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*Hey all! Remember this series? Been awhile no? Yeah...yeah it has...way way too long! I've not been writing jack-squat these past few months really, or if so never out of a series or anything worth saving onto a document certainly! Oh well, enough about that and the ever-going war with writing blocks! Time for the show to get back on the road! Woo-hoo! Here we go! *

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The days passed with relative quickness, and most happily, the school days uneventfully. Well, for the most part perhaps. The day immediately after had been hell on earth--just because there had still been some issues to work out. Ben tried his best to sneak into the teacher's lounge, which was a laughable action, given his size made any such action impossible. Still, he did try to quiet his steps, but it didn't matter, immediately eyes were on him. Mrs. Stephens particularly, and it was not a kind glare at all. Mr. Jacobs smiled though.

Not that it was all that bad of course, but there was the ever present feeling of eyes on the back of his head. That would pass in time though--most specifically at the end of the week when everyone would surely find something else to observe. A part of it irked him though. Ben let out a sigh as he poured a cup of coffee from the canister--wondering how long it had been sitting; hopefully not too long. He'd done everything right, taken the proper actions; yet there was still the threat of disciplinary action.

Not against Chris. He wouldn't let the pup go through anything else--though he also hoped the pup would keep himself out of anything that popped up. But against himself. It was a small fear, but he could see it now. Marcus would go bawl to his parents, the parents would rage at the principal, and to avoid any undue actions, he'd be let go.

The thought made a small growl resonate in his throat, and Mrs. Jones, the drama teacher, quickly backed away from the coffee maker--even after Ben tried to give her an encouraging growl. For some of them, you'd think they thought he was the one who punched the cat's lights out. That was a silly thought; considering he'd been on the ground trying to catch his breath. What wasn't silly was that he could still lose his job about it--even though he had done nothing wrong.

He was with Marion, and Marion was Chris's father, something no one had any control over. Yet it could be seen as him showing favoritism, even though the pup would have to sit for an hour after school in detention for the week. It was justice, or well, as close as the school system came to it, or well, perhaps not even that. In his own mind Chris had done nothing wrong, though he could never say that to anyone except possibly Marion and the pup--of course even with the pup he had to be careful, least Chris said so to leaky mouths.

Of course, it was all just theorizing at this point. Perhaps Marcus's parents would be reasonable and understand their little demon child had attacked him and antagonized a student which lead to a fist into that smug little face. For a moemtn he worried about how often he dwelled on the memory. Certainly he wasn't supposed to show any sort of favoritism, and most certainly to never admit to having any.

But it was the truth, teachers had students they liked more than others. And with liking, came dislike, and Marcus had managed to push himself past Jenny the tigress who made a habit of calling him names. If there were no negative consequences to it, Ben wasn't sure he wouldn't fail the cat just out of spite, but then again, it wasn't like Marcus needed much help with that.

The more humanitarian part of him remembered he should want the best for the cat--though it was a bit of a bitter thought, sort of like the coffee. He added a bit of sugar and milk to it, noting it made it much better, though he still regreted not fixing any before leaving Marion's in the morning. Did Chris like coffee? He should offer next time, it might make a nice impression on the pup.

Or the pup might be a sour-puss in the mornings and want to bite his head off. Though so far he'd only had to wake Chris once, usually the pup was prompt about getting out of bed, which surprised him. Most of his students spoke like getting up in the morning was nearly as bad as realizing summer break was ending--everyday.

The thoughts continued to buzz around in his head, none having a certain amount of precedence really, more like background noise for him. Sometimes he had to filter the thoughts, say when he began to think of Marion, how he hadn't seen the wolf in quite some time--at least in terms of a week went. He missed him. He didn't dwell on that, which kept his rumbles of displeasure to a minimum. And also of Marion and what he'd like to do with the wolf he couldn't get his paws on. He didn't dwell on those, which kept his rumbles of enjoyment to a minimum.

The day went on rather boringly, to his satisfaction. Talking of chemical bonds, and beginning to introduce just the very basics of organic chemistry to the cubs and pups. He made sure to stress that explosions could be part of organic, hoping to get some happiness there, but it didn't really get much. Instead it got a question about nuclear bombs--nucelar!--the word implied a lack of organic chemistry!

