FSE

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1. I guess I should quit trying to make promises about when I'll post, because it doesn't work at all. I sincerely apologize. Also, thank you so much to everyone who's stuck with me thus far; you've been wonderful.

2. I've retouched Part 19a. You don't need to reread it to get this part, but I do think it's an improvement over what I posted originally.

3. Nick (my protagonist) is bisexual, and the story has rather a lot of homosexual content, but no yiff as yet. Be warned.

4. I love feedback, and especially constructive criticism and critique. Parts you liked, or didn't like so much? Also, NEW FEATURE: just put the letters "NR" in front of your comment if you'd like for me to NOT respond with anything more than a thank you. Just in case some of you don't want the three-page discussion :).

Enjoy the story!

Part 19b

I tugged at a stray clump of fur on my ribs and threw it into the bag sitting next to me, grouchily telling myself that this was why huskies were made for cold weather. We'd made it to the first week of May, it was six hundred degrees out here, and I still wasn't done shedding.

Grabbing my brush again and attacking my side, I reflected that at least it was shady out here. Plus there was a slight breeze, which, despite forcing me to use a bag - who would have thought there was actually a law against leaving your fur outside in spring? - did offer a bit of welcome coolness.

I was busy contorting into some interesting shapes in an attempt to brush off my back when I heard the back door open. "That looks painful," Jake observed, and I didn't even have to look to tell he was grinning.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, "rub it in, why don't you?"

I heard him padding over, and a moment later the brush was tugged out of my paw. "Oi!" I protested, twisting around, but the wolf held my shoulder with his free paw to keep me steady.

"Hold still, you," he said cheerfully, gently running the brush down my back. "This is what you get for not getting your fur cut with the rest of us." He'd gone a couple weeks ago to get his shaved down to a bare half inch, and had been teasing me about it ever since.

"Yeah, well, I like mine long," I said, grinning but keeping my voice grumpy just to annoy him.

Jake's lips gently touched the top of my head. "Can't say I'm heartbroken," he murmured. "It looks great on you."

Man, what was I supposed to do when he cheated like that? Sighing, I relaxed and dropped my head, letting him finish going over my back, shoulders, and arms. It felt fantastic, both in its own right and because it left me that much lighter and cooler.

We didn't speak again until we'd tied up the bag of fur, thrown it away, and settled down on the swing set out back. I occupied myself by shooting sidelong glances at him - I still wasn't entirely used to his shorter fur, and the fact that it showed off every single one of his well-defined muscles didn't hurt. I reminded myself that drooling would give me away.

"So what's bothering you?" the wolf murmured eventually. "You've been having depressed spells for weeks now."

I looked away. "Can I tell you later?" I asked. I wanted to not tell him at all, but I knew that would fly like a cinderblock attached to a lead balloon. It's not like Jake could really do anything to keep me here after term ended, and telling him how much I wanted to stay would just upset him.

Besides, I'd spent the first three months of my stay acting like I hated it here, so what right did I have to turn around and ask for more?

Jake sighed. "That's what you said the last three times I asked, Nick."

"I know," I whispered, cringing.

He caught my paw, swinging it slightly. "Talk to me," he said simply. That had all but become a code phrase for when he intended to insist.

And I badly wanted to find a way out of it. "N-next week?" I pleaded. My monthly checkup at the center was on Monday.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"All right," he said. We stayed there for a few minutes, swinging very slightly, before he sighed. "I'd better go study some more. Bloody A-levels are killing me."

We got up, but I didn't even manage a single step before he caught me in a crushing embrace.

"Please don't do anything stupid, mutt," he whispered. The fear just behind his voice made my heart wrench painfully out of position, and I hugged him back just as hard.

" 'Kay," I replied softly.

Watching the wolf's retreating back, I swallowed and came to a decision. No. I wanted this - God I wanted it - and I was bloody well going to fight for it. I wasn't going to passively slide back into my old life. I could deal with whatever restrictions the center wanted to put on me, if they'd just let me stay.

If Dan and Halo even wanted to keep me.

I bit my lip and forced the thought away. Worrying about it would get me nowhere. So. What could I do about it? Specifically, what could I do between today and Monday?

Not much, damn it. But... I could at least put a token effort in at school between now and then. Thankfully I'd caught up on my schoolwork - that should count for something, right? Then I could tell the center I'd get a summer job. I'd pondered it already, I'd ask them if I could start applying.

