Fee Fi Fo Fum

Jack listened to Marcus and nodded " maybe a lock high up where she can't reach" he suggested quietly " a grass hopper called Fred, huh." When Abby showed him Fred he smiled " Marcus is right Fred lives outside with his friends." he said hearing more start to chirp.

"How do you know hes a Fred, could be a Freida with a family to go home to." he said softly. Watching her hunt Fred again he shook his head " maybe we should get some books for her to look at that explains nature, if shes cleaver enough to ask then she's cleaver enough to know."

Jack moved back to the porch and watched " are all kids this curious?" he asked " or is that just Abby?" he was curious if he should get to know Abby so he'd know how to handle his own kids when they come around one day.

"Mine," Abbey said, determined, crawling in the grass to follow the grasshopper.

"This could take awhile," Marcus laughed. "I have no idea who to tell a male from a female but she's determined that this one is a Fred. You know, a nature book is really a good idea, Jack. I bet we could find a simple picture book about bugs that she might like. Maybe some different books about different animals. I did see Kate showing her an alphabet book, and the picture for the letter D was a dog. I saw Abbey point to the dog and say, 'Me!'

"She really is very bright. All kids are curious at that age, but I think because we have such a big house of people that are interested in all sorts of things, she gets exposed to a wide variety of things. I think that helps her to have more things to be curious about.

"She likes to run into Khaat's room and talk to Remus's portrait, and Remus doesn't hesitate to talk to her. She's trying to say Remus but the closest she can get is Ree-Ree. One thing you can expect is that the more curious she becomes about something, the faster she will be at wanting to go from one place to another or to get into things. We're going to need eyes all over our heads to keep up with her.

"Mine!" Abbey shouted, her little hands closed together.

"Did you get him?" Marcus asked. She nodded proudly. He looked at jack. "I have an idea. Abbey, lets go see if Angus has a 'magic' jar for Fred." Abbey just frowned. "Bring Fred. Don't let him go, and we'll get a magic jar for him." She nodded happily.

"Be ready to catch that darned thing if he gets away from her in the house, will you?" Marcus said. "If she keeps hold of him, this might work."

"What jar?" Abbey looked at Marcus.

"A magic jar keeps Fred safe and happy until it gets dark, and then it lets him outside so he can eat. If you want, you can go back out and get him again tomorrow." She nodded. Marcus felt proud of himself for the moment because she'd actually bought that rot. He looked at Jack. So far, so good.

Jack listened to Marcus and chuckled " I'll look in Roberts library I think there's one there if not I'm sure Jess knows of a book store where we can get a book for her." he watched as Abby walked back with her hands clasped.

"oh, those jars, yeah Im sure he has one." Jack said " there special." he said " I wonder if we could find a model of a grasshopper for her room." now he thought and smiled at the thoughts that formed as they headed inside.

Walking in he moved to Roberts lab and grabbed one of his empty jars, placing some grass in it he returned " Marcus this jar what you mean?" he asked showing him that the lid had holes in it.

Marcus had picked up Abbey and brought her back inside, coaching her to keep hold of the grasshopper, and when Jack came back with one of Robert's jars, Marcus nodded.

"That's it. Abbey, that is one of Papa's magic bug jars. We'll put Fred in the jar for now, and he'll be happy in there, okay?" Marcus said. Abbey nodded. Marcus put Abbey down on the floor, and he helped her put Fred in the jar so Fred didn't get away, and was glad to get the lid on the jar before they had a grasshopper running loose it the house.

"Thank you, Jack," Marcus said. Abbey looked at Jack.

"Tanks!" she said, her best attempt at thanking Jack. She handed the jar to Jack to show him Fred. "See? Fred! My pet!"

Well, Marcus was hoping she wasn't going to make that leap, to think of Fred as a pet. He sighed. That wasn't what he had had in mind.

"Tomorrow, I get Fred a friend!" she nodded.

"Lovely," Marcus said, unable to hide a bit of sarcasm. "Let's show Fred to Papa when he gets home. I bet he'll like Fred." Abbey nodded. Marcus was smelling dinner. It smelled wonderful. It smelled like chicken, and Marcus was hungry for some reason.

"Abbey, what is Angus making for dinner?" Marcus asked.

"Berries!" she said brightly.

"Now, why did I not see that coming?" Marcus laughed.

Jack watched and just as Marcus was relived the grass hopper was in the jar. He smiled as Abby thanked him " your welcome Miss Abby" he said giving her a small bow and a chuckle " yes he certainly looks like he's your pet" Jack said looking in the jar.

