FSE

Furry search engine

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"I can't do that."

"I know."

"I love my wife."

"I know."

"I have to get home. I can't be late for dinner again."

Jefferson reached out to stroke the soft fur on the striped shoulder but stopped short.

"I...I'm sorry." The door swung closed and latched with a hollow click.

"Daddy!" The warm glow of the house embraced Jefferson as he hung his scarf on the hanger and put his keys in the bowl by the door. He knelt down to lift up Emmanuel.

"Hey there little dude. How was your day today?" Emmanuel's answer was muffled because he was nuzzling into the side of Jefferson's face. He put the colt down and walked into the kitchen.

"Jefferson. I see you decided to be home for dinner tonight. What a surprise." Though her back was turned, he knew what Amelia's face looked like.

"I was able to get away from work on time today. I'm going to go change, I'll be back downstairs in a minute. Dinner smells amazing, dear." Jefferson stared a moment longer at her long beige mane, then turned and went upstairs. He poked his nose into the room that they converted into an office. It had two computer desks with towers and monitors on opposite sides of the room, where the twins were sitting. Sarah was reading something and Joseph was playing a game, it seemed.

"Dinner will be ready soon guys, so wrap up what you're doing." Joseph flipped his black mane up out of his eyes. He refused to get it trimmed, he said girls liked to better "el naturál". Sarah's braid swung as she spun around in her chair to look at him. There was something in her eyes that made him furrow his brow slightly.

"I can't pause this game Dad, but I will get to a safe spot when I can and come down. Oh and do you think we could go shoot some hoops after dinner or something? I'm feeling rusty, we haven't gotten to in a while." Jefferson flicked his tail and smiled.

"Sure thing kiddo." He turned and walked into the bedroom he shared with Amelia. The bed was neatly made on her side but his was turned back and the pillow had fallen onto the ground in his morning haste. He loosened the tie around his neck and pulled it over his head, hanging it on the closet door for tomorrow. He unbuttoned the shirt slowly and then tossed it in the hamper, pulling a cotton under shirt over his short roan fur. He exchanged his slacks for some sweatpants and then went downstairs where Amelia was setting the table.

A few moments later the twins came down and started putting food on their plate. Jefferson stood and made Amelia a plate and put it in her place next to him on the table. She nodded a thanks to him and he reached down to squeeze her knee under the table. Her palomino fur was well-groomed and soft. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed internally, then ate his dinner. The kids were excused after they finished their meals and once they were all upstairs Jefferson stood and opened a bottle of wine, pouring himself and Amelia a glass. She took it and has a hearty drink before setting the delicate glass down. Jefferson took a sip but he wasn't much in the mood for red he decided and put the glass on the table before sitting down. He scooted his chair closer to his wife and put his hand on her knee again. She pushed it off.

"Amelia what...?"

"Where have you been Jefferson?"

"What do you mean?"

"Where have you been this week Jeff? It is Thursday and this is the first night you have been home on time for dinner. I accepted that you were working late when it was just one night a week, but then it was two, or three. I never know whether to cook for you or not. The kids don't know if you're going to be here. Joseph has just sat upstairs staring at the screen, so has Sarah, Mannie asks me where you are. What could possibly be keeping you at work so late? You're an accountant. For an accounting firm." Jefferson sighed and stood up. Amelia also stood, looking at him, her face a mixture of fear, and worry; her tail flicking restlessly behind her. He knew how silky that tail felt, how her mane felt when it wasn't braided, he could trace every line on her painted hide. He knew that on her left hide leg a quarter of the way up there was a small spot that was furless where she had accidentally burner herself camping when she was younger. He knew her scent and her favorite flavor of toothpaste. He loved her.

"Jeff...what is her name?" Amelia sat down and looked at her hooves.

"What?" He was startled for a moment. He wanted to take her face in his hands and put their noses together and share her air and tell her that there wasn't another woman, that there wasn't anyone else but be couldn't do that. He sighed and slumped in his own chair, taking another drink of the wine.

"Roger." He watched her. She was still for a moment and then she lifted her teary eyed face up to meet his, confusion playing across it.

"Roger?" He closed his eyes as he nodded.

"His name is Roger." Her lips curled for a moment as she sat back in shock.

"How...how long?" She brought her hands up to her face and pushed back the strands of her mane that were starting to fall.

