Dinner: Interrupted

"Thank you," Brian said.


"Daddy?" Abbey asked, putting a big raspberry in her mouth.


"Yes, my love," he looked at her.


"Can I have a puppy?"


"A puppy?" he frowned. "You've got kitties. And horses and unicorns  and pygmy puffs and a hippogryff.  You need a puppy too?"


"The hippogryff is Papa's," she said, scowling. "And the unicorns. I want a puppy."


"If she gets one, I get one," Dakota said.


"Me too!" said little Michael. The rest of Khaat's kids chimed in too, each saying they wanted one too.


"Hey," Robert looked at the kids. They all stopped and looked at him. "If you're good, Gram and I will take you all into Honeydukes this afternoon--if you're good."


"Candy?" Abbey's eyes grew wide.


"If you're good," he nodded.

Jess and Cassidy both chuckled and shook their heads as theres repeated the same but they knew it was just that copying. "sounds a fine idea since Stevens wolf freind left we could use a dog as a protector." Jess said seeing Cassidy nod.

"yeah its been a long time and might be fun for the kids too" Cassidy said clearing up some empty plates as she stood up and headed to the kitchen. " okay orange juice any one?" she asked bringing out a pitcher of fresh juice to the table.

Outside Steven walked the perimiter so far he'd not seen a thing out of place and all spells seem strong enough he just hoped Jack was having the same out come.

"It isn't a bad idea, Brian," Robert said.


"So I get him!" Abbey bounced up and down.


"That's up to your daddy," Robert laughed.  "Weren't you going out to play?"


"Yup!" she nodded.  She jumped down from the table. He reached out his hand and took her small hand in his. She stopped short looking at him.


"Hey, young lady," he looked at her. "Do we jump down from the table and run off before we're done?" She nodded excitedly. He merely looked at her, giving her a moment to rethink. She sighed and got back in her chair, sighing. "Eat your breakfast. Then we'll go out." He looked at Jess. "Juice would be lovely, Jess, please."

Jess smiled and walked over to robert poring some juice for him then brian and the others before she pored for herself. Cassidy sat and fed two of the children as did Jess.

Jack walked slowly around the perimiter checking every inch he found some small holes that he patched nothing that anything bigger than a rabbit could not fit threw. He did spot a wolf on the other side it nodded his head and followed him part of the way then turned and disapeared into the woods. Jack just shook his head and continued checking the spells and wards they had set up.

After breakfast, Brian, Kate, and Robert decided, against Khaat's overprotective mother instincts, to take the kids out.  They took them over to the play yard to let them into the playground area, to enjoy the swings and the slide and the playcastle.

Khaat went out onto the back deck and decided just to sit and watch.  Marcus came out and sat with her.  


"Its nice to see them enjoying themselves," Marcus said to her. "They don't normally get to go farther than the pool."


"I know," she said. 


"You know thats why you're nervous," he smiled. 


"Yeah," she agreed. 


"You want to go join them?"


"No," she said, not wanting to ruin their fun. "Where are Jack and Steven?" She wanted to know they weren't far from the kids.

Steven returned folowed not far behind by Jack who smiled and moved to play with the children letting them ride on his back as he ran around like a horse. Steven laughed as did Jess. " I know some one who'll sleep well tonight " Steven joked this made Jess laugh harder and Cassidy smile as well.

"They just needed air and to blow off some team " Jess said softly to Khaat as she joined her and sat on the other side of her. " its not good they should be shut in all day" she chuckled seeing Steven joining in and pretending they were in a race around the garden.

"Yeah, I know. And you're right. They're pretty patient still about being inside but in another year or two, we won't be able to keep them inside."


"Didn't you always tell me that your adventures outside were some of the best times of your life?" Marcus asked.


"They were indeed," she smiled.


"Then, don't you want them to have some of those times?"


"They've got time," she said.  


"Well, you've got plenty of security.  Let them have fun." He looked down on the ground, picked up her book and put it in her lap. "Here. Read your book," he teased.

Jess listened and smiled " its a mothers instinct to protect Marcus " she said softly and noted the fallen book but she was glad so had Marcus. " Jack and Steven will never let any one or thing harm them, they see them as there children too since all of ours grew up with yours." She smiled seeing Jack now on his back acting as if he was dead with little Robert standing over him with a stick.

Jack rolled to his knees his ears and eyes were watching some thing but he kept a smile on his face. he felt it was too calm and seeing the wolf ealier had him on edge, wolves genraly didn't come near the compound yet this one had.

"I'm a father," he reminded her. "I have the same instincts."


"I thought you wanted to bring Poppy here for part of the summer," Khaat said.


"I do," he said. "I spend time with my other kids on a regular basis, and they're used to my routine. But I didn't know I had another daughter until the very end of the summer last year. I've not had much time to hang with her or get to know her.  We've sent endless owls this school year. But I'd like to get to know her for her. This was her first year at Hogwarts this past year, and it was tough. She was actually not quite 11. She was two days away from her 11th birthday, and they let her in a wee bit early. But she is also physically the smallest child in the school. It makes her insecure."


"You know she's welcome here any time," Khaat said.


"I appreciate that. She's got some of that oddball seer's stuff happening, and I don't know where the heck she gets it.  But it would do her good to..."  He stiffened ever so slightly, listening.

"Hang out with us oddball seers?" she asked. He laughed.

"Something like that," he replied. His senses gave him the feel that there was something just not right. "Go in the house," he stood, taking Khaat's hand and getting her to her feet.  

"What..."  she began.

"Inside. Now," he said. At that instant thick columns of black smoke began to spiral down to the ground, the telltale sign of dark arts workers apparating in. They were being infiltrated.


Then they heard a dark, evil laugh rise up from the play upper balcony of the play castle.  It was James, and he already had scooped up Abbey like a sack of potatoes and had his hand clamped tightly over her mouth. She was kicking and trying to fight.


"Abbey!" Khaat panicked, drawing her wand. Marcus grabbed a hold of Khaat to stop her from following. Down below in the play yard, Robert was already on it. He drew his wand and was apparating up to the balcony himself.  James didn't want to face Robert, so he simply apparated out with Abbey.


"Oh, God!" Khaat panicked. 


"We've got other problems," Marcus pointed at numerous werewolves on the grounds. "Get in the house."

"The kids!" she was struggling against him. "We've got to get the kids. There are too many for the three of them to bring back..."

"Your dad is summoning help already," Marcus said, feeling the multiple alarms on his shirt being activated.

Jack stood up grabbing as many children as his arms could carry " GET THEM INSIDE....NOW!!!" He called to Steven who grabbed the last of the children and moved quickly. Cassidy moved behind him but stopped as some one dove over her and ran quickly to the spot Abby had been last seen.

Once they were inside Jack ran back out and over to the crouched figure he dove at him but the man stepped to one side making him fall flat on his face, Steven ran past both men and fired his wand at one were sending it flying into the barrior.

"How in hell did they get past the spells and wards." he called out as he fought off another were. "AND SOME ONE CLOSE THAT DAMN HOLE!" he called to a guard running in his direction.