"Easy... Easy..." Cherry was building a house of cards with Atticus, then suddenly the door opened. "DANGIT!" she then accidentally yelled out which made the house turn into a flopping pile of cards.
Atticus looked over. "Darla, you can't just barge into other people's houses."
"Sorry, Atticus..." Darla said as she hid something behind her back.
"What's that behind your back?" Patch asked.
"Oh, nuthin'..." Darla shrugged, then took out an envelope with a smirk. "Except this invitation from my Aunt Connie in Las Vegas!"
"Who is your Aunt Connie again?" Patch asked.
"My daddy's sister," Darla said. "She does shows all the time in Las Vegas. I actually kinda remember her. I used to visit her all the time when I was a baby and Dusk was still in school." she then took out extra pieces from the envelope which were photographs of the times she had with her biological aunt who lived in Las Vegas and there was even pictures of her with a chubby dog who wore a red tie.
"Ohh, yeah." Patch said.
"Isn't that her dog?" Atticus looked over Darla's shoulder.
"Yeah, his name's Rover..." Darla said as she tried to remember. "I heard he used to work in the circus or something before Connie found him."
"Does the invitation say you can bring family members with you?" Patch asked.
"She said anyone's welcome to join me." Darla smiled brightly.
"Yay! We get to come!" Patch cheered, referring to himself and Atticus.
"Have fun..." Cherry looked away.
"I did say anyone, Cherry." Darla said.
"Well, Atticus and Patch are your family..." Cherry shrugged. "I'd hate to be a bother... Besides, I'm watching my brother's dog."
"You never said your brother had a dog." Atticus sounded excited.
"She's a little pit bull, her name's Ellie May." Cherry replied softly.
"So cute." Darla smiled.
Cherry then shuffled her cards with a small sigh.
"Please." Darla begged.
"Oh, Dimples, I didn't know you liked me..." Cherry shrugged.
"Well, you are a friend of my brother's." Darla said.
"I suppose I am..." Cherry shrugged. "Nothing's really going on here. Besides, what could possibly go wrong in a place like Las Vegas?"
"So true," Darla smiled. "And we'll be inviting Mo and Colette along as well."
"Wow, Darla, that's mighty sweet of you." Atticus smiled.
"Hey, I'm an adorable, little angel." Darla smirked.
"Yeah, yeah, we know." Patch smirked.
Darla giggled as they then went to get ready, she then looked to her Sailor Scout dress with the brooch and her Moon Staff, wondering if she should bring it along just in case. Cherry decided to let her brother's dog come to meet Patch and Colette so she wouldn't feel so mopey or shy, but the dog was both since she was away from her owner.
"I just don't understand," the pit bull whimpered sadly as she looked to her fellow dogs. "Why wouldn't Michael and Ashley take me with them to their honeymoon?"
"Well, maybe they just needed sometime alone together." Colette said.
"I guess..." the puppy pouted.
"Cheer up, Ellie, you'll be with them soon," Patch soothed. "You seem like a really nice dog."
"Yeah, even Cherry likes me since I don't bark much." Ellie May smiled softly.
"I guess that would make sense." Colette smiled.
Ellie May smiled, but still looked rather shy and a little lost.
"Uh, I hear you live with a girl cat... What's her name?" Patch tried to make conversation.
"Gary." Ellie May replied softly.
"That's a nice name." Patch said.
"For a girl, I guess..." Colette shrugged.
Ellie May still sighed about being away from her owners. "I miss Sadie too..."
"Who's Sadie?" Patch asked.
"Ashley's parents' dog," Ellie May replied before having a small smile in memory. "Usually when Michael takes me outside, we play together..."
"Aw!" Colette smiled.
Ellie May smiled back, then looked to the house door. "Boy, humans sure take a long time to pack up, don't they?"
"Don't worry; they'll be out in no time." Patch said.
"I suppose so..." Ellie May sighed.
"I think Ellie May should meet Rebound, Oddball, and the other little ones at Shelter 17." Colette suggested to her boyfriend.
"Let's see for next time." Patch agreed, that sounded like a wonderful idea.
Soon enough, Mo, Atticus, Cherry, and Darla came out with their luggage.
"Oh, good, you guys are ready!" Colette smiled.
"Sorry about that, I wasn't sure what book I wanted to take with me," Darla said. "Atticus and Mo have been telling me all about Manga."
"Oh, careful," Patch warned. "Those stories can be very mature at times."
"I know." Darla said.
"Let's get going then." Colette said.
"Maybe now we can have a break from adventures, and a certain W-A-R-L-O-C-K." Cherry commented.
"How should we get to your aunt?" Patch asked Darla.
