Prologue: It started out with a kiss (How did it end up like this?)

A/N: Okay, so this is a prologue based mostly on an epilogue (from "In Custody") but with much more added to it. I had to retcon the timeline, but not too much of anything else from that original epilogue. I'm basically getting the ball rolling with the main subplot of this story before focusing on the main plot mainly because I thought having a prologue based on an epilogue was a neat idea (plus, it gives me a little break after finishing the last story). Most of it is the same, but with some proof reading, a few added lines and you finally get to read what went on in the bedroom.

Tuesday, November 3rd. 10:25am

The Wolfords arrived at Jim Catmull's house with a moving truck full of boxes behind them. Spots was in the car with Jim as moral support. The two had become very close friends and while Jim wanted something more, he accepted that she was lesbian and the two probably wouldn't be any closer than they already are. But somewhere in Spots was a struggle. She was becoming closer and closer to James and deep down inside, she was starting to fall for him. It was hurting her as she felt like she was losing her identity as a homosexual.

James was the first to get out of the truck. "Welp! Welcome to 'Casa De Catmull'!"

"Me and Burnie have already been here." Wolford reminded his son. "We had ta put some of yer mom's things in storage remember? You stayed outside? We could'a used yer help but you refused to come wit' us."

"I-I-I just didn't want to be in the way! That's all."

Auburn put her paws on the cougar's shoulder's. "It's okay. I know it brings up painful memories right now. Do you want to stay out here?"

"…...No. No. I don't want to be a burden, I wanna help. Besides, I need to face this. It's MY house, just...w-without mom."

Auburn kissed James on the forehead. "But with an all-new family and new people who love you."

"I wanna check out your room." Spots replied.

Wolford's ears perked up. "Really?! And WHY may I ask?!"

"Relax! We like the same music! I just want to see his C.D. Collection."

"Anyway Jim, just an FYI. Me and Burnie already peed all over the outside of 'da house so ya don't gotta witness 'dat."

Jim was shocked. "You did WHAT?!"

"Well, yea! A wolf's gotta mark his territory. Burnie did the back area so no one would see her. Helps keep squatters at bay."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of!"

Just then, two hillbilly Coyotes in a pickup truck drove by. "Ooo-Wee! That shore is a mighty fine-lookin' house thar! I hear the owner died recently. Maybe we can squat it!"

The second coyote sniffed in the air. "Dag-Nabbit! Looks like some wolves have already claimed it! Let's skee-daddle!"

Wolford smiled as the coyote's drove off. "See?"

Tim, Auburn and Spots all entered the house. Jim stopped at the doorway. Spots looked back. "Dude! C'mon ya pussycat!"

"O-Okay." Jim was anxious, but he went inside. He saw the hallway where they pulled his mother away on a stretcher. A plant was knocked over where the stretcher nudged it off. Jim started breathing a little heavier. He went into the kitchen. A dirty pan where he cooked his mother's breakfast sat on the stove. The trash, full of discarded food wrappers from the last time he got her dinner. His breathing intensified. He saw Tim and Auburn coming in and out of his mother's room. They had taken some stuff out of the closet and into storage, but the bed had remained untouched. The blankets were thrown to the side and the groove of where her body had been laying for months could be seen. He could still smell her scent on the bed.

Jim couldn't take it any longer. "Unnh! Ah! AAAAH!" He ran out of the house screaming.

Spots peeked out of Jim's bedroom. "What's going on?!"

"Jim freaked out." Tim responded.

"You want me to go get him back?"

"Actually, I think Burnie should go talk ta him."

Auburn was surprised. "Me?"

"He's still dealin' with 'da pain of losing his mudder, so 'da one he needs most right now is...his mudder."

"Well, okay. Keep your tails curled that I don't screw it up."

Auburn found Jim shaking inside the truck. He was weeping a bit. "James honey, you okay?"

"I can't do it! Everything is a reminder of her! When I'm in there, all I can think of is that she's gone. Just seeing her bed freaked me out. How can I live here anymore?!"

Auburn sat in the truck with him. She gave him an gentle hug and rubbed his back. "You're just focusing on the negative. Think of the happy moments! I noticed there was some marks on the kitchen wall where she was measuring your size as you grew."

"Yeah."

She kissed him on the cheek. "And the swing in your backyard."

"Heh! Yeah. I almost can knock it down with my weight now."

"And your Dizzy cartoon video collection. The pups are gonna love that."

"Meh. They're all VHS tapes. Who uses those anymore?"

"They'll also get to play with all of your old toys."

Jim chuckled. "Hey! Who says I'm done with them? I'm sorry Burnie. These are good memories yes, but they're also painful BECAUSE they're good. Just looking around that house makes me miss her more and it hurts!"

Auburn hugged the boy tight. "I'm sorry kitty. We'll just need to make sure there's some new happy memories for you. Do you think you'll be able to come in?"

