Chapter 12

R osa's place was chaos— the good kind.

Her family dynamic was one to envy. One of her mates was always with her and they worked as a team.

Zhuii handed Tohkrii over to his mama as the wee one exclaimed over his owie, with Kehko hovering nearby, in tears herself as she asked repeatedly if he was okay.

This had Zhuel crying as well because why not? Everyone else was!

The whole thing made me smile, laugh, and smirk inwardly. One kid at a time, I told myself, with a significant age gap between them to save my sanity. That's how I planned on doing it. Two at once had its advantages but what if my baby daddy did indeed end up being Rek?

My god, dealing with Rek and a baby?! It would be just like having two! What would I do with three?

"Mo Jojo!"

At the first excited cry of my name through loud tears, I set down my things and couldn't get my ass over there fast enough. "What happened, bub?" I asked the injured party.

"Owies!" he told me, making gimme hands until I did as he wished.

"C'mere, fuss monster," I crooned, swooping right in. "Show me your battle scars, little warrior man."

"Goot mama," Zhuii rumbled out sweetly as he nodded at Keke, giving her permission to peel a fruit to share with her chuchbuhs.

"She's the best," I agreed, smiling in my cousin's direction as she handled this all with a practiced ease that baffled and impressed me. Rosa was a boss. For real.

They were already talking about adding to their brood, and I found myself squeezing my legs shut in sympathy for her and trying not to outwardly cringe.

Maybe I needed to experience it for myself to fully understand that special, butt deep in motherhood connection, drown me in all them babies kinda baby fever like that. Or perhaps it was yet again another failing of mine. Or… I needed to find myself a group of overbearing louts to lighten the burden, to share it with me, and love me unconditionally the way hers are wild about her.

Yeah, maybe it was that.

"Yes. Lindymine good mama, too," Zhuii agreed, confusing me for all of two seconds.

"Keke's a good little mini mama," I agreed, to a prideful grin from Zhuii.

"He means you, silly," Rosa swooped in to help out.

"Oh," I blurted, for lack of anything to say to that. My face said it all when I blushed three shades of red, though I tried to play it off, and Rosa and Zhuii shared a private chuckle at my expense.

"Laugh it up, chuckle heads. We all know when I pop out a kid it's going to be my personality times ten." With a long suffering sigh, I joked, "I'll never get anyone to watch them."

"Baby Jojoknee worse baby Lo denaii," Zhuii laughingly agreed.

With a sniff, I huffed and puffed out, "My baby will be an angel. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"A demon-angel," Rosa cackled out, "just like you."

"Philistines!" My hand waved airily, nails clacking, and then I did the mature thing, sticking my tongue out at them the second they weren't looking.

My lil Keke girl giggled, spying this, nearly giving me a way, but grinned and nodded when I winked, put my finger to my lips, then mimed zipping my lips and throwing away the key.

Speaking of demon-angels… "Hey, did Boog stop by to see you? We were going to walk together but we, uh- we got split up." I wasn't lying, I told myself. Lies by omission aren't always fibs.

"Boog see Zhuii," Rosa's orange-eyed husband said simply.

He wasn't a male of many words, not with me, but I didn't mind.

I felt like her mates more or less tolerated me, and appreciated my offers to watch the kids when they wanted alone time with their lady.

Speaking of which… "You guys should go out the next time I come over. Go do whatever it is you do that I don't need the deets on. Have some you time." Leaning in, I nudged Rosa. "Get started on the next batch of cuteness," I whisperingly teased her with a nudge-nudge and a wink-wink that had her laughing, face flushing, and simultaneously hushing me.

Kehko was entering her question everything phase. It was as endearing as it was challenging. The kid had insane hearing.

Speaking of the cute lil devil, my blue furred little niece walked over, frowning slightly as she reached me.

"What's the matter, Keke girl?" My gaze followed hers but I didn't understand until I remembered my basket.

"Your basket broke," she lamented, as if it had a life all its own.

