FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 3

Jacob loudly yawned and sat at his work desk. The silver fox resisted the urge to scratch at his wound on his left paw. He planned to have Michael remove the stitches before the two departed for the Faire. Jacob occasionally glanced over his cell phone and saw Michael's messages pop up. The white rabbit wanted confirmation about the date at the Renaissance Faire tomorrow. Jacob reviewed his work schedule and saw that he wasn't required to come in that weekend. After he checked, the fox sent Michael a short text message to assure him that he would be there.

Jacob tried to imagine how their fourth date would turn out. He'd never gone to the Ren Faire before and didn't know what to expect. Jacob only knew that it was an annual event held in Irwindale every spring. Because the event was taking place outdoors Jacob planned to dress comfortably with a warm climate in mind. Though before Jacob could clock out for the day he felt two fluffy handpaws tightly grab onto his shoulders. It caused Jacob to jump from his seat and he quickly turned around to see the familiar black she-wolf behind him.

"Jesus, Mina you'll give me a heart attack!" Jacob panted.

"Hehe, I've been trying to get your attention from across the room! I needed you to come back to reality," Mina signed and spoke with a sly grin on her face.

"Still, there's other ways you can get my attention besides scaring the shit out of me! Anyway, what do you need?"

"Michael told me that you were going to the Renaissance Faire tomorrow! I didn't know you were going! I could've helped make you a costume!" Mina giggled.

"Do I need a costume to get in?"

"No, but it would certainly be more fun if you did!"

"I guess so, but I'm mainly doing this just to meet his kids."

"Ah, makes since! Still, I'm pretty excited that you're going! I can be the tour guide for you all if you want!" Mina's wolf tail wagged.

"Really? That would certainly be nice of you. I'll let Michael know so that we don't start without you. How long have you attended these events anyway?" Jacob's head turned curiously.

"Since my senior year of high school! I just love the costumes, creativity, and especially the food! They have so much good food!" Mina's tail wagged faster.

Jacob chuckled, "I see, well what time do you plan to show up?"

"Around ten or so. I hope to see you there. Just don't go in without me!" Mina waved and started to head toward the exit.

"Alright, I'll see you then!" Jacob nodded and started to clock out for the day.

Once outside, Jacob hopped onto the nearest bus and rode back home toward his apartment complex. Jacob texted Michael and informed him that Mina wanted to give them a tour of the faire. Michael seemed enthusiastic about the offer and agreed to let Mina come along.

The next morning Jacob started his daily morning routine. The fox put on a purple polo shirt with gray jeans and comfortable outdoor black boots. As for Michael, he decided to let the nanny take his kids to the faire and have the rest of them meet there. It only took 20 minutes for Michael to arrive at Jacob's apartment. The muscular rabbit stood at Jacob's front door and knocked repeatedly. Jacob looked through the peep hole and at Michael; the rabbit was wearing his green short sleeve collard dress shirt and tan slacks.

Jacob opened the door, "Hello, Michael!"

Michael leaned forward to give him a soft kiss, "Hey cutie! I brought the med kit with me. Let's check your stitches and we'll be off!"

Jacob nodded and invited the handsome rabbit inside. The two headed toward the bathroom with a small med kit in Michael's handpaw. The rabbit gently uncovered the bandaged paw as his blue eyes studied over the wound. There were no signs of swelling, nor sourness, and the scar tissue had already formed in its proper place. Michael disinfected his tools as Jacob laid his left handpaw on the sink.

"So I want to ask you something if that's alright?" Michael gently held Jacob's paw.

"Sure what is it?" Jacob made eye contact with him.

"Do you know where you put the opioid pill bottle when you visited my place by any chance? I couldn't find them anywhere," Michael asked and started to gently cut away at the stitches.

Jacob heart raced and he came clean, "I... I flushed the pills down the toilet and threw the bottle away after I left."

Michael gave him a puzzled look, "Why did you do that?"

"Because... seeing the bottle brought up my old cravings. I didn't want to take the risk of relapsing... so I destroyed the pills to make sure I didn't."

Michael continued remove the stitches from Jacob's paw, "I understand, I should've been more considerate of your condition. I'm sorry for putting you in that position."

"It's alright Michael, honestly!"

"No, it's not alright. I'm a doctor and I should've taken your health seriously! Just know that the next time you visit I won't have any of those pills in my home. I promise."

"Alright, thank you Michael!" Jacob leaned forward and gave him a small kiss.

Michael then set aside his instruments on a clean paper towel and he held the kiss. The rabbit's blue eyes deeply gazed into Jacob's before the two separated. Michael then removed the last of the thread and all of the stiches were completely removed. Michael cleaned the wound with disinfectant before he rewrapped Jacob's paw with a clean bandage.

"Alright, you're all set. Ready handsome?" Michael smiled.

"Mhm!" Jacob nodded as Michael started to clean up.

After Michael cleaned up, the two headed out the door and climbed into Michael's car. Jacob sat at the front seat with Michael as the car drove itself onto the freeway. Michael relaxed in his driver's seat and allowed self-driving features to control the car. The silver sedan expertly drove and maneuvered itself on the freeway. Jacob gently held Michael's handpaw while the two reclined their seats.

Jacob felt his phone vibrate as he received a text message. The messaged had come from the black she-wolf coworker Mina. Attached to the message was a photo. It showed her with dark ruby red and white bar maid dress that she wore for the occasion. Alongside her were Michael's kids and the blue jay nanny in the photograph. Jacob had recognized the blue jay from the various family photos that were spread throughout Michael's house.

The text read, "We're already going inside near the front gate. Let us know when you two arrive!"

Jacob looked over to Michael as the rabbit also received the same text message.

Michael chucked and spoke, "Looks like they couldn't wait without us. No matter, I know Mina will take good care of them."

"Yeah, thank you for letting her come over to join us. I thought it be great to have a guide so that we don't wonder aimlessly," Jacob rubbed Michael's handpaw.

"I get it. So, are you excited to meet the nanny and kids?" Michael asked to pass the time.

"I am, but I'm also a bit nervous as well," Jacob ears folded back.

"About the kids? They're not the type to bite," Michael teased.

"I hope not. But what can you tell me about them? So I have a better idea who they are," Jacob asked.

"Well, my son Alejandro is more of an outgoing type of kid. He's very energetic! He's always excited and curious! And he's not afraid to introduce himself to kids and adults alike," Michael chuckled.

