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Its 7:30 on a Friday morning and the young Collin was driving home from yet another double shift. It was the tenth time in three weeks. He was a Certified Nurse's Assistant working as a Home Health Aide (HHA) because he always wanted to help people. He usually works an eight hour night shift as it was the only position available at the time, but he worked so many double shifts that he felt like he was the only one working for the company. He still accepted the work, though, because as an Irish lad he wanted to prove to himself and others that he could be his own man.

Collin let out a heavy sigh trying to hold back a big yawn. While keeping an eye on the road, he watched the scenery go by observing the trees. They had all lost their leaves leaving to look like a skeleton of their former selves as they were ready for winter. He missed the vibrant colors they held earlier in the month. He had always considered himself on the adventurous side, but he had to set that aside while he finished school and look for a better job. This one kept the wolf from the door. Still, it nagged at him as it sniffed out his blood. It doesn't help him, though, that he's only getting by on minimum wage.

The only adventure Collin ever had was when he came to the States from Ireland with his guardian after he lost his parents. Their deaths were so sudden and the trip was so soon after that he didn't really get the chance to experience the sense of adventure. As far as he knew, he's always been in the states.

Collin looked ahead to see his home come into view. He sighed in relief. This house is where he and his guardian settled until he landed his current job. As per his request, he asked to live by himself. However, instead of helping him find an apartment, she found one for herself and handed the keys to the house to him. Sometimes he asked himself what he could have done without her help and he always came to the same conclusion: dead in a ditch somewhere.

Pulling into his driveway he saw the very person that has been taking of him all these years sitting on a bus bench in front of his house. She was an elderly sheep with a gentle smile enjoying the mid-autumn morning.

He got out of the car and smiled at her. "Nana, top o' the mornin' to ya," he said with a moderate accent. His red hair shimmered like fire in the morning sunlight.

"Aye. And a fine mornin' it is," she smiled back. The accent in her voice was heavier than his and was filled with a level of content and peace that people envied.

The sound of clopping on the sidewalk coming their way caught there attention. A female white mouse and grey wolf were jogging side by side until they saw the two of them and slowed to a stop pulling their ear buds out. "Hey, Collin, Nana! Good morning!" the wolfess greeted.

"Aye, good mornin', you two," Nana greeted back. The girls couldn't help but smile at the sound of her voice. She was always referred to as "Nana" as she was like a grandmother to everyone she met because she the sweetest person anyone has ever met.

"Good morning, girls," Collin greeted. "Alexis, Melissa, you two are as stunning as ever," he grinned noting their open jackets showing off their form-fitting sports shirts that left their bare midsections along with their tight curves for the world to see.

Alexis gave a very toothy grin and showed off by putting her hands on her hips and puffing her chest out. "Drink it in, Lucky Charms!"

Melissa squeaked in embarrassment and quickly zipped up her jacket. "I wanted to jog in something a little warmer, but Alexis insisted on this."

Collin tipped his head to the side analyzing Alexis. "You sound pretty happy. Did something happen with you?"

"Something did happen," she winked. "Stop by the tavern sometime and I'll show you."

"I'll do just that. I got this weekend off. But, Alexis, I'm sorry I wasn't there to welcome you home."

"I did get your message. Thank you."

He nodded and looked back at Nana. "I was about to ask you, Nana. What are you doin' out here so early?"

Nana was still smiling. "Oh, I was just waitin'." She points to the street. "Waitin' for that..." The trio looked to see a delivery truck pull up.

"Did you order somethin'?"

Her smile only got bigger. "Aye. But it's nothin' for me."

"Excuse me," the delivery man said when he walked up to them with a box. "I have a package for Collin." Melissa and Alexis looked from Collin to Nana and back to him.

Collin answered, "Aye, that's me."

"Sign here, please?" Collin signed the scanner and took the package. "Okay. Have a nice day sir." He tipped his hat walked back to his truck.

Collin held his package in his hands feeling its weight. It was fairly heavy but still light enough to be handled easily. He brought it up to his ear and lightly shook it hearing it thump inside.

"Why don't we go inside and open it before we all catch a sniffle?" Nana suggested. Just as she got up from her seat Melissa sneezed.

"Aye," Collin agreed looking at Melissa. "I got coffee brewing on a timer as we speak. Everyone inside, right now!" The way he rolled his Rs made Alexis laugh. He looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "What?"

Alexis quickly controlled herself and said, "I'm sorry, but I find it kinda funny how you people talk."

Collin smiled accepting her apology and unlocked the front door letting everyone in. Collin set his package on the living room table before going into the kitchen. Nana sat down in the recliner and the younger girls sat on the couch looking at the package. Collin back a moment later carrying a platter with cups of coffee, cream, and sugar. He set it on the table and passed the cups around.

When the women were happy with their cups Collin sat down between Melissa and Alexis. He stared at the box he sat down then at Nana. "Okay, Nana, what is it?"

"Open it and find out, lad." She took a sip from her cup and felt the liquid warm her core.

Collin took a sip from his cup and set it down to take the box. He managed to wedge his finger under the tape and rip it off. He opened it reaching in the sea of Styrofoam feeling another box. He pulled it out and when the packing foam cleared away his jaw dropped.

Collin was staring at the label of his brand new, high-end metal detector!

Collin could hardly speak. "N... Nana..."

"Holy shit!" Alexis cried. "Pardon my French, but that's a Metal Finder EX! That thing can find a buried casket! And it's really expensive."

"Exactly! Nana, where did you get the money for this?"

Her sweet smile never faded as she looked at Collin. "Oh, you're ol' Nana ran into a bit o' Irish luck. I bought a scratch-off a few weeks ago and won the jackpot."

Everyone looked at her wide-eyed for a moment before Melissa spoke. "Why didn't you tell anyone? Or at least Collin?"

"The good Lord knows I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell everyone. But then I'd be invitin' company that I don't need. I'm really sorry, Collin. But I know how I can make it up to you. I bought a new house just outside of town with my winnings. You can take that metal detector to see what you can find and you can keep whatever you find. This'll be my birthday present to you."

Collin smacked his forehead. "That's right! My birthday is this Monday. Thank you, Nana." His eyes drifted to Melissa as she looked at him with extreme envy.

"You're so lucky to have someone like her!" Melissa cooed.

"You certainly are," Alexis said. "I wish I had someone like her in my family."

"I'll be movin' into that house on Tuesday," Nana said. "I'll have everythin' set up in time for Thanksgivin' and I'm inviting everyone here and your friends."

"Thank you," Melissa said sweetly.

"That sounds sweet, Nana," Alexis said. "Hey, Collin, I'd like to join you out there with my metal detector. Is that okay?"

Collin's face lit up with excitement at her request. "That sounds great!" His voice started to break up. "Hey. If, uh... if you're no-not t-too busy this w-weekend..." Alexis stood up stopping him cold.

"Um, I'm sorry, Collin. That secret I mentioned earlier is a man." Collin's head slowly lowered in defeat. She eyed him for a moment before grabbing his shirt and stood him up looking him sternly in the face. "Now you listen to me! I'm going to tell you something he told me: Don't ever sell yourself so short. You are a great guy and I like you for that. You have to advertise that about yourself and if other girls can't see it then screw them. If I wasn't already dating this guy I would totally take you up on that offer." She let go of his shirt and smoothed it out. "Keep your chin up, Collin. I'm sure you'll find the right girl, and when you do, bring her to Thanksgiving so we can meet her. I'll come over tomorrow morning around 10 and we'll head over to Nana's new place. Okay?"

Collin closed his eyes taking in a breath and let it out slowly. He opened his eyes and looked back into Alexis' with a little more life than a moment ago. "Sounds like a plan!" he said with a little more confidence in his voice.

"Great to hear it. I'll see you tomorrow." She pat his should before walking to the door.

Melissa stood up and looked at him with apologetic eyes. "I would date you, too. But I doubt you could handle me, no offence. Are you on any dating sites?"

"Aye. I've been talkin' to a few women on it, but I don't feel like I'm makin' much progress."

"Try being a little more aggressive with them. Ask them if you can meet up this weekend." She leaned in kissing him on the cheek before joining Alexis at the door. "Good luck, Collin. Happy Birthday."

Collin watched as the two loveliest women he's known since coming to America leave and continue their jog home. He sighed as defeat started to come back into his eyes. Would he ever find the one meant for him?

"Well," Nana said at the door snapping him out of his self-induced trance. "This has been an eventful morning, hasn't it?"

"A-aye."

"I believe them, you know. I suppose I better get going too. My Soaps are about to start." Collin nodded blankly as she walked up to him. She looked in his eyes to still see a little haze in them and her warm smile finally dropped. "Oi!" She quickly smacked him in the back of his head. "Get your chin up, boy! We're Irish, we don't let nothin'... nothin' get us down. We get back up and face it head-on or have fun with it. That's how we make real luck." Collin's eyes started to drift away again but she held his chin forcing them back on her. "Look at me, lad. I loved ya like me own son even before your parents passed away and I believe in you. Life is like a game of chess: It all depends on what move you make and how well you respond." She brought him into a hug and her warm smile returned. "Like I told you before: Just say the word and I'll move back in and help you out."

A smile crept onto his face. "Thanks, Nana," he finally said. "I think I'll be fine for now."

"Okay, lad. Take care." She placed a hand on his cheek and kissed his forehead. She walked to the door and looked back with her warm smile before leaving.

Collin felt more comfortable seeing her smile like that. It almost made him forget about his troubles. Ever since his parents passed away he always felt like he was alone even when Nana was with him. She manages to comfort him but his depression would always return.

Collin sighed before gathering up the empty coffee cups and took them back into the kitchen. He let out a yawn as he headed into his bedroom. He sat in his bed getting comfortable against the head and opened his laptop. He checked his email and found that had a message from the dating site he was using that focused on singles in his area and a couple emails from job search engines listing possible opportunities and some that were replies. He took a look the replies from other medical facilities he applied for only to find out that they had turned him down.

"Still goin' lateral, are we?" He opened up the job search emails. "What!?" The jobs listed in the emails were from the same facilities he just got replies from. "That won't stop me!" He quickly filled out the applications finishing his business.

He then logged on to the dating site as RedIrish20 and went to his inbox. There was a message from a sexy dolphin who called herself Friendly_Fin37 and it came with a picture. He opened the message and blinked in surprise at the pic. She was clad in black leather holding a rather large whip in her hands.

Friendly_Fin37: I'm just going to say it: You are absolutely ADORABLE!!! Let me be your mistress and I'll show you the pleasures of Heaven and Hell.

Collin swallowed hard. He saw she was online and opened a privet chat between them.

RedIrish20: Hey there. I got your message. I'm flattered, but I think I prefer the Heaven part.

FF37: What?! Oh, c'mon, pleeeeeeeeeease? I promise I won't leave a mark on you.

RI20: Really not into pain. Sorry.

FF37: I'll let you have your way with me if I have mine.

RI20: Tempting, but no thank you.

FF37: Fine! Just try to find a queen as merciful as me!

<YOU HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY USER>

Collin scratched his head. "Yeeeeaaaah, not looking for a queen. I'm not going to be someone's toy. How people get off doing that stuff is beyond me."

Collin continued on looking for the three other girls he talked to that he knew by name. There were two that were BFF's both named Sara, a pantheress and a human. Both knew the other was talking to him. He tried looking for the human Sara only to find that her profile was deleted.

Two down.

Collin huffed in a bit of amusement and shook his head at the blank profile. He clicked on the pantheress' profile to find her still around and also online. He opened her privet chat.

RI20: Hey, Sara, how goes it?

MidNiteXIII: Hey, Collin. It's goes good. U?

RI20: Wishing I had better Irish Luck.

MN13: I'm sorry. I'm betting you saw the other Sara's profile was deleted.

RI20: Yeah! Something happen?

MN13: She found someone.

RI20: She coulda said something...

MN13: That's what she's like. I don't think she woulda been the one for you.

RI20: I C. I know this is kinda blunt, but would you like to meet up? I have this weekend off.

MN13: Sure! Let's meet at the mall. There's this cute little designer purse I had my eye on.

"Oh no, here we go..." Collin sighed.

RI20: I hope there's nothing too expensive you want. I have a job but don't have that much to spend. I can barely keep afloat.

MN13: Oh... Then we have nothing more to talk about.

<YOU HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY USER>

Collin suddenly became enraged at her display and flipped off the computer screen. "Gol' diggin' bitch!" he said with a heavier accent, which tends to happen when he gets worked up.

Three down.

Last one. Collin found the forth girl he talked to. She was a cute, gray and white colored lynx named Amber and she was much more promising than the last three put together. She was studying in the medical field wanting to be a Registered Nurse (RN). He actually met up with her a few time but they haven't officially gone out yet.

RI20: Hey, Amber, how are your classes going?

BobKitten24: There's 2 much homework. :P How are you doing?

Collin let out a single laugh.

RI20: I'm feeling bold and blunt today!

BK24: Oh yeah? lol :3

RI20: Oh yeah. Would you care to go out with me?

BK24: I would... if you had asked me sooner. :(

Collin felt his heart sink to his stomach.

RI20: What?

There was a long pause on her end until she came back.

BK24: If you had asked me a month ago, I probably would have had a reason to stay here. My dad got transferred across the country and so did my schooling. It's really hard to change my Dad's mind when he's set it on something. I'm sorry, Collin. I really do like you a lot.

RI20: No, I should be saying sorry. I wanted to wait for the right time but missed it. I wish you luck.

BK24: Thanks, Collin. C U

<USER HAS LOGGED OFF>

Collin felt his depression come back like a ton of bricks. He knew there were crazy people out there that he would have to filter through, but when he finally found a good one online she slipped right through his fingers. His heart felt like it was going to give out as the same questions went through his mind. Will I ever find her? Will I ever find the one for my heart?

Collin felt too tired to care about it any longer and closed his laptop setting it on the night stand. He set his alarm to go off in a few hours and crawled under the blankets. Just as he closed his eyes a single tear rolled down his face as if to remind him of his sorrow. He wiped it away before he eased himself to sleep.

Outside Collin's bedroom window someone appeared watching him as he slept. The figure was wrapped in cloak and mystery. For a moment he did nothing studying the emotionally exhausted lad then placed his index finger on the glass. The tip started to glow and he drew a circle on the surface placing his hand in it. The circle then cast a faint beam of light shining right at Collin's face.

Collin was bothered by the light and turned on his side away from it just it faded out. The figure took his hand away from the glass leaving it clean as before he stared. "Just wait a little longer, my friend." He moved away leaving no trace of his presence.

***

"Please help me!" a young girl called out.

"Who... Who's there?" Collin called back. He tried looking around but all he saw was darkness. "Who are you?"

"I... I don't have a name."

