FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's Note: This is the 10th chapter in this series. I hope you all enjoy it. Comments are appreciated more than you know. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families. I hope you all know how thankful I am for you reading this story.- AK

I shut of the TV almost immediately. Another person to add to the list of people who were probably involved in some kind of conspiracy. But who exactly was calling the shots and which side everyone was on was still a mystery to me. I looked over at Michelle and I saw her ears drooping. I knew what that meant all too well; she was depressed. I pulled her close to me and kept kissing her cheek softly. Eventually, she started to tear up a little bit.

"Why?" she asked, holding back fully sobbing. "Why is all of this happening? Why now?"

I held her tightly.

"I don't know." I said. "And part of me doesn't want to know. I'm afraid too. But no matter what happens, you'll always have me."

Michelle gazed up at me and kissed me, then buried her head in my shoulder and fell asleep. I was exhausted and sleep seemed like a welcomed idea, but I couldn't achieve it. I turned on the TV and put the closed captions hoping that perhaps it would help me doze off.

The news channel was discussing how Anthros became what they were. It was a simple enough to follow. Apparently, humans share much of their DNA with other animals, and for some reason, mutations began to spring up in the genetic code. Once that happened, fear took over and it led to hatred, hence the current situation. I sighed and turned off the TV after a while. I couldn't take any more talk of how Anthro's were somehow less than human. I looked at Michelle who breathed gently as she slept. If anything, she was more than human: she was my angel.

I don't know when I did, but I had to have fallen asleep at some point, because when I opened my eyes, it was very dark out. Not surprising given the time of year. More surprising was the fact that I didn't have Michelle in my arms anymore. Instead I was lying on a pillow and the blanket over my bed covering me. A quick glance at the digital alarm clock in my room told me it was well after dinner. Michelle must have woken up to help Lisa cook and covered me.

I stretched for a second and took off the cover. I opened the door to my room and headed for the kitchen. Lisa and Michelle had already finished cleaning up. Wrapped in tin foil on the stove was a plate with food. On it was a note.

"For when you get up- Lisa."

I unwrapped the dish and threw it in the microwave. I heard the creaking of stairs from behind me.

"Andy?" came my mother's voice, "is that you?"

"Yeah Mom." I answered. "I'm just nuking the leftovers."

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, what's up?"

My mother walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Andy, is everything ok with your father? He's seemed a little preoccupied at dinner."

"Uh, yeah." I said, lying through my teeth. "I think work is just getting to him. After all, it's holiday bonus time and he's probably got a lot of work on his plate."

My mom looked at me for a moment and then nodded.

"Yes. I'm sure that's it. I'm just worried about him. I think we all need a nice vacation soon. Maybe after Christmas."

"I think that'd be nice. Who knows? Maybe that's what Dad is getting you for Christmas?"

"Who knows with your father? Well, I'm turning in to bed. Do me a favor and make sure your dad doesn't stay up all night in his office, will you."

"Sure mom. Good night."

I sat at the kitchen table and began to eat. About half way through I felt a pair of arms wrap around my neck loosely from behind.

"Enjoying dinner." I heard Michelle's voice say.

"More so now that you're with me. Do you want some food?"

"No. I'm ok."

I gestured over to the seat next to me. Michelle took it and put her head on my shoulder.

"You know you're cute when you eat." She said.

"I am?"

"Mhm. You are."

Michelle smiled at me.

"I almost ran into your mom on the way down here. It was a close call."

"She's going up to bed. Wanted me to check on Dad soon."

"You think he's gonna be ok?"

"I think something has got him rattled. If whatever that thing is goes away, then yes, I think he'll be fine. If not, I think he's going to end up in the hospital."

"You still think it's the conspiracy doing this to him."

I nodded.

"It's a safe bet. Though whether it's the stress of being in the conspiracy, or being outside of it is beyond me."

"The more I think about it, the more stressed I get."

"Me too. So let's not mention it anymore tonight."

Michelle nodded and put her head back on my shoulder. I laughed a bit.

"If you're tired, you can go to bed, you know. I don't mind."

"I don't want to leave you right now." Michelle said. "You make me feel safe."

She put her head back on my shoulder and was asleep before I was done eating. When I did finish, I picked Michelle up gently and carried her to the basement. It depressed me to see where she slept. Her bed was little more than a mattress on a floor. I swore to myself that I was going to make life so much better for her. She and Lisa deserved it more than anyone I knew. As I put Michelle on the uncomfortable looking mattress, I saw her eyes open.

"That's the second time I've fallen asleep on you." She said softly so she didn't wake Lisa.

"It's alright." I said. "You know, you're cute when you're asleep."

