Authors Note: I've been wanting to write more of these two and I have more coming! This is just a little warm up to get some juices flowing, outline some ideas, etc. Hopefully everyone likes this and let me know what you think.

Please review and let me know what you think!


Ian found Merida sitting in a tree. A bucket filled with a myriad of colorful apples hung from a sturdy branch. A few cores littered the ground beneath her, and her long skirt was hiked up just enough to reveal the worn boots she wore beneath, the edges of the fabric gently swaying in the breeze.

For a moment, he just studied her with a small smile on his face. At twenty, she was even more lovely than when he first met her. Her long hair was half-up, held with hair combs. Her nose crinkled as she adjusted something in her lap. She reached for another apple before noticing him.

"What are you doing out here? I thought you were with my dad fixing a fence," she called down at him with a mischievous look on her face.

"It's all done, until whatever's been knocking it over does it again," he said, looking up at the low branch she had perched herself on. His eyes settled on the small sewing kit hanging from another branch.

"You're sewing," he said, a little surprised, as Merida glanced down at him with a small grin. He knew that she knew how to do it, but never saw her do it often.

"Well, I have to adjust my dresses to move better. Otherwise, my mum will make me look like a stuffed goose," she joked, adjusting the sleeves of the dress. She tugged at the fabric and grinned. It felt sturdy as she held up the garment. "Maybe I'll add some embroidery later. It'll hide some of the minor mistakes."

It was more of a musing for herself as Ian studied the green dress that would look great against her hair and pale freckled skin. His heart beat a little faster as he saw her making clothes in his clan's colors—the forest green and burnt orange of Clan MacGuffin. She was becoming part of his world— a world they will build together. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swelling through him.

"Maybe you could add flowers, like thistles or heather," he said, feeling warm. He didn't want to overstep, though, as she paused.

"Why not both?" she teased, reaching for the scissors again. "I'll have to adjust this neckline, it's a little too high."

He bit his tongue, holding back some of the more lewd thoughts that popped into his head at her mention of adjusting the neckline. He took a deep breath and reached for a branch. The tree groaned a little under his weight but didn't budge as he looked over her shoulder. Her gown looked pretty as she smoothed out the skirt.

"Apple?" she asked, gesturing to the bucket before snipping.

"Don't mind if I do," he said, taking a ripe yellow one off the top. A comfortable silence enveloped them as Merida sewed up the widened collar. He watched as her fingers nimbly worked through the fabric, the motion fluid and skilled. Her brow furrowed slightly in concentration as she snipped at stray threads, the scent of apples and fresh air surrounding them.

He took a bite of the apple, the tartness sharp against his tongue, but the sweetness lingered, much like the feeling in his chest as he watched her.

"You're really good at that," he said, gesturing to the dress. "You're really good at a lot of things."

He flushed as Merida raised an eyebrow at him.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," she joked, then seemed to think about it. "Or everywhere, depending on what you're after. Make your next words count, young MacGuffin stock."

He burst out laughing, shaking the leaves above their heads.

"You're really something special, you know that, right? I'm lucky to be betrothed to you."

Ian paused as he peered around the trunk to see Merida's face. She brushed a piece of hair away from her face, her breath catching. The mention of their betrothal made her pause as a soft smile graced her face. She looked vulnerable as she shifted to not fall over, a blush rising to her cheeks.

"I'm not used to you saying nice things like that," she said.

"I mean it, though," he said. "You know how to make me laugh, and I feel like myself around you."

"Don't get all sentimental on me now."

Her voice was light with a hint of amusement, but Ian wanted nothing more than to hold her. To push her against the tree and kiss her as he felt that tightening feeling in his chest. His fantasy was brief as he thought about how it would be worth the wait on their wedding night.

"You say sentimental, I say it's honesty," he said, his gaze dropping from the freckles on her cheeks to her breast, to her hips, and down to her skirt swaying. He cleared his throat before changing the topic. "Your mum was looking for you, by the way. She wants to discuss more wedding details."

At this, Merida just rolled her eyes.

"Sometimes I wish I just told my mother to do all the planning herself and I'll just show up on the day it happens. She's making it a spectacle."

Ian snorted, letting out a soft chuckle.

"I don't know if you'd like the 'surprise me' method as much as you think," he said dryly, taking another apple from the bucket. "I can't wait, though— for the wedding and living with you."

"And sharing a roof with your family, and a bed, and everything else that comes with it?" she teased. "I do snore, you know."

His eyes sparkled with humor as he leaned against the tree trunk.

"And I bet it's a cute snore too," he said sincerely, but still with that teasing smile.

Carefully, he climbed down the tree, first taking the basket of apples with him. His boots hit the earth with a soft thud. He brushed off his kilt and grinned up at Merida, who eyed him, a soft hum escaping her throat as she studied him. She should probably go and make sure her mother wasn't adding anything unnecessary. She folded the dress and shoved it in a basket with her small sewing kit. Dropping it, she adjusted to sit on the branch facing him.

"I'll see you a cute snore," she said, laughing as she stood on the branch.

Merida put one hand on the tree trunk to steady herself. Readily, Ian stood where he could catch her if she fell. A playful glint sparkled in Merida's eyes as she balanced on the branch. She debated jumping, testing her agility to land on her feet, or she could conveniently fall into his waiting arms.

She bounced, shaking some leaves off the branches. Ian was patient as she mulled over what to do next. A light breeze ran through her curls; the wind caught her skirts, making them billow slightly like a flag. Her gaze flicked from his eager arms to the ground below.

"Merida?" asked Ian, looking up at her.

As gracefully as she could, she took a leap. For a second, Merida was airborne, and Ian was quick to put his arms out to catch her.

Her body collided with his, and he stumbled back a step, his arms instinctively tightening around her to steady her. She had landed perfectly, one arm under her legs and the other supporting her back.

Merida let out a delighted laugh, her laughter ringing out, bright and free, as she tilted her head back, eyes sparkling with mischievous delight. Her curls bounced with the movement.

"You didn't even flinch," she said, her voice full of playful admiration.

Ian grinned, feeling the warmth of her body against his, a surge of affection rushing through him.

"I told you," he said softly, his hands still resting on her back as they stood there for a moment. The warmth of their bodies pressed together caused a tingling sensation down his spine. He could make out her eyelashes and the sprinkling of freckles on her cheeks. "I'll always catch you."

She buried her face into his chest, hiding her smile all while muttering how sappy that sounded. Her head rested against his chest. They didn't get a lot of moments alone together since announcing the betrothal, and this was perfect. Savoring the moment, she closed her eyes as Ian adjusted her in his arms, forgetting their baskets in this moment.

Finally, he set her down on her feet.

"I think that's how I'll exit trees from now on," Merida said with a satisfied smile on her face, standing taller than usual.

"Hey, Ian?" she said as she turned to him.

He turned to her as the grass brushed up against the hem of her skirt. She reached over, gently tugging at his kilt and arched her feet to stand on her tiptoes. He leaned down as her lips met his. Merida smiled into the kiss before deepening it. They savored the moment as the breeze picked up once more. She grinned into the kiss.

"Sometimes I hate being short," she mumbled with a playful roll of her eyes.

Softly, Ian took her warm, slightly chapped hand. He grinned as they walked toward the castle, hand in hand, talking about everything and nothing.