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"What do you know about this boy Kris has been hanging out with, Vincent?" Clawdia's voice crackled through the comm. There was no hello, no pleasent build up; Clawdia as usual got straight to the point and asked the hard questions. "It's all he can talk about, Lyran this and Lyran that. What kind of character is he?" The silence after her questions was nearly deafening.

Venn cleared his throat slowly, feeling the cartilage click as he did. "Not much, in all honesty. Kris is very close lipped about Lyran around me. The one time I suggested he bring the boy over for dinner, he glared at me so fiercely that I have been carefully avoiding the subject ever since." He winced at how that sounded, feeling like he was a child brought up in front of his parents once more. He bit his lower lip to keep himself from trying to explain his motives.

Clawdia was silent for a few moments, then Venn heard a soft chuckle. "Vincent, he is just a boy. There are times he is not going to like what needs to be done, and this is one of them. You need to learn to put that massive hoof of yours down once in awhile; however, since you're reluctant to upset him, I will handle this. I'll be in town this weekend and expect to have dinner with the two of you. I will make it clear to Kris that I want to meet his new friend then. I understand that he is a cacomistle; would it bother you if we indulge in a little meat this time? Or should we have dinner out?" Within moments, the feline had settled the problem to her satisfaction and disconnected the call, leaving Venn feeling as if a whirlwind had passed through and changed the landscape totally in it's wake.

* * * * *

"Hi Mom!" Kris said when he answered his personal comm device. "Are you going to make it into town this weekend?"

"Of course,have you ever known me to break a promise?" came Clawdia's instant reply. "I was thinking we should try that recipe for vegetable lasagna that your grandmother's family has passed down all these years. Maybe pair it with a nice seared salmon? That is if you think your cooking skills are up to such an ambitious dinner." She paused to wait the boy's response.

"Oh, that sounds great! I'll have to ask Coach to take me to the store on Friday to make sure we have all the ingredients before you get here."

"Perfect, but make sure you get enough for all four of us won't you dear."

"Sure, I always... wait, four?" Kris' tail twisted about behind him, showing his agitation even if his mother couldn't see it. "Who's the fourth?"

"Why your little friend, of course; you were planning to invite him to meet me, weren't you? I've heard enough about him the last few weeks to become rather curious about him." She left that hanging in the air waiting for a response from her kit.

"I... ah..." Kris cleared his throat hard and bit down on his lower lip. "I can ask?"

"Good! I will expect him promptly at 6 PM then. Don't forget to pick up the groceries." With that, she disconnected the comm.

Kris stared at his comm unit for a few minutes, wondering what had just happened. Eventually, he sighed and put the device in his pocket, standing up and heading out to tell Venn that they were having company for dinner on Saturday.

* * * * *

"Lyran! Lyran, wait up!" Kris hurried toward the waiting figure of his friend. "Thanks!" He paused a moment to make sure the others who had been watching him run to catch the older boy went about their own business then took a deep breath. "My Mom wants to meet you." He watched Lyran's face for any sign that the cacomistle realized how dangerous that simple request could be.

Lyran for his part shrugged his shoulders and nodded. "Okay."

Kris couldn't believe his ears, "Okay? Just like that, Okay?" He looked around the grounds to make sure no one else was listening and leaned in just a little to be on the safe side. "Lyran, I don't think you understand. My Mother is asking to meet you."

"Yeah, I got that, Kris," Was the older boy's calm reply, "why are you acting so weird?" He pushed on the raccoon's chest lightly to get him to back up a little.

"Lyr, my Mom is the daughter of Senator Blackwood." He paused once more to see if the cacomistle had been paying attention in his social studies classes. When the older boy didn't so much as blink, he went on. "You know, the Senator who instituted the creche system, and having all the girls who are of age have babies even, if they don't keep them? She's the reason we have to go to the clinic once a month and make those donations so the girls can have the babies." Kris put his paws on Lyran's shoulders and squeezed a little to make sure the cacomistle got his point this time.

Lyran's ears folded back against his head and he bared his teeth. "Kris, I get it: Your grandmother," Lyran stressed the word more than necessary, "is a formidable woman. But you're talking about meeting your mother. I mean, how bad can she be?" He shook off Kris' restraining paws and turned to head into the school as the second bell rang.

"Lyran!" Kris scrambled to follow the smaller boy. "You don't understand! Grandmother is changing the worlds with the strength of her personality. All mother has is..." The cacomistle waved as he disappeared into his first class of the day not letting the raccoon finish his comment. "...me." He laid his head against the closed classroom door and whimpered softly to himself. Actually voicing the situation made it sound silly to Kris' ears but, he knew what he meant and how difficult this meeting with his mother was going to be. If only Lyran would listen...