"And so at some point during this course, we'll go into the lab....yeah....for some...well, esterification I believe we'll try this time around," Ben rumbled, his mind at its worst right now due to it being last period. The air was just slightly under palpable at the start--with most of the class looking from Marcus, to him, to Chris; with Chris trying to ignore everything going on. He'd hated telling the pup to put up the book he'd been trying to bury himself in, cause it wasn't like he wanted to give the pup any attention right now either. Still, rules were rules.

But nothing happened during that period either, and as he talked with Marion the principal never showed up telling him they were going to have to talk. No, instead he found himself chuckling happily as the wolf told him about his day.

"So, then this moron thinks that the code...I told you about the code right?"

"Uhhh..."

"It's for registration of this new medicine on the market some new statin I believe...either way," Marion intoned with a nearly audible wave of his paw, "This guy argues with me for ten minutes about how the code is for a different system or company...we're at the company meeting and he's telling me it's for a wrong company?"

"Sounds frustrating," Ben replied levelly, not exactly the most interesting story, but the wolf's voice alone made it more than worth it.

"I just....uuuuugggghhhh. Next time Mary is doing this, no ifs, ands, or buts about it," Marion growled lowly. He hated this, it wasn't interesting, it wasn't worth the free room and food, it wasn't worth being away from his family--which while he'd been away had come to make two faces instantly in his mind. Sure, Chris was there, and had been for the longest of times, but now Ben's face popped up in his mind as well. "Speaking of buts...how was your day Honey-Butt?"

Ben rumbled deep in his throat at the little name, a small bit of enjoyment, but also of embarrassment. He was fine with Marion calling him that in the bedroom or alone, but what if someone ever heard? Worse, what if Chris ever learned? Still, he pushed those thoughts away easily enough, it wasn't like there was anyone around to hear. Even if Marion said it in public--which he doubted--there was no one around him in the classroom anyhow, "It was OK, very uneventful...luckily,"

"Good good....I....well....Ben, I'm sorry for the way I blew up at you,"

"Marion, it's OK,"

"No, it's not. I should've been more reasonable. You will take care of Chris, it's ju--"

"With my life Marion,"

That caused the other end of the line to be quiet for a few moments. Ben wondered if that had been too much though. It was true enough. He'd do anything for the pup--just like he would for Marion. Perhaps he would've done so much because Chris was Marion's son, or was it more than that now? Chris was...well, he was Chris--being his boyfriend's pup was nearly an afterthought. He wanted to help him, to be near him at times. It wasn't all the time though, no, not like with Marion. But still, it was more than just every so often too. He didn't know how to describe it yet, it was still odd.

"...Thank you Ben,"

"I...well, I didn't cross a line there?"

"No...you know I want you two to get along...more than anything,"

"I know Babe...we're making progress...perhaps even more without the third wheel," Ben added throwing in a playful chuckle. It made his wolf laugh a little as well, and that was more than worth it.

"I love you Ben,"

"I love you too Marion....more and you could ever know............" Ben murmured into the phone before looking away. Would he say it? Why not? It was true. He formed the words on his lips a few times before swallowing the lump in his throat and making the dive, "I miss you,"

It came out a bit over emotional, and with a small catch to it, which wasn't his plan, nor even quite how deeply he felt on it. It wasn't enough to make him cry, he knew the wolf would be back quite soon, but from the tone the wolf used next, he'd have thought Marion was trying to keep a flood of tears away.

"Ben, I'll be home soon, OK? I miss you too Hun. I wish you were here...it's not the same being on my own again after this long...I don't like it,"

"I...." I'll never leave you Ben thought, but didn't bring himself to say. No. What if something did happen? He knew he would never leave Marion by choice, but the wolf might not feel the same, though he was quite sure he did. Still, there were other words to say before that, arrangements to make. "When you get back...I won't leave you alone for a second...not a single one,"

The growl in his throat was enough to change that tone, and Marion's grin nearly came through the phone, "Ohhhh? Do tell,"

Ben felt a bit of heat in his cheeks, and beneath his desk as well. Looking quickly over to the door, which was closed and no one was out in the hall it seemed, he growled lower than before; it probably sounded more like static on Marion's end. "First, I plan to drag you up to the bedroom, throw you down on the bed...and...oh, I shouldn't say more Marion. I am at school,"

"Awww, but I was liking it so far,"

"You'll like it more when you get in,"

"Yeah?"

