Drell sighed as he left Patrick and Atticus to their own moment. He looked a little heartbroken.
"Drell, do you mind if I talk with you for a moment?" Emily asked.
"Erm,... Emily... Hello..." Drell glanced to the dark blonde woman.
"Please?" Emily asked.
"Uh, okay..." Drell shrugged. "What's up?"
"I saw that look on your face, you really wanted to spend sometime with Atticus, didn't you?" Emily asked.
Drell smiled sheepishly. "He's like the son I never had..."
"We know that was one of the reasons why we sent him and Patch over to you to stay with you for a while." Emily said.
"Yeah..." Drell remembered that with a small sigh. "I kinda wish he was my son... He's a lot like me..."
"Yes, I know, they both are like you at times." Emily said.
Drell ruffled up Emily's hair. "Congratulations, you gave birth to a savior."
"Yes, I know." Emily said, fixing her hair.
"I guess I better get going then..." Drell said.
"How about a cup of coffee?" Emily offered. "You look like you could use some."
Drell looked over curiously. "Well... Okay... Just one cup."
"Cream and or sugar?" Emily asked.
"Just cream for now," Drell said as he sat down. "I'm trying to watch myself around too many sweets."
Emily then poured him a cup of coffee and put some cream in it while Drell saw a picture of the entire Fudo family and which made him curious of where Jessica was.
"Uh, Emily?" Drell asked.
"Hm?" Emily glanced to him as she stirred in the cream for him.
"Where's Jessica?" Drell asked.
"Oh, you haven't heard?" Emily replied. "She's in college now."
"That's great, she must be in a good college." Drell said.
"Oh, yes," Emily smiled. "Jessie goes to a very special university."
"Being your and Patty's daughter, I wouldn't be soon." Drell smiled.
Emily hid a giggle to his nickname for her husband and gave him his cup. "Here you go."
"Thank you." Drell took the cup and gently sipped from it.
And where to him, it was very tasty.
"Wow, you really know how to make a man a good cup of coffee." Drell smiled.
"Why, thank you." Emily smiled gratefully.
They then felt the house shake, telling one of the Fudo men upstairs lost.
"Looks like you win, Dad." Atticus said.
"Good match, son," Patrick smiled. "You feeling better?"
"I sure am, but I think this time it should be two against one, you and Drell against me, I like unfair matches at times." Atticus smiled.
"How about some ice cream first?" Patrick offered.
"Okay, ice cream first." Atticus said.
Patrick ruffled up Atticus's hair and walked downstairs with him to get some celebratory ice cream.
"So who won?" Drell asked, startling the two of them.
Atticus and Patrick jolted slightly.
"Hello." Drell smirked.
"Uh, I won..." Patrick replied.
"Yeah, this time, I couldn't beat him." Atticus said.
"Congratulations, Pat." Drell praised.
"Thanks, Drell." Patrick smiled.
"Don't sweat it." Drell continued to sip his coffee.
"Enjoying my wife's famous coffee?" Patrick smiled.
"Oh, yes, very much..." Drell said. "Those idiot dandruff brained goblins always screw it up back home!"
"I'll give you the recipe then." Emily said.
"Much obliged." Drell smiled.
Emily smiled back to him. Atticus and Patrick then had their ice cream.
Atticus then heard his cell phone ring, he saw it was his older sister, so he answered it. "Hey, Jessie."
"Hey, Atticus..." Jessica replied softly. "I heard about Patch... How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing a little better." Atticus said.
"Sorry I couldn't be there..." Jessica said. "Just remember to keep your head up and Patch is probably watching over you right now with Aunt Athena."
"Thanks, Jessica," Atticus smiled. "How's school?"
"A bit challenging, but I'm holding on." Jessica said.
"Don't worry, you're a smart girl, it'll get better." Atticus comforted.
"I'll try..." Jessica sighed. "You try it someday."
"I always do." Atticus smiled.
"Yeah, yeah..." Jessica laughed.
Atticus laughed with her. "We're about to have some ice cream, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, I got midterms to study for, I'll be home before you know it though, see ya later." Jessica replied.
