Akhenti had mysteriously disappeared after a couple of days, and Miriam had decided, as with so many things recently, that it was better not to ask questions. She was watching, though, part in amused affection, partly in concern as Connor and Sahriel helped clean up the mess as the town slowly put itself to rights, and then disappeared every night to go sleep… somewhere, Miriam wasn’t sure where and didn’t think she wanted to know, but she wasn’t sure that it was healthy or safe, and in any case, she missed them.

They usually still would stick around for dinner, which was nice, but then they would leave together, and she wouldn’t see either of them again until the next day. It was a strange feeling, watching them go, leaving her alone in a cottage that had always seemed cozy and almost too small, but suddenly echoed with empty space. She wasn’t used to sleeping in a silent house, knowing that it was empty, unable to even hear another person breathing. It was a little hard to get used to, and she didn’t think she altogether liked it.

She was pondering some solutions, but they would have to wait until the work in town was finished, and it wasn’t that urgent anyway, she told herself. In the meantime she kept her smile bright and her hearth and kitchen open and welcoming, making sure that whenever she did have them at her disposal, they were well fed and warm and cared for.

She had somehow begun to think of them as a unit, which she knew was dangerous, but it was so clear that they were when they were together in private. Neither of them was fooling around or taking the…relationship, or whatever it was, lightly. They were both dead serious, and it kind of amazed her to see it in Connor – to see the passion and devotion and emotion that he hadn’t had about anything in a long time. She had never expected to see him so involved with another person, so attached and… affectionate.

In fact it amused her a great deal to watch them together when she was able to coax them to stay after dinner to sit by the fire and visit for awhile, talking or just quietly being together while she worked on crochet or knitting or some other small task. It was quite adorable to see her big, gruff and grumpy brother cave so easily and soften so much with his slender, almost fragile looking little lover, suffering all kinds of touching and affection and even returning it in a way he had never done even with her, although she usually was able to get a hug and a smile out of him.

But this was… well, it was quite frankly entertaining is what it was, and sometimes she would just let them sit there and quietly murmur back and forth to themselves, keeping quiet until they forgot her and became so completely absorbed in each other, Connor looking more open and relaxed than she thought he’d ever been in his life, and while he made an occasional attempt at stern or gruff responses, it was the open affection, gentleness and even tenderness that made her watch in wonder, enthralled and rather grateful to Sahriel for having come along when he did, to rescue her brother’s heart.

It occurred to her eventually that she should tell him so, and as he usually returned from town sooner than Connor did each day, she enjoyed the times to chat and talk with him alone, getting to know him better since it seemed he was part of her family now.

She greeted him with a warm smile and a cup of tea, always, setting it on the table for him just as he sat down, perfectly timed so she could brush his hair back and kiss his forehead as he reached for it.

“How was your day then, luv?” she asked him as she moved away to pour another cup and take a seat across from him, snatching a few minutes of rest to just visit with him, enjoying the company.

“I fixed a window!” Sahriel announced excitedly, holding up his hands smothered in small bandaids from his various attempts at fitting the glass before Teague had come to help and rescue the poor frame Sahriel had built. “It was loads of fun!” He wrapped his hands around the tea and sighed in pure delight, sniffing at the steam and sipping at it slowly, savouring the taste.

“You’re the best Miriam!”

Chuckling at him, Miriam sipped her own tea, pleased that he was so delighted with it. “No, now, it’s me should be tellin you that,” she answered, cocking her head with a bright, saucy little smile. “You been a real good thing for us, Sahri,” she added more seriously, nodding warmly at him.

“Good for Connor. He’s spent too long closed off and angry and hurting,” she noted softly, shrugging a little. “Never thought I would see him let anyone in again, not like he does with you. I never seen him that happy,” she told him wistfully. She wasn’t sure Sahriel knew that Connor was happy, since it wasn’t like he did a lot of smiling or laughed or teased much more than he used to, and she doubted he’d actually said as much, but he was at peace and content in a way he hadn’t been before.