A bright light shined above Collin blinding him. Its light started to fade as it lowered itself in front him. He lowered his hands from his eyes and reached out for what looked like an egg. The moment he placed his hands on it the light disappeared completely. It was a large, deep blue metallic egg that was bigger than a normal drake's eggs which are as big as an average adult human's head. This egg was as big as a football helmet and felt like it was made of steel.

"I may not have a name, but what's yours?" The girl's voice was coming from the egg.

"My... my name's Collin."

The egg giggled. "You have a funny sounding voice."

"Heh. Yeah, I get that a lot."

"Please, Collin. Help me."

"Where exactly are you?"

"I don't know."

"Okay... How do I find you?"

"I don't know that either." She sounded like she was pouting.

"Ya gotta give somethin'."

"I'm sorry. The only thing I do know is that I've been like this for a really long time. My mom told that if I meet someone I should tell them to let destiny guide you to me." The egg started to tremble in his hands. "Please find me! I don't want to be alone anymore!"

A crack suddenly appeared on the shell and more light shined through it from inside. Another crack appeared before it finally exploded bathing everything in light. From the flash Collin caught a glimpse of a large house on a very large plot of land.

Collin groaned as he heard the blaring sound of his alarm clock going off waking him up. He turned it off and pushed himself out of bed.

"That was a weird dream," he said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Don't want to be alone anymore? Join the club."

After taking care of his personal business in the bathroom, he went around the house taking care of any chores he found. When he was done he looked out the window to see that it was already dark out. Looking at the clock it read 7:00.

Seeing that it was still early enough he threw on his coat and walked out to his car. After a few minutes of driving around he pulled up to the curb in front of Erik's Tavern. He sat in his car looking through the tavern's big window to see the place nearly empty which was rare for the best place in town.

Collin thought as he watched the building. Everyone who came here had their own story. A story they are proud to share with everyone inside. Even Melissa met her man practically around the corner from this place.

Collin closed his eyes in deep thought. Will I have a story of my own I can be proud of?

Collin opened his eyes and stared blankly at the front door wondering whether he should go in. He finally decided that it wasn't worth the energy since they weren't going to serve him any alcohol because he was 20 going on 21. Just as he was about to turn the car on he looked up and saw someone walking in front of the building who he recognized immediately. It was the cute lynx he spoke to earlier that morning.

Collin got out of his car and called to her. "Oi, Amber!"

She looked his way with her gorgeous golden eyes. "Collin? What are you doing here?"

"I honestly don't know. But as long as we're here, want to come in with me?" He walked up to her and held out his arm for her.

She smiled sweetly at him. "Sure." She took his arm and they went in.

Collin looked around the place but couldn't decide where to sit. His eyes rested on the bar and felt drawn to it.

"Bar?" he asked.

"That's fine."

There was only one other guy sitting at the bar. Collin wanted to sit away from him so it would be just be him and Amber, but for some reason his feet just brought him closer to the other man. Collin finally stopped himself a seat away.

Being the gentleman that he was, Collin took Amber's coat and pulled her stool out before they sat down. He looked her over and really liked the way she addressed herself. She was 5'3" and very petite. She was flat-chested and didn't support many curves which only made her cuter. She wore square frame glasses on her nose that completely accented her gold colored eyes. She wore a sweater that wrapped around her chest showing off her bare shoulders. She finished herself off with a skirt that stopped halfway down her thigh and her legs were covered in black stockings.

Collin had asked her once if she ever thought about getting an enlargement or getting contacts. She nearly scratched him across his face saying that she's happier the way she is and that others can move on if they don't like what they see. It was that kind of fire was what drew him to her in the first place.

"So what are you doing out here?" Collin asked.

"I'm taking a break from my studies," she said. "I have a couple exams coming up and I've been cramming lately."

"I see. So you'll be movin' after the term's done?"

"Yeah," she sighed. "I really am sorry, Collin."

He looked her squarely in the eye. "As I said, you have nothin' to be sorry for. I'm the one who missed out!"

She was a little surprised by his sudden outburst. "Are you okay?"

He hung his head and let out a heavy sigh. "No. Before I talked to you this mornin' I talked to a couple others. I like to think of you as saving the best for last."

"That's so sweet."

"Anyway, three other girls and I only talked to two of them. One was a dominatrix and I do not like pain. One deleted her profile without a word and her best friend is a damn gold digger."

"That's a hell of a line up."

"I know. On top of that, my job isn't gettin' any easier. I got a client who thinks its okay to smoke a cigarette while he has oxygen in his nose and an old woman who believes the world is plottin' against her and she doesn't even recognize her own daughter anymore. All that shit for minimum wage!"

"Yikes! Well, are there at least other girls on that site?"

"No one even comes close to someone like you... Most of them don't have enough info. Some have too much. And I am definitely not lookin' for a smoker."

"Everyone has a quirk about them," the man beside them said. "You have to find a way to see past the façade."

"Tck! I know that!" Collin snapped. "But it's a lot easier said than done."

"I didn't mean to offend you. I only speak the truth." He offered his hand. "Name's Tobias. But everyone calls me Toby."

Collin took a deep breath getting control of himself. "I'm sorry I snapped like that." He offered his own hand. "My name's..." The moment their hands touched Toby went ridged and his grip firmed up.

"Collin..." Toby said with his eyes rolled up. "Your past is clear to me... You lost both your parents at an early age and came to America with your guardian for a better life. Now you are living alone trying to prove that you can handle what life throws at you."

Collin struggled in the man's grip. "Let me go, ya freak!"

"But your future isn't so clear. I do see someone new in your life." Those words made Collin pause. "She will be the one to help fill the void in your heart. She portrays herself as daughter to you. And when your spirit is at its lowest, her light will shine for you guiding you out of the darkness."

Collin was frozen as he just stared at this mysterious man not knowing what to do next. It was as if his words were exactly what he needed to hear. He looked down at their joined hands to see that his grip loosened and took his hand back. He looked at Toby's face to see his eyes were back where they belong. Looking around, he saw that no one moved to help. Not even Amber.

Toby looked around and saw Collin's freaked out expression. He was about to apologize when something whacked him in the head. While Toby reeled holding his head in pain Collin looked back to see Alexis holding a serving tray in both hands with a fierce look in her eyes. His eyes drifted lower to find her wearing an apron. It looked rather good on her.

"How many times have I told you, Toby?!" Alexis said. "Don't freak the customers out like that!"

"Damn it, Alexis!" Toby said still rubbing his head. "I can't turn it on or off like a light switch. I was just about to apologize before you hit me." He looked back to Collin with a smile. "Sorry about that."

"Alexis, who is this guy?" Collin demanded.

"A mystic who can't keep his power to himself. Now, I thought I said I'd see you tomorrow."

"I came out here on impulse. What are you doing wearin' an apron?"

"I work here," she said so casually.

He shot her a confused look. "Come again?"

"I. Work. Here. I'm a waitress."

"Whatever happened to being a Tomb Raider?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Not much work there. The tombs and temples are practically all dried up so I'm here until something comes up. When nothing does, I work as a waitress. Erik will be with you in a minute. Do you want to move?"

"Yes. But you don't expect me to believe that he's a fortune teller, do you?" He and Amber got up to move.

"Yes," Amber piped up. "He foretold my dad's transfer. And about us," she said with a blush almost visible under her fur.

"Still not convinced..."

Toby watched as they moved further down the bar.

"So, what did you see?" asked the gruff Rottweiler.

"Exactly what I said, Erik," he said calmly and quietly.

"That wasn't what I asked for."

He looked down at his drink focusing on what he saw. "Its strange. Normally, a person has many paths to their future to choose from and I pick out the one that shines the brightest. It is then that their subconscious tells them to follow it that path."

"And?"

"Collin had so few paths I could see and most of them ended in darkness. I could only see one path and it was as bright as a candle in the abyss. I couldn't see anything past it, though."

"Well, you of all people should know that the future isn't set in stone."

"I know," he sighed. "I just hope the one he meets will be strong enough to save him. We may not see him again after Thanksgiving. We're doing all we can for him without him knowing it."

Erik sighed as well. "That's all we can do for him. Hope for the best."

Erik walked down the bar toward Amber and Collin. He knew about their stories so far and had always thought they would make a cute couple. With Collin being a CNA and Amber an RN, they probably would've made a great team if they landed a job in the same hospital.

"Sorry for the wait, guys," Erik said with a smile. "What can I get ya?

Collin spoke first. "Erik, may I please get a shot o' Bailey's?"

"You," he pointed in his face, "can ask as much and as politely as you want, I still need to card ya. Even though I already know how old you are."

"C'mon!" he pleaded pathetically. "My birthday's this Monday!"

Erik just smirked at him. "I don't care if its tomorrow." He points to the wall behind him to a sign that said when people can drink alcohol. "You want me to lose my license?"

"Argh!" His head fell and hit the bar. "Coke then..."

"Okay then. And for the missy?"

Silently, Amber reached into her purse and fished out her ID. "Two shots of Bailey's, please..."

"Oi..." Collin glared.

She looked at him and smiled teasingly. "And a Bud Lite."

"Coming up!" Erik said before walking away to fill their orders.

"Y'know, just because you're older than me doesn't mean ya hafta go rubbin' it in my face."

Amber shifted her glasses on her nose and giggled. "I'm taking a break from my studies. I'm looking to get a little tipsy."

Collin's eyes went as wide as dinner plates as he knew what that spelled out. Just as Erik came back to set their drinks down Collin grabbed his wrist and mouthed, Water, please. He nudged his head towards Amber who already downed her two shots and started on her beer.

When Erik looked at her he realized what Collin meant. "No problem. You better take her home later."

"I know..."

When Erik set the glass of water in front of Amber she looked at both of them. "Both of you are a buzz killers!" she nearly shouted already drunk.

Collin and Amber hung out a few times before at the tavern and he knew she was a light-weight. Whenever she wanted to drink it was a little difficult to get her to stop. She wasn't an alcoholic but was more of a novice not knowing how to pace herself. Whenever she did get drunk she always got playful. Very playful.

After a short while at the tavern Collin came out the door carrying Amber on his back with Alexis close behind them. Collin developed goose bumps when Amber licked the edge of his ear. They walked over to his car and Alexis opened the passenger door helping to ease the drunken lynx into the seat. Suddenly, Amber grabbed Collin by his jacket and pulled him down into a sloppy kiss. He was so off balance he fell on top of her.

"Hey, stud," Alexis called. "You gotta get her home, remember?"

Collin managed to break the kiss and helped Amber settle in her seat. He closed the door and leaned against it with a sigh. "She didn't even try to drink the water." As he wiped his ear and chin he looked up at Alexis who had her eyes a little lower on him. She looked back up and smiled teasingly at him. "What?"

"You look ready to go camping." She pointed to the pitched tent on his crotch and laughed. "Why don't you take her to your home and take care of that. You live closer than she does anyway. I already got her keys. I'll get her car from the library and bring it here."

Collin blushed furiously. "So... you know about us?"

"Duh! This is Erik's Tavern. Stories flow through here like a steady river. I'll see you tomorrow. 10 o'clock."

Collin nodded as he got in his car before Alexis walked back inside. He started down the street and failed to see Nana on the sidewalk walking to the tavern. She spotted him though and watched as he drove away before stepping into the tavern.

"Good evening, Nana," Erik called.

"Aye. Good evening to you too, Erik."

"Is there something I can get for you?"

Nana scanned the place to see Alexis talking with Toby at the far end of the bar while sitting on his lap. "Nope. I see who I came here for."

Collin's drive with Amber has been fairly quiet. He looked over at her to see if she was sleeping only to her eyes were just barely open. Her face was flushed as he could see it clearly through the white fur on her face.

"Ya still with me over there?" he asked.

"Just barely," she said with a bit of a slur.

"It's just that you're pretty quiet."

"That's 'cause you're driving. Otherwise I'd be all over you."

"Uh... thanks. Did ya burn yourself out studying?"

"Yeah. That's how bad I want to be a Nurse."

"Well, we all need a break sooner or later. I just hope mine will be soon."

Collin turned the wheel pulling into his driveway. The moment he put the car in Park Amber leaned over gabbing his crotch.

"What happened to Mr. Stiffy back at the tavern?" she asked playfully.

"Can't you wait until we're inside?" He looked up at her to see she already put on her "pouty face."

"But you said you were feeling bold today! Or was that a lie?"

He suddenly seized her probing hand making her yelp in surprise. "Don't... EVER... call me a liar!" he whispered. "Shit happened today. But if you want to see bold..." His free hand shot under her skirt and his middle finger slipped between her legs pressing through her panties against her sex making her cry out in ecstasy. "How's that?"

"Ooohhh... B-better! I wanted to skip the 'friends' part and get right to the 'benefits."

"I need to call your parents first."

"Buzz killers!"

Neither of them were sure what had happened next as their coats were already hung up. Collin may have called her parents letting them know what was going on. But now he was kissing the lynx furiously in his living room having wrestling match with their tongues. Being shorter than him Amber nearly had to stand on her toes to reach him. He knew what she wanted and grasped her ass lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around her waist.

She pulled away from him and they looked deep in each other's eyes. He reached up gently taking her glasses off her nose and tossing them on the couch.

They kissed once more before she said, "Promise me something?"

"Aye."

"Promise me you'll treat the girl you meet like you treat me."

Collin smirked. "I don't know about that. Sometimes ya need to be tamed. Like right now."

"Is that so? Bed. Now!"

"Okay." He carried her in to his bedroom but instead of her trying to shove him onto the bed she found herself getting shoved flat on her back. "See? Ya need to be tamed."

Amber giggled. "Then come tame me."

Collin kneeled down lifting her sweater over her tummy. He ran his hands through her silky soft fur, the sent of lavender filled his nostrils. He always liked how well she took care of herself, especially her fur. He brought his face down burying it in her fur kissing her hidden bellybutton while his hands raked though her sides earning a coo of delight from her. She started to purr from the attention.

Collin's left hand came down to her skirt unzipping it and pulled it down her legs over her stockings. Underneath was a pair of white panties with a cute little red bow just under the waist band. As he stared at the little bow his fingers began to rub them right over her pussy. As they were starting to get moist he felt clitoris emerge from its hiding place and he nibbled at that spot making her howl.

"You like that?"

"Wh-why do you think its called a 'love button' sometimes?"

"That doesn't answer me."

"I love it when you do that!"

Collin chuckled. He suckled on her panties over her clit before saying, "These panties are so cute. I think I'll leave them on."

"Come on!" she pleaded. "These are my favorite pair!"

He reached up under her sweater groping her small breast making her gasp in pleasure. "Then ya shouldn't have worn them, hadn't ya?"

He climbed over her keeping fingers on her panties and lifted her sweater under her chin exposing her rather flat chest. He licked a nipple once before kissing it

"Why you like small tits like mine again?" she asked.