* * * * *

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, with not a cloud in the sky. Venn lay in his bed watching that unwinking blue long after the sun had risen. When he heard the raccoon moving about downstairs, he sighed to himself and rose from his bed to face what promised to be an eventful day.

When Venn looked over the railing of his loft bedroom, Kris was attempting to quietly take a few bottles of water from the fridge. He was dressed in his jogging suit, obviously prepared to go for a run, when the horse called out from above. "Trying to make a break for it before your mother gets here?"

The raccoon dropped the water bottles and knocked his head on the side of the fridge as he tried to whip it around to glare at Venn. "No! I am going for a run!"

Venn chuckled softly to himself then raised his voice once more. "Hold on; I'll come with you. A run sounds like just the thing before a stressful day."

* * * * *

The kitchen was a disaster! Venn sat on one of the bar stools that slid under the counter on the living room side and shook his head, having been forbidden from entering. "I could--" he began to offer, only to be cut off once again by the frazzled young man who was trying to do everything himself.

"No."

"What about if I--"

"No."

"How about--"

"No. I told you, I want to do this on my own. Why don't you go read a book or something?" the raccoon asked indignantly.

Venn shorted, "And risk you burning down the house?" He lifted his nose toward a pan that was smoking dangerously, having been forgotten with oil heating in it for too long.

"I am not going to--" the boy cut off abruptly as a loud FLUFF alerted him to the overheated oil catching fire behind him. He hurried to the sink and turned the faucet on to full reaching for a glass at the same time.

"Flour!" Venn yelled at the boy as he rounded the counter, heading for the stove. "It's an oil; fire water will make it spread!" He shoved the raccoon out of the way and dumped half the bag of flour onto the pan, smothering the flames and absorbing the burned oil at the same time. "There, that's got it." He turned to see Kris crouched down beside the sink, the glass of water smashed to pieces on the floor, his tail tucked between his legs, ears laid back, staring at him with wide terrified eyes.

Venn cursed inwardly, he forgot sometimes that abrupt or rough movements set the kit off. "It's all right," he said as soothingly as he could manage. "It was just a little oil fire. It's out now." He carefully lifted his paws palms toward the kit to show him he wasn't about to be hit. "Are you alright?"

It took a few moments, but Kris finally nodded, "Yeah, just... a little startled, I guess." He swallowed hard closing his eyes for a moment before he reached for Venn's outstretched paws. The horse gently clasped both of the raccoon's paws in his larger ones and carefully hauled him to his hindpaws once more. Almost without thinking, Kris slid into Venn's arms and wrapped his own around the large torso. "Thanks." His eyes closed, and he pressed his muzzle against that broad chest, savoring a touch he had long ago thought out of his reach.

It took a few moments for Venn to react. Kris wasn't usually a tactile person; in fact, the last time he'd hugged the horse was after that nasty scene with his father. Carefully, slowly, almost reverently, Venn slipped his arms around the younger male and held him close. Taking a chance, he rested his muzzle between the raccoon's ears and inhaled with his eyes closed. They stood like that for several minutes, neither willing to give up the contact now that it had been made.

It was Venn who broke the contact, when he noticed his t-shirt and fur were damp under the kit's muzzle. "Kris, go splash some water on your face. I'll clean up in here and we can start again, this time working together. Making dinner for four people is not an easy task to accomplish alone." What he really wanted to say was quite different, but he knew better than to allow himself to get tangled up in that mess again. He was an adult, Kris was not; it was that simple. He couldn't allow himself to be drawn to the kit as anything other than a mentor or father figure. He just had to keep reminding himself of that, over and over.

Kris, unaware of Venn's inner turmoil, nodded slightly, then reluctantly moved away from the horse, turned so Venn couldn't see his face, and headed for the bathroom. He couldn't understand why he wanted to stay in Venn's arms so much. He hugged his Mom, sure, and he used to hug his Dad, before all that craziness had happened. But they were his parents. Kits were supposed to hug their parents; it was normal. He'd been warned not to hug anyone else, like all the rest of the kits when he was little. People who hugged kits that weren't their own were sometimes sick individuals who wanted more from the kits then they should want. Hugging Venn was different; it felt... safe. Besides, he wasn't really a kit anymore; if he wanted to hug someone, he shouldn't feel guilty for hugging them, right? Except... he shouldn't be hugging Venn when he was dating Lyran.

By the time Kris got back from the bathroom, Venn had the broken glass and water all cleaned up and was just finishing wiping down the stovetop. The burned pan was sitting on the front step where it could cool out of the way and a slightly smaller one was waiting to take it's place on the stove. "Feeling better?" Venn smiled as he took in Kris' more composed appearance. At Kris' nod, he set his cloth in the sink and asked, "What would you like me to do?"

