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Chapter 12: Rest and Relaxation

Krystal woke up after a blissful night of nocturnal lover-making. Through their bond, she could sense that her lover was in that twilight between sleep and wakefulness. With his maleness still deeply imbedded inside her, she could not think of a better way to begin the weekend. Gently kissing him, she began to slowly ride his length.

Fox awoke to the pleasant sensation of his vixen sliding around his length and her lips against his. Since it was their day off, neither had the desire to get out of bed. They continued to make love and pleasure each other intimately until it was almost mid-day.

Both were snuggling under the silk sheets, pleasantly sated, when Fox's communicator chirped. Picking it up, Fox saw that Falco was calling. "Hey there! How's the mercenary life?"

"Hey Foxy. It's been profitable, boring, and exciting as always. How's married life?"

In answer, Fox activated his communicator's visual transmitter.

On the bridge of the Great Falcon, they saw on the main screen that Fox was still in bed and his wife was leaning her head against his. "Married life has been really good." Falco rolled his eyes while Katt and Fay both giggled.

"So what's the occasion for the call?" Krystal asked.

"We finished our current contract with the CDF and are standing down for some R&R. We were on our way to Corneria when I got your message about the new pressure suits.

"They're great." Fox affirmed. "The suits are tailor made and super comfortable."

"Yeah. That's what you were saying in your message. So we'll be meeting this Vanessa Chambers you told me about and check it out, and probably get measured for these suits. We could drop by for a visit afterwards if you'd like."

Fox and Krystal perked up and grinned, their tails wagging under the sheets. "Sure! We'd love to have you over. We can even have the upstairs guest suites ready for you, in case you want to stay overnight."

"Sounds great, Foxy." Falco looked around at his three crewmates, the girls grinned and nodded. "Katt and Fay both like the idea too."

Dash smiled, but shook his head. "I'll be visiting my mother. She lives on an island community 1200 km south of Corneria City."

"Then we wish you a wonderful time with your family, Dash." Fox replied.

Krystal added, "Fay, we'll call Bill and let him know to come over too."

Fay Spaniel squealed in delight. "Thank Krystal! You and Fox are the best!"

Falco glanced down at his display. "Looks like Corneria Orbit Control is hailing us. So we'll see you later this afternoon."

"We're looking forward to it. See you later," Fox said and closed his comm unit.

Given that it was a warm summer day, Krystal got dressed in a casual, yellow sun dress and Fox put on a shirt and loose-fitting pants that went down to his knees. The two went out to the West End Market to select foods for a dinner that they knew their friends would like. By now, the local residents had gotten used to seeing the McClouds at one of the area businesses or another and made no fuss about seeing the famed couple.

Through their senses and Krystal's telepathy, they still kept alert to their surroundings, but were happy to see that they could venture about from their home and be at ease in their neighborhood. What pleased them even more was that there were no sign of paparazzi anywhere. Their last confrontation with Pricilla Kane and the other tabloid photographers a month before, and Walter Kent's scathing report on the tabloids about what had happened at this very market had discouraged any further confrontation, at least for the time being.

Back home, Fox and his wife set about preparing for their guests. While they usually preferred to cook their own dinner, they in this case had ROB-48 prepare the chicken pasta dinner, given that the robot was already programmed for culinary tasks. A quick check of the upstairs guest suites confirmed that everything was ready for Falco and Katt and Bill and Fay to spend the night.

It was late afternoon when Falco, Katt, and Fay arrived, followed by paparazzi. The tabloid photographers abruptly broke off their pursuit the moment Falco turned onto the street for the McCloud Family Estate. Fay giggled from the back seat and stuck out her tongue to the reporters behind them. "Fara tells me that Fox and Krystal destroyed so many vehicles and recording equipment with the defenses Space Dynamics installed at their home that reporters don't dare even turn onto their street."

Falco cawed in laughter. "Way to go Foxy!" Just as they approached, Falco transmitted a code Fox had shared with him and the gates swung open to let them in. Falco slowly guided his roadster up the long driveway.

"Seeing this place sure brings back memories. Fox and his parents may have been upper class, but they sure didn't act like hurdy turdy snobs." Fay recalled, becoming lost in the memories of her childhood. "Those were fun times, hanging out with him inside or playing in their huge yard. James McCloud was a self-made millionaire who was frugal and made a fortune founding and leading Star Fox."

Falco nodded and added to Fay's observation. "And Foxy was just as tight with his earnings as his dad was. Every extra penny that didn't go to paying off the 80-year loan on the Great Fox that his father took out went into paying this place off."

They pulled up to the front of the mansion where Fox and Krystal stood. Fox gave his avian friend a hearty embrace. "Hey Falco. It's good to see you again."

"Likewise, Foxy." Falco returned the hug before standing back and looking up at the large home looming over them. "It's nice to see you've decided to come back here."

Just then, Bill came racing down the driveway and pulled up next to Falco's roadster in a cloud of road dust. The bulldog leapt out of his ground car and raced to Fay, embracing his girlfriend and covering her face in wet, sloppy canine kisses that made the spaniel squeal.

With matching grins, Fox and Krystal beckon their friends, while the tod verbally welcomed them. "Come on in."

While following the two vulpines, Fay commented, "Not counting the wedding, I've never seen you this under-dressed in years, Fox."

The tod retorted with a grin. "I kind of feel overdressed now. When it's just me and Krystal at home, we don't wear anything at all."

Falco snorted, "Why am I not surprised?"

Fox and Krystal led their friends up the spiral staircase. Seeing the upstairs living room, Bill and Fay gazed at the place where they used to play as children. Bill smiled wistfully, "This place sure brings back memories. We spent many rainy afternoons playing here."

Fox smiled fondly at his friends. "Those were fun times, and I hope to build many more happy memories here with the family Krystal and I will have, and with you guys whenever you visit."

While Krystal showed Bill and Fay to the opposing guest suite, Fox led Falco and Katt towards the guest suite at his end of the second floor. Falco's gaze was drawn to the closed bedroom door at the end of the hallway opposite the guest suite. Giving in on an impulse, the falcon walked up to the door and opened it, gazing inside. Katt followed, wondering what her boyfriend was looking for.

Inside, they saw a bedroom with a bay window offering a panoramic view of the front yard. Models of Arwings and other spaceships sat gleaming on the dresser. Posters of Cornerian military ships adorned one wall. The room contained a single double bed with the sheets and comforter neatly made. With dawning realization, Katt turned to Fox. "This was your bedroom when you were a pup." Krystal, Fay, and Bill had joined them and were all gazing into the room that was a window into Fox's youth.

"It was, until Dad died. I only moved back in just after our honeymoon." Fox gazed at his wife, his heart brimming with joy at the thought of what this room would eventually be used for. "When he's old enough to have his own room, this will belong to our first-born son."

Falco slapped his vulpine friend on the shoulder. "That's great, Foxy. I look forward to seeing the little guy make it his room."

