Marriage is Murder

"I'm guessing you're right," Angus said. "Brian told me once that the only things he ever knew Remus to care about in his whole life were the ones he loved. And I don't know that I ever read anything different in any book about him that I ever read. My best guess is that you're right, and he was trying to protect his family somehow. I'm not sure what from, but he seems to be going to a lot of effort for some reason."

He hugged Abbey for a moment. "Abs, do you have any idea what Uncle ReRe wanted?"

"He no happy," Abbey said, cuddling into Angus. "He sound like Papa when Papa busy."

"He sounds like Papa, huh?" Angus laughed gently. "And Papa's busy a lot."

"No, not like that. Like when Papa say I stay in the house 'cause he busy outside. Like that busy."

"When you need to stay in the house?" Angus repeated. Abbey nodded. The only time Robert had insisted on the kids staying inside was when there was some sort of trouble coming, at some point, outside.

"Thank you, Abbey," Angus said. "That helps. I think we know why he was here and why he left. It's going to be alright."

Cassidy looked at Angus and nodded she knew steens idea of boosting the security was a good idea. " Hi must think there coming back" she said softly to him. She saw a nanny walk down and take abby back to the nusary " stay with them and don't let any out till we say its clear" she told her then looked back to Angus " I think we should make preperations the others arn't here its down to us " she said and started back up the stairs to make sure evry door was closed and wvery window was sealed. Steven walked back in and saw Angus.

" Every one is on high alert." he said and moved to him " I hope to god hes wrong" Steven moved to the kitchen to put the veg away trying to keep things as normal as he could until anything happened.

"Agreed," Angus said. "We could always send for reinforcements from Paris.  That would at least make sure that the estate doesn't fall while everyone else is out. But there is something that doesn't feel right.  We know Khaat's been hurt by James, but he's never attacked anywhere but here on the estate. What I don't get is why.  Why leave the estate for London? There's more places for him to hide here with fewer risks of back up and reinforcements to help us.  Surely no one in London is going to let him just rage through the city. The risk for him to get caught there is ridiculously higher there.  It doesn't make sense. Something's changed somehow." He paused, thinking. "Suppose that's what Remus was trying to warn us about? What if James has a whole new plan? What if all we thought he wanted is wrong now and we're on completely new ground?"

Steven listened and nodded " yeah I think so " he said " well I'll send word to paris and get more men out here and over to the hospital too" he said and began sending notes to men he knew. though he knew they would all be on guard having the warning signal from Marcus go off now he was adding to it and making sure every one was on high alert. " hope Robert isn't mad at me for doing this" he said and sent a note to jack to tell him to be on high alert not knowing if he had already figured out what was going on.

Once he was done he moved up stairs to find Cassidy who was in their room closing a window that had been left open. " looks like I'm sweating tonight " he said and she smiled at him.

"we'll servive " she said and chuckled.

Lee had gotten the alert as well. He had gone to the hospital first. Now, with news, he had decided to go check on the estate.

He ported in to the living room, and saw Angus drawing on him.

"Hold!" he said, holding up his hands. "I come in peace."

"You're gonna get killed doing that," Angus scowled.

"I came to see if you all were alright or if you needed a bit of backup."

"Yes to both," Angus said.

"I'll send you some fighters," Lee said. "I don't know what you all know or don't know, so if you need news, I'll give you what little I know. But it looks like you all could use a few allies this morning. I've just come from St. Mungos, and once my fighters get here, I'm going back to the hospital."

Steven saw Lee arrive and saw Angus draw on him . He walked over and smiled " nice to see you Lee shame its under these cercomstances " he said " guards are all doubled and protection spells all strengthened" he told him " let him try and attack here, your guys would be a great help" he said and looekd out the window " I have no idea what to exspect," he turne to Lee " Abby , Kate and Cassidy saw Remus and I know I don't have to tell you more than that" he said his face seriouse as thunder.

" okay ever where is locked up "cassidy said walking down "Hello Lee good to see you again." she said moving to stand with Steven.

