Cool ocean air billowed through loose auburn waves as Liam dismounted with heavy thuds, affectionately patting the side of his horse. Letting out a long, heavy sigh he reached gently into the saddlebag to retrieve three bundles of brightly colored wildflowers. With another sigh, he took slow, strides toward the gravestones a few yards from edge of the cliff.

The weather really was quite beautiful today. The cool breeze coming from the ocean up onto the bluff was refreshing. With a deep inhale, eyes rolling closed the salty scent filled Liam's nostrils. The unusually warm air was chilled by the wind here at the cliffs above the white sandy beach. Winter would come a bit slower this year but it was always cooler off the water. Hopefully Kennedy would return with a good quantity of spoils from his hunt in preparation for a typically harsh winter.

Liam departed the keep early this morning shortly after Kennedy had departed with his chosen men for the hunt just as the dawn sun kissed the sky. Usually Liam would go along as well, especially as lord of the O'Hagan keep, but he had something else of higher priority to do today.

The wind teased and blew at Liam's shoulder length wavy hair, blowing it across his face like a veil. He tried to fight the impending burning tears, but knowing he was alone, he let them fall. Kneeling in front of the three headstones, Liam lovingly placed one bundle of flowers under each of the names after wiping the headstones clean of stray dirt and debris.

Kyla O'Hagan, his loving wife of ten wonderful years, got the largest and most colorful bunch of wildflowers. One of Kyla's favorite things to do was gather flowers and herbs to decorate around the keep. As newlyweds at 20 and 19 summers, they would sneak out away from the keep and often make love in the fields of flowers hiding and enjoying their new life together until sundown or a servant found them.

Orla O'Hagan. Liam ran his flattened hand slowly over the name of his little spit fire daughter, getting the next bundle of flowers. Liam had tried his hardest to gather as many pink blooms as possible. Pink had been her favorite hue. She even named her horse Pinkie.

Braden got the smallest and most humble bunch. Liam had only gotten to hold him once for a few precious moments but this boy left an incredible mark on his heart. Braden had been stillborn. Their most treasured surprise was his arrival. Kyla had a difficult pregnancy with Braden, constantly nauseous, whereas with Connor and Orla the only sign she was with child was her growing belly and the occasional kicks. Those pregnancies and labors had been easy.

Not Braden's.

The fever and intense vomiting were the indication that Kyla's labor with Braden would be difficult. Connor brought the usual labor pains but came into the world less than half a day into the pains. With Orla, Kyla practically sneezed and their princess entered the world. From birth, she was a force to be reckoned with. Just like her father. No, Kyla's labor with Braden was much more difficult. Even Ingrid had been beside herself. Liam pressed his eyes together tight as he remembered one of their last conversations.

"Liam..." Kyla strained between contraction as Ingrid wiped her brow with a cold cloth. "If I don't survive this..."

"Shhh, none of that now..." Liam interrupted her, refusing to allow that mind set of giving up to overtake his beloved. He was scared and knew Kyla was as well but Liam had to remain calm, strong, for her. "We both are aware each birth is different. Imagine what a force this one will be. Orla will have competition," He chuckled, but it was strained. He was trying desperately to cheer her up.

Kyla gave a forced smile that lasted only a brief moment as another horrid contraction ripped through, causing her to writhe and arch in pain again as she had through most of yesterday and through the night. The morning sun was just starting to break the horizon but no one was paying attention to that.

"Please, love, let me say it," she insisted. Liam, sighed, nodding gravely. He knew better than to argue once she had set her mind to something. "I fear I won't survive this one..." she paused and cringed, biting back a scream of pain, sweat beading quickly upon her brow. "If you must choose...between the baby and me... Liam, please...choose him..." Her eyes rolled closed for a moment both in exhaustion and pain.

Liam's heart was breaking. "Alright..." Tears brimmed at his eyes. Could he truly keep this promise? How could he live without her? She was the first and only woman he'd ever love. "How do you know it's a boy?" He tried to smirk, another attempt to cheer her.

Kyla gave a genuine smile for a moment. "I just...know..." She gasped and arched in pain again, not holding back the blood curdling scream. The pain was getting worse. She gasped with wide eyes, staring down at the bed to see deep crimson. "Something is wrong!"

Ingrid came to the other side of Kyla. "She's bleeding. A lot. I need cloths and many of them!" She barked to a servant in the room who quickly left. Ingrid used the sheets on the bed but too much blood was coming. "Kyla...it's time to push. I see the head of your baby."

Guiding and encouraging her through, Ingrid prompted Kyla to push until the baby was out. Silence. She cleaned out the mouth, spanked his rump but still deafening silence tore through the air. The precious boys face was a sickening grayish blue. Ingrid did all she could.

"I'm so sorry, dears..." Ingrid whispered, lower lip trembling with their shared grief. "I fear he died in the womb."

Kyla let out a cry of deep sorrow but it turned to pain and her eyes rolled back again. "Liam..." She panted, groaning and writhing in pain. "I love you... always...have... and will..."

Tears ran down Liam's face now, too, as they went from his stillborn child cradled in his arms, a son, to his suffering wife. "I love you too, Kyla. Always have, always will."

He pressed a gently, loving kiss to her forehead as she slowly closed her eyes again releasing a breathy exhale, this time to not open again.

"I cannot...stop...the bleeding..." Ingrid ground out in frustration and agony, wiping the sweat from her own brow between furiously attempting to cease the hemmoraging but the blood came too fast.

She had watched both Liam and Kyla grow up, fall in love and delivered their first two babies. Now, fear flooded her soul that she would watch one of them leave this world.

"Kyla..." Liam prompted once he pulled back and saw her eyes had closed. "Kyla..." he shook her lightly. "KYLA!" Now he shook her harshly as the tears came freely down his face. Ingrid stopped working, crimson staining up to her elbows and smears across the front of her dress. Tears flooded down her face as well.

"I'm so sorry Liam..." was all Ingrid could say tightly embracing the heartbroken man from behind.

Liam hesitantly left his wife's body and went to pick up the small bundle who was just born. He smiled as he noticed the baby's features. He was a perfect mix of the two parents. Ingrid came to his side and gently took the lifeless bundle from him. His heart was broken, utterly shattered.

How would he live without her?

The tears had slowed down. Liam sat kneeling in front of Kyla's grave.

"Connor is growing into a fine young man, Kyla," He spoke, voice strained with emotion. "You'd be proud of him. He shares your love of flowers and herbs...I'm not sure if he will come by today. It's difficult for him to come see Orla. He's been so strong for all of us. He has your spirit and looks just like you...I can't believe it's been ten years today...I miss you every moment of every day."

Kissing his fingers, Liam pressed the tips to the headstone, then turned to Braden's stone. "Happy birthday, son. I wish I could've had more time with you." Then he did the same motion to Orla's stone. "You take care of your mother and brother, alright Princess?"

Slowly he stood, brushed off his pants and cheeks then began sauntering back to his horse. The crescendoing sound of hooves hit Liam's ears coming rapidly from the distance. Liam turned toward the keep to observe a guard on horseback rushing toward him.

"My deepest apologies for disturbing you, My Lord, however something has happened at the keep," he reported breathlessly.

Jaw clenched, heart racing, Liam swiftly mounted his horse and rode back to the keep in record time.

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Four chapters in, guys!  Thank you for reading this far!  Please hit that little star and comment any thoughts of questions you have!

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