Marriage is Murder

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.

"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.

(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."

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."

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?"