#bergen_county

A whisper, Tove asking her husband "It didnt show did it?"

"She didn't notice" A whisper back 'Hell, I didn't notice"

"Good." Tove is reassured by Jaymes, "My best performance"

"Why didn't you tell me you didn't want to go? We could have skipped , Dagmar could go alone" He grumbles

"I did want to go, I just.. that many sidhe in one spot... a bit overwhelming for someone raised on Thyle. I never fully agreed, but.. aye. I didn't trust half of them despite myself" A frown

"So why did you WANT to go at all?" He asks 'Knowing they'd be there?"

"Because" A whisper "I will not make the mistakes Thyle made. I will not the path the DeBukes walked and nearly fell over a cliff for. She will know people different and varied, and with that some heart ache but so much wonder. I will not have her hearing only one voice in a world of sopranos and altos"

"Even though it had you shaking inside?" Jaymes grunts

"Especially because it had me shaking inside" Tove snorts delicately, and her eyes grow proud "Our daughter has put up with enough hateful souls, twisted views, and worse for a life time. I will not pass on my fears and scars. She has her own. I will carry HER burdens, not hers mine..."

And Jaymes tilts her head up with a finger, and gazes at her wife with such amazement she's confused, her voice trailing.

Then, he kisses her, deeply, worshipfully.

And she melts for a time

Then when they part, she looks, confused "That was nice but what brought that on?"

Shrug. Grunt ("I'm attracted to brave women")

"I'm not br- " But she doesn't get to finish

He snorts, not delicately, and as if she is speaking nonsense ("Bullshit.") then before she can get offended he explains "You just said you knew it would scare you to go. That you knew it wouold make you afraid, or hostile... and you went anyway? to show our daughter what's right ? Tove Torindau, if you don't see why that's courage, you need to review some of your own songs."

A blush, and with it, pleased look, "Come to bed, love."

"Why?" he asks with exagerated guileless "What will we do there?"

"Mmph. .. if you don't know, I'll review some old songs of a different sort with you" And away she pulls him.

(End Scene)