The next chapter has arrived! I hope anybody who visits my little story enjoys!

There's... fluffy pink clouds everywhere? They look like cotton candy or something! What's... what's even happening? Oh no... am I back in Heaven?!

Charlie found himself sitting on one of them, and looked around; just more clouds and sunlight streaming down on him. "Uhhh... hello?" he called, confused. To his surprise, something all of a sudden plopped down on his head.

"Ahh! What the-" Charlie grabbed at whatever was on his head and face, and immediately his expression turned from a scowl to a happy grin. A steak!

"Hey! Don't mind if I do!" Charlie tossed it into the air and caught it in his mouth, delightedly chewing on it. "Mmmmm..."

Then he heard the whoosh of something else falling, too. Charlie looked up; it was starting to rain! Not just any rain, either... it was raining meat!

"Holy...! Jackpot!!" Charlie shouted, swallowing the last of the steak before leaping up excitedly to catch whatever he could. He laughed out loud, catching a few sausages in his mouth, but then he started falling. "Huh...? Woah, woah!!"

He landed on the largest cloud yet... and it was SO soft! Charlie sighed happily, and as the meat kept falling, of course he started making a... uh, meat angel. Unfortunately, his paradise would come to an abrupt end.

"Charlie! Charlie, wake up! Mr. Itchy, Charlie won't wake up!"

Confused, Charlie lifted his head, blinking sleepily a few times. "Huh...?" He found that he was not lying in a bunch of meat; rather, he was in the front seat of the cab, and Anne Marie was kneeling over him, trying to wake him up. She beamed when she saw his eyes open.

"Hi, Charlie!" she said, waving at him. Charlie groaned, rolling over onto his belly. "Aww, c'mon. I was havin' the best dream..." Charlie suddenly startled, checking to make sure his blue-banded watch was still around his neck; he sighed in relief when he found it was still there.

Anne Marie put her small hands on Charlie's back, and before he knew it, she'd leaned down and laid against him. Surprised, Charlie lifted his head. "Uh-? Squeaker? What're ya doin'?"

Anne Marie smiled, pushing her face into Charlie's fur. "You're really soft!" she said, looking up at him sweetly. She stayed there for a while until Charlie, a little bit shy from the affection, stood up. "Ok, ok... uh, we gotta go get Oaklyn." He hopped out the front seat, finding Itchy just arriving now. "Hey, boss," he greeted, sitting down. Charlie nodded, doing the same. "Hi." Anne Marie climbed down next to Charlie.

"Good morning, Mr. Itchy!" she chirped, running over to hug the surprised dachshund. Itchy reeled back kind of fearfully. "Nah-! Wait-wait, don't-" he tried to say, but Anne Marie kneeled down and hugged him tightly. Charlie smirked at him, glad it wasn't him being squished in an affectionate hug. He stood up. "Alrighty. Let's go get Snowflake."

Just as he said her name, thought, her white fur caught his eye. She was trotting up from the path leading out of the junkyard. Charlie was surprised. "Oh! Hey, Snowflake! What're you doin' here?" Oaklyn yawned widely. "I stayed at the casino last night. I didn't wanna take a chance for you to be seen there, so I came early."

Charlie was grateful, actually; he wasn't scared of Carface in the least, but he didn't wanna get caught with the kid as long as the dirty rat believed he was dead. "Thanks. What'd you tell Mr. Murderer?" Oaklyn smiled at that. "Heh... I told him I was going out for the day. He didn't really care; he was too hungover to care. Y'know, because he was celebrating 'killing' you..." She looked away, adding, "I still can't believe you're alive."

Charlie, sensing her feelings, came over, peeking over to make sure Itchy didn't see him; when he saw that he wasn't looking, Charlie touched his nose to Oaklyn's ear to comfort her. She chuckled. "Charlie, quit it! That tickles!" Charlie grinned playfully. "Shouldn't of given it away!" He pinned her down with one of his paws, starting to tickle her everywhere. She squealed, wiggling around wildly to get out of his grip. "Charlie!!" she cried, "Charlie, stop! That tickles!! Stop!!!!!"

