Redsand Canyon My heart has teeth.

he listened, patient despite the churning of his gut. some part of it hurt to hear that she thought he would inevitably leave her. sure this pairing had not been entered into with love, but still there had been no...expiration date. he didn't intend to give her the children and flee off into the wild. and having watched their current lot grow? he had thought she might keep him around still for whatever years might follow.

he didn't want to leave. there was no blip in his mind that he might leave her and all of this behind.

at most, he wondered if they might leave one day. together. trips to take the children on, family to go see. thoughts that settled on his heart suddenly and he realized all of this with a stupid look upon his face.

business partners didn't find some sense of excitement in meeting family and dragging children across mountain ranges for it.

i'm not...leaving, towhee. ever. he declared, gaze fixed upon her features.

so you are stuck with me — and my love.

now he settled, silent and waiting. wondering if she still wanted to say fuck my life.