Marriage is Murder

Brant nodded understanding Angus's ways " awe no I liked that flavor too" he said licking his hand and smiling " okay lets walk on" he said shrugging and turning away from the men . He understood that if they were watching him they were not looking hard enough for Khaat or Brian. Brant finished his ice cream and breathed out as the two men disappeared.

" They left we can go to Venice" he said looking for some place to apperate to Tobias's. Brant saw an alley and headed to it but looked at Angus " sure you don't want me to take some of those books" he asked feeling like Angus had way too many in his pockets.

"If they're following us, they'll show up in Venice," Angus said. "Let's go. Khaat never worked very hard at covering up her favorite places there, so if they want to find us, they'll know where to go." He ported them to Venice to Tobias's shop. He went in, figuring Brant would follow him in.

Tobias greeted them warmly, and Angus described that it was going to be Abbey's birthday. He described their idea about the castle bookcase. Tobias got out a quill and a piece of paper. "Sketch," he commanded it. He described, in meticulous detail, what he wanted, while the feathery quill sketched his ideas out exactly as he dictated. He had to make a few corrections in his description because the quill would only sketch what it was precisely told. But when he had it completed he turned the parchment around and showed it to them. "Something like this?" he asked.

Brant followed Angus into the shop after they had apperated to Venice . He walked in and saw the quill moving and slowly he smiled " that's it, that's what we need " he said and looked at him " sorry its just we want it to be special for her" he added and looked around his shop noticing a small wooden box in a corner , walking over he opened it and picked up the small bottles of potions looking at each one by one.

" nice potion storage box" he said placing a small bottle back in it " who'd it belong to?" he asked knowing it had to be some one who knew potions as he noticed some pretty advanced potions inside.

"It will be," Tobias promised, getting out some other quills with colored ink. He began to tell them which sections to color, as the men browsed the shop. Angus was looking at the shawls, knowing how Khaat loved them. Then he heard Brant mention an old potions box.

Angus went over and looked at the box. He knew it well. He just didn't know Edward had ever given it up. Angus had seen it thousands of times as a child.

"It can't be..." Angus said.

"Yes," Tobias said. "It is. It was custom made, remember?" Angus remembered Edward telling him the story about the box.

"Oh, yeah. You're right." He looked at Brant. "That box belonged to my great great grandfather--Edward's grandfather. It used to sit on the dresser in my grandparent's bedroom. What made him give it up, Tobias?"

"No earthly clue," Tobias shrugged. "I've had it here for about six months, and I kept thinking he'd change his mind and want it back so I didnt put it out on the shelf until very recently."

Brant listened as Angus explained and he nodded " then I'm buying it , it belongs in the Donahue house" he said and took it down placing it on the counter he placed several gold coins down before shrinking it and quickly placing it in his pocket he was curios as to why it had been given up so easy. " I'll take care of it don't worry" he told him and moved to look at the plans for the book case. " okay can you get it done for her birthday" he asked glancing at Angus " it will stay in yours, i'm just as curios as you as why he gave it up" he said and moved back from the table. Brant saw the time and sighed " we should get back its getting late " he said motioning to the clock behind Angus. " it was good seeing you Tobias" he said

"I'll have it. Don't worry," Tobias said. "I would never disappoint Abbey. You have my word."

"Thank you," Angus said. He looked at Brant. "You bought it, you're the potions maker, not me. You keep it. For now, don't tell Edward you have it. I'll find a way to sound that out with him. Edward doesn't give up something like that without a reason."

"Oh, Angus," Tobias stopped them as they got to the door. "I have a new shipment of lovely spring dresses that I think will fit Khaat nicely. Somehow I got a number of ones in her itsy bitsy sizes. They really won't sell because there aren't many women that teeny tiny. Do you think Robert would mind my just adding them to his account?"

"Add it to mine," Angus said. "I dont' get to buy for a woman very often. But send them all. Tobias, I think Robert would appreciate that. Khaat was pretty badly wounded in our last skirmish with werewolves, and she very well might have taken some serious permanent damage to her left shoulder. Its very upsetting and depressing for her."

"No," Tobias frowned. "As athletic as she is? That will change her entire life. No wonder she's depressed. I'll send them today."

