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The Murderess of Maplesburg Reign of Terror

Heather O. Bunn

© Heather O. Bunn 2020

_In memory of all of the animals tormented and murdered in the hollow name of "research". _

Chapter 1: Bennett's

Ellie turned the car onto the entrance ramp and accelerated down onto the dark freeway. The lights of the other late-night drivers were few and far between, so Ellie had no issue merging onto the Northbound road. She continued to push the silver compact car hard, wanting to put distance between them and the Duchess' grim estate as quickly as possible.

For the first time since they had left the estate, Jason spoke aloud from the passenger's seat to her right, "Hey, isn't Maplesburg the other direction, Ellie?"

"It is. We're not going to Maplesburg. I'm taking you home."

Confused, "Maplesburg is home. Where-"

"I mean my parents' home. I have to tell them I'm alive, Jason."

"We sent them letters. They ought-"

"Do you really think she mailed those? Besides, I doubt Tom would have known where

to send mine. If he got them, maybe he got yours delivered. Either way, I want to be sure, and I want to see them. So much has happened. I need to let them know, well, everything."

"I understand, Ellie. I'm anxious about what's happened to our house and office, but meeting your parents will be nice. I might have never gotten to if, if things had turned out differently."

Ellie glanced sideways at the brown tabby, "You are glad we got away from her, aren't you, Jason? You didn't want to live as her pet."

"I'm glad, Ellie. I can't deny that part of me is worried about what happened to her and her staff though. I hope they got out okay. I wouldn't like to think they all ended up like the poor ferret."

"He was a jerk," Ellie stated, but she felt a little bad for him all the same. "I suppose he didn't deserve that though," she muttered. Once again, she tried not to think about what had happened to the friendly pine marten, Edgar. She'd wanted to help him escape the Duchess too, but now she had no idea if he was even still alive. "I hope Edgar got away at least," she murmured. "He wasn't so bad even if he was helping hold us there."

Muffled, "Th-thanks, Ellie. I'm glad you got away too."

Ellie turned toward Jason, "What was that?"

"That wasn't me," Jason stated. He turned to peer behind his seat. "What in Tartarus?!

How long have you been lurking back there?!"

"What? Who is it?" Ellie asked in surprise. She couldn't think when anyone else would

have been able to enter the car. "Edgar!"

"Edgar! Quit hiding and sit in your seat," Ellie ordered. "How in Tartarus did you get back there?"

She heard the pine marten moving around in the back and glanced in the rear-view mirror to see him sitting in the middle of the back bench seat. "Seatbelt on!" she commanded.

Edgar quickly strapped himself in.

Ellie nodded brusquely. "Now how did you get back there?"

"I-I was i-in the car with Howard," he whined.

"What was the point of trying to hide down on the floor? We would have spotted you

eventually."

"I, uh, I was worried you might be angry. You aren't angry, are you?" "I'm not. I'm glad you got away. I'm a little annoyed you tried to hide." "S-sorry. Are, uh, are you going to drop me somewhere or-"

"Do you have anywhere to go?"

"N-no."

"Then you're coming with us," Ellie decided.

"Wha-at about your family? A-are you, um, are you going to tell them-"

"That you're my friend? Yes," Ellie interrupted briskly.

"Th-that's all?"

"Are you going to try to drag us back to the Duchess?"

"N-no!"

"Then I'll tell them you're my friend."

"Th-thank you, Ellie."

"I'm sorry about your ferret friend," Jason said sympathetically. "There was nothing we

could do for him."

"I-I know." He paused. "I, I'm sorry for everything I did: w-watching you uh, helping Her

Grace keep you captive. I could have let you go, but-"

"I understand," Ellie cut him off. "You were working for a psycho. You had good reason

to be afraid of what might happen to you."

"That's uh, th-thank you, Ellie."

Ellie nodded. "Try to get some sleep if you can. It's a bit of a drive, and it's still the

middle of the night."

"Alright, thank you, Ellie."

"You don't need to keep saying thank you. Like I said, I'm glad we could help you escape."

"Alright, tha-er, sorry, Ellie."

Ellie sighed exasperatedly. She hoped her parents wouldn't think all of her friends were weirdos after meeting the nervous pine marten, but they'd probably be so shocked at the idea of her being in a romantic relationship with a cat that they'd barely notice Edgar's quirks. Before long, Jason and Edgar were both snoozing. Ellie switched on the radio to see if she could still pick up the Maplesburg jazz station.

"-not call the police. Arm yourselves and get to safety. Repeat: terrorists are holding the Mayor and city council hostage. The police have been raided. Get to safety. Prey especially are urged to seek shelter. The terrorists are demanding that prey rights be suspended. Do not call the police. Arm yourselves and get to safety. Repeat-"

Ellie switched off the radio. Fucking Tartarus! It seemed the attack hadn't been isolated to the Duchess' estate! What is going on?! This was only more reason to check in on her parents. I hope they're alright!

The sun was beginning to rise over the roofs of the cluster of homes in the Southwest corner of the small town of Willowdale by the time Ellie pulled into her parents' driveway. The modest two-story teal house with its gray composite roof and vegetable garden out front looked just as Ellie remembered it, but so much had changed since she'd last visited. Both of her parents' cars: her father's red convertible and her mother's white compact car were parked in the gravel driveway, which was to be expected at seven in the morning. Ellie realized she

actually didn't know what day of the week it was. She'd lost track of the days locked up in the Duchess' manor.

Ellie put the car in park and glanced at Jason and Edgar: both were still asleep. She decided it would be best to let her parents get over the shock of finding out she was alive before introducing them to her feline partner, so she let them sleep, carefully climbing out of the car into the cool morning air. She cut across the dew-covered grass to the sky blue front door and rang the doorbell. After a few moments, Ellie heard claws clicking over the vinyl floor, and the door opened to reveal her mother.

Ellie's mother, Evelyn, was completely white with pink eyes and stood a full head taller than Ellie. Ellie had inherited her dark brown splotches and stature from her father, Eli. In fact, the remarkable similarity of their markings, including the 'mustache' spot under their noses, was the reason for Ellie's given name.

"E-Ellie!" her mother gasped. "We thought-" She grabbed Ellie in a tight hug, squeezing Ellie's arms to her sides. "Ellie! You're alive! Oh, thank Zeus! You've come back to us!" She held Ellie at arm's length, quickly examining her with worried pink eyes, "Are you hurt?! What's this? It looks like blood!"

Ellie followed her mother's eyes to her lower back and grimaced at the sight of the dried ferret blood in her white and dark brown fur. "It's, uh, not mine. There's a lot I have to tell you, but it's a long story; maybe I can get cleaned up first. Is Dad up?"

Her mother turned her head and yelled back into the house, "Eli! It's Ellie! She came home!"

Ellie heard the sound of scrambling from the kitchen, and then her father dashed into the entryway. His face lit with joy as his eyes fell on her, and he raced forward, neatly lifting her mother's left arm out of the way so that he could stand in front of Ellie. He grasped her by the shoulders, and his brown eyes gazed into hers, fierce with the strength of his love and pride for his daughter.

"My brave girl, I knew you were alive! I knew you would come back to us!"

He reached his arms under hers and hugged her tightly. Ellie hugged him back. She

pressed her nose to his cheek.

"Of course I came back," she murmured. "I couldn't let you wonder what happened to

me. There's so much I have to tell you, but-"

"Later, Ellie. Right now, I only need to know that you're alive and well."

"I'm fine. It wasn't easy, but I made it through."

"My resourceful girl," her father murmured.

Her mother reached her arms around both of the smaller rabbits and hugged the three of

them together. For a minute, Ellie let herself be comforted by the embrace of her parents. She'd thought she might never see them again, but she'd made it through the ordeal with the Duchess. Now she was with them again, and for a moment, it was comforting to let everything be that simple. But everything wasn't that simple. Ultimately, Ellie didn't want it to be that simple. She wasn't sure how her parents were going to react to Jason, but she couldn't have made it through without him, without the love they shared. So Ellie let herself be comforted by the security and love of her parents' embrace, but once they let go, she spoke again.

"I made it through but not alone. There's someone I need you to meet. Well, two someones, but one who's particularly special to me."

"Oh? Did you finally find a nice boy to marry?" her mother asked. "You know most of your siblings have children already. You still have time, but-"

"Evelyn, let's meet Ellie's special friend before you start planning grandchildren," her father interrupted.

Ellie turned toward the car awkwardly, "Er, yeah, he's still in the car."

"It is a he then," her mother reaffirmed. "That's good." She quickly added, "Not that we wouldn't still love you if you wanted to be with a doe."

"We love you no matter who you love, and whoever it is will be a welcome part of our family," her father amended. "Please excuse your mother. She feels the same way; she just has a little difficulty talking about it."

Ellie was less sure that's all it was, but she didn't say otherwise. Her mother had often stated that Ellie's 'tomboyishness' was a phase that she'd grow out of, and Ellie knew she still thought some personality traits were more 'becoming' in males or in females, even if she wouldn't say outright that the opposites were wrong.

Ellie glanced back at her parents, "Alright, do you want me to go get them, or-" "We'll come with you," her father stated.

Ellie led them over to the silver compact car. The rising sun was reflecting in the

windshield, making it difficult to see inside. Ellie stepped up to the driver's door to call inside and wake the cat and pine marten.

"Are those bullet holes in your windshield?!" her mother yelped.

"Er, yeah, I'll explain everything later," Ellie answered hurriedly. She opened her door and poked her head in to see Jason and Edgar still snoozing. "Hey, Jason, Edgar, we're here. Come out and meet my parents."

Jason cracked open his sea green eyes and yawned, "I was only resting my eyes."

"Right, that's why you haven't noticed that we've been here ten minutes already," Ellie replied sarcastically. "Jab Edgar, would you?"

Jason reached back and gently shook the pine marten.

Edgar jumped, "Wha? What's going on?"

"We're here. It's time to meet my parents," Ellie informed him.

"Yes, Ellie!" Edgar scrambled to open the door and jumped out of the car. Her parents started in surprise as the pine marten sprang out in front of them. "Oops, er, sorry," Edgar apologized hastily.

"This is Edgar. He's a friend," Ellie introduced him.

Quickly recovering from the surprise, her father held out his hand, "Pleased to meet you, Edgar."

Edgar took it and shook it vigorously, "Pleased to meet you too, Sir."

"This is my father, Eli, and my mother, Evelyn," Ellie told him.

Edgar gave a little bow, "Sir, Madam, I'm at your service."

Ellie frowned at the obsequious display, but her parents--her mother especially--

seemed pleased. However, their expressions turned to surprise again when Jason climbed out of the other side of the car. He sauntered around to stand next to Ellie, and she took his hand, squeezing it to fortify herself.

Taking a deep breath, she began slowly, "Mom, Dad, this is Jason. I've told you about the cat I partnered with to start my practice. This is him. He's my best friend, and recently, um,

recently, we've found our feelings go deeper than that. He loves me, and I love him. I never could have made it through what happened without him."

Jason squeezed her hand, "I couldn't have made it through without you either, Ellie." Ellie looked up into his adoring sea green eyes and smiled back with warm affection. "A, a cat, Ellie?!" her mother managed to choke out.

Ellie turned back to her parents: her mother was gaping wide-eyed, her visage the

picture of shock, if not horror. Her father seemed conflicted, frowning slightly, concerned but also ready to listen. Ellie squeezed Jason's hand again. She'd make them understand!

"We've worked together for five years now, and from the very beginning we had a connection. I didn't think I could be attracted to a cat, but when Jason confessed his feelings for me, I realized I'd been burying those feelings. Since then, we've been through Tartarus, but that's only reinforced my feelings. I know we belong together."

"There's a reason you bury feelings like that, Ellie," her mother countered. She went on in a more sympathetic--but to Ellie, condescending--tone "Look, Sweetie, I know you've always been confident around predators, but there's a line. I don't need to tell you why rabbits don't get together with cats."

It always came back to diet! Jason couldn't help being a carnivore any more than she could help being a herbivore. It shouldn't matter so long as I know he'd never hurt me! Frustrated, Ellie replied sarcastically, "Because they're afraid of them?"

"Because they used to eat us, Ellie," her mother responded sharply. "How many of your ancestors do you think were killed or had loved ones killed by cats? Are you going to turn your back on them?"

With obvious discomfort at where the conversation had gone, Jason interjected awkwardly, "I promise I would never harm your daughter, Mrs. Bennett. I-"

"You don't need to defend yourself against such prejudice, Jason," Ellie cut him off curtly.

"It's not prejudice. It's fact. I have nothing against your friend," her mother stated matter- of-factly. "I don't expect him to understand the weight of that history; rabbits didn't eat any of his ancestors."

