Marriage is Murder

"It is excellent pizza, no matter how you like it. So, do tell," Michael teased Angus, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. "Do you consider yourself a Brit or Italian, Lad?"

"Both," Angus shrugged. "I usually just tell people I'm bilingual."

"You know that is technically so incorrect,..." Edward frowned. Knowing more than one language had nothing to do with where Angus's loyalties lay.

"Yes, well, most people get it," Angus said.

"Then you have very weird friends," Edward frowned.

"Which one of you is going to slit a wrist for me?" Escobar said, tapping his foot impatiently on the floor. "I am very hungry."

Robert walked into the kitchen to get a beer, and hearing Escobar start to get cranky, he went to the larger walk in refrigerator and took a look. A moment later, he came back with a couple of test tubes for the vampire and handed them to him.

"Gracias," Escobar said, grateful. Robert nodded. He put a couple of slices of pizza on a plate, while Escobar ate, and then handed them to the vampire. "Que es esto?" Escobar frowned.

"Esta pizza," Edward said. "Esta comida." Escobar wrinkled his nose, smelling it. Escobar looked at them, eating the pizza with their fingers. He pinched the slice with two slender fingers, and attempted to pick it up. The slice was limp. He had to resort to handling it differently. He hesitated, as if Edward had asked him to eat something poisonous. hen he slowly took a bite and ate it.

He shrugged. "Paella is better, if you intend to actually eat," he said.

"I doubt this lot has ever had paella," Edward said. "It is quite lovely, though, I agree."

"I have," Angus said. "I just didn't figure anyone would like it."

"You never asked," Brian said, picking up another slice of pizza. "Khaat and I like it. What's not to like? Chicken and sausage and seafood in rice and vegetables in a lovely tomato sauce."

"I don't know. I just wasn't sure people would like it, that's all."

"Do put it on the menu for one of the evening meals soon, would you? We might even get this finicky vampire to join us."

"Finicky? I am not finicky," Escobar said. "Just make sure you can make a proper sofrito for it."

"I know how to make sofrito," Angus said.

"Do you? A real sofrito?"

"You can make a better one?"

"You're British. What can you know about sofrito? Of course I could make a better one," Escobar scowled.

"Oh, then by all means, do so. I'll add paella for the menu tomorrow night, if it isn't too much for you. You are over 600, after all."

"Your sofrito against mine, then," Escobar said.

"And for the winner?" Angus asked.

"Eternal bragging rights," Escobar said.

"You're on," Angus said.

"Depends on who's making it, I suppose," Angus shrugged. "Paella has a lot of tradition behind it, and there are a lot of variations to it."

"Perhaps," Escobar said. "But I promise my recipe is older than yours."

"Did they even have rice back then?" Angus teased.

"You have been listening to that sarcastic Englishman that keeps watch upstairs, haven't you?" Escobar frowned.

"Marcus? He knows how to be sarcastic, does he? Good for him!" Angus laughed. "Look, you might have everyone in Brazil trembling at your name, but that doesn't wash here."

"That's because your country doesn't teach respect," Escobar said.

"Not based on legend, we don't," Angus said. "We give respect when its earned. If you hadn't earned any, you wouldn't be anywhere near this house. You're just not used to people not being terrified of you. Give it a chance. You might enjoy it."

"I doubt it," Escobar said. He put the plate of pizza slices down. They were not exactly his choice. "If you'll excuse me, I have things to do." He went back upstairs.

"Be careful in giving him a hard time," Edward said. "Escobar is not a man to be trifled with. Vampires can have hot tempers. Don't push him too far, you lot."

"Its late enough that I think you should wait until morning to shop," Edward told him.  "Its getting late.  

"I don't care if you want to go up against Escobar in a contest making paella," Angus said.  "Its fine by me.  I get enough action in the kitchen anyway." He yawned. "And besides, 4 am comes early.  At this rate, I'll get a good four hours of sleep before I have to be back in here again."

"You could let the house elves cook breakfast for a change," Edward said. "That is what you had them for, didn't you? To help?  Sleep in for once."

"That will get everyone all out of kilter," Angus said.

"I think they could survive one morning without you in the kitchen," Edward said.

"He won't be taking the day off," Angus answered for himself. "If I have a day out of the kitchen I need to either decorate for Christmas--or try. Its a darned big house. Or--I need to do Khaat's Christmas shopping. I do not want her getting itchy that we're going to leave that undone for her."

"I really can shop for her," Brian said.

"You? You never shop for her," Angus frowned.

"That's because I've always been busy somewhere or another."

"Well, here's something you do need to think about," Angus said.

"What's that?"

"You're going to be a father again in April. You need to start considering where you're going to put this new one. The nursery is getting crowded."

"Oh," Brian said, frowning. He hadn't even considered that. "Um...yeah. Probably need to think about that soon."

"You think?" Angus laughed.

"Um...go ahead and decorate, please," Brian said, now a bit preoccupied. "I...need to go upstairs." He simply turned and walked upstairs. Edward watched and laughed.

"Oh, nice going, there, Pal," Edward said to Angus. "You've shellshocked him. He's just realized how soon Number Six kid is going to be here. He's not thinking about Christmas anymore at all."

"Good," Angus grinned. "He'll leave my preparations alone then. And he's got another five months to get over it. He made it through the deliveries of the first four kids. I presume he'll survive this one too. I do believe Khaat told him she wanted a big family."

"How big is big?" Edward asked. "In Lupin terms?"

"I don't know if anyone knows," Michael said, checking the kitchen locks for the night "I'm guessing its a bit shy of Hogwarts needing to add a fifth house."

"Alright," Angus said, "Its late, I'm tired. I'm going to bed. Someone ask the elves to cook in the morning, please?" He yawned. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Michael said, watching Angus head to bed.