WingedKatt here. There is some fluff in this chapter, so keep your metformin and insulin shots handy.

Ryan drove into his family's yard and parked in front of the barn so he could hook up one of the larger bird trailers. As he and Daisy hopped out, he looked around and was glad he didn't see any of his annoying brothers. He hoped to get in and out before anyone decided to tease Daisy. After the fallout of her mom's ultimatum, he didn't want any more problems today.

Daisy assisted him in hooking up the trailer, then they made their way into the house. Saying hi to a few of his sisters and some of his nieces and nephews, he led Daisy down to his mother's study. When he didn't find his mother there, he had Daisy wait while he hunted her down. He eventually found her in the kitchen supervising the dinner cleanup.

"Hey, Mom," Ryan said as he walked into the room and spied his mother. Being a petite, light-tan jackrabbit, some of Ryan's sisters were actually taller than she was, but Mayblossom didn't act petite as everyone bustled about doing her bidding.

Turning around, Mayblossom spied her tall son in black jeans and a black cowboy shirt with sky-blue and white highlights that perfectly matched Daisy's eyes. With a bright smile, she wondered how his first date went but didn't want to ask in a room full of so many eyes and ears. Walking over to him, she said instead, "The food's ready and waiting in the fridge for you." Smoothing out a wrinkle in her son's favorite shirt, she added, "There's 3 bags in there for you so you won't have to worry about running out of food anytime soon."

Ryan nodded, but then said, "I'll pick it up in a bit, but can I borrow you for a minute?"

"Of course, what do you need?" Mayblossom asked with curiosity sparkling in her rich, mahogany eyes, even as she wondered where Ryan's date was. She couldn't wait to see the look on Daisy's face now that she had been on a real date with her son.

Without answering, Ryan slipped his paw through his mom's arm and led her through the large ranch house to the study. As they stepped inside, Ryan shut the door behind them, even as Mayblossom spotted Daisy smiling shyly while wearing a sky-blue dress that hung down to just above her ankle. The dress had no pattern but shimmered and sparkled faintly in the light. The little blue bows sitting at each side of her waist accentuated her hips and narrow waist. The rounded bodice dipped just below her collarbone and the sleeves hung down and flowed around her shoulders and upper arms.

Seeing Daisy standing so happy and radiant, Mayblossom's paws flew to her mouth as she murmured to her son, "Oh, isn't she just precious!?"

At Daisy's blush, Mayblossom dropped her paws and walked over to take Daisy's own small paws. With a warm smile of motherly affection, she said, "Daisy, you have to be one of the prettiest gals in all of Bunnyburrow. You look so radiant in this dress." Stepping back and holding Daisy's paws out, she looked her over again. Glancing over her shoulder, she said, "Isn't she a spitting image of a water fairy?"

Ryan's smile grew wider as his tail flicked. "That's exactly what I thought when I first saw her! I'll have to take her up to the hill overlooking Star Lake during the next full moonrise and take some photos."

"Oh, yes, you do that and then show me the pictures," Mayblossom said brightly. "I want to frame at least one of them." Thinking of how magical those photos would make the sweet skunk girl look under the shimmering moonlight, Ryan's mother squeezed Daisy's paws while meeting her shy, stunned gaze and then added, "And talking about photos, I need pictures of you two to celebrate your first date."

Daisy was left momentarily speechless. After the way her mom had thrown her out of the house for dating Ryan, she wasn't expecting such warm and honest praise from anyone but Ryan. But this was Mayblossom, Ryan's mom, who had always been just as warm and inviting as her son. A bright smile wound its way onto her lips. "I would love for you to take some pictures of us," Daisy murmured softly. "Thank you, Mayblossom, for always being so welcoming to me."

Mayblossom told her that it was no problem as she had always considered Daisy as one of her own daughters. This warm welcome touched and warmed Daisy's bruised heart. After the fight with her mother, Mayblossom's motherly love and acceptance untied a knot in her heart.

With a shy smile and nod of gratitude, Daisy let Mayblossom move her around until she was standing in front of the flowered wallpaper with Ryan standing behind her with his arms clasped around her waist and his cheek next to her ear. With a deep blush hiding under her thick fur, Daisy smiled bashfully as Ryan's mom took a picture on not only Ryan's phone, but her own phone, as well.

