Outside the tree house of Hope, Commander Apetrully waited on the tree house's porch. Apetrully wasn't exactly sure he's here, including the fact that Sunshine ask him to come here early before dinner. Yet the commander find himself listening to her anyway.

"Sorry to make you wait." Sunshine said as she walk out of the front door's doggy door.

"It's okay." Apetrully said with a small shake of his head. "What would you like to talk about?"

"Hope," Sunshine smiled widely as she stood next to him. "You know that she's going to be 18 years old tomorrow, right?"

"Of course." Apetrully raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, since she's going to be 18 years old, that means she's going to be legally an adult." The commander swears that the white wolf's smile widen a bit more than he feels comfortable with.

"...Yeah."

Of course Apetrully was happy about that. The commander was always like Hope, and when I say 'like', I mean 'love'. He wanted to ask the pink and white monkey out on a date, but he never did mostly because of the three year age gap between them and he didn't want to lose his friendship he have with Hope.

"Well, don't you think that you should ask Hope out." Sunshine said, eagerly looking at the commander.

Apetrully's eyes widen when the white wolf said that. Over the years, no one have ever notice Apetrully's crush on Hope, not a single one, until now.

"What are you talking about?" Apetrully said a bit of a nervous chuckle. "She's still quite young, don't cha think?"

"She told me you're going to be 21 this year." Sunshine quickly said, causing the commander to widen his eyes again.

"Besides that... Why me?" Apetrully ask.

"Come on. I believe Hope should have a relationship with someone, like have Hope ever told you that she was ever interested in anyone when ever you two hang out together?"

"No. She never said anything about romance for a long time. I think that was about 2-3 years ago too! Maybe... Hope isn't that interested in romance anymore."

"I've seen Hope read romantic books and fanfics, and I've even watched romantic shows with her. She have to be interested in romance."

"Then maybe Hope isn't interested in being in a relationship! Besides, why me of all people?"

"You're a pretty close friend of her's before I came along. Usually, close friendships can become close relationships."

Apetrully only narrowed his eyes at the white wolf and said, "I can't let myself be involved with this."

"You know, living with monkeys does give me one advantage." Sunshine said with her smile turning into a smirk.

In one swift move, Sunshine took off the commander's mask. Apetrully turned pale as he held onto his breath.

"Everyone have a certain scent, but species sometimes have a similar scents." Sunshine said with a smug smile.

Does that even make sense? Apetrully thought, frantically putting on his mask.

"Don't you dare tell anyone about that!" Apetrully demanded.

"Then you better follow my 'Get-Hope-Dating' plan." Sunshine said.

"What is it? I'm praying that this isn't going to be awkward with Hope when this plan fails."

"Welp, Mr. Engel told me that he got a special gift for Hope and any other close friends of her's."

The white wolf look at the tree house's front door and said, "You see, whenever Mr. Engel, Hope, and I have free time, Mr. Engel have been trying to get us reading more, especially since Hope and I don't go to school, and he's trying to keep us interested in these books, like Frankenstein and Dracula since he's a big fan of old stories, by letting us watch the movie version of that book and listen to the musicals just as long he've check them first. Anyway, because of that, Mr. Engel bought tickets for the play of 'Alice in Wonderland' at Possum Castle."

From what I remember, the possums are known for their acting abilities, especially with playing dead, and are rather neutral with the humans, so I think we're safe there. Apetrully thought.

"What does this have to do with the plan?"

With that big grin still plastered across her face, the white wolf said, "Hope loves music, right?"

"Of course." Apetrully said.

"Then I have this idea where instead of the costume you're wearing right now, you'll wear this Phantom of the Opera costume and sing-"

"No! I'm not going to do this plan! I do not like to sing in front of others!"

"And yet you're okay with dancing in front of others?" Sunshine said.

"Dancing and singing are two different things."

Sunshine let out a soft growl as Apetrully ask, "Why Phantom of the Opera?"

"You two wear masks and that's all I was thinking. I was thinking that you would dress up like him and sing to Hope in one of Possum Castle's theater rooms with you two alone. Then after you're done singing, you would reveal yourself and ask Hope on a date." Sunshine try to explain.

