Sat, March 1st, 2014

“You know, they have people that will handle most all of this for us right?”  Shanoa said looking up from the book in her lap, peering over her glasses.

“I know, and we have people hired to handle setting things up and getting everything ready.”  Anna said looking down at her wife from her spot on the sofa.  The two were spending their morning looking over some books that were filled with ideas and themes for weddings and renewals.

“You know I can save us some trouble and say that we just do a mixed wedding.”  The catwolf said with a little smile as she shut the one book and set it to the side for another one.  “You know, pick some things from my side of the traditions, and some things from your side of things.”

“Well that might be a good way to get your parents to come to the states.”  Anna said with a little snicker.

“You know if I did that, more than just my parents would show up…  Half the family might just show up…”  She paused a moment, remembering back to something that she had said to her dad, another one of her silly little bets.  “Shit.”  She muttered.

“What did you do?”  Anna said snickering a little, “you lost a bet or something with your dad didn’t you?”

“Yes, and I think it’s your fault.”  Shanoa said shaking her head a little.  “I mean, I would have won the bet but noooo.”  She said letting out a playful little sigh

“Just what the hell did you bet this time?”  Anna asked, cocking her eyebrow a little.

“Well I made a bet about who would end up with a kid first out of the group of us at the wedding.”  She said taking her glasses off to rub her eyes a little.  “I said that it would be Hana and her husband, dad decided that I would end up with another kid, adopted or otherwise…”

“And just what was the bet?”  Anna asked, closing her book and leaning in a little to look at her wife.

“Well they will be coming down and staying with us for a little when the kid is born.  You know to help out and such.”  Shanoa said, shrugging a little.  “You know, I think that, that man knew that this was going to happen or something and planed all of this.”

“And what would you have gotten if you had won the bet?”  Anna asked snickering a little.

“Well he would have forgotten all of the money that I owe him.”  She said with another little shrug.  “It’s not too bad...Though knowing mom, she’s going to want to come for wedding and all that, and then when she sees her grandkid, she’s not going to want to give them back.”

“Well that’s normal...I mean, I can see my mom shitting a brick and then not wanting to give the little one up.”  Anna said with a little snicker, “so you have never told me….just how much money do you owe your dad?”

“Yes.”  Was all that she said, looking up to her wife and smiling before rolling her eyes a little.  “Well you know the degrees that I have?  Those little pieces of paper aren't cheap.”  She said looking back down to the book.

“Knowing that, and you….I know that you have to owe him a lot more.”  Anna said as she went back to her book.  “You know….that reminds me, I need to call my parents and let them know about this.”  Anna said closing the book and getting up.

“Sure, leave me to do all of the work.”  Shanoa said with a little sigh, falling back, spawling on the floor.

“Well you know...you can call your parents and let them know.”  Anna said standing in the doorway of the hall.

“I kinda think that I would rather deal with this.”  She said letting out a little huff as she felt the kitten climbing onto her.  “I mean, the moment that I tell them what’s happening, dad will start making plans to come here….that is after the ‘I told you so’, speech that I will end up getting.”

“Oh just suck it up and do it.”  Anna said as she walked down the hall to the bedroom.

“And when they end up taking over the livingroom and all that till they can find a temp place...and don’t leave for months, I’m blaming you.”  Shanoa said getting up, watching the cat skittering down the hall with Anna.

“Love you to….and it can’t be that bad.” 

“You don’t know my family.”  The hybrid said as she walked past the bedroom and into her office.

“Still can’t be that bad.”

------------------------------------

Shanoa sat there for a few moments as she looked at the phone that was sitting on her desk, the little black address book sitting open to her family’s page.  She let out a sigh as she punched in the number and sat back and listened to the ringing sound, half hoping that no one would be home, still not sure how she wanted to say all of this.

“Hello?”  A male voice picked up, “Shanoa is something wrong?”

“Love you to Takayama.”  She said with a little huff, “and no, nothing is wrong…  You know.  I can call and talk to my family and nothing be wrong.”

“I know that...and you know what I meant.”  The male erming said rolling his eyes a little.  “It’s just that this is going to cost you a lot in long distances. Isn’t it?”

“Not really, and you know, most phone companies have a international calling plan.”  She paused a moment, taking a deep breath.  “Is mom or dad around, I have something to tell them.”

“What did you do?”  He asked, snickering a little.  “Ummm I think mom and dad are out getting some groceries or something….  Mea and Hibiscus are around if you need one of them…  Are you sure that there is nothing wrong?”

“Taka….  Sweetie…  There is nothing wrong…”  She paused, “and you know that it’s kinda hard to talk to my deaf sister over the phone…  But…  I guess that I can tell you.”  She said taking a deep breath, starting to say something before getting cut off.

“You lost another bet with Ren didn’t you?”  Takayama asked, with a snicker.

“Bite me.”  Shanoa said with a little huff, “and yes, I lost another bet with dad...but this is the biggest one…”

“Are you moving back home now?”

“No….  Though I think that mom and dad might be staying out here for a while when they hear what happened.”

“What did you do?”

“Well, dad and I kinda made a bet, about who would be the first one to get knocked up.  Well I said that it would be Hana….and he said that it would be me.”  The hybrid said, pausing to think of how to phrase it.

“Wait….  So if you lost…  Then that would mean that you’re the one that got knocked up.”  Her step brother was silent for a moment or two, “but how….  I thought that you were infertile.”

“Well I am, but the caveat to it was that for me, if I somehow got knocked up or if I adopted another kid then he would win.”  

“So…  What possessed you to go out and adopt another kid?”  He asked, snickering a little.

“Well I think that I can blame all that on my wife…  And who said that we were adopting.”  Shanoa said, stopping, just letting that one hang as she took a sip of the green tea that she had on her desk.

“Well…  You're infertile…  So you would have to be adopting.”  The erming said, sounding a little confused.  “Unless there is something that you’re not telling me.”

