"Really?" Fara asked questionably as she and Krystal walked home from school together. Both were dressed a bit warmer then usual as the temperature dropped by Solar kept on shinning brightly. Most of the snow had melted away but still sections here and there of non-thawed out snow were still around. Krystal had just explained to her what had happened the previous week before and how she was now involved with Fox.
"Yea…do you think it's a bad thing?" She seemed a bit afraid to ask that question, she hoped that Fara wasn't mad at her.
The tone in her voice banished all those fears away, "Not at all, I think its great!"
"Really? You're not mad?"
"No of course not. Fox needs some love and support too…He deserves to have that much you know? I honestly don't know why everyone is still so angry with him."
"Me neither really." Krystal agreed.
"And besides, now you get to be by the cutest baby ever all the time!" The two girls squealed loudly as they shared a good laugh about it. It took a moment for Fara to calm back down as they continued their walk home, "So when's the next time you're going to go baby sit for him?"
"Tomorrow, he has today off and so he's catching up on a little school work and staying home."
"Do you mind if I come over and watch her with you?"
"I'd love some company." Krystal smiled toward the other vixen as Fara was just about to leave for her driveway. Krystal was heading toward Fox's house as usual until late in the evening. Just as Fara was about to turn toward her home an idea struck Krystal, this would be the perfect timing to bring everyone together again!
"Oh Fara I have an idea!" The fennec turned curiously toward the vixen with a wondering expression on her face.
"What's that?"
"What if we got everyone to come and baby sit with us? Falco, Bill, Fay, Katt, and Miyu. This could be the perfect chance to get everything back to normal again."
"I'm not sure everyone is going to go with that idea…" Fara's answer was unsure. She didn't think letting everyone else meet the baby before even talking with daddy was such a hot idea. "And besides I thought Katt and Fay were still mad at him? And you've seen Miyu lately she's so depressed…"
"Okay well…how about just the guys? Hey what happened to Slippy anyway?"
"He's out of town right now, but he still goes and sees Fox every once in a while so he doesn't really count."
"So how about we try to get Falco and Bill to come watch Jamie with us?" Krystal ran toward the fennec with an excited expression as she stepped back a bit. Fara pondered over the idea, would they go with it? She just wasn't sure.
"Well…" She thought about it for a moment longer, "I don't see why we wouldn't at least try."
"Great! Let's do it!" Krystal sounded so happy as she continued her walk toward Fox's home talking back to the fennec, "I'll convince Falco and you convince Bill!"
"Alright then!" Fara waved goodbye before she turned to enter her home. She didn't know how exactly this was all going to play out, but all she could do is hope for the best.
X
"Come on Falco, please?" Krystal was practically begging the avian as he just wasn't an easy person to persuade. Falco had his eyes concentrated on his shut locker door as he and Krystal stood close to all the lockers along the Junior Hall. It was in between 3rd and 4th period as this was Krystal's only moment to try and convince Falco before Katt would be with him nearly the rest of the day. Falco looked at nothing in particular as he surveyed the halls where dozens of species were walking toward their next class.
"I don't know…It's just a little awkward and uncomfortable."
"Oh come on Falco, I swear she's the most adorable kit you'll ever see."
"Yea I'm sure she is," He didn't sound convinced, "But it just feels strange and uncomfortable still, and besides I haven't talked to Fox in forever."
"Then forever needs to end and move on Falco. Fox misses all of us but he's just to busy to try and talk to you guys and he thinks you're all still mad at him." Falco let his head down and sighed, truth be told his anger at Fox diminished a long time ago, but that void was over taken by awkwardness and the strange feeling of going over to a home with a 17 year old past best friend with his baby daughter kit. He wondered just how it would all play out…
"Come on he misses all of us very much."
He finally caved in, "I'll go…But I don't want to go alone if you can talk Bill into going with us then fine."
"We will! Thanks so much Falco!" Krystal couldn't help but to give the avian a quick hug before she ran off, "Meet us outside the school at the back entrance near the student parking lot!" She disappeared into the student crowds as Falco watched her go. He let out another heavy sigh as he slung his back over his shoulder and carried his class books in the opposite arm, heading toward Geometry class. He always hated math and would never be good at it, perhaps the boring lectures will make him think about just what he had agreed to more thoroughly.
"No way." Bill said with a bit of bitterness as he closed his locker door.
"Oh come on Bill! Fox just wants to see you again and he's got the cutest kit ever." Fara wasn't having as much luck with Bill as Krystal had with Falco. The two were in another part of the junior halls on the floor above from where Falco and Krystal had just talked.
"I know he wants to talk to us but why can't he come to us?"
"What do you think? He works two jobs around the clock, has a baby to take care of and still goes to school online."
