Mint and Honey

[KieranSoares]

"I'm curious as to why you seem to care so much. You've known me for... what, one day?" Alex glanced over at her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because you have a good family. They care about you and you seem to live with your head in the clouds." Yasmine commented as a gust of wind threatened to pull her shawl from her head.

Her brother had been a lot like Alex. She had constantly told him to enjoy his life but he insisted that he had his duties to attend to. When he died, she was left devastated and lost, angry at the man who had seemingly fretted his life away.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex paused as she said that. The tone of a woman who knew exactly what she was talking about certainly got his attention. The wind took his attention away as his horse snorted in annoyance, the wind changing direction and blowing snow into the horses' eyes. Alex sighed, patting the horse's neck. "I won't make you take me home in this, Lance. Not too much further."

When they arrived in the keep courtyard, stable attendants came out to take the horses and get them out of the cold, while Alex decided to walk with Yasmine to the barracks across the grounds despite the blistering cold.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine quickly entered the barracks to warm up. Once she opened the door, she was surprised with how quiet it was. A fire was roaring in the hearth, but everyone seemed to be asleep. There was a pot of mulled wine simmering on the fire for those on patrol or those stuck in the snow that evening.

Her hands felt frozen through as she pulled off her gloves and warmed her skin at the fire. It took a few moments for feeling to return, but she soon as seated in front of the fire with a mug of wine to warm her bones.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex came in for a moment as well, needing to warm up just a little before making the short trek to the keep. He stood at the opposite corner of the fireplace from Yasmine, keeping to himself for the moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Men like you can't change, you know." Yasmine said as she glanced towards Alex. "You'll work yourself into an early grave."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've already gathered that you feel that way," Alex muttered in a neutral tone. He'd heard it too many times to count.

 

[heartofcourage]

"They deserve better." Yasmine murmured, letting him be as he seemed closed off to anything that she had to say.

Perhaps she was being harsh, but she wasn't about to watch his little siblings lose him before his time. She had been there and experienced that pain. Francesca, Viola, and Ruari deserved so much better.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex finally turned and stepped out, heading for the keep as the wind howled and snow made it almost impossible to see. But he knew the way by heart, and soon entered the main hall. Even over the short distance, snow was frozen to his cloak and hair and he huddled by the great fireplace at the back of the hall where the Claymore of King Tamblin was mounted.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate entered the great hall a short time later, always the night owl. She kept long hours in Edinburgh, but Kell had insisted that she take a rest in Inverness. She would sleep late in the day, napping in the afternoon, and staying up to work on official papers or simply spending time with her husband or her family.

"You look half frozen, Alex." Kate said with a smile as she took a seat beside him, sighing as she stretched her legs out and relaxed. "It was a good evening, though. I hope that everyone made it home safe before the snow got too bad."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I came to make sure Yasmine made it back alright. Now it's too cold and windy to go home." Alex had always had a small room at the keep. Because he and Valentina took care of the royal family, they kept a room full of ingredients and drying racks with a couple small beds in the corners should more than one of them be there at a time.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know, I was serious this evening when I asked if you would become the royal physician." Kate said as he mentioned that he had made sure that Yasmine returned home safely. "I don't trust anyone that is currently at court. Too many people can be bought off and I don't want my child to be caught up in the middle of that."

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex glanced over for a moment, then down at the floor. "If you'd asked me before grandma died... I wouldn't have hesitated to accept. But I need time to think about it. I dont know if I can leave Ma. And if I'm honest... I think Grandpa just wants to join Grandma at this point. He always looks so tired."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa's tougher than he looks." Kate said as Alex told her that he would have to think about her offer. "He's coming back to Edinburgh with us after the baby is born to help look after it for a few weeks. I think it'll be good to get him out of Inverness for a little while."

"Alex, you can't live your life trying to do everything. You're one of the best doctors that I know, maybe even better than your Ma. I've seen you do things that she could never even begin to figure out. I hate to see you waste all of that here. If it doesn't work out, I understand, but I would love to see you at least give it a try." Kate reached out and touched his hand, giving it a squeeze as she chuckled to herself. "I promise you that none of them put me up to this either."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know they didn't." Alex glanced back at the fire. It was a long moment before he asked quietly, "Kate... Do you think Vi and Franny and Ruari will hate me one day for working so much? And... Do you think Ma's disappointed?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think your Ma is worried that you won't truly take a break." Kate said softly. "Da worries the same of me. Kell does too. It hard to balance what you need to do with what you want to do."

"As far as the others, I don't think they could ever hate you. You'll miss out on a lot though. Franny is coming back with me to Edinburgh. Vi is nearly grown. Ruari...is a force to be reckoned with. You'll regret not being there for that. I know I miss Heather and Ashelin when I'm gone."

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex's gaze drifted to the floor for a moment before he hugged Kate gently to his side. "I'll think about the offer. I'll probably come with you and Franny to make sure she settles in alright, and I'll make my decision there... Hopefully..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You big softy." Kate said as he held her against his side and he promised that he wanted to see Franny settled in Edinburgh. "She's a good girl with a good head on her shoulders. I'll only allow her to stay a few months before she comes home for a visit. I know her Ma won't want her to be away for too long. Her Da might come and get her himself if she were away too long."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd probably beat him to it," Alex chuckled softly. "If only for Ma's sake." Alex never tried to be his mother's keeper, but he often tried to make life easier for her. It was the only way he knew to show her how grateful he was for all she'd done for him. It seemed that she'd saved his life every day as a child until he finally had the courage to stand alone. She had always been honest with him about his beginnings and never sheltered him from the truth elsewhere either. Alex was incredibly close with his whole family, but the only other person he had such a relationship with was probably Viola.

Alex glanced at Kate then as something came to mind. "Do you know when Sam will be back? There's something I've been meaning to talk to him about."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suspect in the spring. Fiona won't be returning until then. He's fallen hard for her." Kate said with a chuckle. "I won't leave until he is back. I want to be able to give my baby brother a hard time about the woman that seems to have him wrapped around her finger."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You all already give him a hard time constantly," Alex said with a smile. "Though I suppose he will have had a long break... But I hope I get a chance to talk to him between our work and everything else."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't worry about it, Alex. I'll make sure that you get to talk to him." Kate said as she chuckled. "You have far too many other things to worry about."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You have no idea," he chuckled as well before rising from his seat. "Do you need anything before I go to bed?" He asked softly, always trying to make things easier on her since they'd learned she was pregnant.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No. I'm sure my brute of a husband will come looking for me before too much longer. He's been taking very good care of me." Kate said with a find smile, thinking about Kell and how much he adored her and how often he showed her that.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That 'brute' puts up with you far too much," Alex kissed her cheek before heading toward the hallway. "Goodnight, love."

Just as she'd expected, Kell soon appeared at the edge of the firelight. No one could ever hear him coming, his years of training making him the epitome of 'silent assassin.'