Ben shook his head. No. He was not going to start dirty talking with his boyfriend over the phone. It was wrong--well, at least in a school setting. "Ma--"

"Going to fuck me till I'm shooting blanks? Or want me to shove a few loads in you? We can go back and forth...wanna ride your cock so bad Honey-Butt a--"

Ben choked on his words, and even took the phone away from his ear to stare at it--making sure it was Marion's name on the caller ID and such. The wolf never spoke like that! Quickly brining the phone back to his ear the wolf was saying something about cleaning up afterwards--but oh it would lead to a new mess all its own! "M-Marion..."

The wolf's tone changed from the low growl it had been--sexy for sure Ben couldn't help but note--to much more mild mannered, "I...sorry," he said and gave a nervous laugh, "I'm just really pent up,"

"Well, when you get back to the room, I'd recommend fixing that,"

"I'm saving up,"

"S-Saving up?" Ben asked, swallowing his tongue.

"Mmmmhmm...thought it might be fun to try...at least for myself, won't make you do that too,"

"I well...I might try it, haven't been doing that yet......." Ben said, giving it very careful consideration, though realizing he was already fondling himself below his desk--which immediately stopped as the doorhandle jiggled, "It could be fun I suppose but in the mean time I have to go, so I will talk with you later. Goodbye,"

The phone clicked shut quickly, and he could already hear the wolf's rant-to-come later, but it was the wolf in front of him that had his attention. "Hey there Pup!" Ben said, grinning at young wolf, "How was it?"

"Not bad...though...I'm the only one there...though perhaps that is why Mr. Jacobs doesn't really care,"

"What do you mean?" Ben asked, trying to nonchalantly adjust himself a bit below the desk, which was rather simple, but more than that, to get rid of his excitement.

"Well, first I did my homework," Chris began, noting the look that got from the bear--probably wondering if he'd done his chemistry as well. He had. It hadn't been too hard; truth be told he hadn't read like Ben told the class to, but no reason for the bear to know that. "And after that, which didn't take long...though there is one problem in math I couldn't get...I'll just leave it for a bit though...either way, after that I read my book and listened to music,"

"He let you listen to music?"

"Yeah...he didn't really seem to care..."

Ben gave the tiniest of smiles. Mr. Jacobs was a kind fur--and had seemed to be on his side anyhow. He'd have to find a way to thank the English teacher. Of course, he coudlnt' actually thank him, but something else would have to do--some way to show his gratitude without directly saying he knew he'd taken it easy on Chris.

Sticking the thought away into a folder of his mind, much like he was doing with the papers he'd been glancing over into his bag, Ben stood up with a sigh, shucking his bag over his shoulder and smirking at the wolf, "Ready to head out Pup?"

"Y-Y--Yeah..." Chris said, giving the bear a small stare.

Ben smiled at the pup still, trying not to act like anything had happened. Still, he'd never called Chris pup before, but it just kinda fell out of his muzzle before he knew it. It hadn't been bad at all though. At least, unless Chris thought it was too much. Would he ask? No, the pup had responded to it after all, but a bit hesitantly. He should watch it though.

Nodding as much to himself as to Chris he moved out the door, locking it behind him, "So, I was thinking for tonight...well, what do you say to just grabbing whatever we can from the house? When I was growing up we called them 'fend-for-yourself nights'...I think I might do a cheese bagel...but if you want anything then you just fix it, or I can do that for you,"

"I...think I can fix my own food," Chris said with a tiny smirk, "Me and Dad do those every so often...cereal or something...just when things are busy,"

"Well, OK...I'm not really busy...just...running a bit low on my...ideas of what I want for this week," Ben added, deciding not to tell the pup he was running low on his funds for the week. Not that he didn't have plenty of money in the bank, but he made a habit of setting aside a small bit of money every week for food, and no more could be used. He'd doubled it this week, since he was with the pup, but he hadn't been frugal.

