Just Like Old Times

The Decision

Chapter is rated M for mature content of drug use and sexual relations.

It was a few days later and Arthur woke up with Lilly's side of the bed empty. "Shame," he thought to himself.

He looked up at the canopy of the bed and laughed, tucking his hands behind his head. The second Earl of Moycullen. It had a nice ring to it. The bedroom was very nice, too. This whole manor was nice. He laughed again, taking in the mahogany posters that held up the canopy. There were two oak nightstands, three windows, three benches for each window, a few pillowed chairs, two dressers, two armoires, and an oriental rug on the floor. All made of oak. Apparently the O'Callaghan's were fond of oak. Mahogany too, but definitely oak. Then he remembered an oak tree was on their family crest, so he reckoned that was why. He got up and dressed into a white shirt, blue jeans, suspenders, and black cowboy boots. Arthur left the room, went downstairs, and went outside...and there were children outside playing with the wolf pups and Lilly. The scene made him smile. Lilly laughed and ran around with two children on her back and one more child on her leg.

"Alright, ya chiselers! Ya ready fer somethin' special?!"

"Yes yes yes!" the children cried.

"Hang on!" Lilly started twirling and the two girls and boy began laughing with high pitched giggles. "Ya wantah go faster?!"

"Yes please milady!"

Lilly went even faster and the children laughed louder. Arthur crossed his arms and laughed as he watched them. Lilly would have made a great mother. Lilly spotted him in his twirling and stopped spinning. "Oh, ya little tykes havena met the earl yet! Go get 'im! He loves bein' tackled by monsters!"

All the kids got off and started running at him, roaring like animals. Oh shit. Arthur ran off the steps and through the courtyard. "You'll never take me alive!" Arthur shouted.

The kids squealed as they chased after Arthur. Lilly fell on her butt and pointed while laughing.

"Fergus! Girls! Come in fer breakfast!" Breena yelled from the door.

The kids ran in screaming and wailing like happy banshees and Arthur laughed as he went to Lilly. He picked her up and kissed her. "Friends of yours?"

"Breena's little sisters and brother. Visiting with their mum. Arthur, I...oh boy..." Lilly staggered into Arthur's arms and laughed. "I got dizzy, sorry."

"Do you need breakfast?" he asked, holding her up.

"I don't know. I wasn't feelin' too good this mornin', neither. I was supposed to go huntin' but Sean insisted I wait for you."

Arthur pouted a little and put a hand to her cheek, studying her face. Lilly did look a little sickly and felt a bit warmer than usual today. "Hmm, feelin' under the weather, huh? Well, I can go huntin' and you can get some rest."

"I'll let ya hunt but I'm comin' with. Ya gotta avoid kelpies and other creatures."

"Kelpies?"

"Beautiful horses that will drag ya into the swamps if ya ain't careful, me love," she giggled.

Arthir chortled happily. "Hmm, Irish superstition?"