Marriage is Murder

Jim chuckled and nodded as he listened to them both. “ She's right, you have.” he said “ maybe we should give you that time “ he said and smiled wider at him. “ Take the time when we get back, spend some quality time with her, we'll look after things.” he said tucking the bottle into his pocket as he looked to Fiona as he spoke of Angus. “ you know I almost forgot about him “ he said and chuckled softly again. “ come on time to get back I think” Jim waited for Brian to leave first then he ported back to the main house appearing in the kitchen and placed the bottle in the fridge to chill. Walking in he went up to Angus's room.

“Hows the boy doing?” He asked softly as he pushed open the door to Angus's room and walked in he looked around and saw the jug was half empty aiming his wand he refilled it then placed his wand back in his pocket as he watched him. He was puzzled as to what or who would do such a thing to Angus of all people, the kindest and strongest person he knew not that he would tell him. Jim scratched his stubble covered chin and sighed deeply trying to figure it out. He knew Brian would say for him to stop but he just couldn't.

"I'll do my best," Brian said to Jim. They ported home, and Khaat saw Brian with the bulging shopping bag.

"You did not put a generator in that shopping bag," she said.

"No," he grinned. "But there might be one or two things in there for you."

"For me?" she frowned.

"Yeah. Maybe," he said, putting the bag down beside her. She got one of the little boxes out of the bag, and frowned, seeing that the bag was crowded full of little boxes and bags.

"What did you do?" she frowned. She opened the box and found a beautiful, slim cut, long sweater dress in a lovely shade of red for fall. "Its beautiful!" she said.

"Oh, wait..." he said, with a serious look on his face. "That one wasn't for you..." he began. She looked disappointed for a moment. "That dress is for my girlfriend." She scowled at him and slapped him. He laughed.

"Just for that, I'm taking everything in the bag," she said.

"Deal," he said, kissing her. "You can have it."

Upstairs, Edward saw Jim come in. "He's better. He's been awake a time or two. I think he's starting to feel a bit like himself again. I think hell be a lot better tomorrow this time."

Jess stood and smiled as she saw the bag Brian held she could not help gasp a little at the beautiful outfit she pulled out . Then chuckle as he teased her about it. “ ow you so know she will get you back for that” she said and chuckled softly seeing the banter and looked they gave each other. Jim looked up at Edward and nodded feeling relief at his words.

“ That's good and a start “ he said and looked at the sleeping Angus “ I still can't help racking my mind over who could have done that to him.” He said looking at Edward “ its puzzling “ he added as he paced back and forth. Realizing he was dong such a thing he stopped and looked to Edward again “ sorry I pace when I think” he said resisting taking out his pipe as he paced.

Jess smiled as Khaat looked at the the things Brian had bought for her. “Brian did you leave anything in the shop?” she asked seeing the shawl Khaat now had.” that's beautiful Khaat, Irish lace.” she said and looked to Brian “ you have good taste” she said smiling.

"She can try to get me back, but she never wins that," Brian said. Khaat looked at him.

"Bad form, Son," Robert laughed, hearing Brian's comment. "The only way a Lupin ever hears that sort of remark is as an irresistible challenge."

"Oh, she can try," Brian laughed, unconcerned. Khaat looked at the beautiful Irish lace shawl.

"It is beautiful," she said. "Perfect for summer nights." She opened the next box and pulled out a lovely little slinky pink dress that was entirely crocheted and a pair of heels that were covered in white fabric that was printed with pink roses.

"I think a summer night out would be just the place to wear that," her father said. "Perhaps a night for two."

She looked at Brian. He had had that in mind all along.

"I'd like that," he said to her.

"It sounds lovely," she said. "I just don't know if we should right now. Not while things are still unsettled."

"If you wait for things to be settled, you might well be waiting for the afterlife," her father laughed. "Life is just unsettled, in general. If you get a chance to go, don't waste it."

Edward saw Jim was still considering what had happened to Angus. "Well, my money is on the werewolves. Muggle drugs or not, he didn't drop back in here by muggle means. This was caused by magical folk. And, right now, as far as I'm concerned, that means the werewolves."

Jess could not help but laugh out loud “ ow yes “ she said grinning she sat and listened to Brian and Khaat talk of a night out just the two of them. “ Go , go you need it and we can take care of things here , give yourself a night out “ she said “ Roberts right , think of it as a rehabilitation night by order of the healer” she said smiling as Jack walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “ Khaat you only get this once in a lift time take it” she told her Jack nodded. Jim looked at Edward and nodded he agreed glancing out the window at the forest beyond the barrier of the grounds.

“ That's what's been going round in my mind Edward” he said and looked at him he was still wondering. He shook his head and took out his pipe and tobacco he didn't light it just packed the tobacco into it and sighed “ well not much we can do till they make their move” he said placing the pipe into his mouth but still not lighting it. “ okay I'll take the next shift and relive you do you can rest a bit” he said walking slowly to the door. “ by the way I brought back a bottle of that ale its chilling in the fridge as we speak “ he said with a small smirk on his lips as he replaced the pipe and headed down to the porch to smoke his pipe as he stood thinking the smoke billowing out into the sky as he stood he chuckled hearing them still talking about Khaat and Brian taking a night off. Jim walked back in after extinguishing his pipe out on the porch. “ I agree, go for it Brian” he said sitting down beside the fire as he smiled at them both, “ get some down time in” he added with a smile.

