The Baker's Assistant (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"Is it that obvious?" Kayla asked, giving the lion a smile. "It's probably the same way that Leon looks at you all the time. He loves you and loves that you treat Lucy so well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"When he isn't in front of other people... yes. He talks more often, and loves freely when he is not afraid to be weak. And now that I'm speaking more easily, he can talk to me more." He leaned on the counter then, and murmured. "I think... I might ask him to marry me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He would tell you no because he's a stubborn fool." Kayla said with a smile as Dazu mentioned marriage. "You know I would help you in whatever you wanted to do. Mummy and Da too. They love you like you were their own son."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Help me change his mind," Dazu chuckled. "He will say no... many times, until he sees I won't give up and I won't leave him. Lucy may have to help."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll never say no to Lucy." Kayla said with a grin. "Perhaps when she's being read her nighttime stories, you could ask him. She would be so excited."

Kayla stepped to Dazu and hugged him tightly, so happy that her brother was loved so fiercely by the lion that had become a dear friend.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's good to know you support us," he murmured, hugging her close with his usual gentle smile. He soon let her go so he could tend the ovens, leaving her with a brotherly kiss to her cheek. By this point, Aleister and Durban had come to some kind of stalemate, and Aleister wasn't about to be intimidated even by a man who'd once been his commander. It wasn't uncivil, just tense as Durban came to give his farewell to Kayla and headed home.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was finishing up with the oven as Lynndon napped in his crib in the warmth. She glanced over her shoulder as Aleister came back in, the tense look on his features after her uncle left.

"Was it horrible, love?" She asked him, wanting to kiss the look away from his face. "I can talk to him in private if you think he is out of line."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can' fault a man fer tryin' t'protect 'is niece," Aleister murmured, clearly very troubled by something Durban had said. "His fears aren' unfounded... but I can' believe he still thinks I'm th'way I was back then." He looked over at her and sighed, "After my las' battle, I was paranoid as could be... thought I 'eard men comin' t'attack me an' my boys every night even though I was here alone. Once lashed out at someone when I 'eard somethin' tha' sounded like one o' those cannons they've got down on the mainland... nearly killed someone, I was so scared." Kayla knew the issue well, having seen it growing up and now and again with her uncles and father. Particular sounds would set them off, or they'd have horrifying nightmares of the boom of cannons and seeing men blown apart in the war with Wick.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love, Uncle Brogan and Ashien have the same nightmares still today. It doesn't mean that you're a bad person or that you don't deserved to be loved. Durban knows that, but he wants me to be with someone that cares for me and won't harm me." Kayla said softly, moving to take Aleister's hands in her own and squeezing them tightly. "I know that you won't hurt me, even if one of these dreams does come back. You would never hurt me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They do come back... too often fer my liking..." He sighed, pulling her in to hug her close. "I'm worried I'll scare you off if y'saw 'em... an' 'e's right t'be afraid I'd hurt ya some night when th'thunder sets me off..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You never would." Kayla said softly as he hugged her close. "And you would never hurt Lynndon. You love us too much to do that."

She simply hugged him tightly, knowing that he had to think through some very serious things. She hoped that he would decide that it was worth it in the end. When she pulled back from the hug, she looked up at him and gently cupped his face.

"Now, give me a kiss and then let's get Lynn bundled up for dinner at the tavern." She said, giving him a soft smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'make it hard t'say no even if I wanted to," he murmured before kissing her sweetly and slowly. Once they were on their way, Dazu headed home to Leon, Aleister carried Lynndon and spoke to him softly as his bright little eyes took in the world around them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla admired the way that Aleister cared for Lynndon like he was his own son. The little boy was completely bonded with her lover and she couldn't think of a better father for Lynn to have in place of his real father. He explained the world around them, letting him see things that most young children could never imagine.

"Perhaps tonight you could stay at my house. I figured Lynn should sleep in his crib at home at least a time or two before he outgrows it." Kayla said with a playful tone to her voice.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Y'know yer neighbors'll go tell on you," Aleister reminded her with a chuckle. "But I'd be glad to." He could never pass up a chance to spend time with Kayla, regardless of the fact that she had him wrapped around her finger.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I could care less what my neighbors have to say." Kayla said as she leaned over and kissed Aleister's cheek. "I'm happy with you and that's all that matters to me. Lynn loves you too. I couldn't think of a better man to be in our lives right now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Alright then," he grinned gladly, turning his head at the last second to catch her for a proper kiss, smiling like a cheeky child for it.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla actually blushed as he caught her lips, kissing her properly just in front of the tavern. She grinned up at him, elbowing him lightly in the side.

"Just for that, you'll be buying me dinner." She said, laughter in her voice. "And I won't be cheap about it either."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I always buy you whatever you want," he reminded her, opening up the door. Ria was out to meet them right away, already bringing their drinks as she knew what they liked.

"Hi, kids," she called, meeting them at their usual table.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hi, Ria." Kayla said in greeting as they were shown to their regular table and the drinks were already there waiting. "We brought you someone to help behind the bar."

Lynndon watched her with those bright eyes, a smile on his lips as he reached for the woman that was nearly a grandmother to him.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hello, sweetheart," Ria said happily as she scooped Lynndon up and kissed his cheeks until he squirmed and giggled in her arms. "You're growing so fast. You'll be taking your mother out to dinner before long." She let Kayla take him back, knowing she had too much work to do to cuddle the boy as much as she wanted. "So, the usual or something new?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Aleister is paying, so surprise me." Kayla said as she took Lynndon back and snuggled him tightly. "Something new would be a good thing this evening."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, Ger's been experimenting. Thinks he's a chef. You've never had pasta except Vincenzo's, right?" She ushered them over to sit them down. "Shout if you need anything else," she told them after Aleister opted for the same, then she made her way to Gerald.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Grandpa makes the best pasta in the isles so Gerald better be ready for disappointment." Kayla said as Lynndon snuggled up against her shoulder, letting out a sigh at being back in her familiar arms. "I promise not to be too harsh on him, though."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not Italian," Ria called back. "It's Greek." So she'd shared some recipes from her homeland with her lover.

Aleister watched her go, crossing his arms and sitting back in his chair. "Lot o' interesting people comin' t'stay in Inverness lately."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's a good thing. We learn so much just by staying at home." Kayla said with a smile as she bounced Lynn until he giggled in joy. "And it's a good place for a baby to grow and learn."