Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Kristoff has his own little sailboat now. Ulfrich said it was time he learned how to sail like a real Norwegian. He has talked about nothing more than taking his Gran out for a tour in it." Kayla said as she leaned her forehead against her mother's cheek. "And Lena will be old enough to be awake and bright."

"If I'm honest...I miss you." Kayla admitted. "I know you were ill when she was born and I wanted you there so bad."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know, darling," Kitty sighed. "I nearly chartered my own ship, but even the sailors knew I wasn't strong enough to go."

"You'll get there soon," Vincenzo assured her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

 

[heartofcourage]

Lena let out a squawk as she woke, staring up at Vincenzo with the tiniest of frowns. Soon she was smiling, her face lighting up as she recognized her grandfather. The baby was bright and sunny, squirming after her long nap.

"She enjoys her naps. Much more than Kristoff ever did." Kayla said with a grin towards her daughter. "Kind of like Ashien and I. I remember Ghell has a horrible time getting to to nap when we were little. He always had better things to do."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ghell loved you all even when you were difficult," Vincenzo smiled. "In fact, we should get him here before long. It's been too long since he saw all of you together."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would love to see him again." Kayla said as Kristoff entered the room, excited after seeing his Uncle and Aunt.

"Mama! Uncle Ashien told me I could pick out my own horse from his stable. Dad already agreed!" Kristoff exclaimed, his dark eyes bright with the possibility of being a little more grown up than he already was.

"What are you going to name him?" Kayla asked, smiling down at her son as he thought about it for a long moment.

"I don't know. Gran, what's a good name for a horse?" Kristoff asked as he looked up at his grandmother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd ask your Uncle Brogan. He has a knack for good horse names. Like Phearson," Kitty leaned down to kiss his forehead. "But the best way to know is to meet the beast first, so don't settle on anything just yet."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kristoff smiled as his grandmother bent down and kissed his forehead. "Jeg elsker deg, bestemor." He murmured as he hugged the woman tightly.

"Hun snakker ikke norsk, kjærlighet." Kayla murmured, laughing at the look that crossed her son's features. "He said that he loves you. He sometimes forgets that not everyone can speak Norwegian."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, I understood just fine," Kitty assured them, hugging Kristoff to her side. "There are some things you can understand in any language." She then leaned down and murmured, "Is breá liom tú ró, prionsa beag." She'd known Gaelic all her life but had never gotten the chance to teach her children.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kristoff's eyes were wide when his grandmother talked to him in a tongue that he hadn't learned yet. The young prince loved languages and was currently learning French from a tutor. He glanced towards his mother with a mischievous look in his eyes.

"You could teach me, Gran. Then we could have our own secret language." He murmured, excited at the prospect.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could do that, but your father would understand us," Kitty told him. Christopher hadn't spoken the language in years but he'd grown up with it in Ireland. "He could help you learn, just so you can get up to mischief without your Ma knowing."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Mama, can I?" Kristoff asked, looking up at Kayla with the wide eyed wonder that he shared with his father.

Kayla chuckled and brushed his hair off his forehead, smiling down at the little. "Sure. I would give you and your father more time to get up to mischief. How about you spend some time with Gran and Papa? They are eager to catch up with you and Lena."

"Lena's just a baby, Mama. She can't say much." Kristoff said as Kayla laughed again.

"Then you'll have to tell them all about her. I'm going to spend some time with your Dad on the loch." Kayla murmured as Kristoff agreed, leading his grandmother back to her seat on the sofa.

 

[KieranSoares]

By that evening, the whole family was settled with the exception of Seamus, who'd be arriving the next morning, and Selena and Ghell's families who'd make their way over in the morning too.

Brogan had managed to help Heather warm up to Van, and once she and Ashelin were asleep, Brogan found he had nothing to do. The children wouldn't let them in on any of the wedding plans so Julia was just as listless for the night. So Brogan came to find her, wrapping his arms about her waist from behind.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your children are up to something." Julia said as Brogan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, her knitting placed in her lap as she leaned back against him.

She had been trying to occupy herself in her little room, a space that he had given her that was all her own. The children rarely disturbed her there unless it was urgent. Brogan, however, always seemed to know when she was there.

 

[KieranSoares]

"My children? Yer th'one tha' made 'em. I jus' helped," Brogan muttered with a smile, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I think I know what they're up to. But I won' pry. Seems important to 'em t'surprise us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes, your children. When they scheme like this, they are yours." Julia said with a smile as he kissed her temple. "They've invited your entire family. How did they pull this off, Brogan? Even Sam and Rho have had a part in all of this. I wouldn't have thought them capable."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They were already planning while we were at Inverlochly. Once we got 'ome from Chester they started gettin' more people involved. Now th'whole family's in on it. No' surprised, really, especially with Ma helpin' 'em." Brogan moved round in front of her to kneel and lay his head in her lap.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia's hands played in Brogan's thick hair as he placed his head in her lap. It was a common occurrence for them, especially when they were enjoying a quiet moment alone together.