"Maybe she's afraid to date now," Brian said, teasing her.

"Brian!" Michael called, "Try this." He tossed him a key chain with a single key on it. Brian caught the key but the instant he caught it, he completely vanished. Robert watched Brian vanish and he and Michael burst out laughing.

"Idiot," Michael shook his head. "Why do you even trust him with a wand, Robert?"

"Give him a minute. He'll come back," Robert said, laughing so hard he could barely talk.

"Where did you send him?" Khaat asked, scowling.

"Apparently, I sent him on a date--without his date," Michael was laughing as hard as Robert was.

"You're mean," she sighed.

"Michael didn't do it," Robert said.

A moment later, Brian ported back in.

"You truly do need to learn how to pick up a portkey without activating it," Robert said to Brian. "Try not catching it by the key next time."

"I'll try to remember that," Brian said dryly. "You know I don't ever do that."

"I know," Robert said. "That's why its funny. You don't ever make those kinds of mistakes. Its nice to see you're human after all."

Jack laughed out loud seeing Brian port out after catching the key. “That's so a rookie mistake. “ he said and grinned as he came back looking rather sheepish at every one Jack could not help chuckle again at the sight of Brian. Jim just chuckled as he stood by the door puffing his pipe.

“ and you can't tell me you haven't made that mistake?” he said to Jack as he saw the look on his face “Thought not. “ he said and chuckled still looking out into the garden as he smoked knowing he'd have to stop soon or ruin his lungs for good. Jess shook her head and smiled at Brian as she sat with Jack.

“ Don't knock it Jack “ she said and smiled “ Brian take Khaat and relax enjoy your date” she said “ we'll look after the kids , jacks got to do his monster hunt right now don't know dear?” she said and and Jack chuckled as he stood up, leant down and kissed Jess who just chuckled as he left for the kids bed room. Cassidy looked at Steven and shook her head gently.

“ so why can't you be romantic like those to?” she asked Steven who just chuckled as well as he slipped his arm around her waist.

“You'd not have me any other way, besides we get enough romantic time when were home” he said and she nodded she agreed.

“ so true dear” she said and lent against him.

"You up for it?" Brian asked for her.

"Yeah," she said, glad to have a night away. "I'm up for."

"Then give me a minute." He took the shopping bag and went upstairs. He was gone for just a moment and then came back downstairs with a bag packed.

"We need a bag?" she asked.

"Unless you wanted to go out for dinner in your jeans, yeah," he laughed. He took her hand. "Alright, we'll see you tomorrow morning, then," he said.

"Oh, and Brian?" Michael said. "The other end of the key chain is the key to the house. There is a car if you want to use it. Make yourself at home. Caretaker leaves at 4 pm and comes back in the morning, unless you give him the day off. He's fully trustworthy."

"Thank you," Brian said. "See you all later." He and Khaat ported out.

"Should I ask where you sent them?" Robert asked.

"No, not tonight anyway," Michael smiled. "I don't think they need intrusions."

Upstairs, Angus woke and found himself alone for the moment. He felt like hell but he didn't feel like laying in bed would make him feel any better. He wasn't ready to go back to work, but he really wasn't ready to lay in bed either. It bothered him that his memories of the evening off he'd taken were rather like swiss cheese--all full of holes. He got up and showered and shaved and dressed in plain jeans and a tan colored v necked t shirt that he pushed up the sleeves on. He used a quick spell to dry his dark hair. What he wanted now was a cup of French roast to chase away the nagging hangover feeling.

Jess watched as Brian and Khaat left for there night out, she glanced up and sent a cup of coffee up to Angus and smiled “ some ones awake and showering, I hear his thoughts or should that be he's trying to remember what happened “ she said looking at Edward as she did so hoping he would now who he was talking about. But she stood up and walked behind the cup of coffee up to Angus's room. “Well I thought you were awake does Robert know?” she asked as she pushed open the door to his room and walked in. Cassidy went to the kitchen and remade a fresh pot for those who wanted a cup while Steven went back to the barn to check his handy work on the roof.

Jack was passing Angus's room when he saw Jess and chuckled “ so you couldn't stay in bed after all” he said to Angus as he too walked in “ must have been one hell of a party?” he asked hoping to trigger something in his mind about what could have happened, “ Edward things wears but I don't see how this could have been there style there all claws and blood” he said folding his arms across his chest “ unless they got brains” he added.

Edward wasn't surprised that Angus was up because Angus had been starting to get restless. Angus was like Edward and always had been. They dealt with pain by trying to work through it to get it off their minds. Edward hadn't really expected less. And he wasn't surprise the others had gone upstairs. Angus was rarely sidelined. Edward decided to give them a moment.

"I didn't ask Robert," Angus said to Jess.. "But laying in bed doesn't help. Certainly doesn't help the headache, anyway. Its going to hurt if I'm laying or if I'm up. So I might as well be up." He looked at her. "This is not a headache I'd want you to try to draw off. This is...different. You don't need this one in your system."

Jack mentioned Angus's night out. "I don't remember much of anything. I had gone into London. I remember that. I had gone to pick up...what was it I had gone to pick up? I don't remember.

"I only remember a few things. Like snapshots. Chains--there were chains. Mildew...mold and mildew. And dark. It was dark. I don't remember much of anything else."