Then Mayblossom shooed them over to sit on the thick-cushioned chair she liked to sit and read in. With Daisy sitting sideways on Ryan's lap with her arms around his neck, Mayblossom took a few more pictures of them staring lovingly into each other's eyes. When those pictures were done, Ryan flashed his mom a cheeky smile, then pulled Daisy into a soft kiss which his mother happily took pictures of.

As they broke from the kiss, Mayblossom started gushing about how perfect the picture was. "Oh, this is the best picture yet!" she cried excitedly. "I'm definitely framing this one and then you can hang it in your room."

Daisy nodded, but then bit her lip as she didn't have the heart to say she no longer had a room to hang it in, not to mention, her mom would probably burn it if she ever saw it.

Seeing the uncertain look in his girlfriend's eyes, Ryan nuzzled her cheek, then whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I have the perfect place for it."

Glancing at Ryan and seeing his confident assurance, Daisy felt her anxiety melting away. As long as she had Ryan, she would be okay. With a nod, Daisy stood up even as Mayblossom started talking again.

"Well, I guess I have enough pictures for now. I'm sure you have more things to do than standing around indulging an old doe."

Ryan rolled his eyes as he stood up. "You're not that old, Mom."

Mayblossom smiled. "Well, I guess you're as young as you feel."

With a laugh as Ryan led Daisy to the door, he replied, "Then I guess that makes you a teenager."

Mayblossom joined Ryan's laugh then shooed the youngsters out the door. "Go on, I know you still have things to do today."

Ryan waved to his mom, then led Daisy down the hallway and up the stairs to his room. As they stepped inside and he shut the door, he saw Daisy rubbing her paw down her dress nervously as she glanced around the room with her eyes settling on the bed.

When she finally looked up to meet his eyes, Ryan merely grinned but made no move towards her. Instead, he went to his guitar stand and picked up his acoustic guitar and carried it to the bed, then he grabbed its case from the closet. Since Nick was playing at the Hopps's tonight, then the fox would have his guitar when he arrived at the cabin. If he brought his, too, then Ryan figured they could have their own little jam session later on tonight.

After securing the guitar within its case, Ryan leaned it against the wall next to the bedroom door before turning to Daisy. Gently pushing her up against the door, he rested one paw on the door next to her ear, then brought the other one up to caress Daisy's cheek. Looking into her beautiful sapphire eyes, he murmured, "There is something I've been dying to do with you in this room since forever."

Hardly breathing, Daisy whispered, "Oh?" Anticipating what Ryan wanted, she parted her lips.

Ryan didn't disappoint her as he dipped his head to capture her mouth. There was no urgency in the kiss. Keeping it slow, he ran his tongue along her needle-like teeth which brought a moan of pleasure from Daisy. Done with the exploration of her mouth, Ryan twined his tongue around hers as he slid his paw down to her waist and pulled her against him.

Daisy wrapped her paws around the back of Ryan's head and pulled him deeper into the kiss as she melted into his embrace. Raising her leg up to wrap around his calf, she felt Ryan reach down and hike her leg higher on his thigh. With a groan, she tightened her grip on the back of his head and neck.

Ryan just about lost himself in the sweet taste of Daisy's kisses and the feel of her strong, lithe body wrapped around his own, but then his ears twitched as he heard the patter of soft feet down the hall from his room. And the sound was getting louder. With a groan, he pulled back from the kiss and dropped Daisy's leg. Pressing his forehead briefly against hers, he murmured, "I think we're about to be interrupted."

Daisy tilted her head, but Ryan didn't give her a chance to talk. Stepping back, he pulled Daisy behind him, then grabbed the doorknob. He waited a couple of seconds, then pulled the door open to the surprise of his younger brothers Sam and Tomas. "What do you two want?" Ryan asked with a raised brow.

His brothers were left dumbfounded for several seconds as they hadn't expected Ryan to open the door on them. Once they overcame their shock, Tomas pointed between him and Daisy, then blurted out, "Did you two go on a date!?"

Ryan's ear ticked. As Daisy had pointed out earlier—with the way they were dressed, there was no way of hiding the fact they had been on a date. If there was a formal social event going on (outside of school dances and weddings, there weren't many formal social events that happened in Bunnyburrow) then they might be able to pass it off as them hanging out together. But the middle of the week? Not happening.

Folding his arms over his chest, Ryan asked, "And what if we did? What of it?"