"You say 'small,' I say 'fun-sized.'" He put his lips around her nipple again letting her enjoy herself.

"'Fun-size' is at least a C cup."

He pinched her nipple lightly with his teeth. "Anyone can have them. I like 'em small and cute. It tells me that the woman is happy the way she is." He moved over to the other one giving it some much needed attention and pressed his middle finger deeper through her panties making them even wetter.

She started to feel that familiar tickle in her loins. "Oh God! Please take my panties off! I'm gonna cum! What the- Hey! Why the fuck did you stop?"

Collin had stood up looking over her. "Why? Yer about to cum, and I'm uncomfortable," he said meaning his tented pants.

She looked at him annoyed because he liked to play this way. He doesn't do it often but she figured it was kind of like payback for what she was about to do. She slid off the bed on to her knees. She felt so hot that she took off her sweater and started fondling with his pants. She had a bit of difficulty as his manhood was pressing against everything. She started to drool a little bit as she knew what was underneath and knew she would miss it when she moved.

When the button was finally undone she franticly worked the zipper down and pulled his pants and underwear down in a quick motion. She quickly opened her mouth and caught his erect 9 inch manhood as she had expertly done few times before. As she began to swirl it around in her mouth with her tongue she could feel herself get wetter under her panties and gave up wanting to take her favorite panties off. He was considered above average but compared to her size he more than that and just thick enough her.

Collin loved how she sucked on him. When she moved her head down her rough tongue rasping the under side of his shaft he doubted that anything could compare. She was so experienced with him that she hit his sensitive spots with precision causing shivers to run up his spine making him groan. Grinning to herself, she moved her head up dragging her sharp teeth but was careful to only keep light contact on his skin.

"Oh man, tha' feels so good," he moaned. She giggled and brought her head down taking him to the back of her throat. He could feel her tongue licking under his shaft as she flexed her throat around the head.

She brought his cock out with a wet pop and looked up at him with pleading eyes while stroking him. "Please... I need it in me now. I can't wait any longer." She let go of him taking position on the bed lying on her back. She lifted her legs pushing her soaked panties to the side exposing her honeypot.

He smiled as he climbed in after her and obliged her, his well-lubed cock rubbing against her lower lips before sliding into her soaked snatch. "Fuck! After all this time, you're still so tight!" he cried as he rocked his hips back and forth before starting to thrust. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and he could feel her claws prick at his back which held plenty of scars from previous romps.

"Tight?" she panted. "You are still so big to me! Fuck me harder!" As he fulfilled her wish pounding his meat in and out of her hot sex, she let a low growl bubble from her throat.

Collin began to gently squeeze her small breasts and tugged on her nipples making her arch her back. Her stubby tail was powerless to do anything as it was trapped under them. He could feel his balls start to churn and started to withdraw. He was almost all the way out before her legs stopped him.

"Not... Not this time!" she said. "Do you know how hard it is to get it out of my fur. P-Please... Inside!"

Collin grinned at her as he brought his hand down pinching her clitoris between his thumb and forefinger and rolling it making her throw her head back in ecstasy. He did this a few more seconds before he slammed his cock all back in her, his balls smacked against her cute ass.

"OHH FFFFUUUCCKK!" she cried out as her orgasm finally hit.

"Yeah, take it!" His pent up seed exploded in her painted her walls deep within her.

***

The night went by pretty peacefully for Collin. No floating egg, no blinding light, and no voice talking about destiny. He just dreamed a pleasant dream of a life of what could be. He saw himself with a better job to support the family he always wanted. He walked through the door and was greeted by two smiling, although faceless, children with his wife cooking dinner in the kitchen. He picked his children up in each arm kissing them on their cheeks. He moved into the kitchen giving his unknown wife a kiss on the lips making his children. The warmth he felt from this caused a real tear of joy to escape.

Warm moisture on his face caught his attention. His eyes slowly opened to look into the face of a cute lynx smiling back at him. Memories of what happened last night came to him.

"Morning, stud," she sang.

Collin let a smile show on his lips. He reached to his face to feel saliva on his cheek.

"You had a tear on your cheek," she purred. "I thought you were having a sad dream. What were you dreaming about?"

"Just the opposite," he sighed. "It was perfection. I was coming home from a better job to a wife and kids." He wrapped his arms around her enjoying the feeling of her silky fur against his skin.

"No wonder it wasn't salty. I'm sure it'll happen someday."

"I wish it would happen with us. I'm sorry."

Her purring got louder. "Don't be. It makes me purrrr just to know someone likes me for me."

Collin looked at the clock to see that it was just after 9. "Coffee? Alexis will be here to pick us up soon."

"Thanks." She moved off of him to let him up. When he walked out she yowled in a yawn stretching her arms and legs.

When Collin came back he paused in the doorway looking at Amber in grey pelt and smiled in amusement. She cocked her head curiously at him.

"I just can't get over how cute you are, Amber," he said before handing her a cup.

She gave him a sly smile. "Flattery might get you a blowjob."

"Then I guess I better stop," he played. "I don't want to have wobbly legs today."

"Why's that?"

"Alexis and I made plans yesterday. My Nana got me a new metal detector for my birthday and she thought it would a good idea for me to try it out at her new place before she moves in. Alexis wanted to join me out there."

"I see."

"Oh, that reminds me. Are you and yer folks doing anything for Thanksgivin'?"

She thought for a moment. "Nothing that I can think of."

Collin's face beamed. "Come over then! She told me to invite friends. Your parents are welcome, too. Alexis is coming and so's our friend Melissa with their guys."

She smiled sweetly. "Thank you. I'll be sure to let my parents know. Is there anything we should bring?"

"Nope. Nana somehow gets everythin' prepared."

Amber set her cup down and stepped up to him. She wrapping her arms around him resting her head on his chest. "You're so sweet. Any woman would be lucky to have you."

The sound of a car horn broke their train of thought. They looked at the clock to see that it was a quarter to 10. They let go of each other and scrambled to get dressed.

"Well, Alexis is a bit early," Collin said.

"Better early than late," Amber said putting her sweater on.

"True." He bounced around trying to put his pants on.

When they finally made it out the door Alexis was waiting patiently against her jeep with a big, toothy grin on her muzzle. Collin looked at her and his cheeks turned red as he could guess what she was thinking.

"Did I catch you in a quickie?" Alexis teased.

Sex. He knew it and his whole face turned red. He shook his head. "No. We were discussin' Thanksgivin'."

"I was about to before you showed up," Amber quickly said earning her a surprised look from Collin. She playfully stuck her tongue out at him with a wink.

Alexis laughed. "Nice!" She fist bumped Amber. "It's a shame, though. You two are so good for each other. Well, let's get going. Uh, Collin, aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?" he asked but then he remembered. "Oh, damn! Thank you!" He rushed back in the house and came out with his new metal detector.

"I already have a couple shovels and some marker flags if you need them."

Alexis opened the tailgate and Collin put his metal detector next to two others. As he set his gear with the rest he shivered. Not from the cold, but from the excitement. An adventure always has to start somewhere and he was about to experience his first step. It was a small step, sure, but it would help scratch an itch to give him something to look back on.

Just before Alexis closed the tailgate Collin spotted someone relaxing in the front passenger seat.

"Hey, Alexis, who's with you?" Collin asked.

"My man," she said. "He wanted to come I thought you could meet him."

"Cool." He and Amber climbed into the back seat and he brought his hand forward. "Hey there, nice to meet...?" His voice faded away when the guy turned back and smiled. Collin's eyes were as wide as dinner plates and his heart sank from seeing the familiar face.

"We met last night, kid. Where the hell have you been?" Toby teased.

"Y-you? You're her b-b-boyfriend?" Collin stammered as Alexis settled in the driver seat.

"That's news to me," Amber said looking almost as surprised.

"Huh. I thought I told you, Amber," Alexis said.

Collin started to come down from his surprise and said, "Well, a friend of Alexis's is a friend of mine."

Before they headed to Nana's new place Alexis drove to Erik's Tavern to drop Amber off so she could pick up her car. When that was done it was a quiet ride as Collin watched out his window at the trees that went by trying not to think about Toby's prediction or the weird dream he had with the egg. It was all so sudden for him to take in to even feel real.

A flock of birds caught Collin's eye as they flew around. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of adventures a single bird could have. Able to fly where ever it wants with hardly a care in the world. Collin was ready to move on with his life. But the question on his mind was: Would life let him?

Collin was about to close his eyes when he heard Toby. "Don't fall asleep back there. We're here."

"I was just resting my eyes," Collin quickly said.

"Hey, I understand you're ready to move on in life, but you're wondering if life is ready for you."

"Great... You can read minds too!" he said as the jeep came to a stop and everyone started to get out.

"Don't need to. Your expression says it all." They came around to the tailgate to grab their stuff. "You just have to be patient. Let destiny guide you."

Collin froze before he grabbed his metal detector as he heard the same words that were said in that dream he had.

"What's wrong?" Toby asked trying to get Collin's attention again. "Was it something I said?"

Collin shook his head. "It's... It's nothing." He took his metal detector and a handful of flags. When he walked out from behind the jeep he froze again as he saw the house. "What the fuck is going on?!" he whispered to himself.

The house. The property. What Collin was looking at was the same as the flash he saw in the dream. The house was in the same spot as if he was standing right there and the yard was just as big as he saw it. It was almost like having a déjà vu moment.

"What's the matter now?" Alexis asked.

Collin hesitated trying to find an answer. "Uh... Nothing. You really don't know how big an acre is until you see it."

Alexis and Toby smiled at each other behind Collin's back.

"Let's divide the property up to cover more ground," Alexis said. "Collin, you take the western corner. After I unlock the house I'll take the east side while Toby brings up the middle."

Toby looked at Collin and said, "Your Nana gave us her spare key to the house and said to use the house the house when we need to. Well, let's get to it."

Collin brought his metal detector over his shoulder and walked over to his zone. He came around the house and got a good look at it. It was a two-story log cabin that looked large enough for two small families or a large family reunion like he thought. The porch went all the way around and was fairly spacious in the front and back. The back yard had a level grade with lush grass that looked perfect for a "friendly" game of football.

Collin reached his corner of the property and set his metal detector on the ground pulling out its manual from his coat following the directions to set it up. He put the headphones on and took out a quarter passing it under the base to see if it was working. It beeped signaling that it found something and the monitor below the hand grip displayed the quarter and how far down it was.

Satisfied, Collin stood and began his sweep. He checked the very corner of the property just so he doesn't miss anything. Nothing.

He swept an area on his right. Nothing.

He stepped to the side to check where he was just standing. Still nothing.

Collin felt a little disappointed but he knew that he just started. He figured he had his hopes set high seeing as his metal detector and his Nana's property were new to him. So he shook his disappointment away and swept the detector around...

<Beep!>

He froze in place. He brought his detector carefully back to the left.

<Beep! Beep! Beeeeeep!>

Collin looked down at the monitor only to see that whatever the detector picked up was round and unknown. The object was registered three feet down. He pulled out his cell phone and called Alexis.

"Hey, how's it going over there?" Alexis asked.

"I just started and I already found somethin'."

"What?! Toby and I already went through about half of our zones and we haven't found squat! Lend us some of that 'Irish Luck,' will ya?"

Collin laughed. "I guess my luck is startin' ta get better. I'm gonna sweep some more before going inside for a break."

"Sounds like a plan. See you inside."

Alexis put her phone back in her pocket and looked over at Toby. She gave him a nod and they both walked to the house.

Collin took an orange flag from his back pocket and put it in the ground over his very first treasure find. The thrill of it gave him a big grin and made him as giddy as a child. He took up his metal detector again and did his best to keep his excitement under control as he took a deep breath getting his focus back.

Collin started walking again sweeping in large arches to cover more ground. After a long five minutes his detector never beeped and felt a chill in the air. He decided to take a break placing two flags down to mark where he stopped. As he walked to the house an arctic gust blasted him in the face making him pick up his pace. He flew open the door and closed it behind him escaping the cold.

"Hey! No freeloaders!" Alexis called from Collin's right. She was in the kitchen making lunch.

"Freeloader?" Collin said eyeing her. "I'm the one who found somethin'!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Lunch in ten."

"'Kay."

Collin took the opportunity to look around to see the house was just as spacious as it looked from the outside. In front of him across from the door were a set of stairs to the second floor. To his left was a sizeable den. The TV was turned to the Weather Channel and Toby was watching it on the couch.

"Hey, babe," Toby called. "After lunch we'll have to finish up outside. There's snow heading our way from the north."

"Oh, please!" she said. "It hasn't snowed this early in years. It only overstays its welcome in the spring."

"Better safe than sorry. I'm looking forward to it after being in that jungle for so long. Collin, we can finish the sweep while you dig up your find."

"Okay," he nodded. "I put down a couple flags where I stopped."

After lunch Collin went to Alexis' jeep to get a shovel. He felt the air getting cooler and another gust hit him nipping him worse than the last gust. As he walked across the yard to his first flag, he looked to see gray clouds appearing over the tree line a few miles out. He nearly walked past his flag as he watched the sky. He took his shovel and stabbed the ground in a circle around the flag creating a perimeter. Remembering that the object was three feet down he went to work.

Ten minutes into the dig Collin was in the ground up to his knees. He stopped for a moment and looked up into the sky to see the clouds rolling in and getting darker. He looked around to find Alexis and Toby sweeping the rest of his zone.

"Did you guys find anythin' in your areas?" Collin asked.

"Not even a blip!" Alexis answered.

Collin was surprised but got back to work. However, with his next strike he heard his shovel hit something metal. He got down on his knees brushing some of the dirt away to discover something smooth and blue.

"I found it!" Collin shouted.

Alexis and Toby stopped what they were doing and hurried over to Collin.

"That's it!" Alexis complained. "After that thing is out we call it a day. I am freezing my tail off!"

"And who was skeptical about the snow?" Toby teased.

Collin tried to brush some more dirt out of the way only to find more of the object still stuck in ground. He grabbed his shovel and moved bigger chunks of dirt out of the way hearing the chink and scrape of metal on metal. He eventually got underneath the object and grasped it on either side of it pulling furiously as the excitement coursed through him.

Collin gave it one more hard pull. It came out with enough force that he fell out of his hole and landed on his back on the grass. He looked up at the darkening sky with a stupid grin on his face. He saw a single snowflake fall and land on his nose. He started to snicker before he busted out laughing.

"Are you okay?" Alexis asked. "Even I don't get that excited when I find something."

Collin calmed down some and looked at his friends. "That's because you are never deprived of adventure. But this kind of thrill is priceless."

She shrugged her shoulders with a smile. "Okay, you got me there. So? What did you find?"

