FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Jason woke up hungry and thirsty. He rolled out of bed and plunged to the floor with a yowl of surprise. Scrambling to his feet, he looked at the bed in confusion: the mattress was higher above the floor than he was tall. If he stretched up on his tiptoes, he could peer on top. What's going on? He looked around his bedroom: everything was similarly oversized. He made his way downstairs cautiously: aside from everything being too large, it certainly looked like his house.

In the kitchen, the counter was at least twice his height. Crouching down, he sprang and landed on top. He walked across to the sink to lap some water out of the faucet. At least he wasn't thirsty anymore, but he was going to have a terrible time trying to cook anything. He leapt back down to check the refrigerator, but before he could reach it, he heard claws clicking across the living room floor. His heart jumped in alarm. Who else is here?! His eyes darted around the room for a place to hide. Whatever was going on, he didn't think he wanted to face an intruder right now! He pulled open one of the cabinets under the counter and started to scramble inside, pushing aside cereal boxes; he didn't remember having so many.

"There you are, Jason!" Ellie's voice piped. "What are you doing?"

Jason turned around, Ellie was bounding across the kitchen toward him. Like everything else she towered above him: he barely stood above her knees. She crouched down and scooped him up under the arms. She stood and held his face up to hers.

"Ellie? What's-" his own voice surprised him, coming out in a high pitched mew, and he paused.

"What's what, Jason?"

"What's going on?!"

Ellie smirked, "Were you sleepwalking, silly kitty? You were just trying to climb in with the cereal. That's what's going on."

Why's she acting like nothing is wrong?! "I mean, what's going on with me?! Why am I so much smaller than you and everything?"

Ellie gave him a bemused smile, "That's how it works, silly kitty. You start small and grow big. One day you'll be bigger than me!"

"But I'm already big!" he protested. Why didn't she remember?

Ellie hugged him to her chest and snuggled his head under her chin. "I know; you're a big kitty," she crooned.

Jason felt his ears get hot. He squirmed in her grasp, but she held him firmly. "Ellie, put me down!"

She nuzzled his cheek, "I know they said it'd be hard for you to accept with me being a rabbit, but I wish you would call me Mom, Sweetheart."

Jason nearly swooned with shock and wasn't able to speak for several seconds, his tongue like rubber in his mouth. "I a-already have a mom," he finally managed.

Ellie hugged him tighter. "I know, Sweetheart. You must miss her and your dad so much," she murmured sadly.

Jason wasn't sure how to respond. Somehow Ellie was under the delusion that she was his adoptive mother. He couldn't even begin to imagine how this had happened. How can I convince her otherwise? "We're private inspectors together, Ellie! Don't you remember? We have an office in downtown!"

She smiled, "I remember. I took you to work with me last Friday. You had so much fun sitting at my desk and helping me research my case."

"Don't you remember just this weekend when you got locked up on suspicion of murder, and I had to come help get you out?!"

Ellie gave him a funny look, "It sounds like you've been having some grandiose dreams, Jason." She looked over his head and then back down at him. "What do you say we take care of your bath, and then I'll make your breakfast?"

"Bath!" he squeaked. "Ellie! I hate getting wet!"

"You'll get used to it, Jason," she consoled.

"I don't want to get used to it!" he mewed in protest. He struggled in her grasp.

"Now, now, Jason, if you don't behave, I won't fix you any meat with your breakfast," she scolded.

"But I'm hungry!" he protested.

"Then you'd better behave." She carried him upstairs and closed him in the bathroom with her while she filled the tub.

He waited until she wasn't looking and dashed to the door. Reaching on tiptoes to get the handle, he opened the door and ran to his room.

"Hey! Come back here!" Ellie yelled.

She gave chase, and he scurried under his bed, heart pounding. She lay down on the royal blue carpet and peered under at him. He scooted toward the middle, hoping he was out of reach. Ellie stood up, and walked around to the end of the bed. He saw the mattress come off the far side to prop lengthwise against the wall. Next the box spring followed, and Ellie looked down at him crossly through the open frame of the bed.

"Enough fooling around, Jason. It's time for your bath."

He leapt up over the frame and pelted for the door. Ellie raced after him and, with a powerful bound, sailed through the air to tackle him. She pulled him underneath her, but he rolled onto his back and struck out with his claws extended, scratching her shoulder.

"Ow!" She forcibly rolled him back onto his stomach and sat on his back, squashing him against the floor. "That hurt, Jason!" she scolded angrily. "What have I told you about keeping your claws sheathed?!"