"I dunno. Can I wait by the entrance until I'm ready?"

"Sure honey."

Wolford and Spots watched from the kitchen window.

Spots was worried. "I hope he can get past this."

"'Da house is full a painful memories now 'dat his mudders gone." Wolford replied. He then thought of an idea. "Y'know what? He needs at least one really good one!"

"So how do we do that?"

Wolford smiled at Spots. "Well...yer a girl...he's a boy. He ain't had his first kiss yet."

Spots' ears shot up. Her heart raced at the idea and it freaked her out. "What?!...N-No! I'm lesbian! You know that!"

"Are you? Cuz I noticed you twos been getting' closer and closer every day! C'mon Viv! Just give 'da guy one kiss! 'Dat's all!"

"I-I'll puke!"

"No ya won't! I mean, ya may spit a bit afterwards. C'mon!"

"I just...I really, really like him and I don't want him to get the wrong message about us. He's my new best friend! Nothing more!"

"'Den tell him 'dat before ya kiss him."

"...Can it be on the cheek? I mean, we hug and hold paws sometimes. The cheek wouldn't be so bad."

"Look, I'm sorry Viv. I'm not gonna force ya into a situation yer not comfortable wit'. Just give it some thought."

Spots wanted Jim to be happy, but she also didn't want to give him the wrong impression. But her deepest fear was that if she kissed him, she might enjoy it. "...I'm not his girlfriend."

"I know dat. I know. I'll mind my own business and get back ta woik. I mean wo-orrrkah. Work! Ha I finally said it right! Damn. 'Dey weren't here ta hear it."

Auburn held Jim's paw as they came back into the house. Jim stopped and leaned on the doorway.

Auburn hugged and kissed the boy cougar again. "If this is as far as you can go for now, you can wait for us here."

"Thanks. Hey Burnie?"

"Yes?"

"...I'm...I'm not ready to call you 'mom' yet, but...but you're a great mother."

She ranback and hugged the boy tight. Tears in her eyes. "Thank you." She then left him at the door.

Spots watched as Jim stayed by the door. "Some cougar I am." Jim replied. "Afraid of my own house."

Spots had enough. "GRRRRAHH!" She grabbed Jim by the paw and pulled him inside. "C'mon! We're going into your bedroom!"

"Wh-What?! Why?!"

"You'll find out. Just...whatever happens, we're just best friends! Nothing else! GOT IT?!"

"Yea! Whatever dude."

She took him into his bedroom and slammed the door behind him

Auburn looked over at Tim. "What did you say to her?"

"Nuttin'! I just...made a suggestion. Let's keep packin' stuff up and leave them alone for a bit."

Spots looked at the door she just slammed. She was nervous and not looking back at James. James saw this and was worried. "Are you okay?"

She jumped. "FINE! I-I'm fine! So..this is your room hunh?"

"Yeah."

She rubbed her arm nervously as she looked around. She saw some records in the corner. "Woah! Vinyl?"

"Yup. It's making a comeback now. Some of these were my mom's from back when she was young."

Spots browsed through. "This is some good shit! Leopard Skynyrd, Meowtallica, Twisted Hisser, Sheep Trick. These are classics! You got good taste."

"Thanks!"

Spots was getting more relaxed. "Ha! Nice G.I. Joe Camel dolls."

"Hey! They're called 'action figures' and I've had them since I was a kit."

She then started looking through his dresser drawers. This upset James. "Hey! Hey! What are you doing?!"

"Looking for your secret porn stash. I have mine under lock and key so Cotton can't get to it."

"W-Would you knock it off?!"

She then saw his whites. "Ewww! Dude! These are washed?!"

"Yes?"

"You need better bleach. I can still see the skid marks."

"HEY! I don't go to your house and scrounge through your panties!"

"Alright. Alright. Hey...why do you have socks?! You don't wear shoes!"

"Ummm..."

She picked one of them up. "They're stiff as a board!"

"Don't touch those!"

"Why?"

"They're...they're 'happy' socks."

"...I don't get it."

"If I don't wear shoes, what else would I use a sock for? Also, it's the reason I always washed my own whites."

"I dunno...to keep your feet warm?" She then thought it over and immediately dropped the sock. "Eww! EWWW! It's for...for THAT?!"

"PLEASE leave my stuff alone! If you're trying to help me, this is not working."

She shut the drawer. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to cheer you up."

"You seem nervous. Why?"

"Your ummmm...your dad thought it would be a good idea...if I kissed you."

"Oh?"

"I know this house without your mother in it is hurting you right now and...he thought one really good memory would help. But we're just friends! Okay."

"Okay...You being here with me is already a good memory."

That hit her. She smiled for a moment and said. "Ah, fuck it!" Much to his shock, she jumped onto his lap. "You wanna good memory? I'll give you one!"

