Marriage is Murder

Jack stood and watched as Robert read to the children and he smiled as he lent on the door frame his arms crossed " nice job" he said softly as he closed the door behind Robert and followed him back down. Crossing to Jess he looked at her. " okay we'll be back quickly" he said and ported back to the main house. Jess moved to Bians room where  she put a few drops of potion into his water and then let him take some. Jess relaxed seeing him slip back into sleep then left draining off some pain she felt he had then returned to Jack who watched as  the childrens things packed and shrank into a small box which once filled he picked up in his arms and held as Jess took his arm " lets get back " he said and looked back at the door as Steven passed and nodded.

"Don't worry Robert told us" he said " just take care of her Cassidy will take care of Brian " he said and Jess nodde and tossed to him her small bottle of pain potion as she reatched down for Mmax and mo a large second bo filled with Khaats things floated to her and she shrunk it slipping it into her pocket.

"Thats everything." Cassidy said walking up behind Steven and holding his hand.

"One drop when he needs it " she told him and Steven  nodded he understood her orders. Jack ported back to the london address and headed up to the kids bed rooms to unpack the things.

After Jack and Jess left, Robert looked at Khaat. "You will let me tell your mother where you are, right?" he asked her.

"Yes," she said. "I don't care who you tell, so long as it isn't front page news. I prefer not to blow my marriage entirely apart."

"You know I won't do that," he said. "But your mother wants to be a part of your life and of her grandchildren's lives."

"Of course," she said. "Daddy, don't let Brian hurt unnecessarily, will you?"

"No, I won't," he said. "I need to get back to work. Let me know who is handling the night shift. I know Steven and Cassidy did it last night, bit I'd like to know if I need to bring someone in from Paris to be awake at night."

"Okay," she said. He kissed her.

"Take good care of her," he told Michael and Marcus. "I'm sorry I can't wait until Jess and Jack get back, but they know what to do. I"ll see you all later. Thank you for a wonderful lunch." He left the house before Jack and Jess got back.

Once her father was gone, it began to dawn on her. This was where she was living now. And it was without Bran. She was raising five kids on her own as a single mom, with no magic, and a permanently damaged shoulder that wouldn't move. She knew she couldn't begin to do it without Jess and Jack and the others that were there to help her.

"What have I become, Marcus?" she asked softly. He poured her a glass of firewhiskey and handed it to her. They both heard Jess and Jack arrive with boxes and with the cats. They were bringing back everything she owned, and everything her children owned. She was feeling very overwhelmed. She had never expected to be living with Brian. And she felt like a failure. Two marriages overwith.

"Its temporary," he said quietly. "Don't lose your head over it. You know this isn't where this is going to end. Not when he wakes up to all of this. Give it time."

Jess placed down Max and mo then send the box to Khaats room to unpack while jack sorted the kids things in their rooms to be soted later once they were awake. Jess looked at Marcus and Khaat and smiled " is slept threw it all Khaat" she said but hes fine" she truly hoped they would not seperate they were to her soul mates and needed each other like two parts of a coin or the sun without the rain. Jess could not see Khaat with out Brian and knew if it came to pass it would break her heart.

Jack seeing the look in Jess's eyes pulled her into a hug. "Not going to happen hun." he said softly and she looked up at him.

" I truly hope so, it brakes my heart seeing her seperated from him." she said softly as she held Jack close to her.

"Thank you," Khaat said. Michael went upstairs to her room--the master suite at the end of the hall, and saw that the room wasn't as spacious and adequate as her room at home had been, and her closet wasn't at all a walk in closet, nowhere near what Brian had provided for her.

Michael cast a spell and changed the master suite's tiny closet into a luxurious ensuite bath and walk in closet and then had her things moved inot their new spaces and resized. He took it upon himself to change the décor into suite more her colors--in warm golds and reds. He wanted her to have a space to have some peace and sanctuary.

He found the room next door on the left, done in deep navy blue shades, and saw Marcus's bags had been placed, and Michael changed one of the bookcases into a doorway between Marcus's room and Khaat's room. Michael did not want Khaat o be disconnected from people.