“Well.  There is….it’s  a bit of a long story.”  She said taking another sip of her tea.

“Well you know, you timed that just right…  Ren and Izumi just walked in.”  He said snickering a little at the curse that Shanoa let out as she listened to him telling her mother and father that she was on the phone and had some big news.

“So what’s this big news?”  A different male voice spoke up, this one belonging to her father.

“Well…  I might as well just rip the band aid off of this.”  Shanoa said letting out a little sigh.  “Dad you know that bet…  The one about who would end up knocked up?”

“Yes, did I finally lose a bet?”  He asked with a snicker.

“No.”

“So what compelled you to adopt this kid?”  A female voice spoke up.

“Well I blame my wife....  And like I told Taka…  Who said that I’m adopting…”  The hybrid said, sitting back and waiting for the ball to drop.

“Unless the fates stepped in, you would have had to adopt.”  Ren said pausing a moment, “is there something more that we should know?”

“Well that’s what I was getting to with Taka.”  She paused again, “you remember how me, Anna and Curio went to spend the holidays with Hana, Chou and her family?  Well Anna surprised me with…  Well with the fact that she got me into a surprise experimental surgery.”

“What.”  All three of the voices called out over the phone.

“Yeah…  It seems that the hospital in the area that we were staying were doing some tests and well she got me into it…  I have a working reproductive tract now….  And well, I had an egg implanted…  So I’m technically knocked up….  Oh, and we moved…  Oh and me and Anna are getting remarried.”

“So my little girl is finally going to go through all of the work of being a mom.”  Izumi spoke up before giggling happily.

“Well it looks like my girl is finally going to find out what we had to put up with.”  Ren said happily.

“Oh god….  And you thought that you didn’t get sleep when you were in school and working the ER…  You’re in for it now.”  Takayama said snickering with the others.

“But really, I am proud of you.”  Ren said.

“And I’m happy that you’re finally getting to live out your dream.”  Izumi spoke up.

“I love how you all overlook the fact that I dropped the bomb of us moving, and the re wedding.”  Shanoa said with a little huff.  “I mean, we moved to a whole nother state…  I opened a clinic…  And Anna and I are planning a wedding.”

“When you do something, you don’t hold back.”  Taka said, sounding a little surprised.  “Though…  The whole clinic thing, I’m more surprised that it took you this long to open one of your own.”

“Well you know, if I recall.  Izumi and I will be coming to visit the states, your treat and such if I remember right…”  The male paused for a moment, before snickering a little.  “How about we make this a little more interesting.”

“I’m listening.”  Shanoa said leaning in a little, “I feel like you’re up to something.”

“One more bet.”  The wolf said, “if I win, Izumi and I come down sooner and stay a little longer…  And the family comes for the wedding.”

“Well I was going to drag the family out here.”  Shanoa said shrugging a little, “and if I win?”

“Well if you win, I forget all the money that you owe me.”  

“You know, you say that all the time…  Throw in a car or something…”  She said partly joking, though it did hit her that she would need to get a car for her to drive.  “So what’s the bet old man?”

“I’m betting that you’re going to be having more than the one kid.”  He said laughing.

“I’m going to say...four or five with they way that you provoked the fates.”  Izumi spoke up.

There was a moment or two of silence before Shanoa spoke up, “you’re on…  I’m going to say that I’m only having one, and I’m finally going to win one dad.”

“You know, I’m starting to think that you might have some kind of gambling problem.”  Takayama spoke up, “you and Ren both.”

“I don’t think that it counts if dad is the only person that I make bets with…  Same with him, unless he’s over there gambling all of his money away on the sly.”  She teased.

“You know your father is too uptight to do something like that.  The closest that he comes to something like that is making ‘risky’ business ventures.”  Izumi spoke up with a giggle of her own.

“Well I need to hop off of here, I have some things to do with Anna and Curio.  I have an appointment with the belly scanning doc to make… So I will let you know when I win the bet dad.  Anyway.  I love you all.”

“We love you too.”  The voices on the other side said before the line went dead, Shanoa leaning back in her seat a little.

“So, what’s this about a bet?”  Anna’s voice called out from the door, causing Shanoa to snap to attention and look to her wife.

“Don’t judge me.”  She said looking to her wife, “dad and I made another bet…  About how many kids I’m going to have…  I said one, he said more than one and mom seems to think that it’s going to be like five of them.”  She said leaning back in her chair again as Anna walked in and sat on the edge of her desk.  “And if he wins, they will be coming out sooner and staying longer…  Like I know that their planning anyway.”

“I think that you might have a gambling issue.”  The doe said looking to her wife.

“And I will tell you like I told Taka, I don’t think that it counts if it’s just dad that I make the bets with.”  She said poking her tongue out, squeaking a little as she felt her wife’s finger poking it.

“Well I have good news.  Mom and dad are excited for the wedding and all that.  I think that dad shat the biggest brick when he found out that I got you knocked up.”  Anna said, laughing a little.

“Yeah…  You made a lot people shit a brick wit this little stunt…  Not that I’m complaining.”  She said smiling to her wife.  “I love you.”

“I love you to.”  Anna said leaning in and planting a kiss on her wife’s nose.  “Now come on, I don’t know about you, but me and Curio are starving.”  She said getting up and pulling the hybrid to her feet.

“Sounds good to me.” 

Mon, March 3rd, 2014
Open Paws Medical.

The young bat had been helping her mom around the office, doing simple things in the front.  Bringing Anna folders for the patients as they started coming in, helping to get things sorted and in the right place, even helping out and setting up an appointment or two.  She was really enjoying getting to do this, and she felt proud of herself.  She was sitting at the front desk, looking around the waiting room, it was a slow morning, Anna had stepped out to go get herself, Shanoa and Curio some snacks, Shanoa was in her office looking over papers or something.  She let out a little giggle as she spun in her chair a time or two, a little guilty pleasure that she’d picked up from Shanoa.

