Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"Nonna says Uncle Ashien and Aunt Kayla call Papa the same thing we do. Why do they do that instead of calling him Vincenzo like the others?" Alex asked her out of the blue. He didn't know the complicated history and he knew nothing of Kitty's time in Venice.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because Papa is just as much their father as he is mine. It's like how Theo is your Da without being the man who helped give birth to you." Valentina said softly as Alex asked her that question out of the blue. "Nonna had them when she was in Italy with Papa and Papa fell instantly in love."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well then he is their Papa," Alex insisted. Being so young, he didn't quite understand what made a father yet, but he did understand what made a real father.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I suppose he is." Valentina said as she glanced towards Theo. "He has cared for them since the moment that they first took a breath of air. He sees them as often as he can, traveling to Norway and England with Nonna from time to time."

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex nodded, letting his head rest against her chest once more. Khali watched all this, absolutely enchanted with Alex's simple and loving reasoning. It was for the same reasons that he didn't question that Theo and Valentina were his parents. He knew they really weren't, but that didn't matter when they were the ones to care for him or save him from nightmares or the strange, wide world around him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina hugged her little boy tightly, kissing the top of his head as he snuggled against her. "No matter what, you're my bambino. I'll always be right here for you, Alex."

 

[KieranSoares]

With a final farewell to Khali and Ireland with things all sorted out, they returned to Scotland to find a letter waiting for them in the landing port. It was nothing terribly important, just a request from Kitty to pass a second enclosed letter on back to Ireland to Jessie. But it also requested that they stop through Glasgow to meet someone on their way to Inverness. It wasn't specific, which meant there was a surprise in store for them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valetina had a special surprise for Alex when they got settled after departing the boat from Ireland. He had been so good during their trip that she decided he needed his very own Highland pony. Before the little family left the port city, she had arranged for him to have a sturdy, small legged pony saddled and ready for her little boy.

"His name is Pop." Valentina said as she brought Alex to meet the little horse, smiling as the horse snorted at him and tossed his brown mane. "Your Da and I thought that you could handle riding on your own."

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex's eyes were like plates as he was introduced to the sturdy little horse, and his gaze turned up to Valentina as if unsure whether he could believe her. He was properly convinced when Theo brought the pony closer and laid Alex's hand on his velvety nose. Alex couldn't find words, only able to bury his face against Valentina's hip and hug her tightly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh, bambino." Valentina said with a glance towards Theo as she gathered Alex up in her arms, hugging him as tightly as he would allow. "Your Da and I love you. We want you to have everything that a little boy could want, including your own horse. Besides, we have to impress Papa when we return. He'll never expect you to be riding on your own."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Do you think I can?" Alex asked softly, looking back to the pony.

"Sure y'can, lad. Jus' 'ave t'be careful is all. Ye've already got good form on Raul." As Theo came to help him, Alex hugged him tightly too, watching as Theo showed him the new gear Pop was wearing. Once Alex climbed on the pony's back, he was as comfortable as he was on Raul, but with a little less room for error as Pop was so much smaller. Theo let him ride around for a few minutes to make sure the saddle was comfortable and everything was fitted properly for them both. Alex tried circles and zig-zags, learning how to handle the reins quickly with the occasional encouragement from his parents.

Glancing to Valentina, Theo grinned and kissed her before Alex returned, ready and excited to go, even if he was a little nervous.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll be fine." Valentina murmured as Theo watched Alex with a sense of fatherly pride, an excited grin on his lips. "Luckily his Ma can set all those nasty broken bones and kiss away the bruises that will come with a fall from a horse."

"Do you think he'll do?" Valentina asked as Alex came by them again, Pop shaking his mane with a spirited snort. "I think that he already likes you, bambino."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's perfect," Alex told them with clear enchantment.

"We'll see about tha' once you two have t' ride across Scotland together," Theo chuckled, patting Alex's shoulder before getting his own horse again.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Go on a short ride with your Da." Valentina said as she kissed Alex's forehead. "Get a feel for being in the saddle. Then, we can get Raul saddled and ready to start back towards Inverness. Mama is ready to be home."

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex, as ever, was hesitant to leave Valentina's side, but he followed Theo away at a good trot. It'd be a while before he could handle galloping, but hopefully he'd master riding early and be more confident on his own- that was part of the intention of buying Pop.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina smiled as she watched Alex ride after Theo, the little boy glancing over his shoulder towards her from time to time. She simply waved at him, showing that she wasn't going to disappear the moment that he was out of her sight. They still had work to do on Alex's confidence, but she was sure in time he would be as strong as anyone else. Luckily, he had a Ma that had a stubborn streak and endless patience, picked up from her two parents who had waited so long to be together.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once they set out again, Pop kept up just fine with the tall horses, and Alex began to learn the fortitude it took to ride a horse alone for hours at a time. Normally he was able to doze off against his parents in their saddles if he grew tired. Now, he had to stay awake and alert. Even if it meant they needed to stop a little earlier in the evening for the sake of an exhausted Alex, it was good practice and Theo didn't mind at all as it gave him more time to sit with Valentina and enjoy her company while Alex slept the night away.

 

[heartofcourage]

They were getting closer to Inverness. The scenery was becoming more familiar to Valentina as they set up camp that evening. Alex ate his meal and she tucked him into the bedroll in the tent, kissing his brow as he went to sleep instantly. She was so proud of the little boy for all that he had overcome. He was a perfect fit for their little family.

She relaxed as she stretched out alongside Theo, her head resting on his chest as they enjoyed the fire on the clear, warm night. "I think I'll have a gown when we get married. You haven't seen me in a proper dress just yet."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Up t'you, love," he murmured, his fingers sifting through her long, ebony hair as he often did in the evenings after she freed it from its usual ponytail or bun.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you think Alex would stay with Ma for a few days? I want a small honeymoon with you." She murmured, hinting for the first time that she wanted to take time off from healing to be with him. "Maybe to Dumfries or Edinburgh."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure 'e would. He's almos' as comfortable with 'er an' Vincenzo now as 'e is with us," Theo reasoned, glancing down at her as she told him she wanted to get away with him. "It'd be nice... See a new place, an' find new secret places t'steal you away to."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I was thinking about us starting a family too." Valentina said as she gave Theo a warm smile when he mentioned stealing her away. "I think I'd like to wait a while before we started having children. It would give us time to have a nice home, get Alex use to all of the change, and just give us time to be a little family."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'know there's no rush," he assured her. They were young with plenty to do before they committed to a larger family. And even if they never had more than Alex, Theo was content with his new life. The three of them were all lost souls in one way or another, drawn together by understanding and sheer dedication.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know. I just want us all to be on the same page when it comes to our family. It's a big step." Valentina said softly as Theo's large fingers skimmed through her dark hair.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It is. An' it's no' easy t'take tha' step the first time." Theo let his head rest against her own with a smile. "I look forward to it, though, lass."