"My basket weaving skills need basket fortifying lessons," I joked, pulling a box free to hold it out to her. Ruffling her hair as I handed it over, I murmured as I placed a kiss to the top of her blue furred head, "You have to share."

Lopsided woven basket forgotten, her pretty lavender eyes brightened as she leaned in and gave a sniff. "Mine!"

"Share," Zhuii rumbled out firmly but not unkindly, watching their eldest as she paused, met his gaze, but eventually nodded, then set the box on the table to carefully take the lid off.

"Meaties and cookies!" she exclaimed, piquing both of her brothers' curiosity.

A grin stole over my face when two little noses lifted, sniffed, and happy rumbles issued from them.

"I hope you like them." Leaning towards Kehko, but carefully, knowing she could get territorial about food if she wasn't thinking before reacting, I avoided pointing at things and just stating what everything was out loud.

"Kehko haves some, mama, pwease?" she asked sweetly.

"One. Dinner's almost done." Rosa leaned in herself, trying to get a peek in the box.

"Aw, c'mon, mom," I teased, "just one of each, a little one of each?"

Rosa snorted at my antics, waiting a few minutes before caving. "A small one of each."

"Brubbers, too?" Kehko glanced to her mother hopefully.

Zhuii sat back watching the byplay, smiling at the pair.

"Of course." Rosa grinned down at her little one. Kehko always thought of her little brothers. She had a big heart.

"Treats!" I chanted, until both boys were happily clapping and crying out, "Teats-teats-teats!" to my great amusement, Zhuii's poorly muffled snort-laughs, and Rosa's long suffering sighs between muffled laughter, because, yes, I am just that much of a pain in the butt, but she loves me anyway.

"You did that on purpose," Rosa muttered under her breath.

"Dearest cousin of mine, whatever do you mean?" I mock squeaked indignantly.

"You know exactly what I mean-" she started to say.

A sharp rap on the door cut off whatever Rosa was going to mutter to softly chastise me, a familiar pale head of short white hair popping into the room. "Noyel's outside talking with Gofur. He told me to just go ahead and pop in. I hope I'm not intruding?"

"Bia come," Zhuii said in way of greeting.

"We eats meaties and treats, Uncle Bia-by!" Kehko exclaimed as she decimated a piece of jerky and got to work on her brownie bite.

"Teats! Teats!" the boys cried out happily between stuffing their faces.

Bia laughed, taking in their enthusiasm. "It's like I just stepped into a scene from my place," he joked.

"Oh? Does Mina make a lot of teats?" I quipped, to a sharp ribbing from Rosa that had me grunting, grimacing, and quickly scooting away from her as I laughed my butt off.

Watching us heckle each other, Bia smiled but blushed, content to plead the fifth and wait us out until we were done.

"What brings you all the way out here?" Rosa waved me off when I would have snarkily offered reasons why. I wisely kept my mouth shut. Those elbows fucking hurt! Demon woman!

"Actually, I came here for Joanie," the male said simply.

"Me?" I spluttered, shocked to hear this. "What- Why- I didn't do anything." Erm, at least not that I could recall…

The last time I'd spent any time with Mina I'd been on my best behavior. Kirch was always lurking around and it made me feel like he was spying for himself as much as for Rek. Tarnk and Veck were pretty chill but content to sit quietly while Mina did all the talking. Bia, like his mother, took more of a host's position when guests were over. I felt like I knew Dorothy's youngest better out of all of Mina's males because he reminded me so much of his mother.

Bia laughed at my reaction but motioned for me to follow him outside instead of delivering his message to the entire room.

"Is something wrong?" Rosa fretted. She was starting to get that look on her face, the very one I'd done as I had to avoid in the first place.

"No," Bia said quickly, so quickly Zhuii glanced between us and his eyebrows shot up.

"Oh. Pssh. I'm pretty popular around these here parts. Who knows! You've seen my mad sewing skills. I'm the needle witch of Yetidom. Plus, I'm discreet," I rambled, tossing my cousin an overdone wink that had that look on her face transforming into a nose crinkling, I probably don't want to know face, as I made my way over to Bia and he followed me out.

