Ian continued watching from the side, not interrupting. His eyes followed her with a quiet, unwavering love—tender, yet sharply vigilant. "Let's get you a seat," he murmured, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back. She gave a soft nod, allowing him to guide her to a plush, sun-warmed cushion nestled near a hearth.
The rest of the gathered family followed suit. Though the family hadn't laid eyes on her in what felt like forever, which was true in this instance, they held back the rush of their emotions. Even Gabriel, the youngest, usually prone to flying into her arms, and finding his comfortable position on her lap, sat still, wide-eyed and trembling with barely contained delight.
They also settled themselves not far from her, while Aliya had been dumped in a heap on the ground in front of them.
