As fate would have it

[Lovely]

December 17, Year 1
morning


Aeilandra had been worried for awhile about what her ex husband might do if he found out that she was with child as she had suspected she was. She'd not had her womanly time since before she'd come to stay with the Carlisle family and the rounding of her belly which showed as she stood in front of the mirror was more proof than she needed. She'd felt sick a few times but nothing awful like Lily had when she was earlier in her pregnancy. Aeil was grateful for that, guessing she was at least three months along, now.

Rory panics... "um... you came with that, right? not that... I mean... I'd be... we could... I'd love to, but... wow.. baby??!?"

She'd been thinking about what to do and upon seeing how her dear sweet Rory reacted to the idea, she felt her only choice was to return to her former husband. "I feel like.. that I should.. I have to go back to Adams." She no longer called him by anything familiar when speaking of him.

"No way nut uhn... not happening..babe or no babe.. .for the safety of both their lives she absolutely cannot."

She replied with, "What am I supposed to do? have a bastard child.. shame myself and my child because the father is an idiot, end up penniless.. shunned, or in a wh*re house to feed us?"

He gives her a look. "Not on my watch, missus... Though can't guarantee much that the father wouldn't still be an idiot." grins.

She nods her head, pulls the top of her bag closed and doesn't say anything as she shifts it to her shoulder. She looks sad and then confused as he says the latter.

"The child was conceived in marriage, Aeilandra and will rightly be born in marriage as well, but I'd be making an assumption that you'd agree to it being a different marriage.That is, if you'd be willing to keep a certain lawman as your other ward and keep him out of trouble, too."

Her fingers brushed back through her hair, shifting through the silken curls that drifted over her shoulder. Her hair worn in a different, prettier style since she'd been here, not in the severe bun that Adams usually made her wear in public, so she'd be less attractive to others. "What are you.. Rory..?" Her voice was soft as she brought her questioning gaze to his face.

"Yeah, well, I didn't think you'd go for that idea too well. Can't say I'd blame you much, for all the trouble we put you through, keeping you away from him and his fists and all, but holing you up in here where you think we're all probably just as crazy."

She shook her head and held up her hands. "Rory.. what are you talking about? What idea?"

"A different marriage, Aeilandra. You're not truly divorced, yet, but you could be and I know someone willing to take you as his own in a heartbeat."

She looked even more confused and a little shocked now. "What do you mean.. I'm not truly divorced? I thought.. the papers.. he signed.. that card game?"

He tapped his temple and nodded to her as he slipped up beside her to reopen her bag and help her unpack her things. "Up here, you're not. You still feel beholden to him and you owe him nothing but your scars and nightmares, Aeil. Try... please try to put him behind and start new."

[Lovely]

She felt fresh tears sting her eyes and she blinked in an attempt to make them go away. "How can I put him behind me when...? Rory.. " She watched him unpacking her things, making no move to hinder him. "I know for sure now.. that I'm with child. If he finds out.. if I try to have this baby alone.. He'll never let that happen. You think he's been awful.. you have no idea.. Three years as his wife, I know what he is capable of."

"I think I rightly do know what he's capable of, Aeil. A shelf of case books on marriages, murders, injuries, painful suffering under the guise of 'to have and to hold'. Not just women, but some men, even," he nodded at the horror that she might find fantastic. "I'll not let him get anywhere near you as far as the law can manage, Aeilandra, but beyond a sheet of paper, you need to trust my brother to keep you safe and here is the best place for you to do that."

She nodded, her fingers raking more harshly through her dark curls this time. "I know.. I understand.. but you have never looked in his eyes when he's been in a rage.. or had his hands on you and could swear you could feel anger and hate burning your skin." She shook her head. "And I can't hide here and expect your family to take care of me.. and my child. and be plauged by my ex husband once he finds out I'm having a baby out of wedlock. He'll either assume it's his or assume I've been.. he won't be pleased and he'll cause more trouble.. as much as I enjoy being with you.. I can't put you in that position. He may not be much here.. but his family has money and connections.. he'll cause trouble for you.. magistrate shacking up with his wife.. and a bastard child. Before he's through he'll have it as you making me the entertainment for your brothers.. He's a spoiled arse and a bully."

"He's not Irish, is he?" He grinned, the challenge being set and inviting Adams to bring any trouble he wished.. he wouldn't get far. "You're not the entertainment and you're not the hired help. You... are a member of this family." He pulled her hand from her hair and face, fanning her fingers around his own and clasping them, laying a tender kiss to her knuckle. "Bullies have no place in our town."

