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"It's been twenty years," Zach thought to himself. He lied there in his briefs on his bed on a lazy Saturday morning. He was in that state of waking up where you would be wide awake, but you didn't want to get out of bed just yet. "It's been twenty years since he left me...since he left us."

The Tobiano painted horse just graduated college and managed to kick-start his career as a tech writer; while he was good at writing, he never liked it exactly. Being a horse with a lean, human-like figure, he was a naturally strong runner too. He's been in cross-country and track all through high school and college, just like his father would have wanted, or so his mother would claim. He enjoyed it only that it kept him in shape, and he felt a certain freedom pounding out 5k's in nearly 12 minutes. He felt he could get up and run away from his mother, who seemed to be stuck in the past by pressuring him to be like his father. He never liked the competitive aspects of running; he never wanted to be in a business career either. He only wanted to live his life the way he wanted, with the wind blowing through his mane.

Zach stayed in his bed for a few moments before getting up and starting his day. It was Saturday, and he wouldn't start his new job until Monday. He only put on a pair of black sweatpants, which rose just below his tail base and fit loosely over his digitigrade legs, before starting his morning routine of juice, cereal, a quick run, and coffee.

He lived on his own in a small, one-bedroom apartment. Along with the usual furniture you'd find in a bedroom, he had a few pin-up posters of shirtless, beefy males of varying species on the walls. There was a picture of him and his boyfriend on the table next to his bed; it was from one of their annual meetups. His cheetah boyfriend, Dennis, lived close, but not close enough for either of their tastes. They would meet each other half-way in Prairieburg at least once every summer, though their meetups were more frequent during the school year and after graduation; both of them lived on campus their whole college career. Running was a love they both shared, and running was what brought them together.

He looked at the picture of him and his boyfriend before going into the kitchen for breakfast. They were both smiling like they were best buddies rather than lovers. "I wish you were here with me right now sweetie," he murmured to himself. He didn't return the smile that the two goofballs in the picture gave him, however.

Zach thought about calling his mother this morning while having breakfast, despite her unofficial no-contact restraint she had on him. But he didn't want to hear another threat of her calling the police to keep her "faggot" son away from her. He wanted to comfort her on the anniversary of his father's suicide, just like he has in the past before he came out to her. But he couldn't. He snorted in frustration.

After breakfast, he went out for his morning run, still wearing just his sweatpants so that any passersby will see his lean, fit body. He always liked when strangers admired his physique, usually the women; his white, round patches shaped themselves beautifully all over his fit body and popped out against his dark-brown coat. It was one of many reasons why Dennis fell for him, among other things.

Thoughts of Dennis sprinted through his head as he ran. Thoughts of his mother in grief on this day in particular invaded as his hooves clopped on the sidewalk. Thoughts of what his father might say to him now, how he would react to how much he's changed--what he's become. His speculation of his father stayed for the rest of the run and remained when he got back to his apartment.

After checking the mail, finding nothing but the usual bills, he started up some coffee and took a quick shower while it brewed. His brain, too, brewed up an idea as he washed the heat and musk off his body.

"...No, no, that just sounds...dumb," he thought as he showered, "Then again...I was only three at the time..." He chuckled at himself and his idea. "You know what? Why the hell not. It's a bit of a lazy day anyway."

He got out of the shower, dried himself off while admiring his naked, fit body, and put his sweatpants back on before heading back into the kitchen, where coffee awaits. He filled his favorite mug that he got from his boyfriend before graduation. It was dark-blue and had the school's logo printed on it: a white, monochrome polar bear paw that said "UWP Polars" beneath the emblem. He went into the main area and sat on the couch in front of his TV that had a few gaming consoles connected to it. He unplugged his laptop sitting next to him on the couch, right where he left it to charge overnight. He set his mug down on the table next to the couch, turned on his laptop, and after waiting for it to boot up and load up his favorite word processor, he began to type a letter to his father:

Dear Dad,

I know this may seem pointless since you, well, decided to remove yourself from our lives. In fact, I'm not sure why or what prompted me to write you this letter in the first place. Mom doesn't understand why you took your life the way you did, seeing your lifeless body swinging from the rafters in the garage when we came home. Thankfully she shielded my eyes when we went into the house, but that didn't hide the fact something was wrong. She told me everything that happened that day a few years later. During that time, I didn't understand either, but I think it was because of your job. She told me you were constantly stressed, and that everyone at work poked fun at you saying things like, "Why the long face Adam?" You always took that personally because, well, it was true; you were a horse after all.

You were in marketing, right? Mom pressured me into getting an office job that would give me a steady career with lots of money; I'm now a tech writer at Takenaka Technologies. Honestly, I don't like it; I just wanted to live life. But she said you wouldn't have been proud of me if I didn't get a college education.

She also said you wouldn't have been proud if I didn't go for Cross Country and Track back in high school and college, like you did. She said I would've been disowned by you if I wasn't like you. But...I hope you'll be happy to know that I love running; I feel this...this freedom, you know? I'm sure you would understand. And while I love running, I never liked the competitive aspects that came with CC and Track; I couldn't feel that freedom I did when I run on my own. I never stopped though; I run for about 15 minutes every morning before I start my day, even on weekends! So, there's something you would be proud of, I hope.

Thing is, one day in all those years of Track, I met the cutest cat I ever laid eyes on. My Junior year in college, I met Dennis; he was a cheetah, so he's a natural sprinter. And ever since our Senior year, he's been my boyfriend. We don't live together just yet, but someday we will; we've been together for about a year and a half now. Mom doesn't talk to me anymore when I told her about him; I can't imagine what she's going through right now, you've been gone for 20 years. Despite that, I have my own place, started my career, and found someone who loves me and cares about me, even if that someone is a guy. If you were still around though, you probably would've disowned me too and shoved your religion down my throat...just like she did.

I don't know if you would've still loved me, or if you did 20 years ago before you died. I hope your soul's doing well though in the afterlife; I've been doing just fine myself.

Your Son,

Zachariah

After he glossed over the letter one more time, making sure it sounded good, he printed it off. He got up off the couch and went over to printer, which sat on an old desk pushed up against the wall on the opposite side of the couch and TV. He grabbed the letter and pulled out an envelope and a pen from one of the desk drawers. After tri-folding the letter and sealing it in the envelope, the only thing he wrote on it was To: Dad on the front. He also put his return address and a stamp on the envelope, if only to make it seem authentic, as silly as this all seemed. He had no idea what to put for the sending address. His ears and tail twitched at his excitement, yet he second-guessed himself if he should have done this. He set the sealed envelope on the desk and went back into his room to dress more decent before leaving.

