Sun Mote Copse The end of Troy.

Like Towhee, Phox was bound by nature not to lust after her, even if the smell was beyond pleasant. If anything, it only made him think naughty thoughts about Niamh, which he quickly brushed away in an attempt to keep that relationship on the friend level. Phox swallowed, doing his best to keep his attention on Towhee and not let his mind wander too much. She mentioned missing him and the kids, which filled him with delightful warmth. Even if he never took another mate, Phox knew he could always, always count on Towhee. He hoped she knew that was mutual.

Awww, how sweet of you, he said, teasing her just a little bit. Noticed you've been spending an awful lot of time with Pippin, eh? Been bumpin' uglies? He wasn't sure what their relationship was like, and now seemed like an opportune time to ask. It wasn't like Towhee had ever been bashful when asking about Camilla. Besides, it might segue into Niamh, which was another topic he wanted to broach at some point. Towhee was his closest confidant, and he wanted her approval.