The Hope of Scotland

~4~

He made himself a worried wreck. After talking with Juliet and her suspicions of Siobhan, he ran over the internet and books that he could find about the two disorders, just to make himself sick.

"How in yer right mind do ya find yerself fat lass?"

For three weeks, he spoke with her and watched her every movement with precision and everything that Juliet told him he saw. She barely ate a bite in front of him and if he was lucky enough to get her to eat, she would disappear for a moment and come back looking paler than before, shaky and barely holding her head up. She was destroying herself before him and he was clueless on what to do.

"Allister?"

Snapping his head around, he saw her walk into his office. A look of curiosity puzzling her face as she came up to the desk.

"Sorry lass, I didn't hear ya come in."

"I called your name three times."

"Cac. I'm sorry, was lost in me work." he said closing the laptop. "Right, so what do ya want to do today?"

"Well, since I'm to be your capital one day, why not learn more of Scotland besides Edinburgh?"

He smiled at her, that was one thing he was glad for. How well she took the idea of becoming a capital and her willingness to learn from everyone. He glanced over at the small calendar and grinned at the date.

"Well lassie, I think I know what we can do. A small drive to Alva won't hurt plus you get a small insight of Scotland as we get there. Sound good? Ian and Carine will be there with Kieran."

"Sure, sounds good to me."

He readied the device to power down as the webpage glared at him, the information he learned from screaming information at him, "Uh, quick question lass."

"Yes?"

"How old are ye?" it really was the only thing he was missing besides her past.

"Age an issue?"

"No! I was just never told. You're mature for yer age yet seem young in looks."

"It's because I am." she replied. "I'm turning twenty in the winter."

Holy hell, she really was a wee babe compared to him, even physical age. "Well, that explains that. And as I said age isn't an issue. Especially in our cases."

"Alright, how old are you then?"

"Human wise I'm 26, pure age a bit over one thousand, if you want to be technical and all."

"Wow."

"Told ya."

She smiled at him, shaking her head with the newfound knowledge, "Alright, enough scaring each other with age, let's go."

Before long, they were on their way to the festival, chattering away as she asked about the history of the places and what she would see. He gave no pause as he answered everything she threw at him, watching her admire the drive up to the small town. Those stunning sea eyes never leaving the window as each breath she took was another question, a wonder to the land and him. She captivated him. Awed him. And yet he still felt like an ass. He mentally kicked himself for thinking the way he did, that he'd never gain a capital like the others and yet there she was, beside him and learning everything she could about the world she was entering and slowly, he was falling for her more and more.

But of all things, he prayed he wouldn't lose her. Not just for her to be a capital, but with everything falling apart around them. It was a rough time they were sitting in. After the attack on all the capitals and cities, everything skyrocketed in safety and the fact that Genesis took Beijing and held her captive for so long, left most nations shaking in fear for their other halves. He still thought Arthur and Juliet were nuts for moving right along and having Elizabeth after the incident with Thomas and such, but the body was a miraculous thing really. Nora healed after the torture of Genesis, Delilah found herself pregnant after being told she would be barren for life, and Katyusha gained her sight after being blind from birth, even Trine whom was crippled in an accident gained her legs back. Allister chuckled lightly to himself when Mathias pointed out that all Berwald's work he put on his house was all for naught, but the man smiled at him looking down at his hand where a small charm laid against the cool metal chain upon his wrist.