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Sharron glared at Sean, he asked, "what?"

"You need to do something about that reporter, she won't care about you if she already assumes your a bigot," Sharron said.

"But I'm not so everything will be ok," Sean said and picked up the menu again like a shield.

Samantha pushed his menu down and said, "You need to focus on what ever will reduce your stress, as a doctor, I'm telling you it's important after an allergic reaction as severe as yours."

"Right now food would be a big help in reducing my stress," Sean said then whispered, "and not talking, at all, about this right now."

Both of his sisters hackles rose, Sharron growled, "better now then when the shit hits the fan."

"I'll put you on xanax if you don't behave," samantha growled.

"Damn and here I was fishing for Lithium," Sean said, "relax would you both."

When the waiter came up Sharron ordered a chicken dish, Samantha ordered fish, Sean asked, "can the scallop salad have shrimp added to it?"

"It could be, sir, the 'real,' question would be would you like some added?" Their waiter a lynx asked then he leaned his hip on the table edge.

"Ok... yes could I have some shrimp added to my salad," Sean said taken aback.

"Anything else?" the waiter asked.

They signaled no and he moved away from their table.

"What the hell was that," Samantha said her eyes followed the unprofessional waiter stalking his movements.

"A perfect example of why you need to nip this news story in the butt," Sharron said.

"A random guy, probably having a bad day, is your example for systemic prejudices," Sean said.

"Don't start arguing, agree and move forward you don't need the stress, Sean," Samantha said, "it's probably not a prime example but you shouldn't disregard it."

"A Prime example, Samantha your puns are awful," Sharron said then moved the bread basket for their food.

"I think she should take Pride in her words," Sean said.

"I hate you both right now, and changing the subject doesn't change the issue here," Sharron said.

The food looked as good as it smelled, as it was placed before them.

"Fine I'll do something about it, but I don't know exactly where I should go or what I should do," Sean said, "call up the station and go, 'hey, I have nothing to hide I'm not a bigot, but don't run a story on me.' That will get them interested."

Sharron smelled guilty after he spoke.

"Sharron did you call the station," Samantha asked as she reached for Seans and Sharrons paws for the meal time prayer of thanks to the Alpha.

"Maybe, but let's pray, so we can eat," Sharron said.

Sean hesitated to give his sisters his paw, it only lasted a second, but he relented a moment later he took their paws and raised his head with them in a silent howl exposing their throats in submission.

There was an awkward silence after the prayer.

"Sean, you still believe in the Alpha, done you?" Sharron asked.

Sean choked on his first bite, "why do you ask?"

"You didn't want to pray or at least you seemed hesitant too," Sharron said.

"Oh, I go to services with Xander but it's not like it's the same as the pack, we grew up with, and every time I think about the way they have treated me and treated furs like me... it just makes it harder to not think of it all and just think of the Alpha instead," Sean said.

"I'm sorry it's like that for you, when my best friend Erica lost a litter," Samantha said, "there were idiots inside the pack and outside the pack that really made her hurt more over her loss. And the pack should have been safe. They spouted nonsense, that if she had loved, herself, her husband, and those puppy's more, she wouldn't have given up on them and let them die. I know it's not the same situation but the same idiotic behavior is being thrown at you both, and again I'm sorry."

"How others treat you shouldn't affect your faith," Sharron said and radiated disapproval.

"I didn't say I don't believe just that it's harder," Sean said, "and don't think I haven't forgotten you called the station."

"Your right but it does, and it doesn't change the need for faith, but we do need to be there for Sean, where others aren't," Samantha said.

"Don't change the subject," Sean said, "being here for me is great and I love you both for it, but you are both medeling, with everything; with my allergies, faith, and the news people. It would have gotten back to normal. But now that you called the news, it's going to blow up in my face."

"You don't know that, but you are right that it could, and it could have whether I had called or not. But your the one changing the subject now, you say you believe but it's hard, what makes it so hard? You believe or you don't," Sharron said food ignored.

"I wasn't changing the subject I was adding to it, and I find it hard to believe that the Pack is what the Alpha wanted," sean said Hackles risen.

"What do you mean, how are they connected?" Samantha asked, the reasonable one of the three for once.

"The packs behavior towards furs like me, is a symptom of the way they exclude others, cats, mice, eagles, not even dogs, our cousins are worthy of the alpha in the packs eyes, how can the alpha be what the pack says they are if it does this. On top of that the pack is sizeist, and preyist. I'm smaller than both of you and you treat me like I'm defective, but you do that to smaller furs too, and if others don't show the fight of a wolf would you walk over them. I do the same and I hate it about myself." Sean said in a hushed shout.

Samantha said, "Ok we are in public you both need to calm-"

"I can't believe this, you act like everything that's wrong in the world is the packs fault. The pack doesn't glorify those behaviors!" Sharron cut in.

"It sure doesn't work to stop them either," sean said.

"And now you're both making a scene," Samantha said.

"So your faith was so weak the failings of the pack can make you deny the Alpha?" Sharron growled.