It took Kris a moment to take stock of what he had to work with. "Uh.. could you heat the oil and start the onions and garlic for me please?" He felt a little less frazzled knowing that Venn had his back this time as he picked up his knife and started cutting up vegetables.

When Clawdia showed up a half hour later, everything was ready. The table was set for four, dinner was in the oven, soda and wine were in the refrigerator chilling. Venn and Kris had changed into their good clothes; they'd picked matching tunics in jeweled tones that fit snuggly over their shoulders but bloused a little around the waist where they were tucked into straight legged black dress slacks. All that was lacking was the guest of honor.

"Mom!" Kris left the kitchen where he'd been checking on dinner again and ran the three steps to wrap her in his arms. With no indication that she weighed more than a feather, he lifted her into the air and spun around with her in his arms. "I've missed you!"

Her forepaws fell naturally onto his shoulders and she threw her head back to laugh merrily. "Kristopher! I've missed you as well. Now put me down!" She bent over and kissed him on the nose as he lowered her to the floor once more. "Thank you. How have you been, my darling child?" She took his paws in hers and held them out from his body so she could look him over. "At least he's been feeding you. You've grown a good two feet since I was here last." She dropped his paws and stepped in to wrap him in her arms.

"Mom," he laughed as she wrapped herself around him. "Coach takes care of me just fine." He went quiet as he returned her hug holding her as close as he could.

Venn stood by the counter where he had been sitting until Clawdia came in. He couldn't help smiling as he watched Kris and Clawdia's tender reunion. When the boy finally let his mother go, Venn stepped closer and cleared his throat. "Welcome back. Ms. Blackwood." He bowed his head slightly with his arms straight at his sides.

Clawdia rolled her eyes. "Vincent, I've told you before: It's Clawdia." She arched a brow and continued. "You look like a butler when you do that," which made Kris snicker, "and just where is my hug?" She broke into a soft smile and stepped in to wrap her arms around him as well, not with quite as much familiarity but just as much obvious pleasure to see him.

The horse bent down to return the embrace and yelped as he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right ear. "Eouch!" Looking to the right he followed the pain down Clawdia's arm to her face. "What was that for?"

The diminutive feline gave his ear another twist before letting go. "For thinking more with your rear then your head. The next time you have a problem, just call me." She patted his cheek fondly before turning to survey the house as she walked to the armchair she customarily used when she was here. Venn and Kris looked at each other then away like two boys caught doing something naughty.

The alert sounded letting them know someone who didn't have the code was at the gate. Kris scrambled to get to the intercom first so he could be the one to let Lyran in. "Hello?" He flicked on the remote camera to show a view of the gate area and a very startled-looking Lyran peering directly into the lens so close that all Kris could see was his distorted face.

Static crackled over the intercom as it sputtered to life, "H-Hello?"

"Lyran? Is that you?"

The static came back with a hissing pop. "K-Kris? Yeah, it's me."

The intercom went dead, so Kris hit the button to open it. The camera went dead at the same time, so Kris turned around to announce, "Lyran is on his way up to the house." He was fairly vibrating with anticipation.

"Then we should get dinner ready for the table, don't you think?" Venn asked. "Unless you want it to dry out and become inedible." Kris gasped and headed for the stove in a rush to rescue his hard work. Venn winked at Clawdia as he moved toward the kitchen to help the younger male dish things out. It was only a few moments more when a knock came at the front door. "Go," Venn said as he saw the panicked look in the raccoon's eyes. "I've got this." Kris shot him a relieved look and practically ran to the door, which he flung open only to let out a startled shriek and slammed it shut again.

"Kristopher?" Clawdia snapped. "What is the meaning of this behavior?" She had her right paw on her left upper chest as if to ensure herself that her heart was still beating.

Kris turned around, his eyes terrified as he leaned heavily back against the door. "Ah... Nothing... I--" He paused a moment when the knock came on the door once more. "Just a minute!" He called toward the door, then swallowed hard looking at Venn for help.

The horse was as confused as Clawdia by Kris' strange behaviour. "Is something wrong, Kris?" He moved out of the kitchen to peek through the front windows. On seeing Lyran outside the front door, he inhaled sharply, then chuckled softly. "Why don't you let your young friend in, Kris? It's not polite to leave him cooling his heels on the doorstep." His eyes sparkled mischievously, and he reached for the door handle.

"NO!" Kris yelped, using his slighter body to try to hold the door shut, "Venn, please! Let me go out and talk to him first?"

There was something in his voice and Venn's behaviour that made Clawdia stand up and head purposefully for the door. "Both of you, move away from there." She paused only an arm's reach from the door and looked up at the two of them. "Now." Her voice didn't leave room for any kind of disagreement, so both young men moved away from the door flanking it on either side, Venn in a position to see the outside when it was opened and Kris where the door would hide him from sight. Clawdia looked first at Kris then at Venn and, with a slow breath, she reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open.