The front door opened and in walked a mouse woman with all-white fur and sparkling pink eyes. Curio stopped the chair’s rotations and looked up at the stranger glancing back down at her with a warm, friendly smile. “Hi, Sweetie,” she said as she rested her elbows on the counter. “Is the office manager here, by any chance?”

“She stepped out to get us some snacks, so I’m in charge for now.”  Her tablet spoke up, before she pulled her chair a little closer to the desk and started typing again.  “Do you have an appointment ma’am?”  

“No, I’m sorry, I don't,” the woman answered as she gave the little bat a curious stare. “I was just hoping I could speak with someone about volunteering my time here. I can come back on another day if now’s not a good time.”

“Oooh.”  She nodded as she looking back down to her tablet.  “Hold on.”  She said typing something out, and watching the screen for a moment before looking back up and the voice program spoke up for her.  “Ok.  Mom...I mean Dr. Kiyomizu isn’t busy, she can help you with volunteering.”  She said as she got up and walked around to the other side of the desk and motioned for her to follow, leading her to an office just a few doors down and knocking. 

“Come in.”  A female voice called out as the little bat opened the door.  “How can I help you?”

“Hello, Doctor Kiyomizu,” the mouse greeted her from the doorway. “My name is Gwendolyn Ebonshade. I heard about your clinic and I thought it was a worthy cause, and was wondering if you had any use for a volunteer with Labor Management, Payroll, and Secretarial experience?”

“The hybrid smiled as she motioned for her to come in.  “Please, come in and have a seat.”  She said moving some of the books around on her desk, making a weird pile of medical and wedding planning books.  “So, Ms….Mind if I call you Gwen?  I do need someone to work the front desk and help out with the payroll and stuff.  My wife and kid have been handling it and I know that they would love help….so what kinda practice have you had?”

“Gwen would be preferred, thank you,” she replied. “Well, it’s been some time, but I used to oversee benefits and payroll for Mythic Private Schools. Before that, I had to work my way up from being a receptionist. I’ve done pretty much everything in between, from Accounts Payable to Collections work. I’m proficient with all Microsoft Office programs, Kronos payroll management software, and Quickbooks.”

She smiled a little as she slouched back.  “You know….you sound a little over qualified for doing volunteer work.”  She paused for a moment, “I think that I would rather have you as an employee …  So.  Do you mind if I ask what you have been doing with your time since that last job?”

Gwen chuckled a little at the remark and crossed her legs at the knees. “Payment won’t be necessary, I assure you,” she answered with an amused grin. “If anything, you’d be doing me a favor by giving me something to occupy my time while my husband is off at work and our daughter is at school. I’ve gotten used to having her there with me during the day, but now that she’s gone for almost eight hours at a time, the quiet is getting to me.”

She shifted slightly in her seat as she tried to get more comfortable, then continued, “My husband and I just recently adopted, but before that I was a housewife for a few years. I actually liked my last job, but when Mason and I got married it became a conflict of interest. As it is, he makes more than enough that I don't need to work. I’d simply like something to do to occupy my time, and if possible, help make a difference.”

“You have a daughter?  How old is she, if I may?” She leaned in a little. 

“Charlotte's seven,” the mouse woman answered with a broad smile. “She’s halfway through the first grade now, but she’s remarkably smart. Her father and I are considering letting her skip a grade.”

“That reminds me, I need to get Curio registered.”  She said pausing a moment to scribble something down.  “We had her homeschooled until we moved here.”

“Curio? Is that the cutie covering the front desk? She’s adorable. Is she your fiancé’s daughter,” Gwen gestured to the wedding books, indicating how she had known about the engagement, “or did you guys adopt?”

“Yes...Well given how it happened, she would be my adopted daughter…  It’s a little weird, but she is mine and Anna’s child…  The one that’s growing in me is our biological kid.”  She said patting her belly.  “Curio is excited to be our flower girl at the renewal wedding thing.”

“Congratulations, both on the nuptials and the pregnancy,” the woman said, though Shanoa detected a fleeting hint of sadness in her eyes. “Have you and - Anna, was it? - decided on where to enroll Curio for school?”

“Yes, Anna….or Love Nubs.”  She said snickering a little at her pet name.  “As for the school thing...No.  With planning the wedding, moving her, the in vitro, calling back home and explaining to mom and dad that I lost the bet and that I’m going to be a mom…  I haven’t looked into them…  Would you have a suggestion, I’m all ears.”  She said giving them a little flick.

“What grade is she in?”

“She would be in… Seventh grade….American schools are a little weird with the grades.” 

“Well, I may not be the best person to ask, because I’m obviously biased, but I would enroll your daughter at Manticore Middle,” the mouse woman explained. “It’s part of the Mythic Private Schools system, which I used to work for and my husband is currently CEO of. The tuition is a tad pricey, but worth every penny.”

She snickered a little, “I’m not worried about the price.  If it’s a better education and environment, then that’s where I want her to go.  I’m sure that you noticed that she is a deaf mute - is the school able to handle something like that?  Or would you know?”
     
“One of my husband's top priorities has been giving opportunities to those kids that may not have them,” the mouse woman explained proudly. “He’s got a scholarship program set up for underprivileged youths, and there are counselors to assist students with special needs in developing a personalized learning plan tailored specifically to them. I don't really know how many deaf mute kids they’ve worked with, but I can say that they’ve tackled more challenging situations with outstanding results.”

“Well she’s not underprivileged anymore, I have been making sure that she has been getting and have everything that she’s needed since I saved her.”  She said smiling a little.  “Well it looks like I have a school to look into.”  She said doing a little spin in her chair.  “So I have a few things to ask you if you don’t mind.  How did you hear about us?  I need to figure out what’s working better, the flyers, the internet, or what.”

“Oh, of course,” Gwen nodded. “Doctor Tomlinson told us about you. He’s Charlotte's pediatrician, and said that he’d be working here part time once he retires at the end of the school year.”