"I met him a few months ago. I realized about two months ago. We haven't done...much. I couldn't do that to you Amelia. I love you too." Tears started to fall down her face again as she stood.

"So you love both of us then? Is that it?" She looked at him accusatorily. He nodded. She turned away disgusted.

"This is worse than I thought. You can sleep on the couch tonight. I don't want you in my bed." She stomped up the stairs and he winced as he heard their bedroom door slam shut. He sat there staring at the two unfinished wine glasses, the imprint of her lips left on the crystal surface. He didn't know how long he sat there but his thoughts were interrupted when he heard hooves on the stairs.

"Hey Dad, can we shoot some hoops before I have to go to bed?" Joseph asked apprehensively. He could sense something wasn't quite right with the atmosphere of the house and his tail flicked nervously behind him.

"Sure thing Bud, let's go."

Jefferson flipped on the outside light and they grabbed the basketball from the bin next to the back door, unlocking it and walking out into the night. It was brisk but the clouds had let up.

"You should probably get a jacket Jo." He watched his son grimace and turn, running up the stairs to grab his jacket. Jefferson bounced the ball a few times, it rang out hollowly through their yard and out over the rooftops of the neighborhood. It wasn't very late but it seemed too quiet to be 9:00. When Joseph returned he passed the ball to the colt and they began their game. At one point he looked up and saw Amelia watching them through the upstairs window, she wasn't smiling through, her eyes tearstained. When she saw him watching her she turned and drew the curtains closed on the window. He sighed.

"It's probably about time you get ready for bed there kiddo. This is game point then go hop in the shower, your sister should be done by now."

"Are you kidding me? She takes forever in the bathroom, and she has so many bottles of perfume. Why does one person need that many?" Jefferson chuckled and shrugged. He let Joseph get around him and score the last point, then clapped him on the shoulder and sent him upstairs. He knew he should shower too, but he didn't think it was the best idea to go use the master bathroom right now. He went to the closet hall and got a blanket and spare pillow and put it on the couch. Maybe he would wait until everyone else was asleep and then sneak up and take a quick shower. He laid down but didn't cover up yet, coming from the outside chill into the house was almost stifling. He drifted off into an uncomfortable sleep.

He was woken by a soft hand on his shoulder and a familiar scent in his nose. He sat up and blinked. Amelia hovered over him in the semi darkness.

"What is it hon?" He brushed his mane out of his face and looked up at her. She sat in the armchair opposite of him and had her arms crossed over her body.

"I've been thinking...I saw you out there with Joseph earlier...."Jefferson had a feeling of dread inside his stomach.

"This...Roger...if he...if he makes you happy....I mean you said you loved us both...and I mean the kids need their father...and it's clear that you are still their father...and maybe if you weren't having to hide him....I just...I don't know yet I don't know." He was staring intently at her, waiting patiently for her to try to convey what she was meaning.

"Amelia, honey, what is it?"

"I..." she sighed deeply, "I have decided that if you want and it makes you happy, you can bring Roger over, and introduce him to the kids, and...and you can be with both of us. Him and me." She looked down at her hands, she was ringing them. His ears perked up. She looked up suddenly at him, panicked.

"Not at the same time of course!"

"Of course honey."

"And...as far as the kids are concerned, he is just your friend okay?" He nodded. She stood and sniffed. She came over and awkwardly pet him on the head a moment before going back upstairs. He laid back down and pulled the blanket over himself, thinking about how he was going to tell Roger the good news tomorrow.

He woke up the next morning early, and with a stiff back. He sat on the edge of the couch for a moment but then stood and stretched. He needed to shower before he went into work. He looked at the microwave on his way up the stairs. It was almost time for the kids to get up. He would wake them up before he left. His shower didn't take too long and when he was getting dressed he wore a different tie than usual. He kissed Amelia's sleeping head in the darkness before he quietly shut the door to their bedroom. She slept in and the kids took the bus to school. For now at least, Amelia had two more months left at her current job. Then she would be moving to a managerial position and would be able to choose her own hours.

He opened the door to the boy's room and flicked on their night lamp, casting the room in a soft yellow light. Emmanuel needed the nightlight to fall asleep and then Joseph always turned it off once the little one was softly snoring. As expected Jo stirred when the light flicked on. Jefferson walked over and gently rubbed the boys shoulder.

