Author's notes: Happy new year, friends! Before anything else, I want to thank all of you, be you a guest or a normal user, that supported me throughout this journey. Even if you let a review or not, your time is equally appreciated. Though, I sometimes see questions in there and I have to say that unless you possess an account, I cannot reply to you.

I come to you with quite a large chapter that I hope you will enjoy. I have some interesting plans for the ones that follow, so keep an eye open for those.

Chapter 9: A hot summer

And so, three weeks went by like the wind. The town delved itself into an unavoidable scorching heat of a late June. The unbeatable, large and gleaming mass of light was bringing joy inside everyone, calling them outside through the birds' chant and the fruit trees' fragrance. However, there was one soul that just couldn't take it, an animal to be precise. Inside Jim Dear and Darling's family circle, the scruffy grey dog could not tolerate it one second. Going out during such heat was out of the question for him, not like staying indoors was helping much either. All he could do was aimlessly run from a room to another, seeking that one chilly spot to cool his fluffy self. It was easier for him to manage it when he still roamed the streets; he'd go for a swim at the local lake daily. Obviously, that went off the list with his new lifestyle.

Outside the house, on the backyard's porch, the slender man with funny mustache was enjoying the peaceful day with his still-asleep son nested inside the newly bought crib. Unlike his stubborn pet, Jim Dear did not mind the summer heat much. With one hand rocking the crib and the other holding the freshly picked up newspaper, protected from the sun by the immense shadow cast by the house, the man felt as relaxed as he could get. If only Tramp would keep it down...

Jim Dear, slightly annoyed at the mutt inside making all sorts of bumping sounds, took his eyes off the paper rag and glanced at his son who just now woke up. He, then, took the chance to firmly call out for his pet. "Boy! If you turn the house upside down, you're gonna sleep inside the doghouse. And you won't like it, sir, no."

Upstairs, at the sound of his owner's voice, Tramp abruptly stopped himself from running anymore, almost tripping over the carpet he messed up just a second ago during his sprint. He could tell by the tone he's been called on that Jim Dear's glass of patience was getting emptier. Unwishing to cause any more trouble, the Tramp, overcome by the ever-melting temperature, chose to call it quits and head outdoors.

The noise of rummage inside the house was no more. Though, just to be sure, Jim Dear took a little while before resuming his business. Short after, a high-pitched creak made its presence behind him. Although his head didn't turn around, his hand took action.

The man rapidly tapped on the wooden stairway a few times, following a slight chant in his voice to assure the dog he was in no way mad at him. "Come! Come here!". And his pet followed along, but not before approaching the crib whose funny smell grabbed him by the nose. The scent of freshly washed beddings was new to Tramp. They made him sneeze a few times; the washing powder's to blame.

"You don't like it?" Jim Dear chuckled at his pet's doings.

Tramp, eventually, gave it a rest and joined his master, crawling his tired self under the newspaper and resting his upper body on his lap.

Jim Dear put the newspaper aside and redirected his attention towards the animal that now sought for his care. His gentle, yet firm, touch was doing wonders on Tramp's stress-soaked coat. Between the petting and the scratching Jim gave to the gray dog, he asked, "This heat is too much for you, hmm? Maybe we should give you baths more often.". Wait, wait, baths? Oh, yeah. Tramp now gets baths two times a week. If someone would've told him two months ago that he was gonna get baths, he'd just laugh frantically and move on with his life. Haha!

But how could Jim tell that high temperature was the culprit of Tramp's odd habits? Let's rewind the cassette tape to last week when he and his wife first noticed a change in their pet's behavior. At first, to them, it seemed like the dog was in need of a female and, maybe, Lady wasn't up to it. Though, later on, the answer would show itself during their afternoon meal when Tramp would intentionally spill the water bowl on the floor and roll over the puddle to cool himself. A laughable matter for the owners, but not anymore 'cause it kept on going for days to come. The said laughable matter turned into concern and, since then, they'd have Tramp have his meals outside. He gave no importance whether he ate in the kitchen or outdoors, but Lady, on the other hand, was very worried and upset with herself for she couldn't ease his suffering.

Speaking of Lady, where was the spanish girl this entire time? And what about Darling? Well, for the past three mornings, Lady had her agenda quite busy. She was privileged enough to serve as model for Darling's painter friend who required studying of a specific dog breed for his next illustration. The woman's role was to keep the muse from moving around. She often made use of treats to reason with her. The artist was pretty successful, too. His works were often showcased in the newspaper Jim Dear usually reads. Her owners will be proud to find out their "old girl" was fated to steal the front page.

The grey dog was feeling good. The rubs he was given were really having effect. He let out a long groan in sign of comfort and slowly closed his eyes, wishing to nap even if just for a minute.

