Max felt both a mixture of refreshed and warm as he awoke in his position on the living room sofa. He was about to attempt the impossible and get up for the day but halted when a weight on him held him steadfast.

"Ehh?" Max was confused but as soon as his brain had decided that it was time to finally work, Max realised what had happened. He recalled the events with Zoe yesterday and how he and Natasha just ended up watching a romantic comedy, one at which was very, very boring to the point that Max had fallen asleep during the first twenty minutes.

Max lay there as the weight of the vulpine continued to restrict him but honestly which heartless person would wake up a sleeping, cuddly, attractive…

Max came to the conclusion that it wasn't his actual 'head' doing the thinking as he awkwardly shifted in his military trousers that were still on from yesterday, in fact, it was more accurately being repurposed as a tent. Max was careful of the hand of Natasha's that wandered dangerously close to the place he both did and didn't want it to be.

'Why do foxes have to be so damn beautiful and gorgeous. I swear that those two have put me off humans, period.'

Max continued to think about his current situation. The time flew by as Natasha continued to sleep, only shifting a few times to get, somehow, even closer to Max than she was before.

"Vrrt…vrrt, vrrt…vrtt, vrrt…"

It was Max's phone. He watched as it moved across the glass table that sat in front of the sofa. Max could just reach it. He felt like he had just had a small victory as he looked at the screen of the glass phone.

'Vicky (Zoe)'

Max glared at the overly bright screen for a second before answering in a hushed whisper in fear of waking the bronze fox residing upon him.

"Ye-ello?"

"Hello. It's Vicky here, sorry for calling you so early in the morning, I was just wondering if you and Zoe are still able to make it to the meeting today at two o'clock? How is she doing by the way?"

Max smiled as he tried to think about the positive things that had happened to the Zorua recently.

"Yeah. I think we're still up for the meeting with the counsellor. Zoe's been doing fine and actually, she seems to be accepting her physical self more and more with each day…."

Max remembered himself curling up with Zoe that one night as he comforted her, when she had poured her past out and had confessed her thoughts on her physicality.

"…that and she's started getting out and about so that's also a good sign."

Max held on a straight face. He held back on the fact that Zoe had gotten into some type of conflict or another on both occasions. Natasha had begun shifting around a bit on Max as she was roused from her sleep.

"Oh good. That's great to hear. I look forwards to meeting you both later today. I won't hold you up for now so I'll say goodbye for now."

"Yeah, no problem. See you then."

Max said his goodbyes before hanging up, Natasha yawning as she was finally woken up. The canine began to yawn and Max decided to cease the opportunity at a joke and so stuck his finger in her open mouth, where she would catch his finger upon closing her mouth after.

It worked as Natasha strangely bit down gently and couldn't so instead she tried licking and soon enough she was going mad at the sensation before Max ended her suffering by taking his now damp finger away.

"Ha. Never thought that yawn sabotaging could be so much fun."

Natasha rolled her eyes as she failed at moving on from the taste of Max lingering in her mouth.

"Yeah. Great start, why don't you just yawn rape me on every day, huh?"

Max was clear to pick up on Natasha's irritability of being the punchline for a bad prank. It was childish and immature; Natasha wasn't fond of having a 'puncake' as soon as she awoke.

"I got you good though."

"Oh shad up, you cheeky penis waffle."

Max laughed heartily at Natasha's comment. It made no sense but it was still something that gave Max the shits'n'giggles.

"Well then..." Max commented as Natasha got up from her position and stood up to take a proper stretch. The human was about to once again attempt getting up but stopped as he gazed at the Vulpix who was tensing all her muscles as she stretched out her arms, back and legs. Max couldn't help but watch as the canine moved herself in a provocative fashion as her camo top came up a little to reveal just enough of her stomach and her tails swished in the way that just seemed so… right to him.

Max snapped out of his hormonal gawking as Natasha spoke up.

"So…"

She turned to look at him with her hazel eyes, the dark spheres engulfing Max's attention as Natasha's curvy and alluring form taunted him.

"…what's for breakfast? I'm starving."


13:37


Max moved away from his bedroom dresser, grabbing his wallet from his bed and checking his phone one last time before he and Zoe headed out. Max exited his bedroom and made his way down the hall to where Zoe's was. He stood outside where the sound of a hairdryer could be heard from within. Max knocked.

"Hey, Zoe! We should have left at least twenty minutes ago. I don't want to pressure you but we really have to get a move on."

Max listened as the hairdryer was switched off, the whirring of the motor dulling down until footsteps could be heard approaching the door. Max took a step back as the door swivelled open to reveal Zoe.

She stood as she normally would but this time she wore a pair of white Vans, light blue jeans, torn knees with fur poking through of course, a dark cherry coloured t-shirt and a light grey hoodie tied around her waist. Zoe had curled the edges of her usually straight shoulder length hair and as if to tip the ice berg, she had a lily clipped on behind her left ear.

"Wow. Zoe… you look really nice. I like the look."

The Zorua's face lit up behind her facial fur as she internally relished in the thought of Max's words. She gazed at the floor with a bashful look. She wasn't used to compliment and so it meant the world to her to hear it from Max. He really would always mean every word he said.

"T-thanks. I'm glad you like it."

They both stood there for a second as their minds raced in the presence of one another. Max eventually broke the ice as he cleared his throat. Zoe looking up from her spot on the floor as Max spoke.

"Well. I guess we should head. We ought to rush or we'll be late."

Zoe let out a nod and with that they both proceeded to the stairs and downstairs. Natasha could be found lazily sprawled out on the couch, one leg on one off as she watched a movie. The Vulpix looked up as the two came down the stairs, her ears twitching at each of Max's steps that completely dampened the sound of Zoe's lighter treading.

