Homecoming
(July 19, 2013: Boston)Susan Shelby, a twenty-five year old gray chinchilla, sat in the passenger seat of the 2013 Corvette as she stared at the name in her contact list: 'Darren Escher', the father of her niece. Could she still call him her brother-in-law? He had remarried just less than a year ago, but it had been much longer since she had left New Hampshire. Alexis Hawkins, a bald eagle about her same age, glanced over at her while she drove. "Jou gonna dial da numba or ya jus' gonna stare at it all day? We're gonna be dere anytime now."The pair had been driving for two days, non-stop from Portland, Oregon. They were on a mission to find a place for them to begin their new lives as members of the renewed Dark Riders. Just a month ago, the group was nothing more than the scattered remnants of a disbanded special operations unit, the final five survivors of a tragic mission gone wrong. Then a small kangaroo mouse entered their lives in the hands of their once platoon sergeant, Lillliana Fargo. The young girl seemed to shine a light on their flaws, yet somehow brought a renewed purpose to the team.The group had banded together to help Lilliana adopt the youth, and in the end the mouse gave them a challenge they would not refuse. As they sat around a bonfire celebrating their victory over the system and joking about their future plans, Cecily pitched an idea that blew their minds. In their pasts, each had felt as lost and abandoned as this mouse once was. She had asked them to make a home of help for furs like her, like they had all been. The war-torn vets all jumped at the chance to make a real difference in the world.Now Alex and Susan were on their way to what would soon be the heart of their endeavor. Lilliana had received a job offer to become a teacher at the Chimera Preparatory Academy in Marblecliff, NH. Their mission was to find a base of operations and new home for the soon-to-be-realized Dark Rider House for Wayward Youths. To Susan's surprise and mild dismay, they were now headed to her old home, a place that she had left seven years ago after both her sister and parents perished within a year. What made her quake with fear and anticipation was the one thing she left behind so long ago: her last living relative, her sister's daughter, Elise Escher."It's been seven years. I'm sure Elise doesn't even remember who I am anymore," the chinchilla said."Ya been writin' her lettas every mont' fer all dem years, I be' she'd be 'appy ta see ya." Alex slowed down as they entered the residential neighborhood. "Whateva ya gonna do, ya betta do it fas'."Susan took a deep breath before pressing the call icon on the screen. "Hey, Darren, it's Susy." Her friend snickered at the shortened version of her name. [Oh my God, Susy? It's been years since you called last. How are things? Is anything wrong?]She took another deep breath before she answered, "No, everything is looking up, actually. But I do have a big favor to ask."[Anything for my little sister, what do you need?]She sighed and continued, "Are you ever going to drop that little sister stuff? Sabrina passed eight years ago, and I heard you remarried... congratulations."[Thank you, and no, Elise and I are the only family you have left. Now spit it out, what do you need?]"Well, here's the thing. I am moving back to New Hampshire, and need a place to crash while I look for a house." [Any time, Susy, all you have to do is ask. We have the guest bedroom all set if you need it. Elise will be surprised to see you. So when are you looking at getting here?]Alex pulled the car to a stop in front of a brown and white two story house as Susan looked out the window, "In about thirty seconds."[What?]"We just pulled up to the house now?" she said a little sheepishly as she waited to be reprimanded by the older chinchilla on the line.[Um... Well... Julia and I are at the lab. Elise is home alone. Let me see if I can call her before you ...]Susan pulled the phone away from her ear and pushed the end call button on the screen. She was relieved that she would not have to face Darren directly just yet."So?" her friend asked as they sat in silence."They've got a spare room we can stay in, they're both at work right now and Elise is home alone." She took a deep breath before she swung the door open, "Well no time like the present to look like an ass to your only niece. Let's get this over with." Susan jumped out of the car and walked up the short drive to the door, followed closely by Alex. Together they stood by the door and listened to the silence coming from the house. The tranquility was interrupted by a rather loud voice from within, "Jesus Fucking Christ, who let the