"Oh…" Fara had guilt tripped the canine into feeling bad as he was ignorant. He just didn't know what Fox was up to now days. Of course he wouldn't know…
"Come on what do you say? It won't be for that long really."
"If you can talk Falco into going with us then I guess I'll go…"
"We will! Thanks so much Bill! Meet us after school at the student parking lot!" Fara ran off to tell Krystal the news in their shared 4th period class. Bill just shrugged it off as he walked toward his next class. As he turned around he was a bit scared to see Fay standing right behind him, not looking to happy.
"Fay don't do that you nearly gave me a heart attack." He grasped his chest where his heart was as he tried to calm down.
"What was that all about?" Fay was quick to catch on as she looked to her canine boyfriend. Bill knew if he told her the truth she would never go with it, he had to keep it a secret for now. He wanted to know just how Fox was doing…
He tried to cover it up, "Fara just had a question to ask." Technically I'm not lying I'm just not telling her the whole part of it. Bill thought to himself as Fay eyed him curiously. He quickly tried to throw her off by grabbing her paw with his own, "So shall we head to Arts & Crafts?" Fay wasn't quick to buy his throw-off, but after a moment longer she forgot about it all and smiled.
X
After school had ended the four had met up right where they all agreed to and quickly left the school. Each of the guys had told their girls that they needed to go do something with the other, some kind of school related project. Fay and Katt suspected some suspicious but didn't think of any foul play. Krystal had told Fox she would come a bit earlier then expected, about an hour to be exact. Fox figured they would just hang out and talk before he had to leave for his job at the teenage club and hangout. Solar was just about to set for the afternoon as days were still short but getting longer as each day went on. The group of four stood outside the front door as Krystal turned to them all with a reassured face.
"Okay are you all ready?"
"As ready as we'll ever be…"
"Great!" She sounded so cheery. Krystal knocked on the door multiple times and rang the doorbell twice. You could barely hear Fox's voice through the other side.
"Krystal you should know you don't have to knock, just come straight-"He cut himself off from the surprise of not seeing just one, but four people standing in front of his doorway. Fox stood there in mental shock to see Fara, Falco and even Bill standing outside his door. The kit he was holding in his grasp brought him back to reality a bit slower then he would have liked, but at least she snapped him out of it. "In…Hey guys."
"Hey Fox, it's been a while hasn't it been?" Falco could tell Bill wasn't going to say anything; he was just as awed by the baby in Fox's arms as Falco was. He couldn't help but to look at her…Jamie was flailing around a bit more then usual as she smiled with the binkie in her mouth. She was excited to see new faces and people.
"Yea a while doesn't quite cut it." There was a certain sparkle in his eyes as Krystal looked into him. You could tell Fox was either relieved or just straight up happy now. This is what he's been longing for. He cut through the two ladies and walked up to Falco as they shared a brief hug, "It's good to see you again." The two girls were happy that they were all getting along again.
Falco gave him a good pat on the back, "Yea you too." After that was up it was Bill's turn. He was a bit taken aback as he saw that same sparkle in Fox's eyes. Fox wrapped one arm around his backside and patted him graciously.
"Nice to see you again Bill."
"Same here Fox."
"Well come on in." Fox walked on in with Krystal at his side as the others followed. Falco and Bill just looked at one another and shrugged, that was sure more then simple enough. If that was all that was needed to get their friendships back in order with their lives then they felt as though there was a bunch of wasted time in between…
"How has everyone been?" Fox asked curiously as he grabbed the bottle on the table side of the loveseat as Krystal sat beside him. Fara, Falco and Bill sat across from them all in the largest couch as Fara kept her smile up.
"Pretty good, schools been surprisingly hard lately. Just tons of confusing and frustrating projects."
"Oh that sucks; well I'm sure you'll get through it all." The two other males just looked at Fox as it seemed so natural to him. To them it was quite alien for him to be feeding a baby but Fox was a natural master at it. Well that's to be expected when you've been a dad for six months…
"How about you guys?" The two were snapped out of their trance as Fox asked the question to them. They just looked at one another and scratched the back of their heads.
"Alright I guess, I'm doing pretty well in all my classes except math, it's such a pain in the ass." The avian admitted as he went first, he only wished Bill would keep the conversation going.
"Yea math is my weakest subject but I'm not bad it though.
"Yea…I hate English classes I gotta turn in my final project soon or else I'll be in trouble." Bill stated as he earned a small chuckle from Fox. He then suddenly remembered.
"Oh I'm sorry I must be tired." He stood up as he walked toward the two guys tucking Jamie in a bit more secure, "This is my daughter Jamie." Fox got onto his knees in front of Falco's figure as he brought Jamie closer to the avian. She sounded happy as she flailed her small arms in front of the avian.
"Well she is a cute little thing." Bill came closer to Falco's side as he wanted to see a close-up of the baby also.