"I don't think you're listening, Evelyn," her father cut in. "Ellie isn't asking our opinion on the matter; she's introducing us to someone she wants to spend her life with. I know it's unusual, but if they really love each other then-"

"Then what, Eli?! We ignore history because it's inconvenient now?" her mother rejoined.

"We don't have to ignore it, but it shouldn't get in the way of our present happiness. If this cat helped bring Ellie back to us, then I'm eternally grateful. And if Ellie loves him, then he's a member of my family." He stepped forward and held out his hand to Jason. "Thank you for taking care of our daughter, Jason. I hope you'll feel welcome here, Evelyn's concerns notwithstanding."

Jason took the rabbit's much smaller hand and shook it. Even though Ellie saw Jason everyday, she found it remarkable how much larger he was than her father. Even her mother, who was only about half a head shorter than Jason, was much smaller in terms of mass. Suddenly, she realized why some people thought she looked vulnerable next to the cat, but then Jason smiled awkwardly and glanced at her with an embarrassed laugh.

"Heh, it was more like Ellie took care of me. I don't know what I'd do without her, not only in what we went through, but everyday at work too."

That's my sweet, silly kitty. He might look intimidating, but Jason was a sweetheart. Her parents would realize that soon too. They'd understand why she loved him.

Her father grinned, "That sounds like my Ellie. She's not too hard on you, I hope." "Only when she makes me take a shower," Jason muttered under his breath.

Her father snorted in amusement and then chuckled, "Pahaha, I think I'm going to like

you, Jason."

Her mother crept closer and gingerly held out her hand to the brown tabby. Her father

stepped aside to let them shake hands. The white rabbit looked nervous as she allowed Jason to take her hand, but she gave him a small smile.

"I suppose Eli is right, at least in that, if you helped bring Ellie back to us, then you've done more than we could ever repay you for," she murmured.

"I'll have to make sure my parents give Ellie the same thanks. We made it through together. I wouldn't have had a chance on my own."

Her mother looked skeptical, but she nodded, "I suppose if you really love someone, then it doesn't matter what species they are."

Jason shook his head, "It does matter, and the fact that we're predator and prey is something we've been forced to confront without any illusions. I'll let Ellie decide when she wants to detail everything that's happened, but I love Ellie as the rabbit she is, not in spite of that."

Her mother's smile warmed a little. "It's nice to finally meet you, Jason. I know it's a long drive, but Ellie should have brought you to visit sometime before in the past five years. Please forgive what I said earlier; the shock overwhelmed me. I shouldn't have suggested you were careless of history."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure my parents will be shocked too."

They stepped apart, and Ellie felt a wave of affection for the tabby. Jason was so kind and sincere that he'd have no trouble erasing even her mother's doubts. She stepped in front of him and wrapped him in a tight hug.

"We made it, Jason," she murmured. "We escaped that monster. I was ready to start our life together before, but now there's nothing in the world I want more."

Jason hugged her back, and she pressed her nose into his soft chest fur.

Edgar, who had been watching the drama play out in nervous silence finally spoke again, "Can I get a hug too, Ellie?"

Ellie eyed the hopeful pine marten before breaking away from Jason. "Why don't you take care of that, Jason?" she suggested.

"Er, okay," Jason stepped up to Edgar and opened his arms.

Edgar hesitated a moment before stepping into the cat's arms and hugging him around the middle. Jason hugged him too and patted his back.

"Do you think Her Grace made it out?" Edgar murmured.

"I don't know. She said there was a hidden exit. I suppose if she got to it, then she got away," Jason answered.

"I hope so."

"Who's 'Her Grace'?" her mother inquired.

Ellie answered briefly, "The Duchess, Rita Belmont. She's who we got away from." "Huh? You were being held by the Duchess?" her father asked in surprise. "Why-"

"I'll explain everything later," Ellie quickly cut him off. She didn't want to go into the whole

story just yet. She still had ferret blood in her fur for one.

"But if she's the 'monster' you escaped, then why is your friend talking about her getting

away?" her mother pressed.

"We only got away because the manor was attacked," Ellie explained. "I heard on the

radio that Maplesburg was also attacked by terrorists. I assume it was the same group. I don't know how widespread it is, but I was relieved to find you were alright here."

"We heard that on the news as well," her mother informed her. "It sounded like it was only in Maplesburg. I hope you aren't planning on going back too soon. Wait until the authorities sort it out. It sounds like Maplesburg is very dangerous right now, especially for prey."

Ellie exchanged a worried glance with Jason. Certainly, the Vulpinevan government would find a way to remove the terrorists from Maplesburg, but in the meantime, were their friends in Maplesburg safe? She agreed with her mother, at least to the extent that she doubted there was much they could do to help. She didn't even have her gun anymore. "I think it's best if we stay here until it's safe to return," she agreed.

Jason nodded.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like," her father offered. "There's plenty of room with all of you kids moved out."

"Thanks, Dad."

"As your father said, but you still haven't explained why you'd be concerned about what happened to the person who was keeping you captive," her mother continued.

"Well, uh," Ellie paused, trying to think of a plausible reason that didn't implicate Edgar. She'd told him she wouldn't tell her parents about his role in their captivity, but she was having trouble thinking of any good reason. "I'm, uh, not sure Edgar is concerned so much as-"

"I-it's because I worked for her, Ma'am," Edgar interrupted. "I-I, I know she did horrible things, but, well, uh, she meant a lot to me. She, um, maybe you'll understand when you hear the whole story."

Her mother frowned, looking disturbed, "I'm not sure I understand. You worked for the person who held Ellie captive? Until when?"

"We-ell-" Edgar started.

Ellie cut him off, "Let me tell you the whole story before Edgar explains his place in all this. I introduced him as my friend, and that's what I consider him."

"Alright, Ellie, I'll wait," her mother allowed. "But I want an explanation soon. It's becoming very confusing not knowing the whole story."

"Sure thing, I'll tell you as soon as I get cleaned up unless you have to go to work. I don't actually know what day it is."

"It's Monday, but we don't have work. Your father and I are on leave." "Really? What for?"

"Bereavement."

Ellie winced, "Oh. Uh, I'm sorry I made you worry, Mom."

"We're just happy to have you back, Honey." "Does, uh, does the whole family think-"

"Yes, we were planning the funeral for Wednesday. I'll have a lot of calling to do, but letting everyone know you're alive will be a far more pleasant task than before."

Ellie nodded awkwardly. She was embarrassed to have put her entire family through so much worry. Just think if we'd been a couple days later. I might have crashed my own funeral. The idea seemed far less humorous in reality than it might have been played off in some trite comedy. "Well, um, I guess I'll take that shower now, and I'll fill you in when I'm done."

Her mother nodded, and Ellie quickly grabbed the car keys from the dashboard then headed back toward the teal house.

***

Ellie led them inside and headed up the varnished oak stairs that were on the left side of

the entryway. Jason paused in the entryway and turned toward Ellie's parents and Edgar. He wasn't sure it had been a good idea to bring the pine marten along. Jason didn't feel any ill will toward him, but he doubted Ellie's parents would be as ready as she was to excuse his role in their daughter's captivity. Jason was sympathetic toward the pine marten's position, but even he wasn't sure he wanted him with them. He'd had less interaction with him than Ellie had, and while he appreciated that Ellie considered him a friend, Jason couldn't help but see him as the Duchess' sycophant. Jason himself had been forced to show the vixen affection, but he hadn't forgotten how she'd starved him, how she'd tried to force him to eat Ellie. Jason had been trying to make the best of their situation; he wasn't sure Edgar had that excuse.

"Thank you for letting us stay here, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett," Jason addressed the rabbits politely.

"Any friend of Ellie's is welcome, and that goes double for her partner," Mr. Bennett replied. "But call me Eli. 'Mr. Bennett' is a little formal. Actually, you're welcome to call me 'Dad' if you like." He smirked, "I never thought I'd say that to a cat."

"Evelyn is good for me," Mrs. Bennett put in.

Jason thought 'Dad' would be a little awkward, particularly when the rabbit technically wasn't his father-in-law, at least not yet. If he did call him that, Ellie would probably tease him to no end.

"Just tell me if there's anything I can help you with," Edgar piped up. "I'm at your service."

"There's a sink full of dishes that could use washed," Evelyn stated. "Eli was supposed to do them last night, but-"

"I don't think we should make our guests do our dishes, Evelyn," Eli interrupted.

Edgar gave a bow, "Sir, I'm happy to help! Really, anything you want!" he replied enthusiastically.

Jason supposed it might be in the pine marten's best interest to ingratiate himself as much as he could with their hosts, but it was still a little unsettling. "I don't mind helping out if there's something I can do," Jason offered mildly. He didn't want to seem ungrateful in comparison to the pine marten.

"My car could use washed," Evelyn stated.

"Evelyn! We are not going to ask Ellie's fiance? to do housework!" Eli interjected. "Why not? He offered."

"We're treating him like a member of the family, not a servant!"

"Then I'll find Ellie something to do too," Evelyn decided. "Family can help with the chores."

Jason was certain Ellie wouldn't be happy to hear that. Also, they weren't engaged, but he didn't correct Ellie's father on the point.

"I suppose that's fair," Eli conceded. "But I want to spend some time getting to know this young cat, so I don't expect you to have him off working all day."

"Don't be ridiculous. There's not even that much work for five people to do. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other."

"Alright, but before any of that, have the two of you had breakfast?" Eli inquired. "We can't put you to work on empty bellies."

"Is there anything here they can eat, Eli?" Evelyn pointed out.

"Oh, right. We might need to make a trip to the grocery first."

"I can come with you," Jason stated.

"Let Edgar and Eli take care of that," Evelyn returned. "There's something more

important you need to do. You haven't called your own parents yet, have you?"

Jason kept forgetting that they might not have gotten his letter. He shook his head. Evelyn took his arm, "Then that's the first thing we're taking care of. You call your

parents, and then I'll call the rest of the family to let them know Ellie is okay."

Eli bobbed his head, "Right, Edgar and I will be back with your food shortly." He turned

back for the door and Edgar followed him.

Evelyn tugged Jason's arm, "Come on. Let's not let them worry a minute longer than we

need to."

She led Jason into the kitchen to the right. Jason glimpsed the living/dining room down

the short hall to the back of the house. The kitchen had a light blue tile floor with matching painted cabinets under and above a white counter. The white stove and stainless steel sink were at the far end of the counter, and the white refrigerator was to their right on the far wall. A small wood table with daisy-decorated dishes containing the rabbits' half-eaten breakfast was situated in front of a double window facing the front yard and street on the West side of the house. They'd been having toast, coffee, and an assortment of fresh grass and leafy plants including clover and dandelions. Jason heard a car engine rev and turned to watch the red convertible, top down, back around the other cars and onto the street before peeling away with the squeal of rubber on concrete. Maybe it was a good thing he hadn't gone with Eli.

Evelyn picked a white phone up off of its receiver on the near end of the counter and handed it to Jason. Jason dialed his parents' number and waited while the phone rang. It rang four times before his mother picked up.

"Hello? Brown residence, Dr. Brown speaking."

"Hi, Mom, it's Jason."

"Jason!" she yelped. "We thought-. It's so good to hear your voice! Are you okay?!

Where are you?!"

"I'm okay. I'm at Ellie's parents' house."

"Ellie? You mean your colleague? Is that where you've been?!"

"We only got here this morning. I'm sorry I couldn't contact you sooner, Mom. I tried to

send a letter, but I guess it didn't get through. I'll explain everything when I see you, but I want

you to know we're safe now. What about you? I heard there's a car-er terrorists running loose in Maplesburg."

"It's a lot worse than that, Jason. They've taken control of the whole city. I'm glad you and your colleague are away right now. They're leaving carnivores alone for the most part, but, but prey, it's horrible! Don't bring your colleague here until this is over!"

"Are you and Dad alright?"

"We're fine for now."

"Could you get out? Maybe the two of you could come here."

"We could, but I need to work. The hospital is short-staffed as it is with the prey being

too afraid to come into work. I suppose your dad could leave, but you know he wouldn't go without me."

"Alright, Mom, stay safe. I'll come visit you as soon as it's safe to bring Ellie back." "You stay safe too, Jason. I hope it doesn't spread to where you are."

"I will. I love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him too."

"We love you too, Jason. I'm so happy you're okay! You have a lot of explaining to do

when we see you!"

"I know. Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Sweetheart."

Jason hung up the phone.

"Are they alright?" Evelyn asked concernedly.

