A Journey Out of Time (33 page)

"Yes, I will stay…for now."

They smiled at each other. She was glad he
had
learned to smile. It made him look all the more handsome.

*

"So," Cullen asked waving his glass toward the window. "What is Sonya up to?"

Duncan frowned looking down at her & Torqual, her arm looped in his. "I doona ken. With Sonya ye never can tell. Ye know what she did with Rowan & Brenna."

"Aye & that worked out," Cullen said cheerfully. "Perhaps it will help the lad understand that Casia is happy here."

"Aye, but where will he set his sights next?" Duncan wondered.

Cullen laughed. "Duncan, she only has eyes for ye, lad."

"Aye, but maybe someone had better tell
him
that!"

Cullen laughed & Duncan scowled as he saw Torqual hand Sonya a rose that he
didn't
pluck off of a bush.
Mine, Torqual. She is mine. She will always be mine
, Duncan said to himself. Sonya was home & he was grateful, even if one of the
wee folk
came with her!

Sonya looked up & waved at Duncan, smiling. Torqual gave a royal bow, grinning. Sonya shook her head & laughed at him.

*

Sonya stood in the doorway watched Casia rocking in the nursery, as she sewed.

"Casia?"

"Hello, Sonya. Come sit with me."

"When did you find out you were pregnant?"

"Shortly after Torqual took you I went to see my parents. My father told me. I should have known, but being away from home seems to have dulled my senses," she smiled.

"Did you ever find out how Cullen
knew
you when you were in his room?"

"No. I just figured it was a coincidence."

"I wonder. Are there really such things as coincidences?"

Casia looked at Sonya curiously. "Sonya, is something bothering you?" She placed her sewing in her lap & stopped rocking.

"More curiosity than bothering me, really. How did I know to place my hand on the stone?
Why
did I feel that surge? Why would Duncan touching the other one produce the same result?
How
did I know you were pregnant when I was
between
?"

"Between? You knew
I was pregnant?"

"Yes."

"No one has ever known about Between. No one that I know of."

"Then how did I just now know what to call it?"

"What did Queen Ailene say to you?"

"She told me that she knew where &
when
I was from…"

"When?"

"Uh, yes. She also said that she wasn't going to send me back, that I belonged in Duncan's time."

"When
are
you from? I just thought you were from across the waters."

"I am, in the year 2012."

"
What? Wow!
" Her eyes were big & Sonya laughed.

"Not too strange, is it?" Sonya asked.

"Not for around here!" Casia laughed.

"So now what?"

"Well, why do you have to
do
anything? You are here & even Queen Ailene says you belong here."

For some reason they both ended up where they belong whether by luck or design. Sonya smiled at her wisdom. "I guess you are right." She looked around the room.

"It is beautiful in here. You will have one lucky baby!"

"Duncan made the crib," Casia pointed to the wall opposite them.

"Really?" Sonya got up & went to look at it. She ran her hand along the smooth wood. It was made of a dark wood. At each end there were vines with roses carved along them. The roses were painted white. In the center was the symbol of a Triquetra with a center stone of amethyst. She smiled. He was always thinking of her. She got up & went to find Duncan.

"Duncan!" Sonya called as she opened the door to their bedchamber.

"Aye."

She went over & stood behind the chair where he sat looking over a message from Angus. Taking his long hair she brushed her fingers through it. She plaited the hair that went down the right side of his face. As she reached down for the copper ring on the desk he grabbed her wrist. He pushed back the chair & pulled her down onto his lap.

"Lass doona ever leave me again." His voice was quiet & cracked as he held her to him.

Sonya held his head to her chest, kissing it. "I am so sorry, Duncan. I never want to leave you again.". She didn't make promises. Life happened & things weren't in your control. It was as if she knew something was coming.

Duncan lifted Sonya up & carried her to the bed, gently laying her down where he lay down beside her. He put his hand behind her head, looking into her eyes. His eyes were glassy & he pulled her towards him. He kissed her slowly & gently. After a time he held her close & they lay there intertwined together. She lay with her head on his strong chest, knowing that inside there was such a tender heart & the beat was very strong.

Sonya felt the ripple in the air at the end of the bed but she didn't open her eyes. He was there only a few moments & she smiled, falling asleep in the arms of her husband.

*

Sonya watched Duncan & Cullen's with their family & friends, knowing she would never remember all the names she had heard. Some of the accents were so thickly burred that she did a great deal of nodding & smiling & just hoped she was agreeing to the right things when they said something!

"Angus!" she yelled as she ran to hug him. She stopped quickly to curtsy first. She nearly forgot! Then she hugged him & he gave her a big kiss, chuckling. She had so missed his smile! "It wouldn't be right without you all here." Mary walked up next to Angus & Sonya hugged her next. "Mary I am so glad you could come!"

"I would'na miss it for the world Sonya."

"Nor would I," came a booming voice.

