Session 14

The banquet hall was decked out. Ebony decorations with gold accents surrounded the room. Right down to the black table clothes and golden silverware. White plates, with a gold ring around the outer lips. Everyone was dressed in their fanciest outfits. A lush cherry wood podium stood at the front of the room. Polished to catch the warm lighting above. A figure stepped out from around the tables up to the podium. A husky fox with thick shoulders. His sandy blonde hair spiked but tidy. He wore a black chef jacket, that had been pressed. The name Foxglove embroidered on his chest. His teal eyes scanning the crowd behind his wire framed glasses.

"Good evening, today we are here to issue the award of Best Bakery, for the triburough counties for the second year. It is a huge honor for me to introduce, Gideon Grey."

The room was a light with the spattering of applause, some of his coworkers even woofed loudly in support. Twenty-five year old Gideon rose from his seat, walking around the table. He met the other fox in an embrace as they passed. When Gideon reached the podium he looked around the room. There were so many familiar people, he almost couldn't believe it.

"Thank you all." Gideon began, once the crowd died down. "I thought the first time I won this thing was a big honor, but I think the second time is even better. It let's me know that I've not be resting on my laurels in the aftermath of greatness, but have excelled to keep a consistency in my product and my name."

The crowd broke in to applause again. A few people even stood up out of their seats. Gideon felt his throat close up a bit, seeing so man people that appreciated him for what he'd become. So many people that had a hand in it. Those were the ones he had to thank, because he may have done a lot, but he'd not done everything himself.

"But I didn't get here by myself." Gideon swallowed hard, trying to fight the lump back down. "Foxx, Chef Foxglove, my dear friend one the one who gave me a shot. Cheryl, who kept me from ever thinking I was going to be better than her, she's still right about that. Brought me into his family and showed me the ins and outs of the restaurant world. Through his blood, sweat, and tears comes my blood, sweat, and tears."

The husky fox and lithe wolf stood up and waved around the room. Foxx pointed to Gideon and touched his chest, before sitting back down. Gideon returned the gesture, licking his dry lips as he tried to keep his thoughts in order.

"I can't forget Bonnie and Stu Hopps, for their delicious produce that has only made my work better. Without them my pies would not be the delicious dish they are today."

Neither of the rabbits stood up, they waved around the room and went back to eating their salads. The applause drown out everything else in his mind, confusing him for a moment until he tapped the podium. Don't forget anything, he told himself. Can't forget.

"I'd like to thank my grandma, who taught me how to bake and to be the best me I can be. I know that she's watching me from heaven and is so proud of what I've done with her recipes."

This time everyone was out of their seats, Gideon could feel the sweat beading up on his forehead, feeling a little faint from the amount of praise he was getting. Gideon leaned on the podium stabilizing his trembling knees. Don't forget anyone, please. His brain screamed at him.

"There's, okay, hang on y'all, I'm struggling to keep my wits about me."

The crowd died down, slipping back into their seats. Gideon took a deep breath, his face feeling hot as if he were blushing.

"There are so many mammals to thank, but I just can't keep my head on straight. There were so many responsible for making me what I am today. If I forgot you, just know that I love you and thank you so much."

Gideon stepped away from the podium, waving at everyone as he hurried into the bathroom. Once in there, he turned on the faucet and splashed water on his face. Two handfuls, then a third for good measure. When he looked up at his reflection he stared face to face with a familiar figure from his past. The tall cougar smiled back, his blue eyes had only grown deeper. A handsome man clad in a freshly pressed dress uniform, complete with hat. Gideon wheeled around taking the gentlemammel's hand.

"Hey, fag."

"Hey, girly."

Michael started chuckling. "Funny, I'm not even gonna waste my time, I got a battalion of men that'll kick your ass for me."

