Chapter 4

Kitty followed Amanda towards her office with Naobi the dog right behind them. Once inside the office, Amanda took out a form and filled out the information that Kitty would need in order to take care of Naobi.

"There," she said signing the paper, "take this with you wherever you and Naobi go and you will be allowed to bring her with you."

Kitty smiled and hugged Amanda. "Thanks Amanda," she said. Amanda got stiff but smiled.

"You're welcome Miss Petro. Now shouldn't you get to lunch?"

Kitty smiled. "Sure, see you later Amanda." As soon as the fox left her office, Amanda shook her head as though she had been thinking hard.

"Stop thinking of it Amanda," she told herself, "you've got no chance." And with that she nodded as if she had reached an agreement with herself. She then left her office and went to see the dogs. She needed some love that only the dogs could provide her with.

Up in mess hall Uma, Aslan, Trish and Ling waited for Kitty. Ling sighed as he checked his watch for the tenth time in the last minute.

"Ach don't worry libechen," Uma said smiling at Ling, "she'll be here.

"Trish looked up. "Aye and there the lass are. She even brought a new friend." They turned and saw Kitty walk in with a dark furred German shepherd walking right next to her.

"Awww," Uma said gushing down at the dog as Kitty and Naobi came closer. Uma looked up at Kitty. "May I?" She almost begged.

"By all means," Kitty replied, sitting down next to Ling and kissing him. "Missed you," she said.

"Me too," Ling simply replied. Uma, Aslan and Trish went to greet Naobi.

"Hey Kitty, what's the dog's name?" Uma asked.

"Naobi," Kitty replied smiling, "she's pregnant with 7 puppies." Uma and Trish blinked and then looked down at the rascally dog who licked Uma's face.

Kitty looked over at Uma. "I think she likes you."

Uma smiled. "Of course she do, we're both German." Kitty snorted and laughed. Ling smiled too and gave Kitty some cacao.

"You need to drink and eat love, he said, "you are eating for more than yourself now you know."

Kitty sighed and nodded. "I know." Kitty kissed Ling once before she leaned towards him feeling happy and content.

Svetlana walked towards the makeup room. Being a model she had to wear a lot more makeup than she usually did. Upon entering the room she sat down and a perky bear stepped over to her.

"Ah bonjour Svetlana, ready for another day of photo shooting?" Svetlana smiled nervously back at her.

"Hello Beatrice," she said, "I'm wearing greens today, do your worst." Svetlana leaned back dreading this day, not because of the clothes or because of the makeup, but because of the photos. She still couldn't believe that everyone saw her as a beautiful woman; because she was so short being around all these beautiful tall models made her feel like a misfit. But she had promised Yuri and Naomi and her other friends and she was not going to let them down.

Beatrice stepped away. "OK Svetlana, you're ready to go dear," she said. Svetlana opened her eyes and looked in the mirror. She smiled, liking the subtle changed, as well as the browning crème that made it so each time the photographer took a picture her face wouldn't be pale. She went to her wardrobe and picked a dress she liked and exited, going to the podium. She smiled, noticing that the podium was made up as a room and she knew what that meant. She looked over at her usual photographer.

"So shall I sit in the chair or lie on the bed Jean Claude?" she asked.

"A bit of both Mademoiselle Umanova," the panda declared. "Hey do you mind pets?

"No," Svetlana said puzzled.

"Then what about a friend to shield you a bit from the spotlight?" Jean Claude joked, knowing how much Svetlana hated being in the center of the attention.

Svetlana laughed. "You know what the answer is Jean Claude. Oui I do." Jean Claude smiled and smiled as one of his assistants carried a grey tabby up to Svetlana who just smiled at the cat. Jean Claude smiled as well and clapped his hands.

"OK people let's get started." Svetlana sighed but walked up to the bed on the podium. She looked at the kitten.

"Yet another day huh?" the cat just purred as Svetlana scratched it behind its ears as happy as any cat could be.