“So word of mouth is helping more at the moment.”  She said with a little nod, “I found out about him, and knowing that I’m going to be having a kid, I needed to steal...errr hire another pediatrician.”  She paused a moment, thinking on just how she wanted to word the next question.  “Ok, so you mentioned that you just wanted to volunteer…  I take it that you and your husband are set in terms of finances and all that, would you consider becoming donors or benefactors?  I’m sure that it’s tax deductible  and all that.”

Gwen giggled. “Trust me, it is tax deductible. And yes, we are in a financial position to contribute to the operation of your clinic. Actually, that was another reason I came down here today: to look further into the place and make sure the money wouldn't be misused. I’ll talk with Mason this evening and try to figure out how much he’d be comfortable donating each month.”

She nodded a little, “well at the moment, we are a little on the under staffed side, I am working to fix that.”  She turned in her chair a little and pointed to the wall, “all of my degrees and things are there, and then any other information that he might need or want, I will happily provide…  I will even set up a dinner meeting somewhere.”  She said with a little snicker, “and as for how much he wants to donate, that’s up to him, and we here at Open Paws are thankful for any amount no matter how big or small, or even if it’s just people volunteering.”

“You know, if you’d like, I can reach out to a few people and ask if they’d be willing to contribute anything,” Gwen said. “Mason and I are good friends with the District Attorney, as well as the previous Mayor.”

“That would be great…  If they are a friend of the cause then they are a friend of mine.”  She said getting up and smiling.  “Well it’s nice to have you here, welcome aboard.”  She said holding out her hand.

Wed. March 5th, 2014
Town Hall

“You know the rules, there are lots of snacks and stuff that you can make if you get hungry, but don’t eat too much, we are going out to dinner later.”  Anna said smiling down to her daughter, watching her nodding.  “We shouldn’t be gone too long, provided your other mother doesn’t do something…”

“I’m going to behave…  I am capable of that you know.”  Shanoa said stepping out of the bedroom and into the livingroom.

“You’re going to wear that, I thought this was an important meeting.”  Anna said looking down to the dress that she was wearing, something simple, but fitting for a meeting.

“We’re going to meet the mayor and get a marriage license thing.”  Shanoa said looking down to what she was wearing.  “What’s wrong with this, it’s business casual…  I think.”  She said, dressed in a flowing, white, long sleeve shirt that had slits in the shoulders, along with black jeans that might have been a little on the tight side, and boots to match.  “I mean, I don’t have to wear a suit to everything…  That and I have to get the most out of my clothes before I get fat and have to switch to mom clothes.”

“I don’t know…  That might be an improvement.”  Anna teased as they walked over to the door.

“Love you too.”  Shanoa said rolling her eyes a little.  “All right Curio, we will be back in a few hours…  Don’t do anything that I would.”

“Hey you got it right.”  Anna said with a little snicker as she opened the door.

“Don’t worry momma, I will make sure to do what momma Anna would do.”  The bat said, smiling and nodding.

Once the two were out the door and into the car, the trip started.  A lot like the other trips into the city, if it wasn’t for the GPS that Anna had in her car they would have ended up lost, though Shanoa wouldn’t admit that, for her, it wasn’t getting lost, it’s exploring.  After a missed turn or two and a few curses thrown from the car they finally got to the town hall, finding a spot and pulling in.

“This place is big.”  Anna said looking up at the courthouse, they had both seem and been in the one back in Jonestown, but this one took the cake.  Anna was sure that it had to be about twice the size of the one back in JT, but this is also a far bigger city.

“Just a little.”  Shanoa muttered as they walked up the steps and into the building, looking around for the desk or person that they needed to find.

There were a couple of police officers working the security checkpoint. The couple approached the scanners and placed their stuff in the bins to get through and I will let you describe that part because you know how Shanoa and Anna would act and what items they would have on their persons.

There was an Okapi woman working at the reception desk. Together, they walked up to her and, Shanoa was the first to speak up.  “We’re here to see about a marriage license thing.”  She said looking to the okapi.

“Welcome,” the woman said, perhaps a little too cheerfully for a government building. “You’ll need to go to the City Clerk’s office,” she explained as she grabbed a piece of paper from a cubby and placed it on the counter. “Go down that hallway there to the elevator. It’s on the second floor. This here is a checklist of all the information you will need for your application.”

“Well this brings back so many memories.”  Anna said looking over the paper that they had gotten before the two started heading to the elevator.

“Just a few.”  Shanoa teased as she pressed the button.  “If only this was back home, I think that I could get away with not having to stand in lines like this.”  She said as the got on once the elevator got there.

“It can’t be that bad.”  The doe said tilting her head a little.  “I mean places like this in the city should be pretty fast moving.”

“I’m willing to bet money that there will be a line.”  The hybrid said as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened and they stepped out to head to the office.  “It’s not too bad.”  She said taking their place in line.

“See Shanoa, I told you wouldn’t be that bad.”  The doe said nudging her a little, snickering a little as her wife just poked her tongue out at the comment.

“Excuse me, ladies,” a male Dalmatian said from nearby. “But are you Doctor Shanoa Kawasaki?”

Turning from the laughing doe to the source of the voice, “Doctor Shanoa Kawasaki, no….Doctor Shanoa Kiyomizu yes.”  She said cocking her eyebrow a little.  “You are?”

“Mayor Roman Zaritzky,” he answered as he held out his paw in greeting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard about the clinic you're opening on the west side. Welcome to Marblecliff.”

Taking the paw and giving it a shake, Shanoa smiled, doing her best to seem like a business person like she had picked up from her father, something about a good public face or something.  “Well Mr. Zaritzky, it’s nice to meet you here, and lovely little building that you have yourself.”  She said, before turning to Anna who was now a little more composed.  “Oh, this is Anna, my business partner and the reason that I’m here today.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”  Anna said offering her paw, “and don’t worry I will make sure she doesn’t cause too much trouble.”