What Michael wasn't sure he liked was that there were four or five rooms at the other end of the hallway--bedrooms and a large bath, and an enormous playroom for the kids. It seemed so far away from Khaat's room and Marcus's room.

The room that was the end room at the other end of the hall, opposite Khaat's, was locked. Michael opened it easily and found it was Eli's painting studio. There were some completed paintings here, some supplies, but no works in process. Michael could see that Eli had been merely protecting his own children from the chemicals involved in his painting. Michael left the room again and locked it as it had been. He saw that there were at least 5 empty guest rooms between the kids' rooms and Khaat's and Marcus's rooms. There was one to the right of Khaat's room, across the hall from Marcus's, and then two bedrooms on the left side of the hall, and two on the right, with plenty of bathrooms.

Michael had not chosen a room for himself yet. He was considering the room across from Marcus--the room on the other side of Khaat's. But he wanted to find out first if Jess and Jack were staying at night or if they were going to go back to the estate to their own children.

He went back downstairs and found Jess and Jack.

"She'll be alright," he told them, seeing Jess was worried. "Khaat's doing what she thinks is best to send Brian a message that she prefers him to be either entirely invested in his relationship with her or not at all. She wants him to see what he will miss if he doesn't continue to toss himself into his marriage. He won't have her. He wont' have the kids, he won't have any of it. Its a wake up call that she's giving him. She wants him to see the empty closets, the empty rooms, all of it. And I think we all know that when he recovers enough that he notices, it will bring him back to her in a hurry. Or at least that's what she's counting on, and I'm willing to believe she's right.

"However, that's not what I came down here to talk to you about. I presume you've noticed the lay out of the rooms upstairs. The children's rooms are at the other end of the hall from Khaat's and Marcus's. I'm not comfortable with having babies that far away from the grownups at night. I am presuming that you're going back to the estate to your own children, but shall I presume, then, that Steven and Cassidy will continue to work the overnight shift?

"I'm asking because I'm wondering if we need to take the large, walk in linen closet across the hall from the children's bedrooms and transfigure it into a sitting room or a bedroom or both, for someone to be closer to the children. And if so, do you have any thoughts of who you'd like to put in that room? I'm not opposed to staying at that end of the hall, but My tasks keep me downstairs during my waking hours. I'm afraid I would be of very little help to the children."

He did consider bringing someone from Paris to perhaps help with the children. Or perhaps bringing Otto and Faline to patrol the children's rooms and keep an eye on them. But as good as it was to have a dog around, humans were usually more desireable.

Jack and Jess listened and nodded " its fine " Jack said Jess just stayed quiet Jack chuckled " sounds a good plan " he said " Steven and Cassidy will be here for the night shift don't worry , we brought our kids with us here , we kinda missed them so.." he trailed off as Jess looked up.

" we didn't want the others to think anything was wrong " she said " and we can take care of them so no need for any one extra besides the less people that are here the less she will feel smothered " Jess said still sorting the flowers she had not done before dinner.

"I see," Michael said. "I'm going back to my duties, then." He went back downstairs to the kitchen. He hadn't realized Jack and Jess and their kids were all moving on too. He sent a note to Kate asking her to bring Otto and Faline when she came next and a supply of black socks for them, along with more of his own things.

He began resizing the dining room and the chairs and sent an owl to the local furniture store for more high chairs, children's beds, and children's bedlinens. He hadn't even had a chance to send out for enough for Khaat's children, and now there were more.

He sent another to a different store for more children's bowls and plates and cups and silverware. Then he sent another to Lizzie for more food, and more than was child friendly.

He looked out into the walled in courtyard. There was nothing for that many kids to do. He sent out for a sandbox and some sandbox toys and a few other outdoor toys.

Marcus found Michael seated at the planning desk in the kitchen, kneedeep in lists and ledgers.

"Can I help you with anything, Mate?" Marcus asked.