Jason nodded, "It sounds like it. I'm glad Ellie brought us here. It sounds like a nightmare

in Maplesburg right now. I wish there was something I could do to help."

"The police will take care of it, the army if necessary. You should stay here with us. Even

though you aren't prey, you don't know how dangerous it might be." She picked up the phone. "Now I need to make several calls. You can have a seat in here or in the living room while you wait for Eli to get back."

Jason sat at the near end of the small table.

Evelyn picked up the phone and dialed. After a few seconds she answered, "Hello, Claire, this is Mom."

...

"That's what I'm calling about: Ellie's alive! She's here right now!"

...

"Well, I'm afraid she's in the shower right now, but I can have her call back later." ...

"Of course, I don't see why not. I'll suggest it to the others too."

...

"Alright, bye, Honey. I love you." She hung up the phone. "That was one of Ellie's

littermates," she informed Jason. "She wants to come visit Wednesday to see Ellie. It might get a little crowded around here if everyone wants to do the same. I hope that won't bother you."

"Not at all, I'm sure Ellie will enjoy seeing her siblings, and I'd like to meet them too."

Evelyn smiled, "Good. If we really are going to be family, then you're going to have to get used to being inundated by rabbits."

Jason smiled at the imagery of rabbits flooding into the house, "I'm sure it will be fun."

Evelyn smirked, "We'll find out. They're going to be awfully surprised Ellie's dating a cat too, you know."

Jason nodded in acceptance of that prediction, but he wasn't overly concerned. Ellie's parents had been the biggest concern. The hard part was out of the way. At least until I introduce Ellie to my parents.

Evelyn made at least a dozen more calls. Jason lost track of how many and of the names of all the people she phoned. Hopefully, it will be easier to remember their names in person. Jason didn't want them to think he couldn't tell them apart, and he hoped that actually wouldn't be the case. If many of them are marked as similarly to Ellie as Eli though, it might be tough. He had noticed that, mercifully, their names didn't all start with E; that would have made the problem much worse.

A short time later, Ellie came back downstairs, her fur fluffed up from the blow drier. Jason was glad to see she had gotten all of the ferret's blood out of her white fur.

"I'm hungry," she declared. "What's for breakfast?"

"Your father and I were having ours when you arrived," Evelyn stated. "There's more bread and greens, and there's still coffee on the stove."

Ellie turned to Jason, "Did you have anything yet?"

"We're waiting for Eli and Edgar to get back from the store," Evelyn explained.

"You have oatmeal, don't you?" Ellie asked her mother.

Evelyn nodded.

"I'll make some of that. You can have some while you wait, Jason." Ellie collected a pan

and the oatmeal from their respective cabinets. Setting the pan on the stove, she hefted the coffee pot. "Not a whole lot left; did you want some, Jason?"

"Maybe you'd like it. I didn't spend the whole night driving."

"Yeah, maybe I will have it."

"You could take a nap instead," Evelyn suggested. "We can wait to hear your story after

you've rested."

Ellie set down the coffee pot, "I guess so. Do you want to join me after breakfast,

Jason?"

"Sure." Jason wasn't super tired, but he hadn't slept very well cramped in the small car.

Besides, unless he had something important to do, he wouldn't turn down a nap, particularly with Ellie.

"If you've all had a rough night, I can go ahead and prepare the beds," Evelyn stated. "I'll need to dig out sheets for you before tonight anyway. I'll make your bed, Ellie, and two in the boys' room."

"We can fix our own beds. Besides, Jason and I sleep together," Ellie told her.

"Oh, uh, I suppose you do," Evelyn responded awkwardly. "Do you, um? Never mind, it's none of my business!" she finished quickly.

Jason felt his ears getting hot, and glancing at Ellie's, he saw hers were pink inside too.

"You're right that it's not your business! But since you asked, the answer is yes!" Ellie shot back. "I know you wouldn't be attracted to a cat, but Jason and I are in love and-"

"I understand, Honey, it's just going to take me a little while to get used to the idea," Evelyn interrupted apologetically. "I didn't mean to imply that you shouldn't sleep together or, or express your feelings the way you think you should."

Ellie nodded tersely once. Jason knew that was her way of tentatively accepting her mother's apology even if she was still angry and embarrassed that the topic had come up at all. Jason was only embarrassed, and Evelyn's furtive glance in his direction didn't help. They'd been getting along before, and he hoped this conversation wouldn't disrupt that. Perhaps she'd been hoping their love was only a strong attachment that didn't extend to anything sexual. Jason could have told her that he didn't have any innate attraction for rabbits in general and that it was only the depth of his feelings for Ellie that brought out his desire, but he didn't want to discuss the topic further. It probably wouldn't have helped anyway.

Ellie went back to preparing the oatmeal. She and Jason were eating it by the time Edgar and Eli finally returned. Both were laden with two bulging bags of groceries.

"I had no idea there were so many types of meat!" Eli commented as he set his bags down in front of the refrigerator.

Evelyn frowned at the bags, and Jason was surprised himself.

"How much did you buy?" he inquired. "You'd better put most of that in the freezer. It looks like enough for half a dozen cats and pine martens for at least a week."

Eli gave Edgar a glance.

"Er, I-I don't usually do the shopping. I wanted to make sure there'd be enough!" Edgar replied nervously.

"Who paid for all this?" Evelyn asked, concerned.

"Edgar," Eli answered.

"A-actually, Her Grace paid for it. I, uh, I don't think she'll miss it," Edgar corrected. "You mean we stole it!?" Eli yelped.

"That's besides the point!" Ellie cut in irately. "Now she's going to have a bill that will tell

her the town we're in!"

"Sh-she'll only know I'm here," Edgar stammered.

"Right, but don't you think she might come looking for her favorite fuck toy?! And won't

she be pleased when she finds who's with him?!"

"I-I, I didn't think about that. I'm sorry, Ellie."

Ellie sighed exasperatedly, "It's too late now. At least my parents didn't have to pay for

the too much meat you bought."

Eli and Evelyn gave Edgar a disturbed look. Edgar looked at the floor miserably.

"It's a mistake anyone might have made," Jason put in charitably.

Ellie gave him a dubious look in response.

Jason stood and sauntered over to peek into the bags: it really was a lot of meat. "At

least we won't need to go to the grocery for meat for a while. I hope there will be room in the freezer."

"There's a second freezer in the basement if you need it," Evelyn informed him.

Jason nodded. They probably would. "I guess you also didn't usually do the cooking, right, Edgar?"

"No, I didn't," he whined.

"I'll fix us something then," Jason offered. He sifted through the first bag, finding a pack of link breakfast sausages. "Do sausages sound good?"

"Y-yes, thanks, Jason."

Jason glanced at Eli and Evelyn, "Um, you might want to leave the room or at least open the windows."

Eli blinked, "You think so?"

Ellie stood and slid up the window closer to her end of the table. "Trust me; if you haven't smelled cooking meat in a while, you aren't going to be prepared. It's rancid."

"Let's move to the dining room to finish," Evelyn suggested.

Eli shrugged, "If you think it's necessary."

The two rabbits collected their plates and mugs and carried them out of the kitchen. Jason glanced at Ellie, "Are you going to leave too?"

"I'm almost done. I can keep you company if I sit by the window."

"Maybe you should go spend some time with your parents," Jason suggested. "I'll be

there as soon as I'm done cooking these."

Ellie frowned, "I'm afraid of what they're going to say when you aren't there," she

murmured. "Especially Mom. You heard what she said when we got here, and that was with you standing there. I'm sure she was holding back."

"We were getting along while you were in the shower. I think she was mostly surprised."

"I hope so." She glanced at Edgar who was hurriedly cramming meat into the freezer. She scooped up the last bite of oatmeal from her bowl, popped it in her mouth, gulped it down, hopped over to the pine marten. "Let me help you with that. Then you can help me by coming and sitting at the table with us. Mom won't want to say much in front of my other carnivore friend either."

"Y-yes, Ellie."

Ellie glanced into the freezer, which was getting quite full. "Come on, I'll show you where the basement is."

She picked up one of the full bags, and Edgar took the other full one and the partial one. They took them away, leaving Jason alone in the kitchen. He could hear the murmur of Eli's and Evelyn's voices from the dining room, but not well enough to make out the words.

Jason had a glance around the kitchen and what he could see of the rest of the house through the door. This was where Ellie had grown up. It was kind of surreal to imagine her sitting at the small table while her mother made her breakfast or getting ready for school with her many siblings. He'd have to see if he could find photos of what she'd looked like. Probably even more adorable than she is now. And if he didn't take the opportunity, he wouldn't have any comebacks when she teased him over his kitten pictures.

Jason opened the cabinet where Ellie had found the pan and was able to find a stainless steel skillet. There was a metal spatula hanging to the left of the stove. He lit the stove and began to fry the turkey sausages. The aroma of the cooking meat made his mouth water, and he swallowed his saliva. He didn't know what Ellie meant by 'rancid'. He understood that the smell bothered her but, obviously, her experience was completely different from his own. Jason was focused on turning the sausages and didn't even notice Eli come in until he coughed.

"Hem, that's pretty pungent, isn't it?"

Jason started slightly and turned toward the buck.

"Oops, sorry, Son. I wanted to microwave these," he held up two mugs of coffee and

nodded toward the microwave above the stove.

Jason set down the spatula. "I can take care of that. I'll bring them out to you in a minute."

"No, I can do it. A little smell is nothing I can't handle."

Eli strode across the room and set one mug on the counter to open the microwave. He coughed again, and Jason could see his eyes starting to water, but he placed the cups in the microwave, set it for a minute, and stood back a short distance as it ran. He looked miserable, grimacing with streaming eyes, but still, he stood only a step from the stove, waiting.

"I can bring them out to you when they're done," Jason offered again.

Eli shook his head. Mercifully, the microwave timer beeped, and Eli stepped forward to retrieve the mugs. He nodded to Jason before striding nonchalantly out of the room though Jason thought he walked a bit more quickly this time. Jason frowned; he didn't want Eli or Evelyn to feel like they needed to make themselves suffer to make him feel welcome. On the other hand, maybe Eli didn't want to seem weak in front of Ellie's partner, in which case, there might not be a lot Jason could say to convince him otherwise.

Jason finished cooking the sausages, transferred them to a plate he found in one of the upper cabinets, and carried them with two more plates and a pair of forks he found in a drawer out to the dining room. The dining room and living room were part of one great room with the dining room on the right side when Jason came in the door from the short hall. The dining room contained a long oak table, and the entire room had tan carpet and white walls. A ceiling fan with dark brown blades and a domed light fixture hung over the middle of the long table, which was almost as long as the Duchess' had been. There were ten oak chairs with two on the ends and four on each side. All four of the others were clustered at the near end with Eli and Evelyn on the side closest to the wall with a line of windows that faced onto the backyard and Ellie and Edgar on the interior side. The end seat next to Ellie and Evelyn was open, and Ellie motioned for Jason to sit there. Jason delivered a plate and fork to Edgar and served him two of the six sausages before sitting at the end and taking two for himself. He set the plate with the remaining sausages in front of his own. Evelyn gave them a disturbed look but didn't say anything.

"So, up until this recent trouble, your business has been going well, I take it," Eli began conversationally.

Jason glanced at Ellie for confirmation, "We've, uh, been getting cases if that's what you mean."

"Nothing so dangerous generally, I hope," Evelyn pressed.

"Um, well, it can be dangerous. Sometimes, uh, you find out something people don't want you to know."

"I've told you about the risks involved," Ellie cut in. "We aren't going at this blind. We were unlucky this time. We didn't have all of the relevant information. I'll explain later."

"Now, would seem to be as good a time as any," Eli commented.

"It's a long story. Mom said we could rest first."

Eli nodded.

Evelyn continued, "Saying you know the risks is one thing. We thought you were dead,

Ellie. Have there been other times your life was at risk?"

"Yes, but Jason and I got through them. We have each other's back, sometimes

literally."

Eli and Evelyn exchanged a worried glance.

"We're just concerned about you, Ellie," Eli stated. "It's quite a dangerous job for a rabbit. I know you're up to it. You've always been my brave girl, but we still worry."

"It's a dangerous job for a cat too," Ellie rejoined. "For anyone. I have a license to carry a gun at least, so if anything, Jason's the one more at risk."

"Ellie's saved our necks at least once," Jason confirmed.

Eli nodded, seeming satisfied. Evelyn seemed less so, but she didn't press the matter further.

"I'll let you eat your breakfast," Eli concluded. "It, uh, smells interesting."

Evelyn gave the meat another distasteful look. Jason awkwardly skewered a sausage with his fork and took a bite.

"Jason knows it smells bad to us," Ellie reminded. "He can't help what it smells like."

