Beyond Time (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"One more stunt like tha' an' yer sleepin' outside fer a week," Chessie scolded. "You know Ashien needs his rest." Ballas finally laid down and remained where he was.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can't really complain. He's like a little boy that just needs his energy channeled into a productive activity." Dylan said as Ballas settled on the floor, the tip of his tail still flicking every so often. "Maybe we can find him a task."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just as long as he isn't stealing my dishes when they're out to cool or bothering the people who need rest, I don't care what he gets up to. He's almost as bad as when he was a cub running around with the twins.

 

[heartofcourage]

"What was Ash like as a little boy?" Dylan asked as she made Ballas his breakfast, leaving the bowl on the floor near him. "He doesn't talk much about his childhood. I assume it wasn't the best because of his father."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, I didn' come in until jus' after Tamblin died. The youngest I knew Ashien was when 'e was ten. When I first met this family, they weren't too different from wha' they're like right now, scarred an' starting t'heal. Everythin' got so much better after Brogan married Cassie... But Ash, he was always fairly quiet and practically drowned 'imself in drawing an' painting til Kitty sent 'im taking Henry's court t'get him away from home. Ash thrived there an' became th'open an' bright man you knew before. It was quite a sight, watching 'im come ridin' into the courtyard in a fine uniform th'first time 'e visited 'ome. He was a new man an' Kitty bawled 'er eyes out, she was so happy that 'e was finally happy "

 

[heartofcourage]

"He loves to lose himself in his painting. It is his favorite way to escape from reality." Dylan said as Ballas pulled the bowl towards himself, eating to his heart's content. "He's not sleeping at night any longer. No matter what I do, I can't help him in this."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then y'might ask Vincenzo. Ash needs sleep if 'e ever 'opes t'think clearly." Chessie sighed. "Bloody Ghis boys. I'm not above servin' 'em Vincenzo's special tea in secret if I 'ave to."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He was trying to rest when I left. I'll check on him in a moment when I go back to the room." Dylan murmured as she looked towards Ballas. "And you stay out of the keep today, Ballas. Go hunt mice in the stables."

She patted the tiger's head as she moved out of the kitchen, leaving Chessie in peace. She was quiet as she entered the room, looking to see if Ashien were still asleep.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ashien had crawled back into bed and was fast asleep as if he didn't have a trouble in the world. The reason why was quite clear by the smell of strong tea and the empty cup beside his bed, and Vincenzo was sitting at the desk measuring out some collection of herbs into a jar quietly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you." Dylan said softly as she saw Vincenzo sitting there, measuring out dried herbs as Ashien slept on the bed. "He's been struggling, but as always, he's too stubborn to ask for help. He promised to see you or Valentina today if it got any worse."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I knew he wouldn't. He was just laying on the floor staring at the wall, so I put a stop to that." Vincenzo finished and sealed the jar before rising to face her with a smile. "It won't be long before he remembers he hates laying around. Time is all Ashien needs. His brothers are a little trickier, I'm afraid."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've seen it before." Dylan said, letting a little something about her former life slip.

She glanced towards Vincenzo for a moment, wondering if she should tell him, before she decided that it wasn't safe.

"A man's mind is never the same after seeing the things that they did. All we can do is love them and support them." She said with a slight shrug.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I believe it's being called posttraumatic stress in some circles. I've been dealing with a bit myself," Vincenzo sighed. "But I've been around some gruesome things and battle aftermath most of my life, so it's easier to recover for me and for Val. I don't think thunder will ever be our friend again, but we'll manage. Durban and Brogan worry me the most."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Elise was frightened for her father when we came home the other evening. She knows that something isn't right, even if Marri and Gabriel try to shield her from it." Dylan said as she took a seat next to Vincenzo. "And Ashien and I have talked about waiting to bring children into this marriage until he is settled. I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with a child and him at the same time."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Perhaps a child would do him good," Vincenzo suggested after a long moment of thought. "It would give him another reason to get up in the morning and get plenty of sleep at night. I wouldn't say it would solve all his problems, but it's an idea once you two are home again."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not terribly certain that I would be a good mother." Dylan told her father-in-law, chuckling softly at the look that he gave her. "Ashien tells me that I'm wrong, but I've not had a good role model where women are concerned."

 

[KieranSoares]

"My brother is the only role model you need, cara mia. The way he looks after Ashien is just about what it's like to look after a child. Babies are a little more difficult, but it's quite the adventure. I wish I'd had the chance to raise one myself, but what little chance I did have were some of the happiest times of my life before coming here to stay."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Did you have your daughter much when she was a child?" Dylan asked, interested in just how Vincenzo fit so well into this family. "Ashien hasn't been ready to talk about his childhood just yet and I didn't think that it would be appropriate to ask him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She was sent to live with me for a while as a baby... But I wasn't the father she needed then, and my work meant I had to constantly send her to my mother or a friend. So she started coming in the summers while Warwick and Ashelin cared for her, once she could entertain herself when I was busy, and I stopped being so busy all the time. When Tamblin fell, i started coming here every summer and started training a replacement for myself so I could come here permanently. It took ten years... But here I am."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You make Kitty smile." Dylan said with a smile of her own. "And it's clear that both she and Valentina adore you. I think that the time and distance definitely made the heart grow fonder."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ah, well, some of that heartache was a bit too much some days, dear, but I'm just glad I won't miss anything else. I'm looking forward to seeing my children- all seven of them- make their lives."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, Ashien and I certainly want you and Kitty to come and visit us as much as possible at Darkwood. He's eager to show his mother just what he's been able to create on his own." Dylan said with a smile towards Vincenzo.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll make it there some day. Kitty's been looking for any excuse to go, and King Henry's been asking her to visit too." He kissed her cheek. "Now, I have a few giants to check on. Durban's been a little brighter since you two bought those hounds for the children, so thank you for that." He paused before he left. "Oh, and that jar is for making tea. You're free to it if you have a sleepless night, but it ought to help Ashien until he can get back in the habit of sleep on his own."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll make sure that he takes it every evening." Dylan promised as Vincenzo stood to go and check on the rest of the Ghis men. "Even when he's incredibly stubborn and bullheaded."

 

[KieranSoares]

"After a couple weeks, let him try to sleep without it. It should be a habit by then and he may only need it every so often after that," Vincenzo instructed before disappearing down the hall.