Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"That's not so bad then. Heather and Ashelin have always been sweet on me," Seamus smiled, directing Kell to another room with his box. "Y'know... Da mentioned that he and Julia had talked about me training to become one of your guard when you become Queen. I think I'd rather be in the navy but it seemed like something I could manage."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Scotland could use a good man at the head of their navy." Kate said with a smile. "And learning how to be a soldier doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can still stay true to yourself while learning skills that will help you in the future."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll learn but I don't think I'll stay... At least not until I get all this wandering out. Da still hasn't gotten rid of his so I don't know how I'll fare."

"You never really lose wanderlust. You just balance it against your obligations," Kell spoke up as he returned.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You could be like Gabriel and just decide that traveling around wasn't worth leaving behind your family." Kate offered as Seamus thought about his future plans. "But I would welcome you into my service if you decided that coming to Edinburgh was the right thing for you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Seamus shook Kell's hand and hugged Kate. "Thanks for the help. I can handle the rest. But I have to get over to the tailor before he closes to put in an order."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate hugged her cousin tightly before he started off towards the keep. He looked so much better with a sense of purpose in his life. Kate reached out and took Kell's hand, squeezing it tightly as they watched his figure retreating into the woods.

"I think he'll make it now." Kate said as she looked up at the dark wolf beside her. "He looks so much happier with just the simple changes already."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He has some control now, and a sense of good things to come. Hope does wonders for a person." Kell drew her in against his side with a smile. "You ought to know that. You're the optimistic one between the two of us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's not saying much if I'm the optimistic one between us." Kate said as she looked up towards Kell with a grin. "I have hope for Seamus, that's all. Just like I have hope for all of my family members. I want them to be happy, especially my Ma and Da."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd call that optimism," Kell insisted before stealing a kiss. "Though I'll admit I'm getting a little more optimistic as time goes on... It's tough not to when you're surrounded by a family always looking forward. For all your family's storied history, they're always hopeful for the future. May be that's why I like your father and he likes me- we've both got quite a history."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He likes you because I'm still under 18 and you can't steal me away just yet." Kate said with a smile as she stole another kiss from her wolf. "But I think they both love you like one of their own, like David. They see something in you that makes them want to help."

 

[KieranSoares]

"The only one who needs help here is you. Future queen and all. Someone has to make sure you keep out of trouble, and your parents are too busy with twins- both sets- to keep an eye on you." He gave her ear the tiniest nip- something he did just to rile her up- and started on his way back toward the keep.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate swatted as his shoulder as he gave her ear the tiniest of nips. He did it mostly to tease her, letting her know that he was thinking about her. She was surprised with just how much of a wolf Kell really was. She was seeing a new side of him nearly every single day and her love for him was growing deep and wide as the days went on.

"And I suppose you'll be that person?" Kate said softly as she walked beside him towards the keep.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd certainly like to be," he nodded with a smile. "I'd give me another excuse to stick around, and one to go running off to play hero just to make you worry about me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your fur will be grey far beyond its time with the worry you'll have for me running off to play hero." Kate said with a wide smile as she wrapped her arm around his waist and pressed herself against his side as they walked. "Da always blames me for the grey in his beard."

She went quiet for a long moment before she told Kell what her father had only recently told her. "He's slowing down. He told me he has the same illness that nearly took my Gran. He said it would be a long time before he's gone but that makes me sad. I don't want to think about him getting old and feeble."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He'll be around for a long time to come, Kate. Besides you, he has two little girls and two young boys who need him for at least a couple decades. But with how he loves you all and loves his life... Honestly, I don't think he'd go anywhere. Not to mention he could never stand to leave your mother behind."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's hard to think about. He hasn't even told Ma yet." Kate said as Kell tried his best to reassure her that her father would be around for a long time. "I think Ma will take the news harder than he thinks. She loves him so much and she does all she can to make his life better."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If she weren't such a sweet woman she'd probably throw him out for not telling her. But I think it'll be okay. He won't keep it from her too long."

In fact about that moment, Brogan had come to find Julia in the garden where she was sitting with their younger twins. "Love?" He asked softly. "I need t'talk to you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia glanced up from her spot on the blanket beside Heather and Ashelin. Both little girls were squirming, cooing as their mother doted on them. They were getting bigger each and every day, showing off their little personalities with each passing moment.

"Of course, love." Julia said as she gave Brogan a smile, patting the ground next to her and the babies. "If you don't mind Heather and Ashelin listening in we can talk right here."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan settled beside his wife, giving his daughters a half-smile as he knew he was about to break Julia's heart. "I, uh... I've been kinda keepin' this from you fer a while. But I told Kate, so... I figured it was time I told the rest o' you. No' long after I recovered from my heart attack, Vincenzo told me I'd started showin' some signs o' havin' the same illness Ma has. Now tha' it's been a while, he's sure of it."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia glanced towards Brogan as he told her that he had been keeping a secret for a while and she braced herself for the worst. When he told her that he had the same illness that Kitty had, she felt a sense of relief and sorrow. She knew that with the right combination of rest, herbs, and care he could live a very long and happy life.

"How do you feel about that?" Julia asked him softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I really 'aven't thought about it... Jus' been focusing on th'boys an' keepin' myself going. I won' lie, I've 'ad some mornings where it was painful t'get out o' bed, but Val's learned everything from Vincenzo about how t'help me an' Ma, an' with the herbs from th'werefolk it's a little easier. But I can't take risks with my health anymore. I'm afraid tha' includes warfare. If we ever have t'fight again... I can't be on the battlefield. Anything worse than a bad cut an' I could die o' sickness because my body can't fight infection anymore. I'm sure a scrape 'r a cold won't kill me, but anythin' worse could be a death sentence."

He stroked his beard with a sigh. "Tell you th' truth... I'm terrified. I've always been terrified o' facin' what Ma faces every day..."

 

[heartofcourage]

It broke her heart to hear that Brogan was afraid of what might happen to him, but Julia had long suspected that her husband would give up his role on the battlefield in a heartbeat. She reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I wish you had told me sooner, love." Julia said softly. "Mostly so you wouldn't have had to carry that burden by yourself for so long. You have to learn to let others help you now. You aren't a warrior king any longer, but you have strong and loyal men and women that will fight to defend for you."

She leaned over the twins and kissed her husband's cheek gently before she pressed her forehead against his own. "And you'll always have me. We have many long years together, Brogan. I won't be going anywhere."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're th' one person I'm no' afraid of leavin' behind anymore, if only because I know we won' be apart long. But enough about tha', I ain't makin' peace with death til I'm bedridden an' past a hundred years old." He kissed her lips and gave her a smile. "I'm no' lookin' forward t'the bad days, but they'll give me an excuse t'curl up with you all day."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I expect you to be around much longer because you hold my heart. Without that, I don't know how I would survive." Julia said softly as she hugged her husband as tight as she could, giving him the love and support that he needed in that moment. "Besides, you've got two little girls who need their Da here to raise them."

She glanced down at their smallest twins, smiling as each looked at the world around them. Ashelin only had eyes for her Da, much like Kate had been at that age and little Heather was just content to exist in her own little world.

"Not to mention Sam and Rho. They love you just as much as these two." Julia murmured as she lifted Heather up to her shoulder and nuzzled against her daughter.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan scooped Ashelin up with a smile. He knew when Kate was gone off to Edinburgh, Ashelin would quickly inherit the title of troublemaker and Da's little girl around the keep. "If we're around as long as Annie'd like, we migh' even see some great-great grandchildren."