Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"It's all part of being a father, Brogan." Julia said softly, letting him know that she didn't think he was being strange in any way. "You put up a fight with Annie when she wanted to marry David. She might have hated you at the time, but she knows now that you were doing your job as a father. Same with Kate. She knows that she has some rough times ahead of her, but we wouldn't be doing our jobs as parents if we didn't put Kell through his paces.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's gone through plenty o' paces already... but I ain' finished with 'im. An' you 'aven't seen much yet, only 'eard about what 'e's done." He offered her a smile that told her he had an idea. "I think y'should spend some time with 'im. I need t'do the same with both 'im and Kate, get an idea o' what they're thinkin' about each other. I 'ave t'say... I'm likin' her choice, much as I'll never admit it t'anyone else."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're growing soft, love." Julia teased as she pressed a kiss against his cheek. "You told Annie that she could never marry David because of his reputation and you had a hand in raising him. Now look at you..."

She laughed softly, knowing that he had always had a special spot in his heart for Katherine. Kate could get into mischief, but she could barely do any wrong. She was a strong and scrappy fighter who had turned into a real Scottish beauty as she had grown an matured. It would be a long year and a half watching her and Kell closely before she turned 18.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan sighed but smiled, "Yeah, I know... By th'time Ashelin an' Heather get there, I'll be useless. Not t'mention old as hell," he chuckled and lifted a hand to her cheek. He paused as heard Kate and Kell in the hall. He'd left the door open, so as the two came by, Brogan gave them a smile. "Hey, kids. What're you up to?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate paused as the door to the nursery opened and her father stood there smiling at them. He seemed to have an uncanny ability to know when she was out and about. She glanced at Kell, aware of the fact that she was holding his hand. She quickly pulled it away and looked to her father again with a small smile.

"Nothing, Da. We just went for a walk in the woods and saw Uncle Cole and Boar." She told him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll bet Boar wasn' too 'appy about Kell. Doesn't like men 'round 'is girls." Brogan stepped out into the hall, hugging Kate close and kissing her forehead. "A' least yer finally keepin' out o' trouble. I suppose tha's all I can ask for. I know yer enjoyin' time with yer bold wolf, there, but do me a favor and check on yer little brothers. 'Aven't 'eard a sound out of 'em all day an' I'm wonderin' what they're up to."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Alright, Da." Kate said, standing on her toes to give him a kiss on his cheek. "I'll make sure that they haven't run off into the night."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Thank ya, love." Brogan touched her cheek before he let her go and he rejoined Julia, closing the nursery door so that nothing would disturb his newest little girls.

As they made their way back to the great hall where they'd seen the twins last, Kell paused beside Kate, his ears perked as if someone was watching them. He looked around, but didn't hear the twins sneaking up behind him until Rho leaped out and overbalanced him. Sam laughed brightly in a way he'd not laughed since Rho losing his arm, and Kell fell back with Rho, laughing along with the boys in a way Kate had nefver heard. The two adored Kell and this wasn't the first trick they'd played on him. Rho picked himself up with grin.

"Gotcha." Rho tried to bolt, but Kell was too quick and caught him and Sam both, lifting them both in an arm each.

"Troublemakers," Kell mused with a smile before finally letting them free. He felt like part of the family with these boys around.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate looked at the three of them with her hands on her hips, regarding her brothers as Kell interacted with them so naturally.

"Da sent us to find the two of you because you've been too quiet this evening." Kate told them. "So, I'll tell you that I don't mind you rough housing, but be quiet around the nursery. Ashelin and Heather are sleeping and Ma will be awful cross if you wake them."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We've stayed away from the nursery all day 'cause Ma said so. We're not making trouble," Rho insisted.

"Or any more than usual," Sam added.

"What about you? Where've you been?" Rho came to his sister's side. Then he grinned. "Gotta boyfriend now?"

Kell's ears folded back halfway in embarrassment when Sam and Rho looked to him. The boys loved to tease Kell and Kate to no end about their friendship, and it was no secret they liked the idea of Kell and Kate being close.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate pinched both of her brothers on the ear as they teased her about Kell being her boyfriend. "That is none of your business, you frightful little trolls." Kate said as both little boys winced in pain.

 

[KieranSoares]

Both boys finally slipped away from their sister with more jabs and teasing called back at her as they ran, and by the time they were gone, Kell was entirely embarrassed and a little nervous about nothing in particular. But he smiled to Kate and offered her his hand. He wondered secretly if she did consider him as what the boys insisted he was.

 

[heartofcourage]

As Kell offered her his hand, she willingly took it again and they continued their walk through the keep. At the entrance to his rooms, she pulled him to a stop and looked up into his golden gaze.

"Kell, I'm sorry about Sam and Rho. They're too young to know what they're talking about." She said softly, knowing that he was embarrassed.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't think they are," Kell offered her a smile to assure her all was well. "If I'm honest... I was thinking about the same thing today, wondering if you did, or if you would see me as more than just your friend. I know we talked about speaking to your parents and seeing where things go... but I already know how I feel." He was bearing his heart to her, and she could see him visibly trying not to shrink away despite his smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was certainly stunned and a little shy. Despite her strength and bravado, she really did care for Kell and how he felt about her. She actually blushed under his gaze and she suddenly glanced down towards the floor as she thought about what he was saying.

