Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Kell scooped Ashelin up, and though he didn't carry her out to the main dance floor, he did kneel down on the floor and help her stand on her own little feet and try to dance. When Kate returned, she found Ashelin giggling brightly as Kell showed her how to step and spin. He adored children, that had become clear with the arrival of Ashelin and Heather.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate stood aside as she watched Kell teach her sister how to dance, the little girl's green eyes sparkling in the light. She had never seen Ashelin so active and excited about something in her life. The little girl was head strong and stubborn, a true Ghis in every sense of the word. Still, it seemed that Kell was sweet on all of them, as if he were made especially to fit into their family.

"Little Ashelin, I think you might steal my wolf away." Kate said with a smile as Ashelin stumbled and moved in Kell's hands.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Never," Kell assured Kate with a smile before scooping Ashelin up once more. "I'm afraid only one lady can have this Wolf." He came to press a kiss to Kate's cheek, only to be stopped by Brogan who kissed Kate's cheek first and stole Ashelin away.

"These are still my girls first, lad."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't act like you're so tough, Brogan." Julia said with a smile as he kissed Kate's cheek and declared that they were all his girls first.

Ashelin snuggled up against her father's chest as he stole her away, smiling happily as the man she adored above all held her tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well... I suppose I could share jus' one," Brogan said with a peaceful smile as Kell finally kissed Kate's cheek and took her hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know of any other little girls I'd rather have take my spot than these two." Kate said with a smile as Kell took her hand and squeezed it. "You'll definitely never have a dull moment, at least. I'm sure Ashelin will turn your hair white."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You certainly got me started, kitten," Brogan said with a smile and a nod before joining Julia's side. Their proper dance was waiting for the right song.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate danced with more people than she ever had in her life. Dignitaries, men of the Glasgow court, and of course Kell again many times. By the time she took a rest, she sat to watch her family. Rho was dancing with a girl his age, the daughter of the King of Glasgow. She was a darling little blonde, shy and quiet. Sam was off brooding as he watched over his twin. Ciaran was seated in his mother's empty chair, cradling two slumber sisters who had long since given up on the party. Her Ma and Da were still dancing, looking at each other as if they were newly wed.

Julia only had eyes for her husband. When they danced, she found great joy. He was a hulking beast most of the time but he was gentle with her.

"I love you." She murmured as her green eyes looked into his dark gaze. "Maybe more than I ever have."

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' why migh' that be, milady?" Brogan asked with a handsome, gentle smile before he twirled her slowly around. He stole a light kiss as he often did when they danced, and his smile only grew warmer as he fell in love all over again.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hmmmm....perhaps it's because you are so handsome and charming." Julia said with a smile as he asked her why she was in love with him.

He kissed her gently, twirling her around the floor as they danced. He most definitely knew how to be charming when it came to her and the children. When he was king, he was softer, but never as relaxed as he was with his family.

"And after almost 20 years I've discovered all of those secrets that you have to hide." She murmured, leaning in to press her cheek against his chest. "Like the fact that you have a heart of gold. Or that your little girls have you wrapped around their fingers."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I still have plenty of secrets, beauty," Brogan whispered against her ear before stealing another warm kiss. They came to a halt as the song trailed off, and he held her tightly without disturbing her place against his chest.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I guess I'll have to stay with you for another 20 years so I can figure out all those secrets." Julia said as they stopped dancing and her husband held her tightly against his chest. "I think I'll always remember the sound of your heart, even when there is nothing else left."

She finally pulled her head back and looked up at him with a soft smile. "Let's go get the girls to bed. The other kids can stay as long as they like."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan kept Julia's hand until he scooped Ashelin and Heather up from Ciaran. "Go enjoy herself, lad. No more babysittin' tonight. An' Sam an' Rho can look after themselves." Ciaran smiled up at him and chuckled.

"Da, you know I'll be looking after them anyway."

"Go on," Brogan repeated, kissing his son's forehead before he and Julia left with the little twins.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia carried Heather to their chambers, the little girl incredibly fussy as she was dressed for bed and her diaper changed. Same for Ashelin, but soon, they were tucked in to the warm sheets of their parent's bed. The twins were soon slumbering and their parents seated by the fire to relax.