Damn it, I hated being dependent on these furs' whims.

Irrelevant.

Well, putting an effort in at school meant I should probably go study for my biology final. It wasn't for another three weeks, and I didn't care terribly about biology, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if I could raise that grade by a letter or so. I was fairly sure I had a practice test or something lying around for it; I could show that to the furs at the center.

So, sighing, I went inside to get my textbook and some paper. Jake looked up and smiled at me as I passed his doorway, and I spared a moment to wish the desk in his room were big enough for two. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and I didn't feel like working in my room, so I just took my stuff back downstairs to the kitchen table.

Which is where I was fifteen minutes later when Aislyn came down, spotted me, and padded over to sit across the table. "Hello, Nick," she said casually.

Okay, who are you and what did you do with Aislyn Altera? "Um, hey?" I replied.

She smiled a little, then nodded at my textbook. "Homework?"

"Just studying," I said, shaking my head and trying not to show how weirded out I was.

Her smile broadened briefly, but then she looked down at the table. "May I have a moment?"

Seriously? Now? "Um, sure, I guess," I answered, shoving my preoccupation as far out of mind as I could. Which wasn't far, but it did help.

The younger wolf took a breath. "I'm wondering if I owe you an apology," she said. Then, seeing my nonplussed expression, she went on. "For how I've been acting. You didn't turn out as bad as I thought you would."

Well. High praise, coming from Aislyn. Figures she'd have to come make a full apology over something I hadn't really cared about too much. I briefly considered just brushing it off - I mean, really? - but something stopped me. She'd at least made the effort, and I'd just finished promising I'd make an effort at fitting in as well.

So instead of an obligatory 'okay, sure,' I half-shrugged. "You were kinda right, anyway." I looked down as well. "I wasn't exactly a model citizen when I got here."

"No," she returned, "but you had something, and I didn't even give you a chance to show it." She smiled, more to herself than to me. "Jake saw it. He really cares about you."

My cheeks heated at record pace and I mumbled something unintelligible. Aislyn's lips twitched. "Anyway, I just wanted to clear that up. I'm sorry... and welcome to the family, Nick."

She stood up and left, leaving me to sit there with a poleaxed expression. God, I wanted that welcome to be real. Even Aislyn sort of liked me now, but in a week - less than a week - I'd have to go. A small whimper escaped my muzzle before I could clamp down on it. The very last thing I needed was to bring Jake down and upset him too.

Dragging my attention back to my textbook, I made myself get to work, hard, on that practice test.

"...and then the teacher finished early so we had to read another chapter of our book," Michael finished, wrapping up his long, involved complaint with a distinct lack of displeasure in his voice. I had to marvel how some days he brought home a full fifteen-minute recounting of his day, while others he seemed equally content with "it was okay." I didn't mind, though - we'd moved supper to a table out back, and the evening air felt nice.

"Yeah?" Dan responded. "Did you get any homework from that?"

"Hm-mm," the deer said, shaking his head, his mouth full of mashed potatoes and a rather smug grin on his face as he chewed. Jake stuck his tongue out at him - having just run through his own list of assignments - and Michael giggled.

"What about you, Nick?" Halo asked. Naturally, I chose that minute to choke on my barbecued rib.

"N-nothing much," I stuttered once I'd hacked the offending item back into my digestive system. "Just some more maths problems and that composition paper." I looked down at my plate, slouching in the chair a bit and wondering how I could shift the conversation over to the correction center visit. Jake's presence in the next seat over didn't help that much, but I'd decided there was no help for it. Truthfully, I needed to ask the whole family if I could stay, and this was the best way to do it.

"How's that going for you?" Dan prompted after a moment, and I twitched. I'd forgotten I was in the middle of a conversation.

"Okay," I mumbled.

God, it was now or never. "Hey, I..." but my nerve failed as quickly as it had come and I trailed off.

"Nick, is anything the matter?" Halo asked, concern in her voice, and I wilted even more while my thoughts yammered in the back of my head.

Yes! Please, I just - I know it's a lot to ask, but... "No, I'm okay," I said, forcing my voice to sound normal, and tried to occupy myself with my meal.

It was the fifth night that had happened. The meeting was tomorrow.

