Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Julia let out a long and content sigh as Brogan pulled her tightly against his side. She loved her husband greatly and sharing a moment like that with him was one of the best things in her opinion.

"I never got a middle name. I was always the after thought." Julia confessed as her head found the perfect spot on her husband's shoulder. "I'm not even sure that my father thought that I was his child. Ma was always faithful, though. Even when times got tough, she never gave up on him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We migh' be a lot more alike than we realize, love," Brogan murmured. "A' least in Ma's case, she held out a long time even after she fell fer Vincenzo. It wasn' til we saw him in Skye tha' they finally decided to be together. Even then, it took til Da sent 'er back t'Venice again fer her t'decide she needed t'leave Da. We even ran away t'Greece fer a while, but Da dragged 'er back. By then, she was pregnant with Val, some kind o' mistake with th'herbs she was takin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your Da must have been furious." Julia said softly as Brogan opened up about his childhood.

Even though they had 20 years together, her husband was still uncomfortable talking about the man that was his father. He didn't hold the anger that the rest of his siblings did towards the man, but it was still a hard topic.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Why d'ya think Val's deaf on one side?" Brogan asked her quietly. "When we got 'ome, Ma managed t'hide it fer a few days til morning sickness caught up to 'er. She tried to make Da believe she needed to go back t'Italy, but Da wouldn' let 'er go after she'd gone t'Greece with us. He 'ad a doctor take a look at 'er, one tha' didn' know what Da would do t'her. Th'doctor told 'im she was pregnant, an' Da knew there was no way it was his."

Brogan took a deep breath to steady his nerves. "All we 'eard was screamin', him yellin' at 'er an' her in pain. Durban tried t'break the door down but 'e wasn' strong enough yet. Ashelin an' Warwick took us away t'their house, an' we didn' see Ma fer a week. We thought she was dead. I wouldn' talk t'anyone. Boar an' Durban stuck to their training so they didn't have t'think about it. Selena... I think tha' was the moment she started t'really hate Da. An' Kay an' Ash were a mess without Ma. When we finally saw 'er again, she 'ad all sorts o' broken bones, she was sick, an' Da wouldn' talk t'anyone. He jus' locked 'imself in the cellars an' drank an' cried. I didn' realize til 'is death tha' 'e'd been heartbroken."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kitty has never said anything bad about Tamblin." Julia said softly. "Which is amazing considering what he did to her. I'm glad that she is with a man that loves and adores her now. And I'm glad that you forgave your father before he died. That's a guilt that would never go away."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She never says anythin' bad because she loved 'im, an' he loved her. He loved her every day even after Val came along. Even if he barely talked t'her... he spared no expense t'help 'er, he'd sit up with 'er when she was at 'er worst t'make sure she didn' slip away. When she wanted t'give up, he'd remind 'er we needed 'er, tha' she needed us. I remember one night she almos' died... She was unconscious, but I was there and I watched Da hold 'er an' cry an' apologize fer everything 'e ever did. He prayed t'anyone who'd listen t'take him instead. My brothers an' sisters didn' get t'see tha' like I did, because I was always with Ma because I was too small t'keep up with th'others. Maybe tha's why Da let me win tha' duel... because he knew I understood 'im."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your Da needed her more than he realized." Julia said softly as Brogan poured his heart out to her. "They had each other in the end and that's what matters. Someone to hold your hand and give you courage while you take that last step. Maybe he's happier now that he sees how his family has flourished."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I still miss 'im sometimes... Even if I was nothin' more than 'is shadow, we still 'ad a few moments. Like the first time I could finally pick up 'is claymore... 'r when I looked after 'im after 'e broke 'is shoulder. I wonder if 'e ever really believed I'd take 'is place, before tha' fight."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You gave him a way to have peace." Julia said softly. "And he loved you greatly for it. Even if he didn't show it, the fact that he kept all of you close meant that he did love you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sorry, love," Brogan chuckled softly. "This wasn' about me. This trip was fer you." With another kiss, he touched her cheek and met her eyes, examining the emerald he'd already committed to memory. "You're too good t'me, love."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I could say the same for you." Julia said as she looked into his dark brown gaze. "And I'm glad that you shared that with me. No secrets between us anymore."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I still 'ave plenty, love," Brogan chuckled with a rather cheeky grin. "Got t'keep you interested, after all, right?" He loved to use that as an excuse, but the truth was that he just couldn't bring himself to say everything at once. It was too much, and the secretive man who'd tried to be emotionless for so long after his first wife died was still with him to that day. He could open up, but only so much at a time.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I look forward to drawing those secrets out over the next 20 years, love." Julia said with a soft laugh as she kissed his cheek and settled back against his shoulder. "I didn't know it then, but you saved me. I thought that you pitied me for having a family that didn't love me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ma saved us both," he muttered. "I don' know how she did it... but she did. She's been savin' me my whole life."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's a saint. It will be a very sad time in our family when she passes on." Julia said softly as Brogan swore that his mother had saved them both. "She is the mother that I wish that I had growing up."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, ye've got 'er now, so make th'most of it," Brogan reminded her with a smile. The couple spent most of that day out and about together, so their children followed the example. Sam and Rho divided their time between their aunt and uncle and younger sisters, Ciaran spent most of his time with the girls, and Kell wandered off into town with Kate just to see the sights. The family remained in Chester for another couple weeks before beginning the trek home. Brogan was done with traveling for some time.

