Seamus had spent a majority of the day in the kitchen, and while it was only the eve of Christmas, he wanted to make it special. A large pot of stew was being brewed on the stovetop, hissing pleasantly. Directing himself stoveward, he stirred the pot a few times before lifting the spoon for a taste. "Needs mo' peppe'," he declared to no one in particular, fumbling for the spices to dash more pepper in the pot. Then he ducked down to peek in on the cornbread and the ham and turkey. Picking up the baster on his way, he stuck it in the pan for the ham and then turkey, taking several juicy squeezes to wet them down. Reasonably satisfied, he popped back up to return to his vegetable cutting: zucchini, squash, eggplant, mushrooms, red and green peppers, and olives.

Cailean was kept at peace, snoring in the corner of the kitchen with a huge bone tucked beneath his paws. So Seamus cheated, letting him unwrap one present early... the giftwrap was still littered around Cailean's bed.

The fireplace was roaring delightfully in the livingroom, the Christmas tree they had so diligently decorated and the wrapped gifts beneath it glittering in the fire's light. The table was set for two, and the floor was set for the wolf. It would be ready soon, and hopefully just in time for when Catey arrived home.

Catalina had spent the afternoon roaming the streets of Rhydin. Her shopping was long since done and presents were wrapped, but she did enjoy the decorations and, if she was completely honest, the white stuff in the air and watching it gently settle on undisturbed surfaces. Snow, Seamus called it.

But neither the serene beauty or the hustle and bustle kept her mind busy for very long. She needed to find a purpose, something meaningful to keep busy with, now that she was no longer an agent of the court.

She'd not gotten any closer to a solution when the sky overhead darkened and the streets started to empty of people and she felt that it was time to head back to the ranch and Seamus.

Warmth and delicious aromas greeted her upon stepping inside the front door and what snowflakes still stuck to her hair melted. After she hung up her cloak and had set up the damp boots she followed the aromas into the kitchen.

Seamus jumped up from checking the temperature of the turkey and ham, satisfied. The thermometer was set aside and he leaned forward to sniff at the contents of the pot as he stirred it.

"Something smells fabulous." She walked up to Seamus with a smile for him on her lips. "Good evening, darling, and merry Yule."

"Jus' dinner, love, an' a Merry Chistmas to ye, too," he grinned, stepping back from the pot to remove the apron and place a kiss on her lips. "Taste?" Seamus offered a spoonful of the beef stew to her, before asking, "Find anythin' interestin'?"

"Mhm, beef ... onions ... you." While that wasn't exactly an answer to Seamus's question, she certainly considered him and even the stew more interesting than anything to be found in town.

Seamus laughed at her response, adding a bit more pepper to the stew before stirring it again. "Ye found me, beef, 'n' onions around town?"

"No," Catey chuckled, "Beef and onions are what's in the stew, and I found the stew and you right here in the kitchen just now."

Seamus eyed her suspiciously. "Aye they are. Why are ye skillfully avoidin' me question, eh, hon?" He set the spoon on the side after he tapped it lightly against the edge of the pot, and then bent down to retrieve the ham, turkey and cornbread. All three were set on cooling racks on the island. He grinned to Catey her with a waggle of his brows. "I 'ope ye brought 'ome an appetite."

"It's not so skillful if you you see right through it." She grinned. If she was about to reveal anything further she forgot about it when she saw what else Seamus had prepared. "Are we having guests? That looks beautiful! Even if I would have just eaten I'd want some of this. How can Cailean sleep through all of this?"

"Aye, I suppose not." Seamus laughed again and shook his head. "Nah, jus' leftovers fo' th' nex' month." He wraggled his brows again, mysteriously this time."I b' sneaky e'er' now an' again, ye know. I 'ave me ways." With a grin he leaned forward to steal a kiss before he whisked off to grab the salad out of the fridge. "He will prolly b' out all nigh', ye know..." Devious look.

"Never say you put some kind of sleeping potion in his meal?" Catalina grinned, not believing that for one moment. She had seen that bone the wolf now lay curled up around. More likely they had played hard for an hour or two. That and a full tummy probably had done the trick. She also had no doubt that as soon as Cailean sensed another treat being pulled out he'd be right there, tail wagging. Would Seamus notice if she pinched off just that one loose piece from the ham that dangled there tempting as could be? There was only one way to find out she told herself and went for it. "We will get to eat like kings for an entire month. May I be of help with anything?"

Seamus shrugged at her innocently. He probably would notice, and he came up behind her to steal the piece of meat.

"We can feed 'im lefto'ers later, love." He kissed her cheek, and then popped the piece in his own mouth with a satisfied 'mm'. "Me first time usin' this pineapple recipe, tasty." He winked and handed her the salad bowl. "Can ye be a doll an' put this an' th' dressin' on the table? Thank ye."

