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They're My Favorite Vegetables

"Snow! The drinks for your table are ready, hurry up and get them out of here," Cara called over her shoulder, moving the last of the ordered drinks over to the side of her station.

"Coming!" Snow called as he weaved through the kitchen area, sidestepping other waiters carrying trays and chefs scurrying to and fro among their stations. He arrived behind his feline friend, holding a tray in the crook of one arm.

"I've got to tell you, Snow, whoever these people are, they keep strange company. I haven't had someone request a Ragged Red Raver since...Well, ever. I thought I was the only one that knew what that drink was," Cara said without looking over her shoulder as she started on her next set of drinks.

"Well the world is a big place, Cara. Maybe you know this person," Snow said with a smile as he picked up the drinks and put them on his tray.

"Yeah, well I highly doubt that," Cara said. "Now, just take these drinks out of here, I've got a lot of orders to fill."

"Oh, Cara, don't be so testy. I'm just trying to make pleasant conversation," the wolf-hybrid yipped, collecting the last drink and wheeling away, stepping lightly out of the kitchen.

Cara looked over her shoulder as the hybrid left, a small, tender smile coaxed from her as she watched him. "I know you were, hon..." she murmured to herself.

*** *** ***

The four furs and two scales seated at the table had begun to enter the enlightened discourse of an amiable coterie enjoying the presence of their fellows.

"For the last time, Saszik, shut up about that," Khor growled, looking down at the table, paws clenched under the table.

"What? It is seriously one of the funniest things that I've seen in a long time, and that's saying something!" Saszik rumbled with laughter, smirking as he winked at the fennec.

"Stop, Saszik," Khor told him again, her muzzle blushing deeply.

"Oh, come on, Khor, I'm only-" Saszik began.

"What is the point of this?" Nghia asked, leaning in closer over the table.

"It's just a bit of fun, Nghia," Saszik said, twiddling his fingers a little.

"You should stop," he responded shortly, before looking toward the kitchen expectantly.

The large dragon male's facial muscles twitched in embarrassment, bowing his snout as he cleared his throat. "Sorry, Khor, Nghia."

Khor shook her head and scoffed at him. She then lowered her own muzzle, looking over towards Nghia and whispering, "Thank you."

No one said anything for a moment as an awkward silence fell over the table. Amy looked around at her friends with a worried expression, holding her mate's paw under the table. The fox leaned in as he kissed her cheek, beginning to whisper words of encouragement into her ear when he was interrupted.

"Drinks for everyone!" Snow yipped happily traipsing up to the table with his tray of drink. He smiled at the group as he passed out the drinks, his ears twitching in surprise. "I hope everyone's having a good night tonight."

"Oh, don't worry, sir, we'll be just fine," Hale said, squeezing his wolfess' paw under the table.

"Thank you for bringing the drinks," Emma said with a smile, holding her mate's arm as she took her drink.

"Yeah, thanks," Nghia added, cradling his drink close to himself, gazing at its contents with a warm gaze.

The wolf-hybrid smiled as he finished, before tucking the tray under his arm. He leaned over onto one hip as he pulled out his order-pad, and a pen. "Alright then, let's get to the best part of the evening, shall we? What will you all have?"

There was a low murmur around the room as the group discussed their orders. As the others flipped through their menus to double-check their orders, Nghia turned to the waiter with a smile on his face.

"I'll have..." he began. At those simple words, the rest of the group, even Emma, looked up to watch him, expecting a newer spectacle.

"Yes?" Snow asked, his ears perked up in interest.

"I'll have a massive bowl of leek and cabbage soup," he said, looking around at the group with raised eyebrows.

"Massive?" Snow asked, cocking his head.

"That's it?" Hale asked, his eyes narrowed.

"Leek and cabbage?" Emma asked in intrigue.

"What were you expecting? It's a delicious soup," Nghia smirked, rolling his eyes at those giving him surprised looks.

Snow hummed to himself as he wrote down the order, putting particular emphasis on the word massive, even circling it.

Twice.

*** *** ***

Drinks Make Everyone Happy

"Alright, I'll take your orders on back to the kitchen, and your meals will be here shortly. Have a good night now," Snow said with a beaming smile as he left the table.

