Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Some do, with beauty or deeds first. But tha' love should be pursued fer different reasons. Someone migh' be handsome 'r beautiful, 'r be a hero. But there's more to a relationship than good looks an' reputation." Alban stroked his fingers through her fur. "Take Chessie fer example. Lovely, hardworking woman, beautiful t'boot. But we're t'gether because she's a good lass, supportive an' loving an' she knows what she wants an' needs. I like tha', so I went after 'er. An' she liked th'man I am, so here we are. Love isn't easy, but it's worth it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you think I'll ever find someone to love me?" Siobhan asked as Alban gently stroked his fingers through her thick fur.

She has never known love when she was little. Her Da had been a frightening man, one that raged and beat his family no matter if they were adult or child. It was a cold winter's night when she was barely a toddler that a patrolman had found her standing in the deep snow by her broken gate, shivering in a thin nightdress while she bled from a cut to her throat. Her father had tried and failed to kill her as well before he turned the knife on himself and her mother. She didn't even have the courage to tell the man what had happened.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're still a bit young fer that, but I'm positive you will if you want it," Alban nodded. "Til then, Chessie an' I'll have to do." Alban hugged her a little tighter and kissed the top of her head.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Would you be my Da?" Siobhan asked softly as Alban hugged her so tightly against him, promising that Chessie and he would love her in the mean time. "I promise I won't make any trouble. And I'll cook all your favorites like Chessie taught me when you like."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You don' have t'make a deal with me fer it, love. I'm all yours," Alban promised with a soft smile, reaching into his shirt to pull out the Invernessian seal he wore that he'd once been awarded for his service. He placed it about her neck, a simple show that she was his and he was hers.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You don't have to give me this." Siobhan said softly as he slipped his seal around her own neck, showing her that he was committed to her. "I know it means a lot to you."

Siobhan looked up towards the kitchen as Chessie stepped into the room. As always, she was carrying some form of food with her and it was only a moment later when Siobhan smelled her carrot cake.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It does, and so do you," Alban nodded, looking up as Chessie laid the cake on a small table before the fireplace. She leaned down to kiss Alban before dishing out slices of the cake.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you." Siobhan said, as polite as always as Chessie started to dish out the dessert that she had made. "I'll get us some tea."

She tried to get up to make the tea, but Alban wouldn't let her go. It seemed that the both of them were determined to make Siobhan's life as easy as possible.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll make it right here over the fire," Chessie told her, a kiss pressed to Siobhan's cheek. She soon returned with a kettle and a tray of cups and a teapot and a jar of tea leaves.

 

[heartofcourage]

Siobhan simply sat back down beside Alban and let Chessie make them some tea. She kept looking between each of them with a bit of nervousness in her gaze. She still wasn't comfortable in a family situation like this but she was trying to hard to break her anxiety.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alban continued to stroke her fur lovingly, both he and Chessie relaxed as could be though both aware that Siobhan wasn't so comfortable. They didn't want to make her feel any more out of place.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Mister Ambrose said that he can give me some herbs to help with my feelings." Siobhan said softly, looking between Chessie and Alban. "He even gave me a small sample but I've been too scared to try them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Alex would never give you something to make you not feel like yourself. It's probably like what he gave to Sam after Rho was hurt. It'll just even things out," Chessie assured her softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"My da used to give my ma herbs." Siobhan said softly as Chessie insisted that they wouldn't do anything to harm her. "And it made her act so different. I don't want to take them and suddenly turn into someone that I'm not."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Alex would never do that. Not for anything." Chessie drew Siobhan into her arms. "He only wants to look after you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm trying." Siobhan said softly as Chessie held her tightly. "I want to be a good daughter. I want to make everyone happy. It's just hard sometimes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You look after yourself for now. We're just fine with you as you are."

"I'll second tha'," Alban nodded, both of them holding her between them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Alban said he'd be my da." Siobhan said softly as Chessie and he held her tightly between them. "I guess that means with you as my Ma, I have a proper family again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yes you do, little cub," Chessie nodded. "And so do we." Siobhan knew only bits and pieces of Chessie and Alban's pasts separate from one another. She knew Chessie was a longtime widow who'd never had children, and Alban had never gotten to marry the woman he'd had a child with, as childbirth had taken her and the child was stillborn.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you." Siobhan said softly to the both of them, hugging Alban tightly as Chessie hugged her just as tight. "I promise I'll make you both proud."

 

[KieranSoares]

The two kept Siobhan between them until their new little cub was fast asleep. Alban carried her to her bed and tucked her in and left her in peace.

 

[heartofcourage]

The next morning, children from all of the city were being sent off towards the were village as Suara's small little language school started again for the fall. Were children and human alike were being sent off with sacks of lunch and their best clothing. While education was still something typically done at home, Julia and Brogan had helped Suara to fund a little school of her own, dedicated to the memory of her dear mate.

Julia walked that morning with Rho and Sam, her arm around Rho's shoulders as Sam carried their lunches. "I know I don't have to tell Sam to work hard, but I expect you to do the same, Rho. Even if you weren't the heir to the throne, I would expect the both of you to learn more than just English. It makes people feel welcome."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know that, Ma. Why wouldn't I work hard? I love Erygonian," Rho insisted.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because I know you, Rhodan." Julia teased, chuckling as he insisted that he would work hard. "Your attention span is as short as your brother's hair."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not that bad," Rhodan huffed but with a good-humored smile. Sam seemed not to be paying attention, marching along and focused on the goal ahead as usual.