“Aside from your baby, there has never been an observed European Werewolf pregnancy.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

We exchanged a look of wonder at this news and I even touched his arms to feel them for myself.

Ki went on, “I do have a theory though.”

“Yeah and?”  He prompted.

“In the animal kingdom, there are males who become stronger when the female is expecting.  The male is preparing to become the provider as well as the protector.  Maybe that’s what’s happening now?”  Our Medicine Man speculated.

“Are you for real?”  I gave a peculiar look.  “I mean, European Werewolves aside from Declan, aren’t exactly known for being the kind to commit.  In the past, if a male European Werewolf knocked up a female, he didn’t usually stick around to co-found the next ‘Brady Bunch’.”

“Thanks a lot!”  My mate retorted.

“I did say aside from you.”

“True,” he conceded.  “Remember Leo and Michelle?  I never did find out, how long they were together for.   We don’t know if they ever procreated, or what not.”

“If they had, you wouldn’t be the last European Werewolf.”  I tried to joke.

“What if Leo did get Michelle pregnant?”  He continued.  “He most certainly would have, but what happened to the baby?  Did they stop conception from continuing, with the method I used on you in the past?  Or, did they kill it after it was born?”

A cold shiver ran down my spine, making me shudder.  “I don’t think I wanna know.”

“What about Marcus and Roberta?  What happened to them in the area of procreation?”  He went on. 

“Again, I don’t think I wanna know.”  I felt sick at the thought of it.

“Hey, you can see the past and the future, in the Viewing Room at Circulate HQ, can’t you?”  Declan turned my way.

“Er, yeah?”

“Maybe we should look into the past and at other European Werewolves, in relation to pregnancy?”  He thought up.

“Do we have to?”  I whined, as a horrible feeling sank in.  “I don’t think I wanna know.”

“What do you think, Ki?”  My husband looked to our Medicine Man for his opinion.

“It would be wise to find out as much information as possible.”  He agreed.  “Aside from your baby, there has never been an observed European Werewolf pregnancy.”

Declan eagerly stood up, “C’mon then, let’s do it!”

“What, right now?”  I looked up in surprise.

“Why not?”  Ki said congenially, as he stood up too.  “I’ll come along and it’ll be included in my ‘house call’.” 

“Are you sure?”  I asked warily.  “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

“C’mon B,” my mate pulled me up from the sofa.  “Now you’ve got me curious.”

“I have?”

“You did bring up other European Werewolf behaviour in regards to kids.”  He reminded.

However, my horrible feeling turned into dread and I recognized it as a warning of bad news to come. 

“Can’t we do this another day?”  I tried to back out.

“Why?”  He gave a peculiar look.

“It’s best that we find out the facts, Aunt B.”  Our Medicine Man, reasoned.  “It could even help with your treatment.”

I glanced away uncertain, as a tiny voice cried inside my mind, ‘no, don’t do it!’

Declan noticed my apprehension, “B, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

I didn’t know what to say, without worrying them.

“Are you feeling unwell, Aunt B?”  Our Medicine Man looked on closely.  "Perhaps it's morning sickness?"

“Oh no, I’m fine.  It’s just that…”

“Yeah?”  My husband prompted.

“It’s nothing.” I let out a weary sigh.  “Let’s just get it over with.”

The men exchanged funny looks as I reluctantly rose to my feet. 

            I placed my hands on their arms and within the blink of an eye, I instantaneously phased the three of us to Circulate Headquarters.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A silly smile appeared on the European Werewolf’s face.

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

 

“So, you’ve been enjoying the European Werewolf characteristics which have arisen in Aunt B?”  He remarked.

“Hell yeah!”  My mate proclaimed, as if it were a given.  “Not that B was ever a cold fish, it’s just nice that she needs me as much as I need her.”

“Declan!”  I cried out louder, as I gave him a shove. 

The Medicine Man regarded him closely then he even waved his medical scanner in his direction.  “Can you tell me more about this, Uncle Dec?”

“Like what?”

“How Aunt B’s behaviour is suiting you.” 

“I dunno.”  He shrugged back.  “She’s gaining on me with how much she eats now.  It’s nice to snack with her, when she used to give me and my perpetual hunger, a funny look.”

“I did not!”  I shoved him again.

