Claymore and Dagger Pt.2

[heartofcourage]

"Your brother was by earlier." Julia said, scooping up Dana from her spot on the floor as she glanced up at her son. "And of course, Rhodan is still the worst at keeping anything a secret."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Typical," Sam sighed. "Well... It wasn' somethin' we planned. Jus'... Felt right." He wrapped his free arm around Fiona's waist.

 

[heartofcourage]

"As I've told you before, Samuel, you are old enough to make your own choices." Julia said as she stepped towards the two of them. "You were always the most responsible of all of my children, besides Annie. Just promise me that we can still have another ceremony for the entire family too."

"We had planned on it. I want my grandfather here as well." Fiona said softly as Julia gave them both a nod.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam leaned down to kiss his mother's cheek, letting go Fiona's hand a moment to embrace Julia. "I wouldn' deprive you o' arrangin' a wedding fer th'son no one thought would ever marry."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I never thought you would marry, so I need to make this worthwhile." Julia joked as she kissed his cheek, little Brogan growling softly again as he was momentarily squished between them. "And being your Gran's favorite grandson, I have to make sure that she would be happy with anything that we decide to do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Gran didn' pick favorites. I was jus' the one tha' needed th'most work." Sam glanced to Brogan. "Touchy thing. Worse than Kate." Looking back to Julia, Sam smiled. "I'll get this one t'sleep before we go. Shouldn't be hard."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She had her favorites, love. Trust me." Julia said as he said he would get Brogan to sleep before he left. "Good luck with that. He's a scrappy little fighter about everything these days. He fights about his naps. He fights about his clothing. He fights about baths and diapers. About the only thing he doesn't fight about is his food, which he eats like an angel as long as his Ma is the one holding the bottle for him. If it's me or your Da or his Da, he's spitting mad."

 

[KieranSoares]

"'Bout time you all found a child y'can't manage. Seem t'be jus' fine with th'rest. He jus' needs someone who'll be stern with 'im." Sam took the little cub over to the crib that had been moved in, pausing to greet Dana before he put Brogan in the crib. The cub began to growl and fuss, threatening to cry, but Sam didn't let him fight. He leaned down and spoke to the cub in Erygonian as he tucked Brogan in, and in only minutes, the cub seemed to give up the battle. That, versus the hour it usually took.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched as Sam took the lead with Brogan, tucking the tiny cub in and speaking to him in Erygonian. She only understood a few things of what he said as he had been teaching her the ancient language. The cub wanted to fight, but he was soon settled in beneath a warm blanket, sucking on a pacifier that his grandmother offered him until he was sound asleep.

"Stubborn little creature." Julia said softly as she gently stroked her fingers through his soft, black fur. "He'll need it when he's older."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha' he will... More'n I think we can even imagine. Already isn't easy t'be Crown Prince normally..." Sam leaned over to kiss his mother's cheek again. "I'll see you tomorrow fer plannin' more o' the coronation."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Just a moment, you two." Julia said softly as she glanced over at Fiona. "There's something I want to give you."

She shifted Dana on her shoulder as she left Brogan's side, retreating to her jewelry box. When she returned, she offered Fiona a small box.

"When I first married Brogan, Kitty sent me this lovely gift. It was a way to welcome me into the family." Julia said softly as Fiona was stunned to open the box and see a lovely emerald pendant.

"Oh, Julia...I can't take this." She said softly, looking up at Julia as she tried to give the necklace back.

"Yes, you can. Think of it as a way to keep Kitty in your lives. She adored Sam and she would have adored you as well." Julia said.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam shared a long look with his mother, giving her one of the most genuine, gentle smiles she'd ever seen from him. He knew the pendant well, as Kitty's first true welcoming gift to Julia. And now it welcomed Fiona. Sam wrapped his arm around Fiona's waist, murmuring, "She's more stubborn than ye'll ever be, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

“He meant a lot to his Gran.” Julia said with a soft smile as Fiona seemed at a loss for words. “And you mean the world to him. It’s only right that you have this. You’ll wear it proudly at his coronation and at your wedding.”

“It makes my little keepsake necklace look tattered and worn.” Fiona said softly, glancing up as Sam held her tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's no' about looks. It's about what they all mean," Sam reminded her, a piece of wisdom he'd learned from Kitty long ago.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You can replace the chain on it as a wedding gift.” Fiona said with a small smile as she kissed Sam’s cheek.

“Alright, you two. Go and enjoy the rest of your evening.” Julia said, shooing them away before she went to settle in front of the fire with Dana to wait on Brogan’s return.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan returned some twenty minutes later, settling into his large armchair near Julia at the fire. "Managed t'settle the little one?" He asked softly, glancing toward little Brogan's crib.

 

[heartofcourage]

“It was Sam, of all people.” Julia said as Dana slumbered against her shoulder. “And Ciara’s and Justin should be back soon for this one, so we can have a good night’s sleep tonight.”

Julia loved her babies, but she had been tired lately with everything going on. After she had been told about Kate’s mental state, so had worked hard to make her daughter feel loved and wanted in spite of her dark emotions.

“Samuel continued the family tradition tonight by marrying Fiona at the tribal event.” She murmured, looking over at her husband. “I don’t know that I’ve seen him so happy for anything in my life.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan chuckled warmly to himself. "Havin' Fiona around brings out a little bit o' the man 'e might've been if 'e weren't so serious."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I just hope he doesn’t hurt her when times get stressful. He tends to do that to those he loves.” Julia said softly, gently rocking Dana as the little cub shifted to a more comfortable position.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He gets angry... Pushes people away... But our Sam is no Tamblin," Brogan murmured. "He turned out... Far too much like Da. So much tha' sometimes I'm jus' waiting fer 'im t'start drinkin' an' hiring assassins. But tha's not who Sam is. He's a good lad with a future and a family tha' loves 'im, an' there's no Oliver Colton waitin' in the wings t'corrupt 'im."

 

[heartofcourage]

“He’s been this way since he was a baby. It got worse after Rho’s accident.” She murmured, her fingers stroking through Dana’s soft fur. “He was the child I never thought I was ever going to be able to reach.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Managed just in time," he muttered. Soon there was a light knock on the door and Justin looked in with a smile.

"I hope she hasn't been too much trouble," he murmured as he glanced to Dana.

 

[heartofcourage]

“She was an angel. She minds herself and tries to comfort Brogan when he cries.” Julia said with a smile as Justin looked towards his daughter. “She’s an easy baby. You should be happy.”

Dana only stirred when her Da lifted her into his arms, squirming before she buried her head against his soft fur and she finally settled.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll give Ciaran the credit. He and Dana chose each other." Justin kissed the little cub's forehead and cradled her against his shoulder. "Thank you for looking after her. I think we finally managed to catch up with our work for now."

 

[heartofcourage]

“You boys deserve a night to yourselves. Too much work will make you both exhausted.” Julia scolded gently as if she were his mother. “I know we’re in the middle of a war but it’s still no excuse.”