With their guests now dressed down to casual clothes, Fox and Krystal sat with them in the formal dining room and enjoyed the chicken pasta dinner prepared for all of them. Falco wearily eyed the glass of bubbly sparkling wine in front of him. Fox smiled knowingly to his friend. "Still dry, I take it?"

"Yeah. You know I've sworn off the stuff ever since that incident with the male prostitute. Why the hell are you offering me this shit?"

Fox lifted his glass to his lips and drank a sip of his wine. "I wouldn't do that to you, Falco. Don't worry. Yours is non-alcoholic."

Falco lifts the glass to his beak and tentatively lapped up a few drops of his drink. It tasted like wine, but it was obvious that there was no alcohol. He smiled gratefully at his friend. "Thanks."

Fox lifted his glass in a toast to his avian friend. "We'll make sure to always have a bottle of the finest unfermented grape juice waiting for you each time you come and visit."

Krystal, Fay, Bill, and Katt all lifted a glass in turn, cheering their avian friend. Katt leaned over and gave her boyfriend a tender kiss on the cheek full of affection. "I'm proud of you, my teetotalling birdie."

Over an enjoyable dinner, Falco, Katt, and Fay recounted Star Falco's successful missions and the one joint operation they did with Star Wolf. When desert was served, Bill eyed Krystal and grinned at her empty wine glass. He teasingly asked, "Do you want another glass, Luv?"

Krystal rolled her eyes and huffed, "One glass is enough for me."

Falco frowned. Katt's ears perked up, the feline immediately curious to know what this exchange between the dog and the vixen was about. Fay tilted her head quizzically.

Fox was sympathetic, feeling his wife's lingering embarrassment at losing control of her powers. "Let's just say we found out last night that telepathy and too much alcohol don't mix," Fox said while smiling fondly to his vixen. He nuzzled her reassuringly in the ear while focusing all his thoughts on how much he loved her. Krystal sighed and smiled ruefully, grateful for all his love.

After dinner, they retreated to the basement den. With some prodding from Katt, Krystal told them of how she was caught by surprise by the deceptively strong drink the night before. When she got to the part where her judgment slipped and she violated Bill's mental privacy, the vixen was unable to even meet Fay's eyes.

Fox sensed his wife's emotional turmoil and rushed to embrace her in his arms just as Krystal broke down and began sobbing. The others were taken aback by how deeply hurt the telepathic vixen felt. Bill quickly moved to sit on Krystal's other side and hugged her, doing all he could to reassure her. "Krystal, Luv. Please don't be sad. You know I'm not upset in the least about such a silly little mistake."

Fay knelt on the floor in front of her distraught friend and took her hand in hers. "Come on girl. Look at me. If my boyfriend is not upset, then why should I be?"

Falco and Katt each stood behind the couch and laid a hand on Krystal's shoulders while the vixen continued sobbing in a halting voice. "I j...just feel s...so awful. I...I intruded into s...such intimate thoughts in B...Bill's m...mind about you Fay."

The bubbly she-dog looked to her boyfriend. "Aww. I bet they were sweet and loving too." She got up and leaned forward to lick the tears away from her friend's cheeks. "Please don't cry. You know I trust you, and so does Bill. I did let you read my mind and go through my memories of that day Bill and I went to River Rapids waterpark."

Though somewhat reassured, Krystal was still upset. "It's n...not just that. I f...failed at k...keeping Fox from having a n...nightmare last night."

Fox kissed her behind the ear and reassuringly reminded her, "That nightmare had hardly begun when my angel invaded my dream and rescued me. You wrapped your wings about me and kept me safe, and filled my night with so many vivid, erotic wet dreams that I barely remember that nightmare."

With Krystal now only sniffling, Bill took her other hand in his and again reassures her, "And I'm in no way upset or embarrassed that you saw my fantasy of humping Fay from behind."

Fay blushed and giggled at hearing that admission from her boyfriend. "I'll want a good humping tonight when we go to bed."

Fox moved to sit behind his vixen and drew her between his legs, hugging her from behind. "See Kurisutaru? Fay's not upset either." He then shifted to Cerinian and reassured her further. "Please be at peace, my Love. We all care for you and think no less of you for a simple lapse in control of your powers last night."

Fox then became aware that he could not hear their friend's surface thoughts through her telepathy and realized that Krystal had her mental barriers up tightly. "And don't let what happened last night make you isolate yourself telepathically from our friends. You are in control of your powers now, and none of our friends mind if you hear their surface thoughts and feelings."

Krystal nervously made eye contact with each of her friends gathered around her and her husband. She saw each of them smile to her reassuringly or nod.

"See?" Fox gently admonished his soulmate and coaxed her. "Now stop walling yourself up."

Krystal nodded and took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as she relaxed her mental barriers and let their friends' surface thoughts wash over her. What tension remained flowed out of her. Soothed by the warm emotions around her, Krystal was finally able to get over her indiscretion from the previous night.

Fox continued caressing his vixen from behind, and heard Bill think, "She's such a sweet, kind-hearted soul. I really hope she gets over this silly mistake of reading my mind by accident."

The tod smiled, deeply touched by his friend's thoughts. "She has, Bill. I just heard what you thought through my bond with Krystal." He met each of his friend's gaze while giving his wife an affectionate squeeze. "Thank you, all of you, for being so caring and understanding."

With Krystal basking in the feelings of friendship, conversation shifted to Falco and his crew. The entire Star Falco team had been measured for their own pressure suits, except for Dash. Their fourth crewmember had been notified and replied that once he finished visiting his mother, he'd take a transport to Corneria City to come to the CDF facility to be measured and fitted for a pressure suit too. Near the end of the evening, Fay suggested they all go to the waterpark the following day. Fox, Bill, and Krystal all liked the idea and made plans for it. Falco and Katt politely decline, being not too fond of water.

With the evening winding down, all of them mutually decided to head to bed. After bidding their friends a good night, Fox and Krystal went to their own bedroom. As they have often done, the happily married couple showered together, their hands freely wandering to intimate areas. The contact was not passionate or lustful, but simply a source of reassurance and an expression of their deep love for each other.

After drying and brushing out their fur, Fox went to prepare their bed while Krystal went to her meditation alcove. Once again at peace with herself and in control of her telepathic powers, Krystal was able to easily focus and clear her mind. While she meditated, she could sense the passion and love radiating from the two upstairs bedroom suites. Knowing that both couples were making love brought a smile to the vixen while she was careful to not mentally intrude upon them.

In the main bedroom, Fox grinned. Through his bond with his wife, he too was aware of the passionate love-making happening above them. He sensed that Krystal was just about done and took comfort that it would be impossible to have any further nightmares and was looking forward to another night of intimacy with his soulmate. Her hunger for him flared in his mind at that thought.

Having finished her meditation, Krystal stood up and stretched. She made her way back into the bedroom and crawled under the red silk sheets and waited for her lover. "Mmmm. I just realized that it has been a few days since I last sucked you. You are way overdue for a good blowjob."

