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 Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:55 pm
Az smiled, only marginally triumphant over the fact she'd managed to beat him in their little word game. Go her. In retrospect, he'd probably let her have her way only because she was pregnant. Oh, well, a win was a win.
She raised an eyebrow at him, "You wouldn't kill me," She pointed out lazily, shoving tiredness away for a few more moments, "I'm too important to lose." She stuck her tongue out at him childishly once more. Even if she wasn't that important to Caelen (not that he had never indicated anything of the sort) he obviously cared about his children.
"I can call you "lover-boy" whenever I like," She rumbled defiantly, though it was soft, "And I'm not entirely sure that either of us could do two or three times a day, even without distractions from the children." She snorted softly. Sometimes, Caelen was a bit too interested in that for her taste. Not, of course, that it wasn't amusing.
She chuffed softly and shook her head, "If I relax, I'll fall asleep." She pointed out, determinedly fight her exhaustion away again. Honestly, pregnancy wiped her out far too much for her to like it at all. Damned situation.
"If I fall asleep," She continued, "You might find it nice to explore these new "curves". If you do, I'll wake up and then there'll be nothing to do except glare at you with uptmost annoyance at the fact that you're touching a belly that probably won't even contain what you're searching for for several more months."
She sighed and shook her head, "They won't be moving for a while, you know and I'm sure you can't wait to feel that smack on your nose." He was probably thinking just that; what father didn't want to feel his own young before they were even out?
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:57 pm
Caelen chuckled slightly but managed to keep it quiet and contained, he was still rubbing at her neck and trying to get the stubborn mare of his to just fall into sleep. She was going to need the rest. “Oh? I wouldna would I?” He loved not that they were a couple he could easily tease her now without wondering what limb would soon be torn off. “Och, yer cute when ye make those little faces.” And indeed she was, her eyes seemed to wrinkle up with the effort of sticking her tongue out as far as she could and… Oh damn.. With the realization that he was describing little faces that she made, Caelen knew the truth. She had him wrapped around her hooves and completely whipped.
“Oh aye.. That ye can, it’ll jest show others how much ye be lovin’ me.” Maybe not, but in his mind it worked well enough for him. The other fun part of having a mate was being able to speak freely of their more inmate life and to tease her about it. Half the time she probably figured he was serious. Bah!
So she did catch on quick! “Aye lass, an if ye get ter sleepin’ I’ll be able ter begin catchin’ up on the last month ‘er so o’ sleep that I’ve been missin’ so much.” Once she was more rested he’d get to tell her about Harij and Lovey’s own special surprise.
“Oh I would would I?” He’d been questioning her words a lot lately, probably because as he continued to rub and possibly lull the mare she became more and more gentle in what she said to him. It was a neat trick that he’d miss when her energy was back to where it was supposed to be. “Darlin’ if ye didna grow a bit bigger I’d be jest as happy.” Even though the idea made Caelen’s heart ache he knew that the possibility of his young mate losing their first children was quite possible. “Ye kin smack me nose if ye like lass, jest be sure that no damage comes ter, me okay?” Caelen would play punching bag if it meant she’d rest for him and let their little ones grow.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:17 pm
"If I hear the word "cute" out of you in the next five minutes, I'll think there's something seriously wrong with you," She grumbled, a tad annoyed that he wanted to lull her into sleep, and more annoyed at herself that it seemed to be working.
Ears flattened at the realization that if she did indeed call him that, it would reveal their relationships quite publicly. Could she avoid it for much longer? Honestly, it'd be a bit embarrassing for a long time. Damn it.
"How could you be losing sleep? Aside from Ignacia being around." Children weren't known for being quiet and obedient. They were in for hell, weren't they? Why had the gods decided to do this now? A mournful sigh. They couldn't change a thing.
"Ach," She nudged his nose away from her, "Why do you want me to sleep so badly? What's wrong with being awake?" The yawn that ended that statement was completely inappropriate. Her body just loved to hate her this year.
"No, you wouldn't be happy," She said solemnly, "You'd be sad, just as anyone would. If I didn't grow any bigger, it'd mean they'd be gone." Even she didn't wish something like that on herself. Losing children was nothing to joke about.
She snorted and gave him an amused look, "I was talking about one of the little ones kicking you, not me." She shook her head. Go figure, she attempted a joke involving the children and he hadn't even gotten it. She'd never knowingly hurt him either, violently in her mind she may be, but physically, especially with someone so important to her, not a chance.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:29 pm
Okay, just had to remember that in the next five minutes he couldn’t say the word cute, along with another menagerie of words he had yet to try on her. But if “cute” was out most of the others would probably be getting the boot too. Damn. The flattened ears made him realize that the poor girl hadn’t owned up with the idea that someday soon they’d be going out to meet others as a couple.. And in those meetings he’d introduce himself as her mate, especially if they happened to run into a stallion. Would she be just as protective of him in front of mares? Nah, she wasn’t the jealous type.
