Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I just need you here with me now." Julia said softly as she hugged her husband tightly, thanking the powers that be that she was able to reunite with him again.

When she parted from him, she turned to look at her twins. It had been the first time that she had been awake enough to truly pay attention to the little girls.

"They look so much like you, love." She murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"But they've got those emerald eyes... jus' like I hoped they would." All of their children did, but he had still been hoping the girls would not break the trend. He climbed into bed with the girls between them, the smaller of the two nestling securely against him when given the chance. "They still need names... else Rho an' Sam'll do it for us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"What about Heather?" She asked softly, looking at her husband as one little girl whimpered at the mention of that name. "I dreamed about the purple heather on the highlands while I was asleep."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Heather..." Brogan smiled softly. "... An' Ashelin. Don' ask me why, it just... feels righ' fer this little one," he said as his hand came to rest over the smaller of the two. He couldn't explain why the name had come to him, but he'd been thinking about it all morning. "They need middle names too... but I'm drawin' a blank... I couldn' ever come up with anythin' til I saw 'em th'first time."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia thought about that for a long moment and decided in that moment to be sentimental. She looked at Brogan as she let out a little sigh.

"Ashelin Mary and Heather Lira." She said softly. "To honor what we've lost and to always remember."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan nodded and laid his head down, keeping his newborn twins close to his warm chest. Even though he was happy about his new little girls, it was all very bittersweet. His health and Julia's were still in the danger zone, they'd lost many friends and though their enemies had made peace with them, Brogan still felt awful for Suara and her people for having lost two great leaders, three warriors, and one vengeful loved one. But most of all, he felt the worst for Julia who had gone through so much, alone.

 

[heartofcourage]

That day the other children flooded their room. Julia rested as best she could as her children marveled over their father's eyesight and their new sisters. Ashelin demanded her father's attention, calming only when she was in his arms. Heather was content in Ciaran's sure grasp.

"Are you sure you don't mind her name, love?" Julia asked her son, her fingers combing through his thick hair as he sat beside her.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran gave his mother a genuine smile, though it would still be affected by his pain and sadness for some time, "I'm sure, Ma. He would've loved them, and he probably would've spoiled them rotten whenever you let us watch them..." He kissed Heather's forehead, smiling at how she shifted comfortably and her little hand caught his tunic. "They're perfect, Ma." Despite all that had happened, Ciaran seemed to have realized that the last thing Lir would want him to do is be miserable and alone, so instead he focused all his energy on his family, and Danu and Oless too before they returned home with most of their tribe once things settled. They would be back to visit his grave, though, and Ciaran.


Rho and Sam were practically glued to their father's side. His blindness had effected them almost as deeply as Kate and they wanted to make sure he was really and truly better before they dared stray from his side. It was clear they'd never be the same, never nearly as mischievous as they thought about how their actions would effect and reflect upon their parents.

Brogan kept Kate and Annie close at his side opposite the twin boys, and he looked to Kate, concerned equally as Julia with how Kell and Ciaran would take the names of the girls. "I'm not sure if 'e'd mind 'r not, Ashelin 'avin' Mary's name... I never quite know what t'think about 'im."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da, you don't have to worry about Kell. He thinks of you and Ma like his own parents now." Kate said as she looked at her father with a smile. "He can't wait to meet them properly."

It was apparent in her gaze that she was happy that her father had little girls again. He was doting on his daughters, afraid of losing her and Annie to marriage and husbands. Now, he had his chance to love again.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan smiled with a sigh. "I s'pose I'll just 'ave t'see fer myself when 'e meets them." Up until now, the only thing most of Inverness knew about the girls was that they were healthy and their parents were sick but on the mend. Kell knew little more, and the rest of their family still didn't know Brogan could see again. Most of such information was left for the couple to give out themselves as they healed.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I was going to name one of the twins Nessie." Sam suddenly piped up and Annie laughed as she mussed up his hair.

"Our little sister isn't a sea monster, Sam." She said softly as she gave her father a secret wink. "But you can name you new horse anything you like."

Sam's eyes lit up as he looked at his brother. "A new horse? For both of us?"

"For both of you for being so brave. Da thought it was an appropriate gift."

 

[KieranSoares]

He's a proper charger. An' there'll be a second along soon if you prove y'can take good care o' the first an' share 'im properly," Brogan told them with a smile. "An' Ashien's sendin' a gift fer you, Kate," Brogan looked to his daughter and kissed her forehead. "Somethin' special t'go with a proven knight o' Scotland." Julia knew what it was and she hadn't necessarily approved, but Brogan was sure of himself.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Something for me?" Kate asked, frowning slightly as she looked from her father to her mother.

Julia looked at Brogan and simply shook her head, knowing that where Kate was concerned, Brogan certainly had his own ideas about things. There was little she could say to make her husband think any differently.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Mhm. No' that yer Ma likes it. But really, what've I e'er done with ya tha' Ma liked, aye?" He chuckled softly and kissed her forehead. "An' we decided t' let ya off punishment fer bein' so reckless... because if y'hadn't been, we'd never 'ave made it. I oughta talk t'Kell about tha' soon too."