"Yes," Michael said. "Check the stores for firewhiskey and wine and the other usual things. This might well have been easier to move Brian out."

"Indeed," Marcus laughed. "Can I suggest that we we merely order take out for dinner tonight?"

"Capital idea," Michael said. "Send an owl to Lizzie and just ask her to send whatever she thinks, please."

"Consider it done," Marcus said, taking a quill and a piece of parchment. "Michael, with your permission, I will add some spells to add some space to the house. This place just isn't as big as the estate house."

"Have at it," Michael waved him away. "What's Khaat up to?"

"Um...she had a pad of paper and was making a list of her own."

"Well, I'm not sure if that's good or not. Don't let her decide she's going to go shopping without you, Lad. She is within walking distance of all sorts of things now."

"I'm on it," Marcus laughed. He sent his note to Lizzie with Archangel.

"Alright," Michael said, sending his notes all out. "You get out of my kitchen. I have laundry to do and menus to plan, and a kitchen to reorganize because I have more deliveries coming."

"On my way," Marcus said. He filled a mug with French Roast for Khaat and a mug of tea for himself and left the kitchen. He delivered the coffee to her. "Anything I can help you with?" he asked her gently.

"When I finish this, I'd like to go out for a couple hours while the kids are sleeping," she said. "I won't leave the block. I prefer you stay here and help Michael. He's got a big job setting up and running the house for all of us. This is typically Angus's job, and that's a lot of work that Michael doesn't do on an ongoing basis. How about staying and giving him a hand?"

"How about not?" Marcus responded, letting her know that he didn't care if she was going out to get the newspaper. He was going along.

Jack and Jess were sat quiet when a load of deliveries appeared infront of them Jess chuckled as Jack moved to open them and send each to the right place. " I think Michaels over done himself " he said as more arrived and he sent them up to each room Jess took the litchen ones threw and unpacked.

"The deliveries are here "Jess told him and placed box on the table in the kitchen and began unpacking sending each to its right place in the cupboards as she chuckled with each item " you realy are making sure we have enough didn;t you. " she said seeing Jack shrink the last empty box and throw it into the fire.

"Elijah Krum," Michael said, lighting a cigarette, trying not to react to his own stress, "was a single father of two when he lived here, and he had no staff. He clearly used it more of a spot to rendezvous with his dates or as a quick place to crash after a long night at the pubs. It was never used as much of a family home, and it hasn't been used in months. We've just moved in here with no notice whatsoever, and we far more people here now than the house has perhaps ever seen. What part of it did I overdo?"

"Michael," Khaat called quietly from the kitchen doorway. "I'm expecting a delivery from Flourish and Blotts of some books and some magazines. I hope they come soon. Did you, by chance, buy any fresh fruit?

"I did," he smiled at her. "I bought some lovely Seckel pears that are at their peak. I'll get you one. Would you like me to slice it for you?"

"No thank you," she said as he set out a huge glass bowl of fruit on the sideboard. She took two of the Seckel pears. "Could we just make this as easy as possible, please?" she asked them. "This is disorganized enough without more hassle. I appreciate all that everyone is doing, but...well, its a change. If its alright, I...I think I'll go up to my room." She paused a moment and then said. "I..guess I just hurt." The latter was a lie. The truth was that she felt in the way. And she missed Brian immensely.

She left the kitchen. "Marcus, please send up my firewhiskey and my coffee?" she asked, tossing him the second pear, which he caught easily, smiling at her.

"I'll bring it myself," he said. He flicked his wand at the glasses and mugs that she and he had and floated them upstairs, following her quietly.

Marcus opened the large floor to ceiling windows in her suite and set protective spells around them. The late summer air smelled as sweet as it was going to smell in downtown London, and she wasn't used to the sounds of muggle traffic anymore. She missed the peace of the estate.

"What have I done, Marcus?" she asked very softly.

"We can always go back," he told her. "Its not unchangeable."

"No," she said. "We can't go back. It is unchangeable. God, I hope we don't run out of whiskey."

