5/1/2025, 6:18 PM
cole wasn’t a man made for joy—but this, this moment, had hollowed him out and filled him again. twitch against his chest, winnie in his arms, and the smell of her—changed. the shape of her—fuller. he stared, not cruel, not stunned, just… quiet. trying to understand. trying to believe.
his breath caught. his eyes flicked from her face to her belly, then back again. slow dawning, grief-mixed wonder. the kind of look he’d never been taught to wear.
and then twitch, pulling back, her body curling like she’d been struck. cole saw it—saw too much. the shift of her leg. the wrap of her tail. the fear. his chest split wider.
he reached out, slow and steady, brushing a knuckle to the side of her jaw. didn’t press. didn’t ask. just let her feel him there.
then his eyes cut to winslet, something steeling behind the warmth.
his shoulders rolled with a breath, heavy and aching.
his breath caught. his eyes flicked from her face to her belly, then back again. slow dawning, grief-mixed wonder. the kind of look he’d never been taught to wear.
you're…his voice broke. he cleared his throat, jaw clenched like it hurt to feel.
they’re mine?a whisper, barely there. half-joke, have unbelieving that'd he'd be a fuckin' dad again.
and then twitch, pulling back, her body curling like she’d been struck. cole saw it—saw too much. the shift of her leg. the wrap of her tail. the fear. his chest split wider.
he reached out, slow and steady, brushing a knuckle to the side of her jaw. didn’t press. didn’t ask. just let her feel him there.
you ain't gotta lie to me, bird. not now.his voice was softer than gravel had any right to be.
then his eyes cut to winslet, something steeling behind the warmth.
i ain’t goin’ nowhere.a promise to them both.
whatever happened—wherever we are—we’re together. an’ that means somethin’. always did.
his shoulders rolled with a breath, heavy and aching.
you two are it for me. always were.