"Makes me sad I didn't come to see her earlier." Bill admitted as he put one of his fingers close to Jamie's arms as she grabbed it with her small paw.
"It's alright I'm sure you guys have been busy." Fox picked himself back up as he headed toward Krystal to hand over Jamie. That comment hit Falco and Bill hard even if Fox hadn't meant it to be. They hadn't asked Fox how his life has been ever since Jamie was born and Jessie kicked them out, and he thought they were busy?
"A little…"
"Well that's not a bad thing, so out of curiosity…"Fox took his seat again as she leaned back in to relax for a bit longer, "Does Jessie still go to Shooting Star?" It took a moment for anyone to even answer but Falco finally broke the awry silence.
"I'm not sure to be completely honest."
"She does I've seen her around the halls every now and then, not like I talk to her though." Bill wondered in his mind just how Fox would react to his answer, but surprisingly got nothing.
"Interesting." Was all the vulpine daddy said as he stretched his back. Krystal could sense Fox was keeping his emotions hidden. He was fooling them into believing he was all peaches and fuzz. There was some discomfort and anger in him but his happy mood out weighed it completely on a 5 to 1 scale. There was some tension in the air amongst the teenagers but none was of negative energy. They finally got on the topic of how Fox's life has been ever since Jamie's birth. Fox told them all about just how challenging raising a baby can be, and how it was never at all easy.
"But I believe that Jamie is worth all of it and more." Fox took the baby kit from Krystal's arms as he laid a nice kiss onto her forehead and tucked her into his cradle of arms. It was a heartwarming scene for them all but especially for the fennec as she flashed a nice smile. But soon it came to be where Fox had to head off until he would come back late in the evening. He was dressed in his tight club outfit with a black sports back over his shoulder and his shades resting on top of his head as he turned to give Jamie to Krystal.
He took a moment to talk cute to his baby, "You be good for mommy and daddy's friends alright Jamie?" His only answer was a happy laugh and cute baby sounds, "That's what I thought." He smiled as he turned toward Krystal setting Jamie carefully into her arms. He kissed Jamie's forehead and then gave a kiss to Krystal on her cheek. Fox then stood up to say farewell as he headed for the door.
"Bye guys, if you guys are gone before I get back tonight then it was nice to see you all again!"
"Bye Fox!" Fara talked loudly as he headed for his car and out he was gone. Fox and Bill looked at one another curiously, what did he mean by 'mommy'?
"Krystal what was all that about?" Bill asked the blue vixen as she walked back toward the kitchen to fix Jamie some formula. After setting the baby into her booster seat she grabbed the material needed and headed a pot of water as she answered his question.
"Oh well…" She was a bit nervous to answer the question, she hadn't even told Fara yet. Her cheeks heated as she mixed the material together, "Jamie called me her mommy a while back so it's a joke me and Fox keep going on."
"Are you guys-"
"Yes." Krystal cut him off answering his question. She kept her happy smile even through this awkward moment.
"Well I think it's great you're going out with Fox." Fara came into the kitchen helping in any way she could, "He needs some friends and support right now from all his friends, even if Krystal is there for him a bit more then us." The two guys didn't need anymore explanation from Fara as the two vixens smiled at one another.
X
Over the past couple hours things went pretty smoothly, Falco and Bill left their awkward square behind and stepped forward with Fox and his baby girl. The four teens kept frequently busy as they went from one activity to the next. Whether it was doing school work, playing a few games or just watching simple plasma programming, they always had something to do and kept the conversation right on rolling. Though Krystal was the busiest of them all by far as she was the primary babysitter for Jamie. Whenever the kit had some need she would always be the one to do it.
Multiple hours passed as they were all now just sitting on the floor watching some local program show, the show had been going on for a while now but all it was basically about were these young adults just on kinky adventures and senseless drama having sex with one another…
"This show is so lame, why is it always the talk of the school?" Falco groggily let out as he let out a loud yawn that kept Jamie happy.
"I don't know, it's alright I guess." Bill wasn't anymore entertained as he lay on the floor stretching his limbs. Falco felt paws grabbing onto his pant leg as he sat next to Krystal, Jamie was crawling her way toward the avian with pensive eyes and an extraordinary happy smile. Krystal properly sat her up on Falco's lap as he was beginning to sit up.
"Just sit still and relax, she doesn't bite."
"I know that…" Falco rolled his eyes as Krystal picked up the kit and sat her into Falco's arms; he was getting uncomfortable as he began to panic.
"Relax she just wants to be close to you." Falco tried to breathe easily but he hadn't been around babies a lot even with his own younger brother. He picked her up by the arm pits as Jamie rubbed his beak innocently. After a moment of happy rubbing he brought her back down as she looked up to him smiling.
"I'll admit she's a cute little thing."