NOOBS on the ranking server? It's fucking up my average. The douche fragged himself and me. Tell me about it. He was on my team. I fuckin hate random seed teams." As the house came suddenly to life with the ranting, Susan swallowed hard and rang the doorbell. "Who the Fuck? AFK guys. Got to get the door." Paw steps thundered down the stairs, then the door opened to reveal a young white mosaic chinchilla still wearing a wireless gaming headset. Her eyes sprang to the size of golf balls when she saw Susan, "Guys, I gotta go," she said, then slid the headset down around her neck. "Aunt Susy?" "Elise? Oh my god, you've gotten bi.." Susan's breath was knocked out of her as the chinchilla pup slammed hard into her and squeezed.Alex looked at back and forth between the pair before speaking, "I tink she remembas ya." She stepped back for a moment, "'old on a sec.. if ya're Fluffy Muffins... Holy Chit... It's a Mini Muffins, dis is so cool." She pulled out her phone and started snapping pictures of the chinchilla pair. "Da oders 'ave got to see dis."Elise let go of Susan's waist and looked up at the eagle, "What the ..." she stopped herself before finishing her thought and started again, "Excuse me?" Before she could get out another word the phone rang in the house. "Come in, Aunt Susy" She turned and ran into the house followed by the pair.Alex looked over at Susan and snickered again, "Susy?""It's been seven years, and she has always called me Susy. Everyone called me Susy back then," Susan said before locking her menacing gaze on her eagle friend. "And if you tell anyone, I will pull out all your feathers on at a time.""I tink it's cute, ya should let 'er.." Alex was cut off by a glare from Susan. "Ok, I won't tell no one...." switching to a half whisper, "But dey'll 'ear it fer demselves when dey get 'ere." The corners of her mouth turned up in a mild smile."Hey dad, you'll never guess who's here." Elise said after noting the Caller ID when she picked up the phone. [So Susy is really already there?]"You knew she was coming and didn't tell me? You know I was working on padding my rank on MOH this week."[Well, thats why I was calling, she just told me.]Susan sat in a chair at the small breakfast table in the kitchen and looked at Alex who leaned against the doorway leading in, "She's a pro gamer, maybe we should just go and get some food or something, and come back later."Elise looked over at her aunt, "I don't think so, I haven't seen my aunt in I don't know how long, those posers can wait a few hours."[Elise, your aunt's probably tired from her trip. You need to let her rest a bit. Just show her to the guest room.]"Um... dad. She has someone with her," the young chinchilla said over the phone.[What? Put her on the phone.]"Dad wants to talk to you," Elise said as she handed the phone to the older chinchilla.Susan sighed as she took the phone from the cub, "Hey, Darren, can this wait til you get home? Alex and I have been driving for two days and I need to stretch out a bit before I can think straight. We can talk about the arrangements later, ok?"[Alex? That's one of your old army buddies, right? Hey, look it doesn't matter, you're staying with us, we'll figure this out. You and Alex crash in the guest room; there is a bed and a couch in there. Julia and I should be home in a few hours. I'll see you then.]Susan breathed a sigh of relief as the click echoed across the phone line. She was relieved that she would not have to deal with Darren, at least for a few more hours. She looked over at the young chinchilla girl. "Hey, Elise, I don't know about Alex, but I need to stretch out and relax for a bit. Mind showing us the guest room?"The disappointment was written all over Elise's face as she answered. "Um, Okay. It's upstairs, at the end of the hall on the left."Alex looked at the older chinchilla, "Ya really gonna do dis? Ya gona 'ave ta talk to dem eventually. Dat girl right dere wan's to spen' some time wit' 'er aunty Susy." She stood and stretched her wings to the ceiling, "If you don', I'm gonna." Then she looked over at Elise, "Wha'cha got dats fun to do roun' 'ere, Mini Muffins?""Wha... what?" the girl asked as she looked at the eagle confused. "What did you call me?" Susan shook her head. "Elise, this is Alex. Alex, this is my niece, Elise. And Alex, I have to warn you before you sit down and 'goof off' with the girl, she is a high ranking MLG champion." She looked at Elise, "At least you were last time I got a letter.""I don' know wha' MLG is, bu' know some MMA," the eagle said as she struck a 'snake' style stance."Guh, Major League Gaming. What kind of tool doesn't know that?" The young chinchilla asked with the most appalled look the pair of adults had ever seen on a young fur's face. "I'm the reigning regional Black Ops II champion. There's no one better than me." Alex snapped her beak a few times, "Dat dere soun's like a challenge, Mini Muffins."Elis puffed herself up as she responded to the cocky bird, "That ain't no challenge, I will bury your NOOB ass under a mountain of bodies. But, I don't have time for that, I was padding my rank for this weekend's
