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Chapter 16: Return Home

Pete nuzzled his nose deeper into Flora's fluffy winter coat and breathed her musky,

sweet scent, which permeated the toasty air under the blankets of her bed. He sighed

contentedly. Warm sunlight crept under the covers along with the chilly air of the dorm room, but

Pete wasn't ready to get up yet. This was the last night he'd be able to spend with Flora for the

next four weeks of Winter break. Their exams were completed, and their final papers turned in.

Today, both of them would be heading home.

Flora's parents and Pete's parents and siblings had arrived yesterday afternoon, and

they had eaten dinner with their respective families. While Flora had suggested they arrange for

their parents to meet, Pete had thought better of this encounter. His parents still hadn't accepted

his relationship with Flora, and they didn't need to be reminded that the vixen he loved came

with an entire family of foxes attached to her. To be honest, this fact made Pete a little nervous

himself. What if they didn't accept him? What if they decided the only solution was to 'dispose

of' their daughter's inappropriate romantic partner? Pete pressed his nose deeper into Flora's

thick fur; he knew she would never let something like that happen.

Pete was reawoken an indeterminate amount of time later by Flora's hand gently

stroking his head and ears. He stretched his legs and snuggled closer to the fox, but she

pushed down the blankets to uncover his head.

"Good morning, Pete," she murmured affectionately.

"Good morning."

Flora touched her long snout between his ears, "I'm going to miss you over break," she

whispered. "Promise me you'll come back.'

"I promise, Flora!" Pete averred. "They can't make me stay away!"

"If you needed us to, I'm sure we could pick you up on our way through Maplesburg,"

Flora suggested.

"If my parents were more reasonable, we could take you to Maplesburg to save your

parents the driving," Pete muttered. "I wonder if they'd be more worried letting a fox into our car

or watching me climb into yours."

"Come stay with me over break, and we can find out," Flora offered.

She'd made this offer several times, and while Pete wanted to accept it, he also wanted

to be able to talk to his siblings over break, not only to catch up with them but to convince them

that predators weren't the monsters his parents had taught them they were. He'd avoided the

topic last night on his father's warning, but there was no way he'd go through the entire break

without discussing it with them, even if he had to act against his parents' injunction.

"I want to, Flora, but you know what my parents will think. Maybe I can visit over

Summer break."

"I hope so! I don't think I can go three months without seeing you!" Flora replied

worriedly.

"I will even if I have to get there all by myself," Pete promised.

"Are you two meeting your parents for breakfast?" Cynthia squeaked. "Rosemary said I

could go with her if you're busy."

Flora pushed herself up to address the mouse, but Pete remained on his side beside the

vixen. He gazed up at the familiar black band that split the white underside of her long, angular

jaw. His eye ran up over her fluffy cheek to the rounded tip of her triangular ear then down her

slender neck to her fluffy belly. Her thick winter coat partially obscured her lithe figure, but Pete

thought the fluffier fur made her even more beautiful. To Pete, she was Aphrodite in vixen form,

and he worshiped her appropriately.

"Pete and I were going to eat together," Flora told her. "But if you'd rather go with

Rosemary and her parents you can. When are they taking you home?"

"About noon," Cynthia replied.

Flora turned her head toward the clock on her desk, "And it's almost ten now. My

parents will want to leave by then too. I guess we'd better hurry."

Reluctantly, Pete slid out of bed, and Flora hopped out after him. They took turns

brushing each other before proceeding to breakfast in the cafeteria. Fortunately, they were both

done shedding; brushing Flora had become quite a procedure over the past month as she shed

her summer coat.

After breakfast, they returned to Flora and Cynthia's room, and Rosemary arrived with

her parents to collect the mouse and her things. Rosemary's mothers were a black squirrel and

a flying squirrel. The nocturnal squirrel wore dark sunglasses over her large eyes and a wide-

brimmed black hat.

"These are my friends Flora, Cynthia, and Pete," Rosemary introduced them. "And these

are my moms, Madeleine and Glenda," she indicated the black and flying squirrels respectively.

"Thank you for driving me home," Cynthia squeaked gratefully.

"It's no problem," Glenda replied. "Let us know if you need a lift back in January."

"Pete lives in Maplesburg too, but I don't think he'll fit in our car," Rosemary joked.

