Sanguinerose was curled around her kits protectively, asleep. The kits had kept her up late that night, unable to sleep and restless with the warm front moving through the territory. She tried everything, from stories to threats, and even considered going to Littlestar for an herb to help them sleep. Only her fear that Littlestar might take Mousekit and Earthkit from her because she was considered unfit kept her from going. Finally, she managed to get the kits to sleep with a soft lullaby, but by that point the Sun had begun to crest the horizon and she was exhausted. She skipped getting up for the morning prayers, but did follow along within the den, silently so as to keep the kits asleep. She had passed out afterwards, and was snoring softly, six little bundles of fur tucked into her golden pelt. All were content and quiet, unaware who stood outside of their den at that very moment.

{ { sorry it took so long to reply! } }

Sanguinerose's eyes fluttered as she awoke to whispering outside of the nursery. Her ears flicked forwards, straining to catch what they were saying. "...remember who you are doing this for." This caught her attention, and her breathing hitched. Littlestar was standing outside of the nursery with - she scented the air - Lionpride. Sanguinerose wasn't sure what to do. Should she get up and risk disturbing the kits? Stay and pretend to be asleep? What if he was disappointed with how she had raised his kits and hated her for it? Her breathing picked up, though she forced it down when it began to wake the kits. She watched the entrance to the nursery, but her attention was drawn away when a little voice called her.

"Mama?" Berrykit's sleepy voice was tiny in quiet den, clogged with sleep and confused. "What's the matter? Who's outside?" The little she-kit stood up and stretched, accidentally stepping on her brother as she did so. "Is that Papa?" She had asked Sanguinerose every day when they would meet their father after finding out another kit said she had a cat called a "papa" and every day, Sanguinerose had told her she'd meet him tomorrow. Was today tomorrow?!

Before Sanguinerose had a chance to reply to her daughter, Berrykit raced forwards and collided with Lionpride's leg, her eyes bright. "Papa!" she purred, not seeing or understanding the tears gathering in his eyes as he looked at her brother and sister. "Mama kept saying you were gonna come, and now you're finally here!" She was more than a little unsteady on her paws and found herself on her bottom after her excitement threw off her balance.

"Berrykit! Lionpride...I'm so sorry!" mewed Sanguinerose, feeling heat begin to bloom in her cheeks and ears at her kit's mistake. "Berrykit, come here right now," she mewed sternly, nervous about the kit being away from her side so young. "Lionpride," she began again, unable to meet his gaze, "It's a surprise - a good surprise - to see you!" She settled back down in her nest when Berrykit returned to her side and nudged Earthkit and Mousekit a bit. "Did you want to meet your kits?" she whispered, seeing the emotion in his gaze. "They'll be happy to finally meet you."

"Papa!" purred Berrykit from her mother's side, latching onto the idea that he was her father with a ferocity too large for her tiny body. Her little ears were still shells, her paws tiny, and her entire body barely the length of Sanguinerose's foreleg but she already seemed to radiate her mother's commanding presence.

Sanguinerose nudged Earthkit and Mousekit gently with her nose, rousing them from their sleep, and motioned with her tail for Lionpride to come closer. "Sorry about her," she chuckled softly, shaking her head. "She gets these notions in her head and can't be convinced otherwise sometimes." Her voice was content, and though she was worried how the tom she'd come to care about would react to meeting his kits without his mate for the first time, she knew the Sun God would ensure all went well. "Wake up, little ones," she whispered, licking their heads gently. "Your father is here to meet you."