We're Home – Part 12

Archie gazed out at the crowd who stood before him, it had been roughly 10 years ago that he had stood on this same platform and been sworn in as Laird by his father. He still remembered the final words
' I now pronounce you Chieftain of this proud clan, and master of these men assembled.'
How much had changed in that time.
He also remember the people he had welcomed up on the stage to share the moment with him- Golly, Duncan, Hector, Molly, his best friend Lexie and the woman he was in love with- Katrina.
Now Paul stood before the clan, Archie, Lexie, Molly, Golly, Duncan, Mel and Katrina stood behind him. The entire scene was tarnished and transformed by memories of past gatherings. Past events that they had gone through together…past relationships with each other, and how time had changed them into what they were now.
Archie felt relieved and yet also mournful at having given up his place as head of the clan. He was meant to be the man standing in front, giving the speech, raising the standard, leading the clan- and yet he had given that right up to Paul.
He glanced across at Mel in her brand new tartan- she looked like a smaller version of Lexie. Archie smiled, 'It had all been worth it, hadn't it?'
While still in a daze his gaze landed on Katrina, and their eyes met. Archie knew from one glimpse that she had been thinking about the same memories that he had.
Lexie caught the glance and pondered at it. She reached out for Mel and pulled her closer to her, holding onto the safety that her child exuded. She too remembered the same gathering, but she remembered earlier that day- the day that Archie had chosen Katrina over her, even after she had come out and told him her true feelings for him.
" Mummy" Melanie whispered, " What happens now?"
" Now we go back to the house," Lexie explained, trying to get her mind off Archie and Katrina
" And then what?" Mel persisted
" And then we have a big party" Lexie commented
Mel's eyes lit up at the thought and she turned back around, impatiently waiting for Paul to finish speaking and announce that they could head back to the celebrations.
Finally he did, and the group proceeded to trail off the stage and back to the castle. Lexie watched as Archie walked towards his brother and gave him a quick hug. He then turned to Katrina next to him and smiled, Lexie couldn't hear the words that passed between them, but she did see Archie nod and then motion to where she and Melanie were standing.
Katrina nodded back and wrapped her arm around Paul as Archie headed over to his family.
" Almost over" Archie whispered, kissing her fleetingly on the cheek
Lexie smiled, deciding to not let her doubts about Katrina get in the way of enjoying the day.
" Are you enjoying yourself sweetheart," Archie asked, bending down to speak to Mel
Melanie nodded enthusiastically " Yes Daddy, are we going back to the party now?"
Archie laughed, "Yes honey. But you're not to be up too late okay?"
Melanie nodded and then shook her head teasingly. Archie rolled his eyes and reached out to tickle her until eventually she relented and proclaimed "OKAY! Okay! Stop..stop!"
Archie grinned and wrapped an arm around his wife, " Come on- now comes the fun part"
Lexie grinned, she was going to enjoy this party with her family and forget everything else and that was all there was to it!

We're Home – Part 13

Back at the house hours later the celebrations were well on its way. Everyone was gathered throughout the house, but mainly in the landing and hallway. Music blared and couples danced merrily, especially as the liquor flowed more heavily.
Katrina watched Paul from a distance as she walked back from the toilet, he was gazing at Lexie, Katrina raised her eyebrows- she had seen that look before.
" One of my last boyfriends fell for Alexandra Mactavish. I don't want my current boyfriend doing the same thing." She commented, coming up behind him
Paul jumped, and gazed at her innocently " Don't be silly!" he exclaimed, "She's my sister-in-law"
Katrina continued to look at him suspiciously "And I haven't met a MacDonald who hasn't fallen for her charm."
Paul looked back over at Archie and Lexie in the far corner of the room. He must admit, she had always captivated him. He had a feeling that he did love her, but he wasn't in love with her! How could he be? She was his brother's wife.
'Half-Brother' a voice in his head reminded him.
But still she was married woman!
' So was Amanda' the voice reminded again…
Paul shook his head to clear away the crazy thoughts.
" Come on" he commented to Katrina, " Let's dance"
The truth was that Paul hated dancing; he never felt like he knew what he was doing. Archie, on the other hand, had been brought up with reels, jigs and countless ceilidh's- so he could dance with Lexie all night and fit right in.
Katrina was Paul's saving grace, as she too had been brought up with the traditional dances and could lead him through them. He knew that she would have preferred it if he knew what he was doing, but he could tell that she also enjoyed being in charge and guiding him in doing what she wanted.
Paul looked at Lexie again- she looked vibrant, energetic and outgoing.
Melanie ran up and threw her arms around her, making exclamations about the party that were lost to Paul's ears because of all the surrounding noise.
" Who are you looking at?" Katrina asked
" Mel" Paul replied simply
Katrina smiled " Hmm, she is a sweetie, that's for sure."
" Yeah. She's a lot like her parents" Paul commented
" Archie and Lexie all in one- scary thought" Katrina teased
Paul chuckled, "True"
A few minutes later the music stopped and they joined Archie and Lexie in the corner
" Where's Miss. Melanie gone? " Paul asked
Lexie inclined her head to the side and indicated a group of children playing up and down the stairs where Melanie was having the time of her life with her new found friends.
" Ahh" Paul remarked, taking the glass of wine that Archie offered him.
Suddenly a familiar traditional dirge started to play and Archie and Katrina glanced at each other.
" It's our song" Archie commented
" Primary School just keeps haunting us doesn't it" Katrina answered with a lopsided smile
Archie nodded, and glanced at his wife with a 'do you mind?' kind of look. Lexie shrugged and Archie took it to mean that she was fine with the suggestion, so accordingly took Katrina's hand and lead her onto the dance floor.
Lexie cringed and wished that her husband would actually attempt to understand her emotions a bit better then he did. A lot better actually….
Paul gazed at her and asked, " Want to go for a walk?"
Lexie took one last look at Katrina and Archie before nodding and grabbing her coat.

