Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Julia heard Vincenzo’s words and she let out a sigh. Looking into Brogan’s eyes, she knew that she couldn’t stay. It would drive her insane to watch the surgery and Brogan knew that. She kissed him gently one last time and gave him a teary smile.

“I’ll wait outside. I’m sure Ciaran must be hungry by now. He’s a cranky lad when he doesn’t get his meal.” Just like his father, she thought softly as she pulled her hand from his with reluctance, knowing that he was in the best of hands with his step-father.

“Take good care of him, Vincenzo.” She said softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek before she left the room, the closing of the door behind her the loudest sound in the entire world.

She made her way to Kitty’s chambers, smiling to see Annie talking animatedly about a fairy tale. It did her good to know that the little girl was back. Julia took Ciaran from his grandmother’s arms, settling in a rocking chair to nurse her little boy in silence. She couldn’t help the tears that fell unchecked and she sniffed when she felt a hand wiping them away. Looking up into Kitty’s gaze, she shook her head with a lost expression.

“He might die, Kitty.” She said softly. “And I feel like it’s my own heart that is being ripped from my chest.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"He'll be jus' fine," Kitty assured her. "After what 'e's survived in the past, there's no way a measly bolt could lay 'im low, no matter where it hits." She settled beside Julia, taking her hand. "Vincenzo always wanted a son, an' now tha' he's got a few, he's not losin' any of them."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was quiet for a moment as she let Kitty’s words sink in. She nodded, knowing that Brogan was strong and he was in the best hands he could possibly be with Vincenzo. She leaned over and placed her forehead against her mother-in-law’s, taking from her strength as much as she could.

“Wick raped me.” She whispered, not wanting Annie to hear. “And Brogan saw the entire thing. He feels so guilty that he couldn’t protect me and blames himself. How do I help him through this, Kitty?”

 

[KieranSoares]

Kitty stared at Julia, feeling awful for her as she let on the secret. "You're worried about Brogan after tha'?" She was floored that Julia wasn't curled in a ball in the corner refusing to be touched by men ever again. "What abou' you, dearest?" She took Julia's hand in her concern.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia looked at her mother-in-law for a moment as she asked her how she felt about the entire thing. How should she feel about the entire thing, she asked herself as Kitty squeezed her hand. She patted Ciaran’s back as he continued to nurse, thinking back on the whole sordid event.

“I guess I haven’t really thought about myself.” She said softly, squeezing Kitty’s hand. “I’ve been more concerned about my family. I am more concerned about…well, what if a child comes of this, Kitty? Brogan swears that he will love it no matter what, but I still feel like everyone else will know what happened.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"What the people o' Inverness'll know if y'have a baby by tha' monster is tha' Wick paid th'price for crossing th'line. They won' see a curse, they'll see proof of justice an' mercy. There are plen'y o' men out there who'd 'ave such a child killed, e'en their own wife killed t'avoid th'shame. Brogan doesn' see shame, he sees just another member o' his family."

 

[heartofcourage]

“No one else must know about this, Kitty.” She said softly, squeezing her hand tightly. “Please don’t tell Vincenzo or anyone else. I want this to stay between the three of us.”

She could minimize the damage that they kept it under wraps. She knew that she could trust Kitty and Brogan to keep the news between them strictly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"O' course dearest..." Kitty sighed worriedly and kissed Julia's hand.

About another hour later, Vincenzo entered looking quite frazzled but relieved. He looked to Julia and smiled, "You know... your husband is absolutely the worst patient I've ever had. He absolutely refused to rest until I had to knock him out with herbs. He's not asleep, but just as long as he's not moving, I'll let it go. If you'd like to see him, Valentina's tucked him into bed with fresh sheets and whatnot. Go easy on him, though, he probably won't remember most of what you say later, and he may be a little unresponsive."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia breathed a sigh of relief as Vincenzo told her that Brogan was back to being his usual stubborn self. She stood and wrapped her father-in-law in a huge hug, thanking him for saving her husband’s life. Looking back at Kitty as she cuddled Ciaran close and Annie napped nearby, she knew that her children were in good hands.

