The Hope of Scotland

~2~

She wasn't sure what country was more beautiful. As Norway had the fjords and the winter wonders and magnificent waterfalls, Scotland was a rolling land of green and awe as the rocky scenes and sharp cliffs and castles were enough to have any little girl believe they were a princess.

"Why didn't I do this sooner?"

Traveling down the quiet street toward the address the woman in Norway gave her, she felt a strange déjà vu as she made her way. Not one of fear or worry, but of comfort. She felt as if this land was home. In truth, Siobhan was glad that she won her affairs from her father and gained her rights to her money and assets. For years, the man had his thumb on her and she dutifully did his bidding, of every sort sadly. Ever since her mother's death, her life was a bottomless pit of hell. She knew little of the woman and the land she was taken from as well, but once freed, she dug everything she could. Learning of her mother's Irish roots and what she did before her father and more, understanding what she really was and why she was named the way she was as well. She smiled at the thought of how her mother tried to give her the true Irish that she was before the Nordic. It was also a reason why she was picked on in school since the letters in both first and middle made no sense whatsoever. Siobhan Niamh. God's radiant grace was what she was after, sadly her father put out that flame.

Shaking her head, she turned down the final street as everything came to view and her nerves kicked in at an alarming speed. She could feel her heart race under her chest as she continued, her hands trembled as she looked at the paper once more hoping to find the place before she turned on her heels and booked out of the place. Finally, the numbers came to view as she saw the decent home before her. Not too big, not too small. It seemed homey and just enough comfort for one to call home, not bad really. With a shaky stride, she climbed the steps and rang the bell.

She knew the woman called ahead for her, did it multiple times really to ease her troubled mind after their first meeting. She didn't expect to fight in the courts like she did and for them to take so long. Kitty, she believed she said her name was, told her that it was fine and with how things were outside the borders with Genesis and more, it was better to have taken her time and let it all go as needed. She just wasn't expecting nearly a year of it.

Silence filled the space as her anxiety spiked back up, maybe she made a mistake coming after all. Maybe it was all a big joke to see if she was stupid enough to do this like he told her she always was. Maybe-

The door came open as a small little boy popped his head out to greet her, "Hello there! Who are you?"

"Kieran!" she heard someone within yell, "What have your father and I told you?"

"But mommy, there's a pretty lady out here."

Pretty, her? Not likely, but to her dismay the door swung open more revealing the little boy and a redheaded woman before her, "Oh sorry dear, I didn't mean to frighten you with my scolding to him."

"No, it's ok, I think I made a mistake anyway. I think it's the wrong place." she replied, slowly going back down the stairs as her mind screamed at her to get to a bathroom after the boy's words.

"Wait!" she heard someone yell from inside, just to see another woman come out, "You wouldn't happen to be Siobhan, are you?"

She watched as the two women looked her over, "Yes?"

"Oh!" the redhead shouted, "You're the one Katyusha told us about. Well, bloody be, get in here. You're no stranger to this home, come in. Come in."

Before she had a moment to speak, the woman grabbed her wrist and dragged her in the warm home, closing the door as she took her jacket.

"Jesus darling, you're a bit thin there, when you last eat?" she said hanging her things.