"Natasha, were heading out now. You'll be able to man fort for a little while, right?"

The Anthro smiled and nodded before laying her head back down on the armrest of the sofa. Max had confidence that Natasha could manage him being out for a while.

Both himself and Zoe had gotten out the front of the house and into Max's car, Zoe immediately opened a window as hot air escaped the vehicle that had been bathing in sunlight for too long.

"Gees. It's boiling, wouldn't you agree, Zoe?"

She never had to answer as she held the roof of the car out of the window and was lightly panting as Max struggled to get his keys into the ignition. It took a while and after the car turned over and started, the air conditioning was soon to kick in.

The car pulled out of the driveway and soon was cruising down the suburbs that they lived in, slowly snaking from one street to another as Zoe and Max made their way to the city centre.

The two now stood outside a large office building, the tall structure seemed to go up endlessly as the sky reflected off the glass panelling.

"Do we really have to do this?" Zoe had grown impatient as they made their way into the lobby, a blonde woman with the sunniest of smiles standing behind the receptionist desks.

"Ideally, yes. Vicky only wants to check that you're doing fine and that you're settling in. You are ok with living with me right. I mean, my B.O. isn't secretly killing you and you're not telling me, is it?" Max joked, the Zorua suppressing a giggle as Max turned to talk to the receptionist. Secretly, Zoe enjoyed Max's sent but that was for another time…

"Eeyup. You're on the seventeenth floor, take the fist right…" The receptionist was cut off by Max.

"And look for Vicky's office. Thanks Janet."

The receptionist bid them farewell as Max and Zoe strode to an elevator that had just arrived, several individuals in suits stepping out. Max looked to his side and noted Zoe's look of worry as they continued forth. She was lightly shivering.

"Hey, What's wrong?"

Zoe looked around, her gaze skimming around the room before replying.

"There's just… so many people."

Max knew about Zoe's agoraphobia and so took her hand into his. Zoe tensed at the feeling of Max but soon relaxed a little into his hold, her shivering calming as she kept her attention on Max and not the various people walking with brisk pace. The two of them got into the elevator which, except themselves, was devoid of people. Max pressed a button on the metallic panel and once more, the elevator sprung into life as the doors closed.

Max loosened his hand but still it remained in Zoe's. The Zorua held on as if it was the only thing she had and to be honest, that's what it felt like for her. Max was Zoe's world. He made sure that she lived comfortably, had the same chances as other people and was treated right. She looked to him for a lot of things.

"Can we hold hands for a little longer? Please?"

Zoe looked at Max and vice versa, Zoe had her ears folded back in that special way that struck Max in his weak spot, his secret yet exploited yearning to be close to Zoe. Max found it adorable the way she was able to do that with her ears and this was just one of the things that max loved about her.

"Sure." Max sighed but smiled as Zoe's face lit up a little. Max restored his hold on the hybrids hand and in turn she tightened hers.

The lift jostled around a little as it docked with the intended floor. A ping sound resonated before the doors opened. Max and Zoe left and made their way down the hall.

The office was small. It could have only been a couple of meters in width and certainly less in length. Max shuffled in followed closely by Zoe.

"Hey Vicky. Sorry that were late. I hope you weren't waiting too long."

"No, not at all. You got here right on time as usual. Please, sit down." Vicky replied with the sunniest of dispositions. Vicky sported shoulder length hair that shimmered a golden blonde as light shone in through a set of blinds. Bright blue eyes scanned over both of the guests as they sat down. Max was seated straight away but Zoe took a while as she adjusted for a while in the chair.

'Why is it so hard for the fur on my goddamn butt to sit flat?'

Zoe eventually was comfortable and sat attentively as Vicky spoke.

"So, as you know, I called you here for the regular meet up to check how things are going on with the adoption process and if you are both happy with the current situation."

Zoe nodded confidentiality while Max was more relaxed. Vicky flashed a grin before looking towards her computer, typing a few things in before looking back towards Max and Zoe.

"So I just wanted to let you know, Zoe, that we have been searching for your biological parents and… We think we have found them. I just need you to confirm something…"

Max's heart sunk as Vicky opened a drawer for her desk, she withdrew a piece of paper before handing it to the anthropomorphised Zorua who now sat with a frown etched on her face.

Zoe took the picture from Vicky. She looked long and hard at it as her face contorted from a frown into a look of pain and anguish as Zoe started crying, her whole body shaking as she gazed upon a small girl with two parents in what could have only been a timely family photo. Tears rolled down Zoe's cheek as she took deep breaths through her crying.

"T-that's them, That's… That…"

Zoe couldn't finish as she broke down into tears. Her hands shaking as she could no longer hold the photo in place. It had been so long. The memory of the holiday that she had been on. The southern coast of Spain, the hotel where she had wondered off from.

The screeching of tires as the tall man stepped out the van. Zoe looked up as the man grabbed her, pale hands raising as she shielded herself. The dark smell of petroleum and wood chipping as she was tied and gagged and…

"Zoe?" It was Max. He was knelt in front of her shaking form as she bawled through gritted teeth.

Zoe fell forwards and grabbed Max, hugging him as she cried into his shoulder. Max felt every motion as Zoe clung on for dear life as her world came crashing down on her like a tidal wave of emotion, leaving ripples of trauma and tragedy as the tsunami of her kidnapping encased her once more, her ridding on a vessel through the storm with nothing but the knowledge that a better world being out there as her guide.

"M-Max…"

"Yes? What is it?"

Zoe sniffed as she cleared her sinuses. She wiped her face with an arm before looking at Max, admitting:

"M-Max… I d-don't want to go h-home."


Techz: There we have it. Another chapter of DWIH for you lovely peoples. Dort forget to comment and follow and I will see you in the next chapter.

~Techz out