A silly smile appeared on the European Werewolf’s face. “She bites more.  She drinks more.  She eats more.  She growls more and quite frankly, she’s turning me on.  It’s almost like we’re closer than ever.”

“Because she’s emulating your bloodlust, you don’t feel so different anymore?”  Ki caught on.

“Yeah, basically.”  He shrugged. 

“Stop sounding so whiny like you’re the world’s loneliest male!”  I rolled my eyes. “Where have I been the past two centuries, living in the woods?”

“See what I mean?”  He chuckled, as he affectionately patted my leg.

“Hmm,” Ki was now frowning over the readouts of the new scan.

“What is it?”  I asked concerned.  “What’s wrong?”

“This is interesting,” he began.

“What’s interesting?”  Declan demanded.

“Your body Uncle, it looks like you’re going through a couple of changes yourself.”  He lowered his scanner, to look him in the eye. 

“Oh yeah?”   His eyebrows rose.

“I don’t know if this is a direct result of the pregnancy, but your muscle tone has also increased in density by ten percent.”  Ki announced.

“But how?”  I wondered.  “He’s already a hundred percent stronger than humans.  Now he’s a hundred and ten percent stronger?”

“It looks like it.”  Ki shrugged then he reached out to feel Declan’s arms himself.  “They do feel harder than usual.”

“Could it be because I’m young again?”  My mate tried to shrug it off.  “Maybe my body is adjusting to becoming a Circulator?”

“I don’t think that’s it.”  He shook his head.  “After Aunt B changed you, I ran a scan on you that morning, if you recall.  It picked up your muscle density had returned to the way it was, when you were in your twenties.  Now it’s increased again.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Right now, you’re as strong as a male Lokoti Werewolf.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

 

“Hmm.”

Ki rubbed his jaw, as he looked on my results somewhat perplexed.  Declan and I looked on worriedly, as he read the results on the hand-held medical scanner. 

“What is it?” My husband asked in concern.  “What’s wrong?”

I was lying on the couch in the lounge room, as was the custom for my once a week check-ups.  Declan was sitting to the side holding my hand.  Our Medicine Man was running a deep, cellular scan, of both mother and baby.

“I can see what Uncle Declan means, by your bloodthirsty behaviour.” He reported.  “Aunt B, your muscle density has increased by ten percent.  Right now, you’re as strong as a male Lokoti Werewolf.”

“Really?”  I sat up right in surprise.  “Is that a good sign?”

“I think so,” he frowned, appearing the opposite.  “Your body is making adjustments for carrying a mini European Werewolf inside of you.  It’s compensating, by taking on some of Uncle Declan’s strength.  It’s why you’re craving his blood right now, for its regenerative properties as well as his physical prowess.”

“Yeah, but besides B taking on my faster healing and strength; she’s also taking on some of my character traits.”  He told Ki.

“Declan!” I whacked him on the arm, to shut up.

“Such as?”  Our Medicine Man looked on enquiringly.

“The hunger and some of the other urges attributed to my bloodlust,” he continued.

“Declan!”  I whacked him again, as I sat upright on the couch.

“Can you elaborate?”  Ki listened.

“Like some of my needs and wants in the bedroom.”  He put it politely.

“Declan, Ki doesn’t need to hear this!”  I objected, in embarrassment.

“Oh dear,” our physician frowned. “You’re not getting rough between the sheets, are you?  Because Aunt B is still in the first trimester, there’s the risk of miscarriage and -”

“B and the baby are safe, Ki.”  He interrupted, taking offence.  “I’m letting her get rough with me, but I keep my claws to myself.”

“Good.”  Our medical practitioner instantly looked relieved.  “That’s good to hear, Uncle Dec.”

“I mean, I like it so much that I’m using every bit of willpower I have, not to get rough with her…” he muttered, looking away.

“It’s good to hear that you’re exercising restraint.”  Ki cleared his throat.

“…and sometimes I have to do the times tables in my head, so I don’t flat-out maul her in the throws of passion...” he said under his breath.

We gave him a peculiar look, but he didn’t see.  He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts, as he stared at the floor.  Declan seemed to be talking to himself, let alone to the two other people in the room.

“…it’s just nice to see someone else go through what I have for years; the lust, the hunger, the downright desperation, to devour the person...” 

We exchanged glances when Declan finally snapped out of it.

