When We Were Younger

The Black Widow

Sean was helping the planting of the fields when he saw Hosea walking to him with Arthur Jr. in his arms. Sean dropped the bag of seeds and made his way over to the man. Hosea looked sullen and meloncholy, and rightly so. His granddaughter had been kidnapped. Sean wasn't exactly in the highest of spirits about the situation either. "Hello, Hosea," said Sean.

"Hello. How's the plantin' going?" Hosea inquired quietly.

"It's goin'." Arthur reached out for his uncle and Sean made a soft chuckle as he grabbed him. "And how are you, mo nia?" [my nephew?]

Junior rubbed his eyes and whined. "He's a little worn out from the ordeal."

"Yes, he would be." Sean pat Junior's back and gave him a kiss on the head. Arthur snuggled up to Sean and shut his eyes. "How's Dutch?"

"Not too great. His head is fine but his heart is heavy. He blames himself for not protectin' the kids."

Sean frowned. "It weren't his fault, though. He tried his best."

"Try tellin' him that."

Sean frowned even more. "Well, if his head is okay, perhaps I should take him out drinkin'. Help him settle his mind."

"I was just about to suggest that very thing."

Sean laughed and the men started walking back to the house. The walk was silent and Arthur had fallen asleep in Sean's arms by the time they reached the house. Charles had just come from the study and waved the two down.

"I just got off the telephone with Patrick. He said Adair and The Morrigan know where Aoífe is and are goin' after her."

Both the men sighed in relief. "Wait, what about Arthur? Isn't he going?" Hosea asked.

Charles rubbed the back of his neck. "No, and neither is Lilly."

Sean gaped at Charles. "Wait, how is Lilly not going if Adair is?"

"Well, apparently the two...separated."

"Separated?!" Sean snapped. "What do ya mean separated?!"

"Shh, you'll wake up Junior," Hosea hissed.

Arthur merely moved about in his sleep and whined a little, but then he relaxed. Sean sighed and scratched his head. "So, what? Adair's her own woman now?"

"Seems that way," Charles replied.

"So Lilly and Arthur aren't going? How could they not go?" Hosea asked.

"Something about Carman being too powerful for them. She's a sorceress, after all."

"Hmm."

Sean started walking away. "I'm gonna put Junior to bed." Sean began walking up the stairs and got to the nursery. When he opened it, Dutch was standing in the room, staring at the closet. "Oh, hey Dutch."

"Hey, Sean," Dutch said quietly with a sadness in his tone that made Sean frown.

"You alright there, Dutch?"