Jacob nodded attentively as Michael continued, "My daughter Madeline tends to be more cautious and reserved. She only trusts a small pool of creatures and it's hard for her to make friends with kids her age. Madeline tends to prefer the company of her teachers than other kids. She's also pretty protective of her brother. So just keep that in mind. She'll warm up to you though if you simply give her some distance."

"I see, well those are some very good pointers to know. For now though, I'll just try and be friendly." Jacob smiled.

"Good, just do your best," Michael nuzzled Jacob.

Traffic cleared up as Michael's car sped down the freeway. Jacob looked around and noticed a trail of cars had also followed behind them toward the Fairgrounds. The car followed a windy path towards a large open lot with hundreds of cars parked in unison. With the guidance of nearby employees the car was able to maneuver and park itself into an empty spot. The two got out and observed the fairgrounds from afar. The large makeshift castle entrance stood tall with guests lined up near the front of the gate. The two could already hear the sounds of creatures at play, their chatter, and the abundance of music. Half of the attendees wore normal contemporary clothes that conformed to the warm weather. The other half had worn extravagant costumes.

The costumes ranged from the Medieval to the Renaissance period. Everything was on display: from simple garments of what Renaissance creatures might have worn, to the plated armored that soldiers might have worn from medieval times, to the mythical creatures of legends and tales. Jacob's muzzle twitched with excitement as various scents drifted in the air. The silver fox was already able to smell countless types of food that emitted behind the castle walls. Some of the scents were standard carnival food such as sweeten kettle corn, pretzels, fried pickles, and French fries. However, Jacob could also smell other dishes that involved fish and vegetables which made his stomach growl loudly.

Michael typed away at his phone before he looked over to the fox, "Our group is near the front entrance."

"Alright, let's go!" Jacob smiled as the two walked toward the entrance.

As they walked, Jacob felt Michael's handpaw softly hold onto his. Jacob's face became warm but he continued to hold onto Michael's handpaw while they stood in line. After a few short minutes, the two bought their tickets and headed inside the main entrance. Already, Michael had spotted the group huddled around one of the snack vendors. Mina was the first to spot them as the she-wolf enthusiastically waved at them. As for the blue jay nanny, she wore a collard red dress that complemented her light blue feathers. She held a large paper map within her claws and looked over at the couple. Michael's kids also took notice of their father as they walked towards them. Alejandro had already broken off from the group as he rushed over to the two. As for Madeline, she stood guarded and reserved near the blue jay nanny.

The brown rabbit continued to rush towards Michael as he hugged around Michael's waist, "Papa!"

"Hey little guy, good to see you!" Michael softly pet his head as the rest of the group met them half way.

"Say papa, who is he?" Alejandro curiously pointed at the silver fox.

Michael smiled, "I'm glad you asked. Everyone, this here is Jacob Hayashi! He'll be joining us today!"

"Hello, Jacob. I'm Jennifer Ann! I'm the nanny and care taker!" The blue jay extended her claw.

Jacob gave her a pawshake, "It's certainly nice to meet you Jennifer."

The silver fox looked down, "And you must be Michael's kids! What are your names?"

The white female rabbit crossed her feet paws and fidgeted her handpaws nervously.

"Go on, don't be shy little one!" Jennifer tried to encourage her as she scooted the white rabbit a bit closer.

The white rabbit looked up as she made direct eye contact with Jacob. The small blue eyes met Jacob's as she spoke quietly, "My name is... Madeline."

"And I'm Alejandro!" The brown rabbit looked up at Jacob excitedly.

"Nice to meet you two, Alejandro and Madeline!" Jacob smiled.

"Oh, Jacob do you know who this nice lady is too?" Alejandro pointed at the black she-wolf.

"Mm, let's see do I know you from somewhere? You look oddly familiar," Jacob teased Mina.

"Ha, very funny foxy boy. I don't look that different," Mina spoke loudly as she stuck her tongue out.

"I guess that's true. Anyway, Alejandro this is Mina. She's a friend of mine from work," Jacob explained.

"So Michael, what would you like to do first?" The black she-wolf looked over to the white rabbit.

"Depends, has everyone already eaten yet Jennifer?" Michael asked the blue jay.

"Just a few snacks for the ride. Mina said she would take us somewhere to eat once you two arrived," Jennifer said as she handed Mina the map.

"There's lots of amazing food places we need to try! I've marked them all down right here!" Mina pointed.

Jacob looked over and saw multiple circles that were littered around every corner of the map. Most of the circles were drawn near the center of the Fairground where most of the food vendors were stationed. Because Jacob didn't eat earlier in the morning the sight and smell of nearby Faire food had already made his stomach growl aggressively.

Michael chuckled, "Guess someone's super hungry. How about we all get food first and then sightsee? That sound good for everyone?"

"Yes! I love to have some veggies papa!" Alejandro jumped up and down near Michael's pant leg.

"Alright, Mina how about you lead the way and take us somewhere good to eat?" Michael asked as he held his son's paw.

"You got it! This way everyone!" Mina then pointed toward the nearest open direction.

The group marched onward and followed the walkway with the rest of the crowd. Jacob looked around as they passed by several vendors. Some vendors offered special deals for medieval weaponry that could be used for home decoration, sparing, or self-defense. Other vendors sold clothing and jewelry for prospective buyers who wished to partake in the Renaissance theme. On occasion, the group would casually move to the side as parades of creatures marched down the walk path. Those near the front of the parade would use loud heavy drums to signal the oncoming parade. Behind the drum line were creatures that held long decorated flags and banners that represented the main guilds on the Fairgrounds.

Various female creatures in exotic dresses would dance near the center of the parade. Their headfur was lazed with colorful flowers as they twirled and danced. Jacob looked down and saw both of Michael's kids staring at the parade awestruck; The two small rabbits were captivated by the parade. After the parade had passed them by everyone continued to walk until they arrived at the main eatery area. There were several large booths that had lines stretched far beyond the eatery. To everyone's relief, Mina had chosen booths with shorter lines. The group would spend a few hours near the eatery and tasted tested their hearts' delight.

Jacob and Michael's favorite meal came from a booth that sold various kabob dishes. Michael's kabob had various colorful vegetables marinaded in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and dried herbs. Jacob's dish was similar but laced with various types of tasty seafood that satisfied his fish cravings.