"Hey it's almost time to wake up. Want me to put some waffles in the toaster before I leave for work?" Joseph nodded sleepily and flipped over. Jefferson smiled and then went to softly knock on Sarah's door. She was probably already awake and brushing her mane. The door opened and there was a flood of light into the dark hallway. She was partially dressed and in the process of braiding her mane.

"Just wanted to tell you that I am gunna put some waffles in the toaster before I leave for work, you should probably beat your brothers to them if you want any. And have a good day sweetheart. I love you." He bent over and kissed her on top of her head and she smiled at him.

"Thanks dad. Love you too." He closed her door and walked down the stairs, pulling the box of waffles from the freezer and putting four of them in their large toaster then pressed down the button. Then he grabbed his scarf and keys from beside the door and left.

When he got to work he grabbed an apple from the fruit basket that always sat on the receptionist's desk and merrily ate it, core and all. When he got to his office he pulled out his phone from his pocket and sent a text to Roger, who worked in the same building but for a different company. The work wasn't nearly as dreary as it usually was and the clock not so sluggish. He got a text from Roger at 12:14 and smiled. He pulled out his phone and looked at it. Then stood up and grabbed his jacket. The air outside was pleasant, the sun warmed everything and the breeze kept it from being too hot. He walked down the street to a bagel stand where a tall, muscled tiger was standing in slacks and a rolled up button up.

The vixen working the stand handed the tiger two bagels, one was a blueberry with strawberry cream cheese, the other an onion wheat with jalapeno cream cheese. The tiger turned and handed him the fruity one, but was surprised when Jefferson quickly pecked him on the lips. Jefferson then took the bagel and the tiger's empty hand and led him down the street to where a bench was sitting in front of a store with female mannequins in the window.

"Well, you're rather different today aren't you?" The tiger purred smiling. Jefferson smiled too and then bit into his bagel, chewing it while Roger looked at him.

"I am. I have good news." He took another bite of his bagel. Roger still hadn't eaten any of his yet. Jefferson was delighted in the suspense that was building up in the tiger. His ears were erect and facing front and the tip of is tail swished restlessly under the bench.

"Well, I talked to Amelia last night," Roger tensed and Jefferson paused to pick something off of his slacks. "And she has agreed to let me see you, as long as I stay a devoted part of the family as well. You can come by tonight to meet my kids. They will call you 'Uncle Roger'. Isn't that amazing?" Jefferson had his free hand on the tiger's knee and was beaming. Roger's brow furrowed and he looked at the window in front of them, his ears now flicking in all different directions. Jefferson was confused, Roger should be happy about this. This was the best possible outcome.

"Rog...what's wrong?" The tiger had wrapped his bagel up and set it down on the bench next to him, now inspecting his claws.

"It's just...I wanted a family of my own...with you. Not to be adopted into yours. I wanted us to be together."

"But Roger...we can be together. Amelia said that you and I could be together."

"Yeah, as long as you and Amelia are also still together. That's not being together Jefferson. That's being greedy." Jefferson sat back in shock. His reflection in the store window showed him wide-eyed and his mouth slightly open. He closed it and thought for a moment. Roger's bright orange coat seemed somewhat dulled on the glass and his details were not as sharp. Jefferson looked at his reflection. He did not know that body, could not trace its stripes, or find its scars, but he wanted to. He desperately wanted to.

"Roger...I love you." The tiger's lips curled up in a snarl and his whiskers flicked around, his tail now lashing. He turned away from Jefferson.

"And you love her too."

"Yes, I do." Roger snorted and stood up. Stood there for a moment, his shoulders tense, then walked away back towards the building they both worked in, leaving his bagel uneaten on the bench. Jefferson watched him go, confused at what had happened. He also stood and picked up the wasted bagel, throwing it in the trash along with the remains of his own. The rest of the day seemed just as miserable as usual. Jefferson decided to call it quits when the numbers started swimming before him, his concentration shot. He grabbed another apple out of the basket on his way out and ate it, discarding the core in a trash can on his way home. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He reached in absent-mindedly and pulled it out. He had a text message. He opened it.

"Will try for you. Can I come over for dinner?" Jefferson's ears perked and his tail began swishing side to side. He hit replied and typed "Certainly!" and then sent it, immediately opening up the call window and dialed Amelia. Her caller id picture was of them smiling, they took it last year during their family vacation to the beach down south. He smiled at the memory and held it up to his ear. It rang three times before the crystal voice of his wife answered it.

