(Victoria's
POV)
by
Arkangel
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program
"Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and
have been used without permission. No
copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.
I must say, when
Heath came here, all I could think about was making him feel wanted .....
secure ..... loved. It took a while, but I'm sure he's feeling all of that and
more. Nick and Heath had both sat down and talked out their feeling, made their
fears known and understood what had happened and where they, as brothers, were
going.
I smile every time I
see them together, the bridge between them sturdy and indestructible. I can't
help but remember that day when it all came to a head, the love and respect
simply poured from them at the simple word spoken.
Brother.
I had never given it
much thought, how one word could mean so much. One would think words like
'love', 'caring', 'joy' ..... the list could go on and on, would have profound
effects on those that received them, but a simple word spoken ..... one that
most take for granted, could produce such a feeling. It was a landmark day to
be sure. I've always wanted my children to have the best in life, thanks to my
husband, they were able to have just that, but material things mean very little
if you have no one to share them with. Heath had very little as a child, what
little I was able to gather, he was very much with out and it broke my heart to
see his amazement at the bounty his heritage had provided. Heath was humble and
received the offer with a bit of hesitation, feeling he was not worthy of all
we had. What he doesn't understand is that he has added to our bounty one hundred
fold by just being here, with us.
I knew the time was
growing nearer when we would need to talk, I wanted to tell him how much I
loved him and how much he meant to all of us. I was given that chance on a
beautiful Sunday afternoon. Heath and I had spent time together, just he and I,
two weeks ago. It was a glorious day and he had chosen to spend his off time
with me in the garden. It was a blessing in my eyes. We spoke of the ranch, of
his brothers and sister, we spoke of his appreciation at being allowed to be a
part of it. Then he did something so unexpected it caused be to break down with
love and emotion. I didn't think my love for my new son could be any deeper if
I tried until he bestowed upon me the honor he had given only one other person
in his short life. A title that only the life that bore him carried and my
heart overflowed. He had said it innocently, as if he had been saying it all
along, so natural was his statement that he didn't catch the word. In a
sentence meant for conversation, he answered a question I had asked, the
question I can't remember, but the answer was presented with a sweet smile, "I
don't know, Mother." I laughed ..... then cried as my emotions ebbed
then flowed ..... I watched his confusion then his realization at what he had
said, "I'm sorry." He had bowed his head and whispered. I
couldn't say anything for many minutes, the words forming into incoherent
thoughts as I fought to show my utter joy at the phrase.
I reached over and
took his chin in my shaky hand and gently raised his head to look at me. I felt
the tears as they streamed down my cheeks but did nothing to wipe them clear.
His own emotion shown openly, he was fighting hard to hold them make, but a few
arrant tears tracked down his own cheeks in their act of defiance. He seemed
embarrassed at their unwillingness to obey, to stay hidden and under guard. I
formed a sweet smile, schooling my thought process and tried to convey what my
heart was feeling, "No ..... Heath." I started, "Don't
be sorry."
Heath swiped at the
moisture on his face and remained quiet.
"You've
given me a great gift and I will not allow you to take it back." I told him, still wracked with emotion, "I
have waited for that word to come from you for many days." He tilted
his head slightly at the comment, looking very much like a little boy, "You
have?" Heath asked me, "Why are you crying?" A
short, sobbing laugh escaped as I took his face in my hands, "Heath,"
I said, "I cried when each of my own children were born, I cried when
two of my children had died ..... I'm crying because God has given me a child,
even though I did not give birth to you, and that is a gift. You, as any child,
are a gift from God. We are blessed with a arrival of a new family member and
I'm rejoicing in that. I love you, young man, you are my son and to hear you
call me Mother is the greatest gift I could have imagined from you."
Heath seemed taken
back by my unbridled show of emotion, I knew it had been a while sense he had
received the love only a mother could show. I feel as if I had given him a gift
as well, because the smile he gave me short after could have lit up the darkest
of places. It was a pure, unmasked smile. No uncertainty, no doubt ..... just
love. He took that moment to pull me into a loving hug, holding on tight as if
I would slip away should he release me. I felt tremors and the wetness on my
shoulder and knew he was crying, though no sound came fourth.
I held him in the
garden for many minutes, crying along with him and giving him soft words of
love to show my feeling were true. Soon, we broke apart and I took the kerchief
from my sleeve and dabbed at first his eyes, then my own. "I love you,
Heath ..... as much as all my children. Never doubt that." I said as
I cupped my right hand on his cheek. He turned into the caress, closed his eyes
and sighed.
"I love you
too, Mother."
My heart sang out,
at that moment I felt what Nick and Heath had felt when they were given the
gift of 'brother'. I thanked God, I thanked Tom .....
He called me Mother.
THE END