(A little bit of mother-son bonding, little bit of a angry Jayfeather.)

Leafpool padded out of the warriors den. Brackenfur had talked with her through the night about Jayfeather. He had heard from Berrynose's rumor and a bit of info from Lionblaze that her and Jayfeather had gotten into an argument, again. Brackenfur told her that she should give up on Jayfeather, telling her that he won't be forgiving her any time sooner, a trait he must of inherited from his father.

Then again he did inherit it from Crowfeather, because it is not a trait in her family. Her father was a forgivable cat, though there had to be very good proof from the other side. She hoped that Jayfeather would forgive her soon. Even Hollyleaf had decided to forgive her, and Lionblaze was starting to. He had already told her today they would go hunting on their own, just the two of them. It made Leafpool warm inside, knowing her son was going to give her a chance. One of her sons.

Leafpool inwardly swore. It always lead back to Jayfeather. What could she do to prove to him that she was sorry, that she is trying to make up for her mistakes, and has been for moons. She wished for more kits, ones she could openly care for this time. She knew though that it wouldn't happen. No cat wanted a use-to-be medicine cat. Leafpool looked up to the clear blue sky.

'Starclan, give me a sign.'

She padded over to Bramblestar's den and sat beside Jayfeather, though not too close. She looked at Squirrelflight's swelling belly and purred. In about a moon she would be ready. "Shouldn't you be in the nursery now Squirrelflight? Its around this time that you should be resting, not prancing around like a warrior."

Squirrelflight snorted and tossed her head. "I AM a warrior." Bramblestar rubbed his nose against the edge of Squirrelflight's ear.

"A warrior yes, but with kits. Sorreltail, Daisy and Poppyfrost are waiting for you to come to them. They already have a moss bed set up for you."
Squirrelflight flickered her tail as she sighed. "Let me stay here one more night. Please? I'll go there tomorrow I promise."

"And you will stay, right?" Bramblestar narrowed his eyes as he gave his mate a serious look. He gave a satisfied purr when Squirrelflight nodded and licked her head. "Ok, one more night." Squirrelflight purred loudly and Leafpool shook her head. Her sister could be such a kit at times. Bramblestar looked at them both as he curled his tail around his paws. "Well?" Jayfeather shook his head.

"I haven't had any dream last night. Nothing but dream walking. It seems that my dream cats aren't doing anything special."

Bramblestar nodded and looked over to Leafpool who also shook her head. "Nothing. I dreamed about kits actually. Little orange and black ones." She gave Squirrelflight a knowing look and smirked. Squirrelflight fixed her a glare, though behind it was a 'you are telling me everything' look. Bramblestar nodded and dismissed them both.

As the two cats exited Bramblestar's den, Leafpool slowly padded over to Jayfeather, who had quickly made it over to the freshkill pile to grab a meal. Foxleap looked over at them from where he was sitting with Briarlight and shook his head. "Two mice say he walks away from her."

Briarlight snorted. "Three says he hisses at her."

Leafpool grabbed a squirrel from the pile and sat as close to him as she could. She tensed, waiting for a snide comment or a hateful glare, but Jayfeather just sat there and ignored her, focussing on eating his thrush instead. Leafpool relaxed and ate. He had let her eat with him, that meant something right? 'Is he starting to forgive me' she wondered. The though would have made her purr out loud, though she didn't want to ruin her chance she had now.

She looked up as Jayfeather rose and turned his blind but full or hate eyes towards her, his food finished. He bared his teeth at her and clawed the ground as she heard him mutter something along the lines of "Windclan lover".

Leafpool bristled. She was NOT a Windclan lover! Maybe she was before but...

Leafpool shrunk inside and watched as Jayfeather padded back to the medicine cat den. Does everyone still think she is a Windclan lover? Foxleap walked over to her smiling. Nope, not quite. "Hey Leafpool, Lionblaze wanted me to remind you about your private hunt or whatever."

Leafpool nodded her thanks and Foxleap laid his tail sympathetically on her shoulder before walking away. Actions speak more than words it seems. Leafpool finished her squirrel just as Lionblaze walked over to her from the medicine cat den, arching his back. With a curt nod he lead the way out of the camp.

~ooo~

Both cats ran through the forest and along the trees. They didn't care about the prey scurrying away from them in fear, they would get them later. As they slowed down into a steady trot, Lionblaze looked over to Leafpool. "How did you do it?"

Leafpool flicked an ear. "How did I do what, Lionblaze?"

"How did that come to this. I mean, how did you even meet Crowfeather in the first place," Lionblaze growled as dug his claws slightly in the ground while he walked. Leafpool stopped and gazed along the trees. She sighed as she sat and curled her tail over her paws.

"It is a really long story, Lionblaze. I don't think we have time for it."

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes. "We have plenty of time. Its the reason why we are out here and alone."

Leafpool's ears drooped. "The clan will wonder where we are..."