"Don' know." He sat up holding the object and started brushing the dirt off. "Even the metal detector didn't -- WAH!!" He tossed whatever it was away in shock and something black shot forward wrapping it catching it. "What the fuck?!" He followed the tendril back to Toby's arm. "A-A-Alexis?"

"That was my first reaction, too," she calmly said. "I'll tell you more about him later."

"Do you doubt my power now?" Toby asked with an easy smile. "You need to be more careful." He commanded the tentacle to bring Collin's find to him but he scrambled behind Alexis. "What?" He brought the object to himself and examined it. "It's a big, blue, metallic egg."

"Y-Y-You don't understand," Collin finally said. "I saw that thing in a dream! Along with this property!"

"Did she say anything?"

"She said she was lonely and to let destiny guide me to her."

Toby put the egg in his normal hand to let his tendril change back. He held it up to examine it gently bouncing it to test its weight. "It feels like metal, but it's pretty light. I think it might be a dragon egg."

"How do you know?" Collin asked coming out from behind Alexis.

"Large, very hard shell, and light weight. These are all qualities of a dragon egg. But I've never seen anything like this before."

"I know how we can find out," Alexis said. "Toby, the museum curator that paid me to grab your idol, he can tell us."

"Is it that, or the fact that he still owes you $5 grand?"

"Both. He's a drake and I know exactly where he'll be in about an hour."

"It's alive!" Toby interrupted. He held his ear against the egg.

"Whoa, whoa!" Collin said. "Say what? That egg has been in the ground for God knows how long, and you're sayin' it's still alive?"

Toby held out the egg so Colin could take it. "Listen."

Collin held the egg up to his ear and closed his eyes. It was faint but he did hear the thump of a heartbeat. Taking extra care now, he unzipped his coat halfway before placing the egg inside and zipped back up.

Collin looked over to Alexis while he held the egg close. He could feel it throb from its heartbeat against his stomach which made his own heart tingle. "You said you know where the curator will be?"

"Yup. Being a drake himself he spends a lot of time researching his kind as a whole so he should know. If he doesn't, he will. He's also a red dragon but don't let him intimidate you. He's quite the softie. In less than an hour he'll be at Erik's." The smile she had was almost evil.

***

"Here you go, sir," Erik said handing a red dragon a drink. "Crown and Coke with extra Crown."

"Thank you," the drake said. When he picked up the glass he saw someone out of the corner of his eye sit down next to him but paid the person no mind. He brought the glass to his lips to enjoy his drink.

"You need a new routine," the woman next to him said making him jump splashing his drink on his face. He looked over to see Alexis sitting there looking less than pleased.

"A-A-Alexis?" he stammered. "L-listen. I... I'll get you your money soon. I just..." Alexis cut him off when she grabbed his tie.

"Shut the fuck up, Rurik!" she said keep it down to a hiss. "You listen to me. I've had it your stalling tactics. But, if you're willing to help us, I might knock off how much you still owe me."

"Us?"

Alexis look back and Rurik followed her to see Toby and Collin standing behind him. Collin was holding his stomach.

"Please, sir," Collin said. He unzipped his coat and brought out the egg he was holding. "We were hoping you could tell us about this egg I found."

The shock on the drake's face at the sight of the egg was utterly priceless. "Tha... That egg... Where did you find it?"

"I dug it up on my Nana's property."

"My boy, I would pay five grand just to study it. May I?"

Collin was about to carefully hand the egg to the dragon but stopped when Toby put his hand on his shoulder shaking his head not to do it. Alexis stepped in front of the dragon eyeing him with a raised eyebrow.

Rurik knew exactly what she wanted. His eyes went from the egg to Alexis and back to the egg. Sweat started to bead on his forehead giving his scales a glossy sheen. As he observed his predicament he started making grunts and whines.

"Alright!" he shouted. "I'll wire you the rest of the money first thing in the morning. All $5000."

"Tonight," Alexis demanded. "Tonight or all you're getting are the egg shells."

"Fine!" he nearly roared.

Alexis nodded to Collin giving him the go-ahead. He carefully handed the egg over to the older drake as he pulled out a little notebook from his pocket and a stethoscope from the backpack he had at his feet. The trio looked at him curiously.

"One can never be too prepared," Rurik said. He flipped through his note his notebook to a specific page and put in his stethoscope placing the other end on the egg and was satisfied with what he heard. "Ah, a strong heartbeat." He watched his watch for 30 seconds before picking up his notebook. "Have you thought of a name for this little one?"

"Do we really have to do this here?" he asked.

"I can tell you everything I know right here."

Erik came up from behind the counter and said, "Plus, you can't argue with the atmosphere here. This is one story I am definitely interested in."

"My, boy," Rurik said, "the egg you have here is an Ancient Dragon egg."

"Ancient?!" everyone said.

"That's right. This species of dragon is at the core of my research. There are two others that are known. I was able to track them down in different corners of the globe. One male and one female and they have never met as far as I know. So, have you thought of a name?"

Collin thought for a moment. "I'm thinkin' of namin' it Gabriel. Its unisex and it translates to 'Strength of God' in some circles."

"That's a grand name. But as it turns out, you may have a girl here."

"How do you know that?" Erik asked.

"When I found the two Ancient Dragons they gave me permission to look at their medical records. When they were still eggs, the female had a higher heart rate than the male. Your egg, my boy, almost matches the female's to a tee." Rurik hands the egg back to Collin.

"When will she hatch?" Collin asked cradling the egg in the arms.

"She'll hatch when she wants to. That's the thing about Ancient Dragons, they'll hatch when they feel its safe."

"Wow... Tell us more!"

Rurik was more than happy to share his knowledge. He started with his encounter with the other Ancient Dragons. He compared their lifespan with normal drakes like himself. Normal drakes live longer than everyone else by at least a century whereas Ancient Dragons, as he was told, are nearly double that. The female, Eve, was the first one he met who filled him in on what she knew about her race.

By this time the bar was starting to get a few more customers and it was 1:30 in the afternoon. More were coming in as the customers texted and called others to come and listen in. Even Melissa stopped by bringing Todd with her when Alexis got ahold of her. Alexis even invited Nana to come who was amazed at Collin's find. When someone asked what was going on, Colin would show them the egg and they would take a seat to listen in.

Rurik said that Eve explained to him that even though she opened her eyes almost 200 years ago, the history of her race gradually came to her through a force he couldn't remember. Toby reminded him that it was called mana and it was where his power came from. Rurik thanked him and continued saying that Eve explained that her race flourished after the seven continents settled into place. People feared them because of how different they were yet so similar. The dragons of today have longer snouts and rougher scales. Ancient Dragons were larger in size with rounded skulls like that of a human's and smoother scales that was almost like skin.

Rurik's expression turned darker. "Eve's posture changed before she talked about this next part. It was the day the Ancient Dragons were nearly were nearly wiped out."

As Collin listened the egg started to tremble in his arms as if she remembered that dark day too. I don't want be alone anymore! he remembered her saying and brought Gabriel's egg closer to him.

Rurik's audience listened in as he retold Eve's story. The ancient people were so suspicious and scared that they pleaded with their kings and leaders to do something. But the Ancient Dragons weren't doing any harm so nothing could be done.

One day an insane king let his fear get him and put a large bounty on each of their heads. His actions turned the whole world against the dragons. Humans who had already befriended the dragons quickly turned on them when they heard the amount of gold that was offered.

Rurik closed his eyes and wiped the tears away from his eyes. "Though I'm not an Ancient Dragon, I could feel each word cut into me as if it was my own history."

"Some mana users can project their feelings into others to make them feel what they feel," Toby said. "Living as long as Eve had she was bound to pick up a few tricks. Its also proof that her emotions were genuine."

"Don't I know it.

"Anyway. The greedy humans used whatever means they could think of leaving the Earth burned and scarred. The king that put the bounty on the dragons ordered that any and all traces of their existence to be destroyed. What he didn't count on was that there were a few dragons left. These dragons took eggs that had survived the carnage and buried them. Then with the last of their strength they melded their power and bodies with the earth restoring its beauty. They also left their essence in the air so they can teach the hatchlings what happened so they can help make a better future. Neither Eve nor the male know how many eggs of their race are left." Applause rang out as Rurik finished.

Collin looked down at Gabriel's egg rubbing it gently. Tears marked his cheeks as well as everyone else's in the tavern. Nana next sat to him with an arm across his shoulders her eyes, too, filled tears.

Just the egg jumped under Collin's hand followed by what sounded like cracking. It jumped again and a crack appeared on the surface. His face lit up with a sudden mix of shock and excitement.

"She... She's hatchin'... She hatchin'!!" he cried out.

Rurik looked up at him and got to his feet. "This has to be perfect! Collin, sit right here! Everyone else needs to back up and give them some room." His large wings fanned out making sure he corralled everyone to where he wanted them to go. A little girl managed to slip under his wing but was snatched by her pants. "Sorry, kiddo. We can't anyone else too close. Hatchlings bond with the first person they see. It needs to be him." The girl went back to her mother with a pouty face.

Collin watched as more cracks appeared on the metallic surface. A small piece fell away and saw a small pointed ear that was as blue as the egg shell it was coming from. He turned it so he could make sure that she was facing him. He dug his nails in a crack pulling away a larger chunk and saw the membrane of a wing stretching and contracting. He hooked his nails an the cap that covered her head and started to pull.

"Easy, Collin," Rurik warned. "Don't get too excited. You could hurt her."

"Not likely," Collin said. Then he whispered in the exposed ear, "C'mon, Gabriel. I named you after the Arch Angel of Strength. So show me yours." The shell cracked once more before it practically exploded sending pieces of egg shell flying with a small cry like she was trying to roar.

Collin looked at the new form in his arms. The little dragon hatchling. Her color was just as deep blue as her egg shell with a creamy, flesh colored underbelly going from her neck down her front disappearing between her legs. Her wings were draped over her shoulders covering her sides down to her clawed, tri-digit toes. She was a little winded from her push getting out of her egg. Her brows were furrowed and the fire in her eyes told him that she pushed through to a victory. And what a victory it was. But there was something off about her.

"C... Collin..." She was looking up at him with a set of green eyes that looked strangely familiar to him. He almost felt like he was looking in a mirror. "Ya... Ya found me..." she said with a mild Irish accent. He was surprised by the accent but he was bowled over by the fact that she was talking. She reaching up with her little arms clinging to his chest shuddering with joy. "Ya found me..." Collin almost didn't here the "Aww" from the crowd.

Collin looked down at her to see a large piece of the egg shell resting on her head like a helmet. When he took it off he was fresh out of shock from the day he had. On her was where she sported blazing red hair just like him. It was wavy and was long enough to reach her neck. Seeing it reminded him when he grew his hair out once remembering that it was just as wavy.

Collin looked at Toby with tired eyes. "Really?" Gabriel's long tail came up to wrap around one of his arms. There was more red hair at the tip.

Toby smiled. "When some mana beings, like Gabriel there, have a bond with someone special they'll take on characteristics of that person. Even down to the accent it looks like."

"Well, the red hair does make her cuter." Gabriel developed a light blush on her cheeks. "Are you hungry, Gabby? You've been in your egg for a long time."

Gabriel turned up her nose and shook her head. "Nope." But a growl from her tummy said otherwise. She looked away as her pride got shot down for the first time.

Gabriel was about to cry when someone handed him a baby bottle full of formula. Collin looked up to see a white dragoness with a baby bag in her other arm. "Here," she said. When Collin took it she pulled out another one setting it on the bar next to him. "Go ahead and take them. Mine's already starting on solid foods."

"Thank you," Collin said. He held up the bottle to Gabriel which she took without a fuss.

"What did I tell ya?" Erik said proudly. "Ya can't argue with the atmosphere here."

***

"OH MY GOD, COLLIN!! SHE'S ADORABLE!!" Amber shouted through Collin's computer in a video chat.

Collin chuckled as he held Gabriel in his arms sitting on his bed feeding her the other bottle he was given. "Aye, that she is. Gabby, say 'hi' to our friend, Amber." he said softly.

Gabriel popped the bottle out of her mouth and looked at the screen at the other female. She started feeling something at the pit of her stomach the longer she looked at the female. Her eyebrows furrowed as she began to glare at the lynx. Her lips parted showing off a set of small, sharp canines and let she let out a rather cute growl.

Amber couldn't help herself as she let out a squeal of delight at how cute Gabriel was and wiggled around in her chair. "OH, she is so cuuuute! I just want to eat her up!"

"Oi!" Collin warned Gabriel. She looked up at in time to get her nose flicked. "Bad girl! You don't treat way."

"But... but, Daddy..." she tried to say but Collin stopped her.

"No 'buts.' Apologize!"

Looked at Amber through the laptop. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely with a roll of her Rs.

Amber smiled. "I forgive you. She's got a fire in her. What happened with the curator?"

"He asked me if he could keep the egg shells and left with them," Collin said. "I think he's probably testin' 'em with a sledge hammer by now." Amber laughed. "Seriously. When I was diggin', I hit the egg with my shovel a few times and there wasn't a scratch on it."

"Wow!" She wanted to say "Damn!" but didn't because of Gabriel.

Suddenly Collin's phone started ringing. He had set it to ring in a certain tune when his office called , which was playing.

"Ah, crrrrrud!" Collin said really rolling his R getting a giggle from Gabriel. "Hang on." He picked up the phone. "Who am I coverin'?" he said in the phone annoyed. Suddenly his expression changed to surprise as he listened. "Oh, geez! Is he alright?... Good. Sure I'll cover for him. Where's his client?" He made a writing gesture to Amber who got a pen and paper on her end. His office gave him the address and he repeated it for her to write down. "Okay, thanks. I'll be there as soon as I can." He hung up the phone and Amber read off the address while he plugged it into his cell phone's GPS. "Gotta go. The guy that was scheduled for tonight got in an accident earlier. He slid off the road and hit a light post head-on. He's okay but the hospital wants to keep him overnight to be sure."

Amber nodded. "Okay. Oh, by the way, my parents said they would be happy to come to Thanksgiving."

"Great! I'll let Nana know. I'll talk to you later."

After Collin turned his computer off he set Gabriel on the bed and went over to his closet. She watched as he pulled out a fleece blanket.

"What's Thanksgin'?" Gabriel asked.

Collin placed the blanket on the bed. "Nana can explain it a lot better than I can."

"Nana?" she asked cutely.

She's the sheep that was with us earlier." He sets her on the blanket and starts to wrap her in it. "I'm goin' to drop you off at her place and pick you up in the mornin'." He picks her up and heads out the door into the chilly air.

"But, Daddy, I wanna go!"

Collin set her in the passenger seat of his car and put the seatbelt on. "And I wish you could but that's against the rules. I could get in big trouble if I take you with me."

"Okay..."

