What Could Have Been
Chapter 52: Surprise reunion... and more surprises
"Galen?"
"Is that really you?"
Wait, no wonder why this older female looked just like him.
Galen's eyes widened with realization, as his muzzle started to form and utter his response...
"M-Mom!"
Galen enthusiastically ran over to her and leaned against her side, rubbing near her cheek.
"I can't believe you're here!"
His mother, Nenana, a female husky with a grey collar, black fur, and black eyepatches, giggled.
"My my, have you grown up so much, my baby." Nenana sweetly nuzzled Galen near his cheek.
"Mom, I'm so glad you're here." Galen looked over behind his mother. "Is-is dad here? Where is he?"
"No worries about your father. You'll see him later." She grinned. "He's got a surprise for you... and your brother and sister. They are still with you here in town, aren't day?"
"A surprise?" And oh yeah, Kane and Alaska are still here with me. Long story short, we met some friends, who are our mates now, and -" His eyes lit up with an idea. "Mom, I have to let everyone know that you and dad are here! I have to get you and dad to meet my mate Juneau, and my brother in-laws and sister in-laws!"
"Why don't you lead the way, darling?" She beckoned.
"It would be my pleasure." Galen smiled. Side by side, he escorted his mother to his home.
When he got there, Nenana stayed behind to allow Galen to prep his company.
He entered, and surrounding Juneau was her brother Balto and sister in-law Jenna.
"Galen." Juneau smiled as she greeted her mate. Galen came over and softly nuzzled her near her cheek, then addressed Balto and Jenna.
"Balto, Jenna, thank you for keeping Juneau and Caleb company."
"Galen, I didn't expect you to be back so soon." Juneau said.
"I thought the same thing." Jenna added.
"Well..." Galen faced his mate again. "Juneau, I have a surprise. Its something that even I was not expecting." He turned to Balto and Jenna. "You two can stay as well."
"Go ahead." Balto replied. "What do you got for us?"
Galen went over to the door, and as he came back, Nenana followed, making her presence known.
"Juneau, Balto, Jenna, I would like to introduce you three to my mother, Nenana."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Nenana replied. She briefly introduced herself to Balto and Jenna, then joined her son to meet her daughter in-law."
"Nenana, welcome to Nome." Juneau warmly greeted.
"I'm delighted to meet you, Juneau. You are such a stunning and wonderful mate for my eldest son." She complimented.
Juneau blushed in response to her mother in-law's compliment. "Thank you. Galen means the world to me." Briefly, she and Galen rubbed noses.
"Also mom, meet your grandson. His name is Caleb."
Nenana came closer to greet her grandson, admiring him. "Galen, Juneau, he is quite wonderful."
"I gave birth to him last week." Juneau said. "Your other grandsons and granddaughters were born around the same time too."
For a few moments, Nenana joined the four adult canines in watching over Caleb.
"My mate Houston and I will be here for a bit, so we do look forward to seeing our grandpups more. Galen, why don't you take me to your brother and sister?"
"My pleasure."
Galen bid his mate goodbye for now, and the same for his brother in-law and sister in-law. Before they knew it, Galen reached Kane's house and surprised him with their mother. Briefly, Nenana greeted her younger son and met her next daughter in-law and her other grandson and granddaughter. After around 10 minutes, the brothers further took their mother to thier sister's and brother in-laws house.
"Mom..."
"Hello there, sweetie." Nenana nuzzled her youngest daughter and Alaska returned her nuzzle.
"I'm glad you're here. Is dad here too?"
"Did someone call for me?"
"Dad!"
The male made himself known.
"Good morning, my boys!"
Galen and Kane exchanged embraces with their father.
"It's good to see you again, dad!" Kane said.
"Wherever your mother goes, I go too... even back to our 3 pups." He smiled. He then walked over to his daughter and nuzzled her in turn.
"Daddy... I'm so happy to see you again."
"Visiting your brothers, I can't leave my baby daughter out." After a few moments, Alaska introduced her parents to her mate.
"Mom, dad, please meet my mate Eyak."
"Hello." Eyak greeted. "How do you do."
"Its our pleasure to meet you, Eyak," Nenana said. After some brief introductions, Alaska redirected her parents to their grandpups and told them their names.
"They are so adorable!" Houston praised.
"They look just like you... and both of your brothers."
"Thank you so much." Eyak said. "Your daughter and I are ready and eager to start raising them."
"I know that you two will become wonderful parents." Nenana complimented.
Just then, Galen caught a scent. "Wait. I'm catching... a new scent."
"Same here, brother." Kane added in. "In fact, there seems to be a few more of them. What are they?"
"Alright boy, since I can't keep the surprise a secret for a bit longer... Alright pups, come on out!"
Before Galen and his brother and sister could react, four tiny pups yipped in excitement and started to climb and jump up on the adults.
"Woah!"
"Mom? Dad? Are they...?" Alaska wondered.
"You're correct, Alaska." Houston said. She exchanged curious glances with Eyak.
"Alaska, boys, these are your two new brothers, and two new sisters!"
"Russel, Albany, Sesi, Miska, meet your two big brothers Galen and Kane, and your big sister Alaska." Nenana told them.
"They are our brothers and sister?" Sesi, the eldest and only one of her puppy sibligns with white fur, asked.
"They are big dogs like you and papa." Russel, the older son that resembles Houston while having the same facial features as Nenana.
"Indeed, they are." Houston replied. "Your mother had Galen, Kane, and Alaska, long before she had the four of you."
"Woah..." Said Albany, the other son, who resembled Nenana in fur color.
The youngest sister, Miska, who had Kane's fur just like their father, jumped on Alaska head. Houston gently reminded her to make sure not to disturb her big sister.
"Alaska, Alaska! Who are those three?"
"Now now..." Eyak replied. "You four are too young to understand this, but technically, these three pups are your newphew and nieces.
"Huh?" Sesi was confused.
Nenana giggled. "Eyak is right. In as simpler terms as possible, just as your daddy and I have you four as our pups, so does Alaska and Eyak. They are parents, just like your daddy and I are yours. These tiny pups with Alaska are the pups of your siblings."
"But don't worry too much if you still don't understand. You four will, some day when you grow up to be as old as your big brothers and big sister."
From that moment, Alaska and her siblings got to know their little puppy siblings. Alaska noted how she is no longer the only baby sister in her family. She and her brothers also introduced Eyak and her pups to her puppy siblings. After a while, Galen and Kane left with their parents and little puppy siblings to have them meet Aurora and the others.
After a full day of hanging out with his parents, siblings, and little siblings, Galen came back home. He was bushed, but delighted to see his mate and son again. Juneau invited him to snuggle next to her at their bed as they watched their son sleep in Juneau's paws.
Juneau softly and sweetly nuzzled Galen near the cheek, the side of his face, and near his neck.
"You've had a long day, my love. I'm happy that you and your brother and sister got to reunite with your parents... and were surprised to learn of your mother's seconed litter after you, Alaska, and Kane."
"Thank you so much, Juneau." He gratefully returned her nuzzles. "I have a bigger family now, and I'm glad that you can meet them.
"I am honored, Galen. I'm looking forward to getting to know your parents and little siblings more."
After a while longer, the two of them snuggled closely and warmly, falling soundly asleep...