The Baker's Assistant (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Aleister lifted his head as she spoke, and he simply didn't have the state of mind or the energy to argue. He leaned back in the chair and he was out like a light after a mumbled, "Y'still look exhausted yerself..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla laughed softly as he said that she still looked exhausted. She placed her head back on the pillow and gazed down at her son who was sleeping peacefully. Gently, she kissed his sandy hair and held him close. With Lunndon safe in her arms, she closed her eyes to sleep.

She woke a few hours later as Emma placed a tray of stew on her bedside table, giving her daughter a gentle smile. "You Da is already in love with that boy. He's already gotten him dressed and ready to go hunting."

Kayla have her mother a slight smile at that as she pushed herself up in bed, wincing at the soreness in her body. "I'm sure he has. Maybe we should give him a few years before he's expected to bring down a boar."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister woke hearing their voices, sitting up slowly with a smile to them both. "Mornin' ladies." Boar had talked to Emma while Kayla slept, noting that she and Aleister had been inseparable. He wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Da's got Lynndon." Kayla said with a smile on Aleister's direction. "Please go save the boy before he has a bow and arrow in his tiny hands."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister chuckled and picked himself up from the chair, finding himself sore from the hard and uncomfortable seat. He disappeared out the door and the voices of both men soon drifted in as they began talking. Aleister returned a few minutes later with the newborn tucked securely in his arms. It was the first time he'd gotten to hold the boy, and he seemed perfectly enchanted.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla ate her meal and talked with her mother as Lynndon was cared for by Aleister and Boar. When Aleister returned, she smiled as he seemed so happy to be holding the baby. She chuckled as Lynndon cooed and squirmed, his arms waving wildly about as be stretched and moved.

"He's a good baby." She said softly as her eyes strayed towards the painting of Gale on her bedside table. "And he looks like his father. He'll be handsome as he grows."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister took his seat at Kayla's side once more and Lynndon began to settle for a while before he began quietly whimpering for his mother's attention. He didn't seem to cry much, but he did let his needs be known when they arose.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla room him back in her arms to nurse, the little boy suckling in hunger that would have felled a grown man. Kayla had to laugh softly as she watched him, his little fingers curling against her breast.

""Thank you for being here with me, Aleister." Kayla said softly, giving him a smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Pleasure, lass," Aleister smiled in return. "I told ya I was excited fer this lad. Wouldn' 'ave missed 'is arrival fer th'world. Though I 'ave t'say I didn' expect t'be so involved." But he was honored for it, having such trust from Kayla that he'd become her anchor through the pain and fear.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I needed you here every step of the way." Kayla said, looking at him with a gentle look in her eyes. "Just as you've been since I came back from Edinburgh. This wasn't any different."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Y'sure know how t'make a man feel needed, Kayla."

Over the next few days, Aleister ran the bakery with Dazu, but spent lunch and some time in the evenings with Kayla, always around to help her. By the time she returned to the bakery, not to work but to visit as Aleister wouldn't allow her back to work just yet, she found Dazu running the front counter as most of their customers found him charming, and he was getting a good and quick grasp of English thanks to it. Aleister would chime in whenever he was needed. The new stone oven was in its early stages of being built, and Aleister had put in a new rack in the front shop for the sweets that had become rather popular.

When Kayla entered, Bell was there talking with Aleister, and she turned with a bright smile to see Kayla and little Lynndon. "Well look at this handsome little man," she came to smile down at Lynndon before hugging Kayla. "Congratulations, Kay."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you, Bell." Kayla said as Lynndon fussed in the sling that her Ma had made for her to help carry him around. "He's getting more vocal every day. He's learned how to use his lungs very well, especially when he's wet or hungry."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just be glad your first is a boy and not a girl. Boys cry when they need something, girls cry for anything," Bell chuckled and turned as Aleister stepped into the front room.

"Afternoon, lass," Aleister dusted his apron off as he smiled to Kayla. "Anything I can get ya?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"No. I came to visit since you won't let me work." Kayla said, giving Aleister a look as she bounced Lynndon in her arms to calm the boy down. "And maybe a currant scone for my sweet tooth."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can do tha'." Aleister walked behind the counter to get the scone for her. "An' if y'want t'come back t'work, y'can. But I better no' catch ya doin' any runnin' around an' tirin' yerself out." Aleister turned to give her a smile. "An' I 'ave tha' crib set up fer Lynndon too."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Lynndon makes me run around and tire myself out enough." Kayla said as the boy started to cry, showing off just how loud his little lungs could be.

Kayla was dutiful, pulling him from the sling and placing him against her should, patting his back as she cooed and whispered to him. His little face was red with anger and she knew that he was either hungry or wet.

"Can I take him to your apartment, Aleister?" She asked him softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Go 'head, lass," he came round to open up the door to the stairwell for her. "I set th'crib an' a changin' table up in th'corner o' the den."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled at Aleister as he told her that the changing table and crib were set up in his den. He hadn't been joking when he told her that he wanted to dote on the baby as much as possible. It warmed her heart to know that Lynndon would have a man in his life that he could look up to and immolate.

She changed her fussy son's diaper, finding him wet. Then she settled in Aleister's well worn chair and let him nurse, sighing as he sucked hungrily with great gulps. With luck he would grow strong like his father and with none of the illness that had plagued Gale and his family.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Lynndon had had his fill, he settled quite happily in the quiet space, comfortable there as he was at home. Perhaps it was because Aleister's home had become such a safe place while Kayla still carried Lynndon.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla nuzzled against her son as the infant rested against her shoulder for what seemed like forever. Her thoughts were still a jumbled mess but at least she knew that she did care for Aleister a great deal.

"What do you think, Lynndon?" Kayla murmured, kissing his chubby cheek as his clear blue eyes stared into her own. "Do you think he would be a good Da?"

 

[KieranSoares]

The boy's only answer was to yawn sleepily and curl just a little closer to his mother. For the time being, the infant didn't have a care in the world outside his mother's arms.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla simply kissed his cheek once more before she went to tuck him into the warm cradle that Aleister had put together. Once he was dozing, Kayla made her way down to the bake house and silently grabbed her apron. Just as quietly as she had appeared, she got back to work tending to an oven and working the front of the bakery.

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister and Dazu worked around her at quite a pace. Ever since Dazu joined them, Aleister hadn't been overwhelmed even on the busiest days and now with Kayla back, they coasted easily through the day, taking over for her whenever she needed to tend to her son.

 

[heartofcourage]

After they were done and Dazu had looked in on Lynndon, Kayla locked the shop door behind him and made her way up to Aleister's rooms. She paused in the door, a smile on her lips as she saw her dear friend holding her son so gently. Lynndon stared up at him with those bright blue eyes, cooing at something he found particularly enjoyable.

"I think he likes you." She said softly. "Probably about as much as his Ma does."

 

[KieranSoares]

Aleister smiled back to Kayla, coming to her side to kiss her cheek. "I guess I'm jus' a likable kind o' guy." He was already incredibly protective and loving of the boy, just as much as he was of Kayla. It was no surprise that Lynndon enjoyed Aleister considering that he probably knew Aleister's voice as well as Kayla's even while he'd been yet unborn.