To Hell and Back

Jess gasped as the live fish flopped around on the ground, Jack ran forwqard grasping it he looked histerical as it flopped out of his hands and into his shirt he danced around as he tried to find it to return into to some sort of water sorce.
"that is the fastes i have seen him move in months " Jess said laughing as he fell again to the soft grass slipping off his shirt as the fish flopped inside it he grabbed it again and threw it into a pond clsoe by and sat looking rather red faced on the grass in front of them.

"ok, that, was the fish from hell" Jack said out of breath as he fell back onto the grass to catch his breeath

Brian came out laughing so hard he could hardly talk. "What kind of an auror are you, Jack?" he laughed. "Are you going to let yourself get conquered by a fish?" He looked at the bird who had gone off to the pond to retrieve the fish that jack had thrown back.

"Don't look now, oh mighty warrior, but it might be coming back, if Archangel has his way," Brian laughed. "Where's the toy, Khaat?"

Khaat shrugged, looking at him. She truly had no clue. Brian raised his wand. "Accio!" he summoned the toy back. It came flying back at him like a bullet fired out of a gun. "Whoa!" he dodged it as it landed so hard it buried itself in the ground. That brought Robert outside.

"Can't you lot control a bird toy?" he sighed. He walked over to the toy and picked it up out of the hole in the ground. He inspected it. "Hm..Seems the spell on it has gone a bit wonky from lack of use. I'll bring it back in a moment." He turned to walk away. "I guess you're stuck with the fish for a moment." He returned to the house.

Jess could not contain her laughter but jack walked over to her and picked her ujp placing her over his shoulder as she gave a playfull slap on his back.
"put me down you big ouf " she said laughing hard as he bunced her to the pond then slund her till he held her in his arms "ow no ,no thes are clean on this morning beside you know i hate fishes" she said witrh a light scream.

"ok do you want to go in the water then say it " he said grinning "say uncle " he said grining as he pretended to drop her but he actually had a good grip on her and would not let go.

Laughing she gave in "ok ok uncle now put me down you bug hansom lug" she said grinning at him then to Khaat "this is what i have to put up with ".

Archangel had a perfect sense of timing, and found his fish and retrieved it out of the water in a beautiful dive that Khaat found breathtaking. She loved to watch him fly and dive. And he seemed to have a sense of humor because he dropped the flopping fish right on Jack's head, squawking as he made a large circle in the air.

Brian laughed, having seen something like this coming. He liked this huge bird. Maybe he could get Robert to make Archangel an auror. "What do you think, Jack? Should I have Robert make the bird an auror too? How'd you like to have him for a partner?"

That made Khaat smile. She could see Jack, walking around with Archangel on his shoulder, carrying a large bucket of fish to keep Archangel happy while he was working.

Robert brought the toy back out and handed it to Khaat. "It's fixed now. Dinner is almost ready, you lot. Come in and wash up." Brian's mind went to years ago when he and Khaat would be playing out in the yard and Robert would come out to call them to dinner, saying very much the same words. It had been a very long time since that had happened.

"Come on, Boy," Brian called Archangel. "You can play with Jack later."

Feeling the fish drop to his head he dropped jes to the floor and she sat shaking her head at him "oow i will get you back for that ,maybe you should just to teach him a lesson" she said grinning to Brian as she stood up and brushed her self down with a chuckle as she moved over to Khaat with a grin just as robert walked out and announced lunch would be ready and grined her stomach felt empty.

Khaat followed them inside and left Archangel to his fish. Her parents had kept the evening meal very simple but elegant. Her mother's homemade chicken soup, fresh hot crusty bread from Sparks, a very elegant tossed salad, and for dessert a beautiful hot deep dish peach pie that was still warm. Simple comfort foods.

She noticed that her father guided all the dinner conversation, quietly, and subtley but it was there. He wanted no stress over dinner. He wanted her to eat. He wanted her to start to relax and destress. She passed on the salad. It just didn't appeal to her edgy stomach. But she did enjoy the soup and part of a piece of bread. She noticed her father's careful monitoring of what she ate and how much. It didnt' really bother her. He was just doing his job.

