Topic: Parenthood

Keira Stuart

Date: 2016-12-31 19:46 EST
Life in Tirisano had calmed somewhat since the princess and her husband had taken a personal hand in stopping the abuses and the rioting. Calm enough, in fact, for life to have returned to something approaching normality. The Prince had made a few public appearances, his recovery from the unexpected stroke more reassuring to his people than even he might have guessed, and in the wake of knowing their monarch would be with them a while longer, peace had settled over the principality. The Christmas season had been welcomed, celebrated by families and communities all over Tirisano, but in one duchy, all eyes had been turned to the Duke's eldest son and his wife, best wishes and hopes sent their way.

And those wishes had been answered just three days after the celebration of the season, with an official announcement declaring the birth of Frederick Oliver Charles, firstborn son of Earl James and Countess Keira Stuart of Roslae. So there had been additional celebration in Roslae as the year wound to a close, warmth for Duke Oliver's first grandson rife throughout the duchy. Arrangements were made to excuse the new parents from public life for the next month, and finally James and Keira were allowed to settle into those new roles together, without worrying about being on their best behavior for curious eyes. That reprieve could not have come soon enough for them. Little Freddie, as he was becoming known, was already starting to display a cheeky side, apparently liking nothing more than to be awake in the middle of the night, and insistent on having at least one parent right there with him for all of it.

It was that cry that roused Keira two nights after the baby's birth, making her groan as she rolled out of bed to go and lean over the ornate crib, making eye contact with her playful son. "Darling," she said, not bothering to lower her voice. "It's four o'clock in the morning. You don't want to get up yet. You want to go back to sleep." Freddie gurgled at her, flailing his arms as she laughed helplessly, reaching down to lift him up into her embrace. "I should hate you, you little monster," she informed her son, glancing over to the bed where Jamie was hopefully lingering. "You're just too darned cute to be annoyed with yet."

A heavy sleeper - or a good faker - the Earl of Roslae was stretched out on his back and snoring loudly, while the Duchess tended to their newborn son. Could anyone blame him when the little boy had a tendency to wake up every few hours and howl for his mother, as regularly as a cuckoo clock" How was anyone supposed to get any sleep that way"

Swaying with Freddie against her shoulder, Keira snorted with laughter at the oh-so-attractive sight her husband presented in the wee small hours. "He's too cute to hate, too, but don't ever tell him I said so," she told her son softly, kissing the warm little head nestled in against her neck. "So you're not hungry, and you're not dirty, again. The sooner you can read, the better." At a loss, she danced gently around the room, humming to the newborn, before moving to look out through the window at the moonlit countryside, murmuring to him about this place that was home and longing for her own bed and one night of unbroken sleep.

It wasn't until Jamie groped in his sleep for his wife that he started to rouse, almost forgetting that it wasn't just the two of them anymore - that there was a little person who needed their love and attention, too, even in the middle of the night. Bleary-eyed, the sleepy earl peered into the darkness in search of his wife. "Keira, you're going to spoil him," he muttered through a sleepy yawn once he found her.

She lifted her head, feeling Freddie react to the sound of his father's voice, and turned with a smile. "I'm sure I'll stop indulging him after a week," she defended herself, moving over to the bed now its main occupant was awake and coherent. "Besides, it's this or lie there listening to him gurgling and you snoring, and not being able to go back to sleep myself."

Barely coherent and yawning widely, though he'd apparently managed a little more sleep than she had. "Gurgling, not crying?" Jamie asked, as if that alone was some small miracle. He'd known babies required a lot of time and energy, but he hadn't quite realized how little they let their parents sleep.

"He seems to think it's the funniest thing in the world to make just enough noise to wake me up, but not you," Keira nodded, easing down onto the bed beside him. "He has a cheeky sense of humor, just like his father." She rested back against the pillows, laying Freddie down on the bed in the warm space between his parents.

"There's nothing humorous about being woken in the middle of the night," Jamie corrected, leaning close to tickle his small son's middle. "You hear that, Frederick" It's rude to wake your parents in the middle of the night, especially when you aren't hungry," he teasingly scolded the boy, who only gurgled up at his father and kicked his legs. "Hm, do you get the feeling he's enjoying this a little too much?"

Laughing quietly, Keira watched this interaction with fond eyes. She was very much looking forward to seeing Jamie bond with his son over the weeks and months ahead of them. "Trust us to get a newborn who prefers laughing to crying," she pointed out, leaning over to kiss Jamie affectionately. "I'm blaming you, of course."

"It could be worse," Jamie admitted with a grin, turning his head to meet that kiss with one of his own. Everyone was over the moon with happiness at the birth of their son, but was nothing compared to the pride and joy - albeit weariness - Jamie and Keira were feeling. "Do you think he might settle down if we just leave him between us for a while?" he asked, leaning back against the pillows and tucking an arm behind his head.

