Excitement, his entire body teemed with it. It ran down his slender back like electricity causing the skin to jump in places until the current ended in his tail which hadn’t stopped wagging in days; even in his sleep if Haven was to be believed. Which he did believe her, just so you know. He had barely taken his mismatched eyes off of her in the last few days. They had been through this process before, he knew the signs to look for that indicated the time was getting close at paw. Yes perhaps his… exuberance at Haven achieving her new rank had been a bit overzealous, but none less enjoyable and he wouldn’t trade becoming a dad once more for anything.

Today was the day he knew, or at least felt mostly certain. All the signs were there and he could actually feel her discomfort through their bond. He stuck to her side like a burr, no doubt getting in the way more than once and tripping over both their paws at times but he simply couldn’t help himself. Haven was his world which made their pups like tiny moons that orbited around them. Rufio, Samus, and Moonstone had grown into young adults now and he was proud of what each of them had become, but he was looking forward to playing with these new children. He would tell them stories and teach them tricks just like they had before, and despite it not being their first litter he was no less thrilled at the prospect.

Finally after getting in the way one too many times he relegated himself to the floor of the den, just out of the way enough to give Haven her space though his was still poised to spring forward at a moment’s notice if she needed anything. He watched her desperately, concern and anticipation shining in his eyes as his soft falsetto whines echoed her own. Despite how much he wanted to meet their children he could hardly bear to watch her be in any kind of pain. Finally she laid down, falling to her side and he crawled forward slowly. “It’s time, isn’t it?” he whispered softly, stretching out his neck to lick her cheek lovingly before she truly began to strain.

He watched in silence, which was very hard for him, as she strained and pushed but it seemed like little time at all until he heard the telltale sounds that meant they had made a new life. Large ears pricked forward eagerly as he watched Haven clean him off, a huge crooked smile covering his face as she revealed a perfect little boy with his own half mask. As Haven began laboring once more he scooted forward enough to let his pink tongue wash over the pups small body, continuing to clean as his tail thumped heavily on the den’s floor behind him. He was so distracted by their son he almost missed Haven bringing their daughter to lay next to him. She was beautiful as well, dark but smaller and still perfect.

Dragging his gaze from their two wonderful children he looked up into Haven’s eyes, clinging to the love that pulsed between them in this special moment. His grin widened at her words, something he might not have thought possible before. “They are perfect, just like you!” He wiggled forward enough to nibble her ear lovingly as he listened to the names she wanted for them. “I love those names, it suits them.” He smiled down on his growing family, more satisfied than he could ever remember being before. “And you got me all excited, the rank was just a good excuse,” he whispered in her ear before flashing her a devilish grin. With a wink he bounced away from her and to the entrance of the den, tipping back his slender head and singing to the mountains of their new members. His high tenor voice reverberated through the trees and rocks, telling family and friends alike of Remington and Winchester.