"Thief." Catalina scolded playfully and with a chuckle as she accepted the bowl. "It looks yummy and you appear to enjoy the result but now you'll have to wait getting my opinion." She was glad having something to do, though, and didn't mind at all waiting for a taste until they sat down. Once the salad was placed she kept on the move, transfering one dish after the other to the table. "The table looks very festive."

Seamus stuck out his tongue playfully. "Ye love tha' 'bou' me, don' ye love? I'm good a' this waitin' game, ye'll see." He laughed and then turned to grab the last dish out of the oven, green bean casserole, and followed her to the table. "I did a bit o' shoppin' meself this year, ye know? Do ye really like it?" He asked that last question with an earnest look for her.

"I might." The grin Catalina regarded Seamus with was more of an admission than her words. "Ah yes, shopping, I remember you telling me about all your shopping trips for bones and hams." Then she stopped teasing him and her voice softened. "Yes, Seamus, I really like how festive and inviting the table looks this evening."

"Don' play coy with me, Catey." Seamus smiled as he pulled out her chair at the table for her and motioned for her to sit. "I am glad ye like it, I did it jus' for ye," Seamus admitted almost bashfully.

"Thank you." She smiled back before she sat down. They were simple words but held appreciation and affection beyond what one would think could fit into two short words.

Seamus returned the affectionate smile for Catey before he moved to grab the bottle of red wine.

"I 'ope ye like wine.. Though' I'd branch out a li'l' this eve..." He offered with a sheepish look as he poured a glass for her, and then another for himself. He replaced the bottle before he took his seat across from her and raised his glass in toast. "T' new beginnings."

"I do like wine. It's a very rare treat on Dragon's Eye, even at court." Catalina picked up her glass and raised it to clink gently against Seamus's. "New beginnings sound good." Unlike she was usually want to do with any of the whiskey, scotch, or brandy, she sipped from her glass. She smiled to Seamus again. "This is very good, as elegant as the table looks and the dishes smell. You went through a lot of trouble to come up with all of this."

"Oh is it now?" he asked, cocking a brow and grinning over the rim of their glasses at her, before he brought the glass back for a sip. "I am glad ye approve, I believe th' merchant said it was called 'syrah', or somethin' o' another." He shrugged modestly. "It wasn' too much trouble."

"A lot none the less." She grinned from Seamus to the various dishes. "Now do we get to start going about getting some of all this into our stomachs?"

"Please, ye firs'," he urged, motioning to the food. There was salad, stew, pineapple glazed ham, lemon roasted turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and cornbread, all present.

At his invitation she started to heap a little from each dish onto her plate. In no time at all she had a plate full enough to feed two or three people and she was resloved not to leave a single crumb. Worry about their figures never entered their minds. Seamus waited until after she was finished piling her plate to begin piling his own. More meats than anything else and a hefty bowl of stew made it to his plate. Looking rather pleased with his plate, he grinned for Catey.

"Prepare yeself fo' a mouthful o' amazingness, love." He winked again before he cut into his ham slices.

"I already am prepared." Her facial expression a mere moment later profed that statement to be a lie. It would be a while before she'd allow speach to interfere with her enjoyment of Seamus's cullinary skills.

Seamus snickered quietly at her as he eate his food peacefully. "Liar," he whispered.

"Mm?" Catalina kept chewing. The question was of the rethorical kind, or so her nod in admission claimed. Seamus smiled for her and remaining quiet for the rest of the meal until both were finished, idly sipping on his wine here and there. Catalina leaned back in her chair, the wineglass in her hand. Her plate was in fact empty of every last morsel.

"That has to have been the best feast ever. Thank you, Seamus, and if I wasn't way too full to move just now I'd come over there and kiss you." She sent an air kiss his way instead and then raised her glass to him before she took another small sip. Perhaps the few drops would find a resting spot in-between the pieces of meet and vegetables in her stomach, or so she hoped.

Seamus had leaned back as well, sighing happily. Happily full and fat, that was. He beamed for Catey at her appraisal. With a snicker he caught her kisses and stuck them in his pocket.

"I'm savin' 'em f'r later." He explained with a savvy wink as he followed suit, sipping from the wine glass. After a second, he lowered one hand and slipped a tiny, wrapped package over to Catey. "Merry Christmas, Catey."

"You may trade them in for real ones later." She winked right back and set down her glass before she picked up the little package.

"I thought all the presents are under - " That's how far she got when her eyes beheld the sparkle of light reflected in fascets of what could only be diamonds. It was indeed an ornate diamond ring. When she looked up again, she found Seamus down on his knee.

