Hello friends!

I have read this a couple of times but it still feels like I missed something. So if there is any errors, I apologize!

-Cara-

"Are you really going to let them leave? They are going to the tavern." Georg chuckled at his wife. He hadn't moved an inch from where he had been sitting all night, but now he pushed his chair out a little and studied the love of his life. "But you know that already, don't you?"

Even if Cara hadn't been here for very long, or knew them very good, it was obvious that Georg adored Miriam. There was fondness in his eyes whenever he looked at her, and Cara was convinced that this was the way he had looked at her when they were young. Georg's love for his wife seemed as strong as it had been the day he had married her. 

"Of course they are." Miriam scoffed, partially annoyed and partially amused. She watched the door which her sons had just escaped through and then laughed quietly. She walked over to the table and sat down next to Cara.

"Then why did you let them go?" Her husband asked, intrigued to know what she was scheming. 

"They are just boys... and Keegan will keep an eye on his little brother. Well, if Cara stays here that is." Miriam sighed and then turned to Cara.

Wait, what? What did she say? What was that part about me?

Georg laughed warmly at his wife's statement and turned his eyes towards Cara. They both studied her fondly for a moment.

"You distract him something terribly..." Miriam said and smiled while moving a strand of hair away from Cara's face.

"Hmm?" She wondered what they were talking about. That it concerned her and Keegan she was sure of, but how she hadn't quite understood. It was hard to catch everything they said sometimes. "I... what?"

"You distract him." Miriam chuckled and grabbed her chin and gave it a loving little tug. Afterwards she touched the tip of her nose. Cara blinked.

"I don't..."

"She doesn't know that word yet." Georg stated. "But yes, he is quieter than usual and brooding more nowadays... but is she truly to blame?"

"I don't know, but that boy is usually not so lippy as he has been lately. His temper is usually not so fiery. Something is different about him." Miriam said and looked like she was pondering about something while she also studied Cara, closely. "What I do know, however, is that you are going to the tavern as well." Miriam said to Georg and a bushy but highly amused eyebrow rose in his face.

"Fine, love... but I am taking Cara." He chuckled. "I want to see if our eldest truly is taken by this little one."

"That is fine. Orla can stay and help me clean up." Miriam said. "But then Flynn is on you." She said strictly. "If Cara is there, I fear that our oldest will not even notice our youngest."

"Very well, dear." Georg chuckled. 

Cara had completely forgotten about Orla. She had left straight after finishing her meal. She and Flynn had ended up in an heated argument which had led to her almost hitting him with her bowl of food.

Miriam had ended the fight with a threat that the one who threw the first punch would trade place with their older brother and sleep on the floor from now on. Keegan had then started to spur them on somewhat. He was getting really sick of sleeping on the floor.

"Make sure they see you." Miriam laughed at her husband and he nodded in understanding that his mission was to ruin their sons' night.

-Keegan-

"What if they come here?" Flynn asked as they stepped inside the tavern. He was worried about lying to their mother. Keegan was surprised that they had gotten away with it, but with Cara's help they had managed to slip away. 

"Relax, Flynn." Keegan mumbled. "They will not find out... As long as you do not get pissed, like last time, there is nothing to worry about." He laughed and locked his arm around little brother's neck and crushed him against his chest. "And, they will not go and look for us by the lake. The only way they would find out, is if they come here."

"Let go off me!" His brother croaked against his shirt and he did. Flynn adjusted himself a little before continuing. "I don't know how you can be so calm." He mumbled and looked around the room, probably searching for friends of their parents. "Well, yes I can. You can be here... I am the one who will be dead if mother finds out." 

"Will you just let it go?" Keegan groaned and they walked over to an empty table. 

They sat down. Keegan was glad to have been able to get away from his parents, but he felt a bit bad that he had just abandoned Cara with them. But he doubted that his mother would have let her come with him if they truly had gone to the lake. She was so scared that he - or anyone else - would see her without clothes again. 

He shook the guilt out of his mind and noticed that Flynn still looked extremely uncomfortable. 

"If you are so concerned about them finding out, then why don't you just go home?" He said and crossed his arms over his chest. "You will not have any fun if you are going to sit here and worry all night. If mother finds out, it will my head since I am responsible for you."