"You, uh, really think it's that bad, huh?" Edgar asked. He eyed the other two sausages, having already finished his while they talked. "Let me get those out from under your nose then." He pulled the plate over in front of his and scooped the sausages onto it, stabbing one and biting into it with gusto.

Jason had thought one of those might have been his. I guess I can have something more at lunch.

Once he finished eating, Ellie stood. "Come on, kitty. I'm looking forward to curling up in a comfortable bed after that hard slab."

Jason quickly licked the meat juices off of his lips and stood, "Excuse us."

Ellie snagged his arm and led him out of the great room. Jason could feel Evelyn's eyes on his back as they left, and his tail flipped self-consciously. Ellie led him up the wood stairs and to the end of the tan carpeted hall.

She dug out a set of purple bedclothes out of a closet on the left and shoved them into his arms. "You can make the bed while I brush my teeth. I'll find you a toothbrush too." She led him back down the hall to a room now on their left and pointed to a bed inside. "That one's mine."

There were five lofted twin sized beds extending into the lavender room with two on the right wall, one on the far wall, and two on the left wall. Ellie's was in the near right corner. Each bed had dressers and clothes racks packed underneath it. There was little tan carpet that wasn't covered. It must have been crowded with so many rabbits in this house. Jason tossed the bedding up onto the bed and climbed up the scaffolding at the foot of the bed. He could have jumped up, but he didn't want to accidentally hit his head on the ceiling. He'd barely be able to sit up as it was, and his feet would definitely hang over the end if he stretched out. At least the mattress was soft.

Ellie left, and Jason put the sheets on the bed. When she returned, he climbed down and she led him to the bathroom, one room down on the same side of the hall. The bathroom floor and walls were tiled with pale green tiles trimmed with verdant green ones. The cabinet under the sink was painted verdant green, and the sink top and tub were also pale green. Only the toilet and ceiling were white.

She handed him a blue toothbrush, "Here's this. The toothpaste is on the sink." She yawned. "See you in a few minutes, Sweetheart."

She left, and Jason brushed his teeth and peed before returning to the bedroom. Ellie was already in bed, and he climbed up to join her. He tried to squeeze in beside her under the blankets, but as he'd predicted he was too long.

Ellie turned her head to look at his predicament, "Let's try this." she tucked her legs in, curing into a ball. "Now you curl around me."

Jason lay down, wrapping his body around her back and tucking his legs up underneath her. He tucked his head over hers and his top arm over her to pull her against his chest. His bottom arm he slipped under her neck. Ellie grasped his top (left) hand and held his arm to her chest. She yawned.

"Alright, sleep well, kitty." In a few seconds, she was already breathing the gentle rhythm of slumber.

Jason closed his own eyes and breathed her warm scent, no longer tainted by the Duchess' lilac shampoo but with a more herbal aroma. Jason wasn't sure what it was, but it didn't smell like the rosemary shampoo she had used in Maplesburg either. Whatever it was, he liked it better than the too strong flowery scent the fox had preferred. Soon, he also drifted to sleep.

***

Ellie wasn't certain how long it had been when she awoke. She peered at the digital

clock under Daisy's bed: the red glowing numbers read 2:13. The middle of the afternoon already? Ellie nudged her head under Jason's chin. "Time to get up, Jason," she murmured.

Jason took a deep breath and hugged her tighter before slipping his arm out from under her and propping himself up. "What time is it?"

"A quarter after two."

Jason flopped back down, "A little while till dinner then." He pushed his arm back under her and gently held her as he began to lick her left ear.

"I guess we don't need to get up quite yet," Ellie allowed.

Ellie wasn't exactly anxious to explain the whole story to her parents. She still wasn't sure how she was going to downplay Edgar's role in their captivity. If only he'd kept his mouth shut, I could have not mentioned him. Ellie was a bit annoyed with the pine marten for making this more difficult for her though perhaps it was best not to lie to her parents anyway.

Ellie relaxed as Jason groomed her ears. Even though she'd just washed them, she was getting used to letting him lick her. Besides, it made him happy, as evidenced by his purring. Ellie could handle a little slobber when it gave Jason so much joy. His purring vibrated around her as he stretched his tongue inside her ear to lap at the sensitive skin, clearing away any earwax that had accumulated. Ellie still thought it was gross that he'd want to lick up her earwax, but again, if it made him happy, she was fine with it. Jason finished the left ear then washed the right. By the time he was done, it was half past two.

"Do you want to get up now, Jason?"

He nuzzled her cheek in response, "I could lie here all day like this. I love you so much, Ellie. I don't know what I would have done if we hadn't both gotten away."

"Let's not concern ourselves about that anymore. It's over. If she tries to come take us again, I'll fill her with lead before she gets her hands on either of us."

"Do you really think she'll try to catch us again?"

"Don't you remember what she said? 'We'll meet again.' She didn't want to let us go. She only did because she was in a hurry to save her own neck."

Jason hugged her again. "She won't be able to catch us again. We know who to rely on now."

"Right, ourselves and my gun. I need to buy a new one though and a new tablet. We never got back everything she took when we were captured."

"What about Edgar?"

"What about him?"

"Who do you think he'd side with if she showed up?"

Ellie hesitated, while she viewed Edgar as a friend, he was undeniably devoted to the

vixen. "Let's hope we don't have to find out. I trust him as long as she's far away, but if she were here, at the very least, I don't think he'd want anything to happen to her."

"He did help keep us captive. He might be content to return to that arrangement."

It was a disturbing possibility. Edgar said he knew the vixen had done horrible things, but he'd been devoted to her all the same. He'd even expressed the desire for them to all live 'as a family'. Ellie wasn't certain he'd been disillusioned of that absurd notion. Maybe the longer he was away from the vixen, the more he saw how decent people treated their guests, the more he'd realize how wrong he'd been about her. On the other hand, maybe he'd miss her so much he'd be eager to return to her and bring Ellie and Jason with him. Maybe I should have dropped him off somewhere like he said. But there was no going back on that act of compassion now. Ellie only hoped she wouldn't regret it.

They got out of bed and made their way downstairs. They found Edgar and her parents in the living room. Edgar was talking, apparently regaling her parents with some story, but he paused as they entered the room. Her parents were sitting together on their dark brown, microfiber sofa, which extended across the wall on the far left side of the great room. Edgar was seated in the matching armchair in front of the windows on the back wall. Ellie led Jason toward the light blue loveseat on the front wall, but her mother patted the cushion next to her. Ellie sat next to her, placing Jason on the opposite end from her father.

"Edgar was just telling us a story about the Duchess," her mother told them. "She sounds quite eccentric, but it's hard to believe she'd keep you captive the way she did."

Ellie frowned and looked at Edgar warily. Was he actually trying to convince her parents the murderous fox wasn't so bad?

"Go on, Edgar, what happened next?" her mother prompted.

"She was very upset after the Count left, so she sent me upstairs with Timothy and Suzie. They were worried she was angry with them, but she wasn't at all, you see. She needed to calm down, and she didn't want the children to see her lose her temper. It took a while, but when she came to fetch them she was as calm and gentle as ever. The next day she returned them to their parents, and even though it was a long drive, she insisted on going herself."

"How do you know she actually took them home?" Ellie interjected.

"Er, Wolfgang and Johann confirmed that she took them home."

Ellie scrunched her nose dubiously and flicked her right ear in annoyance. "Look, Edgar,

I didn't hear the whole story, but even if whatever you said was true, that doesn't make up for all of the people she tortured to death. I don't appreciate you trying to poison the well for our account with your story about what a wonderful person she is!"

"I-I-" Edgar stammered.

Ellie went on angrily, "I'll tell you the whole story from the beginning in a minute, but what you should know beforehand is that Edgar's sweet Duchess didn't merely hold us captive. She starved Jason for a week. Do you want to tell them why, Edgar?"

"Sh-she, uh, she was, um-"

"She was trying to force Jason to eat me!"

Her parents turned toward her and Jason in horror. Jason grasped Ellie's right hand and

gave it a squeeze. She squeezed his back, still glaring at Edgar.

Edgar whimpered, "I-I know, Ellie. I didn't mean anything by my story, I, I just, um-" "You just what?!"

"I just wanted to let them know she isn't all bad, th-that it isn't wrong to care for her. We

all do, all her staff. She's terrible in some ways but kind in others."

"She likes to manipulate people and confuse them about what kind of person she is,"

Ellie concluded. "Edgar is a decent guy himself, but where she's concerned, he's blind. She made sure of that."

Edgar looked at the floor, but her parents' eyes were still fixed on her and Jason. "You said she tried to force him to eat you, Ellie?!" her mother choked. "H-how did-" "Like I said, she starved him, kept us locked in a cell together. She thought if he was

hungry enough he'd wouldn't be able to resist, but Jason was strong throughout. He would have died before he would have hurt me. When she realized that, she decided to torment us another way."

Her father hopped off of the couch and hurried over to her. Pulling her off the couch, he grasped her in a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Ellie," he whispered fervently. "I'm sorry you ever had to go through anything like that."

Ellie hugged him back, "It wasn't your fault, Dad."

"I know, but, but I never imagined you'd have to go through something so horrible. If there was anything I ever could have done to prevent it or to prepare you better-"

"You prepared me better than anyone else ever could have. You taught me to be brave, but more importantly, you taught me how to know a kind, good person, regardless of species. If I hadn't been with Jason, then." She didn't want to say what might have happened, so she let the sentence hang.

Her father hugged her tighter. Looking past her toward Jason, he addressed the cat, his voice thick with emotion, "Thank you. Thank you for bringing our girl home. You were ready to give your life, and there's nothing I could ever do to repay that."

"I did what I knew was right, what I had to do. I couldn't have lived with myself if I'd harmed Ellie," Jason replied sincerely.

Her father released her, stretching his arms out around her, "Come here, Son."

Jason slipped off of the couch and wrapped his arms around both of them. Ellie was squeezed between her father and the cat, but she was content in the intense love she felt for each of them and from each of them for her. After several seconds, they broke apart, but her father caught Jason's hands, still penning Ellie between their arms.

"I'm proud to call you a member of my family, Jason. Ellie couldn't have found a better person to love."

"But, but you said," her mother choked.

The three of them turned to regard her: her mother's face was twisted with horror, her pink eyes wide and her mouth ajar.

"You said she tried to make him eat you, Ellie! Don't you see how, that shouldn't have been a possibility! Not with someone you want to spend your life with! If, if he couldn't resist, then." She paused, having difficulty uttering what might have happened. Trembling, she continued, "Would we be hearing his excuses for why he couldn't help but rip you apart and ingest you?!"

"It wasn't a possibility! I knew Jason wouldn't hurt me! She was wrong!" Ellie protested.

"Maybe she was, but what if it had been some other rabbit? One of your siblings, say? Would he have 'resisted' then?" she demanded.

"I-I, I would have tried," Jason stammered. "Whoever it was, I wouldn't want to-" "But you might have!" her mother shot back.

Standing defensively in front of Jason, Ellie took his left hand, which her father had

dropped in turning to regard her mother, and gave it a squeeze. "Jason couldn't help it if he were starving!" she argued.

"Are you saying it's not wrong to eat someone, Ellie?!" her mother gasped in horror. "No one is required to sacrifice their life for someone else! That's the point, Jason-" "That's the excuse they use, Ellie! For millennia of murdering us! We had to suffer for

their deficiency!"

"What else should carnivores have done? Died? Do you think Jason shouldn't even

exist?!" Ellie rebuked.

"If they couldn't survive on insects or something, then yes, they should have died," she

answered coldly. "Do you think it was right for your ancestors to be murdered for them to survive?"

Ellie squeezed Jason's hand again, "I don't think it was right or wrong. It was necessary for them to survive. Everyone has a right to exist, and that means they can do what they need to. Obviously, we also had the right to defend ourselves, but-"

"But if we couldn't, then it was just too bad because at least they got to live!" her mother rejoined scathingly.

Ellie shook her head, "I never said it wasn't a terrible tragedy," she murmured. "But it's over now. We can live in peace. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Doesn't it?! What I see is that we have one carnivore you and your father want to heap praise on for the 'decency' of not ripping you apart, a second carnivore whose idea it was to put you through that nightmare, and a third carnivore," she turned to glare at Edgar, who shrunk in his seat, before turning back to the three of them. "Who'd like us to think the second 'isn't all bad'!"

"I said Edgar is wrong. Jason is in no way responsible for what that witch did. He did what you think he should have! You can't judge him for what he might have done!" Ellie rejoined.

"I did eat other rabbits though, Ellie," Jason murmured sadly. "I even killed one."

