Chapter 3
The meeting

As I pulled my prowler to a stop in front of the “Casa Coona,” the mission style wine country B&B my folks ran, a rather buxom Brown, black and gray female raccoon burst from the front door, her floofy tail flying. I stepped out of the car and stretched. 

“Rick, You made it!” his twin sister Kacy announced exuberantly, enveloping him in a massive hug pinning him to the driver’s door. 

“Oof, hey Sis, good to see you too.” I said, returning her hug with equal gusto.  
“So, what’s cooking in your life?” “It” being a private joke between us, referring to her culinary career. 

With a sly grin on her muzzle, and a gleam in her eye, I knew that look.

“Oh, I’ve brought a saucy little dish I think you are going to just love…” she said, winking at me as I got my overnight bag out of the trunk.

Kacy whistled sharply, startling me, it was only a 14 hour drive from Seattle after all.
“Gwen, He’s here. . .” she called out.

	 With a questioning look at my sister, the slam of the screen door drew my attention. Turning to see who had come out, my breath caught, my eyes went wide, and the bag in my hand dropped from my numb fingers. For descending the stairs was a beautiful black and white Skunkette, a green eyed Skunkette, with white ‘gloves’ and ‘sox’, in a lovely azure blur sun dress. My heart cried out to me. 

“IT’S HER !”

My mind went blank with disbelief, as she slowly approached and stood next to KC.

With a wickedly triumphant grin at my reaction, Kacy introduced her, 

	“Gwen, this is my twin brother, Rick Coona. Rick, this is my best friend Gwen Smith, I had a feeling you two should meet.” She finished with a grin. Starring into her emerald green eyes, I blinked twice and was finally able to get my mouth working.

	“It…it’s you, isn’t it?” I managed, taking her paw in mine, her touch was electric, sending a tingly jolt through me.

	“…Rick, I - I know you, I…” She stammered. A grin broke out on my muzzle, Kacy was totally lost. "Hold on a sec, are you trying to tell me that you two somehow know each other?"

“There is only one way to find out.” I ventured. “Do you have a small heart shaped blaze on your back, at the base of your tail?” 

She Nodded. 

	“How the heck could you know that Rick?” Kacy asked. "You can only see it when she's…" Kacy paused suddenly aware of what she had implied. I winked at my sister.

 Leaning in to whisper into Gwen’s ear, here goes nothing, I thought.

	“Do you also have a crescent moon birthmark on the inside of your right thigh, near the hip?” Gwen gasped, taking a step back covered her muzzle with both paws and starred at me, wide eyed nodding.

	“WHAT?” Kacy demanded getting defensive, seeing the shocked look on her friends face. “What did he say to you, Gwen?” stepping between us, She turned and glared at me.

	“…H-he knows about the mark.” She replied in a voice barely above a whisper, a grin blossoming across her lovely muzzle, her green eyes aglow.
Kacy spun around facing her best friend, a look of utter shock on her face,
	“No way! What the heck is going on here Rick?” Kacy growled, grabbing me and shaking my shoulder for emphasis. "How do you know Gwen, where did you meet her?"

	“Its simple Kacy,” not breaking eye contact with Gwen.” I know her, I've always known her.  I’ve seen her before. In dreams and visions, She’s my-”

“…soulmate.” Gwen finished for me, our fingers interlacing.

“Whoa,” Kacy said stepping back, “ I knew you two should meet, but, wow. You two aren't messing with me here, are you, cause I'm getting chills here. This is spooky. Are you sure? ”

“Uh huh” we both replied in unison, still gazing into each others eyes, huge grins mirrored on our muzzles for our long search was over.

	"I always Knew you were out there, Gwen, You are even more beautiful in person than in my dreams."  

She blushed slightly nodding. "I too, I have always known that my soul mate was out there. I…"

Snapping her fingers Kacy tried to get our attention  “Hello? Earth to the love birds. Anybody home?” 

With a sigh we both turned our attention to Kacy. She jumped as if we had goosed her in the tail, grinning like a bandit despite the fact that her practical joke had backfired badly. Kacy couldn't deny the fact that we were radiating a love she had felt for both of us, for a special bond existed between my sister and I as well as between Kacy and Gwen, I could feel it and it did not surprise me in the least.