* * *

Zach got out of his black Chevy pickup and walked across the graveyard to where his father laid at rest, with his letter in hoof-hand. He had on a pair of tight jeans and a red tank top; his favorite getup if he wanted to feel good about himself for the day. He was in the small town where he grew up and went to elementary school before he and his mother moved to Axeford during his middle school years. It was the same town his parents grew up in, went to high school, and met each other. The graveyard didn't take up a large plot of land, and there were only two pathways for cars that ran through it vertically and connected in the back. A simple, black iron fence surrounded the property, and the entry points had simple arches connected to the fencing; they were a humble greeting for those who wished to visit and mourn their deceased.

He headed toward the reddish headstone that marked his father's burial site, as well as his mother's future burial site. On the left side of the headstone, a grey rectangle made to look like an old piece of paper had his father's name, birth and death dates, and his epitaph etched in:

Adam Gregory Thompson 1960-1994 Don't let the bastards get to you

"And yet you let them do that," he murmured in a somber tone as he read the epitaph. His ears lowered. He looked to the other paper-like rectangle, which only had his mother's name and birth date:

Katrina Beverly Thompson 1963-

There were only simple laurels that decorated the upper corners of the headstone. Along the bottom, there was, what used to be, his full name and birth date etched underneath both their names. A shoddy paint job covered it, the color barely matching the stone. He could feel the weight of his tail sag down on his lower back when he saw this; for a moment, he couldn't breathe.

Regaining composure, Zach found a large, smooth stone from another, more decorated grave stone. The envelope in one hoof-hand and the stone in the other, he placed them underneath his father's name, using the stone as a paperweight just in case. He knelt in front of the head stone for a few moments in silence before going back into his truck to head home. He couldn't stop crying for most of the trip back Even though he called up Dennis for comfort, it didn't stop his heart from breaking.

* * *

The next morning after getting up and going about his daily routine, Zach noticed a sealed envelope on the ground by the door before going out for his morning jog. It only had his name on the front and nothing else. Curious, and willing to break his tradition just this once, he opened it. Inside was a letter. He unfolded it as he headed towards the couch in the main room. He started reading as he flopped on the couch, curious and eager to read what the letter said:

Dear Zachariah,

I am not your father, obviously, but I know of him. I visited his grave yesterday when I found your letter; you must have just left when I stopped by. My name is Sarah. I was a close friend of his back in the day; in fact, we were more than that at one point back in high school. Of course, we broke up, given that I'm not your mother, but we remained close friends; I even went to your parent's wedding. However, I lost contact with him years ago, 20 years ago, coincidentally...I guess that's one of the many funny ways life works, you know? But I assure you, I knew Adam more than your mother did, and he loved you to death...

He paused for a moment after reading that last sentence. He scoffed, "Heh, might be just her cliché way of trying to comfort me than saying I shouldn't be gay." As he continued reading, however, he noticed Sarah barely touched on the fact he has a boyfriend; all she said about that was, I'm so happy that you found someone Zach; I hope he's a cutie! As for your father, he would at least be tolerant of Dennis, so long as you're being respectful of each other. I would love to meet him if you make your way over here again. Zach smiled and felt his face flush red. Throughout the letter, Sarah never mentioned anything about his father being a hard-ass; all he seemed to be was a nice guy with somewhat strict morals, but wouldn't go overboard with sharing and expressing them.

At the end of the letter, Sarah gave her address in case he wanted to write to her more, whether about his father or just because; her address looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where Cobblestone Lane was in Axeford. "Well, she did date the guy at one point after all," he thought aloud, "At least there's someone who knew him and is willing to talk to me." He looked over the letter again, noting her pride in him running Cross Country and Track, meeting Dennis, starting his career, and being independent. He felt a child-like love towards Sarah; she sounded so supportive and caring that he wished she was his mother instead.

He called Dennis, asking if he wanted to go on with him to meet Sarah. He explained what she said and how he felt about her, referring to her as his 'adopted' mother. "That would be wonderful hun," Dennis affirmed in his typical, cheery tone on the other line, "I'm so glad there's someone who is willing to talk to you about your dad."

"I am too," Zach replied.

"Do you want me to pick you up at our usual place and we can carpool? Or do you just want to head straight there?"

"We can just carpool at our usual spot if you don't mind, hun. That's been working out pretty well, though I think it'll be easier if I take us down since I live farther from Axeford than you; plus, I'm sure I remember how to get around that city, for the most part. But, honestly, I would rather live with you; no matter where we both end up."

"I know...I know. We'll make a day of it!"

Zach whinnied in delight.

Dennis giggled, "I'll see you Saturday then hun."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

After Zach hung up, he felt much better about this situation. As he headed out for his daily jog, he felt confident that his father would still love him despite who he is, if he were alive. Maybe he wouldn't agree with his attraction to men, but Zach could take comfort in knowing that he wouldn't be disowned. As his hooves pounded the sidewalk while he ran, he thought about his mother again, though more apathetically today. He didn't see her as his mother anymore after what she's done in the past, what he saw on his parent's headstone, and after reading Sarah's letter. If his own, biological mother disowned him, what's going to stop him from disowning her?

* * *

They have been together for three years and ever since they both graduated college, the Prairieburg Mall parking lot had always been their rendezvous point. Thankfully the mall had a parking garage adjacent to it, which is where they usually park in during the fall and winter months. Despite it still being summertime, they preferred the parking garage, as they can always find a secluded spot inside. Zach noticed Dennis' blue and yellow Subaru Impreza when he pulled into their usual area of the parking garage. He chuckled when he pulled up next to him when he saw the yellow glow coming from underneath the cheetah's car. Of course you have your neon lit up. After putting his own car in "park" and getting out of his truck, Zach smiled when he saw Dennis getting out of his own car as well.

Dennis was a tad less bulky than his boyfriend, but just as muscular. Any passersby would notice their size difference, easily; it was still warm enough out that Dennis wasn't wearing a shirt, showing of his lithe, muscular body, accented by his golden fur and black spots. He only wore a pair of red shorts and a rainbow-striped wrist band on his right wrist, complimenting the same one on Zach's left.

Zach was dressed similar to his boyfriend, though he had on a pair of yellow shorts and a black tank top. He had to giggle at seeing his boyfriend shirtless; it's a look he always pulls off when they meet, and it's a look he always pulls off well. The Tobiano and the cheetah darted behind the black truck and pulled each other in a tight embrace, rubbing each other's backs and giving a quick but passionate kiss.

"I've missed you so much, babe," Dennis cooed while petting Zach's cheek. He always admired that, even on his face, Zach's muscles always felt strong and firm.

"I've missed you too, hun." Zach caressed the smaller cheetah's shoulders, then his arms, and then around his waist. Every time he would wrap his arms around Dennis, he loved how slim and tight his body felt; a body built for speed. "And while your sexy body makes me want to rut you right here, right now, I think you should put a shirt on before we head to Axeford."

