"Sae it is." There was so much more that could be said, yet it seemed redundant to say aloud what both were already thinking. Bright blue eyes caught the mannerism and watched the other woman a moment. "Might I offer ye something tae drink, Sylvia?"

Her hands moved to fold together and she leaned forward, resting her forearms on her legs. A slow shake of her head, but recalling the weight that pressed upon their hearts, she looked back to the lady with a smile. "No, I thank you. If I were to drink more, I may find myself visiting your necessary room throughout the night." It was a weak jest, meant to lighten the mood of the room that felt so close, like the thoughts and feelings had taken form to hang upon her shoulder and whisper into her ears.

"It was a good year." Sylvia echoed that faint thought rippling up from the corner of her mind.

"I dinna think ye can ower use it any more than I have been of late. But if ye are sure." The cup was lifted in a small salute before Sianna took a bigger swallow. "Mmmm, it was. A verra good year."

"Feel prepared for the coming one?" A quiet chuckle colored the words. "If you are, then I may try to wiggle out your secret for it."

"No' particularly, aye? Never been a mother tae one much less twa." A giggle as she patted her belly for emphasis. "Sae it seems I should be asking ye for th' secrets tae managing more than one at once."

Sylvia opened her mouth to retort and then closed it again with a solemn sigh, the smile twisting again at the thought. "Well," she began anew, looking down at her hands like they held answers she could read from them, "I was going to say a nanny. One of the requirements? Benefits?" a shrug "of where I live. Yet, on the same account, my best advice is to not be wary or too strong of mind to be reluctant to ask for help. Though I know my time here is uncertain, while I am here, Sianna, I will do what I can to help you. Outside of that, find a place you like to walk and when the temper starts to rise, walk there." Another laugh, this one with more merriment and a brightness lit and left violet eyes.

Sianna nodded. "I'll hae Matty tae help me some, but I shall take yer advice tae heart. Though...." She grew quiet, her gaze gone still and stormy. "... wi' the absences, there is nae shortage for those that wish tae step in tae assist me." It was not the offers that upset her, but the hollow echo feeling that comes on the heels of emptiness.

"Be surrounded by them, then." Sylvia sat back once again and stretched out her arms. Her mind was drifting back and a smile, soft and true, curved her lips. "Cian was born while Kieran was out in the north country fighting, well, nevermind what he was fighting. I was still so new to the land, with my odd ways, and I was frightened as could be. I did not," she laughed and grinned to the lady, "have the best of role models for parents." She cleared her throat and waved it off. "Kieran assured me that there was nothing to fear, even when he was gone. His sisters were around me, and dear Miriam," a quiet moment, thoughts of the gentle, romantic notioned lady, "and when Cian arrived, I swear I felt so backward. It was not the way it had been told to me. Oh, sure enough I loved that child without reservation, but I still felt alone even surrounded by people. It was just a moment, and then..." a wave of her hand, "and then I was not alone anymore." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Sianna. I have too much babbling going on."

"Ye apologize tae much. Ye needn't do sae, aye? Your tale helps me keep things in perspective, but how can I be grateful when I canna stop myself from wanting it tae be someone else?" She smiled wryly and turned her face towards the window, her voice dropping octaves. "When I am wretched and selfish.."

"Wretched and selfish? Well, leave the first and retain the second. Be selfish for a time, because it cannot last much beyond. But as to the wretched..." There were no further words on that count, just a wave of a hand as if to brush it away like a will o' wisp on the air. She contemplated the words, murmuring, "I never thought to wish it was Kieran nearby or in the next room. In that, I think our pasts have us differing. And yet, who the blazing pyres told you to be grateful? Or at least not on every level. You Fraisers and thinking your heart can only feel one way and not both." She smirked and then laughed to battle back tears. "You can be grateful and selfish both. Wish it was another and yet value whomever is there. Nothing is ever so clearly one or the other in life. Allow yourself to be both.

"But," she leaned over a bit as if sharing a secret and shook her head, "not wretched. Certainly not that."

Now it was her turn to laugh and blink back the tears. "We Fraisers canna help being alike. Cut from th' same bolt of tartan and woven just as tight. Nor can we really help thinking th' way we do. But I shall try tae do as ye bid, I give ye my word on that."

She reached out to pat the lady's arm in friendly acceptance. "Well, the word of a Fraiser has always been one upon which one could count. For that matter, the word of the Smiths I have known carry that same value of trust. I think you cannot get free of the trying at the least." Her hand moved to rest upon the lamp amulet hidden at her throat beneath the shirt. She sank into a moment's contemplation.

"Aye, so they have. Tae break th' bond would be tae betray them and all I love best." Sianna drained the rest of her now lukewarm cocoa before depositing the cup to the side table. Yawning softly, she cast a glance to the mantle clock. Dawn would be coming soon.

Stirred by the sound of the cup to the side table, Sylvia looked up and over. "I think I should find my bed for at least a few winks before my little warband wakes. Let us hope they sleep in some. Are you staying up until the sun rises or seeking slumber as well?"

"Aye, let us hope sae. If they wake before ye, I shall hae Henderson make them breakfast and entertain them while ye rest. But I dinna think they will stir anytime soon." Sianna took a breath and exhaled slowly. "I shall stay tae th' first rays, I think. Seems fitting, aye?"

Sylvia nodded with an understanding smile, finding her eyes wishing to close more often than stay open. Standing, she paused on the way to the stairs. "Keep a look for those first lights, but I am afraid I cannot." A weight held that last word apart from the others, but the smile remained even if it held more resolve than warmth. She patted the edge of the wall as she went by it and went to seek a few hours rest, knowing the children would be up and with the recent events, need her to establish the safety and steadiness of their lives.