Lionblaze snapped at her, his irritation running over. "The clan will be fine so long as we bring back prey! I already told Bramblestar we will be out for a while." He sighed as he sat. "I want to give you a chance Leafpool, but I cannot do that if you don't tell me the whole story. I can't keep thinking in my head that you saw Crowfeather while you were looking for herbs and then you both snuck off. Its pointless." Leafpool closed her eyes. 'I owe him this much I suppose.'

"Alright, I'll tell you."

And she did. She told him about the journey Squirrelflight, Crowfeather, Feathertail and Stormfur went on to meet the Tribe of Rushing Water, a clan of cats who lived in the mountains. She told him about the prophecy then, and how Feathertail died protecting the cats, how Crowfeather had fallen in love with her. She then told Lionblaze how she had met Crowfeather, how they had run away together and mated (Lionblaze told her to skip that part, earning him a chuckle from Leafpool). She told him how she and Crowfeather came into their camp over run my badgers. She told him about Midnight and how Cinderpelt died and how Crowfeather and her parted ways. She told him about the journey with all the clans to find a new home and how she had begged Squirrelflight to take him, Jayfeather and Hollyleaf in as her kits. She told him everything up until the moment of the final battle, even how bad she felt about Crowfeather disowning them and how bad she felt about Hollyleaf's death.

By the time she was done speaking the sun was starting to sink. Leafpool pawed the ground as she relived the recent memories. It had all been so long ago. Leafpool sighed. How she did want kits again.

Lionblaze was very quiet as he digested all that Leafpool told him. Leafpool shifted nervously as she waited for his reply. A den full of thoughts ran through her head. What if he forgave her, agreed to allow her to be his mother, to put the past behind them and love her. Leafpool closed her eyes. That would be a big big relief. But then, what if it wasn't enough? What if he didn't care and he still hated her? Leafpool visibly shuddered. If he wanted to, then it was Ok. At least he knew the story right?

Leafpool flinched as Lionblaze suddenly spoke up, surprising her out of her thoughts. "I forgive you, Leafpool." Leafpool's heart jumped. He forgave her. He put the past behind him. "But," he said, and Leafpool's heart stopped. Of course, she didn't expect it to be that easy. Not really. Maybe a little.

Lionblaze gave a amused purr. Apparently the look on her face was priceless. "But," he continued, "it will take a while to completely get over you past mistakes. It was very harsh on us." Leafpool have a short nod. She had saw that coming. Both cats stood and stretched before setting off as a slow walk.

Lionblaze rested his tail on Leafpool's flank. "Other than that, I am happy to have my mother with me at least. I'm sure Hollyleaf would enjoy having a mother-daughter hunt with you."

Leafpool was above the clouds. Lionblaze had called her mother, his mother. When Lionblaze nuzzled her she returned it with much eagerness and love. Then the two broke off to hunt.

As they walked into the camp the cats currently outside their dens and talking stared at them. It wasn't because of the two squirrels, three mice and a mole they had caught together no, it was because Leafpool was smiling and her eyes were bright with life. Nobody expected that reaction from the use-to-be medicine cat. They expected her to come back with a drooped tail and her head hung in defeat, not with a high held. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar were especially surprised. They hadn't expected Lionblaze to be walking so close to Leafpool, head held high and proud. The family love that emitted from the two was overwhelming, though not as powerful as Leafpool's happiness.

They watched with awe as the two placed their kills in the freshkill pile and watched as the two shared prey and talked like nothing ever happened between them. When it was time for Leafpool to be on guard duty as the clan retired to their dens, Leafpool and Lionblaze touched noses and Leafpool gave him three brisk licks to his head and bid him goodnight, her eyes shining with happiness only a mother could show.

Bramblestar walked Squirrelflight over to the nursery and licked her ear goodnight, leaving her with a stern warning to stay in the den. As he left he heard the queens start chatting. He wondered if it was a really good idea to leave Squirrelflight to the queens, again.

As Lionblaze settled into his den, the warriors hammered him with questions. He only smiled. "I forgave her, and now we are working on our relationship. It feels good to have my mother around actually."

Brackenfur smiled at him as Dustpelt wished him happy luck. Cinderheart walked into the den looming dead tired. She had muttered something about helping Jayfeather with herbs before she fell onto her moss bed and was instantly asleep. Lionblaze chuckled and asked Dustpelt when he was going to retire to the elders den. Dustpelt snorted before he curled up in his bed. Lionblaze grinned and yawned before he succumbed to sleep. That night Lionblaze dreamed of six kits, some with ginger fur and some with black.

~ooo~

As the clan slept Jayfeather was fuming in his den. He didn't need to see to know what was going on in the clan. Leafpool was happy and Lionblaze had forgiven her. Leafpool had attempted today to eat by him. He let her, right until he finished his food.

After muttering threats to her under his breath he went to his den to talk to Lionblaze, ranting about how Leafpool shouldn't be forgiven, cant be forgiven. And yet after all the pain they had gone through, all the pain that Leafpool left them, Lionblaze had forgiven her. Jayfeather curled up in his bed and slept, and he
slept in fury.