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 Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:48 pm
 The children were grown. Her eldest had children of her own, who were also grown now. Although the current calm seemed a bit uneasy at times, it was still peace and Beta was happy enough to know her family was safe and sound. Even so, under the surface were seeds of doubt. Between Lacey's untold trip down south and Delta's accumulating tragedies, the mare couldn't help wondering if she just wasn't cut out to be a mother. Maybe she should've let Serenity raise them instead; maybe she should've held off on telling them about Reth until they were a little older... The mare shook her head to clear her thoughts. She could worry about that later. Today... today she was going on an outing with Cairbre Dio. It was the first outing she'd had that was away from family and friends since she first stumbled upon her glowing companion, back when she was still pregnant with her foals. Remembering that time drew a sad smile to her face. It had been the best and worst of times. She'd felt alone, betrayed, and scared because of Reth's abandonment. She'd felt joy, relief, and love in having her beautiful babies and being once again surrounded by family and friends. Beta was doing alright until they reached a forest. She suddenly stopped, frozen in place by paralyzing fear. It wasn't the same forest, but it looked like the one she'd spent most of her pregnancy in. Hidden among the trees and isolated from even the sun, every sound was a danger instead of a bird singing or a squirrel hiding acorns. She'd been in forests after that, but only while she was still alone and it was necessary. But now... now it felt as if Reth was going to jump out and snap at her the instant she entered, burying her in her faults.
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:25 pm
 Strange to think, the children he'd adopted into his heart all those years ago were grown now, and even had children of their own. Did that make him a grandfather? He supposed in a way, it did, even if they weren't the children of his blood. Cairbre had always wished for that, but so far fate had not been kind in that regard. Despite that, he was content, as long as he still had Beta. He glanced sideways at his love with a smile. Even in her worst moods, she was forever a wonder to him, kind and beautiful, and never giving herself any credit for the best of it. He still occasionally found himself surprised that she was able to trust him so easily after everything that had happened between her and her former fling. But trust she did. Recently, he'd noticed her melancholy appearing more often, so he'd suggested they go out on an excursion, just the two of them. They hadn't ever done that. He thought maybe it would help her feel better. Cairbre stifled a sigh and thought about kicking himself when Beta froze. Why had he forgotten how she reacted around wooded areas? He came a little closer, nuzzling her neck gently. "Here, it's safe, here, it's warm," he sang softly. "Here, your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true. Here is the place where I love you."
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:40 pm
Beta snapped out of her paralysis at the sound of the soothing, singing voice. The voice that always eased her fears and pain, no matter their source. She automatically relaxed, nuzzling the stallion back. That was right. This time she wasn't alone. She was with Cairbre. She'd be alright. His gentle touch and way of singing her troubles away was very different from the commandeering Reth, but that was fine with her. In fact, it was rather a relief. She didn't need a warrior. She needed someone who was there when she needed them. Reth hadn't; Cairbre had. The glowstick stallion was her most precious companion.
She looked up at the forest ahead of them, shifting from side to side for a moment before steeling herself and smiling at him. "Shall we?" she asked cheerfully. As long as Cairbre was there... it would be alright. She could do this... right? It was just a forest. A collection of trees. There was nothing to be afraid of.
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:59 pm
His smile widened in response to hers. "We shall," he replied, letting his wings glow brighter for a heartbeat and fluttering forward. Lighting the woods with his unnatural glow had the dual advantages of both warning away smaller animals that didn't enjoy the strange glowing and of helping Beta stay calm by showing clearly that nothing was hiding in the shadows. It was something he'd learned to do long ago, and it never failed to do its small part to ease his beloved's mind. It was, after all, his job and his honor to protect her in whatever way he could. Direct confrontation was not his strong suit, after all, not with his surprisingly delicate limbs. "There. Just a normal forest. Nothing stranger than me." He winked.
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:24 pm
The glowing of Cairbre's wings caused her smile to brighten. It was the glow that led Beta to him, she recalled. Only then had his singing reached her ears and held her captive long enough to forget her reason for running, even for only a minute. It was those wings that had started off after Reth when he stole Djimon from her side, even though they would've surely failed to catch up with the large dragon wings of her ex-lover. They were small things, but they meant a lot to Beta. All the small things the stallion did had rebuilt her livelihood and joy. She giggled at his comment, turquoise eyes sparkling. "Stranger than you?" she teased. "I think I'd rather like to see that. I'm sure it would be a sight to see." She thought for a moment. What would be stranger than a floating stallion with glowstick legs and wings? The answer made her pause for a moment. What was stranger than a floating stallion with glowstick legs and wings? An Azrein that also had her odd markings. She shook her head and resumed walking, trying to think of other strange things.
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:56 pm
He snorted. "Well, I don't. I think I'd be offended, really. My weirdness is my calling card, how would it look if I got shown up?" He was happy to see her mood lighten, even at his expense. He followed close to her side, letting her set the pace, and musing aloud. "Well, I suppose it'd still be okay. There's no way anyone could look as weird as me and be able to sing, too."