"Fine." His brother muttered and exhaled heavily. 

"Alright, Ember." Keegan looked up at the sound of Jared's voice. He stood with two tankards of ale, filled to the brim. He placed them down on the table decisively, making some of the ale spill onto the table. He took the seat by the end of the table without asking for permission.

"Jared." Keegan greeted him and his eyebrows shot upwards, intrigued to hear what he had on his mind. 

"Peace offering." Jared muttered without meeting Keegan's gaze and shot the tankard closer to him. 

Thank God. Keegan thought. Took him long enough. 

"Very well." Keegan muttered in response and grabbed the tankard. They didn't have to apologize. Jared was sorry about the whole thing with Cara, and Keegan was sorry about his  nose. There was no need to put it into words. Instead they pushed their tankards together in a wordless toast and drank. 

"And what about me?" Flynn opened his mouth. 

Keegan and Jared looked up from their tankards, not giving a the slightest fuck about his lack of ale. 

"What about you?" Keegan asked after having drunk a large mouthful of his ale. "Did you earn this?" He asked, pointing at his tankard. Jared grinned. 

"I don't recall him ruining my face..." Jared pretended to ponder out loud.  "... or spilling ale over the girl." Keegan smirked as Jared teased his brother.  

"Fine! I will buy my own!" Flynn groaned at them and left quickly. 

"How is the girl doing?" Jared asked after downing a large sip of his ale. 

"That is your first question?" Keegan asked, astonished. "After what got you in trouble last time? You decide to bring her up the first thing you do?" He laughed. 

"Well, I haven't seen her for what? A fortnight? What do you expect me to ask you about? I have seen you... and your siblings. And none of you are as interesting as she is."

"She is fine." Keegan mumbled and took another sip of his drink. "What is it with you and her? I told you to leave her alone."

"I haven't touched her! You ought to know since you are around her constantly!" Jared exclaimed in defense. "I even told Fergus to leave her be." He added.

"What about Fergus?" Keegan growled, feeling his grip around his tankard tightening remarkably. "Did he tell anyone about her?" 

"No, he hasn't told anyone about her." Jared answered and casually looked around the room. 

Do I have to break someone else's face, apart from Jared's, as well? 

"Is Fergus up to something?" He asked and tried his best to sound calm and collected. On the inside he was afraid Fergus was going to try and take her away from him, and she wasn't his yet.

Oh my God... Jared is right. I am obsessed with her. He thought and wiped his forehead with his wrist.

"No, you made it very clear to them that it would be best to keep their mouths shut about her... and their hands to themselves. " Jared answered Keegan's question with a wink. "I think he is a bit taken by her, though. He can't stop talking about her."

"From seeing her one time?" Keegan asked in disbelief. He did not like this at all. He did not want to have to fend Fergus off Cara as well. It had been bad enough to chase Jared off, and he didn't want her, he just found her... interesting, in his own filthy way. 

"I don't know." Jared said. "I just thought you would want to know... since..." 

Keegan gave him a cautioning look. "Since what?" 

"Oh, come on Keegan." Jared suddenly whispered. "I might not be the cleverest man in the village, but you have jumped me twice and you growl like a hound every time I bring her up." He explained. "Stop lying to yourself and admit it. That little thing has-"

"Yes. Fine." Keegan interrupted him. He might as well tell him. Orla was going to figure it out soon and Flynn already had.

"I knew it." Jared hissed very pleased. "I knew you fancied her! It is hard not to, I have to say." He chuckled playfully. "But I never thought you would admit it! You're the most stubborn person I know, but look at you! Admitting it, finally!"

"If you knew, then why do you provoke me so much? Why do you talk about her if you know that I would do anything to make her mine?" Keegan groaned loudly.

Jared's face turned blank and then very amused. Keegan had said too much. He had let it all pour out of him, for the second time today.

Fuck...

"I did not know you wanted her that bad. I thought you just fancied her, but oh my lord! You are completely taken by her, aren't you?" He chuckled and drank some more of his ale. "That explains why you have been so aggressive lately."

Keegan shook his head, sighed and drank the rest of the content in his tankard in an instant. He turned it upside down and emptied it within seconds. He would need another one. Soon. There was no chance he could mess up more than he had already done. So, maybe if he drank enough, he would forget about it. 