“Huh, what?”  He sat up straighter.  “You were saying, Ki?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’ll take care of you and you’ll take care of me and together, we’ll take care of them.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

“There you are!”  He walked out of the kitchen with his hands on his hips.  “I was about to come up there after you.”

“You’re a bossy boots, you know that?”  I poked him in the side.  Next, I fetched my plate of toasted sandwiches sitting on the kitchen bench.  I saw Declan had made himself one too, which I handed to him on my way out.

“What was that squeal, I heard?”  He followed me into the lounge room.  He sat beside on the couch and watched closely, as I began to eat.

“I found Great Grandma’s and Great, Great Grandma’s diaries and photos.”  I said happily.

“Oh,” he sounded surprised, “that’s handy.”

“So I put the box with Nana and Grandpa’s things, beside the trunk with those.  Now my foremothers are all sitting together.”  I joked.

“And talking about how their progeny Bianca Sabre, is finally expecting?”  He smiled softly.

“That would be nice.”  I sighed again.

“Don’t worry, B.”  He patted me on the leg.  “Having our daughters will be just like it’s always been.  I’ll take care of you and you’ll take care of me and together, we’ll take care of them.”

I leaned in to rub my nose against his cheek affectionately, which he appreciated.  But as he turned his head to give me a kiss, my hand swiped one of his triangles.  However, he caught me.

“Hey!”  He objected.  “Man, you really are hungry, aren’t you?”

“In more ways than one, dear husband.”  I giggled, before kissing him back.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was looking on my great, great grandfather Flint Riverclaw and his mate Jessica.

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

Just as I turned to leave, I noticed something.  It was a red trunk which looked worn with time.  It was half hidden, underneath another cardboard box and for the life of me, I don’t remember seeing it before.  But I felt this undeniable urge to investigate, or maybe it was one of my all-knowing feelings?

“B!”  I heard the distant call of my husband.  “Your brunch is ready!”

“Coming!”

Quickly, I walked over and lifted the other box off the red trunk then I sunk to my knees beside.  When I opened the lid, the hinges squealed in protest as a huge cloud of dust came up.  It sent me into a sneezing frenzy! 

“Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!” 

My sensitive nose objected, as I spluttered and waved my hand through the air to clear it.  But when I looked inside, I accidentally let out a squeal!  I felt like I just hit the jackpot.

“B?”  He hollered.  “What are you doing up there?”

“Nothing!”

“Then come downstairs and do nothing, while you eat your brunch!”

“Alright already!”  I snapped back.

I looked inside the trunk again at the old baby clothing, a couple of framed photos as well as some old books.  But these weren’t just ordinary books, they were more diaries!  When I opened up the covers, I saw the names ‘Clara Winter’ as well as ‘Jessica Tandy’.  They were my great grandmother as well as my great, great grandmother, from my Riverclaw family. 

Bingo!  They were just what I was hoping for, after my previous conversation.  It looks like Declan doesn’t have to approach Caesar after all. 

I picked up the framed photos for a closer look.  There was a picture circa late 20^th Century, of a pretty, blonde woman standing with a handsome, Lokoti man.  The woman had a baby bulge, protruding through her thick jacket.  I was looking on my great, great grandfather Flint Riverclaw and his mate Jessica.   She had been namesake of my mother, since she died before Mum was born.  According to Grandfather, Mum also inherited the original Jessica’s temper too.

“B, your toasted sandwiches are turning cold!”  He complained.

“I’m coming!”

Hastily, I put the photo frame back and shut the lid.  I stood up again as I dusted myself off, when my eyes landed on the new box I had just brought up.  I made myself a silent promise that I’d return to visit my foremothers soon; the women who’d been the mates of my Lokoti Werewolf forefathers.  I pushed the box of Wisetail family memorabilia closer to the trunk, so my foremothers would be waiting together.

Lastly, I climbed down the attic ladder, closed the hatch and happily skipped downstairs.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My glowing turquoise eyes dulled back to their dark blue colour.

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

I carried the box up the staircase to put it on the floor, in the small upstairs hallway.  Next, I reached up and pulled the chord hanging from the ceiling, which opened the hatch to the attic.  The fold-up ladder which was attached, unfolded before me. 

Using one hand to carry the box, I climbed the small ladder up into the dark, dusty attic. 

Immediately, I sneezed from the cold and dust!  Then I had to engage my glowing eyes for the night-vision, so I could find the light switch.  My hand found the long chord which hung from the ceiling, and I gave it a gentle tug.

