Marriage is Murder

Jess could not help but chuckle at both men " come on you two, its a nice box, maybe he just kept it for its decrative qualitys." She said and shook her head feeling like they were a pair of kids always trying to out do the other. She moved to look at the box its self and smiled " its pretty and somthing I would keep myself" she said and gently took it from them ho,ding it and feeling the decoration under her thumb.

" hey , no your not bringing that back home thats Roberts , with that powder you'd do all sorts of tricks" Jack said and gently took it from her and handed it back to them. " hide it quick befofe she realy does have her eyes on it" he said and chuckled as she gave him a dig in the ribs.

Robert came downstairs, and he heard the conversation going on. Michael walked over to him, and handed him the box.

"Missing something?" he asked, handing over the box. Robert frowned, knowing the box immediately. He pointed to the box and then to Michael

"Wasn't me," Michael confessed. "I have advanced beyond Zonkos. Your grandsons said Miss Dakota managed to get it from your lab. We've fortified the spells. It should be better now."

Robert pocketed the box. He looked at Brian and pointed towards the playroom. He expected Brian to try to get to the root of how Dakota was getting into the potions lab despite the security spells.

"I know. I'm going," Brian said.

Jess chuckled and noted when Robert took the box back and she looked at Jack he smiled and nodded as he sat down with her. " happy" she whspered and he nodded " I wouldn't have taken it any way it was dangerouse, besides I'll keep looking for an empty one." she told him and snuggled against him she could see the snow out side still falling and she wished it would end soon.

Cassidy walked in with a tray of hot chocolate and marshmallows " okay let all warm up and put that incident behind us" she said and sat down handing Jess her mug then Jack she looked to Michael and smiled " so you like some?" she asked placing two marshmallows into the cup and holding it out to him. " made it myself " she said as Steven walked in and took her cup " hey" she said but just smiled as she pored out one in his cup. " I feel we need time to relax as so do the kids" she said sitting down with her or rather Stevens cup in her hand.

"Sounds good," Michael said. "Thank you." He had seen Robert follow Brian to find Dakota. "I have to admit, I"m curious about how she got in there, myself."

It took the better part of 30 minute before Brian came back.

"She never quits," Brian sighed, frustrated.

"You figure it out?" Edward asked.

"Yes," Brian said. "She was crawling around through the cold air vent between the playroom and the potions lab. We've tried to think of every possible way to get in there except perhaps if she could find a way to slide under the door."

"That spell comes later," Michael teased.

"You are no help whatsoever," Brian scowled. "Do not teach her any of your tricks."

"No, not til she's 4 at least," Michael laughed.

Brian sighed, realizing that was only 6 months away. And in that time, he would have one more to diaper. In fact, the new one was due in only 4 months.

"You can't get tired of that yet," Edward said. "Didn't I hear you wanted 10 kids? That mean you have four more to go. You've only got 6."

"Hush. I hope to talk her out of that before we get there," he said. "Can we not talk about the whole labor and delivery room thing right now? We've got to get through Christmas first. Have you ever been through the holidays with 12 kids under 3 in the house?"

"It'll be interesting, won't it?" Edward said.

Jess smiled and chuckled as Brian explained how Dakota got into the potions lab " wow ahe realy is resorcful, might have to watch her as a teen " she said then heard them nemtion about the new baby " we will cope, we always do don't we, we have the house elves who help now" she said and sipped her chocolate as she looked at them both.

" shes right we managed when they were babies we can manage now they can walk and talk too" Cassidy said " besides Jaack and Steven are fast enough to catch them " she said and chuckled as Jess nodded she agreed.

" Hey, don't rope us in alone, it takes two to make them." he said and Cassidy chuckled along with Jess.

" yes, it does Jack." Jess said and looked towards him as he drank some chocolate.

" yeah we all help and there just as much our children too" Jack said

(skipping time a bit)

Brian was grateful for their offer to help. Michael warned them all about not filling up on goodies because Christmas Eve dinner was going tobe a big one.

