"Because I know that sword is precious to you. I'll do anything to get it back."
When his golden eyes wavered with emotion, my heart swelled. Why was he like this? Why did he have to be fucking sweet and compassionate? He was making it incredibly difficult to resist him.
Cloud's gaze fell to the floor. "I can't imagine what you're going through. To lose a memento of your father..."
I blinked. "Wait. What?"
"Huh?"
We looked at each other for a moment. Cloud's feathers ruffled with confusion. "Didn't you inherit the sword from him?"
My jaw fell open before I started laughing. "Wait. Cloud, did you think my dads were dead?"
"They're not?" Cloud asked in a higher pitched voice.
"No!" I laughed. "Oh gods. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea."
He scratched his head, embarrassment written all over his features. "No, it's not you, I shouldn't have assumed."
I smiled, taking his hand in my own. "You're sweet, Cloud. The sword does mean a lot to me, but it's not because of that. Both my dads are alive."
"Thank goodness," he said with a relieved sigh. "In that case, I'd like to meet them someday."
Warmth filled my chest. Did he really mean that? That was quite a serious step forward in our relationship—whatever our relationship was at this point.
"I... I'd like to meet your family, too. All five hundred of them."
Cloud burst out in laughter. "Okay, there's notthatmany people in my family."
I grinned. "I finally believe you, by the way," I mentioned. "About your strange mixed-species pack. I was skeptical before, and... a little jealous."
"Jealous?"
"I love my Da and Pa, of course, but it's just the three of us, and I don't live with them anymore. Most days it's just me."
Cloud's hand moved over mine. "Do you get lonely?" he asked.
I nodded. Hearing it put into words felt painfully raw but it was the truth.
"I'm sure your family isn't roses and rainbows all the time, but I can tell how much you love each other just by the way you talk about them," I murmured. "It sounds nice. To be surrounded by that love."
Cloud smiled. "My brother's kind of annoying, and so are some of my cousins honestly."
"Of course," I replied, returning his smile.
"But otherwise I can't complain."
When I didn't respond, Cloud asked, "Do you want a bigger family, Meeko?"
"I don't have cousins or siblings like you do."
Cloud's thumb stroked the top of my hand. "Not that. I meant... do you want children one day?"
The hint of hope in his voice threw me for a loop. I searched his golden eyes, wishing I knew what he was thinking.
"Do you?" I asked.
He grinned. "Hey, I asked first."
