A/N: Binge watching Hulu's a good use of time, right?

Aubrey: Yep

Saberin: Welcome back! Yeah, I've been bored too. My bank account doesn't agree with anything I want to do.

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.

Scout finished lessons and went to meet her cousins for dinner. Now that they had a child with them dinner came earlier. Scout made a habit of taking Elizabet twice a week after dinner so that Sean and Kineta could be alone for a while. They loved Elizabet but being parents to a frightened seven year old mute daughter proved a bigger challenge than they'd prepared for. Elizabet was put in lessons immediately. She could already read but her penmanship was dreadful. The orphanage must have been unable to provide paper but handwriting seemed to be something a mute girl should perfect so they encourage Elizabet to write every chance she got. Kineta gave her a diary and asked her to write notes when she wanted to say something. She proved brilliant with hand gestures, probably because at the orphanage it was her only communication.

Within her first week Sean and Kineta got her a pony so their evenings generally involved Scout teaching Elizabet how to ride. They'd dress in plain clothes and ride up and down the beach with Warden. Elizabet reminded her of Caitlyn, only quieter. She quickly began looking forward to the evenings she had Elizabet to herself. Elizabet was shy but grew to love her new parents and cousin. She carried her Flynn Marque book everywhere. She refused to allow anyone to see it but her new family. At night she chose a story from it for either Sean or Kineta to read her in the nook that quickly became only for books. She took interest in others but at the end of the day she preferred the one she clung to. They assumed it was all she had left of her birthparents.

Sean and Kineta became great, if a little overprotective, parents. Elizabet began referring to them as 'Daddy' and 'Mama' in her writing in less than a month. Kineta saved the first notes claiming them as parents in a keepsake box. Sean's was, "I want Daddy to read to me tonight" and Kineta's, "Is Mama coming to eat with us today?" They were pretty basic but Scout knew her cousins would treasure them forever.

Kane washed dishes from the meal Gabby had prepared. She sat at the table as he upheld his end of the she-cook-he-wash deal.

"Talia's doing well," Gabby said. "The baby finally started kicking. That's a good sign."

Kane nodded. "I guess so."

"How's your work? Any missions I should know about?"

"Nope. I think Nicholas is keeping me on a short leash until my insubordination disgrace dies down some more."

"But you already sacrificed the salary and did the desk work. Isn't that enough?"

"And issued an apology, but still…I don't know. Maybe he's just keeping me in the area until after William's wedding."

"Either way I'm not complaining. I like it when you're in town."

Kane scrubbed at the plate in his hands. They'd waited too long between eating and washing. The sauce had dried on. He grinned to himself as he replayed what had delayed the chore in his mind. "Well sure. You've only got to cook for two and I do the dishes."

"Listening to you read is good too."

"Are your parents still against that?"

"They always will be."

Kane tried not to let his frustration show in his voice. "You could always drop in on my parents after work when I'm away. They like you and Mother's got a bigger library than I'll ever have."

"I have but it's not the same."

Kane washed the last dish and began drying. "Why don't you just move into the servants' quarters?"

"I've thought about that but I don't think I could live on my own. I'd get lonely."

"Probably."

"Are you close to finished yet?"

Kane set down his last dish. "Done," he said. He went to her chair and knelt down. "Have I told you how pretty you are recently?" He lifted her up. Her cane clattered loudly as it fell to the ground. Gabby wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled as he carried her to his armchair. He sat with her in his lap and kept his arms around her.

"I like this," she said.

"What?"

"I like being right here. I feel safe."

Kane tightened his grip. "Sure about that?"

Gabby fully relaxed against his body. "Positive."

"I thought you don't like being restrained?"

"You don't restrain me. You hold me."

"What's the difference?"

"You'd let me go if I wanted you to." She lay her head down on his chest and took a deep breath. "I love you, Kane."

Kane kissed her neck. "I love you too, Gab."

She ran her fingers along his chest up to his chin and traced his face. "Does my blindness bother you at all anymore?"

"No," he replied as her fingers lingered over his mouth. "I think I've become immune to it."

"One of the nurses told me how good looking you are. I wish I could see."

"She was just teasing you. In reality I'm with you because only a blind woman would have me."

Gabby laughed. "Why is everything so easy with you?"

"Pardon?"

"Everywhere else I need to use my cane because if I don't I'll just stumble around but when you're there…it's different."

"Other people lead you."

"Not as easily as you do."

"I just get more practice."

Gabby kissed the first thing her lips found, which just happened to be his chin. "I guess so."

Kane sat up and stroked her hair. "Did something happen, Gabby? Where's this coming from?"

"Master Jonathan wants me to learn more about midwifery. Says a blind woman would be better because so much of it has to do with touch anyway."

"He thinks you should become a midwife?"

"Yes."

Kane kissed her. "That's great."

"I don't know."

"What's there to know? You'd love that and you know it. You go out of your way to check Talia every day even though she was marked in the clear."

Gabby sighed but didn't pull away. "It's a career, Kane."

"So?"

"You can't deny midwifery is a career."

"Again, so?"

"So what about my parents? You know, the people who have decided their oldest daughter is useless because she's blind?"

Kane kissed her forehead and tightened his grip on her. "They'll get over it."

"They won't support it and since I live with them I'm sort of at the mercy of their support."

"So don't live with them."

"I told you I can't live on my own. I'd get lonely and depressed. I need to be around other people."

He buried his face in her sweet smelling hair. "What do you think about being a Royal Scout's wife? You know how often I travel. You'd be alone often."

"No I wouldn't. When you go away I'll simply go stay with one of our parents. Isn't that what your mother said Lady Lina and Lady Alyss used to do? Especially before children?"

"You want kids right away?"

Gabby settled back in his embrace. "Not right away but I wouldn't mind three or four down the road."

Kane kissed her. "I love you so much, Gab."

"I love you too."

"Would you marry me?"

He felt Gabby tense with anxiety. "What?"

"I haven't gotten a ring yet but I have a feeling you already know I've been saving…that was perhaps the biggest let down of cutting my salary. I could get something small without a stone now but I'd rather get you something you deserve. I love you, Gabby, and if you'd be willing to wait a little longer as my fiancée I'd consider it an honor to make you my wife."

Gabby sat up. "No."

"No?" Kane asked with confusion. "Why no?"

"You can't afford a wife right now."

"It was just one month…"

"Not that. You can't afford a wife in your career right now. I want you to stabilize your position before we get married."

"So you aren't opposed to marrying me you're just opposed to marrying me right now?"

"Exactly."

Kane kissed her again. "Alright, but don't let that stop you from becoming a midwife. If you want to do it you should. You'd be great. If your parents don't like it move into the servants' quarters and take a roommate so you aren't lonely."

Gabby smiled. "You think I'd be good, Kane?"

"You'd do great I love you so much, Gabby."

"Mm…start reading. Then you can walk me home and we'll call it a night."