"Who said I was denying the alpha! I said it makes me uncomfortable," sean growled.

"When was the last time you actually prayed apart from this meal," Sharron asked.

"Everyone is looking at us, I'm never going to be able to come back here," Samantha said.

"I pray, how often do you pray? And is it always about yourself, that's the narcissism which allows mistreatment. And in the pack that's where it all comes from, that kind of insular mindness," sean said.

"Everyone thinks of themselves, you're playing the victim to blame others for your unhappiness," Sharron said.

"And now we are going to be asked to leave," Samantha said.

"My problems are mine I didn't throw them at you, you are the one that made them an issue here and now," sean said.

"Enough! Shut up both of you, sean isn't supposed to be stressed and I'm not allowing us to be thrown out of the restaurant. Grab your plates, we are moving to the bar so we don't ruin everyone's brunch," Samantha said as she stood and loomed over the table, "Alpha you two are so embarrassing!"

"I'm embarrassing, I didn't start this," sean argued as he stood.

"So, I caused the embarrassment," Sharron said and followed with her plate, "you're the one that started it by running to the hospital, because of a catastrophic choice."

"Nice one! That pun was great," samantha said.

"Shut it! That wasn't intentional, if this does hit the news you know mom and dad will get involved," Sharron said.

They sat at a booth in the bar area, the waiter brought over their glasses having cleared the old table.

"Just because mom and dad are putting you and Zach forward to be the next pack Alpha couple here doesn't mean you have to be so, holier than thou," sean said, "the alpha male and female are to be strong yet self controlled."

"You assume the worst of me," Sharron said, "and as an Alpha I will be responsible for helping you with your doubts."

"Well then you will have to let me have them first," sean said.

"You're right and I'm sorry.... but I'm still going to have to tell mom and dad," Sharron said.

"That will not help the stress thing, Sharron can't you wait?" Samantha asked.

"They'll come down and stay with me! Please don't," sean said.

"It's my duty," Sharron said, "they are the Alphas and you are their son."

"You see them all the time their only up in Everett," Samantha said.

"If I address the news thing would you skip the call?" Sean said, "I've noticed both of you moved away after I came out because I got their full scrutiny, I don't need more of it right now."

"I did no such thing, I moved with a job openning," Sharron said, "so did Samantha, right?"

"Oh, I got out while the getting was good," Samantha said.

"What are you two saying?" Sharron said.

"Mom and dad are mom and dad, I love them, but you were their star child the pride of the pack the head of the litter, sean was a runt and then, he came out, he has always had to stand under their disapproval, you and I never have. I was a coward and left. You had a very different childhood Sharron." Samantha said, "if I could turn back time sean, I wouldn't have left. I'm sorry."

"We all grew up together, it wasn't that different was it?" Sharron asked.

"It was different for me than for you but most of the time I thought it was me being male and you two female," sean said, "but Samantha's right, I learned to show a strong face and hide everything else."

"You were always first Sharron, and sean was the last, I felt over looked most of the time I wanted to get away and grow to be me," Samantha said, "we can't go back but we can understand who that makes us now."

"Very philosophical, but I would feel like I was lying to mom and dad if I didn't tell them," Sharron said.

"That's why you're likely to be the next alpha I guess," sean said, "I don't feel guilty not telling things I know they would disapprove of, I'm sure Samantha does it too, but you never know she could be a little saint just like you."

"Was it really that bad, I mean mom and dad are good furs," Sharron said.

"They sent me to a Howl Away the Gay camp! It doesn't matter how 'good,' a fur you are if on the rare occasion you are a raging jerk," sean said, "Its because of them, that I learned the need to show a strong face and hid everything else in my life, they thought it was for the best, but all it taught me was mom and dad, will force me to do what they want and be whatever they want me to be, and it's probably why I'm not as close to them even though I live near by, and why the three of us aren't as close as we were as pups."

"So you can't be in the pack anymore, that's what you're saying!" Sharron said.

Samantha took Sean's right paw in hers.

"I'm not in their pack, but I'm in the pack," sean said.

"There is only the pack, if you oppose an alpha you are opposing the Alpha," Sharron said and stood.

"Where are you going?" Samantha asked.

"I need to think I'll talk to you both later," Sharron said and walked away.

"I guess I'm covering her meal," sean said, "I'll have this boxed up."

"I can do it," Samantha said.

"No, I have it, but thanks, you can cover her the next time she freaks out over a meal," sean said.

"Alphaseve it is," Samantha said, "You know that the pack has been funding my research, right?"

"Yeah I know they voted and got your program a grant or something," Sean said.

"Yeah they are trying to help furs of all kinds, like you said that doesn't make up for the bad things that they're doing, but I think that it shows that they are trying to change," Samantha said.

"how is your research going by the way," sean pushed his empty plate away then asked, "and I know it's early but what do you say to drinks?"

