After 5 hours of driving JJ finally agreed to letting Emily drive the last hour or so. Jaden had slept the whole way, while Tara and Izzy alternated between sleeping and watching movies. Nico was enjoying his ability to stick his head out the open back hatch, Emily kept trying to keep it shut but Nico had found the button and was over joyed to be able to look at the people behind him without having to press his head flat against the cold glass.
"What are we doing exactly?" Emily asked nervous about the answer.
"Really Em when's the last time we came out here?"
"For Nico… Oh god JJ no."
"Yup she has puppies we might be interested in."
"Fine. Only one."
"That's what I was going to say." JJ smiled and kissed Emily's cheek.
x-x-x
An hour later Emily was driving the truck up the winding road that got them to the top of a hill where Janet lived. They pulled up the driveway and Emily sighed.
"Now I remember why I hate this place."
"That hill is a killer." Janet said leaning against house.
"Hey Janet. I'd like you to meet Jaden, and Tara. You might remember Izzy, and here is Nico." JJ smiled and pointed to everyone. Jaden looked up at the woman and Tara shook her hand, Nico bounded up to her and waited.
"Well look at you Nico! You look like you're doing amazing." She smiled ruffling his fur and Nico wiggled then moved into the house through the doggy door. "Tara… Why do I not remember you?"
"She is Izzy's girlfriend." Emily said and Janet looked between Emily and Tara.
"You lie, she looks just like you Emily."
"A much younger version of me." Emily said and Janet laughed.
"I was keeping that part to myself."
"No point in doing so. I've gotten use to the fact I age."
"Oh sure, that's not what you were saying yesterday." JJ scoffed and Izzy laughed.
"Mommy puppies!" Jaden said pointing to a pack of puppies running toward them.
"Yup that they are Jaden." Emily smiled and watched as Jaden played with the puppies. One puppy who was all white with brown ears lined in black came over to Jaden, he stood on his hind legs and looked at Jaden's face, never placing his front feet on him. When he was good he moved onto Emily, who bent down, then JJ, Izzy, and finally Tara. Nico came back around the house and sat down beside JJ. The puppy walked over to him and pawed at his face till Nico looked down at him.
"Is that the one?" JJ asked and Janet nodded.
"I couldn't believe it Jenny, he reminds me so much of Mer."
"He is just like him." JJ said and kept watching the pups. Suddenly a puppy came charging out of the dog door, launching off the porch he rammed his head into the back of Emily's legs. Emily chuckled and picked the little guy up.
"Well look at you, you know that big lug over there introduced himself the same way to me as a puppy." The puppy squirmed and licked at Emily's face. Emily chuckled and put the puppy against her body.
"He's got amazing coloring." Emily said and Izzy nodded.
"He's beautiful." She said but her eyes were glued to Tara as she held the other puppy they had discussed.
"JJ I think we should get this one."
"I'm not sure Em… I really like ears over there." She pointed toward Tara and Emily smiled nodding.
"Remember how I said one?" Emily asked.
"I mean it only one!" JJ said eyes wide as she looked at Emily.
"Does this mean we have to pick?" Jaden said with a pout on his face as he had a puppy pulling at his pant leg.
"Yes it does."
"Well ears is just like Merlin, and Nico likes him. But this guy is more like Nico as a puppy."
"You hated Nico as a puppy." Izzy pointed out.
"Did not." Emily snorted and JJ laughed.
"Remember moving in?"
"Shut up JJ!" Emily growled and pouted.
"I personally like Ears, and it's a cute name too." Tara smiled.
"Ah, yeah no it's gotta be a historical, medieval, or a gods name." Emily said.
"Wait… explain Nico?"
"German singer who passed away in 88." JJ said simply.
"Oh. That makes sense." She said and Emily threw a chew toy at her.
"What about Ra? The Egyptian god." Tara offered.
"I like it…"
"Oh Raiden! Well it's really Raijin… but I don't like it as much." Izzy said and everyone looked at her. "Japanese… I'm not a geek!"
"Oh you so get that from your mother." Emily said and JJ laughed, it was true she had loved learning about the gods, no matter where they were from, she didn't really like the Irish ones though, only because she had a hard time remembering their names.
"I like them both." JJ smiled. "Only one dog though, so one name." She stood her ground even though she knew Emily and Izzy would go to the death on this. "So pick which one."
"Ears." Izzy and Tara said.
"Spots." Emily said glaring at the two girls. JJ sighed, it was going to be a long day.
