She watches him with them, seeing the gentleness that overcomes his harsh facade as he pauses to consider their children. For all his ferocity, that paternal affection seems to come so easily to him. It stirs a curious feeling in her breast, one she tries not to examine too closely. This man (the one she is discovering so much of today) would be far too easy to love, but she already knows this would be a dangerous road to tread. He wouldn’t want her love anyway. Couldn’t.
Hers is not any easy love.
But she could love their children. She couldn’t stop herself, even if she wanted to. Perhaps they deserved better than her as a mother, but they are hers now. They would always be hers. Her gaze drops to them, feeling that love swell in her chest. She had felt this too, when Rapture and Longclaw had been born. But it’s different, she thinks. So very different. Her gaze shifts to Dovev again, where he’d curled up across from her, his dark eyes so soft and vulnerable. His love and wonder so visible. It was him, she thinks. It’s so different because it was him. This is what had been missing last time.
Because they are as precious to him as they are to her.
Their daughter is squirming again, trying to reach her father. She’s so curious, her blue eyes wide and filled with wonder. She does not see anything frightening about him. No, to her, he seems pretty fantastic. A daddy to hold her and cuddle with her, just as mommy had done. He seems so safe. She reaches out to him, exploring the edges of his bone mask with her little nose as he brushes against her neck. But then she’s squirming again, a soft, determined little huff escaping her as struggles closer, curling against his chest. Then, with a satisfied sigh and sleepy little yawn, she settles her cheek on one of his sturdy legs as she blinks sleepily at mommy and Dagen from beneath the shelter of daddy’s neck.
Heartfire cannot seem to help the amused little smile that twitches her lips as she watches them. It seems he would not escape their daughter’s affections. Watching the little red filly had distracted her from his question for a moment, but when she looks up at Dovev once more, her expression is softly amused, forgetting to police her features as she so often does.
“This is Dagen,” she finally answers, reaching down to brush her muzzle gently along their son’s soft neck. He had remained by her side, causing her heart to squeeze a little inside her chest as she lips at his mane. Her boy. “I... hadn’t planned on twins,” she continues wryly. She should’ve known better, given her surprise at her first set of twins. But she’d stubbornly refused to consider the possibility. “So I’m still working on a name for her.” Her gaze settles onto the girl, soft and thoughtful as she considers the possibilities further.
i see your sins
and i want to set them free
