Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"When you're ready we will work through it together." Kate said as she took Kell's hand in her own and squeezed it tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I love you," he murmured. "And I have no doubts about us. Regardless of my past, I want to be with you. And if I ever had a problem to do with us, I would talk about it rather than let it ruin us down the road." He kissed her cheek.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I see the both of you made up." Julia said as she took her seat next to Brogan. "I wasn't aware that anything was the matter."

"Nothing was, Ma. Just a few things that we had to talk about." Kate said simply, looking at her wolf with a smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Da's still helpin' t'fix everything," Brogan teased with a deep chuckle, wrapping an arm around Julia's shoulders as she sat down beside him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's why you have to live forever. We can't make do without you, love." Julia said with a soft laugh, kissing her husband's cheek as he drew her close.

 

[KieranSoares]

"At least long enough fer one o' you kids t'learn how t'keep this family together," Brogan chuckled. It'd taken him a long time to learn it from Kitty, but they'd need it to remain the steadfast clan they were, even spread across four countries.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That always has been and always will be your job, Da." Kate said with a smile towards her father as he hugged her Ma tightly. "Although, I think the two of you make a pretty good pair. No need to fix something that isn't broken."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'don't manage twenty years with jus' anyone, love," Brogan told her with a nod and then a smile to Kell.

Eventually Justin disappeared with Ciaran and Sam with Rho and so on after lunch. It was a lazy sort of day, and Brogan was happy to spend it with Julia, delegating his usual duties to Kate so she could practice with Kell, and to Cole who'd make sure it all went smoothly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia wanted to spend the afternoon with Heather, convincing herself that everything would be alright with her daughter. She played with the twins, smiling at both of them and laughing at their little antics. It seemed that Heathrr wouldn't miss a beat with her sister by her side. It did her heart good to see the sisters getting along so well.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan kept close at Julia's side, wanting to make sure she wasn't dwelling too much on Heather's blindness. The girl was still young enough that she'd grow up considering her blindness to be normal with only basic memories of sight.

Brogan eventually found himself settled on the floor with his girls.

 

[heartofcourage]

Ashelin sat in her father's lap, enjoying his attention as Julia played with Heather. She handed Heather a few of her toys and asking her what they were. Heather answered every question after feeling the toy, a bright smile on her face and her green eyes lighting up.

"Mama?" Heather asked as she stood on her feet and reached out for Julia.

"What, baby?" Julia asked as she took Heather into her arms, letting the little girl trace her fingers over the features of her face.

"Mama." Heather murmured, concentrating on memorizing her mother's face.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan smiled at the scene before him, watching as Ashelin toddled over to them to see what Heather was doing. A soft knock on the door pulled Brogan away without disturbing his girls, and he disappeared briefly.

A few minutes later, it wasn't Brogan, but Van who stepped in. Ashien's family had arrived earlier than expected, invited by Kate and the others for Brogan and Julia's upcoming wedding. Van's fingers traced the doorframe and his head turned toward Julia. "My lady," he said kindly, having always been rather formal with the Ghis family outside Ashien's own family. "I understand someone needs a little help."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled at both girls as Ashelin tried to figure out what her sister was doing. She simply didn't understand why she was tracing her fingers over Julia's face and tried to do the same, giving up to simply hug her Ma tightly.

"You both look like your father." Julia said softly as she hugged Ashelin tightly against her side. "The prettiest little girls that I've ever seen."

Julia glanced towards the doorway in surprise as Van appeared, telling her that he was there to help. "Van." Julia said with a smile, lifting Heather and Ashelin into her arms as she stood to greet him. "I'm happy that you're here safely."

"Heather just needs a little help exploring the world now." She admitted softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Van kissed Julia's cheek fondly in greeting, then took Heather's hand. "Hello, bambina. It's been a while." Heather had been too young to remember last time she heard and saw Van, so he was practically a stranger.

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather's brow furrowed in concern as the strange man took her little hand. She pulled it away and hugged Julia tightly around the neck, whimpering with concern.

"Mama..." Heather murmured, burying her face against Julia's neck to take in the familiar warmth and smell of her mother.

"It's alright, sweet Heather. Van is a friend. Papa will be very, very happy to see him." Julia crooned as Ashelin decided that Van was alright and went into his arms easily.

 

[KieranSoares]

Van's smile didn't fade at Heather's shyness. "That's alright. We'll get to know each other better before we start, little love." He gladly took Ashelin, and she would find he was quite familiar. Though there were some differences, he smelled faintly of the same kind of tobacco Vincenzo still occasionally smoked. It wasn't a habit anymore but Vincenzo would enjoy his wooden pipe every week or so.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you for coming to check on Heather. I'm sure that Ashien's little family keeps you very busy in London. Three girls. How on earth did he manage that?" Julia said with a laugh, smiling as Ashelin snuggled up easily in Van's arms.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Dylandra said once that her only friend in London who wasn't a man was probably Elizabeth. So whoever is in charge decided she needed some girls to keep her company. Not to mention, Burke keeps things in line so my job isn't too difficult."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Burke is a good lad." Julia said with a smile as she kissed Heather's brow and invited Van to come in for a seat. "Heather's been learning as much as she can. She's much more tactile now, wanting to touch and feel everything around her. Ashelin has been patient, but I feel like I have to give so much more attention to Heather now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not necessarily. I just need to teach you how to teach her, and reteach her how to learn," Van assured her as if it was nothing. "But she might have already figured that out on her own."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kitty takes her nearly ever afternoon when she is feeling up to it. Heather and her Gran have all sorts of adventures together." Julia said, smiling down at Heather as she lifted her head instantly at the mention of her Gran. "Gran will come soon, I promise."

Julia kissed Heather's cheek gently and cuddled her close again, letting her head rest on her shoulder. "Kitty sees a lot of Brogan in Heather. She just wants to do her best to protect her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't doubt it. Even if it's not quite the same circumstance, Heather is at a similar disadvantage as Brogan once was. But if she's anything like you two, she'll come through as if nothing was ever wrong." Van turned his head toward the door as it opened again and Ashien stepped in.

"Sister," Ashien smiled to Julia and came to kiss her cheek.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ash." Julia said with a fond smile as he kissed her cheek. "I see Van and Dylandra have worked to keep you out of serious trouble. How are the girls and Burke?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"The girls are holy terrors and Burke is his usual too-serious self. Doesn't help that they've got those cubs to wreak havoc with, but Burke seems to contain them well enough." He smiled down at Heather. "Hello, darling. You probably don't remember me, I'll bet."

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather was very quiet as Ashien addressed her, clinging to her mother with a serious look on her features as she tried to place the voice that she was hearing.

"Da?" Heather asked, hearing the slight Scottish ting to his voice and being reminded of her father.

"It's your Uncle Ashien, love." Julia whispered against Heather's ear, the little girl frowning again as she clung a little tighter to her. "You'll have to forgive her, Ashien. She still has a nap and playtime with Gran before she's truly happy."