She smiled as her eyes lowered to his lips against her knuckle. "Why couldn't I have met you four years ago?" Her voice was adoring and softly regretful at once. "Why did this have to happen now?" Her other hand rested on her tummy a moment. "Three years.. why now?" She didn't expect he had the answer but voiced her worry, confusion, and frustration.

"For an answer like that, y'd be asking my other brother," he grinned, pointing up to the ceiling. "HE has his ways and seems to know what's best... even if his chronometer is set all wrong." Rory snuggled her into his arm, curling around with her hand beneath his on her tummy. "Why couldn't I have met you then, I wonder, myself. But I've met you now and intend to make up lost time."

Aeilandra snuggled into his embrace, resting her head to his shoulder close to his neck. "I don't want to leave you.. please don't ever think I would rather be with him than you.. I just don't know what to do.. to make things as right as I can."

"Having lightning strike him down in the middle of the street on a clear day would be too much to hope and I'll surely be confessing that thought on Sunday, but it's the only clear idea I have. Beyond that, a stray bullet or an ill placed bite of beef in his throat might the only other we could pray for."

[Lovely]

She sighed and shook her head. "He may deserve such, for the things he's done.. and I can not honestly say I haven't thought ill upon him myself... it won't really make things right." Her hand curled into her dress at her belly, she had a life inside her and she didn't know how she was going to manage that.

"Alright, then perhaps a not-so-stray bullet should he dare threaten you or that child. Only right for a husband to protect his wife," he said softly, curling around her tighter and kissing her cheek, content to hear her breath beside his ear.

She was silent for a moment then she whispered his name. "Rory.." She lifted her head and searched his face. ".. a husband.. Are you saying..?" She paused biting her lip, afraid that he would tell her she'd heard wrong, that wasn't what he'd meant at all.

His eyes watched hers and he nodded gently. "A member of this family... my family... proper and all, Aeilandra. The card game wasn't entirely Alex's doing and I couldn't be more grateful for a conniving brother as him to have helped earn me the opportunity... to ask you to marry me."

Her lips trembled and then a small giggle floated out, her hand left her tummy and joined her other one in linking behind his neck as she lifted on her tip toes to kiss him.

Rory scooped her off her feet and swung her gently, half way around, falling back to the bed with her beside her bag, but on top of her things. "I'm taking that to mean, yes."

She nodded, not really noticing that they were laying ontop of her things on the bed. "Yes.. " She nodded again, her smile beaming softly at him. "I love you."

"Not interruptin' anything, I hope," Doyle's voice came from around the partially open door as he knocked.

Aeilandra shifted to peek around Rory's shoulder. Giving Rory another gentle kiss, she nudged him to answer his brother. "It's alright, Doyle."

Rory gave her a look of minor disappointment and shook his head. He sighed and spoke toward the door as he cleared his throat. "What is it, Doyle?"

"Came up to let Miss Aeilandra know the horse was ready," he said peeking around the door now and seeing them comfortable and her not packed after all. "Unless'n I suppose you won't be needin' to take her now."

Her fingers ran over Rory's stubble covered jaw and she shook her head. "No.. I won't be needing the horse after all.. Thank you Doyle... But it looks like I'm staying." Though she spoke to his brother her eyes never left Rory's.

"Put away that old mare, Doyle, and get everyone together downstairs who's here... I have an announcement to make."

"Everyone's just about everyone but Pa, Patrick and Alex. You want me to go get them from town or..?"

"Nope.. can't wait on this one, sorry to say," he smiled at Aeil, sitting up and getting ready to stand, pulling a piece of silk free from his arm that he's laid down on. "Just go bring them to the drawing room, alright?" He turned back to Aeilandra. "If that's alright, of course."

"Why wouldn't it be alright?" She smiled in return, reaching for his hand to steady her as she rose from the bed as well.

Doyle's grin built slowly as he caught on and his eyes brightened. "Two shakes, we'll all be waitin'... take your time, but don't take too long. You sure you don't want me to go get Pa?"

[Lovely]

Rory considered a brief moment and nodded. It would give them a few more minutes alone. "Go get him," he sighed, playfully slapping the boy's arm and sending him out the door.

Aeil smoothed down the skirt which rumpled a little when they tumbled to the bed. She glanced up watching the interaction between the brothers with a fond affection. "I will have to send word to my father.." She mentioned softly, her family was so far away, it would take some time for the news to reach them.