online challenge. I keep having to make new accounts to even get in the small stuff anymore. And that's the only good way to scope out the new competition.""She's so tied up in her competitions, I bet she never even opened her Christmas present from me." Susan sat back in her chair with a slight smile on her face, filled with pride for her niece."Actually, Aunt Susy, um... dad got me a Wii-U just so I could play it," the young cub said just a little embarrassed to admit the fact. "It's not a competition title, but..." her expression changed as she looked back at the eagle, "If you tell anyone I play Skylanders, I'll... I'll..." She trailed off as the bald eager started laughing."Ain't dat da one dat Longshot got fer Squeaky befer day lef'?" She looked over at cub, "Lilly spent almos' four days finden all the little tingies fer it. Even got all dat firs' set er somtin'." Alex looked down at Elise, "Sides, who am I gonna tell?" She said with a smile. "'Ay, everyone I know in Baston, Mini Muffins plays kiddy games.""Why do you keep calling me that? My tag is Killa_Chinchilla," the cub said at the eagle, the contempt for the cutesy nickname heavy in her voice.The corners of the eagle's mouth turned up in a slight smile, "Jou don' look like a killa ta me, little miss muffins." She leaned toward the girl, her eyes darted left and right, "'Sides, in a few years you might even outshine Fluffy Muffins over dere.""Oh my fucking god, Boomer, drop the fuckin Muffins shit already, it's been six years," Susan glared at Alex as she spoke."Too late, ya bot' stuck wit' it now, I already put da muffin twins on da facebook." She spun her phone in her hand showing the social media post already had comments from the eagle's 'friends'.Susan swiftly grabbed at the phone as it was pulled out of of her reach, "Delete that shit, Alex, I'll beat the shit out of you." She lunged out of the chair at her companion, and knocked them both to the floor. Elise's jaw dropped as she watched the two grown women rolling on the floor, fighting over the digital device like a couple of kids her own age. "Give it to me, Boomer!" the chinchilla yelled as the eagle slipped it into her pants.The two continued to roll on the floor for several moments, grappling with one another. They knocked over chairs and bumped into the table before the eagle was able to maneuver the chinchilla into a submission hold, their legs wrapped together, and her wings holding the chinchilla's arms, almost displaying the woman as if on a torture table. "Ay, Mini Muffins, I got 'er defenseless. She's ticklish under 'er arms.""Don't you fuckin dare..." Susan started before she was inteupted."What's going on in here?" The red squirrel in the doorway to the kitchen asked as the two quarreling adults released one another and got up, dusting themselves off."Not the first impression I was hoping to make," Susan glared at Alex again before she donned a smile and walked over to the squirrel. "Hi, I am Susan, Elise's aunt on her mother's side, and this is my friend, Alex. You must be Julia," she continued as she held out her paw to the younger woman."Darren told me you were coming so I left early to check things. And what do I find? Two grown adults fighting like kids in my kitchen." Julia looked at the two like any mother would look at bickering siblings.The two swiftly pointed to one another and said in unison, "She started it." moments before all three broke into laughter at the situation. The two house guests put the chairs back on their feet to take their seats again, winded from the little scuffle. "Elise? You didn't offer them a drink? I'm so sorry. Can I get you anything?" The younger woman asked the pair as they started to relax again."Dad called just as they got here, Julia. I didn't have a chance." The chinchilla pup said rolling her eyes. "Can I plug the PS3 in in the living room?" she asked hoping to get away from the adults before they started the boring talk, but still wanting to be close to the action if they decided to do anything.."That's fine." Julia replied not sure how things would go with the odd pair now before her. "Well, Susan, what brings you back to Boston?"Ok, this is probably going to sound really strange, just go with it.