The group found a large clean table and ate together. Mina held a large deep fried fish with one paw and immediately ate away at the tasty meal. Jacob noticed that Alejandro was seated right next to him. The small brown rabbit simply gave a warm smile as his cheeks were puffed with tasty faire food. Jacob chuckled and found the expression to be adorable. He looked over to Madeline from across the table as she sat near Jenifer with her kabob in one paw. Madeline barely made any eye contact with Jacob and tended to look away whenever the fox looked over at her direction. Jacob felt a little disheartened that the small bunny might find him intimidating. Though he decided to just continue to act natural and be relaxed around Michael.

Throughout the day the group wandered around the faire as the weather cooled off. The group passed by several large medieval themed carnivals games that involved either skill or pure luck. Jacob looked around and noticed a large dunk tank that was set up near the walk path. A sizeable crowd gathered as participants tried their hand at the game. The creature who sat on the stool was a small loud mouth Fennec fox that openly taunted everyone who was dressed as the village idiot while he spouted a flurry of insults at the participants.

"Think you got a shot at me pretty boy? Might wanna take off your wife's earrings first before you play!" The fennec teased the brown stallion before him.

People laughed hysterically as the stallion gripped the baseballs tightly in his hand. In a fit of fury, the stallion threw the ball with all his might, and it sped down toward the dunk tank. But because of the stallion's novice skill the ball strayed far from its target and ricocheted off a nearby wall.

The fennec laughed, "Jesus Christ, my blind aunt Betty could've made that throw!"

The fennec had obviously stricken a nerve as the stallion continued to throw many balls at the dunk tank. The stallion then took out a fist full of cash to try again. Though with each attempt to dunk the fox, the brown stallion had failed. The audience laughed at his misfortune as the stallion stomped away defeated. He had ran out of cash and was unable to dunk the village idiot.

Madeline tugged at Michael's pant leg, "That fox is acting very mean!"

"Yeah, think I should teach him a lesson?" Michael winked at her.

"Do it! Dunk him papa!" Alejandro jumped excitedly.

"Oh? Sure, stand back kids," Michael smiled as he got out his wallet.

The group walked up with Michael as he paid for his turn. The rabbit held one of the baseballs in one paw as he tried to judge how heavy it was. The fennec fox tried to read and analyzed his opponent as Michael got ready to make his first throw.

"Try not to embarrass yourself in front of your kids, big guy," The fennec fox teased.

Michael chuckled as he tried to throw the ball. The first ball had already missed as he took his second attempt. When Michael threw the second ball he felt the first few buttons of his green short sleeve dress shirt pop off to reveal the rabbit's muscular fluffy chest. A loud rip echoed as Michael's ears folded in embarrassment.

The fennec fox noticed the slight mishap and seized the opportunity, "What happened, your bra strap snapped off?"

The audience laughed as Michael seemed deeply embarrassed. He stared down at the fox and gave it one last hard throw. The baseball barely clipped the target but his attempt wasn't successful. The audience looked on with disappointment as Michael came extremely close to dunking the village idiot.

The fennec fox laughed, "Next time get some glasses instead of a boob job!"

Michael got out his wallet and was about to pay for another round. Jacob chuckled and tapped his shoulder.

"I'll take this one Michael," Jacob nuzzled.

"You sure?"

"Trust me, I'll get this ass hat for you," Jacob gave him a small kiss on his cheek.

"Alright, go get him cutie," Michael paid for the next round.

The fennec fox looked over to Jacob, "Tell your wife he has nice tits!"

Jacob held in his urge to laugh as the joke angered Michael. The silver fox looked onward and judge the distance between him and the dunk tank. The audience murmured as the fennec fox patiently waited for the Jacob to throw his pitch.

"Come on, I'm dying of old age here! Don't keep your lover boy waiting," The fennec fox complained.

Once Jacob figured out how far the ball needed to travel, he had a decent idea of what to do. Jacob stretched out his arms and backside before he got into his pitching position. Jacob placed both feetpaws shoulders width apart and shifted his weight on his right leg. He lifted his left leg and used the forward motion to step toward the dunk tank. Jacob pushed off his back footpaw and followed through with his pitching arm. The ball aimed directly dead center at the target. The baseball sped across the field toward the dunk tank and slammed into the target. The force and speed of the ball was powerful enough to knock the latch over which sent the fennec fox down into the cold water. The tan fox was fully submerged and the renaissance clothing had dragged him down into the icy cold waters. The audience gave an excited applause as Jacob smiled with satisfaction. Jacob turned around and saw the group looked on stunned. Alejandro smiled and ran up to give the silver fox a warm hug.

"That was so awesome!" Alejandro smiled.

Jacob shivered a bit as he was caught off guard by the warm hug. He lightly pet the brown bunny's head as he looked over to Michael.

"Have you played baseball before?" Michael asked.

"Yes, in middle school and freshman year of high school. I was pretty decent at it!" Jacob smiled as he continued to pet Alejandro's head.

"I see. Do you think you can throw a Chancla that fast too?" Michael stuck his tongue out and teased his children.

Jacob looked down and saw Alejandro grip his pant leg. The brown rabbit was scared of the idea of Jacob throwing a slipper like a fast baseball. The fox chuckled as he replied, "Maybe, but I wouldn't do something like that to these little rabbits."

Jacob felt Alejandro's grip relax as the little bunny's small tail wiggled. Jacob wagged his long fox tail as the group headed toward different carnival games. Throughout the day, Jacob couldn't help but notice Madeline had become more comfortable around him. Madeline didn't hide behind Jennifer as they walked in the group. Instead, the small white rabbit walked along side Jacob and Michael. Jacob was able to use his baseball throwing skills again to win at a different carnival game. For his prize, he decided to get a large stuffed pink rabbit for Madeline to show his gratitude for the small bunny girl.

Madeline accepted the gift willingly and responded back with a warm thank you. Her small smile spread across her furry lips as Madeline joyfully carried the large bunny prize around with her. Hours passed by as the group took frequent breaks after long walks on the faire. Mina had to adjust her costume to not attract much dirt on her lower skirt while she walked. Eventually, Michael's kids started to become tired and restless after a few hours at the fairgrounds.

Madeline grabbed Jennifer's attention as she yawned, "Can we go home? I'm tired."

