Hello friends! My apologies for taking so long to get this chapter out. I have simply not had the time to transcribe it. But, here it is, and I hope you enjoy it!

Tristan pulls the car into his space in the huge underground garage. He cuts the engine and steps out. Alijah follows, stepping out of the Lynxus and looking around in wonder. "I can never get over how big your house is."

Tristan laughs as they walk towards the elevator that will take them up to the house. "We only use the top two floors when my uncle Delphin and Aunt Pulchra visit, remember?"

"Those are the sea mammals, right?"

Tristan presses the call button for the elevator and the two friends watch the dial above the doors slowly head towards the letter "B". "Yup. Delphin is a dolphin, Pulchra is an orca."

"I can't wrap my head around that either. Do they even have fur?"

Tristan shakes his head. "No, but apparently when they're born, they have some hair on their nose."

"What's the stuff they have called then?"

Tristan stares at Alijah. "Uh, skin? The same stuff we have under our fur?"

Alijah gives his friend a skeptical look. The elevator doors ding open and they step inside. "For real? It doesn't look like skin. Isn't skin supposed to be pinkish?"

"Look man, I'm not a sea mammal, I don't know." Tristan presses the button labeled "1" and the doors close. The elevator slowly starts to rise, while cheesy music softly plays in the background.

Alijah shudders, his fur standing on end for a second. "I think they look creepy. And they must get so cold, especially living in the ocean!"

"Well, hey, they probably think we're a bit strange too. And they have special fat on their bodies to keep them warm." The doors open again, and both boys are greeted by Jack, who is waiting in front of the doors. He bows and greets them in his measured British accent. "Welcome home, Master Tristan. And welcome back to Slick Manor, Master Alijah. Master Tristan, your parents are in the dining room. Dinner is ready."

Alijah holds up a fist for Jack. "Wassup Jack! Long time no see, hombre."

Jack glances at the fist. "Yes, it has been some time."

The lanky jackal turns and marches down the hallway, leaving the todds alone. Alijah smirks at Tristan. "I see Jack hasn't changed."

Tristan chuckles. "You can't get him to change. It just can't be done."

The two start walking down the hallway that will lead them to the dining room. Alijah scratches the top of his head. "You know, I feel like he never really liked me."

Tristan pats him on the back. "Nah, if he didn't like you, he'd serve you take out food, or as he calls it, 'mammalkind's biggest crime against the culinary arts."

Alijah snorts. "Why am I not surprised? Speaking of food, do you know what's for dinner?"

They enter the dining room to see a dinner of gourmet Japawnese food laid out, with everything from sushi to steaming bowls of ramen. Simon and Lily are sitting together at one end of the table, talking quietly. When the two todds walk in, Simon spots them first and grins. "Hello, boys! Care to join us?"

Alijah's mouth is practically watering at the smells emanating from the table. "Oh heck yeah! This smells delicious! Oh and uh, hi Mr. and Mrs. Slick. Thank you for having me."

Lily smiles warmly at the Iberian fox. "Of course dear. You're always welcome here at the house. Now come sit down you two, Take your pick of food."

Alijah immediately grabs a bowl of ramen, while Tristan takes a plate of Kushigae. Simon has a serving of Hitsumabushi while Lily has a bowl of Okinawa Soba. Tristan and Alijah sit down, and all 4 mammals start to eat. Simon looks up from his grilled eel.

"So, Alijah, how have you been?"

Alijah swallows a bit of noodle. "I've been good. My cafe is doing really well."

Simon nods. "Yes, I remember when you bought that cafe. After the Sangeluis left, it was so sad to see it broken and rundown."

Alijah rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah, I still appreciate that small start-up loan you gave me so I could start it. None of the banks wanted to give money to a fox."

Tristan lightly punches his friend in the arm. "It wasn't a loan dude, it was a gift and you know it!"

Simon smirks. "Don't mention it. The Sangeluis were running it as a cafe when I was a kid, and it was such a shame to see it abandoned. I was overjoyed to see it restored into a thriving business."

"And Tristan is right, dear. You don't owe anything back to us." Lily pipes up.

"I still feel like I do though. There isn't anything I could do to make it up for you guys? Anything at all?" Alijah asks.