"I think I know how I feel too." Kate said softly, forcing her green eyes up towards his. "And...well...I think I love you, Kell." She whispered in the softest voice.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell took in a deep, silent breath, and his chest felt as if it were about to burst with the sudden feeling swelling in his belly and his heart. He felt like he could run halfway to England on the adrenaline alone. As he let that breath out quietly, he took her hand again in the gentlest hold, and his other hand rose to lift her chin. His golden eyes met bright emerald, and the feeling in his chest doubled. Nervous but sure, he leaned in the short distance and pressed a slow, warm, and soft kiss to her lips. It didn't last long as he wasn't quite sure if she wanted it, but he only parted from her a mere few inches before he whispered back, "I... I think I love you too, Kate."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate's cheeks grew even redder as he leaned in and gave her with first kiss that a man ever had. She let out a sigh, as his lips pressed against her own for the briefest of moments, but it felt like a lifetime. Then she smiled at him as he told her that he loved her too. Those were the best sounding words in the world.

"But I don't want you to think this makes me soft." Kate suddenly said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

She had seen Annie with David and Annie always seemed to be a simpering mess when her husband was around. Kate had sworn that she would never be like that with whoever she found to complete her. But...there was a part of her that secretly wanted to melt even though she was suppose to be the strong knight of the realm.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell's eyes sparkled with merriment as she insisted on her steadfast strength, and he assured her, "I've never thought for a moment that you were soft." He dared to seek another kiss, but he let her decide when to end it as their lips pressed together with even more warmth than before. One knew just what he was doing, and the other was only experiencing her second kiss ever.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate didn't know what to think as Kell pressed his lips against hers for that second kiss. Her certainly knew what he was doing, she thought to herself as her fingers instantly pressed against his chest to keep herself steady as that kiss lingered. She could have stayed there forever, but she forced herself to pull back after a few moments.

Looking into his golden eyes, she gave him a very shy smile. "I think I better leave you now before we both do something we would end up regretting."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Trust me, I'd never let you get me into that much trouble," Kell chuckled, but he let her go with one last smile. "I think tomorrow... we might go out to the Gol Dun tribe." He left her side with a light-headed grin and retired to his own room finally. Kate heard a soft chuckle from the end of the hall and she saw her elder brother there. From the look on his face, he'd seen what had happened.

"New boyfriend, Kate?" Ciaran asked with a soft smile. He was becoming his old self again, but he wasn't quite all there and never would be.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate turned quickly at the sound of her brother's voice, a little bit of worry creasing her brow. "Ciaran, please don't tell Da." She said as he grinned at her and acted like his old self. "Please promise me you won't say a word about kissing Kell to Da."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not a word, little sister," Ciaran's smile softened. "Come walk with me. It's been a long time since we had brother-sister time, and I want to have a little talk with you about your wolf." He came to take her hand, looping her arm through his own. He led her out to the garden and sat down with her on a stone bench under the tree Brogan had planted when Kate was born. It was young, vibrant, and full of life regardless of the season, much like Kate herself.

Ciaran hugged his younger sister tightly against his side. Despite her only being a bit younger than he, Ciaran had always been her caretaker and her defender whenever she wasn't strong enough on her own. She was the first one that he shared his love of Lir with after she'd seen them together in his camp, and she was always one of the first to know anything that happened to him next to Julia and his beloved aunts. She had been the only one to know about his preference of men from early on when she was thirteen when he'd finally quietly come out to her before she'd met Lir. And he had often been the receiver of her own secrets throughout her life.

"You know, you've come a long way from the frizzy-haired little ball of energy riding around on her pony with a stick for a sword... but you haven't changed a bit."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate slapped his shoulder lightly as he called her a frizzy-haired little ball of energy. She had always been close to Ciaran due to their ages being so similar. He had always been there to protect her from the world as she grew since she had always been so small in stature.

"I think Uncle Boar is suspicious of Kell. Da seems to like him, oddly enough. I can barely believe that he thinks so highly of Kell since he put David through the wringer when he wanted to marry Annie." Kate said, looking up at her brother. "Maybe the babies have him distracted."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Kell's done a lot of proving. Da's probably comfortable with him, not to mention he's probably tired of fighting. You'll probably get more resistance from our uncles this time around, especially Boar. But Da'll get there and run Kell ragged, it might just take him longer." Ciaran pressed a kiss to her forehead. "So... tell me about this dark and mysterious wolf of yours, and tell me what's happening in that pretty head of yours. You were so against love and any thought of men coming into your life before he came along. Now, you look like you just woke from the loveliest dream you've ever had. I've seen how you smile when people say his name."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's kind and he makes me laugh. He also doesn't want to change anything about me which is so difference from anyone that I've ever met before." Kate told her brother, a silly smile coming to her lips as she thought about Kell. "I didn't think that I would ever find someone that made me this happy."