"Maybe you can ride with him sometime then," Glenda suggested.

"Er, I guess," Pete murmured embarrassedly.

"Where are you from, Flora?" Madeleine asked.

"Willowdale," Flora answered.

"That's quite a way away! Are you making the trip in one day?"

"We'll spend the night in Maplesburg."

"Maybe we can all meet for dinner!" Cynthia squeaked excitedly. "That would be fun!"

"It would be," Madeleine agreed.

"I'll see what my parents say," Flora chirped cheerfully. "I think they'll be alright with

that."

Pete knew his parents would have no interest so long as Flora and her parents would be

there and, realistically, even if they weren't. He was sad that he was going to miss out on what

probably could have been a fun evening if he'd been able to go without them or if they'd simply

been normal. Rosemary's mothers had never met Flora, but they trusted their daughter and thus

trusted her friend. The poignant example of what his parents' prejudice denied him, even now

that he knew they were wrong, stuck a knife in Pete's belly.

"I know your parents will want to get home, but if you came with us as far as

Maplesburg, we could take you home after dinner, Pete," Flora offered hopefully.

Pete looked up at the fox conflictedly. His parents wouldn't be happy about Flora's plan.

In fact, he could easily imagine what foxes 'returning him after dinner' would sound like to them,

but why should he let their prejudice deny him? They would see that Flora and her parents

would return him safely after dinner! Pete didn't give a damn if it upset them, but that still left

Flora's parents.

"You think your parents won't mind?" Pete asked anxiously.

"I'm sure it will be fine! Does that mean you'll come?!" Flora asked excitedly.

Pete nodded, and the fox threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. Pete blushed

embarrassedly at Rosemary's mothers' curious expressions, but he couldn't be embarrassed for

long as Flora's love washed over him. He would have spent the rest of his life in her arms if that

were possible.

Cynthia slung her magenta book bag over one shoulder, a single crutch under her other,

and Rosemary grabbed the mouse's bright pink rolling suitcase, which the squirrel lifted easily.

"See you at dinner then!" Rosemary chirped. "Have a good trip!"

"You too," Flora returned.

The mouse and three squirrels left.

Still holding him with his back against her belly, Flora nuzzled Pete between the ears.

"It's just us now, but I think we need to hurry and find our parents to talk this out. I know yours

won't like it, but maybe it'll help them see you're safe with us when it's done."

Pete nodded. He wanted to believe this experience could change their minds too, but he

knew they'd find an excuse for why he'd been allowed to live yet again. Perhaps his siblings

wouldn't be so stubborn.

Pete and Flora texted their parents and took their bags down to the sidewalk out in front

of the building. Her thick coat protecting her, Flora only wore her yellow and black plaid skirt and

a forest green scarf in the nippy air, but Pete wore a long light blue sweater and a black knit

cap, which he pulled down over his ears. Pete's family arrived first but stopped short of

approaching the pair, the five black and white rabbits eyeing Flora with expressions ranging

from fear to anger to bewilderment. Flora took Pete's left hand and gave it a comforting squeeze

as they faced his family awkwardly.

"S-some of our friends are going to have dinner together in Maplesburg tonight," Pete

told them nervously. "Flora said I could ride with them, and they'd drop me at home after we

eat."

"You most certainly cannot!" his mother squeaked furiously. "We're taking you right

home, and you're going to spend the break refreshing your memory about what we taught you!"

"I'm going with them whatever you say!" Pete returned angrily.

"Pete!" his brother, Simon, cried. "W-what's going on?! What do you mean you want to

go with her?! She's a fox!"

"She's my friend, Simon. Predators aren't like Mom and Dad told us!"

"Pete's very confused!" his mother interjected. "He's spent too much time with that

vixen!"

"Shouldn't he be dead then?" Pete's other brother, Ron, asked annoyedly. "If he's still

alive, what's another few hours?"

His mother stared at Ron in horror, "Would you get into a car with a bunch of foxes?"

Ron frowned, "Probably not, but from what I've seen, most predators aren't interested in

prey. You ignore them; they ignore you. If Pete thinks this one's safe, he's probably right."

