The morning started with the door to their room creaking open and two small cubs in zip-up PJs pouncing on the sleeping couple. Luckily, they both made sure to get dressed again after their late night adventures.

“They always do this. Their bears think it’s funny,” Rain said groggily while he tickled one of the cubs.

“The lighter one is Jett?” Quinn asked.

“Yup, and this one is Axel. Alright you two, we’re up. Go tell your mom you need breakfast.”

The little bears scooted off them and out the door.

“You hit the bathroom first, I’ll be right behind you,” Rain said, giving her a pre-tooth brush appropriate kiss.

Quinn got up and took care of business. She changed into a pair of leggings and a long-sleeve shirt before pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

Rain came back and got dressed in record time, looking much more dapper than she did. Heading towards the living room, they found Cassie and Cash feeding two babies that were in highchairs in the middle of the kitchen.

“Hey, where’s mine?” Rain asked, leaning over and kissing the twins on the top of their fuzzy heads

“You want oatmeal with pureed prunes? I got some here,” Cash said holding up a pan.

“Eww, what are you doing to my niece and nephew?”

“Makin’ them poop. It’s what you do as a parent. You go from asking each other about your day at work to asking whether the kids have pooped. It’s our main topic of conversation and for your information; they haven’t gone in twenty-four hours. We are on code red to get them to go. You don’t want cranky constipated toddler cubs crying,” Cassie explained.

“Good to know,” Rain said grabbing two cups from the cupboard.

“Morning,” Quinn said, giving the gooey babies a nuzzle each.

The babies squealed and slammed their spoons down on the trays that were covered in oatmeal.

“They like you,” Cassie said almost as a warning.

“That’s okay, they are too cute for words.”

Rain handed her a cup of coffee. “Cash made regular oatmeal too, do you want some? I’m sticking with cereal, but the kids seem to like it.”

“Sure,” she said taking a seat at the stool along the counter facing the living room.

“Berries and honey?” Rain asked pulling bowls down from a cupboard.

“Just brown sugar if you have it.”

Cassie snorted while feeding Jett a heaping spoonful of purple mush. “Bears. Honey and berries all the time. They are freaks for it. They say they just like it, but it’s not the humans running the show on that.”

“Hey, you liked fruit,” Cash accused.

“Yeah, while I was knocked up. Again, it wasn’t me wanting it, these two were very demanding. I got back to my artificial flavoring and food coloring as soon as they popped out.”

Quinn was sure that Cassie had a hidden stash of goodies like she did. She and Rain sat at the counter eating their breakfast watching the coordinated efforts of the two parents feeding, cleaning, and managing the babies.

When the twins were put on the floor, both shifted in a flash of sparks and two tiny bears were tearing through the house, their sharp claws digging into the foam mats that seemed to be laid out on every walkway.

“I’m off to mom and dad’s. Mom wants help with a new recipe. Why she’s delving into baking I don’t know. She needs to stick with what she knows,” Cash sighed.

“Cash is the cook around here. Just don’t tell mom that.” Rain explained.

“What do you have planned today?” Rain asked Cassie.

“The usual. Outside play, lunch, naps, inside play, baths, snacks, dinner, bed. Wait, were you asking me or the twins?” Cassie mocked.

“I’m taking Quinn for a bit of a walk. I want to show her the river,” Rain said, picking up their empty bowls and dropping them in the sink.

“Mmm-hmm, show her the river? Does that involve taking off your pants?” Cassie asked, cleaning off one of the highchairs.

“Sprite, don’t scare the girl off,” Cash rumbled.

“Puhleeze, I’m sure she’s met the wonder weasel by now. She certainly wouldn’t be braving this crazy family if she hadn’t.”

Quinn burst out laughing. Cassie was someone you’d love to befriend, and Quinn had an epiphany that if everything went according to Rain’s plan, that she could have Cassie as a sister. A real giggle-under-the-covers-and-tell-secrets-to sister. It made her want to tear up, but she pulled herself together and just smiled at the tiny woman.

The group broke up with Rain and Quinn grabbing hoodies and sturdier shoes to head outside. The day was still crisp but the sun was shining through the tree limbs, dappling the light on the ground. An early morning frost still clung to the leaves that the sun hadn’t touched yet.

Rain took Quinn’s hand in his and they started walking down a narrow path the led off from the side of the garage. They passed by a huge wooden play structure that was twice as tall and ominously dangerous looking compared to anything Quinn had ever seen before. It was a play area built for bears, not humans.

They walked in silence, Quinn taking in the smell of the damp ground. It was the smell that Quinn had missed so much. The few times she was able to be in the trees, she tried to soak up as much as she could as she walked. Their walk took them down the edge of the river. The path wasn’t totally clear, with fallen logs and roots littering the path. Rain helped her over a few and Quinn loved that her hands were dirty from the moss and dirt that clung to everything she touched.

Quinn liked that they weren’t talking. It was too pretty and quiet to interrupt it with conversation. Continuing on, they walked for another ten minutes before Rain stopped by a large rock that was jutting just over the edge of the river. Crawling up, Rain sat her down then joined her.