With a wide grin spreading across his face, Tomas turned around and wagged his finger in Sam's face, saying, "Ha, I told you Ryan wanted to date Daisy! Now pay up." Holding his paw out, he curled his fingers in the 'give me' motion. "I won the bet, so you owe me ten bucks."

As Sam scowled at his brother, Tomas merely grinned wider. With a huff, Sam pulled out his wallet while grumbling, "Why'd he have to date a skunk?"

Tomas immediately smacked Sam's head before Ryan had time to react. "Don't say that about Daisy. She's cool and will make an awesome sister-in-law!"

Daisy blushed to hear Tomas claim she would make an awesome sister-in-law. Oh, how she wished it was so! But Tomas still had another year of high school to finish, so she wasn't sure how much stock she should put into his words. Furthermore, knowing how the town was against such differing interspecies relationships, Daisy didn't think it would be possible for her and Ryan to get married. Would Ryan even want to take their relationship that far?

While Daisy was wishing she could marry Ryan, Sam rolled his eyes at the same time a smile touched the edge of Ryan's mouth. Although he wasn't sure who all would support his relationship with Daisy, he was glad to see at least one of his brothers did.

Turning to Daisy, Ryan reached out and took her paw then grabbed his guitar case with his free paw, saying, "Come on, we still have things to do."

With a shy smile, Daisy nodded as Ryan led her from the room. Although she had a good relationship with Tomas (he was one of the few bucks in Ryan's family she was comfortable being around), she was surprised to see that he was happy she and Ryan were now dating. Now only if they could get married, too!

As she and Ryan passed by Tomas and Sam, Tomas reached out and grabbed her paw. "Wait!" As she and Ryan turned back to him, Tomas squeezed Daisy's paw and said, "I just wanted to say you look gorgeous, Daisy, and welcome to the family."

Daisy blushed furiously under her black and white fur, but she did manage to squeak out a "Thank you." She was used to Ryan calling her beautiful but wasn't accustomed to other bucks calling her beautiful or gorgeous. And Tomas had even welcomed her into the family! When her mother had kicked her out of the house, Daisy felt like she had lost her family (Cori would still talk to her, but she was barred from coming to the house), but now, it looked like she had gained a much bigger family, seeing as both Tomas and Mayblossom had so readily accepted her into their family.

Ryan gave his younger brother a nod of appreciation then turned and led Daisy back downstairs. As they stepped into the kitchen where many of his sisters and nieces, along with a few of his nephews, were still cleaning up after dinner, the room fell silent as they spotted Ryan leading Daisy, who just happened to be wearing an exquisite blue dress. A few of them even recognized it as one of Patty-Mae's newest dresses but had to admit that although Patty-Mae looked good in the dress, Daisy looked even better as her black fur made the shimmering blue material really pop.

Glancing around the room, Ryan said, "Mom has three bags of food in the fridge for me."

"Right," his brown-furred niece Tammi said, "We'll get it." Grabbing two of her sisters, Carly and Jessica who were both black with light gray and brown brindled fur, the three turned to grab the bags.

As Tammi, Carly, and Jessica disappeared into the walk-in fridge to get the bags, a light gray doe with tan, brown, and charcoal gray fur sprinkled through her fur walked up to them. Wearing blue jeans and a tan shirt with small yellow and purple flowers covering it, Dahlia was Ryan's older sister by a couple of years. As she stepped up to the couple, Dahlia's periwinkle blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked, "Did you finally take Daisy out on a real date?"

With a broad smile, Ryan slipped his arm around Daisy's waist and pulled her back against his stomach and chest, then slipped both arms around her middle. "What do you think?" he asked.

With a soft giggle, Dahlia replied, "Well, you two make an adorable couple. I'm glad my brother finally found the courage to ask you out, Daisy. He made you wait long enough."

Daisy blushed again as Ryan squeezed her a little tighter. Rubbing his arm, she murmured, "That was more my fault. I was giving Ryan mixed signals, so he wasn't sure of what I wanted."

Dahlia looked back and forth between the odd (but sweet) couple, then asked, "But you two worked it out?"

With a bright smile, Daisy glanced up at Ryan and said, "Oh, yes, we're on the same page now."

Nodding, Dahlia said, "Let me know when the wedding is. I want to be a bridesmaid."