I bent down to give her a tender kiss. It pained me to break it. For some reason, I felt like I needed Michelle more than ever, and that was saying something. I think she felt the same, too. For me, it was a combination of the stress of feeling like almost everyone we knew was out to get us, and quite simply being head over heels. With difficulty, I went back to my room and fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning early. As I walked down to the living room, I could hear what sounded like an argument between my parents.

"I don't care!" My mother said. "Look at you Robert! You need to see a doctor!"

"I'm telling you I'm fine. It's just stress. I swear everything will be fine."

"No it won't! You've been acting strange for a while. What's going on?"

I tried to sneak into the kitchen to grab some milk before they noticed to me, but my luck wasn't that good.

"Andrew." My dad said, almost out of breath. "I'm afraid I've finished the last of the milk with my coffee this morning. Would you mind running to the store and getting some?"

"Sure Dad." I said.

"Wait just a second. Why are you sending Andy? Don't we have pets?" My mom said.

"It's alrig..."

"Yes." My dad interrupted me. "Take Michelle with you. And you know what, here." He said handing me some money. "Go get breakfast for yourself and then the milk."

"Dad, it's ok, I'll eat here. Besides, I'd feel uncomfortable if I was eating in front of Michelle."

"Now I don't understand why..."

"No problem." My dad said interrupting my mom. "Here's a few extra dollars. Buy Michelle breakfast too."

Ok, it was official, Dad lost his mind. My mother's jaw dropped and my eyes got wide.

"Uh, Dad." I said. "Are you sure you're ok."

My Dad took a deep breath before answering.

"Yes. I'm fine. You know honey," he said to my mother, "I think I'll go see Dr. Howey today. I'll call out of work and make an appointment with her. I think all the stress at work is getting to me. We have a lot of...big deals that are coming up and I suppose I've been working too hard. Did I give you enough for breakfast for the two of you and the milk?"

"Uh yeah."

"Good. Go get Michelle and go."

As I went upstairs, I could hear my mom still arguing with my dad about having Michelle go with me. The last thing I heard was my dad saying that he'd rather me not eat alone. A chill came over me. Why didn't my dad want me alone? Would something happen to me? At any rate, I wasn't complaining. More time with Michelle was always welcomed to me.

Michelle was in my parent's room making the bed. She looked surprised to see me when I knocked on the door.

"C'mon, we're going for breakfast." I said.

"But you're parents..."

"Dad gave me money and told me to take you. Oh and we need to get milk."

"I'll go get my coat. Could you tell my mom where were going." She said with a big smile.

"Sure, where is she?"

"I think she's in your dad's office."

"Ok I'll tell her."

I walked in to my dad's office. Sure enough, Lisa was there cleaning up.

"Good morning, Lisa."

"Good morning. How are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, Michelle and I are going to breakfast. Will you be ok?"

"Of course I will be. But how did you get your parents to agree to it?"

I told Lisa about the argument between my parents. I'm sure she'd seen plenty of those before.

"I see." Lisa said. "I don't mean to be intrusive, but yesterday I found a piece of paper on your father's desk, Andy. It was a letter from Mr. Harding telling him that time was running out, and he was going to have to make a decision."

"Do you know where he put the letter?"

"In the shredder. But I'm pretty sure he was on the phone with Mr. Harding last night while you...and my daughter were asleep. He said just give him until after the holidays. I think Mr. Harding said ok about that."

"Ok, thanks for telling me that, Lisa. And umm about being asleep..."

"Andy, let's put it like this. My daughter is old enough to decide things for herself. As long as you don't break her heart, I won't break you." Lisa said with a smile that got the message across loud and clear.

"You don't have anything to worry about." I said. "I told you, I love your daughter more than anything in the world."

"Good. Now go and get breakfast."

I smiled and ran down to the kitchen. Michelle was there in her coat waiting for me.

"What took you?" She asked.

"Nothing. Just had a small talk with your mother. Ready to go?"

"After you."

Michelle and I followed the same ritual we had been doing since we started dating. The second we were out of view of my house, she was hanging on me. I was in heaven. As we walked I told Michelle about what Lisa had told me, minus the part about me not breaking her daughter's heart.

"So what do you think your father and Mr. Harding were talking about?"

"I think...I think Mr. Harding is trying to recruit my dad into the conspiracy."

"But why?"

I shook my head.

"I'm not sure. It would help if we knew what the hell this conspiracy was trying to do."

"Well, your dad's a businessman. Maybe it's got something to do with that?"

"It could be. At any rate, my dad has to decide after the holidays. I don't think he's that thrilled to join the conspiracy. I don't know why he just tells Harding to go to hell."

"Maybe he's afraid that Harding will run him out of town or something."

"Possibly. At any rate, Dad is rattled. I think he's afraid I'm going to get hurt. He didn't want me to go to breakfast alone. Not that I'm complaining."