Dennis grinned. "I understand, babe," he giggled, "It's why I always keep a shirt in the car in case I need it." He put a paw over his stomach as it made an audible gargling sound. "Whiiich might be right now; wanna grab something to eat before we head out?"

"Why do you think I like meeting up here?"

He chuckled as he went to the passenger side of his car to get his shirt. "Fair enough." He pulled out a loose, white t-shirt that read "UWP Polars Track & Field" with the college's logo in the middle, all in a royal blue.

After Dennis put his shirt on and they locked up their cars, they made their way through the parking garage and headed inside the mall. They layout of Prairieburg Mall was simple, and the upper level walkways never spanned across the larger, open areas in the middle of each section of the mall. The building itself wasn't all that big either, allowing for this simplified layout. But because of its popularity with the citizens of Prairieburg and those within the nearby towns, the parking garage became a recent development. Yet, whenever they would meet up here, hardly anyone would park inside; however, they were taught a hard lesson in the past never to meet up here around Christmastime.

They made a b-line for the food court immediately after entering the mall, trying desperately not to race each other through the semi-crowded walkways; that happened once, and only once; Dennis won, and they both were reported to mall security.

The food court had the usual fair one would find in a mall: fast-food, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, stir-fry, subs, pizza, gyros, ice cream, a coffee shop, the works. Even though both Zach and Dennis try to stay healthy in their day-to-day lives, it's a free-for-all when it comes to meeting in Prairieburg.

Zach looked to Dennis, giving his paw a gentle squeeze. "What do you think we should have this time?"

Dennis looked back at his boyfriend a moment, squeezing Zach's hand back and looking around the food court. "Um...I don't know. Pizza maybe?"

"Nah. I think we had that last time." Zach began to look around as well. "Subs?"

"Hmmm...maybe. But I know we're both gonna eat at least two foot-longs each, knowing us."

"Oh yeah." Zach snickered as he remembered the one time they decided on subs. "Um...Mexican."

"Babe. I'm not gonna want to stop every five minutes for you to go sit on the can for an hour, or breath in your farts in the truck."

Zach blushed at that, turning his head aside.

Dennis groaned. "Ugh, what haven't we tried yet!? Or at least is cheap and won't give us any issues?"

They both looked around some more, neither of them able to make a solid decision. Eventually, they simply looked at each other, both knowing exactly what the other had in mind.

"Let's just do Chinese."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

Both got the largest number of entrees they could, Zach sticking to fried veggies and Dennis sticking to meats. They knew it wasn't the best option, and it never looked as fresh as what other places in the food court offered, but Chinese always filled them up fast every time despite their higher metabolisms.

After getting their food and finding a fairly secluded table in the dining area, they instantly started eating. Not a word between them was spoken at first, save for the occasional grins they would give each other.

Soon, Zach started to slow down, his plate already half empty. He chewed away as he spoke. "So...I've been meaning to ask...have you, um...managed to get in touch with your uncle lately?"

Dennis was about to take another bite once Zach asked that. He sighed as he lowered his fork, his ears drooping as he looked down aimlessly at his half-full plate. "No...no not really." He then looked back up at Zach. "I know I should at some point, but..."

"It was what he told you last time you two talked...wasn't it."

The cheetah nodded. "Dude was an amazing sprinter back in the day, you know? And I was so happy he showed up for just one of my meets back in high school, even if it was possibly one of our school's worst meets ever." He paused to try and calm himself, mainly for Zach's sake, after he noticed how his tail began to act up and his fur began to stand on end. "I mean...you know how much I look up to my uncle," he said, using his fork in such a way to emphasize his point, "How we both have been on good terms until...well, yeah..." He lowered his head again.

Zach put his fork down and lifted the cheetah's chin with a finger. "Hey, babe," he said in a comforting, yet audible tone, "It'll be alright." He then caressed Dennis' cheek, yet couldn't help but giggle at how his boyfriend immediately closed his eyes and rubbed into that hand while purring softly. He continued, regardless at how much Dennis was paying attention to him. "I know you want to be on good terms with your uncle again, but it's going to take time." Zach gave one last scratch on Dennis' cheek before removing his hand, smiling and blushing a little. "You're so damn cute when you do that."

He chuckled and blushed after Zach removed his hand. It was one reason why he loved him so much: despite that he's naturally bulkier, being a horse that's built for power rather than speed, Zach always had such a gentle and calming touch. Dennis got better at controlling his anxiety on his own over the years, but when it would come up, his boyfriend always seemed to know what to do or say to calm him down.

He sighed, trying to smile but his mind lingered on his uncle now. He stared down at his plate, still about half-full, then looked back up at Zach. "I know, hun..." Poking at his food with his fork, he debated on taking another bite but lost his appetite, given the conversation topic brining up bad memories.

Zach's ears drooped once he saw this; even if they were both feeling down, they'd still eat all what's in front of them. This was different, and he immediately regretted bringing up the topic. He held out his right hand to reach for Dennis' own, the rainbow armband in full view of anyone who happened to glance their way. The Tobiano felt his boyfriend's paw against his own as soon as he did so, his brown eyes soon looked into Dennis' bright blues. He gave that paw a gentle squeeze and snorted. "I'm sorry I brought that up..." He looked to both of their plates, still partially full of food. "You want to, um, take this to-go?"

"We can, yeah." He took a breath and squeezed back around Zach's large, course hand. "Then we're gonna have to decide what to do with my car before heading to Axeford."

"Hmmmm...shit, you're right. 'Cause who knows how long we'll be gone, and you do have a car worth stealing, you know?"

"Dammit! Why did I decide to bring that one?!"

Zach squeezed around his paw, almost a little too tightly. "Babe, let's just...focus on one thing at a time, okay?"

Dennis sighed and nodded. "Okay."

After Zach let go of the cheetah's paw and they both packed up their leftovers, they made their way back through the mall towards the parking garage. They held each other's hands, with Dennis' left in Zach's right, showing both of their rainbow wristbands prominently. Some passersby would glance their way and gave them dirty looks, others simply didn't mind it, and a few smiled as they walked past each other. Being in a metropolitan area with a college campus, many of the citizens in Prairieburg were accustomed to the diversity within the city; it was one reason both Zach and Dennis enjoyed spending time here when they could, even if they do get judgmental glares on occasion.

Once they made it to their vehicles, Dennis gave a playful headbutt against the Tobiano's shoulder before letting go of his hand. He unlocked his car to put away his leftovers as Zach did the same, then leaned against the hood of the truck. "So...how are we gonna do this?"

Zach closed the passenger door and stood back up, leaning against the opposite side of the hood. "Simple way would be to leave your car at your place or mine. Like I said last week, I'd rather take my truck since it's less conspicuous."