Anything but. He'd tried to swoon the pup, or well, that wasn't the best word choice. Still, he'd tried to impress the pup a lot or at least let him get whatever he wanted for dinner. If the pup said he felt like a hamburger, instead of fastfood he'd taken him to a nice hamburger joint; though the donut place afterwards had been more for himself he had to admit. Rubbing a paw over his stomach he wondered if there were any left--maybe Chris had eaten the last two the night before.

They kept a small chat between themselves as they rode home. Much to his pleasure. Chris didn't seem perturbed by being around him this long. Oh, it certainly wasn't like the pup thought it was a sleepover, but it wasn't bad either. He didn't feel like a chaperon to the young wolf. He felt like a guardian--an impromptu one sure, but still a guardian. And well, maybe something else, maybe just barely a hint of something else.

Ben shoved that thought away though, he couldn't do it. He wouldn't consider himself anything close to that word for a long time, and so he locked it away in his mind. Maybe someday. Maybe with more plans, maybe with more acceptance. Maybe. Maybe.

"So...can I ask you a question Ben?"

The hesitation made his ears tickle, and Ben looked over at the pup, "Yeah, of course...what's eating your mind?" he asked, making the turn into Marion's neighborhood.

"W-When did you...decide to major in chemistry,"

Ben gave it a bit of thought, well, not the question, but the one that hadn't been asked. The pup was thinking about something. "I just kinda floated into chemistry honestly. Started as a undefined major...took some courses in the sciences, and ended up in it...short story. More importantly...Chris...what's up..."

"It's nothing..." Chris replied and looked away. Though he'd been giving it a bit of thought of late; especially as he spent more time with the bear. How similar he felt to him, or at least in a small way. Ben wasn't that strange or different from him. He liked the bear, but then again, his father did as well, and he was like his father, so maybe that was it.

"Come on...now I'm interested,"

"It might be rude,"

Ben parked the car and looked over at the pup with a perplexed expression, "I don't think you could insult me...well, I don't think you _would_insult me I suppose is better to say,"

Chris stared at the bear for a few moments. Did he want to ask? Of course he did. He was curious, but it wasn't the right question. If the situation was reversed would he feel comfortable with someone asking him. "When did you lose your parents?"

It took a moment. And he stared at the bear the entire time, trying to see if he'd upset him. But all he got was the bear looking at him with that same expression before the smallest of smiles came over his face. He recognized it well enough; a smile that came when remembering a long time ago, something good. That kind of smile came when he thought about his mother.

"I lost my dad the year after I graduated from college; pancreatic cancer. Sudden...totally sucks. And my mom...well Chris...there are people who...they just can't deal with being alone in this world I suppose. Not that she was alone...there was me, and my siblings. She didn't take very good care of herself after my father passed, and she didn't sleep like she should've either...one day she was driving...and fell asleep at the wheel. That was about six months after,"

Ben left out plenty enough. Marion knew, but there was time to tell Chris more later, when he didn't feel the need to wonder what the pup was after. He left out the part where his mother left a note, that she hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel at all. He shook his head and put on a small smile, "So...it's coming up on fifteen years...but I didn't lose them Chris...well, just my opinion, but you never really lose them,"

The pup just stared for a little bit and then nodded. So the bear had lost them both quickly? And one to cancer, just like he had his mother? "OK,"

They got out of the car, and Ben bit his lip. He stared over at the younger wolf. As they moved up the stairs and he fumbled with his keys he took another dive, "Everything OK Chris?"

This time the pup jumped. But quickly enough regained himself. "Yeah...yeah...just...if someone asks me about my mom, I...I don't like to talk about it. I didn't know if you were the same,"

"I was...for a while. It gets easier with time Chris, trust me...are you sure you're OK?"

"Yeah yeah...really Ben," Chris replied moving inside and letting out a small sigh. He let his bookbag fall aside quickly and moved to the kitchen. The bear didn't push the issue, and he was more than glad for that, but he did feel the eyes on the back of his head. And Ben followed him into the kitchen. It didn't feel like he was being leered at, but more like watched after in a strange way.

