FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

First and foremost, let me apologise for the two months of absence. I've been absolutely bogged down with real life stuff, and haven't even had a chance to log on here in several weeks. To those of you who I put on the edge of a cliff in anticipation; I apologise immensely. It was never my plan to lose motivation and inspiration for something I love doing. Another apology must be given for the briefness of this Chapter - I've had to pick up from where I left off, and even though it went better than I expected, it could have been longer and more fulfilling to those of you who have waited to see some progress. I promise you that in the coming weeks I will do my best to deliver more story, and most likely finish this tale I've spun.

~ Ven.

Chapter 3

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Leanne fell asleep some ten minutes after she'd stopped crying, and I dozed off soon after. It wasn't that I was exhausted or anything like that - just that being in her company made me feel secure and relaxed, despite the fact that we were on a public flight.

We were both pulled out of the land of dreams by a flight attendant, who apologised and asked us to clip our belts for the descent and landing.

Leanne looked a little bit better after getting some rest - she even smiled to herself while we held hands on the armrest. To tell you the truth, I was suddenly terrified. I realised how much better she made my life, that my existence was no longer some kind of unending struggle. I didn't wake up dreading the coming day, or go to sleep in a cold bed. For the first time since her disappearance, I wanted to live on, to hug her whenever I could, to give her a goodnight kiss before we cuddled together into sleep.

I didn't want her gone. Losing her a second time... I didn't think I'd be able to live knowing that I'd never feel her hand on my cheek, or her lips on mine.

Speaking of which, I felt warmth on the corner of my mouth. When I turned to attention, Li was sitting there and smiling.

"Hey, you. I know thinking's important and all, but I sorta miss my Boyfriend when he's got his head in the clouds." She said, giving me about the cutest look I'd ever seen her perform.

"The clouds and my head are on a business-only basis." I assured her, reaching up behind the girl's back and scratching her Lupine ear. She closed her eyes in bliss. "I mean, what fun is it being up there when you're all the way down here?"

"You have a point." Li murmured.

"Attention everyone, this is the Captain speaking. We're beginning our descent into California - please secure your seatbelts and dispose of any drinks you may be in possession of, so that they don't spill. Thank you."

Once the plane had landed, we disembarked, got our luggage and walked out of the airport, straight to a cab. It had gotten really cold - the days were getting shorter, and with the lack of sunlight, temperatures tend to plummet.

Anxiety got hold of me again. I knew what to expect, but that didn't mean I was going to be calm about it. Streetlamps went by like seconds on a clock, and I could feel Li's fear building as well. I didn't blame her - she hadn't seen her parents in seven years, even spoken to them. That's a long time to stay away from family.

Then the time came when the cab driver stopped outside their bungalow. I paid him and stepped out of the cab, grabbing the luggage in the process (with less difficulty this time), then noticed that Leanne wasn't following.

"You okay?" I asked, leaning down to get eye-level with her.

"I'm... I'm scared."

"I know, baby. But I'm with you, and I'm here for you, whatever happens." Reaching out, I smiled reassuringly. "Come on. Let's go see your parents."

After a moment, she smiled too, although weakly, and took me up on my offer. We listened to the cab rumble away down the dark road as we made our way, paw in hand, up the path. There was utter silence after that, standing together in front of the door we hadn't seen in what seemed like an eternity. This time, Li was the scared one. This time, there was no sun to light our way. It wasn't her birthday the next day. I could no longer lift her up like I could then, and I had to look up in order to see her eyes. Brandon wasn't the inexperienced virgin, and Leanne's parents were home, not expecting her arrival.

"Enough." I muttered. Reaching out, I curled my hand into a fist and knocked on the door in three, rapid raps. Muffled voices called out to one another from inside - a man and a woman. Whether that was Andy and Lisa or Brandon and Cayleigh, I didn't really know.

I heard Leanne suck in a breath and hold it as the lock clattered, and the door opened.

It was Andrew. He didn't look much different from the time he grabbed and embraced me like a long-lost friend, bar some grey hairs patching his temples. The smile on his face was one of welcoming, but he never uttered the words that went with it. Instead, he froze, seeing his daughter, trying to decide if that was some sick joke.

"L-... Li?" He whispered.

"Dad." She smiled.

I let go of the Wolf's hand in time to let her and Andy jump into each other's arms. Both burst into tears, wailing about how much they'd missed one another. I stayed back during this, knowing that it was rude to interfere in family matters.

Lisa walked out of the kitchen after a few moments, curious about the commotion. Her reaction was much the same as her husband's - stunned shock, then uncontrollable joy. Judging by the lack of any more participants, I guessed that Brandon wasn't around.

And then Andy spotted me. I had absolutely no time to react before I was grabbed and the air was squeezed out of my lungs at an alarming rate. I guess he found me easier to lift up that time around, because he certainly showed no signs of letting go.

"You brought my girl back!" He shouted, laughing.

Lisa and Li cut in, likely saving my life.

"Dad! Stop!"

"Andy, he can't breathe!"

I'd been close to fainting by that time, and dropped to my knees upon being let go. All three got around me, checking for signs of life - Leanne more distressed than both her parents put together.

