Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"He'll make you proud as the Lord Protector of Scotland. It's a very honorable position. No more hiding in the shadows." Kate said softly, squeezing Khelt's hands in her own.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, there will still be plenty of sneaking around. It'll just be for a noble cause instead of contracts now," Khelt chuckled quietly. "Mostly for you, I'm sure."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If say we won't tell Kell, but I'm sure he already knows." Kate said with a grin. "It's hard to keep anything secret from him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I still have my secrets, don't you worry," Khelt assured her, kissing her cheek once more before going to greet Annie whom he was rather fond of.

Dinner was served before long, bringing everyone together to enjoy a feast with a vast variety including Kate's favorites and Chessie's best dishes. Brogan had even brought in some of his Uncle Seamus' very best wine for the occasion.

 

[heartofcourage]

Annie allowed Khelt to sit next to her at dinner, Danny securely held in his mother's arms as the feast began. She was often visited by Khelt when he was in Inverness. He enjoyed her horses and had bought a handful for himself over the time that they have gotten to know each other.

Kate had a smile on her face the entire time that the feast went on. It was good to see her family coming together to have a good time in her honor. It was a far better evening then she could have ever imagined.

 

[KieranSoares]

When the dancing began, while normally Kell was Kate's first partner and then Brogan was second, Kell gave the first to Brogan this time. The handsome dark Wolf happily danced with Julia first, letting father and daughter spend that extra little moment together.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ma's going to get jealous." Kate tears her father as he danced her across the floor. "You always give her the first dance As far back as I can remember."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I gave it t'yer gran once, but otherwise, it's always been yer Ma. But today's special." Brogans taught Kate to dance, starting when she could stand on shaky little legs and stand on top of his boots. By the time she was six, she could dance beautifully with anyone in her family, and by ten, she could make an inexperienced partner look like an expert. Brogan had taught her all of it, with help from her mother and older brother.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And when I'm dancing with the crowns heads of Europe, I'll remember that it was my da who taught me." Kate said with a smile. "He taught me a lot of things, some of them bad according to Ma."

She rested her head against his shoulder with a sigh. "I'm glad that you are my Da even when you didn't have to be."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn' see it as a choice, love. When yer Ma told me y'were comin', I loved ya immediately." Brogan kissed her cheek, slowing his step as he held her. "No matter what 'appened before... Y'were just what we needed t'heal."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you for loving Ma through it all as well. I know it was hard on her." Kate said, knowing that her mother had had a difficult time of things after she had been born. "I know I fought her a lot along the way, but she taught me more than I could ever imagine."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Couldn't help but love 'er. Pretty sure she's saved bloody everyone in this family a' least once." Brogan smiled as he looked toward his wife as Kell gracefully danced her around the floor. "Made life enjoyable again... An' kept me from makin' my Da's mistakes."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can only hope that Kell and I even get half of what you and Ma have." Kate said with a grin towards her father.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer well on yer way, love. I can see he'd do jus' about anythin' fer you like I would fer yer Ma. Jus' take good care o' him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He swears he'll propose any day now." Kate said with a happy grin on her face. "And I know I'm going to say yes, but I'm still nervous. What if I somehow mess it all up, Da? He's had a life and a family before me. What if he decides one day that I'm it enough?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Take it from another man who's loved and lost, Kitten. We don' love easily again unless it's th'right person. An' I know he loves you. More'n you realize."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm still afraid I'll mess it all up somehow." Kate muttered as her father insisted that she wouldn't. "But I suppose it's all part of life and learning."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd say a lad like tha' is worth th'risk, love." Brogan smiled down at her, letting her know that despite how protective he could be, he had absolute faith in Kell.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, you'll be walking me down the aisle then?" Kate asked with a grin on her face.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd hope so," Brogan nodded. "That's a father's job after all, isn' it?"

As the song drew to a close, Brogan kissed her cheek again. "Enjoy yer Wolf, love. I'm gonna go treat my own lass to a few dances myself."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You have to promise not to cry." Kate insisted as the dance ended and he told her he was going to take care of her Ma. "Don't forget Heather and Ashelin. Some of my favorite memories are dancing with you at balls when I was too small to even stand."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I probably will cry, but we can deal with tha' then. An' don' you worry, yer little sisters'll 'ave all th'attention they like." As Brogan stepped away, Kell approached with a little smile.

"I know I already told you that you look absolutely stunning, but I think it bears repeating," he murmured, greeting her again with a kiss.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate kissed her wolf with a wide grin, her heart racing just a little bit fast when she was with him. "Well, I suppose it doesn't hurt to hear it over and over again."

 

[KieranSoares]

Both Kate and Kell danced the night away, until they were exhausted and they'd danced with anyone in the family who asked and then some. It was midnight when the great hall emptied, and Kell walked with Kate to her room. While he had respected her choice to wait til marriage to become proper mates, they still often slept in the same bed just for the sheer comfort of it.

When they paused outside Kate's door, Kell met her with a gentle kiss once more, his arms loosely draped around her. "Marry me, Kate," he murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate's heart stuttered in her chest when she heard Kell ask her to marry him. True to his word, he had waited until the next day after her birthday to do it. As his lips pressed gently against her own, she nodded, her arms looping around his neck to hold him in place.