Daisy's eyes widened even as the room went silent again (there was some quiet whispering going on before). With her nose twitching much like a bunny, she squeaked out, "We're just…just dating." The thought of actually marrying Ryan set a whole passel of butterflies loose in her stomach. Although Tomas had said she would make a great sister-in-law, the buck was still young and idealistic as he hadn't finished high school yet, so Daisy hadn't given his words much credence. But Dahlia's words…

"Today you are, but if I know my brother at all," Dahlia pointed to Ryan standing behind Daisy and wearing a confident grin, "then he won't be content being your boyfriend for long. Ryan won't be happy until he puts a ring on your finger."

The butterflies in Daisy's stomach intensified. She had been dreaming of marrying Ryan for years, but the idea of actually being able to go through with it seemed as unreal as dating Ryan was. And yet she was dating Ryan. Did that mean her dream of marrying him might actually come true?

There was a snicker behind Dahlia, then one of the other girls, a brindled dark brown, gray and black doe said, "Dahlia, it's not likely that the city council is going to approve a pred-prey marriage." Her name was Tabitha and she had joined the family when she married Jarod over a decade ago. Like her husband Jarod, she also didn't care much for predators.

Dahlia glanced back and raised her brow. "Our ancestors didn't require a piece of paper from town hall to say they were married. They had a simple ceremony, the buck scent marked his doe, and then took her home with him. Why can't Ryan do the same? Piece of paper or not, Ryan will be completely committed to Daisy, and from what I've seen," her gaze returned to her brother and his girlfriend, "Daisy will be just as committed to him."

Daisy was feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point. She'd had her first real date with Ryan and had shared many wonderful kisses with him (some of which were on her bed!), she then had a major fight with her mom and was kicked out of the house, she then had a shockingly warm welcome from Mayblossom, and Ryan had finally stolen a kiss from her in his room—and now—his sisters were arguing over her possible marriage to him. Could this day get any weirder or emotional?

Before Dahlia could continue her argument over her brother's marriage to a skunk, Tammi and her sisters returned with the food. "Here you go," the young doe said brightly while looking questioningly between the two.

Releasing Daisy, Ryan reached over and took two of the bags, even as Daisy took the third and practically hid behind it. She was more than happy to escape outside. Ryan thanked his nieces, gave Dahlia a nod, then happily escaped after his girlfriend.

Daisy didn't even pay attention to anything around her until they came to Ryan's truck. Taking a deep breath, she put her paw on the side of the truck and leaned against it.

Looking her over with concern, Ryan asked, "Are you alright, Daisy?"

With a shake of her head, Daisy took a deep breath then said, "I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed right now. Too many emotional highs and lows today."

Giving her a nod she didn't see, Ryan opened the truck door and put the food on the backseat behind the driver's seat (Daisy's stuff took up the rest of the backseat). Turning around, he relieved Daisy of her bag and put it in the truck next to the other two. Shutting the door, he turned back to Daisy and ran his paws up and down her upper arms. "After we leave, you won't have to put up with anyone but me until Judy and Patty-Mae show up with their boys."

Daisy gave him a relieved smile, but then she perked up. "We're not coming back here?"

With a wide grin, Ryan shook his head, saying, "I have somewhere special for us to stay tonight."

Daisy immediately beamed upon hearing she wouldn't have to deal with Ryan's huge family tonight. She had enough to deal with for one day without adding more of his siblings to the mix, especially those who didn't approve of her.

Taking her paw, Ryan started leading her around the truck so he could help her in when several of his least-favorite brothers drove up in their sunset orange jeep. Dropping Daisy's paw, Ryan immediately stepped in front of her to hide her from the obnoxious bucks.

Sticking his head out the jeep window, Jeremy yelled at Ryan, "You sly buck! I didn't think you had it in you!"

Folding his arms over his chest, Ryan rolled his eyes and said, "What are you yelling about?"

Hopping out of the jeep, Jeremy skipped over to stand in front of Ryan, followed by Jarod, George and Harold. "Oh, come on, don't try and hide it."

"Yeah," Jarod said. "We heard about the ring." Ryan's ears drooped, but Jarod ignored it. Punching Ryan in the arm, he added, "You're moving pretty fast, aren't ya?"

"What?" Ryan growled. He could feel his stomach drop down to his feet. Daisy was standing right behind him and if they were about to say what he thought they were going to say then she might get the wrong idea.