"I'm... Fine." I gasped, letting Li help me to my feet and indoors, out of the prying eyes of people who were more than likely roused out of their sleep by the commotion.

"Christ almighty, I'm so sorry, Richard." Andy blabbed, once I was sitting down.

"Nothing to be sorry for." I managed a grin. "You didn't break my ribs this time."

He sat in silence for a second, then started laughing again. Lisa and Leanne both joined in, and soon, all worries were forgotten. The Wolf had taken a spot next to me, wrapping both paws around my hand in the process, and just smiled at her parents.

"I guess I can't call you 'Little' anymore, Li." Andrew said, looking her up and down.

"I'll always be your little girl, dad."

Hearing that nearly sent Andy into another bout of tears, but he held them back. I felt Lisa's hand on my shoulder, shaking gently to get my attention. When I looked up, she beckoned over to the kitchen. I gave Li a little kiss on her cheek. "I'm going to go with your Mom for a bit. You and your Dad catch up a little, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay, Richard. Thank you. For this."

As soon as we were in the kitchen, Lisa grabbed onto me and hugged.

"You... You're amazing, Richard. You're a blessing, an honest to God miracle." She said, keeping her tone hushed.

"I'm just a Doctor from New York. We've been over this." I retorted. Lisa looked me in the eyes and shook her head in quiet laughter, then playfully punched me in the shoulder.

"Thank you for bringing our daughter back." She tried blinking some tears away, but found it a bit problematic. Her paws were on my sides, so I took the initiative and gently wiped her eyes clean. "And they say chivalry is dead." Lisa smiled again.

"It's still kicking." I couldn't help but notice the wonderful aroma drifting around the kitchen. There were some vegetables on the counter, mid-way through chopping, and some kind of roast in the oven. "Need any help, here?"

"Hm? Oh, don't worry about it. I can manage." Letting go of me, Lisa picked up her knife and started working again, but only got a few seconds in before the trembling of her paws ended her with a slight nick on the finger. "Damn it..." She swore, on an inhale.

"Hey, it's alright. Just a scratch. Come over here." I beckoned Lisa over to the sink, where I rinsed her finger. "Where's your medicine cabinet?"

"Just up here - above the sink."

After finding a bandage and some hydrogen peroxide, I told the Wolfess to close her eyes. This would ensure that she experienced less discomfort from the disinfection, and I'd get done in a matter of seconds.

"Finished. Now, you take a seat. I'll finish up."

"Thank you, but it's not really okay to invite a man over for dinner, then make him cook it." She protested, though softly.

"Don't argue with the man who brought your daughter back to you." I said. Lisa surrendered herself to gratitude and guided me through the process of making dinner. While I chopped various kinds of vegetables and arranged them on an oven tray, she spoke up again.

"You look... Different."

I smiled over my shoulder. "Worse, you mean."

"No! I... I didn't mean that."

"I know, Lisa. I look twenty years older than I am."

She didn't respond, but I sensed a question she wanted to ask.

"Thirty-two. Though I look no less than fifty."

"You took it harder than we did." Lisa murmured.

"Yes... Once Li was gone, I felt like life itself was turning against me. I guess I could only look at the negative side of everything, since I had little to be happy about."

I didn't hear Lisa get up and leave, or Leanne enter.

"She made me so happy... My first true friend. I remember, one time, I had a horrible day in classes. Came back to the dorm in a horrible mood - didn't even want to talk. Li excused herself and went out for a bit. In my state, I took it as just another part of a bad day. And then, she came back with a little bag, gave it to me with a kiss and a hug and said that she'd be in the bedroom, reading."

I smiled to myself, feeling my eyes tear up from the memory.

"She went out and got me a game I wanted real bad, but couldn't get because I spent my salary on taking her on a date. The ironic thing is, I didn't even open it. I went off and spent the night with her."

"I remember." Li's arms wrapped around me, her cheek on mine, paws intertwining with my hands. "It just goes to show that you've got your priorities straight."

"How couldn't I? A video game is one thing, but cuddling with you is worth more than any silly shooter."

She kissed my cheek and rested her chin on my shoulder.

"I never did ask how you found out about the game. Whenever you were around and I had no work to finish, I'd always spend all my time with you."

"I noticed that you read a lot of articles about it, from your browsing history."

I turned to look at her, but she continued smiling.

"You poked through my stuff?"

"Yeah, to find out what, if any, porn you'd been watching each Thursday. When I worked night shifts over in the store. Where d'you think I got those ideas for fun in the bedroom? I found out what you liked and gave it to you."

I felt a soft smile dawn on my face. "You're the most considerate girlfriend I've ever had."

"And you're the most amazing man I've ever had the chance of meeting." She paused. "And sleeping with."

We shared a little laugh, after which I turned to hug her properly.

"I love you, Li."

"I love you too, Rich."

Lisa shooed us out of the kitchen while she and Andy finished cooking, so we sat at the dinner table, next to each other, and simply waited. Holding hands under the table, each of us simply enjoyed the other's company. It was only the fourth night together again, after all.

Andrew brought the first dish in, the roast I'd seen in the oven. I asked him if he needed any help. He just said to sit tight.