"I think you should let him go!" Pete's sister, Bethany, squeaked anxiously. "I, um, I have

a predator friend too, a cat. She wouldn't hurt me! She helped me see I don't need to be afraid."

"You too, Beth!" his mother cried. "How could you forget what we taught you?!"

"I didn't forget," Bethany rejoined irritatedly. "Sarah just isn't how you said."

"I'm glad you were able to make a predator friend too, Bethany," Pete replied sincerely.

"Let him go!" Pete's father spat in disgust. "When they find his bones picked clean, at

least the rest of you will know that we told you the truth."

"N-Nick, we can't just give him up," Pete's mother whimpered.

"He's going whether we say he can or not, Margaret. Are you going to fight a fox to save

him?"

Pete's mother stared at him with a pained expression, "Please, Pete. Let us take you

home."

Pete squeezed Flora's hand, "I'll see you tonight, I promise, Mom," he replied

determinedly.

"Grab his bags, and let's get out of here," his father commanded. "Bethany, Ron, hop to

it."

Ron hopped over to them and accepted Pete's black rolling suitcase with a shrug before

dragging it back to his family. Bethany hopped over next, and Pete handed her his royal blue

backpack. She slung the straps over her shoulders then stepped forward and hugged him firmly.

Pete hugged her back, glad that his sister was on his side.

When they broke apart, Bethany looked up at Flora with a shy smile, "I hope we get to

meet properly next time, Flora."

"Me too," Flora replied warmly.

Bethany returned to her family, her mother giving her a scowl, and then Pete's family

left.

"Now where the heck are my parents?" Flora asked annoyedly.

"Did you tell them which dorm we're at?" Pete inquired. "Maybe they're at your old one."

"Shit!" Flora yelped. "Come on!"

They hastily made their way to Brush Hall. As expected, Flora's parents were waiting

outside, and they looked at them in surprise as they ran down the sidewalk.

"I'm in a different dorm now!" Flora chirped. "Hollow Oak Hall! I'm sorry I forgot to say I

moved dorms, not just rooms."

"I said she might have!" Flora's mother hissed under her breath.

Flora's father shrugged, "We found her. That's all that matters." He glanced at Pete,

"This must be Pete."

"H-hi," Pete squeaked nervously. "I'm Pete."

Flora's father stepped forward and held out his hand, "Jeff. Nice to finally meet you,

Pete."

Pete stared at the tod's sharp-clawed hand nervously for a moment. Flora put a hand on

his shoulder, and sucking a breath, Pete put his hand in Jeff's. Jeff shook it warmly, considerate

about not squeezing Pete's hand too hard. The tod released him, and Pete let out his breath.

"Hello Pete, I'm Caroline," Flora's mother introduced herself. "Flora said your parents are

here too. Do you have far to go?"

"Uh, actually, I told Pete we could take him to Maplesburg," Flora interjected. "Some of

our friends wanted to have dinner together there this evening. I told Pete we could take him

home when we're done. He lives in Maplesburg."

Caroline blinked in surprise. "I suppose that's not an issue," she allowed. "Do you have

your things ready, Pete?"

"My, er, parents took them," Pete replied awkwardly.

"Oh! I thought, um, so they were here."

"They didn't want to go to dinner," Pete explained embarrassedly.

"Oh, then we'll be happy to take you. I just wish we'd known you were coming so that we

could have had a booster seat for you."

"We'll find something for him to sit on," Jeff assured her. "If you both have everything,

the van's just down here."

Jeff led them down the stairs beside Brush Hall to the parking lot. Many students and

their families were busy loading up their respective vehicles. Jeff led them to a metallic blue

minivan. Opening the back, he hefted Flora's lime green suitcase inside, and Flora added her

green backpack.

"Let me see what we've got for you to sit on," Jeff said, leaning into the back to dig

around. He emerged with a U-shaped neck pillow. "How about this? You don't mind, do you,

Caroline?"

"I suppose not," she allowed with some reluctance in her tone.

Jeff slammed down the door and led Pete to the driver's side of the van. Flora and

Caroline got in the opposite side as Jeff opened the sliding door and adjusted the pillow on the

seat. "Try that," he instructed.

Pete scrambled up into the high van and embarrassedly sat on the soft memory-foam

pillow with his thighs extending out the arms of the U. He buckled himself in: the lap belt fit

reasonably well across his hips.