By now, Itchy had looked over, as had Anne Marie. The little girl was giggling, and Itchy was staring in surprise. Charlie, realizing how it must've sounded to Itchy, flattened his ears as his face turned bright red. "Knock it off!!" he demanded, flicking the end of his nose and immediately letting Oaklyn get up. "Ow!"

Oaklyn, stilling kind of laughing and in a better mood, trotted over to sit on the tire by Anne Marie. "So where are we going again, Charlie?"

Charlie grinned sideways at her. "The stables. We gotta place a bet for the winnin' horse. And that's all up to Squeaker here!" he finished, ruffling Anne Marie's hair and earning a giggle from her. Charlie began to walk away as Itchy hopped over the tire clumsily and followed. "Now, let's get movin', shall we?"

Charlie pushed the red stable door open, and Itchy slipped inside, followed by Oaklyn. Anne Marie looked at Charlie, who nodded for her to enter as well. After she did, Charlie trotted in after the girl.

Anne Marie looked up at the horses, who were casually neighing and tossing their heads. Oaklyn sat down by a stack of hay bails, and Itchy hopped up on a seat next to one horse's stable. "Alright, kid. Talk to the horses, ok?" Charlie said as Anne Marie sat down on a metal bucket.

The girl frowned. "Anne Marie... sweetheart, please." Charlie leaned toward her slightly. "Just-... just talk to the horsie, huh? Talk to Mr. Horsie!" he finished, wagging his tail and smiling as if to encourage her. Anne Marie pouted, turning away and crossing her arms. Oaklyn grinned. "Uh oh. The kid doesn't wanna do it, Charlie." Charlie glared at her, but looked back at Anne Marie.

"Hey, boss. Maybe she only talks to rats!" Itchy joked, beginning to laugh. "Don't be stupid," Charlie retorted, casting a scowl at him, "she talked to me, didn't she?" Itchy grinned widely. "Yeah, she talked to you- that make you a rat?! Hahahah!" Charlie rolled his eyes, giving a fake laugh. "Hahahaha."

Oaklyn smirked, and Itchy, who was wearing a helmet, tapped it with a stick and said, "ok, ok! Maybe horses is too stupid to talk!"

In response, a female horse with pink fur angrily neighed at the startled dachshund, throwing her head at him; the force of it knocked Itchy off of his stool, and he bounced against a wooden post before landing on his back, yelping. Charlie brightened, watching Itchy get up. "Aha! What'd she say?" he asked Anne Marie, who looked back at him. Oaklyn, who was somewhat amused at Itchy's comment, came over and sat by Anne Marie's bucket. Itchy growled and placed his red cap back on his head. "Hey-hey, listen! Try that again, you, and you are... glue..." he warned non-threateningly, twisting his hat to the normal position.

"What'd she say?" Charlie repeated, smiling at Anne Marie. She glared at him. "You sound just like Mr. Carface!" she said, whipping her head around and refusing to face Charlie, who jumped, shocked. "What?? He's a criminal!" He began to stutter, trying repeatedly to make her look at him, but each time she moved again. "D-d-d-did he read you stories?!" Charlie asked, "I mean- did he give you a comfortable bed?! Did he kiss you goodnight?" He sat down on the cement floor. "Geez, I mean- you're talkin' to Charlie here! I-I rescued you!"

Itchy walked over to Charlie, and Oaklyn just kind of watched him talk. "Besides... we're givin' the money to the poor!" Charlie fibbed, shrugging. Itchy jumped, shocked. "Boss!" Charlie grabbed Itchy by the shoulders and dragged him over quickly. "Sharing it with the poor!" he corrected.

Oaklyn was surprised too, for a moment, but realizing that Charlie wasn't really being sincere, she blinked knowingly. Anne Marie turned around to look at Charlie. "You mean... like Robin Hood?"