I'd always assumed that the phrase "sick with nerves" was an exaggeration, not something that really, physically happened. But as Dan pulled into the lot at the correction center I revised that assumption. My stomach was roiling, and I really, physically thought I might throw up.

I came - literally - within a hair's breadth of smashing my tail when I shut the passenger's door, and winced as a few strands were yanked free. Unable to look Dan or Halo in the eyes, I stared unhappily at the old pavement as they got out of the front seats, then followed them inside. Halo tried to take my paw, but I shied away.

You were supposed to talk to them, you moron, I thought yet again, swearing viciously in the confines of my skull. How the fuck do you think this is going to go when you spring it on them at the last second, huh? You stupid, pathetic little coward, so much for wanting to stay... my internal castigations carried me all the past the utilitarian reception area and into a small office.

There was a middle-aged coyote waiting for us. "It's good to see you again," he said while we found seats. "I understand you're here for your monthly checkup?"

"That's right," Dan affirmed. "Also, we were hoping to finalize Nick's transfer for after the end of term."

I started shaking at the too-sudden - way too sudden - intro to the subject. I didn't even have a chance to try to organize my thoughts, and what little composure I had left was rapidly draining away.

God damn it, NO! Please, don't take me away from this. From the best family I've ever had. From the closest I've ever been to a normal life. From him.

And they were going to. I'd never come so close to hitting Dan or Halo as I was right then. Ever since the start I'd known that would be an instant deal-breaker, but now the deal was broken anyway, and it took everything I had - more than I'd thought I had - to not hit the pair that had opened their home to me for even these few, brief months. A tiny part of me noted, with a distant sort of panic, that I was supposed to be arguing my case right now, and all I could do was sit impotently by.

I was so focused on that one simple goal that I almost missed the coyote's next sentence. "Ah, yes, you'd said you were willing to provide Nick with a permanent foster home, is that correct?"

What?

I missed the next minute or so, brain frozen in shock, before a single query forced its way out of me.

"You - you're not getting rid of me?" I asked in a hoarse croak, interrupting whatever Dan was saying.

Everyone turned to me in surprise. Then, slowly, comprehension dawned first on Halo's face, then Dan's. "Is that what's been bothering you?" Halo asked. She moved to wrap her arms around me, which made me lose any semblance of control and start sobbing. "Oh, God, I'm sorry. We thought you knew - of course we're not getting rid of you, sweetie. You're family now."

It took a long time - I don't know if that means a few minutes or half an hour - for me to calm down at all, and I spent the next two hours of questions and congratulations and government forms in a daze - one that slowly turned into happiness as, signature by signature, I got the chance I'd been too scared to ask for.

Then it was done, and we were back in the parking lot, and Dan stopped me from getting in. "I'm really sorry, Nick," he said, sounding absolutely repentant. "We wanted to surprise you with the formal transfer, but we had no idea you still thought you were going to leave. We should have told you weeks ago and cleared all this up."

"No, it's - it's okay," I said, smiling stupidly and still unable to quite wrap my head around it. One thing was for sure, though - one of the furs doing this for me was apologizing, and that had to stop. So I stepped forward and hugged him for like the third time in the last twenty minutes. "Thank you so, so much," I whispered.

He hugged me back. "You're welcome, Nick. You'll have a place in our home for as long as you want it." He chuckled. "Besides, Jake would never forgive us if we'd let you go."

If possible, my smile grew even wider, and stayed that way for the whole ride back.

Jake stepped outside to greet us, and I ran up the sidewalk, leapt into his arms, and kissed the startled wolf full on the lips.

I shifted from foot to foot in the air-conditioned store and hoped I didn't smell. That's not really a good thought to be having while applying for a job, by the way, but I was having it. It was hot out, and I'd stupidly declined Halo's offer for a ride. I mean, I didn't want to inconvenience her, but walking - since I'd equally stupidly not taken my skateboard - in nice clothes and eighty percent humidity while sunlight radiated off the sidewalk wasn't much fun either, so...

Sternly I told myself to quite worrying. I looked fine, I smelled fine; I was just nervous because I hadn't planned to stop here. I'd been heading to the grocery store on the corner, since they'd posted an ad in the paper, but I'd seen a "Now Hiring" sign outside of a little electronics place along the way so I'd stopped by. Then it had taken a few minutes of wondering why it seemed familiar before I remembered I'd actually stopped here last Christmas when I ran away. So that maybe wasn't the best set of thoughts to have right now, either.

