It was in her nature to be kind to others. Raven knew what it was like to be shunned and treated poorly. She didn't want to mistreat others. Although that didn't mean she couldn't do such a thing. The lupine was capable of gnashing her teeth and sinking them into someone that didn't deserve her kindness. Matteo wasn't one of those individuals that she disapproved. That he had decided to come to the Ark out of the blue on a day like today was indeed strange. He never came here when Tetradore and Tobias were around, at least that she knew of, and she was of no importance to him. She would be lying if she didn't admit that she was glad to see him here. With everyone gone it was nice to have someone here, even if he wasn't a pack member or a friend. Raven had a guest and social decorum dictated that she do something nice for her guest, even if he was uninvited. The best thing she could do was prepare him something to eat. By no means was she a prideful creature. All that self-confidence she should have was nearly non-existent, but that was okay, because her better half had enough self-confidence for the two of them. A grilled cheese sandwich was a good dish to serve him. It was simple, quick, and a good comfort meal to have. Everyone liked grilled cheese. Even her mate, a creature that desired a meaty dish for all meals, could be satisfied by the classic gooey dish. It wasn't difficult to tell by his accent that the older Fae came from France. Based upon her knowledge of the French, good TV shows and questionable ones, the French people were quite difficult to please. No one had yet to voice out their dislike of any meal she prepared. Perhaps that was because she was that good, right? Although her voice was polite she had an underlining firm note, which showed she was not interested in receiving a challenge from him.

"I've heard that the French are extremely picky about their food. Have you ever heard of four-cheese grilled sandwich? I will make this for you, but you can't gripe about it...until you give it a try. I have yet to hear someone say they dislike a dish I prepared for them."

Blue-grey eyes remained locked on his silver-grey eyes for a few moments as a comfortable silence settled around the two. This was her kitchen, her territory so to speak, and she would prepare him a meal in her way. When she didn't hear him utter a challenge she shifted her eyes away from him and then back at the cookbook. That particular cookbook was a gift of sorts from her mate. It was a bright and sunny day and after they had a lunch at the park she asked her mate if she could purchase a book at the bookstore along the way home. Apparently that day the chef that wrote the cookbook was there, happily giving away samples from the dishes that were within the cookbook. The jungle cat found the samples so delicious that he dragged her away from the aisle she was in and forced her to get as many samples as she could sneak away with her telekinesis. When she explained to him they didn't need to steal the food, if she had the cookbook she could make those meals for him, he decided at last minute to snag one of the cookbooks off the shelves and run out the door. Thinking of that memory only made her sigh in despair as she shook her head.

Without thinking she watched as she grabbed ahold of her fingers, overlapping and tugging them, in her typical way of exhibiting her anxiety. It never occurred to her that her atypical habit would be something someone would question. She probably would have been more prepared to make her answer a bit less honest. Divulging the origin of her nervous habit her eyes shut as quick flashes, during different periods of her childhood, came to the forefront of her mind. At such a young age the logic made complete sense to her. They will hit her, and if she didn't defend herself and stayed put, they wouldn't be too rough with her. Of course that wasn't the case. Not defending herself only seemed to entice them even more, curious to see how far she would go until she couldn't hold out any longer. She tried, again and again. Raven couldn't help, but flinch when she felt his smooth hands rest over her own. Looking up at him she kept her hands under his own not quite sure why he stopped her. He was right. They were dead. Well, some of them were, but seeing her Father made her fear that if he was alive...maybe the others would too. Would they come back for her, for vengeance? She wouldn't blame them if they did, but she had no desire to live in that environment again...even if she deserved to suffer. It may have happened a long time ago, but none of them knew just how much she thought about it. It was the small things that triggered a bad memory, made her upset and worried, made her experience the abuse all over again. No one asked her about it, because she never talked about it. Raven didn't think of herself as a lion. A lion was a courageous and noble creature. She held none of these virtues. Her voice was barely above a whisper, her voice had a soft quiver to it, as she admitted something she never admitted to anyone else.

"It doesn't feel like that sometimes."

Why she would admit something like this to him, a stranger she barely knew anything about, she didn't know. Maybe it was because he wasn't a part of her inner circle. He was an outsider. An outsider that wasn't an important person in her life. He was simply there. Besides, within her own pack there was no one she could voice these thoughts to. None of them would understand or even begin to. Alexis would, and yet if she didn't want to think about the past, she doubted Alexis would either. Raven had no interest in upsetting her friend. At times she wished she could converse her fears with her own mate, but he wouldn't understand either. Matteo wouldn't understand either. She couldn't return his warm simper as he let go of her hand. Instead she let go a dejected heavy sigh. Declaring that she would be a parent obliterated any dark thought that lurked within her mind. Her thoughts about her Father and how her pack treated her was gone. Tetradore and Tobias's' well-being wasn't bumping around her mind either. Instead she was shocked to hear that in her future she would be a Mother. She and her companion only had one conversation about having children, and they agreed they would try, but...she never asked his other half if he was willing to have a child. That he was telling her she would be a parent was quite surprising, and it was all way too much for her to handle, so much so that she had trouble standing. Sitting herself on a stool next to him she tried to collect her thoughts as he spoke. Appalled at his desire to tease her, thinking she had committed infidelity, her hand lifted and she struck his shoulder angrily.

"Now, that isn't nice. I would never cheat on him."

Blue-grey eyes glared at the older Fae as she shook her head in complete disbelief. The nerve of him to worry her so much! That was mean. Shaking her head her thoughts began to stray away to the idea of having children. It was nice to know that one day she would be a Mother. Would Tobias approve? I mean he couldn't be upset about it. The child would be his. When she spoke of a child during Easter, telling Tetradore he would be an Uncle he didn't seem all thrilled. Then again it was actually rare to see him be thrilled about anything in the first place. The idea of children being a blessing made her nod for a moment, but she stopped herself. People that liked children, or wanted children, would admit to children being a good thing. However, she knew otherwise. Children could be a curse, at least, that's what they thought of her. She would stare at the refrigerator her mind wandering for a moment of all the possibilities and what if's. Looking over at him for a moment, she inquired shyly for more information, doubting he could say so much.

"There isn't much you can tell me, is there?"

Raven Clocksworth.