Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"It'll all be alright." She murmured softly, hoping that he believed those words as well. "She'll pull through and this will all be a horrible memory soon."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam didn't answer, walking with Fiona to where Kennah awaited. Kennah nudged Sam's arm but he didn't respond, pulling himself up into the saddle. Finally he murmured, "I'll be fine, Fiona. I jus' need t'go be alone fer a while." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you on my rounds t'morrow."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nodded as he did that, knowing that he needed time alone to process everything that had happened. She just hoped that Sam didn't pull away completely. She had to trust that what was growing between them was strong enough to survive his family's emergency.

 

[KieranSoares]

"See you tomorrow," he muttered before Kennah set off at a quick trot.

It was an early start, but Dazu was patient and a good teacher for those that came to help. Leon kept to himself running the ovens beside Dazu, and Will spent most of his time chopping wood or helping customers.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona pulled her own weight at the bakery the next day, doing what was asked if her without question. At lunch time, she fixed a meal for everyone, hearty enough to fill everyone's belly after a long morning. She crept upstairs to bring some to the rest of the family as well. It felt like she was intruding on their privacy, but she caught glimpses of scenes that warmed her heart.

Boar had taken Lucy, Jamie, and Lynn out of the house to get their minds off everything. Emma stayed to care for her daughter when Aleister slept, but at that moment, she was rocking her fragile granddaughter beside the fire. Her eyes were closed, but she was humming a soft melody to the baby girl, comforting her from the pain and weakness that she felt. Fiona's heart ached for the family but she knew that they were in the best of hands.

Pausing in the doorway to the kitchen, Fiona spotted Aleister sitting at the table, his head in his hands. The look of disorientation was heartbreaking.

"I made some lunch." Fiona said softly. "Would you like a bowl? It's mutton stew with some fresh baked bread."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister looked up slowly. It seemed at first that he didn't recognize her, his mind was so far away. But as he shook himself out of his daze, he sat back and murmured. "Thank ya, lass. I appreciate ya comin' t'help."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'd gladly do it again." Fiona said softly as she sat the pot of stew over the fire and made him a bowl. "You and your wife gave me a chance when no one else would. I owe the both of you a lot."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We rented you a house, lass. Hardly worth you comin' t'help us keep the business goin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can keep a roof over your head just as easily as you can out a roof over mine." Fiona said as she put the bowl in front of him and took a seat. "How is she?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Still ain' woken up," he muttered. "Alex is with 'er now. Th' others're asleep in th'spare room." Aleister sighed, looking down at the food with a clear lack of appetite. He tried to eat anyway, knowing he needed to take care of himself so he could care for Kayla.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And the baby?" Fiona asked him softly, glancing towards Emma as she continued to rock by the fire. "She seems pretty content right now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Pneumonia." Aleister looked to his little girl as Emma rocked her slowly in Kayla's chair. "It's gettin' worse. But a' least she can breathe."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Does she have a name?" Fiona knew she had no right to ask any of these questions but it seemed to help Aeister to talk about them, even if it was brief with no good news.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Andraste. Andra. Tha's the name Kay wanted." Even Fiona knew that Aleister and Kayla had been going back and forth about names they each liked. After such a traumatic birth and with the possibility of losing Kayla becoming very real, Aleister was planning for the worst, saving an extra piece of Kayla in their daughter's name. He almost seemed certain he'd lose her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's a beautiful name." Fiona murmured as Aleister looked so anguished. "I'm sure that the boys will be over the moon when they are allowed to hold her. And Kayla will be very happy with how you have handled everything."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll see," was Aleister's simple response as Dazu appeared in the doorway.

"Sam's here," he said to both of them. "Julia sent him along with a few things."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced towards Dazu when he walked in the and announced that Sam was there. She nodded and left Aleister in peace to go and greet Sam. She wondered what mood he would be in when she greeted him.

 

[KieranSoares]

When she came downstairs, she found Sam and a squad of ten men just outside unloading a cart of chopped wood from the lumber camp. It was a common comfort offered by the Ghis to friends and family going through rough patches. It would mean a lot less work and therefore less stress and more free time for Aleister. An odd addition had come as well, someone Fiona recognized at only a glance. Khelt Aleister had arrived in Inverness and it seemed his business was with someone at Aleister's home. His fur had long since gone white with age, only flecks of grey remaining around his neck, chest, and arms. Fiona had seen him many times in her life when he came to quietly stalk the Invernessian streets and gather who knew what kind of information. As the former right hand of Queen Sarah of Ireland, he was free to do as he pleased, almost untouchable.

Khelt's golden-grey eyes found Fiona, and he gave her a small nod before stepping inside silently, a parcel under one arm.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona paused when she saw Khelt walking into the house. She had not expected to see him there at that time, but it wasn't exactly surprising. Since he had retired from Sarah Monaghan's service he had spent much time traveling to visit his grandson, Kell, and spending time with his adopted daughter, Emily.

"What is he doing here?" Fiona asked softly, glancing towards Sam as she gave a nod towards Kell before he disappeared into the house.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He was comin' t'visit an' 'e brought some things fer Val t'help with Kayla," Sam muttered, watching the old wolf disappear up the stairs. "He never says much, doesn' explain, an' 'e does as 'e pleases. Things usually turn out better for it, so I don' question 'im."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You didn't sleep last night, did you?" Fiona asked with a slightly concerned tone. "I can see the shadows under your eyes, Sam. You should have stayed to talk last night."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I wouldn' 'ave done anyone any good jus' sittin' around worryin'," he insisted quietly. "Ma already gave me th'same lecture.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because your Ma is right." Fiona said, reaching out to touch Sam's cheek gently. "You carry too much on your shoulders."

When it was just the two of them with family, she felt more comfortable expressing herself around him. Surrounded by other men that he worked with, she only felt comfortable touching his cheek briefly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam lifted a gloved hand to her own, his expression softening when he met her concerned gaze. "Someone 'as to." He glanced around the shop and added, "Katya an' Timmal're going t'come work 'ere starting t'morrow, til things get back t'normal. They'll stay on fer as long as Al needs 'em."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can cook for them every meal if they need." Fiona offered, knowing that she was probably in a place where she didn't belong, but not knowing what else to do. "Will needs to get back to his duties and I haven't mustered the courage to go and talk to the tailor about a job yet. I feel like it's the least that I can do for Al."