“I’m becoming quite the repeat customer, aren’t I?” Foolish joked, as they wandered together across The Mother’s Club lands. He’d chosen the afternoon, after the peak warmth, though the air was still humid and sticky with summer heat, and the sky was still a bright blue that reminded him of the doe.

He grinned. “Am I your favourite?”

Peep only laughed. “I don’t have favourites.”

“Oh, surely you do! Secretly, deep inside! You can tell me.”

Her nose crinkled with amusement. It was a common gesture that he’d come to love. “Do you have a favourite child?”

“Rambler,” he replied instantly. “She’s great. Always out doing stuff, loves a laugh, doesn’t expect anything.”

Her brows had raised but she was clearly holding back laughter. “You weren’t supposed to answer that. That’s terrible. You must love all your children equally. As I do. And all those I bless.”

There was a brief pause.

“But you are one of my favourites.”

“Aha, I knew it!” Foolish laughed.

They chuckled together, continuing on in companionable silence. They had meandered quite far from the main area but you could still hear the foals as they laughed and played, splashing through one of the streams that crisscrossed the area. He wouldn’t want to listen to it all the time but right now, it was pleasant, like an oasis for his soul.

This life wasn’t something he wanted for himself but it was nice to be part of every now and again.

“You know I only woo a new doe every season just to have an excuse to visit you.”

Peep rolled her eyes - a hilarious gesture from a tiny old Acha. “You can just visit me.”

“Oh no that would be too weird.”

She tutted.

They finally came to a stop beneath the welcoming shade of a tree and looked up between the branches, to where the blue sky was now streaked with orange clouds and the sun was beginning to sink towards the horizon, heralding the end of another day. He’d visit her again, the sunflower doe, and give her the good news.

And he’d visit the kids, probably, once they arrived.

He always liked to know their names.

Foolish loved to float in and out of their lives, to give them a laugh and a wink, a joke or two, then let them be to do as they wished. That was his meaning of family.

“So what’s it going to be today? Health, happiness?”

“Of course,” Peep smiled. “Health and happiness are hopefully guaranteed, MotherFather willing.” Her head tilted slightly as she thought and he waited patiently, his gaze intent on the small doe.

Finally she nodded, seemingly satisfied with what she had decided and said, “And may they discover and always find time for their own favourites, whoever or whatever that may be.”

This brought a laugh from Foolish. That familiar relief relaxed the muscles along his neck and shoulders. Another job done. Another clutch that would surely grow up ago, even if they didn’t have a dad of the year.

“Yeah, that sounds good."