The drive to Nana's apartment building was pretty quiet. Collin was hoping he didn't upset Gabriel because that would have been one hell of a start he thought. He knew that at her age it would be bad to hurt her as it could hurt them both in the long run. He had to make his next actions count.

They pulled up to the building and Nana buzzed them in. Collin explained the situation and handed Gabriel over to her.

"Have a good night, Collin," Nana said.

"I'll try to," he said.

"Good night, Daddy," Gabriel finally said.

Collin smiled hearing her say that and combed his fingers through her soft hair. "Good night, Gabby. I'll see you in the morning." He kissed her cheek and closed the door behind him as he left.

***

The next morning, Collin buzzed Nana's apartment at the front door. She let him in but it took longer than usual to reach her. He finally knocked on her door after ten minutes longer than it usually takes him. Nana opened the door to see him leaning against the door frame looking exhausted.

"Collin, what happened?" she asked.

Collin stood in the doorway pointing at her. "Don' ya dare lose yer sanity, Nana. Because, if ya do, I swear ta God I will throw ya in a nursin' home."

Nana knew he was serious from how thick his accent got. "I expect ya to." She stepped aside letting him in. "How did you get that cut on your cheek?" She closed the door pointing to a square mirror hanging at eye level.

"What?!" He looked in the mirror to see a red line on his left cheek. "She actually cut me! I thought I got out of the way of that kitchen knife. No wonder it itches."

"Did ya report it?" She placed a hand on his head and her fingers flinched when she felt a bump.

"Apple. I think she played softball when she younger. And yes I did report her. My life was in danger and they told me I could sit in my car but I had to stay on the property. That woman kept demandin' for either the guy I replaced for the night or her dead husband."

"Well you can relax now. C'mon, there's a plate of steak an' eggs with your name on it."

Collin gave Nana a tired smile. He walked through her apartment and saw boxes stacked against the walls as she was just about ready to move. He walked up to the table to see a lone plate waiting for him. The aroma from the still sizzling steak made his mouth water. He groaned as he took a seat. He inhaled deeply detecting some spices on the steak.

"Oh, this smells great, Nana. Thank you."

"That it is. But I'm the wrong person to be thankin'." She turned to her bedroom door. "C'mon out, sweety."

Collin looked to see a little blue dragoness step into view. She looked to be about 5 or 6 years old wearing a simple white dress. But her give-away was her red hair and green eyes.

Collin sat shocked in his chair. "Ga... Gabby? Is that you?"

She spun around on one foot presenting herself. He spotted the knuckles of her folded wings coming up through the collar of her dress. "Welcome back, Daddy," she said sweetly which made his heart flutter.

"You are so adorable."

She turned to the side to hide her blush. He saw that her hair hasn't changed. It grew just enough to stay proportionate to what it was when he last saw her last night.

"I felt you in trouble, Daddy," she said quietly. "I felt it and I couldn't sleep."

Not knowing what else to do, Collin slipped out of his chair onto his knees and pulled his little dragoness into a hug. "Well I'm fine now."

"Not yet..." She pulled back a little and kissed his cheek right on his cut.

Collin had that warm and fuzzy feeling going as his daughter kissed his injury. His cheek tingled as the cut was stimulated, but it wasn't an annoying itch. It felt very pleasant. Gabriel then pulled her lips away and started to lick along the cut. He felt nearly paralyzed by the pleasant sensation.

Gabriel finished her tongue bath and put three of her fingers in her mouth. She swirled her tongue around and pulled them out coated in saliva. When Collin noticed the tingling on his cheek went away she already reached behind his head massaging the lump from the thrown apple. The lump throbbed painfully before becoming the same pleasant feeling.

When Gabriel finished with the massage she pulled away smiling. Collin reached back to find the lump only to feel her saliva in his hair. His scalp had already leveled out.

Collin looked at the little dragon curiously. "Yer amazin'. How did ya know ya could do that?"

"Aye, my mother was a healer," she said. "She's with me showing things gradually. Now get ta eatin'." She stood him up and shoved him back into his chair. "Its getting cold. And in case you were wonderin', this is how I cooked it..." She took in a small breath only to turn to her side and puff out a small fireball.

Collin cocked an eyebrow at her at her display and looked at his plate. A part of him thought how unappealing it was. The rest was of him was interested by it and he didn't want to be rude so he cut a piece. The moment he put it in his mouth he experienced perfection. It was as if it was cooked on the grill with the right amount of char on the surface while still remaining tender and juicy on the inside.

After taking another bite Collin said, "This is so good, Gabby! You should help Nana at Thanksgiving."

Gabriel put her hands on her hips and grinned. "Aye. I already planed on it."

That afternoon, Collin pulled into his driveway with a sleepy Gabriel in the passenger seat. He opened her door wrapping her in the blanket he used last night. When he picked her up in his arms she unconsciously grasped his coat and pressed her head into his shoulder.

Collin yawned. "Oi, what a night." He reached in his coat pocket fishing for his house key. "What a night for both of us..." He unlocked the door and carried Gabriel over to the couch.

Gabriel caught his yawn showing baby teeth that were just like a human child's with the exception of slightly longer canine fangs. "Aye. That sucked."

Collin smiled in amusement as he set her on the couch so he can take his coat off. After he hung it up he kneeled down in front of his dragon daughter brushing her bangs on her forehead. "Has Nana already given you a bath?"

"Aye..." she yawn again. "This mornin' before you came to pick me up."

"Okay." His eyelids were starting to droop. "I don't know what you're goin' to do, but I need to get to bed 'cause I gotta go to work again tonight. Just make sure you keep the noise down."

She looked through her own tired eyes with what could be a glare. "Daddy, I didn't sleep last night... I am too tired to do anything... Can I sleep with you?"

He smiled as he wrapped his arms around the Ancient Dragon picking her back up. "Sure."

The Irish lad carried his dragoness into the bedroom. He set her on the bed letting her crawl under the covers. He went over to the closet pulling out another pillow tossing it at Gabriel hitting her in the face. He laughed as he came back to the bed. He sat on the edge as he striped down to put his pajamas on and felt the same pillow plop against the back of his head. He looked back with a funny glare to see her sticking her tongue at him.

"It smells funny anyway!" she said.

Collin smelled the pillow realizing that it smells like Amber's shampoo. "Aye, that would be lavender. Amber stayed the night the other night," he said getting her worked up.

"No!" She rushed over to him wrapping herself around an arm while puffing her cheeks. "Daddy is mine!"

"Gabriel," he said getting her attention. She looked up at him to see disappointment in his face. "You need to cut that out and get control of yourself." He rubbed her affectionately. "I believe your mother would agree with me. You can't go through life clinging to only one person. That's one of many paths to self-destruction. I'm goin' to invite her over her over and I want to make friends with her. Can you do that for me?"

"Aye... I can try."

"That's a good girl," he smiled. He reached over to his night stand and opened a drawer pulling out a white shirt. "Here. Change into this. If you're growin' this fast, you're goin' to need somethin' to keep ya modest."

Gabriel took the shirt and Collin turned away giving her some privacy. When she finished she crawled onto his chest as she was finally spent. His shirt looked like a pajama top on her. He stood pulling the blanket aside to set her down so he can finish changing himself and set his alarm clock.

"Lavender smells nice..." Gabriel said with he face buried in the pillow.

"If you like it," he said crawling in after her, "I'll pick up some of that shampoo for you."

Gabriel let out a big yawn. "I love you, Daddy."

Collin caught her yawn and was about to respond until he saw that she was out like a light. Seeing no other reason to stay awake, he pulled her close and drifted to sleep.

***

Collin groaned awake as his alarm clock was once again the one responsible. He reached over to turn it off and rolled onto his back laying alone while he woke up.

His eyes suddenly jumped open. Alone? He looked next to him to see the extra pillow with no head on it. He sat up ready to out of bed to look for Gabriel. That was until the pleasant smell of breakfast met his nose waking him up a little more. He closed his eyes taking in the wonderful aroma. Eggs, cheese, and bacon.

Collin's mouth started to water and he finally got out of his bed. He roamed into his bathroom taking care of business washing his hands afterwards. He took a couple minutes to brush his teeth before he left.

As Collin came out of the bathroom the aroma got stronger and he could hear the bacon sizzling in the pan. He walked carefully across the living room hoping to catch the little dragon off guard.

He poked his head around the threshold looking toward the stove and his eyes were as big as dinner plates and his jaw almost fell off at what he saw. Gabriel had at least tripled in height probably coming up to his shoulders looking like a teenager. From the looks of it she grew up taller but not wider. The way a pair of his sweat pants came down to let her tail out it looked like her hips haven't flared out that much. She was still wearing the shirt he gave and it looked like it fit her form better while still looking a little big on her which told him that not much happened in the chest area. Her wings were still little triangles coming up through her collar. She had the body he liked and it was turning him on.

Collin blinked and shook his head furiously getting those thoughts out of his head. He felt his pants starting to get uncomfortable and took a couple deep breaths until his growing erection came down. He looked at her and grinned going back to his original plan. He carefully came into the kitchen walking on his toes. As he came a little closer he heard Gabriel humming a little tune. He tried to keep his eye on her but his focus went to her hips as they casually swayed swinging her sleek tail lazily. He felt his arousal coming back as he watched. Just as he was about to reach her and surprise her the very tail he was watching came up pressing its fuzzy tip against his forehead stopping him in his tracks.

"Now, Daddy," she warned in a playful tone. She looked over her shoulder and smirked mischievously at him. Her voice became more refined and her green eyes sparkled like emeralds. "Please tell me you washed those grubby hands of yours." She really rolled the R when she said "grubby."

"I did," he said defensively. "When I was done in the bathroom."

She turned to face him fully and put her hands on her hip. "I was talkin' about a minute ago while you were watching me." What she said caused him to raise his eyebrows. "Thought I didn't notice? I could smell your arousal. You took on the same scent you had an hour ago. Mother told me about it." She placed a finger on his chest. "So I take it you approve how I turned out. Don' worry though, its not like the feelin' isn't mutual." She drew her finger across and off his chest pointing to the living room. "Go have a seat. Your breakfast is ready." She turned back to the stove and her tail went down one side of his face and under his chin tickling him with the fuzzy tip like a feather.

Collin just blinked. Shocked from what just happened and just stood there. The only thing that went through his head was to obey her. So he turned towards the living room.

"You were right, you know," Gabriel said. Collin looked at her to see her looking sorrowful. "My mother agreed with what you said earlier. I'm sorry."

"Your mother is in the air guiding ya, isn't she? What's her name?"

Gabriel closed her eyes for a moment. "Flimua."

Collin looked into the air. "Thank you for helping her understand, Ms. Flimua. But if yer goin' to make her grow this fast, I'm going ta miss out on being a father!" His joke made Gabriel laugh. The weird thing, though, was that air reverberate as if it was laughing too. After everything that's happened so far he figured it was Flimua.

After Collin finished the delicious breakfast prepared by his teenage dragoness, the Irish lad got his shower and dressed in his scrubs. Gabriel watched as he got around. She looked back at the memories her mother provided for her so that she can help make a better future.

Gabriel's eyes glazed over as she peered deep into the past. What she saw was once a utopia. Dragons flying through the air without a care in the world on the grandest of wings. Other dragons with and without wings going about their business accompanied by humans working together toward a better tomorrow.

Gabriel...

A particular couple caught Gabriel's attention as they walked out of the city into a field of grass. It was a dragon male holding hands with a human female. They sat down on top of a hill watching the sky.

Gabriel...

There was a funny look, though, on the female's face as she watched the sky. A hand slipped behind her back grabbing something.

Gabriel...

The male dragon looked down at his companion with a smile that was filled with care. She smiled back at him but her's was filled and she flashed a knife at him.

"Gabriel!" Collin shouted with a snap of his fingers.

"Huh? Wha-?" Gabriel shook her head and looked up at him. Her eyes started to well up. "My... My people... Daddy!" She threw herself into his arms.

"There, there... I know," he said holding her tight. "Humans were much more primitive in those days. Always takin' what they don't have, forgettin' about the one's who matter most. Is that what you saw?"

"Aye..." she said with a sniffle. "They were just sitting in a field of grass..."

"And then the human woman stabbed the male dragon with a knife? I saw it too."

"How?"

"I think you did it unconsciously. But I think it shows how strong our bond is."

She looked up at him with dark streaks on her cheeks. "Daddy, do you love me?"

He was taken aback a little by the question but didn't let it show. "Of course I do."

Her arms started to squeeze him around his waist. "I wanna hear you say it."

Collin hesitated. He knew they were just words and everyone said them all the time whereas some say it don't mean it, but deep down he knew they were binding. He did love her, he knew that, but the only people he ever said that to were his parents and Nana. The idea of saying it someone new was what made him hesitate.

Collin sighed as he finally let go. He gently brushed her away from her forehead and kissed it. "I love you, Gabriel. I really do, but I'm going to be late."

Gabriel giggled. "Five more minutes?"

"Now." She slowly let him go. "Given how big you are now I'm going give you a choice. You can either stay here and look after the house, or I can drop you off at Nana's. Which is it?"

Gabriel thought for a moment. "I'll stay."

"Okay. I'll have Amber drop by to check up on you."

"Oi!" she said sounding disappointed. "You said you loved me!"

"I did. It'll give you two a chance to get along. I'm out of here." He kissed her cheek before he hurried out the door.

"Damn it..." she sighed. She had hoped that she could hold off on meeting Amber until she was sure she had him all to herself. Just thinking about him caused a tickle down below.

Gabriel shook her head getting those thoughts out of her head. She turned from the door to see the rest of the house. She didn't know what it was suppose to look like, but she could tell its been a while since he really cleaned the place. There was enough dust on the end table between the couch and the recliner that she could write in it. The dishes were piled up and she felt fortunate that she found the pan she used for breakfast.

Gabriel huffed with determination. She brought her hands together and cracked her knuckles. She forced her head to the side forcing her neck to crack. "I see now, Mother. He's so busy taking care of others he doesn't have time to take care for himself." She felt her heart flutter as she put her hands over it. "You're right. I think I am in love with him." She grinned and got to work on the house.

***

The next day, Collin pulled into his into his driveway around 10 o'clock, three hours late. He groaned as he threw the car in Park. "I swear tha man is a suicide bomber!"

Collin got out of his car and caught himself before he slammed the door. He coughed from the tobacco smoke on his scrubs and coat. He walked up to his front door thinking how good a shower was going to be when it opened for him and a cute lynx stood there welcoming him home.

"You're late... Ugh!" she covered her nose as she caught the tobacco coming off of him. "What the hell?"

"That's my smoking client that's on oxygen after a morning drive around the city. He prefers pipes and I've had the pleasure of marinatin' in that shit."

"Damn! How much does he use?" She said as she as she stepped aside for him.