"We can but hope," she chuckled quietly, resting back herself, one hand playing with one flailing foot. "I only fed him about an hour ago, anyway. That's partly what annoys me ....he eats, he naps for about half an hour, and then he wants cuddles and attention before he'll go back to sleep again. It's a wonder I wasn't wearing my bra on top of my dress yesterday."

"So, we cuddle him and give him attention and when he goes back to sleep, we sleep, too," Jamie suggested, very practically. There was nothing really demanding their attention right now, but each other and their son, and while it might not be ideal to catch a few hours sleep at a time, rather than all at once, it was certainly better than nothing. "Or, we take turns," he added, suggesting an alternative.

"We, he says," she laughed, reaching over Freddie to poke Jamie's middle teasingly. "The man who has somehow developed the ability to sleep through not only the noise, but the smell, too. You should get an award." And, truth be told, they didn't have it as hard as other new parents. They had a staff who were making sure they ate regularly and well, and who couldn't seem to stop themselves from offering to watch the baby for a few hours. Others of a different class had it much harder, she knew.

He grinned, amused by her teasing, despite the lack of sleep. "You're right - I should, but only because I love you so much," he told her, leaning close to touch a kiss to the tip of her nose. "Do you want me to take him so you can sleep a while?" he volunteered.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked, unable to deny that another couple of hours would probably be good for her sanity, if nothing else. Who knew what her boys would get up to while she was sleeping?

Keira Stuart

Date: 2016-12-31 19:47 EST
"Of course I mind, but I am his father, and you need your sleep. We'll pay him back when he's older," Jamie replied with a grin, imagining waking their son at 4 am for no reason other than to repay the favor when he was maybe ten or eleven years old. "Go back to sleep, love. You deserve it," he told her, touching another kiss to her lips before scooping the cheeky infant up into his arms. "What do you say, Freddie" Shall we get to know each other better?"

"No sliding down banisters or climbing chimneys," Keira yawned through her smile, kissing Jamie in return before burrowing down underneath the covers with a weary sigh. It was only a matter of seconds before she was out like a light, proof positive that staying awake was a matter more of willpower than anything. In Jamie's arms, Freddie grinned his unfocused grin and gurgled cheerfully, easily delighted just to be the center of attention.

"Shall I tell you about the birds and the bees?" Jamie asked his young son, knowing the baby wouldn't understand a word his father was saying, though he'd recognize the sound of his voice. Jamie walked him about the room, talking to him softly about nothing and everything, until he, too, was growing weary and the boy's eyes were at last growing heavy.

Thankfully, Freddie did drop off finally, allowing his father to climb back into bed and wrestle half the covers back from Keira to get a little more sleep himself. The next awakening, however, was nowhere near as polite. Jamie's father had warned him that Stuart babies were quite strident when they wanted changing and feeding, but strident didn't really cover the screaming that roused both parents as winter sunlight crept in through the windows. Groaning for the second time as she woke up, Keira threw the covers off herself with one wild arm, and managed to catch Jamie a tidy thump in the stomach as she did so.

As if their son's screaming wasn't enough, Jamie was doubly rudely awoken by the thump in the stomach that woke him with a start, a groan, and some muttered profanity. "Good god, Keira! If I wanted to get punched, I'd have taken up boxing," he complained, though she hadn't hurt him so much as startle him.

"Anytime you want to grow breasts and handle this part yourself, feel free," she grumped straight back at him, slithering out of bed to lift Freddie up and sniff his backside. "You're going to kill me," she informed the baby affectionately, laying him down to begin the task of removing his onesie and diaper while still half asleep.

Unflappable as always, Jamie only snorted and tucked a pillow behind his back to watch her work. "And if I could do that, I'd be in the circus. Try again." He wasn't afraid to help with their son, so long as she wanted his help.

He was lucky she loved him. The look she threw in his direction was part venom, but mostly amusement. "Well then, circus master," she said, gentling her tone for the sake of the sniffly mess on the changing mat in front of her. "Maybe you'd like to find something for your son to wear today while I remove the stink."

"He does take after his father there, doesn't he?" Jamie teased back with a grin, stupidly proud of his son, even when he was stinky. He threw the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed to find some outfit from their son's wardrobe, much of which looked like teensy tiny pajamas. "Let's see. What would you like to wear today, Freddie?" he asked as he picked through his son's outfits. "Hm, would you like the fuzzy blue footy pajamas with the bear on the front?" he asked, holding it up to himself, as though he were modeling it. "Or perhaps, the plush yellow and green froggy jammies?" he asked, doing the same.

