Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not sure some of us ever will, Kitty and I for sure," Warwick muttered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a necklace on a leather cord. Valentina would recognize it as one Ciaran had made for Warwick during one harvest festival. Warwick untied the cord and took a white bead from it, letting it fall from his fingers into the water. It was a small piece of closure for him, coming to the place where Ciaran fell defending his home.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina didn't say a word as she watched Warwick pull out the necklace that Ciaran had made for him one year. She quietly turned to look at Brogan, motioning him to leave Warwick in peace for a few moments. It was time for him to grieve for his son properly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan stepped back toward the horses, stroking Phearson's neck with a sigh. Looking to Valentina, he murmured, "I never thought 'e'd really come."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I knew he would." Valentina said, glancing over her shoulder to where Warwick knelt. "I just thought it would be when we placed him in the ground next to Mummy. I'm happy he came back to heal, however. Cole needed it just as much as he did."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And you?" Brogan asked. "I know you've always had Vincenzo too, but you and Warwick always had something special."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He's my Da just as much as Papa is. It's always been the way it was." Valentina said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I'm happy that he's here. He needed closure as much as anything, but knowing that he will be there when I wed Theo makes me incredibly happy."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan reached out to hug his younger sister, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I can' tell ya how happy I am for ya, Val. How happy all of us are, Ma especially. Y'picked a good man, an' ye've been a savior t'tha' little boy an' he fits perfectly with our family."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We just have to work on getting him to feeling better." Valentina said as Brogan held her tightly and kissed her forehead. "He's a happy little lad, as good as gold. It's hard to think that this has happened to him so soon after we adopted him."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He'll manage. You kept yer promise to 'im, love," Brogan reminded her. "When he was so afraid o' dying, y'promised 'im he'd wake up again. Tha' was all 'e needed. But 'e's 'ad a tough life so far, so he'll be a little slow t'recover. He'll be fine before you know it."

When Warwick finally returned to them, he was melancholy but it almost seemed as if he stood a little straighter.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Feeling better?" Valentina asked as Warwick joined them, a kiss pressed to his cheek as he stopped beside her. "You certainly look much better than when we arrived."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Better in some ways, worse in others," Warwick admitted. "I'm glad I could finally come and find some closure... but it means I have to accept that he really is gone. It's difficult when the last time I saw him, he was bright and lively as ever."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He was bright and lively until his final breath, Da." Valentina promised her father, kissing his cheek again as he seemed so relieved and down at the same time. "And we all work very hard to keep his memory alive."

 

[KieranSoares]

Warwick hugged Valentina close for a moment before climbing up in his saddle without another word. He needed time to think, especially before he went to visit Ashelin.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina left her father be as she climbed into her saddle and let Brogan lead the way back home. Once they were at the keep, Val left Raul to the stable boy before she went to go check on Theo and Alex. She hoped that the little boy was feeling better. It was rough on all of them with him being so ill.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Val found them, Theo was laying on a sofa in the library with Alex in his arms, Alex's head on his chest. A book lay aside, Theo having been reading to Alex. Alex was fast asleep, but Theo was simply dozing.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentine smiled at the sight that she found in the library. Alex had long since gone to sleep and Theo was content to hold his boy tightly and let him rest. She moved towards him, kissing his cheek and looking at Alex. His color was good and her seemed to be pain free.

"Did he eat dinner?" She asked Theo softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah," Theo murmured. "He's been doin' pretty well today." He brushed Alex's hair back before sitting up slowly, scooping the boy up without disturbing him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You look like a proud father." Valentina commented as Theo sat up and scooped Alex against his chest. "I'm glad to hear that he's doing better. I just wish that none of this had happened to him at all."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know, love. But a' least we knew what to do. If he 'adn't had parents who'd dealt with werefolk plague, I don' think 'e would've made it." Theo stood to carry Alex to his room, tucking him in before coming to wrap an arm around Valentina's waist with a kiss.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina wrapped Theo up in a tight hug, her head resting against his broad chest. He made her feel safe and secure, warmly wrapped up in his arms was like being in heaven.

"Marrying you can't come soon enough." She said with a silly grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd offer t'run off an' get married, but I wouldn't do tha' t'yer parents an' Warwick."Theo pressed a warm kiss to her lips, his arms settling about her waist.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's coming soon. We just have to be patient. Then we can move into our little cabin and start our lives." She said with a grin as he held her even tighter. "Ma has put so much work into this wedding. It might be the biggest little wedding that has ever happened."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Remind me to send yer Ma an' Da on a little vacation o' their own as thanks. Until then..." Theo pressed a soft kiss to her neck. "I've missed 'avin' time alone with you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina let out a small laugh as Theo pressed a kiss to her throat, telling her that he missed her. Her dark eyes looked into his own, her lips pressing so intimately against his own.

"Well, I have nothing pressing happening this evening. Maybe you would like to spend it in bed?" She offered, nuzzling against his cheek with fondness.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd like nothin' more," Theo muttered against her skin as he kissed the line of her jaw, taking her hands and leading her away to their room with a welcoming smile.