Then it happened. She kissed him. Not a quick peck on the lips, not a kiss on the cheek. She put her open muzzle onto his and locked lips with the cougar. For a full minute, they sat there. Her tongue dancing across his. She was shocked at the bristles on his tongue. He grabbed her head from the back and pulled her in further. She started to move her paw down onto his crotch.

Then, a part of her woke up and screamed "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" in her mind.

She quickly pulled back. "Okay!...That...that was okay then. Right?"

James could barely talk. His eyes were bursting out of his skull. All he could say was "WOOOOW!"

Despite panting and obviously being overheated, she tried to play it off. "That..wasn't horrible."

"Oh come...ON!" James said.

"I almost did." she thought. "Hey! I didn't puke. That should be good enough. Your tongue feels like my soft toothbrush."

"Viv, you KNOW there was something there! You can't deny it. I can feel it. Hell, I can smell it!"

"Don't be so full of yourself!" She shouted. "I-I gotta go to the bathroom now and then I'll help you move some stuff okay?!"

She shut the door behind James. Leaving him by his lonesome. "...I think I'm gonna need one of my 'happy socks'."

Spots came out of the bedroom wiping her mouth, panting a little as she passed by Tim Wolford. She lied to the gray wolf. "Well that was gross. I had to build up my nerve, but I went ahead and did it. To my surprise, I didn't even puke or spit!" She then headed to the bathroom.

Auburn heard the conversation. Her eyes bulged out of her skull. Tim realized what she was thinking.

"No! No! No! It was just a kiss! A kiss!"

Moments later, a very happy Jim came out of his bedroom and helped Tim and Auburn with cleaning out his mother's closet. "C'mon guys! These boxes won't store themselves!" He grabbed a box and started walking towards the storage shed. A huge smile on his face.

Meanwhile, Spots was in the bathroom splashing cold water onto her face. "C'mon Vivian. You do NOT have the hots for James!"

"Oh yes you doooo!" Came a familiar voice from the mirror.

Spots didn't wanna look. "Don't look up. Don't look up." She looked up to see an incredibly happy Princess. Her straight persona. "Awww shit!"

"You can't deny it now! You love him! You want to mate him!"

"I don't know what I want! And you're not helping! Just leave me alone will you?! I've ALWAYS been lesbian and always WILL be!"

"Always?" She said with a cocked eyebrow. "Even when you..."

"Don't. Fucking. Ever. Mention that! It didn't happen!"

"It DID happen. You just blocked it off and you and your father never mentioned it again."

"Look! I..." Her phone then went off. "...Dad? What's up?"

"Gotta stop you early sweetie. I'm sorry. Judy's going with us and we have a case in Bunnyburrow to solve before coming back here. We're all waiting outside in the van."

"Thank you furry Jesus!"

"What was that?"

"N-Nothing! I'll be right out!" She hung up the phone and started to exit.

In the mirror, princess shouted out to her. "You can't run from the truth forever!"

"Yes I can!" She replied and exited the bathroom.

Hurriedly, she stopped and said goodbye to everyone. "Sorry guys! Family needs me. Gotta go!"

James rushed to stop her. "Wait! What about...Y'know...what happened in there?"

Spots kissed him on the cheek. "I...I don't know to be honest. I have a lot to think about. James...when I get back, I promise I'll have an answer for you."

"Oh...okay then."

"Stay safe tonight."

"You too. I love you."

She just smiled. "I know."

Spots ran over to the van. Judy and the little ones were in the back seat in their "Bunny buckets" as Nick puts it. Judy sat in the middle so she could take care of all the kids at once. Spots was forced to ride shotgun with her father. "Roll the windows down please." she asked.

"Why?" Nick took one sniff and knew why. "Oh wow! Okay. Windows down."

"Won't it be too cold?" Judy asked from the back seat. Even her sense of smell could get a whiff out of what was coming from Spots.

Spots was almost in tears. "C-Can we just go now?!" she said while full of embarrassment.

"Sure thing p[princess." Nick replied.

"Oh God! PLEASE don't call me that right now!"

"Okay! I'm sorry! By the way, it's not just that odor coming from your...well, YOU that I smell. I can smell James on you. Did you two?..."

"Oh my God! No! I just kissed him okay!"

"...And that's all?"

"He was feeling bad about going back to his old home after his mother died! I did it to make him feel better! We didn't have sex or anything! Leave me alone about it!"

"Okay. Okay. I believe you. I know you're...conflicted right now. Do you want to talk about it later?"

"Not with you. I'm sorry dad, but I need to talk to mom. Mom?"

"Yeah honey?" Judy said from the back.

"When we get to Bunnyburrow, can I talk to you in private?"

"Sure thing dear." Judy replied.

Nick was a little upset by this. "You know you can talk to me about anything? Right sweetie?"

"Dad. This is a...girl thing I need to discuss. Sometimes I need my mom."

Nick smiled. "I think I understand."

"That makes one of us." Spots replied as they drove off in the van.