Marriage is Murder

Jack and Jess each took a pen and picked up a child Jack holding three of them while Jess took two by there hands holding tight they ported to the townhouse Jess looked at Michael still worried about her choice but she would stay as long as she needed to and uphold her wishes. Jack smiled and took Jess by the hand as the kids ran into the house oowing and ahhing at everything they saw. " So where should we put the bags?" Jack asked smiling as he held up one bag and one boy who giggled at being high of the ground.

Jess lifted the boy down and picked up a second bag taking them to the bed rooms and placing them down on the beds of the children. Jess still was worried and knew Robert would not like what Khaat had done but Khaat was her boss in st Mungos. Both had conflicting feelings about her desishion to move away.

"We'll be safe here," Khaat said. "Make yourselves at home wherever you like. This is one of Eli's places. He doesn't use it much, much like one of our safehouses."

"The protection spells are actually fairly good for someone who isn't an auror," Marcus said. "But we really should strengthen them with better. Oh, Jess? There's a boatload of toys upstairs, in the third room on the right. Seems to have been a playroom. Toys are boxed up, but that would only take an unpack spell to put the room to rights.

"And I did cast some spells to clean and refresh the place, so do stay out of the way of the cleaning equipment," Marcus said. "Place smelled a bit musty upstairs."

He glanced at the bird on his shoulder. He saw an artificial topiary in the corner and transfigured it to a lovely, strong perch for Archangel that had enough twists and curves in it to amuse him. Archangel immediately made himself at home, squawking contentedly.

"That's lovely," Khaat said, "Where'd you come up with that at?"

"A zoo I saw once," Marcus said. "Birds of Prey habitat thingamajig. Alas, it is not an original design of my own. Theirs was much more grand. But it might amuse him."

"I'm sure it will," she said.

"If the kids dont' try to climb it," Michael sighed, taking the food through to the kitchen.

Within the hour, Michael had composed a list of things he wanted for the kitchen, and he had brewed a pot of tea. He had found no coffee at all, much less French Roast. He sent the list to Sparks to see if Lizzie could send supplies for the things he was missing. He wasn't sure if there was a florist in the neighborhood, but the place surely did need some signs of life.

"This place is sterile as hell," he complained, setting out a tea tray. "One lousy tin of Earl Grey, and very limited groceries."

"Eli doesnt' cook much," Khaat said. It wasn't that Eli couldn't cook. He just simply didn't. He was much more likely to entertain a date at a lovely intimate spot than to cook.

"Oh, I figured that out. I sent to Lizzie for a whole pantry full of supplies," he said. "But the place still looks dead and sterile. It needs life. Either plants or pets or something..."

"We've got five kids," Khaat frowned. "What more do you want?" Suddenly, Marcus reached in front of her, snatching something out of the air to prevent it from hitting her. She jumped involuntarily.

"Its some sort of paper bird," Marcus said.

"Its a message, then," she said, holding out her hand for it. He gave it to her. She opened it. "Its from Daddy. Apparently, he was in Eli's office when my note got there asking Eli if I could use this place. He says we should expect him at lunch time."

"I've got about two hours, then," Michael said. "I'll fix something for lunch by then, if you lot can make this place look a bit fresher and better. Think you're all up to it?"

Jess smiled and nodded leading the children up to the room and unpacked it each gigled with glee as each toy flew out and found its place in the room she smiled as Abby found a small fluffy lamb and held it tight. Jess smilied and knew that toy was one she had imidiatly got attatched to. Jack moved around the house dodging mops and cleaning rags.

"Marcus can you stop thes infernal cleaning rags, they keep wanting to clean where I am" he said as one flew into his face and he spluttered " shesh " he said and threw it on to the floor and chuckled softly. Jack then moved to a room smiling as he saw the double bed he placed his and jess's bag on the bed and turned aro to walk back down dodging a paper bird hearing Khaat he glanced to Marcus then Michael hoping they would not all be in trouble with Robert for staying with her to protect her.

"Well, stop being where the cleaning rags are going, Jack," Michael said. "You have eyes. They don't. You stay in one place very long and they're going to believe they need to clean you too. Keep moving, and they won't see you."

"It smells better in here already, though," Khaat said. "Whats the matter with all of you? You act as if you've never seen Daddy before in your lives."

