Sylvia rubbed at embroidered forest green bodice. The way it crumpled the shirt beneath was not helping the irritation of the healing wound there. Having chosen to walk into town instead of ride, she was convinced had made no difference to the aches, but she was determined to see Sianna once she had received word of the babies' arrival.

The cloak fluttered about behind her caught by the wind instead of being held by her doeskin gloved hands. Fortunately, she had bound her hair back in windbraids, keeping the black locks in check. Her features were drawn, perhaps some might say more severe, but she still smiled at the thought of life safely arriving as she knocked upon the door of the Smith's home at the appointed hour of her visit.

Sianna smiled serenely, the clock chiming in sync with the raps on the door. She had the house to herself, Henderson seeing to the weekly supplies of feed and firewood and Matty joining him to market for other essentials. Ian was not quite finished feeding however, so she draped a thin blanket across herself and made her way to the door.

Swinging it open somewhat, she stood to the side for privacy from the street. "Ahh, Sylvia... sae good tae see ye."

It took no more than a glance to realize what was in progress. "I seemed to have arrived at an inopportune time for one of your children." It was not an embarrassment for her, but still she did not want to make the new mother uncomfortable. "Should I take a turn in the Marketplace and return in a few?"

Sianna shook her head and motioned her in with a momentarily free hand. "Dinna fash about it, he's just taking his sweet time today for some reason. If it will no' bother ye, it will no' bother me either."

With a trio of notes in easy laughter, Sylvia made her way inside and closed the door behind her to free Sianna of the trouble. "Then I shall escape the chill of the day and come inside, and he can take all the time he likes. Better a full tummy than waking too soon with an aching empty belly." Drawing off her gloves and cloak, she took in a deep breath. The air held warmth even if it might have seemed half empty to those who resided here. To her it was alive, secure, and hopeful.

Turning brightening violet eyes on Sianna as well as giving an assessment of how she looked to be doing while she asked the question. "And how are you faring, Sianna?"

In preparation of a visit, Matty had seen that a small tea table was appointed with a pot in a homespun kit cozy, with tea cups and shortbread at the ready. Moving on into the parlor, Sianna reclaimed her seat, the double cradle to one side with little Meggie cozily nestled within.

Wincing a bit as the eager child suckled for sustenance, she turned a wry grin to her guest. "Well, I dinna feel as if I've slept more than an hour at th' most and while no longer as big as a heifer..." Her voice trailed away as she nodded down to the child at her breast. Resuming her thought farther down the line, "... but I am well, thank ye. I trust ye and yer brood fare th' same, aye?"

Sylvia walked softly, some fortunate result of long ago habits now reborn, toward the cradle and the little one inside. The resulting sigh of delight was breathed out and provided her the chance to avoid the question all together. "Now, this is Margaret then?" She drew the conclusion since the one still taking lunch had been referred to as he. Sitting slowly on the edge of a nearby chair she avoided wincing, though the drop in her complexion she had no control. Sylvia continued to smile down into the cradle as the color returned to her cheeks as quickly as it had gone. Her fingertips rested on the edge of the wood.

"Aye, though I call her Meggie. Canna see calling such a wee thing by sae formal a name, even though I willingly gave it tae her." A small chuckle as if on cue, the little lass wiggled and cooed as if eager for some hands-on attention. Alert blues caught the wincing. "Everything alright?"

"Mmm," came the affirmation, it was not a lie entirely if she did not answer with precision. The subject of names brought out another soft laugh. "Yes, Beata's name is not even quite so long or grand, and I still shorten it to Bea. It is a wonder I did not do so with Cian or Aidan, though I suppose neither have a shortening, rather like Ian does not have a shortening. Meggie is a fine name in its own right."

Her hand slid along the wood, and she smiled to Sianna, "May I hold her?"

Sianna nodded without any hesitation. "Absolutely, dearie. And thank ye. I was a bit worrit after naming them, hoping I'd made th' right choices." Ian had suddenly gone slack, full and sated. Easing him out from under the blanket, Sianna draped a soft linen over her shoulder. The child held upright, soft taps and rubs began the task of urging out any burps and bubbles.

Avoiding a lean, she rose a bit to her feet, balanced half way between standing and sitting to sneak a hand beneath the small head and the other under the little body. Cradling the infant in the crook of her arm, she relaxed again in the seat. "Hello there, Meggie. I hope you are having sweetest dreams."

Sylvia smiled up to Sianna. "They are beautiful, Sianna. You should be so proud. I cannot imagine two at once, but they would not be who they are if not twins." One finger traced lightly over the faint brows. "Your family must be overjoyed."

The mention of family caused her eyes to darken slightly. "Aye, they are a package just as my brothers and Johnny and Juliane are." Yet the thought of family and those absent was pushed to the side as she returned the smile in thanks for the compliment. "But I canna take all th' credit, aye?"