The pig at the counter took his bag and left, and I hesitantly approached the cashier. "Erm, hello," I started, "I'm wondering how I could apply for a job here? I saw the sign outside..." Looking at the college-age-ish field mouse, it suddenly occurred to me that I might have just asked to steal his post. I hoped not.

If so, though, he was a cursed good sport about it. "Sure," he answered. "Just go ahead and fill this out and give it back." He pulled out a form that looked pretty much like the other fifteen I'd filled out that week and gave it to me along with a clipboard.

I moved over to a corner and knelt down so I could prop the clipboard against my leg. Name, date of birth, address - I had a real address now! - references that I sincerely hoped they wouldn't call since I rather dreaded what Professor Roderick would say about me if they did. Still, at least he'd let me put him down.

Ten minutes later I'd finished, but the mouse had been joined by a porcupine old enough that his quills showed up from steel grey to nearly white. He favored me with a grumpy look that made me wonder if I should come back later.

Unfortunately he took the matter out of my paws by getting up and walking right over. "So are ye done wiv that yet?" he asked brusquely, jabbing a paw at my application.

"Yea - yes, sir," I said, revising it mid-word.

For all the good it did. He grabbed the paper and looked it over quickly. "Ye got any interest in electronics, or d'you just want my money?"

Ouch. I briefly pondered explaining my effusive adoration for all things technological, but then decided on the truth. He was being blunt, so could I. "Mostly I'm just looking for a summer job, sir. I saw your hiring sign and thought I'd apply. I have good grades in school, I'll work hard for whatever hours you have available, and I can start after school ends next week all the way through the summer break."

He grunted, then fell silent again and left me wondering if that was a good grunt or a bad grunt. "Says here ye got no experience. I got two other applications already - why should I hire you?"

Good lord, he was giving me an interview! ...Ish. So... "Um, I don't actually know, sir. I don't know what qualifications those two have. But I was hoping I could get some experience here, sir."

By now he was scowling even harder at my paper, even though he must have finished with it ages ago. "Then why not go to one of the big stores? There's that big chain down the street - they've always got a couple spots."

Hell, I don't know. "I've applied there too, actually," I answered, fighting to keep my voice level - and winning, I was fairly sure, which was actually pretty neat. "But, at least here I'd know my boss, sir -" I nodded at him "- which is a plus in my book. I don't like bureaucracy that much." True, though as soon as it left my muzzle I wondered if I should have said it.

But then, wonder of wonders, he actually smiled at me. It looked marginally painful, but I'd take it. "You an' everybody else." His frown returned. "Well, I'll look at it. You git."

"Thank you, sir," I said, wondering if I'd passed or failed.

Just as I was leaving, he barked after me, "Better clear up you schedule Saturday, though. Not that I'll hire you, mind, but just in case." Scowling even more ferociously, he stomped off. The cashier waited until he was safely out of sight in a back room, then winked at me and gave a silent thumbs up.

I grinned back and left, making sure to keep my tail from wagging until I was past the store windows.

"Now let's give one more big paw to this year's graduating class!"

I clapped from the bleachers along with everyone else as the school principle finally stopped talking. The band started yet another song no one had heard of while the group of seniors down on the football field stood and started breaking into groups, then individuals, and going to meet their families streaming onto the green. I got up after Aislyn and joined the throng heading down, trying to find Jake or Ivan. Luckily they were both fairly tall - very, in Jake's case - but that only helps so much when you're short. In the end I gave up and just followed the rest of the family. It was significantly larger than usual, since there were three grandparents, two aunts, an uncle, and two cousins included, so it was rather hard to lose - and ridiculously slow-moving.

We did eventually make it down there, and a moment later we found Jake with a group of friends. "See you guys at four," he told them, then walked over. Hugs were exchanged. Then congratulations. Then more hugs. Then we just kind of stood there for a bit and exchanged greetings with some more of Jake's friends and their families as they wandered by. Then we circulated a bit ourselves, Aislyn leaving to talk to a pair of bloodhound twins she said she knew. Ivan came by and ended up being co-opted for half an hour when he said his parents hadn't come. He only escaped after repeating - twice - his promise to be at our barbecue afterwards.

It took like an hour and some before we extricated ourselves, and even then the crowd was going strong. Then Michael chattered excitedly the whole ride back, since he'd had to sit still and be quiet for the whole graduation ceremony. But I couldn't quite seem to be annoyed at him for it.