"Just like old times, huh?" I asked Li.

"Somewhat." She agreed. "I feel like things are smaller here."

"Because you're taller?"

"Yeah." Leanne looked down, a smile curling on her lips. "But... Three things didn't change, about you in particular." Reaching up with her free paw, she touched my forehead. "This." Then the left side of my chest. "This." Then her paw slid down and traced a line over my belt buckle and zipper. "And that. I think it may have even gotten bigger."

I grinned an embarrassed grin and kissed Li's cheek. "Did I ever tell you that you've got the filthiest mind I've ever known?"

"Lots of times." She nodded, completely serious. "Then again, I don't see the point in being a prude. Sure, I can act 'high-class' when I need to, and be what most men would consider to be a 'proper woman', but if I'm a bit aloof and dirty, I can be both your girlfriend and best friend." Leaning in, she gazed into my eyes. "Which, in my opinion, makes a relationship last longer."

I smiled, but Leanne didn't. She turned away, looking down towards the table, her feet shuffling beneath it.

"Unless the girl is a complete idiot..."

"Hey..." I reached out, cupping her chin, and gently turned her head to look at me again. "It's no use living in the past. It's not going to get you anywhere, after all, only bring back pain and grief. Just focus on being here, with your parents, and having fun, okay?"

"Don't forget, I'm with you as well." Li had taken on a soft, warm smile, leaning down to nuzzle noses with me.

"They're just like two high-schoolers." Andy murmured to Lisa, making her giggle. We broke up the cuteness, looking away and both blushing in slight embarrassment.

"Don't mind Andrew. You just make him feel old. Dig in!" Lisa smiled.

After dinner, I left Leanne to talk to her mother a bit, since they'd barely had any time to themselves. Despite Li's protests, I decided to go outside and sit by the pool, on my own.

So many memories came back to me from those times, long ago. The most vivid was the pool party, but others came with it. That hadn't been the first and only time I'd visited Li's parents - they were very insistent on seeing their future son-in-law as often as possible, which meant any break longer than a week was spent with them and Brandon.

An image came to my head which made me smile; one time in the Summer, Andy had filled the Jacuzzi with clear water, no chlorine in it, and made sure that this fact was voice to both Li and I. He and Lisa then innocently made their way off to a restaurant, leaving us to have some 'fun' in the bubbles, and all the impurities left by us were flushed away and the Jacuzzi was cleaned with an automatic washing cycle.

With that same smile on my face, I took a cigarette from my coat pocket, along with a silver Zippo lighter. The former was just a regular Malboro, but the latter still held memories. It was a little treat I'd bought for myself with my first real paycheck, and it'd been with me ever since.

As I blew out my third puff of the death-stick, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I'd been half sitting, half lying on a poolside chair, staring up at the sky above. Most of that became blocked by Andrew's smiling yet concerned face.

"Hey." He said, sitting down on a chair next to me. I pulled myself up to sit cross-legged, allowing me to turn my head and talk inbetween puffs.

"Hey. Something bothering you, Andy?"

"That." He nodded to the cigarette. "I've never seen you smoke before."

"I picked it up around the time I started working at the Hospital. It helps me deal with stress, that's all."

He nodded, offering an ashtray he'd been moving between his paws. I nodded my thanks and tapped the ash into it.

"Look, Richard... I don't want to sound like an ass here, but could you please try giving that up?" He put the ashtray down on the ground, looking into my eyes. "I don't mind the smell, I don't mind the mess the cigs make... I just don't want your life to end before you're due. I've already talked to Li about that, and she agreed without so much as a peep of argument. If you don't want to do this for me, could you do it for her?"

Turning on the chair, I let my legs drop to the ground. Once I was stable, I reached over and stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray.

"I know it's a bad habit. Now that Li's back, I don't even feel the need to smoke anymore. It's just..." I stopped and sighed. "I'm afraid. I don't know what's around the next corner. She started coughing up this black crap, and I'm terrified that it might be something serious. Andy, I won't be able to take losing her again."

The Tiger smiled. It was a faint, genuine smile of reassurance, though some doubt was in his mind as well. "Richard, my girl's a fighter. As long as she has a reason to fight, she won't stop until she wins. I don't think that you're aware of just how much you mean to her, how much your love means to her. Li talks about you like you're some kind of Angel, and I've never seen anyone in more love than she's in right now." Andy reached out, laying his hand on my shoulder again and giving it a squeeze. "Point is, Rich - whatever she's hurting from, however serious or trivial, she's going to fight through it, because she's got you to come back to."

I felt myself breaking apart again, with both worry and happiness. Fear and a new sense of strength. Andy pulled me up and took me inside, where I went to sit in Leanne's room and try to hold the tears back.

She went in only minutes afterwards, not saying a word, just wrapping her arms around me and holding me close.

"Don't worry." She whispered, kissing my cheek. "I'll be alright, and we'll live happily ever after, right?"

My mind didn't want to answer, but my heart took over. "Yeah, we will... Li?"

"Mmh?"

"I love you."

Leanne smiled. "I love you too, Rich." She pulled me into a hug again. "More than you could ever know."