Gideon launched himself into the soldier's arms, holding him tightly. Gideon remembered everything from the time they dated. A whole year of beautiful moments documented in his brain. The male that taught him the meaning of being in love, but at the same time taught him the true meaning of love and loss. Michael's dad closed the store, with this new opportunity his dad moved away taking Michael with him. One of the hardest moment of Gideon's life was letting him go. They'd kept in touch for a long time, until the moment Michael joined the military. After that the letters came fewer and further between. Gideon pulled away, letting his fingers caress along Michael's biceps.

"Oh my, I see your treatments are going well."

"Very well, thank you very much. How about you pudge, find anyone to rock your worlds."

"Nah, I don't really have time to date. I'm pretty much always working."

Michael reached up and traced his fingers along his lapel. "You gotta take some time off for yourself, you deserve it."

"What about you?"

"I'm engaged to a lovely nurse at the VA hospital in Zootopia's downtown district. He's a very special someone."

"Oh my god, you're getting married." Gideon hugged him again, this time tighter than before. "You have to let me make your cake for you."

"What? Nah, we'd pay you. Besides we're both poor so it won't be anything fancy."

"Whenever it is, just let me know and we'll start the planning."

"Absolutely."

A smile lingered on Michael's face, a handsome smile that Gideon always hoped was just for him. Even though there was a sadness when he looked at Michael. There was also something more there now. Gideon saw a male who'd faced down a lot in his life and grew to be a better man than any the fox ever knew. Michael's smiled faded as a light mist filled his deep blue eyes.

"I miss you. Your jokes, the way you made me laugh."

"I miss you too, Mike. But you know, if ever I want to relive the stuff we did, I just close my eyes and think about it. It's not the same as livin' it, but it's still as special as it was."

"I guess you're right." Michael placed a soft kiss on the fox's lips, a tiny peck. "You know you've grown to be quite the smarty."

"I learned it from you."

"Aw shucks."

Gideon watched as Michael left the bathroom, what the future held for the cougar was a long hard road. Michael would lose his leg in combat and have learn how to use a prosthetic, but his husband would work endlessly to help him through the rough times. Eventually Michael would write a book about his time in the military, in the credits there would be a short shout out to a G.G. That stated 'Summer love may have gone, but the feeling always remains.'. Gideon would cry every time he read it.

Gideon left the bathroom, the sounds of the celebration were in full swing. Corks were popped, grasshopper steaks were served, and mammals in droves talked about Gideon. Familiar faces came and went, some too busy to talk to Gideon, other waiting in the wing for the right moment. One snow leopard wasn't so shy when it came to confronting Gideon.

"Gid, who would have guessed with your background that you'd learned how to master the pie." Jimmy smiled big, giving Gideon a hard slap in the stomach.

"Jim!" A female snow leopard glared at him as she hugged a tired toddler to her body.

"Sorry honey, it's just a little joke. Gideon, meet my wife, Suzy Snow, you remember her. And these two rascals are my kids, Jimmy Three." The larger of the two kids was shoving a brownie in his mouth. "And this little guy and Jeffery."

"Jimmy talks a lot about you." Suzy didn't seem impressed.

"What a lovely family you have." Gideon smiled and bowed cordially.

"Hey hon, will you get me a glass of wine. I want to catch up with my old buddy, Gideon."

Suzy scoffed and headed off to find a waiter carrying a tray of drinks. Jimmy Three. spitting his brownie on the floor, before following after his mother. Jimmy put his arm around Gideon pulling him tight. The snow leopard, leaning up to give Gideon a kiss on the cheek before whispering in his ear.

"God, I can't stand that female. She's one of the worst people in the world."

Gideon gave Jimmy a shove with his elbow, pushing him away. "She's your wife, she had your kids. Don't disrespect her."

Jimmy adjusted his expensive tuxedo and glared back at Gideon. "Listen, it was a marriage of convenience. If I had a choice I never would have let it happen."

"You had a choice, Jimmy. You just decided to be a coward about it."