"Safer for everyone concerned," he teased, this time pushiing the door closed and ensuring it was locked. He held his hands before him for her to nestle into. "We don't have money or connections, Aeilandra. He won't be happy, I fear, unless you mean more to him than numbers and social circles."

"He won't be pleased." She reached and slid her hands into his, stepping closer to him. "But he will know what Abraham did.. how he bet away our marriage and lost me to a stranger in a card game. You may not have money.. but you are respected.. Your family holds honorable positions in this town. My father is not an ogre or an unreasonable man.. and much better I am taken in by an honorable man than to return home in disgrace." She nodded to herself as she spoke, thinking of how her father would react to the news.

'Well, two mostly reasonable men can discuss things reasonably then and hopefully side against an entirely unreasonable...," he refrained from completing the thought or mentioning the name. "You're not returning home in disgrace. You will, however, want to have that little youngster of -ours- meet his grandfather when you're both ready."

Her fingers left his and set to her middle again, her eyes casting to the floor a moment then returning to his. "Ours? Are you sure... you want this?" He knew what he was getting into, but she was worried someday he might regret it, maybe not fully wanting the added 'bonus' that was coming with her.

He nodded. "None of this is his or her fault, Aeilandra. If brought up proper... and with four or five siblings to help keep him in line, I don't think there should be an issue, do you?"

She laughed her hand lifting to her mouth as she shook her head. "Four or five? Perhaps we should get this one secure and safely here before we plan his siblings? Maybe.. getting married and all somewhere in there as well.. and the acts that we would need to engage in.. in order for there to be siblings..?"

"You've counted how many heads there are at the table and you've already seen what happens with one of my brothers...," he laughed and took her hand back into his. "When and if they should decide to grace us, then they are all fully welcome. And I'm sure that such prerequisites will be a most pleasant task to ... endure...hm?" His grin tilted gently and a rare wash of pink filtered over his own cheek. "Aeilandra, I cannot even begin to explain how much and in how many ways you are dear to me."

She frowned and then shook her head. "No.. not endure.. I endured Abraham, I never enjoyed.." She sighed. "I'm sorry.. just when we... " Her cheeks flushed gently. "I will enjoy being with you.. sharing everything."

The pink gave way to a darker wash of red thinking of all she'd had to put up with and seeing the piggish man's face in his mind. "No sorrow for what's passed that's none to do with you any longer, Aeil. I'm sorry I can't wash all that away for you." He shifted from the door and slipped back to the bed to pull her things up to fold them and find hooks for the rest, needing to do something to keep from storming off to the edge of town that moment to end her fear.

[Lovely]

As he set her things to hooks, two delicate hands slid over his arms from behind and then around his waist. Her chin rested on his shoulder and she pressed against his back, hugging him gently. "The past can't be changed. The future suddenly looks bright and happy.. because it includes you."

He looked over his shoulder. "How would you like to spend the next ten minutes while we wait for Doyle and Pa to get back?"

"In your arms."

He turned around in her hands to rest his own on her shoulders, leaning to kiss her warmly in hardly the shy and timidly restrained fashion he had to that point, content to spend those few minutes just like this, if not longer.

Aeilandra was surpised a bit at the difference in his kiss, her heart fluttering while her lips clung softly to his. She'd never felt such tenderness from Abraham and a warm sensation filled her as she leaned into Rory's attentions.

Her response sang softly in the returned kiss... she truly meant to be his. His hands drifted tenderly down her back to cradle her. If he had more than those few minutes, he wasn't certain he wouldn't take full advantage at that moment. A small groan of restraint bubbled to the surface as he parted from her lips, his eyes aglow with the familiar and charming gleam he and his brothers shared.

There was a small agony of want in her eyes as he parted from the kiss, she'd never wanted to kiss anyone the way she kissed him. She felt her lips pouting and chasing after his, though she turned her face to the side with a blush and rested her cheek against his instead. Taking a breath or two to gather herself before shifting back, catching the gleam that shone from his eyes and finding her smile returning in response to the handsome man who held her.

"You must think I'm a devil no better than my youngest brothers, kissing you like that," he said, sofly chiding himself, but finding it hard to move his eyes away from her.

Her head shook slowly from side to side, denying his claim as her finger tip drifted to trace his lips softly and shush his words further. "I like it when you kiss me like that." Her hand reached for his and guided it to her chest where he would feel the quickened pace of her heartbeat. "You make it beat in ways it hasn't ever before."