"Her charm must be from Fox 'cause I've never seen Jessie attracting any other guy then him." Fara stated as she leaned back in the bean bag chair watching the screen.
"Oh you now how he is." Krystal talked to the vixen in a sly tone of voice as the fennec looked back to her with a slight wink. Not a moment later Fox walked through the front door in his tight pants and a tank top with his shades resting on top. Everyone gathered around real quickly as he set everything done.
"Hey everyone."
"Hey there Fox." Krystal was the first to greet him as she saw her come up with empty arms, where did the baby go?
"How was work?" Fara came up to him and asked as Bill and Falco gathered around, a small smile crept up his muzzle as he saw Falco holding Jamie.
"It was fine, any problems?"
"Just as great as usual."
"Awesome, by the way all your parents are outside waiting on you guys. I was talking to them for a few minutes."
"Oh alright then." All the teens dispersed grabbing their things before heading out the door, saying farewell to Fox individually until it was just down to Fox and Krystal. Fox closed the door as Jamie was getting tired.
The teen daddy smiled, "Its way past your bedtime Jamie." The two walked toward her darkened room as they set her to bed. Within moments her hazel eyes closed for the evening as Fox kissed her forehead wishing her goodnight.
"Thanks for watching her tonight." He took a hold of her paw as the two walked toward the door.
"It was no problem."
"Also thanks for bringing everyone over, I thought it was an awesome surprise."
"Again, no problem." Her smile was great as was his own. They reached the front door as Fox breathed strongly through his nose. "Well, good night."
"Good night." She whispered silently as she moved in to kiss him properly. The two met lips for the first time as a solid moment of bliss tightened their locked paws. Krystal started to depart from him as she kept her head close to his own. He wouldn't let go, and neither would she. They kept going for a few moments longer until they had a make out session going on for a few minutes. Krystal dropped her bag as she wrapped her hands around his neck bringing him close. He did the same wrapping his hands around her waist. It was a nice happy moment for them both; Fox could tell this wasn't a first for Krystal even though he had never even heard of her being in a relationship with anyone. As they separated Krystal's face was lit up as her cheeks were rosy red.
Fox gently rested his head on her shoulder, "You're incredible." He whispered lovingly into her ear, that comment only made her giggle with glee.
"I know you are."
"Good night." After one quick kiss she left for the evening as he watched her go. He couldn't help but to keep his sights on her until she was completely out of sight, "She's so amazing."
X
"Fox, we need to discuss something honey." Vixy caught the vulpine's attention as he had just swallowed his early dinner, the two parents look at the younger parent while Jamie was drinking some of Vixy's milk. He could tell this was a serious matter as they each set down their utensils and he gave them his undivided attention.
James opened up, "Fox we know life has been hard for you these past several months, and you're doing a great job taking care of Jamie. But we know you're not all that happy with yourself emotionally."
"What do you mean?" Fox didn't quite get the message as he wiped Jamie's face and started feeding her some baby mush, never once taking his eyes off his parents.
"High school really is the best four years of your life. But it's not the same experience when you take classes online."
"Well I don't really have a choice mom and dad." He looked away to wipe her face and feed Jamie another scoops full. There was a small moment of silence as the two parents looked at one another and nodded.
James continued on, "Well, now you do." Fox looked right back toward his two parents with a shocked expression; they couldn't be referring to…
"You mean-"
"We do Fox, although we would have to cut back on some spending we believe we can get through without your mother's monthly check. Your mom can stay home and baby sit while you're away but we ask you to hold down just one of your jobs. But the choice is ultimately yours."
"Yes." Fox answered without even thinking.
"Are you sure? You would have to stay the rest of the year there's no going back to the stuff online." This time Fox took a moment to think. Was he really not all that happy? James was definitely right going through high school wasn't the same when doing it all through online courses; he couldn't let this pass him by. Even If it would present new challenges down the road.
"I do, I really want to." The young teen stood up in place as he walked around the side hugging both his parents, "You guys don't know how much this means to me. Thank you." Vixy gave her son a nice pat on the back as well as James.
"Then I guess we better get to work."
X
Krystal was just about to leave for the night as she opened the door, but just like the previous night she stayed a bit longer to share a tender moment with Fox.
"Thanks again for that surprise the other day, it was great."
"No problem."
"Now I have a surprise for you." He let out in between pauses of breath for the two teens. They separated for a brief moment as Krystal wrapped her arms around Fox's neck pulling him close as she let him speak, wondering what it could be.
"What's that?"
"I'm done taking online courses. I'll be enrolling back into Shooting Star and starting once this winter break is over." Krystal's eyes shot wide as she was caught off from the moment's kiss with his sentence. She pulled away for a brief moment with a dazzling smile.
"So you're-"
"That's right" Fox cut her off with his lips with another sweet kiss. After one last moment he pulled away and whispered close to her face, "I'm going back to school."