Fox was making his way to their bed and became weak in the knees at the thought of her warm, suckling muzzle around his maleness. He knew he'd always gratefully let her pleasure him, but suddenly felt a need to go to the bathroom first. Krystal giggled, but appreciated the gesture since both knew she preferred to drink only his essence when she took his maleness into her muzzle.

In the bathroom, Fox not only relieved himself, but took his time to carefully wash his maleness to make sure they both enjoyed how he tasted. When he came back to the bedroom, he became aware and then quickly saw that his lover had fallen asleep. He smiled fondly at his wife while he crawled into bed next to her. It was apparent to him that lingering emotional exhaustion had caught up to her in the last few minutes.

Snuggling up to his wife and letting his tail curl about hers, Fox soon drifted off into a content slumber. His last thought was imagining that he'd wake up the next morning to the sensation of her suckling muzzle around his maleness.

Fox was in the midst of a shared dream with Krystal, where he was contentedly snuggling with her, when he found himself drifting awake in the middle of the night. His gaze drifted to the pillow next to his and he frowned in confusion. He could sense his wife nearby, but did not see her there in the gloom of their bedroom. He then became aware that she was sleeping against him, under the sheets.

Lifting the bed covers, he looked down to see that Krystal had her arms around his leg and her face next to his crotch. Fox recalled how his wife had really wanted to suck him off when they had gone to bed, but had fallen asleep before she could. Smiling down fondly at his vixen and with his arousal growing at the thought, he decided to give her what she wanted.

Without waking her, he carefully guided her muzzle to his growing maleness. When the tip of his erection nudged against her nose, her lips automatically parted, and Fox slowly slid himself into her mouth. As gently as he could, he pulled her head down until his entire length was in her warm maw. Still asleep, Krystal reflexively began to suckle him. He remained perfectly still, not thrusting into her muzzle to avoid waking her. With lidded eyes, Fox breathed deeply while holding her head as she continued to nurse.

The idea that she was orally pleasuring him in her sleep was incredibly erotic. Their trust and devotion to each other was so complete that each had giving the other lasting permission to each other's bodies. Fox knew that he'd always let Krystal do whatever she wanted to him, day or night, while he was awake or asleep. She had sucked him while he slept. He had awakened to her riding his length as well. And even though she had not done it yet, he had given her his full consent to peg him with her strap-on whenever she wanted to. He himself had licked her female treasure and fondled her, and even made love to her until she awakened in mid-climax.

But this was beyond anything he had imagined possible. She had latched onto his maleness, with her lips tightly sealed around his base and was suckling like a hungry pup. Inside her mind, Fox could see that she was now dreaming of orally pleasuring him. Fox had to suppress a groan. The pleasure of her muzzle's suction was insistent. He lay there for some time, basking in the oral pleasure she was giving him. In her dream, Fox could see that she was now imaging his knot filling her muzzle, which Fox knew was something that could not be reasonably allowed to happen since his knot would press painfully against her teeth. So when his knot started to swell, he gently pulled her head back and wrapped his fingers around the swelling base of his maleness.

Fox could feel himself getting close, the exquisite tightness building up in his loins. His breathing became ragged. She was relentless in her sucking and the tod could no longer hold back. With a blissful whine, his jewels yielded their treasure and Fox throbbed deeply into her muzzle. To his amazement, she did not wake up but reflexively swallowed his essence with each throb of his maleness. When his orgasm had run its course, Krystal continued to nurse on the length in her muzzle, her suction keeping him from softening.

Only upon hearing his deep groan did Krystal's eyes flutter open. At first confused as to why she was so far down under the sheets, she then became aware of what was in her muzzle and giggled and hummed around her mouthful. "So now you feed me your essence while I slumber?"

Fox caressed her head and ears while she continued to languidly suckle on his length. "I awoke in the middle of the night to find you down there, your nose in my crotch and you dreaming of pleasuring me orally. So I gave you what you wanted."

Krystal continued to contentedly nurse on her husband's length.

"Uh, Kurisutaru, my Love?"

"Could you hand me your knot sleeve, Dearest?"

Fox had to stretch his fingers, but he managed to grab the toy and handed it to his vixen. She let his erect maleness slide out of her mouth and slid the silicone sleeve snugly around his knot before taking his length back into her muzzle with a throaty hum. With her nose pressed against the thick silicone toy around his knot, she resumed nursing on him and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Though the rhythmic suction of her muzzle made it difficult for Fox to fall asleep, he couldn't bring himself to complain when his loins sang with such erotic pleasure. His eyes eventually did get heavy, though sleep didn't come to him until he blissfully groaned, his jewels pulling up to feed her more of his essence, twitching in strong spasms.

Krystal reflexively swallowed the gift and continued to nurse without even waking. Exhausted from two consecutive orgasms, Fox slipped into a fitful sleep filled with unending erotic pleasure.

*****

Early morning found Fox drifting back to wakefulness to his wife's warm, suckling muzzle. He vaguely remembered waking up several times in mid-climax and having repeated wet dreams. Thinking back, he figured he came five or six times through the night. Looking down under the red silk sheets, he saw his blue-furred wife's muzzle still latched to his maleness while she slept.

He suddenly became aware that his bladder needed relief. Slowly and with care, he eased her head away from his crotch, letting his sensitive maleness slip out of her hungry muzzle. Through their bond, he knew that even though she had climaxed herself several times, she'd be paying for their pleasure with a sore jaw. Fox staggered to the bathroom to relieve himself and then walked out of their bedroom, yawning and feeling not fully awake. He made it to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and withdrew a pitcher of juice which he poured into a tall glass. The half-awake, dehydrated tod drank deeply and emptied his glass in one go. He poured himself another glass and emptied that in one go as well before setting his glass down and stretching.

By then, Krystal had awakened and walked out into the kitchen wearing a red velvet housecoat. Several things then happened at once. His ears twitched at the sound of a gasp, and he felt his wife's empathy sense bemusement and astonishment. He turned to see Bill grin at him, Fay stare at him slack-jawed, Falco roll his eyes in exasperation, and Katt cover her muzzle to stifle a giggle.

Still not fully awake, it took Fox's mind a moment to connect the dots. His wife was wearing a modest housecoat and his friends were staring at him. Fox McCloud was standing stark naked in the kitchen in front of his friends. "Oh....Um....Sorry about that." He yawned. "I'll be right back."

Fox walked back into his bedroom and rummaged through his dresser, looking for pajamas to put on this early in the morning, but could not find any. He really didn't feel like getting dressed this early. He searched further and finally found his Cerinian loincloth that he wore when he and his wife visited Tricky at Walled City during their honeymoon.

Shrugging, he slipped the loincloth around his waist and walked back into the kitchen. He smiled ruefully to his friends. "Not used to wearing clothes at home this early in the morning."

Falco shook his head, unable to believe his friend's total lack of modesty. "A loincloth? Is that the best you could come up with?"

