Kiernan
Kiernan carefully cut a curve in the wood, following the line he'd drawn. It was March, and temperatures were rising, but he still wore the red sweater Carly had knitted him for Christmas under his smock. It reminded him of the time they'd met at the Dream Weaver booth at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Sure, the sweater came a little bit later than expected, but it touched him that she still remembered, too. If he had a choice in the matter, he wouldn't wear anything else.
Jenny appeared just as he finished cutting the curve in the cedar. "Hi," she said.
"Hi," Kiernan replied, turning off the saw and pushing up his goggles. "Good to see you back."
"I've been back for a week," Jenny laughed.
"Still good to see you." Kiernan wiped sawdust off his hands and smock and went over and gave her a hug.
Jenny hugged him back, then looked at the cedar lying on the workbench. "Whatcha makin'?"
"A present for Carly. Well, a present for Carly and Squish," Kiernan said.
"I still love that you call him or her that. Still no interest in finding out the sex? It makes gift buying a little easier for the rest of us," Jenny wheedled.
Kiernan shook his head. "You can beg all you want, but we're waiting until Squish is born."
"But I could do such a fabulous gender reveal party!" Jenny tugged Kiernan's arm like a child asking for a cookie.
"I know. But we've decided. Maybe next time." Kiernan pulled his arm out of Jenny's grasp.
Jenny sighed and walked over to the workbench. She fluttered through the pages of Kiernan's design until she found the completed schematic. "Kiernan, wow! She's going to love it!"
"That's the idea," Kiernan said. "So, you and Alec haven't killed each other yet, I see. I'm taking that as a good sign."
"What can I say? He grows on you after a while. Like fungus." Jenny giggled at her own joke and Kiernan couldn't help but join in. "Besides, he did chase me all over the country. I figure that's something."
"Jenny, he would have chased you all over the world." Kiernan took a protractor and began roughing out another piece of the present.
"I know. We're going to make it work. I think he really thought I might elope with Sean," Jenny said.
Kiernan snorted. "Like you'd ever do that to Alec. Or Sean. Speaking of which, where's he at now?"
"He's still in Arizona. Their festival isn't over until the beginning of April." Jenny smiled wistfully. "It was so nice and warm there."
"I used to go to Oklahoma this time of year. I like how he's jumping around different venues. Sorry to hear he hasn't found his mate yet." Kiernan finished drawing another curve on the wood.
"Not for lack of trying on his part," Jenny agreed.
Kiernan set the protractor aside. "I'm really glad Alec isn't being an asshole about the Gamma being gone."
Jenny shook her head ruefully. "I think Alec is trying to stay in my good graces. That, and I don't know that he's ready to deal with Sean yet after all that time we spent together. He's a jealous wolf, my man is."
"We all know that. Luckily he's a jealous man who knows how to run a pack. He prepped me before he left and I still couldn't believe the amount of work he has to deal with. I'm just glad he's back so we can split it," Kiernan said.
Jenny patted him on the shoulder. "Thanks for making that time for him and me. I really appreciate it, more than you know, Kiernan."
Kiernan smiled. "What are brothers for?"
* * *
Carly
Carly laid back in bed, sweat still beaded on her brow as she watched Kiernan holding their daughter, Rosie. He rocked Rosie and made little babbling baby talk at her, and it made Carly's heart ache with happiness.
"And then Daddy's going to take you fishing," Kiernan was explaining to their daughter. "Yes, he is. Yes, he is. You're going to catch one whopper of a Northern. Yes, you are. Okay, maybe not in this lake—d-stupid tourists—but Daddy's going to take you up to Alpha Trevor's territory someday and THEN you'll catch a whopper of a Northern."
"I hope you're not planning on going without me," Carly said, pretending to be miffed.
Kiernan chuckled. "Mommy wants to go fishing, too. Should we all go together? I think we should. Yes. We'll go camping in a tent, and have tasty fish fries. Daddy makes the best fish fries, yes he does."
The tiny bright pink little girl in Kiernan's arms just made small snuffles and grunts. Her tiny mouth formed a huge yawn.
"I think it's time we use the present." Carly gestured to the side of the bed.
Kiernan sulked. "But I don't wanna let her go."
"She'll still be there after a little nap. Then we have to try to get her to latch on again." Carly grimaced at the idea. It was harder than it looked.
"We'll get there." Kiernan reluctantly laid Rosie in the cedar cradle he'd made her. He rocked it gently with his toe. Then he leaned over the bed and gave Carly a kiss. "I love you, Mommy."
Carly kissed him back. "I love you, too, Daddy."