Simon scratches his chin, thinking about it for a moment. "Well, if you really want to do something, you can pay us back by donating the money to the community in some way."

Lily nods. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Tristan nods as well. "Yeah dude, charity would be a great way to repay dad. He loves seeing mammals he's helped help others."

"Thank you, son."

Tristan tilts his head. "For?"

"The compliment."

"Is it a compliment if it's the truth?"

"Uh, yes?"

Alijah glances at Lily, and mouths "Do they do this a lot?". Lily does a half and half gesture with her paws.

"Dad, I just said you like seeing other mammals help each other because it's true. If I was to compliment you, I would say something like 'You're the best dad ever."

"Hmmm, agree to disagree."

Tristan raises an eyebrow. "Are you saying you're not the best dad?"

Simon shows off a toothy grin. "No, I'm obviously the best father there ever was. I'm just saying agree to disagree on what makes a compliment a compliment."

Lily decides to interject. "So, Simon, did Tristan tell you anything interesting at the lab today?"

Tristan's eyes widen. "Wait, mom, no!"

Now it's Simon's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Do you have something to tell me, Tristan?"

Alijah looks back and forth between the two. "Hombre, you didn't tell your dad about getting a girlfriend yet?"

Simon chokes on a piece of food and beats his chest as he coughs and hacks. "What?"

"I'm just going to see a movie with Luna, she's not my girlfriend!" Tristan protests.

Simon laughs. "You got yourself a date with Luna, huh? Atta boy!"

"Dad, please!"

"We'll be grandparents in no time!" Simon says teasingly. "If you two have imprinted on each other, you're as good as knotted already. You know that, right?."

"DAD!" Tristan wails in embarrassment while Alijah busts out into uncontrollable laughter.

"What?" Simon asks, feigning innocence. "Did I say something?"

Lily giggles. "Your father has a point, Tristan."

"You guys would be able to smell an imprint on me, you just want to embarrass me!"

Simon frowns. "Since when can you smell an imprint?"

Lily shakes her head. "You can't smell an imprint dear. Now attraction is a different story. Like, for example, if Luna's smell changes when you're around, it likely means her body is unwillingly sending out pheromones to…well, invite you inside, basically."

"MOM!"

Simon taps his nose. "Oh, and by the way, your smell changes every time you say her name."

Tristan's jaw drops, speechless, a bright blush spreading through his fur.

Alijah gives him an evil grin."Busted dude."

Simon suddenly perks up. "Oh, I have an idea. Why don't we invite Miss Luna here? We'll be happy to pay for it, and why wait until after your break to go on a date?"

"Yes, let's fly her in!" Lily claps happily.

"NO!" Tristan starts to panic.

Simon gives him a quizzical look. "Why not? You want to see her, don't you?"

"Well…yes…but you'd embarrass me and probably show her embarrassing pictures of me!"

"Well, how about this?" Lily lays her paws on the table. "How about, we give you two the house for a day. You two can use the theater room for your date, and Simon and I will be nowhere to be found!"

Tristan covers his face with his paws and groans. "Why do I talk to you guys about my love life?"

"Because we're your parents, dear," Lily says encouragingly. "Now, when you call Luna tonight, why don't you ask her if she'd like to have the date here?"

"Because I don't want to look desperate?"

"I'll bet you a million bucks she'll be excited to have the date earlier."

"I'll take that bet for him, now he has to ask her!" Alijah shouts before Tristan can even open his mouth.

Simon chuckles. "What do you say, son?"

Tristan stares daggers at Alijah. "I guess I have to now."

"I promise you won't regret at least asking, dear," Lily says.

"I'd suggest you call her now. I believe it's almost midnight in Sw-"

Tristan's phone suddenly rings, making everyone go silent.

"Oh, I wonder who that could be," Lily smirks.

Tristan pulls out his phone and rushes out of the room to have some privacy. He leans against the wall, and taking a deep breath, presses "Answer Call".

Haha, get cliffhangered! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, though it was on the shorter side. Please, leave your thoughts and comments, and any constructive criticisms you have. No new cast members yet, but we might be seeing some soon enough. See you next time!