"Amelia! Is it okay if Roger comes over for dinner?" He listened to her pause. It sounded like Sarah and Joseph were fighting in the back ground. He heard her cover the mouthpiece of her phone and then muffled yelling. When she put it back up to her face she answered.

"Yes, that's fine, but you will need to go to the store to pick up something extra, I am not sure we have enough for six right now." Jefferson nodded even though she couldn't see him and smiled.

"Alright. I will. I will be home in a bit then." He changed his course so that he passed the grocer and walked in. He stood at the doorway for a moment because he didn't really know what to get. Roger was a tiger so he would eat meat right? He still liked bagels, but they couldn't serve him a bagel for dinner. They usually had starches and vegetables. They never ate meat. But that is what Roger would eat. He walked over to the meat section of the store. It was cold and there was so much red he was startled. Words popped up in his vision that had no meaning to him. Things like "sausage", "ribeye", "roast". He must have looked utterly lost because a tawny lioness in a white apron walked up to him.

"Sir, do you need any help finding something today?" He looked at her, bewildered for a moment and then nodded.

"Um, yes. I have a tiger er...friend coming over for dinner tonight and I'm not quite sure what to serve him." She smiled and then looked at the wide selection of red slabs before them. She grabbed one of the ones that said "ribeye" on it and handed it to him. He took it apprehensively and thanked her. After she walked off he inspected the thing in his hand. It squished when he poked it and he could swear it was still bleeding. He swallowed the bile in his throat and walked towards the register, holding the thing a little way away from his body like he expected it to start dripping on his shoes.

Once he had paid for the meat and it was in a grocery sack he felt a little better. But he still thought people were looking at him strangely as he walked down the street. Why would a horse be carrying a slab of bleeding meat? He unlocked his front door and dropped the keys in the bowl and then walked into the kitchen where Amelia was already at work. He plopped the sack down on the counter and she came over to inspect it. She looked inside and then looked at him.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" He looked around and then shrugged.

"Cook it?"

"How?"

"Um...I'm not sure? I think we put it in the oven?" Amelia shook her head and then pulled it out, putting it in a baking dish and looked at it for a second. Then she put some butter on it and some pepper and put it in the oven where it smelled like corn was already roasting.

"Well, I hope that is right. Please go get the kids ready. I haven't had time to tell them that company is coming yet. They need to change into acceptable clothing." Jefferson walked up the stairs and knocked on the office door. Both his eldest were sitting at their computers, doing much of the same as they were doing the day before, his youngest was on the ground coloring a picture.

"Guys, we are having company for dinner tonight. He is a good friend of mine and I would like you all to be dressed accordingly, do you understand me?"

"Yes Dad" They said without even looking at him. He would be surprised if they even heard him really. He would go back in there after he was changed. He wasn't quite sure how he should dress for this evening. His usual evening attire of sweats and a cotton shirt wouldn't work. He walked into his closet and looked. He settled on a soft pair of dark jeans and a green polo. He always liked how the green looked against his blue-grey hide. He carefully combed is mane and then went to check on his kids again.

"Hey guys, come on now, let's get ready for dinner okay?" This time Sarah turned to look at him, her white braid coming slightly undone in the front so that she had bangs framing her forehead.

"Am I dressed alright Dad?" She stood up and twirled, she was in a blue summer dress with yellow flowers on it. Jefferson chuckled.

"Yes sweetheart, you look very pretty." She smiled and sat back down, she was reading a news article on GMOs. Joseph had his headset on now and didn't even know Jefferson was there, so he jumped a little when he placed his hand on his shoulder. He looked up and pulled off his headset.

"Yes Dad?"

"You need to go get dressed for dinner. We're having a guest remember?" His son blinked up at him and then looked at the screen in front of him. He typed something into the online chat box and then logged out of his game.

"Okay. I'll dress like you then." Jefferson nodded and then moved to the middle of the floor where Emmanuel was laying, crayons scattered around him.

"Mannie, dude, we gotta clean up so you can get ready for dinner. You are gunna meet a good friend of mine alright? He is very special to Daddy." His son looked up at him and then back down to the page he was coloring. It was a lobster that was now various shades of green and purple. He shrugged and then stood up, making his way out of the office door.