Bia pointed to his ear and then led me a ways away from their little underground home sweet home before he started to speak.

"It's not Kooky, is it? He's good, right? Because I told him," I muttered in hushed whispers, "if he got himself maimed he better hope he cocks toes from it before I get to him."

"Kooky-" A choked noise left Bia and I felt like my heart had stopped.

"Oh my god, is your uncle okay?" When he didn't answer fast enough for my liking, I grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a good shake. "Yo, fuzzo, what's the dealio?!"

"My uncle is fine," Bia replied carefully, when he'd managed to get ahold of himself and shove off my grip. I was shaking the poor guy like a ragdoll for a moment there.

"Why am I hearing a big assed butt in there?" I demanded to know.

Bia laughed, like he just couldn't help himself, amused in the face of my fit of pique instead of annoyed, mad, or any of the other kajillion things he could have been in reaction. "I forget how much you're like my Mina," he said on a chuckle.

"Yes, very amusing, thank you, moving on," I muttered quickly, to his further amusement. "The message?" I asked, impatiently waiting for him to get ahold of himself as he grinned down at me like a sweet faced, chortling idiot.

Eh, I could see why Mina liked him. The guy was a sweet pea and easily amused by snippy women.

"Right. The message. Khri and a few others went to join your, uh, Kooky on his hunt. They found yukti tracks-"

"He's not my Kooky," I mutteringly replied. I highly doubted Kookypants would appreciate a rumor like that going around. He might suddenly become too busy to hang out with me. Then I'd shrivel up and die and it would be sad, so very sad, but anyway!

"Of course," Bia said quickly, yet the freak smiled too widely for someone in complete agreement with my statement.

"Carry on," I huffed bossily, waving for him to get on with it. I'd admit I was nervous and the ‘tude was peeking. That "of course" from him wasn't really helping things any.

"Long story short, they're going to follow the herd's tracks. It'll take a bit. Mama offered to put you up at their place but Doogie's lost his marbles and took over the guest room, insisting if they let you stay the night you'd never leave." Shaking his head, Bia let out a low whistle.

"Your brother has issues." It took everything in me not to outright grin evilly. Paranoid much, Dougie boy? "He needs a girlfriend," I added.

"Tell me about it," Bia muttered. "He spends more time holed up drawing than anything else. He'd forget to eat if Mama didn't remind him. I think she doesn't push him too hard to leave because she's secretly afraid he can't make it on his own. Can you believe he's older than me?" The male let out a deep breath, the air he let out puffing out in a little white cloud, it was that freeze your nipples off cold out right now.

"Thinks he's the favorite but it's actually that everyone's worried he'll forever be a lost boy? A tale as old as time." My soft, sarcastic tsking was cut off when he blurted excitedly, "I know of the lost boys. Mama told us that story when we were little."

Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I rocked on my heels. "Did it keep you from being a dummy?"

A smirk tipped the male's lips. "Right up until I found my mate. There was no helping the stupid I got up to after I laid eyes on my Mina."

Awww. And a little bit, Shut up, that's too cute for words and my brain just can't handle it.

"So…" Ignoring the dreamy look that stole over his face at the mention of his ladylove, I thought I might need to be the one to get this ball rolling. "Do I need a ride home or…?"

"Oh. No. Your- Erm- It was thought better if you stayed within the village, safer and you won't be all alone. Baby can stay at Mama's, and I offered my old place up. You could use it at times like this, you know, when you two come into town, if you need it, or whatever."

"Oh. Wow. Thanks." I didn't know what to say. It was really nice of him.

"Haven't been there in a bit but Mama said she'd pop in and check to see everything was ready to go for a guest." Nodding, he rocked on his heels for a minute, crossing his arms over his chest. Was he waiting for something from me…?

"Is there… something else?" My gaze darted from the nervous rocking back and forth and the shuttered expression on his face, the way he tensed after crossing his arms.

"Are you alright, out there all alone with my uncle?" he blurted, looking uneasy.

