Family Ties

- One month passed -"What the devil is the meaning of charging a lad 21 shillings for a bit?" A tall red haired man yelled. "Blacksmith! I'm speaking to ye"

Murtagh's face turned pale like a ghost. He slowly turned, making eye contact with the Scot who'd been yelling at him a moment before. They both stood there dumbfounded as they looked at each other. The man who had just yelled whispered something in Gaelic before uttering Murtagh's name.

"Thank the Lord." Murtagh gasped, making his way to the man. "Jamie." They embraced in laughter.

"Uncle, you ken this old coot?" The younger red head asked.

"Aye." The man named Jamie began to cry. They spoke for a few more moments.

"What brought ye here?" Murtagh asked.

"We came in search of settlers. I have land three days north. This is Jenny's son, Ian. Ian this is Murtagh, my godfather." Jamie smiled

"Fine lad, drives a hard bargain."

"Uncle Jamie told me all about yer adventures together."

"There's so much to tell you." Jamie smiled again.

"And I want to hear every word." Murtagh paused and turned to Ian "Now who are ye calling an old coot?"

Murtagh was happier than I'd seen him in all the time I'd known him. I didn't know who these people were. The Scot looked familiar, like I'd seen him somewhere. The three of them disappeared into the nearest tavern as I finished more of the orders.

Once the orders were finished, I began making more figurines. They made me happy. Just little trinkets that we're mine. I sat at a table, attaching a wing to the bird I was making.

"Jon showed me the one ye gave him. Quite a skill." A man's voice pulled me from my thoughts and work. I snapped my face in the direction of the voice. Kaeden stood in the doorway of the shop.

"You have to stop doing that." I groaned, setting my tools down. "Before I make you a collar with bells."

"Ye left without finding me." He walked towards me.

"I tried. Didn't know where you'd gone." He stayed silent, pulling the things from my hands and setting them onto the table next to me. He pushed his face close to mine.

"I havena stopped thinking about ye." He brushed a loose red strand of hair from my face. My eyes found his. They were their regular ocean blue, reflecting the light of the day. I missed him. I didn't think about him every second. But I was reminded of some of the things he did when I did certain things. I missed his presence.

"I missed you." I sighed, placing my hand on his as he bent over me. His nose touched mine as he kissed me softly. His hand curled around my waist. We kissed deeper, for what felt like hours. My jaw and lips ached.

"Aye! What in the bloody hell is going on here!" Murtagh yelled, his Scottish accent more apparent than usual. I could hear a sword unsheath by the door. I lept off the table, standing between Murtagh and Kaeden.

"Now, Murtagh, no. Put it down, you old hag." I yelled back, sticking my finger into the air to point at him.

"Not if he's taking yer virtue and destroying yer reputation!" He yelled, trying to get around me and towards Kaeden. The red haired Scot from earlier stood in the door. He was laughing.

"Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser, put the sword away now. Kaeden has not taken my virtue. That has been gone for awhile. And my reputation has been smeared since I came here as a slave." I looked at him, fire in my chest. While I appreciated the fatherly protection, he was not my father. I glared at the Scot in the doorway then back at Murtagh who only grunted and out away the sword. Kaeden still stood silently behind me. For such a large man, it was quite funny that he was so scared of Murtagh.

"Yer right, lass. I am not your father anyways. I shouldn't act so." He sighed. "But I am still yer protector till yer married." His glare shifted to Kaeden.

"Murtagh...." I sighed. "Can you introduce me to your friend, please?" I brushed my red hair from my face.

"Right, this is James Fraser, my godson." Murtagh finally smiled, patting the Scot's arm. I knew my face had turned ghostly pale. He was my father. I understood the familiarity I saw earlier. It was the same face I saw in the shimmer of a sword. The familiarity was he looked like me, or I guess I looked like him.

"Faith... Tanner.." I smiled, "And this is Kaeden Campbell, a huntsman for one of the nearby estates." I motioned towards Kaeden. Jamie said nothing, didn't even smile. He just looked at me confused for a moment.

"My daughters name was Faith..." He muttered.

"Was?" Kaeden asked, quizzically.

"She died. Or rather she was born dead." He sighed, brushing the hair at the back of his neck. We all stood silently for a moment. Murtagh broke the silence.

"Well, I'm off." He patted Jamie to follow, disappearing once again.

- The Next Day -

"I'll be going with Jamie to Fraser's Ridge. I'll be gone for a week or so. Can ye handle the shop by yerself?" Murtagh looked towards me, finishing the order he'd begun. Jamie and Ian had only left the day before.

"Yes," I muttered, not able to break my focus from my current work. "I can do that." Murtagh began saddling one of the horse before disappearing down the street towards the place called Fraser's Ridge.

Kaeden had spent the night in town and returned later in the evening after Murtagh had gone. I hadn't really given him much when he left the other day. I'd remained quiet most of this day too.

Kaeden gripped my arm as I finished my work, begging for an explanation on what had happened the day before. Finally, I explained the story my mother had told me, then explained who Jamie and Claire were to me. He shook his head.

"You've got to go say something. He just told ye that he didna know yer alive." I shook my head in disagreement.

"Help me close the shop." I grunted, beginning to close the store as the sun faded. Kaeden stayed with me that night. He'd sold most of his meats so he would return home in the morning. He made dinner for us both as I washed the day away, still unsure of what to do about my father.

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"Are ye still thinking of yer father?" Kaeden's hand brushed through my hair. My eyes watched his chest as I played with the hair there. I nodded slightly.

"Come, let me take yer mind elsewhere." His voice changed, softer. I looked up towards him, his hand wandering to my ass. "Mmm, yer arse is so... delightfully round." His hand gripped a cheek roughly. I let out a soft chuckle before pulling his head to mine, kissing him softly. Kaeden's hands explored my naked body, pressing me farther into him. His hand found my warm core, already wet and ready for him. He laid on his side as did I. His mouth explored mine, pressing harder into me. His length pressed against me between us. My hand found him, hard and ready. I lined his tip up against my core, kissing him hard. A moan slipped from his lips as I played with his tip against my core.

"Faith." He groaned. I finally allowed him entry, gasping. I'd forgotten his size. A moan slipped from his lips as he sunk deeper into my wet core. His fingers still played with my clit as he thrusted in and out. Our mouth played with each other, leaving sloppy wet kisses everywhere. He finally flipped onto me, hovering over my body. His body was like that of the gods. Chiseled, perfect at every inch. He quickened his pace. The growing pressure in my core made my toes curl. His mouth sucked on my breast, nipping and licking the peak.

"Kaeden." I moaned, arching my back as I felt my orgasm rising. His hands drifted to my hips as he sat up, making a rougher pace of thrusting. His eyes locked with mine as my orgasm peaked. I let out another moan, finishing onto his shaft as he still pumped in and out. He sunk deep into my core, gripping my hips harder as he slowed. His face twisted with ecstasy as he finished inside of me. I gasped, feeling every inch of my body tingle in pleasure. He leaned forward, kissing me gently across my neck and mouth.

"I love ye, Faith Tanner." He whispered, laying next to me. His hands pulled me close to him. He held me tightly, quickly drifting off into his slumber.

"I think I love you too." I whispered, wrapping an arm around him.