Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"The longer he doesn't have a proper home, the harder it'll be for him to adjust to one," Vincenzo warned her, and then Durban spoke up.

"It's alright, love. We've got space fer 'im. Seamus can share 'is bed, an' we've got plenty o' clothes t'last a while. Won' be a problem."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know." She said softly as she nuzzled her nose against Alex's soft hair. "I just worry. I worry that he'll be sad or upset if I leave."

 

[KieranSoares]

Vincenzo chuckled softly, kissing her forehead. "You can visit him anytime, love."

Later that evening when she left little Alex to Durban and Marri, Vincenzo walked with her out to their horses and Theo was close behind. "We'll check on him tomorrow," Vincenzo murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Papa, are you sure he'll be alright?" Val asked as Theo followed behind him. "I hate to leave him."

Her mind was turning fast, thinking about the sweet little boy who had looked at her with such sorrow. He was miserable and she understood that misery.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know it's tough, Valentina, but he-" then Vincenzo paused as they heard a cry and a tiny boy hurried out after them. Raul stopped short before Alex could get under his hooves. Alex reached up for Valentina desperately as Durban came following after him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina glanced towards the sound of the cry, her heart breaking as she saw a frantic Alex running towards her. When Raul stopped, she slipped from the horse and picked up the toddler, soothing him quietly as he fretted against her shoulder.

"Shhhh...bambino. It's alright." She said softly, looking at Durban with a lost expression. "Alex, amore, you're going to stay here for a while. You'll have fun with Seamus." She whispered against his ear.

 

[KieranSoares]

Durban slowly relaxed as he saw Alex begin to calm in Valentina's arms, and he gave her a knowing smile. "Y'already talk to 'im like yer Da does t'you, Val." When he came to take Alex, the boy clung tightly to Valentina and wouldn't allow himself to be removed by anyone. "I... I think I know where 'e belongs, love," Durban murmured. "An' he does too. You take 'im 'ome."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina looked between the three men and shook her head frantically. "I can't raise a child." She said animatedly.

"I'm too young to be someone's mother. Not to mention the hours I keep as a healer. Papa, you know how hard that is." Valentina looked so lost in that moment as the little boy clung to her so tightly, afraid to let go.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then you'll have to change those hours. And you'll have plenty of help," Vincenzo offered. That was when Theo stepped up.

"I'll look after 'im when y'can't, love. Tha' is, if y'make as much time fer 'im as y'can."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina stared at her father for a long moment and then looked at Theo as he offered to help her with this sudden change. This was a little boy, not an animal. With Raul, she only needed to leave him some extra grain. Alex was a child that would grow and demand more time and love. She had all of that to give in spades, but it still seemed incredibly daunting.

"I suppose I can try." She said softly as she looked down at the little boy in her arms. "If it doesn't work out, then I can find him somewhere else to go."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Let's get him home, then," Vincenzo said with a smile, helping Valentina onto her horse so she didn't have to let go of the scared toddler. Durban watched them all go before returning to his own family.

 

[heartofcourage]

Once they were back at the keep, Valentina took Alex to her room to get him settled. He seemed content to sit in her lap as she jarred herbs, his curiosity getting the better of him from time to time as he reached out for colorful leaves that caught his attention. She was endlessly patient as she explained the names of everything and what they were used for even if he would never understand.

Her mind was still reeling from the thought that this little boy had chosen her. He seemed relaxed and calm as he sat there with her. It just didn't make sense in her head.

 

[KieranSoares]

It didn't take Kitty long to get wind of the fact her daughter had taken in a small child. She was along soon to meet him finally, knocking on Valentina's half-open door before entering. "Evening, love," she said softly, and couldn't help smiling at seeing Alex.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hi, Ma." Valentina said as she heard her mother's knock and Alex looked towards the door as the older woman entered the room. "This is Alex."

The toddler had a sprig of mint in his hand as Kitty came into the room and he immediately offered it to Kitty, making Valentina laugh softly. "Bambino, you can't give away all my herbs." She said softly as she watched her mother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, he's absolutely precious," Kitty chuckled as she accepted the sprig and kissed his cheek in thanks. She already knew about him from Vincenzo, and she'd decided she needed to offer what help to Valentina that she could. Settling beside her, Kitty welcomed Alex into her arms and the boy hesitated a moment before he was sure Kitty wouldn't take him away.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina watched Alex hesitate for a moment before he went into Kitty's arms. She let out a soft sigh and watched the little boy slowly start to relax.

"I guess he's mine now." She said softly, still reeling at the thought of raising a little boy on her own. "He didn't want to stay with Durban. He won't go with Theo or Papa. He just wants to be with me. Ma, I don't think I'm what he needs."

 

[KieranSoares]

"No one ever thinks they're what a child needs. But usually the child knows," Kitty assured her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll have to build a house. This room is too small for the both of us, especially as he gets bigger." Valentina said softly as her mother tried to soothe her fears. "And I'll have to decide if being a healer is really that important now. There's going to be a lot of changes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You can keep your passion and still care for him. And you know there's room in the keep for both of you until you're ready to strike out. There's no rush. And you know the family will be more than happy to look after him when you can't."

 

[heartofcourage]

"What about Theo?" Valentina asked, the true fear of losing the man that she loved very apparent on her face. "What if he doesn't want a family right now? He's only just coming to terms with losing his wife and daughters."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You'll have to talk to him about it, or you'll never have an answer. But I doubt he'd make you choose between Alex and him." Kitty brushed Alex's hair back soothingly and he began to relax into her arms. She'd always been a natural mother and had passed many of those talents and skills on to her children.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina watched as Alex relaxed against Kitty, comfortable with the other woman as he was with Valentina. She smiled at the little boy, reaching out to touch his cheek gently.

"Have you ever had a Nonna before, bambino? You'll have one of the best with this woman right here." Valentina said softly. "She knows all of the fun places here in Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

Still Alex seemed unwilling to speak, but his gaze told Valentina he seemed to understand her and he was listening. Kitty brushed his thick hair back lovingly. "He'll find his voice before long, contending with all the loud uncles he'll have."

 

[heartofcourage]

That evening, Valentina got the little boy bathed and dressed in a spare tunic. It swamped him, but he seemed comfortable as she tucked him into her bed and curled up beside him, telling him a fairy tale in Italian. It was one that her father had told her many times in the summers that she visited Venice as a young girl. Soon enough, the little boy was asleep and she soon followed him.

She woke when she heard her door opening and when she opened her eyes, she saw Theo in the dim light. "Hi, amore."

Glancing down towards Alex as he squirmed on the bed, she watched as he got comfortable and fell still again. "I think we have some things to talk about."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I s'pose we do," Theo murmured, coming to her side to offer his hand. It was fairly clear he had a bit of trepidation about the entire situation himself.