Fox waved him off. "Eh. I couldn't find my old pajamas and didn't want to get dressed this early."

Bill gave a barking laugh, looking at Krystal dressed modestly and Fox hardly dressed at all. "Krystal, I think your husband is more Cerinian than you are."

Krystal wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed him on the nose. "Mother would be proud of him."

Fox nuzzled his wife back. Thinking back to when their parents' spirits visited them in their dream, he affirmed, "Well, she did adopt me into your clan." Now more fully awake, he turned to his friends and asked. "Pancakes anyone?"

Getting an enthusiastic nod from all their friends, Fox began to gather the ingredients to prepare their breakfast.

Krystal eyed her husband. "I'm actually feeling overdressed here. I'll be right back."

Fox had just started mixing the batter when Krystal walked back out in her traditional Cerinian loincloth and bra. He glanced at his wife and smiled. "You look lovely as always, my Love."

"Thank you, my Dearest. Let me help you with breakfast."

While Krystal and Fox worked together to mix the pancake batter and grill them in several pans, Bill glanced down at his comm unit. "Well, the universal translator is working well with the new Cerinian language update."

A week before, Fox and Krystal had met with the CDF linguists and helped them with adding Krystal's native language to their database. From her old ship, Krystal had extracted a data card containing a complete dictionary and grammar for Cerinian. She and her husband had then let the linguists record them as they conversed back and forth in the near-extinct tongue, allowing them to get a good sample of the spoken language.

Fay perked up and brought her comm unit next to Bill's. "Can we get a copy?"

"Sure thing," Bill replied and shared the update with the Star Falco crew.

Seeing that he now would be understood, Fox continued speaking in Cerinian. "So you guys can understand us now?"

"You are coming in clear, Foxy," Falco affirmed after glancing at his communicator.

"We have berries, cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel," Krystal announced, taking the aforementioned toppings out of the refrigerator.

For the next half-hour, Falco, Katt, Bill, and Fay were entertained with watching the McCloud couple work in the kitchen in an impromptu ballet of coordinated movements as they teamed up to make pancakes for their guests. The two telepathically bonded foxes moved seamlessly around each other, blindly tossing ingredients to each other while mixing batters and flipping cooked pancakes from pan to plate. Throughout the performance, they would speak to each other out loud and to their guests only in Cerinian, putting the translator through its paces.

*****

With Bill and Fay snuggling in the backseat of their ground car, Krystal drove along the highway while her husband sat in the front passenger seat, fast asleep. They had bid Falco and Katt goodbye earlier when they left the house to spend time together in Corneria City. Now on the road, the vixen kept tabs on her husband's dreams. She was of course not surprised that her husband was tired after a night of being repeatedly brought to a peak by her nocturnal oral pleasuring. Though her lower jaw was still a bit sore for suckling her lover's maleness throughout the night, she had no regrets.

Packed in the trunk were towels, swim suits and spare clothing, and a picnic basket full of drinks, food, and snacks for their day at River Rapids waterpark, which was two hours south along the coastal highway from Corneria City. All were hopeful for a day of fun with no tabloid photographers hounding them. From Fox's mind, Krystal already knew what he planned to do to try to ensure they had a hassle-free day. When they were 30 minutes from the waterpark, Krystal activated the vehicle's comm unit.

A male voice answered, "River Rapids waterpark. How may I help you?"

"This is Krystal McCloud. I'd like to speak to your manager."

At the communication desk at River Rapids, a wide-eyed grey fox stared at his comm unit in disbelief. It took him a moment for it to sink in who was at the other end of the call, but he finally snapped back to attention. "Y-yes, Missus McCloud. Patching you through."

In the backseat of the ground car, Bill and Fay leaned forward. "Krystal, what's this about?"

Krystal briefly glanced in her rear-view mirror. "Just taking some measures that Fox had in mind to do before we arrive."

A moment later, another male voice, older sounding, answered. "Yes? How may I help you?"

"This is Krystal McCloud. My husband and I and some friends are about 25 minutes from River Rapids and hope to spend a relaxing and enjoyable day at your waterpark."

Inside his office, Kelly Rivers sat straight up, quivering with excitement. Fox McCloud and his wife Krystal were coming to his waterpark. Already, the river otter's mind was swirling with the publicity the famous couple would bring to his business. "Yes. Yes. Of course. Anything we can do to make your stay a pleasant one?"

"In fact, there is." He heard the vixen say. There was a pause and then he heard her speak again. "Mister Rivers. You may be aware that we've had less-than-pleasant dealings with tabloid media and paparazzi. We sincerely hope that we can enjoy a day free from such harassment."

Kelly had indeed become aware of what the McClouds had been dealing with. "Yes, I saw the exposé by Walter Kent on how the tabloids had hounded you and your husband."

"Then I believe we understand each other, and that any future visits to your waterpark will depend on your security staff's ability to keep their ilk out of your park and away from us."

Kelly Rivers knew then what he had to do to make sure he kept the wrong kind of publicity out of his waterpark. "Leave it to us, Missus McCloud. We will ensure that you have a pleasant and worry-free day."

"Thank you, Mister Rivers. We look forward to spending the day there. We should arrive in about 20 minutes."

"Good day, Missus McCloud. We will make all the necessary arrangements."

After the call was terminated, an emergency meeting was called with his department managers and his security staff. Soon, the entire workforce of River Rapids was notified of their impending guests, and stern warnings were given to not tip the tabloid media on threat of being summarily fired. The security staff was put on high alert to deny entry to all photographers and reporters.

Twenty minutes later, Krystal was in line behind the vehicles in front of them, waiting to enter the gate to the waterpark parking lot. While their vehicle was stopped, the vixen leaned over and gave her husband a sensual kiss while sending a strong burst of her love into his mind. Fay giggled at the display of affection and the way Krystal was waking her vulpine.

Fox whined and woke up quickly, immediately grabbing his wife's head to kiss her back before they were startled by the blare of a horn from the ground car behind them. The two broke the kiss and Krystal put their car back into gear to advance further in line while Fox quickly took stock of where they were.

"Oh shit! I was supposed to call them before we got here..." Fox then paused and gazed at his wife, reading her mind through their bond. "Oh...Thanks for taking care of everything, and letting me catch up on my sleep."

She took her right hand off the steering wheel and gave his left hand a squeeze. "You needed it, Dearest." They continued moving forward until they pulled up to the gate. The parking attendant immediately recognized them and smiled. "Missus and Mister McCloud. Welcome to River Rapids. Arrangements have been made for your arrival. Please follow the blue line to our VIP parking."

Krystal reached for her credit chit and made to hand it to the parking attendant, but was politely declined. "No payment is needed, Missus McCloud."

The vixen frowned but shrugged, giving the young otter a smile. "Thank you."

Following the blue line through the parking lot, they soon found themselves in a small empty parking lot inside a secluded fenced in area behind trees adjacent to the park's front entrance. Bill quipped, "Well, this is nice. Fay and I usually had to park way out in the main parking lot. We're going to have to bring you two along each time we come here."

