Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Yer never too old. You started young anyway. Y'might be too old t'have 'em yerself, but ye'll never be too old t'hold a little girl's hands while she takes 'er first shaky steps, or t'pick 'er up when she gets goin' too fast an' falls."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena was quiet as Durban said that. She would have to have some very long discussions with Kreston as to what he wanted as well, but for the first time in months, she had a little bit of hope bloom in her heart. Perhaps it wasn't all lost or over for her.

"When did you get to be so wise?" Selena asked, teasing her older brother. "You were dumb as a rock when we were little."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yer thinkin' o' Boar. I was the quiet an' smart one." Durban kissed her cheek with a smile. "You were th' rebel, always sassin' everyone but Ma an' Ghell."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Because Ma and Ghell were the only two not afraid of me." Selena said with a small laugh. "The rest of you would back down after a good tongue lashing."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Even Boar would," Durban remembered. He could recall all the times an indignant Boar would return to his mother, with a prideful Selena right behind him after an argument.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He still does." Selena said with a smile, feeling better after the talk with her brother. "I do love this family, Durban. Even if it is getting bigger. I'm amazed at everything that we made it through and the fact that we're all still together."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know ye love 'em. Just not all at once," Durban said with an understanding nod. "Most'll clear out after dinner, I'm sure, now tha' we know yer alright."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena nodded, knowing that they all had lives to get back to now that she was out of danger. It would be a long recovery, but she would have to face that on her own. The only people who didn't leave that evening were Luna, Jan, Vincenzo, and Kitty. Her Ma hadn't want to go too far away in case something happened and Vincenzo had indulged his wife. Luna let her grandmother sleep in her old bed and she took a spot in the living room with Jan.

As Selena sat in bed that evening besides Kreston, she thought about her talk with Durban and Ruben. "Ruben thinks that Telma is pregnant." She murmured, glancing over at Kreston. "I think he'll be a fantastic father."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think I believe him, and you're absolutely right. But I have a feeling he's going to be stricter than us," Kreston said with a smile. "And we can make his life harder by spoiling his cubs when he's busy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, what would you think about adopting another cub ourselves?" Selena asked him in a soft voice. "I know we're getting older and Luna has been out of the house for a little while. It's been nice just the two of us, but...I miss having a little one around."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I miss it too. More than I can say," Kreston agreed quietly. "We're parents. It's just what we're good at."

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, you're not opposed to the idea?" Selena asked him, a weight suddenly lifting off her shoulders as she pulled Kreston in for a gentle kiss. "You have no idea how much that makes me happy, Kres. I was worried that you might say no."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can hardly say no to you. Much less a little one who needs a good home. And we've practically half-taken care of all Ruben and Luna's friends when they were little. This won't be so different. It'll just take a little while to adjust."

 

[heartofcourage]

"When I get a little bit stronger, we can keep an eye out for a cub that takes our attentions." Selena said with a smile as she leaned her head against her mate's shoulder. "Someone that desperately needs a good home."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll start here. Mrs. Aoli takes care of the orphans here," Kreston told her with a nod before he settled at her side feeling much better now that Selena had some hope and he might get to continue being a father.

 

[heartofcourage]

Across the village, Telma was resting in bed with a happy smile on her face. Ruben had kept his word and taken her on a run through the woods. Then he had made love to her until she was exhausted. He had carried her back home, made love to her one more time, before she was finally tucked under a warm blanket that she had made.

"Are you happy, love?" Telma asked as she turned her head on the pillow to look at Ruben. "You seem like you're so much happier."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben's fingers stroked slowly through her fur where his hand lay on her belly, pressed close behind her. "Of course I'm happy. Ma's getting better, so Dad is too. And Luna's happy." He then pressed s kiss to her neck. "Anything you want to tell me, love? You seem off in the mornings lately..."

 

[heartofcourage]

Telma snuggled against her pillow as he stroked her fur, asking if there was anything that she needed to tell him. She shook her head, letting out a tired sigh.

"There's been a lot of work to do lately. I'm just tired, Ru." She murmured softly, trying to alleviate his fears as she completely misunderstood what he was talking about. "We've working so hard to get things ready for Edinburgh and then this situation with your Ma. It's taken a lot out of me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben chuckled, seeing she still didn't even know herself. "I think it's more than that, Telma. Maybe you ought to talk to Luna or Vincenzo." It was a gentle nudge without letting on what he was sure of.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why?" Telma asked as she turned onto her back to look into Ruben's amber gaze. "Do you think something might be wrong?"

She was suddenly concerned that he was seeing something in her that she didn't see herself. He was smiling though, chuckling at something that he found funny. It was a slow dawning realization that rushed over her and tears were suddenly in her eyes.

"Do you think...I'm pregnant?" Telma asked him in a whispered voice, daring to hope that they had finally started their family.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm no doctor... but I've seen it all before when Ma was carrying Luna. And all my aunts with my cousins," Ruben offered softly. "And you must remember how similar it was for your Ma with Norr and Arin."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh, Ruben." Telma murmured as she wrapped her mate in a tight hug, her face buried against his throat as she cried tears of joy over the thought of becoming a mother. "I wanted this for so long. You have no idea how happy this makes me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben's broad arms wrapped around Telma and pulled her in close while she wept in absolute joy. "I have a pretty good idea..." He murmured. Though he was too reserved to show it openly, he was ecstatic on the inside.

 

[heartofcourage]

"With all the trouble you've had with your Ma and then your sister going missing and our search...I just thought it would never happen." Telma murmured as his strong arms held her close.

Suddenly, she smacked his shoulder roughly and pulled back from his throat to look at him with narrowed eyes, her ears folding back tightly against her head. "You've been marking me for days! How could you keep it a secret for so long?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben could only laugh, taking her hand and kissing it. "I was hoping you'd realize it. But I thought you were keeping it secret from me until just now when I asked if you had anything to tell me."