"She made you!" Ellie reminded urgently. "You would have starved! They were dead already, and the one you killed begged you to. It would have been worse to let that monster torture her to death for hours when you could end her suffering."

Ellie's father hugged her again, "Zeus, Ellie! It just keeps getting worse! It's a miracle you made it through!"

"It does just keep getting worse," her mother agreed darkly. "He not only might have eaten you; he did eat other rabbits. He knows what our flesh tastes like, Ellie, and not the knock-off meat you can buy, real rabbit flesh. You seriously want to be with someone who's eaten other members of your species?"

"He didn't have any choice!" Ellie shot back. "Even you can't think he should have died, for what? For the dignity of the dead?"

"No, that truly would have been senseless, and if it was a choice between a quick death and a slow torturous death for that poor rabbit, then killing her was right too. But I'm thinking about you, Ellie," she pressed. "How can you really be comfortable with someone who's eaten other rabbits?"

"Because I know he didn't want to! If anything, it was more horrible for him than it was for me! Let me tell you the whole story; then you'll understand."

"Okay, Ellie," she agreed reluctantly. "I'll listen."

The four of them climbed back onto the couch, Ellie between her father and Jason with her mother staying as far away from the cat as possible on the other end.

"Could you hold me, Jason?" Ellie murmured softly. She needed to be comforted after the terrible argument and to let him know her love for him hadn't been shaken by her mother's remonstrations.

Jason pulled her up onto his lap and wrapped his arms across her chest. She offered her left hand to her father, and he took it, squeezing it comfortingly.

"Mom?" Ellie held out her right hand in front of her to indicate she'd like her mother to sit on the other side and take her hand.

Her mother hesitated a moment, but then got up and moved to the space between Jason and the arm of the couch. She took Ellie's right hand and squeezed it as well.

"Alright, it all started when we got a case for a missing teenager."

Ellie told the whole story, starting with the Planter case. She didn't leave out any important details though of course she left out the most private, intimate moments between her and Jason. She explained her feud with Lily, her awkward dates, the first nights Jason had spent at her apartment, and the moment when he had finally confessed his love. She explained how they'd been captured, the horrific ordeal that followed, and the less horrific--though still disturbing--ordeal that followed that. She explained Edgar's role, and why she'd decided he was a friend. Her parents seemed less comfortable with this part of the story, which was understandable because Edgar hadn't been doing himself many favors in terms of proving his trustworthiness.

It took a few hours, but finally, Ellie concluded, "And that's how we got here."

Her mother squeezed her hand, "That really was a long story. And confusing, but I think I understand why you care for this cat now. I'm sorry for what I said. If your love gives you that kind of joy and resilience, then it must be real, no matter how strange it is."

"I'm not the one who needs an apology," Ellie stated. "I know you were concerned about me. It's Jason who you said horrible things about."

Her mother glanced at the cat, "I'm sorry for what I said about you too." "I forgive-" Jason began.

"No! Don't make it that easy, Jason! She said you shouldn't exist!" Ellie cut him off.

"I didn't quite say that!" her mother protested.

"Close enough!"

She squirmed in her seat, "What do you want me to say or do? I said I'm sorry-"

"Start by showing you're sorry!" Ellie slipped out of Jason's arms and onto the floor. "Get

up and give him a hug and tell him sincerely that you were wrong about what you said." Her mother slid off of the couch and awkwardly opened her arms, "I-if you want to,

Jason."

Jason hopped down and wrapped her mother in a hug. She hugged him back though

she looked a bit nervous.

"I-I'm sorry for what I said. I'm glad you could be there for Ellie, and, and I guess Ellie

was right. We can't change the past, so even if it still matters, I'm glad we still have carnivores. I shouldn't have said they should have died."

"I forgive you," Jason murmured. "And I understand. It can't be easy knowing what happened to your ancestors. It isn't easy for me knowing what mine did. I try not to think about it, but maybe it's something I should be more cognizant of."

"I think Eli was the most right. He said we shouldn't let it get in the way of our present happiness, and if you love Ellie and she loves you, then, then I'm happy to call you part of my family."

Jason brushed his cheek against her long ear. "I'm happy to be a part of your family too."

Ellie's father hopped off of the couch and wrapped his arms around Jason's middle from behind. Ellie shouldered her way in to hug Jason too, reaching around from the side, her arms just above her father's. Wrapped in the three rabbits' embraces, Jason purred. Ellie squeezed him tighter and pressed her nose against his side.

"That's a nice sound, Jason," her mother commented. She leaned her head against his neck. "It's soothing somehow."

Still purring, Jason reached up one hand to stroke her head.

She sighed, "I could listen to this sound for hours."

"Don't get too comfy! He's my kitty!" Ellie interjected.

Her mother pulled back from Jason and smirked at her, "What? You're not going to

share? I thought I raised you better, Ellie!" she teased.

"We can bargain, kitty snuggles for dessert. I haven't had your rhubarb pie in forever." "Sounds like a fair bargain to me."

Jason laughed embarrassedly, "Heheheh, you're joking, right?"

Ellie gave him a mischievous smile, "Maybe."

"Should I be jealous?" her father asked.

"Don't be silly, Eli," her mother dismissed. "You could work on your purr though."

Her father attempted a feline purr, but it came out as a nasally gurgle. Ellie and her

mother laughed, and even Jason had a small chuckle.

"It's harder than it sounds," he replied testily.

Her mother broke away from Jason, and Ellie and her father followed suit. Her mother

hopped around the cat, and caught Ellie's father in another hug, tucking her head over his. "Don't worry, Sweetie. You're the only man for me, purr or no purr."

He hugged her back, "Forget about kitty snuggles. I know how to give you bunny snuggles just the way you like them," he enunciated meaningfully.

"Do you? You might have to remind me," she rejoined saucily.

"I intend to."

Bleck! Ellie didn't really need to know her father would be giving her mother 'bunny

snuggles just the way she liked them' across the hall tonight.

Her mother released her father and looked back at Jason and Ellie, "I'm famished. It's

past dinner time. What do you say we order in? You two must be even hungrier after missing lunch."

Ellie nodded. She glanced over toward Edgar, but his chair was empty. "Did anyone see where Edgar went?" she inquired.

"Maybe he went to the bathroom," her mother suggested.

"Maybe. You three hash out what to order. I'm going to look for him."

Ellie hopped out to the short hall and bounded up the stairs to the bathroom. She was

concerned that the pine marten was worried about how her parents had taken her account of his involvement in their captivity. She didn't want him to be distressed or feel unwelcome. The bathroom door was open, and it was empty. However, Ellie noticed that the boys' room on the right at the far end of the hall was closed. She hopped down the hall, and knocked lightly on the door, "Edgar? Are you in there?"

No response.

Ellie tried the handle: it wasn't locked. She slowly pushed the door open: the sky blue blanketed bed on the red right wall had a pine marten sized lump curled up under the blankets. Ellie hopped over to the bed and poked the lump. "Edgar? Why are you hiding in here?"

He stirred but didn't come out or reply.

Ellie pulled back the blankets. The pine marten uncurled enough to poke his head out from his arms. His eyes and nose were crusted; he'd clearly been crying.

He sniffed wetly and then murmured, "Hi, Ellie."

Ellie hopped up on the bed to sit beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, "What's wrong, Edgar?"

"Nothing."

"No one hides under the blankets and cries over 'nothing'. What's wrong?"

Edgar tucked his head back into his arms and sniffed again, "You all hate me," he

muttered.

"I don't hate you, Edgar! You're my friend!" Ellie reminded. She stroked his back. "Mom

and Dad don't hate you either," she soothed. "They're just a little concerned about your attachment to the Duchess. They'll see you're a good person before long."

Edgar shook his head, which was still buried in his arms, "You hate me because of how I feel about Her Grace, because I don't hate her too."

"You don't have to hate her, but you need to remember what terrible things she's done, unforgivable things! You can't pretend-"

He pulled his head out, "I know, Ellie! I don't pretend she didn't!" he cut her off. "When you say things like 'she isn't all bad'-"

"If she's all bad, then how am I not bad?! I love her, Ellie!" he cried.

Ellie stopped stroking him and looked at him disconcertedly, "I know you think you love her. She manipulated-"

"I know how I feel!"

Ellie considered him warily for a few seconds before speaking again, "So then what? You wish you were back with her? You wish we all were?"

"I-I don't know!" he stammered. "Weren't you even a little bit happy there, Ellie?" "No! I hated being her pet! It was degrading, uncomfortable-"

"Then no! I don't wish you were back there!"

"What about you?"

He looked away and muttered softly, "I don't know. I, I love you too, Ellie. I don't know how to choose."

Ellie removed her hand from his shoulder and uncomfortably crossed her arms, "Look, Edgar, I know you have a crush on me, but I also know you know that-"

"I know; you're with Jason. I know, um, I know there isn't going to be a-anything between us, but I still love you."

Ellie sighed exasperatedly. Why did things have to be so difficult? If people could just control their feelings then. Then maybe I wouldn't love Jason, and maybe he wouldn't love me. "I guess you can't control who you love," she conceded. "It's what you do about it that matters. If you love the Duchess, then you should try to get her help, not let her have her way with anyone she meets."

He turned back, "I-I know, Ellie, but I thought m-maybe, maybe you were helping," he murmured.

"I don't think so," Ellie replied dryly.

"But she was starting to like you," he countered. "M-maybe respect you. I thought-" "She liked owning me and making me do what she wanted! That's not the same thing!

And there was no respect!"

"You're wrong, Ellie!" he protested. "She was starting to like you. Sh-she wanted to make

you part of our family, like Wolfgang and Boots and-"

"That's a fantasy, Edgar! I was never going to see her as my aunt!" Ellie snapped

frustratedly.

"Aunt?" he murmured confusedly. "I, er, I don't think you're that different in age. I-It

would have been strange for you to think of her as your aunt."

"Whatever then! I don't know how old she is!"

"How old are you?"

"I'm coming up on seven years out of undergrad. You do the math," Ellie answered

annoyedly.

"O-okay, so you're about thirty, then-"

"I'm not thirty yet! Try twenty-eight!"

"A-alright. Uh, how old is Jason?" he asked nervously.

"He's a couple years younger."

"O-okay, she's thirty-four, so that's less than ten years older than-"

"What's the point of this, Edgar?" Ellie interrupted irritatedly.

"J-just that it'd be unusual for your aunt to be six years older than you unless-" "It would be more unusual for my aunt to be a fox," Ellie responded dryly.

Edgar smiled slightly, "I-I guess so. D-do you think it will be strange having all your in- laws be cats?"

"It'll be interesting, but it turns out I kind of like cats. I think it will be okay."

Edgar smiled a bit more. He sat up.

"Alright, Mom, Dad, and Jason are figuring out what to order for dinner. Let's go see

what they've decided, and if it's really gross, we may have time to change it." She hopped down from the bed.

"Can I get a hug first, Ellie?" he murmured shyly.

Ellie turned her head to eye him suspiciously, "A friendly hug?"

He nodded.

She turned around, "Alright, but make it quick."

Edgar jumped down and wrapped his arms under hers. He lifted her up onto her toes as

he squeezed her tight. He held her a few seconds before setting her down with a grunt. "You're heavier than you look," he commented.

"You're smellier than you look," Ellie shot back. "Jason doesn't bathe more than once a week, and he doesn't smell as much."

"S-sorry," he stammered embarrassedly.

Ellie smiled amusedly, "I'm joking." She paused to reconsider. "Well, not really. You do smell strongly, but I don't mind it much." She held out her left hand, and he took it. "Now let's head back downstairs."

They found Jason and her parents clustered around the phone in the kitchen.

Her mother hung it up as they were coming in and turned to them. "We just finished ordering. I hope it will be okay with you two."

"What did you decide on?" Ellie inquired.

"Chinese."

"Huh, I didn't realize you had a Chinese restaurant in Willowdale."

"We got it last summer," her mother replied, pleased. "You should visit more often to

keep up on all of our developments."

Ellie nodded, but she hardly thought Willowdale getting a new cuisine was a reason to

make the six hour drive. "What did you order?"

"Your father and I like the glazed carrots, so we ordered some of those. But Jason

actually advised us on the green beans and bok choy. He said you like them."

Ellie gave Jason a nod, "Thanks, Jason."

"And he ordered some other things for himself and Edgar," her mother finished.

"Kung pow beef and Hunan style chicken," Jason answered. "They didn't seem to have

any tofu, or I would have suggested one we all could share."

"That's odd, but you don't need to feel like you should get one we can share, Jason.

We're three herbivores and two carnivores, so it's not like back home. And Wednesday, you'll really be outnumbered."