"I don't think I could do any of that, but does it have to be singing? Can't I simply just give her a gift and nothing else? Especially since that this plan is pretty extreme." Apetrully said, hoping the white wolf would give up on this plan.

"No. Hope've done a lot for me, like right now, she's cooking enough food for four people since you're here. The monkey deserves some romance, and as for the singing part, I'm pretty sure Hope would love you if you just get over that singing part fear for her."

Apetrully sigh and said, "Look, I know you're trying to do something good for Hope, but I think it's best that Hope try to find love on her own."

Sunshine narrowed her eyes and said, "Well, I guess I just have to rub our friendship into your face."

"What?" Apetrully said, confuse.

The commander follow the wolf into the tree house's kitchen. Hope was simply sitting in a chair in front of the oven, waiting for the dish to be cooked when she notice Sunshine and Apetrully come in.

"Hey, guys. The macaroni and cheese isn't finished yet, but I hope you don't mind waiting a little longer." Hope said. "If you wanted to see my dad, I'm pretty sure he's still in his tree house."

"Thanks for the information, Hope." Sunshine said.

"Stay here." The wolf said to Apetrully.

Apetrully raises an eyebrow as Sunshine walk over to the small, brown radio in the cornere of the room. The wolf try her best to turn the radio's knobs until she stop at some classical music. Both Sunshine and Hope smile as the pink and white monkey suddenly started to sing along with the music.

Hope: No more talk of darkness,

Forget these wide-eye fears

I'm here, nothing can harm you,

My words will warm and calm you

Sunshine flash a quick smirk at Apetrully, then look at Hope with a loving smile.

H: Let me be your freedom,

Let daylight dry your tears

I'm here, with you, beside you,

To guard you and to guide you

Is it just me or does this song seem to be... romantic? Apetrully thought.

Sunshine: Say you'll love me

Every waking moment

Turn my head with

Talk of summertime~

Sunshine slowly walk towards Hope, giving her the puppy-dog eyes.

S: Say you need me with

You now and always

Promise me that all

You say is true

That's all I ask of you~

I think I hate Sunshine now. Apetrully bitterly thought as he watch Hope gently scratch the back of Sunshine's ear.

H: Let me be your shelter,

Let me be your light

You're safe, no one will find you,

Your fears are far behind you

Sunshine look up at Hope as the wolf snuggle up against the pink and white monkey's leg.

S: All I want is freedom,

A world with no more night

And you, always beside me,

To hold me and to hide me

The white wolf let out a squeal as Hope lift up Sunshine and hug her.

H: Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Let me lead you from your solitude

Say you need me with you, here beside you,

Anywhere you go, let me go too

Sunshine, that's all I ask of you~

Sunshine press herself against Hope's chest as the monkey let her sit on her lap, wrapping her arms around the wolf.

S: Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Say the word and I will follow you

H & S: Share each day with me,

Each night, each morning

Sunshine's puppy-dog eyes grew bigger, so did her smile.

S: Say you love me...

Hope gently pet her back.

H: You know I do~

I think that hatred for the wolf grew. Apetrully thought.

S & H: Love me,

That's all I ask of you~

Apetrully angrily turn his hands into fists.

H & S: Anywhere you go

Let me go too~!

Love me...

That's all I ask of you~

"Shouldn't you check on the dinner?" Apetrully said, trying to keep his anger to himself.

"Oh my god!" Hope shouted, standing up with widen eyes, which cause Sunshine to fall off her lap.

As the pink and white monkey check on the macaroni and cheese, Apetrully drag Sunshine outside.

"What was that?" Apetrully ask, glaring at the white wolf.

"Rubbing our friendship in your face, though, I was so happy that song came up to make it more... 'friendlier'," Sunshine said with a smug smile. "And I'll keep that up unless you want to continue with the plan."

The commander's eyes slightly twitched, but he said, "Okay, but if this doesn't go well, I'll ban you from Big Green. FOREVER!"

"Yeah. Sure." The white wolf said without much care.

This isn't going to be a good time. Apetrully thought.