I Can Lead With Pride, I Can Make Us Strong

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

An empty bed is a helluva thing to wake up to, Bill caught himself thinking groggily as he slipped the covers off of him the next morning, wiping sleep-filled eyes with the back of his hand. It wasn’t quite sunrise, as he never was one to burn any daylight, and in the darkness of the pre-dawn he padded on bare feet down the hardwood floor, opening his door and sneaking out to the bathroom for a shower.

“Bill usually helps out, but he’s got a tendency to burn what he touches.” Rose muttered to Joe with a light bump of her hip as she moved past him, placing a pair of plates holding sausage and eggs on the table.

“I don’t think Bill slept too good last night. He’s dead to the world…”

“Yeah, yeah, blame it on the guests.” Rose responded with a laugh, hand snaking out once more to smack the back of her father’s leathery paw as he reached for a piece of bacon.

“That’s elder’s abuse.”

“As did I.” Joe said, doctoring his coffee to his liking and pointedly not looking at Rose. He was wearing slacks today, and a t-shirt. 

“I have ta keep Joe from eatin’ too many waffles, so I understand yer plight Rose. Are ye sure ye wouldnea like some help?” 

“Finish your coffee first.” Elsie replied in mock admonishment. “No flirting at the breakfast table.”

An empty bed is a helluva thing to wake up to, Bill caught himself thinking groggily as he slipped the covers off of him the next morning, wiping sleep-filled eyes with the back of his hand. It wasn’t quite sunrise, as he never was one to burn any daylight, and in the darkness of the pre-dawn he padded on bare feet down the hardwood floor, opening his door and sneaking out to the bathroom for a shower.

“Bill usually helps out, but he’s got a tendency to burn what he touches.” Rose muttered to Joe with a light bump of her hip as she moved past him, placing a pair of plates holding sausage and eggs on the table.

“I don’t think Bill slept too good last night. He’s dead to the world…”

“Yeah, yeah, blame it on the guests.” Rose responded with a laugh, hand snaking out once more to smack the back of her father’s leathery paw as he reached for a piece of bacon.

“That’s elder’s abuse.”

“As did I.” Joe said, doctoring his coffee to his liking and pointedly not looking at Rose. He was wearing slacks today, and a t-shirt. 

“I have ta keep Joe from eatin’ too many waffles, so I understand yer plight Rose. Are ye sure ye wouldnea like some help?” 

An empty bed is a helluva thing to wake up to, Bill caught himself thinking groggily as he slipped the covers off of him the next morning, wiping sleep-filled eyes with the back of his hand. It wasn’t quite sunrise, as he never was one to burn any daylight, and in the darkness of the pre-dawn he padded on bare feet down the hardwood floor, opening his door and sneaking out to the bathroom for a shower.

“Bill usually helps out, but he’s got a tendency to burn what he touches.” Rose muttered to Joe with a light bump of her hip as she moved past him, placing a pair of plates holding sausage and eggs on the table.

“I don’t think Bill slept too good last night. He’s dead to the world…”

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron smiled a little back at John and give him a quick nod, out of all the Mackenzies Aaron had a good friendship with John after all Aaron couldnt buy enough of the stuff John brewed it was so popular. “Shame, you’re missing out on comedy gold” Aaron said when his phone went off “Oh excuse me” He answered it “Hello Seph whats up” there was chatting on the other side of the phone before Aaron let out a small laugh and a smile “No Seph, thats not what a dry martini is”

They loaded up their plates, passing the food to one-another. John made sure that Aaron’s plate got a little bit of everything. He wasn’t sure if Aaron minded his food touching, but he kept the sections from touching and avoided any sauces until Aaron got back from his phone call and could decide for himself. 

The babble of English and Gaelic filled the room and Lottie bent her head to Joe, who knew what she was going to ask. 

“Aye, it’s Cu. He has ta tap inta the Other Guy ta see who it is.” 

“We cannea do this in front o’ the others.” 

“I know, aye. It’s either yerself or Mary.” 

“An’ Ciaran. She likes fighters.” 

“Aye, him too. After dinner?” 

“Yes. I’ll get him a room prepared wit’ spare clothin’ ready fer him. He stays the night.”

“Aye, m’ laird.”  

“I’m glad ye like it Aaron.” Cairan said, finally taking a seat after pouring himself a very full glass of wine. 

