"So, I take it you're a hippie, right?", he teased as they drove along.

"Oh no. I got these weird clothes, peace necklace, and wear a flower in my hair because my dad told me to.", she smiled with a chuckle. "Yes. Yes I am. It's a bit of a uh..family thing. My mom was one. Her family was. And my dad says I've always been just like her."

"I can see that.", Monty nodded as he listened. "Same with my family."

"You're hippies too?", she asked, slightly curious why she hasn't heard of him before then.

"No. I mean in my job. It's a family business...mostly. My dad's the head of it just like his dad, and that man's dad. And it just kind of goes on and on until you reach the foundation of the o- business."

"So what about your mom?"

"She's a part of it too but handles a different branch of it apart from my dad.", Monty shrugged. "Everyone's got a part. Different places to tend to different matters. Not really a question of how it could be a family thing."

"Different places? How big is this thing? You're sounding like you run an incorporation or something!", she chuckled.

Monty did too though not quite for the same reason, "It's.. Actually it's world-wide. I mean, there ARE animals outside of Danville."

"True. Sorry, it's just that when I hear 'family business', I always imagine a cute little bakery or something that's ran by the intimate family. Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, while the younger plays with the dog or cat.", she shrugged. "So much for what I know of the world."

"Heh. Yeah. No offense but that's not my definition.", he chuckled. "So, you said your mom was a flower child, what about your dad?"

"He's an artist. Sometimes he would spend days, nearly weeks, on some of his projects. My little brother Django's a lot like him. He loves to draw. He has so many notebooks filled with drawings and pictures, you'd find at least one everywhere in the house!"

"Artist... That's something.", Monty said, pondering over that sort of life-style as opposed to his secret agency one. Granted while his father wanted the two of them to be acrobats, it was always hard for Monty to imagine any other kind of life other than one that involved evil people and a fight for justice. "Sorry. I..don't meet a lot of people."

"Really? But finding homes for animals... I'm sure you must've met a couple."

"I know some people in terms of business. But I haven't actually had the time to go and MEET someone. To KNOW them real well.", he explained. "It's always 'give the kitty back to its owner and leave it at that'. Always."

"...well that seems a little...lonely.", she said as they pulled into the parking lot of a fast food joint.

Monty offered a shrug as he turned the car off, "I'm used to it. Like I said, it's a family business. I grew up in that kind of environment."

They walked inside, waited for the counter and made their order. Fortunately this was a fast-food place with a salad in which case, was exactly the only thing Jenny could bring herself to eat at the sort of place aside from fries and a soda. Funny enough however, it was exactly what Monty ordered as well.

"Wait, vegetarian?", she asked. "Are you everything in one?"

"Well vegetarian wannabe. If someone cooks meat, I'm visiting, and they set it on a plate in front of me, I'm not gonna be picky. But like I said, I'm with a lot of animals. It starts feeling a little weird to eat something that you see on a daily basis.", he said as they sat down.

"Ooh.. Yeah I'll bet.", Jenny cringed before thinking over that statement. "So why don't farmers become vegans?"

The laughed and ate, continuing their conversation. But during the get-together, Jenny couldn't help but notice that he seemed a bit distant. He had said he never got the chance to be around a bunch of other people. Normally just animals. He said he was home-schooled through high-school so that really helped sell it. But getting to know each other a bit more and sharing a few laughs, he seemed like something really special to the flower child. Or maybe she was just hoping. Maybe she's just desperate, seeing Candace and Stacey blather on about Jeremy and Coltrane.

"And so he said, 'got any-'", Monty began before his watch began to beep. With a sigh of frustration, he looked down at it, pulling his sleeve aside and clicked it. "Shoot.. Duty calls. Sorry I gotta cut this short."

"'Duty calls'? Heh! You almost sound like a cop or something.", Jenny giggled, earning something of a shrug.

"Yeah well maybe...later?"

"Um.. Kinda got some things to still do. Tomorrow?"

"Same time's perfect."

"Awesome."

And so they went their ways left in some odd confusion about how exactly wonderful the whole thing was. When Jenny arrived back home, did her chores, and got dinner in the oven, she couldn't help but notice a certain lack of...dogs.

"Camillia?", she called out, knowing the dog would normally appear by now. "Camillia? Dinner!"

Nothing. Not a bark, or even a whimper. It certainly was weird to think of. Perhaps...running late? Jenny only hoped that was the case though the night held no promises.


FINALLY! The chapter is uploaded. The plot thickens. Add three to become one and-! Oh wait... that's something else.. XD

Amber: MOTARI RISETH!

Laura: NO YOU FOOL! Now the computer's going to disappear!