A few minutes passed as Quinn looked over the water. She’d pulled her knees up to her chest and turned her head to look at Rain and laid her head on her knees. Rain was also looking over the river and turned when her eyes moved to him.

“Hey,” he said softly.

“Hey.”

“Big day, lots of stuff, huh?”

Quinn shrugged. “I thought I was going to be freaking out, but Cassie gave me some advice and it’s working.”

She expected him to ask her about the advice, but he didn’t. “You’re really a bear.” It was a statement that didn’t need explanation.

“I am, or rather, we are. The twins were a bit of a cheat. But they are hard to deny being so cute and all.”

“Yeah, it was sneaky,” she admitted. “But it worked. I guess I really didn’t believe it even with the claws and teeth. It’s not that hard to pretend your mind is playing tricks on you.”

“And now?”

“Now, my world has turned upside down. Do you know I was thinking this morning during breakfast that you were offering me more than I had realized?”

“How so?”

“You talked about love, companionship, and devotion. I guess that you offering yourself forever was enough. But what you don’t realize is that you’re offering me a family too. I love my mom, but we are barely friends anymore. Did you know Cassie called me auntie to the twins? I would have nieces and nephews. Cassie would be like a sister. I think we would get along.”

“Cassie likes collecting people, so that is totally gonna happen. And yes, you will be an aunt, a daughter, a sister, all those things here.”

“That kind of changes things. Is that bad?”

“Not at all, it’s a package deal that you’d be agreeing to here. Although there are a few more things I need to talk to you about.”

“Ahh, the biting thing?”

“Partly. I explained the bite, but there is something else about the bite I didn’t mention,” he hedged.

“Do I grow fur?” she joked.

“No, not fur. I uh…” Rain rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “The thing is that shifters live longer than humans. Quite a bit longer, actually.”

“So do you age?”

“Yes, slowly. The bite, it makes our mates age slower too.”

Quinn was silent staring at him. “Age slower?”

“Yes, which if you think about it gives us a very long happy life together. The bite also helps with carrying shifter babies. Our women tend to gestate closer to our animal’s gestation than a human’s.”

Quinn closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them again and almost laughed at him. “Back to the babies again.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I can resist for a while. We both have grad school and plans before we need to think of that.”

“Kind of you. So what else don’t I know? Just lay it out for me.”

“Besides the bite, the aging, the babies… not much else.”

“Rain…”

“Fine, the babies you know spontaneously shift until they are closer to preschool age. That means we have to keep them home and away from people that can’t be trusted to know about us. We don’t tell anyone about what we are to keep them safe. There have been shifters as long as there have been humans, but for obvious reasons, we stay hidden.”

“So who gives up their career to take care of kids?”

“Neither of us have to give anything up. That’s why a big family is so great. There is always someone to watch the babies and everyone else works their schedules as they need to. Everything is fifty-fifty, at least that’s the way it’s always been with my family. Even my dad was the one doing the parent helper role at school.

Our businesses are manned by family members and the young ones are groomed to fill in the positions that the older ones are vacating. The family has accumulated wealth over the years and everyone gets a share. We don’t really think about the money anymore, it’s just a means to an end.”

“Do you have to work? If you don’t, why would you?”

“If I lived carefully? No, I don’t need to work. But we live a long time, and retiring in your twenties doesn’t sound very appealing. Besides, I want to help the family out, that’s why I chose law. We needed a lawyer. I found it interesting, and it was a way to work. I’ve done the mills and the logging, it was okay, but I didn’t really enjoy it. Others love it, and I say more power to them.”

“We’d live here?”

“I’d get my uncles together and we’d figure out a piece of land and we can start building slowly while we are still in Seattle.”

“A house, a real one that we wouldn’t have to move from?”

“A real house that can be whatever you like. The Rochons have a number of very handy builders on payroll and in the family. Everyone works on their own homes. We can design it together.”

Quinn was quiet, turning back to the river. “I like it here.”

“I’m glad.”

“I like you too,” she said, her eyes still on the water.

“I’m glad about that too. I don’t expect you to love me right away, Quinn. I’m not going to rush you on that.”

The birds were chirping, the wind was blowing, and Quinn felt like it was a momentous occasion that she was smack in the middle of. That deep swirl of emotions that tells you that you are moments away from a life changing event, that event was almost inevitable.

Taking a brave breath she said, “Rain, I’ve never been in love. I wasn’t sure I would even know it when I saw it.”

Rain was going to interrupt her when she looked back at him and he stopped. “I do know, that I’ve never felt like this before. I think about not being with you and my heart hurts. When you aren’t around, you’re all I think about. I worry about you, wonder if you’re okay. I crave you like no one ever before. If I don’t accept your offer, I’m now afraid that I’ll never be as happy as I could with you and honestly, I’m a little pissed about that”

“Sorry?”

“Don’t be smart. I’m trying to tell you that… I love you, Rain.” She said it faster than she’d wanted, but she was proud that her voice didn’t waver.