"I'm not sure I like tofu," her mother commented. "Isn't it a really squishy consistency?" "It depends on the type and firmness," Ellie explained.

"I know I don't like it," Edgar stated. He stuck out his tongue, "Bleh, why would anyone

eat that glop?"

"It's high in protein, and I think it tastes nice," Ellie replied. "Jason likes it too."

Edgar frowned at the cat, "Meat is high in protein," he muttered.

"Do you normally get a lot of your protein from beans, Jason?" Ellie's mother inquired curiously.

"Er, no, but it's nice when it lets you share with someone you normally couldn't," Jason explained.

"Oh, well, then I think Ellie's right. You don't need to worry about that."

Fortunately, it seemed someone had done the mountain of dishes that Ellie had noticed at breakfast. They set the table and returned to the living room side of the great room to wait until the food arrived. I hope they're quick. I'm starving! Her parents chatted about other changes that had occurred in the small town since Ellie had last visited. None of them were particularly interesting: a new stop light, the high school had made an addition, and one of the people from her class who Ellie barely remembered had become a member of the Willowdale city council. Ellie always had to remind herself that Willowdale qualified as a city; it certainly didn't feel like one.

After about half an hour, the doorbell rang. Ellie bounded to the door to get it and opened it to reveal a fox squirrel in a black flat cap, holding a black insulated delivery bag.

"Ellie!" he chirped in happy surprise. "I didn't know you were home!"

Ellie's cheeks and ears flushed as she realized she had no idea who this was. Judging by his age, it was someone she'd gone to school with, but beyond that she didn't have a clue. He noticed her hesitation and smiled embarrassedly, "Sorry, it's Scott. I was two years

behind you at Willowdale High."

"Oh, hi Scott. How have you been?" Ellie still didn't remember him, but now at least she

had an excuse: he'd been an underclassman.

"I'm fine. I got this job at China One a few months ago. It's been going good. What about

you? Are you finally done with school and moving back to Willowdale?"

"Uh, I've been done with school for years. I live in Maplesburg now. We're only visiting." "Maplesburg?!" he yelped. Worriedly, "I thought I heard, uh, is that why you're here? You

made it out just in time?"

Ellie's father pushed into the doorway beside her, "I figured we should pay," he

murmured to her. He glanced at the squirrel, "Scott! I see you're working at China One now!" "Yes, Sir. A few months now."

"That's great! Hey, I bet you were excited to see Ellie. She and her friends just got here

this morning." He turned to Ellie, "Scott used to bag groceries at the DPGF. He always asked about you. I wondered where he'd gotten to," he explained.

"I see," Ellie stated awkwardly. Clearly, he'd had a significant interest in her, considering she'd never spoken to him so far as she could remember.

"Only this morning!" Scott exclaimed. "You must have gotten out just as the chaos was starting! Did you see any of the terrorists?!"

"We did. I don't really want to go into it again at the moment."

Scott nodded sympathetically, "It must have been scary. I'm glad you made it out. You and your friends."

Ellie nodded.

"We have a lot to catch up on," Scott went on. "If you're going to be here a while, we could have a drink together. Bring your friends too if you like."

Ellie was getting annoyed with his familiarity. Maybe you ogled me in the hall, but I don't know you! "Let me ask them," she piped cheerfully. She turned back inside, "Hey, Jason! Come here a minute."

Jason strolled out from the great room to stand behind the shorter rabbits. "What is it, Ellie?"

"Jason, I want you to meet Scott. We went to school together. Scott, this is Jason, my boyfriend."

Scott's mouth dropped open, and at the same time, he dropped the delivery bag. Ellie's father lunged forward and managed to catch the bag.

Jason reached over her shoulder and held out his hand to the dazed squirrel, "Pleased to meet you, Scott."

It took the squirrel a second to notice Jason's hand, and then he hesitated another second before putting his hand in the cat's. Jason shook his hand, and the squirrel continued to look at him in shock until he let go.

"So about that drink, when did you want to meet?" Ellie asked.

Scott mumbled, "I, uh, I can see you're not available. Um-"

"Don't mind Jason; he's a sweetheart. I'm sure he'd love to hear you reminisce about our

time at school together."

"I, uh, I think I might be busy. I'll call you after I look at my schedule," Scott replied. He

turned to leave.

"Wait! We haven't paid yet!" her father yelped. "And you'll want to take your bag." Scott turned back. He took the bag from her father, set it down, and fumbled to get the

scanner out of a side pocket. After he scanned her father's left hand, he unzipped the bag and handed her father a plastic bag with their to-go boxes. He picked up the delivery bag and quickly walked back to his red sedan, which was parked on the street.

"Bye, Scott!" her father called.

The squirrel glanced back, but then hurriedly got in his car and drove away without replying.

"Sorry if I scared him," Jason murmured.

"Don't worry about it," Ellie replied. "I don't think I'd ever talked to him before."

"Really?" her father asked in surprise. "He seemed to know a lot about you."

"That could be kind of creepy or really creepy," Ellie stated. "Either way, he wasn't one of

my friends, or even acquaintances."

"Huh, well," he lifted the bag of food. "Let's eat."

They returned to the dining room and arranged the boxes. Jason and Edgar sat across

from each other two seats down with Ellie and her father next to them, respectively, and her mother sat at the end.

After Ellie served herself, she offered the vegetables to Jason, "Do you want any of these, Jason? It doesn't look like they put any vegetables in yours for some reason."

"Thanks, I'll try some." Jason took a couple green beans and a slice of carrot. He avoided the bok choy.

"Edgar?" Ellie offered.

"Er, no thanks, I have rice." "That's a grain, not a vegetable."

"It's a plant."

Ellie shrugged. She wasn't responsible for what he ate. Edgar eyed Jason who was trying the glazed carrot. Jason made a face as he chewed it but then gulped it down anyway.

"Sorry, Jason. I should have told you that was more of a sweet thing," Ellie apologized. "Do you not like sweets?" her mother asked curiously.

"He can't taste sweet," Ellie explained.

"Oh dear, is that a condition you were born with or-"

"It's true of cats in general," Ellie replied.

Her mother frowned concernedly, "It must be hard for you to enjoy desserts then, Jason."

"It's okay. They aren't good for me anyway," he responded.

"Can you taste sweets, Edgar?" her mother inquired.

He nodded, "Cats are weird." He quickly glanced at Jason, "Er, no offense."

Jason shrugged. He took a bite of one of the green beans, and Edgar watched him

again. This time, he seemed to enjoy it.

"Do you really like that?" Edgar queried.

"Yes."

Edgar stuck out his tongue, "Bleh, fruit is okay, but I hate vegetables. I only ate them

when Her Grace made me."

The vixen certainly did like to treat people like children. Ellie guessed it might be an

amusing observation, but not yet, not so soon after they'd escaped. Less than twenty-four hours ago, she'd been at the whim of the crazy fox. Her parents exchanged a worried glance at the mention of the Duchess. Ellie wished Edgar would stop bringing her up; it wasn't doing him any favors to let them know she was, apparently, always on his mind.

Ellie's father reached across the table and pulled the box of Hunan-style chicken toward himself. He looked inside cautiously at the saucy strips of pale flesh. "If a cat can try carrots, maybe a rabbit can try meat," he suggested. He sniffed it and made a face, "Maybe it tastes better than it smells."

"I wouldn't recommend you try it," Jason warned. "If it smells bad to you, it probably tastes worse."

"I don't know. Sometimes the opposite is true," her father mused. "Besides, it's not like I'd normally get the chance."

"Are you serious, Eli?!" her mother asked incredulously. "You want to know what, what, what is that one?"

"The chicken," Edgar answered.

"You want to know what a chicken tastes like?! Won't that make you feel awkward around them? I know it didn't really come from a chicken, but still!"

"I don't know many chickens. And it's a bird, so it shouldn't be so close to, to squirrel or whatever."

"Actually, chicken tastes more similar to squirrel or rabbit than beef," Edgar corrected.

Ellie's parents gave him a disturbed glance, and Ellie gave him an annoyed one. Jason kept his eyes on his food, apparently wishing they weren't having this discussion.

Her father seemed hesitant, but then he took a breath, bracing himself, and transferred a piece of the pale flesh to his plate. He poked at it with his chopsticks and gave it a closer sniff, making a face again. "Well, here it goes." He picked up the meat and popped it into his mouth.

The four of them watched him with varying degrees of interest and concern: Ellie's mother looked highly disturbed while Edgar appeared interested and Jason worried. Ellie wasn't sure how to feel: she was a little disgusted but also felt a certain morbid curiosity. Would he like it? Her question was quickly answered when her father leapt up from the table and dashed into the kitchen. Ellie could hear the sound of him spitting and gagging followed by the sink running while he, presumably, rinsed out his mouth. He stumbled back into the dining room, appearing drained.

"Serves you right, Eli!" her mother scolded.

He plopped down in his seat and looked at Jason and Edgar ashamedly, "Sorry for wasting your food."

"There's plenty," Jason mollified. "I'm sorry I didn't stop you from trying it. I hope it didn't ruin the rest of your meal."

"No, no, you warned me. I should have listened."

"You really thought it was bad!?" Edgar pressed curiously. "It's so weird how our tastes can be completely different! I can't imagine chicken tasting bad!"

"It's not what rabbits are supposed to eat," Ellie's mother pronounced irritatedly. "Eli should know that. All of this talk of carnivores and herbivores living together is going to his head. We're still different, even if we can set aside those differences for friendship or, or love."

"I'm glad Jason is different from me; those differences are part of why I love him," Ellie stated. "I wouldn't want to be with my clone."

"No one's suggesting you should, Ellie. Your father and I are hardly clones," she stated.

They finished their meal without further incident, and when they were done, Jason helped collect the dishes.

"You can help him wash them, Ellie," her mother decided.

Ellie frowned, "We just got here and you're already putting us to work?" she grumbled. "If you're here, you might as well help with the chores," she replied.

"I don't mind, Ellie," Jason put in.

She gave him an annoyed glance, "Fine, we can help out."

"Edgar already did them this morning," her mother told her.

Ellie looked at the pine marten in surprise, "Really? How many did he break?"

"None," Edgar declared self-satisfiedly. He gave a little bow, "I'd be glad to do them

again, Ma'am."

"No, I want you to clean the bathroom between the kids' bedrooms," her mother

instructed. "If I'd known you were coming, I would have done it before you got here." "Yes, Ma'am."

"Are you going to do anything, or are you going to watch your new servants work?" Ellie asked dryly.

"Your father and I will clean-up in here."

Ellie sighed resignedly. Picking up a pair of glasses, she followed Jason to the kitchen sink. He pulled a white tub out from underneath the sink and began to prepare it with dish soap and hot water.

"You can wash, and I'll dry," Ellie stated.

He nodded in acknowledgement. Ellie found a clean pink dish towel printed with daisies in one of the light blue wood drawers under the white counter. They collected the remaining dishes then began washing. Ellie watched Jason scrubbing at the plates with a tan dish rag, unperturbed at being forced to do chores for people he'd only met this morning. Ellie sighed; maybe he was too easy going.

"I'm sorry for all of the controversy and nastiness you've had to endure since we got here," she murmured. "I didn't know how my parents would react, but my mother's reaction was worse than I'd imagined."

"It's okay, Ellie. It must be quite a surprise for them," Jason replied calmly.

"Surprise is one thing. I didn't expect to hear about how carnivores shouldn't even exist," she grumbled.

"She apologized for that. I'm not offended."

"Maybe you should be. It was about the most offensive thing she could have possibly said."

"I don't think she believes it; she was upset because she thought you didn't care about what happened to your ancestors."

"Of course I care! But it wasn't anything to do with you, and even the cats at the time had good reason for what they did!" she protested.

"I know, Ellie. I didn't say she was right."

Ellie sighed again; maybe it was difficult for her mother to understand how she could love a cat, but she didn't need her to understand. She only needed her to accept it and accept Jason as her future son-in-law, assuming they got married. Ellie eyed the tabby. Did he want to? They didn't have to get married to live together, but then again, she felt like it would be appropriate, not because of any judgement anyone might have for them living together unmarried but because it would signify their commitment to each other. Should she ask? Ellie cleared her throat awkwardly.

"Ahem, hey, Jason, do you think, uh," she hesitated. They had only been dating for a short time. Perhaps it was too soon to ask about marriage. Even though they'd been friends and partners for years and even though the last two weeks had felt like a lifetime, maybe it was too soon.

He paused in his dish washing and blinked at her with curious sea green eyes, "Do I what?"

"Do you, um, do you think your parents will react similarly?"

