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“How old is he now?”

“Just four years auld. He is verra smart.” He asked a passing servant for a mug of ale. Then his brow furrowed. “I raised my hand tae him when he came with us through time. I canna believe I did it.”

I stroked his hair from his forehead. “He understands. He does. I don’t think he regrets it, not really. He told me to tell you he liked fighting alongside you. And that you should let him do that more. I guess, in the future. When he’s not four-years-old.” I smiled.

He shook his head and returned my smile. “I daena want him tae have tae fight. He is a wee lad, tis verra hard tae imagine it.”

“He’ll grow up someday, and we know he turns out pretty great.”

“Aye, he does.” We kissed and when our ale arrived, we drank thirstily. He gestured for another.

“So what are you doing here?”

“I have been jumpin’ through time lookin’ for General Reyes, he is searchin’ for me. And I needed a place tae rest. I have been comin’ here every few months tae live. Tis familiar, protected, but winna involve Archie or Sean or Lizbeth or…”

I swigged from his new ale. “When you get in your head, my love, you really do a number on yourself. I literally can’t believe you thought I might be better off with Tyler⁠—”

“I dinna want tae tell ye of it, that ye were goin’ tae do it. I dinna want tae blame ye for it, or make ye feel ashamed of it. I brought such grief tae ye, I thought ye might want tae have a normal life...”

I huffed out some air. “Well, those are not decisions for you to make.”

I shook my head. “I should be furious, but you have been trying to get home while feeling this for years, and it was only three days for me, so I’m going to forgive you for it. It would be like being angry at someone for getting lost at Disney World, unfair and a waste of time. I’m glad I found you and I’m not planning to waste another minute. Plus you’re pretty hot now with this little wrinkle here,” I pressed my lips to the spot just below his eye and above his cheek bone. “It’s even more pronounced now that you’re what — seventy?”

“Probably a score and eight.”

“Twenty eight, and you have this beard all the way to your chest, which is pretty damn hot and I’m just glad to see you. Did you go see Lizbeth? I saved her life.”

“I dinna go, but I looked up the history of it. I was verra proud of ye. Sean and Lizbeth are here ye ken, they are verra young bairns. I like tae watch them though I try tae keep them from seein’ me too much.” He pulled me closer between his legs up against his front.

“What about Lady Mairead?”

“She has left them and is off searching for her next husband. I think she will meet Donnan verra soon and I will come soon after. I won’t come back then, I am mindful nae tae loop on myself.”

I took his mug and slugged back a long drink.

He grinned and gestured for another one. “And where is Quentin? I could use his help. He dinna come with ye?”

“No, I thought it would be too dangerous for him.”

“Och, Kaitlyn, ye have such a big heart ye mean tae keep the security guard safe? Tis nae the way it works.”

I shrugged. “But it’s one of the things you love about me.”

“Aye, tis true.”

We sat looking into each other’s eyes grinning.

“I was so scared when you were ripped away from me by the guards, and now look, you’re unharmed, alive, covered in hair. Like a big bear done hibernating.”

“It has been a verra long time since that battle, I have had many a wound since. I daena scare ye, look too much an animal?” He stroked the end of his long beard.

“No, it’s kinda sexy actually.”

His eyes crinkled and he grinned. “I am randy like a just-woke bear too. I have been arguin’ with the walls. My cousins were close tae sendin’ me alone tae live in the forest.”

He raised his mug at a group of men and they all raised their glasses to him with a laugh.

“They’re probably wondering who this is rubbing up against you.”