To Capture a Captain's Heart (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"I have hopes that when everything calms down and stays that way, we might be able to try for a baby again." Kayla said softly, giving him a gentle smile. "I want a little boy with your roguish grin. He would melt my heart day after day."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know if you could handle that much charm in one household," he chuckled softly. "I'd love a son, but I'd also love to have a little girl with your eyes." Like many men in her family, Christopher had a soft spot for girls. He was probably most like Brogan. Despite the traditional need for a son to secure the throne for his family's future generations, Brogan had been hoping for a girl when Julia had been carrying Ciaran, though he adored the boy to no end. When Kate pulled through her traumatic birth, he'd been over the moon even though she wasn't his by blood.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, we'll have to work on having both." Kayla said with a happy smile as she pulled her husband in for a gentle kiss. "I know it might be difficult, but with you at my side I know that all sorts of things are possible."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You put an awful lot of faith in me and our love," he murmured. "I'll consider my life well-lived if I never give you a reason to lose that faith." He met her kiss with all the warmth she could ask for. Once they'd left the table, he walked with her to her balcony with a bottle of Normandy wine and two glasses in hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

"As much as I love Scotland, Norway is absoluty beautiful." Kayla murmured as she settled on a cushioned chair on the balcony, looking out over her kingdom with the eyes of someone who adored and appreciated all that she saw.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Norway hasn't had a loving leader in far too long. And the last one was brought down in the war over England. I'm sure no one expected to suddenly have a queen who cares, especially one from Scotland." Christopher settled in the chair beside her and pressed a glass of wine into her hand. "I hear all the time how no one ever expected a princess from Scotland and a captain from Ireland to become the Queen and Lord Protector, much less like the job."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It was a good choice on our part." Kayla said as she took the wine from her husband and rested against his side. "I'm glad that we took the chance. I don't think there's any other place that I'd rather be right now. It's finally starting to feel like home."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think it's because we've been away so long. We got attached and then had to leave. But it helps that your PSOE were excited to welcome us back home... It's always nice to be welcomed back."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And with your horses here and a new stable being built I hope that you're feeling more at home." Kayla said with a smile as she leaned over and kissed his cheek gently. "Because being happy with you is what matters the most."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You'll never know how much it means to me that you brought my horses. I probably would've left them to the Monaghan family or your brothers, but I don't think I could've managed the trouble in the Rus without Red. He is to me what Ballas is to you." He kissed her in thanks in return.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's the least I could do since you followed me halfway across Europe without a single complaint." Kayla said with a smile as he kissed her cheek. "You gave up a lot to be with me, Chris. That means a lot to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You gave up even more and took on the mantle of Queen even though no one expected you to. I think we're even." Christopher wrapped an arm around her and sat back comfortably. It was a beautiful and perfect evening and he was content to share it with her alone.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla was content to be held against her husband's side, his strong arm wrapped around her shoulders as they enjoyed the calm evening around them. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed a peaceful day like this one, an evening where it was just the both of them without the threat of worry.

 

[KieranSoares]

After the sun had disappeared below the horizon and a cool wind picked up, Christopher was a bit reluctant to go inside. The stars began to appear and he murmured quietly, "Ian would love to be out here, especially the mountains. He'd be able to see forever. I used to go help him on his farm all the time, and we'd talk about what he read in the stars." He smiled to Kayla then, "He's one of the few people who made it hard to leave... Even more so than Stephen and Jessie. Do you remember Ian Kinsey?" Ian and Christopher had been close friends since they were young, Christopher having never known his parents and Ian being rather isolated thanks to his father being a Wolf and his mother being a Seer of the stars. Both were lonely boys and had been fast friends.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Barely." Kayla admitted as Christopher talked about his friend Ian. "I don't remember much from Ireland the first time I visited. It was all about Cassie and Brogan and their wedding. I remember dancing with you. It was my first proper dance. Ma had made a dress specially for me in our clan colors and it was the first time that she let my hair be done by the serving maids."

She gave Christopher a smile as she thought about that day. "I remember meeting him there, but only briefly. He seemed kind enough."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He was always smitten with Sarah. And as I've heard it, they may be making a new life together final since your brother gave her a second chance. He's a good man, loyal as they come. If he'd ever been in the military, he'd be my most trusted soldier and I might've asked him to come with me. But he's a farmer and he loves his land. I could never have asked him to leave even if he is my best friend. I miss him, though... He was the brother I never had."

 

[heartofcourage]

Sarah. Even the sound of her name left a bad taste in Kayla's mouth. She had done so much to damage her family that she didn't know if she could ever find it in her heart to forgive her completely.

"If she makes him happy..." Kayla said softly, knowing that Christopher would accept whoever Ian chose to love if it made him happy.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you must hate her. It's heartbreaking to think she used to be so sweet and then losing Brogan eventually made her a monster... But I trust Ian and Brogan's judgement that she can change for the better. With a second chance, maybe she can do more good than she even did in harm." He turned to her with a smile. "But enough about other people. I've seen you sneaking peeks at me all day, and I'm interested to know what was on your mind."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kayla smiled as Christopher changed the subject, holding her close as he teased her about sneaking looks at him all day. "Just wondering how I ended up with such a handsome husband. I'm perhaps the luckiest person in all of Europe."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You could've done much worse, I'll give you that," Chris grinned. "And it's not every person that gets to marry their love. But it seems to be a requirement for the Ghis."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've loved you since that first moment I saw you in Ireland." Kayla said softly as she gave him a fond smile. "You had that new uniform that was just slightly too big and I still thought you were the most handsome man I had ever met."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd just become a Corporal then, I think. They gave me the uniform of the man before me since I was only sixteen and still growing." He let his head rest against her own. "And you were wearing that beautiful pale green dress with the silver belt and your mother's Ghis crest around your neck. Remember the chain broke and you lost it? And I rode like a madman all the way to the port just as the ship was taking you back home to give it back to you when I found it in the corner of the ballroom."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think Ma fell in love with you herself that day." Kayla said with a smile as she remembered that lovely day. "I think that we were meant to be together. Something pulled us together that day. Now, we're together forever."

Kayla rested her dark head against his shoulder, taking in the moment for all that it was worth. "Think you could afford a few days for rest and relaxation? I have nothing pressing waiting for me at the moment."

 

[KieranSoares]

"As long as our guest doesn't need me, I can clear my schedule," he nodded slightly. Monomakh wouldn't be leaving til he could make the journey home safely, but the man was really a gentleman and didn't trouble Kayla or Christopher.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That's just the answer I was looking for." Kayla said with a grin as she pulled Christopher down for a kiss full of passion and promise. "I've missed you, Chris. I've missed loving you."