"I'll make sure we don't, if it starts to get low."

"Do you smoke?" she asked.

"Yes," he said. "Do you?"

"No," she said. "Can I have one of yours?"

"Of course," he said. He drew out his cigarette case and lit a cigarette for her and handed it to her. Elijah smoked like a chimney sometimes, so her room did have a number of crystal ashtrays in it. He put one on the table beside her. "Try not to inhale deeply. It tends to be difficult for new smokers," he advised her. She nodded.

Jess and Jack loked at each other and sighed feeling like they had said something wrong to him. " she wasn't being disrespectful, she was just saying " Jack softly so not to come across as angry. Jess stood up and moved up to the nursary so sit with teh children while they napped feel that she should leave the unpacking to Jack. She could hear Khaat in the other room and sighed softly she hoped Robert knew what he was doing letting this go as far as it had. She also knew he must have a plan up his sleeve she just wish he'd do something soon.

Jack finished unpacking in silance then he made some coffee and sat down to look out the window at the muggles feeling that if they knew what he was they would freak in a second. He sipped his coffee and chuckled softly.

"I was merely stating the facts," Michael said, as the doorbell rang. He went to the door to receive a large package wrapped in brown paper. Khaat's delivery from Flourish and Blotts. He paid the delivery boy and closed the door. He opened the package and found it was merely what she had said. Books, a couple of newspapers, and a large stack of women's magazines. He sent them upstairs.

Marcus took them when they came upstairs. Khaat scattered the magazines across the bed and chose one of the magazines. She flipped through the pages, and selected a hairstyle. She had hoped to go out to get it cut, but Jess and Jack had seemed to take offense to the idea of her going out without them.

She had decided against going out to avoid a squabble. She went into the bathroom and found a large pair of scissors. She was about to cut all her long hair off when Marcus came in and silently wrapped his hand around the scissors.

"That one?" he pointed to the short pixie cut.

"Yes," she said.

"Let's not go to such extremes of cutting all that lovely hair until you know if you're going to like it. May I?" He asked. Before she could answer, he flicked his wand at her hair, using a glamour spell to change it to a very short, little sexy pixie cut.

"More blond, please?" she asked.

"As you like" he replied, adjusting it for her until she was satisfied. She looked in the mirror. Her tan was gone. Her nails were broken from trying to claw her way out of the pit. He repaired her nails, and, at her request, added a tan back to her skin until she could get out to do it for herself.

"Better?" He asked her. She paused, looking in the mirror. Then, hesitantly, she removed her the rings from her left hand and handed them to Marcus.

"Keep them safe for me?" she asked.

"Of course," he said. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Yes," she said. "For now. It was his choice, not mine."

"With all due respect, you do need to wear them in public or your private life will no longer be your own."

"I hadn't considered that. Thank you."

"Its my job," he told her. "The hair style might well be enough of a change for now.Come on. Try the pear. It is quite good."

"Can I go out in the yard, do you think?"

"Its your yard," he said. "Of course you can."

"Is it warm outside?"

"Yes," he said. "Its quite nice." She went into the new walk in closet and found a bright fushia one piece bathing suit and a printed sarong.

"I think I"ll work on my tan the old fashioned way," she said.

In a few moments, she was changed. Marcus had had to resize her suit and make it smaller. He insisted she replace the sling on her shoulder and he tied the sarong around her hips and then went with her outside, summoning their drinks and the fruit with them.

Khaat noticed the courtyard was grown up in weeds. It needed to be weeded and needed new flowers. The fountain needed cleaned and repaired. The lawn needed mowed.

"We can have it seen to," Marcus told her. He found her a chaise and cast a clean spell on it before he helped her get comfortable on it.

"You knotted the sarong on my bad side," she said.

"Oh, yes," he said, untying it for her. "I didn't see any sunscreen, though. You wont' be able to stay out long."

"That's fine," she told him. He sat on the foot of the chaise by her feet and took a switchblade out of his pocket and cut some wedges out of one of the pears, sharing it with her.