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron smiled a little back at John and give him a quick nod, out of all the Mackenzies Aaron had a good friendship with John after all Aaron couldnt buy enough of the stuff John brewed it was so popular. “Shame, you’re missing out on comedy gold” Aaron said when his phone went off “Oh excuse me” He answered it “Hello Seph whats up” there was chatting on the other side of the phone before Aaron let out a small laugh and a smile “No Seph, thats not what a dry martini is”

They loaded up their plates, passing the food to one-another. John made sure that Aaron’s plate got a little bit of everything. He wasn’t sure if Aaron minded his food touching, but he kept the sections from touching and avoided any sauces until Aaron got back from his phone call and could decide for himself. 

The babble of English and Gaelic filled the room and Lottie bent her head to Joe, who knew what she was going to ask. 

“Aye, it’s Cu. He has ta tap inta the Other Guy ta see who it is.” 

“We cannea do this in front o’ the others.” 

“I know, aye. It’s either yerself or Mary.” 

“An’ Ciaran. She likes fighters.” 

“Aye, him too. After dinner?” 

“Yes. I’ll get him a room prepared wit’ spare clothin’ ready fer him. He stays the night.”

“Aye, m’ laird.”  

An empty bed is a helluva thing to wake up to, Bill caught himself thinking groggily as he slipped the covers off of him the next morning, wiping sleep-filled eyes with the back of his hand. It wasn’t quite sunrise, as he never was one to burn any daylight, and in the darkness of the pre-dawn he padded on bare feet down the hardwood floor, opening his door and sneaking out to the bathroom for a shower.

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron look to Joe “So you went in without sword….and got attacked, i gonna saw that diplomacy isnt your strong suit”. Aaron was quiet for a moment watching them all work around each other, the hustle of activity made him think back to his few memories he had of his family life before the curse.

His eyes feel onto the fireand his mind drifted away from this kitchen.

“Lottie better at words, aye, I underestimated him.” Joe grumbled. 

“Please tell me ye didnea ask abou’ the catnip.” Lottie deadpanned, dipping the towel into the bowl and washing the blood from her brother’s arm. It was an old routine for them; Lottie used to patch him during the war, when he would come limping back to her at base after a field mission. 

“He’s a cat Lottie! How the fuck does he not like catnip?!” Joe exclaimed. Lottie clean the blood off and started prodding at Aaron’s stitches a bit harsher than she needed to. 

“It’s offensive!” Mary said from above her knitting. Lottie gave Joe a clean bill of health as Ciaran starting loading the food onto platters; there was salad at the ready and big bowls of pasta and two larges plates of chicken cutlets, breaded and bakes and then browned with melty cheese. Sam got up and quickly helped set the table as Lottie cleared away the remnants of Joe’s mess. 

“Tie a feather ta a stick.” Sam suggested, making the table break out into stifled giggles. 

“Now now, we don’ laugh at the faye in this house.” Lottie chided. John slipped into the kitchen and shot Aaron a shy smile and wave as he took his seat. 

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron look to Joe “So you went in without sword….and got attacked, i gonna saw that diplomacy isnt your strong suit”. Aaron was quiet for a moment watching them all work around each other, the hustle of activity made him think back to his few memories he had of his family life before the curse.

His eyes feel onto the fireand his mind drifted away from this kitchen.

“Lottie better at words, aye, I underestimated him.” Joe grumbled. 

“Please tell me ye didnea ask abou’ the catnip.” Lottie deadpanned, dipping the towel into the bowl and washing the blood from her brother’s arm. It was an old routine for them; Lottie used to patch him during the war, when he would come limping back to her at base after a field mission. 

“He’s a cat Lottie! How the fuck does he not like catnip?!” Joe exclaimed. Lottie clean the blood off and started prodding at Aaron’s stitches a bit harsher than she needed to. 

“It’s offensive!” Mary said from above her knitting. Lottie gave Joe a clean bill of health as Ciaran starting loading the food onto platters; there was salad at the ready and big bowls of pasta and two larges plates of chicken cutlets, breaded and bakes and then browned with melty cheese. Sam got up and quickly helped set the table as Lottie cleared away the remnants of Joe’s mess. 

An empty bed is a helluva thing to wake up to, Bill caught himself thinking groggily as he slipped the covers off of him the next morning, wiping sleep-filled eyes with the back of his hand. It wasn’t quite sunrise, as he never was one to burn any daylight, and in the darkness of the pre-dawn he padded on bare feet down the hardwood floor, opening his door and sneaking out to the bathroom for a shower.