Charlie held Itchy up under his arms. "Yeah! Just- just like in the story!" Itchy smirked. "Just like in the story..." he mocked, and Charlie bopped him over the head, shoving his cap over his eyes. "And another thing..." Charlie gently pushed Anne Marie up with one paw, walking over to her. "If you're serious about this... mommy and daddy business, you're gonna need a little dough of your own!" He smiled. "Y'know, new dresses, new shoes- I know about these things." He leaned toward the curious and excited girl. "Nobody wants a scrawny little doll in rags!"

"Promise? You'll help me find a mommy and daddy?" Anne Marie chipped, bouncing in place. Charlie nodded, bowing his head a little. "I promise."

Anne Marie giggled. "Oh, Charlie!!" she cried, throwing her arms around Charlie's neck; he coughed, grunting a bit until she let him go. "Ah! Good shape for a little kid," he wheezed, holding his throat for a second. Oaklyn looked up at him. "Charlie! You're really doing all this to make money? Off of a kid? All she wants is to have a family!" Charlie shrugged. "Yeah. What's the problem?"

Anne Marie had come over to where Itchy was sitting. "Isn't that wonderful?!" she said, grabbing the small dog and hugging him. "Agh!! Don't pick me up! Please, put me down!" Anne Marie obeyed, and Itchy growled at her. She didn't take notice, and turned to the pink horse behind her. "Excuse me..." She stood up on the stool to reach the horse, and gently stroked her muzzle. "Could you please tell me which one of you is going to win today's race? We're giving the money to the poor and buy me a new dress, so I can get some parents," she asked sweetly, and the horse neighed in reply; Charlie didn't understand, of course, but Anne Marie had.

"Who?" she asked, and the horse leaned down to whisper in the child's ear. Anne Marie brightened. "Ohh! How nice!"

Charlie and Oaklyn shared a curious glance before Charlie tapped Anne Marie's shoulder. "Well, what is it?"

Anne Marie put her small hand on Charlie's neck and leaned down. "It's the Grand Chawhee's birthday!" she whispered in his ear. Charlie pulled back. "Huh?" Itchy sat by him, and so did Oaklyn.

"Chaw?" Charlie repeated, confused. "Chai?" Oaklyn echoed. "Chee-haw!" Itchy said, making a weird face. Anne Marie giggled. "No! Chawhee!"

Charlie cocked his head. "Haw?" Anne Marie whispered to him again, "yeah! It's his birthday!" Charlie straightened, putting his paws out in question. "But who do ya think is gonna win?"

"He is!" Anne Marie answered, pointing to a long-legged and odd-looking horse with giant buck teeth and flies swarming around his whole body. "But you'll mustn't tell!" she continued. "It's a surprise!" Oaklyn scoffed. "Quite the surprise."

"I'll say," Itchy muttered as 'The Grand Chawhee' turned around and sat down on his rear end. Charlie was uncertain. "Can we trust this horse?" he asked his two canine companions in a soft voice, pointing with his thumb to the angered female behind him. She bellowed at all three; Charlie, startled, ran a few feet away from her before he slid around, Itchy ran with him but tripped in his rush and fell, and Oaklyn just ducked down and flinched. Charlie stood up straight. "Ok, ok! The Grand Chawhee-" He started making really weird faces and movements. "Choo-haw, Chaw-hee-hee-hoo-ha! By surprise!" He quickly turned around to Itchy. "Now let's go place the bet!" Oaklyn followed Charlie and Anne Marie out, but Itchy was a bit hesitant. "But... with- what dough, boss?"

Charlie smiled carelessly back at Itchy. "Itchyyyyy..."

I did it! I finished Chapter 7! Oh boy, I'm glad I did. Can I have some reviews or faves or something, maybe please? XD I'm kinda nervous that nobody likes this or something since it's gotten so little attention. Thanks, guys!