About a month ago my buddy Lilly picked up a runaway..." The chinchilla was interrupted by Alex."She don' wana 'ear our life story 'ere. Let me take dis" She cleared her throat and took a deep breath, the reached across the table, "Hello, My name is Alex Hawkins, I am Miss Shelby's Attorney. My client has chosen to relocate to this area..."Susan reached over and slapped Alex on the back, "You stop that shit, Boomer." She continued her small tale while she tried to repress a giggle at her friend. "Long story short... Lilly adopted the girl, and I had just quit my job for personal reasons. All of us from the old unit were there joking about our futures when Cecily said something that we all just went for. Opening a home to help other kids like her. But that is all still in the air. We needed a place to start and Lilly somehow got offered a job as a teacher at Chimera Prep, and we are all coming out here to get the other thing started.""Chimera Prep? I graduated from there! My sister, Claire, is going into her junior year there, too." The squirrel said with a bit more enthusiasm than Susan expected. "My condolences to your sister." Susan said with a snicker."What do you mean?" Julia asked cocking her head to the side."You'll see when you meet Lilly." She said as she glanced at Alex, the two smirked at each other before she went on, "They'll be here in about two weeks I think. But knowing Lilly they could be here tomorrow. We're out here to look for a house for the group before they come. We want to surprise Squeaky... Cecily with her new home when she shows up in town." "So... you're all following the dream of a young girl to help out others? That is so cool." Julia said as she leaned on her lebows and rested her chin in her paws.Susan looked at the floor, "Yea, well, I really didn't plan this out well, I guess Lilly is starting to rub off on me. We don't want to put you out, so we can get a hotel room in Marblecliff if it's too much trouble. I really couldn't live with myself if I drove past here and didn't at least get a look at Elise.""Nonsense, you're family. We have a guest bedroom you can stay in.
There's only one bed, but you two are ..." Julia started to say.Alex cut her off, "An item, ya-becha," The eagle said as she pulled Susan closer with her wing around her shoulder, "But we're in an open relationship." She finished, giving the squirrel woman a wink."God damn it, Alex!" Susan said as she pushed away from the eagle, "Quit that shit. No, we're not an item. We just left the men out in Oregon to pack the shi... stuff up. In fact, Lilly should be getting back from the cruise any time now. It ended the day before yesterday." As she finished the sound a vibrating phone emanated from her pocket.[03:45 PM DR23A : Back at base camp. Gear nearly secured for transport. Will mobilize to site Bravo with in the day.][03:45 PM DR81B: DR72D and I are secure at TAC. Will begin recon for HQ location at 08:00]"And It looks like everything is on schedule." Susan said before he looked over at Alex, "They will be heading to get your stuff in the morning. As long as they follow the plan they should be in Chicago to clean out your apartment next week. We should start the house hunt tomorrow."Alex looked back at her, "Ya know tamara is da weeken', right? Do ya really thin' someone will meet wit' us on such short notice?""That from the college educated lawyer." Susan said while she shook her head, "Internet research, then we call the realtors on Monday." The chinchilla looked over at Julia, "See what I have to deal with?"Julia chuckled, "Well, I guess we need to look into sleeping arrangements for you two.. I have a little good news, the couch in the living room is a pullout."Alex butted in, "Dere's no need fer us ta take up da common areas of your home, Mrs. Escher. I can pull a rack out da car. We were ready ta camp if we needed ta. Fluffy Muffins and I can flip for who gets the bed." She said with a smile."I will ring your neck and serve you for..." Susan was interrupted by the sound of a classic phone ringer coming from Alex's pants."Woah... If you two will excuse me I 'ave a 'appy time phone call goin' off in my pants." Alex said as she stood up to pull the phone from it's current location behind her zipper, "Note ta self; Leave Ringer + Vibrate on." Then she walked out of the kitchen into the hall to take the call."Please excuse her, she has a few issues, if you know what I mean." Susan said with one finger circling her ear. "But, she's right. We don't want to take up any public areas of your home. We can just trade off sleeping on the cot for a few nights, ma'am. We want to disrupt your lives as little as possible.""Please call me Julia. And like I already said, you're family, and you always help family. You and your friend are welcome here as long as you need. Just, why didn't you call sooner?" Julia asked with genuine concern in her voice.Susan closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering, "It's... I didn't leave on the best of terms back then, and I really never did make things right. Hell, I haven't even written or spoken