Of the Fells

"Because the tribes always honor their elderly." Valentina said as Alex insisted that he did believe in the fairy tails still. "Other stories are meant to teach us a lesson and once the lesson is taught, the story ends."
 
"You can learn more than one lesson from a story," Alex still insisted, though he understood what Valentina meant. He was just a bit too realistic.
 
"Bambino, you are far too serious for someone your age. I insist that you be a little boy." Valentina commented, kissing his brow.
 
"I don't have a choice. I am little," he countered. He might not have been Ghis by blood, but he certainly had the stubbornness and ability to banter like most of them. Even so young, he could probably outdo Boar at some level.
 
"Do I need to punish you for not being a little boy?" Valentina asked for a grin down at him. "I can be very creative in my punishments, bambino."
 
"What are you going to make me do? Go outside?" Alex asked with a little teasing grin back. "That'll be just awful, Mama." His head was clearing quickly, enough to sass her at least a little like her brothers often did.
 
"I'll cancel your lessons." Valentina said as she quirked an eyebrow down at him. "And I will tell all your aunts and uncles the same."
 
"Okay," Alex nodded, not giving her an inch even as he laid his head against her shoulder. A warm laugh came from the kitchen doorway at that. Brogan stepped in and came to kiss Valentina's cheek.

"Little lad givin' ya trouble, Val?"
 
"Always, it seems." Valentina said as her older brother stepped into the kitchen. "He's trying to grow up too fast. I told him I could put a stop to that."
 
"Just like you, huh?" Brogan teased. "Don' let 'er fool you, Alex. She was just like you when she was little. She's tryin' t'pull all the same things everyone else did with her. Make 'er pay for it." That made Alex giggle, tucking his face against Valentina's shoulder.
 
"Your uncle is a rotten man." Valentina commented as Alex giggled and pressed his face against her shoulder. "As rotten as they come."
 
"I jus' like havin' fun at yer expense, love," Brogan insisted. "How're ya feelin', lad?"

"A lot better," Alex nodded to him with a little smile.

"Good. Y'gave us all a big scare. Don' want t'lose our little healer-in-training."
 
"He's concerned about my wedding. I keep trying to tell him that his two grandmothers will not let any of us miss the occasion." Valentina said as Alex seemed to wake up more and more.
 
"It's important to a little lad tha' the two people 'e loves most get their special day," Brogan reminded her. "You know 'ow important it was to all of us tha' Ma finally got t'marry yer Da."
 
"Soon, in time, before long... none o' those are very quick fer a child, Val. You remember tha'. He's patient fer everythin' but you bein' happy. No' tha' you should rush. Jus' remember where 'e's comin' from," Brogan encouraged with a smile. "Good things're worth waitin' for, an' chasin'. Alex seems like more a chaser."
 
"Just don't chase someone too far away from home. That's where I draw the line, bambino." Valentina murmured, looking down at her boy with a grin.
 
"I'm never leaving," Alex promised. "There's no reason to, except maybe to find new plants."

"He's gonna make you pay fer everythin' you did when you were growin' up," Brogan laughed. "Best ask Vincenzo fer help an' mercy now."
 
"I think I can handle him." Valentina said as she wrapped Alex into a tighter hug and kissed his brow.

The wedding would take place a week later. Preparations were in full swing thanks to her mother and Valentina couldn't be more pleased. As she stood in front of the mirror for her final fitting, she glanced over at Alex as he sat patiently watching her.

"What do you think, bambino? Think Da will like this dress?" She asked.
 
"He'll love it," Alex nodded resolutely. He had recovered quickly, especially now that he was no longer hazy. Save the dark, thin scar on his neck, it was as if nothing had happened to him at all.
 
"Good." Valentina said, looking at herself once more in the mirror. "And what do we say about my hair? Up or down? Your Da enjoys it down."
 
"You always have it up when you're working, and a wedding isn't work," Alex reasoned. "So down." He slid down from his seat to dutifully straighten a ruffled part of the gown.
 
"And for you..." Valentina said, picking him up and holding him on her hip. "I have something truly special. Your Papa ordered you a brand new Italian suit. And he might have included your own satchel as well."
 
Alex's eyes grew wide at that. "He didn't have to..." The boy murmured. "That must've cost so much..."
 
"We all helped, bambino. He wanted you to be a true part of our family and he knew you would love it." Valentina said with a smile as Alex grew excited over the thought of his own satchel and a new suit. "You mean the world to us and we want you to be happy."
 
Back
Top