Fox smiled ruefully to his canine friend. "I never cared for special treatment, but in this case, I can't complain. Walking among that crowd towards the main gate, Krystal and I would have been easily recognized and mobbed by well-wishers and fans."

Bill chuckled. "Ah, the price of fame."

Fox rolled his eyes, "Believe you me, Krystal and I would be more than happy to do without."

They gathered their belongings from the ground car's trunk and were making their way towards the main gate when they met by another otter. "Welcome to River Rapids, Mister and Missus McCloud, and..."

"Bill Grey and Fay Spaniel," Bill supplied to the unasked question.

"Welcome as well. I presume you are friends of the McClouds?"

"Yep! Fay and I have been friends of Fox since we were children."

The otter bowed in acknowledgement. "Then welcome. Please follow me."

The two foxes and two dogs followed their host as he led them to a side gate out of view of the throngs waiting in line to pay for admission into the waterpark. At the gate, a large, greying river otter stood there, waiting for them. "Greetings! I am Kelly Rivers. Welcome to my waterpark." He then grinned to the two dogs, "Bill, Fay, welcome back. Always happy to see regular visitors."

Fox frowned, not seeing any window or counter where he could make payment for admission into the park. Nevertheless, he reached for his credit chit and made to hand it to the large otter. Bill went to do the same, but Kelly raised his hand. "That will not be necessary. Admission is on the house."

Fox shook his head. "No, I must insist. The exclusive parking and secluded entrance are very much appreciated, but we will pay our own way just like anybody else."

Kelly could plainly see that his guests would not be dissuaded and relented, smiling benignly. "I can respect that. It's quite plain to me that your fame has not gone to your head." He stretched out his webbed hand and accepted the credit chits, handing them to the younger otter standing next to him. "Please go to the cashier and have him deduct two adult admissions from each chit and bring them back pronto."

"Yes Sir!" The young otter said and ran off. A few minutes later, he returned and handed each chit to Fox and Bill.

"There you are. All set. You should know that my security staff has been instructed to keep out all photographers and reporters." Kelly then paused and his whiskers drooped as he scratched the back of his head. "My chief of park security did warn me though. This time, we'll be able to keep them out, but next time, some will probably sneak in with our regular guests."

Fox's ears drew back and the tod slumped a bit, even as he nodded. "Yeah. I guess we can expect them to try that in the future." He looked up and smiled at the fatherly otter. "All we can ask is that you do your best."

"Thank you for your understanding, Mister McCloud. And thank you for coming. I think it also goes without saying that while tabloid publicity is not desired, the general publicity that will occur when word gets out that you come here to enjoy our park will be a boon for my business."

Fox chuckled. "Well, I can't fault you for that. One reporter my wife and I don't mind is Walter Kent. He's been fair to us and respectful of our privacy. So if he happens to show up, we'll not complain."

Bill gave a barking laugh. "Of course Fox likes Lylat News! The tabloids hate Walter Kent's guts!"

Kelly grinned and slapped the bulldog in the back. "Well said, Mister Grey....Well, I best be back to my office. I need to finish off some paperwork, and maybe give Mister Kent a call. Enjoy your day."

After the four of them went to the guest lockers where they changed into their swimsuits, Bill and Fay led their vulpine friends through the park to the beach near the base of the waterslides. Along the way, it was inevitable that they would draw attention from wide-eyed park attendees who watched the McClouds go by. Based on her original Cerinian garb except for the loincloth having been replaced with a thong, Krystal's alluring two-piece bathing suit especially drew some gazes from other males. How his wife could stand the lustful emotions of some of these males was beyond Fox. "Their reactions are quite natural, Foxy."

Fox sighed and wrapped his arms protectively around his wife. "I know, and I know I shouldn't be jealous, but I can't help feeling a bit resentful that they are ogling you."

His wife in response turned and kissed him on the lips and both felt a spike of lustful envy from a few male foxes and, to Fox's astonishment, vixens behind them. "I do not fault you for your bit of jealousy, Fox. I know it's born from your protective instincts, and as you've felt through my empathy, I'm not the only one who is the focus of some of those lustful emotions." Fox briefly glanced behind him, but quickly turned around after making eye contact with a vixen winking lustfully to him, making the tod blush under his fur.

Krystal giggled when her husband drew her hand around his waist, but did pull him close to her. Fox wanted to send a clear signal to anyone ogling him that he was a kept fox and most definitely 'off the market.' Thankfully, none of these individuals approached them. Any who saw Fox and Krystal could clearly see that they were interested only in each other. A few fans did come up to them and wanted to pose for pictures with the famous couple, but Fox or Krystal politely declined, saying they wanted to get to the beach and have fun in the waterslides.

When they reached the beach, they spread their towels and set up their parasol and picnic basket on the sands under a tree. Looking up at the water flumes, Krystal gazed wide-eyed at the marvel. Fed by the nearby freshwater river that emptied into the ocean, the slides twisted and wound their way among the trees from the hilltop overlooking the beach. The Cerinian vixen's eyes were riveted to one particular slide fed by a high-pressure pump that forced the flume water uphill at various points, turning the slide into a water rollercoaster. It was the same slide she had experienced through Fay's memory over two months before. She gazed excitedly at her white-furred bubbly friend.

Fay laughed. "I don't have to be a telepath to know which slide you want to try first!"

Fox became curious and probed his wife's memory of that day on the Great Falcon when Fay had let his vixen into her mind. He saw flashes of racing down that flume from Fay's point of view and grinned to the spaniel while asking his wife, "So Krystal, want to go sliding with me this time, and do it for real?"

She nodded with an excited grin and took her husband's hand. While Bill and Fay relaxed on the blankets and minded their belongings, Fox and Krystal raced up the winding walkway through the trees to the top of the hill and got in line with the others to wait their turn. They were again greeted by fans, and this time did consent to pose for a few pictures with some. Thankfully, everyone understood that the McClouds were not there to sign autographs and such, but were there for the same reason they were: to have an enjoyable day at River Rapids.

Krystal squealed in delight her first time racing down the flume with her tod in the inflatable raft for two. "Oh Spirits! This is exhilarating! I feel like a pup again."

Fox laughed and whooped joyfully along with his wife when the slide ended with a final plunge into the pool at the bottom. They emerged from the water with Fox carrying his laughing and squealing vixen out of the water. After a few runs down various waterslides, they joined a grinning Bill and Fay at their spot on the beach. Fay's tail was wagging furiously. "So how was it?"

"Oh Spirits!" Krystal gushed. "It was even more amazing than seeing it through your memory of this place! I can see why you and Bill love coming here."

Bill laughed, "I can see that this will be a regular thing for the four of us." He got up, brushed off the sand from his legs and held out his hand to his girlfriend. "Come on, Luv. It's our turn."