Jennifer looked over to see Alejandro yawned as well. The small brown rabbit sat himself on a nearby stool with Jacob.

Jennifer motioned Jacob and Michael over, "Seems these two are already exhausted today. Should I go ahead and take them home Michael?"

Michael nodded, "I don't see why not."

"Alright, I'll meet you at the house later tonight and cook us dinner! Also, it was certainly nice to spend the day with you Jacob," Jennifer smiled and turned toward the silver fox.

"Likewise, have a safe trip home Jennifer," Jacob extended his paw.

Jennifer smiled and shook his paw before the blue jay gathered Alejandro and Madeline. Michael leaned down to give both of his kids a soft hug and a kiss. Alejandro decided to also give Jacob a warm friendly hug as well. Madeline was still hesitant to hug the silver fox so she opted to shake his paw instead. Jacob obliged and shook the bunny's small paw as she carried her large pink toy rabbit with both arms. The trio gave their final goodbyes and left the small group to themselves.

Mina decided to call it a day as well once the sun started to set. The black she-wolf gave the two of them a friendly hug before she departed from the fairgrounds. After another hour at the Faire the two decided to head home. Michael intended to drop Jacob off at his house before he headed home for the night. Though as the duo walked towards the parking lot Jacob couldn't help but feel a bit saddened. He didn't want the date to end soon and had nothing else planned later. The fox didn't want to impose himself onto Michael and ask to hang out at his place with his family there.

After the two climbed inside the silver sedan Michael then started the car and began to back out, "You know, maybe for our next date you can come over to my place to meet the rest of my family. You could meet my parents and big sister for a family dinner. Do you think you could cook us a meal using your family's recipes?" Michael softly kissed Jacob's neck.

Jacob let out a soft happy sigh, "Sure, I'll have to call up my folks but I can definitely make you all a good dinner. Though I'll only do it if you let me spend the night."

Michael scooted closer as the car merged with street traffic, "I wouldn't have it any other way, Jacob."

"Thanks, so do you think the kids like me much?"

"Are you kidding? My kids have more than warmed up to you. Madeline seemed really thankful about the stuffed bunny toy you gave her. Hell, even Alejandro couldn't keep his paws off you," Michael teased.

Jacob's face became warm, "I just think they were only doing that to be nice."

"Trust me, they already like you. I think your fox charm has rubbed off on them."

"I'm glad you think so. They seem like very nice kids. You're a good father, Michael," Jacob held onto the rabbit's handpaw.

"I try to be," Michael squeezed Jacob's handpaw.

Jacob softly rested his head on Michael's shoulder as the car drove. While the car drove onto the freeway they were able to watch the sunset as their destination sped toward Riverside. Jacob's handpaw interlaced with Michael's while the two stared off into the sunset. Jacob laid back and watched the sun slowly disappear into the mountains westward. Stars filled night sky and the moon loomed over the couple as their car approached Jacob's apartment. Once the two reach the apartment Michael walked up the stairs with Jacob to his room number.

Before Jacob headed inside, he leaned down and gave Michael a warm kiss. Michael kept his head up while the two kissed as they held onto each other. The duo continued to embrace each other, Jacob playfully slipped a small portion of his tongue into Michael's muzzled before the two broke away. Michael let out a soft sigh and nuzzled the tall fox before he whispered goodnight to Jacob. The fox's heart pounded against his chest as he watch his rabbit companion head downstairs toward his car and disappear into the night.

Though once inside, Jacob felt lonesome to come home to an empty apartment. It was extremely quiet with only the small humming from the A/C inside the living room. The fox started his nightly routine and the thought of him interacting with Michael's kids lifted his spirits. Little by little, Jacob had grown a small fondness for Alejandro and Madeline. His heart raced with excitement with the prospect to one day gain their full trust. To be included in their family was something Jacob yearned for. Jacob allowed himself to get excited about the idea of one day being part of their loving family.

Chapter 4

A symphony of keyboard clacks and mouse clicks echoed throughout the office. For Jacob, it was crunch time as their current game was near their final development cycle before public release. Everyone had to meticulously fix every major component of their game. The staff was able to polish most of the game, but there were still some minor inconsistencies that persisted. Though everything from the games graphics, balance, and level design had minor glitches that could easily be patched at a later date, Jacob's company didn't want to release what they felt were unfinished games. That would risk the company's reputation and good will it had with its audience. Instead, Perfect Pictures Studio planned to postpone the launch of Operation: Ceasefire until winter. To make the deadline, Jacob's boss Mika had selected a few creatures to stay for overtime. The company wasn't able to afford to have everyone on overtime pay, so a lottery system was put in place.

Jacob's was one of the names picked from the lottery system. The silver fox had to meticulously analyze every level, from the main story campaign to the five unique large scale multiplayer maps. This impeded on Jacob's personal free time as he spent long hours at the office, making it difficult to see Michael. The two would constantly miss each other at every turn as they tried to set up another date at the rabbit's house. Despite both of their best efforts the two were relegated to send short text messages to one another. Neither of them had the time to call, video chat, or visit in person because of their unique work schedules.

When June arrived, Jacob was nearly burned out from the heavy amount of work. He laid back in the cafeteria chair with a can of soda in his paw. Jacob struggled to stay awake as he slouched in his chair. He unlocked his phone and saw that there were no new messages from Michael. With a heavy sigh, he looked over the rest of his contact. He came across his mother's cell phone number and hesitated over it. Though before he swiped passed his mother's contact he felt a soft pair of wolf paws tap his shoulders.

Jacob jumped in his chair and looked back to see Mina, "Oh, afternoon Mina."

"You've been staring off into space again. I was trying to get your attention for a while now," Mina signed and spoke.

The black she-wolf sat across from the fox as Jacob signed and spoke, "Sorry, I'm just really tired lately. Overtime hours have been killing me."

"It must be brutal. How have you been lately? Everything going okay with you and Michael?"

"I don't know, I like to think so. We still keep in contact through text. But, we've haven't gone on another date for a while now due to work," Jacob sighed and drank the rest of his soda.

"It certainly can't be helped. But hey, so long as you two are still talking that still a good sign!"

"Still, I really do want to see him again! I miss him. But I'm also nervous for our next date."

"Why are you nervous? You were fine at the Rein Faire."