"Why wouldn't I be?" My hand lifted and I waved it about airily. "I was the one that talked Kooky into staying with me in the first place," I admitted, hoping that eased whatever concerns he had. "He's been a perfect gentleman."

Bia blinked, gaze catching on my bracelet as it jingled along with me. It was a lovely soothing sound, and this guy kinda reminded me of a nervous, easily distracted house cat hanging around me.

"It's really cool of your Uncle Celuk to let us stay there like that," I added.

Bia frowned, staring down at me with a funny look.

Maybe it's been a long day for him. "Me and Kooky," I elaborated.

Bia blinked. "Oh. Yes. Right. Sorry." Shaking his head, his expression cleared and he got this ah-hah look on his face. He was kinda small compared to most Lo denaii. Maybe he didn't get enough nutrient rich foods or something or needed to find himself a Lo denaii version of a multivitamin. It may also be affecting his brain.

"You okay? You look like me getting off of coffee," I murmured lightly. Pausing for a moment, wondering just how much he did or didn't know, I asked cryptically, "Have there been, uhm, any creature sightings lately?"

"Creature sightings?" he sputtered incredulously. "You aren't, uh, actively looking for any, are you?"

"What? No!" And there was my answer. A part of me silently asked, What kinda crazy, exactly, was he under the impression I was embracing? "I was warned not to wander off on my own." A shudder wracked me. "There are too many creepy things chilling in the woods, waiting to snatch a human up."

"Yes. Of course. Yes," he muttered absently, once more spying the bracelet on my arm tinkling lightly.

"It's a best friends bracelet. Gopher gave it to me," I proudly informed him.

"I didn't realize you were his Jo." Bia looked so surprised by the fact, I had to wonder what all Gopher was telling him about me.

My eyes narrowed as his gaze grew thoughtful.

"Are you by chance, associated with Kirch's warrior charge Rek as well?" His nose wrinkled and he gave a grunt. "I wondered why those two were suddenly at each other's throats. Had to be over a woman."

"Rektal causes his own drama," I reluctantly responded. I was offended, defensive, and weirdly flattered.

"Do you nickname everyone you meet?" he wondered aloud.

With a shrug, I told him, "Only if they deserve it." Wiggling a claw at him, I warned, "Careful, B, or you might be next."

"Why does that sound like it holds two meanings?" he said on a laugh.

"Because it does," I informed him saucily, bluntly. "Why, you want one?"

"Is B not one in and of itself?" he sputtered.

My eyebrows winged upward. "I've got better ones."

"And Doogie was the exception to this rule?" he queried, ignoring my taunted quip. I took this as his desperate attempt to avoid something worse than B and take the heat off of him, simultaneously.

B was no dummy.

The fun of the moment popped like a pin to a balloon. Reality and sad stuff were mood killers like that. "He's named after your mom's brother," I replied softly. "I heard about what happened to him. I won't mangle his name but that doesn't exempt Doogie from a fun, well deserved, non-birth-name-of-loved-one christening."

A guarded look came over the male's features. "How do you know about my mother's brother?"

Not entirely comfortable admitting to the private conversation I'd had with his uncle, his frown lightened and he nodded knowingly. "Mama must have told you. She thinks you a potty mouth of the highest order but I heard she's really taken to you."

A cackle left me to hear that. Sounded like Dorothy. "I like your mom too," I said easily, hesitating before admitting, "look, I don't want to upset the person that told me but it wasn't your mom. I'd like to think they can tell me things in confidence and I'll do better to keep my trap shut and not slip up in future. I just know I run the risk of you stirring things mentioning this to your mom thinking she told me."

Bia stared down at me, askance, but then he got this light bulb going off over his head look. "My uncle told you?" he murmured, looking stunned stupid at the idea.

"Not that it matters who told me, but is that so hard to believe?" A snort of a laugh left me. "I'm not that much of a monster, contrary to popular belief… all the time."

The beast's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Is that what you thought I meant?" Lifting his hands, he waved them briefly in a cutting motion. "That's not what I meant at all." A self-deprecating laugh left him at the mix up.

"What did you mean, then?" I mutteringly mumbled uncertainly.