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron look to Joe “So you went in without sword….and got attacked, i gonna saw that diplomacy isnt your strong suit”. Aaron was quiet for a moment watching them all work around each other, the hustle of activity made him think back to his few memories he had of his family life before the curse.

His eyes feel onto the fireand his mind drifted away from this kitchen.

“Lottie better at words, aye, I underestimated him.” Joe grumbled. 

“Please tell me ye didnea ask abou’ the catnip.” Lottie deadpanned, dipping the towel into the bowl and washing the blood from her brother’s arm. It was an old routine for them; Lottie used to patch him during the war, when he would come limping back to her at base after a field mission. 

“He’s a cat Lottie! How the fuck does he not like catnip?!” Joe exclaimed. Lottie clean the blood off and started prodding at Aaron’s stitches a bit harsher than she needed to. 

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron cocked an eyebrow at Joe whenever the voice called out about a girl “My my Joe, do you often bring girls home? I think i need to rethink how i feel about you” he said clapping him on the shoulder “Well come on time to disapoint the family about the fact your still single”

“Hush, you.” Joe chided Aaron with a smile, unable to resist the good-natured ribbing. 

“Aye, let’s break their hearts.” He pushed open the gate and led Aaron through a well-kept kitchen garden and into the kitchen. It was filled with the smell of baking bread and cooking chicken, with Ciaran putting the finishing touches on dinner. Sam was repairing a bridle while Deidre did some reading by the fireplace. Mary and Sweetie were at the table, Mary doing something complicated with two knitting needles and multiple balls of yarn. The moment Joe crossed the threshold Mary gasped, needles dropping to the table. 

“Joseph MacKenzie, wha’ happened ta ye?” Said a commanding voice from the doorway. All of them, Joe included, rose to their feet and then bowed or dropped into a curtsy with a mutter of ‘my laird’. 

“I ran afoul o’ a cat shide in Chicago when comin’ back from visitin’ the Carpenters. Aaron patched me up.” He answered meekly. The deference was habit and not remarked upon as Lottie strode to the head of the table, putting down her glass of whiskey. 

“Sam, first aide hit. Ciaran, hot water and a clean towel.” She ordered, sitting down. “Joe, to me.” 

“Arthur is Arthur.” Lottie said. Only Joe knew that she was finding it harder and harder to agree with the Merlin, and that more and more the younger crowd of ladder climbers was catching her attention. Sam came back with the first aide kit just as Ciaran pulled the kettle and filled a bowl with warm water. 

“An’ as fer walkin’ aroun’ like tha’ in Chicago; people look at me more when I’m in a kilt.” Joe said with a shrug his good shoulder. Ciaran placed the bowl on the table with a clean towel just as a timer went off. He padded back to the kitchen as Joe bent his head toward Lottie’s ear. 

Bill chuckled softly, pulling her closer as she yawned. “Ain’t heard you complain ‘bout me, yet, darlin,” he muttered, “naughtiness an’ all.”

Joe looked up from where he was clutching at his shredded arm. 

Aaron cocked an eyebrow at Joe whenever the voice called out about a girl “My my Joe, do you often bring girls home? I think i need to rethink how i feel about you” he said clapping him on the shoulder “Well come on time to disapoint the family about the fact your still single”

“Hush, you.” Joe chided Aaron with a smile, unable to resist the good-natured ribbing. 

“Aye, let’s break their hearts.” He pushed open the gate and led Aaron through a well-kept kitchen garden and into the kitchen. It was filled with the smell of baking bread and cooking chicken, with Ciaran putting the finishing touches on dinner. Sam was repairing a bridle while Deidre did some reading by the fireplace. Mary and Sweetie were at the table, Mary doing something complicated with two knitting needles and multiple balls of yarn. The moment Joe crossed the threshold Mary gasped, needles dropping to the table. 

“Joseph MacKenzie, wha’ happened ta ye?” Said a commanding voice from the doorway. All of them, Joe included, rose to their feet and then bowed or dropped into a curtsy with a mutter of ‘my laird’. 

“I ran afoul o’ a cat shide in Chicago when comin’ back from visitin’ the Carpenters. Aaron patched me up.” He answered meekly. The deference was habit and not remarked upon as Lottie strode to the head of the table, putting down her glass of whiskey. 

“Sam, first aide hit. Ciaran, hot water and a clean towel.” She ordered, sitting down. “Joe, to me.”