"Michael wants me to make a dinner for his family and meet his relatives. But in order to do that, I have to ask my parents for their family recipes. I haven't gotten the courage to ask them yet."

"Can't you just look up the recipes yourself online?"

"I did, but when I test them out it just never tasted the same. I want to impress Michael's family and not cheap them out," Jacob slumped in his chair.

"Okay, actually I think I can help. Can I see your phone, I want to show you something online," Mina asked.

Half tired, Jacob was confused by this request but agreed to hand over his cell phone. Mina's fingers lightly traced along the phone's glass screen before she selected the desired application. Mina then suddenly handed Jacob his phone as the fox looked down. His phone started to call his mother as Jacob looked up to Mina in a panic.

"Are you crazy?"

"You would have to call her eventually, might as well get it over with," Mina suck her tongue out.

The silver fox gave a nervous chuckle and held the phone next to his ear, "Kon'nichiwa okasan! Ogenkidesuka?" (Hello Mom! How are you?)

"Jeikun! Moichido anata no koto o kiite yokatta! Subete mondainaidesu ka?" (Jay-kun! It's nice to hear from you again! Is there something the matter?) His mother asked with a concerned voice.

"Un, subete juncho. Watashi wa ima, hiruyasumi-chudesuga, nanika otazune shitai to omoimasu. Reshipi o kakitometa koto wa arimasu ka? Anata ga tsukutta ryori o tsukurinaoshitai," (Yes, everything is going well. I am on lunch break now, but I would like to ask you something. Have you written down your recipes? I want to recreate a dish you made.) Jacob said with a bright happy tone.

"Oya? Moshi anata ga watashi no ryori o sorehodo minogashitara, anata wa otozurerubekidesu! Anata ga reisei ni nari tsudzukeru kagiri, anata ga kitara chichi wa ki ni shinaideshou," (Oh? If you missed my dishes so much, you should visit! As long as you stay sober, your father won't mind if you come.) the female fox said in a playful tone.

"Watashi wa anata no ryori ga hontoni koishi to mitomemasu. Shikashi, watashi ga tazuneru riyu wa,... Watashi wa hijo ni tokubetsuna hito to deatte kitakaradesu. Soshite karera wa watashi ga karera no kazoku zen'in no tame ni ryori o tsukuru koto o nozomimasu. Ichido ni saidai ro ku hito no ikimono o esa ni suru koto ga dekitanode, watashi wa anata no reshipi no ikutsu ka o tsukatte iru to omotte imashita." (I will admit, I really miss your cooking. But the reason I ask is because... I've been dating someone very special. And they want me to make a dish for their entire family. I thought I use some of your recipes since you were able to feed up to six creatures all at once.)

"Sore wa kikoete sutekidesu! Kanojo no namae wa nanidesu ka?" (That's lovely to hear! What's her name?")

Jacob chuckled nervously, "Jissai, soreha danseidesu. Kare no namae wa Garushia Maikerudesu. Kare wa isha to shite hataraite imasu. Kare ni wa 2-ri no kodomo ga imasu." (Actually, it's a male. His name is Michael Garcia. He's a doctor with two kids.)

"A, kawai! Kare wa omoni nikushoku dobutsu, habiboa, matawa zasshoku dobutsudesu ka?" (Aww, how adorable! Is he mainly a carnivore, herbivore, or an omnivore?)

"Habiboa soshite kare no kazoku no nokori no bubun mo sodesu!" (Herbivore and so is the rest of his family!)

"Ma, watashi wa karera ga tabetai koto ga ikutsu ka no reshipi o shitte imasu. Watashi wa anata ni sore o ataeruga, hitotsu no joken no shita de." (Very well, I know some recipes they'll just love to eat. I'll give it to you but under one condition.)

"Nanideshou?" (What's that?)

"Hontoni shinkokuna kankei ni areba, watashitachi ga kare ni au koto ga dekiru yo ni kare o tsurete konakereba narimasen." (If you're truly in a serious relationship, you have to bring him over so that we can meet him.)

"Haha, watashi wa ima sodatta. Watashitachiha gendai ni ikite imasu. Watashi wa dare ka to hidzuke o kinyu suru tame ni watashi no ryoshin no kyoka o hitsuyo to shinai," (Mother, I'm grown up now. We live in the modern times! I don't need my parents' permission to date someone.) Jacob teased.

"Soreha iiwakede wanai! Anata no subete no keiteishimai ga sore o shinakereba naranakattanode, anata wa onaji koto o shimasu. Anata ga shinai baai, anata no boifurendo no tame no shitagaki shokuji o ryori o o tanoshimi kudasai. Kare wa ryori dekiru hito no tame ni anata o nokosudeshou," (That's no excuse! All of your brothers and sisters had to do it so you'll do the same. If you don't, then enjoy cooking a subpar meal for your boyfriend. He'll leave you for someone who can cook.) she teased back.

"Anata wa kachimasu, hahaoya. Watashi ga kitara, kare o tsurete kimasu. Yakusoku shimasu." (You win, mother. I'll bring him over when I come visit. I promise.) Jacob playful sigh.

"Yoi. Sate, anata wa shigoto ni modoru koto ga saizendesu. Watashi wa reshipi o tekisuto de soshin shimasu! Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu!" (Good. Now, it's best that you go back to work. I'll send the recipes through text! I love you!)

"Watashi mo anata mo aishiteimasu. Sayonara!" (I love you too, mother. Goodbye!) Jacob said as he waited for his mother to hang up.

The fox let out a heavy sigh as Mina smiled, "See, it wasn't that hard. Looks like the call went well."

Jacob shrugged, "I honestly didn't know how she would react. I haven't talked to her for a few years."

"Still, I wish you much luck on your next date! You'll do just fine," Mina stood up and stretched herself out.

"Thanks, I'll let you know how the next date goes. I'll catch you around Mina," Jacob yawned as he threw away his soda can.

"Take care!" Mina waved before she headed towards a nearby elevator.

Jacob returned to his office chair and got himself ready to continue his work. Throughout the workday, his mother would send him long lengthy text messages. Each message had directions for several types of vegan meals that could easily feed up to six people. Jacob smiled warmly at his mother's enthusiastic response and felt relieved that she still acted friendly towards him. At the very least, if the next date goes well Jacob did promise to have Michael meet his parents. After he received the last text message from his mother, Jacob grabbed his phone and sent a short text message to Michael.