Sahriel didn’t know, though he’d wondered sometimes. But he figured Miriam would know and sat gaping quietly, cheeks flushed red as he looked at her serious face. Not many people had ever said nice things to him, over the centuries, but it meant the world to him when they did.

“Really?” he asked, unable to keep the note of pleading from his voice. “He’s really happy?” It was almost the only thing Sahriel wanted in the world anymore.

“Really,” Miriam assured him, smiling bright and warm and reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “He likes you, an’ you’re doing good for him – easin’ something I haven’t known how to go about soothin’, healin some hurts he’s carried so long they make him like he was, just grumpin, angry all the time. Tired and hurt and alone he’s been, far too long. I been worried about him, what’d become of him if I was to marry and move on from here.”

“You’re getting married?” Sahriel gaped at her, stunned by this news before it sank in that she’d said ‘if’. “I mean…it would be really cool if you got married. I could come to the wedding, right? Connor would have to give you away…hmm, I hope the groom doesn’t do a runner!” He grinned, already able to picture it all in his head and hoping it happened soon, though he was still a little worried.

“So…you don’t mind? I mean, I know it’s not normal here, me and Connor…”

Miriam shook her head, a new worry settling lightly on her face. “It’s not, no, and you both must needs always be careful, as to who if any be findin out, an’ the less as know the better I’m afraid,” she told him gently with a sympathetic look. “It do be against the law, but some folks is like that, and he’s my brother. I want for him to be happy, however he needs to do that. I know you ain’t toyin with him or going to do him wrong, you care about him too. I can see that,” she noted with a flicker of humor, amused at the thought that they were damn near to falling in love and most likely neither had a clue what it was.

Sahriel sighed, knowing that all too well. He hated taking his seal back and going into town each day, having to ignore Connor and not talk to him and not touch or kiss or even just hold his hand. But getting to curl up with Connor at the end of the day and touch and kiss and lick and tease as much as he wanted nearly made up for it. He was still amazed Connor let him touch as often as he did.

“Thanks Miri,” he murmered softly, focussing on the tea again, relaxing into the chair and wondering how long it would be before Connor got home. “What are we having for dinner? Can I help?”

“Sure, you could,” she agreed, tilting her head and nodding as something occurred to her. “Might be I should start teachin’ you some cookin’ you can do on your own then, hm? Do you know any?” She wasn’t entirely sure what exactly he’d done for the French family that had given him his name – sometimes he said adopted, and other times it sounded as if he’d been in service to them, but he never said anything specific about where he’d been or what he’d done before now. She wasn’t altogether sure she wanted to know.

Sahriel grinned excitedly, because he loved learning new things, but more because he could help her. He shrugged, thinking about it and really he had never cooked often, only for friends if he’d really felt like it, since eating wasn’t really a necessity.

“Uh…I can make an okay soup…and I can cook meat over a fire? And fry or boil vegetables. That’s about it.”

Miriam laughed, softly amused. “Well, you wouldn’t starve then, but I’m sure we can do better than that. We’ll make dinner together then, an’ I’ll show you how to make the best venison stew as ever been made, for today. You come home this early every day, and we’ll have lessons, hm?”

She liked the thought of that, teaching her new little brother to cook, bossing him around and spoiling him at the same time as she got to watch him learn new things, and since it looked like it would end up being him, she was determined to teach him everything he’d need to know to be the best little housewife ever. Not that she would ever say as much to him, not in those words – but Connor needed taking care of, and she knew that was what Sahriel wanted most. She didn’t mind training him for the job.

Sahriel would likely have screamed murder and gone to hide in the cave for life had he known what she was thinking. As it was, he had no clue and so just grinned in delight, nodding in agreement. He definitely wanted to learn to cook new things.

“Does Connor like venison stew?” Because really that was the only thing that mattered. There was no point learning to cook something Connor didn’t like.

