Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I accept that as a challenge then, Khelt." Kate said with a stubborn tilt of her chin and determination in her green eyes. "I can be just as stubborn as my Da. Perhaps even more so."

 

[KieranSoares]

"As you all keep reminding me. But I can be just as obstinate if your stubbornness gets in the way of your safety. If we ever encounter a situation where you insist on putting yourself in harm's way, just know that you won't do so alone."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Deal." Kate said with a laugh as she rested her head against Kell's, simply enjoying the moment with her wolf.

It was hours later that Julia lay exhausted in bed, naked and sated as she settled next to Brogan. She had a smile on her face that wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon. Falling in love with him was so incredibly easy and she thanked the powers that be that they had been together for so many years.

"Thank you for a beautiful day, love." Julia murmured, pressing her lips against Brogan's neck gently.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan's eyes remained closed even as he kissed her forehead in return. One hand lay lazily stroking her bare hip and thigh. The other rose to touch her cheek before stroking his fingers through her hair. "Beauty... I love ya. An' I'd do all this again."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know what I would do without you, Brogan." Julia murmured as he stronger his large hands though her hair and over her skin. "The thought honestly paralyzes me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You won' ever have to, if I 'ave my way," Brogan promised her, his dark eyes opening to look down at her fondly. "I 'ave t'stick around t'make sure th'kids don' ruin the family's reputation, after all," he chuckled.

 

[heartofcourage]

"They're good children." Julia said with a smile on her lips as her husband's dark eyes opened to look down at her. "Even Sam and Rho have started to calm. Ashelin and Heather are as sweet as can be."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sweet now, but I think both sets o' twins're gonna give us plenty o' trouble, no' jus' the mischief sort." Brogan chuckled deeply and drew Julia closer with a kiss. "But th' current worry is fer Kell and Kate."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They'll take care of one another, love. He adores our girl and she would move all of Scotland for him." Julia said with a soft smile. "They make a good team."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They remind me of us sometimes... Only more troublesome. An' Kate migh' end up fiercer than th'two of us together. Gentle as y'are, love, I've seen quite a lioness come out in times o' need." Brogan had always looked upon Julia as the collected queen. Even in moments of terror or battle, she was calmer than the rest. Even when they stood in the belltower during the war with the Erygonians, awaiting the certain overwhelming of the defenses, she was calmer than most. It certainly helped Brogan remain much the same, but oftentimes he found himself reacting in her stead, preserving her graceful approach to all problems.

 

[heartofcourage]

"If I need to protect my home or my babies, I will do whatever I need to do." Julia said as her husband talked about the lioness he had seen a time or two. "My family is the most important thing in my life. Even more important than this keep or Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Agreed, though y'did get it back for us. An' I'll never be able t'tell you how grateful I am fer tha', savin' our people's home an' the home many families 'ere 'ave inhabited fer generations, some even before the Ghis. An' ya helped make a home fer the Lunars an' the Erygonians. Wouldn' be surprised if there's songs about you someday, love." Even though he loved to charm her, he did believe their life in Inverness could be worthy of stories and such.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You've already wed me and bed me and sired 6 lovely children from me. You don't have to flatter me anymore, love." Julia said with a chuckle, kissing her husband gently.

 

[KieranSoares]

"What if I told you I do it fer my own fun rather'n t'flatter you?" Brogan grinned with a long, lovely kiss in return. "Tha's not completely true, but I still enjoy it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then how could I say no?" Julia asked with a grin as her husband seemed so lighthearted and boyish in that moment. "I'll never stop you from loving me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good. But fer tonight, I think I've exhausted us both. Tomorrow we can get back t'bein' our usual worried selves," he muttered, laying his head against her shoulder with a sigh. It wouldn't be long before he drifted off.

Come morning, Julia and Brogan emerged to find the keep already spotless, and Kate, Kell, Rho, and Sam all asleep at tables. Ciaran was sitting off to one side with Justin, each of them holding a little girl and talking quietly. Chessie was laying out new table cloths with other serving staff, and Kitty and Vincenzo were off in the library enjoying a quiet morning together.

It seemed they all had pitched in to help clean up the keep along with the staff, and aside from a few wine and ale barrels and some maids sweeping off to one side, it was practically spotless.

"Damn. Cleanest this place 'as been since my coronation," Brogan murmured with a smile.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia chuckled at her husband as Brogan commented that the keep was as clean as he had ever seen it. Julia gently sent the sleeping children off to bed, kissing each of them before she turned towards Ciaran and Justin. Ashelin was asleep against Ciaran's shoulder, sticky jam still on her lips from the scone she had eaten just moments earlier. Heather was carefully exploring her world. Standing on her little legs, she kept one hand on Justin's chair and reached out to touch whatever was around them, giggling as Justin wrapped her up in his arms every so often.

"Chessie." Julia said as she wrapped their dear cook up in a tight hug. "Thank you for working so hard on all of this with Kitty and the children."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's my pleasure, love," she chuckled with a kiss to Julia's cheek. "All I ask is tha' you get Kitty t'do the same for me if my beau ever pops th'question."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll take care of you." Julia promised as she glanced towards Heather as the little girl explored. "And we'll make sure that your wedding is even better than the one we just had."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, good Gods, no, not even something that big," Chessie laughed. "Or else my man might just get scared off."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Something small and intimate then. I'm sure Kitty can make your dreams come true." Julia said with a chuckle as Heather toddled over towards Brogan, hearing his deep voice and finding him in an instant.

"Da!" She cried out, a happy little smile on her face as she turned her gaze up towards him, still not being able to see but still acting as if she could.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan leaned down and scooped Heather up, kissing her cheeks with a chuckle. "Hiya, little love," he murmured, cradling her against his chest.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da." Hesther said with a content sigh as Brogan scooped her up and held her tightly, her fingers finding their way to his thick beard.

She quietly explored his face with her fingers, memorizing everything about him. He was a patient man and she loved him greatly, the smile in her dim green eyes showing him that his little girl certain was as happy as could be.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan let Heather explore all she liked. Once she was satisfied, he gladly cradled her closer and sat back with a smile. He was in his element as a family man. His attention returned to Julia and Chessie, and he asked, "So, Ches, who's this man o' yers? I 'aven't seen 'im."

"Oh, you 'ave. We jus' keep it to ourselves. He's one o' the keep guard under Cole's command, his name's Alban."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She knows that if she introduced you formally, he would have to stand up to your questioning." Julia said with a laugh, watching as Heather leaned against her father's chest with a content sigh. "And she doesn't want any of your Ghis men to scare him away."