Quinn made sure that she kept her eyes on his when she said those words. She didn’t know how often she’d be able to say them, so she needed him to know that she meant it when she did.

Those beautiful eyes that she had come to adore were shining at her with the glow of two souls.

“Will you still love me if I don’t say it as often as you?” she asked quietly.

“You’ve said it once. I’m sure I’ll hear it again once or twice in the next hundred years. There is nothing that won’t make me love you more every day we are together. ” His eyes were still glowing, and he looked happy, but hungry. It was a look that made Quinn’s nipples tighten.

Quinn still was surprised that he could give her a look and she was ready to go. She knew he knew too, because his nostrils flared and she could tell that he could smell her arousal. That was another thing she’d have to get used to.

“I’m not having sex outside. I’ll get mosquito bites on my ass, or poison ivy on my… other bits.”

“That can wait. I’m pretty happy just sitting here with you. But I’d like you to meet my bear. It’s a safe place for him, and he’s been dying to meet you.”

Quinn felt the hairs on her arms stand up. It was time. She knew it. Not being brave enough, she just nodded instead of speaking.

Rain didn’t hesitate. He stood and started stripping off his clothes. Quinn raised her eyebrows at him.

“What, you think a five-hundred-pound bear could wear my jeans?”

“Five hundred pounds?” she gasped.

“Big guy, big… bear.” He said while wiggling his eyebrows.

Quinn shook her head as he took the time to fold his clothes and stack them up. When he was standing naked as the day he was born, the man had zero shame; he stretched his arms over his head in the sunshine.

“Show off,” she muttered. Quinn knew that he was giving her a moment to adjust. Of course, him being naked wasn’t helping her decision about not wanting to have sex in the woods.

Rain took a few steps back from her and paused.

“Come on. Do you need a drum roll?” she asked, trying to be sassy to cover her anxiety.

Rain rolled his shoulders and focused his eyes on Quinn. She watched as the air around his body started shimmer like he was standing on a hot road in the distance. The shimmers started to change color, the colors shifting through Rain’s skin.

The light started changing shape and the man that was standing in front of her morphed. The space the Rain had been in now taken by the bear that stood before Quinn. It was a massive beast, dark brown fur, paws as big as her head, and teeth that looked menacing.

She couldn’t help herself; she started to scoot back on the rock. The big bear sat down and didn’t make any moves towards her. Quinn caught herself hyperventilating and forced herself to calm down.

The animal wasn’t moving, so she took an extra moment to gather herself. The bear was being incredibly patient and she appreciated it. She looked closely at the eyes and she saw Rain in there. His eyes mixed with the bear’s, shining back at her. Quinn could focus on the fact that she’d seen a human being turn into a bear in front of her, but the only thing her mind was repeating was, I’m in love with a bear. It was enough to make you question your sanity.

“Now that is some party trick,” she murmured. The bear made a chuffing noise in response.

“Shit, you understand me don’t you?”

The bear nodded. He actually nodded.

“Will you bite me if I pet you?” Quinn was pretty sure that the bear rolled its eyes.

It was by far the weirdest conversation she’d ever had and she used to talk to the homeless man outside their motel as a child that wore an aluminum hat to keep the aliens away.

Reaching out, she held her hand still so that the bear could come to her. He didn’t have to move, instead he just laid down which put his head closer to her hand. Letting her hand drop down, her fingers curled into the thick fur.

“Well, that’s not so bad now.” She was surprised how calm her voice was. The bear let out a rumble that blew hot air over her leg. “You sure you’re not just a huge cat getting your ears rubbed?”

The bear lifted his head and glared at her.

“Fine then. It’s nice to meet you,” she said continuing to rub his head. The pair sat together in the sunshine for a while before Quinn got comfortable enough to lay down on the rock beside the animal. She played with his big paws and got bolder. So much so she ran her fingers along his long black claws.

She was doing her best to do the pretending thing. It was a normal Saturday, hanging out with a bear. She did this all the time. Nothing new to see here. Quinn could almost believe it herself. The rock underneath them was getting warmer under the sun. It would have been easy to fall asleep next to the big animal.

The paw under her hand started to shimmer and in a flash of color and sparks, Rain was laying next to her.

He didn’t say anything, he just pulled her into his arms and held her close. After a little while he whispered into her hair, “Thank you.”

She knew what he meant. It was a step that they had both been nervous about.

“Would you be mad if I told you that I brought you here so you could meet all of my family?”

“Not just your brother and Cassie?”

“No, I really wanted you to meet everyone. I’m so proud of you and honored that you are my mate that I couldn’t wait to show you off.”

“Believe it or not, I’m not that dense. I didn’t think you’d take me all the way out here without accidently running into at least your parents.”

“Damn, I’m not as sneaky as I thought I was. What do you say? I can’t promise that they will be normal or quiet. In fact, I’m sure they can’t be any of those things.”

“Will they be kind?”

“Oh baby, I can guarantee they will be kind. They are gonna love you.”

“Okay, but there better be carbs. I can handle anything with the right amount of carbs.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” he promised.