Better tell her now.. If she hadn’t asked Az probably wouldn’t have lost her temper at him for waiting until later to tell her, but a direct question required a direct answer, “Oh no lass, ‘Naci’s about the sweetest filly I’ve had the pleasure ter help raise… I ran inter more than a few snags along the way. Quickly before continuing his story, Caelen adjusted his neck so his voice would rumble in her ear, maybe even soothe her more. “Ye see.. I’ve a new herd mate and.. Lovey’s goin’ ter be a mam too.”
Did he give her time to adjust to that or just move on quickly and see if she reacted at all. Lovey was probably only a year older than Az was, or possibly two.. Already she was going to be a mother. Caelen probably would bring her here if the stallion didn’t take care of her. “Oh lass, I told ye me mind is a wee bit sleepy. I couldna even follow yer joke.” Hopefull though the little ones wouldn’t kick so hard as to hurt him. Think of all the pain that would mean Az would have to endure. No, that just simply wouldn’t do at all for his happiness. “So lass.. Do ye have any questions about the fun time I had away from ye?” .. by fun he meant hell.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:42 pm
Jealous type? Well, she wasn't going to have a seizure if he so much as lookedat another mare, but prolonged looks were now forbidden. By "prolonged" she meant more than a few seconds. Hey, if Caelen was going to be allowed to be protective of her if they met a stallion, she was allowed to do the same with a mare. Twas only fair.
"A new herd-mate?" She repeated, tilting her head up, "Not another mare I hope...?" Could she help it if she was already suspicious? No, certainly not. She paused in her thoughts, the last bit of his sentence catching up, "You mean...Lovey too? She's...?" She blinked in mild surprise. The Lovey she had remembered hadn't seemed the type to allow herself to be pregnant, no matter how fond she seemed of children. Well, that image would need adjusting.
She grinned at the thought, "It'll be interesting if those children ever meet," She commented vaguely, thinking about it absently. Ach, now was not the time to be thinking about what the children would be like. That went against her inner rebelling.
"Uh-huh, sure." She only half-believed him on both counts. He could be faking his tiredness just to get her to sleep. Even if he was faking, his ministrations seemed to be working. Damn it.
"Fun time?" She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, not believing him but still wanting reassurance, "So my entire silent worry over your well-being and thoughts of me having to raise the children all-alone was for nothing? Did you really have a fun time?" She was barely within the bounds of teasing, she didn't want him to mean he had a fun time without her, "Because if you did, we'd havea bit of a problem."
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:03 pm
Ahh, Caelen could almost see his little mare squirming at the idea of him having the gall to look at another mare. He’d not voice that teasing though because then she’d have the same chance to more than glance at a stallion and he wouldn’t be able to say a word without being categorized as a hypocrite. That wouldn’t suit him very well. Nae, that wouldn’t do at all. “Aye, I’ve got a new herd mate that I’ve a feelin’ ye’ll like ter meet.” Should he be cruel and more than a little bit unusual and just not tell her for awhile that this new friend was most definitely not a mare. “Yes, Lovey’s pregnant.. She seems happy enough about it jest a bit confused. O’course with all o’ that hair I’ve always teased her she’s more confused than most.” Okay okay, he had answered her questions about Lovey, now onto the herd mate, “The name is Harij, and he seems a relatively nice chap even if he’s a wee bit too quiet fer me liking.
“Oh yes.. I imagine I’ll have ter drag Lovey ‘n’ her bunch over here so they call kin play happily together.” That sounded like fun and a half. For all that he knew ‘Naci would still be small, she seemed to be growing at a rather slow rate which would work out since the adults of the herd would be too tired to really do much with a mare that was between a child and an adult. Aww, the poor lass really was going to be losing it soon and falling into sleep.. She’d keep fighting it, but he’d just keep making her relax. The talking was nice so he wouldn’t force her to sleep.. Just to not become riled up.
“Oh lord lass no.” The past two months hadn’t been fun at all for him. Turning just enough to catch her gaze from the position of being wrapped around her Caelen smiled down at her, “I was a month late ter seein’ ye. Now I feel worse because yer four months pregnant an’ ye’ve had ter be alone fer all o’ that time.” Poor girl, “I canna say I was over-surprised at her anger at me.” … Besides that, he had missed her!
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:21 pm
Azariel blinked and raised an eyebrow, "I would?" An ear flicked at his words. Ah, so that's why Caelen was vague on the details. It was a stallion. Ach, like she would look at him with anything more than friendship--if that ever happened.
