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"Better let's go eat." I had kinda figured it was my cousin Amber who had been at my side while I cried since out of everyone I could think of she was the only one who really felt like a mothering type.

"Can I umm." I hesitated wondering why I suddenly had this thought. "What?" She asked.

"Can I introduce you to someone?" I spoke softly.

"Sure who?" I got up and went into the hall pushing open my parents bedroom door. Jace, Albert, and Yellow were there and Jewel was standing gripping on to the edge of the playpen in the corner watching everyone. My father was sitting on the bed looking out the window with his back to me.

"Dad can we take a plate to Shelly?" I asked.

"Sure there's plenty of food just stay in the backyard." His voice seemed fine but he never turned from looking out the window. I ducked back pulling on the door and headed to the dining room with Amber following. I waited for a canine and some odd lapine probably a hybrid before I stepped up to serve two plates using real plates instead of paper ones. As Amber served herself I made the suggestion that we should maybe take a fourth plate. She made another and we both tried walking out the back door and across the backyard trying not to drop one of the plates.

Carefully placing a plate on the rail next to the back door I knocked loudly, took the plate, and stepped back down. *thump * *Thump * Thump * I watched Shelly pull open the back door when her footsteps got close enough. I couldn't stop myself from grinning as she stared down at me, "Shelly I would like to ask you and your father to join us for dinner."

"Just a moment he's in the restroom." She informed me while a voice quickly called out behind her, "No, no I'm here." Mr Thaner stepped behind his daughter just a few seconds later pulling the door all the way open. Shelly hopped down the steps and as her father stepped out I tried to sound somewhat formal, "Sir, would you like to eat with us?" I asked holding out the plate.

"Alright." He said taking a glance back at the clock before he too stepped down and took the plate from my hand. When I turned I saw Shelly was already sitting on the grass next to Amber who was passing over one of the plates.

"Mr. Thaner, Shelly, I'd like you to meet my cousin Amber." I spoke while sitting down myself on the other side of Shelly. "Amber this is Shelly and her father Mr. Thaner."

"Hmmp. Amber I'm guessing the same one we saw before just after we moved in here?" Amber was nodding in response receiving an odd look from the male before she offered a hello.

"And hello and nice to meet you too Shelly." She spoke offering a hand to the young canine.

"Hi Amber." She had stopped herself from biting into a chicken thigh to shake hands.

"Anyone else coming?" Mr. Thaner look up over towards my house as he sat down on the steps.

"No. Someone you'd like to see." Amber spoke before quickly adding. "Or not see?" The two exchanged a glance before the male dog shrugged. "No worries my mother is still likely locked in the bathroom after Ben told her off." I stopped eating after the first bite almost dropping the corn I hand in my hands.

"What did you do?" Shelly half whispered causing me to lay my ears back flat.

"Now none of that Ben Eat! You did what you needed to do and that's that. Mother wouldn't have understood any other way unless you really had tossed her out." I flinched when she said that no longer feeling angry or powerful now it was just shamed that I had taken things so far.

"What exactly did he do?" Mr. Thaner asked now interested as well.

Amber wiped her fingers through the grass. "We should have brought napkins." "Sec." Mr. Thaner placed his plate down and went inside returning just a moment later with a pile of napkins for us all. "Eat." Amber said again when she noticed I had still not touched the food on my plate besides the one bite of corn and Shelly gave me a little nudge as well before I started eating the corn again.

"So?" Mr. Thaner spoke looking at me but I just shook my head and kept chewing.

"Oh you'll love this. Mom had cornered Allen and with everyone sitting in the living room she tried to force him to admit he didn't need the car." Mr. Thaner was shaking his head already as she started. "Ben was suddenly there yelling telling her she didn't deserve to have his mom's car. She wanted Lucy's car bad especially since she has to wait for Jace all the time since he outright refused to let her drive his truck. Anyway she tried to turn Ben around with the family thing and how he didn't care and he literally exploded and told her the only reason he wasn't going to toss her out was because she was family." Mr Thaner started to chuckle looking at me like it was something good only I knew what was coming and there was no way he was going to laugh at that. Again I felt my ears flatten causing him to put on a puzzled expression as Amber continued. "I'm not sure exactly what happened but Ben had a hold of her tail and when she raised a paw he dared her to hit him and told her he would put her in the same hospital bed as his mother. Of course all that was after he called her a bitch and told his father to be quiet."

I flinched with the word and again when Shelly and her father looked at me. They both stared at me and it was like I could feel the disapproval like it was crawling across my fur. "Eat Ben or I will get your father and tell him you aren't." With little choice I picked up a piece of chicken and started in not willing to let my eyes move past my plate.

It was Mr. Thaner who spoke first finally breaking the silence, "Sometimes family cam be like that." It certainly wasn't approval but I couldn't pick out any harshness to the words.