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:18 pm
Beta burst into giggles again. "No one can show up you," she replied. "No one's the same showy-strange that you are." She smiled at his conclusion. "And no one said it would be a strange-looking thing. It could be..." She paused, thinking about it. "An Azrein that strange sounds. Like this!" The mare made a popping sound with her mouth for a minute or two before stopping in favor of listening to the birds in the trees. Her mind mused over Cairbre's words when it suddenly hit her. There was someone that could look like the stallion and sing like him too. Beta fidgeted, a little irritated at herself for taking so long to notice. Just like Cairbre had inherited his singing ability from his parents, it could be inherited by his children--their children. Uncharacteristically, a light blush spread across her cheeks. Why did her mind keep going back to children? Yes, she loved children, especially her children, but...
There was that fear. That irrational but understandable fear that she wasn't a good enough mother and her children would suffer because she wasn't up to the task of raising them. Her poor children had been through so much because of her... Could she really risk repeating that with new children?
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:45 pm
Cairbre couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. Beta's giggles were so infectious, and that sound she made was just so... her. His eyes telegraphed his joy at being with her. She was always so full of life. He was still looking at her when she unexpectedly blushed and then paled. What on earth...? "Beta, are you okay?" He looked into her eyes searchingly, pleadingly. "I didn't mean to laugh, really. That sound was just so perfectly you. Don't be angry?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:56 pm
Beta blinked in surprise, as if suddenly remembering that Cairbre couldn't read her thoughts. She pouted. "If you didn't laugh when I laughed, I'd think you were hiding something," she informed him. "I'm not angry." She let her gaze fall to the little ditch that her hoof was making in the damp soil. "I was just thinking, that's all..."
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 6:24 am
Well, at least she wasn't upset at him, but her behavior was still unusual. Cairbre raised an elegant eyebrow in a fair imitation of his father's famous Look©. "Thinking about what? Even for you, it's odd to go from giggling to afraid." He tossed his head somewhat impatiently, hoping to throw his unruly locks out of his face for once, though as usual it didn't really work. He did have an inkling of suspicion that it had something to do with her children. With these moods, it usually did; not much could get to Beta, but her greatest weakness was always her little brood, and he knew they were never far from her thoughts. He floated in front of her and pressed his forehead gently to hers. "You don't have to worry about them, you know. They're grown, and all of them are pretty good. Not perfect, of course, but nobody is. You've been a great mother." He pulled back and smiled at her. "A bad mother wouldn't be worrying at all."
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:11 pm
Beta couldn't help giggling at his expression, despite her doubts. The giggles doubled at his failed attempt to toss his unruly bangs out of his face. She stepped forward, gently nudging the orange-red locks out of his eyes. She blinked when Cairbre floated in front of her and had his forehead pressed to hers. Looking into those kind, blue eyes of his, it was impossible to ignore the sincerity of his words. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. "Cai..." She didn't know why but she couldn't prevent the clear drops of liquid from rolling down her face. It wasn't a sad thing she was going to say. "C-Cai, I wanna be a m-mama again." She missed it, she finally realized. She missed being surrounded by those precious, blanketed bundles.
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:53 pm
Cairbre snorted when she actually managed to get his hair out of his face. Of course she had better command over his hair than he did. She started to cry and he immediately wondered how he could help her. How could he stop her tears? But then her words stopped him dead. She.. she wanted babies again? After everything? She wanted to try again... with him? His face flushed so hotly he thought it had to be glowing as much as his wings and legs, which also flashed brightly with his shock. Aloud, he whispered, "You.. you do? With me?" He'd wished for this for so long, but he'd never asked her about it, thinking after the terrors she'd endured for the sake of her children that she wouldn't want to go through it again. But maybe he'd been wrong. "Beta, are you sure?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:13 pm
Beta nodded to all three questions, inching closer to Cairbre with each nod. She pressed her forehead to his neck, hiccuping. She was terrified of all of the things that could go wrong, but she wanted to be a mother again. She wanted to be surrounded by blankets--her blankets. ... No, their blankets. "I-If you're with me, t-then..." Things would be alright. There would be no wrathful ex-lover, no revenge plans, no abductions or maulings. This time... things would be peaceful. A normal, happy family. ... Well, as normal as they could get between an unpredictable mare and a glowstick stallion. She lightly pressed her side against Cairbre. She was embarrassed and scared and just downright vulnerable, but if she was with him... that was alright. Beta would be fine. Cairbre wouldn't leave her by herself like Reth had. She and her... their children would have him nearby every step of the way.
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:41 pm
For one long moment, he could do nothing but stare at her. Then he felt his face almost split in half by the power of his grin. He nuzzled her enthusiastically, feeling tears of his own fill his eyes, though they did not spill. "Of course I'll be with you! Always and forever!" He was so energetic, so very happy! Unable to hold back his enthusiasm completely, he laughed and pulled away just long enough to fly in a tight circle, then came right back to her. "I'll never give you cause to regret this, Beta. I've always loved you, and I always will. And I promise, I will always be there for you and our babies."
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:17 pm
More tears streamed down her face, but a small smile remained fixed there. A watery laugh escaped her lips when he flew around, leaning into his side when he returned to her. The laughing and crying mixed, the mare letting out happy sobs as she nuzzled him. "Love you t-too," she managed to get out amidst the odd assortment of laughs, sobs, and hiccups. Their babies. This time they wouldn't be just hers. She would never have to guard her children from Cairbre. Beta trusted him. He kept his promises and he would be the wonderful father her children deserved.
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