Phoenix Maplewood li pale [m]

They knew the answer would be tragic, though their heart still squeezed when Marie shared her living mother’s condition. It made Totoro think again of Sugar, who had dearly loved her child but never seemed remotely interested in sorting out Totoro’s paternity or involving a partner in any way.

I really cannot imagine, they repeated sympathetically. I think our families and upbringings are quite similar, although my mother never seemed interested in romance. She and the witches raised me to love freely and without strings. I do not think any of them were mated, nor were there any other children in The Coven. Some of them proudly referred to themselves as crones.

Totoro’s lips pursed thoughtfully as they reflected, comparing and contrasting what they knew against what Marie had shared with them. They then revisited earlier in the conversation, specifically their musing about children. If they could bear young from their own body, they supposed they planned to follow in Sugar’s footsteps. But what if they could only plant a seed in another’s?

It was a foregone conclusion that the men Marie took as lovers would not be involved in their offspring’s lives. She was a lovely she-wolf and Totoro wouldn’t mind wandering down that path with her simply for the companionship and pleasure of it. But what if it resulted in children? Totoro would never know if they were theirs and might not have a place in their lives either way.

Nonetheless, the thought stirred their awareness of her heat. Totoro shifted slightly, rolling onto their elbow. This moved their upper body away from Marie, though only to afford them a better look at her face again. The two of them had connected so quickly. Just looking into Marie’s eyes made their heartbeat quicken.