"Indeed!" My fathers voice came from behind me causing the three of us on the grass to turn. "So Mark, I wanted to ask before and I am sorry I didn't find the time but are you going to come to the memorial service tomorrow?" I turned back watching him chew for a moment and consider.

"I'm not sure I want to. Besides I'm not really one to be on a boat." He stated.

"But, I really want to gooooo." Shelly called with nearly a whine. "You are!" I said before she had even finished her oo's, "You can ride with us." We both looked to her father who just nodded.

"So you really thinking of being the first in our family to step out of race eh." I looked up to see Amber grinning then giving me a solid wink. Leaving me a little puzzled for a moment as Mr. Thaner spoke.

"I don't think so." He grumbled.

"Why not the two of them are obviously close, and they got the whole next door neighbor thing going for them." She spoke out waving from me to Shelly and back.

Mr. Thaner growled lightly but Shelly raised her voice, "Dad and I have already talked about it. I know what we can and can't do and for now that's enough." even as she spoke she moved a little closer making me realize exactly what 'stepping out of race' meant.

Amber stifled a little laugh at my sudden realization while informing me, "You have your work cut out for you especially with this family but at least it seems you have someone willing to help. To bad you can't flash her or something."

"Amber!" My father suddenly jumped into the conversation. "That is enough."

She looked abash, "Sorry I apologize I shouldn't have said that. I forgot you're still a little young."

"Exactly!" Mr Thaner stated for emphasis.

"It just kinda slipped out I've been giving Thomas a bad time since he can't seem to decide which girl he wants to take out." She tired to explain.

Somehow being called young had gotten me to find a voice and say something very stupid trying to make myself be older. "I kinda flashed her but I wasn't trying to do that." I mumbled. That had three sets of hard adult stares nailed at the two of us.

Shelly squirmed under the looks and broke, "I wanted to tell you but..." I was looking at Mr. Thaner when she spoke up wanting more than anything to explain how none of it was her fault with the sudden dark look of her father. It took me a few seconds before I was able to say exactly that, "It wasn't her fault."

I watched as he slowly put his plate to the side and turn his full attention on me I could see a small line of teeth that seem barely held in check by his lips as I tried to find my voice. "When I was sick on, on Thursday." I blurted out, "Shelly came over." We looked at each other and I could see her little head shake but it was far to late now.

Amber gave her a little pat on the shoulder as she spoke sensing both of our worry and fear. "Whatever happened it's okay."

"It is NOT!!" Mr. Thaner roared ending with a growl that had his lips curled up and me nearly feeling the need to wet myself.

It was my father who somehow made himself heard and understood, "Mark use your head! He was sick and he hasn't even told us what happened yet. I know he couldn't have done anything he was nearly comatose."

Shelly's dad was still growling and chuffing but at a much quieter volume and at least he didn't look like he was going to leap at me. The only thing I could think of at the moment were the words he had spoken to me earlier. "You told me not to be stupid. And mom told me not to lie." I added on realizing that I was just spitting out some words. But for some reason they seemed to work and he visibly calmed down, at least enough that I could feel I wasn't in serious danger. I could suddenly feel Shelly gripping my hand but when I looked over her eyes were closed.

More than anything right then I wanted her dad to trust us along with my father even if it seemed like we had done something that they were both were going to be seriously upset over. Taking a deep breath I tried to spill out the full story. "In the morning I thought I had a migraine and I had fallen asleep that night with my pants on. I tried to get them off or Dad took them off, I'm not sure. But then later Shelly was there, after school. She was trying to tell me something was wrong."

She interrupted me, "You wouldn't wake up. I tried and tried but when he finally did get up he fell of the bed and threw up." With that her mouth slammed shut and her lips sealed. I sat there staring at her for several seconds before Mr. Thaner said, "And?" trying to keep the story going.

"Well I didn't have my pants on so... I was in my underwear." I spoke quietly. He kept staring at me like I don't know part of me was really worried he might start growling again. We didn't really do anything I told myself, "If.. if she hadn't helped me I would have died."

"Help you?" My Dad prompted. "Well I don't really remember she was trying to get me to the kitchen and I remember laying on the counter. I don't really remember well."

It was several bits of broken words but Shelly added. "He was heavy... I had to keep grabbing his arm... grabbing his underwear to keep him up."

"I remember her telling me she had to leave and she was dead if you found out." I put in.

"I shouldn't have left I'm sorry Ben." It was the first solid set of words that I heard come out of her mouth and the way they were said made me reach over but she was pulled away wrapped up by Amber. "I didn't know you could DIE!" She started a small whine which quickly stopped but I could tell she was crying. I rubbed her back as I picked up the plate and retrieved the dumped chicken, bones, and bread placing them back onto the plate and setting it aside.

