He is never happier than when he was with her, there was simply something that settled in his chest when he was around her. She was just special, that was all there was to it and anyone who objected could take it up with him. Close as he was with his sister their relationship had never been anything like this. Haven was someone he could tell anything to, be completely honest with, and never fear how she would react. There was never fear that she would leave him, or drive him away like Astrid had; they were bonded forever and he knew nothing would change that. He could feel the tensing of her muscles as his nose finished its wandering trail across her body, causing his head to pull back and tilt quizzically at her. Was something wrong? His imagination ran away quickly, as usual, and he was already fathoming the worst of possible news as he lay down beside her.

The quiet resignation of her words about the fireflies only made his concern grow, his brows furrowing in concern as a low whine left him at the words that followed. What could she have to tell him that made her so concerned? There was nothing she could ever do to make him leave her, and she needed to know that. He ached to tell her just that, but she had asked him for time and he would give her anything she needed. Always. Still he couldn’t slow the racing of his heart as he waited in the tense silence that followed. Patience was not own of his virtues, and so waiting for her to speak again was near torture for the youthful boy as he ran through a mental checklist of all the horrible, terrible things that could be going on. She could be hurt, leaving him, dying, ‘Love, I’m pregnant.’, in love with someone else, over him… wait, what?!

His white patched head jerked back suddenly, surprise and confusion coloring plainly on his face and his muzzle actually hanging open in astonishment. It was then that he felt the warmth of her muzzle nuzzling into his chest and it set this world to spinning again. Instinctively his head lowered to lay over own, nuzzling her cheek as she continued on, trying to keep up with the words mumbled into his dark fur. To hear her cry nearly broke his own heart, that she was so afraid, and that he had caused it nearly destroyed him. Of course he had enjoyed the actual process that had led to this, but he had never fathomed that they would actually have puppies! I mean he knew it could lead to that, he was aware of the process, but he had never thought… He swallowed Haven’s words that she needed to be told it was all going to be okay echoing in his ears. She needed him, not the panicky, terrified him, but some better version where he could reassure her that it was all going to be alright. That they could do this.

“Oh, love,” he started, stopping suddenly when his voice came out a little too high pitched and emotional. Clearing his throat he made sure he could look into her steely gray eyes before speaking again, “Everything… everything is going to be just fine, my love. We’ll be okay. If we can catch fireflies, how hard can wrangling some puppies be?” He laughed lightly, trying for humor which had always been his best resource for defusing tension, but looking at the nervousness written so clearly on Haven’s beautiful face it was cut short. Nudging his head under her chin he lifted her face up, “Let me see that gorgeous face,” he whispered, licking the tears from her eyes and cheeks, before pulling back to look deeply into her eyes. “Together there is nothing we cannot handle, that much I know,” he reassured her before giving her his most award winning, lopsided smile.