"I don't know if we should be proud or afraid that we've left the children alone in a great hall full of dignitaries." Julia commented, looking at her husband with a smile. "Rho can still be a handful when he wants to be. I guess it is a good time for them to learn what they should and shouldn't do while at court."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ciaran's always been yer star student in matters o' court an' etiquette. He'll correct th' boys if need be," Brogan told her as he relaxed back with a content sigh. "An' much as Kate hated those lessons, she's damn good at bein' a proper lady when she needs t'be. Between her an' Kell, they'll have Glasgow charmed by th' time we leave."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia grabbed her knitting as Brogan commented that they most certainly could hold their own without their parents around. She still had her doubts, but she had to trust that her children were smart and charming. She glanced up from the row that she was working on, glancing towards Brogan as he relaxed.

He was still as handsome as the day that she had first met him. He was a little more grey, but he still stole her heart away. She had changed as well. Her body stretched and scarred by their children, but he still called her the most beautiful lass he had ever seen.

"You know...there was a time where we would take the moments that we had alone and make them worth our while. Now, you sit and doze like an old man and I sit and knit for our children." She murmured, giving him a smile that almost seemed like a challenge.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan pushed himself up and out of his seat with a small grin, casually wandering over to Julia and behind her. "I'd just assumed y'were tired, love," he offered innocently while his broad hands came to rest on her shoulders before he leaned down to press a kiss to her throat.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm never too tired when it comes to you." Julia murmured with a grin as he came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders, pressing a heated kiss to her throat. "I'm your dutiful and loving wife, love. I'm always ready to learn a new lesson from you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' know if there's much more I can teach, but review's always 'elpful." Brogan soon scooped her out of her seat and casually walked his way over to the bed. He easily laid back and drew her up over top of him, welcoming her to take the lead after he'd been leading in their dancing all evening.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Who knew that the most feared warrior in Scotland was such a hopeless romantic. You big softy." Julia murmured as he tumbled them both into bed.

Soon enough, she had her gown unlaced and thrown aside. Her undergarments soon followed and she was working on his belts and kilt. So many years they had spent together that their loving was no longer hurried and frantic. They had learned to take their time and enjoy one another for what it was worth.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan stopped her, gently catching her hands, before she could unbuckle his belt. He couldn't help but smile, taking a long moment to appreciate her body bared before him. He drew her up closer for a long, warm kiss the likes of which she hadn't known terribly often in their younger days, but was becoming more frequent each year they grew older.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled as he stopped her hands, his dark gaze appraising her body before he drew her close for a long kiss. She sighed happily as she melted against him, her slight form draped over his much larger body. She fit so perfectly against him, completing something for him that hadn't been completed until she came along. She had never realized how much she needed him until he was there in her life.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Beauty. Y'used t'be so wicked an' sly. Whatever 'appened t'that lass, surprisin' me in th'library 'r the parlor with a romp fer fun? Ye've tamed down, love," Brogan teased her. He'd tamed too, but he loved to poke fun at Julia who had always been so tame and reserved.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've had children around, clammering for my attention for the past 18 years. I can still be that minx that you remember." She whispered, nipping at his throat and chin with her teeth. "I seem to remember a young lord that could barely get into the door before he had his poor wife naked and in bed. I believe that's how they ended up with their first set of twins. He had been gone for weeks to the lumber camps."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan smirked to himself at the memory of that particular night almost fourteen years prior. The camp had been flooded and ruined, and Brogan had spent weeks along with his brothers and lumberjacks from both the town and the Gol Dun, cleaning everything up and gathering the scattered logs and rebuilding two of the cabins that permanent residents lived in at the camp. It was one afternoon when everything was finally finished that Brogan came home, ignored dinner, and stole Julia away to bed, having missed her and not had the energy or strength to enjoy her for far too long.

"Well, I doubt there'll be anymore o' tha' fer me," Brogan assured her. "Too much t'do an' get ready fer th' kids an' whatnot. But a' least tha' means I'll 'ave th'energy t'keep up with yer insatiable appetite."