"Catey, will ye marry me?"

Her sentence was to remain unfinished. Before she could wonder why Seamus was on the floor he had surprised her again.

"Uh, please?" Seamus scratched the back of his head nervously. He was certainly a little worried about her lack of response, and he was mentally telling himself it was because she was speechless, not because she didn't know what to say. "It uh.. Th' ring was me grandmother's..."

Instead of answering and the box still in her hand, Catalina slipped both her arms around Seamus's neck even as she slipped from her chair to hug him tight. Surprise still sat like a knot in her throat making speech more or less impossible. But that knot wasn't in the way at all of an intense kiss.

The look of joy on his face couldn't be clearly defined by any choice of words as she slipped her arms around his neck. Enveloping her with his own strong arms, he squeezed her tightly against him, returning the kiss passionately. In between kisses he murmured, "Is tha' an aye, then?"

"Yes, of course." She couldn't stand him having to wait for an answer for any longer even if her voice was scratchy and pressed flat with emotion just now. But she also had to be sure he knew what he was asking. "You really want to share everything and ...and forever ... grey and wrinkly and limping and bent..." She'd add more but her throat refused.

Seamus looked up at her sincerely. "O' course I do, or else I wouldn't 'ave asked." He leaned right back in to kiss her again, softly, on the lips. Catalina returned that kiss and then some before another pressing question came to mind.

"And those two and a half children?" Those dreams he had told her of all those moons ago were suddenly vibrant and fresh in her mind.

"If ye still wan' ter have me children, I'd be delighted.. an' if ye don'... well, I understan' an' I'll live wit' it." Earnestly, bring her hands up to his face to kiss them.

"I'm not sure," she answered honestly, touched that he asked, " but ... it's been a very long time since since the image of bouncing a little on on my knees has crossed my mind. There are no centuries long wars here and the conotation of breeders is very absent...." She certainly didn't want children by anyone else. Given a little time she'd grow to love the idea of a mini Seamus or a mini Catey underfoot.

"There's no rush, love, no rush at all. We still got a few years 'head o' us." Seasmus winked, purely elated and he leaned forward for another kiss. Her lips wandered from his mouth to his ear; just below it to be exact.

There she whispered, "I do love you, Seamus." Odd, she thought, she didn't stutter over that L-word at all.

"See, tha' wasn' so hard, was it?" Seamus winked again, squeezing her tightly. "I love ye more 'en words can describe, love."

"No, not really." She chuckled softly and squeezed him back. Stunned gave way to joy. That also reminded her that she was still holding the little box in her hand. "Do you think your grandmother's ring should come out of the box?"

"Aye, it should.? Seamus agreed with a soft laugh. ?It belongs righ' there on yer finger. 'ere, le' me." He took the box gingerly and carefully removed the ring and slipped it onto her left ring finger. Luckily, it was a perfect fit. "There we go, perfec'!"

"Very perfect." She snuggled against him, keeping the now beringed hand where he could see.

?So ye do like it?" Seamus grinned and kissed the top of her head.

"Yes, of course, what's not to like?" She'd have liked a piece of coal for that matter. This treasure was beautiful and she'd be proud to show it off. In her heart she hugged the knowledge that it was a symbol of family and continuity as much as one of the marriage promise. "There isn't anything even half as beautiful among all the treasure from Dragon's Eye."

"Good." Seamus blushed again, pleased with her answer. He only wanted whatever was best for her, and none of the rings he could have bought from the market compared to the one on her finger.

"What replaces court here for making it official?" She was fairly certain the ?will you? part of the question hinted at there being more to making being married a fact then just her agreeing to it.

"I... am not sure," he blinked slowly. He hadn't quite thought that far in advance.

"So this isn't happening tonight or first thing tomorrow morning." Catalina chuckled softly. "Good, now we have time to see if you like the presents I found for you and to play with some of them."

"Oh 'eavens, ye 'ad me worried... This isn' a shotgun weddin'." Seamus laughed, slapped his knee, and chuckled some more. "Mm, ye got me gifts?" Feigning innocence.

"Yes." She held out her right as was good manners with introductions. "Jolly Catey Santa, my pleasure."

"Ah, so 'ave I been naughty o' nice?" Seamus smirked at her wickedly.

"I think you have been just the right amount of naughty whenever it was called for and nice all the other times." After a moment's pause she clarfyfied, "That is a good thing."

?A'righ', a'righ', ye've convinced me..." He chuckled and moved to rise, bringing Catey up with him.
"I didn't expect to have to convince you to accept presents." But she needn?t have worried about that. Already Seamus tugged her over to the tree and pulled her down to sit with him.

"So.. gifts.." He grinned as he tugged a few boxes out for Catey.