One thing Keira could always count on Jamie managing to do was keep her smiling. Even now, half-asleep and still a little cranky, she was laughing as she finished up with Freddie's diaper. "Your daddy is a complete fool, darling," she told the baby, wrapping him up in his blanket as she lifted him up. "Now be patient with him. No boob before pants, that's the rule."

Jamie sighed, as neither Keira nor Freddie had made a choice. "Well, what shall it be?" he asked, again, swapping one outfit for the other in front of himself with a cheeky grin and a wave of his hand. "Bear or frogs, what shall it be?" As if this was the most important decision that needed to be made.

"What do we think, Freddie" You're more of a roarer than a croaker today," Keira said thoughtfully as she rocked the baby, who had thankfully quietened down now his backside was warm and dry again. "I vote bear. Cold feet are not fun."

"Bear jammies it is!" Jamie declared, tossing the froggy jammies over a shoulder to land wherever they might. He slung the bear jammies onto that same shoulder as he made his way toward his wife and son. "Here, let me," he said, reaching for the tiny boy. Getting him dressed was the least he could do, after all.

She was only too happy to hand over the baby to his father, kissing them both fondly before turning to make her own clothing selection for the day. They had things relatively into a routine already, but this was becoming her favorite part of the day - the first interaction of the morning, when there were no staff to knock on the door and offer help. Just them and their son, fumbling along and left to do it in their own time. Cook had even stopped complaining about them being late to breakfast since Freddie had arrived. "And you say I spoil him," she teased Jamie with a smile, tossing her clothes onto the bed and catching up the feeding pillow on her way over to the comfortable nursing chair.

"He deserves at least a little spoiling, don't you think?" Jamie asked as he made his way back to the bed to lay the infant down and get him dressed. It looked easier than it really was trying to fit those wiggling arms and legs into his jammies. There wasn't much point in dressing the little guy in some of the more elaborate and frankly silly outfits that had been bought for him when he was likely to need changing in another few hours anyway. Though Jamie had never had a son before, it was clear he was a natural. If asked, he'd blame it on having a younger brother.

"Is it wrong of me to be hoping that he doesn't take to my sisters when they finally get around to demanding the right to visit?" she asked, half-amused and half unhappy that her sisters would win that demand, even if it were only a short visit. Settled in the nursing chair, she put her feet up, sighing contentedly. It was easily the most comfortable chair she'd ever owned; it was a shame it was only supposed to be for feeding the baby.

"Why would he take to them' You're his mother," Jamie pointed out helpfully, though that much was obvious. Once he had little Freddie dressed, he made his way over to where Keira was waiting and carefully settled their son in her arms. Thus far, he hadn't had the opportunity to feed their son; only watch in envy.

It was early days with the feeds, but as her milk came in, Keira was fully intending to express and make sure Jamie got to experience feeding their son. For now, though, it was all on her; that magical solution that only new mommies could create sustaining Freddie until her body was ready. With the baby tucked close and already mouthing, she winced a little as he latched on, chuckling softly. "He's so rough."

Keira Stuart

Date: 2016-12-31 19:48 EST
"There's no rule that says you have to ....you know ..." Jamie pointed out further, waving a hand in a circular motion in the general direction of her breast-feeding. It wasn't that he couldn't say it; it just sounded weird on his tongue.

She raised her head, meeting his eyes with a tender smile. "It wouldn't feel right not to," she admitted softly. Feeding Freddie always seemed to set her world into soft focus, though she doubted that would last. "You wait ....in a couple of days, you'll be doing this with a bottle."

"Yes, well ....He wouldn't get much out of my ....you know ..." he said, with another wave of his hand. He didn't bother to ask what it was like nursing a baby, anymore than he'd asked what it was like being pregnant or giving birth. In some ways, he envied her, but he was far too masculine to ever want to trade places.

Keira's smile deepened. "Why is it you have hundreds of names for my breasts when it comes to making love, but you can't even use the anatomically correct one when it comes to feeding your son?" she asked in amusement.

"Because it's strange to think how we both appreciate them, but in different ways. For him, they are sustenance. For me, they're just fun," he replied with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, just fun, are they?" she laughed, tossing a stained burping cloth in his direction. "And here I was, thinking you had a somewhat closer bond with them than that. The only other body part you've ever named is your own tonker."

"I beg to differ," he said, chuckling as he caught hold of the burp cloth with one hand before it slapped him in the face. "You're forgetting about Gina," he said with a grin. Perhaps he hadn't mentioned it yet, but that was the name he'd given to her most private of body parts.

She stared at him for a long moment, bursting out laughing as she caught on to what he was referring to. "Gina"" she repeated. "What on earth possessed you to call it Gina?"

