regency au } { of grand reunions and kept secrets

[hereditare]

Peter: [he had gotten word from the guards that Laura's carriage had been spotted in the distance, and so he had picked up Amelia from Melissa and walked downstairs and to the courtyard to wait for their arrival. He has the baby nestled inside of his cloak, just barely able to be seen] Your mommy and daddy are almost here for you, little one.

Laura: [yep, the second they arrive she is out of the carriage and making her way towards her uncle] Let me see her. [reaching for her daughter, sorry Peter but she will say hello in a second]

Peter: It is nice to see you too, my dear. [and he will push back the cloak to reveal the baby girl]

Laura: [a wide smile crosses her face and she takes Amelia from her gently and pulling her close, letting her nose nestle against the top of her head as she takes in her scent] I'm sorry. It just ... has been a long few weeks.

Parrish: Be careful, Lord Hale. I was worried she was going to take my horse from me and ride hard the last few miles here.

Peter: I don't blame her. The babe has missed you both as well. She cried for days before she settled here.

Laura: [closes her eyes as she relaxes for the first time in what feels like forever] Do not worry. I am not letting you out of my sight again. [to her daughter]

Peter: I will let you three get reacquainted. [motions for the servants to get their things] Come, let us get you something warm to drink before lunch.

Parrish: [moves over to wrap one arm around Laura and look down at their daughter] We will be there shortly.

Laura: [she nods to her uncle, actually looking at him with a small, grateful smile before she speaks] Thank you.

Amelia: [OH HEY DADDY TOO HI basically she is all smiles]

Peter: [bows his head] You're welcome. Don't stay outside too long - you will catch a cold. [and off he goes back inside]

Parrish: [grins at that smile, going to give his daughter a free finger] She looks perfectly fine.

Laura: [she nods, leaning back into her husband just a bit] I know. I have a feeling it was I who wasn't fine.

Parrish: Well, you have her again in your arms. You shall both recover. [kisses Laura's cheek] Now let's go inside before your lord husband's ears freeze off.

Parrish: Well, you have her again in your arms. You shall both recover. [kisses Laura's cheek] Now let's go inside before your lord husband's ears freeze off.

Liam: [seeing them as they come in] You're here! [and down the stairs he will run to all but crash into Parrish's midsection.]

Parrish: [nope, down he goes, laughing] I missed you too, Liam.

Laura: [will delicately step out of the way to make sure she and the baby don’t go down with him] Hello, Liam.

Liam: Hi. What took you guys so long?

Laura: Travel is not instantaneous, Liam. It takes time to get this far out into the country.

Liam: But we left weeks ago. You sad you'd be right behind us [looks at Parrish]

Parrish: I may have not realized how long we would have company.

Laura: Believe me, if we could have been here sooner, we would have.

Liam: Okay. [and he will let Parrish go and then cocks his head] Time to go. See you guys later. [and he's off before the tutor can find him]

Parrish: [shakes his head] He's getting way too big for his own good.

Laura: Children do grow, my love. It's what they do.

Parrish: [looks at Amelia] Don't feel you have to do that, sweetheart.

Amelia: [just grins stupidly at him]

Parrish: [and he will just take Laura to the sitting room and they will have warm drinks while they snuggle on a couch with their daughter]

Laura: [yep. Laura will curl into his shoulder comfortably, Amelia nestled against him] We are never doing this again. At least ... not for a very long time.

Parrish: We will just tell all visiting alphas that we are not accepting guests for three to five years.

Laura: Perfect. [closes her eyes] I'm sorry I haven't been myself.

Parrish: That is okay. I will forgive you this time. [chuckles]

Laura: [smirks slightly] Only this time?

Parrish: Yes. Next time I will pout more.

Laura: [she laughs] Duly noted.

Stiles: [and he is coming in from training to wash up and change when he sees them, and he smiles brightly.] Lord and Lady Hale. I had heard rumors of your arrival.

Laura: [glances up with a smile] Hello, Stiles. Have you been enjoying your time here?

Stiles: Very much so, m'lady. Was your ride uneventful?

Laura: For the most part, yes. The only real complaint was the distance.

Stiles: Good, good. Then welcome back. You have been missed. [nope, still grinning]

Laura: [yep, she hasn't missed that] You are in an incredibly good mood.

Stiles: It's just been a good day.

Laura: I am glad to hear it.

Stiles: Well, I should be cleaning up before lunch. [bows and goes to exit]

Parrish: [blinks, leaning over] Should we be worried?

Laura: [smirks a bit before shaking her head] No. I think everything is fine.

Stiles: [and nope, he is going to divert to Cora's wing first, double timing up the stairs and asking to be announced]

Cora: [and she will look up from her book when he is and get up smoothing down her skirt in the process] Come in.

Stiles: [and he will slip in, thanking the page and closing the door behind him]

Cora: [glances up with a smile] I thought you were training this morning.

Stiles: I was, but we broke up early with the arrival of your sister.

Cora: [she perks up] Laura's here?

Stiles: Yes, and her husband. Your brother remained at the manor with Lady Elena.

Cora: I'm sure she has Amelia at this point and won't be letting her go anytime soon.

Stiles: They were already snuggling on the couch as a family and didn't appear to be moving any time soon.

Cora: Good. She has time to make up for.

Stiles: And it means you will be in need of a more constant companion. [walks closer]

Cora: [smiles a bit at that] I suppose I will.

Stiles: And sadly, I am way behind in my reading, so unless you are going to be in a library in the afternoons...

Cora: Mmmm. You do know how I abhor libraries. [teasing]

Stiles: Well, if you think you could stand it, just for me, I would be honored at your companionship. [he holds his hands out to her as he's within reach now]

Cora: [watches him for a moment, before reaching out to take his hand] I think I will be able to manage.