His fingers brushed over where she set them, feeling the excited pounding. He let his hand drop to her belly, resting his palm there. "Hopefully he'll be so excited to have me around," he grinned, feeling the tiny swell. If only he could lay claim to her first child being entirely his own and not that monster's. "Or even half as excited as I am for you both to be staying. Love you, Miss Paris." He used her maiden name, hoping to ease her mind and pull her that much farther from the darkness Adams left behind.

"He already is.. I'm sure of it." She whispered with a gentle smile, she could nearly cry with joy at how tenderly his hand 'held' her belly.

Knowing they only had a few short moments before the knock would come on the door again, Rory leaned closer to whisper in return and set another firey kiss to her lips. "Then he's almost as smart... and sweet as his mother."

"I only hope he grows to be as kind and wonderful as his father." Her fingers caressed his cheek, Rory would be her child's father and from that moment the child ceased to be Adams.

[Lovely]

The knock came on the door and the handle was tried, followed by another knock when it was found locked. Doyle called past it, "We're downstairs, Ror. Ready when you are. Or should I tell 'em all you're busy for another hour?"

Rory chuckled and raised an eyebrow, glad he'd locked the door, but somewhat regretful they'd not ended up in a compromised fashion to have needed it. "You could tell them, but it wouldn't be true, Doyle," he said mouthing 'yet' to her and winking. "We'll be right down."

Aeilandra sighed, leaning into Rory's chest and resting in his embrace for another precious moment, before they had to go down. She almost wished they would be busy for that hour, though she could easily wait a bit longer for that wonderful time when they would be able to do such things 'freely' as married couples could.

"Guess we should go on down before he makes a liar of me, not that I'd mind, but... despite everything I am, I am still a gentleman, heaven help me... or you," he winked and sighed, purely beaming at this point.

Tugging him into a brief gentle hug, she kissed his cheek and then turned for the door. She unlocked the door and then gave him a wink. "You won't always have to be a gentleman when we're alone together." She lightly teased him, finding herself pleasantly anticipating such a time.

The heat of the anticipation and longing for that time himself made him immobile for a moment, making him wave her on to go ahead of him. He took a deep breath and resumed hanging things on hooks for a few moments until he felt composed enough to manage the steps to and down the stairs to meet with everyone, especially Pa.

Aeil was not thrilled to venture down the stairs alone to face his family when he'd gathered them together, they would be expecting him to explain. She took her time meandering down the hall and taking each stair as quietly and slowly as she could.

His recovery was quick enough to allow him to catch up to her on the stairs and come down the rest of the way alongside, though he moved carefully, trying not to pinch himself. The family's voices murmured in the next room.

Pa stood to the side of the room, leaning against the wall, watching his brood with a small amused smile which was hidden by his speckled short beard. His eyes studied and cast over each person in the room, each in turn.

Everitt was half in suspenders and half in long-johns having been getting ready for long-needed sleep. He rested on the arm of the settee beside Elizabeth. Patrick had returned from wherever he'd been and stood behind Lily in the chair she rested uncomfortably in. Gully, ever with his book in hand, sat restlessly by the small lamp in the corner, putting together his sermon. Rory's eyes cast over the group and settled briefly on Pa, looking away and taking Aeilandra's hand in his.

Elizabeth tried not to let how tired Everitt was, make her even more tired as she sat next to him, finding his hand with hers. She rested her cheek against his arm as they waited.

Charly sat on the floor, with her knees pulled up to her chin, watching the others with curious eyes and playing with one of her neat braids.

Lily still sometimes felt like a guest in the house and was uncertain of her place and acceptance in the family, her hand reached back for Patrick's and held tightly to it. She was stretching and her tummy popping uncomfortably, breasts starting to ache and swell to ready for the milk she'd produce for the baby. Her small form felt as though it was being stretched and contorted horribly.

Angel sat in a chair, somewhat off to the side, she was uncomfortable and was certainly not family, but had been called in with the rest. How could she object when they had taken her in so kindly and of course she adored Doyle, so no protest was made of being close to him. But part of her felt like she should find herself an elsewhere to be and let the family do what it needed to.

Pa looked up as Rory and Aeilandra came into the room. "Well.. if it isn't keep an old man waiting.. I'm not getting any younger son. I could have died while waiting for you to get down here." He gave his boy a hard time, smiling and nodding to Aeilandra as he teased Rory a bit.