We're Home – Part 14

" You alright?" Paul asked as they stepped into the night air
" Hmm" Lexie mused, then glanced at him " Yeh, yeh. I'm fine"
Paul nodded, unconvinced " Did you have a good time today?"
" Yeah, brought back a lot of memories." Lexie commented, staring off into the night
" Of Archie with Katrina?" Paul asked, reading her thoughts
Lexie gazed at him tentatively, unsure of how much to say considering his relationship with Katrina
" It's okay, I understand." Paul reassured
Lexie nodded, then looked away. Walking further into the garden and sitting down on the seat, Paul sat beside her and listened to the sounds around them.
" I just needed a bit of air," Lexie whispered into the night
Paul nodded again, and gazed at her
" How do you feel about me dating Katrina?" Paul asked
Lexie shrugged, " I don't mind. It's you're life"
" You mind when it puts her around Arch again…" Paul revealed
" Archie's his own man, he is perfectly capable of looking after himself." Lexie commented
Paul nodded slowly " I've missed having you around"
Lexie glanced at him startled by his sudden remark. She didn't know what to say. In the end she settled for
" I've missed Glenbogle too."
Paul couldn't see her blush in the half night
" Do you like Glasgow?"
" I was brought up in Glasgow" Lexie reminded him, "It just took a bit of re-adjustment again"
"Right" Paul agreed
Lexie stared off into the distance " It's weird being back here now"
" Why?"
" Everything's so different…."
" Lex?"
Lexie spun around quickly at the sound of Archie's voice
" Hey" Archie commented " You alright?"
" Yeh" Lexie answered stiltedly, turning back to stare out at the loch
Archie sent Paul a look asking what was wrong, but Paul just shrugged
" Where's Katrina?" Paul asked
" Inside" Archie informed
Paul nodded and stood up, heading back to the house.
Archie sat down where Paul had been and went to put his arm around Lexie, but she moved away. Archie glanced at her confused " Lex?"
" I'm getting tired, let's just go back in." Lexie answered, standing up and walking away
Archie remained seated, staring after his wife in shock. 'What had he done? Why was she out here with Paul anyway?'
" Lex" He shouted, finally jumping to his feet and racing after her
" What?" Lexie murmured
" Tell me what's the matter please"
" It doesn't matter Archie" Lexie muttered, quickening her steps and reaching the safe cloak of festivities which the house provided