"He's not much of a talker," Bia confided. His smile reached his eyes then. His deep blue eyes twinkled with something I wasn't in on and wasn't curious enough to ask about.

These beasts were full of odds and ends and silly secrets. At some point, I'd grown picky about what to care about and what to yeet the feck away from me.

Not much of a talker? Fuzzsticles? Really? He was a regular Gabby Gus with me. Maybe he'd yet to feel like he could open up to anyone else like he did with me. It gave me the warm and fuzzies to think maybe our feelings were so deeply felt on both ends.

"Do I need to follow you out now?" I asked, wanting to change the subject before I blurted anything else I shouldn't out.

Bia blinked at the switch of topic but didn't comment on it. Pulling a folded piece of paper from his belt, he held it out to me. "If you're not ready to go now, Mama drew you a map. It's in the village, cuts through, so you don't have to worry about any "creatures" lurking." Lower, he softly whispered, "We've never had a Krampus bold enough to waltz right into a camp before. Too risky."

"You know, then." My hands felt numb as I took the paper from him.

Grimacing, he admitted as he nodded, "Didn't want to tell Mina. Didn't want to lie. We told her there have been sightings of wild creatures lurking, and not to leave the village." Hesitating, he muttered, "I don't want to frighten her. It's not a lie, is it? Mama says it's not but… Kirch doesn't like keeping the whole of it from her."

"You're protecting her." Reaching out, I gave his arm a comforting squeeze, removing it from his person just as quickly. "Will Mina tell everyone else if you tell her?" I asked.

"I don't know… I don't think so," Bia replied with a frown and a shrug. "If I asked her not to first, then surely she wouldn't repeat it."

"Are you going to tell her the whole of it, or that there are Krampus hanging around?" From our brief interactions, I dunno, he struck me as the trustworthy sort.

"There's more?!" he blurted, looking alarmed, making me wish I'd quit putting my fat foot in my mouth.

"Huh?" I mumbled, staring up at him innocently.

"You said there's more," he persisted.

"Did I?" A fake frown pulled at my brow.

"Look, if you don't tell me, I'll just-" He was starting to look worried, almost panicked, and forgot all about controlling the volume of his damn voice.

"Jesus, keep your voice down! You want the whole neighborhood to hear?!" With a dirty look aimed his way and an extracted promise from him not to tell Mina the details I was about to divulge, I spilled the beans on the Krampus watching my hut, the whole damn enchilada.

"Everything okay out there?" Rosa called out to us.

"Be right there!" I called back.

Turning back to Bia, I gave him a warning look. "You heard about how I beat Rek's ass up, yes? All the crazy I'm capable of?"

Bia looked like he was about to laugh over the idea but the longer he met my gaze, the quicker the smirk tipping his lips fell. My eyes narrowed as I patted my purse. Many, too many, assumed I was still packing. It had been a note of contention with Berkr until I'd proven I didn't have my gun on me or in my hut anymore. "Well, yes, but- I just thought-"

"Believe it," I snapped quietly, quickly.

Bia gulped, throat working, and nodded.

"I don't want this shit getting back to Rosa. She's happy and enjoying all the things new mommies should. You feel me?"

"I understand," he said simply. The disconcerted scowl on his mug smoothed out at the mention of Rosa.

"I'm trusting you," I reminded him.

"You have my word," he assured him. His lips tipped up into a sweet little smile. Okay, so maybe I could kinda see what Mina saw in him. The whole hybrid next door sweetness bit.

Not for me, that was for sure, but I could see how he could balance out hot headed Mina. Like Gopher had once been for me, B was her chill pill.

We spoke quietly and quickly for a few tense moments longer before we both went our separate ways.

As he hit the top of a small hill, he called out, "For what it's worth, I know Goph, and that?" He jerked his chin towards my raised hand as I waved him off. "That was never just a best friends bracelet."

Glancing down at the trinket dangling off my wrist as I dropped it to curl it to my chest, my fingers smoothed over the stones and a small smile tipped my lips.

Once more, my heart smiled.