I cannot believe I told him.

"So..." Jared almost hummed. "Tell me." 

"Tell you what?" He asked out of breath from emptying his tankard. He wiped away some spill from the sides if his mouth.

He sound like his gossiping mother.

"Have you...?" Jared pumped his eyebrows twice. Not needing words to convey the filthy question. Keegan smacked Jared over his head. "Ouch! What was that for?" 

"Do not speak of her like that." Keegan growled.

"See? Growling." Jared exclaimed and pointed at Keegan. "Fine. I guess you haven't." He muttered. "Has anything happened?" 

Keegan pressed his lips together in hesitation, but he was too slow to hide his own reaction. Jared had seen the hint of delight in his eyes before he has managed to bury it.

 "I knew it!" Jared exclaimed and almost jumped up from his seat.

"Keep it down, God damn it!" 

"What did you do? Where? When?" The questions poured out of Jared. Keegan rolled his eyes. 

"We kissed... by the stream, behind the house." He admitted and rubbed his face with his palms to escape this moment. At the same time it felt so good to tell someone. 

"When?" Jared whispered. 

"The night we fought, here..." Keegan answered. 

"Fought..." Jared scoffed, rolled his eyes and smirked. "If punching me when I am not even ready is what you call fighting then..." 

"You deserved it." Keegan snarled and then grinned at his best friend. 

Jared was just about to throw a bunch of other questions at him, but out of nowhere John and Fergus joined them. Keegan gave Jared a quick look, telling him not to let their friends know about what he had just admitted. Jared winked reassuringly at him and they made room for the newcomers. Just then Flynn came back and pushed John away from his seat and grunted that he could find his own seat. 

"So... Ember." Fergus began. Keegan felt his chest tighten from the tone in his friend's voice. "That-"

 "I would not mention what it is that you want to talk about." Jared warned him, already knowing that he would bring up Cara. "You will not see the sun again if you do." 

"Why not? Who is going to stop me?" Fergus asked, clearly upset. "She is fair game."

Jared was right. Fergus fancies Cara. Keegan thought but kept quiet. 

"She isn't anyone's game." Flynn muttered and frowned. Keegan raised an amused eyebrow at his brother and smiled softly at him. The boy was kind at heart, that was for sure.  

"Is she taken?" Fergus asked, mocking Keegan's brother. 

"She is protected." Jared answered and smirked.

"By whom?" Fergus frowned and turned to Keegan.

"Ember's mother to a start." Jared answered. "And you would not be found if she got her hands on you." He laughed. "That girl is under her protection and if she finds out that you defiled her... well I wouldn't want to be you." Jared said and shook his head in fright of what would happen to the poor soul that laid hands on Cara.

"And who says she would even be with you?" John suddenly chimed in on the banter.

Fergus did not look at all impressed with the course the conversation had taken.

"She wouldn't." Keegan joined in the banter in order to provoke Fergus into changing the subject.

"I'm sure you know all about what she wants, Ember." John grinned and drank from his tankard.

Keegan nodded at his little brother who distributed a loud and hard slap across the back of John's head.

-Cara-

Georg had brought her to the same place his children had taken her a while ago.

When they entered her eyes found Keegan and Flynn immediately. They were sitting at a table further in, just like last time. What surprised her even more was that Jared was sitting with them, and two other guys she had never seen before.

No one noticed her entrance with Georg. No one seemed to care.

Georg brought her to the counter and pulled out a stool for her to jump up on. Tonight, she sat on another part of the bar, which just happened to give her a perfect view of Keegan and his friends.

"Do you want a drink?" Georg asked, slowly, so she could understand him. Cara hesitated before answering.

"What is it?" It took her a frustratingly long time to remember the words she needed in order to ask him a simple question.

Georg smiled to encourage her, and he didn't seem to mind how long it took her to speak.

"It is ale." He answered and thanked the man behind the counter as he put Georg's drink down in front of him. He pushed the tankard over to Cara. "Taste it." He said and pushed it over to her.

She pouted her lips when she looked down into it and he laughed wholeheartedly.

"It is not piss, child." He chuckled.