"Right, right. Hmmm..."

"Thing is...I don't know how long we'll be gone, plus...it's been a while since I've been to Axeford; who knows how much has changed since I moved out of my mom's."

"I could leave my car in my parent's garage. I know they don't like that I'm gay and...well, dating you, but...it's funny."

"What?" Zach chuckled at that, unsure of what Dennis went on about.

"Never mind, never mind," Dennis said as he waved a paw, "I know they won't mind and will understand; I just need to give them a quick call first and we can head out."

"Okay...if you're sure hun."

"Babe. I got this." He held out a paw as he pulled out his phone, then looked up his dad's cell number and tapped the 'call' icon. The other line rang a few times before he heard his dad's familiar, soft-spoken voice.

"Hey Dad, I...yes, I'm doing fine...Look, I want to...yeah, we're doing alright too...yes...yes...I know...yeah, hey, I got a quick favor to ask you...Do you guys have enough room in the garage where I can leave my car for a while?...Well, me and Zach are going to be taking a trip down to Axeford; I'm not sure how long we'll be gone...Yes, there...Oh?...Oh!...Shit, okay. We'll...we'll be safe Dad...Don't worry, I won't leave it there for long, just for, I don't know, a day or two...yes...yep, just a day or two...Okay, thanks. Say 'hi' to Mom for me...I love you guys too...See ya later." He swiped over the red, 'cancel' icon as soon as the call was over, immediately putting his phone back in his shorts pocket. He groaned and rested his forehead on the top of truck's hood. "Ugh, can never have a short phone call with those two."

Zach giggled. "Well, at least they'll let you store your car there." He went around the truck over by Dennis and instantly put his hands around him. "I'll follow you there, okay hun?"

"Okay." He stood on his toes some, using the horse's shoulders as a boost, to give his boyfriend a quick kiss on his snout. "Shall we?"

Zach smiled and gave Dennis a quick kiss on the cheek before letting him go. They both got in their vehicles and started them up. He waited until Dennis pulled out first, then he did the same, soon following the Subaru.

They made it to Dennis' parent's house and, after having difficulty trying not to get roped into an awkward conversation about their relationship, the cheetah hopped in the passenger side of the truck. Before pulling away from the curb, it was then Zach noticed his boyfriend never took his shirt off ever since the mall, and he never did so after getting in the truck. Zach smiled at the cheetah and petted his cheek with the back of his hand. Yet, he didn't rub against it the way he usually does, making the horse's smile fade.

"I love you...my adorable kitty."

The cheetah couldn't resist grinning and blushing after hearing that. "I love you too...my handsome horsey."

The Tobiano reacted the same way as he began to turn back onto the street.

* * *

Two and a half hours later, they finally made it into Axeford. Zach made sure to keep the letter from Sarah on hand, and he had Dennis read off the address one more time.

"228 Cobblestone Lane. You know where that's at, don't you, hun?"

Zach didn't respond right away as he drove. That address. Why the hell does it sound so familiar? He shook himself out of his daze, though kept his eyes on the road. "Uh, yes, well...I'm not so sure, actually. I wanna say it's on the other side of town."

"I can look it up." The cheetah pulled out his phone and typed in the address, making sure he selected the one for Axeford. He stared for a moment, zooming in on the screen with his fingers and moving the map around some to find any landmarks Zach may remember. "Yeah, looks like we may have a ways before we get around that area. Looks like it's near some Lutheran church?"

"St. Paul's?"

"Yep."

"That's what I thought." He then glanced at the clock on the radio, noting that it was getting late. Between taking a trip to Prairieburg to meet with Dennis, then going to his house to drop off his car, then spending two to three hours to get to Axeford, it began to get dark. Not wanting to look suspicious in such a clean neighborhood, where this Sarah supposedly lived, he didn't want to drive around finding her place by this point.

Dennis noted the time as well, thinking the same thing. "So, I guess, um...what do you think we should do now? I mean, it's getting kinda late, don't you think? I'm also getting super hungry."

Zach nodded. "I know we're gonna get looks and shit, but I believe there's a motel nearby; I know we're not too far from the highway just yet. We'll get there first, then dinner; sound good?"

He nodded and smiled. Playing navigator, Dennis looked up the nearest hotel or motel. He picked one that seemed nice but cheap enough and started the navigation feature of the 'Maps' app. The female, AI voice rambled off the first set of instructions.

"Thank you, hun." The Tobiano smiled as he drove, following the first turn the navigation voice rambled off.

* * *

When the couple checked into the Super 8 and were shown to their room, the giraffe receptionist assumed nothing about their appearance in her half-drowsy state, even if they both wore their rainbow-striped wrist bands. Zach figured as much; when he did live in Axeford, most people were lax about servicing same-sex or interspecies couples at their businesses, and that was something he was glad that didn't change much.

"You think we shoulda packed some extra clothes before we came?" Dennis asked when they entered their room. "I mean, at least a change of undies, you know?"

"I didn't plan on staying the night here, honestly," Zach replied, "At least we have shower stuff to use, though I'm sure the shampoo here is a general-use formula. I know how picky you are when it comes to your fur, hun."

The cheetah groaned and sat on the nearest bed, combing the fur along his arm as if he didn't want one strand out of place. "I'm gonna look like shit in the morning."

"Honey! You look fine," the horse consoled Dennis, though with a slight irritation in his tone. He then went over to him and sat down next to his love, taking the cheetah's paw in his hand. Noting that Dennis wasn't looking at him, Zach planted a quick kiss on his cheek and smiled. "I don't care if you look squeaky clean or grimy and sweaty; you look wonderful just the way you are, sweetie."

Dennis smiled back, leaning close where their chests pressed against each other as he clung onto Zach. He felt his eyes water after hearing that compliment and purred as he felt his boyfriend's warmth and strong body. "You always have a way with words..." he murmured as he rubbed his cheek against Zach's.

He chuckled, holding his boyfriend just as tight. Moments like these is why he loved Dennis; he knew he needed to be a rock for him, despite how different their upbringings were. Dennis had a wealthy, steady upbringing; Zach's not so much, but he knew that made him stronger in the end. "Love it when you do that," he cooed as Dennis purred and rubbed his cheek against him.

"I'm also getting really fucking hungry," Dennis said as he let go.

"Me too. Wanna just drive around until we find something that sounds good?"

"Sure. There places open this late?"

"I know of a few."

They both let go of their embrace and darted out the door, Zach making sure it was closed tight and locked behind him. If there was one thing that distracted them from intimate moments with each other, it was always the anticipation of a big meal. Not too long after they left their room, the couple began running down the hall and out the side exit, almost running over a grey, green-striped tiger who just came back into the building.