"Let me up, Ellie! You're crushing me!"

"Tough. I'm not letting you up until you calm down and apologize. Then you're taking your bath, and if you're very good in the tub, I might let you have something besides oatmeal for breakfast."

With the full sized rabbit's weight crushing him, he soon exhausted himself trying to get away and flopped down on the carpet.

"Are you ready to behave?" Ellie asked after a few more minutes.

"Yes," he mewed weakly.

"Say you're sorry."

"I'm sorry."

"For?"

"I'm sorry for scratching you."

She got off of him and turned to pick him up under his arms. She carried him back to the bathroom, and he whimpered when he saw the hungry pool of water waiting to swallow him. Ellie lowered him toward it, and he squeezed his eyes shut. Ellie plunged him into the warm water and he jerked reflexively with a cry of distress, his eyes opening wide.

"Shh, you're okay," Ellie crooned. "Just hold tight for a minute while I clean up my shoulder."

Jason sat miserably in the water, which was almost up to his neck. The warm water clung to his skin, and he felt like it was trying to suck him the rest of the way under. He gripped the side of the tub. He heard more water running and turned to see Ellie bathing her shoulder under the sink faucet. She washed it with soap and water, patted it dry with a hand towel, and then applied hydrogen peroxide, which she retrieved from behind the mirror. She winced as the liquid bubbled on her torn flesh.

"I'm really sorry, Ellie," he mewed.

She turned back to him, "I forgive you, Sweetheart. Just try to keep your claws retracted in the future. Remember: we don't use our claws or teeth on other people, right?"

He nodded.

Ellie collected a colorless plastic cup and a bottle of shampoo from under the sink. She returned to the tub and crouched beside it. Using the cup, she scooped water to soak Jason's head and neck. He kept his eyes shut tight doing his best to endure the treatment without complaint. Next, she poured some of the rosemary scented shampoo into her hand and then smeared the slimy liquid on his head. Jason shut his eyes tight again, and Ellie began to knead the shampoo into his fur. Her claws lightly scraped against his skin as she worked the shampoo into his fur, moving from his head down to his neck. She used the cup once again to rinse away the shampoo.

"Okay, I need you to stand up now," she instructed.

Jason wiped the water away from his eyes and stood, steadying himself on the side of the tub. Ellie squeezed out more shampoo and began to work down his body. Jason cheeks and ears became hot with embarrassment as his partner worked her fingers over every inch of his body. She might have at least let me wash myself. She reached his rear, and he flinched as she kneaded her fingers across his genitals and anus.

"Ellie!" he gasped.

She gave his a funny look, "You don't want to have a stinky butt do you?"

He blushed even more deeply and mortification tied his tongue.

"Okay, put your right leg up on the edge. You can use my shoulder to balance but be careful of the sore spot."

Jason did as instructed, putting his right hand close to her neck to avoid the scratch he'd given her. Ellie got a bit more shampoo and did his right leg. She then had him switch legs and repeated the procedure.

"Alright, you can lie back down and we'll get you finished up."

Jason settled back into the water, wincing as it once again soaked through his fur to cling to his skin. Ellie reached under the water to run her hand through his fur to help rinse away the shampoo. When she was done, she lifted him out of the tub and stood him on the dark blue rug just next to it. She went to the bathroom cabinet and retrieved a towel; she returned and gently ran it over his fur to soak up the water. Finally, she retrieved a blow dryer from the cabinet, which Jason knew he didn't have, to dry him the rest of the way. When he was dry, Ellie crouched down in front of him and smiled warmly.

"That wasn't so bad, was it? Doesn't it feel good to be all nice and clean?" She reached out her right hand to smooth the ruffled fur on his head and face.

Except for being uncomfortable and humiliating, it was great. Jason kept the sarcastic remark to himself and only frowned. Ellie pulled him in and held the side of his head to her chest.

"I'm sorry, Jason," she said sympathetically. "I know you don't like it, but I'm just trying to do what's best for you."

Her voice was sincere, and it mollified Jason's anger. She's as much the victim as me in this delusion. I need to help her see everything's wrong. "How long have I been with you?" he queried.

"A little over three months now."

"And how did, what happened to my parents?"

She held him away from her to give him a concerned look, "You remember, Sweetheart. They said you were in the back seat during the accident."

"I don't," he replied flatly.

Her face twisted with sympathy, "It must have been such a traumatic experience; maybe you've repressed it." She hugged him back to her chest. "I'm so glad you survived, Jason. You're my precious little kitty; you know that, right?"

