said and headed into the kitchen to prepare some food for the nights meal . Jack moved to sit down on the seat. Steven and Jess headed up to check the kids every one was paying or drawing happily.

Cassidy took out the old cook book and began to make a hot pot thinking it would be best for them all seeing it was easy to do her sweet was.. she stopped, what would be her sweet. Finishing her hot pot she headed out to find Michael to ask what she could do or if he ahd any ideas.

Michael saw Cassidy go to the kitchen. He went downstairs to the cellar and brought up an exquisite bottle of brandy that, Michael knew, had set Brian back several hundred pounds. It was begging to be opened. Brian had told Michael that he was free to open anything in the cellar, no matter the cost, because Brian had no hesitation in sharing the finer things in life with those he loved. There was no other point to having them. And Michael agreed.

Michael took the bottle upstairs, opening it as he went. Edward saw Michael with the brandy bottle.

"Is that what I think it is?" Edward asked. Michael showed him the label, going to the sideboard for glasses. "What's the occasion?" Edward asked.

"Life, I guess," Michael shrugged.

"You all should get a taste of this," Edward told them. "There are very few brandies that are better. Who would like a taste?"

Michael saw Cassidy coming in to find him. When she asked him about dessert, he said. "Don't worry about that. I have dessert already done and waiting. I did that after breakfast. That's my contribution. That, and I have the ingredients for a big salad with a fresh, homemade dressing. Are you short of anything else?"

Cassidy breathed out and smiled nodding " I don't think so Michael" she said and smiled as she headed back to the kitchen to finish the hot pot. Once done she slipped it in theoven as she cleaning up. Washing and up she cleaned and moved to sit in the living room with Steven knowing everything was ready just to be put on.

Jack looekd at the bottle and smiled " should be good , its a  good year" he said and smiled as he ahd seen that bottle in the wine celler  before and was curioise as to why it hadn't been opened until now.

Khaat got up from her place on the sofa.  Marcus's attention was immediately drawn to her, alerted by seeing her head for the doors to go out into the yard.  She saw him turn to follow her.  

"Stand down, Marcus," she smiled. "I'm just stepping out onto the porch. I won't go farther, or at least that's not my plan."  He followed her to the doorway, and allowed her to go out, deciding to stand in the doorway to see every direction.  Khaat wasn't quite so used to someone being quite to tight to her, but she was trying to be very patient.

She didn't see anything when she stepped outside, but she figured Brian was outside someplace, and so were Kieran and Fi.  Marcus smiled and stepped out with her.

"Allow me," he said.  He used his wand to cast a sonoros spell to amplify a whistle to call them to dinner.  

"Thank you," she said.  "I miss being able to do that."

"It'll come," he said gently.

"Coming!" came a return shout from the nothingness of Brian's cloaking spell.

"What in the heck is he doing?" she frowned.

"I don't have the foggiest," Marcus said. "Come on. I'm betting you know how to enjoy a good brandy."

"Yes," she said. "I do."  She turned and followed Marcus back into the house as Michael finished pouring several brandies, placing them on a tray, and then levitating the tray in the center of the room for everyone to help themselves.

Robert ported back in, the evening paper under his arm. His umbrella was wet, and he lowered it and set it on the fireplace hearth to dry.

"Rain already in London," he told them.  "It should be here in a few hours. It's a fairly strong storm.  Better batten down the hatches. It could be nasty."

"I'll set the table," Michael said, flicking his wand towards the dining room and then taking a brandy for himself.  "We can eat shortly. Whoever is getting the little ones should get them washed up for dinner and bring them downstairs."

"Brandy?" Robert said, seeing the floating tray. "How nice. Just the thing after porting in that blinding rain." He took a glass and swirled the brandy in it and sniffed it.  He smiled slightly.  There was something warm and comforting in a good brandy after being out in the rain.  Marcus took two brandies and handed one to Khaat, keeping one for himself.

"Then, perhaps I should show you all my surprise early. I was hoping to do it about just about sunset, but I might get rained out," Brian said.

Jack looked over as Khaat got up and moved to the porch " yeah she does that a lot" he said " we can see her from here its okay" he told Marcus s he sniffed the brandy in the glass he held " got a good body to it " he said and sipped it gently feeling it warm his insides " smooth to" he moved to sit down to drink his drink. Cassidy moved to check on the hot pot and found it cooking well she knew it would not be long till it was done.

Jess ported back from work and sat down next to Jack " busy day " she said " several people came in feeling ill turned out the new cafe had rotten meat and it was food poisoning" she said and lent back taking Jacks lass she sipped the Brandy and smiled " good choice Michel" she said and slid to sit on Jacks knee.

"I handled some cases of that myself today," Robert said. "I closed down the café until they straightened it out.

"I think you should go ahead and show it to them," Kieran told Brian. "Its done now except for small touches. Its enough for what you want. I think its good, actually."

"Okay," Brian shrugged. "Come on outside, then, Everyone." He led the way and went out into the yard. Khaat went back out, along with Marcus, Robert and Kate. Edward and Michael went to the windows but decided not to go out, to let the others go.

"Go on," Michael told the rest of them. "Edward and I will keep an ear out for the kids so you all can go."