* * *

"Take the next right onto Cobblestone Lane. In 600 feet, your destination will be on the left."

"You nervous about meeting this 'Sarah' person?" Dennis asked after the GPS voice rambled off their last set of directions.

"You want the honest answer or the one you want to hear?" Zach replied, keeping his eyes on the road while glancing at the numbers on the houses, mumbling off each number as he passed by them. "210, 212, 214..."

"Honest answer, hun, but I think I know what you're gonna say."

The Tobiano sighed as he drove well under 25 mph, not wanting to miss Sarah's house. He found a spot between two sets of driveways and pulled along the curb but didn't shut off the car after he parked it. He looked over to his love, trying to put on a smile to hide his nerves.

"Yes...yes I am nervous to meet her..."

"Honey, you'll be fine. She seemed excited to meet us based on that letter, so I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."

"But what if she doesn't actually live there? Or worse, if this 'Sarah' doesn't exist at all? I mean, that letter could've just as easily came some random person who found my letter, never knew my dad at all, and decided to toy with me!"

Dennis squeezed a paw around his boyfriend's hand. "Honey...we will find her," he consoled Zach, giving his hand a gentle kiss, "Just...take a breather, okay? We're almost there."

All Zach did was move his hand out of his boyfriend's yellow, spotty paw to scratch those fluffy cheeks of his, to which Dennis purred in response.

"Good kitty," he cooed as he smiled.

Soon enough, they were on their way again, cruising down Cobblestone Lane and approaching number 228. Both Zach and Dennis glanced at the GPS, noting the marker was set just before an intersection. As Zach murmured off the digits on each house, his stomach churned at the thought of seeing Sarah; he hoped this visit would go smoothly. Not only did he wonder if she was even real, but if she was, he didn't know what she would be like in person; conversing through snail mail is one thing, but meeting up in person is a whole different ball game.

"220, 222, 224, 22...oh no..."

"Babe...I-I'm so sorry..."

They were close to 228, or rather the charred, ashen remains of the house on 228 Cobblestone Lane. Even as Zach pulled along the curb across the street, it wasn't hard to tell how much of the interior was completely destroyed and blackened. There were several holes in the roof of the ranch-style house, and about a quarter of the roof was blown off. None of the glass in the windows and doors survived, and the ground within the immediate perimeter was blackened from fire damage and soot. The two houses next to it only appeared to have suffered cosmetic damage, and nothing more.

Zach got out of the truck but didn't close the door behind him. He felt his chest heave, his heart racing as he panicked, his snorting furious as he tightened his grip on the door frame. A mix of pain, fear, sadness, and failure toiled inside him. "God...dammit!" He spun on Dennis. "My once chance! My one FUCKING chance at getting to know what my dad was like! All up in flames!" He felt himself tear up, which soon became full-on bawling, not at all caring if he made a scene in such a quiet and peaceful-looking neighborhood.

An old, brown squirrel poked her head out of her front door, her graying muzzle and magenta bath room noticeable. She lived in the house across the street from the now destroyed house on 228. "Are you okay, young man?" She asked as a sad, concerned look formed on her aging face.

Dennis was the first to speak, if only to allow Zach a few more moments to let it all out as he held him tight. "Everything's fine, ma'am," he lied. This mysterious 'Sarah' someone he wanted to keep between him and Zach; he doubted anyone else would remember him, given how big Axeford is.

"Are you sure? I heard a lot of yelling and noticed you two outside my window."

"Y-yes. Sorry about that." He then turned to Zach, holding him by the shoulders and looking straight at him. "Hun, look at me."

He did just that, wiping his face. "What is it?" He sighed, frustrated at how this trip took a stab right for his heart.

"Let me ask her about Sarah, see if she knows anything," he said, nodding towards the squirrel.

He sniffled, wiping a tear away with his finger. "Fine. I'm getting close to not caring anymore."

His ears splayed as he rubbed Zach's arms, giving an encouraging smile. He let his paws slide down his boyfriend's arms and into his hands for a moment before letting go, half running, half walking towards the squirrel. "Hey, got a moment?" He asked her. He wasn't surprised that she only came up to his chest when he approached.

She looked up at him, smiling at seeing such a young, tall man standing right in front of her door. "Oh sure, sure, dear."

He chuckled, slightly embarrassed at how she eyed him up and address him. "Do, um, do you know what happened to that house across the street?" He asked, pointing to the charred remains.

"Oh...that went up in flames about two or three years ago. I don't know if anyone survived."

Dennis went quiet a moment before he spoke up again. "Do you know who happened to live there? We're looking for someone by the name of 'Sarah.'"

"Sarah, Sarah. No, I don't think I know anyone by that name, but it's so common around here. Why do you ask?"

He swallowed, a part him hoping this old lady wasn't judging the two of them in the back of her mind, given their brightly colored armbands and how affectionate they were toward one another earlier. "Hmmm. How about this: Have you known anyone by the name of 'Adam Thompson?'"

Her eyes went wide a moment as she began to put the pieces together after glancing at Zach, noting how he appeared to be the spitting image of his father. "Zach, sweetie! Come here!" She shouted, beckoning him to join her and Dennis.

His ears turned towards the sound of his name. How does she know who I am? He let out a snort and slumped towards the two of them.

The old squirrel looked him over once he joined them. "You look so much like your father...please, come in, come in," she said, standing aside and holding the door open.

As soon as they entered her home, the interior's smell reminded them of that of a stale, aging grandmother aroma. All the windows had thin, white, frilly drapes covering them, letting no natural light inside the house. The furniture and decor were a mix of a family home in the 50's and, from what the two boys could judge by the pictures, a family archive. They noticed a few knick-knacks that were either heirlooms or souvenirs from faraway places the squirrel may have traveled to, most of which were decorative coffee mugs that were shelved on a bookcase or hanging from hooks below an upper set of cabinets in the kitchen.

The squirrel motioned them to take a seat on a cream-colored couch that showed its age, but still appeared comfy. "You boys want any coffee? Tea? Water?"

"I'll have coffee, please," Dennis replied.

Zach had to shake himself out of his slump a moment before answering. "Uh, yeah, coffee for me too...thanks."

She simply smiled and took her time going into the kitchen, grabbing two mugs at random and filling them up with coffee from a thermos. She gave Dennis a white mug that had a yellow and purple painting of a sun on it and read 'here comes the sun,' and gave Zach a white mug with black text that read 'I'm a Writer. Everything you say or do may end up in my novel.'

Zach looked at his mug and chuckled before taking a sip. Funny she chose this one.