"I heard there's a bus coming in half an hour to go to Vegas." Darla replied.
"Cool." Atticus smiled.
"And if it gets a flat tire, we got someone here to help lift it up while the driver replaces the tire with a new tire." Mo smiled as she snuggled up to Atticus.
Atticus smiled as he hugged her back.
"Get a room..." Cherry deadpanned.
After about half an hour, their ride came and where as soon as it came; one of the front tires popped and became flat.
"Oh, no!" the driver came out and sighed. "Folks, we're gonna have to postpone all travels."
"Aww!" the passengers groaned.
"Excuse me, sir," Atticus walked over. "I'd be happy to help."
"Give it your best shot, Muscles." The driver said.
"Heh, no problem." Atticus smirked.
Mo sighed dreamily to Atticus.
"What is with you?" Cherry asked the tomboy. "I know you like Atticus, but you've never been this gaga over him before!"
"I guess my girly side has been coming out lately." Mo smiled.
Atticus soon grunted for show as he lifted up the bus with one hand. Cherry rolled her eyes. The driver's eyes widened as Atticus went to work.
"Looks like you ran over a sharp rock." Atticus commented.
"Oh, um, yes so it seems." The driver nodded before replacing the flat tire with a new one.
"Let me know when you're ready or need help," Atticus replied. "I don't know how long I can hold this thing."
After tightening the bolts, the new tire was ready.
"Okay, you can put the bus back down on the ground." The driver said.
Atticus smiled and gently set the bus back on the ground. "How much do we owe ya for the ride?"
The driver then smiled back in gratitude. "You know what? It's on the house."
"Really? Thank you so much, sir." Atticus smiled.
"I should be thanking you." the driver smiled back.
The group then came onto the bus so they could begin their travel to Las Vegas. And once everyone was on board, the bus started moving.
Mo smiled up to Atticus. "I'm so glad I met you."
"Likewise." Atticus smiled back.
Darla kept telling everyone how excited she was about going to see her aunt for the first time in forever, but soon, she tuckered herself out in the middle of the trip. Atticus soon brought out a blanket and covered Darla with it. Darla shifted slightly as she curled up in the blanket.
Atticus smiled as he then lay down to get comfortable with Mo in his chest as he took out a book he brought with him to occupy him during the trip. Cherry simply just slept. Patch and Colette had Ellie May between them and helped her get some sleep as they felt sleepy themselves. During the entire trip to Las Vegas, Atticus continued reading even after he felt someone's hand feel his muscles and chest.
"Finally, a break..." Cherry sounded relieved. She then saw Mo feeling Atticus's muscles while still asleep. She rolled her eyes and lay down against the window. "Girls..."
Finally, after a very long drive...
There was a young adult woman with shimmering blonde hair in a sleeveless top with shorts and white sneakers as she stood next to a Basset Hound with a red tie around his fat neck. Soon the bus arrived and where the ones they were waiting for, came out of it.
"Look, Rover, here they come!" the blonde young adult woman told her dog.
The dog smiled, looking a little excited. The bus then stopped and the passengers came out.
Darla ran out with glee. "Aunt Connie!"
The two soon hugged each other, happy to finally see each other after so long.
"Oh, I can't believe how much you've grown," Connie smiled down to the little blonde girl. "You look just like your daddy."
"Thanks, Aunt Connie." Darla giggled.
Atticus, Patch, Colette, Cherry, Mo, and Ellie May all soon came out next. Darla sniffled in her hug with her long-lost aunt, then saw the others and saw an introduction was in order and introduced everybody to her Aunt Connie and Rover.
"Hey, Rover..." Patch came over with the other canines to meet their new friend. "Nice tie."
"Thanks, I'm into show biz myself." Rover smirked.
"Nice." Patch smiled.
"And who do we have here?" Rover then asked.
"I'm Patch, that's my girlfriend Colette, and this is our new friend, Ellie May." the dalmatian introduced.
"Welcome all of you to Las Vegas, I've seen it all," Rover smiled. "Winners! Losers! Losers who think they're winners!"
"What a unique place." Colette smiled.
"Tell me about it." Rover smiled at his glamorous home.
They then heard another tire go out.
"Dang nabit!" a voice called out.
"I better fix that..." Atticus suggested.
"That didn't sound like the driver." Darla said nervously.
"Who could that be?" Colette wondered.
"I don't know." Patch shrugged.
"Was it a male or female voice?" Ellie May asked.
Darla shrugged herself.
"Who's there?" Connie called as she took Darla's hand. "I don't have a lot of time for this!"
They saw that it was a man.
"Who's that guy?" Darla asked.
