Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"He's family now, jus' like you. He's always welcome," Brogan promised her.

Sam and Danica soon arrived and settled at the table as well, Sam between Fiona and Danica. Sam slid a bundle of letters over to his parents, all having been brought by the ship. They were a mix of reports and some letters from the Triad, all useful information Brogan would file away until it was needed. Sam greeted Fiona once more with a kiss pressed to her cheek, sitting back in his chair comfortably. He was alert and a bit tense, but he seemed to be in fair spirits.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Heather should be back soon with Faust. He took her to the forest to teach today." Julia mentioned, looking at Sam with a happy smile. "She has fallen in love with Faust and his lessons in a way I've never seen before. I think she might have finally found her place in the world. She has taken a keen interest in the history of Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Remind me to give Faust a medal," Sam said with a smile back to his mother. Even those who knew Heather best could only do so much for her, and her best teacher before Faust- Valentina's uncle Van- had only been able to visit occasionally. Faust had taken over flawlessly and he treated Heather with respect, but also as family in a way.

 

[heartofcourage]

The small group had talked about a little bit of everything until the door to the keep opened and in came Faust, his two children, and Heather. Koralo led the way, carrying his father's satchel and other items he had used that day. Fieira was asleep in Faust's arms and Heather walked beside him, her hand firmly looped in the belt around his waist as he gave a few final words to her. All three of them glanced towards Brogan as he rose and came to meet them, Heather's hand instantly switching to her father's as she let go of Faust's belt.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan leaned down to kiss Heather's cheek and murmured, "Guess who's home, love?"

Sam came around the table and scooped Heather up, kissing her forehead and hugging her tightly. "Hiya, love," he muttered with a smile. His beard was a bit thicker than she remembered, and his arms seemed stronger after a winter of cutting wood.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I knew you'd come back." Heather said with a happy smile as Sam scooped her up and kissed her cheek. "I found a new teacher. I'm sorry."

Sam had done wonders for her but Faust was even better. She knew her brother wouldn't really mind all that much. It was one less responsibility for him and Faust could teach her things that Sam had never really dreamed of.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'can't learn everythin' from one person, love. I've taught you plenty." Sam smiled to Faust then. "Ma wrote t'me about you. Glad t'meet you, Faust."

"General," Faust nodded, shifting his daughter carefully. Sam set Heather in her chair and Faust and his family joined them. Soon the hall was filling with the family coming to welcome Sam and Fiona home. Valentina's own family was last to arrive, but none of them were very lively. Everyone was worried for Alex but knew he was safe and protected by Yasmine's family. But for Valentina's family, life was incomplete without Alex.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina helped Vincenzo to walk to his seat, the man slow and uneven. She worried about him greatly but he insisted that he was fine. She knew he was struggling and the strain of losing her father was clearly etched in her features. The rest of the children were sullen and withdrawn, even though it was meant to be a happy event. Everyone was doing their best to show their support for them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam came to Vincenzo's side, greeting the old man with an embrace, and he greeted Valentina with a hug as well and kissed her cheek. "Hi, Val," he murmured, lifting a hand to her cheek. He knew all too well that she was struggling perhaps the most, in between the old man she looked up to most and the young man who had helped her find her way.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm glad you're back, love. It's been empty without you bossing everyone around." Valentina said as she kissed her nephew's cheek and hugged him tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've never bossed anyone around in my life," Sam muttered with a little smile. "Yer th'bossy one, always tellin' me what I can't do with broken ribs."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, someone in this family has to." Valentina said as she shooed him on to he next person and took a seat next to her father, holding his hand tightly as if she didn't want to let him go.

 

[KieranSoares]

Vincenzo looked to his daughter, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Relax, cara mia," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina said nothing as she leaned her head against her father's shoulder, already mourning him even though he was still there. There wasn't anything to do for her heart and it would ache for many years to come.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You mope worse than Samuel, my dear," Vincenzo sighed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and laying his head against hers.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not moping, I'm mourning." Valentina corrected him as he held her tighter and pressed his head against her own. "Let me be sad before I have to put on a brave face for my patients. It's the one luxury I have these days."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You don't have to be brave for anyone, bambina. And mourning is for the dead. I'm fairly certain I woke up this morning." Vincenzo brushed her hair back gently. "I may be slow, but I don't want to go anywhere until Alex is home safe and settled again."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It doesn't mean that I'll be ready for the moment." Valentina said softly as her father brushed her hair back from her face. "I have four beautiful children that will rally around me and try and cheer me up, but I'll always remember that all of those that I loved from my childhood have gone. My Ma is gone. My Papa will be done soon. My Mummy is gone. My Da is holding on for God knows what. Uncle Van is gone. Nonna is gone. Being the youngest, I'm sure I will see my brothers and sisters go before me too. Reality is setting in that time is most certainly marching onward."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Nothing can be done about the inevitable, amore. But you can decide what to do with the time you have. Don't waste it thinking of what used to be and the sadness to come. There is so much worth being glad for. I've lived a full life, and a good one at that. I have no regrets. And I know you'll all be alright. That's why I've been so calm about all of this.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose." Valentina said softly as Vincenzo tried to encourage her beyond her sadness. "Just give me some time, Papa."

The rest of the family seemed cheerful in spite of the threat of war. They were happy that Sam was home finally. He had been gone too long for their liking. Fiona grinned as he was teased relentlessly by his twin, his little sisters joining in the moment to make sure that Sam got as much as he had given them when they were younger.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam was livelier than his family had ever seen since he was a child, though in general he was still reserved compared to most. And he made sure Fiona got plenty of teasing as well. When Kate and Kell came out to join them, Sam was up from his seat immediately to meet her. She was only a few weeks off from her expected due date, so Kell was watching her like a hawk and keeping things peaceful around her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I should thank you for coming back. Kell finally allowed me out of bed to greet you." Kate said, kissing her brother's cheek and hugging him as tightly as her belly would allow. "It's not the same simply sending letters back and forth to you a few times a week."

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' I should thank him fer keepin' you in check," Sam murmured as he held her, kissing her forehead. "Nearly 'ad a heart attack when I read how far y'pushed yerself." Sam glanced to Kell who calmly made his way over to Fiona to greet her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We're at war. You can't tell me that you wouldn't do the same in my shoes, Sam." Kate said as he mentioned he didn't like how much she had pushed herself. "He's doubled my guard, if that's even possible. I don't think he's taken any chances when it comes to his cub."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If I was in your shoes, I'd 'ave wanted all my best advisors an' officers t'help me rather'n have success ride on jus' my shoulders," Sam told her with a little teasing smile. "Y'can't fault Kell fer doin' everythin' he can fer you an' yer cub."