Lion Head Mesa in sickness, in health—

she was—what? 
first, there was shock—how?! ah, but she knew how, and Toula had the strength to withhold the embarrassed grin that might have presented itself had she not been brought up with more decorum—because surely Tavina knew, too! but there was no shame, none at all as she processed exactly what this meant,
and second came a wave of grief, of sadness, as she thought of her own mother. this feeling overtook her, and she existed in the watery element of it, suspended there. had her mother felt this way, without her own mother there to share such news with? Gods, Toula wanted nothing more in that moment then to have her there with her! because strangely there was fear, too—pregnant! what would it be like? how would she feel? Toula had gone into everything with an education, but motherhood! 
that education had ended far too prematurely! and she remembered something in this aching state grief, knew that there was something she must do…
but at last came joy, and the tears that sprang forth were brought on by this wondrous feeling, because this all had came about by love, and she had dreamt of these children in the nights she could not remember when she roused. perfect beings, nestled at her breast—and Rashepses looking on at them all, adoringly,
and she was beaming! pregnant! she gasped! Toula moved to gently hold the paw of Tavina, eyes searching: you will be with me, when they come earthside? as you were with my mother…?