Surprises

[Brooke Briar Steeleye]

Indeed she still felt the pangs of their 'argument'. Guilt overtook her heart. Rockpaw was nothing but loving toward her and she treated him so badly. The things that she said to him stuck in her side like a thorn. Even while he was displaying his happiness about their next child she felt these pangs of distress. She was able to keep them inside for a while at least. The femme wanted to bask in this bonding moment.

He hugged her protectively. Yes Brooke was looking forward to being pregnant and being able to watch her growing tummy, most of all the baby moving inside of her, their baby. Rock placed a large paw on her lower stomach and Brooke put her paw over his. She knew that he was a proud father. He was also likely proud that he was male enough to get her pregnant again. The male gender seemed to get off on that type of thing.

What she didn't look forward to was his overly protectiveness. Rockpaw would likely have spys out watching every move that she made. When they would meet at home in the evening he would ask her about her day and then look at her with a furrowed brow, being able to dictate every single thing that she did through out her day. Of course he had the right to be so protective, it was his kit as well. And in truth Brooke wouldn't have him any other way. It was a way that she knew that he loved her and wanted to care for her and their unborn offspring.

She chuckled. "Yes we will have to clean that room out again. I'd like to paint it and redecorate it for this baby though. Tomorrow could you pick up some supplies for me to start it?" This meant that now he'd have to work. Brooke was sure that he'd love doing it though. He'd do anything for his family, including turn down a mission.

Brooke kissed him deeply and then hugged him so tightly as she whispered in his ear. "Rockpaw I love you so much. I didn't mean the things that I said earlier. You are a wonderful father and mate. You are just as much of an owner of the Fort then I am. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Her eyes connected with his and she smiled at him oh so lovingly. "Rockpaw you can go on the mission if you feel that you have to. I won't be angry. You are right. You are the best otter here and beasts love you for your experience and knowledge." Really she didn't want him to go but she felt so darn bad for being so mean to him.

[Rockpaw Steeleye]

Pride was certainly one of the foremost feelings that Rockpaw had on his mind. He knew that he was starting to tread lightly through the dreaded "middle seasons" of his life, and it was gratifying to know that he was still, ahem, fertile enough to provide another child to his mate. Doubtless, she didn't mind given how much she had tried to make this a perfect evening for such an announcement. They had an entire fort to help provide for their children; there was no need to be upset over the birth of a fourth. Rockpaw could only wonder what gender it would be as he held Brooke close and stared at her stomach, where new life was already starting to develop. The miracle truly never got old. He would watch her belly grow with just as much keen joy and anticipation as every child before this one. He knew that of course he would plot to have Brooke under lock and key, but he couldn't help himself when it came to his family. He would do anything for them, truly anything. And if that meant giving up his time and a few liberties, well, it was worth it to bring a child into the world.

"Yes we will have to clean that room out again. I'd like to paint it and redecorate it for this baby though. Tomorrow could you pick up some supplies for me to start it?"

"Certainly, my love," Rockpaw answered without hesitation. He was never averse to physical labor, and putting his paws to work crafting an all new nursery for their beloved child would just make his heart sing. To see his effort come to bear the kind of fruit a child brought was why he lived the way he did. It was all so satisfying. He could see himself overseeing the re-construction of the little childrens' areas like a general watching a trebuchet or siege tower being built.

He leaned back to accept her kiss, resting his chin on her shoulder as they leaned on each other. Listening to her, he shook his head and smiled fondly. Why did they even argue if they were just going to apologize to each other so much afterward? Rockpaw couldn't begrudge that of Brooke, though. It was the making up part that was so much fun! "I love you, too, Brooke. It's nothing to worry about. You had a right to be upset. I've been going off and trying to fix everybeast else's problems when I should be here, where I am truly needed. I shouldn't have just blurted it out like that, should have given you some warning. I suppose we both have an equal share in the guilt."

He grinned and gave her another peck. "Means we can both do our best to make it up to each other, hmm? Although... I think we could have done without the flying plates."

He rubbed at his ribs ruefully. Surely the dish was lying shattered on the floor somewhere... hopefully none of their children would walk in curious about the argument and cut themselves on it. It could have done some serious damage. But there was no real harm done, and truthfully it impressed Rockpaw that his mate could be full of such vigor in the case of family matters. That delicacy hid an iron will, he knew that very well. It was one of the reasons he had married her in the first place.

"I think some other creature can handle it. I've passed on enough that we have creatures capable of going and handling a bit of yakking over a council table." He nudged her nose with his. "Besides, how can I leave knowing my beautiful wife is all alone at night?"