"I would hope she's happy," Mused the black mare softly, "She's always loved children." A smile graced her lips as she thought, "I wonder if she'll teach them to play in the mud like we did when I was a foal," A soft chuckle, Az honestly had no idea. She looked at him curiously, "Does Lovey have a mate, Caelen?" She asked solemnly, tilting her head to the side. Caelen had never mentioned if the other mare did or didn't and Az was concerned as to whether or not the other mare was handling things well.
Az laughed and shook her head, unable to keep the thoughts of foals playing from her mind. Was she catching Caelen's disease? Maybe a little bit. She'd never admit it though.
"I'm glad to hear at," She replied softly, grinning at him lopsidedly, "Not that you weren't happy, but...well, I suppose that's the truth, then." She shrugged, why hide something even she knew was true? She waved it off dissmissively, "It was rather awkward, but I had Mashki and Father, though Father is most certainly not pleased with you."
A rather amused look graced her features, "It seems he "warned" you about something like this? I suggest you stay away from him for a bit. Unless you want a long lecture." She nosed him gently, eyes half-lidded, "And yes, I was angry at you. For many reasons and all of which we just discussed."
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:03 am
Caelen chuckled softly into her ear and smiled down at her. She probably wanted more out of him like precise details and all that stuff, but frankly, after about five minutes his mind tend to have wandered onto something more interesting. The same images of foals playing that seemed to be plaguing her mind were having a hay-day of fun in his. It’d be great to be able to go out and wrestle with his own little ones. Aye, indeed it would.
“Aye, she’s a bit worried because of a mishap with just who the father might be.” The sweet little mare didn’t need to think badly of Lovey, nor did she need to hear about how she was taken advantage of so he had better keep the topic moving along, “I’ve a feeling that she’ll want to bring them here for that… Can ye imagine our two ‘er three babes wrestling around with her two ‘r three little ones, eh?” The idea made him nearly choke on little bits of laughter. Lovey was one thing: prissy. Would she lose all of that completely when her little ones were born?
“I understand what yer sayin’ lass. If I had come here ter ye and ye were havin’ a wonderful time an’ not even missin’ me a bit I canna say I’d be overly happy with ye and yer behavior. Even if it wasna yer fault.” Caelen knew he’d never begrudge her the happiness she sought… He just simply thought it fair for him to throw a fit once in awhile. His neck began to sweep more firmly and even farther down her neck. For all her bravado of planning to be cranky or maybe it was just teasing the little mare seemed to be decidedly close to sleep. All of her words were coming out clearly, they just held a much softer volume than was usual. Mm.. Maybe he would get to nap.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:26 am
Azariel sighed, had Lovey turned out to be some sort of less-than-honorable mare? She hoped not; Az might not be able to trust the other mare with anything anymore. That would be a sad day, she had liked the older mare, even if she had been a bit prissy.
A smile tugged at her lips, "Are you sure Lovey's children could handle ours? Knowing the both of us and Lovey's personality from when I knew her, her children might just be more than a little prim and proper for ours." A sigh. It'd be interesting to see what they would be like, all of the children, not just her own. Seeing Lovey again would be a nice change too, perhaps they could talk more.
"'Having a wonderful time' isn't entirely within the realm of something possible," She retorted simply, shaking her head, "Not only after your disappearance did I discover this, but I thought I would have to deal with it alone so..." She shrugged helplessly, "Happiness didn't fact into the equation for a while.
An annoyed snort and look at him, complimented with a raising of the eyebrows probably made a look of the not-so-pleased mate. "Are you that determined to get me to sleep, Caelen?" She asked, looking at him, "Because it may be working, but I'm not entirely pleased about it." Humph! Honestly, if that was all he wanted for her to do right now, she might push him toward "patronizing".
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:25 pm
Az had sighed when Caelen mentioned the problems that Lovey had been going through, but in his mind she wasn’t at fault for anything ore than being a wee bit too naïve. He’d have to let her know that she the opinion she had formed as a filly didn’t become marred, “Lovey didna get pregnant through any true fault o’ her own, save fer being more than a bit too naïve about the way the world works, ye ken?” There, now that was settled. “Oh ye’ve nae seen ole Love-butt in awhile lass, if it wasna fer Aely, me two-legger an’ Lovey’s, cutting o’ her hair every other week ‘r so it’d constantly be a gnarled mess.” ‘Naci had helped her grow into a much more… adventurous Soquili. Thank god.
“Now then, ye jest lost a bit o’ faith in me when I was late… but ye shoulda remembered I wasna the sort ter jest disappear.” They had left on the promise of returning in a month and Caelen had managed to be a month late give or take a few weeks. Mainly giving of them. She’d get over that soon enough he hoped.