Jason didn't have the heart to contradict the heartfelt statement, "I do," he murmured.

"I know I can't replace your mom and dad, but I hope I'm doing a good job as your mom."

Her voice was thick with emotion, and despite the absurdity, Jason was deeply touched. "I'm sure you are, Mo-er," he almost slipped and called her Mom, pausing at the last moment.

She held him back to look at him, "What was that, Sweetheart?"

Her voice and eyes were brimming with hope, and Jason was compelled to satisfy her desire.

"You're doing a great job, Mom."

She picked him up and hugged him to her tightly while nuzzling his cheek. He felt something wet and noticed tears running down her face.

"Thank you, Sweetheart! That means the world to me!"

Shifting her left arm down to support him under his bottom, she stroked his back with her other hand while she held her cheek against his. "I love you so, so much, Jason," she murmured softly.

His heart palpitated and he felt a surge of joy. She loves me. His excitement was quickly replaced by confusion. She loves me as her son. It wasn't at all the relationship he'd had in mind. He loved her like a romantic partner. Yes, he wanted to live with her and to hold her and have her hold him in return but in a relationship between equals with give and take, both supporting each other. Her love as his mother would be more protective, and while his could be devoted, it would need to be less physically passionate. But how can I possibly love her as a partner when somehow I've been physically reduced back to barely more than a toddler? What if things couldn't be put back to how he remembered them? It was a terrifying thought. Jason's stomach sank with dread at the thought of being trapped as a kitten and forced to grow up a second time. However, after a little while Ellie's gentle caresses and the warmth of her scent and her body pressed close to his soothed his fear. He knew that whatever happened, she would fiercely protect him, and if he really were doomed to go through the indignities of childhood again, at least he could share a modified form of his love with her.

He rubbed his cheek against hers and purred, "I love you too, Mom."

She let out a wordless sigh of joy and snuggled his head under her chin. She held him a few more minutes, and he purred, taking comfort in her closeness, warmth, and familiar scent.

At length she looked down at him, "You must be starving. Let's go have breakfast."

She carried him downstairs and sat him in cushioned booster seat at the end of the table facing away from the kitchen. Another thing I know I don't have. Clearly, not just his body and Ellie's memory had been affected. But what had happened and how? There was no apparent answer, and he didn't even know how to begin to find one. He turned to watch Ellie. She was measuring water and oatmeal into a pan on the stove. She lit the gas burner, and he watched her as she stirred the cereal. When it was done, she spooned it into two bowls and gave him the smaller portion.

"Can't I have any meat?" he asked.

She glanced at the clock on the stove and turned back. "I'm sorry, Jason. There isn't enough time for me to fix it. I'll make sure you get some later."

He ate the oatmeal without further complaint, but he was concerned about the prospect of having all of his meals prepared by a herbivore who viewed meat as--at best--something extra and--at worst--offensive smelling slop. She must know I have to eat it though.

After breakfast, she took him upstairs and brushed his teeth as well as hers. Then she went to the bedroom and put on a short-sleeved pale green button-up blouse. Jason noticed that his closet was full of her clothes instead of his own. I can't convince her by showing her my clothes then. She picked him up and headed out of the room.

"What about my clothes?" he mewed.

Ellie smirked, "No one expects you to wear clothes, silly kitty, and it's not cold outside."

She carried him downstairs and then shifted him to sit on her right arm so she could grab her bag in the other hand. She took him out to her car, which was still her silver compact car; his dark blue sedan was nowhere to be seen. She set her bag in the passenger's seat before strapping him into a carseat in the back.

"Since you were so good on Friday, I'll give you an option," she declared. "Do you want to go see your friends at daycare or come to work with me?"

Jason obviously had no interest in building blocks with a bunch of small children. "With you!"

"Okay, let's go then."

Jason noticed that Ellie drove much more cautiously than he remembered. At length, they arrived at the office. It's still in the same place anyway. However, the inside of the office was remarkably different: his desk was gone as were the boxes full of paper. Ellie's desk had been moved nearer to where his had been, and there was a filing cabinet near where hers had been. He glanced at the door before Ellie closed it and noted that the sign only bore her name. No other partner then.

Ellie sat at her desk with him on her lap and began to look through a file that was placed on her desk. Jason peered at what she was reading: apparently, Ellie was investigating an industrial espionage case trying to determine if a particular employee at a local software developer was a spy for another company and if so for whom.