I looked around for a moment before finishing, "So she saw me and I don't want you to be upset with her."

"BEN!" Mr Thaner had stood up and was now standing over me, "She saw you or she saw you underwear." I had no choice but to look up at him.

"No not... My underwear, Amber said I should try flashing her, I thought we should let you know the truth." I could still feel his gaze had on me as I looked down.

"Flashing means showing off your fur or private areas. Did you do that?" I looked up surprised shaking my head vigorously.

"I figured as much." My dad was almost chuckling, "You really should know by now that you can trust my son and your daughter. I think he was remembering how Lucy always got upset with a short skirts which she called flashing, but she meant panties."

Though it was hard to understand Shelly was trying to make herself heard, "I didn't mean to dad really."

"Young one if you had just left Ben or anyone who really needed help, just walked away because they were in their underwear or even less, you wouldn't be Ben's friend. If someone is truly hurt or needs help you don't turn away and tell them to get dressed first." Mr. Thaner grunted again at Amber's words but did nothing to contradict her.

"Besides," She spoke looking directly at Shelly's father, "I think it would be wonderful if my daughter found someone as honest as Ben. At least I would know I'd get the truth if something had happened and not some half lie."

"WELL I wouldn't expect any of my kids or grand kids to lie!" A new voice spoke walking up to us from between the houses.

"Pops!" My father called rushing forward giving the elder cat a hug. "Grandpa?" I asked quickly getting up and walking over.

He moved just enough so he could hug me as well. "I wanted to let you know your mom and I are here now." He spoke to my father, "I left her back at the hotel to rest."

"But how? On the phone you were sure you couldn't make it." My father spoke.

"No, I said we couldn't fly, its been a long nineteen hours of driving over the last two days but we got here. And your sister said she should be here sometime late tonight. She's taking a plane and left Tom, the kids, and the baby behind."

"I didn't think any of you would come. It's not like there.."

My grandfather interrupted him, "Son you can count on your family. We maybe spread out now but this is far more important than some birthday or promotion. You need us." He gave both of us a hug again, "Sorry I need to get back to Nancy. The drive was rather hard on her and she's been having a lot of trouble with her leg."

"What?" Amber called out, "No introduction, no dinner? Just gonna leave?"

"Young lady." I could feel my grandfathers voice harden just slightly like his body. "I will not leave my wife for very long, certainly not for a meal. Introductions can and will be made tomorrow when you can meet both of us, together, like it should be." With that he turned and left.

"Well that was kinda rude." She said after she was sure he was out of earshot while picking up the plates left on the ground.

"Amber you will understand tomorrow when you meet Nancy. Honestly I wasn't sure I would be seeing mom again unless I found time to go back and visit." I only half understood what dad meant knowing only that grandma didn't travel anymore. Suddenly I was feeling tired and following a simple compulsion I grabbed Dad and pulled myself to him pressing my head against his shoulder. He returned the hug patting me on the back. Although it was barely a whisper I heard him say, "Anything you need?"

"Sleep." I muttered. He pulled away and took my shoulders giving me a quick look over.

"That is probably a good idea we need to be up early tomorrow." I turned to head inside but was quickly stopped by Shelly who grabbed my arm. With a smile we both turned towards each other and embraced and for the first time I didn't hear even a little grunt from her father. I gave a quick glance over before letting go seeing that he was turning away but that he had obviously saw us hugging.

Even before I was able to take two steps Amber blocked my way with my plate stating that I had to finish eating inside. With a sigh I accepted the rest of my meal and heard her making proper goodbyes to both Shelly and her father. I quickly devoured what was on the plate moving to the kitchen to put what was left in the trash which was again over flowing. I guess Yellow who was in the kitchen notice my slight distress and pulled the bucket out, "I'll take that out now."

I heard voices drop off as I tried to make my way through the crowed living room and the suddenly louder voice of my Aunt proclaiming, "Far to young." I turned back to look at her sitting on the far side of the couch empty plate in her lap with one of our nearly never used wine glasses in her hand. Rather than cause any more trouble I kept going reaching my door when I suddenly decided to enter my parents room.

Amber's husband, Ron or Ray I wasn't sure since I hadn't seen or really heard anything about him since the wedding was on the bed. He had laid Jewel out on the bed slowly petting down her back as she had just fallen asleep. He nodded to me as I walked over to my mother's vanity. On one side was a very beautiful carved miniature wardrobe which had my attention.

It was actually a jewelry box and the one that had made my mother seriously upset when I had tried to touch it when I was young. She told me a story about how it had been her grandmothers wedding present from her second husband. Believing that she would never remarry my great grandfather had spent nearly all his time over the course of months crafting the little wardrobe to try and impress her. I carefully slid the box to the center of the table. I knew I wasn't to young now and I was sure my aunt would try to do everything she could to get it and what was inside the moment she had the chance.