“I don’t care one whit lass if ye sleep ‘r not.. Ye jest needed ter relax a bit and the rubbin’ an’ such helped both o’ us I think.” At least he was much more comfortable with her black and white coat close to him and so warm. Sure, he’d fall asleep if she did, but lord was he happy to be back with her.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:03 pm
Azariel gave him a look of a mixture of amusement and gratitude. "One could say the same about me, couldn't they?" She replied easily and shrugged, shaking her head, "Oh, well, I don't really care about it at the moment."
An jealous chuckle, "She gets to cut her hair? Oh, the envy I feel." A toss of her head which, as usual, didn't help at all. "I'm definitely cutting it when this is over," She grumbled, eyeing it balefully, "It'll do no good with chasing after foals." Another sigh, seems she'd resigned herself to her "Fate" afterall. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad. She did have a mate and family to look after now, it certainly wouldn't be as boring as she had once thought.
"Hope is one thing," She murmured softly, "Seeing the results of that hope is quite different." A shake of her head, but she sighed and consented to the ever-growing need for sleep, even if her rebellous side wouldn't have it. She was tired.
"If I go to sleep, you have to too, Cael," She grumbled half-heartedly. Being woken up to someone nosing her belly was not something she wanted anytime soon. She pressed her head and neck against his chest for a moment, silently glad she wasn't alone anymore.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:38 pm
“Nay lass, what yer goin’ ter be goin’ through will be more than a bit easier in the sense o’ security than that of what Lovey will be dealin’ with.” All of that was true, the silly mare didn’t even know if the stallion was going to stick around at all.
“Oh aye, she gets ter cut it.. But ye seem ter be fergettin’ that with hair as long as hers it.. It grows back at an alarming rate.” Probably once a month sometimes twice Aely would hack off a solid six inches of her tail and of her mane.. And by the next time she cut it, the hair would need the same amount whacked off. “Lovey’s been runnin’ fer a long time with ‘Naci an’ she’s not had ter cut off all o’ her hair ye ken.” If Az wanted it cut off then he’d probably bully Mashki into it, she’d be pampered if it killed… Mashki.
“Aye.. I suppose that’s true too lass.” She shook her head out and Caelen just kept rubbing. The little lass had even given so much as to push up against him. The past two months must have been harder on her then she’d ever let him know.
His own voice and accent got deeper, slower, and thicker as she spoke about him getting to sleep too. “Don’t tease me lass.. Ye’ve got ter have realized that I’m in a good sleepin’ mood.” Indeed he was.. Caelen would nod off if she did too..
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:46 pm
A soft sigh escaped her, "I don't like the thought of a friend worrying, even if the situation is her fault, no matter how naive she may have been," She replied softly, chuffing at the thought. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her...and wish there was some way to help her with it too. Lovey--from the way Caelen spoke--wasn't mated to this other stallion, which meant that it would be a broken home anyway if the other half of the group didn't stick around. Az could relate to both parent and future child, she couldn't help it if she wanted to be there for them.
A roll of blue-green eyes, "I would assume so, I think I remember her saying something like that to me," A shrug, remembering was hard when she was half-asleep, "But if I had less of a mass of white to tangle me up--" She pointed out through a yawn, "--then keeping track of everything would be easier." She wanted her hair cut, but the odds of it actually happening were pitifully slim.
"'M not teasing," She grumbled softly, eyes closed, "Maybe if you'd go to sleep and stop rubbing me, then you could too." Something that was either a chuff or a chuckle escaped her mouth and she nudged him softly, "Sleep you," She mumbled, "Get as much as you can while you can. I can guarantee you won't get a wink when they come."
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:58 pm
((Short reply - gonna make this the ending post of Part V))
Caelen managed to smile softly, sure it was more than a bit of a bitter sweet smile but nothing could be done to prevent Lovey from having these babies and nothing he could do would force the father to stick around if he chose not to. “From what I’ve gathered about the father, he’s got a strong family background and will nae jest abandon the wee ones. Although Lovey’n’him willna have more than a platonic relationship.. The wee ones willna suffer from being separated for long periods o’ time or from wonderin’ why their mam or dah didna want ter be with them.” The idea of that happening made Caelen want to pummel something.. And it hadn’t actually occurred.
“Ye’ve strong memory then from when ye were little.” A great cracking yawn was knocked out of Caelen when he kept hearing the sleepiness in his mate’s voice. Yes.. Just a few hours of sleeping would have him feeling more like him and less like a cranky Irishman. “I suppose so, if ye’ve that much ‘o a mind ter have it all cut then we’ll jest have ter see what Mashki kin do for ye.”
“Sleep.. Aye.. That does sound good.” Over the past couple minutes his ministrations to had become a lot less firm, more infrequent, and held much shorter strokes… His minty green eyes began to drift deeper into sleep until finally he felt that soft blackness overtaking his fuzzy-minded brain.. “Aye.. Jest a nap..”
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