We're Home – Part 6 By: SnowWHite That night as they sat around the dinner table eating Paul and Archie's stalking triumph Molly smiled and added into the general conversation "Melanie found out the story of her birth today" "Really Sweetheart" Archie grinned, "Can you tell us?" "Isn't she a bit young?" Duncan whispered to Golly "That's conception Duncan, not birth" Golly replied with a shake of his head as Melanie started repeated the story back to the rest of the table with a bit of prompting from Lexie and Molly, her eyes still showing amazement at the part about the library and the helicopter. When she finished Archie grinned wider and hugged his daughter "That was very well told Darling, although I remember it in vivid detail as it is." "I didn't realize you actually had to get air lifted from here" Paul remarked Lexie smiled "How did you think I got to Glasgow, walked?" Paul coloured and then laughed, "Yes, spose you're right. I'm sorry I missed it." "Ach Paul, you needed that year to get things straightened out before you took over the family business. You know we understand" Lexie reassured "Hmm, and you know we're happy to have given Mel some time at Glenbogle before we moved to Glasgow." Archie added "It was a good environment to bring a toddler up in and it meant she got to spend some quality time with her Grandmother" Paul smiled and looked over at Molly who was helping Melanie pour a drink. He agreed that that extra three years of Archie and Lexie staying on at Glenbogle had been a good move. Even though he himself was only away for a year and had then come back, having them around, and raising his niece was one of the best experiences he could remember. Paul had felt he needed an extra year to clear up the details of his 'previous life' before he assumed the role of Laird, and Lexie had been able to convince Archie to stay on just that bit longer with the promise that they would leave when Paul returned. Then when they realized that they had a baby on the way they couldn't leave and up root her just after she was born, so they stayed on until she was two years old before moving to the city. Those two years had given Archie, Lexie and Melanie the time together that they had much needed. Time away from the demands of Glenbogle, as Paul was now 'holding the reins' and yet time in the environment that they had grown to know and love each other so well in. Melanie was brought up in her native surroundings, and then was still young enough to adjust happily to the move to Glasgow that they made when Archie and Lexie had secured a restaurant that they wanted to buy and run. The move hadn't been as painful as would have been thought, they still rang once a week and sent copious amounts of photographs. Archie wrote to Paul, and Lexie generally wrote to Molly. Their new life had turned out well, and yet, Paul realized now glancing across the table at his brother and his family, he was ever so happy to see them again, "How long are you staying on?" He asked Archie Archie drained his glass and answered "Just a week, maybe two at the most. I know it's not long but we really can't afford to leave the restaurant in the hand of the others for much longer then that." Paul nodded "So you'll be here for the clan gathering then?" Archie glanced at his wife and realised with slight nostalgia that they hadn't even realised. Even though they'd both been brought up with the traditions of the glen it was amazing how fast they'd forgotten the timing and importance of such events when they had become accustomed to working to a totally different timetable. "I suppose we will" Archie commented, wondering what part they would play now that so much had changed.