“So I guess this leaves us back where we were?”

         She shook her head.  “Not exactly.  I thought about your question, and yes.  I do want to be your mate.”

         Toby’s face lit up.  “Really?  Oh wow, this is-!”

         “I wasn’t finished,” she cut him off.  Pleased to see how quickly he stopped, she went on.  “I’ll marry you on two conditions.  One, from now on when we have a disagreement, we talk.  No more ‘My way or no way.’”

         “Are you going to insist on that?” he joked.  Seeing the serious look on her face, he withdrew.  “Sorry.”

         She gave him a look before continuing.  “Yes, and I want you to insist on it too.  I like you the way you are, and I don’t want to end up cowing you into a yes-dog.”

         “Like that could happen?”

         “I could certainly try.  Anyway, that’s the first condition.”

         “Talk things over and don’t let you walk over me.  Got it.  Rule Two?”

         Luna smiled coyly.  “I don’t want this to just be a marriage of convenience.”

         “It won’t be, I promise.”

         “Good.  Then you should have no problem with this one.”  She hesitated and looked around before leaning in and whispering in his ear.

         He blinked.  “That’s it?”

         “Take it or leave it.”

         Toby hadn’t been around Luna all that time without knowing when she was playing one of her games.  “Well, dear, if that’s really the way you want it, I guess I can agree to those terms.”

Toby, Luna, Rex © Me

Copper and Taya © redwolf03