"He over-stuffs his pipe and smokes all day as I'm told. He smoked the whole trip with a portable O2 tank plugged in his nose. I told him he's going to blow himself up but he doesn't believe me." He passes the kitchen hearing someone humming and dishes being done. "Is that Gabby?"

Amber shoves him to his bedroom. "Take your shower before you see her. You'll only repel her."

Collin looked around at the now clean and organized home. "The place looks great, Amber."

"It was like this when I got here." She stopped him in his bathroom and held a hand out to him. "Strip. Now!"

Collin grinned as he started his scrub top off. He wasn't surprised that Gabriel cleaned the house. "I thought I was taking a shower before we got that far." He took his pants and underwear off and handed everything over.

She swiped his clothes from him and said, "Smartass! And hurry up in there. Gabriel will have your food ready soon."

"I hope she didn't surprise you when you showed up."

"Oh my God, she did! Imagine that little hatchling growing into an elegant dragoness in just a couple days."

Collin's face twisted in confusion. "Excuse me?" But Amber closed the door on him taking his scrubs to get washed.

Collin looked stunned at his bathroom door. Elegant? He had the urge to burst out of there just to see what Amber was talking about. But knowing her like he did she would probably swipe at him with her claws and force him back in the bathroom before he could catch a glimpse. He smiled as he sighed in defeat and turned the water on.

Collin came out of his bathroom a half hour later with a bit of pink in his complexion. During his shower he completely forgot about seeing what Gabriel looked like and furiously scrubbed himself down trying to get the tobacco smoke off. Smelling himself he sighed in relief now that it was gone.

After getting dressed in something comfortable, Collin stepped into the kitchen and sat down at the table across from Amber who brought a magazine from home. A plate of his favorite steak and eggs was set down in front of him by a blue hand. The steak was cut into strips.

He looks up at Gabriel. "Thanks, Gab-b-b-by?" His jaw was locked open this time.

"Good mornin', Collin," Gabriel said with a rich, mature voice that tickled his ears.

Collin just sat there with his jaw hanging open drinking her in with his eyes. She towered over him at what looked to be at least 6 feet not counting a pair of black horns that were sprouting from her hair. She wore an apron to cover the top of her somewhat narrow frame which looked sexy on her. With her back bare it allowed her still underdeveloped wings to relax while still folded in. With her new height the house pants looked like Capris leaving her ankles bare. She was still flat-chested but her hips filled out nicely. Amber wasn't kidding when she said "elegant."

As he looked on, he noticed that her arms had some muscle definition. They weren't very big compared to the rest of her but it was enough to reflect how strong her race was while still remaining feminine. His eyes drifted to her chest and down to her stomach as he wondered what she looked like under that apron.

"Oi!" she said getting his attention and pointed up with her thumb. "I'm up here."

He looked up into those beautiful emerald eyes of hers. "Sorry. When Amber said you were elegant, she wasn't exaggeratin'."

"W-wow," she said as she blushed furiously. "Thank you. H-hurry up an' eat before it gets cold."

"Here, Casanova," Amber teased. She placed a box on the table sliding it in front of him.

"I am NOT Casanova," he said also blushing. "For 2 reasons! One, Gabriel is my daughter. And two, I'm smarter than him because he died from HIV from sleeping with too many women." He looked down at the box she gave him. It was in wrapping paper with a ribbon. "What's this?"

"A birthday present, duh!"

Collin smacked his forehead. "Damn it, I forgot again! And I was going on about it the other day. Thank you." He took a bite of his steak and eggs savoring the divine flavor. "This is delicious, Gabby. And the house looks great."

Gabriel only smiled and blew him a kiss.

"If only other people could see in me what you two see." He started opening Amber's gift and saw a white button-up shirt. He pulled it out to see that it was a lab coat. "Thanks, Amber."

"That's no costume. That's a real lab coat from where we picked up our scrubs."

"Its great, Amber." His face beamed. "Thank you."

"Gabby has something for you, too."

He looked up at Gabriel. "Aside from the clean house?"

Gabriel's face took on a sultry look as she gazed back at him. "That's right." She strolled over to his side while swaying her hips and slid onto his lap. As big as she was, she was fairly light like an avian. "Its me... Your little lass..." She brought herself down as far as she could and wrenched his head up so she could plant her lips on his.

Collin was paralyzed in place. Her lips were sweet and bold as honey as if she kissed it before him. He could smell the smooth lavender in her hair that seemed to suit her. She was so beautiful to him as he gave in closing his eyes and gently wrapped his arms around her. She was so accurate to Rurik's description of Ancient Dragons being somewhat similar to humans even right down to the cute nose. They forgot there was someone else in the house.

Amber watched with a smile of interest thinking that could have been her in his lap. "I'm getting more and more jealous the longer you do that."

Gabriel slowly pulled away from Collin. When they separated he gasped in disappointment. She looked deeply into his eyes before placing a finger on his lips. "Don't go away," she said softly. "There's somethin' I want to ask you." She got up and walked into the living room with a sway in her hips.

Collin sat in his chair like a statue. After a moment he finally blinked coming back to the table and shook his head to clear the fog. "What just happened? Did I do what I think I did?"

Amber tried to hold back her laughter. "The Force is strong with this one! She got mesmerized like a moth to a flame."

"Its not funny! I'm suppose to take care of her, not the other way around." He looks down at his plate and pushes it away. "I think I lost my apatite..."

"Ya better not have!" Gabriel cried from the living room.

"Face it," Amber said. "Your girl is taking care of you. There are some things a man just has to accept. This is one of them."

"Found it," Gabriel said coming back into the kitchen. She was holding a picture frame and showed it to Collin as she sat in his lap again. It was a picture of his sixth Christmas with his family. "I probably know the answer, but are these two your parents?"

"Aye," he said softly. His voice started to waver with joy and sorrow seeing the picture again. He handed it over to Amber. "Nana was the one who took that picture."

"Of all the times we hung out you never mentioned them," Amber said looking at the photo. "The only thing I hear is what others say and they beat around the bush."

"Aye. Its a little hard to talk about, but both of them died after that photo was taken."

Both girls were shocked. "What happened?"

"You might not know it just by looking at her, but Nana is a breast cancer survivor. Got herself checked every year until she got, and she stills checks to this day."

"That's cool, but what does that have to do with your parents?"

"I'm gettin' to that. Ya see, my mum had breast cancer, too, but she wasn't so lucky."

Gabriel gasped. "Oh no..."

"Both my dad and Nana begged my mum to get tested, but her pride got in the way. She told them she didn't want to live the fear of uncertainty. The cancer she had was aggressive as it somehow skipped the rest of her organs and went straight to her heart killing her in her sleep. Its important to get tested for diseases no matter how big or how slim the chances are."

"What happened to your dad?"

"My dad became so depressed that got drunk two months later. He drifted into the oncoming lane and got plowed by a semi truck. He died instantly."

"Oh damn. I am so sorry, Collin," Amber said taking his hand in hers. "I have to get going, my class starts in an hour and a half. I wish you both the best." She smiled and winked before she left leaving Gabriel giggling and Collin with burning cheeks.

***

That evening, Collin pulled up to Nana's apartment building so he could drop off Gabriel. After he got out he opened Gabriel's door like the gentleman he was. She stepped out and groaned as she stretched all of her limbs, including her wings and tail, as the car never had had full-grown Ancient Dragons in mind. She was still dressed in the apron because she loved how it freed her wings.

Collin watched as Gabriel stretched her wings out fully. They came out as far as her finger tips but they still weren't ready to be used yet as they needed to be bigger by about of what they are now.

"Ya ready yet?" he asked.

Gabriel cracked her neck. "Sorry, but it was a little cramped."

Collin huffed in amusement as he walked up to the intercom. He pushed Nana's buzzer and waited for her to answer. When she did Collin announced himself and Gabriel saying he has a surprise.

When Nana let them in, Gabriel looked at Collin and said, "I hope you get a new job soon. Those bills looked nasty."

"Everything went up again! But I'll be able ta pay them if nothing happens in the next two weeks and payday." The moment he said that he felt his heart sink a little like might have put a jinx on himself.

Collin felt Gabriel put her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay? You slowed a bit there."

Collin felt his foreboding melt away when she spoke to him. He smiled up at her. "I'm fine. I'll just have to cancel my online dating account."

They reached Nana's apartment and knocked. Collin pulled Gabriel off to the side keeping her a surprise. When Nana opened the door she looked around spotting the elegant dragoness before she came to up to hug her. Collin excused himself to go to work as Nana was saying how much of an angel Gabriel looked.

"Have a good night, Collin," Nana said. "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks, Nana. Good night, ladies."

On the way back down to his car Collin felt that bad feeling return as his heart sank a little again. He couldn't shake the feeling this time as he got back in his car. Shortly after he was on his way his cell phone rang the tone for the on-call for his office.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Collin?" a female voice said. "Are you on your way to Mrs. Smith's house?"

"Aye."

"I tried to call your house but you weren't there."

"Aye. I was droppin' my daughter off at my Nana's place."

"Since when did you have a kid?"

"Since the other day when she hatched," he said with a bit of irritation in his voice. "What's going on?"

"You may want to pull off to the side of the road first."

"Why? I'm going to be late."

"No you won't..."

Collin raised an eyebrow a little confused at what she said. He put his phone down and eased his car off to the side of the road. When he put it in Park he felt like this call was part of the bad feeling he was getting.

"Okay," he said.

"Okay. Mrs. Smith was just admitted to a nursing home."

For some reason he felt relieved to hear that. "What happened?"

"She's been causing problems for everyone, even us at the office. She called us up this morning demanding who we were and where her late husband was. Her daughter admitted her when she was mistaken for a burglar and almost got struck."

"Good Lord! Is the daughter alright?"

"She was a little shook up when it happened but she's fine. Hang on, Collin, I got another call coming in." Collin listened to a cheery tune when he was put on hold.

She came back a few moments later. "Sorry about that." Her voice sounded strained like she was trying to keep from crying but Collin could pick up on it.

"What's wrong?" he asked feeling his stomach sink a little further and the felt thick with dread.

"Its... Its Mr. White, your other client... I just got a call that his house blew up..."

"AH WARNED THA' BASTARD!!" His accent got thicker that it ever had before.

"I know, Collin. And you weren't the only one either."

"So then why did we have to put up with him?"

"He threatened to sue us for neglect if we dropped him as a client. He claimed he had connections in high places."

"Bull shit!"

"That's what we thought. We checked his background to find that he's in court SEVEN time. He was acquitted each time by the same judge."

Collin groaned loudly. His feelings for the man were conflicting to say the least. It served him right to get blown up, but as a person he knew it wasn't right.

Collin felt his anger start to come down. He sighed and asked, "So what do I do now?"

"Go home. You've earned it."

"That's fine, but my bills came in today. Is there anyone new I can look after?"

"I'm... I'm sorry, Collin," she said sincerely. "There isn't anyone else."

Collin's heart and stomach hit bottom as her words hit him like a ton of bricks. The venom of failure coursed through him as his arm could barely hold up his own phone.

"And it looks like all our other clients are covered for the rest of the month. I really am sorry, Collin."

after her apology, she tried to say something encouraging but couldn't register anything she was saying like they were at both ends of a long tunnel. Only one thing went through his mind: he failed. He couldn't provide for himself, and with Gabriel to take care of he was sunk.

"So... there's nothin'?" Collin sounded like he wasn't all there.

"No. I'm sorry."

"Yeah..." he said before he hung up.

Collin's mind was a blank. His body ran on impulse as he put the car in gear and made a U-turn not even thinking that there might have been another car coming. He was fortunate that there wasn't but he didn't feel it as he made his way back into town.

Whatever force was driving him around he just let it happen until he finally came to a stop. He slowly blinked as the stop registered after a moment. He looked up to see that he stopped at Erik's Tavern. He got out and walked to the door in a somewhat slow, zombie-like stride.

The bell hanging on the door rang catching Erik's attention as Collin shuffled in. He instantly recognized what happened to the Irish lad when he sat down as the owner has seen it many times before.

"I know that look," the Rottweiler said coming up to Collin. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I didn' lose my job," Collin said. "Just my clients."

"Well that's just as bad. Here..." He set down a shot glass and grabbed a bottle of Bailey's pouring it into the glass. He set the bottle in front of him. "On the house. Happy Birthday, lad."

Collin's eyes drifted down to the glass and just stared at it blankly.

"This feeling sucks, doesn't it?" Erik said. "I've seen enough of it to actually feel it myself. Do yourself a favor and try not to let it happen again."

"I had nothin' to do with... " Collin said. "One got admitted to a nursin' home and the other ignited his oxygen blowing himself up."

"I heard about the explosion. Well, try not to have this feeling again, if you can help it." He pat Collin's shoulder before walking away.

If I can help it, he thought. Slowly he had coherent thoughts coming into his mind. If I can help it... A single thought came together in his head. A dark thought.

The bell chimed again as someone came in. "Hey, Collin," a familiar voice said. Toby came up next to him and sat down. "You look like hell. Are you okay?" He reaches to put a hand on his shoulder.

"TOBY, DON'T TOUCH HIM!!" Erik cried.

It was too late as the moment Toby's hand touched Collin that he felt a dark aura repel him sending him flying like he was caught the shockwave of an explosion in an action movie. He slammed against the wall beside the door before collapsing to the floor. His body shivered as his mind's eye saw the turmoil Collin was experiencing, the events that had just happened that caused it, and what he is about to do soon.

Collin, not even flinching from what had just happened, stood up and moved towards the door. Toby saw him and realized his head was in his path. Still needing a few more seconds to recover, Toby flipped his hood over his head just before Collin's foot came down on him. The foot touched the material but instead of feeling the skull underneath, it gave way as if nothing was there coming down to the tile floor.

The bell chimed again as Collin left the tavern. Toby heard it and flipped his hood back revealing that his head was just fine.

"What happened?" Erik asked as Toby stood up on shaky legs.

"Nothing good," Toby said. He grabbed the bar counter to keep his balance. "He's financially sunk. He feels that he's failed to provide."

"Well its not like its the end of the world."

"It is for him." He eyed Erik with doom written all over his face. "He's going to commit suicide!"

"WHAT?!"

"I saw hi thoughts when I touched him. He took your advice the wrong way and now he's heading to the hospital to jump off the roof!"

"You gotta stop him!"

"I can't intervene!" He stomped his feet to stop his legs from shaking. "But I know who can." He dashed out the door and disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile at Nana's apartment, Gabriel finished helping putting the old sheep's boxes off to the side as she was finally ready for the move. Gabriel came into the living room with one more box setting down with the others.

"Thank you so much, Gabriel," Nana said coming out of the kitchen. "The movers comin' tomorrow and I don' think I could've finished this fast without you help."