“Kitty, can I leave them here tonight? I would like to spend the night with Brogan.” She asked softly already knowing that the answer was going to be yes.

 

[KieranSoares]

"O' course y'can," Kitty nodded. "Go on, see tha' the bull-headed king doesn't hurt 'imself any more'n 'e already has."

In their bedroom, Brogan lay motionless. His dark eyes were unfocused but clear, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn't a look of drugged stupor, it was clear he was deep in thought. It was the same look Julia often caught in his features when she found him up too early or too late, looking into the blazing hearth.

His face was trimmed with stubble, gone unchecked for several days. He'd been talking about the possibility of a beard before all the trouble started. His thick, dark hair had been tied back by Valentina to keep it out of his face, but she didn't quite succeed as several strands lay across the scarred bridge of his nose. Val and Vincenzo had also dressed him in a clean, loose tunic and loose trousers, and Brogan had pushed the blankets away from his body as he was just too warm.

He didn't react to Julia's entry at first, but he was very aware of her, she could see it when his eyes flicked downward just once at the closing of the door. When she drew near, he turned his head to look up at her, more of his dark hair that'd escaped the tie falling across his forehead.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was quiet as she first entered the room, knowing that Brogan valued his time for thought very dearly. When he finally looked at her, she smiled warmly and took a seat next to him in the great chair that she had come to love. It was comfortable and allowed her to hold her son close for his feedings in the middle of the night. That was why Brogan had it moved into their room in the first place.

Reaching across the bed, Julia gently brushed the hair from Brogan’s face, pressing her lips against his warm forehead and murmuring a prayer of thanks against his skin. She knew that he didn’t believe in the same things that she did, but someone was definitely looking out for him that day. When she pulled back, her green eyes met his and she could see the trouble in his clear, dark gaze.

“You worried me greatly, my love.” She said softly, taking his large hand in hers and rubbing it gently. “But I am very relieved to see you well. Vincenzo is a miracle worker.”

 

[KieranSoares]

A soft chuckle rumbled from the great Scottish king's chest, and he muttered, "It wasn' a miracle, darlin'. This is nothin', I could face ten more wounds jus' like it all a' once." He would always cover up his terror like this, his fear of death. He wasn't so much afraid to die as he was horrified at the idea of being away from his family. He lifted her hand to his cheek before kissing her palm gently. "I love you... I don' say it often enough..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I love you, Brogan." Julia said warmly as he kissed her palm with an aching gentleness.

As carefully as she could, Julia rested her head on his chest, listening to the thud of his heart. It was probably the best sound in the world she thought to herself as her green eyes found his and held them for a long moment.

"Seems to me that Wick's army needs to work on their aim." She joked back, knowing that he was doing his best to keep a brave face for her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"They can 'it me any place they like, love, won' do any better." He drew her in to let her lay against him, offering all the comfort his weakened state allowed. With his left arm unable to move much because of his damaged shoulder blade where the bolt struck him, he wrapped only his right arm around her. He let his fingers trail in her hair.

"Julia..." he spoke worriedly, and she knew from his tone that he was still concerned about her feelings and what'd happened to her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't want to talk about it, Brogan." She said softly as he combed his fingers through her hair.

She knew he was worried about her and she was a little worried herself, but the pain was still new and raw. She didn't have it in her to talk about what had happened just yet. Especially since brogan was still injured and recovering.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not askin' ya to," he assured her. "I jus' wan' t'make sure ye'll be okay..." He knew that it was likely some small part of her would never be the same again, but his concern was her wellbeing as a whole.

"I promise once we finish with Wick an' Sarah, you an' I'll 'ave some time t'ourselves fer anythin' we choose... jus' t'relax 'r talk 'r whatever y'like."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I don’t know if I’ll be alright.” She said softly, letting him know just where she was at in her thoughts. “I guess time will tell.”

Julia let out a little sigh as Brogan promised her that they would have time for themselves when the whole sordid affair was finished. She turned her eyes to him and found herself smiling slightly. She reached up and cupped his cheek, her lips meeting him briefly.