"Hey, Michael. I know you're probably busy this Friday but do you still want me to come over to meet your parents? I finally gotten the recipes from my folks so I can cook dinner for the whole family," Jacob texted.

Once he sent the text, Jacob returned to his work on the video game. Hours would fly past the fox and he continued to edit various levels throughout the game. Some play testers found an exploit that allowed players access to restricted areas of the level that could break the games engine. He had to personally look over and patch each level to minimize the amounts of exploits. After a few hours passed, Jacob finally received a reply from Michael.

Jacob frantically looked over his phone as the message read, "Sure, I was just thinking about you today. We can do it June 13th this Friday! I can pick you up at your place or your work, whichever's easier for you."

Jacob's tail wagged excitedly as he sent a reply, "Okay, I look forward to it handsome! Thank you!"

Jacob's mood brightened up from the response and he continued on with his work. The silver fox was hopeful about their next encounter. Throughout the rest of the week, Jacob tried out his mother's various recipes before he could serve it to Michael's family. He had traveled lengthy distances to buy several key ingredients that weren't commonly available in his area. After he shopped around, the fox managed to compile a wide range of meals for an herbivore creature. Every meal tasted exactly the same from what he remembered growing up. The flavors had a savory nostalgic taste as warm memories flooded his mind. After he tested each recipe, Jacob had to take Michael's background into consideration. The fox had to decide on which meals that could be easily consumed with a fork and knife rather than traditional chop sticks.

Jacob finally decided on what he would make for Michael's family. He chose meals that were not complex to make and easy to create large portion sizes. Days flew by as Friday eventually rolled around. For Jacob, he marked down his 1,922 sobriety in his journal. The fox excitedly waited in the living room as Michael texted him that he was on his way. The fox had remembered to take his anti-viral medication with him as he planned to stay overnight. Nervous butterflies filled Jacob's stomach, as he didn't know what to expect from Michael's immediate family. If Michael felt comfortable to have the fox around than his family must somewhat be progressive on the stance of same sex relationships.

Still, the thought of somehow offending Michael's family deeply concerned him. Though before he could dwell on it, Jacob heard a knock on the door and rushed over. He opened the door immediately to see his rabbit companion stand before him. Michael immediately leaned forward and warmly embraced his tall silver fox as the two held onto each other. Jacob's tail swayed with surprised from Michael's immediately open affection and the rabbit nuzzled into the fox's chest before he looked up.

"Hey handsome, I've really missed you these past few weeks!" Michael kissed Jacob's lips.

After the kiss Jacob's eyes brightened with excitement, "I missed you too. We're going grocery shopping before we head to the house right?"

Michael chucked as he released the hug, "Yup, my parents and big sister won't come by the house till 6:00pm. So we have plenty of time."

"Great, let's go!" Jacob wagged his fox tail as he grab his nearby bag full of species.

Michael nodded and walked with the fox as they headed towards the parking lot. Once inside Michael's car, the two stopped near a super market to pick up the rest of the ingredients needed for the dish. There was a long wait for the check as an enormous amount of people were lined up in each row. Many creatures had stock piled various food items that could be stored for months on end. It was an unusual sight for the two of them, though Jacob opted to not ask around and stayed quiet about the commotion. Once they stuffed Michael's car full of groceries, the two headed toward Michael's house in Redlands. The duo eventually arrived around 2:00pm to an empty house. Jennifer had gone out to pick up the kids from school which allowed them to prep for dinner uninterrupted.

"So can you tell me a little bit about your family?" Jacob set down the groceries on the kitchen counter.

Michael washed his paws, "Well my family originally lived in Phoenix Arizona. Though when I was about 8 or 9 our entire family moved and settled in San Diego for... better job opportunities I guess you can say. We didn't have much growing up. But my parents used what little we had to give us a proper education. My sister went on to work as a civil engineer while I pursued medicine. Overall, we lived a modest live."

"What made you decide to live here in Redlands instead of San Diego?" Jacob asked.

Michael shrugged, "At the time, it was the only hospital in California that gave me a job offer. For most doctors, after you graduate you're lucky if there's an offer that's within your state let alone the county. So I didn't pass up the chance and took the job."

"I see, good to know!" Jacob smiled and kissed his cheek.

Michael chuckled and helped prep the ingredients while Jacob gathered all the necessary appliances in order. The fox had gone over the instructions repeatedly on his cellphone to memorize the dish. The duo started their prep work for the large feast as they could hear the front door open. Several fast footsteps ran throughout the house as Michael's children rushed over to greet their father. Alejandro and Madeline arrived in the kitchen and were surprised to see Jacob. Though for Alejandro, he didn't seem to mind as the little brown rabbit set his backpack down near the chair.

"Hi papa, hi Jacob! What are you making?" Alejandro asked as Madeline sat next to her brother.

"We are making a special dinner today. Your abuelo, abuela, and tía are coming over to dine with us tonight!" Michael explained as the two began to cook.

"Yay that's awesome! Also guess what Madeline got from our teacher today papa?" Alejandro asked enthusiastically.

Jacob continued to prep and cook for tonight's dinner as Michael looked over to her, "Oh, what happened at school today Madeline?"

"I'm supposed to give you this letter. My teacher gave it to me for being a good student," Madeline reached in her backpack to pull out a sealed envelope.

Michael walked over and unfolded the envelope to read the contents. Jacob looked over and saw how excited Michael was as he read the letter. From what Jacob overheard, Madeline had done well enough to be invited into a special educational program for gifted students. The white rabbit was thrilled by his daughter's academic performance as he hanged the recommendation letter on the fridge. Though before Michael's kids could stay any longer Jennifer had to drag them away so that the two could focus on their homework. Reluctantly, the two rabbits followed their nanny upstairs to complete their assignments.

Jacob chuckled to himself; he enjoyed the live atmosphere. He still hoped and yearned for the day that he could be officially included in Michael's family. Though after he heard Michael's pervious dating horror story of someone who tried to interject themselves too quickly, Jacob was hesitant about the idea. The fox still wanted to gain everyone's trust before the question to join Michael's family came up. For now, Jacob was content to watch from the sidelines and continued to cook.