I knew with out a doubt that it really was something that she should actually have, or Amber, having already been passed down two generations of daughters. I carefully opened the wardrobe gently removing the necklaces that hung on the right side laying the four of them out flat on the vanities top. I took the three rings from their hooks and searched through the small drawers on the left finding a broach, two smaller ring that I found out were clip on earrings, and in the bottom drawer there was a wide bracelet that seemed stuck. I carefully pulled the drawer all the way out and gently removing the piece before putting the drawer back in and closing the jewelry box.

I had been so intent of the removal of the bracelet I had not heard my father enter the room, "Ben." His voice sounded behind me and with a click three soft white lights lit up the entire area causing the bracelet to sparkle. They were multiple bands of gold gently woven together with slow curves as each wound its own course through the band. There were also several small gems that glittered each spaced out along the curve of the bracelet adding to its reflectiveness. "I never saw this before."

I wasn't expecting a separate voice to answer, "Nor should you! That was my mothers." I kept a groan in check hearing aunt Lisa's voice behind me as well.

I chose my words carefully, "Would you please, tell me what it is?"

When I turned I was also able to see that Amber had entered the room and was siting on the bed resting Jewel against her shoulder. Lisa had moved around my father and now stood next to the vanity staring over the items. I held my palm up with the bracelet in the center raising it high enough for everyone to see. I could almost sense her wanting to reach forward and snatch it but instead she gently lifted it up holding it towards the lights.

"This bracelet was the first piece of jewelry my father ever bought and he gave it to mom. He never told how he could afford such and expensive piece but he gave it to her just weeks after meeting her. A year later on the same date he proposed with a ring also as expensive." I was looking back to the table top and at one of my mother's favorite necklaces. It was a simple silver chain with a small blue drop sapphire looped in gold. I was something she often wore around the house and had to have at least that on if she ever left the house if not something nicer. It was hard to remember times when she actually didn't wear a necklace.

Standing I handed the necklace over to Dad pointing at Amber before I sat back down. It was like a twin gasp one from Amber the other from Lisa. I turned back to my aunt speaking softly, "Anything that was definitely your mothers we will put in the wardrobe and you can have. Only!" I stopped her from reaching out, "Mother said it was very fragile so it stays right here until you leave." I tapped the vanity to make sure my point was made.

She quickly slipped on the bracelet holding her arm up to admire it, "Very well." I looked back at Amber who had traded the kit for the necklace. She looked at me so I nodded and she opened the clasp and hooked it around her neck.

"That was Lucy's favorite. I had a hard time keeping it off her neck." My father spoke. "She always joke that she was never truly dressed unless she had some jewelry on." It seemed to fit exactly how it was intended, resting just above the collar to her blouse.

"It has a new home." I said finally feeling a little confident with my decision, "That's the only things that will leave. Those that no longer have a home." I looked at my father who seemed to be nodding in both agreement and approval. Mom always was trying to toss anything that was clutter. Except of course in the garage which was my fathers only hiding place. Even the back store room with its boxes and broken table had been placed exactly where my mother allowed it simply saying that was where it belonged with out a spot any item was just something that needed to be removed.

I carefully pushed the wardrobe to the back of the vanity and opened one of the top drawers and placed the other items inside. "Wait aren't you going to chose who gets what now?" Lisa asked seeming almost to whine.

"No I'm going to bed in just a minute." I continued poking around in the top drawer looking for something that might fit my purpose now that I had realized what it was. Rings were not something I was looking for nor were any of the expensive items. I shut the drawer and opened the second shaking small boxes and picking up the trays.

"It's all there, as if anyone would ever steal anything." I ignored her comment. I knew no one would take anything but there was one who might try and beat you into submission to get a hold of one. The last thing I pulled out was a wide flat box. Opening the lid I found both of mom's most stunning pieces. One a ruby diamond mix on a thick gold bracelet each section a circle of gold connected to the next piece and it was likely her most expensive piece. The second was a smaller bracelet with gold heart links each with ruby and emerald chips spaced in small patters with in the gold.

Closing the box and drawer I could almost imagine aunt Lisa with quivering lips and pathetic little whines. If I wasn't intent on something else I would probably get more enjoyment out of this than the little I was taking at having her watch my every move. I reached down and opened the bottom drawer which held just a few boxes, a manikins wrist and hand, and a small tangle of broken necklaces. Only one piece that still adorned the fake wrist and I unclipped then handed it over to my dad.

"I need that tomorrow." I told him as I stood up and headed for bed. He ruffled my ears and grinned as I walked past maybe knowing or understanding what I had planned.