"You must be doing really well to be getting cases like that," Jason commented. "Industrial espionage is a cut above marital strife. That's for sure."

Ellie looked down at him, eyes wide and jaw slack. "D-did you just read that?" she managed to stammer.

This is my chance to prove to her that something is wrong! "Yes." He read through the paper out-loud.

"My little genius!" Ellie exclaimed joyfully. "All this time, why didn't you tell me you could already read?"

Jason was stunned by her response, "I-I don't know."

"What other amazing abilities haven't you shared with me?" Ellie inquired.

He decided to just tell her the truth and see if that would help. "I already completed high school and nearly completed training at the police academy."

"Don't be silly, Jason. You haven't had time to do that. You're too young."

"I have! The derivative of x squared is two x. The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the other sides. Vulpineva became a parliamentary monarchy in 3683. The current king is Fredrick the-"

"Okay, okay, you've clearly learned enough to have passed high school. You must be even smarter than I thought. Your parents must have been keeping you a secret; you could have been on the news if they wanted."

Jason shook his head, flabbergasted. Was the truth just too impossible to believe? He had to admit that he didn't know how it was possible himself.

Ellie nuzzled him on top of the head. "You must have an amazing brain in there. I'm so impressed and pleased. You don't have to hide your abilities from me, Sweetheart."

Jason sighed resignedly. Showing off his knowledge didn't seem like it was going to accomplish anything. He'd have to find someone else who would recognize him. They spent the rest of the morning going over the information Ellie had managed to gather. She kept asking his opinion on what they were reading: it was almost like they were still partners. Except he could only see the top of the desk by sitting on her lap. Except that later she would take him home and decide when he went to bed.

Around noon, Ellie set him on the floor and got up. "I'm going to go get you something for your lunch, Sweetheart. Will you be okay if I lock you in?"

Jason nodded.

She left, and Jason heard the key in the lock. He listened a little longer to make sure she wasn't coming back in, and then he hurried to the office phone and dialed the coroner's office.

"Hello, this is the coroner's office. Dave speaking."

"Hi, can I speak with Dr. Fitzgerald?"

"Just a minute." The phone was set down, and about a minute later Fitzie answered. "Hi, this is Dr. Fitzgerald."

"Fitzie, this is Jason Brown. I know my voice sounds funny, but-"

"Who?" Fitzie cut him off.

"Jason Brown."

"I don't know a Jason Brown."

He doesn't know me?! "Fitzie! We went to school together! You know me, brown mackerel tabby."

"Is this your idea of a prank call? I don't get it."

How can he not know me? "Can you, uh, just transfer me to Lily then?"

"You mean Officer Schulz?"

"Yes."

"Okay, but if this is a prank, she isn't going to be happy." The line hung up and started to ring again. "This is Officer Schulz. What is it?" the bobcat growled.

"Lily! It's me, Jason Brown. You remember me, right?"

There was a pause. "No, I can't say I do."

His heart sank. Lily too? "Uh, can you look up a case file for me? A car crash over three months ago involving a Whitney and Blake Brown."

"You should have contacted the front desk," she grumbled. "Just a minute."

He could hear her typing and after a couple minutes she replied. "I have a file on a fatal car crash involving Whitney, Blake, and." she paused. "Did you say your name is Jason Brown?"

"Yes."

"It says here that Jason Brown was the sole surviver of the wreck. That's you?"

"I guess so."

"According to this, you should be three years old. What are you doing calling the police?"

"I-"

"Wait a minute! I recognize your picture! You're Ellie Bennett's son. Does she know you're calling?"

"N-no, she just stepped out a minute and-"

The other line hang up. Shit. She recognized me but as Ellie's son. How could everyone he knew be under the same delusion? Maybe I'm the one who's wrong. It didn't make any sense. He remembered his life as an adult and didn't remember living as Ellie's son for three months or the car accident that had killed his parents. It seemed like somehow reality had changed and only his memory had been left intact. He felt a lurch of panic. If everything else has changed, there's no way I can convince people of what happened. They'll just start to think I'm crazy. He had to try one more number. He dialed Rosa.

"Hello? Who is this? I'm kind of busy right now."

"Rosa! This is Jason Brown! Do you remember me?"

"Is this some kind of joke?! No, I don't know any mewling kittens! Unless you'd like to be my chew toy, I suggest you don't call again!" The line hung up.