"Come on, don't be coy," Jeremy spoke up again, "George and Harold here saw you eating lunch with Judy Hopps today." With a smirk, he added, "And a ring was involved."

Ryan ground his teeth. "And what of it?"

With another punch to Ryan's shoulder, Jarod said, "When's the wedding?"

Ryan stiffened, but at the soft gasp behind him, something in him snapped. Bringing his paw back, he punched Jarod square in the nose. "Do you have worms for brains!?" he yelled. "Why would I ask Judy to marry me!?"

Clutching his nose, Jarod cried out as he stumbled back into George and Harold, even as Jeremy yelled, "Hey! What was that for!?" followed closely by Jarod's mumbled, "I think he broke my nose." Pinching his nose, he tried to stem the bleeding as he tilted his head back a bit.

"That's for being stupid!" Ryan yelled back. Glaring at his brothers, he then stepped aside to reveal Daisy in her shimmering blue dress standing behind him (his brothers were so used to seeing Daisy with him that they usually ignored her unless they were teasing her). "I am currently on a date with Daisy and I don't want to hear any more about Judy."

Sweeping Daisy up into his arms bridal style, she 'eeped' in surprise even as Ryan leaned down to steal a hot kiss from her. Losing herself in the deep kiss, Daisy wrapped her paws around his head and completely ignored Ryan's gaping brothers, even as Jarod's bloody nose continued gushing bright red blood across his mouth and down his shirt.

Pulling back from the kiss, Ryan looked at his brothers even as Daisy buried her blushing, smiling face in his neck. Her mother swore Ryan would be ashamed to admit his feelings for her, that he would hide a relationship with her from his family. But Ryan hid nothing. He came right out and kissed her and didn't care who saw him. With her heart thumping and butterflies fluttering around inside her stomach, Daisy hugged Ryan tighter.

Staring at the shocked look on his brothers' faces, Ryan said, "If you guys will excuse us, we still have things to do this evening." Turning to the side, he carried Daisy around to the passenger side of his truck and opened the door. Stepping onto the foot bar, he placed Daisy in her seat and looked her in the eyes, saying, "Let's get out of here."

With a shy and slightly nervous giggle, Daisy replied, "Yes, please."

Stealing another quick kiss, Ryan then hopped down and shut the door. Walking around the front of the truck, Ryan nodded towards his brothers and said, "Jarod, you better get that nose taken care of before you pass out from the blood loss."

With a grumble, Jarod tilted his head back again and turned towards the house, with his brothers helping him. Occasionally they would glance back towards the truck, but Ryan was already inside and had the truck running. He drove out of the yard before they reached the house, with Jarod grumbling the whole way about Ryan dating a stinkin' skunk.

The four bucks weren't the only ones who saw the altercation. After Ryan had left late this afternoon, Camellia had saddled her rhea and ridden out to a secret spot of hers where she liked to go and think. After tying the rhea up, she had sat on her favorite thinking log for over an hour while considering what Ryan had said about her asking Jaxon out on a date.

She had gone to school with Jaxon since elementary school and had developed a crush on him at the latter-end of her middle school years, but since he was a bobcat—a predator—she had never done more than talk and look. They were both twenty this year and still hadn't hooked up with anyone in a serious relationship, though they had both been out on casual dates that never went anywhere. Camellia had always wondered if Jaxon's lack of commitment was because he liked her as much as she liked him, but they were both afraid to step over that pred-prey line.

Camellia was still undecided when she left her thinking log, but as she rode into the yard, she witnessed Ryan slugging Jarod before sweeping Daisy into his arms and kissing her long and hard. Seeing it set butterflies loose in her stomach as she immediately wondered what it would feel like if Jaxon were to kiss her. Ryan obviously found kissing a predator quite enjoyable, so what was she worrying about?

Of course, Jaxon was much bigger and stronger than Daisy, with longer, sharper teeth and claws, but this was what drew Camellia in about Jaxon. She found all his predatory weapons (that his ancestors once used to hunt her species down and eat them) intriguing and exciting. He was strong enough to protect her but also had that element of danger about him that set her instincts off in the best of ways.

Growing up with Jaxon and doing a lot of school projects and activities with him, Camellia knew she was perfectly safe with him. And now, seeing Ryan kissing Daisy, she had to ask herself: Why couldn't she pursue a romantic relationship with Jaxon? If they both cared about and respected each other, why couldn't they date?