Fox sat on the blanket with Krystal and grinned, watching his canine friend race up the path with Fay. Nearby, a family of otters was setting up their blankets and picnic basket. While the children played about, the parents relaxed and watched their pups. The mother noticed the two vulpines and smiled benignly. "Would you like me to keep an eye on your things, Dearies?"

Krystal turned and made eye contact with the matronly otter. She could immediately sense her honest intentions, completely devoid of any duplicity. "That is very nice of you, Mrs...?"

"You may call me, Winifred, Missus McCloud."

Fox got up and helped his wife to her feet. He smiled to the mother otter. "Thank you, Winifred, and please call us Fox and Krystal."

At that moment, Winifred's children noticed the famed couple and cried excitedly, eager to draw their attention, until their mother gently chastised them. "Jane, Michael, be nice now!"

"Sorry Mama." They said together, sounding contrite. Jane then asked in a hopeful voice. "May we go with them on the slides?"

The father then gazed questioningly to Fox, who grinned back and shrugged. "You may, but don't pester them. Remember that they want to have fun in the water flumes as much as you do."

"Yes Papa," said Michael. "We'll be nice. We can show them the best slides too!"

Fox laughed. "I'm quite sure you can. And this is Krystal's first time here. She'd love to go on the most fun waterslides." He turned to the father of the otter pups. "You have wonderful children, Mr...."

"George Banks. Just call me George."

"A pleasure, George." Fox glanced to Jane and Michael, who were bouncing on their toes. "And I best be going before your pups explode with excitement."

*****

Walter Kent made his way past the shouting tabloid reporters and photographers. Here and there, he was hearing that 'people have a right to know' diatribe and snorted in contempt. He found it reprehensible that these so-called journalists were using that old excuse to intrude on people's lives. One reporter that was noticeably absent though was Pricilla Kane. The pug was now terrified of the McClouds, though when asked, she wouldn't say why. He also made eye contact with Jack Conley. The beagle gave him a hateful glare, but Walter just shook his head sadly. That dog had such a promising career in journalism, but chose to waste it for quick money by working for the tabloids.

When the news hound showed his identification to the security guard and was actually let through, all the other tabloid reporters were incensed. "Why is he being let in!? We demand equal treatment!" he heard them shout. Walter tuned out these disgraces to the news-reporting profession and focused on formulating the questions for his interview with Kelly Rivers, the owner of River Rapids waterpark.

He met Kelly at the gate and the two ambled together along the winding walkways through the park. The interview with the large otter was enjoyable and went quite well. Questions began on a general history of the waterpark and many of its attractions. Walter could easily see that the otter was eager to tout all the reasons to come to River Rapids, and he couldn't fault him for wanting to generate publicity for his waterpark. They made their way up a hill overlooking the beach, near the slides. In the distance, among the attendees, Walter immediately spotted Krystal McCloud. The vixen's distinctive blue fur stood out among all the greys, browns, and tans most attendees sported. Per prior agreement with Mister Rivers, Walter took no photographs of the couple and their friends.

Both laughed at seeing Fox carry a young otter boy on his shoulders while making his way up the path to the rollercoaster water flume. Kelly explained how he had received a call from Missus McCloud asking for privacy from tabloid photographers. The otter mentioned Walter's exposé on tabloid harassment of the McClouds.

Walter hummed to himself. "Yes, the paparazzi were chasing the McClouds even before they were married."

Kelly's whiskers drooped in a melancholy demeanor. "Yeah. Some thanks that is, for all they've done for Lylat. Fox and his crew saved us from invasion by Andross years ago and the Anglars more recently." The otter's voice became chocked up. "And he saved us from assimilation by the Aparoids."

The Lylat News reporter looked questioningly to his interviewee. "I hear some emotional pain in your voice at the mention of the Aparoids..."

Kelly took a shaky breath. "I lost a brother to those bugs. He was in the CDF, stationed at Corneria City Spaceport, when he was assimilated..."

"I'm sorry..." The news story Walter Kent had come to report had now taken on a profound poignancy.

The normally exuberant otter whispered to himself. "They say that many took their own lives when they found themselves cornered by the Aparoids..."

Walter Kent had indeed heard accounts and shivered at the memory of those terrible days when the crystalline insects had invaded their home. "Yes, I was holed up in one of the towers in downtown Corneria City, recording a report of everything I saw...At the time, I feared our civilization would fall."

Kelly nodded, recalling his own desperate measures. "I am not married, but my brother was. Before William was taken over by those bugs, he begged me to protect his wife and twin sons. I rushed to their home and barricaded the doors and windows."

The hound listened and recorded the otters gripping recollection of his experiences in the Aparoid War. "What happened then?"

"I found a military-grade blaster in my brother's closet. It was fully charged, but I realized it would not be any help to us if they swarmed upon our neighborhood." Kelly's voice had become vacant as he recalled the terrible things he contemplated that day. "I saw no choice. If those things came for us, I knew that I had to protect them from suffering William's fate...I was prepared to shoot my nephews and sister-in-law in the head and then kill myself."

Walter found it very difficult to keep his journalistic detachment. His heart went out to this good-hearted soul. "What happened?"

"They never came, thankfully. Within the hour, Star Fox made its counter-attack. I understand that Fox fought in the streets of Corneria City, taking out those bugs....and the hapless souls who were already assimilated."

"Do you know if your brother was one of those McCloud was forced to kill?"

Kelly shrugged. "He was killed by blaster fire, but by whom, I don't know, and I don't think I want to know. Death was better than living without free will as part of their hive. So I can take solace in that his spirit was set free."

Walter brought up another point. "Reports came in that once the Aparoid Queen was taken out, those under their control recovered their sense of self."

Kelly countered. "Yes, that is easy to see in hindsight, but victory was not certain...Death was still preferred over assimilation."

"True..." Walter was not often at a loss for words, but that is how he felt now when confronted by this stark reminder of how desperate their situation had been. He never admitted it to anyone, but he himself had contemplated that avenue of escape to avoid being assimilated into their collective.

The otter's mood brightened again and he drew the hound's attention. "Look at them, down there."

Walter's gaze was drawn to where Kelly indicated. He watched Fox McCloud laugh while his wife rode his shoulders in the fresh-water pool while Fay Spaniel rode Bill Grey's shoulders. The vixen and she-dog were trying to wrestle each other off their respective perches.

"Fox and Krystal are having such a wonderful time, just like any of us," said Kelly. "After all he's done, after saving us so many times, doesn't he deserve to live a normal life like the rest of us?"

"Yes. They do seem to be enjoying themselves immensely," Walter agreed. "What I find even more amazing is that they are not being mobbed by the other park attendees around them."

"That's because most of them get it too. The McClouds deserve to have a happy, normal life without all this hoopla about them being famous mercenaries who saved all of Lylat three times now....And I'll be damned if I allow those paparazzi to spoil the good time Fox, Krystal, and their friends are having!"