He shrugged his wide shoulders uncertainly. "I don't know. It just seemed to fit. Would you like to rename her?" he asked, that cheeky grin still on his face, clearly amused.

"If you ever use her name instead of mine in the heat of the moment, I will divorce you and make sure your father knows why," his wife warned him cheerfully, glancing down as Freddie stirred against her. "Done already, little monster" You're getting so good at that!" She lifted him up onto her shoulder, rubbing his back as she smiled at Jamie. "So what, dare I ask, are we planning to do with our day today?"

"Well, that's better than castration," he murmured, loud enough for her to hear him. He tilted his head curiously at her when she declared their son finished with his breakfast. "How do you know if he's had enough?" He blinked a moment at her question, thinking the answer was obvious. "Sleep?" he replied, uncertain again.

"He stops sucking," she answered his question with a snort of laughter. "Just lies there chewing on my nipple like a particularly gorgeous savage torturer." An enormous belch next to her ear made her smile. "And we're done! So going by the average, we have half an hour before he wants cuddles and entertainment."

"He's a little young for movies. What do you suggest instead?" he teased, regarding the question of entertainment. There would come a day when their son would laugh at his father's antics, but he was still a bit young for that sort of entertainment. He seemed to prefer walking and jostling and rocking, for the time being.

"I would quite like to have a shower," she suggested, settling Freddie in her lap as he lolled, sucking on his own fingers. "Sadly, that is not a group activity. Seeing me naked right now would scar both of you for life."

Jamie snorted doubtfully. "I highly doubt that, love," he assured her, but he wasn't sure there was much point in sharing the shower when they were under strict orders not to have any hanky panky for at least a few weeks.

"Maybe we could get out of the house for a while," she suggested hopefully. "Even if it's just for a walk around the walled garden, it would be fresh air. And a chance to put him in that snowsuit your father bought for him, which I think is going to look absolutely hilarious."

"As you wish," he replied with a warm smile, his gaze going to that of their son for a moment. "He's going to look like a baby teddy bear," he remarked with a grin, having had a look at that snowsuit already. "All right," he said, slapping his hands on his pajama pants. "First, shower; then, breakfast; then, outing. Would you like to go first?"

"It's entirely up to you, delicious light of my life," she teased him fondly, holding out one hand to be helped up out of the supremely comfortable chair. "Whoever goes first gets to avoid the gurgling of doom when he wakes up again."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he helped her to her feet. "Delicious, eh?" he asked with a grin. "Ladies first," he told her, reaching to take baby Freddie from her arms. There was no rush, after all, though the cook was probably getting impatient for them to come down to breakfast.

"Mmm, I love my husband," she smiled, leaning up to kiss him as he took charge of the baby. "I promise not to fall asleep on you until at least mid-afternoon today." Dropping a softer kiss on Freddie's head, she stepped away, stretching as she headed for the bathroom. This being a parent thing was going to take some getting used to, but they seemed to be handling it, so far.

To be fair, it had only been two days, but so far, so good. Parenting, he thought, was a lot of hard work, but he was confident they could manage it, so long as they were together. While Keira showered, Jamie claimed the nursing chair, rocking their son to and fro, while softly singing a song his mother had once sung to him when he'd been a boy. He didn't have the best singing voice in the world, but little Freddie didn't seem to care.

Gone were the days of hour long showers, though. Keira was out and dressed within twenty minutes, leaning on Jamie's indulgence for just a little longer to dry her hair before taking over with the young master. Today was the first day since the birth she'd felt like doing more than lie in bed groaning. She was hoping it was going to stay that way.

Getting some sleep seemed to be the key, not only to healing, but to feeling halfway human. So long as they shared the burden, they might be able to manage it, but Jamie wasn't sure how long he'd be able to shirk his duties while he and Keira got used to being parents. It took longer for him to shave than to shower, and it wasn't long before he rejoined her, casually clad in a sweater and jeans.

"Look, here comes Daddy!" Freddie had woken up while Jamie was shaving, and was more than happy to focus on his father as Keira held him up, waving his pudgy little hand for him. "Just like I said, all nice and clean and ready for breakfast!"

"I'll wager my breakfast is more tasty than his!" Jamie remarked touching a kiss to Keira's lips before tapping a fingers against Freddie's nose. "No crying at breakfast, or the cook will feel insulted!" he warned, though the little one had already had his breakfast.

Keira Stuart

Date: 2016-12-31 19:48 EST
"I should hope so, I'm looking forward to a proper cooked breakfast today!" Keira grinned, bending to settle Freddie in the car seat that went everywhere with them. "Cook's going to be so pleased with me - I feel like I could eat a horse," she confessed, letting Jamie take the strain with their son as she gave her hair one last drag through with the brush. "She's had so many opinions on my eating habits, I might give her a stroke this morning."