"Okay, everyone, into the den for a family picture," Dan called once we'd all filed inside.

Wait. Family what? Unsure what I was supposed to do, I wound up standing awkwardly by the kitchen until someone shoved me forward a bit. "Come on, Nick," Aislyn said impatiently. So I wound up walking even more awkwardly over to the alcove that until a few moments ago had held the entertainment set and now held a dozen furs of assorted species. Jake covertly waved me over to stand next to him - he was standing in the middle of the pack since it was his graduation, so I wound up there too. One of Jake's aunts - Sylvia, I think, from Halo's side - sniffed in disapproval, but last night Jake had told me none too quietly to ignore her bigotry, so I let her fume.

Dan set the camera up on a tripod and came over to stand next to Halo while it took some pictures on auto. It took two more rounds to get a good one, but even so we were done a couple minutes later. Jake had to stay for a solo shot, though, and then separate shots with his grandparents, then just the immediate family and me, so it actually took like a quarter of an hour.

Afterwards, we all went to change into casual clothes. In Jake's case, that meant to flop on the bed with a loud groan. "Glad this only happens once," he complained. "Otherwise I'd - oof!" He was cut off when Michael decided he was ripe for a flying tackle. For my part I had my plate full trying to stifle my amusement.

"But this is fun!" the deer protested cheerfully. "We got to see Grandma Susan and everybody!" He giggled and clung to Jake's chest while the wolf tried to pry him off. Eventually Jake gave up.

"Just wait'll you have to do it," he said, giving me an evil look while I laughed helplessly. "We'll see who's laughing then."

"Yeah, sure," I replied, going to the closet and fishing out some regular clothes for both of us. Jake finally managed to sit up and sent Michael to grab some clothes from the trunk by the wall - he'd been moved to an inflatable mattress in our room to make space for our guests - while I changed my shirt and pants.

Jake's uncle and all three of his grandparents had to go around two, so we went out for lunch at some italian place. It wasn't the best, in my opinion, but I hadn't been consulted and at least it wasn't terrible. Then we said our goodbyes and headed back. Jake's aunt, uncle, and cousins went with us - they didn't have to leave until tomorrow, since summer break had already started for them.

Furs started showing up at around a quarter 'til four and helped us get some snacks out, while Halo took her sister and brother-in-law out to some art show or something.

Thomas dropped Claire off a few minutes after four, and my jaw dropped when Ivan squeezed out after them. I mean, last I heard they barely knew each other. Besides, he was already in swimming trunks and a tight white shirt, so... damn.

"Hey!" I said, getting the door for them. "You're almost late - everyone's out back already."

"Sorry," Claire replied. "I was slow getting cleaned, and then traffic, and -"

"Hey," I interrupted in a rather gentler voice, "I said almost late. You're fine." Then I grinned again. "So let's go!"

The pool was already quite full, so I used that as my excuse to stay out of it. Instead I just co-opted one of the ridiculously big lounge chairs next to Claire's wheelchair. "So how've you been?" I asked.

"All right," the bear-fox replied. She made a face. "Bored, though."

I rolled my eyes in agreement. "Tell me about it. The day you figure out something entertaining to do in one of those places, let me know."

"Still, it isn't all that bad," Claire went on. "There's school, and you come over most days, and some other furs, so it's okay."

"Yeah," I said. "Sorry about not making it yesterday, though - things got kind of hectic with Jake's family coming over and a big dinner and everything."

" 'S not an issue," she said. "I got some studying in for finals next week, anyway."

Ugh. I needed to do that, too. "It's not fair that seniors get out a week early," I complained theatrically. Claire laughed.

We talked for another fifteen minutes or so until Jake and a couple of his friends - Alan and Zach? a small chocolate-furred otter and a black-and-tan shepherd, anyway - climbed out and advanced with identical conspiring looks. "So we were talking, and we've decided you should come for a round of water polo," Alan said.

"Oh, no," I said quickly, "I don't do water sports. I'm - oi!"

Somewhere between the chair and to pool I lost my shirt, and then I was dumped into the water to general applause.

"I'm going to get you for this," I muttered once I'd bobbed up again, looking approximately like a drowned rat.

"Sure you are," Jake's voice said from two inches behind me, and I got out one startled yip before I lost my concentration and slipped under. Again.