Jason narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, "Well, I think they'll definitely be surprised, but, uh, as your mother put it, rabbits didn't eat any of my ancestors. So I think they will mostly be surprised." He returned to washing.

"That's some consolation anyway." She watched the busy cat contemplatively and then smirked, "However, they might be a little more disturbed if they knew what we get up to."

Jason put down the plate he was scrubbing and glanced at her embarrassedly, "You think so?"

Ellie grinned roguishly, "It's one thing to know you like to snuggle a bunny. It's another thing to know you're a rabbit's obedient kitty."

Jason laughed embarrassedly, "Heheh, I suppose so."

"On the other hand, it might be something that would comfort my parents," she mused. "Knowing the scary carnivore is such a sweet, compliant kitty."

"Do you think I scare them? Your mother seems a little nervous sometimes, but your father seems comfortable."

"Aside from trying to eat meat to impress you," she pointed out.

Jason frowned, "Do you think that's what he was trying to do?"

Ellie shrugged, "If not impress you then at least convince himself that he's being tolerant

and welcoming."

"He has been welcoming. I don't blame your mother for her concerns, but your father

has reacted as well as I could have hoped."

Ellie nodded, "Still, I wouldn't be surprised if he has some of the same reservations. But

he hasn't needed to voice them since my mother has been so, so vociferously."

Jason looked back down at the tub of foam, "I'm sorry it has to be so difficult, Ellie," he

murmured.

"Don't be. They'll accept it eventually. You're doing better than I could--much better--

staying calm and alleviating their concerns," she consoled.

"Thanks, Ellie. I know it's important to you for us to get along, and it's important to me

too."

"I think at least my siblings should be more open-minded than Mom, so we shouldn't

have to go through that again on Wednesday."

"I'm looking forward to meeting them too," he stated more cheerfully. "Did your mom say

whether any of your extended family are coming?"

"Well, I assume my siblings will bring their spouses and kids, those who have them, but I

don't think my grandparents or any aunts and uncles are coming. Mom probably tried to discourage them so that they wouldn't find out about my feline lover."

"I don't recall her trying to dissuade anyone, but I guess I wasn't listening that closely."

"Well, then maybe it was only the drive that dissuaded them," Ellie conceded. "We are quite out of the way here."

"I wouldn't mind meeting your extended family either though it might become a lot of new people to keep track of."

"And all of them rabbits," Ellie quipped. "That can't help."

"I don't think that will be an issue." He paused. "As long as they don't look as similar to your father as you do."

Ellie put on a serious expression, "What are you talking about? We look nothing alike. If anything, my siblings look more like him."

Jason blanched, "Oh no."

Ellie burst into laughter, "Hahaha, I'm kidding. No, none of them look as similar to Dad as I do. You still might have some trouble though. It's going to be a lot of white rabbits with dark brown splotches and brown eyes. None of us inherited Mom's albinism."

"Well, uh, I'll do my best then."

"Don't worry. I don't think any of them will be offended if you can't remember who's who right away."

"How do you think they will react?" he inquired curiously.

"It depends on who we're dealing with. I think they'll be interested to meet you to say the least," she concluded.

They finished with the dishes and returned to the great room. Edgar wasn't there, presumably still cleaning the bathroom, but her parents were relaxing together on the light blue loveseat.

Her mother scooted to the side to make some space between them and patted the cushion, "Come sit with us, Ellie," she requested.

Ellie glanced at Jason but then complied, hopping up to squeeze between her parents. Jason sat on the facing dark brown armchair. Her mother wrapped her arm around Ellie's back and squeezed her close.

"I know we've done a lot of arguing since you got here, but we're really just happy to have you back, Honey," she murmured.

"I know, Mom."

"And we're happy that you finally brought your partner to meet us. He seems like a good cat, and I can tell you care for him dearly."

"And he loves me, just as strongly," Ellie added pointedly.

"How could he not love our smart, confident girl? We're happy you finally found someone to be with, a little surprised that he's a cat but happy all the same." She spoke soothingly, but Ellie could hear the underlying concern. Apparently, she still had doubts even after hearing their story.

"I would have tried to break it to you easier if there had been time," Ellie responded. "Didn't you have any inkling of your feelings before?" she queried.

"I told you the story. I didn't realize how I felt until after Jason confessed his feelings." "And that was roughly two weeks ago, correct?"

"It feels like longer, a lot longer, but yes, it was about two weeks ago."

"Quite a short time really."

Ellie frowned. She could tell what her mother was trying to get at: it hadn't been long at

all, so maybe it was a fling that wouldn't last. Maybe she'd find she really couldn't live with a cat. Ellie wished she'd come out and say what she meant. She knew her mother was trying to be subtle so as not to upset her again, but it was more insulting in a way.

"It hasn't been long, but we've been through Tartarus together. If something was going to break us apart, that would have," Ellie rejoined.

"Sometimes adversity brings people closer together instead," she suggested.

"And it did for us, but that proves it's real, that we belong together," Ellie argued.

"I know that's how you feel. I don't doubt that you care for each other deeply. You know

we always encouraged you to make friends with other species, including carnivores. But living with one, romantically, that's a big step, Ellie. We want you to be happy, so I only ask that you be careful, be sure that's what you really want."

"We haven't exactly planned the wedding, Mom. Our intention was always to see how it would work, but after everything we've been through together, I don't think it's fair to imply we're being reckless."

"I'm not trying to imply that, Honey," she soothed. "No? How would you summarize it?"

Her mother glanced at Jason across the room before turning back to her. "Why don't we take a walk together, Ellie? It's a lovely evening, and some fresh air might do us good."

Ellie knew she was implying just the two of them, but she was still reluctant to hear what her mother would say when they were alone. So she pretended to misunderstand the suggestion, "Okay, I'm sure Jason and Edgar would like to see around the neighborhood. I'll go get-"

"I mean you and me, Ellie."

Ellie glanced at Jason for help, but he gave her a small nod. Apparently, he thought she should talk with her mother as well. Maybe he was right: it wasn't good to hide from the issue. It would be better to have the discussion before her siblings got here. If the issue came to a boil with her whole family present, that would be even more upsetting.

"Okay, Mom," she accepted.

"I'll keep Jason company," her father assured her.

Ellie and her mother hopped up from the loveseat, and her mother led her toward the

front door.

"So, Jason, aside from solving murders and gazing into Ellie's eyes, what do you like to

do?" her father asked jovially. "Are you interested in soccer at all?"

Poor Jason. Ellie hoped her father didn't bore Jason too much while they were gone.

She didn't think Jason had ever expressed any interest in watching people endlessly kick a ball around a field.

Her mother led her out into the cooling evening air. The sun was beginning to dip behind the houses on the opposite side of the street, and its warmth radiated over Ellie's face. A warm breeze stirred the leaves of the tomato plants in the garden, which were heavy with reddening fruits, and carried their warmly acerbic aroma to Ellie's nose. It was good to be home, good to be with her parents who loved her. Ellie took her mother's hand, and they strolled through the warm grass to the cracked sidewalk by the tar and chip street. They walked a few minutes in silence before her mother spoke.

"You know we want what's best for you, Ellie," she spoke softly. "I'm not saying you can't be happy with this cat, but you need to consider it carefully. Cats, well, they're carnivores, and-"

"You didn't bring me out here to tell me that," Ellie interrupted annoyedly.

Her mother gently squeezed her hand, "Of course not, what I mean is they're evolved for killing, and rabbits, we're not. You have to remember that, deep down, even if he seems tame now, he still has those instincts."

Ellie took a deep breath to remain calm. "We can't help what instincts we might have inherited from our ancestors. What matters is whether we act on them. I know Jason would never hurt me; he wouldn't even consider it."

"Maybe not under ordinary circumstances, but you told us the story, Ellie, how he lunged at you when you tried to put the collar on. What do you think he would have done if he'd caught you then?"

"I don't know. Maybe he would have recognized me before he hurt me. If he didn't, it wouldn't have been his fault. He was sick, and when he saw the collar, he was afraid."

"I think you do know what he would have done," she pressed softly. "Perhaps it wouldn't have been his fault alone, but the instincts that drove him are part of him too. I know we raised you to be tolerant, and I know you've always been confident around predators. I'm proud of how

brave you've been throughout everything you described. However, I, I can't help but wonder if we went wrong somewhere."

Ellie felt a bit ill. Did her mother really think there was something wrong with her? And now she was blaming herself? "I'm fine, Mom. I'm happy. You raised me as best you could. I know you sometimes wished I'd act more, uh, feminine or whatever, but I was going to turn out this way no matter what."

Her mother squeezed her hand comfortingly, "It's not that, Ellie, and I think you've grown into a very admirable woman. You're confident and forthright; there's nothing unfeminine about that." She paused before continuing worriedly, "I'm concerned that you have trouble getting along with other rabbits. I know the rabbit and hare you dated recently turned out to be unpleasant, but that's no reason to give up on your own species. I'm sure you could find a good match if you kept looking."

"Having kids isn't that important to me. Besides, we could adopt if we really wanted them," Ellie stated.

"I'm not concerned about that either, Ellie, but I don't want you to be isolated as a herbivore. If the only people you associate with are carnivores and you even live with one, then I'm worried you'll feel disconnected from other herbivores. You shouldn't be disconnected from your own species."

Ellie frowned, "'Disconnected?' I'm not even sure what that means."

Concern continued to creep into her mother's voice though Ellie could tell she was attempting to remain calm, "I mean that you'll have trouble understanding how other rabbits think, sympathizing with their sensibilities. Most rabbits are a little bit wary of carnivores and for good reason: they know that, deep down, they still have their killer instincts. But if you're only around carnivores, you might start to think like them instead. You already make excuses for them, Ellie."

"I don't make excuses. I-"

"You just said it wouldn't have been Jason's fault if he'd hurt you."

"It's not making excuses. I'm defending him because he's not here and because, even if

he were, he's too nice to defend himself properly," Ellie argued.

"I appreciate that you want to defend your partner, but what I said was true, Ellie. No

matter how well he controls them normally, those killer instincts are still a part of him. I understand caring for your partner, being close friends, but I don't understand how you can sleep next to a cat, sleep with his claws centimeters from your neck no less!" her voice peaked sharply at the memory of her shock.

"Nice to know you were spying on us while we were asleep," Ellie replied dryly.

"I wasn't spying. I came in to check on you after a few hours to make sure you were comfortable. I almost had a heart attack, Ellie! You don't know what it's like seeing your child in the claws of a carnivore!" she pressed urgently.

Ellie attempted to calm her despite her own annoyance, "If you knew Jason like I do, it wouldn't bother you. He's gentle, and his claws don't scare me. I feel safe in his arms, protected. I know he would only ever defend me. You just need to get to know him better; you'll see how sweet he is. He loves me, and he makes me happy. If you want me to be happy, then I need you to accept that and accept him."

"It's hard to accept that you let a carnivore have you like that, Ellie," she rejoined. "Most rabbits wouldn't even let a cat hold them while they were awake, never mind while they were sleeping. I believe you when you say that he wouldn't hurt you, but," she seemed to struggle for what to say. "But it seems wrong somehow!"

"Most rabbits don't know what they're missing," Ellie dismissed. "There's nothing wrong with letting someone you love and trust hold you. Even you seemed to like it when he was purring. Were you thinking about his 'killer instincts' then?"

"They weren't on my mind in that moment, but that doesn't mean they went away."

"They weren't on your mind because they're a non-issue!" Ellie cut back irritatedly. "The single incident, the only example you have of Jason ever letting his instincts take control of him, was after a week of starvation! Have you ever lived on water for a week?! How lucid do you think you'd be at the end of that?!"

"I don't know, Ellie. I'm fortunate enough to have never been through even a fraction of that," she admitted.

"And I don't know either! Only Jason knows what that's like, and he still wouldn't be 'making excuses' if he had hurt me. He would have been devastated if that had happened! I could have forgiven him, but he never would have forgiven himself!"

"I get all that, Ellie. I really do," her mother soothed. "I believe that he loves you and that you want to be together, but don't you think the fact that he has those instincts might be an issue? I'm not saying it will, but I think it should give you pause. You-"

"Have you considered that it's your instincts that are the problem here?" Ellie retorted. Her mother hesitated a moment, "My instincts?"

"It's your need to see danger even where there isn't any that's the issue. You can't get

past the idea that Jason has 'killer instincts deep down'. So what if he does? We all have instincts 'deep down'. Some of us let them control us more than others. I don't know how much more proof you could need that Jason has control over his. What is it besides your own instinctual distrust of predators that won't let this go?"