Miriam gave him a slightly bemused smile. “Do you know anyone who doesn’t?” she asked, never having heard of it herself. Something as basic as rich, hearty stew was surely to everyone’s taste, wasn’t it? She shrugged, going on. “Connor isn’t picky – I don’t know as there is anything he really dislikes. You’d have to ask him, luv.” And likely Sahriel would have better luck than she’d had with the same questions – if he had a favorite meal, if there were things he didn’t like. She’d gotten a shrug, and a vague assurance that whatever she made was fine. It made her sigh even as it amused her.

“I guess so,” Sahriel agreed quietly, not sure if everyone had liked venison stew over the years. Certainly some people hadn’t had venison, but they likely would have liked it if they had so it was impossible to say really. He got up and went about getting the pot out, rinsing it and putting it on the stove, finding the materials to light the fire in some amusement, definitely not needing more than a thought to start the stove but enjoying keeping up the appearance.

“What was Connor like when you were little?”

Miriam settled back with her cup of tea as soon as she saw that he was familiar at least with the basics of the kitchen, figuring that he would learn faster if he was doing it himself, and she would simply direct him until he needed help.

“Hmmm,” she mused thoughtfully at the question. “I don’t know… he used to be a bit of a scamp is what I’m told, but that was before I was born. I’m almost five years younger, you know, and Mother died soon after I was born. A lot changed then, and I don’t remember him or Father being anything but serious and stubborn and growly for most of my life. When I was very young, Connor used to play with me a bit, keeping me amused, but I don’t know as he ever had much fun for himself. He would laugh with me, a little, but he was always sad, and as we got older, he grew to be as angry as Father was; neither of them knows how to deal with hurt, and grief very well,” she noted sadly.

“A scamp?” Sahriel could not imagine it and laughed hard as a result, though he felt his chest grow tight when he realised how early their mum had died and in these parts that explained a lot. Fathers didn’t often had time or social inclination to dote on their children when there was work to be done, unfortunately. He hated thinking of the two of them growing up hurting and alone and he looked at Miriam seriously, hoping she didn’t hate him for mentioning it.

“I’m really sorry about your parents.”

Miriam shrugged, giving him a wry smile. There wasn’t much to say about it; life was hard, and everyone had their own miseries. People made the best of what they had, and she thought it was important to focus on the good things, and get as much joy out of life as there was to be found.

“It was a long time ago,” she said softly. “It was harder for Connor, I think… I don’t really remember anything before. He’s the one that lost things… and he was there, at the accident my father died in. Connor took over his place because there was no one else to do it, and he’d been helping father since he was old enough to swing a hatchet anyway.”

Startled by that little piece of information, Sahriel had assumed Connor did his job just because he was obsessively in love with it. But that didn’t seem to be it, not exactly, maybe not at all and he worked hard on getting the venison prepared to put it in the pot.

“How did he die?”

Miriam shook her head, refilling her cup from the teapot and cradling it between her hands, taking a deep breath of the fragrant steam and letting it out with a long sigh.

“There was an accident,” she murmured. “One year in the spring when they were felling trees for building and repairing things after winter wore everything down, there was a big tree with a double trunk, and they were going to cut them one at a time, making them fall in opposite directions. But something happened, I don’t know what, and they didn’t fall where they were supposed to. My father was caught under one of them, and once they were able to move it they carried him back to town unconscious with crushed ribs, badly broken bones and bleeding inside. The doctor said nearly every bone in his body was broken, and he never regained consciousness.” And some, a lot of people said it had been at least partly Connor’s fault. Miriam didn’t believe that, but Connor did.

“….oh.” Sahriel had seen people die that way. In the days when people had still known who he was, or at least what, they’d let him do those things; the sorts of things that could get mortal men killed and he’d enjoyed the work much as he’d enjoyed showing off just a little and felling that tree in the woods with Connor weeks ago. But now he knew better, he wished he hadn’t. Or he wished someone had freed him earlier. If Connor’s father had found him instead, Sahriel could have watched Connor and Miriam grow up, and could have helped them in the woods and no one would have needed to die.

