Scrooge shook his head. "There's a difference, Magica. We may have engaged in mating behavior, but it isn't a guarantee of becoming mates." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "I told you I'd swum with someone before, remember? Someone I was grateful that I didn't have pups with? I would've stayed with her for the pups' sakes even though I couldn't stand her out of a sense of duty. We might have been a mated pair, but we wouldn't be mates. Perhaps in time I could've learned to love her, but the relationship would've been hollow without any real affection."

It was a struggle to try and use shore dweller words for concepts that weren't spoken, only felt.

"I want to be with you on any level you'll allow me. Even if you decided right this moment that the one time we lied together would be the only time and that all we would be was friends, I would remain by your side until you decided that you wanted me gone."