Gideon turned his back and started off across the room, a throbbing anger pulsed in the back of his head. He knew there was a chance something like this would happen tonight, so he prepared as best he could. When he heard a glass break behind him, he turned to see Jimmy pointing down to spilled wine on the carpet. Even with Jimmy's voice low, Gideon could still hear what he was saying.

"Why would you get me red wine, you know I hate it."

"They didn't have any white. They said they were bringing another tray, but I didn't think you wanted to wait for your drink."

"Useless, you're...never mind."

Gideon walked over to the glass, bending down to pick up the larger chunks, cupping them in his hand. It was evident that Suzy Snow wanted to bend down to help, but the weight of the toddler was already too much. Soon a server came by with a broom and towel, talking the pieces of glass away from Gideon, before departing.

"You didn't have to do it, but thanks."

"No problem." Gideon smiled at her, before poking the toddlers small pink nose making him smile.

"I don't know why he's so mean to me. I try to be a good wife and mother, but nothing I do is good enough."

Gideon looked at her for a long time. Her beautiful face bore the lines of someone who was tired. Someone who was bored with being talked down too and mistreated, but felt hopeless to escape. Whatever life lay before Suzy and Jimmy was there's to live be it good or bad. The fox knew it wasn't his place to get involved, but he did anyway.

"Jimmy's got secrets, ones that he'll never tell ya. If I were you, I'd check his phone when he's not expecting you to."

Before Suzy could respond, Gideon walked away to mingle with another guest. He wasn't proud of what he did, but deep inside he knew it came from a good place.

What Suzy found on her husband phone was appalling by anyone's standards. A thank you phone call Suzy made to Gideon a year later would reveal that Jimmy had taken over three hundred lewd photos with other males he'd met during his business trips for the company. Misusing company money to wine and dine these lovers was a huge blow to the Deek's Clothing Line's bottom line. Suzy divorced Jimmy and took everything in the settlement. When Jimmy called Gideon looking for a sympathetic ear, he let it go to voice mail.

Gideon made his round through the room, cutting up and having a good time with friends alike. He'd not been surprised about the absence of Travis.The weasel was too busy trying to save his farm. Which he'd been successful at, with the help of his wife who had a dowry big enough to get the renovations done. Now he spent his day working it with his wife and kids. Gideon and Travis only shared a few sentences on one occasion and they were as awkward and mean spirited as always. Gideon didn't mind though, Travis is as he was made and there's nothing wrong with it.

Gideon was surprised to see his brothers were absent, he'd not seen them much since grandma had passed, but Trevor would call him from time to time with updates. They would both grow to have their own problems, but would work through it. Gideon's step dad's death had come as a shock to no one. One night, while he was heavily drunk, he fell through a boarded up well dying a severe head wound. Eddie Jr, had been the one to call and tell Gideon about it. The last time Gideon would see Eddie Jr. would be at their mother's funeral. They would share some kind words and Eddie would say, he's off to find himself. Trevor however would sell the farm and all of it's assets for a tidy sum, and learn how to fly in the hopes that one day he'd find Eddie again...he does.

The hours wore on into the early morning. The crowded thinned out as Gideon said goodbye to everyone he knew. When he settled into his seat to enjoy his cranberry juice, he spotted a familiar figure standing at the banquet table picking at the scraps that were left. The figure wore a sapphire blue dress, perfect curves like from an old painting. It was something familiar and yet something forgotten. A spike of excitement filled his heart but gave way to a lingering shred of fear.

Gideon took down the last of the sour drink and got up from the table. When he approached his steps felt slow like molasses. His body not wanting to cooperate, but his mind too curious to let it go. When he stopped behind the figure, he could smell the familiar perfume that caused his heart to thump against his chest. When she turned a familiar smile greeted him. As too did a tiny fox baby pressed to her chest sleeping.

"Gideon Grey."

"Janice Hamm."

"Actually, it's Whitney."

"Whitney Hamm, then."

Dr. Hamm giggled and shook her head, causing the baby at her bosom to squirm. "Still think your funny I see."