As Ryan's truck disappeared down the lane, Camellia turned her rhea around and headed up towards the north pasture. There was a gate on the far side that led to a path which came out on the road not far from where Jaxon lived.

-/-/-

Driving down the road, Ryan looked over at Daisy. She was being extremely quiet as she stared out the window. She also had her paws buried in her thick tail fur. With a flick of his long ear, he reached over and took her paw. "Are you alright?"

Meeting his concerned gaze, Daisy took a deep breath, then said, "Yeah. It's just…" With a shake of her head, she continued, "That was intense."

Ryan's ears drooped. "Sorry about that. I was really hoping to be gone before Jeremy and Jarod or anyone else showed up."

With a shrug, Daisy said, "That's your brothers. I kind of expect it by now."

Snorting, Ryan stared down the road, saying, "Yeah, well, you shouldn't have to."

Daisy bit her lip as she considered what she wanted to ask. After several minutes of silence, she finally asked, "And the ring you were showing Judy?"

Ryan looked sharply at her, then sighed. Looking ahead again, he replied, "Yes, I showed Judy a ring, but I never got down on one knee and I certainly never put it on her finger." Glancing over at his girlfriend, he gave her a smug smile as he added, "Judy had asked about you and I showed her the ring in answer to her question."

Daisy's heart started pounding at the implications, even as her stomach suddenly filled with even more butterflies. Dahlia had already pointed out that Ryan would be putting a ring on her finger sooner or later—probably sooner as he apparently already had one for her. Taking several deep breaths while trying to calm her pounding heart, she touched her top lip with her tongue, then asked, "And…and will I get to see the ring, too?"

Ryan gave her a bright smile. "I was planning to show it to you, yes." Squeezing her paw again, he added, "But first I have to give you your present."

A bright smile spread across her lips as she squeezed his paw back. Still holding his paw, she began humming as she combed the fingers of her other paw through her tail. With butterflies still fluttering around in her stomach, Daisy glanced out the window while looking forward to her present…and the ring Ryan had already bought her. After four years of listening to her mom telling her how Ryan would never want to marry her, or take her as his mate, Daisy found the idea that he already bought a ring for her incredible.

Seeing the turnoff for his property up ahead, Ryan flipped on his turn signal and slowed down. Waiting for a dusty red pickup truck to pass, he then turned onto the graveled lane. He actually had two entrances to his property. This one and one to the left of him, and between the two is where he hoped to open his animal clinic next spring.

He already had the building built and the parking area graveled, and he had the stables and bird corals built, but he still needed to stock and furnish the inside of the clinic and put up the sign. There was also a fence put up to separate the rest of his property from the area he zoned for the business.

Seeing the building and stables, Daisy asked about the building. Ryan told her it was set for an animal clinic that was expected to open next spring. Daisy nibbled on her lip a moment, then asked if he knew which vets were going to be practicing there. Ryan merely said that it was a vet couple who were going in as partners and that they'd be hiring technicians and a receptionist closer to spring.

As they drove down the graveled lane, Daisy then asked if he thought they'd hire a skunk as a technician. Ryan said he knew the couple and they could ask them about a job when they returned from the mountains. Ryan even promised to put in a good word for her. Daisy desperately hoped she could get the job. Even though it was a huge downgrade of her skills, at least she would be working in the right field and she might even be able to work her way up to a full-time vet.

Ryan watched Daisy as they neared the cabin (it was still hidden behind the trees that covered the property). As much as he wanted to tell her about the animal clinic he hoped to open with her, Ryan didn't want to overwhelm Daisy any more today than she already was. The cabin was going to make her plenty emotional by itself, so he intended to wait to tell her about the clinic once they returned from the trip on Saturday.

Coming up to the last stand of trees before the cabin came into view, Ryan looked over at Daisy and told her to close her eyes. Daisy raised her brow at his odd request, but at his insistence, she complied and closed her eyes. With a wide grin, Ryan pulled up to the cabin and turned the engine off, saying, "Now keep your eyes closed."

"Ryan!" Daisy giggled while trying hard not to open her eyes and spoil the surprise. She heard Ryan jump out of the truck, and then a moment later he was opening her door. As he reached for her, he again reminded her to keep her eyes closed. With another laugh, she said, "Ryan, do you realize how hard this is?"