Jason crouched down on the floor dejectedly. No one remembered him. No one remembered him, and his parents were dead. He felt a lump in his throat; he didn't even remember the last time he was supposed to have seen them, and now he never would again. He buried his face in his arms and began to weep silently. He heard the key in the lock and looked up. Ellie pushed through the door.

"I got you a sausage and some-" She noticed him crouched on the floor with tear soaked cheeks and stopped. "Jason! What's the matter?!" She hurriedly set the food on the desk and bent down to scoop him up under the legs and around the middle. She clutched him close to her chest. "I'm here for you, Sweetheart. Tell me what's wrong."

"I-I miss my parents, and n-no one remembers me," he sobbed.

"I know, Sweetheart," she crooned sorrowfully. "Not only did you lose your family, but your entire life was turned upside down. But I want you to know that I'll never forget you." She took his hand with the arm around his back and pressed it over her heart; he could feel it beating. "You're always right here, Jason. Always."

With a sob he threw his arms around her neck, "I love you, Mom!"

"I love you too, Sweetheart," she murmured in his ear.

She held him until he'd finished crying, stroking his back. At length, he sniffed and leaned back to look at her.

"Thank you, Ellie."

"Mom, Sweetheart."

"Right, sorry, Mom. I'm glad you're my mom. I couldn't have anyone better."

She hugged him, "Thank you, Jason. I couldn't ask for a better son or one I'd love more." She held him several more seconds. "Are you hungry? I got you some stuff I hope you'll like."

He was quite hungry. He ate the sausage Ellie had gotten him in quick ravenous bites. She had also gotten him a pair of radishes. He bit into one and made a face at the bitter taste.

"No? You don't have to eat them then," she apologized. She took them away and munched them down herself. "I have to remember that, as a carnivore, you probably won't enjoy a lot of the things I do," she commented. Ellie was still finishing her lunch when a knock came at the door. "Come in!" she called.

Lily pushed through the door.

"Lily! What are you doing here?" Ellie asked in surprise.

"I just wanted to make sure everything is okay," she answered concernedly. She nodded at Jason, "This one called me a little while ago asking about the report on his parents' wreck."

Ellie looked at him in concern, "Are you okay, Jason?"

He nodded, "I just, uh, wanted to know, um-"

Ellie turned to Lily, "He told me this morning that he can't remember the accident. I think he's repressed it. I think that's why he called."

Lily gave him a sympathetic glance, "It must be hard not being able to remember something like that." She paused. "How are the two of you in general? I remember the last time we talked you were having some trouble with paperwork."

"That's all taken care of now!" Ellie replied cheerfully. "I got the certificate last week. He's officially Jason Bennett now!"

Jason Bennett. Jason had never thought about whether one of them would change their name if they got together. Now it was a moot point.

"It must be hard for you raising a cat," Lily commented. "How are you dealing with cooking meat now. I think you told me the smell bothers you quite a bit."

"I'm getting used to it. If I wear a mask, it's almost tolerable. But otherwise, having a kitty is no trouble at all! I can't tell you how much joy he's brought into my life. He's such a sweetheart, and today I found out he's also a little genius! He can read and recite mathematical formulas, everything!"

Lily blinked in surprise, "Is that so? That's amazing; I don't think I even knew my ABCs at that age."

"I know! He's even been helping me look over my case."

Lily smirked, "Another Inspector Bennett, eh? You'll have to change your sign."

Ellie giggled.

"Well, if everything is alright, I'd better get back to the station." She stepped over to where Jason was standing and crouched down to muss his ears with her hand. "Unless it's an emergency, ask your mom before you call us again, okay, Kiddo?"

"Okay."

Lily left.

"You shouldn't have used the phone without my permission, Jason," Ellie scolded. "Officer Schulz had to come all the way over here to check on you."

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

Ellie walked around the desk to pick him up and held him up to her face. "I know why you did it, but you should have just asked me. Promise me you'll ask in the future."

"I promise," he sighed.

"That didn't sound very sincere, Jason."

"I'm sorry. I promise I'll ask you first before I call anyone," he said as earnestly as he could.

"That's better." She hugged him and set him back on the floor. "I need to get back to work. Do you want me to get you something else to do?"

"I want to help you!"

Ellie smiled indulgently, "Alright then." She picked him back up and went to sit in her chair, placing him on her lap.

Jason found that his kitten body needed more sleep than he was used to. After about another hour of reading, he could hardly keep his eyes open. He yawned.

"Looks like someone's sleepy," Ellie remarked. "Why don't you take a nap? I can handle this myself." She pulled a fleecy blanket out of one of her desk drawers. She set Jason on the floor and then folded up the blanket on the floor by her desk. "There you go. Why don't you curl up there? And I'll wake you in a little bit."

