Prompt 5

Plaits

It wasn't long after Ian had reunited with his sister that he heard from her again, and it wasn't exactly good news; their father was ill. Not gravely ill, not fatally ill, but enough that he wouldn't be able to work for some time, which left Alice to handle things alone. When he read her letter, though, he decided he had no choice but to return to Croydon to help them.

Bill and Anne assured him that they could manage without him for however long he would be gone. The children promised they'd help to cover his share of the housework. And Gabriel kissed him goodbye.

"Don't forget me," she teased.

"I could never."

He ran his hands through her now shoulder-length hair and kissed her once more.

Over the following weeks, Ian regularly wrote to them, updating them on how he and his family were doing, until a little over three months had passed and he finally announced that he would be coming home.

He arrived early in the evening and found Anne and Bill downstairs, preparing dinner, and received a warm welcome from them.

"Gabriel's keeping the kids occupied upstairs," Bill said after they had caught up, "You can go join them, we'll finish up down here."

When he opened the door to his and Gabriel's room, he found her sitting before her mirror, surrounded by the children. They turned to look at him as he entered and immediately gasped in excitement.

"Uncle Ian!"

The three of them hurried to hug him, garnering his full attention with questions and the little things he'd missed while he was away. He was somewhat aware of Gabriel standing and making her way towards them, but he didn't get a good look at her with his head down to address the children.

"Come, now, don't crowd him," she said with a light chuckle, prompting them to step back, and Ian finally looked up at her.

He couldn't help but stare. Her dark curls fell loosely about her shoulders, reaching down to the middle of her back, and swayed gently, almost hypnotically, as she moved.

"My lady," he greeted.

"Mi amor," she reached out to cup his cheek and pull him into a kiss, "I've missed you."

Susanna, seeing that they might want to be alone, took her siblings' hands, "Come on. Let's go help Mum and Dad."

Gabriel sat back down and Ian placed his belongings on the floor before going to join her.

"How is your father?"

He sat down beside her, "Much better now. It was good to see him." He absentmindedly ran his hand through her hair and she smiled.

"And your sister?"

He curled a lock around his finger, his focus shifting more to the softness of it, and how it shone in the candlelight, "She's well. She asked about you a lot."

"Did she, now?" she struggled to keep her voice steady as he released the curl and pressed his lips to her temple, only humming in response. She hadn't seen him in so long, but he was still her biggest weakness. He brushed his hand down her hair again and she felt herself blush, "… Do you like it?" she asked, then to his questioning look, "My hair, I mean."

He nodded, "You look beautiful. More and more so every time I see you."

She tucked a strand behind her ear, "… The children like to play with it."

Ian leaned a bit closer, his lips hovering over her ear, grazing her hair, and whispered, "I'm jealous. They've had all this time with you, to appreciate it."

He raised his other hand to carefully run his fingers through it, parting a small section to the side. His fingers went to work combing and twisting, and Gabriel glanced at the mirror to watch.

"What are you doing?"

"Playing with your hair," he said plainly, then paused, "Unless you'd prefer I didn't?"

"No, no. Keep going. It's quite relaxing," she smiled as he continued, "Though I'd like to hear about your trip. About your family."

He fell silent for a moment, keeping his eyes on the locks of hair he was plaiting together.

"… Later, please, love. I've spent weeks fretting over every little thing, worrying about my father's health, trying to lessen the burden on Alice… I need to clear my mind," he met her eyes in the mirror, "Let me focus on you for now."

Gabriel smiled back at him and closed her eyes.

She'd been so excited about growing out her hair, and letting the children play with it was somehow so satisfying, just because they could. Every time she caught sight of her reflection, she beamed so brightly, she couldn't help admiring herself. And clearly, neither could Ian. His gentle touch and captivated gaze only made her feel that much more beautiful.

When they went downstairs for dinner, Gabriel was wearing two perfect plaits, pinned together in the back, almost like a crown encircling her head.