"Well said, Mister Rivers. I think it's safe to say that you have matters well in hand to ensure they are not harassed." Walter looked down at his notes. "Would there be any objection to my broadcasting on the Lylat News your recollections of the Aparoid War?"

The reporter could see the uncertainty in the otter's demeanor. "I can see that you are reluctant to have your story publicly known."

"Yeah. I think I said way much more than I should have..."

"Mister Rivers. Your account is not all that unique. In covering the Aparoid Invasion, I saw and heard of many examples of acts of desperation like you were contemplating. I sincerely believe that telling your story will remind my audience of why we should be grateful to Fox McCloud and his crew. It would also cast a new perspective on why you were so motivated to welcome the McClouds to your waterpark. I can see now that it is not just a publicity stunt, but a sincere gesture of gratitude to them for saving your family's life."

Kelly ran a hand through the thick fur at the back of his neck while contemplating Walter Kent's compelling argument. "Well, I suppose...when you put it that way..." He turned to meet the reporter's gaze. "I just wanted to make sure this was a place where they could freely have a good time without being pestered by tabloid photographers and such."

"Yes, and telling of your story will show my viewers why you are so motivated to offer them such a place."

The owner of River Rapids could not deny the reporter's reasoning. With a nod, he capitulated. "Okay. I guess when you put it that way. Thanks for asking my permission though. I seriously doubt the tabloids would have been so courteous."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Mister Rivers...Do you have anything else to add?"

Kelly stroked his chin and contemplated another thought. "Did I tell you that I had offered The McClouds complimentary admission to my park, but they insisted on paying their way in like everyone else?"

Walter laughed. "That doesn't surprise me."

"Yes, and your story will again embarrass him. He'll feel you are giving him undue attention and point out that many in the CDF also fought to protect us."

The hound scratched his muzzle. "Yes. He probably will." He looked down the hill. "Bill Gray there is part of the CDF and fought in those wars. Fay Spaniel did as well, though I can't recall in what capacity."

Kelly Rivers had an epiphany. He took his portable computer out of his shirt pocket and did a few quick calculations, humming to himself as he went over the figures. "Yes....Profits will hardly be affected, especially with the publicity this will generate."

Walter's ears perked. "What are you thinking of, Mister Rivers?"

The otter had a mischievous grin. "Remembrance Day is coming up next week. I think we should show our appreciation to not only Star Fox, but all our veterans who fought to protect us from invasion and assimilation."

The reporter nodded sagely. "Yes. I have often heard Fox McCloud comment that he would not have been able to do all the things he had if it weren't for the CDF doing their part."

"Exactly!" There was a definite bounce in the middle-aged otter's stance. "So starting today, I am going to offer a 35% discount on annual passes to River Rapids to all veterans, and that includes Star Fox. Come to think of it, Star Wolf really acquitted themselves and made amends for their crimes in the first Lylat War . They helped Fox against the Aparoids and fought on our side against the Anglars. So this offer will include Wolf O'Donnell and his team."

Walter Kent was furiously taking notes. This was going to be another news scoop under his belt and he was looking forward to reporting to his viewers of this amazing interview. "This is going to capture my viewer's imagination. Mister Rivers, I thank you for your time."

"Glad I could help, Mister Kent. So if that is all, I'll take my leave of you."

The hound was finishing off his notes. "Okay, but first, as promised, no photographs or recordings were made of the McClouds and their friends while they enjoyed themselves at your waterpark, but would you consent to posing yourself for a....?" When he gazed up from his tablet, his train of thought was sent off course.

To the reporter's surprise, Kelly Rivers was stripping off his clothes, revealing a form-fitting swimsuit underneath. The middle-aged owner of River Rapids smirked. "Well, I am an otter after all. So it should come as no surprise that I like to enjoy my waterslides too."

"Indeed. It would make for a most interesting photograph, if you will allow me."

Kelly finished stripping off his clothes and had folded them up, handing them to a passing employee. "Would you please take this up to my office? I'm going to take the rest of the day off and go sliding."

The female otter laughed and took the clothes. "Yes Sir. Have a wonderful time!"

"Thank you Jennifer," Kelly said. He then turned and posed for the reporter. "Okay. A few pictures, and then I'm off."

Walter took a few full-body pictures of the middle-aged, though physically fit otter. Like many of his species, he was long of body and streamlined in build. His greying fur looked slick and wet, its sheen due to the natural oils in his pelt. "Do you go swimming and sliding often, Mister Rivers?"

"At least once a week. I already had gone yesterday afternoon." He smiled ruefully to the reporter. "But as you can imagine, some of the things we discussed has left me a bit emotionally drained. When I feel a bit down, nothing lifts my spirits more than to lose myself in the joy of careening down my water flumes."

Walter laughed. "You are a credit to your species, Mister Rivers. Have a nice day."

With his natural exuberance restored, Kelly shook the reporter's hand. "And a good day to you too, Mister Kent." He then bounded off up the hill to frolic among his park attendees, leaving the Lylat News reporter to find his way out of the waterpark.

*****

Fox and Krystal were having a truly enjoyable day. After the initial fuss over their appearance at the waterpark, the other attendees around them got over the fact that the famous couple was playing in the water among them. For the first time in the nearly two years they had known each other, Krystal, and especially Fox, were at ease being out in public. Aside from the occasional posing for pictures with other guests, they felt like just any other person who was out to enjoy a day in the sunshine.

They were wading across the pool at the base of the rollercoaster waterslide when a large otter came careening down and made his entrance with a massing splash that sent a tidal wave across the pool, leaving both foxes even more drenched than before.

Fox wiped the excess water off his muzzle to find himself face-to-face with the grinning owner of River Rapids waterpark. "Mister Rivers! What are you doing here?"

Kelly laughed and asked rhetorically, "What does it look like? I'm doing what we otters like to do the most. What's the point of owning a waterpark if I can't enjoy it too?"

Just then, Fay and Bill landed in the pool from a different slide. The she-dog came bounding forward to join Fox and Krystal. She furiously shook the excessive water from her soggy pelt, covering them all in the splatter of wet dog, including Kelly Rivers. Fay squealed in delight when she noticed him. "Mister Rivers! It's so wonderful to see you join us again!"

While Fox again wiped water from his muzzle, Kelly waded in the water up between the vulpine and Bill and draped an arm on each of their shoulders. "It's wonderful to be out and about with my guests, enjoying these slides." He gazed at the two males on each side of him, and at their respective ladies and tears began to well in his eyes. "I don't think I ever thanked any of you properly for everything you've done over the years, both Star Fox and the CDF, for protected us during the Lylat War, that Aparoid War, and more recently against the Anglars."

Krystal stared wide-eyed at the middle-aged otter. Fox could feel through his wife's empathy and see plainly with his eyes that their host was struggling to keep his emotions reigned in. They all heard his voice becoming choked up the mention of the Aparoid War.

"Mister Rivers. Something happened to you when the Aparoids invaded Corneria," Krystal said, the empathic vixen moved to tears by the older otter's emotions. "I can sense your emotional pain."