As soon as the light came on, my glowing turquoise eyes dulled back to their dark blue colour.  I looked about the disorganized, dusty, dim attic.  Many a cobweb hung from the rafters, or even connected a couple of the boxes which were piled high.  I was looking on three hundred years of memorabilia.

We haven’t been up here in years!  Oh hang on, maybe Declan has… my eyes settled on the least dustiest of the items, my two suitcases.  So that’s what he did with them!  I suppose I should be relieved he didn’t burn them, like he threatened to. 

I started to examine the different labels on the cardboard boxes.  Once upon a time, this attic was clean and organized.  When we started to accumulate keepsakes from family members who’d passed on, we wrote on the boxes what was in them.

My hand removed some the dust, so I could see the descriptions properly.  I read his writing on boxes which read as ‘Mom’s Stuff’, or ‘Derik’s Stuff’ or ‘Blanche and Michael’s Stuff’.  They had been Declan’s human mother, brother, nephew and niece.  His family’s things were stacked neatly against one of the attic walls. 

My family’s things however, weren’t as tidy as Declan’s.  Boxes such as ‘Vincent’s Things,’ or ‘Mum and Dad’s Things’, or ‘Gran and Grandfather’s Things’; were all sitting willy-nilly about the confined space.  Over the many years, I’d open them upon occasion when I needed to find something, like a photo album.   But his boxes were untouched, as I couldn’t recall him ever looking, perhaps because the memories were still too painful?

I picked up the box which Walt had given me and carried it over to the box full of ‘Gran and Grandfather’s Things’.  I wanted my paternal grandparents memorabilia to sit beside my maternal grandparents.  I’d have to come back with tape and seal it, before labelling it.

            Unconsciously, I began to stroke the box as I reminisced on my parents and my grandparents.  With my ‘bundle of joy’, I’d have loved to share this with my family.  I never did make my Mum and Dad grandparents however, Aunt Susan enjoyed this delight through Derik. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Yeah, it only took a century of marriage for your father to get it through his head that I truly was your mate.”

   (Small Fry Chapter 3) 

“So this is the last of your Dad’s stuff, huh?”  He picked up the baby album, to peruse through.  “It’s hard to think of your father being a baby.  Whenever I think of Hunter Wisetail, I remember this disapproving, old Lokoti Werewolf, constantly looking over my shoulder.  It was like he was just waiting for me to screw up.”

“He wasn’t that bad!” I rolled my eyes.  “Besides, you and Dad ended up getting along.”

“Yeah, it only took a century of marriage for your father to get it through his head that I truly was your mate.”  He complained.  “In the end we didn’t get along, we simply stopped fighting aloud.  Trust me, our glares said it all.”

This made me recall something about my parent’s passing, in particular what was communicated between my father and husband.

“Declan,” I began, “just before Mum and Dad left for the space time continuum, what did he say telepathically to you?”

“Huh?”

“You said, ‘do you really have to ask?’ or something as such.”  I remembered.

“Oh yeah, he tried to make me swear that I’d always put your safety first.”  He said bitterly.  “And my response to such a stupid question was, did he really have to ask?  He was about to leave behind his mortal existence and evolve as a sparkling cloud of energy and light, to the space time continuum.  But he still didn’t trust me with his beloved, only daughter.”

I cupped his face to pull him in for a kiss. “Yes, but I’m your beloved B now.” 

“Damn straight,” he murmured, just before our lips pressed together.  “You always have been and always will be, no matter how hard your father tried to split us up.”

“He didn’t try to split us up!”

“He married you to another man.”

“Oh yeah, there was that.”  I conceded.  “But that was before Dad knew of my feelings for you.”

“He suspected MY feelings and he still pushed you onto Grant.”  He let go to busy himself, by picking up the box.  “I’m gonna go put this stuff up into the attic.”

“No, I will.”  I hopped off the bench to take it from him.  “While I’m up there, I wanna check on something.”

“OK then,” he watched me walk away.  “Hey, have you actually eaten breakfast yet?”

“No.” I called over my shoulder.

“I’m gonna fix you some toasted tomato and cheese sandwiches then.”

“OK!”  I sung back.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Details details,” the European Werewolf growled

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

My mate crossed over to my side as I turned tearful at the photo.  These people whom I hadn’t seen for over two centuries, could still bring a tear to my eye.  I had to sniff as my nose began to run, with my longing to see my immediate family again.

