"Love Me for Mine"
A/N: This story is being rewritten to more resemble my current style of writing. Peppermint Clouds, a very good friend of mine, is helping me more than I can repay her for with this project. I'm going to do this when I find the time so it will be few and far between.
Humphrey sat in his den, watching his pups play on the shoreline of a river. He saw Runt and Stinky wrestling with each other in the sand, but he also noticed Claudette sitting away from her brothers. There was definitely something amiss with her. Humphrey, wishing to see his daughter happy, walked up behind her and sat at her side.
"Hey, Dad," she greeted dejectedly.
"Hi, sweetheart. Are you feeling okay?" Humphrey asked beseechingly.
"I'm alright. What makes you ask?"
"Because you aren't playing with your brothers. Any good reasons for why not?" Humphrey said, attempting to get her to open up.
"I don't know…" she trailed off.
"Please, Claudette. Tell me."
She looked up with internal conflict written all over her tawny face. He stared back, his sapphire-like eyes filled with love and care, and then she broke down.
"It's just that…sometimes I feel a little like…a little like they hate me. It's like I'm so different just because I'm a girl," she said, tears sparkling in her warm chocolate brown eyes as she spilled her contemplations.
"Did they say anything to make you feel like that?" Humphrey asked in a serious and slightly growling tone. He was infuriated by the thought of his own sons teasing his daughter. He turned his attention to them again, bearing his teeth in the slightest bit, although they were oblivious.
"No Dad, it's not like that," she said in an attempt to calm his anger.
"You know Claudette, girls and boys aren't really so different," Humphrey said, more than a little relieved.
"I know but…they just get along together so well and I have never felt like I have. I don't even think they like me," she said sadly, as she trained her gaze back on the the ground.
"Claudette, stop. Your brothers love you. They are your family. Even if they don't act like it sometimes, I'm sure they adore the fact that they have a sister. And even if they don't, I love you, and so does your mother. You're right. You are different. You're my only daughter. That's how you're so unique," Humphrey said with all the sincerity in his heart. Claudette smiled weakly and looked up at her father. If she wasn't crying before, she certainly was now.
Humphrey continued, "Just look at your mom and I. I couldn't be more different from her if I tried. That's why I love her. She's everything I'm not and at the same time she is my whole world, and such a beautiful world it is," he said, also starting to tear up a little. She chuckled once at how he commented about her mother. Noticing it, he said, "You're just as beautiful y'know."
Twin rivers streamed down her cheeks as she hugged him. "I love you too Dad."
"Come on," Humphrey said as he pushed himself to his paws. "Let's get your brothers and eat. I bet your mom is back from the hunt," he said, walking away. He paused and turned back to his daughter, a small smile on his face. "And don't be afraid to show them what a great fighter a girl can be. Make your grandma proud. I'm sure she would love to have three granddaughters."
Claudette watched her father walk down to the riverbank, confused. What had he meant he had said three granddaugh- oh. She laughed as she realized what he had meant, and her worries became a thing of the past.
Later in the night, Runt, Stinky and Kate were sleeping in the dark den, curled around each other. Humphrey, who lied awake on his right side, with his back pressed up against his mate's and his daughter sleeping in his arms. At that moment, he thought, 'I have everything I could ask for, more than I can dream of, and far more than I deserve.' He looked over his shoulder at the rest of his family. As if she had heard his thoughts, Kate began to stir to consciousness. Humphrey then said in a whisper, "Kate…are you up?". She yawned a little and nodded her head tiredly. Humphrey said, "We have the perfect family." again in a soft tone.
Kate replied, "Yeah, we do, don't we?" she replied They both laughed Kate persisted, saying, "All three of our perfect pups." as she looked at them cuddled into her underside. "Wait…Humphrey we're missing a puppy! Where is Claudette?" she said with a terrified look. Humphrey reciprocated it for a moment and then came to a realization, chuckling a bit.
"Shhh. Kate,'s okay. She's over here." Humphrey said in a calming tone. "I've got my little girl." Humphrey continued lovingly as he returned his attention to his dormant daughter.
Kate smiled and said, "You're a great father, you know that Humphrey."
He responded, "Yeah, I know." with joking vanity. Kate laughed in return quietly, as to not wake the pups but at a still audible level. This made Humphrey smile as well. With a voice full of contentment he said, "I love you, Kate."
"I love you too, Humphrey." she responded.
Humphrey said, more than a little excitedly, "Oh, Kate, I almost forgot to remind you that I'm leaving tomorrow."
"I remember." Kate affirmed. "Tell me again why you are leaving for four days." She questioned.
"I already told you." Humphrey said, still smiling. I'm going to go camping in the forest with the guys. I don't want to leave you but I feel so bad for not being able to spend time with them in a while." Humphrey said, a little down.
"I know but I just don't understand why you have to be so far away for so long." Kate said, also a little saddened by the topic.
"The guys wanted to be far into the forest so that they could get me all to themselves, which I'm sure you can relate to, having spent any amount of time with me." Humphrey said in a desperate attempt to rid Kate of her disheartened expression, which pained him. Thankfully she chuckled. "I would love to have you along but I couldn't just spring it up on them like this, especially when we leave in a few hours. Plus, and this is absolutely nothing against you, but I don't think they would be very fond of the idea if I asked." Humphrey clarified. Kate felt a little insulted for a second but realized he meant no harm.
"You'll be fine. They are good kids and you are a great mother. Not to mention that you could use some time together. I'm sure they wish they could see you more, with alpha duties and all…" Humphrey said with a degree of melancholy sprawled across his face. "And if they become too much to handle, just let them play with their friends for a couple of hours. It really takes the edge off. Just not Fleet! I mean…I don't like the way he looks at Claudette."
Kate knew better. Humphrey didn't like Fleet because he showed some potential interest in his daughter. She laughed inside her head but the notion was just giving way to thoughts about how good of a mate and parent Humphrey turned out to be. "Thank you Humph. Really." She said sincerely as she laid her head on his neck and succumbed to sleep.
Humphrey's tail wagged shortly and then subsided as he too, began to close his eyes. Clinging to the last shreds of consciousness, he whispered in his mate's ear "Anytime. Really.". Humphrey laid his head back down and drifted off into sleep. That night his mind was filled with pleasant dreams and hopefulness.