The scents and smells from the kitchen had eventually filled the entire house. Jacob took his time to make sure that every meticulous detail of the dishes were exactly the same from what his mother made. As Jacob finished up, he heard several loud doorbell rings echo throughout house. Michael's bunny ears perked up excitedly as he goes off to see who was at the door.

Jacob could overhear Michael welcome his parents and older sister into his home. Jacob could hear Michael's mother hugged and showered her son with kisses. Jacob's heart raced intensely as the small group eventually made their way toward the kitchen. Jacob turned around to see Michael's family as they looked over at the fox curiously.

Jacob smiled as Michael introduce him to the family, "Everyone, this here is Jacob Hayashi. We've been dating for three months now. Jacob, this is my familia. This is my father Ricardo Garcia, my mother Maria Garcia, and my older sister Rosa Garcia."

Jacob looked up and saw a family of all white rabbits. Michael's father was the tallest of the group and he was a heavy set rabbit with a large pot belly. Despite the massive stomach, Ricardo's arms and legs were muscular that showed years of hard labor. As for Michael's mother Maria, she was a fully figured woman that had aged with fine grace. Her fur coat was well maintained as her physical features resembled that of a young woman in her late 30's despite her actual age. For Rosa, the slender rabbit also had the youthful appearance of a young 20 year old. The female rabbit's beauty was the envy of many women of her age group. Though Rosa gave an unimpressed bored expression as the rabbit gazed over at the silver fox.

"It's certainly a pleasure to meet you all! I'll be preparing the main course tonight and I hope you all will enjoy it," Jacob gave a respectful bow out of habit.

Ricardo chuckled and patted his stomach, "I certainly hope so. Whatever you're making, it smells delicious! I like you already."

Maria playfully bumped her elbow into his side, "No seas facilmente alagado! ¡Aun no hemos probado la comida de este hombre!" (Don't be easily charmed! We haven't tried his cooking yet!)

Jacob looked at them a bit confused as Michael responded, "Oh it's nothing, don't worry about it."

Rosa rabbit nose twitched and asked causally, "So, what are you making?"

Jacob smiled and wink, "It's a surprise, but let's just say it's a family recipe my mother gave me!"

"Will we need, those wooden stick things to eat? What where they called... chop sticks since its Asian food?" Ricardo asked?

"Oh, no we don't need any chop sticks for this dish. It's completely fine to use fork and knife so not to worry," Jacob chuckled uncomfortably.

Maria gave her husband a scorned look, "¡Aprende algunos malditos modales antes de hacer preguntas ignorantes como esa!" (Learn some damn manners before asking ignorant questions like that!)

"Tienes razón," (You're right.) Ricardo then looked over to Jacob, "Sorry if my question came off as rude."

Jacob's ears became warm with second hand embarrassment as he could guess what Maria had said, "It's alright really! Anyway, I'm just about finish cooking so I'll bring everything out soon enough!"

"Alright, thank you again for making this meal!" Ricardo smiled.

Everyone's ears stood up as another pair of fast pace footsteps came down behind them. Alejandro and Madeline had come over to greet their grandparents and auntie. Jennifer had also arrived as everyone started to take their seats on the large table. Jacob had severed everyone his specialty salad before he brought over the main course meals. The salad was a special spinach salad that was mixed with soy sauce, sugar, sakè and mirin along with a nutty aromatic sauce. After he served them salad, the fox carried over several large clay pots that sealed most of the food. The clay pots were sealed with a lid to prevent the steam from escaping. Once settled in, Jacob sat down next to Michael as he slowly lifted the lids to reveal the food. The first dish revealed was potato korokke, and the golden crispy brown batter glowed under the kitchen light as steam arose from the clay pot. The next dish Jacob revealed was stir fried noodles. They were interlaced with vegetables, chopped jalapenos, glazed with sesame seed oil, and drenched with soy sauce.

Everyone looked on with amazement as their eyes sparkled with wonder. Alejandro and Madeline seemed the most excited as the two small rabbits bounced in their seats, eager to dine in. Alejandra was the first to try to reach out for his fork to eat his salad. Though before he could, Rosa had stopped him.

"Now Alejandro, we have to say grace first before we eat," Rosa spoke softly,

"Okay, sorry," The small brown rabbit looked down disappointed.

"It's alright, now come grab my paw and we'll begin," Rosa smiled and extended her paw.

Jacob was a bit caught off guard as everyone else started to interlink paws with each other. This was an uncommon family tradition from his childhood experience but he simply went along with it. He held Michael's paw along with Jennifer's as Maria said grace in Spanish to bless their meal. After the blessing, Jacob sat anxiously as he waited for everyone to try out his dish. To Jacob's relief, everyone had a positive reaction upon tasting his food. Their smiles had glowed as everyone eagerly ate and made room for more food on their plates. Jacob casually ate along with the rest of the family as the creatures dined together in unison. While Jacob ate, he could feel Michael casually rub his lap with his left handpaw as the rabbit gave him a sly wink. Jacob chuckled as he simply observed the family from where he sat. They drank and dined throughout the evening as the family caught up with each other. Jacob was mainly oblivious to most of the conversations that happened as Michael's parents spoke in Spanish.

Alejandro looked over to the Jacob and spoke, "What do you do for work Mr. Fox?"

Jacob chuckled from the remark, "Well I make video games for a living!"

Alejandro's eyes widened, "Really!"

"Yup, in fact I'm working on one right now!"

"Can I play once it's done? Papa if I get good grades can I play his games?" Alejandro asked his father.

Jacob chuckled, "Sadly, our new game is a bit too mature for you. You would have to be a little older to play."

"Aw, really?" The small brown rabbit pouted.

"I'm afraid so. Sorry little guy," Jacob chuckled.

Michael then looked over to Jacob, "You're working on that new game that's coming out soon right? What was it called again, I've been out of the loop for a while."

"Operation: Ceasefire is what I'm currently working on. It's the company's first FPS game." Jacob replied.

"What's it about?" Rosa interjected.

"The main campaign is about a factitious conflict between several island countries in the pacific ocean. The main player character is a Navy Seal operative as his team are sent to aid one of the countries to prevent full scale war through covert operations," Jacob explained as Rosa nodded her head.

"Interesting," Rosa commented with a dull tone.

"So is it mainly a run and gun type of game or strategic?" Michael asked.

