Family

[thehorseman]

Twilight. Dusk slipped like silk over the granite-strewn field where a cloud-grey stallion waited. Within the stallion's form, Anraí tried to steady the potent brew of anticipation and nervousness ratcheting through him

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[rein_it_in]

She was up at the house, just as Anraí had said. Staring down a bottle of wine, cork in one hand and a glass in the other, she let out a nervous huff of breath. "Screw it."

Laine set the glass down and took a deep pull right from the bottle. Then she poured herself a glass of the dark burgundy liquid. She was wiping the rim of the bottle clean from the chapstick residue she'd left on the glass when she heard footfalls on the porch, the front door opening.

Her stomach knotted. They're here. All of them. Dear God.

Putting a smile on her face that was far more genuine than forced, Laine left her drink on the counter and went to greet the people she's heard so much about. People that were going to be part of her family.

Of course she tripped over the dog, Harvard, on her way there. "God damn it all to hell, you rotten throw rug. You want me to break my neck? I swear I'm sendin' you back to Jackson, a piece at a time. Get on outta here...out!"

First impressions...

[thehorseman]

Anraí smiled at the sound of Laine's voice. He himself had no qualms about the impression she'd make on his family, no matter what language she was using. Da, Rory, Tadhg and Cait were all smiling as well, and Cait bounced on her toes slightly in what he knew was fervent curiosity.

As Laine stepped to his side, he slid a reassuring arm around her shoulders. "Laine, mo leannan, I'd like you to meet my father, Ruairí MacEibhir, my brothers Rory and Tadhg, and my sister Caitlín."

Giving her a warm squeeze, he took one of her hands in his free one. "Everyone, this is Laine Anderson ... my fiancée." He savored the word rather like a wine connosieur might a sip of a particularly fine Bordeaux.

[rein_it_in]

Laine returned their smiles with a sheepish one of her own and a mumbled apology for the yelling (and swearing) as she tipped her head towards Anraí's. His introductions short and to the point, she nodded at them in acknowledgment though she could have easily guessed who was whom by looking at them. It wasn't until he introduced her, said that one word,
fiancée, that Laine's cheeks took on a hint of color.

She knew how much he'd wanted to say that, to these particular people, and the tone of his voice stirred all the affection she held for him. "Hi, nice to finally meet y'all..."

She looked at them each in turn, so many things she wanted to say, to ask, but didn't. Swallowing her nerves again, Laine tried to remember her manners and be the friendly hostess she often has been to her own friends and family. "Come on in, put those bags down and take a load off..." She shook her hand free from Anraí's and moved the short distance to where Ruairí was standing, and held her arms out for a hug.

[sonofgranite]

Ruairí tilted his head slightly as Anraí introduced his intended. Dark haired, athletic, with bright, lively blue eyes ... he rather thought he could see someone very interesting living behind those eyes, and looked forward to learning more about his future daughter-in-law.

When Laine offered a hug, his smile broadened to a grin as he folded her in. "Fáilte, Laine ... welcome to our family." Gently returning her squeeze, he looked over her shoulder into the face of his eldest and saw the pride glowing there. Thinking of all Anraí had been through to get to this moment made Ruairí's throat tighten just a little.

As he straightened, he gave Laine another warm smile. "And thank you for letting us invade your home for a while."