"Perhaps they'd be more comfortable if they hadn't met him, my dear," Michael said, as boxes of food started to stack themselves outside the kitchen door. "Perhaps they're not sure who he's going to be ticky with."

"He's not going to be ticky with anybody but perhaps me," she said. "Its my choice. Not any of yours. You're only following his standing orders--to take care of his family. Relax. HOw much food did you order, Michael?" she frowned, seeing more and more boxes arrive.

"I sent a basic list to Lizzie and asked her to fill in with anything she thought I forgot," Michael said. "Clearly, she went a bit overboard on what she's sending. Where the heck am I going to store all this?"

"My guess is that she's sending you a lot of soups and salads, and desserts and things that are already prepared and are ready to eat," Khaat said.

"I can help you move some of the boxes," Marcus said.

Jack chuckled and nodded " yeah guess I should stay out of there way or duck a lot" he said listening to Khaat he smiled and nodded feeling better that they would not get in trouble he saw the boxes and chuckled again. " looks like she sent the whole shop." He added looking into one. " awe no cookies?" he asked looking up at Michael as he heard Jess coming down the stairs.

"Every one is settled in the nursary Khaat" she said smiling feeling relife in the room from Jack and she smiled at seeing the boxes " would you like a hand in puting it all way , many hands make light work?" she said moving to the first box and taking out a large Caesar salad. " this should be nice with the hot weather" she said and placed it in the fridge.

"I'd appreciate that," Michael said. "Looks like I might not have to cook for a day or so."

"Probably a few days," Khaat said. "I'm sure there are cookies and a lot of other desserts too. You have a lot of boxes to unpack."

"Will you be alright if I give him a hand?" Marcus asked her.

"Yes. Of course," she said. "Thanks, Jess. I'm glad they're adjusting alright."

"Go rest," Marcus told her. "Within eyesight, please." She wasn't going to make anyone work harder.

Michael opened another box and found a large jar of alfredo sauce and then a box of freshly made spinach fettucini.

"Looks lovely," Michael said. "Perhaps fetuccini alfredo and Caesar salad for lunch while its fresh."

"Tea, tea, and more tea," Marcus said, opening a large box with lots of tins of different blends of tea. "Every flavor known to man and then a few more, it looks like."

"Good," Michael said. "If there's no coffee in there, then Lizzie has sent not only French roast but some flavored coffee beans as well and we just haven't gotten to them."

"No coffee in this box," Marcus replied. Khaat went to the front room and heard a tapping on the front door. She went to answer the door, not giving thought to the fact that Marcus had been very firm in telling her that he preferred the guards to answer the door. She opened the door and it was shoved completely out of her grasp, as box after box zipped into the house, sent with an overpowered delivery spell. It was powerful enough that the boxes knocked her to the floor.

Marcus raced towards the front room, hearing her fall. He saw boxes flying into the room at breakneck speed.

"Catch 'em!" Marcus shouted to the others.

Jess smiled at Khaat and nodded " kids ushually do " she said and smiled to Michael " sounds just right Michael" she said and continued to open boxes sending their contents to the cupboards as she had her back to the door she heard Khaat cry out Jack dove behind Belby and strated to catch the boxes one by one and stack them one on top of the other. Soon they were all stacked " wow that was one over powered dilivery spell." he said as Jess walked out.

" Khaat okay Marcus" she asked concerned by her fall but not wanting to rush to her side and smother her " anything hurt?" she asked moving to his and Khaat's side. Jack opened a box and shook his head.

"Remind me next time were by this flower shop to have words with their delivery person" he said and held up some flowers.

" ow I know just where they can go" Jess said grinning as she sent them to Khaats room knowing the scent would take more of the musty smell away.

"Thanks," Marcus said, grateful for the assist. He knelt by Khaat. "You okay?" he asked her.

"I..think so," she said. "I..think it just surprised me."

Come on," he said, "Let me help you up." It didn't take him much to get her to her feet again.

"How did you do that without moving my shoulder?" she frowned at him.

"Been there, done that," he flashed her a smile. "Does it hurt?"

"It always hurts," she said. "I'm trying to learn to ignore it."

"When did you have your pain potion last?" he asked.

"I..well,...um...I don't remember," she said.

"Did you skip it this morning?"

"Not intentionally," she said.

"Alright. When I find where we packed it, I'll get some for you. I'm just not sure where we packed it," he admitted.