“I’m sorry.”

Miriam smiled at him, watching his clever, competent hands making the stew. He wasn’t really needing much help at all, and really it was pretty simple until it came time to add the seasoning, which was her secret.

“It’s alright,” she assured him. “You’re making it better. You’re making everything better.” Connor had something that mattered to him now besides herself, besides guilt and duty and anger and grief. He had a soulmate, unless she missed her guess, and it was impossible to overestimate the value of that.

Sahriel beamed at her, delighted that she thought him capable of making anything better. It was such a change to have someone believe in him; to think him capable of doing a good thing. It wasn’t something that happened very often.

“Okay, so I have everything ready here….what do I do next?” He looked over at her expectantly, stepping back to let her come help.

She got up and went over, smoothing his hair down as she peered over his shoulder to make sure it was all ready to add the seasoning.

“Now we make it awesome!” Miriam told him, grinning as she reached for salt and spices, showing him the measurements she used for each – salt and basil and rosemary, bay leaves and oregano, black pepper and garlic, paprika, celery seed and onions mixed into the broth to flavor the meat, potatoes, carrots, peas and beans already in the pot.

Sahriel watched her in awe, of the opinion she was a mad machine. Her hands flew over the pot, dropping in all sorts of things until the cottage filled with the most sensational aroma Sahriel had smelt in years. He hovered over the pot, face in the steam, inhaling deeply and nearly dancing on the spot in pure joy.

“Oh my god, it smells so good! This is amazing! You’re so amazing! Oh god, this is the best smell ever! I’m going to remember this for eternity!”

She chuckled at him, ruffling his hair and leaning over to kiss his cheek. “Think you remember the right amounts and such?” she asked him with a merry twinkle. “Next time I let you to do it yourself, and see how well you remember.” She was teasing, of course, because she would stop him before he put in too much or let him know when he needed more of something.

Sahriel eyed her nervously, not sure he remembered it all perfectly but more than willing to give it a go so he nodded enthusiastically, knowing if he got it completely wrong she would at least know a way to fix it. He leaned in and kissed her cheek, thrilled to have been able to help out, of the opinion Miriam should be spoiled and have someone cooking for her for a change. She definitely needed to find a good man!

“You know, I heard the old Lord Earl or whatever died in that storm? And some young Earl’s son guy is coming to replace him…you should go say hi sometime!”

Miriam stared at him, completely bewildered. “Whyever would I do that?” she asked, genuinely puzzled. The townfolk and the Lord generally had little enough to do with each other, and she doubted that the accession of a new Lord would change things.

“I reckon I’ll see him at some point,” she pointed out, “he’ll probably want to meet the staff.”

“Mmm but he’s not married, right? And he’s supposed to be young which by town standards means he’s gotta be at least under…what, forty?” He grinned rougishly at her, completely unrepentant for trying to think of a way to set her up with the man.

“And if he’s an ass you tell me and I’ll take care of it!”

Miriam rolled her eyes, planting her hands on her hips and looking sternly at him. “You just keep your mind on your own man, now! I ain’t need you making plans for the likes o’ me, I’ll help my own self when I’m ready. You got your hands full enough with yourn, I’m thinkin, an’ what a mercy that be, to be sure.” But she was unable to keep the amusement entirely out of her expression, eyes still sparkling with laughter in the stern facade.

Sahriel just grinned at her before he heard someone stomping over the bridge and the fish pond and he let out a startled gasp, his attention immediately focussed outside the cottage and he rushed to the door, swinging it open just in time and grinning up at Connor, taking in his weary expression and the scent of sweat on him, reaching out immediately to take his tools and putting them on the floor inside the door before tugging him in for a warm hug.

“You should wash before dinner.”

Connor grunted, not caring that he was dirty for the moment, hugging Sahriel back just as tightly and slowly relaxing, sighing as the fatigue of a long hard day rolled over him, but it was over now and he was home, with Sahriel, and everything was okay.