On hearing Abby say she'd get Fred a friend he hid a smirk at Marcus comments then Abby's "yumm smells like something really special and yummy" he said heading to the kitchen " so whats for dinner?" he asked leaning on the counter.

"Chicken Marsala, with a cheddar risotto, oven roasted carrots, a fruit salad so Abbey does have some berries, and then a chocolate brownie and toffee trifle," Angus said.

"That sounds wonderful," Robert said, arriving. "I'm starving. Kate will be along. She wanted to stop back at the farm. She said she won't be long. I think she wanted to get her crocheting. She's working on a cardigan for Halloween for Abbey, and I wanted her to pick up a book for me from the library at home. So how did the shopping go, Jack? How soon are you and Brian going to open your cookie bakery?"

Abbey was delighted to see her papa, and she ran to him, with her jar. Robert scooped her up and gave her a kiss as she gave him a big hug.

"Papa! Look! Look! I has a Fred!" she said excitedly.

"You have a Fred?" he asked, looking in her jar. "And a fine looking Fred he is too, my princess. Did you catch him yourself?" She nodded.

"Fred eats berries!" she said. He frowned slightly.

"No, no. Freds don't like berries. They eat grass and wheat and and flowers, but your Fred is in a magic jar, so his food will appear in the jar for him. He'll be fine just as he is," Robert said.

"Can he sleep on my pillow, Papa?"

"We'll talk about that later," he smiled.

Jack listened to Angus and chuckled " well it went great, we're both off the hook for the cookie making" he said " and thank goodness I'd have burnt down the whole place, cooking isn't my strong suit, oh don't get me wrong I can cook simple meals but not the likes of cookies. " he saw Robert with Abby and smiled.

"by the way dinner sounds perfect." he said " I'm gonna have to run that assault course after eating that." he patted his stomach and chuckled again. Now walking over to Robert he heard Abby ask to have the grasshopper on her pillow.

"I thought one of those jars would be better." he said looking in the jar as Abby held it. "Yeah, he seems very comfortable in there" Jack looked up at Robert hoping he would know that they would be releasing the grasshopper back into the back yard.

"Good for you. I knew you could both do it," Robert said. "Congratulations. Now all you have to do is to be able to do that for the rest of your lives."

"Don't say that," Brian frowned.

"Was it difficult?" Robert laughed.

"Well, not really. I know what she likes," Brian said. "And I know what I like to see her wear."

"And she was pleased then?"

"She said she was," Brian said

"If she hadn't been, you'd have found out. That's for sure," Robert laughed.

"I'd better go help her to the table," Brian said.

"I'll go," Marcus said. "Maybe you can get Abbey her plate."

"Okay," Brian said, as Marcus headed for the living room.

"Your jar for Fred was perfect, Jack," Robert said. "Fred will be very happy there as long as he needs to be in there." Robert knew Fred could stay in that jar indefinitely, but he was just as happy to let Fred go, too. "If you want to run after dinner, I'll go with you, Jack," Robert added.

Jack chuckled and looked at Brian "speak for yourself." he said " I have only known Jess a few months now, but she did seem very pleased with everything, especially the ring." he said smiling as he saw her walk back down.

"Khaat I placed your bags in your closet" she said " I thought you'd like to put it away when you have time." Jess said " Hi Robert." she said then noticed Abby. "oh Nice cricket, he got a name?" she asked looking into the jar.

"she called him Fred." Jack said moving to pick up the cutlery to help set the table. " please, I could use the run, get rid of some tension." he moved to the dinning room and started to lay the table.

" Fred is a good name" Jess said to Abby " He looks like a Fred." she whispered to Abby " say why don't you draw a picture of Fred after dinner." she suggested.

"Fred eats berries, like me!" Abbey nodded.

"Did I say he eats berries?" Robert frowned at Abbey. Abbey nodded. Robert frowned deeper.

"I gonna get another Fred tomorrow," she told Jess.

"Why?" Angus asked, setting the last side dish on the table.

"For a girl Fred," she said.

"Fred needs a girl?" Angus frowned.

"Well, yes," Abbey said, looking at Angus like she thought he was completly stupid. Everyone laughed.

"Clearly you were supposed to know that already," Brian said, putting a plate in front of Abbey. Marcus brought Khaat into the dining room and helped her to a chair as Kate finally arrived.

"Thank you, Jess," Khaat said. "What would I do without you?"

"Did I hear you say you were going for a run after dinner?" Brian asked.

"We thought we might," Robert said.

"I'll go, then," Brian said.

"Good. Anyone else want to go?" Robert asked.