"Looks good," Jeff remarked. "Comfy?"

Pete nodded. Jeff smiled kindly and shut the sliding door before climbing into the seat in

front of Pete's. Pete noticed Flora smiling at him affectionately out of his side vision and turned

his head toward her.

"I'm so glad you're coming with us," Flora whispered.

Pete smiled back, "Me too."

The drive to Maplesburg was uneventful. Flora kept in contact with Rosemary and

Cynthia via text, and they decided to eat at a Chinese restaurant: Panda's Wok. After stopping

to check in at the hotel where Flora and her parents would be staying, they continued to the

restaurant, parking on the street a couple blocks away.

"Rosemary says they have a table, and they're waiting," Flora chirped.

"We'd better hurry then," Caroline remarked.

The foxes hopped out of the van, and Pete followed Flora out her door. She waited to

take his hand before following her parents down the sidewalk at a trot. The restaurant was

surprisingly busy for a Thursday evening with waiters bustling to and fro among the crowded

tables. They were greeted at the door by a red panda.

"Welcome! Four for you tonight?" he queried amiably.

"We're with another group," Caroline told him anxiously. "Do you see them, Flora?"

Pete scanned the room, but Flora spotted them first, "There they are!"

Pete followed her finger to a table near the back left corner where Rosemary was

waving.

"Thank you for coming! Please enjoy your meal," the red panda added before turning to

greet another group that had just entered.

They meandered their way through the busy room to the circular black table where the

squirrels and mouse were seated. As per usual, Cynthia was obliged to sit on top of the table.

Pete thought the seats were a little small for the foxes, but they sat without complaint with Jeff

one seat apart from Madeleine and Caroline on his right. Flora gestured for Pete to take the

seat next to Rosemary and Cynthia, but Caroline interjected.

"Why don't you sit by me, Pete?" she requested.

Pete regarded the vixen nervously but then complied, Flora sitting by Rosemary on his

right. He didn't want Flora's parents to think he was rude. A tuxedo cat in a black bow tie took

their orders and brought four more glasses of water. As they waited for their food, Pete noticed

Caroline keeping a watchful eye on him, and his heart beat a little faster. He tried to focus on

Flora, Rosemary, and Cynthia's chatter.

"So Pete," the older vixen spoke.

Pete jumped then turned toward her embarrassedly.

"Sorry, I wanted to ask what you're studying at RCV."

"B-biochemistry," Pete replied shyly.

"What do you want to do when you're done?"

"I, um, think I want to be a doctor."

"Flora told me you were in her organic chemistry class. How was that?"

"Fine."

Flora put a hand on Pete's shoulder, "Pete's really smart. I'm sure he can get into

medical school if that's what he wants to do," she chirped supportively.

Pete was glad for her interruption, but Caroline seemed less comfortable for it.

"How about your parents? What do they do?" she asked awkwardly.

"My dad's an accountant. My mom makes things--jewelry, decorations, and stuff--and

sells them online. Before we started college, she homeschooled us too."

"That must have been a lot of work! How many siblings do you have?"

"Three, all littermates."

"And she homeschooled all of you. What was that like? Did you get together with other

homeschoolers or go to camp or anything?"

Pete fidgeted uncomfortably, "Um, not really. It was mostly just my siblings and me. We

visited our cousins sometimes."

"It must have been quite a culture shock moving to RCV," she remarked.

Pete nodded embarrassedly.

"How did you and Flora meet?"

Pete swallowed nervously, "Um, I, um, fainted in the shower, and she helped me."

"Oh?" Caroline responded in surprise. "I thought you met in class."

"We didn't really talk until we had a group project together," Flora put in hastily. "The

time in the shower, I just made sure he was okay."

"What caused you to faint?" Caroline inquired curiously.

Pete blushed embarrassedly, unable to answer.

Flora petted his head, "Pete just got a little startled when he saw the fox of his dreams,"

she murmured affectionately.

Caroline frowned, seeming dissatisfied with the answer, but Pete didn't know what else

to say. He didn't want to admit to Flora's parents that he'd been terrified of their daughter.