Jim kept at it. He gently grabbed on by the dog's scruff and squeezed it between his fingers, ending shortly after with a couple head pats. He, then, followed, "You know, boy... I'm happy you decided to stick around. Looking at you... strikes me you've been quite the Casanova in your days. Lived more than a dog's life, as they say." He paused for a brief moment, leaned himself closer to his pet and resumed, "Now... strictly between me and you... I've been quite the player myself once. But I want to tell you, Tramp, that it doesn't pay. No, boy, in the end, all that's left is loneliness and a bunch of old quarrelsome ex-players like yourself."

Tramp gave another sigh and a short wag with his tail; it gave Jim the odd impression the dog really understood him.

"No,' said the man, giving Tramp a few father-like taps on the back, 'the only thing for fellows like ourselves is to settle down and raise a family. I've already started one and... maybe you and Lady-"

Jim Dear broke off, regarding his son who let out a coo and wiggled his arms. He grabbed his pet and moved him aside so he could get up. A silent grunt along with the sound of bones popping accompanied the man as he approached the crib. He leaned towards Junior, who put on a smile at the sight of his father, and said, "Hey, little fella, are you good?". Jim, then, shifted his eyes on the way to his dog and followed, "Boy, wanna see him up close?"

"I think I can live without it." Tramp drawled. Unlike his mate, he was quite indifferent towards the baby. He didn't hate him but he wasn't excited about him either. We know what Tramp thinks of babies.

Of course, Jim Dear wouldn't understand what the dog was telling him. He picked up the infant and returned to the wooden stairway, carefully placing him on his lap. Tramp slowly inclined towards the child with the intent of sniffing him. A moment later, a smell of roses patroled by his nostrils. He liked this one; no more sneezing. The baby remained silent with his eyes widely opened. It is uncertain if he was afraid or just curious; this creature standing before him looked different from the one he'd normally see.

Jim Dear decided that it was time for him to introduce them to each other. "Boy, this is our kid which you saved from the rat that night, remember? We call him Junior.". Then, he looked at his son and said, "Junior, this is our new doggie." the man gave Tramp a few pats. "We call him Tramp. Although... I suspect it's not a name you should teach to a child..." he muttered. "Oh, well.". Needless to say, Jim was aware he, most likely, talked to himself; a three months old baby and a dog could never decipher his words... right?

"Well? How you holdin' up?" the gray dog spoke lazily.

Junior said nothing. He just stared his blue eyes at the animal in front of him.

"You know,' Tramp continued, tilting his head, 'I fail to see what Pidge finds wonderful about you."

This time, the child woofed back. The sounds the dog was making caught his interest.

"Woof woof, huh?" the dog chuckled at the kid's gesture. "Say, whatcha' thinking about your old man? He says I should raise a family. Yeah, my mother used to say the same, then Tony- And I love that little pidgeon much. But can I really play a good father?". Tramp paused for a moment then asked again. "What do you say?"

The baby, yet again, remained silent. All he wished for was to touch the mysterious gray being in front of him that made funny sounds. He unsteadily raised his small hand to reach it, letting out another woof.

Tramp understood what he had to do. He slowly leaned his muzzle forward just enough so the baby could touch him. Junior pulled out a smirk the moment he felt the smooth, fluffy fur of the dog's frame lingering by his small fingers. He had the sensation of feeling something like that before. Tramp, then, licked his hand, causing the child to quickly pull it back only to return a giggle afterward.

"You're cute,' the animal tittered, 'I'll give you that."

Jim watched over them carefully. He sensed a strong bond crotcheting itself between the two.

A little later, at noon, the three family members find themselves still out there. Tramp was relaxing on the doormat and Jim Dear was just about to finish feeding his son the slices of fruits Darling prepared for him before leaving with Lady.

"Oh, come on, Junior. Just one more slice." said the man. "If you don't eat 'em, I'll give 'em to Tramp."

The baby was being stubborn. No matter how much Jim tried to convince him to finish the meal, Junior wouldn't budge. Darling always knew what to do in situations like this.

Tramp's eyes opened and his ears perked as soon as he heard there was a chance of food be given to him. The dog sneaked behind his owner who was just about to call him, and crawled under his arm. Jim got startled by the feeling of his pet brushing off his side. He did not expect the dog to be awake.

"But some good hearing you have!" Jim joked. "Wanna try something, boy?" he added, showing him the porcelain plate. The man picked up a slice of fruit from it then got it closer to his pet's nose. "Here. It's apple."

Tramp had never seen a slice of apple before. He did see an apple, but not a slice of it, especially not a well-cut and peeled off one. His curiosity took over. "What do we have here...?" he thought, walking his whiskers over it. A second later, the slice was no more. Crunch, crunch; that's what Jim heard. Tramp seemed to enjoy it.

"You like it?" Jim asked as he picked another. "Want more?". Of course he does. Tramp grabbed it quickly and ate it even quicker.

"Easy now, boy. You can have the apple but leave my fingers." the man chuckled. "I'll leave the plate here. You can have the rest as well." he added before getting up and heading inside to clean his hands.