The group looked around at one another, each seemingly testing the other for their reaction. Finally, after a short time of deliberation, Khor looked over at Saszik and smiled.

"Look, Saszik, just forget about earlier. Let's all have a wonderful night, like the waiter said," she told her old friend with a small, not entirely forced smile.

Saszik nodded at that, smiling a little himself. "Thank you, and I'm sorry about what happened. I'll make it up to-"

"So is this all your first time coming here then?" the iguana interrupted, leaning in closer to the table to speak with the others.

"Yes, we haven't been in town all that long, actually. I like it here so far, the waiter seems very nice," Amy said. Her ears were perked up in happiness and relief, and she gave her mate's paw a final loving stroke, before releasing it to try her drink.

"Their first time, I've been here a few times before. I live here in town, after all," Emma said, taking a sip at her own drink.

"You live in town. Interesting," Nghia mused, his brow furrowing for a moment as he contemplated.

Hale looked over at his new iguana roommate, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "Something on your mind, Nghia?"

"No, not really. Just trying to piece together why she's here if she is the only one who's been here before," Nghia answered. The male tapped away at his hands, using his fingers for counting, as though he were working out a complex formula to discern why the white tail deer was with them.

"Nghia, that's a rather impolite thing to ask at a dinner table..." Hale said, his expression showing that he was rather amused at the reptile's behavior.

"Oh, no, don't worry. I understand," Emma said with a slight blush. "I met Saszik when he first moved here, before his friends did, actually. And well...One thing led to another," the female deer said, nuzzling the large dragon's shoulder affectionately.

The dragon in question blushed and rumbled happily, returning the tender affections to his partner. "That it did, babe," he chuckled.

"Hmm...So then what are the rest of you doing here?" Nghia asked nonchalantly, sipping at his drink as he listened.

"Again, kind of rude..." Hale said quietly.

"Well, Hale and I came here on NROTC scholarships at the university here in town," Amy said, positively beaming.

Nghia raised his brows and looked at the fox and wolf over his drink, peering over the top of the glass. "ROTC?"

"Mmhmm," Amy responded.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Seriously?"

"Of course!"

"You?"

"Me!"

"Amy, please, don't indulge him. Yes, Nghia, Amy and I are in the NROTC program at the university. Now, why is that so surprising?" he asked , kissing his mate on the cheek and whispering into her ear.

"Well...I mean..." Nghia said, shaking his head. "It's just...I, um, wouldn't have pictured her in...A situation like that with behavior like hers."

"Oh, don't be silly. I'm just happy tonight is all," came Amy's response, with her customary yip.

Nghia said nothing, only shrugged and continued to sip at his drink, quietly consuming the beverage as the fox and wolf watched. When he finished he slammed the drink down and sighed happily, leaning back in his chair.

"Three more of those and I'll be happier even than you, Amy," the iguana laughed, looking around for the waiter.

Amy giggled and snuggled close to her mate, sipping at her own drink. "Tonight is going so wonderfully, isn't it?"

Hale sighed and leaned his muzzle onto his wolfess' smiling gently at her. "Sure, hon. Sure."

*** *** ***

Dessert Is Best Served Cold

"Hey, Snow, you got a minute?" Lauren asked, leaning back against a wall with one foot up, tossing her long hair over her shoulder and out of her face.

"Sure, I have a little while since I have to wait on the meals, and my other table just left, so I'm free," Snow said, coming closer, his ears tipped down a little.

Lauren smiled and straightened up as the wolf-hybrid approached. "Thanks, Snow. It really means a lot, considering..."

"Lauren, it's okay. I'm not...That kind of person. I'm not going to become weird around you," Snow replied, cracking a small smile at the female.

The husky leaned in closer and patted his paw with hers, blushing gently. "Thank you...I mean...I still feel so...Terrible that I had to leave. I just...Snow, I..." she whimpered, lowering her muzzle in embarrassment.

The wolf-hybrid took his friend's paw, walking further into the kitchen towards a storeroom. He held her paws and pulled her in close, hugging her warmly and resting his muzzle next to hers.

"It's okay, Lauren...Please, please, don't cry," the male told her, nuzzling her gently.