 

[heartofcourage]

When they arrived home, Kate dove into her studies to become the queen of Scotland. It was a task that she and her Da could work on together without tiring him out. She was the perfect student, too nervous about messing something up to be otherwise.

Julia set about the task of raising the twins while Sam and Rho continued their training with their uncles. She had decided to let Sam be and give him the love that he needed when he wanted it. It seemed that when things were quiet, he was more apt to snuggle against her side quietly as he had when he was younger. That was the Sam that she loved and missed.

A few days after arriving back home, Julia was feeding Heather and Ashelin in the great hall when she saw Ciaran sneak in. He looked happy, a man in love.

"Good morning, love." Julia said as he approached, kissing his cheek as her tall son leaned down to her level. "Have a good night in the woods?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"One of the best I've ever had," he admitted with a slightly giddy smile before settling beside her to hold Heather who'd finished and was beginning to drift off to sleep once more.

 

[heartofcourage]

"When do I get to meet him?" Julia asked as Ashelin demanded another bite of oatmeal. "Because I want to know who has captured my son's heart."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Soon enough, I promise. He's working today, though. Maybe I can convince his Ma to let him off tomorrow if I tell her you want to meet her," Ciaran smiled, letting Heather rest against his chest in her favorite place.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Good." Julia said, smiling at her son as Heather found her favorite spot on her brother's chest to take a nap. "She's been cranky since we got home. I'm not sure that she's feeling well. She slept all night last night and I had a hard time waking her this morning."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Do you want me to take her to Aunt Val or grandpa?" Ciaran asked, laying a hand on Heather's back to soothe her to sleep. He'd noticed his sister's apparent discomfort, but he'd been hoping it was nothing serious.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It would take a load off my mind." Julia said as Ciaran carefully held his little sister. "Ashelin and I will be in the nursery when we finish eating."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll be back, then," Ciaran nodded, rising from his seat and taking Heather away to find Vincenzo. He returned an hour later to the nursery looking a bit worried and with Heather wrapped up in an extra blanket. Vincenzo was right behind him.

"Julia, amore," Vincenzo spoke up as Ciaran laid Heather in her crib. "Heather has a fever. There have been quite a few cases of fever among children in town recently. Nothing terribly serious for the older ones, but we need to keep a close eye on Heather. I imagine Ashelin might have it too, if not now then soon."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was concerned when Vincenzo told her that Heather had a fever and that Ashelin would more than likely get it soon if she didn't already have it. Ashelin was playing like normal while Ciaran tucked Heather into her crib with an extra blanket.

"We will need to keep Brogan away for a while then." Julia said, knowing that he was susceptible to illness now that he had weakened.

She stood and made her way to Heather's crib, brushing her dark curls away from her face as she fought against sleep. "Oh, little love. Mama's right here."