But just as Tramp was about to eat the plate clean, a voice near the gate stole his attention.

"Jim? Jim, are you home?" a woman's melodious voice resounded across the yard. Did Jim expect someone?

"Just a second!" Jim Dear replied before returning outside. "Ah, about time, Violet!" he exclaimed joyfully.

"My deepest apologies, Jimmy. Couldn't find her leash." Violet excused herself as she walked deeper inside the yard. The click-clacking of her footsteps against the concrete echoed down the path. Next to her, walked a beautiful four-legged creature, a black-white springer spaniel with a red ribbon tied around its neck.

The gray dog felt shivers climb down his spine, his heart sprinted considerably faster. "What a dame!" he thought.

Violet kissed Jim on the cheek in sign of greeting, then said, "I missed you, old swinger! How is your wife? I haven't talked to her in forever!"

"Good to see you, too!" he laughed. "She's well. She took Lady, our spaniel, to her painter friend to serve as model, if you can believe something like that. But, she's gonna be home any minute now."

"Oh! Wonderful! I wish an opportunity like that would arise for my little girl too." said Violet. "By the way,' she added, 'you have to show me your boy!"

"Yes, of course! Would you like a cup of coffee as well?" Jim asked the woman, showing her inside.

"If you'd be so kind..."

"Right away!"

But just as Jim and his friend were about to head inside, Violet remembered something. "Oh, almost forgot. Could I leave her with your friend here? He's not a bad doggie, is he?"

"No, not at all! He's a kind fella!" Jim Dear assured her, petting Tramp on the head.

"Very well. I'll take your word for it." said the woman as she untied her dog's leash. "There. Go on, girl!"

And the two humans went inside, still talking. Their voices were still heard but their words were indecipherable.

Back to Tramp and his fellow canine guest. She, truly, was a beautiful breed and he could see that with closed eyes. Though, he promised himself to Lady, so he had to be a good boy and play it safe. The gray dog approached her, wishing to greet her first but the springer spaniel was a paw ahead.

"Good day, mister! Delighted to meet you." she said.

Tramp placed himself next to her, then he replied, "Likewise!"

"Now, forgive me for being so direct but,' followed the female with her gentle, seductive voice, 'I could not help but notice your dashing demeanor."

"Well, blow me down! You're quite the English rose yourself." Tramp served back with a compliment.

"My,' she expressed, turning her head slightly and sighting him with one eye, 'you make me blush, mister!"

Tramp giggled at her expressiveness and enjoyed how sociable she was. He figured that it would make for a good first impression if he shared his meal with her. "Care to try one? It's apple." the gray dog asked as he pushed the plate in her direction with his muzzle.

"Apple? Never tasted such dish before." she confessed, smelling around the slices of fruit laying on it. "Thank you, kindly." the springer added before swiftly grabbing a slice. She crunched the peeled apple slowly, then, as soon as her taste buds gave the green light, she sped up considerably. "It's a delish, mister!"

"Right? You can have the rest too if you like." Tramp said.

"I couldn't possibly. It isn't mine, but I appreciate your kindness." the guest politely declined. "Though, Lady never told me she had such a... chivalrous sibling."

"Sibling?" he repeated, slipping in a short laugh. "No, no, no. We aren't related."

"No? Hmm, but you do have quite the similar scent, mister." the springer spaniel commented as she drove her muzzle closer to sniff him.

At her remark, the scruffy gray dog gave a proud smile, revealing to her his position in the family.

"Oh,' she said, following on the same smooth voice as before. 'Oh! Apologies for being so... impolite, mister! My, my, Lady got herself quite busy lately, didn't she?."

"Guess she did." Tramp tittered, scratching his coat off.

"How sweet!" she expressed. "Oh, by the way, I never got your name, mister. My name is Marie, I am what I think is called a spring spaniel. And you?"

"Oh! That Marie I heard so much about? Well, pleasure's mine, Marie." Tramp voiced, recalling the story Lady told him not too long ago. "They call me the Tramp. And I-... Well, I guess, I'm a mutt."

"Oh? You know about me? My, what a surprise, mister Tramp!" her euphonious tone pronounced, "Lady might've told you about me, then?"

"Mm-hmm. She, also, mentioned something about a fox. Yeah, I can see what she meant now." Tramp added.

The spaniel flushed, her ears fluttered slightly. "But, mister Tramp, you certainly know how to make a lady's heart race! And that name of yours... quite intriguing, if I may add. You aren't from around here, no? You come from out there."

"Out there?" Tramp snickered. "You make it sound like it's a whole 'nother world. Yeah, I used to roam and rove the streets, wore no man's collar; not like I wear it now, but... you get the picture."

"And you did give it all for Lady, no? Did-... did you feel any regrets...?" Marie asked, showing an odd fascination in her tone.

"Regrets?" Tramp repeated as he laid himself down on the warm grass. "Marie, look behind you. See that gate?"

