When Fires Collide - Chapter 12
Previously:
a soft sniffle escaped Cinder, "my uterus, I was bleeding so much from it that they had to remove it to save my life…"
Tears welled up in Cinder's eyes as she awaited potentially either an incredibly relieving or completely devastating reaction.
Smudge was silent for a moment as what she had just revealed sank in.
As it clicked, Smudge's mind was filled with flashbacks, replaying every slipped reaction to conversations that he had caught or felt since he met Cinder, every wince, every cringe. His mind captured them all, but had passed them off as insignificant and transient at the time, but they were so much more significant than he realized.
His thoughts began cascading, 'she could have been killed saving another pup, it's amazing she survived that at all. She's so strong and, wait a second…she said they had to remove her…she's telling me she can't ever have pups, OH MY SPOTS! She's been dreading telling me this; she's been dreading how I'm going to react. That's why she's avoided certain things. She must have had others reject her, that's why she's on the verge of crying right now. She's afraid I'm about to reject her too, Smudge open your muzzle and say something you Idiot DOG!"
Smudge took a deep breath, quickly planning how to best say what he felt. Cinder tensed, awaiting what could be the end to … everything.
"Umm, I-i am just so amazed you came out of that alive at all," said Smudge with a hint of professional curiosity. "I understand what you are telling me." Smudge took her forepaws in his own, squeezing ever so slightly and gazed into her deep beautiful blue eyes before continuing, "Cinder, this changes nothing. But first let me say how sorry I am that you have been carrying the worry and burden in your head that I could ever walk away from you because of something you had no control over."
Tears started to flow as Cinder realized what Smudge was saying.
"Yes, obviously I have considered pups," said Smudge, "But if it's not meant to be, that still changes nothing about what my heart wants. I want you, I love you, if we decide we want pups there are other alternatives."
"There is still a chance," Cinder softly whispered through her happy tears, "They managed to save some of my eggs and they are maintained cryogenically. Everest has agreed to carry them when and if the time comes."
"So if we decide that is something we want," said Smudge, "that would be the path we would take. But the right here and right now, is still in front of us. Cinder I Love You, nothing changes that fact. I want you to know that I hurt for the pain you have endured. You would not react this way if you had not been rejected before. I'm so sorry that you obviously went through that pain in addition to the burden you already bear when you are such an incredibly amazing pup. Selfishly, I'm also happy that they did because it allowed you to consider dating me. You are so amazing and are so wonderful in so many ways. I can't imagine a future that doesn't have you in it. I know I might be jumping to conclusions that you feel as strongly but I want to spend my future with you."
A tsunami of relief washed over Cinder and she grabbed Smudge and buried her face in his chest, crying tears of relief and love.
Out on the slopes, a wave of relief was felt by both Marshall and Everest, both sighed deeply. Marshall sent out the deepest feeling of love and relief he could, obviously intensified by Everest embracing him.
Smudge felt Cinder's hug crushing him, almost as if three pups were hugging him in relief. Smudge lifted her head with his paws and began gently licking away the tears. He leaned back looking into Cinder's eyes. He leaned in and kissed her with such passion and love that even Marshall felt it.
"I-i love you too," whispered Cinder softly. "I'm sorry I've been weird from time to time. You're right, I've absolutely dreaded this conversation. I didn't want us to continue further to what I hope can be a lifetime together without you knowing. The distance is a factor, but was never the real reason I held back…"
Smudge looked up with tears in his own eyes now at the magnitude of what was unfolding.
"I-I will never be able to thank Everest enough for setting up this opportunity for us to be together at this moment," said Smudge. "I am still blown away at her resourcefulness in all she has pulled off. I'll admit, I see what you and Marshall have and have now brought Everest into. I want that, I want us. I will find a way, nothing is more important than spending my life with you."
'Did I just agree to be his mate?' wondered Cinder.
'Did you?' laughed Marshall mentally, 'just so you know, it looks like you lose control of what you are sending when you are euphoric. I knew he wouldn't let you down. We support you fully. You've taken a big step, if you need time to process, I don't think it will change his mind any but you do you, allow yourself happiness, you deserve so much and more. We love you.'
"You're doing it again," laughed Smudge.
"W-what?," asked Cinder softly.
"You have that penetrating look," said Smudge, "You and Marshall are sharing thoughts."
"Actually, I did not mean to," laughed Cinder softly. "I'm so blown away by how this has turned out. I love you Smudge. I, um…"
"Tell Marshall goodbye for now," said Smudge with a short laugh.
"What, why…" asked Cinder softly.
Before she could question further, Smudge pulled her into an intense hug and kissed her with such profound passion and intensity that of all the kisses Cinder had ever had or even imagined, this blew them away and her mind fogged over.
"Ack!" yelped Marshall and Everest in unison, their minds overcome by a tidal wave of feelings.
"What was that?" asked Everest as she put a paw to her head in pain.
"I think he just kissed the spots off of her," laughed Marshall, rubbing her temples lovingly.
"So it went well?" Everest asked softly as her eyes fluttered rapidly as the intensity of what she had just felt faded.
"Well enough that she is wondering if she just agreed to be his mate," Marshall replied with a short snicker, "and given that they are kissing, I think that is a safe assumption that it went well.
"Good, I'd hate to think I dragged them out here for nothing" Everest replied, her tone shifting slightly.
"What about dragging me out here for nothing?" Marshall asked in surprise.
"Silly, did you think I dragged you out here solely to support Cinder?" Everest asked playfully as she teasingly ran her paws over Marshall's fur, making him shiver slightly.
