The first indication I had that this day was not going to go so well was the fact that I rolled over to check my alarm clock-and realized I was almost an hour late to work.

I woke up, my head pounding. My phone was ringing off the hook. This, I realized, was one of many reasons why I hated running a company. I could write a book, honestly, of why I'd rather not run Phoenix Enterprises. Still, it was what my father had left to me when he died, and I felt obliged to at least have a guiding paw in its direction, so...I ran the company, at least part time.

My secretary ran it the other half of the year. Pity that at the moment she was on maternity leave.

Not that I couldn't use it myself. Being pregnant with twins is not fun. As I got up from bed, I was-very quickly and quite urgently-reminded of yet another reason why pregnancy could, even though Fox and I very much wanted these darling little kits I was carrying in my womb, be a pain in the foxtail...drastically decreased bladder size. I made a mad dash for the bathroom and...

Yeah, I'll spare you the details there. Suffice it to say that I had to quickly shower-hey, you try dragging your five-months pregnant self into the shower easily-and add yet more of a delay to my already late day.

I made my way out to the car, started it-and stared at the low fuel warning light glaring back at me. I picked up the phone, listening to it ring...and ring...and ring.

Fox must be out like a light, I thought. Oh well...I hope I have enough gas to make it to the nearest station.

Half a mile later, I heard the sputter of the engine that told me that I wasn't going to. I started to grumble about Fox not checking the fuel level...then remembered that I was the last one to use the car.

"Mommy brain" was going to be the death of me, I mused, taking out my phone to call the auto club.

Since I couldn't get a signal worth a damn in the car-I mean, seriously? I'm the friggin' owner of the largest company on Lylat, and I still can't get something as reliable as a good cell phone-I stepped outside for a second...and the powers that be picked that very second to start a very intense downpour.

I was soaked all the way through the fur. I got back in my car, and lay my head on the middle of the wheel-still pounding.

At least the auto club got there to refuel my car reasonably quickly. Best thing so far today. Maybe my luck might change.

Nope.

I swore-rather fluently, inventing words I didn't think existed at that point, which caused more than a few heads to turn when they realized who the source of that language was-when I scanned my ID card at the front door of my company. One of these damned days I was going to remember to have that antiquated piece of crap replaced.

I knew from experience that I'd have to wait for someone from the security office on the tenth damned floor to come physically verify my identity. Note to self: Move the damn security office.

I walked in, strode into my office without a word to anyone, and closed the door. To call my mood foul would be akin to calling the sun merely hot.

The day ground by. I mean at such a pace where I didn't think the clock moved. Finally, agonizingly, the end of the day came.

I arrived home-without further incident, thankfully, plopped my pregnant ass on the bed, and stared up pleadingly at Fox.

"How was your day, Fara?" he asked me.

Ohh, if looks could kill. I narrowed my eyes and said, "Don't even go there."

"That bad, huh?"

"Fox, my dear...can I just have a refund for the day?" I asked, laying back, looking for all the world like a Cornerian hippo.

He sighed and gently took my paw. "It'll be all right, dear."

I sighed deeply. I so wanted to cry and pregnancy was driving my hormones nuts. Then I felt a little kick. Well, two of them. I was pregnant with twins, after all.

"You two settle down in there..." I moaned. "Mommy's having a rough day..."

"Oh, they're just worried about their mommy..." Fox replied.

I sighed, closing my eyes and letting my paws rest on my bloated stomach. You know, he's probably right. Today may have been the day from hell, for sure...but they made it all worth the suffering. I mean, it is for them.

Not every day can be sunshine and rainbows, after all.