to Darren much in the past seven years, other than to update my address or phone number. All I've done is keep my promise to write to Elise, and damned if I haven't slacked on that. I went from writing every week to getting them out once a month. I must be the worst aunt on the planet."Julia reached across the table and put her paw on Susan's, "Look, Susy, do you mind if I call you Susy?""Most everyone calls me Susan now, But I don't mind.""Ok, Susan, that girl in there worships you. She checks the mail everyday for your letters. I don't even know what you write in them because she runs to her room every time they come. Whatever you're doing, that girl loves you. And I have never heard Darren say anything bad about you. From what I understand you left soon after your parents died. It must have been hard for you. I can't imagine losing so many people in such a short time. He talks about you like you were his younger sister."Susan leaned back in her chair with a smile, "That sounds like Darren. Big, warm, fuzzy, lovable jackass. I think I even bit his head off before I left. But, he and Elise still showed up at my Basic and AIT graduations. I couldn't face him back then, and it's killing me now." She looked
over at the younger squirrel woman, "And I have no idea why I am talking your ear off about my issue." Susan took another deep breath, "What I want to know is... How is Elise really doing?"Just as Julia was about to tell Susan the front door opened and a male voice shouted in, "Why is there an eagle on the front porch talking in German?" The white chinchilla man walked past the kitchen door toward the living room. "And it looks like we lost the TV to Elise for the night. So where's the rest of my family?""We're in the kitchen dear." Julia called out to her husband.As he walked into the kitchen he heard the thick German accent speak loudly from the front door "Detlev sagte, dass Lilliana zieht ihr gewohnt. Sie sind heute Nacht verlassen mit dem beladenen Lastwagen und ging nach Chicago jetzt.""English Alex, I only understand you if you speak english." Susan yelled back at her friend."Detlev said dat Lilliana's pullin' her usual. Dey're leavin' tonight wit da loaded truck an' 'eaded to Chicaga now." The eagle replied as she entered to kitchen behind Darren."Do I want to know what's going on?" Darren asked looking over the room. "Forget it, I just want to see my long lost Susy. Come here and give me a hug." He spread his arms as he looked over at the other Chinchilla seated at the table.Susan reluctantly stood and walked over to him, "Not sure how you can still act like nothing happened." She said as he grabbed her in a crushing hug."Ugh.""What happened? You left for a bit, now you're home." He replied as he lifted her paws off the floor. "Elise and I missed you. You should come visit more often.""So who's da 'ot man?" Alex asked as she watched, leaned against the door jam.Susan pulled herself from the other chinchilla's embrace, "This is Darren, Julia's husband... and off limits. Darren, this is my old army buddy, Alex. Not sure if you remember her from any of my letters." Darren turned to the eagle and reached
out his paw, "Pleased to meet you, Alex, and welcome to our humble home."She took him paw in a tight grip and gave it a firm pump, "Nice you finally meet you , Mr. Escher. I have heard so much about you.""Please call me Darren, and what have you heard?" He asked with a smile."Absolutely nothin. She just stared at da phone fer hours on end not callin' fer two days." Alex said as she glanced over at Susan and winked. "Wor's two days on da road eva. It's like she dreaded comin' back ta da east coas' in fear of losin' 'er 'ead. All she did tell me was dat she bitched ya out befer she lef' fer da army. SO... how bad of a bitch was she back den?""Alex! There's a kid in the next room." Susan whisper-yelled at her."Ah! She probably 'ears worse at school." the eagle replied with a smirk."That's not the issue, Boomer. You're in someone else's house using profanity around their kid without knowing the standards they live by. This isn't the Dark Riders any more. Think for a second before you talk." Julia rolls her eyes, and says "Or she can hear worse from her gaming buddies..."Susan dropped back into the chair, "Still not my point... I give up. But be warned, Alex and the others can get rather loud and rowdy if you don't keep them in check."Darrens eyes widened, "Others? You have more coming?""Not yet, We are hoping to have a place ready before they get here, and I wouldn't even try to have you host them. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy..." Susan paused for a moment, "Though they all seem to do a lot better with Squeaky around." She finished with a smile.Darren pulled a chair out from the table and sat, "Enough of that. What brings you back out here. I thought we might have to take a trip out to see you."Susan sighed, "It's a long story, but the short version is my friend Lilly adopted a young mouse, who in turn recruited us to