"Behind me?" she asked slightly confused before turning her head towards the end of the pathway. "Y-yes, I do see it."

"And what can you tell about it?"

Marie took a moment to observe the wooden, white-painted gate before she gave an answer. "Well, it is opened."

"Exactly." Tramp confirmed. "It's wide opened, yet, I'm still here. If I had any regrets, I would've been long gone through that gate. Regrets are a fool's game, Marie, and I'm no fool.

"I see... I do see it clearly, mister Tramp." Marie avowed. "You traded that boundless way of life of yours for-... for love." she spoke, still gazing at the wooden gate. "Lady must be very lucky."

"Nah."

"No?" she asked, turning her head back at him.

"No, Marie. I'm the lucky one." Tramp clarified.

Strangely. the two remained speechless after. For a moment, it seemed like the two played the roles of two humans, two strangers sitting on a bench next to each other; none of them dared speak a word.

"You see, mister Tramp..." she broke the silence, "I begin to understand what pushed you to make that choice. Out there, across those faraway streets, you met many runaway ladies, but they brought little to no flavor in your life.". Marie stopped herself for a moment as she laid down on the ground. "You, probably, broke more hearts than I broke ceramic ornaments at my house." the springer giggled. "That's why you chased after Lady; you needed someone different from yourself to spark the flame. I, too, seek the same different, thrilling experience. Sadly, all I come across are gray, monotonous classe supérieure gentlemen and their tasteless courtships."

"That ribbon of yours,' he followed as he glanced at her accessory. 'it tricks the eye to believe you're part of those high-hatted pedigrees. But you know well that's not your way to follow. Break the chain and roam free! There's so much more to a dog's life than etiquette and fetching the newspaper!"

Marie stayed quiet. She was eager to know what a dog of his nature had to say.

"You hit the nail on the head earlier. I think I love that pidgeon more than I love the boundless way of life you speak of." Tramp confirmed as he picked himself up. "You know, you're a real candy of a gal, red-ribbon! You get my heart race, too! But keep your sweetness and that hidden side of yours for that one lucky mutt that awaits you out there. Though, here's a tip; when you're ready to set sail, keep an eye out for the dog catcher." he ended with a wink.

Marie took a little to absorb what has been said to her. No other dog understood her better than this gray mutt did. She gave an embarrassed chuckle before she gathered her words.

"I know, mister Tramp, that you have eyes only for Lady for which I am nothing but happy. But, you see, if you were to walk a different road and we'd happen to come across each other, I would have loved to get to know you better."

"Yeah... would've been fun, right?" the scruffy dog gave a faint laugh.

"It would." she spoke kindly. "I'm certain of it, mister Tramp."

Soon after, their eyes crossed. Tramp put on that smile he always puts on when he's happy; mouth opened with his pinkish, long tongue hanging in front. Marie replied with a grin and a twinkle in her eyes. She appeared like she'd want to say something, but Tramp would cut her off before she got the chance to. Along the fence, the sound of quicker-than-usual footsteps ringed around his ears. Though, it wasn't the sound itself that caught his attention but the person producing it. An elegant lady wearing a red-ribboned beige hat walked down the sidewalk. Next to her, a honey-colored quadruped with a sky-blue collar tied around its neck marched gallantly, leading the way to what seemed like its home. Of course, it couldn't be anyone other than Darling and her cocker, Lady, could it?

"Speaking of ladies,' said Tramp as he sighted them, 'your friend is here."

"Hmm?" Marie followed, turning her head away towards the gate. "Oh!"

Darling, the moment she entered the yard, noticed the familiar springer spaniel near the porch. She put on a smile and thought, "She must be already here.". The woman, then, gazed at her pet and joyfully spoke, "Lady! Who's there on the porch? Who is it?".

"O-on the porch?" Lady repeated as she rapidly scouted her surroundings. "Oh-! Marie...?! Marie!" she barked happily, rushing towards her friend so abruptly her leash slipped through Darling's fingers.

"Lady!" Marie barked back cheerfully. "My dear, it has been so long!"

The two dogs ran towards each other, almost bumping their heads. They haven't seen eye-to-eye since last year, since Darling last took Lady on their walk to the park. Now, they're together once again. They have grown and have much to tell one another.

"It really has! I missed you greatly, Marie!" the cocker spaniel confessed.

Meanwhile, Darling chased down after her pet wanting to untie the leash. It gave her quite a bit of trouble 'cause her shoes weren't crafted for running on the grass. "Lady, let me take this off first.". With the leash now retrieved, she followed, "There. You can stay here and play.". The woman gave the three dogs a rub on their heads and headed inside, reuniting with her husband and her friend whom she hasn't seen in quite a while.

"But, Marie, that ribbon looks delightful on you!" Lady complimented her friend as they walked down towards Tramp.

"My, thank you! You look as charming as always, sweetie! Where have you been, by the way?" she asked.

