Marriage is Murder

Brant chuckled as he spoke "okay going to remember that " he said making a note not to be an around Robert or any of his family. " I'm sure once I get to know things again I won't make so many mistakes" he added as he finished his tea and placed his cup gently down on the table in front of where he sat. He took out the book on puzzles and began to read turning each page as he finished he felt he understood the box a little bit better. He moved to pore another cup feeling he wanted more ,he read and drank liking how the tea tasted " this one of Roberts teas?" he said smiling " I like it".

"Yes," Edward said. "It is. Its a citrus tea for warmer weather. Should be nice with ice and fruit slices this summer. Don't try too hard to be perfect all the time. Just be yourself. There have been a few times that some of the staff have done some pretty stupid things. Robert is fairly long in patience, but he just doesnt' like idiocy." He looked at Angus. "Do you feel trained up to where Robert expects you to be? You haven't been hitting the gym exactly since we've been gone."

"Oh yes I have. You don't stay awake all the time. I'm in decent enough shape to pass his tests. Now, Brant, here, is another story." Angus teased.

Brant took a sip of the tea and nodded " should be very refreshing" he said then listened to Edward then chuckled at Edwards banter with Angus he quickly looked at him and shook his head " I'm fit , just not your stage of fit, guess I could use a work out, you up for it?" he asked still sipping the tea that he felt warm him once more. He knew to be on Roberts team he had to be at his peak of fitness. " think of it as payback from all those times I pushed you when we were kids." he chuckled again as he looked over the top of his cup. He could not help wonder if that wear would return since none of them had seen a body to say he was dead" he was lost in his thoughts as he heard the rain on the windows.

"I should work on dinner, but I could do a short workout, I suppose," Angus said.

"He won't need much more than that to give him a baseline about what he wants and what he doesn't," Edward said. Angus got up and motioned to Brant to walk across the center courtyard to the workout room. He started to stretch to warm up. "I don't know that we need to make this a contest," Angus said. "Just start someplace and do what you know, what you're familiar with."

In Japan, Khaat and Brian had gone shopping for Abbey and had started to buy some things for her and some things for the other kids as well. The break had been good for both of them. They were hoping it would be an uneventful birthday. Khaat wasn't so sure. Brian was promising her that he was going to do his best to make sure his daughter's birthday went off without a hitch.

Brant chuckled he stood up and followed Angus across the courtyard to the workout room through the rain that fell gently. He could not help but nod at Angus's words " true " he said beginning his warm up.Soon he ready and moved to some weights beginning his work out. Slowly he moved his arm up and down at his side, gently up and down he stood and breathed gently as he worked soon he changed hands and glanced at Angus. " so what you planning?" he asked meaning what had he decided for dinner for them all. Brant decided he would moved to a machine and placed down the weight and went to lay on one , taking hold he began to push up and down the weight it held. feeling his muscles working as he did.

"Fresh pasta," he replied. "It takes a bit to dry if its done correctly. I'm looking forward to going back. I want to work on Abbey's party, and there's a lot of planting and spring gardening to be done. The estate is very self sufficient. I want us to have more than sufficient crops this year so that, if we need to, we can provide for ourselves for a long time. Our outdoor crew is good, but they don't have the experience that I do in knowing what it takes to manage the estate or to provide for that many people. When we get back, I'm going to talk to Robert and be sure he's thought of essentials for all the safehouses--clothes, potions, that sort of thing. As quickly as the kids are growing, whatever sizes he stocked there when we were there last aren't going to fit. They were babies then."

Khaat and Brian had done all the shopping they wanted. They took the tiny kitten with them and ported to Kate and Robert's farm--where Khaat and Brian had both grown up.. Kate was making a large pot of homemade chicken and noodles, with another large pot of mashed potatoes, and a loaf of homemade wheat bread sat cooling on the cutting board. The table was already set for nine.

"It took you long enough," Kate said, not looking up from stirring the kettle of chicken and noodles.

"How did you know we were coming?" Brian asked. "Did you see something?"

"I'm your mother. It doesn't take a seer to know you two couldn't stay away any longer...." Kate began. The kitten mewed, not happy with porting. Kate spun around to see the tiny baby tucked in Khaat's sling. "A baby!" she was delighted. She dried her hands on the kitchen towel and went over and took it from Khaat. "Its beautiful but so tiny...and a bit underweight."

"I do presume you can deal with that," Brian said.

"I'd be delighted," Kate beamed. "Robert, they're here!"

Brant nodded and continued his work out " ah potions my thing , i''ll take care of that , its one less thing for you to deal with " he said pushing himself to his limit until he was sweating and out of breath. Slipping off the machine he grabbed a towel " and that pasta sounds great, what you putting with it?" he asked as he dried his face and shoulders as he looked at Angus as he waited for Angus to finish his set. " I'll come with you when you go back" he said " I real want to help them" he sat down leaving the towel over his shoulder as he lent back " think Robert would mind, I know you already said that he needs loyal men and women around him" he said.

"As we said, you'll have to either ask or earn it," Angus said. "Robert treats it as any other business. If you want a job, you will need to ask for it, like any other." He had done a hard and quick work out, and was glad to find that he hadn't lost much of the toning in his clearly defined muscles. Being physically fit was something Angus shared with Brian, Robert and Khaat. He enjoyed the sensation of being pleasantly tired after a work out and the feel of dripping weat with sweat. "I think I'll go shower quickly before I go back to the kitchen. I'm not entirely sure what I'll put with the pasta. Sometimes I find its better not to overthink it. Shall we?" He left the work out room and headed up to his quarters to shower and change. As he was dressing he flicked his wand at his bag, ordering it to pack to go back in the morning.

At Roberts farm, Abbey came running full speed down the hall, shouting for her mama. Khaat knelt and hugged her daughter. She heard the running of the others, and she and Brian gave them big hugs. Robert was behind them. He waited while the parents greeted their kids. When they stood up, Robert embraced Brian and then gave Khaat a warm hug.

"You look better," he said. "How is the shoulder?" He touched it. "Still painful, isn't it?"

"Yes," she admitted. "But I expected it. I'm coping."

"Barely," he said. "You will need pain potions indefinitely."

"I will need them the rest of my life, and we both know it."

"Perhaps not. You know I will not give up working on it," he said. "Don't you give up either."

Brant stood up and listened and nodded " I'll return with you and ask him, he could say no " he said " if he does I can always come back here " he said softly but he knew he would be disappointed if Robert didn't take him on as he really wanted to take a look in that library that Angus had mentioned. Brant Followed Angus and headed up to his room washing and changing he soon headed back down to the kitchen. He could smell cooking and smiled " smells good " he said poring a drink of juice. " I'm guessing your all packed" he said " me too " he said motioning to a green rather warn knapsack by the kitchen door.

Edward frowned after Brant left. He was having a bit of trouble in understanding Brant's insecurities. He got up and went downstairs to the kitchen. He heard Brant mentioning again his fear that Robert perhaps wouldn't hire him.

"Brant," he called from behind him, "we've given you the best advice we have, but you're still anxious about it. What's the problem? You've been anxious since you got here. I thought you were somewhat secure with the solitary life, but you seem to be afraid that if Robert doesnt' hire you, you'll be back living in a tent again. Or is there something else you've not told us?" Edward had noticed that, for a solitary man, Brant had literally had no time to himself since arriving in Tuscany. It had somehow gone from one extreme to the other.