Stiles: [pulls her up to him, and leans down to kiss her] Then that shall be our standing afternoon appointment.

Cora: [smiles into the kiss before nodding] Agreed.

Stiles: And perhaps this afternoon, we can talk on how we will share our news with your sister and Lord uncle.

Cora: [at that she falters, just for a moment, before nodding] Yes. That's probably a good idea.

Stiles: [sees that] We can wait a bit longer, if you wish.

Cora: [she glances up at him, and pauses] I just ... once we tell them then we tell everyone and ... [she's not sure if she's comfortable yet with the attention that's going to come with it]

Stiles: Then we will wait.

Cora: [she nods, but she's worried she's making him think she's having second thoughts. She knows he wants to tell everyone, that she's made him incredibly happy and she is glad that he is happy. She also isn't regretting her choice. There is simply too much happening at once and she isn't sure she's ready to be the center of attention]

Stiles: My love... you have made me the happiest man on earth. Waiting to tell others until you are ready is not a hardship. And soon Lady Elena will give birth and that will take attention from everything else for a while.

Cora: [she nods] It's just ... I don't know what happened with Kali and Ennis's visit, or how my sister plans to proceed. It may be a bad time.

Stiles: We will feel things out then. Look for the right time.

Cora: [she nods then looks up at him again] Thank you.

Stiles: You are welcome.

Cora: [she gives his hand a small squeeze as she goes to move them back to the couch she was sitting on] Are you free to stay for a little while now?

Stiles: I can. I do need to clean up before lunch, but I have a few minutes.

Cora: Good. [and she will make him sit with her until he absolutely has to leave]

Stiles: [he will sit with her until the end of time if she asked]

Cora: [she might one day, you never know]

Stiles: [but nope, sitting and talking about their days and probably a bit of kissing and snuggling]

Cora: [Yep. all of that sounds good]

Stiles: [and then there is the lunch bell and he will pull back] I believe that is my cue to go before I end up at lunch in the same clothes I left an hour ago to go change out of.

Cora: [she smiles before nodding] Alright. I will see you at lunch.

Stiles: [and with one last kiss, he is gone, only to reappear down at lunch looking a bit winded as if he had been doing a lot of running. Long hallways and stairs, man]

Cora: [poor Stiles. Maybe next time she'll kidnap him somewhere closer to his room]

Stiles: [he would appreciate that]

Peter: [nope, forever amused at their antics. Trying to keep whatever was going on 'secret']

Parrish: Are you okay, Lord Stilinski?

Stiles: Yes, I just had gotten distracted and lost track of time. My apologies.

Laura: [watches him for a moment before nodding] Mmm-hmm.

Peter: [to Laura] And how is your brother and Lady Elena fairing?

Laura: Well. The baby will probably be born any day now.

Peter: So we will be greeted back to the Manor to a babies' cries. That is wonderful news.

Laura: It is. Though I'm sure for right now, they're enjoying having the manor all to themselves.

Stiles: A little peace and quiet before they have two little ones demanding all of their time.

Laura: Exactly. Though I'm sure Patience is old enough at this point to be distracted by the rest of the family.

Peter: She has been spending a lot of time with us as it is. [puts his hand on Kate's] I'm sure she will find others to waddle after.

Laura: [smirks] I'm sure she will. Though now we have to worry about her getting into things she's not supposed to.

Parrish: I am sure Melissa can guide us on what to secure away from a curious toddler's fingertips.

Laura: [she nods] And make sure the knights put their sharp pointy toys away.

Peter: That will be Derek's responsibility.

Parrish: I will help him enforce that.

Laura: How is she doing with walking? Has she skipped to running yet?

Peter: Oh yes. She is taking after the Hale line in that.

Laura: [laughs softly] Derek will be pleased, I'm sure.

Peter: Oh, I'm sure. [chuckles]

Stiles: [is listening, but may be smiling more in Cora's direction than the talkers]

Cora: [notices, and while she doesn't look at him directly, her hand may slip to find his under the table]

Laura: Still, I'm sure he will be happy to have her home. The house is too quiet with just us.

Stiles: [his will slip down as well, taking hers and lacing his fingers between hers easily]

Peter: Well, once you have both rested and are ready to travel again, we can begin our trip north. We should aim to get there before the first major snowfall. [looks over at Stiles] Will you be staying with us for the long winter again this year, Lord Stilinski?

Stiles: I have yet to make my choice, though my uncle does not require my return so if I choose to stay, I only need to send him a letter.

Laura: [she nods] Well, you are more than welcome to. Though you have been away from home a long time - I'm sure your uncle would prefer to see your face, rather than just your handwriting. [not that she's trying to force his choice, just know that he has the option if he wants it]

Stiles: I just know that if I was to leave, I would not be able to return until the spring. I'm not sure if I could handle my cousins for that length of time.

Laura: Well, it is your choice. We would be happy to have you.

Stiles: I will think on it and have my decision to you by the time we return to the manor. [if he did go back, he would need things from the manor anyway]

Laura: [she nods] Good.

Peter: [nods as well] So, I guess I will be the one to ask - how were your guests?

Laura: [purses her lips] Up to something.

Peter: Do we need to worry about our defenses then?

Laura: It's possible. But we have time. They were on their way to see Satomi in Japan so they will not be intruding on our lives anytime soon.

Peter: If that is where they are going.

Laura: They weren't lying. [Laura was listening] And as cunning as they are, Ennis was never an exceptional liar.

Peter: Satomi was very close to your mother. If they are planning something against us, she won't aid them.

Laura: I don't think they're after her help. They were simply keeping an appointment and scoping out our home happened to be on their way.

Peter: [nods] We should just keep vigilant for the time they would pass back in the spring.

Laura: [nods as well] I agree.