Kelly quickly broke eye contact with the vixen, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "So it's true. You are a telepath."

"Yes, but I would never intrude on anyone's thoughts uninvited," Krystal reassured him. "But your emotional pain does come through strongly to my empathic sense."

Fay waded through the water up to the large otter and placed a tender hand on his cheek. "And we don't need to be empaths like our friend to hear the hurt in your voice. What happened, Mister Rivers?"

Kelly was deeply touched by their compassion. "Please, call me Kelly. I've seen you and your boyfriend Bill often enough here that we don't need to be so formal. He turned around and gave the retired mercenaries a fond smile. "And any friend of Bill's and Fay's is a friend of mine. So please call me Kelly, both of you."

The otter paused, looking down at the water around his legs. "I....lost a brother when the Aparoids invaded Corneria City." He looked up and smiled to Bill and Fay, "but your efforts to hold them off saved so many of us." He then met Fox and Krystal's concerned gaze, "and your timely arrival save not only myself, but my twin nephews and sister-in-law."

He could see the solemn cast in his friends around him and diverted their sympathy with an announcement. "After my interview with Walter Kent, I decided that it was high-time I showed my appreciation to all veterans, Star Fox, and even Star Wolf." Gone was his melancholy. With a happy bounce in his stance, Kelly Rivers informed his guests. "With Remembrance Day coming up, I'm offering a 35% discount on all annual passes to all of you."

Fox and Bill both grinned and looked at each other. "I think Bill and I can safely say we'll take you up on your offer, Kelly. We're having a really wonderful day and your slides are a blast, even for us non-otters."

"Excellent. You can stop by guest relations on your way out and buy the passes then, and also deduct today's admission from the cost of the annual pass." He went on quickly, forestalling any protest. "Ah. No arguments. This is not special treatment because you are 'famous Fox McCloud'," he said raising both hands to make quotes in the air. "I'd do this for any guests who decided to buy an annual pass on the same day they bought a day pass."

Fox relented and smiled. "Well, when you put it that way, thank you."

Just then, Jane and Michael came screaming and laughing down one of the slides and saw Kelly and his friends standing there in the shallow waters. Both young otters came over screaming happily. "Uncle Kelly!"

"Uncle?" Fox asked, wide-eyed.

"Ah yes. I saw earlier that you had met my other niece and nephew." He then noticed Winifred walk over. "And made friends with my sister and brother-in-law." He waved to the two adult otters, making his way out of the pool. "Winifred, George, it is go good to see you."

"Kelly. How is my baby brother doing?" Winifred asked, with a teasing, affectionate smile while she kissed her sibling on the cheek.

He rolled his eyes. "Only a year younger than you, sis, and you still insist on reminding me that I'm the youngest of our family."

"And you still play in those slides like a young pup."

"Nooo. I play in those slides like any proper otter would."

Fox and Krystal grinned with their canine friends. They could all plainly see that this was an old argument between the sibling otters.

"Anyhow, I'm so happy you made friends with the McClouds," Kelly quickly added, changing the subject. "Seeing them reminded me of how they saved us during the Aparoid War..."

Winifred gave a wistful, melancholy sigh. "Yes, I was so relieved you and Marilyn and her twins made it through unscathed. I just wish William could have made it."

Krystal then asked, "Was that the brother you both lost?"

Winifred smiled benignly to the vixen, "Yes Deary, and don't you and your husband fret. We know very well that you and those valiant CDF soldiers could not save everyone."

Jane and Michael, being the exuberant otter pups that they were, began to fidget. Kelly immediately noticed and drew their attention. "Well, enough of that. Willian would not want us to mope around. So up to racing down the rollercoaster flume with your uncle?"

Kelly grinned to his sister and waved to the Fox and his friends. "You just enjoy yourself, I'm off with my two charges."

While Bill and Fay raced after Kelly and his niece and nephew, both Fox and Krystal decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach with Winifred and George.

Fox asked, "So George, what do you do for a living?"

The otter gave a casual shrug. "I'm a financial advisor at Dawes, Tomes, Mousely, Grubbs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank."

The vulpine blinked. "Your last name is Banks, and you work at a bank."

George laughed, "Yeah, I get that a lot. It just turned out that way that I took an interest in finance. My family name is actually derived from Riverbanks."

The two males briefly chatted about investing and finance, with George being impressed at how well Fox had managed his own wealth. Conversations then went on to the wars and then current events, and both their hopes for the future, with Krystal joining in.

Krystal and Winifred also exchanged ideas about home decorating and gardening. To George's amusement, Fox joined the females in some of the conversation, telling the Banks how he and his wife had shopped together for items that would add a personal touch to their home.

By the end of the day, the McClouds and Banks had become good friends. Bill and Fay had also joined their group under the swaying trees on the beach and were building sandcastles with Michael and Jane while Kelly decided to take a nap under one of the palms. With the sun getting low in the afternoon sky, Fox withdrew his comm unit from his tote bag. "We should keep in touch. Let's exchange contact info."

George agreed and withdrew his own communicator. "Yes, lets." He brought his unit next to the vulpine's and they exchange comm codes and street addresses. Fox glanced at the new address on his contact list. "Wow! You live just two streets away from us."

The otter glanced down at his own communicator and showed it to his wife. "Well, what a lovely surprise," she laughed. Winifred then grew pensive. "We actually heard some commotion and what sounded like explosions in your direction several times over a month ago. Would you have anything to do with that, Fox?"

"Yeah. What you might have heard was me dealing with tabloid photographers camping out in front of my home," Fox replied with a self-satisfied smirk. "After frying their cameras and recorders and destroying their vehicles several times, it became too costly for them to come near my home."

Krystal laughed. "Now, they will not even turn onto our street."

George Banks chuckled. "You two are so laid back that it's easy to forget you were mercenaries."

Fox grinned and shrugged. "Like my wife said, 'Once a mercenary, always a mercenary.' Though frankly, we've gone easy on those tabloid reporters." The former Star Fox leader elaborated. "I still keep military-grade hardware at home, but hope I never have to use any of it. As exciting as life was during my Star Fox days, I'm more than happy to put it all behind me and spend days relaxing and doing enjoyable things like visiting waterparks and meeting fine people like you two." He glanced at his wife and thought of all the empty bedrooms in his mansion. "And raise a family with the vixen I love."

George and Winifred smiled to each other with the same affection. "We know how you feel. We also want more children. Jane and Michael are growing so quickly."

"Then I hope your younger pups and our pups grow together to become friends." Fox stood up and helped Krystal to her feet. "But for now, I think we are going to call it a day."

With Bill and Fay's help, they gathered all their belongings and said their 'good byes' to the Banks and thanked Kelly for making them feel so welcomed. The drive home was a quiet one. This time around, Fox drove and let his wife rest. They made it home an hour before Falco and Katt got back from their day out on the town and the three couples enjoyed each other's company through the rest of the weekend.