"Oh, it is quite a strange place where I went. I'll tell you about it in a moment." Lady replied before increasing the frequency of her patter on the grass. She quickly went over where Tramp was and affectionately brushed her coat off his, sort of, like a cat. Marie, shortly, caught up to her, smiling at her gesture.

"Hello to you too, Pidge. Slow it down, though. It's impolite to the guest." he joked.

Marie tittered at his words, "Not at all! Sometimes, you cannot help love, mister Tramp!

"Mister Tramp? Oh, you've already got to know each other." Lady followed, alternating her view between the two canines staying before her.

"Indeed." her friend confirmed.

"Well, I believe you ladies have got quite a lot to catch up on, so I'll be onto my business." said Tramp, not wanting to get caught between a females' supposedly long conversation.

"But-... it's alright, Tramp, you can stay." Lady stepped forward.

"Nah, Pidge, duty calls." he replied with a wink.

"Duty...?" his mate asked confused.

Marie, seeing how her friend didn't get his message, stepped closer and gave her a nudge along with a whisper. "Lady!". Then, the springer gazed at him and followed, "Very well. But, mister Tramp, please, do return soon."

Tramp responded with a smile and went on his way, thanking Marie inside his mind. The bits of apple he ate earlier were battling inside his tummy; he just needed a moment for himself.

Back at the ladies; the charming cocker was confused about her mate's behavior earlier, so she sought her friend's knowledge. "What was that all about?" she asked Marie.

"Don't concern yourself over that, dearie. Though, I must say, your lover is quite... one of a kind."

Lady looked away in sign of shyness and, with a delicate smile, she responded, "He is?"

"Mm-hmm." she nodded, "I had the pleasure to hold a conversation with him and, I must say, he, truly, loves you, Lady. You should do something about that."

"Do something? But I do love him too, Marie, I do." Lady confessed with a drop of concern in her voice.

"I know you do, my dear, but, you see,' said Marie as she placed herself on the grass, attempting to elaborate, 'his kind... they run away if they don't feel they belong to someone. It may seem like he settled down, but his heart still runs rampant. You need to... make him yours, you know?"

"Make him mine...? Well... if you speak about the license-" said Lady, unable to catch her friend's point.

"No, no, Lady. Forget the license. What I want to say is, make him feel like he belongs to you, and you only."

"I'm afraid I... do not understand, Marie. What could I possibly do?"

"Well, dearie, it would be rather... indecent for me to speak about it openly."

"Indecent-?" Lady recalled her friend's word, not realizing the meaning behind her speech. Though, a glance at the springer's expression would open her eyes. "Oh! Marie, how inappropriate of you!" The cocker reproached Marie for her so-called improperness. But Lady was aware that her friend knew the rules of the game far better than she did. She slowly laid herself down with her head on her paws and asked, expressing worry, "But, what should I do, exactly?"

"Do what you do best, sweetie." followed Marie. "Charm him, open to him, show him what you most desire and awake the wolf from within his soul of a dog." She paused for a moment as she moved closer to her friend. "What follows next... well, that is for you to discover."

Lady understood what she was supposed to do. She remembered those moments when she and Tramp would cuddle and he would throw hints her way, when he unintentionally mentioned about pups, or that one afternoon happening with Jim Dear and his newspaper. It had come the time for Lady to go a step forward. Marie left her a second to process everything, then, she quickly changed the subject afterward. After all, Marie's original plan was to meet with Lady and chat about what they've been doing lately, not talk about her admirer.

Marie gave a sigh, then said, "With that out of the way, Lady, you promised me something."

"Hmm? I did?" said Lady as she rose her head towards her friend.

"You did. You were going to tell me about that strange place you just returned from, though, you couldn't help but be all romantic over mister Tramp." Marie teased her.

"Oh, that is-... right!" replied the cocker spaniel embarrassed, smiling slightly. "Well, I don't know how to explain, but... i-it's a very big house, and, inside, large pictures were hanging on every wall. And Darling walked me inside a dirty room with many spots of different colors that smelled horrible!"

"Oh! I visited a place similar to the one you're describing when Violet took me to the Paris." Marie said.

"The Paris?" Lady asked as she tilted her head. "Where is that?"

"I don't quite know, but it is very far from here. And every dog I saw was so... different." the springer spaniel added.

"Different? You mean, two heads? Or, perhaps, six paws?" Lady joked.

Her friend gave out a laugh in exchange. "No, of course not, Lady! But I would not be surprised if those really existed. Now, please, continue."

"Right. You see,' she resumed, 'there was a human that talked strangely in that house. I believe he was the master. He would have me sit without me making any move for reasons which are still unknown to me. Before we left, I caught a glimpse of... myself on his big table, or, I think it was a table. But I enjoyed it. Darling would give me rewards when I sat still and that human would play with me after he'd finish."

"Ah, Lady, this human is called a painter." Marie clarified.

"A painter?"

