"I love you lassie,"
"Love you too."
"Better go inside now, your mother will be wondering where you are."
"She's out with Demeter."
"I'll see you later lassie."
He kissed her once more then turned to go. Jemima waited until he was out of sight before slipping silently into the den.
"I didn't realise you'd be back so early, Mama."
The scarlet queen turned towards her daughter. She smiled and held her arms out for a hug,
"Demeter's pregnant, she wanted an early night so I thought I'd come back and wait for you."
Jemima hugged her mother.
"You could have gone and met Tugger if you wanted. I'm grown up now I'd be okay."
Bombalurina smiled.
"I know but I didn't want to."
Jemima smiled.
"Have you told him that?"
Bombalurina laughed.
"Not yet, I might soon though."
"Good, Etcetera is getting quite upset about you two."
"If she can catch him she's welcome to him."
Jemima smiled. She loved being able to talk with her mother like this.
"I'll tell her that," she began to head towards her bed but Bombalurina's next question stopped her dead.
"Speaking of catching toms, have you got your eye on any particular tom?"
Alonzo seems nice, he's made it obvious he likes me. I'm not sure about Quaxo, he seems to prefer Vicki and Tumblebrutus has asked me to dance with him at the ball."
Bomba raised her eyebrows.
"Do you want to?"
Jemima shook her head,
"Not really."
"Don't then, wait for the right tom to come along."
Jemima nodded.
"Night Mama."
"Night Jemi."