Thankfully, their food arrived, and Pete was spared further awkward questions. He understood

that Flora's mother wanted to get to know the person her daughter was in love with, but her

questions made him self-conscious. He knew he wasn't worthy of Flora, and her parents must

see that too! If they didn't yet, they would. Flora placed a hand on his knee, and he looked up

from the bok choy and pea pods he'd ordered.

She smiled warmly, "Did you want to try some of mine? I got the sesame tofu with

broccoli."

"Alright, you can try some of mine too."

Flora put a large piece of broccoli and a couple triangles of tofu on his plate and took

peas and bok choy in return. She pressed her muzzle into his ear and whispered for only him to

hear, "Don't worry. She'll learn to like you. And I love you no matter what they say." She nuzzled

his ear and sat back up.

Pete felt a little better for Flora's words. She loved him, and that was what mattered.

Even if her parents had been as hostile as his, she wouldn't have let that stop them from being

together. Flora loved him and wanted him to be hers, and as long as that was what she wanted,

he always would be.

They finished eating and split the bill two ways. Pete offered to pay for his own, but Jeff

insisted on paying for his meal. Flora hugged Rosemary and gave Cynthia a nuzzle, and then

they went their separate ways.

"Can Pete spend the night with us?" Flora asked when they were back in the van.

Caroline turned her head to peer at her daughter from the driver's seat, "I'm sure his

family is anxious to get him back. Besides, the room only has two beds."

Pete blushed as he thought about the small bed they usually shared, but Caroline was

more right about her first statement than she realized, that was unless they assumed he was

dead.

"I, um, told them you'd bring me home tonight," Pete stated. He glanced at Flora

apologetically, "I wish I could stay with you, Flora. I promise I'll be back at RCV next semester."

Caroline blinked at him curiously in the rearview mirror, "Is that in question?"

Pete shook his head, "I'm just going to miss her."

"I'll miss you too, Pete, but we'll keep in touch. Call me whenever you can," Flora

requested.

"I will."

Pete gave Caroline the address of the highrise his family lived in, and she drove them

across town, parking in a visitor spot.

"I'll come in with you, Pete," Flora offered anxiously.

Pete nodded his assent. "Thank you for the ride and dinner. It was nice to meet you, Mr.

and Mrs. Mason."

"Nice to meet you, Pete," Caroline replied politely.

"We'll see you again, I'm sure," Jeff responded amiably.

Pete climbed out of the car, and Flora exited her side. He led her to the door, where he

scanned them in with his left hand, then to the elevator. He punched the button for the seventh

floor. Flora watched him anxiously as they rode up, and Pete began to feel anxious himself. He

couldn't believe they'd be apart for four whole weeks, and what if his parents decided they really

wouldn't let him go back?! We'll be together again, no matter what anyone thinks! The elevator

reached the seventh floor, and Pete led Flora to his family's flat. He reached for the door

handle.

"Wait, Pete!" Flora chirped.

Pete turned toward her, and she swept him up. Holding him under the arms, she licked

his nose, and Pete returned the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her neck and gazed lovingly

into her kelly-green eyes. After several seconds, Flora set him down and pulled him into a tight

hug. Pete wrapped his arms around her middle, his fingers buried in her thick fur. He would

have done anything to remain pressed against her warm, sweet-scented body, to keep being

held in her strong arms. For a few minutes, they submitted to that desire, silently holding each

other close. Finally, Flora released him.

"Have a good break, Pete. Happy Saturnalia," she murmured fondly.

Pete had almost forgotten the holiday began in a few days, "You too. Happy Saturnalia."

He turned the handle but found the door was locked. "My key was in my bag," he noted

embarrassedly. "I hope they're home."

He knocked, and after several seconds, the door cracked open on its safety chain. His

mother peeked out.

"Pete!" she yelped in surprise.

She quickly shut the door, and Pete heard the chain rattling. She flung the door open

wide but froze when she saw Flora.

"Hello," Flora chirped awkwardly. "I just wanted to say goodbye to Pete."

Pete's mother nodded nervously. She quickly ushered Pete inside and closed the door

behind them, throwing the deadbolt. She hugged him tightly and breathed a sigh of relief,

"You're home, Pete."

"I said I would be," Pete murmured. "Flora's safe, Mom. She's my friend, and I love her."

His mother sighed resignedly, and stroked his head, "Maybe she is."