"Coffee!" Michael called triumphantly. "Looks like at least 20 different kinds--perhaps 60 pounds of it all together. At the rate this crew drinks it, it'll keep us a week."

Marcus laughed. "Sounds like a years supply to me, at least."

"More like two or three years," Khaat said.

"Can you lot finish this, and I'll heat up lunch before Robert gets here?" Michael called to them.

Jess smiled nodding to Marcus and moved to Jack taking some of the flowers and sending them to the rooms hearing the mention of coffee she laughed " well get it on , don't stand with it in your have we can't drink it like that" she said and Jack laughed and shrugged.

" she must be craving her morning Coffee" he said smiling at Jess who pulled a tounge as she send a second bunch of flowers up to the first spare room. Jack moved to the kitchen and helped unpack the food again. Jess watched as Marcus lifted Khaat to her feet reatching into her pocket she took out a small bottle and placed it in his hand.

"here" she said and smiled " I keep it on me for emergancys , Im a healer remember, we have to be prepared, one drop no more" she said and continued to send buntches up to the rooms around the house.

"And that is why I never married," Michael said, sighing. He stopped working on putting the many boxes of groceries away to make the coffee. Once the coffee was starting to brew, he returned to putting the food away and preparing lunch. He cast a spell to set the table for lunch, knowing Robert would soon be arriving.

Marcus took the bottle of potion from Jess and opened it, checking it himself. Not that he questioned Jess. Marcus questioned everything that he gave Khaat.

"Marcus," Khaat said. "Those vials are standard from St. Mungos stores."

"Good for you," he said dryly. "I'm still checking it."

"Perhaps," she said, "you'd let me. I am the healer, not you."

"As you wish," he said, handing it to her. She checked the potion and took just a very tiny amount to take the edge off, recapped the potion and handed it back to Jess. "Thank you."

Marcus was about to help Khaat sit when his attentions were drawn elsewhere.

"Sit," he told her quietly. He headed to the door. "The Minister is here." Khaat looked at the clock. He was even earlier than she had anticipated. She wasn't entirely surprised. She heard Marcus open the door.

"Minister," Marcus greeted him.

"Well done, Belby," Robert said, coming in. He saw Michael and Jess and Jack there as well. "Stand down, you all," he said. "I'm not here to fire anybody. I'm here to check on my daughter and my grandchildren. Just continue to do your jobs."

"So are you here to take me home?" she asked her father.

"No," he said, "but you know there is more than enough room for you up at the farm. You didn't have to go."

"I know," she said softly.

"Khaat," he said to her gently. "He isn't himself. You know that. Neither are you. You're both operating from an extreme. He's just upset. Like most people would be. And you're at the other end of it--acting as if nothing bloody happened a day or two ago."

"He doesn't know we're gone, does he?" she asked.

"No," he sighed. "Not yet. I'm not hiding it from him. He just hasn't connected it yet."

"I know the statistics," she told him. "Most trauma victims won't start to reconnect for weeks. I know. And, then, when that happens, he'll have to decide if its all worth it--if the kids are worth it. If I'm worth it. And then, maybe, he'll start to notice the house is quieter. Maybe."

"Honey," he said, "He loves the kids. And more than that, he loves you. If there is anything in this world he'll fight for, he'll fight for you. You have to give him some time, though. You know," he said, changing subjects a bit, "Eli loves you. You're the only mother he's ever really known. He'd let you stay here for the rest of your life. Its a lovely house, and I'm sure you'll be as safe here as anywhere else. But are you really planning on riding this thing with Brian out right here?"

"Marcus," she said, "where is my bag?" Marcus brought her bag, undoing his spell on it. She opened it, and drew out a large envelope and handed it to her father. He frowned and opened it and looked at the paperwork inside.

"No," he said firmly. "Not yet." He folded up the papers, and put them in his suitcoat pocket. "If its necessary, then, of course. But until then, I'll keep these. Its entirely too soon."

He looked at the rest of them. "Jess, Jack, Michael, and Belby? I expect you lot to keep my family safe. I expect you to do exactly as you have been doing. And that goes for Steven and Cassidy. You work for ne and that hasn't changed. Michael, I know I don't pay you for this, but I surely can. Are you willing to..."

"Don't even ask," Michael said. "Don't insult me, Robert. I'm here for the duration."

"Thank you," Robert said. "Money is no object, you lot. You make sure my family has anything they need. Any questions?"