"Aye, its no trouble at all," the young dragoness said sweetly.

Nana hands her a bottle of cold water. "Ya know, Collin really needs help, even though he'll never admit to it."

Gabriel took a swig before placing the bottle on the back of her neck. "Aye. He's so busy taking care of others that he forgets to take care of himself. I cleaned his house from top to bottom last night."

Nana gave a dreamy sigh. "You are so young and beautiful. On behalf of his parents, you have my blessin's."

She looked at the old sheep curiously. "For?" She brought the bottle to her lips again.

"To marry Collin, of course."

The mouthful of water Gabriel had came back out in a messy mist spraying right over Nana's head. Some landing in her wool. "Excuse me?!" she coughed. "Marry?! I don' think that's... I-I mean I..." She suddenly stopped her rambling as Nana saw her ears twitch a little. Then she buried her face in her hands. "Stop it, Mother! You're both embarrassing me!" She slowly brought her hands down revealing a deep blush across her face. She opened her eyes and they sparkled like real emeralds in the light. Her lips curled into a smile that could melt even the coldest heart. Even her horns shimmered with an obsidian brilliance. "Thank you..."

Nana grabbed her cell phone and quickly took a picture. "Now there's a blushin' bride if I ever saw one. C'mon. I still have a couple bakin' sheets out, so let's bake some cookies. My Collin loves chocolate chip, especially when they 're this big." She puts her thumb and forefinger together and they start laughing.

Their moment was interrupted by something knocking on the window startling them. They looked to see Toby on the fire escape with the look of urgency on his face. Before anyone could let him in he fazed through the window like it wasn't even there.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion, ladies," he said planting his feet on the floor. "But this is a matter of life and death!"

"What's going on?" Nana asked.

"Its Collin. He's going to kill himself." The girls gasped in shock and disbelief. "He lost the two clients he had and now he feels like he failed so badly that he can't fix it. He's going to jump off the hospital roof!"

"So what are you ding here?" Gabriel demanded.

"Its not my destiny to intervene, Gabriel. Its yours. You need to show him that there's still things to live for."

She was royally pissed now. "Oh I'll do more than tha'. I'll beat it into his fucking head! If he thinks he's going to leaving me alone in this world, he's sorely mistaken."

"Good. The hospital is straight that away," he said pointing out the window. "You'll be able to catch him if you fly."

Gabriel growled with irritation. "There's a problem. My wings need another day or two before I'm ready to fly."

"Fuck! Alright, give me your hands." He brought his hands up to receive hers, but one of them looked red and the palm was a little charred.

"What happened to your hand?"

"There's no time. Please!"

Gabriel finally put her hands in his and immediately felt a tingling sensation in them. It sort of felt like her mana was leaving out of one hand, cycling through him and coming back through her other hand.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Making someone develop faster requires a lot of mana. More than I can generate. I'm synchronizing with you so I can use yours so I add it with mine. Here we go!"

Gabriel could feel a surge flow into her and to her wings. They tingled as the power was directed to them. She could almost feel it as every cell multiplied and give shape just how it was mapped in her DNA.

When Toby finished, Gabriel's brand new, magnificent wings reached from the top of her head down to her ankles. She unfolded them to reveal that the space they covered was just as grand. Each wing looked to be about 8 feet in length. She grinned with triumph as she beat them once feeling the power in them.

Nana gasped. "My goodness..."

"Very good," Toby said a bit out of breath. "Now go. Destiny is calling."

Gabriel nodded. As she stepped to the window she could feel her mother feeding her information on flying. She was shown images on the basics from speeding up and slowing down to maintaining long flights. She stepped out on to the fire escape feeling a little overwhelmed but quickly sorted out what she needed to reach Collin. She leaped over the railing and a single beat kept her airborne. It wasn't long before she got a feel for it and was soaring through the air like she was born for.

Nana came up to the window and watched Gabriel fly into the night air. "Y'know, I asked a hawk friend of mine what it was like watching her children fly for the first time. She told me it it was almost like watching them go to college. I think I get what she means."

"Hey, Nana, you still have Alexis' number, right?" Toby asked sounding very tired.

"Aye." She turned around to see him barely staying on his feet. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine. But could you call her? Tell her I'm crashing here tonight. She'll be a little pissed about it, but she'll understand." Before Nana could respond he fell forward landing face first on the floor.

nana approached him but stopped when she heard him snoring lightly. She smiled as she kneeled next to him and stroked his hair. "aye. I'll talk to her." Gabriel, please reach him before its too late. But first things first. She stood up and stormed over to the phone dialing a number.

As Gabriel soared through the air she couldn't help but enjoy the gift. The feel of the air brushing through her hair was washing rapidly down her body across her smooth scales. Each flap of her wings were felt in her powerful back muscles making it all the more enjoyable to slip through the wind.

Lights from below caught her attention before she lost herself. The hospital that Toby was talking about was below her and she could see someone standing by the edge of the roof. She flew lower and circled around to see that it was Collin. The look in his eyes were so blank.

Gabriel flew around once more before landing on the helicopter landing platform.

"Collin?" she called cautiously. "Did ya see me? I was flyin'."

"I wanted to work here..." Collin said absently.

"Collin?"

"I have been fillin' out every application for a CNA position but every one comes back saying that position has been filled..."

Gabriel could feel her heart sinking. "Collin, please turn around." She quietly took a step closer him, but he inched closer the edge as if he sensed her approach. "Don' do it! Please!"

"Not to worry, though. I have a note in my pocket that will hopefully shed some light on what they're doin'."

Now the dragoness was getting pissed. "Just because y'have a note doesn't mean anything will change. Did ya even think abou' who will be affected by this?"

"Everyone will be okay. Nana's all set, Amber's movin', and Gabriel is just going to live longer than me. She'll be fine..."

"No I won't!" Tears started to stream down her cheeks. "Yes, I'll live longer. But that's more of a reason to make great memories. Please, Collin, I don't want to be alone again! I love you!"

Collin froze as her words finally reached him. The fog in his head started to clear. The bright lights registered with his brain. He tried to remember what happened that lead to this place. All he could recall was his talk with Erik which was hazy to begin with.

"Collin, do ya even know where y'are?" Gabriel asked cautiously so she doesn't startle him. "Yer on the hospital rooftop. Take a few... steps... back."

Collin heard her but didn't understand what she was saying because the fog was still there. He could, however, hear the tone in her voice telling him could be in danger. He carefully inched his way back finding the loose roofing stones.

Collin managed to turn around and through the haze in his mind he could see the familiar shape of a tall, winged creature. "G... Gabriel?" Suddenly he was pulled by his shirt followed by a sharp strike across his face. The shock was enough to wake him up and clear his head. "Owww!"

"Are ya awake now, ya idiot?" She glared menacing at him.

"I... I hope so," he said shaking his head finally seeing the hospital roof. "How in the bloody hell did I get up here?" He looked up to see the pain her eyes and the dark streaks in on her cheeks.

"You were about to jump and kill yourself." She fell to her knees pushing her head against his chest. "I don't want to be alone anymore!"

Collin wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Oh God, what was I thinkin'? I am so sorry, Gabby." Tears started to run down his face as he thought about his friends and Nana crying at his funeral. "I'm so sorry. I keep forgettin' about the ones I still have in this world, not realizing how much I've been hurting them."

Gabriel looked up at him to see him smiling a genuine smile. "Collin..."

He gently cupped her face with both hands. "Aye, y'are a fighter alright. And its thanks to you that my eyes are open." He saw the look in her eyes change to a mix of irritation and disappointment. "What?"

He eyebrow twitched. "Are ya goin' ta kiss me already or are ya going to make like a soap opera and talk my ears off with romantic mush? I thought you'd get the hint when I came down on my knees so you can reach me."

Collin chuckled. "Oh, okay." He pulled her in passionately locking his lips with hers like she wanted. As they kissed, Collin felt a little disappointed. He wanted to build up to the kiss to make it more romantic. However, her impatience and his missed chance with Amber told him otherwise and he was NOT going to miss his chance with the one who now has his heart to fill the void. His dragoness, Gabriel.

Collin found himself in the same situation as with Amber as they had a complete blank of how they got to where they were when they found themselves in his house, in his bedroom.

Gabriel and Collin looked deep into each other's eyes, not as father and daughter, but as mates.

"Gabriel, are you sure about this?" he asked. "You only hatched days ago."

Gabriel smiled. "I am."

"I'll be gentle this time around. But after tonight I can't make any promises."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Collin guided her to the bed holding her hips and fell gently on the bed bringing her on top of him. She positioned themselves more fully on the bed as they shared a deep kiss. Her arms draped over his head making the kiss go even deeper. Both eyes closed and mouths opened to allow their tongues to interact. Gabriel's was longer and flexible and was able to push a bit further into the human's mouth. She moaned as his hands traced from her shoulders down to her hips and up to the base of her tail. He dipped his hands into her sweat pants pulling them down. He could feel the heat coming from her. She used her tail to move her pants lower until she was finally out of them and tossed them to the floor.

Collin could feel with his legs the inferno coming from her nether region, the slow trickle of her love juices landing on them. Gabriel ended the kiss as they both needed air and lifted herself onto her hands giving him more freedom nodding to the apron she was wearing. He looked at her questioning and she answered with her eyes. He reached behind her untying the strap letting it fall away. Slowly they rolled until she was on her back. He sat up on his knees and tossed the apron aside to beholding what now lay before him.

Gabriel did confirm that she did have small breasts, that was obvious. She also confirmed that she had light muscle definition in her abs. They were kind of stretched long ways as she had her thin frame and tall stature. Collin explored with his hands feeling her smooth scales and the hard muscles that lay below them until he went up to meet her breasts. Unlike Amber's breasts, Gabriel's were firm when he caressed them.

Gabriel's legs spread enough to grab his attention to show him what awaited him. Her sex was also firm to the touch ready to accept a healthy male for the first time and glistened with her feminine juices. Collin smiled, glad that he could arouse her this much with his exploring hands and his passionate kisses. She smiled back.

Gabriel sat up bringing into another kiss and started to help him out of his pants, slowly bringing them down to let his hardened member. She broke the kiss to look at it and was mesmerized as it pulsed with each heartbeat. She smiled and helped him take his shirt off kissing him again, putting both arms around him pulling him down with her, tongues wrestling the other to try and win against the other.

Once they broke their kiss again, Collin slid down, kissing at her breasts give each nipple a lick causing her to shiver as he kissed his way down to her belly. His hands slowly worked their way up her legs to her hips as he kneeled before her ready to be accepted. Her face was flushed. Collin smiled once more before lining himself with her moist lips and started to push inside.

As his head went slowly in, Collin found that she was warm almost hot. Hot, slick, and a little tightness was what he felt as he slowly went in, knowing that he would come up to the barrier that proved that she was a virgin. As he pushed forward, he stopped as finally reached that barrier. He looked down as he had at least another inch and half to go.

Gabriel cooed at the feeling of being filled. Her tail swayed back and forth on the bed.

"Gabriel," Collin said taking both her hands in his. "I'm not all the way in. I came up to your maidenhead. I want to warn you that it will hurt and I am right here for you."

"I understand." She wrapped her legs behind him keep him inside her.

Collin nodded and pulled back little before ramming inside her. Gabriel let out a silent scream as her cherry was popped and writhed around in white hot pain.

"I gotcha, Gabby! I gotcha!" he assured her keeping a firm hold in her hands.

The pain couldn't have subsided soon enough for her as she finally calmed down a few moments later.

"Are ya okay, Gabby?" he said softly. "We can stop now if you want." He started to pull out.

"No!" she shouted tightening her legs around him. "I... I wanted this. I love you."

"Alright." She loosened her legs around so he can move.

Ever so slowly, he started to retreat from her wet folds, she closed her eyes as a low moan escaped her throat as the feeling of being emptied was felt as only the head remained inside her. He slowly pushed back in and heard a small wet slap as their hips met once again. A moderate growl grew from he dragon's throat as she clenched her whole body, making the human above her moan out as he repeated slowly pulling out of her. When she opened her eyes again, Collin could start to see something that looked primal in them.

"Collin... Harder..." she said in a poor attempt to keep a growl out of her voice.

Collin only groaned, half hearing her as he started to pull out and slam back in, causing her grunt and moan in bliss. She let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around his back. She gripped his back to the point where only left red lines across his scars, but thankfully not enough to draw blood this time.

Collin's thrusts slow but heavy, slowly pulling himself out before pushing forward hard causing the head board to hit the wall behind it. The bed shook as Gabriel's body quaked from the force he gave her. Her tail came up wrapping around his waist almost trying to cut off his air supply. But he didn't care, he was too focused in giving his mate a night of pleasure.

"Give it to me... Faster..." she said letting the growl in her voice as all her emotions mixed. Collin only grunted, going faster now as he moaned out.

Gabriel's hips started to rock with him, matching his speed and power making them both cry out as they felt their hips slap together. Wet sounds filled the air as Collin fell forward, clinging to his mate's chest as he slammed into her harder and harder, his lips locking with one of her nipples, the kiss wet and sloppy, saliva smeared all over her breast before going to the other one. Gabriel's eyes shot open as a strange feeling was coming from her loins. Her head leaned to the side as it felt like it was going to explode.

Collin sat up taking both her legs in his hands continuing to plow into his mate as felt his own climax approached. He buried his cock deep in one last thrust as he went ridged and his cock exploded sending his seed deep inside her adding to her own heat. She felt the heat from his semen and pushed her over the edge as she roared spraying her hot fem juice mixture sprayed all over his crotch and thighs.

Collin collapsed on top of her and exhaustion washed over both of them sending them into blissful dreams.

***

The next morning, Collin pulled into the parking lot in front of his office. When he put his car in Park he looked out his window at the front door feeling more determined than ever. He was going to request more hours or quit and find factory position which he really doesn't want to do.

Collin stepped out of his car and into his office. He stepped past the front desk saying hello to the woman sitting behind it and came up to the door behind her. He knocked.

A man behind the door called, "Come in."

Collin opened the door into his boss' office see an aged black lab sitting behind his desk going through paperwork. Most likely last night's events with Collin's clients.

"Good afternoon, Collin," the black lab greeted. "I'm sorry about what happened last night."

"Thanks. That's what happens when someone does listen."

"Ain't that the truth. As it turns out, Mr. White had lit a Cuban cigar he got in the mail."

"Ah fel' like he was gonna blow us both up in my car," Collin said. His accent got thicker showing his way of showing his agitation. "Tha' man did not wanna go home."

"Must've been his way of staying in power."

"I was hopin' I could talk to you about pickin' up some more hours." His accent came back to normal as he calmed down. "Now that I got someone to look after I need more hours for the money. Its either that or I go look for a factory position."