[Brooke Briar Steeleye]

Brooke really felt bad now. Rockpaw was so cooperative in regards to the mission and he told her that she had the right to feel the way that she did but it didn't make her feel better in regards to the plate that she threw and the fact that she actually bruised her mate! The female put her forehead down on his broad chest and shook her head ruefully. "I'm so sorry about throwing the plate at you. I should have just come right out and told you why I was so upset. It's just that what you told me hit me like a ton of bricks and I lost control. I'm just glad that the children weren't here to see me act like such a toddler." Brooke looked up sadly and then kissed him tenderly.

The femme otter shifted in her seating, getting up more so that she could again pull at his shirt. She wanted to see the damage that she had done to her mate. One thing was for certain... She was happy that Rockpaw wasn't the violent sort. Quite frankly she felt like she deserved a good crack in the jaw for being such a b*tch. "Let me see it again Rockpaw. Please?" Perhaps she just wanted to see it so that the sight of it would burn into her memory in order to keep herself from doing such a thing again.

Brooke got up and straddled her mate's lap. When she wanted something she was sort of relentless but especially with this. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to go on the mission now just to get away from your abusive wife." Softly she now chuckled. How many creatures would believe that the small Brooke could pack such a punch?

[Rockpaw Steeleye]

"Well, if you insist," Rockpaw said with an air of long-suffering. Truthfully, though it was still throbbing, he wished to put it out of his mind and get their lives back to the joyful stability it had known thus far in their marriage. He could tell that Brooke was more affected by his apologetic and gentle nature than any intimidating anger he could have put up for her. He was a nurturing beast at heart. He had to be. To be a general, to lead and train, meant also to care. He had to want to bring up these creatures as his own children. And when that caring nature extended to his family, it was multiplied ten, fifty, a hundred, ten thousand-fold. He was going to care for every aspect of his family's life, no matter how horrid things go. Even if they argued like this every night from now to the end of their days he would not leave. He could not. He had made a promise, a commitment to the institution of their matehood. He simply didn't do desertion, not as a soldier and certainly not as a mate and father. Leave that to those that didn't understand or couldn't take the strain.

He lifted his shirt for Brooke to see the injury as she straddled his lap. Even with the pain from his injury, Rockpaw was hard-pressed not to think on how provocative this position was. He loved seeing those little spurts of domineering spirit. It was what helped make her into a commander in the first place, that unbending iron will that she kept hidden so well. The bruising was quite bad indeed, though the ice was helping with the swelling. Still, it looked uncomfortable at best and the sort of thing one would writhe around in agony about at the words. He had to show Brooke that he wasn't that badly affected though. He had to show her how much he'd forgiven her already, and would continue to do so simply because his heart was that big for his wife. Retaliation was the last thing on his mind. Indeed the day he took any sort of vengeance on Brooke was the day they stopped being husband and wife.

He reached up to her sides when she was done examining it and gently began to massage around her ribs and torso, his tough strong paws kneading any tense muscles into submission, his stormy blue eye and his winning smile doing the rest.

"Get away? Abusive?" He shook his head.

"I could only ever want to get away from you if it meant we'd end up that much more in love when I came back. And the only thing abusive here is how your beauty torments me every waking moment." He began to draw her closer, fully removing his shirt for ease of reference to the injury.

"I can't go a day without thinking of you, Brooke. Not a moment." His paws were starting to rove a little more boldly now, working down to the hem of her dress and finding bare fur here and there, his claws teasing her skin. Dinner, the argument, the shock of the mission... all of it seemed to be melting away now that they were together.

"I believe that we've had enough surprises for tonight, love. What do you say we start again and find a way to make this end on a high note?"

[Brooke Briar Steeleye]

Brooke's emerald green eyes displayed a very large amount of regret and guilt. Her brows furrowed around her lovely cisterns as she inspected his bruise further but he seemed very insistent that it wasn't a big deal. Brooke would try to let it go but her actions will haunt her for a very long time to come.

She knew though that she had just triggered something within her mate by forcefully straddling his lap. Brooke knew because of the way that his paws now massaged her sides and he duly tried his best to distract her from the bruise by taking off his shirt. It worked of course but not before she pulled back and leaned down to kiss the wound tenderly, the warmth of her lips a stark contrast to the freezing ice that now fell off the bed by their movements.

While Brooke was doing this his anxious paws found their way down the hem of her skirt, which forced the femme otter to groan and to physically shudder. It also caused her to straighten up and to come to attention, her face meeting with his as he made a reasonable request. Brooke nodded without saying a word, kissing her mate with an abundant amount of energy as her movements forced his touch to go deeper.