She soon joined them with a mug of her own, a larger black one that read 'I teach tomorrow's leaders. I'm kind of a big deal.' As she made her way to the brown recliner next to the couch, which had a blanket draped over the top that appeared to have a mono-color design based on an actual photo and frills on all four sides, she took a sip and set her mug on the table next to the recliner. "So, how've you been, Zach?" She asked with a caring, motherly tone in her voice.

"I've been doing," he sighed, trying to smile.

"And who's your friend here?" She asked, pointing towards Dennis.

"O-oh he's...just a close friend of mine that I've known since college."

"Close friend, huh?" She gave a small grin.

"Y-Yeah, just, just friends."

She giggled and took another sip of her coffee. "Zach, sweetie, with how much the world has changed since my younger years, and knowing what your family's been through, I just want you to be happy. It doesn't matter to me what you do or who you're with to achieve that."

Zach blushed, though wiped his eye once he noticed himself starting to tear up. "...Thank you..."

"And who might be this so-called 'friend' of yours?" She asked, looking to Dennis a moment. "He looks cute."

As much as he tried to play off the old squirrel's comment as her just being a typical grandma, the way he appeared aloof indicated otherwise. He took a couple, jittery sips of coffee as he felt his cheeks warm, and not from the heat of his drink.

His boyfriend chuckled. "I'm Dennis, and, well, I'm pretty sure you figured out we're not exactly 'friends,' per se," he said giving finger quotes.

"I see," she teased with a sly grin on her face, "And how long have you two been together?"

Now Dennis began to feel cheeks warm too. "Well, let's see, we didn't start dating until, Junior year of college?" He asked, looking towards Zach.

He pondered a moment before answering. "Mmmm, more Senior year of college, though we've known each other since Junior year."

"Oh, so a few years then? Do you two...well, live together, if I may ask?"

"Oh no, no," Zach replied, "at least...not yet, anyway..."

The old squirrel shuffled in her chair and scrunched her nose, as if she was relieved to hear that. "Don't see that as a bad thing. I know I may sound like most of your relatives when I say this...but I'd rather you two not live together until you get married."

The room went quiet for a moment. Dennis and Zach looked at each other, knowing they were both thinking the same thing: 'Marriage? Really?' Yet they quickly looked away from each other, a torrent of emotions and thoughts swiftly passing through their minds.

The squirrel broke the silence once she noticed how the two boys reacted to her comment. "I know it's not my place to say what you can and can't do, Zach, Dennis; hell, I'm not related to either of you in any way...I just don't want you two to rush into your relationship, which, granted, it sounds like you two are going at a good pace so far," she said, holding up a paw to reassure them, "Plus, same-sex and interspecies marriages are legal in most places now; you two will be fine." She leaned back and took another sip of coffee.

Zach snorted, not wanting to look her in the eye anymore; he didn't know why, but part of what she said clung onto his mind. "You're right...it isn't your place to say what I can and can't do," he spat, still not looking at her.

"Hun, don't start," Dennis said, gripping his shoulder, "If you need to step outside or go for a jog for a while, just let me know, okay?"

He snorted, his tail flicking behind him, or as much as it could while squished between his back and the couch. "Waste of a trip anyway..." He still didn't want to look at the squirrel, nor did he have any desire to finish his coffee, even if it was damn good.

Both Dennis' and the squirrel's ears drooped, though she was first to speak. "I'll give you two a minute; I'll be out back having a cigarette in case you two need me." With the slow and deliberate pace she had from her age, she got out of her chair and stood with a slight hunch. She grabbed her mug, headed for the kitchen to grab her pack of cigarettes and lighter, and shuffled towards the back door. As she passed the two boys, she glanced at them and grinned, hoping it would lighten the mood.

Once he heard the creaking back door close fully, Dennis rubbed his boyfriend's shoulder and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You know she just wants to help."

"I remember who she is now, Dennis...of everyone we could've ran into down here..." He groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.

"Why? What's so...I don't know...bad about her? She's just some old lady who happens to know you and your parents," he shrugged, "What's wrong with that?"

Zach sighed and began to stand up, but he felt Dennis' paw grab his wrist. Reluctantly, he sat back down on the couch, but held that paw in his hand, tighter than usual. "I know her and my mom were close back when...well, back when I had a family. All I know is...they met up a lot; at church, at our house, here, wherever. Me? I would be dragged along or put with a babysitter when I was a colt, or hang out with my buddy Cameron for a while or spend the night at his place."

Dennis smiled as he heard Zach reminisce, happy that his boyfriend began to feel a little bit better. He then shuffled closer to him and rested his head on that strong, muscular shoulder. "Tell me more about this 'Cameron,' hun."

He chuckled and decided to continue. "He was a cool guy; hell, his parents were cool too. I always wished they were my parents too, you know?"

Dennis just nodded, purring as he snuggled up against that arm. "You happen to know their names?"

"Hmmm..." He paused a moment before answering. "Think they were...Dale and..." He shot up off the couch, nearly knocking over their mugs as he bumped the coffee table.

Dennis sat up straight as fast as Zach leapt off the couch, his eyes wide and fur standing on end. "...honey?"

"Babe! I know where we need to go now!" He grabbed Dennis' paws and yanked him off the couch. "I just hope they still live there." They were just about to head out the door when they heard the old squirrel's voice.

"Oh! You boys leaving already?" She asked, surprised at how rushed they appeared when she entered the living room.

Zach felt his heart jump when she spoke, as if he almost got caught looking at porn by his mother for the umpteenth time. "Uh, yeah, we've got quite a drive ahead of us," he lied.

"That's okay dearie," she said, beaming at them, "I understand how you young people always have someplace to be."

He gave a nervous chuckle. "Well, anyway, thanks for the coffee. Not sure when I'll be in town next, though."

"Stop by again, if you'd like. You two have a safe trip, okay?"

"Don't worry, we will," Dennis replied.

They were soon heading out the door and back in Zach's truck, zooming off to their next destination: Cameron's house.

Yet as he drove, Zach had one question on his mind: If this 'Sarah,' assuming she was Cameron's mother, why did she put down a false address?

* * *

"This looks...a lot different than what I remember," Zach commented as they pulled into the driveway, which looked completely redone and wasn't cracked and rough like he remembered. Not only did Cameron's house appear remodeled top to bottom, but the white color of the one-story house was much more vibrant that what he remembered, and the maroon shutters and window frames popped out against the white. The yard appeared well taken care of, much more than what he remembered as well; the grass appeared freshly cut, even along the sidewalk edges and the driveway edge. There was a mix of colorful flowers and trimmed bushes that lined the front of the house, which also appeared like they were handled with care.

The surrounding houses appeared the same, however, even if there were only one on each side of Cameron's house and one behind it, due to fact there was nothing but a large, open field across the road.