	“Talk about your unexpected developments. Here I was all set to surprise you, and introduce you to my best friend, and you two end up already knowing each other!” she said with a shake of her head, sweeping up my bag and leading us into the house.

“Mom, Dad, You’re not going to believe this. . .” Kacy called into the house as we ascended the stairs.

+ + +

After a wonderful meal, Rick asked Gwen to join him for a stroll through the rose garden in back of the house.

	"Gwen, I have loved you for ten years, and now that I found you, I don't want to lose you…" I said as Gwen paused to smell a bright yellow rose, its spicy-lemony scent brought a smile to her muzzle. She turned to face the handsome Raccoon, he who has haunted her dreams these last ten years as well.
 
	" Rick, do you believe in destiny, that we are fated to meet friends and lovers from life to life?"

	"…Yes Gwen, yes I do," I paused as we sat on one of the benches.

	"Than you know, we have met before, in another life?"

	"My heart tells me so, yes. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew."

	"And that we may yet meet in the next?" she asked sincerely.

	"Anything is possible. It is said that our actions in this life, determine what is possible in the next…" I looked into the emerald depths of Gwen's eyes. A wealth of emotion played out.

	"Rick, there is a question that I must ask, and I…need  to know, before we can…" Gwen fell silent, not seeming to want to ask, but knowing that she needed the answer.

	"Gwen my love, know that you can ask me anything, and no matter what the outcome, know that I shall love you forever."  I braced myself, for this was the trial by inquiry.  I knew that my answer would determine if we could be together in this life, of if  we must wait for the next turn of the wheel to be a couple again. . 

	"Rick, Do you think I will like Seattle?" Gwen asked, her eyes lowered.

Of all the potential questions she could have asked, that had to be the farthest from my mind. 

	"Oh yes, Yes Gwen very much. I believe that you will not only like Seattle, but will come to love it, as I do." I said sincerely. Gwen wrapped her arms around him in a hug, " I love you, Rick Coona. For I have dreamed of you these past ten years, but..."

	"But what, my love?"

	"When I first met Kacy, I thought that you, that she…we became the best of friends, more that friends really. I care very deeply for Kacy, Rick." Rick knew his sister's proclivities well enough to know where this was going.

 	"Gwen I Love my Sister KC very much, in fact we have a special bond, being twins and all."  I reached up and raised her chin. "Beloved, it matters not, take your fill of love where you will." And with that I kissed her gently, breaking the kiss a few moments later. 
	 "Kacy said she had a surprise for me, little did I suspect…" Gwen said shaking her head.

	"Well, You two seem to be hitting it off nicely, I must say." Kacy observed, as she joined us in the rose garden and was drawn into a group hug. "Thank You Sis." I said, giving my twin a kiss on the cheek. "Oh yes! Thank you Kacy." Gwen added, kissing her on the other cheek at the same time.
		
	"Sheesh. Hey you two, get a room," Kacy giggled. 

	"Friends and Lovers, eh sis?" I whispered into her ear causing her to start as if goosed in the tush, and quickly looked at Gwen, who gave a small nod. 
	"Damn, Rick. How the… Never-mind, shoulda known you'd pick up on that. She means a lot to me, ya know." Kacy admitted. "I-I don't want to see her get hurt Rick.  I love..."

	"You and Rick are twin souls, KC. I love you both, deeply. I feel it is my destiny to be with Rick, as it was your destiny to introduce us. And for that I am in your debt. We are more than just best friends and casual lovers. You are my Soul sister, Kacy." 

	"Soul Sister, I like that." Kacy hugged us both again.

	 "So Rick, are you going to drag her off to Seattle with you?" 

	"Where he goes, I shall follow. Besides, now that we've met, you can't get rid of me that easily, Rick Coona.  Kacy can tell you, I'm a stubborn wench." Gwen said with a wink that set her two companions laughing.
	Kacy turned to her best friend and sighed heavily. She knew in her heart that this day was coming from the moment she met Gwen, but that didn't make it any easer
	"Tell you what, If you have a Girl, name her after me, will ya?" Kacy said patting Gwen's belly. " I love ya kiddo."  Kacy turned to whisper into my ear, " Please Rick, be gentle with her, you will be her first!"  She quickly kissed me on the cheek then went inside, leaving us alone.

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We held a small ceremony in the Rose garden where we pledged our love, made out Vows and tied the knot. It was simple, elegant and downright, even magical.

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