Aubrey glared at Akela. "I am not spending Christmas in a zoo. End of discussion."
"I want to go to the zoo!" Allison pranced around. She was about 6 months old, the equivlent of a three year old human.
Aubrey looked at her sister. "Allison. It's a zoo. With cages and people."
Allison stopped and wagged her tail, "I like people."
Akela sighed and studdied the two sisters. Aubrey favored her dad, with raven black fur and green eyes. But Allison looked more like Akela. She had the same coat pattern, red on her back, with tan on her chest, belly, and nose, but her eyes were brown, not the standard Coal family green.
"Of course you do, Alli. Who wouldn't want to spend Christmas in the big apple? The lights, the pollution, the noise. It's like the grinch and who-ville."
Aubrey dropped her head and shot her sister a glare. "Not to mention the aunt that wants nothing to do with us."
"Grace isn't your aunt. She's just a good friend that offered to take you for Christmas so that you don't have to spend the holidays with Hawk and Deliah." Akela hoped that would change Aubrey's mind, but the older sister was just as stubborn as he was.
"Aub? Grace has insight on ACIS. She'd be a heck of a referance on an application."Akela knew that would help sway Aubrey.
The wolf sighed, "Ok, I'll go. But don't expect me to be happy about it."
"And this has been Chuck Charles reporting live from in front of the Central Park Zoo. Happy Christmas Eve and goodnight."
Kowalski stood next to Grace on top of her cave.
"I don't think he really ever stops talking like that." Grace shook her head.
"This one time, Skipper believed he was Chuck Charles. Yeah, then we fould out he was just acting like that as a training excersise. After we were buried alive."
Kowalski looked at Grace and was met by a confused and slightly worried look.
"Remind me never to let you guys watch my kids." Grace noted, she turned around and started down the path.
"But Eggy turned out fine. ish." Kowalski trailed after Grace.
"Fine? Kowalski, he single-handedly took control of the zoo, I'm no expert but I don't think that's fine."
"Ok, well, you are blowing it out of proportion. Skipper had everything under control."
"Mmhmm." Grace laid down in the cave. "I'm sure he did. Does it ever occur to you that you have all sort of put Skipper on a pedistool?"
"What? Why do you say that?"
Grace rolled onto her side and looked up at Kowalski. "Because, whoa." the wolf looked at her side.
"Is it time?" Kowalski began running around. "Do you want me to go get Skipper?"
"No, It's not time. The puppies moved."
"Oh. Kowalski blushed, "Sorry for freaking out."
"It's ok. Wow."
"What's wrong?" the penguin gave Grace a hopeful look thinking, please say nothing please say nothing
"I'm not ready to be a mom. Mammals learn to mother from their mothers, and I'm a bit-uh-challenged?- in that area."
"So your'e worried you won't be a good parent?"
"Yes. What if they don't like me?"
"They?"
Grace pushed herself up and walked over to a shelf. "I've done my research." she pulled a thick brown book off the shelf and allowed it to hit the floor.
"Well, maybe you need to find a mother." Kowalski shrugged.
Just then voices could be heard outside. Grace flicked her ears in the direction of the sound. "Oh boy, speak of the devil."
"Where's my Gracie!" the voice was loud and high pitch, the Jersey accent had faded out after three years in Cali but it was still detectable.
"Hi, Elouise." Grace winced.
"Elouise?" Kowalski raised an eyebrow and looked at Grace, "Like Skipper's-"
"Mummy's here!" Elouise was a heavyset penguin that always smelled like lavender, roses, and babypowder, even though her last child was out of diapers by the time Grace and Skipper had graduated.
"Oh. Well. I'm out." Kowalski tried to make it out the door but Elouise caught him.
"Oh now don't you run off just yet, not without giving ole Elousie a hug."
"Why don't I o get Skipper and you two can catch up?" Kowalski ducked around the penguin and raced out the door.
"That boy never was quite right." Elousie shook her head. "Been sniffing those fumes from his lab too long."
"Actually, Elouise. Kowalki hasn't been in his lab for a while." Grace tried to defend Kowalski.
"Really? How long?"
About 6 weeks now, ever since I told them all' "Oh, it's been a few weeks." Grace smiled, painfully.
"What are you hiding Grace?" Elouise turned to look at the wolf.
"Nothing. WHy would you think that?"
"Momma?" Skipper growled. "What are you doing here?"
"I just came to see my favorite son!" Elouise hugged Skipper.
He pushed her off, "I have 7 brothers. Oh my Gravy who have you killed?"
"What! I would never! I just feel like we haven't spent time together since- well."
"Who wants tea?" Grace yelped, sensing a sensitive subject.
"Since what momma? Say it." SKipper was begining to get defensive.
Marlene walked in next with a basket. "Hey Grace. How's-"
"Oh look. Marlene's here!" Grace yelped, "Marlene do you want some tea?"
"Uh- I just-"
Elouise was begining to whimper, "I just thought- we haven't spent a Christmas together since you ran away."
"I called. Was that not enough?" Skipper threw his flippers in the air.
"No, it wasn't, you father-"
Grace looked around for any inspiration. Then, she had an idea. She yelped and slid to the ground. "Skipper-" she put an extra little hint hurt in her voice.
"What?" Skipper looked at her annoyed. "Oh. Ooooh. What do I need to do?"
Grace stood back up. "Drop the subject, that's what. It's Christmas eve can we go without fighting for 24 hours?"
"You little liar! The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Grace. The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
"Mmhmm. You just keep telling yourself that, Chuck."
Skipper backed up, giving in to Grace rather than have her spill his secrets in front of his mother.
"Ahem." Marlene shuffled nervously. "Is this a bad time?"
"Marlene. This is Elouise, my mother." Skipper studied Elouise again.
"Oh, Marlene. You must be Skippy's girlfriend." Elouise hugged Marlene.
"Girlfriend?" Skipper and Marlene both squealed.
"Skippy?" Grace stiffled laughter.
The penguin shot her a glare. "Don't push it, Gracie Mae."
"Shuting up now."
"Ok, um. Elouise," Marlene staggered back from the hug, "Skipper and I are-"
Skipper jumped forward and tackled Marlene. "Madly in love."
"What?" Grace lost her control and started laughing.
"And Grace is-"
The wolf stopped laughing.
"Knock, Knock!" Akela strode in, two pups behind him. "Thanks for watching the- ELOUISE!
"Akela Coal. Do I need to hold you down and brush that fur?" Elouise put her hands on her hips. "How do you ever expect to get a girl lookin like you just rolled out of the pound?"
"Yea ma'am." Akela gave Grace the a little warning bark next time would be nice look.
"Pick your head up. Show some pride."
Grace started across the room, "Akela. Thanks for dropping the girls off. They'll be fine." she started ushering the taller red wolf towards the door.
"Bye Elouise!" Akela called.
"Don't you say bye to me you ol' wag!"
Akela chuckled.
"Would you stop pushing her buttons?" Grace snapped.
"Thanks for watching the girls."Akela pressed his nose on the side of Grace's head. "I really appreciate it."
At that second, Allison fell down and began whimpering.
"Well, that's my cue!" The red wolf spun around and raced off.
"Alli, Aubrey!" Grace sighed, "Come on!"
What do you think of Elouise? Isn't she wonderful? When do you think Grace will tell everyone she's pregnant? Who is the baby-daddy? And always remember *dramtically stares off into space* to review...