do something stupid. We all agreed, and here we are.""It sounded better the way you told it to me" Julia said, "They are all coming out here to open up some sort of house to help the youth in the community or something like that. One of them is even getting a job at Chimera Prep as a teacher."Alex pulled out the last chair at the table and sat with the group, "Ya know, it's great 'ow ya tink our insanity to noble. But ya got ta rememba one ting. We're a group of damaged combat vets lead by a damaged young mouse 'open to 'elp the damaged young masses 'ave a betta life.""Now that sounds noble to me. Even sounds like something Sabrina would take part in, God bless her soul." Darren said as Alex finished her little speech, "And I am sure your unique perspectives on life will see options others might miss for those kids. Whatever you do, I am sure you'll do great, Susy." As he finished his pep talk he heard a snicker from across the table. "What?""No one has called me Susy in almost eight years. And at this point I would like that better than what Alex is about to call me." Susan said as she gave the eagle a stern look, "Say it and I'll snap your wing."A grin crossed the eagles face, "Say what?""Don't""FLUFFY""Stop while you're ahead, Alex""MUFFINS""That's it, you're dead Boomer" The chinchilla stood, stepped up on the chair and jumped over the table at her friend."FLUFFY MUFFINS, FLUFFY MUFFINS, FLUFFY MUFFINS.".Alex chanted as Susan collided with her. Julia and Darren slid back from the table as the two hit the floor."This is how I found them when I got home. Is she always like this?" Julia asked giggling just a little at the display."Really, I couldn't tell you. She was never that physical before." Darren replied as Alex
maneuvered Susan into another submission hold."When ya gonna learn dat I'm gonna win every time? You can't beat me, Fluffy Muffins." Alex said triumphantly eliciting a laugh from Darren."Break it up kids, the teen in the next room is acting better than you two." Darren said trying not to laugh as he spoke. "And you're worried about the language you use around her. At least take it outside where you wont break anything."The two stood again brushing themselves off. Alex took a deep breath and cleared her throat as she sat back in her chair, "You will have to excuse my client's current behavior. She has been spending a lot of time in a remote cabin in the woods and may not understand the value some furs place in their home and possessions.""Damn it Alex, stop the shit." Susan said as she took her own seat again."Look 'ose usin da profanity now." Alex retorted with a grin.As voice came from the doorway, "Can you teach me how to do that?" Everyone turned find Elise standing in the door."I was getting hungry and was wondering what's for dinner."Alex jumped up and pulled a men's wallet out of her pocket, "It's Friday, that makes it pizza night. Come on Fluffy Muffins, chip in your part." Without much thought Susan reached for her own wallet."Pizza sounds pretty good, but I'm not going to let our guests pay for our meal." Darren said as he stood and walked over to the phone. "SO... I know our usual order. What do you two want?"After Darren ordered the meal to be delivered, They all sat at the small kitchen table and chatted the hours away. They exchanged anecdotes and stories. Darren and Susan reminisced about times with her family so many years ago. As the night wore on Alex finally began to lose the battle against sleep. She stretched and yawned, "I tink i'll hit da sack. Wana give me a 'and wit the baggs and cot Susan?"Elise, who had been sitting quietly listening to the adults banter, said, "I'll Help." And jumped to her feet and followed the two out to the Corvette. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the shiny
new sports car, "Is this yours, Aunt Susy?""Na, this piece of junk belongs to Alex" the Chinchilla replied."Piece a junk? Dis ain't no piece a junk. Dis is a fine American made street machine." Alex retorted as she opened the hatch on the back, "Your rus' bucket wouldn't a made it ova da mountains.""Like hell it wouldn't. But I know one thing for sure, it wouldn't of gotten stuck in the mud.""Dat's cause ya don' know how ta drive, Fluffy" the eagle said as she pulled the two military duffle bags and cot out of the back."I'll show you what you need when my Willys gets out here." Susan said as she watched the young chinchilla grab the cot. The two adults tossed the duffles over their shoulders and started back to the house, "Classic WWI beast. None of that emissions control or computer crap needed to make it run, just good old fashioned internal combustion. Pour flammable liquid in the tank, adjust the carb, and go."Elise looked up at her aunt then to Julia and her father, "Um... Alex can have my bed. I'll sleep on the cot in the guest room with Aunt Susy."Alex knelt down by the young chinchilla, "Dats so sweet a ya, Mini Muffins, but 'ow about I sleep in da guest room, an' you and Fluffy can fight ova 'oo gets da cot in your room." As Alex realized how much she might be stepping over her bounds she looked to the parents, "If dat's ok wit' everyone."Julia and Darren shrugged, "It's still summer break. Can't hurt anything for you ladies to do that." Darren said winking at Elise, who stifled a squeal as she ran up to her room, cot in her arms. "I swear, that's the happiest I have seen her since getting her PlayStation 3. Her room is the first one at the top of the stairs, Susy. Now you two get some sleep; you must be exhausted after that long trip." Susan yawned as she waved to the couple in the kitchen, "I'll see you two in de mornin, if I get any sleep tonight." She climbed to the top of the stairs in time to see Alex walk into the room at the end of the hall and hear the heavy thud of her hitting the bed or the floor. She knocked on the door at the top of the flight with the 'keep out' sign