"Hmm, that sweater looks strangely familiar," Jamie remarked, plucking at the material with his fingers. "Raiding my closet again, love?" As if she didn't have enough clothes of her own. "You can eat a horse if you like. I'm hoping for bacon," he teased, as he took the car seat from her with ease.

"I'm claiming it for myself until I have a waist again," she informed him cheerfully, utterly unashamed to have been caught wearing his clothes yet again. "Besides, it smells like you. I happen to like the way you smell, you know." Finally feeling she was as presentable as she was going to get, she moved to open the door, unsurprised to note a pair of maids lurking at the far end of the corridor, waiting to get into their suite and tidy it.

"Knowing you, that won't take long," he said, confident she'd have her figure back in no time, even if she wasn't. What she didn't know was that he'd love her just the same, no matter her figure. "It smells like mothballs, Keira," he teased, though it probably didn't. The maids wouldn't have allowed it. He followed her out into the corridor, leaving the door open behind him so that the maids could tidy up. "Don't forget to leave mints on the pillows, ladies!" he called to them.

"Then I suppose you smell like mothballs, darling," she countered with a grin, chuckling at the familiar giggles that went off as Jamie greeted the maids for the morning. "You're going to give the housekeeper apoplexy one of these days," she warned him as they made their way toward the grand staircase. "We're not supposed to admit that anyone lives or works here but us."

"Why not?" he asked, having always found that to be a silly rule. "They work as hard as we do, maybe harder. They're not invisible, Keira. And we'd be lost without them." That much was mostly true, anyway. Jamie couldn't cook to save his life, and he wasn't fond of cleaning either.

"I know that as well as you do," she smiled back at him. "She's from a different age, Jamie. We just have to humor her until she retires, and then we can openly acknowledge everyone without making their lives harder. We already know everyone's names, after all." At the bottom of the stairs, she paused. "You'd think I'd know my way around here by now, surely."

"We could encourage her to retire early," Jamie suggested, lowering his voice so that no one overheard them talking, as he followed her down the stairs. "Left, then right," he reminded her. The house really was too big for just them and his father. Thankfully, they shared it with the servants, or the house would be half empty.

"Left, then right," she repeated, rolling her eyes at herself. "We should spend more time here, really. The Belle Epoque was never meant to be such a primary residence for the Stuarts." Thankfully, the door to the dining room was cracked open, and a peek through revealed that Duke Oliver was taking his time over his own breakfast, reading the paper as he sipped his coffee.

Was he really taking his time with his breakfast though, or was he hoping to get a few minutes with his new grandson before his day began' Jamie assumed it was the latter. "Good morning, Father. I assume you slept well," he greeted the man as he set the car-seat down on the table closest his father.

"Good morning, James, Keira." Oliver set his cup down along with the paper, a warm smile on his face for his son and daughter-in-law. "I slept very well, thank you. And yourselves" Did the new lord and master let you sleep much at all?"

Keira laughed, pausing to murmur their requests for breakfast to the footman who was waiting by the door for just that purpose. "Does he ever?"

"We got a few hours of sleep," Jamie interjected, unwilling to admit total defeat. Besides, that was mostly the truth. He let Keira request breakfast for him, confident she knew him well enough not to order porridge. "It's only been two days. He's still getting the hang of being a baby."

"And you are still getting the hang of being parents," Oliver smiled, not even attempting to keep his impatience in check. He reached over and unbuckled Freddie, lifting the baby out of the car seat and into his lap for a cuddle. "The coffee is hot," he added for his son's benefit. "I had them refresh it when we heard movement from upstairs."

"Thanks!" Jamie said, moving to pour himself a cup. "Coffee, Keira?" he inquired, unsure if she was able to drink it while breast-feeding. If nothing else, coffee might keep them awake for a few more hours at least.

"Oh, one cup can't do any harm," she agreed warmly, moving to kiss Oliver's cheek as a good morning before sinking down into a seat at the table. "We're going to walk in the snow for a little while this morning," she told both son and grandfather, flashing a smile at her husband. "Ah, facing the world in small steps," Oliver chuckled. "Very wise. I'll be going back to Itana in a few days; we'll see how long I'm there. It depends on Julius, and how he's coping with Dru and Josh going to Rhy'Din for a few weeks."

Jamie poured them each a cup of coffee, making Keira's to her liking. Jamie actually frowned to hear his father was leaving them already. "So soon?" he asked, as he handed Keira her coffee, made just the way she liked it.

"Well, with Parliament up in the air until the end of January, he needs someone he can vent to who isn't politically aligned right now," Oliver shrugged, absentmindedly jostling his grandson with the air of a man who knew babies didn't need much more than that at this age. "He's much better, but I think he's feeling his own mortality these days. Desperate for a spare, if you catch my drift."