“Don’t worry, B.”  He put his arm about my waist.  “This afternoon, I’ll go to Forrest and Caesar myself and ask for the Riverclaw stuff.”

“Oh Declan!”  I threw my arms about his neck.  “I miss them!  I miss them so much!  I just wish that my parents and my grandparents were here.”

“I miss my Mom and my little brother, too.”  He held me tightly.  “She’d be spoiling us rotten, by cooking for us and coming over nearly every day, to check on the pregnancy.”

My mate gently lifted me up into his hug, as my legs wrapped about his waist.  His right arm held me up, as his left rubbed my back.  Our faces came together, as he used his to wipe away my tears, before planting several soft kisses over my trembling lips.

Walt said uncomfortably, “If you like, I’ll do another search of our attic to make sure you have all of Hunter Wisetail’s things.”

“That would be nice, especially since you’re living in the house that my father owned.”   I reminded.

“Yes but Aunt B, when your father left it to my great, great grandfather; we renovated it and made it our own.”  He joked back. 

“Details details,” the European Werewolf growled.  “If my wife says it’s her house then damn it, it’s still her house!”

“I take it you procure anything for her, that Aunt B says is hers, right Uncle?”  My cousin smirked.

“You got that right.”

“Yep, this is going to be an interesting pregnancy to be sure.”  Walt pretended to look nervous. 

“It sure is,” my mate held me closely, “and together, we’re gonna get through it.”

His bright blue eyes held onto my dark blue ones, as if silently endorsing his words. 

“Then if you two will excuse me, I have my own pregnant mate to return to.” Walt cleared his throat.  “Oh and by the way, Wendy wanted to invite you over for afternoon tea, for baby-talk.”

“Er, our afternoons can get pretty busy.”  Declan tried to put our recent bedroom behaviour, diplomatically.  “How about morning tea instead?” 

“That should be fine.”  He shrugged.  “I’ll see myself out and thanks again for the furniture, it'll come in handy for my eldest kids.”

Once Walt shut the front door on his way out, Declan placed me back on top of the kitchen bench again.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Typical for his breed, he was a control freak and with his ego, he liked being in charge.

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

He and Walt disappeared upstairs, as I stomped back into the kitchen whilst snarling obscenities under my breath.

I don’t get Declan…even after two centuries of marriage.  He runs hot and cold more than the kitchen faucet!  One minute he’s happy then he’s snappy.  Who’s the pregnant woman here, me or him? 

Then I paused…my husband has been talking to the men in the pack, about impending fatherhood?  Why, to get advice?  This almost made me laugh out loud, as I made myself another coffee.

It was funny to think of the former elderly European Werewolf, actually asking the younger Lokoti Werewolves, for their words of wisdom.  It also seemed like he was embarrassed about it.   He’s never liked asking for help, maybe this was the reason why he’s acting so tetchy about it?

Typical for his breed, he was a control freak and with his ego, he liked being in charge.  To ask his subordinates for baby tips, must have been a lesson in humility for him.  So to repay Walt for his help, he was giving him the beds?  Ah, now it made sense.

After the coffee was made, I sat up on the kitchen bench to drink my beverage.  I overheard the men make several trips up and down the stairs, as they carried the mattresses and furniture out to Walt’s hover-car. With their supernatural strength, they easily carried the loads individually.  Soon my spare beds were strapped to the top of Walt’s vehicle.

To say goodbye, my distant cousin appeared in the kitchen entranceway with my husband standing beside.  He was carrying an old cardboard box in his arms, which was full of books and old knick-knacks.  He must have had them in his hover-car.

“Oh and by the way Aunt B, I’ve brought a couple of things that you might find interesting.  I found them when I was going through my attic last month.”  He placed the box on the bench top, beside where I was sitting.

“What’s this?”  I picked up one of the books which looked so old, the pages were yellow.

“It’s an old diary from one of my great aunts.”  He explained.  “But I think she’d be closer to you than she is to me.  I think it’s Ling Wisetail’s diary.”

Declan’s and my eyes widened at the name, as I quickly put down my mug to open it.

“Hey, it’s Nana’s diary!” I cried out excitedly.  “Ling Wisetail was my Dad’s mother!”