Yet the one thing that struck him as the most peculiar were the lack of cars in the driveway than what he was used to when he visited back in the day. He remembered Cameron's dad would always comment how their driveway is more like a port with ships constantly going in and out every day, between Cameron's and his brother's friends, relatives who would always visit, and their daily lives. But the lack of cars in the driveway struck him as odd, though he figured hardly anyone was home right now.

Zach turned to Dennis. "Hun, you want to stay in the truck for a moment; I want to check something first."

"Sure, I can wait, but what if this ends up being another dead-end?"

He paused before opening the door, though left the engine running. "I'm trying not to think about that..." he murmured before exiting the truck and walking up to the front door. He rang the doorbell and waited a few seconds.

No answer.

He then knocked a few times and waited again.

No answer.

Glancing to his right and trying to peer through the window, despite the glare from the sun, he couldn't make out if there was someone inside or not. He knew he was looking into the living room: the central hub of his and Cameron's shenanigans, but the TV wasn't turned on, nor could he make out if a light was turned on as well. Letting out a snort, he decided to start walking around the perimeter of the house, glancing into each window as he passed by them.

But then he reached the gate that lead into the back yard, which was surrounded by a metal, chicken wire fence.

Back then, Cameron's family never locked this gate; they simply left it closed. Now, there's a padlock on it, and Zach didn't want to draw more attention to himself by searching for the key; he was certain at least one of the neighbors were spying on him from the safety of their home. He sighed and clenched his fists, trying not to punch something nearby to let out all the anger welling up inside him.

Dennis noticed how Zach stood there and got out of the truck, rushing towards him and gripping his arms. "Let's go hun; I don't need you doing anything stupid." He then tugged on Zach, but found he wouldn't budge. "Hun, com'on. Let's. Go. N--oww!" His grip slipped and he fell on his rear, letting out a yowl as he hit the ground. He slowly got up and rubbed his sore butt from the fall. "Babe, Sarah's clearly not here. If all this changed entirely since you were last here, well, why are you so surprised by it?"

Zach eased up, but didn't look at his boyfriend: The one person that gave him any sort of grounding in his life; the one person whom he could have some amount of permanence with for a change.

The one person whom he cares about the most.

After a long, quiet pause between the two, all Zach did was return to the truck and waved a hand for Dennis to follow.

Dennis complied. He hoped Zach understood that he too began to realize how upsetting their search went; he knew this search and that desire to know his father were important to Zach, even if he didn't understand or could relate to the situation.

"You hungry?" Zach asked.

Dennis felt his stomach growl and chuckled. "Yeah."

"There's a mall across the street; we just need to go all the way around this field here, more or less." His tone was flat, uncaring, expressionless.

"We can make a game plan there, okay?"

He sighed and put the car in 'reverse.' "Sure."

With that said, Zach backed to the edge of the driveway, making sure to time it right since he knew the street Cameron used to live on was always busy. Even if the drive to the mall was short, it was the most uncomfortable they felt around each other.

Dennis wasn't sure how the drive back to Prairieburg will go after how this day has gone; for the first time in his life, he began to be scared of and for Zach.

* * *

The trip to the mall was quiet, and Dennis and Zach didn't make their traditional bumming about and goofing off after they ate. If it wasn't for Dennis' suggestion to visit a local park before they left, Zach would've went straight back to Prairieburg. Neither of them could think of anywhere else they could try to find this 'Sarah,' and Zach began to have doubts she existed to begin with; if it weren't for his mother's contact ban after he came out to her, she would've been the next person to ask. At least Eklund Park was another familiar site, and the only one so far that hasn't changed all the years Zach's been away from Axeford.

No cars were around when Zach pulled into the downhill drive leading through the open, grassy field. There were no cars parked in the small lot at the end of the drive, however. The only two other people he noticed were a male white fruit bat and a female brown rat taking a stroll along the field near the forest edge on this sunny afternoon, but he knew Eklund Park was huge. He parked his truck and shut the engine off, and he and Dennis got out simultaneously.

In his typical fashion, Dennis immediately took his shirt off and tossed it in the passenger seat before shutting the door. He stretched his shoulders and back, flexing his back muscles and enjoying the cool breeze and warm sun soothing them; he also enjoyed showing off his spotty markings all along his back and arms, along with his white ventral fur along his torso. He noticed Zach scanning the hilly field, seeing where the entry points into the forest are, and shuffled around the truck to hold him.

Without looking away from the landscape, he felt his boyfriend's presence and wrapped an arm around him, but then let go for a moment. "Hey now," he began, smiling at Dennis, "I think it's only fair if both of us are shirtless." He then opened the driver's side door and took off his shirt as well, tossing it in the seat and shutting the door. When he held Dennis again, this time in a loving embrace, he felt a soothing comfort wash over him, and it wasn't from the cool breeze or the warm sun. He even felt a steady vibration coming from Dennis and, soon enough, a steady, rhythmic purring.

"Holding you like this is the best feeling," he cooed, "I don't ever want to let go of you."

"I know, sweetie," Dennis replied.

He pulled back to look into his boyfriend's baby-blue eyes, but still held him close. "I'm scared to lose you; I've lost so much growing up and...you've given me the happiest two years of my life, and I want that to last forever."

Dennis stared deep into Zach's brown eyes, then suddenly grabbed the back of his head with a paw to pull him into a deep, passionate kiss. Even if he felt happy in this moment, he felt tears running down his cheeks, a clear trail staining his cheek fur. Their tongues danced in each other's maws, and Dennis could tell from his own, growing erection that Zach was getting excited as well, and only their thin shorts kept their hard-ons in, but left nothing to the imagination for any passersby.

Zach was the first to break their brief moment of passion, easily detecting the pheromones emanating from Dennis and his own excitement. "Maybe we should, uh...find a place that's a little more private, eh?" he said, feeling his cheeks warm, though not from the afternoon sun.

"Sure, hun," he giggled, "You...did bring the stuff, right? Just in case?"

"Of course," he cooed with a sly grin, letting go of Dennis. "You wanna find a good trail we can jog down while I get our Camelbaks? And yes, the 'stuff' will fit just fine in mine."

With a chirp, Dennis sprinted down into the valley of the field, soon enough reaching the forest edge and scouting out a route they could take. It didn't take him long to find a good trailhead and, being a sprinter, he always enjoyed doing a light sprint before a long jog to get his blood pumping and adrenaline going.

After locking up his truck, Zach jogged down to meet his boyfriend, a red Camelbak strapped to him and a yellow one in hand. He tossed the yellow one to Dennis, which he caught easily and instantly slung it over his shoulders, slowing his gate as he approached. "So. Where to?"

"That one looks clear enough," he replied, pointing to a trailhead behind Zach, "That way I don't end up killing my feet paws too much."

"Okay!" Zach darted towards the trailhead and soon disappeared into the forest.