"I'm concerned about you, Ellie," she averred. "It's not that I distrust him; it's that, if you really don't have any concern for what a carnivore might do to you, then I don't know what that means! Are you really so comfortable around them that you're without caution? Or, or is it, uh, I don't know, you like the feeling of giving yourself up to a predator? Is it some, some kind of fetish?" she trailed off awkwardly.

Ellie blinked in surprise, "What part of my story suggested that I'm 'without caution' around predators? I know there are dangerous ones; I've met enough."

"I, uh, I suppose I don't think that. So then is it-"

"A fetish?! No! I don't feel like I'm giving myself up! I told you: he makes me feel secure, not vulnerable!"

"Truthfully, Ellie?" she pressed. "It's not that you like him to hold you down and, and put his jaws around your neck or something?"

Why had the conversation suddenly gone off in this weird direction? Ellie shook her head, baffled, "That's not something I like, Mom. Why are you asking me about this all of a sudden? Was, was this the whole reason you've kept bringing up Jason's 'killer instincts'? You've been trying to get me to admit that I like this kind of weird roleplay?"

"No! I'm just trying to understand, Ellie. I've heard that some prey, um, you know, like that sort of thing," she finished embarrassedly.

Ellie shook her head slowly. She wasn't sure she was convinced that this wasn't what the whole conversation had been about. Her mother had seen them curled up together, and she'd been afraid for Ellie's safety. She hadn't known how to rationalize how a rabbit could feel comfortable enough to sleep in a cat's arms. But she said she didn't distrust Jason, and she'd heard the story, knew how he'd resisted hunger so bravely, how he'd put her safety ahead of himself. And still, she hadn't wanted to set aside his instincts as a point of concern; furthermore, she'd suggested that Ellie wouldn't understand the 'sensibilities' of other herbivores. Was it all because she thought Ellie liked feeling helpless and submitting to the mercy of his sharp claws and fangs?

Ellie snorted with amusement. It was such an absurd situation that she didn't know how else to respond. "I told Jason this would set your mind at ease, but I didn't know how true it was. You have it completely backwards, Mom. Jason likes me to tell him what to do. He's the one who likes to be bound up so that I can do what I want with him. I'm not going to go into what we actually do, but wow, I didn't think you'd be so interested in my sex life," she finished lightly though, in fact, she was a bit embarrassed to share even these details with her mother.

Her mother chuckled embarrassedly, "I, heheh, I guess I got a few things wrong. Um, he really likes, uh-"

"A rabbit to be in charge. Yes. I mean, his last girlfriend was a bobcat, and I get the idea he liked that with her too. But yeah, he likes me to be in control," Ellie explained.

Her mother shook her head slowly, "That's, that's a bit odd, but, um, I guess it's better than the opposite."

"So you aren't concerned about me letting him hold me while I'm sleeping anymore?" Ellie queried.

"I, I guess not," her mother murmured.

"Good. When you see what a sweetheart Jason is, it'll make more sense. He wouldn't want to even pretend to hurt anyone," Ellie concluded.

"That doesn't really imply the opposite though. I still think it's odd for a cat-"

"Please don't embarrass him over it," Ellie pleaded. "He doesn't even need to know we discussed this. I want him to feel comfortable here, not judged."

"I'm not judging. It's just, uh," she paused. "Okay, maybe I'm judging a little. I'll try not to."

Ellie squeezed her hand, "Thanks, Mom."

Her mother glanced at the sun disappearing behind the houses on the opposite side of the street, "Why don't we head back before it gets dark? Hopefully, your father hasn't bored poor Jason to death."

An orange and magenta sunset painted the Western sky by the time they returned to the front door of the two-story house. They found Jason and her father sitting at the dining room table, flipping through a book. Edgar was snoozing in the dark brown armchair.

"And here she is before her first middle school dance. Evelyn tried to get her to wear a dress, but she wanted to wear that vest. I thought it was very stylish myself."

Jason chuckled lightly, "Haha, I'll say. Who's this?"

"That's Daisy, one of Ellie's littermates. She was more amenable to Evelyn's wishes as you can see."

"Ellie always has been a tough one to handle," her mother stated humorously.

Jason and her father looked up from the photo album.

Jason smiled at Ellie good naturedly, "We've just been looking at how adorable you were

as a little bunny, or a littler bunny at least."

"You're lucky I'm not bigger, or you'd be worse off when I get done jumping up and down

on you!" Ellie rebuked. "Dad! You showed Jason all of those embarrassing pictures when I wasn't even here to defend myself!?" She tromped over to the table and pulled the photo album away.

"Don't be mad, Ellie. I don't think they're embarrassing," Jason mollified. "I just wanted to see what you were like before I met you. Don't take it away; I promise I'll let you look at my pictures when we visit my parents."

Ellie paused; she did want to see what Jason had looked like as a kitten. "Even the itty bitty kitten pictures?"

He nodded.

"Okay, deal." She slid the book back and sat down across from Jason.

Her mother joined them at the end next to her and Jason. She took the book and flipped

several pages. "I couldn't convince her to wear a dress then, but here she is before her prom." She pushed the book back in front of Jason.

Ellie eyed the picture embarrassedly: in it she was wearing a sleeveless, golden yellow gown, the bottom of which was decorated with maroon sequins. She was holding a bouquet of yellow roses and grinning stupidly. Zeus, what a gaudy getup.

"And I thought you were pretty in that lacy black dress with the red ribbon," Jason teased.

"You're toast," Ellie growled.

Jason smirked, "If I'm already toast, then I guess it can't hurt to dig more. Did you have a date for the prom?"

Her mother flipped the page to show another picture of Ellie, this time next to her date. The gray Dutch rabbit was wearing a matching golden yellow tuxedo top with a yellow rose in his lapel. His grin was even dopier than Ellie's, his large incisors featuring prominently.

"That's Cliff," her mother informed him. "He was a nice boy. Ellie met him on the track team."

"Ellie ran track then?" Jason inquired.

Her father flipped back a few pages to a picture of Ellie in her red track jersey, which was emblazoned with a white pair of crossed cutlasses and the words 'Willowdale Pirates'. Ellie was holding an empty plastic water bottle, which she had apparently just upended over her head as she was very wet.

"You always took pictures at the best times," Ellie commented sarcastically. "It's nice to remember what you looked like in action," her father replied. "What did she run?" Jason asked.

"She ran the fifty yard dash and sometimes the relay."

"No hurdles? I'd think rabbits would be good at those."

"Most of the team was rabbits," Ellie told him. "Everyone can't do the hurdles. I was just glad I didn't have to do the long distance races."

"You like to jog now," Jason pointed out.

"That's now."

"Here's a picture of the entire track and field team," her father commented, pointing to a

picture on the opposite page.

Jason peered at the group photo, "I guess it was mostly rabbits. Is that just because

rabbits are good runners or is the whole area mostly rabbits?"

"A bit of both. Willowdale is about thirty percent rabbits, so we're definitely the plurality,"

her father answered.

"Were your friends mostly rabbits then, Ellie?" Jason inquired.

"No! I wasn't that boring!"

She took the album and flipped through until she found a picture with her and her main

group of friends. She turned it back around for Jason to see. Ellie and her friends were clustered together, smiling for the camera. Ellie and Charlotte--a red squirrel who was the only member of the group smaller than Ellie herself--were in the center. Two larger rabbits, Samantha-- albino--and Olivia--white with black spots--were to the left and right, respectively, and Flora-- a gray fox who was a head taller than any of the rest--stood behind the two in the center. Charlotte only came up to Flora's belly while Ellie's head reached a bit below her shoulder.

"See, I even had a carnivore friend!" Ellie declared.

"Whatever happened to Flora?" her mother asked.

"I think she went to RCV to get a degree in pharmacology. I haven't talked to any of

them since maybe the second year of undergrad."

"You ought to look them up. Maybe some of them are around Willowdale. You could get

back in touch," her mother suggested.

"Maybe," Ellie replied skeptically. Honestly, she hoped most of them had managed to get

out of Willowdale. "Flora would be amused to know I ended up with a cat at least."

"I'd like to meet any of your friends if they're around," Jason put in.

"You'd like to meet everyone, apparently," Ellie joked. "Maybe my PE teacher is still

around."

"Meeting your friends and family helps me to better know the rabbit I fell in love with,"

Jason answered.

Ellie gave him an affectionate smile, "I'll see if anyone's around. I'm not taking you to

meet any of my old boyfriends though. That would just be awkward."

"Cliff is still around though," her father told her. "He works in the produce section at

DPGF. Edgar and I didn't see him though. Did you know the door on the left side enters into the meat section?"

"One of the things you learn when living with a carnivore," Ellie replied.

"Huh, did you want something?" They turned at the sound of Edgar's mumble from across the large room. He was blinking sleepily in the armchair.

"I only mentioned our trip to DPGF," her father answered.

"Oh. Did you mention Royal College of Vulpineva a moment ago?" "I did. My friend went there," Ellie replied.

"I went there too," Edgar stated proudly.

Ellie was surprised. RCV was a prestigious school, and Edgar had never struck her as having the motivation to get in, "Really? What did you major in?"

"Er, nothing; I dropped out."

Ellie rolled her eyes. That sounded more like it. "I don't suppose you ever met a gray fox by the name of Flora Mason."

Edgar shook his head.

"On that note, I think it's time for bed," her mother stated. "Eli and I have been up since six this morning, and there's a lot to do tomorrow to get ready for your siblings' visit. I hope you'll be up to help, Ellie."

Ellie nodded reluctantly. She hoped there wouldn't be too much cleaning involved.

"Edgar may want to head to bed as well," her mother went on. "He didn't take a five hour nap. You two can stay up if you want."

Her mother stood, and her father stood as well.

"Goodnight," Ellie said.

Her parents exited the room, but Edgar remained in the armchair.

"You're already dozing off. You might as well go to bed," Ellie suggested pointedly. "Er, I'm fine. I'll go to bed when you do," he replied.

"I mean I'd like some private time with Jason."

"Oh, er, alright." Edgar slipped out of the chair and plodded out of the room. He quickly

glanced back at them as he exited through the door.

Ellie waited a few moments until her keen ears picked up the sound of his claws on the

wood stairs then let out a relieved sigh.

"Are you having trouble with Edgar?" Jason asked worriedly.

"Not trouble per say," Ellie answered. "I, well, I don't regret bringing him. I still think it

was the right thing to do, but he's not making it easy."

"I doubt he meant to excuse the Duchess' actions with the story he told your parents." "It's not so much that. I knew he was devoted to her. I didn't expect him to lose those

feelings in a day."

"What is it then?"

Ellie hesitated. Would Jason be upset if she told him what else the pine marten had said? There was nothing for him to be jealous about, but he still might not like the idea. "He told me he loves me, Jason," she admitted. "That he couldn't decide whether he wanted to be here or with her because he loves us both."

"I, uh, I see," Jason replied awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Ellie. I knew he liked you, but I thought after she, uh, I thought her attentions had dealt with that."

"That's what I hoped too! I thought at least the Duchess spreading her legs had diverted his interests from his crush on me! He said he knows there won't be anything between us, but still."

"I can have a word with him if you want him to leave you alone," Jason offered.

"I can handle myself, especially with him!" Ellie returned. "Besides, he's still my friend. I don't want him to go back to that monster. I need to let him know I'm here for him, even if it's a little awkward."

Jason nodded, "I understand, Ellie, and I'll try to make him feel welcome too. I haven't spent as much time with him as you, but if you consider him a friend, then I'll try to be a friend to him as well."

"Thanks, Jason. He's not a bad guy, just confused, and, uh, I suppose he can't control who he has a crush on."

"I suppose not." He paused. "Did you, uh, want to do something else before we went to bed?" he asked awkwardly.

"I wasn't planning on having sex on my parents' couch if that's what you're asking," Ellie replied amusedly.

"Heh, I, uh, that's probably for the best."

"I thought we could do some reading, sans crazy fox. How would you like that?" Jason smiled affectionately, "I'd like that, Ellie."

There was a narrow pine bookshelf on the front wall behind the loveseat. Ellie hopped

over to it and began to scan through: most of it was medical journals or the trite romance novels her mother enjoyed. However, Ellie found a worn paperback set of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. She selected The Fellowship of the Ring and took it back over to Jason.

"Unless you'd like to read romance for middle-aged does, we can read this together. One of us can hold it while we read at the same time, or I could read it to you."

"Why don't I read to you for a change, Ellie?"

"Okay," she handed him the book.

They sat on the couch together, and Ellie leaned her head against his shoulder. Jason

began to read, and Ellie let his voice carry her away to the magical land of Middle Earth. Ellie had read the book before, so she knew the characters were up for a grueling journey. Hopefully, their own trials were at an end.