"Mm-hmm. They capture what they see using brushes on those things called canvasses. It is wonderful! So... unworldly!" she expressed fascinated. "Oh, by the way, Lady, you said that your human was expecting a baby. How is it?"

"Oh, indeed! Marie, he is gorgeous!" Lady avowed. "I never imagined that a baby would bring so much joy."

"See? What did I tell you? That rascally dog lied to you back then. There could be no way a baby would-"

Marie, suddenly, held her words. Her eyes just now spotted the scruffy gray dog as he made his way back.

"Hi, gals! Havin' a good time?" Tramp asked.

"Certainly, mister Tramp!" replied Marie.

"Yes, Tramp, dear,' Lady added, 'we were just now talking about that time when you... spoke to me your opinion regarding the baby."

The springer spaniel expressed in shock. Mister Tramp was that rascally dog all along? She couldn't believe her ears. How could the dashing, well-mannered adventurer have such thoughts?

"Oh!" Marie cried out. "But, mister Tramp, shame on you!"

"...dear?" Tramp repeated, surprised by the noun accompanying his name. "Wait, shame on me?"

"Exactly! My, but, how could you tell poor Lady that a baby brings nothing but trouble?" she scolded him with her beautiful voice. In the meantime, Lady, behind the ropes, quietly laughed without a trace of shame.

Tramp took a second to find out the reason for him being accused, then, it struck him. "Oh!" he chuckled. "Guess I've been found guilty of a long-committed crime, haven't I? But, I assure you, Marie, that I... atoned for my sins.". He gave a wink after, glancing at Lady who smiled back at him.

"Well, I suppose... I forgive you. You're getting off easy this time. But... do be careful, mister Tramp." Marie responded with the same blink in her eyes.

Fast-forward a little over two hours, our three quadruped friends were relaxing under the shadow projected by the mansion, safe from the interminable heat of the sun. They were talking, were laughing, and were enjoying each other's company. Lady felt joyful to find out that he and Marie were getting along so well, although it looked like something could spark between them at times, she wouldn't doubt her mate's loyalty. Tramp was happy to find himself a like-minded friend that he could talk tp aside from Lady, he was surprised the kennel club set sheltered such personalities under its title. Marie, well, she was happy that her friend finally found herself a significant other. Only she knew how much she pestered Lady to embark in the search for love, and now, thanks to mister Tramp, Marie will soon go on her own adventure out there. However, as the two hours passed, so did the guest's sojourn. Though, she wouldn't go without presenting her good-byes.

"I wish you could stay more, Marie." an upset Lady expressed. "When will I see you again?"

The springer spaniel let out a sigh as her human tied her leash back. "Soon, I do hope, dearie." She looked over at Tramp, then said, "Mister Tramp, next time, please, do join Lady on her walk to the park. We might all see each other there."

"I still need to get accustomed to this... leash business, not something I'm looking forward to." he snickered. "But you bet I will."

"Well, you have Lady here with you. She'll give you all the advice you need,' said Marie as she took a peek at her friend, 'no?"

Lady shook her head in agreement, adding a smile to the mix.

In the meantime, inside the humans' realm, Jim Dear and Darling, along with their friend, Violet, were saying their goodbyes as well, exchanging hugs and kisses, promising they'll see each other again soon.

"Until we meet again, dears!" said Marie before exiting the yard. "And, mister Tramp?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for earlier. Good-bye!" she added.

Lady and Tramp watched as their friend farthened, losing track of her the moment her human turned the corner. "It was fun." they thought.

Soon after, the scruffy gray dog gave a good shake-off on his coat along with a nice, comfortable scratch. Lady attempted to do the same. but more elegantly; well, as elegant as a dog can be when it shakes its coat off. At least, she wouldn't scatter her fur all over the planet like her mate did.

Tramp took a glance at his fluffy, attractive partner, approached her, then asked, "So, uh, Pidge, you wouldn't deny an afternoon cuddlin' with mister Tramp, would you?"

Of course she wouldn't, that is, in normal circumstances. But, Marie's words from earlier regarding that next step, for which Lady wasn't yet mentally prepared, summoned a cloud of anxiety around the cocker's heart the second she sensed him getting closer. Lady, normally, never declines a moment alone with him, but this time, she felt forced to.

She faked a yawn and, with a false sleepy voice, said, "I would love to, really... but I am very tired and I'd like to take a nap."

Tramp assumed the culprit of her tiredness would be the place she kept going to for the past days, so he gave it a rest, otherwise, he'd offer himself again. The fact that Lady lied to him would never cross his mind, even less the reason behind it. "Oh, o-okay. I'll be around if you... change your mind."

Lady felt disgusted by her gesture, and she'd want to pull it back but she couldn't bring herself to. The, supposedly, sleepy spaniel, then, walked inside the house, upstairs in the baby's room, under the bed where she knew Tramp wouldn't follow her. Was this a reason to make such big of a deal of? It was for Lady. How could Lady open to him in such a way as her friend suggested? She had never done things like that before. Would Tramp understand her if she tried? All sorts of questions poured down her mind. However, she was most afraid of the fact that Marie's words would prove true if she wouldn't act quickly, that her mate would desert her.