"Rowan! Oh, my who is running the Scotia Castle now?" Rowan picked her up & swung her around & she laughed. Seeing Duncan looking their way he couldn't resist giving her a big kiss as well.

"Some things doona change, do they, Sonya," asked Brenna, smacking her new husband on the bum!

"Ow, woman!"

"Oh, Brenna. I can't believe you are all here. Was Anne unable…"

"Nay, deary, she is just a wee bit slower than everyone else."

"Anne! Oh, Anne how I miss you!" Sonya ran over to greet her. Sonya & Casia showed the guests to their bedchamber's so they could clean up & rest from their long trip. There wasn't anything else that she could ask for except for Kerry to also arrive.

Leaving the bustle below Sonya stepped into her bedchamber. She looked at her wedding dress hanging across the room. Casia had prepared for the wedding during the time Sonya was gone. They had discussed the kind of dress Sonya would like before her little trip with Torqual. Casia had been so excited about it that she had decided to sew it herself. It was completed by the time Sonya returned. She smiled. The over dress was dark green. The skirt that showed in front in the upside down V was the MacLeod tartan as was the corset that tied over the over dress. It was beautiful.

Outside the clan had been gathering for the celebration for two days. The time was almost at hand when Casia & Sonya would go down to meet Duncan & Cullen. When they would be joined (again) as man & wife with the whole MacLeod clan as witness. Sonya had butterflies in her stomach. Who would have ever guessed at such a thing happening to her?

Before her bath got cold, she slid herself into the water, letting out a big sigh. She scrubbed with a lemon balm soap & smiled. This was it. The place she belonged. The man she belonged to. They would be joined in front of God, clan, fae, & who knew what else! Sonya couldn't be happier. Wrapping her drying sheet around her, there was a knock at the door.

"Come." The door opened & in slipped a woman. "Kerry!" Sonya hugged her. "I am so glad you are here!"

"So am I. I hear you have had quite an adventure."

Sonya rolled her eyes. "Boy I will have to tell you all about it when I come home! It was crazy."

"I was worried that I wouldn't see you again."

"Oh, me too. Are Chris & the kids here too?" Sonya asked.

"Oh, yes. It was my first ride on a ship," her eyes opened wide.

"Mine too!" Sonya laughed. "How are John & Cami?"

"They are well & our mystery man, Guy, has woken up!"

"Oh, my! I can't wait to get home! We have so much to talk about!"

"Yes, but we better get you dressed first. I think everyone has waited quite long enough for this, including you!"

Sonya smiled, "I totally agree!"

Putting on her dress seemed second nature now. Who would have guess from a girl who preferred her jeans & boots. Sonya sat down, placing a braid on each side of her face. Taking a green ribbon, Kerry tied them back. Sonya took a last look in the mirror at her dress which flowed to the ground covering her feet. Kerry & Sonya smiled. As the door opened she looked up, surprised to see Torqual.

"You look very happy, Sonya."

"I am." She quickly saw sadness go across his face & she reached for his hand.

"Torqual you will find her, I promise. When you do, you will never understand why you thought
she
was the one at all." Sonya smiled kindly & he returned it.

"I hope you are right."

"Kerry, this is Torqual. Torqual, my best friend from home, home, Kerry."

"Ah," he said. He bowed, kissing her hand.

"Nice to meet you," Kerry said.

"And you."

"May I have the honor of escorting you?" Torqual asked. "Casia is downstairs waiting."

"I would love that," Sonya smiled. She took one quick last look, ignoring Torqual's laugh. She took his arm & they followed Kerry down the stairs Sonya smiled as she saw Casia looking up at her.

"Oh, Sonya, you look lovely," Casia gushed. "Duncan will be thrilled! Well they all will be I'm sure. Ready?"

Sonya inhaled & let out a deep breath looking at the three of them. She smiled, nodded & said, "Ready."

Casia & Kerry led with Torqual & Sonya following. Cullen stood with Duncan & Ewan upon a small hill. That wouldn't be a big faerie mound would it? Cullen smiled at his very pregnant wife & she looked back with eyes that glowed. Casia walked off to the side, followed by Kerry. Sonya waved to Kerry's three girls & husband, Chris. As they stopped Torqual & Sonya looked at each other & he gave a nod. She smiled & kissed him on the cheek. He looked surprised for a split second & then presented her hand to Duncan, who took her hand with a nod & a broad smile. As Duncan looked at Sonya & she at him, no one or anything else existed, just them.

How could she be so lucky to have this man? Duncan's kind, glittering, blue eyes looked into hers. She looked at his, long, black hair, barely moving in the slight breeze. One of his braids fell over his left shoulder. His face was like a sculpture & then there was his smile. A smile that could melt her from the inside out. Maybe you should never ask
how
but just say thank God!
Thank you, God!

Duncan felt his chest swell as she had walked towards him with the afternoon sun going down. He couldn't believe how exquisite she looked in her dress with the clan tartan showing. He couldn't be more proud. He couldn't be more in love. He couldn't be more grateful to the Lord above.