"Collin, I really hope you never end up with a position like mine," he said gesturing to the desk covered in papers and files. "I've been trying to get you more work but I can't find anything." He watched as Collin dropped his head heaving a heavy sigh. "However, I can do you one better, son. I have a friend at the hospital in the Nursing department and she's looking for a great CNA. I dropped your name and she sounded interested."

Collin's head popped up and he glared at the aged Labrador. "Don' ya be messin' with me!" he warned with his accent as thick as Nana's. "I swear tah God I will destroy ya!"

The black lab handed him a smaller piece of paper with a smile. "This is on the level. I got you an interview tomorrow morning at 9. I had to do something, otherwise your Nana would jump down my throat."

Collin took the paper trying to hold back his tears of joy. "Thank you, sir."

"My pleasure. Now, I'll take your letter of resignation."

Collin's eyebrow twitched. "Yer damn right ya will!" He took notebook and pen that was conveniently in front of him and started writing in it grumbling the whole the time. "Makin' me work everyone else's shifts because they happen to be on vacation?! Its legalized slavery I tell ya!" When he finished the short letter he smacked it down in front of his now former boss. "All that crap and I'm still getting minimum wage?! Well good riddance!"

Collin stormed to the door but stopped when his hand touched the doorknob. He turned around smiling. "Thank you again."

The black lab eyed Collin from his files. "Are you still here? I'm kinda busy."

Collin threw the door open shouting, "UNGRATFUL!!" He said it with a major roll of his R.

"Hey!" his old boss called. "You better do a good job over there. Otherwise, you'll be making me look bad."

Collin roared before heading out to his car.

***

Thanksgiving Day

"Dinner in 10 minutes!" Nana called from the kitchen of her new house. Melissa and Gabriel were helping her while Alexis was sitting with the guys in the living room watching a football game. "Let's get the table set and washed up."

Todd turned around in his seat showing off his sapphire eyes. "Come on, Nana," he pleaded childishly. "Our team is about to win. Can't we eat out here?" He batted his eyes for effect.

"That won' wooooorrrrk..." Collin whispered through his teeth.

Nana glared at Todd in disbelief and threw the towel that was on her shoulder to the countertop. "Really? Just because you have the prettiest eyes doesn't mean they work on every lass." She looked beside her to see Melissa swooning at the display but Gabriel was glaring at him.

"Told ya it wouldn't work on her," Collin smirked.

"Collin," Gabriel called, "Ya better not take any advice from that man."

"I don' got the qualities he has. But,_ ya don' know how important y'are ta me,"_ he quoted from "Rob Roy" which caused Gabriel to swoon.

Nana sighed in defeat. "I guess everyone has their weaknesses."

Alexis eyed Toby. "What?" he said. "You know the only thing that turns you on is grabbing your ass."

Alexis laughed. "Oh yeah. Well, boys, your team would be winning, if they weren't trailing by trailing by 2."

"You just wait," Collin said. "Number 61 has been training hard all year."

"You mean him?" she teased pointing to a lineman face down on the field with 61 on his back. Todd and Collin groaned.

"Number 22 intercepted the pass!" Collin cried out.

Everyone's eyes were glued to the plasma TV. Number 22 had the just caught the ball and was moving around the field trying to find a clear path only to sprint to the outside. Collin and Todd were on the edge of their seat as 22 managed to evade the opposing players coming at him.

"10 seconds on the clock!" Collin said.

"Go! Go! Go!" Todd cried out.

"I don't think so..." Toby sang quietly.

The guys watched as 22 made it past the line of scrimmage. But hope turned to horror as a burly lineman plowed him in the stomach knocking the ball out of his hands. Adding insult to injury, another player from the opposing team quickly picked up the ball and dropped to his knee ending the play and running the clock down to zero. Collin and Todd groaned loudly falling back in their seat.

"Wait a minute," Collin said before pointing to Toby. "You foresaw this!"

Toby and Alexis grinned.

"Alright, boys and tomboy," Gabriel said clapping her hands. "The game's over. Wash up!" She was looking more mature as her horns started to curve downwards.

"Aye," Collin answered when they got up.

Nana called, "Collin, where's Amber? She said she'd come, didn't she?"

Collin was about to speak when they heard a knock at the door. "I got it." He went over to the door and opened it. "Well, speak of the devil."

"Happy Thanksgiving," Amber smiled. Her parents, who were also lynxes, stood behind her.

"Thanks. C'mon in, we were just talkin' about you." He stepped aside letting them in.

"Yeah, sorry we're late," Amber's dad said. "It was my fault." He held up a pair of Champagne and wine bottles. "I couldn't decide what to grab at the liquor store. Happy 21st, Collin."

Collin smiled. Gabriel came by accepting the bottles and placed them on the table.

"Oh my God, she's beautiful," Amber's mom said regarding Gabriel making Collin blush which she noticed. "Casanova."

"Oi!" He looked at Amber. "I see where your particular attitude comes from."

Amber laughed. "I'm not complaining. Oh, this is also for you." She hands him another bottle in a paper bag. It had a red ribbon and a card.

Collin opened the card and nearly fell over laughing. The card read: "I don't like it when people don't take their free drink. It makes me look bad. This to make sure you get it! Happy Birthday & Happy Thanksgiving -Erik & Eve-"

Collin tore the bag apart revealing a bottle Bailey's Irish Cream. "That guy... I'm going to thank him personally."

"Now, Collin," Nana warned as she leaned against the table. Everyone else was taking their places at the table.

"Aye," he sighed, "I won't drink too much."

Nana only smirked and shook her head. "No, lad. You're 21 now and shit happened to you within the last month. I expect you hammered by tonight with a hangover in the morning!"

Collin was taken aback by the old sheep's words. Everyone else laughed and cheered for him making him smile at this new attention. "Aye, ma'am!"

Gabriel, however, crossed her arms. "If you're gettin' that drunk you can forget fuckin' me tonight!"

Collin's face was as red as its ever gotten as he heard painful "Oohs!" from the guys. "Gabby, d-do ya have ta say tha' out loud?!" He took his seat at the head of the with Amber on the left and his tease of a dragoness on his right.

Gabriel looked at Amber and they giggled showing how close their friendship has gotten. What they said next in unison was joined by Amber's mother. "What's the point if can't remember?"

The whole table busted up laughing except Collin and Amber's dad who had a hand over his face in embarrassment as he had that same line when he was dating his wife. "Son, I feel your pain," he said.

"Oh, hell," Todd said wiping tears from his eyes. "I can't remember the last time Thanksgiving was this much fun!"

Collin's smile returned as he looked around the table seeing everyone having a good time. Even Nana was having a hard time trying to get back her usual smile as a laugh always seemed to escape her. As he continued to look he noticed an extra seat next to Gabriel.

"So, Collin," Amber's mom said getting his attention. "Amber told us you had an interview the other day. How did you do?"

"I did great. I start work on Monday as a trial run but they said I'll be basically hired."

"That's great."

"Its time for grace," Nana said. "Collin, you have the honors."

Before everyone took each other's hand, Toby cleared his throat get their attention. "Sorry, but before we start I'm sure by now everyone has noticed the extra seat at the table. There is a reason for that and I'll get to it in a minute. But first apologies need to be made. It has always been a rule to let destiny run its own course for everyone. So, Collin, I hope you can forgive me. I guided you to Gabriel. I gave you the dream connecting you to her. No one wanted to see you depressed a day longer. Nana and Alexis have been in on it."

"I got nothin' to apologize for," Nana said crossing her arms.

"I don't know why you're apologizing in the first place," Collin said. "If you didn't bring me to her I would never have filled the void in my heart and I woulda been street pizza for sure." He took Gabriel's hand and kissed it tenderly. "So thank you, Toby!"

Toby smiled in relief knowing that the cosmos won't have to punish him.

"So what about the extra seat?"

"Its for a guest that I'm bringing, but I'll need Gabriel's help." She gets up and steps over to him. "You're mana has increased a lot since last time. I should only need about half to do this."

"Oi..." she said suspiciously. "What do you need some much for?"

Toby smirked. "Would you believe me if I said that bringing you two together wasn't my idea, but your mother's?"

"My... My mother?" Her hands were shaky as she brought them up to meet his.

He smiled letting her know he was serious. "That's right. Don't you think it would be a great gift from all of us if she could join us?"

"But... what about Collin's parents?"

"I could, but we are only allowed to bring one person back for a day per lifetime. That means I can't do it again. Ever."

"I vote fer Flimua to join us," Collin said surprising Gabriel. She was about to object when he raised his hand stopping her. "My parents would scold me because you didn't get to hold yers."

"Thank you." She wiped a tear away before turning back to Toby giving him a nod.

Toby closed his eyes as he synced his mana with hers. She felt a pull in her hands this time as he borrowed her power and taking into his body.

"Okay, that's enough," he said.

When Gabriel pulled away it felt like her palms were released from suction cups. She backed up giving Toby some room.

Toby had a visible aura around his body. He took his index finger and drew glowing symbols in the air. As he was doing this he chanted something in another language. When seven symbols were floating above his head he reached in his pocket pulling out a knife.

He looked at Gabriel and said, "Now we need something for her to hold on to. Something from the caster and the closest relative." He took a chunk of his hair and cut it with the knife. "Blood is the best, but a chunk of hair can be just as good. I prefer to use hair." He waved his hand at each symbol letting them absorb his hair. Gabriel turned around so he could cut some of her ponytail and repeated the process.

When the last of Gabriel's hair was absorbed into the glowing symbols, Collin got up to stand next to her holding her hand. Everyone's eyes were on Toby until he moved out from under the symbols leaving the mana aura behind.

"One last thing," Toby said. The aura he left behind started to flicker and take shape. "She needs permission from you, Gabriel. The gates won't allow spirits to cross over unless they're given the okay from someone on this side."

Gabriel felt Collin's hand holding hers assuring her. "Go on, love," he said softly. "We're getting hungry."

She tried to hold back a laugh and watched as the floating symbols surrounded the flickering aura in a ring around it. "Please join us, Mother."

The floating symbols heard her request as they started to spin around the aura. Their rotation became faster and faster until they blended together into a ring of light. Colors started to ripple into existence and a figure could be made out. Suddenly the ring of light flashed bathing everything in blinding light.

When the flash subsided everyone had a hard time opening their eyes.

"So sorry, everyone," an unfamiliar female voice said. She sounded very mature and rich with experience. "Such is the effect of the ritual, I'm afraid."

As the effects of the flash wore off Collin was able to slowly open his eyes. He was still reeling from the flash and had wrapped his arms around Gabriel holding her close.

"Looks like we were correct bringing you two together," the new voice said.

Collin looked over to where the voice was coming from to see a gorgeous dragoness standing where the aura had been. She stood slightly taller than Gabriel and had an excellent hourglass figure. Her outfit's top hung low showing off enough cleavage from her generously large, cream colored breasts. As he followed the dress down it narrowed into what could pass for a strip of fabric held against her by a simple belt that showed off her bare hips that looked proportionate to her chest. Collin thought that would've explained the size of Gabriel's egg. She didn't have any wings but it didn't look like she minded.

"Mother!" Gabriel shouted.

"Yes, child, it is good to see you with my own eyes." Gabriel sprinted over to her and wrapped there arms around each other. "It feels even better to finally hold you."

With Gabriel and Flimua next to each other Collin could definitely see that their skin... scales were exactly the same color. The only difference between them were that Filmua's hair was raven black and it cascaded past her shoulders. Gabriel must have inherited her horns from her horns from her father because Flimua had ivory horns which circled around her ears like ram horns.

Flimua let her daughter go and looked at Collin with a caring, angelic smile. "Collin."

Collin nodded respectfully. "Aye. Its an honor to meet you in person, Flimua."

She stepped over to him placing her hands on his shoulders. "After what you have given my daughter, the honor is mine."

Collin gave a nervous laugh before he was pulled into a hug. His head rested comfortably in the valley of her breasts. Given their size, he guessed they were probably G or H cup. But for some reason it didn't feel erotic at all. In fact it felt nice. Warm. Almost like he was hugging Nana when he was a child.

Just as his arms came up out of instinct to hug her back, Flimua grabbed his hair pulling it down forcing him to look up at her. She looked like a queen who was disappointed in her subject. "However, if you make my daughter cry like that again I will skin you alive. Do I make myself clear?"

"Aye! Aye, ma'am!" he said through the pain.

Nana stood and clapped her hands. "Alright, y'four, sit down! I heard a stomach growl over here."

As the four took their seats, Flimua's chair creaked under her weight.

She looked down at her chair and said, "I miss my thrown already."

Everyone froze as the food was being passed around. The only one that was unfazed was Nana.

"Oi!" Nana called. "Keep it movin'. The three of us didn' slave in the kitchen just so it can get cold. We're all equals here."

Flimua laughed softly. "Well said, Nana."

"M-Mum," Gabriel said with some difficulty, "if Collin d-did make me cry, how are you goin' to skin him?"

"I'm sorry, your highness," Toby said. "After today you'll be going back to the Spirit Realm."

Flimua smirked. "Young guardian, you have much to learn. By giving me physical form again, I have recovered all the mana I once had." She dipped her left index finger in her glass of water. When she brought it out it was glowing. She took it to her right shoulder and drew a symbol on it much like the ones that Toby made in the air. "You see, I am interested in this new age and I plan to be in it with my daughter. I'll be sacrificing my mana for it, but its a small price pay considering." When she finished drawing she placed her palm over it making it flash once. She removed her hand revealing that the symbol was imprinted in her shoulder.

Flimua looked over at her daughter with a big loving smile. "I'm here to stay, my child. By sacrificing my mana and my ability to use it, I gain back all the years I lost before I died. I don't believe I'll be needing it anyway." Gabriel launched herself into her arms expressing her joy.

Toby just sat there wide-eyed, amazed at what just happened. He didn't like to be used, but the turnout more than made up for it. Collin watched as he shed a tear for them.

The mood was broken as they heard another stomach growl and the food resumed being passed around. Mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, corn bread squares, steamed vegetables, corn on the cob, yams, and the iconic turkey with all the trimmings. It was all there and in generous portions as the dragons took a little more than everyone else. Three pies sat on the table for dessert. One pumpkin, one apple, and one cherry.

Collin looked around the table as everyone was ready to eat next to their loved ones. It was truly a great day to be alive.

After the wine and champagne were poured, Collin stood and asked, "I still have the honors, right?"

Nana nodded and everyone took each other's hands. Flimua looked over at her daughter as she took her hand and smiled.

When everyone bowed their heads Collin began. "Dear Lord, our God, we give Thanks this day fer the food we are about to receive. We thank ya fer the friends and family we share our lives with. And we thank ya fer the love we share with them fer they are the ones who matter most to us. Amen."

"Amen," everyone said raising their glasses.

Happy Thanksgiving