Sylvia did not respond with more than a knowing smile. The question did not require it, and particularly with the slight crestfallen look she thought she caught upon the mentioning of family. "I came with a few tokens for the well wishing of their first year. I did not know," she managed to hold Meggie and still get into the pouch at her hip, drawing out the small embroidered velveteen purse, "if you would have two cribs or one."

Her arm stretched out to Sianna to deposit the soft touched item no larger than Sylvia's palm. Its embroidery was merely leafy vines upon the black velveteen. Inside were two green ribbons. Dangling from the ribbons were gold cast wagon wheels with an unfurling leaf cluster at center. "Hope for health and happiness as they start their paths."

With the singlehanded deftness that came with motherhood, Sianna held them up to inspect them further. Eyes rounded and misted with gratitude. "They are lovely, Sylvia. I shall tie them tae their cribs until they are old enow tae wear them."

Resting them back in her lap, her hand moved to wipe some dribble from Ian's mouth as the burp was more than productive.

"Oh, well said, Ian," Sylvia's smile was whimsical. "Too fast they grow up, though I suspect they are only cute burping now because we know it will not last forever. If I could only keep Aidan from burping at the table would be a great achievement."

With a sigh, she rose and set Meggie safely back in her cradle. The blinking of her eyes lasted a bit longer to fight the strain as she sat again and poured a cup of tea for herself and Sianna. "In the tradition of Kieran's people, the tokens are melted down and reforged upon the next stage of life, an achievement or calling of a trade. I doubt you need to add others traditions to your own, but should Ian or Meggie decide they want something else, something their own liking, do not be afraid to remake them."

"Do you not speak aloud to yourself, Sianna?" It was an impish grin, fingers tapping upon the backs of opposite hands. "I find I do from time to time. Moreso in, let us say, stressful times." The memories of those days of battle, at home and abroad, managed to bring up a warmth in the smile because time had done its magic and made the horrors of the memories hazy, leaving only the good.

"No' since I was a wee girl and had an imaginary friend tae to confide my troubles." The curve of lips blossomed into a grin at the memory. "She had verra big ears and never tired tae hear me complain of some injustice or other that I suffered dramatically." Another sip taken of her cup, fingers curled lightly around its girth. "Though since ye can admit tae it, I may verra well need tae take it up again."

"With as many brothers as you have, I am certain you had many injustices indeed. Aidan and Cian have but each other, Beata not yet getting to the stage of nuisance, and there are times it is nothing but telling of some great offense or other." A merry trio of notes, "But should you need to talk to someone, and your own conversation is lacking, then," Sylvia caught herself. "Well, I was going to say, you are always welcome to stop by Yearling Brook, and that is true, but I am not always there. There is always correspondence as well. Letters take longer to arrive to me than they return here, but it has been known to happen before."

Sianna's eyes brightened. "Aye, and those that I did no' have first hand, I embellished a wee tad. And since verra few would believe my tales in its entirely, she was most helpful tae ease my blights." She nodded and smiled at the invitation. "Travel is still no' something easily managed, but I would be grateful for th' letters sure enow. Aye, I would indeed."

"Then letters it shall be. I do not anticipate being out of town for very long, but I do need to see to the state of the rebuilding," her voice dropped, but she could not help but add, "among other things." However, she did not want to go into great detail, and the hour was tapping upon her thoughts that she had things to see to in town. "I am sorry, Sianna, but time has slipped away from me, and in such easy and pleasant company, it is no wonder."

A hand waved dismissively. "Dinna apologize. 'tis easy for time tae slip when ye have th' chance tae sit and talk wi' out all th' cares ye carry. 'Tis I who am grateful ye were sae kind as tae spend them wi' me."

With more use of her hands on the arms of the chair than the use of her torso, she rose from the seat, and went to gaze upon the infants. "Beautiful children, Sianna. Johnny will be so proud of you, and I know he will return as soon as he ever can." She reassured, reaching to lend that reassurance through a touch to the woman's shoulder.

One hand covered and gave a small squeeze, the mere mention of his name bringing a fresh sheen of tears to her eyes. "Thank ye, Sylvia... a th-thousand times..." Her voice broke with emotion as dark lashes became damp with blinked back mist.

Sylvia felt an urge to draw the woman into an comforting embrace. She had never been close to her younger half-sister, quite the contrary. Other than Dey, she in fact, rarely knew how to act around other women at all. Rather than impose a closeness that might make Sianna feel uncomfortable, instead, she merely raised one arm a little more, her palm upward, in silent invitation to seek a solace in friend's hug or not.

Sianna had never had a sister at all, before her immersion in the Smith's clan, and experienced quite the same issues. Standing slowly, she embraced the other woman with gratitude.

Her smile never faltered and when she stepped back, she made sure that Sianna was steady within herself. "Now, when I write I do expect some writing in return. I will look forward to having something other than missives and reports in the stack upon my desk. Take the best of care, Sianna, and I will see you soon."

"Aye, ye have my word. Long silly tomes about how Meggie blinked or Ian chuckled. Be safe and well," Linking her arm with Sylvia's, she walked with her to the door and stepped out onto the porch with her where they made their silent farewells.