"Sometimes, how are you, Janice?"

"I'm good, got my hands full with a new book I'm writing and of course raising the baby."

"Takes after his father I see?"

"No, god. You're full of them tonight. He's adopted, but still mine."

"Is your husband with you?"

"Wife, actually and no, she's in class right now. I tried dating, but had no luck. Then I bumped into Teresa at the gym and...well things happened."

"What about you?"

"Nah, too busy. Plus I just don't know what I'm lookin' for. I think I'll find it when I least expect it, ya know."

"Don't rush, haste makes fools of us all."

There was an easy smile on the pig's face, there were stories to be told in the new lines on her face. Stories that didn't always have happy endings. But it wasn't a question he wanted to ask. Instead he looked at the baby, letting loose a wide mouth yawn. The small squeak it made brought a smile to Gideon's lips.

"Such a handsome baby."

"He is isn't he. His name's Gideon. I heard once that it was the name of a great mammal, who will do great things."

Gideon's eyes went wide as he straightened up, a smile big enough to show all of his teeth spread up his muzzle. "Sounds like lies to me."

"Maybe, but I didn't have any other names come to mind."

The tiny fox started squirming in her arms pulling at the front of her dress. "Hungry, sweetie. Oh Gid, I have to go feed this baby. It's been real nice catching up with you."

Gideon watched as the pig walked away with her baby. Once she was gone, he wandered if she really had changed. Really found the peace that she so wanted to find. It was something he'd never get to know the answer to, because he never saw her again. Never heard from her, nor could he find the book she was working on. Janice (Hamm) Whitney might has well been a figment of his imagination, because she left no trace, at least not a physical one. Still to this day when he gets a whiff of her perfume, it causes a slight pang of fears.

"Hey babe, whatcha doing?"

Gideon looked down at the tiny Fennec fox tugging on his pant leg. Finnick was dressed in his snappiest tux, a gift from a 'friend'. His sandy fur looked great in contrast to the white jacket, black shirt look. A red tie embroidered with darker read swirls looked snappy against the black background. "I was saying goodbye to some old friends."

"You didn't mention me did you?"

"Of course not, Finnick."

"Good, because until I get my shit sorted out, we keepin' it on the down low."

Gideon chuckled. "Well for you, it would be the way down low."

"Ha! You got jokes?" Finnick climbed Gideon's frame sitting on his shoulder. "You know what's a joke, that Bearnaise sauce recipe you're rollin' with. Needs more tarragon or lemon and less throw up."

"Yes, dear."

"Are you listening to me?"

"Yeah, just thinking about this new diet."

"You goin' on a diet, you don't need to you look great."

"I was thinking I could lose about twenty pounds of fox the easy way."

"How ya gonna do it."

"Dropping you in the pool."

Finnick started laughing wrapping his arms around Gideon's head giving him a great big cheek kiss. "You funny! Looking, that is."

"Yeah, I love you, too."

Gideon chuckled as he carried Finnick through the doors and down the stairs to the limo waiting for him at the curb. Finnick hadn't let up on the laughter, still playing with Gideon's ears. Gideon walked up, just as the driver opened the door for him.

"Live it up, Gid. Tomorrow we going back to humble living." Finnick whispered in his ear.

"Humble living, that sounds nice."

"You know what else sounds nice?" Finnick started, as Gideon slid into the back of the limo.

Before Gideon could answer, Finnick whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was made Gideon's eyes pop open, his ears instantly starting to burn. Sweat prickling his face.

"So make sure you tell the driver to put up the privacy screen."

"Where too, sir?"

Gideon looked at the driver with a smirk on his face. "I want a tour of the boroughs and some privacy please."

"Certainly, sir." The driver closed the door and hurried around to the drivers side.

"Oh, we're taking the long way home." Finnick mused as he grabbed Gideon by his shirt collar pulling him into a deep kiss that started Gideon's head spinning.