"I'm...So sorry, Snow..." she whimpered, shivering in Snow's arms.

"Shh..." Snow told the husky, holding her closer and licking one of her ears. "I'm not angry at you, Lauren. I know why you had to leave, and I don't hate you."

The husky sniffled, wrapping her arms around her friend's neck. "...Y-you really mean that?" she asked.

"Yes, I do. I really do. And someday, maybe, you and Mikey will get away from your stepfather and we can...Try again," Snow said, softly, holding the husky tight.

"Oh, Snow...Someday...I want that so badly, Snow..." Lauren sniffled, smiling up at her friend, her eyes twinkling.

Snow beamed, his ears perking up. He leaned in and kissed the female's cheek, giggling gently as she blushed deeply. The two friends hugged tighter, going quiet for a few moments as they enjoyed their close, warm embrace. After a moment, they separated, and Lauren cleared her throat. She took the hybrid's paw and led him out of the storeroom, back into the kitchen. There they stood together again by the wall, with Snow craning his head to check on the chefs cooking his orders.

"I think I've still got some time, Lauren...How is Mikey doing?" Snow asked, turning back to the husky.

Lauren shrugged and swayed her tail from side to slowly. "He doesn't know what my stepfather threatened to do, and he's still wondering why you don't come over anymore...But I'll tell him soon, the whole story. He needs to know..."

Snow sighed and moved to his former mate's side. "If I meet any lawyers, I'll try to get them to talk to you, away from your stepfather. You should be able to apply for custody of Mikey since you're his sister. And if not custody, then something like that."

Lauren nodded, licking Snow's ear once. "Thanks, hon..-I-I mean, Snow..." she whimpered. "It...Really means everything to me, how much you care about me and Mikey both."

Snow beamed and nodded, taking his former lover's paw and squeezing tenderly. "You know I love you and always will, Lauren. No matter what happens, and even if we are only friends."

Lauren felt tears welling in her eyes as she squeezed Snow's paw back tight, leaning onto his shoulder and sighing. "And I'll always love you..."

There they stood, together but apart. And there they loved, wholly, but fractured and broken.

And there they remained, friends, no longer mates.

When the Tomatoes Get Dicy

"Okay, so how are we going to be splitting the bill?" Nghia asked peering around and shaking his glass, his eyes a little glazed.

"I'll handle most of the bill, everyone, don't worry," Emma replied, smiling around at the table.

Khor turned away and scowled, muttering lightly under her breath. The iguana male looked at her curiously, narrowing his brow. He opened his mouth to say something, but when she glanced over at him, her eyes widening in alarm, he stopped. She shook her head and put her head in her paws, grumbling quietly.

"Are you alright, Khor?" Saszik asked in concern.

Khor shook her head again and murumured, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...Kinda tired, and I think I might have a headache."

"Aah, Khor...Is it too loud? Should we quiet down?" Amy asked, placing a paw on her friend's shoulder comfortingly.

"No, no, it's okay, don't worry. I'll feel better once I get something to eat," the fennec said, waving her paw at her friend dismissively.

"Okay, but if you need to head home early tonight, just let us know, okay?" Emma asked lightly.

"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Khor asked in a slight growl.

The entire table looked over at Khor in surprise, a shocked silence sounding noiselessly between everyone seated.

"Ex...Excuse me?" Emma finally asked in a hurt tone. "What do you mean by-"

"And food is here!" came the voice of the husky waitress, sweeping into the side of the table with a tray of food in her paws.

"And there's enough for everyone, of course," Snow chimed in, smiling happily as he came to his helper's side. He set up a small collapsible table with deft paws, before placing one tray down upon it.

"Leek and cabbage soup for you, sir," Snow said, passing over a very large bowl filled with a steaming vegetable broth. The reptile licked his chops as his eyes glowered in anticipation.

As the waiter duo distributed the rest of the meals, Emma looked at Khor from across the table. The latter female looked away, sighing as she once more massaged her temples. She didn't even look at her food when the wolf-hybrid placed it down in front of her.

Amy leaned over and whispered into her friend's ears, and together the two of them stood up. Hale looked up at Amy in surprise, but a peck on the cheek and a few whispered words reassured him. He squeezed her paw, then turned back to the table.

