Category: Land Before Time

Rating: T

Couples: canon ones of the adults

Warnings: AU

Chapter: 9

Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me

Author's Note: this is a sequel to Future before Time

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"Well?" Cera looked up at the large pink form resting at the water's edge. In the distance, she could just make out Littlefoot's family, barring his grandfater, and no doubt was her friend somewhere nearby, but that was a concern for later on.

"Mind... I am speculating, since only he can give a definite opinion about, well, his opinions..." Tria mused, crossing her forelegs as she got comfortable. "Tell me, Cera... how often has Grandpa Longneck lost a partner?"

"Errr..." The orange form blinked in confusion.

"Indulge me, dear."

"Just the once... I believe?" Cera looked over at the Longneck-herd on the other side of the waterhole. "I never heard anything about a previous wife or something." Then again, why would she hear about anything about Longneck-history?

"Yes, he and Grandma met young and are one of those couples that last a lifetime, according her." Tria chuckled. "What about Mr. and Mrs. Swimmer?"

"I guess it doesn't count for whatever your point is that he leaves with Farwalkers for Cold Times?" She was realizing that they were getting somewhere now.

"It does not. Chomper's parents?" The older female looked over at Tricia, who was quietly watching them both.

"Not that I heard anything." Then again, Chomper had not exactly spend long with them himself, so it might well just be that he did not know himself either.

"And your father?" Sky-blue eyes focused firmly on the older hatchling. "How often did he suffer from a broken heart because of loss?"

Cera didn't answer that, the mere reminder of her mother a sharp hurt in her chest.

"Your father did three times... The first time me, when my father dragged our herd away suddenly before even giving me a chance to say anything to him, leaving him to wake up one day and notice me gone. Which granted, is not as bad as his loss of your mother, but it will certainly have hurt him dearly, even if he would not admit to it on pain of death." Tria evenly pointed out. "Then, of course, your mother, whom I am very sure he loved as dearly as he ever did me. He still has not told me any details on the matter, aside from the statement that she very much was killed by Sharpteeth. And at the same time, he lost all your nestmates." Then, she gestured to the newly arrived Sharpteeth, Tyra briefly looking over at them. "And third this mess."

"Shouldn't he be happy then? Happy that this time he got you back?" Cera found that her voice wavered at the question.

"Should he?" Tria countered. "He now has to deal with the realization that he might lose a love a fourth time."

The younger Threehorn made to counter, but no sound passed her lips.

"Life is unpredictable at best." The older continued on as if not noticing her. "Yes, he is older than me - by a bit - but that does not mean old age will get him first, not to mention all the other ways someone can be lost even without dying. Can you assure me he'd be able to handle a fourth broken heart, Cera?"

She could not. Cera inwardly had to admit that she could not, not after seeing how he had handled the third time.

"I think - and again, this is just speculation - I think your father is not sure himself. And until he is, he will not admit that it might be a thing that can happen in his future."

"By refusing to accept that you are what he loved." She realized softly.

"Yes." Tria answered softly, lowering her head a touch. "And we both know him, Cera. Trying to force the issue will only make it worse."

"So..." It was a painful thought, and had she been less humbled she might have stubbornly refused to accept that her father could be afraid of anything. But certainly this was a better explanation than any other she could think of. She could hardly begrudge the older Threehorn-male his desires to keep his heart safe. "We wait?"

"We wait." Tria nodded lightly, looking out over her. "I will not force your father into this, Cera, I do love him too much for that."