Eep's Two Mates

Every other day, it was Dawn's turn with Eep.

Sure Guy was still around. It was his hut too, but sometimes Eep and Dawn wanted to spend a little "girl time" together and he was cool with that. It was still before noon and the two of them decided to sleep in while Guy went off to brainstorm on new designs with Phil.

Dawn was snug under the covers, but instead of the mattress of soft pelts, she was instead curled up in the soft warm embrace of her mate Eep, her big arms holding her like Sandy and her stuffed toy.

Dawn rested her head against Eep's abs, listening intently.

"Eep! I think I can feel it."

"Come on Dawn," said Eep. "Mom said we won't actually notice anything for several more weeks."

"I know," said Dawn. "I'm just so excited! Aren't you excited?"

"Kind of hard not to be. I'm sicced! And a little afraid. And a worried. And a little queasy."

"Oh my gosh, are you gonna throw up?! I can get the basket if you--"

"Dawn, I'm fine. You gotta chill. Besides, mama ain't done cuddling yet."

Dawn did what she said and took her place against Eep.

It had only been decades since monogamy was invented, and it would be ages before it would become the law of the land. So until that time came, Guy, Eep and Dawn had come to a sort of... agreement.

When the Croods first came to the Betterman's farm, Phil and Hope tried pairing Guy and Dawn together under the idea that they belonged together, only for Guy's relationship and Dawn's friendship with Eep to curtail that idea. Weirdly enough, everyone got what they wanted in the end, though not exactly as they imagined it to be.

Dawn couldn't tell you when she realized that she had a crush on Eep. Maybe it was when she had first left the farm to go riding on Chunky. Maybe it was when they had first fought Punch-Monkeys together as Thunder Sisters. Maybe it was that time they went swimming and Dawn got a good look at Eep in a wet pelt. Who could say?

One day, she went up to Guy and Eep and confessed these feelings, thinking that it wasn't right not to let them know. They were surprisingly cool about it, though Eep seemed confused at the idea of girls dating at the time.

One thing led to another and she and Guy now shared Eep.

Ever since they became mates, Eep and Dawn had undergone a honeymoon phase a lot like when Eep was with Guy, though they were a little more discreet about it for both Dawn and Guy's sake. Guy and Dawn didn't share the same affections with each other as they had for Eep, but they both agreed to still be friends. Besides, there was something nice about having a friend who could ogle their girlfriend without having to feel protective and weird about it.

When Eep found out that she and Guy were going to have a baby, they were of course excited. Grug still wanted to tear Guy in half, but he seemed excited by the idea of being a grandpa. Dawn thought that she would wind up being the third wheel, but Eep wasn't having any of it.

"Come on," Eep had said. "I'm not gonna let this baby go without their other mom."

That idea seemed to click with Dawn on an almost primal level

Eep was going to have a baby, and that would make Dawn its mommy too. She squealed so loud, the chicken-seals all barked in a panic when they heard it.