“I will,” he said finally, his voice soft and rough as he absently rubbed his cheek against Sahriel’s gorgeous hair. It was hard to force himself to let go, but eventually he did and headed for the sink to wash his face and hands, as much as he could be bothered with at the moment.

Sahriel watched in wry amusement because that was totally not what he’d meant but he would go drag him down to the creek or something later before they went to bed, sure Connor would be more open to the idea if he wasn’t going to be doing it alone.

“Was your day okay?” He asked cautiously, because Connor really did look tired.

Shrugging, Connor pulled out a chair and dropped into it, giving him a faint almost-smile. “Sure, it was fine,” he agreed absently, not knowing any other way to describe a day as he rarely thought about it, whether one day was better than another. They were very nearly all the same, and while there were undeniably things he enjoyed doing more than others, the general fact of the matter was that he worked long and hard each day, coming home to eat and sleep and do it all over again.

“Dinner smells good,” he noted, sniffing appreciatively and smiling at Mriam.

“Sahriel made it,” she told him, and Connor looked at him in surprise.

“You did?”

“MIriam taught me,” Sahriel grinned at him, going over to sit in his lap, melting in against him and sighing in relief, fishing his seal out of his pocket and carefully putting it back in Connor’s hand, closing his fingers around it and then kissing his fist.

“I missed you.”

“I know,” Connor told him gently, wrapping his arms around him and cradling him in his lap, watching as Miriam dished out the soup into sturdy bowls, setting one before each of them and then taking her own seat.

“I missed you too.”

Sahriel felt something click back inside him as Connor took hold of the seal and sighed in relief, staying where he was for a minute and just enjoying the closeness and warmth before forcing himself to get up and move to the chair beside Connor’s so they could both eat their soup. He couldn’t resist inhaling the scent again, sighing in pleasure and feeling proud that he hadn’t stuffed it up; that he’d managed to help Miriam.

“Miriam taught me her secret!” He grinned at her, loving that she trusted him that much.

Miriam chuckled at him, finding him almost as adorable as Connor did. “Mmm, I did,” she agreed, her eyes twinkling at him. It wasn’t actually that big of a secret – most people had their own personal seasoning recipes, often handed down through families, and while Miriam felt that hers was actually better than most and no one else knew it, still it wasn’t state secrets or anything.

Still, Sahriel was so transparently delighted by it that she didn’t have the heart to tell him that. “He’s a very good student,” she told Connor. “I’m teaching him to cook.”

Sahriel felt proud and thought it was a weird feeling considering it was due to praise from a human, but he didn’t question it, liking the feeling and loving that it was Miriam and Connor. He wielded his spoon dubiously, as if unsure it would live up to her standard, dipping it in and taking a large mouthful.

“Oh my god, it’s so good! It’s so awesome! Connor, try it, I helped cook it and it’s really really good!”

Connor laughed, an open, affectionate sound, reaching over to squeeze Sahriel’s shoulder and kiss his temple. “I’m sure it is if you helped,” he told Sahriel solemnly, eyes still twinkling with amusement, and he was teasing but he meant it, too.

Miriam eyed him a little wonderingly, trying to remember if she’d ever heard him laugh like that before. He did so rarely, and that open, delighted warmth was something she hadn’t ever heard from him.

He caught her looking, and poked his tongue out at her – Miriam put down her spoon and just stared.

“Sahri, where is my brother and what did you do to him?” she asked, half laughing, but genuinely stunned.

Sahriel paused with the spoon halfway out of his mouth, looking from one to the other and just shrugging because he didn’t see anything different. Well, it was true Connor wasn’t growling or frowning or shoving him off his chair because he was sitting too close or anything, but Connor hadn’t done that stuff for a while now! So he just grinned and reached across to hook Connor’s leg with his, running his foot up the inside.

“I would reply, but you would scold me for being impolite.”

