Sonny rolled his eyes. “I love you, honey bear, even when you’re way too protective.”
“You wanted to go get a few herbs from your rooftop garden, right?” Leo asked, giving Sonny an innocent look.
Sonny shook his head. “You’re up to something, but I do want to bring some of our lavender to make Janine a wreath, so I’ll go along with it. This time.”
“Take your time,” Leo huffed as he picked up Sonny’s shoe bag. “Do you really need this many shoes for a weekend?”
Sonny looked over his shoulder as he walked to the door. “Don’t you like my shoes, honey bear?”
Leo’s eyes heated as he looked over Sonny’s floral ankle strap flats, and his long, bare legs which were on display in his short, blue jean cutoffs. “I love your shoes. Maybe we don’t have to get there so early.”
Sonny giggled and ran out the door. “Focus, Leo.”
Eventually, they managed to load the truck and buckle in. Sonny happily cuddled against Leo’s side. He hugged Leo’s arm as the city faded and they entered the suburbs. Nervousness settled in his stomach.
Do it now, Sonny. “Do you know why Litha is a special holiday.”
Leo’s nose scrunched up as he thought hard. “It’s Summer Solstice and the longest day in the year. After Litha, each day grows shorter and shorter until Winter Solstice. It’s a time of abundance. Right?”
Sonny smiled against Leo’s arm. His bear was a good listener. “Yep. The God and Goddess are happily married and looking toward the future. It’s a chance to let go of your past and plan for the year ahead. Time to take another step forward in life.”
“We had fun last year.” Leo grinned and tapped the steering wheel. “Lots of food and dancing.”
“Don’t forget the blessings of protection,” Sonny added. “They’re strongest when made on Litha.”
“Meow.” Flufflepuff’s paw poked out of the carrier as his familiar reminded him of the topic at hand.
Sonny took a big breath and let it out. “It’s also a special time for those who are pregnant.”
Leo gave him a half smile. “How so? No one in our group was pregnant this time last year.”
Sonny buried his face against Leo’s arm for a moment, then peeked up. “A Litha scrying can tell expecting parents a lot about what the future will hold. It’s also a perfect time for an early blessing on the baby.”
“Really?” Leo’s voice went high at the end of the word. “Well, do we know anyone that’s pregnant?”
Sonny puffed his cheeks out. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Remember when you said you wanted children?” Sonny asked, leaning his head on Leo’s shoulder. “At our handfasting. In April.”
Leo chuckled. “Yes, I do. I also remember all the fertility blessings people gave us. I also remember the green fertility candles you set up that night and every night until a couple of weeks ago. Then there’s the fertility blessed strawberries and carrot cake you’ve been eating since our handfasting. Plus, I don’t know if you know this, sunshine, but bear shifters have a keen sense of smell and can tell when their mate’s scent changes with pregnancy.”
Sonny growled and bit Leo’s arm. “Are you telling me you know I’m pregnant?”
Leo laughed and leaned over to give Sonny a quick kiss, eyes staying on the road. “I’m saying everyone knows you’re pregnant. It’s been hard keeping Mom and Coleen from starting on a nursery in one of the guest rooms. Burk, Thor, and Dad have all been fighting the urge to bring you food, and Niels and Rosemarie have already started buying baby clothes. There was no stopping that.”
Sonny scowled. “I haven’t even told Myrtle and Aaron yet.”
Leo eyed him before focusing on the road.
Sonny narrowed his eyes. “They already know too.”
“Maybe.”
Sonny leaned back in his seat, fighting a pout. “And they still couldn’t spend Litha with us?” He groaned. “I’m being a selfish jerk, aren’t I? People have their own lives and don’t have to arrange everything just for me.”
Leo grunted but took one of Sonny’s hands and squeezed it. “How do you feel about the baby?”
Sonny hid his face and hugged Leo’s arm again. “I’m so excited to expand our family, honey bear. We’re going to have a bear shifter or a witch, but it doesn’t even matter. We’re going to love them no matter what. I already have the perfect name too.”
Leo’s grin was big and goofy. Sonny didn’t even have to ask how his mate felt about the baby. It was written all over his face. “What name?”
“Rowan Aaron Rocchi. I’d make Aaron the first name, but then we’d have two Aarons and that would be confusing.”
“I like it,” Leo said, still grinning.
“Are you nervous at all?” Sonny asked, fighting the butterflies dancing around in his gut.
Leo swallowed hard. “Hell, yeah. Honestly, I’m terrified. It’s easy to say I’ll just love my kid and everything will be okay, but what if I really do fuck up somehow?”
“I’m scared too,” Sonny whispered. “A baby is a really big deal. We both have a lot of obligations. I love Miles and don’t want to give up my apprentice, but I remember how much time Mother and Father spent with their apprentices instead of me. I don’t want that for our child.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Leo said, voice calm and steady. “You’re aren’t alone in this. Together, we’ll teach them all about our traditions, both shifter and witch.” He squeezed Sonny’s hand again. “Tell me about your favorite Litha.”
Sonny thought for a moment, then smiled. “I was about eight years old. Mom and Dad took their older apprentices to Haverdell to celebrate Litha with the Blackwood family, but I was grounded because they had found another of my stashes of skirts and jewelry. Anyway, I was staying with Myrtle while they were gone. She usually goes to the coast to spend Litha with Hester but had stayed in the city so I wouldn’t be alone.”
Leo’s growl reverberated through the truck, and Ravenpaw and Flufflepuff started growling too.
“Settle down, you three,” Sonny ordered with a laugh. “It gets better, I promise. So, Myrtle took me to a big celebration in one of the city parks. There was a bonfire and plenty of food and dancing. I was having so much fun, but Myrtle asked me if I wanted to see something special. She led me deeper into the trees and we found a fairy ring of white mushrooms.”
Leo gave him a surprised look. “Really? Us kids always looked for those during our summers at the farm, but we’ve never seen any.”
“They’re usually rare, but if you look closely, you can find them on Litha. Myrtle said the Summer Solstice was a special time for fairies and other Fae folk.”
“I always wanted to meet one of the Fae,” Leo mused. “I saw a fairy once. She was a cute little bit, and Niels went to school with one of the Fae. He said the man was a bit standoffish.”
Sonny shrugged. “I think they’re just more comfortable in their own kingdom. Myrtle said there’s a colony that lives in Haverdell, but that’s the only one she knows about. Of course, fairies live all over, but they don’t like cities, so I never see any.”