“She’s something like eight or nine times removed from me, but I thought you'd appreciate it.”  Walt said kindly.  “There’s also a couple of old photos in there that I think are of your father when he was a boy, as well as of your Grandpa.”

The fact that Walt’s family had them didn’t surprise me, since Wisetail used to be my maiden name.  Walt and Wendy even lived in the same house that I grew up in.  Gleefully, I rifled through the box looking at what else was in there.  I came across a baby album and when I opened it up, I saw it was Dad’s!

“Oh my gosh!”  I jumped off the bench.  “This is my father’s baby album!  I didn’t know your family had this!”

“Family keepsakes such as photo albums and family records, are passed along the males in the family.”  He reminded.   “I guess after your father evolved to the space time continuum, it was among his keepsakes which remained in house when Jake Wisetail took over, who was my forefather.”

“That tradition sucks.”  I sighed.  “Declan and I will certainly break it, with our daughters and their daughters.”

“We certainly will.”  He agreed.  “Hey B, don’t you have a lot of Riverclaw stuff?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was a typical Lokoti Werewolf being completely devoted to his mate and young.

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

I put on a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved, black t-shirt and a purple, zip-up sweater, before I wandered downstairs to fix myself some brunch.  However, just as I opened the fridge, I was startled by a knock at the door.

I smelled whoever it was, was one of the pack.  So when I swung open the front door, I wasn’t surprised to find Walt Wisetail standing on my icy veranda.  Behind him, was his U.S. Forest Service hover-vehicle, parked on the snowy driveway.

“Walt,” I smiled on my distant relation.  “How are you?  How’s Wendy and the rug rats?”

“We’re well, thanks Aunt B.”  He smiled proudly. 

He was a typical Lokoti Werewolf, being completely devoted to his mate and young.  Never in a million years would he gripe about his wife’s mood swings.  In fact, his grin grew even wider with his next update. 

“Actually, Wendy and I are expecting again.”

“A third kid on the way?”  My eyebrows arose.  “Wow, you really are following Lokoti Werewolf tradition there, Walt.”

He chuckled as he came in from the cold air, “How about yourself Aunt B, better late than never?”

Declan’s voice interrupted, as he jogged down the stairs. “We were stopping to smell the roses, before weighing down the marriage with kids.” 

“Kids don’t take away from the marriage, Uncle Dec.” He said affably.  “They add to it, just you wait and see.” 

My mate said sarcastically, “Oh yeah, the messy diapers, the late night feedings and losing your free time for the next 18 years; I can see how you’d say that.  Kids take away the need for romantic dinners, annual overseas holidays or even intimate evenings with the wife.” 

“With that attitude, you’re being extremely optimistic that you’re still going to have a wife to be intimate with.”  I passed a glare.

“Oh you two!”  Walt laughed loudly at our banter.  “Trust me, kids can add to the sex life.  Especially when the parents have to think up new ways how to sneak it in quietly, it leaves a lot to experimentation.”

Declan and I exchanged raised eyebrows at his candor.

“Now about those beds...” my husband laughed it off, “…this way.”

He turned to lead him upstairs when I spoke, “What about the beds?”

“Oh,” Walt paused and looked to Declan to explain.

“I’m giving our spare beds to the Wisetail’s.”   He stated.

“You are?”  My hands moved to my hips.  “When did you discuss THIS with me?”

“Now,” he said simply, before he started to make his way up the stairs again.

“Hold on - hold on - hold on!”  I interrupted, making the two turn around once more. 

“Er, is there a problem?”  Our guest looked uncomfortable.  “If you still need the beds Aunt B -”

“No, you can have the beds, Walt.”  I said in annoyance, whilst glaring Declan’s way.  “But I’m pissed off that my husband didn’t mention this before.”

“We don’t need the beds right now, B!”  He snapped.  “Let Walt and Wendy have them, since their ‘tribe’ is growing faster than ours is.” 

“THAT’S not the problem, Declan!  The problem is you didn’t ASK me first!”  I growled.

“Why the hell, do I have to ask you?”  He asked indignantly.  “What, every time I talk kids with the guys, I have to fill you in?” 

“When were you talking to the guys about kids?”  I asked in disbelief.

“When Walt, Forrest and Caesar, were telling me about the kind of things we’re gonna need, for the nursery!”  His voice rose.  “Now quit with the third degree, woman!” 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~