“Oh, I’m sure she can't be as bad as some others I know,” the man chuckled as he took Anna’s offered paw and shook it. “So, what brings you in today? Something I can help you with?”

“Well if you could speed up getting the marriage license would be helpful.”  Shanoa said smiling, leaning in against her wife.  “That would take a little off the pile of work for planning the renewal and all that.”

Shanoa noticed the subtle signs in the man’s body language as she spoke: the clenching of his jaw, the flexing of the muscles in his paw as his grip tightened slightly around Anna’s, and the way his eyes narrowed just a little. “I see,” he said, though the politeness in his voice now seemed insincere. “I suppose congratulations are in order. Well, there's not much I can do to help you there. You’re already in the right place, and you’re second in line. Once you make it up to the window, it should only take about twenty minutes or so.”

“Well you know…  The congratulations and all are welcome, though I don’t really care for them when they seem to be so…  Insincere and dripping with venom.”  They hybrid said shifting on the spot a little, her gaze turning a little more stern.

“Shanoa…  What’s gotten into you?”  Anna asked nudging her a little.  “There’s nothing he can do to make the line move faster.”

“Oh I know that,  and that was a joke.”  Shanoa said shaking her head a little.  “The way that he clenched his jaw, tightening his paw…  I know that you felt that, it wasn’t him showing who’s got the bigger marbles….  And the change in his voice.”  She said glaring at him out right now.  “Is there something the matter?  Do you have something against Anna and I’s love?  The fact that we are together, and have a happy family?  One that’s going to grow soon enough?  The fact that all of this is happening and the world isn’t ending?”

“My apologies,” Roman said as he took a step back and tried to remain composed as several onlookers observed the spectacle being made. “I meant no disrespect. It’s just that the mention of you renewing your vows reminded me of a happier time, now long gone…” Clearing his throat, he called to the Marten woman working at the window, “Maggie, please waive the filing fee for Mrs. Kiyomizu. Ladies, have a great day.” With that, he turned away from the couple and walked away.

“Before you go.”  Shanoa said, half smiling, “Let me ask you one thing…  That ‘nerve’ that I struck, you sure that’s not the same one that all the herms out that have been hitting just cause they are there…  But I guess that I should thank you for being...well… a bigot…  You are the reason that I moved here, to help the people that you’re trying to step on...and anyone else that needs it.”  She said turning to the worker at the window.  “And Maggie, I will be paying, I don’t need money or anything like that from someone like him.”

“Fair enough,” the man said with a slight bow. “You’re entitled to form your own opinions. After all, this is a democracy. Good day.”

“Wow….  He seems softer than I thought.”  Shanoa muttered a little as she turned to Anna who was giving her a stern look, that look that she knew she was going to get an earful on the way home.  “Sorry about that Maggie.”  Shanoa said handing over the required papers and things.

“Shanoa…  I love you, but you have to pick and chose your battles...and doing something like that isn’t smart…  I know that you have your morals and everything...but…  I don’t know why I’m trying to say anything, I know that you’re going to go head long into something you believe...just don’t get arrested.”

“Someone like him, he’s not worth my time to be honest.”  She said, probably a little to loudly as she watched the worker doing her job.  “And don’t worry, I won’t do anything like that.”

“I probably shouldn't say this out loud,” the woman named Maggie whispered as she leaned in closer, “but I think you just made a lot of friends in this city. I’ll make sure the right people find out about this.”

Her voice dropped a little as she spoke, “well that was the point of me coming here, to set up a place for anyone, herms, rich, poor, whatever that needs help…  And thank you.”  She said smiling warmly.  “Thank you for the help with this.”  She said once everything was filed at set.  “Anna, call Curio and let her know to start getting ready, that we will be home soon for dinner.”

“Ok.”  Anna said as she pulled out her phone, and dialing the number home before the two started heading off, making for the elevator and the front of the building.  Shanoa feeling oddly proud and happily that she got to meet the mayor and that her opinion of him were confirmed.

Once they had gotten back to the car and started heading back home, Anna was the first to speak up.  “You know that I love you right?”  She asked looking over to the catwolf that was driving.

“I know that you love me, and I know that you know I love you too.  And I know where this is going…  I know that I shouldn’t have opened my muzzle…  I know that I could have gotten into a lot of trouble and everything, but to my defense I did manage to not kick him in the nuts.”

“That’s good, cause I think that I would have left you in the jail this time…  Bail money or not.”  Anna said shaking her head.  “What if the renewal did strike a nerve with him or something?” She asked with a little shrug, “you know that not everyone is out to be a bad person or something like that.”

“Oh I know that not everyone is out to be a bad person, but I can tell you that he is…  You can’t tell me you didn’t feel that…  Contempt that he had for us the moment that he figured out that we are lesbians and getting remarried, you know an affront to his god.”

“True…  I guess I just try to think that people are nicer…  Or that things are changing you know.”  Anna said with a little shrug.  “He did seem kinda creepy…  And how much of that did you plan?”

“What do you mean?”  She asked, pulling onto the road that they lived.  “We both planned to go get the marriage license and all that, and no I didn’t plan to run into him.”  She paused for a moment as they rode down the street.  “And as for what got said…  That just kinda happened…  I didn’t plan any of that.  He just caught me wrong with that, and you of all people know how I am when it comes to things involving you and Curio.”

“I keep forgetting that you can’t plan anything to save your life.”  The doe teased a little as they pulled up to the house and parked, Anna calling and letting Curio know that they were out there.  Just a few moments later the young bat came out of the house, closing and locking the door behind her as she rushed to the car and got into the back seat.

“So did mom get everything set up?  Are we going to get to have a wedding and everything?”  Curio asked happily as they started to back out and heading off to the dinner that Shanoa had picked out.

“We sure are.”  Shanoa said warmly, “and you will even get to meet your grandma and grandpa.”

“So I get to meet the man momma Shanoa owes all that money to?”  Curio asked with a little giggle.