I decided to take Michelle to a small diner that was located a little further than the center of town. I thought it would be a good place to go mostly because I knew it had a sign that said "Anthros Welcome." Besides, they made the best ham and cheese omelets in the world.

Michelle and I got to the diner and before long, food was before us. Michelle had ordered something she had always wanted to try: Pancakes. She thought they were very good. Then I told her to add the syrup and butter. Her eyes jumped out of her head.

"Oh my God!" she said. "This is amazing!"

I laughed as she nearly licked the plate clean. I also let her try a little of my omelet.

"It's good." She said. "But nowhere near as good as the pancakes."

"Wait until you try bacon." I said.

"Is bacon good?" Michelle asked.

"Bacon is the best." I said. "One night when it's late you and I can sneak out and we'll come back here."

"It can be my Christmas present." Michelle said with a laugh.

Actually, I had no idea what I was going to get Michelle for Christmas, but I did know that it was going to be something special. I still had some time to decided, but it was running out. I paid for breakfast and Michelle and I went into the supermarket to pick up the milk. I had to follow her around like a puppy dog. Eventually we were by the milk.

"Here we go. Your dad likes to get 2% milk. He says its better."

"All I know is he likes the blue one."

"You're hopeless sometimes."

"Yeah well..."

"Hello Andy." Said a familiar, unwelcomed voice.

I saw Michelle's face scrunch into a scowl.

I turned around and saw Marie, accompanied by a lioness anthro who was pushing a cart filled with groceries.

"Hello Marie. If you'll excuse us..."

"Wait Andy, I'd like to talk to you for a moment...without your...pet."

"Master Andrew, we really must be going." Michelle said.

"Oh, it won't take long." Marie said. "You should really watch your tongue. Stay here with Andrew's fur, Nina. We'll just be a moment."

Marie led me a few aisles down so that we were away from Michelle and the lioness.

"Andy, I've heard rumors about your father selling Michelle to Mr. Cunningham." Marie said. "Now, while I am all for you getting rid of that poor excuse of a pet, I'd think it would be better if you didn't sell to Mr. Cunningham. I think it would be smarter to sell to someone else."

"Don't worry." I said coldly. "Michelle isn't going anywhere."

"Good. I'd also keep Michelle away from Sam. He's a bad influence you know and Michelle is already so...rebellious. They're dangerous together. I think Sam is plotting something with Michelle, personally, so those two shouldn't really be alone together much."

The more I heard Marie talk the more a small idea kept creeping into my mind. But it couldn't be...could it?

"Marie," I said, "you wouldn't be jealous of Michelle, would you?"

Marie let out a very fake laugh.

"Oh you're a comedian, Andy. Why would I be jealous of a fur?"

"Well, I heard through the grapevine that Sam wants to buy Michelle for, shall we say, breeding purposes. And it sounds like..."

"You say a word to anyone about this...this lie, and I swear I'll..."

I put up my hand.

"Marie, you have my word that I will keep Michelle as far away from Sam Cunningham as possible and I will not tell another human a word about what we talked about I wouldn't want to upset you."

Marie's anger quickly became a warm smile.

"Thank you, Andy, for being so understanding."

She gave me a small kiss on the cheek.

"Now let's go pick up our furs."

I walked back to the dairy section where Michelle and Nina were still waiting.

"Come, Nina." Marie said. "We have more shopping to do. I will see you later, Andy."

"Goodbye, Marie." I said.

Marie and Nina walked away. The second they were gone, Michelle started growling.

"I'm sorry God, but I hate that bitch! She has to be the most awful person I have ever met."

"Oh just wait till we're outside. I guarantee you'll be laughing your ass off."

I paid for the milk and Michelle and I started walking back home.

"Ok, so why am I going to laugh?" Michelle asked.

"What if I told you that Marie was in love with Sam Cunningham?"

Michelle looked at me in disbelief.

"She told me not to tell any human, and according to her, you're not a human so..."

Michelle started to burst out laughing. In fact, she was laughing so hard, she was crying.

"You have to be kidding me! Marie Harding and Sam Cunningham! It's hysterical."

"Isn't it? I think that's why she hates you so much. She heard Sam wants you, so she's jealous."

"So yesterday when she was saying stay away from Cunningham, she meant Sam?"

"Yeah."

"Ha! Serves her right being jealous of me. Even if I think Sam is one of the most disgusting creatures on the earth. Actually, now that I think about it, they deserve each other."

On that Michelle and I both agreed. The two of us walked back to my house arm in arm for as long as we could. The laugh we shared at Marie and Sam's expense still tingled in our bellies. For the first time since talking to Mr. Cunningham, I could say I felt happy and I only hope Michelle felt the same. At the very least it was nice to hear, if for a brief moment in a bad time, an angel's laughter.