Jason did as she suggested and soon fell asleep on the thick blanket.

Jason woke to Ellie stroking him. "It's time to go home, Sweetheart," she whispered.

"Was I asleep that long?!" he mewed.

"I thought you looked like you needed it," Ellie stated. "You've had a busy day."

She picked him up and carried him down to her car to return home.

Back at his house, Ellie got busy fixing dinner. She turned her tablet onto some podcast while she worked. Jason thought he recognized it as the one she'd had him listen to before, but he didn't pay attention. Instead, he watched Ellie work: she chopped vegetables and threw them into a wok with oil and stir fried it over high flame. She removed the pan from the burner and covered it with a lid before pulling a fillet of chicken out of the fridge. Before unwrapping it, she put on gloves and a surgical mask. Then she took it out of the packaging and sliced it into strips. Before she sautéed it in a new skillet, she turned the exhaust fan on high. Jason could tell she was still struggling with the fumes as she cooked his food, and he felt guilty. He wished he were normal sized so that he could cook for himself.

"I'm sorry you have to do that," he told her when she had finished.

"Oh no, Sweetheart. I don't want you to feel bad. I'll get used to the smell, but even if I didn't, I'd never regret it for a second. I love you too much to let a little thing like that bother me. Before I had you, I'd come home and be all alone, but now I have my sweet little kitty. I couldn't be happier."

Jason went to her and hugged her leg, "I'm happy that you're happy, Mom."

They ate dinner together, and then Ellie glanced at the clock.

"We have time to play a game or something before you need to go to bed. What would you like to do?"

"Are the board games still under the stairs?" he asked.

"Yes, Sweetheart."

He went to the closet to get one. He was a bit surprised to find his Hunt board still present. He took it out to the table.

Ellie frowned, "That one? I know you like it, Jason, but it's a bit macabre."

"Do you not want to play?"

"No, it's fine. Let's play."

Ellie let him be the fox, and he had good luck in his rolls. Before long, he was catching Ellie's piece for the second time.

"Got you! Now I get to take you back to my den and." He noticed Ellie's distressed expression. "And cuddle you. If I get to do what I want, then I'm going to cuddle the bunny."

Ellie smirked, "If I knew that's what you were trying to do, I wouldn't have run away."

Jason held up the fox statuette, "Even if I were a scary looking fox?"

"If it were still you, Jason, I wouldn't be afraid. One day, you'll be a big strong cat, and I'll be delighted if you still like to cuddle with your old rabbit mom."

"I'll never be too big to want to cuddle with you, Mom," he promised.

Ellie smiled warmly, "Thank you, Sweetheart."

After she put away the game, she took him upstairs and brushed their teeth before taking him to bed. She tucked him in and got a book out of the closet.

"I know you could read it yourself, but would you mind it if I keep reading to you?"

"I'd love it if you would, Mom."

"Good. I like doing the voices for you." She sat next to him on the bed.

It turned out she was reading The Hobbit to him. Jason had read it before, but the experience of having Ellie read it to him was surprisingly touching. And she did do rather amusing voices. Eventually, Jason's eyes began to feel heavy, and he blinked sleepily.

Ellie closed the book, "We'll pick back up with Bilbo tomorrow." She leaned down to nuzzle his head and then got off of the bed, turned out the light, and left the room.

Jason turned onto his side, and pulled the extra pillow to him; it was a bit large for him to hold well. However, he soon fell asleep.

Jason was awakened by the feeling of the pillow being gently pulled away from him.

"Hmm?"

"You have my pillow, Sweetheart," Ellie whispered.

The strong smell of rosemary told Jason that she had recently gotten out of the shower. She replaced the pillow at the head of the bed and slid under the covers to lay facing him. He could see the light of the clock reflecting in her eyes. He looked back at her in the near darkness.

"Would you like me to hold you, Sweetheart?" she asked.

"I-I'd like that."

She scooted closer and then reached out to pull him in against her. He tucked up his legs against her belly and nuzzled his nose into her soft chest fur. He inhaled her warm rabbit scent mixed with the sweet aroma of the shampoo. She stroked his back, soothing him back to sleep. As Jason drifted to sleep, engulfed in Ellie's scent and cradled against her warm body, he wondered what the next day would hold. Would he wake up to find this had all been a dream, or would he find himself still in Ellie's loving care? If it were the latter, there were far worse things.