"I thought your mama had gone back to Earth," I said, my voice thick with regret. "I didn't know she was here. I didn't know you existed. And Teddy, I need you to understand something very important."
He looked at me with those trusting eyes, so open, so vulnerable. My eyes.
"If I had known—if I had known your mama was here, if I had known about you—nothing in this entire universe could have kept me away. Nothing. Do you understand?"
Teddy's chin wobbled, his eyes searching my face. "You didn't know about me?"
"I didn't know," I said, the words heavy with all the lost time, all the moments I'd missed. "But I know now. And I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere. Ever."
"Promise?" The word was so small, so hopeful.
"I promise," I said firmly, pouring every ounce of conviction into those two words. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you before, but I wanted to give you time… time to make sure you liked me.”
My cub’s eyes met mine with hesitation. “I love you.”
"I love you too, Teddy,” I said, my heart squeezing. “I love your mama. We're together now. A family. And that's how we're staying."
Teddy was quiet for a moment, processing, his small mind working through everything we'd told him. Then he looked between Ruby and me, his expression serious.
"You're not gonna leave again?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"No," I said without hesitation. "Never. You're stuck with me now, buddy."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
Teddy bit his lip, then said with all the seriousness only a four-year-old could muster, "You need to marry my mama."
Ruby let out a surprised laugh that turned into a sob, her hand flying to her mouth. I felt my own eyes burning.
"You know what, Teddy?" I said, my voice rough. "Nothing would make me happier."
"Really?" Teddy's face lit up, hope blooming there like a flower after rain.
"Really," I confirmed, looking at Ruby. Her eyes were sparkling with tears, but she was smiling, radiant despite everything.
"Is that okay with you, Mama?" Teddy asked, looking between us.
Ruby cupped his face in her hands, her touch gentle and loving. "That's more than okay, baby. That's perfect."
Teddy yawned suddenly, his body shuddering with it, the adrenaline finally dissipating. "I'm tired."
"Let's get you to bed," I said, starting to stand, preparing to carry him.
"No," Teddy said, grabbing both of us with surprising strength, his small hands clutching at our clothes. "All of us. Together."
I looked at Ruby, a question in my eyes. She nodded, understanding passing between us, something warm and profound settling in the space between our gazes.
I scooped Teddy up, and Ruby leaned on me as we made our way to the small bedroom. The bed was barely big enough for one adult, let alone two adults and a child, but we made it work.
Ruby lay down first, and Teddy curled into her side, fitting perfectly into the curve of her body. I stretched out on Teddy's other side, my arm reaching over both of them, encompassing them, protecting them. My tail wound around them both, the tip resting gently against Ruby's hip, a physical connection that satisfied something primal deep inside me.
"Love you, Mama," Teddy mumbled, already half asleep, his words slurring together.
"Love you too, baby," Ruby whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"Love you, Daddy," Teddy said, the word so natural, so right, like he'd been waiting his whole life to say it.