"Hey! No fair!" Dennis sprinted right after. He knew he could catch up with his boyfriend easily, but keeping up with his pace, let alone out-pacing him, always proved difficult.

Yet, when Dennis did catch up to Zach, it wasn't difficult at all. The crunch of their powerful steps among the forest litter synced like never before when they ran together. Dennis pressed two fingers on his neck and found that, for the first time in a while, he had a steady, running pulse. Their panting breaths synced too, though their rhythm alternated between the two. If they came to a narrow spot along the trail or a tight turn, they adjusted their pace and alternated who took the lead, but matched right back up without missing a beat when the trail widened again. If a branch crossed the trail, they either jumped or ducked simultaneously, again, not once missing a beat of the rhythm of their runner's high. Stumps and rocks in the middle of the trail were no problem for them either.

They ran and ran. A mile soon became two, then three, but it didn't matter if they already jogged a 5K or for a half hour. As Zach jogged alongside Dennis, breathing hard, his body moving automatically to that familiar movement he loved, and taking small, quick sips of water from his Camelbak as he ran, nothing mattered to him anymore. The fresh oxygen given off by the trees and the foliage, mixed with the musky, feline scent from his boyfriend alongside him, cleared his head of all his doubts and failures throughout their search for Sarah.

Eventually, they found the trail ran alongside a creek. As they jogged some more, Zach began to slow his pace. "Let's rest here," he suggested in a quick, exasperated breath, slowly coming to a stop.

Dennis slowed down as well, stopping just past Zach. He kept his body upright as he panted and felt his heart pound against his chest, his legs vibrate from their run.

Zach was in a similar condition. He scanned the area where they stopped as he panted, a hand on his hip and the other aligning the spigot from his Camelbak to his mouth to rehydrate.

"How long...you want to rest here?" Dennis panted.

"A few minutes...maybe..." he replied, "It's...quite peaceful back here." He brushed a part of his mane out of his eyes.

Dennis scanned the area as well, his spotty tail swaying behind him. "I wouldn't...mind staying here...for a while."

Zach smiled, though soon looked around for anywhere for them to rest, and so they won't be in the middle of the trail. "This spot looks good." He found a large divot right along the creek bank, and it looked just big enough for the two of them to sit close together.

They set their Camelbaks to either side of them and were just able to wedge themselves in the divot; of course, neither of them minded one bit if it was a tight squeeze. Their breathing and heart rates slowed as they each wrapped an arm around the other, pressing their hot, musky bodies together.

Even though they knew it wasn't good practice for them to rest for so long after a long run, especially after running on uneven terrain, neither of them cared; they completed one of the most satisfying runs they ever had, and they did it together.

As he rested his head on that strong, yellow, spotted shoulder, Zach let out a soft snort. "Thank you."

Dennis turn his head and buried his muzzle into his horse's mane, enjoying the hot musk emanating from him for a moment. "For what?"

"For putting up with me," he replied in a sarcastic tone.

He chuckled. "I love you too, dear."

"That run did help, though; I've realized something," he began, not once moving away from the comfort of his cheetah's body.

"What's that?"

He let out a long sigh, then a snort. "I need to move on from the past; I mean, why should it matter if Sarah exists or not?"

Dennis pulled him closer as best he could with where they sat, not caring how bad they must smell. "I'll support whatever you decide on, hun; you know that, right?"

"Of course." He soon snuggled close to Dennis as best he could. "Let's stay here a little longer and then we can go home. Sound good?"

Dennis nodded and let out a soft chirp.

As their bodies relaxed from their run, they soon found themselves at that level of relaxation where one quickly falls asleep where ever they happen to be sitting or lying on. Between cramming themselves in the divot and remaining close to each other, the two runners had no issue falling fast asleep in the middle of a forest in Eklund Park.

Despite the frustrations, anger, and sadness their trip to Axeford brought upon them, Zach couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to this trip. He had Dennis, and he knew he was physically there with him, judging from his steady pulse and feline scent.

At least he had _one_good thing going for him.

* * *

Deep within the forest, well out of site from the two lovers, stood a white tail, female doe with long, blond hair, dressed in nothing but a white robe, with a cord tied around her waist. As she walked towards the two, she didn't need to maneuver around the trees and stumps and roots along the ground, nor did she need to watch for poison ivy or poison oak; she passed through anything that would otherwise block her path or brush up against her.

Another figure dressed in the same manner also approached, though as if it walked along the trail. However, this one was a male, Tobiano painted horse, who's markings were similar to Zach's, but not exactly alike. He too had a black mane and tail, and brown eyes, but was bulkier and built more for power than speed, but the gray peach fuzz on his chin showed his age. Everything that would obstruct his path or brush against him simply passed through as well.

"Hi, Sarah," the older horse greeted in a deep, but calming voice. He couldn't help but grin when he saw her and when he noticed how happy and content his son appeared with his boyfriend.

"Hi, Adam," the doe replied with a cheery tone. She too couldn't help but smile at the two boys near the creek, holding each other close.

"They look good together," Adam commented.

"That they do."

"I hope he knows how proud I am of him," he sighed, "I just wished he had a chance to meet you before that awful fire; I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"Adam, it's fine. I'm happy now."

"But...why? I know you've struggled just as much as I have, and I felt terrible not letting the relationship we had all those years ago flourish. And...you looked so alone when I left."

"That's why I'm so happy I'm in this life," she said, holding his hand, "I get to spend eternity with you."

He smiled, but it soon faded. "I hope Katrina's okay," he sighed, "Why does she have to be so stubborn and set in her ways?"

"She did that to herself," she replied as her tone became serious, "Unfortunately, there's nothing you nor your son can do to change that."

"Yeah...yeah, you're right." He glanced over to the two boys again, who were still enjoying the comfort of their embrace. "I hope they have a bright future together. It doesn't matter to me anymore if my only son is gay; at least I know he's happy with that cheetah."

Sarah gently turned his head with a hand back towards her and gave him a soft kiss on his lips. "Let's give these boys some privacy," she said with a smirk.

"Alright, alright." He turned back to the two by the creek for a moment, though focused his attention on Zach. "Take care of Dennis, Zach; you're a strong, young man and I'm proud of you. I love you...son."

She giggled. "You know he can't hear you, right?"

"I know, but I like to think he can."

Sarah reached for his hand and squeezed it, to which Adam immediately looked back into her, melting into her gentle eyes. With a glowing, warm smile, she gave a gentle tug on his hand and looked as if she wanted to lead him down the trail. He got the message and began to walk alongside her. Even though they both could pass through anything in the mortal world, the two lovers in the afterlife decided to take a stroll along the trail during the remnants of that sunny afternoon.

"By the way," Adam spoke up as they walked, "How's Cameron doing?"