"Just a minute," Lee said. He summoned his own crew and put the device back in his pocket. "Angus, you have any coffee on? I could use a cup."

"Absolutely," Angus said. "I'll get it. Black, right?"

"Right," Lee said. "Let's sit down, Everyone. This isn't going to be easy." He motioned for them to come with him into the living room and he took a seat in one of the large overstuffed leather chairs. Angus brought him a mug of French Roast. "God, that smells incredible. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Angus said. "We heard our alarms go off before daylight. And then we've been pulled, one by one, away from the house, and no one's come back."

"I can explain that--to an extent," Lee said. "From what Marcus tells me, he and Khaat were ambushed just outside the back door of Sparks--by James. Marcus tried to protect Khaat. James attacked, and they were both wounded. Marcus only has a flesh wound. Khaat, however, is not good. She was hurt. Really hurt. That's why you've all been pulled one by one away." He hesitated, not knowing how to tell them this. "She was mauled. Brian has taken her to emergency surgery. I've seen werewolf victims, and what I can tell you is that unless you guys have exceptional healers, I don't see her making it through this. I wish I had better news.

"Kate is there, and she managed to see Khaat before she went into surgery. I...I'd like to see Robert if I could, if you'll let me go up to see him. I don't know if he knows. But he deserves to know--bewitched or not."

Steven listened and nodded as he saw Lee go to see Robert . He stepped in the way " he's not there he's gone to the hospital" he said hoping he would understand what he meant " I'm guessing he felt it was bad enough he had to go to help out with Khaat" he said " he went not as himself "he said slowly, Cassidy walked over and nodded.

" ask Angus too he's there right now" she said , " Jim came to get Kate and he left too" she filled him in as she stood facing Lee.

Lee was silent a moment. He was bewildered. He had just revealed to them that the lady of the house was most likely going to die. The woman they said they loved, the one they'd all sworn to die for. And the only thing they were paying any attention to was the fact that they were trying to prove to him that Robert wasn't here. What was that about?

Lee had always thought himself a friend of the Lupins. Why were the guards standing in front of him, even though he hadn't gotten up? He was seated in the living room and hadn't gotten up since Angus had brought him a cup of coffee. He had mentioned wanting to see Robert, but he hadn't actually moved. They were treating him like he was the enemy.

What had he done to make them so defensive and so overly needy to prove that Robert wasn't there? Why didn't they care whatsoever about the horrendous news he had just told them?

Well, it made sense to Lee that Robert was not there. If Khaat were going to die, there was only one place Robert Lupin would ever be--beside his child.

He didn't know what was wrong with them, but he didn't feel of use here now. He set the mug aside, the coffee untouched. He wanted to let them deal with it because, for whatever reason, they were dealing with it in their own way, however weird that seemed to Lee.

He stood up. "I'm sure Robert is fine," he said, doing his best to be diplomatic. "My men will be here shortly. I should get back to Kate. She needs someone right now. Thank you for the coffee, Angus, but I think I'll get a cup in London instead."

He drew his wand to leave. Angus accio'd his jacket.

"Lee," Angus said, furious with the others at their cold and heartless behavior. "Wait. I'll go with you. Come upstairs with me first, though. Khaat's children deserve a chance to say goodbye to their mother." Angus motioned Lee to follow him. The two men went upstairs to the nursery, wanting to take Khaat's five children with them, and got out five little jackets.

Cassidy looked at Steven and frowned walking over she smacked his arm " Quite it steven were not enimies, shesh you can be a yerk." she told him and followed him up stairs to the nursary " lee, forgive my husband hes being a yerk, we knew about Khaat and marcus, were not heartless, Robert is with her now, so she has the best, infact I'd say she has more than the best chance, than before. We are shocked at it happening Lee don't get us wrong, inside I am shaking like a leaf but.." she paused as she spoke again. " I saw remus, so did Abby and kate, we all know he won't let her cross the veil, its not her time." she told him " we have Jess Dark Heart there who was trained by Robert himself and as well as other good healers looking after them both." she stoped and looked at him hoping she managed to change his mind about them.