"Khor and Amy are just going to step out for a few minutes," Hale told them.

"Oh...Okay then," Emma said, twitching her ears in irritation and watching the two females leave.

"I hope everything is okay..." Saszik rumbled, his eyes narrowed in worry.

"I'm sure it will be fine. But for now...I have a score to settle," Nghia said, grinning wildly as he lifted up his spoon and sank it into his bowl. He tasted the broth, his eyes fluttering at the taste as he growled lightly.

Khor and Amy left the building, stepping outside into the chilly night air. They walked for a moment, going out behind the building and standing beside a wall. They murmured gently together for a moment, which was followed by a brief moment of silence.

Khor threw her arms around Amy, crying weakly as she shivered in the cold.

"Shh...It'll be okay, Khor...It's going to be alright..." Amy told her.

"Everything will turn out right in the end..."

I Cannot Will It All Away

The fennec vixen's eyes glittered in the moonlight as she sobbed on her friend's shoulders. The wolfess hugged her close, her paws caressing her shoulders comfortingly. A chill wind blew over them, setting their skin on end beneath their fur.

"Shh...Khor, it's alright," Amy told her quietly, shivering in the cold air.

The fennec shook her head, shaking as she sobbed. "D-damn it...W-why is this all happening, r-right n-now?"

Amy felt her eyes watering as her friend's tears fell onto her shoulder. "I don't know, Khor...I really don't know, but everything will be alright, I promise..."

"H-how?" the fennec asked, looking up at her friend with one glistening, pain filled eye. "H-how is everything going to be a-alright? A-after all this crap with Saszik and his new...Girlfriend?" she cried.

"I don't know, Khor...Look, Saszik is probably just troubled right now...I mean, what with your dad's death, and, all of the moving and everything," Amy told her, nuzzling her friend's ears.

"M-my dad's death? Saszik didn't g-give a damn about my dad dying! He was j-joking the next day and s-still fooling around like he always does!" Khor cried. "He n-never cared, doesn't care, he doesn't-!"

"Khor, please, stop...We care about you, me, Hale, and I bet even Nghia likes you," Amy told her, hugging her tighter, both furs shivering in the cold.

Khor said nothing. She held her friend close, crying softly. She shook her head, then wiped away her tears with one paw. She felt the thick black cast over her face, resting her paw over it as she shivered.

"How can I stop the pain...?" she asked weakly, looking up at Amy with her one brilliantly bright amber colored eye.

Amy shook her head, nuzzling her friend and kissing one ear affectionately. "You focus on the positive," she told her. "And you don't let Saszik bring you down. He is a different person, and what he does can't control who you are."

The fennec nodded, running her paw from the top of the cast, over her eye, down to her neck, sliding one finger off the dark black material. "I guess you're right..." she whispered.

The two females stood there out in the cold, the breeze coursing over them once again. Khor looked up at her friend again, moving close and giving her a tight hug. The wolfess hugged her back, smiling as a single tear fell down her face.

Khor stood there in her old friend's embrace, before pulling back. She took a step backwards, her paw reaching up for the cast over her face. She slowly undid the straps that held it in place, removing it and holding it in her paw.

In the pale moonlight, every detail of the fennec's face was illuminated. The burned, charred tissue on her face, horribly distended from the injury, was scorched away in some spots. Artificial skin grafts were visible on some spots over her face, but where her veins and scar tissue were too fragile and exposed, the grafts were absent. Where her right eye should have been was a heavy eye patch, made of a soft, sky blue material. The right side of her mouth was disfigured and scarred, but stitches and small surgical scars showed some work in righting the damage.

Amy looked her friend right in the eye, smiling as she hugged her again. "I don't care what anyone says, Khor; you're beautiful."

Khor smiled gently, only the left side of her mouth moving. "Thank you, Amy..." she whimpered.

The wolfess smiled and kissed her friend's ear. "You need a head-fur cut soon," she giggled.

A blush came over the one spot of fur on Khor's face. "Oh, stop.." she murmured. Her friend wrapped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her in close. Wordlessly, the two stepped off back towards the restaurant, Khor's face cast in her paw. A moment later, they sat back down, peacefully and quietly, while the others were eating.

And then they ate.