"I guess we can since mom and Sharon aren't here, and it's coming along well. My main job isn't actually doing the research, it's mostly patient care, while others are collecting the data, but after this trial is done I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be able to push for the canid trials," Samantha said, "And I wouldn't get your hopes up I don't think this one will be able to be adapted to a canid metabolism."

"so what grouping is it made for," sean asked then flagged a waiter.

"I can give you all the medical classifications, but basically right now we're doing a very narrow trial on otters and ferrets, hopefully working all the way up to all of the canids," Samantha said.

Their sulky waiter arrived, Samantha ordered glass of late harvest riesling, while Sean got a Mohito.

"that's progress at least right?" Sean said.

"it is, but it's really potent medicine, and in someways it's like the feline immuno virus," samantha said.

"i'm assuming you're not telling me the drug self replicates in your cells," sean said which reminded him to check his phone. He had three New messages from Oliver, one from Xander and two from Sharron.

He set down his phone to listen to Samantha who said, "most definitely not, but I am worried it will cause cancer or something. It shuts down a whole line of processes of the immune system."

There drinks arrived then sean asked, "isn't that how an antihistamine works?"

"No, an antihistamine is kinda like a warehouse manager for a factory saying, no, we're not excepting any more shipments today we're full up, where as this drug is like the companies closed today or, hopefully not, i burned it to the ground to bad suckers," Samantha said.

"So not something I should ask Neal to get me then," sean said.

"First he isn't in the trial and that's a very very bad idea," Samantha said.

Sean's phone buzzed on the table, he said, "Crap moms calling."

"I hope that's not because of Sharron," Samantha said.

"It probably is what should I do," sean said.

"Answer it you are to passive, sean," Samantha said.

Sean bared his teeth in a mock threat then answered his phone, "hi mom how are you?"

"Sharron told me earlier that we should have a Litterday dinner with you all in town tomorrow, she said it works for her on Sunday, and I know you and Samantha are still having brunch, so I wanted to catch you both at the same time."

"One second mom, I'll put you on speaker phone," he said and made the change then to Samantha he said, "mom and sharron think a Litterday dinner tomorrow would be fun."

"Works for me," Samantha said.

"I only have on conflict I was having dinner at my place tomorrow with Neal and Fred," sean said.

"Oh, I like Fred and Neal, that's the Otter and Sheep, right?" Mom asked.

"Yes but he is a ram," sean said.

"Same thing anyway your father can deal with all of 'that' for a night," mom said.

"By that you mean Sean's gay friends?" Samantha asked.

"Of course, what else would I mean? And what time is dinner?" Mom asked.

"I planned it for six," sean said.

"Your father and I will probably arrive around five to make sure I can help out in the kitchen, see you then Puppies," mom said and hung up.

"Well, I see moms perfectly fine with inviting herself over," Samantha said.

"She has a gift or a curse, but I'm thinking more curse," sean said.

"It's almost noon do you still have time?" Samantha asked.

"Yeah, I'm just checking in with xander tonight," sean said.

They stayed at the restaurant then walked to a park.

Sean reviewed the texts, Oliver wanted to drop by to see from an allergy safe distance how he was doing, Sharron apologized for leaving the conversation, it wasn't something she had anticipated and wanted to know if dinner with mom tomorrow was on. He replied to the messages with affirmative responses and asked Samantha, "do you think Sharron was offended by the conversation? She texted me an apology."

"She probably was, but from her perspective, she may have felt we were blaming her. She might have taken us saying she had a different childhood than we did as an accusation," Samantha said.

"I'll need to talk to her about it," sean said.

"You definitely should, plus you kinda said anything that's bad related to the news is her fault." Samantha said.

"It came across that way? That was not what I meant, I just wish mom, dad and she wouldn't meddle so much," sean said.

The groomed parks path took them by a playground, sean paused to watch the parents playing with their kids.

"You want puppy's right?" Sean asked.

"I do and I don't, I like my Freedom but I want to have a family like I grew up with," Samantha said then swooped down to grab a ball and toss it to the kids that ran for it.

"I want pups or a kitten, but I don't know if I'll get the chance adoption isn't cheap and it's getting harder and harder to adopt big fur types," Sean said.

Samantha started walking down the trail again, then said, "you can get a rabbit their population is well above replacement, they are easy to adopt, and you can't have a kitten you know that."

"I know I just love cats," sean said and followed behind her, "and I always pictured myself with a pup or two of my own."

Samantha leaned down and rested her head on the top of his and gave him a hug, then said, "stop slouching, its bad for your back."

Later after he said goodbye to Samantha, he went to the store for groceries, and texted Xander "Hey, when are you heading over?" He went about his errands.

A few minutes later when he had unloaded his car Xander messaged, "I'm at Paul's place, should I shower here or at your place the cat dander and all?"

"Sounds like you had fun, could you shower at your place or if he has fresh towels that would be fine I think." Sean messaged.

"Ok I don't have a car so I'll see if Paul can drop me off or I'll shower here and work from there," Xander messaged.

"Sounds good see you soon, I miss you buddy." Sean texted.