“A honeymoon?” She asked him with a hopeful look in her eyes.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Anythin' you like," Brogan chuckled and kissed her again before letting himself relax entirely. It was a comment Valentina often made, that Brogan never truly relaxed without Julia around. "Where'd ya have in mind, love? We can go anywhere."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was quiet for a moment as she considered what her husband was offering. He wanted to go with her away from Inverness, just the two of them. The idea warmed her heart and made her smile as she looked into her husband’s dark eyes.

“I’ve always fancied going to London, but I fear that the trip would be far too long.” She said softly, thinking over her decision again. “Perhaps we could just go to Inverlochly for a while.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"That' sounds perfect t'me darlin', Brogan smiled and kissed her again. He wanted so badly to comfort her and show her that his love would ensure nothing like what Wick had done would ever happen to her again.

"I love you, Julia," he reminded her gently. "I love ya with all m'heart."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia returned her husband’s kiss and allowed herself to relax against his side for the first time since they had escaped from Wick. She let out a slow breath and gently slipped into bed beside him, her arm wrapping carefully around his broad chest. Her thoughts were still heavy and she was unwilling to share them with her husband in the state that he was in. Perhaps in time she could tell him just how much she hurt, but today wasn’t that day.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan knew that he couldn't understand the immensity of her pain. He was sure his own couldn't come close to hers, and knowing that, he felt even worse for her and more ashamed of his own failure. He kissed her forehead before he unintentionally drifted off to sleep.

The next week was one of healing and worry for the Ghis family. News of Wick's death after his kidnapping of Julia reached all across Britannia and they knew the war between Inverness and Wick was about to reach its true peak. Brogan's siblings all returned to Inverness to aid in the fight. And one morning while Brogan was out organizing his men, Valentina entered Kitty's parlor where Julia sat with Kitty, Ciaran, Selena, and Kayla. Valentina looked to be trying to cope with some surprise.

"Julia... Lord Monaghan of Downpatrick, Ireland is here." And then, for Julia's knowledge, she added, "Cassie's father."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia glanced up from her knitting as Val made the startling announcement that Cassie’s father was there to meet with her. She glanced over at the other members of the Ghis family and saw the surprise painted on their faces as well.

“Please show him to the library, Val. I will meet with him there.” She said softly, placing her knitting aside and rising from her space. “Kitty, could you watch Ciaran for me, please? Annie is with Marri and her children today.”

Ciaran was sleeping against the shoulder of his Aunt Kayla, his thumb securely placed between his little lips. He was looking more and more like his father every day, except for the expressive green of his eyes. She hoped that those beautiful green eyes never changed.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sure I can. Go 'head, love," Kitty ushered her on. She would definitely be waiting for an explanation when Julia returned.

When Julia reached the library, she found a tall, lean man in his fifties, looking at a book from one of the front shelves. Julia knew it, it was one of Annie's books she'd brought back from Ireland, left to her by Cassie. Lord Monaghan looked at it with clear pain in his eyes, but he turned away when he heard Julia's footsteps. Brilliant, bright blue eyes like Annie's looked upon her, but his were darkened a bit by his current serious, somewhat pained state.

He was clad in a black suit with a green shirt, with the Monaghan seal sewn on the left breast pocket of his jacket. His face was trimmed with a well-kept beard. He offered her a kind smile, and came forward to wrap her in a fatherly embrace. "Julia. You're lovelier than Annie wrote in 'er letters." He smiled kindly down at her, though there was the ever-present dullness in his gaze of a man nearly crushed by hardship.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was surprised as the man with the clear, honest gaze looked at her with a kind smile and wrapped her in a nearly crushing hug. She had never met Monaghan in her life, but she could see so much of Annie in the man’s face and his voice. She allowed him to hug her, their gazes meeting as he smiled kindly down at her with a look of such fatherly pride.

“It is very good to meet you, Monaghan. Brogan and Annie have spoken much of you.” She said softly, almost diplomatically as she tried to figure out what he was doing there.