A soft knock sounded on the door and at Brogan's welcome, Cole opened it up. "M'keng, lunch is ready if ye'd all like t'come eat."

"Feelin' up to it, love?" Brogan asked his wife softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia shook her head as Brogan asked her if she felt like it. "You and the children go ahead, love. I'm going to stay here and rest."

She hadnt admitted to Brogan that she was still in a bit of pain. She wanted to drink her healing tea and sleep the day away as the rest of the family met Ashelin and Heather.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's brows stitched in concern, but he walked with his children as far as the door, entrusting his two oldest to take the infant twins to Kitty and Valentina to give Julia some time to rest. Brogan stayed behind, closing the door and returning to Julia's side. He too still felt weak and endlessly tired, but not quite so much as his wife. So, he took it upon himself to care for her and keep her company. He climbed into bed once more, laying beside her and letting his head rest lightly on her arm as he held her hand. "I love ya, darlin'..." he murmured, but she could hear so much more than just those words in his tone. He felt terrible for her, and despite how Valentina was trying to keep worry and stress away from his already troubled mind, she couldn't take away his deepest worry which remained for his wife.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I love you too, Brogan Ghis." Julia said softly as she kissed his cheek gently. "Don't worry about me, love. I'll be fine with some time and rest. I'm afraid though that my child bearing days are over."

She looked at Brogan with those words, letting him in on what they had to do to save her life. "But you've given me 6 beautiful children and allowed me to raise Annie as my own. I'll forever be grateful for that."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan was not in the least bit surprised to hear that the twin girls would be her last, but he'd had no idea that she was now physically unable to carry a child. That made him only feel worse for the pain she'd gone through to reach such a state. He drew her in close, careful not to place any pressure where she couldn't take it. "Y'know I'd go back an' do it all again if it means I got t'spend my years with you a secon' time... Every worry, every pain 'as all been worth it with you b'side me..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I only wish that we hadn't wasted so much time when we were first married." She murmured softly as she pressed her head against his shoulder. "And if only you weren't so stubborn."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We've got years ahead of us, love... yer still young, an' I'm no' too old yet. One day, prob'ly in th'next decade, Kate'll be ready t'take over an' you an' I can watch over her while enjoyin' ourselves. But as fer me bein' stubborn... y'still 'aven't broken me of it. Never will," he gave her a soft, handsome grin much like he had when they were much younger and she'd scold him for working himself to exhaustion too often.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled at his comment and leaned in to kiss her husband as she had when she was a newly wed. He brought out so much good in her and she knew that she'd never be able to repay him for everything that he had given her in her life. When the kiss ended, she rested her head back on his shoulder, letting out a sigh that was tinged with pain. She needed her tea, but she didn't want to leave his arms.

"No, love. Just hold me." She murmured as she felt him ready to move. "Just hold me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's arms wrapped her up in a familiar, warm embrace that had always made her feel protected even in their darkest and most vulnerable moments. He still worried, knowing she was in pain, but he simply gave her what they both wanted- a quiet moment of stillness.

Valentina kept a close eye on them, but it was the tribal healers who really knew what to do. Valentina was a fine healer, one of the best of her time, but the ancient ways of the Lunars were much more refined and suited to the needs of an ill mother and a stubborn man recovering from a heart attack. Valentina focused on keeping the Ghis children in line and taken care of for her brother. Ashelin and Heather were cared for chiefly by their eldest brother who needed the distraction from his pain and his worry for his parents, aided by his siblings and aunts and uncles when needed. Ciaran had unknowingly suddenly become very much like his father and oldest uncle; he'd lost the one he loved most, but was also a stand-in parent for his younger siblings while his own parents could not be. Kitty did all she could to help him, just as she had with Brogan and Durban.

 

[heartofcourage]

That day as Ciaran tried to rock the twins to sleep, Ashelin screamed out her displeasure as Heather slept peacefully in her crib. The tiny twin moved her head from side to side, escaping the makeshift bottle that was offered as her little arms and legs kicked and squirmed. Her tiny little face was clenched tightly as tears leaked from the corners of her big green eyes.

In the middle of the commotion, a tiny voice sounded from beside Ciaran. "Can I see them?"

Cassandra stood there, her stuffed wolf tucked under her arm. Cassie and her family would be returning to Ireland in a few days, but it seemed that she'd finally decided to warm up to the Ghis family. She ventured around the keep without Shia as her shadow and moved confidently even on her withered leg.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran looked down at Cassandra with a rather surprised expression, having thought she'd never speak to any of them. "I'm not sure why she's upset, but..." He welcomed Cassandra to see Ashelin and Heather as he attempted to calm his infant sister. "She seems to be the one who always has something to say."

 

[heartofcourage]

Cassie peeked at the little girl as she cried, Ashelin's tiny hand gripping Ciaran's forefinger tightly as she finally started to calm. The little girl grunted and snorted, whimpering as she settled and cooed as she finally looked up at her brother as the worst of her tantrum subsided.

"Da says that some times babies just want to cry." Cassie murmured softly as Ashelin brought a balled fist to her lips and started to suckle on her closed fingers. "It helps make them bigger because they can breathe better. I had a little brother and he would cry and cry and cry all night long. He's in heaven now though."