Tramp, at first, felt like, maybe, his mate required some time alone for herself; maybe she needed some space. However, his heart rapidly filled with worry 'cause Lady would begin to treat him rather coldly from that afternoon onward, not to mention they would no longer have their meals together; Lady would only eat after he was done. Socializing, an action that was second nature between them, occurred rarely, cuddling was out of the question. What could have triggered such a change in Lady's behavior, Tramp just could not tell. He felt an odd sense of guilt lingering inside him. Did he hurt her feelings somehow and he just did not realize it? When Tramp was still a stray and used to engage with fellow stray females, or "runaway ladies", as Marie called them, and they'd give him the cold shoulder for whatever reason, he'd just brush it off, "Oh, well. Ladies be ladies.". But this one lady was different and it pained him greatly; no way of brushing this one off.

And so, two days have passed. The chilly night, once more, extinguished the atmospheric fire that raged over the city. Although, outside, the summer dictated, inside those two's hearts prevailed a freezing winter led by a never-ending blizzard. Sadly, nothing has changed between them.

Inside the house, the grandfather clock carried upon its usual business. Ten o'clock, it announced, and with it came the two's bedtime call. This time, though, they would not sleep together in the living room as usual, or rather, they would not sleep together at all. Lady made herself cozy under the stairway and Tramp decided it would be nice if he slept outside; meaningless pretense. Lady was anything but cozy and Tramp was being restless, writhing all over the doormat. None of them could close an eye.

Lady let out a sigh as she snuggled with the spare carpets she found under those stairs. "Marie... I wish you were here now. You'd know what to do... For two days, I've been avoiding him. I just... cannot bring myself to do what you said I should. What if he doesn't understand me?" She, then, hid under one of the rugs and resumed talking to her inner self. "Marie, I wish for us to become a true family... I really do... But, how do I show him that?"

Lady, eventually, stopped beating her head about it. The tiredness of the day dragged her deeper and deeper, urging her to close her eyes and cross into the dreams' realm; maybe she could find help there.

What about Tramp? Was he doing any better? No, sadly, no. The chill of the night was bringing him no trace of joy or relief this time. Now, he didn't need any of that. Tramp needed warmth, not the summer's warmth, but his beloved's. The gray dog began gazing at the sky. He was so into it, he even started counting the stars. Though, he'd quickly stop at four as it served him no real purpose. But... why four?

The scruffy animal let out a groan, placed his head on his front paws and spoke inside his mind, 'Mom... I wish you'd be here now. Remember when you wanted to teach your kiddo about talking with girls? Well, now it's a good time to jump from behind a bush and hit me with your wisdom. Yeah, I thought I was doing pretty good, but now... not so sure about that." Tramp stopped himself for a brief period, rolled over towards the wall, glanced at the doggy door and resumed, "By the way, guess what,' he chuckled, 'I belong to a pair of humans now. They have funny names and one of them suggested I should start my own family; remindin' you of someone? You know, I wish I had my own ankle-bitters to tell stories to, to teach them all I know... and Pidge to come in and scold us every time we'd be bad dogs. She, sorta, resembles you in a way..." A sigh escaped through his whiskers as he, yet again, changed his posture. "What about you, old dog?" he followed. "Got anything in store for me this time? I bet not even you can escape this tight jam."

Shortly, a sudden cold waft patroled by his half-awake ears rendering them alert. A distant sound caused by the fallen leaves getting brushed off stole his consciousness. Tramp turned his head slightly in its way with the odd impression that someone was there. His mind was playing him games.

Now, there were two other dogs that couldn't get some shut-eye that night, or was it they did not want to? A black scottie and a brown bloodhound were enjoying their night stroll around their neighborhood. Ah, it was Jock and his old pal, Trusty, and they just now happened to pass by Jim Dear and Darling's residence. However, Jock noticed something was off about it tonight. Soon as he took a peek inside the yard through the iron fence, he noticed his new neighbor was being quite troubled; his dog instincts revealed that to him. Jock gave his buddy a nudge and suggested they should go greet Tramp. At first, Trusty was against it as he assumed it would be impolite to pay a visit so late in the night. However, the persistence of his friend made him give up. Thankfully, the gate was still opened; Jim Dear had forgotten to close it, probably.

Tramp was just about to head to bed. All that thinking and contemplating, ultimately, made the sleep overcome his body. But just as he placed himself on the doormat, he sensed someone trespassing his territory. Shortly after, from around the corner, two familiar faces showed themselves in front of his eyes. The tension caused by him believing it could be an intruder rapidly got lifted off as he sighted those two. "Well, if it isn't the blue-blooded scottie and his veteran companion..." he thought.