"Well our product is a strategic first person shooter that's loosely inspired by two other games. In terms of story elements and tone, it's reminiscent of Spec Ops: The Line as the main story campaign throws the player into morally gray risky situations. For game play mechanics, we adopted a similar philosophy from the ARMA series which is traditionally a tactical based first person shooter."

"Sounds like a very ambitious game," Michael complemented.

"I imagine your work provides a decent amount of income? I hope at the very least?" Rosa asked as the white rabbit refilled her plate.

"Yes, I've been able to support myself by working full time. I even get decent paid vacation and sick days."

"How much do you get paid yearly?"

"Around $80,000 a year. Though I will have a sizable pay increase after I've stayed there for five consecutive years."

"How long do you plan to work at the company?"

"For the foreseeable future. So long as our games sell, there will always be a demand for unique video game products. I enjoy my work and wouldn't change it for the world."

"But what if your company someday went out of business? Do you have anything to fall back on like a college degree?" Rosa pressed harder.

Jacob gave a nervous chuckle, "I... don't. I graduated from high school but I only received some college."

"Why didn't you finish college? Did something happen?"

"Well... I," Jacob paused as he tried to think up of a response.

"Rosa! Be nice to him, this is a family dinner not a police interrogation," Michael's footpaw softly thumped under the table.

"What? These are very valid questions to consider little brother. There will always be a high demand for professional doctors such as yourself. But due to the rough economic times we live in job security has been very unstable."

Jacob swallowed hard, "I understand and concede to your point. However, I'm confident in my company's success!"

"Alright," Rosa mumbled as she continued to consume her meal.

Jacob was annoyed by Rosa's condescending tone and attitude but tried to not show it on his face. Most of the food was already consumed by the time everyone was full. Michael and Rosa offered to clean up the dishes as everyone collectively stood up from their chairs. Alejandro and Madeline both cleaned themselves up before the two headed out to play in the backyard. Jennifer joined them as the rest of the group moved toward the living room to relax with the television on.

Jacob sat across from Ricardo and Maria. The two rabbits had put on a Spanish news channel to serve as background noise. The three creatures sat awkwardly and waited for Michael and Rosa to finish washing the dishes. The fox could only hear small murmurs of the sibling's conversation from the kitchen but decided not to ease drop. Instead, Jacob had spent the rest of the evening answering basic questions from both of Michael's parents. Everything from where he worked, lived, and his first encounter with Michael through a mutual friend from work.

Eventually, Michael and Rosa had finished and came into the living room. When Jacob looked over to Michael the fox couldn't help notice that there was something off. Michael had a cold stern expression on his face and the rabbit's paws were slightly clenched into a fist. As for Rosa, she had the expression of slight irritation and anger for a brief second. Though both of them masked their expressions once they met up with the rest of the family. Michael's family decided to head back home since rush hour traffic had lighten up.

As Michael's family stood near the doorway Ricardo looked directly at Jacob, "Thank you for cooking us an amazing meal!"

"It's no trouble, I'm just happy everyone loved it," Jacob smiled.

"Oh we did! I might have to come back tomorrow for seconds. You got yourself a nice cook son," Ricardo laughed and patted his stomach.

Michael chuckled, "Thanks, papa. If we ever have free time again I'll be sure to invite you all once more."

"I hope you all have a nice drive back home Mr. and Mrs. Garcia," Jacob leaned forward and shook both of their paws.

When the fox turned to Rosa, she reluctantly shock his paw and only gave him a slight glare. The cold harsh eye gaze pierced into Jacob as it made him slightly shiver with unease. Though after the paw shake the three headed toward their cars and drove back home. Michael closed the door and gave out a long heavy sigh of relief.

Jacob gently hugged the rabbit from behind, "Michael, are you okay?"

The two were still alone as the others were in the backyard at play. Jacob could feel how tense his muscles were underneath the rabbit's clothes. Michael placed his arms on top of Jacob's as the fox continued to hold him.

"I'm fine really. Just slightly pissed off about how rude my sister acted around you," Michael admitted.

"I don't think she was that bad..." Jacob said in a playful tone.

"Come on, we both know she was acting a like a total bitch. Though I appreciate how you've managed to still act polite regardless."

"No, she wasn't acting like a total bitch. I believe she's just naturally protective of her baby brother. I think that's a little sweet. If anything, I was more worried about your parents not liking me more than your big sister," Jacob smiled and nuzzled the rabbit's long ears.

Jacob felt Michael slowly relaxed into the fox's arms, "I wouldn't worry, you've won them over faster than my wife Anna did back in high school. They said I wasn't allowed to date or marry anyone that didn't know how to cook. It took a few years for them to eventually accept Anna's lack of cooking abilities."

Jacob chuckled softly as he kissed the rabbit's neck, "I'm happy to have left a good impression on them regardless. Thank you Michael for letting me meet them. Maybe I can introduce you to my family in Irvine at some point?"

"I would love to meet your family, Jacob," Michael chuckled and reached back to rub the fox's head.

Jacob's tail swayed curiously as he continued to cling onto the rabbit's muscular firm body. He was amazed at how physically fit the rabbit kept himself and continued to squeeze Michael's muscles. He heard small sharp huffs escape Michael's lips and the rabbit's small tail wiggled with excitement. The silver fox's paws casually slid under the rabbit's shirt to rub and grope his firm muscular chest. Jacob playfully rubbed his claws lightly over the bunny's pink nipples which caused Michael to pant heavily. The fox felt thrilled to have found a weak spot and his mind raced with naughty ideas.

Before the situation could escalate the two heard the glass door from the backyard opened as Michael's kids returned back inside. Jacob jumped in place a bit as he heard the footsteps started to head towards the main living room. Jacob eventually released his hold on the rabbit as Michael turned to greet his kids once more. The silver fox chuckled as he watched Michael lift both of his kids up and headed upstairs so that they could get them ready for bed. Jennifer joined them as the blue jay helped the kids get into their pajamas. Jacob sat in the main living room and passed the time by scrolling through the internet on his phone.

The constant news articles and discussions online were still buzzed about the new game Jacob was working on. Everyone online had set high expectations of the game due to the company's reputation. Before he could browse the web any further his phone notified him to take his daily anti-viral medication. After a swift swallow of the pills he heard a pair of heavy footsteps from upstairs.

"Jacob, you can come up to my room now if you like!" Michael called out.

"Alright, I'll be there shortly!" Jacob replied with a happy tone.