prominently displayed in the center, before opening the door, "Can I come in?"The pre-teen had the parts to the canvas cot poured out on the floor as Susan entered. The small room was clean but filled with furniture. A basic bed with matching nightstand sat in one corner; across from it was a desk with a brightly lit, high-end custom computer sitting on it. Against the wall with the door was a short vanity dresser with a 27" flatscreen TV and several gaming consoles set to one side, on top. The mirror was all but covered with photos. Susan took a closer look and saw that more than half were pictures she had sent, mostly of her in uniform. The walls were covered with gaming and band posters. The room was that of a common pre-teen, which brought a smile to Susan's face. The older chinchilla dropped the duffle by the dresser and sat on the floor with the cub, "Here, let me help with that. these old army cots are a bit stiff after all the years they sat in Hank's workshop.""I know how to do that, I am a girl scout, you know." Elise said as she tried to impress her aunt."I know, but this junk is more of a two man job to get it set up. Its half rusted into place. Take the middle section and do this." Susan placed her paws on one end of each lent and pulled with her arms, the antique wood creaked as the cross slowly moved into place. "You need to do it slowly or you might snap the wood on these damned thing""Okay." Elise said as she followed the example. She strained a little as the tight fitting wood groaned against the metal fittings. Together the two stretched out the last set of legs. Each chinchilla took hold of the small wooden beam at the end. Elise watched as Susan pressed her paws against the center of the 'X' formed by the crossing legs and pulled the canvas cot tight, setting the beam on small pegs to hold it in place. Elise followed suit. Susan pulled a quarter from her pocket and dropped it against the canvas of the cot. It bounced a foot off the surface and back into her paw. "You sure you want to sleep on that thing? I might rather sleep on the floor.""No, you take the bed aunt Susy, this will be fun." She said as she ran out into the hall and returned a moment later with a rolled-up sleeping bag. She pulled the elastic bands loose and flung it out over the cot.Susan sat on the bed for a moment quietly watching the young girl as she readied for bed. The gamer girl slipped out of her clothes and into a triple-XL CoD T and a fresh pair of panties. "You know something I didn't think of here? I don't wear that much to bed, usually just bra and panties. But I don't think Darren wants to see that this weekend. You got one of those I can borrow?" Susan asked with a weak smile.Elise swiftly rummaged through her dresser and pulled out and oversized, faded NeverWinter Nights Shirt and tossed it to her, "Will that work?"Susan took off her shirt and pants and slipped the gamer T on. The fabric of the shirt stretched tight across her breasts which caused the hem to fall just short of covering the crotch of her panties. "Well I guess Darren is still going to get a little show." She smiled at Elise, "Ok, teeth then sleep. Where's the bathroom?""It's at the end of the hall, Aunt Susy." The young girl said as she headed out of the room followed by Susan.As they entered the bathroom Susan heard the sound of something hitting the floor at the top of the stairs. She leaned back to look out into the hall to see Julia helping Darren off the floor where he landed after missing the tops step. "What happened? Are you OK?" She asked."He's fine, just saw a little more than he was bargaining for when you two ran past," Julia said in jest as she winked at the older chinchilla. "We'll see you two in the morning."With a smile, Susan said, "See you in the morning, Julia." Together the two chinchillas brushed their teeth and returned to the bedroom. With in moments of laying down Susan had passed out from exhaustion and the long trip out. Elise on the other hand was so energized by seeing her long lost aunt she couldn't sleep... not yet. Walking over to the gaming rig she sat down and slipped on the headset she was wearing when they arrived. "Hey guys, sorry about that, had some famdram hit. Who's up for that new map?" With that the members of the small town gaming clan worked into the night, as least until the young chinchilla passed out at the keyboard.