He quickly grabbed a pudding cup from the pantry, like he did nearly every day after school. Ben just leaned on the counter and looked up at something on the ceiling. "My Dad doesn't understand," he started.

Looking down from the spot on the ceiling Ben leaned forward a bit.

"I know he loves me, and I know he was sad to hear my mom died, but it's different. All my grandparents are alive Ben...Dad hasn't lost any of his parents...but...you......"

"But I have," Ben finished for the pup with a knowing smile.

"Yeah...I just...I know I still have my dad..."

"Losing one parent is hard," Ben replied, wanting to end that part right there. It wasn't a competition, there couldn't be a competition. And he made sure not to say his thoughts--that he'd lost his parents after he'd established himself in life. "I understand though Chris. Everyone else can go on about their life, and have those bases to fall back on, but you feel like you lose one..."

Ben let out a sigh and shook his head, "And that sucks. It sucks. But you remember that they loved you...that they do love you Chris. It's a parent's job to love their child and want the best, and you remember the good times. After that, well...after that you just let time work on you, but you have to let it work. It's easy to become a bitter person. Either way...I understand how you feel Chris...at least, I think I do,"

"...OK...thanks,"

It was silent for a few moments. There was nothing new to say, and Ben certainly didn't have any sagely wisdom to offer. Still, he felt better hearing the bear say all that. It was right, and he had been right. Ben did understand.

Silence.

"So, what do you want to eat," Ben asked, throwing away the air of the room--the only thing to do in that case. The time for it was over after all. He began to pull out somethings, mostly the cheese he wanted on his bagel before he threw it in the oven. "I'm only going to eat half a bagel, you want the other half?"

"Sure,"

And like that they left the topic behind. Soon enough he was asking the pup about the chapter he'd had him read, only to find out that Chris hadn't read it. Oh, sure, the pup said he did, but he couldn't answer his questions about the sections. He was sure he shocked Chris though when he just laughed and shook his head, even more at explaining that it wasn't like he was a teacher all the time; sometimes he didn't care.

The TV played softly in the living room some hours later. Ben couldn't deny he was shocked the pup was sitting with him--on the couch too! He'd expected the pup to run away upstairs to play games, and perhaps come down every hour or so. Instead they were spending the entire night together, flipping between channels and sharing the occasional conversation--sometimes about the show, sometimes about anything else.

"Called it,"

"That's so stupid," Chis replied, scowling over at the bear, who had been more than right about who got eliminated on the show--one of the hundreds where contestants sang and had judges decide their fates. He'd been sure the falcon was going home, while Ben had said--quite surely--the deer was. And sure enough, the deer got kicked that night.

"He totally messed up his solo in the song, and he's static. Hard to work with someone who won't change," Ben said with a shrug of his shoulders, hitting the power button as he did, "And I think it's time to let the day change...time for bedtime,"

Chris let the horrible transition slide. It was late, and he was tired. He nodded and followed the bear up the first flight of stairs, till he was at his floor.

"I'll see you in the morning, OK?" Ben asked, smiling at the pup as he leaned against the railing.

"OK...thanks for everything today Ben,"

"No problem Chris,"

Chris shifted a bit and looked down at the floor. The next thing he realized was that a big shape was looming over him.

"Goodnight Pup," Ben said, wrapping his arms around Chris and pulling him closer. He gave him a small squeeze, and then an impromptu jerk when a pair of arms hugged him in reply.

"Night Ben," Chris said once he pulled back from the bear, giving the bear a considering look--while Ben gave him a stunned look. Did the bear really hug him and then get shocked that he hugged him back? Why? It was odd. The considering look turned to a small grin; he liked that about Ben, he was pretty easy to startle. He snuffled at the sight of Ben still standing there looking perplexed and his own face changed a bit, he didn't mind it. Lifting up his shirt and sniffing at it, to make sure he wasn't wrong, he took it off and threw it into the corner of his room, wondering when he had started to not mind the bear's scent.