So, upon coming up looking approximately like a twice-drowned rat, I decided he had to pay. Unfortunately, after a few minutes' fruitless efforts to give the wolf a good dunking, I somehow got roped into the water polo game instead and revenge had to be put on hold. Then Dan announced that the barbecue was ready, so I never did get a chance. I did steal his hamburger, though.

The party started breaking up after another hour or two as various furs headed off home or to other parties, according to their preference. Claire and Ivan stuck around, though, since Thomas apparently had a late shift at work before he could pick them up.

Which was how we wound up in the den playing X-box - or rather, Jake and Ivan played, while Claire and I mostly provided reusable cannon fodder. It was still fun, though. I hadn't realized how beautiful Jake sounded when he laughed.

"So where're you headed after this?" Ivan asked abruptly as he flipped Jake's tank with a well-placed rocket. Meanwhile Michael trotted down the stairs behind us, surveyed the room, and took the arm of the couch nearest Claire, happily accepting her controller.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure I'll get accepted for medical school at Liverpool University, so I'll be heading up there next term," Jake answered. My paw slipped, and I wound up being spectacularly blown up by another rocket.

Jake looked over at me. "I'll be home every weekend, mutt," he added hastily. "Promise." I bit my lip, ashamed of myself for that little moment of panic. It was just for a week at a time, but I still had to fight back a whimper. Feeling stupid, I leaned against the soft, warm fur on his side, wiggling under his arm to get closer.

Anyway, the wolf paid for his inattention with yet another rocket blast. "You're freaking good with that thing!" he said incredulously.

Ivan smirked, rolling his massive shoulders to loosen them. "Take that, su - holy -!"

"Ha!" Michael crowed, bouncing in his seat as he finished clubbing the lion's character over the head. "I got you!"

"With a pistol?" Ivan choked out, and groaned as he respawned without his launcher. He subsided into unintelligible mutters while he started off.

"What about you, Ivan?" Claire asked about four deaths later. "What are your plans now?"

The lion shrugged, declining any further response in favor of dropping into a bunker and grabbing a shotgun.

"...Ivan?" the bear-fox asked a minute later, her voice even gentler than before. I peeked curiously around Jake's chest.

"I don't know, all right?" he snapped. Claire, Michael and I all flinched, which in Michael's case meant falling off the couch with a very canine yelp.

While the deer got up again, Ivan sighed and turned towards Claire while Jake quietly paused the game. The lion didn't say anything - just reached over and placed a paw on the arm of her wheelchair for a few seconds. "I... guess I'll just pick up some more hours at work, try to save some money for technical school," he said at last, before turning back to the screen.

"I think there're a bunch of government grants and loans and things you could get," I offered.

"No," Ivan said flatly, and I cringed back. Jake rubbed my arm and discretely jammed his elbow into Ivan's ribcage. "Hey!" the lion snapped, twisting around. Jake used the opportunity to blast his character off the face of the screen, then calmly looked back.

"Okay, maybe I deserved that," the lion grumbled after a moment. "Sorry."

"No issue," I responded while trying to mask the surge of mutually contradictory feelings that had brought on. I wasn't used to having anyone defend me like that; Jake might have before now, but I usually smacked him down if he tried. Now I didn't and it left a little tingle in my stomach along with the butterflies. Besides, I don't think Ivan had ever apologized to me for anything, so this was a distinct change.

But by the time the game ended and Thomas drove up the driveway, I'd decided I liked the tingle.

"See you two later," I said, grinning as Ivan and Thomas got Claire settled, then tried to squeeze in themselves. I honestly don't know how there was enough room, but Claire managed to get a paw free and wave at us.

"Thanks again," she said. "See you later."

"Yep," I agreed, and stood back as Thomas pulled out.

A warm pair of paws snuck around my body, and I leaned back into their owner's chest, my tail thumping contentedly against his legs. "So. Fun day?" I murmured.

"Definitely," Jake replied, rocking just a little back and forth. I smiled in the gathering darkness.

"I don't know if I've actually said it yet, but congratulations," I said, hesitantly placing my paw over the one he'd settled against my stomach and petting his fur.

He gave me a tight squeeze. "You have, but thanks."

Then, a few moments later, I felt his nose brush the top of my head and his whispered words by my ear. "Thanks for everything, mutt."