"Well, no but…" whatever Marshall was about to say was silenced by Everest pressing her muzzle against his in a fierce and hungry kiss that made his tail stick straight up like a lightning rod.
When she decided to stop kissing Marshall, Everest held his head in her paws, their blue eyes locking. "While it is important that we support Cinder and Smudge, it is not the most important reason you are here" Everest whispered. "No matter what happened with Cinder and Smudge, this was to be a trip you and I remembered forever. I brought you, my beloved mate, to Switzerland with me because it is time for the fireworks" she lovingly whispered.
Marshall opened his mouth to tell her that the fireworks were not for an hour or so when something clicked in his head. His eyes widened as he realized the coded message his mate was conveying to him. Marshall caught a very unique but subtle smell wafting across his nose; a smell he only smelled twice a year. They had been talking about this moment since before they became mates, waiting for the perfect time, and now it was here.
Everest looked at Marshall in amusement, the whole code had been his idea and here he was not understanding it. But then she saw the understanding dawn on his face as his bright blue eyes began to shine even brighter with an intensity she had never seen before. A brightness that Everest hoped was reflected in her own eyes as their lives were about to change forever, in the best possible way.
In a flash, both pups disappeared in a poof of snowy powder, the only physical evidence that they were nearby being their snowboards propped against a tree.
Cinder's mind slowly began unfogging. She had such a smile of contentment that Smudge had to chuckle to himself. He held her and stroked her now wet fur. He was content himself and allowed his mind to drift for a moment. He began envisioning the possibilities, a place he could call home, a place where he came home to her, a home that abounded with love and happiness.
He was snapped out of his daydream by Cinder nuzzling into his chest with a content sigh and kisses planted on his cheek and neck.
"Do you want to stay here or dry off and step out to watch the fireworks?" asked Cinder.
"I like the fireworks in here," teased Smudge. "As long as I'm with you I don't care about anything outside of us right now. But Everest went through all this trouble. I guess we should dry off and enjoy the show. We're probably on the verge of waterlogging ourselves as it is."
Smudge stood up and stepped out of the hot tub, the steam rising off his body. He picked up a towel and motioned for Cinder to step out. He began drying her off with the thick incredibly soft towels that had been set out for them. He caressed and kissed her body as he continued to towel her off. Once he determined she was sufficiently dry he set the towel down and began to step back. Cinder grabbed the other towel and began the same process drying Smudge. She equally dried and kissed Smudge. She reached over and picked up Smudge's collar and began fastening it around his neck. She kissed him as Smudge in turn placed her collar back on. They walked out onto the deck and found a lounge chair to lay on together as the first fireworks launched into the air. The reflection of the fireworks off the snow covered slopes was amazing. The mountain in the background occasionally reflecting the higher shots was breathtaking.
"Happy New Year, Cinder," Smudge said as he kissed her for the first time in the new year. "May this year be the best of our lives followed by many more."
"Happy New Year, Smudge," Cinder said softly as she returned the kiss.
Marshall and Everest joined them on the deck shortly after the show started. Cinder detected a warm mental glow from both Marshall and Everest that she had never felt before as they snuggled onto the lounge chair next to them.
Every eye was skyward as the fireworks built to the finale, painting the Matterhorn in light. Nary an eye blinked until the mountain was consumed by darkness and the sounds of explosions ceased to echo.
"That was spectacular" Cinder softly said without moving from where she lay with Smudge.
"It definitely was" Everest replied with a slight distance in her voice that made Cinder wonder if she was actually talking about the fireworks. The pups slowly got up and walked inside together.
"Anyone up for a snack?" Everest asked as she snooped about the kitchen.
"There is a large variety of cheese" Cinder softly offered.
"Sounds yummy," Marshall said as he opened the fridge door for Everest. The husky jumped at the opening and collected an ever bigger sampling than Cinder had gotten for her and Smudge.
"This should be enough for me" Everest said with a smile, "not sure what you guys will have though" she jokingly added. Everyone laughed as they shared the snack. Their laughter soon turned to yawns as all their tiredness hit them like a freight train.
"It has been a long day," Smudge yawned, "we should probably go to bed."
"Yes we should, we have more big plans for tomorrow" Everest replied, "but before we do go to sleep…" Everest walked over to Cinder and enfolded the lithe female Dalmatian in a snug hug. "I'm so happy for you" Everest softly whispered, "I can feel how happy and relieved you are."
"I truly am" Cinder softly whimpered as she hugged Everest back.
"You know what this means right?" Marshall said softly as he hugged Smudge.
"What's that?" Smudge asked in quiet surprise.
"Now if you hurt her, they won't find your body" Marshall replied ominously as he tightened his hug.
"Infinitesimally small chance of that" Smudge replied as he hugged Marshall back, "I love her to the moon and back."
"It's a bit late for scare tactics Marshy" Cinder said as she came over and forcibly dragged Smudge out of Marshall's paws and into her own, "he's mine now."
"Sweet dreams you two" Marshall said with a wink as the other two Dalmatians disappeared into their room.
"Hey, Marshal, you big stud!" Everest softly called.
"That's me honey" Marshall replied as he turned back towards his mate.
"Take me to bed or lose me forever" Everest said with a dramatic sigh and lifted a paw to her forehead.
"Show me the way home, honey" Marshall said before swooping in and catching his mate in his paws. The two kissed deeply for a moment before Marshall lifted Everest onto his back. Everest buried her muzzle in Marshall's scruff and wrapped her paws around him as he carried her to bed.