Keira rolled her eyes as she sipped her coffee. "I know I mentioned it might be an idea, but Dru's not even twenty yet," she pointed out.

Jamie's frown deepened. It seemed selfish to be so happy and enjoying this time they had with their newborn son when Prince Julius obviously needed some help. "Is there anything we can do?" Jamie asked, as he took a seat and sipped at his coffee.

"He would never forgive any of us if either one of you gave up this time with your son to help him," Oliver pointed out with half a grin. "But if it looks like I'm in the capital for the long haul, you might consider joining me there?"

Keira smiled over her coffee cup, meeting Jamie's eyes. That one was a no-brainer, even if Oliver hadn't mentioned it.

"Of course we'll join you!" Jamie replied without hesitation, almost forgetting to look over at Keira for confirmation. "That is, of course, if it's all right with you," he added, a little sheepishly for a change. As content as they were here, they could take care of their son just as easily in Itana as they could here. "Are Josh and Dru going to see her family?" he asked further, as the the cook returned with two plates filled with breakfast fixings.

"Of course we will," Keira confirmed with a nod. She knew Jamie wouldn't think twice about it. "The estate can muddle on without us for a little while. Our local elections have already taken place. It's the elections in the capital that will be the focus of everyone's attention anyway, so the capital is the place to be."

Keira Stuart

Date: 2016-12-31 19:49 EST
Oliver looked relieved as the pair were presented with their breakfasts; two plates loaded with full cooked breakfasts. He wisely, however, chose not to comment on the fact that Keira had abandoned her healthy breakfast habits for once. "You're right," he agreed with them. "And I'm a selfish old man who likes having family around him. And yes, Dru and Josh have escaped to spend the New Year with her family. That young lady needs to recharge before opening the new Parliament at the beginning of February. They're both doing remarkably well, but it's an awful lot of pressure on such young shoulders."

"Father, we are willing to help if they will let us," Jamie insisted again, though he knew there was only so much he and Keira could do. Still, he had been groomed for this for years, even more so than Josh, and if nothing else, it would make him feel more useful than he was presently, so long as he had time left to spend with Keira and the baby. "There must be something we can do."

"If it were up to me, you would have a place on the advisory council," Oliver told him. "But with the new baby, I didn't think it wise to suggest it. If you feel you have the time and patience for it, I will certainly suggest your name to Julius when I next see him. I think the council is likely to become a permanent addition to our government - it serves as a reminder to Parliament that the power does not ultimately rest with them."

This wasn't a question Jamie could answer for himself. If he agreed to accept such a position, it would mean time away from Keira and their son, but he had never planned on making this break a permanent one. "What do you think, Keira?" he asked, unafraid to discuss the subject in front of both his wife and his father, since they were the two people he trusted and confided in most in all the world. He took up his fork to skewer a sausage while he awaited her opinion.

It took a moment for Keira to answer - while the men had been talking, she had been working on putting a sizeable dent in her breakfast, much to the delight of the cook, who was spying through the crack in the door. Swallowing, she washed her mouthful down with a gulp of coffee before responding. "Well, the council meets every day but Sunday," she said thoughtfully, "but it is only a few hours in the morning. I would imagine it will recess when Parliament does, too, so it isn't a year round commitment. There will be times when you'd have to be present in the House for debates, and emergencies would require more of your time, but it seems a very sensible idea, actually. Your reputation in politics is that of a fair, open-minded man who isn't afraid to change his mind if the argument is persuasive and reasonable, which the people respect."

She considered it a moment longer, aware that both Jamie and his father were waiting for her opinion. It was an odd position to find herself in, admittedly. "If the Roslae elections were still on-going, I would say no," she said finally. "But they're over, we have our Parliament representatives elected fairly and without scandal, so there's no risk of any accusations in that department. I think you should do it. The Prince needs advisors he trusts to be honest with him, and Dru will need to be able to trust them as well. No, I think it's a good idea."

Jamie said nothing for a long moment as he considered his wife's words and wisdom. She was right, of course, but if he decided to accept the position, it would mean making changes that would not only affect his life, but hers, too. "It would mean spending more time in Itana," he pointed out, unsure how Keira might feel about that, though they would also be closer to Dru and Josh.

"True, it would," she agreed with a gentle nod. "But we're not so very far from here in Itana, and once Parliament is invested again, the need for the council to meet every day may well pass into a weekly need, rather than daily. It may mean a little juggling, but I don't see that it would be too difficult. Besides, we have a steward here, and plenty of ways to communicate if we're needed."

"I guess you have your answer, then," Jamie said, turning to his father with a smile, now that he had Keira's support and permission. If she thought it was a good idea, who was he to argue with that' He skewered another sausage and happily took a bite, now that it was decided.