"Did Heather finally warm up to Van?" Julia asked softly, knowing that Brogan had been working to get their daughter comfortable with the man that could teach her so much. "It's very sweet of him to offer to teach her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He started t'get 'er t'let 'im touch 'er hands. Y'know how hard it is fer anyone t'do tha' besides us," Brogan noted with a smile. "He knows what t'do an' 'e's patient enough t'wait for 'er t'ask fer 'is help."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's so little still, love. I'm afraid that she won't know to ask for his help." Julia said as Brogan commented that she was starting to let Van touch her hands. "Maybe with Ciaran there she would open up a little more. She loves her brother so much."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Give Van a chance, darlin'. He's taught blind children in England who were blind from birth," Brogan encouraged, lifting his head to look at her. "If 'e does 'ave trouble, I'll ask Ciaran about helpin' 'em. But 'e's jus' gettin' warmed up an' Heather's a smart lass. She'll get it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She also has the Ghis temper." Julia murmured with a soft smile as she kissed her husband. "Your daughter, right down to her dark hair and brooding moods."

Soon, Julia was leading Brogan to bed, intending to snuggle against her husband's warmth as they shared a lazy evening together. The next morning, Julia woke early and dressed before she went towards the nursery to take care of the twins. She could hear crying from the room and she frowned as she opened the door to find a strange little scene.

Ashelin sat in her high chair, eating her breakfast with a spoon that her Aunt Valentina had given her. She looked at her sister with a glance of unease as Heather raged in her own high chair. She was used to being fed by someone, but it seemed that Van was intent on having her learn how to use a spoon. Heather shook her head from side to side, her cheeks red and tears in her eyes as she threw the spoon in her hand onto the table with a clatter. She shrieked as it was placed back into her hand and she was soon throwing it again before Van patiently placed it back into her palm.

Valentina glanced from the scene towards Julia, shaking her head towards Julia as she silently told her to not interfere. It was all part of the process. Heather cried each time Van placed the spoon back into her hand each and every time until she finally pressed her forehead down against the table, her temper tantrum subsiding in a fit of tears. She held the spoon, not throwing it again as she cried for her Mama or Da.

 

[KieranSoares]

Van's patience was endless, and he spoke to Heather mostly in Italian as he knew she'd connect him to Vincenzo whom she loved so dearly, and Kitty who used the language to tell little secrets every so often or share private moments with those in the family who knew it too.

When Heather gave up throwing the spoon, Van laid a gentle hand over her own and knelt by her, murmuring to her little phrases of encouragement in Italian until she let him guide her hand. He never forced her or held her in place, and it seemed he could outwait even her most stubborn moments.

Once Heather was starting to eat, Van turned his head toward Julia. "She's starting to understand that she can and has to be independent. Not that she likes it, of course."

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather was still sniffling as she fed herself slowly, upset but complying with what Van was trying to teach her. Julia didn't like seeing her baby so upset, but she knew that Heather had to learn to be independent if she ever wanted her daughter to be a functioning member of their family.

"A baby's tears still get me." Julia said softly as Heather instantly turned in her direction, her hands reaching out for Julia.

"Mama..." She cried pitifully, the fingers of her free hand flexing to get her attention.

"It's alright, sweet Heather." Julia murmured softly as she moved towards the little girl and gently pressed a kiss against her cheek. "Mama and Van and Aunt Val only want what's best for you."

She sat down between Heather and Ashelin, not moving to start feeding Heather as the little girl offered her the spoon over and over. Instead, Julia gently pushed it away and encouraged her to continue eating on her own.

"Your Gran will be so surprised at what a big girl you are." Julia said as she wiped both their faces with a napkin. "Both of you. Little Ash and sweet Heather."

 

[KieranSoares]

Van remained close but encouraged Valentina to go and do as she pleased. Van could easily handle both girls alone but he'd be fine with Julia there and Valentina had her own family to look after.

"I hope she'll start wanting to be independent rather than needing to be pushed. It's better for her to work things out for herself than have her hands held for every new step," Van commented quietly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps we've babied her too much." Julia said softly as Heather started to eat on her own again, fumbling a few times before she got the hang of it. "It's hard for her father and I to watch her struggle. We only want what is best."