Part two! Don't expect regular updates, sorry.

Monika took Aster's lead, calling the dogs in from the back garden and affixing the clip to the smallest dog's collar. She looked up and around for her brother. She always felt more comfortable going out in public with him, someone who knew who she really was an accepted her. No matter how many people looked at her like she was a freak she still had him by her side, it was calming.

"Gil?" she asked loudly, having searched all his usual places, unable to find him. "Gil I'm going out."

She frowned after a moment, maybe he'd gone out and not told her..?

He'd got into a bad habit of doing that…

She tugged Aster's lead, urging him towards the door and calling Blackie, their other dog to her side, she had to get out of the house, with or without Gil.

He was a good guy, just unreliable sometimes… though, she had to face the outside world without him more often, she had to get used to it. She wanted to be as strong and independent as she had been before, she couldn't let a few strange looks get to her.

She walked down the paved street Blackie and Aster trotting along at her side, luckily it was still early and almost no one was out. She headed for the park that separated her home from the town, Blackie pushing past her as she opened the gate and running into the field.

"Aster," she said in her natural voice, clicking her tongue to get the dog's attention, "You want to play?" she asked as she took of his lead, taking a ball from the pocket of her coat. She heaved the ball across the park, watching the small dog tear off after it. Sometimes she swore he forgot his size, in that way she could relate to him, he was probably the favourite of their dogs.

She watched the dog ran off to fetch the ball back, sitting on one of the benches. She took the ball again and threw it, "Go boy," she yelled loudly, smiling as she watched the dog run.

"I thought it was you," a voice from behind her said. She jumped at the noise, she hadn't realised anyone else was there.

She turned her head to see the man from the lingerie shop she'd visited a few days ago. "Oh," she squeaked, forcing her voice into a higher pitch, "Hello, uh…"

"Feliciano," the man said, bobbing his head slightly with the word. "These are your dogs?"

"Yes," she said, trying to sound soft as she felt herself tense up, "This is Aster," she said as she took the dog's toy again, "And the other one is Blackie."

The man sat down on the bench next to her, perhaps a little too close. "I like cats more, they're so cute and fluffy."

Monika let out a small grunt. She liked dogs better, cats were ok but… she didn't feel like talking about it, she'd come out to relax and play with her dogs. This man was nice but she didn't really feel like talking to a stranger.

The man smiled at her, "You know your natural voice is lovely."

"What?" Monika frowned, keeping her voice pitch in check.

Feliciano shrugged, "When you speak like that it sounds kind of forced, your natural voice is very nice."

Monika shifted away from him on the bench, pulling her dog closer to her to separate them. "Believe it or not, I don't take that as a compliment."

"Oh," the man squeaked, glancing away, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" he bit his lip visibly, "Look, I'll just talk straight to you," he looked up at her, smiling weakly, "I think you're beautiful, I haven't been able to get you out of my head since I first saw you."

She frowned; that would sound flattering if it wasn't so creepy. She wished her brother had come along…

"Have you been following me?" she asked quickly, a frown sticking to her face.

Feliciano's eyes widened, "What?" he stuttered, "No, of course not. I come this way to work, I didn't mean to…" he let out a small huff, shaking his head and looking away, "I'm sorry if I scared you."

Monika frowned, crossing her arms, Aster huddling close to her legs, "You live near here?" she questioned.

"Si," the man nodded, "Just down there," he pointed to a block of flats on the corner of the park, "I'm not lying I promise, I really do live there, I walk through this park every day."

She nodded, choosing to believe him. He didn't seem like the sort of man who would lie about that sort of thing. And regardless of that she was at least twice his size, she was sure she could break his back if she tried, not that she would, that would be a very unladylike thing to do…

"I live near here too," she said softly, she glanced at him, "I hope you understand if I don't say where…"

He giggled, "No that's fine," he bit his lip softly, "It's just nice to see you again."

She nodded, "You too I suppose."

Feliciano lowered his hand to scratch Aster's head, the dog letting out a happy whine. He looked back up at Monika, smiling, "I should go, I have to get to work." He stood up, smoothing his clothes out, "I hope I can see you again soon."

Monika nodded, "Yeah, I'd like to see you again too." To her own surprise she wasn't lying.

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