"Piss?" Cara repeated, confused by the word. It only caused Georg to laugh even harder and louder.

"Piss." He  whispered and did a gesture towards his their lower body parts and then mimicked the sound of someone taking a leak.

Cara felt her cheeks turn scarlet red.

"Oh... piss!" She whispered and then laughed out loud. Georg joined her in an equally uncontrollable laugh. 

"Taste it. If you want." Georg managed to get the words out between bursts of laughter.

-Keegan-

"Isn't that your father, Ember?" Fergus asked curiously and nodded towards the counter. "Who's that with him- OH! It's her!" Fergus threw short bursts of words out. "She is even more beautiful than I remember!"

"Who?" John asked and looked the same way as Fergus. They all turned to see what the fuss was all about.

Keegan looked up the same time as everyone else did. His heart plummeted and jumped at the same time. Cara was sitting next to his father by the counter. They were talking and laughing hysterically about something, but he didn't have the time to cherish the sight, he was too busy panicking about Fergus and how intense his stare.

The old man brought her? Here? He thought in panic and his eyes swept over the faces of his friends. They were all turned towards her, except Flynn's, which was directed at him. Smirking and waiting for his brother's reaction. 

"That's her, isn't it?" John exclaimed as soon as his eyes landed on Cara. "Damn, Jared you liar! She is even more beautiful than you said!"

"Careful." Jared chuckled. "Keegan will kill you if you say anything about her."

"Why would he bring her here?" Keegan whispered to himself with big eyes focused on Cara. 

-Cara-

Around her people drank to their heart's desire and some had already had their fair share it seemed. She could see at least four passed out men in different parts of the room. 

She did her best not to look over at Keegan and Flynn, not wanting to bother them. She figured that if they had wanted her company, they would have asked her to come with them.

"I am just going to go outside for a little moment." Georg said and pointed at the door. Cara nodded but immediately turned a bit anxious about being alone. It was almost as he read it her face. "If you need anything, just go over to my boys." He said and winked at her. He almost looked like he hoped that she would.  

She drummed her fingers against the counter and did everything she could in order to keep herself from looking his way. Strangely, it felt like some of them were looking at her, but she managed to find other things to look at. 

After about five minutes she caved. Trying to look overly bored, she glanced their way and was relieved that no one was looking at her. She hadn't been caught.

However, her chest dropped somewhat when she saw that a girl had joined the guys. Not because a girl couldn't join them, but whom she had chosen to sit next to. Keegan. 

She had long sun kissed blond hair and she was sitting next right next to him. To make matters worse, she seemed very interested in him and she was sitting quite close. From where Cara was sitting it almost looked like she was on her way over onto his lap. The girl's eyes sparkled as they studied him and she laughed every time he opened his mouth. 

What the hell... She thought and felt her whole face take on a perplexed and disappointed expression.

Keegan did not seem to pay the girl much attention, but the way she looked at him bothered Cara more than she was comfortable admitting. And what bothered her even more was that he didn't seem to mind how close she was sitting. He did not even seem to notice, maybe they were an item? 

"I guess it was a onetime thing..." She mumbled to herself when she remembered their kiss. Her whole body screamed at her that it was not like that. That Keegan wouldn't do something like this, but her head was telling her to do the smart thing; get over it. Her heart, on the other hand, broke a little. Maybe this girl was the reason that they hadn't invited her to come? Maybe the kiss they had shared had only been a drunken mistake from Keegan's side? 

Would he really though...? 

Too uncomfortable to stay and not willing to sit and watch anymore, Cara got off the stool and walked towards the door. She threw a last look in Keegan's direction. Her heart sunk when her eyes landed on him and the girl again. She was leaning her arm against his shoulder and was eating him up with her eyes. 

"Fuck this." Cara whispered. "I am not sticking around anyway." 

I want to go home... My home... Wherever that is. Her heart crashed once more and this time a little harder. She didn't have anywhere to go... was she going to be forced to stay in this place and watch him with another? 

Just when she was about to open the door, a hand appeared and stopped her from opening it. 

"Well hello you."

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Well, the thing I was so excited about in the last chapter got bumped to the chapter after this... but I hoped you liked this one anyway! 

Love Jenny