"Nuh-uh buddy. You need to pick up your crayons and put them away." Emmanuel sighed and slumped his shoulders and then trudged towards his mess. He was slow in putting up the coloring utensils but they finally all made it back into the box, and the box and the book was put into a drawer in one of the computer desks. Jefferson then walked his young son into the bedroom and pulled out a pair of khaki shorts and a green polo to match his own. Emmanuel was the closest in coloration to his own, a speckled blue-gray, but he had his mother's beige-white mane, which was carefully brushed, as was his tail, which had a tendency to get knotted near the bottom.

Just as Jefferson was finishing up there was a knock on the front door. He walked Emmanuel down the stairs and took a deep breath as he unlocked the deadbolt. He opened the door and there stood Roger, a breathtaking sight. He was wearing a black button down, rolled up to the elbows and tight across his sculpted chest, dark blue jeans and hi-top converse. Jefferson smiled and Roger smiled sheepishly. They stood there for a moment and then Jefferson stepped back.

"Oh, uh, come in." Roger nodded and stepped over the threshold, his tail flicking nervously behind him. "I think dinner is just about ready, if you wanna come sit down, it's this way." Jefferson led him to their dining room which was now set for six. He directed Roger to the spot to the right of his at the head of the table. Amelia sat on his left and his kids took whichever seat caught their fancy that evening. On the table already were some mashed potatoes and roasted corn, along with other various vegetables and breads. They heard Amelia holler to the kids to come sit down and a minute later there were hooves coming down the stairs. They slowed when they saw Roger sitting there and Sarah made a beeline for the seat right next to Amelia. Joseph sat next to her, leaving the spot next to Roger for Mannie.

"Kids, this is Roger. Roger this is Sarah and Joseph. They're twins, though they may not look like it." Roger nodded and smiled to each of them.

"Nice to meet you. Your Dad talks a lot about you." That wasn't entirely true since Roger forbid him to talk about his family when they were together. Amelia walked in and their attention turned to her. In front of Roger she set down a plate that had the meat slab on it. It was now brown and no longer bleeding. He looked slightly startled and thanked her. She was watching him worried, the pressure of being a good hostess outweighing any personal bias she might have against the tiger or the meat. She wiped her hands on her apron and then went into the kitchen, emerging again a moment later without the apron and with Mannie in tow.

"Go sit down son. Nice to meet you, I am Amelia" She bowed a little and nodded then sat down.

"That little one next to you is Emmanuel. Mannie, this is my friend Roger." Mannie stared at the tiger. He had been wide eyed as soon as he laid eyes on the stripes. He gave a meek wave and Amelia and Jefferson gave a nervous chuckle.

"Well, dig in then." Bowls and plates were passed around and food was distributed and everyone was eating. Out of the corner of his eye Jefferson watched Roger. He occasionally made a face that could have either been delight or disgust, it was hard to tell. The conversation stayed light and casual, consisting of what everyone did for a living. Sarah and Joseph would occasionally chip in with their two cents and Emmanuel continued to stare at the formidable tiger in their midst. When all the food had been eaten the kids were excused and Amelia started picking up the plates. Jefferson grabbed his own and Roger's and stacked what he could on top of them.

"Would you like a glass of wine Roger?" The tiger's ears perked up a little and he nodded.

"Red or white?"

"Um...Rose if you have any." Jefferson nodded. They had a single bottle of rose. It was given to them as a first anniversary gift seven years ago.

He poured three glasses of the wine and carried two of them into the dining room, setting one in front of the tiger and then seated himself. They both tasted the wine and it had a nice fruity flavor, it filled his mouth with a warm sensation that followed down his throat. Roger's tail swished lazily under his chair and they sat in contented silence until Amelia walked in holding her own glass of rose wine. She seemed a little disgruntled but she took a healthy swallow of the wine and soon her cheeks were flushed, making her palomino complexion adorable. He looked at her face for a moment and smiled, then looked at Roger. This was perfect, the three of them, not having to choose, not being racked with guilt or fear or longing.