As they approached the gray dog, Trusty addressed, "Pardon us for, uhh, disturbing you so late, sir Tramp, but Jock here insisted-"

"Nah, don't sweat it, fella. What's cookin' ?" Tramp asked, following a joke. "Came to sell me more o' that house pet advice?"

"Naw, naw, laddie, nothing of the sort!" Jock snickered. "We a-saw you looking kinda... distressed, and we thought you could-a use some help."

Tramp's been found out. He laid himself down and drawled, "Is it so obvious?"

"Aye... a wee bit." the scottie responded.

Trusty stepped in, "But, uhh, why do you sleep outdoors, sir Tramp? You don't suppose your... new owners have punished you, do you?"

The scruffy dog sighed, "Not even close, friend."

"Listen, laddie,' Jock added, 'I a-know that we got off on the wrong paw at first, but you can tell us what troubles you,' he nodded, 'that is if you want to."

Tramp threw a smile their way. He appreciated the fact that Jock and Trusty now accepted him inside their circle, and even more the fact they wished to help him out.

"Well, if you put it that way... It's, uh, something between me and... miss Lady." he revealed.

"Aah,' said the scottie as he rose his head towards the bloodhound, 'a relationship problem."

"Did you, uhh... did you have a fight with miss Lady?" Trusty asked with concern, slightly leaning towards Tramp.

"Nah, nah, nothing of that." Tramp shook his head. "It's just that she started giving me the go-by, you know? And I don't have the slightest clue why."

"Oh, I understand, sir Tramp." the bloodhound said. "Well, you see... miss Lady is, uhh... she is not like the dames you used to, you know, engage with."

"Aye, she requires a more delicate approach, laddie." Jock contributed. "Maybe she just-a wants to tell you something."

"Tell me something?" the gray dog repeated, tilting his head. "Then why doesn't she talk to me? Last time I checked, I had a pair of ears." he tittered.

"Well, it is a-probable that she doesn't know how. Or, rather, 'tis something that cannot be, you know... expressed with words alone, you understand?"

Tramp took a short while to get the message behind Jock's words. Then, it hit him. "Oh! You think that could be it?" Tramp asked with a slight joy in his tone as he picked himself up.

"Could very well be, sir Tramp." Trusty agreed with his friend's assumption. "Miss Lady seems very fond of you. It is possible she may, uhh, have serious plans too."

Tramp became gradually happier. His tail was playful and his voice was steadily regaining its usual gleam. He let out a short laugh and muttered, "I see... Sly pidgeon!"

"You seem happy." Trusty stated.

"Guess I do, huh?" he confirmed. "Thanks, boys."

The scottie let out a chuckle followed by a large yawn. "You're a-most welcome, laddie. Seems to me you know what to do from here." he voiced as he glanced at Trusty. "Now, if you'll excuse us, the bed is calling."

The two presented their goodbyes and headed their way. Who would have thought the ones to show him the path would be his neighbors that he barely knew? Ever since that one night, through his rare visits, Tramp tried his best to get along with them. It was either his heroic act or the loyalty he displayed towards Lady and his new owners that drove them to change their opinion of him. But it paid off.

A quarter went by and now Tramp felt a strange sense of excitement swimming inside his body, he was happy knowing that Lady was on the same page. However, he was uncertain if that was really true, he knew that he shouldn't take what Jock and Trusty said for granted. But the gray dog could sleep, at last. Tomorrow, Tramp would have enough time to worry about it.

"Tramp?" a soothing voice from behind blew air at the gray mutt's ear. It gave him a bit of a startle.

He abruptly turned his head towards the voice and noticed Lady sticking her head out the doggy door. "P-pidgeon!". All this time, Lady was still awake and it now seems she made up her mind to speak with her mate.

"Can I come over?" she asked in whispers.

He let out no response, instead, he moved out of the doorway, letting her get out.

"Feel like talking now?" Tramp giggled.

She placed herself next to him and said, "Forgive me."

"Forgive you? For what?" Tramp questioned her.

"You know... for earlier." Lady explained.

"Ah, forget it. I'm glad I'm not sleeping alone tonight as well." he joked.

His mate threw a faint giggle and, after a brief pause, she asked, "Do you... want to take a short walk?"

"So late in the night?" he followed.

"Mm-hmm..." Lady nodded.

Tramp took a few steps towards the gate and replied, "Then, let's be on our way."

A walk sounds fun, but is it, really? Past experiences showed them that walks could prove themselves very unpredictable. Whatever it may be, there was no time to worry about that now. Lady, finally, gathered her courage to talk and Tramp was feeling impatient to know what she really had to say.

Author's note - The sequel: Well, you came this far; hope you liked it! Now, as I stated earlier, I have some interesting things happening in the chapter(s) that will follow. Though, I'm not sure if they will be as long as this one.

PS: Excuse the grammatical errors I've missed; hard to be a non-native english speaker, haha.

See you on the next page, fellas!