"Khaat," Robert said, as she picked at a slice of the deep dish peach pie with the cinnamon crumble top, "I do want you to go to bed early, Dear. Heaven only knows when you slept last." She looked up at him, not wanting to betray to him, with her quick glance that she was more afraid of her dreams than of her reality. But he had seen in an instant. "Don't worry. I"ve got you covered," he smiled softly. "You won't dream tonight. I"m positive." he had a potion that would allow her to sleep without dreams. It wasn't a standard sleeping potion, but it was very effective. And the regular sleeping potion was a frightening thought.

"We won't leave you," Brian laid his hand on hers. "I promise. I'll be awake all night. If you start to dream, I'll wake you up. I promise. Deal?" He was telling her she couldn't stay awake forever. They were going to make sure it ended here and now. She looked back at her pie, not responding. She felt him squeeze her hand lovingly. Reluctantly, she nodded.

jess sighed and smiled "they will pass" she said softly and took jacks hand just as brian took Khaats. Jack moved to hold Jess "Khaat go and rest you need it " she said touching her hand lightly and she smiled at Khaat "we'll still be here when you wake " she looked at Jack and smiled "nothing will get to you , you have brian with you in the room me and jack out side and your father now i know nobody can get past him" she said looking at Robert "no offense but you can scare the covers of a dementor sometimes"

Robert and Brian and Katherine laughed out loud at her remark. Robert didn't usually try to be scary. Not usually. And typically, if he did want to be scary, it was just an act--for effect. But he'd spent a lot of years practicing it.

"I take that as a compliment," Robert laughed. "Thank you. Brian, take Khata up to bed please. I have her potion by her bed. " Brian rose and reached for Khaat's hand.

"Come on, Babe, you've fought the world enough for one day," he said. Khaat rose and took his hand, trying to ignore her fears. A Lupin didn't give into fear. Never. No matter what. She realized she couldn't even say goodnight to them. She looked at Brian.

"She says goodnight," Brian replied for her, knowingly. He led her upstairs.

It took a bit for her to feel comfortable with actually deciding to go to bed, but Brian finally convinced her. He promised he would stay lose. He reminded her she knew the potion was a guarantee she would not dream. It never failed. He didn't press her about how tired she looked. Instead, he merely concentrated on just getting her to take the potion. Once she did, she fell asleep in seconds. A deep, deep dreamless sleep.

He made sure she was alright and the left her only long enough to go downtairs. He poured himself a cup of coffee. "This might be a long night," he told them quietly. "Thank you all for staying. Once we get the first night of this overwith, I'm sure it will be a lot easier."

Jack and jes smiled and nodded "sleep well Khaat " Jess said and held Jack as she watched her head up to bed "she looks exausted " she saidf to robert "but she is scared and fighting it " she said leaning back to rest on Jack "I know how that is I still have my deamons , she will have to be come stgronger than she was " she said and sighed " tghanks to jack and you all I did, I know she'll make it she was strong before she will come out even stronger" Jess's heart went out to Khaat as sher knew what she was going threw . Jack saw this and held her close to him "hey, not going back over old times again we have to think ahead for Khaat" he whispered to her and she smiled "I know and this is why I married you jack your funny and so strong" she lent back and kissed him quickly then looked at Robert and Katherine "sorry but hes right"

"I know," Robert said, sighing. Khaat was an amazingly strong woman. Robert didn't doubt for one moment that she would be at least as strong as she already had been, but he would not have wished this on her for the world.

He watched Brian's devotion to her, so apparent on the young man's face as he filled a mug with strong coffee and quietly went back up to Khaat. She was fortunate. He listened to the familiar sounds of Katherine starting to clear the table by hand to give her something to do. Kate wouldn't sleep tonight either.

Robert decided to join Jack in securing the house. "Jess, would you make sure the babies are well tended, please? The last thing we need is for them to either be loud and wake Khaat or for them to be unguarded, either one."

Meanwhile, Brian had gone back to the bedroom, leaving the door ajar. He sat down on the sofa in the sitting area of the bedroom and picked up a book and decided to read. He hoped it would be a very very calm night for her. He'd never known of the potion to fail, but there was a first time for everything.