They sat in a silence that stretched on before Jefferson cleared his throat. He wasn't quite sure what to talk about so he started talking about his kids. Roger didn't know very much about them, and he wanted Amelia to feel included in the conversation. Roger smiled and politely laughed and exclaimed when it was opportune. The glass of wine now fully in Amelia and Jefferson they hardly noticed that Roger hadn't drank his yet. It felt late when Roger stood and made his goodbyes. Jefferson walked him out the door and gave him a warm hug on the porch. Roger turned to leave when Jefferson suddenly reached out and pulled him to him. Their muzzles met in a passionate kiss that started the tiger. When it ended they were breathy. The tiger smiled weakly and then turned to go. Jefferson went back inside the house and up the stairs to the bedroom. Amelia was in the shower and he felt something inside of him stir. It hadn't stirred in quite a while because he was so wracked with indecision but now that everything was settled he had a hunger. He quickly peeled off his clothes and joined his wife in the shower. She was startled and almost slipped but he caught her. She was soaping up her mane when he entered and he let her finish before he pulled her to him, rubbing himself between her legs.

"Well, hello." She said softly. He kissed her neck and her shoulders. He missed the taste of her fur under his lips. He was pushing into her now, her back was against the shower wall. Their hooves were slipping a little bit but they finally found their ground. He stroked her mane and looked into her eyes. She nodded and he lined himself up, pushing his length into her. She was wet and ready for him. She had probably been waiting a while for this. She had probably felt the distance between them even more than he had. She gasped when he was fully inside her and then shivered. She felt amazing wrapped so tightly around him. He gave her short powerful thrusts that made her breasts ripple. He put his mouth on one of her hardened nipples and began to lightly suck on them. She let a small moan escape her lips and he moved his hips more hungrily now. He was rocking her whole body with his thrusts and he switched nipples. He hadn't felt this in such a long time and it felt so good. Amelia's breathing was getting heavier as he was getting faster.

"No more kids." She breathed out in between thrusts. He nodded in understanding and dug in. Their bodies were both slick from the water of the shower and they were rubbing against each other. He felt her tighten around him and tense up, then she moaned long and loud and then she relaxed. He pushed himself to go faster and he felt his own pleasure building up inside of him. He thrust deep, rubbing her walls, and then pulled out, exploding all over her thighs.

They were both breathing rather heavily and she smiled at him. Her legs were a little shaky so he helped hold her up as she rinsed off her body and scrubbed the fur on her thighs. He kissed her before she climbed out of the shower and then went about his own routine. When he finished she was already softly asleep in the bed. He flicked off all the lights and climbed in next to her, reaching out to put an arm around her and holding her close. He was glad they were finally back together.

The next morning he woke up late and rushed around. He made it to work on time and the day went by relatively uneventful. He got a text twenty minutes before he got off. It was from Roger.

"We need to talk. Meet at the usual spot?" This filled Jefferson with apprehension. His tail flicked nervously and the last twenty minutes of the day seemed to last as long as all the hours before. When the clock finally stuck 5:00 he was out of there. He was walking quickly along the sidewalk to the little apartment complex they usually met at. His hooves were clacking loudly on the pavement and he was getting a few looks from other pedestrians but he didn't care. He pulled out his key and unlocked the door to the apartment and Roger was sitting on the couch waiting for him.

"I got your text, what is it?" Roger stood up. Something was wrong, his ears were flat against his head and his tail was swishing in small side to side motions behind him.

"Jefferson...I...can't do this." Ice ran through Jefferson's veins.

"Can't do...what?"

"This, sharing you. Look," Roger turned away to look out the window. "I saw the way you looked at Amelia last night and I realized...I realized that even if you look at me that way too, I...I just can't stand knowing you look at someone else like that too." Jefferson stood there, across the room from the tense tiger, in silence. After a few minutes Roger spoke again.

"I was willing to give it a try, for you. I wanted to be with you so badly, I thought I would be okay with the arrangement, but I'm not. I just, I can't Jeff. I am sorry." Roger turned towards him now and took a step forward. His eyes were pleading and he even had a paw outstretched towards Jefferson.

"What do you want me to say Roger?" Jefferson whinnied these words to the tiger.

"That you'll be with me. " The tiger said quietly, looking at the floor.

"I will. But I can't leave Amelia and the kids. You know that Roger. You've always known that. I've never made that a secret." His shoulders slumped and he sighed, his ears and tail drooping. He collapsed on the couch.

"I know. I know." Jefferson stood there looking at the tiger he loved so much. The silence stretched on. When Jefferson noticed a tear falling from the little pink nose he coughed.

"I uh, I should go. I don't want to be late for dinner..." Roger nodded. Jefferson turned and left, the door closing with a hollow click behind him.