Rover glared at the man and snarled slightly as he stood protectively in front of Darla and Connie despite not being much of an attack dog.
"Come on, guys; let's get inside." Connie said.
Rover kept a firm eye.
"Come on, sweetie..." Connie told her niece on the way inside.
Darla gave a shifty look as they were on their way inside of a small condo.
"Is that guy her ex-boyfriend or something?" Colette asked.
"Current boyfriend..." Rover sneered. "His name's Rocky... I don't like him though."
"Why not?" Patch asked.
"I dunno what it is, but somethin' about him rubs me the wrong way..." Rover rolled his eyes.
"Maybe he's a smuggler." Ellie May said.
"I don't get why Connie likes him..." Rover stuck his tongue out.
Along the way to the small condo, Atticus volunteered to be the one to carry the luggage. Mo giggled as Atticus did his handiwork.
"This sure is a nice condo." Darla smiled.
"I thought you might like it," Connie smiled back to her niece. "It's just me and Rover, but don't worry, there's enough room for guests."
"That's great." Darla smiled.
"I hope you like it." Connie smiled back.
Darla hugged her aunt. "Thanks for letting my new family join in on our little fun time together."
"Yes, we'll be sure to catch up," Connie agreed. "Now, tomorrow's a special day and I'm taking the night off from work tonight just for all of you." she then gently poked the little girl in her button nose in a playful way.
"I know it's your birthday tomorrow." Darla smiled.
Connie giggled. "You're so sweet, just like your daddy was."
Something seemed to be now moving inside Darla's bag.
"Let's get you kids settled in." Connie said.
Darla nodded, but then stood as she came to the couch and put her bag on it and opened it as it moved slightly.
"Finally!" Maisy gasped for air.
"Maisy!" Darla looked in surprise. "What're you doing here?"
"I wanted to come too." Maisy smiled.
"Well, I didn't know ya had it in you." Darla smirked and folded her arms playfully to her kitten.
Maisy smiled and nuzzled against Darla with a purr.
"Oh, sure is so adorable." Connie smiled.
"This is my kitten," Darla held Maisy gently and showed her to her aunt. "Her name's Maisy. Maisy, this is my Aunt Connie."
Maisy simply mewed.
"Oh, she's so precious," Connie smiled. "Where did you get her?"
"My best friend's family moved to a farm and their neighbors let me keep a kitten as a pet." Darla beamed.
Maisy started to purr as she started to nuzzle Connie. Connie giggled as she gently held Maisy. Darla smiled at the bond.
"Where do you want me to put these?" Atticus asked as he still had the luggage in his arms, not having any trouble with them.
"There's a room right across from the bathroom right there," Connie said, pointing in the direction. "There's a couple of twin beds, if you need anything else, I have an air mattress for two in the closet."
"Called it!" Atticus and Mo smiled.
"Of course you two do..." Cherry deadpanned.
"Do we need to blow it up?" Mo asked.
"I have a pump." Connie replied.
"Thanks." Atticus smiled.
"Anything for Darla's friends." Connie smiled back.
Darla smiled to that as she gently pet her kitten.
"If you guys are up for it, I'll take ya to meet my little buddy Eddie." Rover smiled to the younger pets.
"We would like to meet him." Patch said.
"I'm sure he'd like to meet you too." Rover smiled.
"And someday, I'd like you to meet my favorite niece." Patch replied.
"I bet she's a peach." Rover smiled.
"I haven't met Patch's niece, but I'm pretty sure she's a dalmatian too and not a fruit." Ellie May said.
Rover chuckled to that. "No, no, that's not what I mean, I mean I bet she's sweet and adorable."
"Oh..." Ellie May smiled bashfully.
"Well, she really is and she really looks up to me." Patch smiled proudly.
"Yeah, because you're like a superhero." Colette giggled.
Patch smiled shyly to that.
"So, Rover, what do you do for fun?" Ellie May asked.
"I usually tell jokes to my friends." Rover smiled sheepishly.
"So you're a comedian?" Patch smiled.
"Pretty much," Rover smiled. "You know how many people work here in Las Vegas? One out of four." he then said and a rimshot was then heard from nowhere.
"What was that?" Ellie May asked.
"What was what?" Patch asked.
"That noise after Rover made a joke," Ellie May said. "Didn't you hear it?"
Patch and Colette glanced to each other, then looked back to her, just shrugging.
"Weird." Ellie May said.
"Well,..." Patch yawned and stretched. "I think we might as well get some dinner and hit the hay."
"I should say so," Rover agreed. "You guys had such a long travel, you might as well settle in."
Colette agreed as she also felt sleepy.