Oliver chuckled. It had taken a while to get used to it, but he was glad that Jamie and Keira were so open about everything these days. If they'd only been this confident to talk about everything a decade ago, he might have had several grandchildren by now. "The committee has spoken," he intoned, grinning at the face Keira pulled around a fresh mouthful. "Give it a couple of days, get things settled to your liking here before you come to Itana. New parents always get a little leeway."

There was still plenty of time for grandchildren, and there was no reason to think Duke Oliver wouldn't be around long enough to enjoy watching them grow up - at least, Jamie hoped so. "It has only been a few days," Jamie pointed out again, hoping they wouldn't expect too much of them too soon after their son's birth. Though it was mostly Keira who was taking care of little Freddie, Jamie wouldn't have missed this time with his new family for the world, and he wanted to help as much as he could.

"Which is why you won't be coming to Itana until Julius makes his mind up about appointing you," Oliver told him. "It never hurts to be ready to be summoned, though."

Keira bit back a faint smirk at the gentle censuring, finally setting her knife and fork down as she leaned back with a comfortable sigh. "Goodness, I don't think I have ever eaten so much in one sitting before."

Jamie nodded, about to reply, though no reply was really needed when Keira said something about her breakfast and he turned to her with a grin. "Well, you are still eating for two, in a way," he reminded her with a grin. Really, she could probably gain a hundred pounds and he'd still adore her, so long as she was happy.

"You say the sweetest things," was her response.

Freddie woke up with a start as Oliver choked on his own coffee trying not to laugh aloud at the loving teasing that always came as such a surprise to him. "Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry," the duke apologized to his grandson, somehow managing to head off the tears by sheer force of charm.

"You woke him; you get to console him," Jamie informed his father with a half-teasing grin as he gestured to him with his fork before shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth

"You don't need consoling, do you, young man?" Oliver asked the baby, hiking him higher in his arms. Freddie responded with a whimper that turned into a giggle as his grandfather dropped an antique pocket watch into his outstretched fingers.

Keira rolled her eyes. "Maybe we should just hire you as our nanny, Oliver."

"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Jamie interjected with a grin, even better than the idea about him taking a place on the council. The fact was Jamie was not only proud and happy to be a father, but happy to spread that joy around to his own father and eventually to that of his brother and sister-in-law. "What do you think Dru and Josh will think of him?"

"I think Dru's going to be afraid of him, to be honest," Keira laughed softly, shaking her head. She murmured her thanks to the footman who took her plate away, making the young man blush in the process.

Keira Stuart

Date: 2016-12-31 19:50 EST
"Nonsense," Oliver disagreed. "She won't have the chance to be afraid of him. Josh will have them both wrapped up and photographed in seconds."

Jamie waved the man off before he could take his plate, as he wasn't quite done eating yet. "Perhaps she'll decide to have one of her own before long," he suggested without looking up from his plate, where he was shoveling down the rest of his breakfast at an alarming rate, as if he was afraid someone might take it away before he was finished.

"Perhaps," Oliver shrugged, exchanging a glance with Keira. He had a feeling his daughter-in-law knew about the princess' birth control measures, but he didn't dare ask. "James, slow down before you choke."

Jamie waved his father off, just as he had the footman. "You worry too much. You should worry more about Josh and Dru. You did have the talk with him and tell him what goes where and why, didn't you?" he asked, obviously teasing. He licked a bit of butter from his fingers, his plate empty at last.

"You think I don't worry about them as much as I do about you two?" Oliver chuckled, rolling his eyes at his son. "And I know he knows where everything goes, because I had to tell him not to give himself groin strain trying not to put it there before they got married."

It was Keira's turn to splutter, dribbling coffee down her chin as she groped for a napkin.

"Maybe he needs an instruction manual because there is obviously nothing happening down there," Jamie pointed out. Did it really never occur to him that Dru was using birth control or was he just being his usual cheeky self" "It's not going to happen by magic."

"Or maybe his eighteen year old bride thought it was a little soon to be having children?" Keira pointed out mildly, still wiping her face dry, much to the amusement of their son. "They'll get there, in their own time. And making jokes about his manliness won't help." She laughed at her husband, managing to take a sip of her coffee without spilling it this time.

"She's not eighteen anymore," he reminded his wife, though Dru wasn't too much older than that. She was going to be twenty soon - old enough to have a child without being one herself anymore, in his opinion. Jamie smirked, only a little sorry to be making jokes at his younger brother's expense. He shrugged his shoulders, as if to shake off her warning. He meant nothing by it, after all, and it was a well-known fact that he adored both Josh and Dru. "It would be nice if Freddie had a cousin to play with, though, don't you think?"