“Yes.”  The hybrid said with a little snicker, sure that she was going to end up a debt free woman soon enough.  “They are excited to meet you, so is Anna’s parents.”  She paused a moment as they pulled up to a stop light, the catwolf fiddling with the GPS.  “Also…  You will be starting school, come spring.”

“Does that mean that Momma Shanoa isn’t going to be teaching me anymore?”

“I won’t be able to, with the clinic and the pregnancy, things are going to be a little on the hectic side, but I don’t want you to worry.”  Shanoa said with a little nod, “I looked into a school that Gwen had told me about, and I’m sure that you will like it there.  It’s a nice place, and I know my little Squeaky will be able to make lots of friends.”

“What about my tablet?”  Curio asked, looking down at the thing that she had become so attached to, the thing that was her voice and ears.

“They know, and they will be working with you on that.  They pride themselves on being able to help teach any student no matter what.”  The hybrid said as they pulled into the parking lot of the dinner.

“Don’t worry sweetie.”  Anna said looking back as she got unbuckled.  “I know that the all seems like a lot, but you are getting big, and we both know that you can do it, and that you will have lots of fun getting to go school and meeting people.”

“It sounds like fun…  And don’t worry, I won’t do anything that Momma Shanoa would do.”  She said with a little giggle.

“Good girl.”  Shanoa said as she pushed the button on the keyfob to lock the doors.  “Now come on, I have been craving a good burger.”

“You know that it’s a little too soon for you to be getting cravings.”  Anna said nudging her wife a little.

“I don’t know, I have been wanting a nice deer rump roast…  Just thinking about it has my muzzle watering.”  She teased, giggling at the little nudge from the doe.

“Gross.”  Curio said as they walked into the dinner, getting a laugh out of the group.

-----------------------------------------------

Thurs. March 6th, 2014
Open Paws Clinic

The morning had been a little bit of a rush, but things had finally settled back down and Shanoa had a moment to sit down at her desk to go through her messages and things like that, snickering at some of the jokes that her family had been sending her about the increasing rate of multiple births in canines, felines and even hybrids, the kinds of things that she knew were jokes, at least she hoped they were.

“Doctor Kiyomizu,” Gwen called from her doorway. “Do you have some free time? There are some people here I’d like for you to meet.”

“I do, send them in.”  Shanoa said sitting up and going back to acting business like, stealing a sip of tea, trying to curve the coffee withdrawal.

The mouse woman returned a moment later accompanied by a Kestrel, an Impala, and a young female skunk. “Doctor Kiyomizu, I’d like for you to meet my husband, Mason, and our daughter, Charlotte. And this,” she added with a gesture towards the bird, “Is Steven Archer, former Mayor of Marblecliff.”

“Hello, Doctor,” the Impala, Mason said, as he scooped his daughter up into his arms and took a seat.

“Doctor Kiyomizu,” former mayor Archer said as he extended a wing in greeting, “I heard about your adventures at City Hall. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She snickered a little as she took and shook the offered wing.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m innocent.”  She said with a little nod before sitting back down.  “Its nice to get to meet all of you…  And I don’t think that I would call it an adventure…  I didn’t get arrested.”

“Does she remind you of anyone?” Steven grinned as he directed the question towards his friend.

“No,” Mason chuckled. “She didn't break his nose.”

“Anyway, I’m sorry to intrude like this, but I wanted to personally invite you and your wife to attend a charity banquet and silent auction,” the Kestrel explained. “I’m heavily involved in furthering the rights of our third-gender citizens, especially the children. All the money collected will go into provided updated facilities - that is, locker rooms and restrooms - inside of many public buildings that do lack the necessary funding to manage it on their own, such as the YMCA and schools.”

“Well you can count me in.”  She said lounging back a little, “well as for not breaking his nose or something…  The temptation to kick him in the marbles...rather overwhelming.”  She looked to the kestrel again.  “So when is this?  And how long will it last…  I might need a sitter if it goes to late.”

“Good thing you didn’t waste your energy,” Mason muttered. “I think his marble pouch is empty.”

“What happened to his marbles?” the young skunk, Charlotte, asked.

“Well you see….”  Shanoa spoke up.  “Some people get them removed….I really shouldn’t make that joke….  I’ll shut up…  Pay no mind to bad humor.”

“Well, the timing is part of why I wanted to do this in person,” Steven answered. “The invitations were all mailed out over a month ago. It will be the last friday evening of the month, at seven o’clock and these sort of things usually go on for three or four hours.”

“Ill get a sitter and bring my wallet.  I take it, it’s a formal thing, fancy dresses and things?”  Shanoa asked scribbling down the time and date for the event.

“It is,” the former mayor replied. “It’s also one hundred dollars a plate, but there's an open bar, if your wife is interested.”

“Well….  I guess that I’m driving….Then again, Anna might give the bartenders a run for their money.”  She said making a little note on the same paper.  “And…  Yeah, I’m not really worried about paying for the food and all that.  Anything else that I need to know about this little shindig...people to kiss up to, people to avoid?”  She said half joking.

“A few things,” he answered. “It will be held at the Sycamore Conference Hall, and if you see a small group that includes an eagle, a chinchilla, an otter, a liger, and a ram, approach with caution. They’re an unpredictable bunch.” Mason snorted at that last remark.

“Heh, sounds like some people that I used to work back in Jonestown.”  She said, pausing for a moment.  “Would one of them be named Alex?”

“Yes, but don’t let that drive you away,” he chuckled.

“You have to say that,” the Impala joked. “She’s got you ready to start nesting.”

“Nesting?” Charlotte asked. “What’s that?”

“Well, Sweetie,” he told his daughter, “feral birds build nests to lay their eggs in.”

“Oh,” the girl remarked. “So babies.”

“So when can I expect to see you here for a pregnancy test?”  Shanoa asked with a little giggle, “and it looks like my growing little parasite will have some kids to grow up with.”