"Oh no, you first." She indicated the boxes still stacked. She could hardly wait to see which one of the colorful buildings sets Seamus would like best and worried if the storage box would be big enough to hold all the plastic blocks or what reception Seamus would give the fur gloves.

"No, no, ladies firs'!" He insisted. After a bit of back and forth on the issue Catey gave in. Otherwise she'd probably have to wait until the sun came up again before Seamus would unwrap anything, and this time of year who knew when it bothered to rise again.

"This is lovely! Now the tree trimmings have a place to go other than the bank vault." She studdied the engraved decoration of a chinese dragon on the jade jewelry chest before she hugged Seamus in thanks. It was very different from the Goldens and Others she was familiar with. ?A much prettier place at that.?

"I though' ye would like it." Seamus smiled warmly for her and hugged her softly.

"I do like it. But now you. Taking turns is fair." She insisted, picking up a wrapped box and gently dropping it into his lap.

Seamus eyed her suspiciously beforehe unwrapped the present. Cailean, meanwhile, was still suspiciously absent. Had Seamus really drugged him, then? His eyes beheld? fur gloves? He chuckled, touching the soft, thick fur experimentally. "I coul' certainly use a pair o' these! Thank ye, love." He grinned.

"You've got to keep those hands warm working outside all winter." She grabbed another box, this one rattled just a bit as she placed in his lap. There was little chance of Seamus running out of boxes to open anytime soon, because she bought every different lego set the toy store sales clerk could come up with. So she decided against challenging him to unwrap this one with the gloves on. There would be a next year now for sure.

"Aye, tha' I do." Seamus blinked as he unwrapped the next one and raised a brow. "Legos?" he asked, grinning fiendishly.

"They are so much fun! They come with instructions, too, or suggestions. The sales clerk let me sit at the demonstration table for hours." Catalina's eyes shone with anticipation and remembered fun. "You can make everything with those. Look they even put little people in there and one of the boxes even has a tiny Cailean in it." In her excitement she gave away what was hidden in the other still wrapped boxes. "Santa does bring toys, right?"


"O' course 'e does," Seamus chuckled as he looked up at how excited Catey was with her gifts to him. "I love 'em.. I can' wait t' open th' rest!" But he did wait long enough to lean over and hug her before he withdrew to avidly open another box.

"I also got a chest for putting them all in while you're not playing with them." Seamus finally into the spirit of opening boxes she unwrapped her other gifts from him.

"This will come in handy." Of course she had to try out a pen right away and she did so by doodeling on a sheet of the stationary. ?Oh, the luxury!? She gleefully savored the wasting of a superb quality sheet of paper on something of absolutely no value. On Dragon?s Eye writing materials were rare, generally of very poor quality, and despite that horded for military and court use. And there wasn?t just one penvil or sliver of charcoal, but the smoothest and most fluid writing pens. She even had news now worthy of jotting down and hiding at the royal ranch for Lox or an agent to find and take to court.

"Ye may not see me for days, now, love," Seamus winked to Catey before he ripped another present open.

"I'll know where to look for you, though. Maybe, if I ask nicely, you'll even let me help?" Right now she was busy trying out brush and comb she had liberated from their sparkling paper prison, though.

"These are little pieces of art." With a gentle fingertip she followed the design of ivory in gold on the fancy mirror that matched the brush and comb set perfectly. Even the combs and hair clips and other hair jewelry she was less familiar with copied the intricacy of the ivory and gold design.

"O' course, I always let ye 'elp, don' I?" Seamus looked up from his unwrapping to grin. "I though' all women liked nice things for there 'air an' all."

"Now that I do not have to carry it all in a backpack all the time I most certainly will." She gave Seamus an affectionate smile. She had a place to stay and would never again have the worry of leaving stuff behind or if any one thing was worth holding onto and considering it by its weight. Did Seamus guess that he'd given her that along with him wishing her to be his wife?

He didn't but he would be glad that he had. He finished going through the remainder of the gifts like a giddy little toddler. She knew he loved to build, and Legos were a boyhood enjoyment. And she truly must have gotten every set in the store or perhaps even from several stores. Barn set, space ships and rocket set, castle, fire station with light up truck, zoo and circus set, school house, doll house, train, cars and animals, famous buildings, and more now covered the floor around them. He swept across to hug her tightly. "Thank ye, love."

"Seeing you this happy and that certain glow in your eyes is all the thanks I was hoping for." She returned the hug fiercly.

They spent the rest of the evening and long into the night building with legos. Even cookies, chocolates and pie were enjoyed while building. But eventually and long before every set had been pulled out, they grudingly gave in to the craving for sleep and each other and Seamus carried Catey to the bedroom in a flurry of kisses.