What You Mean to Me

Aliana didn't have to struggle to think of how to say the words she needed to say because Chimera cut her off, asking to speak first. She stared up at him in startled confusion, wondering what all of this was about. They sat on the beach, partly facing the ocean but mostly facing each other. She studied his expression, noticing the conflict in his eyes. Whatever he was struggling to say must have been weighing heavily on his mind. A moment of panic gripped her heart. What if he asked her to leave Fenmyre because she'd tried to resist and defy him? She'd broken her promise to him by trying to run to prevent having his litter. Was he upset by her disobedience?

Ali didn't notice the glowing crabs scuttling around them. She was too focused looking up at the behemoth that her whole life revolved around. When Chimera began to speak again, his words were so outlandish that Ali wasn't sure she'd heard him right. Chimera was apologizing to her? The smoke and snow fae's mouth hung open, gazing up at him in shock. He reached a paw cautiously towards her, and as much as it sent Aliana's alarms going off, she resisted the flight reflex and stayed still, allowing him to rest his paw over hers. His touch was warm, gentle, nothing like the paws that had manhandled her in the cabana. He told her the next time any of the faes were in heat, he would leave the island to keep her safe. Ali couldn't believe what she was hearing. Chimera was actually remorseful. This was no act or facade; this was actually a difficult thing for the brute to do. He was trying for her.

She wanted to ask him why, why he would willingly leave his home for her, and he beat her to the punch. The words he said were the most heartfelt she'd ever heard him say, but they were also so fantastical that she didn't know if they were real. Chimera... loved her? Her breathing caught in her throat when he lifted her paw to his lips, soft warmth pressing to her digits once, twice, the short furs on his muzzle gliding across her skin. It made her heart race and somersault in her chest. Chimera loved her. This was no ruse, no joke, no lie. Tears sprang to the corner of Ali's eyes, and despite her efforts to blink them back, they still fell down her cheeks. Her breathing was short and quick. He had bore his heart and soul to her to try and regain her trust, to rebuild their relationship together. She knew she had to tell him the truth, and tell him now.

"Chimera..." she began, forcing back the wave of emotion that threatened to shake her to her core as she held his loving gaze. "Chimera, I'm pregnant." It was done. She'd said the words, spoken them into existence. She felt her stomach turn and her heart pound at her chest, desperately searching Chimera's face for his reaction. She needed to see his reaction to the news, to know how he truly felt the moment he found out that she had his children inside her womb.

And then everything was silent. Ali saw the look of concern on Chimera's face and turned her head to follow his gaze across the tide pools. The crabs had all frozen stock still, staring at them with glowing blue eyes that seemed to pierce her very soul. Aliana gasped under her breath, looking around at the hundreds of glowing crabs with incandescent blue fireflies that appeared out of nowhere hovering just above them. "What's happening...?" she asked in a hushed, panicked whisper, a combination of her wild emotions and confused uncertainty making her feel more skittish than usual. She leaned closer to Chimera, seeking shelter and protection in his large form as she fit to his side like a puzzle piece.

"Aliana"