“It sounds like you already know Alex,” Steven chuckled. “I doubt she’d come in of her own free will. If I start to suspect it, I’ll give you a call and we can set up an ambush.”

“I have a tranq gun some were.”  Shanoa said with a little snicker.  “And I haven’t met her per say…  I got pulled by an officer and it seems that I’m not the only one that makes smart remarks in other languages…  And he asked if I was with them.”

“You still sure you want to bring Charlotte here for her appointments?” the Kestrel joked.

“Well,” Mason answered with a resigned sigh, “Doctor Tomlinson referred Gwen here, so we don’t have much choice. Speaking of referrals, you’re new in town, right? Do you need help getting a sitter for Friday?”

“I assure you that I have a lot of practice taking care of kids, I have been doing it for years.”  She said motioning to the different degrees and awards that she had hung on her wall.  “So Charlotte will be getting the best care.  And yes, a recommendation for a sitter would be good….Oh.”  She looked at the Kestrel.  “Watashi o kamu.”

“I can ask Claire if she doesn't mind one more,” he explained. “She’ll be taking care of Charlotte and the D.A.’s daughter, Kaitlyn. She’s a great sitter, fantastic with kids. And her dad is a police captain.”

“That would be awesome.”  Shanoa said with a little nod.  “I look forward to getting to meet everyone and possible mischief.”

-------------------------------

Things had picked up, a number of people coming into the clinic to get check ups and countless other things, it really did seem that word of mouth was spreading about her little clinic.  She let out a little huff as she flopped back into her seat, sighing happily as she got a chance to sit down now that things had calmed down a little more.  The doctor smiled a little as she reached into one of the drawers of her desk and pulled out a hand held game and started playing, a little something that she liked to do when she had a moment and couldn’t get to her computer to play something else.

“Doctor Shanoa, your appointment is here.”  Gwen said looking at the catwolf, giggling a little at the sight of her playing a game.  “She’s in room A-two.”

“Ok.”  Shanoa said closing the handheld game and slipped it back into her desk, before getting up and heading out of her office.  She stopped at the door to room A-two, taking the folder that was in the little case on the door, before opening it and smiling.  “Afternoon Ms. Shepard.”  The catwolf said as she looked at the shy, rather small girl sitting on the exam table.  “And you must be Mr. Shepard.”  She said turning to the older canine, smiling and holding out her paw.

“It’s nice to meet you Dr. Kawasaki.”  The older Australian Shepherd said as he shook her paw.

She giggled a little at her name being miss said again, something that she was starting to get used to it.  “It’s Kiyomizu…  And I know that’s a little hard to say.”  She said taking a seat at the little desk that she had in the room.  “And, please call me Shanoa, far easier to say.”  She said as she opened the folder, looking over the contents.

“I’m Piper.”  The girl spoke up, stumbling over the R in her name, it coming out more like a W, Shanoa found it rather cute.

“Well it’s nice to meet you.”  The catwolf said closing the folder, opening a drawer on the desk, pulling out a laptop and opening.  “So you’re here for a check-up, and vaccinations.”  She said typing something into the computer.  “But first, I need to get a little info.  I know that you are a little too young for me to bother asking, but I take it, you don’t smoke, drink and aren't fooling around.”

“I drink milk and juice.”  The little puppy corrected her. “And sometimes I get in trouble for fooling around with my best friend, Petra, if we make the animals scared.”

“Ok, would you roll up your sleeve for me sweetie?”  Shanoa said as she got up, picking up the blood pressure cuff, before turning and slipping it onto the girl’s arm, making a mental note of how…  Scrawny she seem'd as she pumped it up and watched the meters on it before pulling it off, and putting it on the table.  “Ok, so that’s looking good,” she said as she typed out some more things onto the computer.  “I have a question…  How is Piper’s diet?”

“That’s a little bit of a story.”  The male spoke up, looking to the doctor.  “My girlfriend and I just adopted her a few months ago, she had been living with her single mother, and she didn’t have the means to be able feed her correctly.”

“Well, I take it that you are fixing that.  Is there anything else that I should know…  Namely just how bad the whole diet thing is, cause that can affect more than just her size.”  The doctor said making a note or two of things to check.  

“She is a little behind physically and mentally…  But other than that, her health seems to be getting to where is should be.”

“Ok sweetie.”  Shanoa said turning back to the young girl.  “I need you to lift your shirt up, I’m going to listen to your heart and lungs.”  She said giving her a moment to do so as she held the end of the stethoscope, warming the metal part up before putting it against her chest, getting a little giggle out of her as she listened to her heart before moving to her lungs, telling her to breath in, hold and then release.

“The metal thing wasn’t cold.”  Piper said smiling a little as she watched the doctor going back to the computer to type something out.

“That’s cause I’m not a butt like some other doctors and I warm it up.”  She said with a little snicker.  “Ok, one more thing to check and then we get to look at your height and weight.”  Shanoa said pulling out the ear thermometer.

“I take it that everything is looking good?”  Nathan asked watching Shanoa taking his little sister’s temp.

“So far, giving what I have seen, she is healthy, which given what you told me about her past, that’s good, but I’m going to want to keep a close eye on her.  I’m going to find out some things that will help with her size and weight if need.”  She said going back to the computer.  “Ok Sweetie.  I need you to hop down and come over here.”  

“Yes ma’am.”  She said with a little nod, hopping off of the padded table and over to the scale, stepping on and watching the practiced paw moving the weights around and making note of the numbers and then checking her height.

“Hmmm. Three foot eleven and forty- nine pounds.”  She spoke out as she typed out on the laptop.  “Ok, now for the last thing, the vaccinations.”  Shanoa said as she got up.  “I will be right back.”  She said getting up and slipping out of the room.

“Ok…  Piper, don’t be mad at me.”  She said coming back with a little tray that had a couple of syringes on it.  “You’re too cute to be grumpy at me.”  She said as she rolled up the girl’s sleeve, popping off the top of the needle.  “So, what does a sweetheart like you like to do when you’re not out herding sheep?”  She asked, smiling warmly.