"Just humor me for one more minute," Ryan told her as he carried her closer to the cabin. Stopping several meters back so she could get a good view of the whole building, Ryan set Daisy down and fished the spare key out of his pocket. Still standing behind her, he reached around to dangle the key in front of her face, saying, "Okay, now you can open them."

Hearing a tiny jingle, Daisy's ears perked towards the sound even as Ryan told her to open her eyes. The first thing she saw was a single key attached to a keychain of a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end of it. Reaching up to take the key, she then saw the beautiful cabin it obviously went to, with its freshly hewed logs and large glass windows. With a soft gasp, her paws flew up to cover her mouth in shock, even as tears started smarting her eyes.

With his paws wrapped around her middle, Ryan nuzzled Daisy's ear with his nose and said softly, "I told your mom you had options…That I was going keep you." Drawing his nose back, he then nibbled on her soft black ear which brought a shiver of happiness and pleasure running down her spine. "You do realize," he murmured into her ear, "that this kind of present is meant to be shared with the one who gives it to you, right?"

At Ryan's soft words in her ears, the tears slipped out and traveled down her furry cheek. Taking a deep breath as Ryan returned to nuzzling and nibbling on her ear, Daisy then spun around and wrapped her arms around his neck, the cabin key still clutched tightly in her paw. Dragging his mouth down to hers for a deep kiss, she melded herself to his body while bringing one of her legs up to wrap around his calf.

Getting the hint, Ryan bent down slightly to grab her thighs, then hiked them up around his waist, all without breaking off the kiss as his tongue danced with hers. Daisy immediately wrapped her legs around his middle and crossed them over his fluffy tan, black, and white tail. When they finally broke for air, Daisy leaned her forehead against his and asked a little breathlessly, "Did you really build me a cabin?"

With a small nod, Ryan explained, "I bought the property—6 acres—six months ago and started building immediately. My dad and a bunch of his buddies helped. My dad easily guessed who I was building it for and why I wouldn't want to advertise it to my siblings, so he helped me keep it a secret so I could surprise you when the time was right."

Smiling softly, Daisy murmured, "You have no idea how happy I am right now." Then she kissed him again.

As he kissed her back, Ryan started walking towards the cabin again. Stepping up onto the front porch, he fished his key out of his pocket (Daisy was still clutching hers) and opened the front door. Walking through the entryway, past the study on the right and Daisy's drawing room on the left, Ryan stopped between the great room and the kitchen.

Pulling back from their latest kiss, Ryan rubbed his nose against Daisy's and said, "You now have two choices before you."

"Hmm?" Daisy murmured curiously, even as her heart was overflowing with love and happiness.

"I can sit down on that super comfortable couch over there and we can continue making-out," Daisy perked up at that idea, "or we can take a raincheck on our kissing so you can explore your new home. Which would you prefer?"

Daisy bit her lip. The thought of sitting on the couch and kissing Ryan senseless was highly tempting. But she also had a whole cabin to explore! Ryan had built her a cabin! If there were any doubts left about Ryan's intentions towards her and his commitment, they were all blown away. Ryan would never get bored with her if he was willing to go through the time, money, and effort to build her a house—a cabin! Ryan had asked her a year ago what her dream house was, and she had automatically answered a cabin. It's something she had wanted to live in ever since she was a little girl and one her neighbors had let her explore his.

"Just a raincheck, right?" Daisy asked. As much as she wanted to explore the cabin, she didn't want to give up this chance to kiss Ryan uninterrupted.

With a light chuckle, Ryan answered, "Yes, a raincheck." Stealing a quick kiss, he ran one of his paws down her back and over her thick, luxurious tail, his fingers sliding through the silky fur as he added, "I'm not giving up this chance, either."

Daisy giggled happily, then stole one more deep kiss from Ryan before jumping down from his embrace. Spinning around she looked around the great room with its vaulted ceiling, stone fireplace, and large, high windows that opened up above Ryan's head as they let the sunshine in. It was time to explore.

WingedKatt again. What did you think about the chapter? Next time, we'll see what happens after Nick arrives at the Hopps burrow. There is a huge surprise in store for him.

Ch. 34: Ebony and Ivory, will post in 2 weeks.

If you have any thoughts or questions, let me know. Have a great weekend.