"Look at you, getting all domestic," Keira teased him fondly, rubbing a hand through her hair. "How many children are we having between us, then" An even dozen on both sides?"

"Dozen?" Jamie echoed with a cough. "Are you saying we should have six?" he asked with wide eyes, unsure whether to take her seriously or not.

"Or seven, make it a baker's dozen," Oliver suggested, grinning. He knew perfectly well that Keira was likely to insist on stopping after four at the most, but it was a fun thought to imagine Jamie with a half a dozen little boys and one very spoiled girl bouncing around him.

"Seven?" Jamie echoed with a chuckle. "I have no objections, but it's up to Keira." Which was only fair since she'd be the one who'd have to carry each of them for nine months.

Narrowing her eyes, Keira smirked. "Tell you what, love," she suggested. "You tell Dru she's expected to carry six children for nine months at a time, and then we'll talk about going over four ourselves. If you survive."

Oliver chuckled. "If we're laying odds, I'd like to put my money on the little princess putting a definite cramp in his step for a few days."

"It was your idea!" Jamie exclaiming, pointing a finger at his father, with a look of indignation on his face. It was true, but Jamie had done nothing to discourage him. "What do you say we go for our walk before the little man decides he wants a snack again?" he suggested, before draining the last of his coffee. He had also managed to change the subject.

"I say that is an excellent idea, Lord James," Keira chuckled, rising to her feet. "You get the baby and squish him into the suit, I'll find the stroller or the sling or whatever comes to hand first."

Jamie chuckled again, amused at the notion of squishing their son into his snowsuit. He was all smiles these days, despite the lack of sleep, and why wouldn't he be with a beautiful wife like Keira and a healthy newborn son' "Yes, dear," he replied obediently.

She stuck her tongue out at him, laughing as she headed out the door to grab the nearest member of staff and ask for help getting ready to go for that walk. Oliver chuckled at the fondness between Jamie and Keira, reluctantly handing Freddie back to his father. "I can see I am never going to be bored with you two in the house."

"I'm going to assume that's a good thing," Jamie replied, a sparkle in his eyes as he was handed his little man. He lifted the boy higher to make sure he didn't need a diaper change, letting his nose decide for him, before cradling him in the crook of a well-muscled arm. "Shall we go find your snowsuit and get ready for our walk?" he said, as if the baby might actually give him an answer.

"A very good thing," Oliver assured him. "Now go and witness the wonder of what fresh air can do to a newborn baby. You and Keira might actually get more than a couple of hours to catch up on your sleep this afternoon."

"Oh?" Jamie inquired, arching a single blond brow. Apparently, his father was alluding to the fact that a little fresh air might wear the little man out. If that was the case, then they'd have to take him for a walk more often. "That would be welcome." Hell, it would be more than welcome - it would be miraculous.

Laughing, the duke rose to his own feet, claiming a fresh cup of coffee as he did so. "I have some work to do," he told his son. "Go on, go and tire your little family out. We'll reconvene for lunch, I expect."

"I expect we will," Jamie agreed, frowning a little as he realized he'd never thanked his father for everything he'd done for them and not wanting him to think they took him for granted. "Father," he started, unsure how to say it exactly, though it was just two little words.

But the Stuart men knew each other very well indeed. Jamie didn't need to say it for his father to know it was true. Oliver reached out, squeezing his shoulder firmly. "I know," he said quietly. "You never need to say it, Jamie. I already know, and believe it or not, I feel the same way about you. That's what family is."

Jamie might have responded with those two words, but somehow he knew he didn't need to and only nodded in acknowledgement. "We'll be back in time for lunch," he promised. Though the words were simple enough, they conveyed so much more than they seemed.

Long fingers squeezed his shoulder once more, releasing him to brush a gentle touch over Freddie's head in parting. "I'll be waiting," Oliver promised in return, smiling as he took his leave of his son and grandson. And the smile was genuine, filled with warmth and pride not just for this son, but for the younger as well. He knew his wife would have approved of their boys' choices, deeply regretting that she had not lived to see them reach this part of their lives. But perhaps she was watching anyway, somewhere out of reach. Perhaps he hadn't done so badly, after all.

If his sons were any proof, it was clear he had succeeded, not only as a father, but now, too, as a grandfather; and if he'd asked Jamie his opinion, he would have assured him that his mother would be proud not only of her sons, but of their father, too. Jamie's only regret was that she wasn't here to see them and to meet the boy that would have been her grandchild. Perhaps, in time, they'd have a daughter, and they could honor her properly by giving her his mother's name. Until then, Jamie was content with a wife and a son.

And who knew" Maybe that baker's dozen was in Duke Oliver's future. Only time would tell.