The pup gave her a confused look and explained, “We don’t have sheep. We have ponies. Apache, Cheyenne, and Sundance.”

By the time that Piper had finished up her answer, the catwolf was putting a bandage on the girl’s arm.  “See that wasn’t bad.”  She said smiling and tossing the needles into the container.  “Ok.  It looks like you’re all set.”  Shanoa said as she typed something out and then scribbling something into the folder.  “Oh wait.”  She said reaching into the pocket of her scrubs.  “Can’t forget this.”  She said handing Piper a lollipop.  “Now you two are all set, just need you to stop at the front, and set up an appoint me.  I want to see her back in four weeks.”  She said smiling and nodding to the two as they left the room, leaving Shanoa to head back to her office to look into a few things to help out the canine family.

----------------------------------

Like the other days, the first thing that Shanoa did when she got home was to head right to the bathroom and stip out of her scrubs, shower and change into something a little more fitting, given at this point in the afternoon, Anna and Curio had done the same.  The next thing that would happen would be dinner, something that Anna and Curio made, maybe Shanoa and Anna cooking together as Curio watched cartoons, or even the whole family cooking and getting everything ready.  After all of that is said and done, it’s one of Curio’s favorite times of the day, bath time, well in her case, shower time.

One of the things that the bat had found out about the house is that the water heater was a lot better than the one in the old house, this one never seemed to run out of hot water, no matter how long she was in there.

Curio had several places that she felt the safest, being around her parents, snuggled in her bed, or in Anna and Shanoa’s bed, and even in the shower.  There was something about getting to take a nice, hot shower that made her feel better no matter what.  After being on the street like she had been, were even getting to take a sink bath was a rare event, showers had to be one of her favorite things.

She had a little routine that she followed every time that she went to shower.  She would plug her tablet up and let it charge as she set about getting a pair of undies, and looking through the rather large selection of pajamas that she had, something else that Shanoa made sure that the bat had more than enough of them.

Once she had done all of this, she would slip off to her bathroom, setting her clothing on the counter before getting out a wash cloth and hanging it on the rack next to the shower.  Everything was going like normal, save for an odd feeling for her, a strange feeling in her belly, like butterflies fluttering around, for the most part she pushed it out of her mind as she reached into the shower and got the water started.  As she waited for it to heat up she made short work of getting out of her clothes, tossing them into the hamper and wiggling a little as she looked herself over in the mirror.

Looking into the mirror it was clear that she was growing into a fine young woman, over the time that she has been with Shanoa and Anna, she had put on weight; going from a bag of bones to something a little more average for age and species, though she was still a little on the athletic side.  She took a moment, looking at her chest, her slowly budding breasts, down to her tummy and to her privets, as her eyes wandered here, a strange thought crossed her mind, but again it was pushed out as she pulled the shower curtain to the side to get in.

Once she was in the shower, she stood there, letting the water rain down on her, slicking down her sandy blond hair, and her brownish fur, making it look a little darker.  Just as with getting ready to shower and having a routine for it, the teen blossom bat had one for the shower to.

Picking up the shampoo and squeezing out a glob, her nose twitching and wiggling as the scent of green apples with a hint of floral notes filled it before she started lathering up her hair, making the smell fill the rather large shower.  Once she was done with that she would repeat the same steps with the conditioner, letting it sit in her hair for a few moments before washing it out and going about the task of washing her fur, wings, ears, and everything else, all with soaps that matched the scent of her shampoo and conditioner, making her smell like a real flower blossom.

Once all of that was done, she would normally just stand under the water, letting it wash away the few cares and worries that she might have, letting it relax her a little more, especially if it was a night that she had a bed time, but there was something a little different this time.

That strange, fluttery feeling that was in her tummy was still there, though it seemed to have moved a little lower, to a much more naughty place, well it wasn’t really naughty, more of a private place.  A winged paw moved it’s way down her belly, coming to rest right there at the source of the strange, though oddly nice feeling.  She shivered a little as she ran a finger along her slit, she let out a sound much akin to a squeak as she felt the rush of nice feelings running through her.

She didn’t know why it felt so nice to do that, she didn’t know if it was something that she should be doing or not, she was just curious about it.  She let out another sound, this one more like a moan or a breathy sigh as she started moving her finger along her slit, teasing and rubbing her clit.  All of this was causing a strange pressure to grow in her lower belly, it felt a lot like she had to pee, but better, she really wasn’t sure how to explain it.

She was damp between her legs, but she passed that off as being from the shower, but it seemed like she was getting more and more damp as her finger felt around.  She let out another squeak as she felt her finger slipping between her lips and into her body.  It sent jolts through her body, a delicious tingle running up her spine as she slowly wiggled her finger around.  There was one spot that she found that just sent bolts of lightning crashing through her when she touched and rubbed it.

A second digit found it’s way between her lips, causing another one of her little huffs.  The second digit joined the first one in rubbing that sweet spot, causing her legs to start feeling more and more like jello, wobbly and wiggly like the rest of her.  It didn’t take much longer after that for her to let out another squeaky moan as she felt the pressure reaching the breaking point.  Again, she didn’t know what was happening, if it was a good thing, a bad thing, something that she should be doing or something that she could get into trouble for, she just knew that it felt good, really good.

She panted as she leaned against the shower wall, sniffing at the fingers that had been between her legs.  The clear liquid that covered them wasn’t pee, she was sure of that, she kind of wanted to taste it, but she ended up just rising her fingers off, she ended up rinsing off from head to toe again.  

At this point, after whatever that feeling was, she just knew that she was tired, that she just wanted to snuggle into bed.  She turned the shower off, grabbed her towel and started drying off.  Once she was dried as best as she could, she went through with the rest of her post shower routine, brushing her hair, blow drying it and brushing it again, getting dressed, brushing her teeth and then hugging and kissing her moms good night before slipping off to her own bed.