Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I never really thought that he would be the one that I had to worry about." Julia said with a long sigh as she looked up at Sam. "Eat breakfast quickly, love. We're going with Ciaran and Justin to meet this little cub. He wants our opinion. You might as well come along too."

"We have to take some supplies to Suara." Fiona said, looking at Sam with a shrug of her shoulders. "We could even eat an early lunch in the village."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll head over there righ' after," Sam nodded to Fiona, making his way to his usual seat with her beside. By the time Ciaran and Justin arrived from Justin's mother's home, they were ready and they all set out on horseback.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was giving Ciaran the grilling of a lifetime over the little cub that they were going to see, questioning if he was really ready to be a father. Fiona breathed a little sigh of relief that it wasn't them that she was grilling.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran took every question calmly, answering quietly without a slip-up. Justin had moved into the keep over winter as they'd discussed the idea of being parents, and once they'd gotten serious about it, Ciaran had set up a little nursery next to his room. And even as they made their way to Hara's home, Justin had a small bag of things they might need if both they and Hara decided it was a good match.

When they arrived and left their horses, Hara came to greet them. "Hello, boys," she murmured, meeting the two men with a warm embrace. She always made friends with anyone seeking to adopt, learning about them before she even considered letting the meet any of the children. Now that she was older, her own children helped her run the little village orphanage and her mate had passed peacefully around the same time as Kitty.

Sam wrapped an arm around Fiona just out of habit as Hara went to fetch the little cub. She emerged with a beautiful, incredibly tiny red-brown cub wrapped in an oddly rich blanket that was definitely some of the local weavers' best work. A smile immediately came to Ciaran and Justin's faces. Hara let Ciaran take.the cub and spoke to them all. "I've already told these boys everything I know about her. I'm afraid this little one doesn't have a name. She was brought to us only hours after she was born by a healer. Her human mother didn't survive, but we understand she was from Norway and she was a friend to some of the weavers. We believe the healer was actually her father, their fur was exactly the same. But he just left this little one in my arms and walked away. The last anyone saw him, he was boarding a ship headed east."

Hara looked to the little cub. "She's very small and a bit frail, but she's healthy and I trust Justin and Ciaran with her. Every time they've visited, they've shown nothing but the utmost care. And despite a war going on, I think they can do better for her than I can."

Ciaran turned to Julia and Brogan with the little cub, letting them meet her properly as she began to wake. She was very quiet, only whimpering slightly until Ciaran shifted her and she settled. He already had a fantastic way with children, and Justin had learned plenty from Heather and Ashelin as well. "What do you think, Ma?" Ciaran asked softly, looking to the woman he trusted most. "We want to name her Dana."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think she's beautiful, love, but I want you to be absolutely certain about this." Julia said softly as he showed her the cub he wanted as his own. "Who will watch her during the day? Who will feed her when times are tough? What happens if the two of you decide to split? I trust you to make good decisions but these are all things that you need to consider."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran had every answer she asked for. "Well, seeing as Fiona is training full-time and the shop is growing, Justin is hiring two more workers and he'll have the cub during the day. He'll hire another assistant if he needs to, the shop can afford it. We've got emergency money set aside for hard times and we're always adding to it, and if things don't work out between us... We agreed we'll let her decide her situation when she's older, but until then, we'll make sure she sees both of us as much as she likes." Ciaran looked to Justin. "And... Because I am an officer and he's a Wolf, we're also prepared if something happens to one or both of us."

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia looked her son in the eye as he finished answering all of her questions, a small little smile coming to her lips. "Prepare yourself for a lifetime of heartache, my heart. She will make your heart stop at the smallest of moments."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then I guess it's settled." Ciaran looked to his father, seeing the huge man smile and draw Julia close against his side. He then turned with Justin to Hara, who came to kiss Dana's cheek in farewell.

"Go on home. It'll take a while to adjust and she might miss my family for a while, so be prepared," Hara warned them. "I think it's a perfect match. What will her full name be?"

Ciaran and Justin shared a glance before Justin answered, "Dana Erin Ghis. And maybe before long I'll take his name too."

 

[heartofcourage]

Tiny little Dana squirmed in her new father's arms, stretching her little legs before she settled again with a little sigh. She snuggled up against Ciaran's chest without a care in the world, content to be held and loved by him.

"Congratulations, my heart." Julia said softly as Brogan held her tightly against his side.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ciaran then turned to Fiona and Sam. "What do you two think?" He let Sam take the little girl, chuckling at Sam's surprise at being the first to hold her.

"I think I'll be first in line fer babysitting when I'm free," Sam smiled down at Dana.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't get any ideas, Sam." Fiona murmured as he was handed Dana, his newest niece watching him so closely as he got the first chance to hold her. "They're cute now, but they're also a lot of work."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm no' gettin' any ideas. I'll jus' enjoy my siblings' kids fer a few years," Sam murmured, meeting Dana's gaze. "She migh' be my new favorite."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Until Kate's baby comes along." Fiona said as she saw just how much Sam enjoyed simply being with his family and the children that they were bringing into the world. "And then Rho's. You'll have lots of favorites along the way."

Julia chuckled as she finally stepped forward and scooped up her newest granddaughter, nuzzling against the cub for the very first time. "Hello, my little love."

 

[KieranSoares]

Dana gave a soft whine in response, nuzzling back against Julia. Brogan reached up to touch her little cheek, murmuring, "Hiya, darlin'," he whispered. "Welcome t'the family." Out of the corner of his eye, he smiled to see Ciaran wrap his arms around Justin, leaning against him with a smile of his own.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your grandpa will fight so hard to spoil you." Julia whispered to the little cub as Brogan touched her cheek. "You and Bridget are his girls. I'm sure that he'll succeed beautifully."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Take her home," Hara encouraged, sending them all off back toward Inverness. Justin carried Dana on their way, and Sam and Fiona split from the group near the keep on their way to the Erygonian village.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced towards Sam as they broke off, the look on his face telling him that he was happy in the moment. "You'll have your hands full with three little ones all added within months of each other. Four, I suppose, with Bridget."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' mind," Sam murmured, unable to get rid of the silly little grin on his face. "It'll be stressful fer everyone what with everythin' goin' on, but Inverness is safe fer the time being. They can focus on their families while th'rest of us make sure tha' Inverness stays safe fer th'little ones."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You really do love children, don't you?" Fiona asked with a chuckle as she watched him grin like a fool after meeting Dana. "I would love to make your dream of children come true as soon as I could, but it just isn't the time or place in our lives to do that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You don' have to, love. I'm alrigh' an' I know it isn' a good time anyway. I can wait. It'll make th'moment we have 'em tha' much better." Sam leaned over to kiss her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Besides, I have to finish raising Will and you have to finish raising Elin." Fiona said with a smile towards him. "I'm not sure which has the hard job: you or me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can guarantee mine'll take longer. But we'll see who's more trouble out o' those two. My money's on Will what with his crush on Lucy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I keep telling him to go slow and leave her alone until she's older, but it seems as if they are the best of friends. I suppose I'll have to go talk to Dazu and Leon before long." Fiona said with a long sigh, shaking her head as she thought about the mess that Will was getting himself into.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' think Will would try anythin' before both he an' Lucy're old enough. He's a good lad," Sam commented. "An' Lucy's smart as they come. Crush 'r no, she won' get into too much trouble."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can only hope. We don't need any more babies in this family right now." Fiona said, leaning over in the saddle to kiss Sam's cheek.