"Send them to me at Edward's if you send them today," Angus said.

"Right. Will do," Tobias said. "Safe travels. Storm's moving in from the west."

"Yeah, we've been running from it all day. And now we have to run back into it to get home," Angus laughed. He motioned to Brant and headed back out into the street.

Brant nodded and felt box in his pocket he looked up seeing the storm as he followed Angus out side he sighed and nodded porting back to the garden at Edwards He moved inside to the kitchen placing the now unshrunk gift in a corner. Brant went to his room and took out the box placing it next to his bed in front of a picture. He moved to the window and opened it wide seeing the sky darkening around them. " and again what is it with this weather" he said softly and moved back down to the kitchen where he hoped Angus would be if he wasn't he was going to head to the library to read up on his potions more.

Angus had put his purchases in his room and had smelled the familiar smell of a wood fire burning in his grandfather's bedroom fireplace. The stormy weather had made Edward come in from the garden and decide to warm up by the fireside. He knocked lightly on the door.

"Come, Angus," Edward said. Angus went in to see his grandfather sitting by the fire, looking at a photo album.

"Reminiscing?" Angus asked.

"A bit," Edward said. "Memories--good or bad--are things that last, especially when you get to be my age. If I get a little older, I might be blessed enough to forget some of them. What can I do for you?"

"You miss her, don't you?" He asked, looking at his grandmother's picture.

"Every day," Edward admitted.

"What do you want in your life now?" Angus asked.

"What a question," Edward laughed. "Why do you ask?"

"I just want an answer," Angus said, sitting on the edge of the ottoman in front of Edward.

"Alright," Edward said. "Just time. Health, my family, good friends, peace. I have the rest. I have money, I have a home that makes me happy. At my age, I have all I need. Why the question?"

"You sold something to Tobias," he said.

"I sold many things to Tobias," Edward said. "Did I see something you wanted?"

"Part of our heritage," Angus said.

"I did no such thing. What was it you wanted?"

"The potions box. You sold it. It goes back to your grandfather," Angus said.

"Goes back farther than that," Edward said. "My grandfather received it as a gift when he graduated Hogwarts--from his grandfather."

"So...it goes back seven generations and you just sold it," Angus said frowning.

"Things are just things, Angus," Edward said. "I'm not going to be here forever. I just figured some potions maker might appreciate it. Its a lovely piece."

"It is," Angus said.

"So you obviously went to Venice," Edward said. "Was he asking a fair price for it?"

"Yes," Angus said.

"And did you buy it back?"

"No," Angus said. "Brant bought it."

"So whats the problem then?" Edward asked.

Brant heard Angus and Edward and followed the sound of their voices to Edwards room " hey, yeah I bought it , its in my room" he said his hands deep in his pockets as he stood in the doorway watching them talking. " I'll take care of it " he said now leaning against the door as he listened to them both quite sure how things would go. It was then he heard the first rumbled of the storm out side and he sighed. He was now glad h e had moved inside to live he knew this storm was going to be a big one. Hearing the clap of thunder right above the house he could not help but jump " sorry" he said breathing out gently.

"Then you're welcome to it," Edward said. When Brant jumped at the thunder, Edward said. "All those years living outside? And you're afraid of storms? What's that about? Angus, be a good lad and brew the large teakettle, would you? The house can feel a bit damp when the storm gets excessive. It'll be a welcome addition for everyone. Brant, go light the fireplaces. It will draw away the damp. We dont' want the little ones catching cold. Their mothers will be busy calming them and won't be able to light all the fireplaces. Its a big job because the compound is so large and there is a fireplace in every room. Take Evan or Tyler if you need some help."

"I'll get on the tea," Angus said to his grandfather. "And I'll bring you a tea tray myself when its ready. Are you sure you're going back to England with us when we go in another day or so?"

"Positive," Edward said. "Robert is my friend. He's facing the most painful moment in his career, I think. He needs as much support as he can get. And besides that, we still have those damned filthy beasts to eliminate. And I can't let him put Khaat out on the front lines again. Her shoulder is never going to be right again unless he can fix it. If he lets her fight, she'll be killed for certain. That leaves very little standing between the Lupins and the monsters."