Lyran turned around in a flurry of fluffy tail and glared into the air where he expected Kris' head to be. "Well I like that, invite me for dinner then slam--" The wind left him suddenly as his eyes roved down until he came face to face with Clawdia. The lady was dressed in a cream colored skirt suit made of something that looked as soft as her fur. It was paired with a white blouse that had just a hint of ruffles around her throat.

The feline was in the middle of running her eyes back up the cacomistle, taking in the large black boots, tight black jeans, the black fishnet that covered his torso and the cropped brilliant purple muscle shirt with an ancient black symbol centered on the chest. The two stared at each other for a few more moments taking in the pronounced differences in their garb, while Venn tried not to laugh and Kris held his breath hoping that his mother didn't blow a gasket.

"You must be Lyran," Clawdia said stepping back to the side let the young man in. "Welcome, come in, come in." She motioned with her free paw in the direction Venn was standing.

Lyran came in, but he was far too distracted by Clawdia's appearance to notice Venn trying not to laugh behind him as he entered. Kris peeked around the door behind his mother and whimpered softly as he watched Lyran coming in. The cacomistle seemed taken by the feline lady. "Hello, Ms. Blackwood." He lowered his head slightly in an approximation of a bow. "I have heard a lot about you."

"Hummm..." Clawdia glanced over her shoulder at her hidden son. "I wish I could say the same." She reached out and hooked her arm through Lyran's gently guiding him further into the house and leaving the other two to close the door behind them. "Tell me about yourself, young man; have you lived here long?"

Lyran paused at the armchair, having already been coached that this was Clawdia's usual seat, but the feline gently tugged him along to the couch where she settled them both side by side. "I..." He glanced back toward the door looking for Kris. "Ah..." Seeing Kris in animated if quiet conversation with the horse, he turned his attention back to the feline and let her direct their position on the couch. "About six years. Mom moved us here shortly after one of my big brothers passed away." He said it matter of factly but his tail curled and flipped in agitation and his ears folded back as if the memory wasn't one he liked rehashing.

Picking up on the young male's distress, Clawdia changed the subject slightly. "Your mother? Not your parents?" She placed a soothing paw on the cacomistle's thigh as she would if it were Kris in such a state beside her.

He nodded slightly. "Mom's been all the parents I've ever had. Dad passed before I was born." He cast one last glance over his shoulder toward where Kris and Venn were now in the kitchen dishing up what promised, by the scents he was catching, to be a sumptuous feast. "Well, Alatan was kind of a father to me, but he was really my big brother."

"It sounds as if he was very important to you."

"He was. I used to want to be just like him. Walked around with a kitchen pot on my head as a helmet and a broken broomstick as a gun." He grinned for a moment then frowned. "But that was before."

There was a lot of bottled up pain inside him that Clawdia felt he needed to get out, so she pressed for more information. "Before?" She watched him carefully without staring. He hesitated. Not surprising, really, he head just met her. She gave him as much time as he needed to make up his mind.

Her voice was soft and tender, her paw on his thigh reassuring, and somehow, he found himself opening up to her in ways he'd never done with anyone else, not even the school shrink. "Before my mother pulled us out of that hell hole with Alatan's death bonus." Lyran's eyes closed and his ears folded back against his head. "Before Yoel and Mom had a fight that ripped my last brother from me." His tail stopped moving, curled up behind him on the couch. "Before the military came and handed her a scrap of paper that told her Alatan was dead." He still had his eyes closed, but tears were rolling down his cheeks past that slim barricade.

She didn't press anymore. Her goal was accomplished: He was letting out some of the pain. She slipped an arm around his shoulders and let him cry onto her pretty jacket until his tears ran out, and then the words came in a flood out of him. "Alatan, the family called him Alan for short, was the only father I ever remembered. He was so strong and good; it was like he was invincible, like nothing could ever happen to him." Lyran wiped at his eye with the back of his paw. "He always had a smile on his face and lots of friends around him. He made Yoel and me feel safe.

"Yoel was in the middle. He was older than me, but I don't think he was old enough to go into the army like Alan did. He wouldn't have fit in the army; Yoel he's more like me then Alan. No, I remember Alan and Yoel arguing about that a long time ago. Yoel wanted to join the army to get off our planet, but Alan wouldn't let him; he said there was no guarantee that he'd get off world.

"Mom agreed. She said she'd rather he went to college off world. But we couldn't afford that. Not till after Alan died. Then Yoel and Mom had a big fight. Yoel said he wouldn't take blood money from anyone and stormed out of the house. He never came back. Mom packed us up, and in six months, we'd moved here and she bought a house." Lyran's words seemed to have run dry at this point as well. He just sat there with his head on Clawdia's shoulder, letting her pet him like he was a limp kitten in her charge.