Miriam snorted softly, vaguely amused but not wanting details, well able to guess what he was referring to. She wrinkled her nose at him and went back to eating, humming in contentment at the hot, savoury taste of the excellent stew. Sahriel really had done a great job of it.

Connor just shrugged her off and picked up his own spoon, taking a bite and making approving noises, nodding at Sahriel.

“S’good!” he agreed, grinning. “Just like Miri’s.”

“Told you it was good!” Sahriel beamed, thrilled that Connor thought it was good, even as good as Miriam’s, knowing that was the equivolent of saying it was just about the best possible, coming from Connor. He hurriedly ate as much as he felt comfortable eating before getting up and going to pour more tea, passing out the small cups before curling up in his seat with his own cup, cradling it close and inhaling the scent happily.

Connor ate hungrily, feeling half starved after the day’s hard work – they were still busy rebuilding the damage from the storm, repairing houses, and while most of the actual debris had been cleared away and the fallen trees chopped into building material, they still had a ways to go on the repairs.

There had been at least two houses completely demolished that had to be entirely rebuilt, and nearly every place in town had some kind of damage. About half of the most severely damaged homes had been unliveable until the repairs were finished, and the families had been staying either at the Inn or the church, with a few being squeezed into the rooms over the Red Lion tavern and the remainder doubled up with friends and family in the houses that were complete or not too damaged.

It was a lot of work, and Connor wouldn’t normally mind at all, but it left him with very little time to see Sahriel, and that was starting to wear him down. Long days seemed even longer without Sahriel, and even when he did see him in town, he couldn’t talk to him without a good excuse, and even if he had one, he couldn’t get the hug he wanted, or a kiss or anything really.

“Do you have to work tonight?” he asked now.

“Nope!” Sahriel put down his mug and held up his hands excitedly, showing off his many little bandaged coverings scattered over his fingers.”I fixed windows today! I even made the frame and everything for one of them! And Teague helped me fit the glass! But yeah, they counted that as work and gave us the night off. The Inn’s full but the bar’s not open anyway, they don’t want anyone roughhousing or anything and trashing what they just fixed.”

Connor sagged a little in relief, relaxing considerably more as he went back to eating, nodding at Sahriel’s words. He hated nights when Sahriel had to work and he had to go to bed cold and alone, especially when he was already exhausted.

“Yeah, everything’s kind of on hold until the repairs are finished,” he agreed. “But I’m glad you’re off tonight.” He glanced over with a little smile, and Miriam sighed.

“I take it that means you two won’t be staying after supper?” she asked wryly, tilting her head to study them. Well, they deserved to be happy, and soon enough she was going to take it up with Connor about adding on an extra room to the cottage so they would have their own place to sleep closer to home.

“Sorry, Miri,” Sahriel apologised seriously. “It must be really lonely here by yourself, I’m sorry I keep taking him away.” Even if he knew that should she see or hear any of the things he liked doing with Connor she would likely have a heart attack. He still felt bad about taking her big brother off her.

“It’s okay if you wanna stay here or whatever, Connor.”

Miriam waved this away amusedly, shaking her head. “Don’t be silly,” she told him, “I’m perfectly happy for you two, and I certainly don’t want you staying here doing whatever it is you do; it’s just nice when you stay and visit for a bit after dinner, but you’re both tired and you need rest. I’ll see you both tomorrow,” she pointed out, smiling warmly at them.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind,” Connor agreed hesitantly. All he wanted to do was go back to the cave and curl up with Sahriel in his warm little nest and let him soothe all the stress and weariness of the day.

“I don’t mind,” Miriam insisted brightly. “Just don’t forget to come home tomorrow,” she told them both sternly.

Connor smiled faintly, nodding in agreement. “We won’t,” he promised softly. They wouldn’t leave Miriam alone too much – she was part of the family, after all, and Connor liked the feeling that Sahriel was as much a part of it now as she was. The three of them were a family. It was a good feeling.