He and Angus took to the kitchen with the house elves and made a very traditional Italian 7 fishes dinner for everyone, with all the homecooked traditions Angus had grown up with.

They had fixed a whole buffet of traditional Italian desserts for people to choose from. Michael finally sent a message upstairs to ask Marcus to bring Khaat down if she were going to come downstairs. He also sent one to Robert to tell him to come down as well for Christmas eve dinner.

Angus was very specific on how he wanted the table set and had made that clear with the house elves, who were busy setting it.

"We'll be eating dinner tonight in about 30 minutes," Angus called to them. "You might want to all pitch in to get kids bathed and into their pajamas soon."

Jess stood up and looked at Cassidy " right manovers guys, Casidy and I washing Jack you and Stephen drying and dressing the boys we'll do the girls" she said and they all headed up to the nursary. Soon each child was washed dried and dressed in new pjs and then walked down to the dinning room ready and waiting. "Were all ready Angus." She said as she palced Dakota in her high chair as Steven placed James in and then Jaylen. Then every one sat down all the children were chattering away and pointing to the paper chains tring to point out their chain they made.

Jess smiled the sounds made it christmas for her and Jack took her hand in his smiling as he lent over and kissed her cheek gently. " this is christmas" he said softly.

Robert got the message and looked into Khaat's room to see Marcus helping Khaat to add a robe over her nightgown and helping her to replace the sling.

"Its not broken anymore, Marcus," she sighed. "It just doesn't work."

"Oh, shut it," he said. "It hurts like the devil, you can't move it, you can't lift it. What am I supposed to do with it? Let it dangle from your shoulder?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Either you're shitty liar or a shitty healer," he said. "And I've heard too much about the latter to believe that's the case. Do you really suck at lying just where I'm concerned or is it with everyone? Do tell me now because if you really are this bad at it, then I must up my game. You're going to be much too truthful for your own good."

He glanced up and saw Robert, who showed him one finger. He was voting for the fact that his daughter didn't lie well whatsoever.

"Oh, lovely," Marcus said sarcastically. "No wonder she's been in trouble." Robert headed downstairs. Marcus picked up Khaat and took her downstairs as well. She hadn't seen any room in her house but her bedroom for months, it seemed.

She saw the lights and decorations, but yet, it didn't seem like Christmas.

"Give it a minute," Marcus said, putting her on the daybed. "You'll catch up."

Jess saw Khaat being carried down by Marcus and quickly aded some large pilows for behind her back " There all comfy and cosy."she said and held a warm throw over her arm as Marcus placed her down she placed it over her legs as she then moved back to the chair she was sat in only to find Jack was there but that didn't stop her as she sat on top of him smiling. "your looking much better Khaat" she told her and lent back against Jack who wropped his arms around her waist.

" yes your looking beautuful If im aloud to say with Brian in the room" said James as he walked in and stood by the fire one hand in his pocket and a cup of tea in his hand he sent a second to Robert smiling to him. " earl gray, a proper tea Robert" he said

Robert took the tea mug, grateful for a proper cup of tea. He nodded to Jim.

"Thank you," Khaat said to them all. "Ignore Marcus."

"They do frequently," Marcus teased. "But not usually when I'm telling the truth. She's put out because I told her she doesn't lie well enough to save her soul."

"She doesn't," Brian shrugged. "That's no news flash."

"And who are you to judge that?" Khaat asked Marcus.

"Have you figured out yet if I'm a decent liar or not?" he asked.

"No," she said. "Haven't tested it."

"Then I'm a far sight better than you thought," he grinned.

"He's got you," Brian said. "Never ask an espionage man if he can fib. Especially one who can win at the casino tables. Bad form, I'm afraid, Khaat. Can we eat? I'm starving."

"Food!" Dakota started chanting. The other kids started to join her.

"You had to start them, didn't you?" Michael sighed. "So much for a dignified Christmas Eve dinner."

"How did you expect a dignified anything with 12 toddlers about?" Kate frowned. "Let's eat before the food fight begins, shall we?"