When everyone had finally gone home, and Mel was sound asleep from pure exhaustion, Archie and Lexie walked to their room.
Lexie tried to keep the tears from shining in her eyes as she rummaged around under her pillow searching for her nightie. Turning away from Archie she began to undress.
Archie sighed and kicked off his shoes, he hated when he and his wife didn't get along. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Lexie undressed, throwing her highland garb onto the floor.
Finally he walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. She struggled at first saying she wasn't in the mood, until he kissed her neck. Lexie shivered, he turned her around to face him and found her eyes glaring back. He looked straight into them, not avoiding their gaze.
Softly he touched a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his, but she shied away shaking her head and exclaiming
" I can't believe you think you can just…..!"
But she was silenced by his kiss. He pulled back and looked at her, half expecting to be slapped. Lexie stared back at him mixed emotions playing through her eyes.
" I love you," he whispered
She rolled her eyes
" Don't do that," he ordered, and she stopped.
Instead she reached past him to grab her nightie. He stopped her hand half way and pulled her into his embrace. He whispered her name over and over, kissing her again- and this time she lost the will to fight. Reaching up to him she cried as she kissed him back.
" I'm sorry for whatever I did to upset you" Archie murmured
" I love you too" Lexie replied, "I'm sorry I didn't say it before."
Archie nodded, and hugged her tight. She hugged him back and then reached past him again to grab the nightie- testing him.
He picked it up and gave it to her, she nodded, taking it from his hands and slipping it over her head before climbing into bed and turning off the light.
Archie stood in the semi-darkness and watched her for a moment, before sighing deeply and climbing into his side.

We're Home – Part 15

The next morning Archie took Melanie down to one of her new friend's houses and then went to visit Golly. He glanced around the cottage as he drank his warm cup of tea with a sigh
" It's good to be back Golly" Archie commented
Golly smiled, " It's good to have you back son."
" Quite a few things have changed around here haven't they." Archie reminisced
Golly nodded, " It's different without you and Lexie around. Paul does a good job and Katrina. But they could never replace you two."
Archie smiled, Golly was always so faithful and reliable " I don't think Lex is too crazy about Katrina being back"
Golly shrugged " That's understandable. I suppose Katrina's feeling a bit like that about Lexie being back, with Paul and all"
Archie looked confused " Paul? Why should Katrina be jealous of Lexie with Paul?"

" Why do you look at me like that?" Lexie asked, curious
Paul snapped back to reality, " I was just thinking how lucky Archie is"
Lexie rolled her eyes, " You wouldn't think it sometimes."
Paul shrugged, and pulled her into a hug " If I found a woman like you I would marry them too."
Lexie laughed, " So what? Katrina isn't THE woman"
Paul smiled, " I'm not sure yet. She's different to you in a lot of ways- it's a bit of a surprise that you're both Archie's type."
" Archie has no idea what his type is" Lexie joked, " Never has"
" So what, he just ended up with someone like you out of pure luck?" Paul inquired
" Yes and no. I've loved him a long time Paul, seems like forever."
" Are you happy?"
" Happy?" Lexie repeated, mulling over the word " Yes generally I am happy, sometimes it's contentment. Right now it's just uncertainty- I trust him, I really do-"
" But" Paul prompted
" No" Lexie snapped, " No buts. I trust him. I love him, that's all there is to it- anything else we'll work out between us."
Paul was slightly shocked at this sudden outburst " Look, Lexie I didn't mean.."
" No Paul it's okay. You were there for me when Archie was in Nepal; I know that's what you're doing now as well"
Lexie smiled " You're a good friend Paul. I'm glad you found Glenbogle"
" Me too" Paul answered

Archie watched them from the front door, his mind working over time. He didn't even hear Katrina come up behind him
" Hello Archie"
Archie spun around and looked at her, she glanced at what he had been observing. Lexie and Paul sat on the nearest garden seat having an in depth conversation, his arm was around her shoulder.
" Did you know about this?" Archie asked
" About what?" Katrina inquired
" Paul, liking Lexie as more then a sister-in-law"
" Paul is my boyfriend" Katrina commented, " Do you really think that I want to even consider that I might loose another boyfriend to the same woman."
Archie turned to face her; her eyes were welling up with tears
" Oh, Katrina, I'm sorry. Come on let's go inside"
Katrina nodded and let him lead her into the library. Not much later Paul and Lexie walked into the room, Lexie took one look at her husband with Katrina and walked straight back out- leaving Paul to deal with the situation.
" Hey honey" he greeted Katrina leaning over to kiss her, " What are you doing here?"
" I came to see you of course," Katrina answered, standing up
" Archie been keeping you company?" Paul asked, glancing at his brother
" Well someone had to while you were doing the same for Lexie" Katrina clarified
Paul noticed the chill in her voice and cringed, " Feel like having a day out?" he asked
Katrina glanced at him and then sighed, " Sure. Why not"
Paul nodded a thankyou at Archie and went to get their coats. Archie looked at his watch and noticed that it was time to pick up Melanie; with a groan he stood up and went back to the village.