“Yeah.” Pratt looked at her husband with a small smile.
“What’s on ye mind lass. Ye look wishful for something. What is it?” Highlander asked his wife softly, pulling her closer to him, kissing her forehead in a similar fashion.
“Promise me…” Pratt had to cough to hide the tears that wanted to come forward. “Promise me, that when we get old, you’ll still hold me, kiss me and want me as much as you do now?”
“Ah lass.” Highlander stood up, getting his da’s attention. “We’ll be right back. I’m taking my lass on a walk for a moment.”
“Go on. We have the wee ones. Supper will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Plenty of time for ye to have a nice walk and get away from the horde for a bit.” Sylvia told the couple, smiling at them as she walked over to give Pratt a hug and her own kiss on the forehead before Highlander walked her out of the house.
Highlander and Pratt walked for a good five minutes out towards the barn behind the house. Once they had gotten to the barn, he pulled her into the circle of his arms, holding her tightly for a few. Breathing in the Highland air, his wife’s scent and enjoying the peace and quiet they rarely had back in San Diego.
“Talk to me lass, what’s going on in that head of yours?” Highlander asked, not letting Pratt go.
“Watching your parents together…I’ve never seen that kind of love before. Don’t get me wrong, I know you love me, and God knows I love you. I want us to have what they have. Even when I’m old, wrinkly and silver haired…”
“Laura, even old, wrinkly, fatter than a Highland coo, silver hair, missing teeth…nothing, and I mean nothing will ever make me stop loving ye, lass. Ye are it for me. If I have to write it every single day just for you to see it, I will do it.” Highlander promised, kissing her hair.
“What if I forget you. I mean…” Pratt stopped, taking a deep, shuddering breath, tears streaming down her face. “We had a case, just before we came here. Young girl was taken from her single mom, who lived with her ailing parents. The grandmother, she had Alzheimer’s. She had forgotten her husband of fifty years, her daughter and her granddaughter. I’m scared that’s going to be me.” Pratt burst into sobbing tears, Highlander holding on to her, letting her get it out.
“Lass, listen to me and listen good. If and that’s a hugeif, that happens. Even then I would never stop loving ye. If I have to make every day like the first day we’ve met and have ye fall in love with me over and over each day, then so be it. But even then, I would never leave your side, never stop loving ye and never walk away from ye.”
Highlander lifted Pratt’s face to his, looking into her eyes. “Even if ye were to die before me, I wouldn’t be far behind ye lass. I could not function in this world without ye in it. Those stories that ye hear about where the couple are holding hands as they both pass away, that would be us.”
Highlander leaned down and kisses Pratt’s lips. The kiss started out slowly, teasing, tasting each other. Nibbling of the lips. Before long, their kisses were turning passionate, a devouring of air, drinking of moans, a feasting of the soul between the two.
Sooner than either wanted, they came up for air, staring into each other’s eyes, arms wrapped around each other. Neither heard when Marcus and Lindsey came into the barn to check on them.
“Hey! Mum and da sent us out to check on ye two. Everything ok?” Marcus asked, looking between the two.
“Aye. Needed to breathe the Highland air a little more. Ye two ok?” Highlander asked, looking between Marcus and Raso.
“Aye. We went for a small walk as well, shortly after ye two did. Let’s get these two back to the house so they can freshen up. Mum and da are putting supper on the table.” Marcus answered, pulling Raso closer into his side as he kissed the side of her head.
The two couples walked side by side back towards the house, making small talk. By the time they made it back to the house, the two women ran to the rest room to freshen up and wipe their faces with cold water. Marcus and Highlander stood back a bit just the two of them.
“Everything set for Christmas morning?” Highlander asked, looking towards the table to make sure no one was paying attention to them.
“Aye. I got a message earlier today that everyone had arrived in London earlier today. They will arrive into Edinburgh later this evening. Their train arrives at the station here tomorrow evening. Elizabeth has secured everything needed to make sure everyone gets here safely.” Marcus assured Highlander, watching the dining area as well.
“Good. Is Lindsey ok?” Highlander asked, looking at Marcus for a few seconds to gage his emotions.
“Aye, a case hit a little close to home. Had her thinking and worrying about a few things. Everything is good. Ye and Laura?” Marcus asked, staring back at his brother, doing the same.
“Aye. Same, the grandmother of their case, not something I’ve ever given thought to, myself. I’ve always told myself that I’d be the first to go, my lass is stronger than me and would go on for the children’s sake. I never thought of that scenario. I can’t conceive of a world without Laura in it. I refuse to think of a world without my lass in it…” Highlander took a shuddering breathe, fighting the demons that wanted to come to light at the thought of his wife being taken before him.
“Aye, I agree with ye brother. There is no world without Lindsey in it. Like ye, I’ve always thought I’d be the first to go, that’s the way it would have to be.” Marcus agreed, watching as their wives came back into the room, smiling down at the kids, the babies in their arms.
Both men watched as their whole world smiled down at the kids. They both chuckled when Pratt asked Ryleigh if she wanted to sit in a chair next to Ash so that they could both eat without making a mess. They watched as their older brother smiled down at the little girl and promised he wasn’t going anywhere at the moment and if he was, he’d make sure she knew about it first.
“Can ye believe that that little spitfire has managed to get him to talk or smile more than any of us since he returned from Afghanistan? Mum says none of the other nieces or nephews could get him to open up. He tends to stay just a few before he’s hauling arse out the door back to his cave.” Marcus surmised, watching the scene with amusement.
“Ryleigh has a way about her. She does that with Laura’s brother, Dominick too. Seems to know when he’s battling his demons. Climbs into his lap, talks nonstop and just seems to keep them at bay. Normally he only has the boys but lately, he’s been including Ryleigh in their gatherings as well. Even the sports. Cody loves that his little sister talks sports with him. Says it’s like having two brothers instead of just one.” Highlander chuckled, watching his daughter get into her own seat.
“Aye, well I can say it’s amusing to watch Willie squirm thanks that that wee spitfire. He’s really in the doghouse right now with mum and da after that showdown.” Marcus laughed, shaking his head.
“Aye, serves his arse good and proper. She’s her mother’s daughter, that one. Takes after my lass all the way. Lord help me when she gets older. Thank goodness for Cody and Will, they can help me look after that one.”
“Ye will need bars on those windows of yours. We both know the shite we did growing up, I guarantee our kids will be pulling the same shite when they think we’re none the wiser.” Marcus reminded his brother, smirking at the glare Highlander sent his way.