"See you later, Sis." Atticus smiled.
"See ya." Jessica said before hanging up.
"I didn't get to talk to her," Drell pouted. "Shoot..."
"Maybe next time, you will." Atticus said.
"Hmph..." Drell shrugged as he sipped his coffee.
While that was going on, Patch seemed to enjoy flying in the air, but still felt sad about leaving those he loved on Earth. It seemed to had become night time in Heaven as the other dogs were lounging about and enjoying their eternal afterlife.
"Charlie, you're wrong about this place." Itchy said as he grew to love this place like the others.
"This place does have everything that a dog could ever want, but not quite everything." Patch said.
"For me, there's still something missing." Charlie added, not sure himself, but he knew it was out there somewhere.
A glowing pink bubble was flying around which alerted the other dogs.
"Oh, Charlie," Itchy pointed. "Look! Look!"
The dogs clamored, wondering what was wrong.
"Quiet, quiet, everyone," Annabelle told the dogs as she appeared before them. "I've got terrible news!"
"What's wrong, Annabelle?" Patch asked.
Charlie grumbled once he saw the pink whippet.
"Gabriel's Horn has ended up out of our hands and ended up on Earth," Annabelle explained urgently. "In the heart of the land of San Francisco."
Many dogs reacted in horror and dismay.
"But without the horn, the Pearly Gates can't get open!" a big dog commented.
"A-A-And no dogs will get into Heaven." a tiny schnauzer added, fearfully.
"Lucky dogs." Charlie scoffed.
"Annabelle, please send me back down to Earth to get it back, please." Patch begged.
"Okay, but I will be sending someone with you." Annabelle said.
"Go back?" Charlie liked the sound of that.
"Reggie, I would like you to go with him." Annabelle said.
One of the dogs came over and cleared his throat. "Annabelle, I consider it a most grateful hon-"
"Whoa, time out!" Charlie dashed over, picking up the plucky dog. "You can't send Reggie, just look at him for Heaven's sake! They got rats down there bigger than this."
"He's right," the bigger dog came over. "I'll go."
"I'm sorry, but I think I need someone who has experience in San Fransisco," Patch told them. "That's why I want Charlie and Mr. Itchy to come with me."
"Maybe it would be good for Charles to do something other than to make a nuisance of himself." Annabelle replied.
"All right, let's go!" Charlie was eager to leave.
"Now, to find the horn, follow your ears..." Annabelle warned/reminded. "It gives off a steady, heavenly tone that only angels can hear."
"Angels, got it!" Charlie then hopped off.
"Oh, wait, wait," Annabelle stopped him. "I can give you one miracle to use only in emergency." she then waved her paw which made a sparkle ball appear and was blessed upon the German Shepherd.
"One per customer... Got it..." Charlie tried to go again.
"Charles, Charles, CHARLES!" Annabelle called once again. "This is serious! If the horn falls into the wrong hands, it could be disaster for us all!"
"You can count on Charles." Charlie mumbled, accidentally getting his and Annabelle's halo attached to each other.
"And just to be sure we get this job done, Mr. Itchy really will be coming with us." Patch said.
"Just to make sure." Annabelle agreed.
"M-M-Me!?" Itchy panicked. "But I just got here! Wait just a second, I still have death lag!" Suddenly, he was floating up in the air as Charlie was ditching his halo, robe, and wings, as he was anxious to come back down to Earth.
Patch did the same, but kept his watch on him.
"Yahoo!" Charlie cheered as he went down the dark tunnel to send him down to Earth and straight out of Heaven.
"I just remembered!" Itchy cried. "I have flying lessons after lunch!"
Annabelle didn't want to hear it, she took off his robe and halo, making Itchy fall after Charlie and Patch. "Bring back the horn, Charles!" she warned Charlie in specific due to how troublesome he usually was. "Or the price will be Heaven to pay!"
"Got it!" Charlie called back.
"We won't fail you, Annabelle!" Patch included.
And where they would arrive there at the same time the others would arrive.