The following morning, Amity was greeted early by, the friendly faces of none other than Billy and Amy.

"You forgot to call me last night" Said Amy, pretending annoyance.

"Oh so I did. You know these days even I can't say where my mind is half the time. But, now since you're here I'll grab you the recipe." Amity replied, making her way through her flat and into the kitchen.

"Hey boy" she heard Billy call out as her pup ran out to greet him.

"Here" Amity handed Amy a folded piece of paper.

"You know Amity, a second storey flat is no place for a dog this young and energetic," said Billy thoughtfully as he stroked the dog's head.

"I know, but what other option is there? I take him for walks when I can."

"Poor little puppy all locked up inside all day" Amy said, making baby faces.

"Have you thought of a name for him yet?" she asked.

"No- actually I hadn't even thought of it…" Amity admitted, surprised.

"I think you should call him Pumpkin" Amy offered delightfully.

"Guys I think I have an idea" said Billy who had been quiet for some time, appearing to be in the deepest of thought.

"Why don't you keep him at our place. I mean, you could visit him whenever you come over and he can run around the yard and play with Cash"

Another thing about Billy was that whenever he had a suggestion it was sheer brilliance.

"That's a great idea!" Amy said, enthusiastically hugging Billy to show how proud she was of him.

"It is" Amity was quick to agree.

"Well, you know my feelings on the subject, but to be on the safe side you'd better get Benji, Joel and Paul's permission as well. Though, I'm pretty sure that Paul will be only too happy to agree" Billy added slyly.

The afternoon saw Amity approaching Benji and Joel's band house. She was pretty confident that she'd have Benji's vote, and if she didn't, she had cunningly brought her pup along with her in order to sway his vote with it's cuteness.

Joel's vote was the one she was uncertain about. Out of all the guys, excluding Dusty who she hadn't seen that much of, since he only ever stayed at the house when he really had too, Joel was the one she had learned the least about. Why would be do her any favours by letting her new pup help his own dog tear up his back lawn.

As she knocked 3 times on the door to announce her arrival, nervousness crept over her. She half hoped that Joel wasn't home.

As nearly a minute had now passed and still no answer, she decided to knock one more time, just incase anyone was asleep, and then leave.

She only got as far as two knocks before the door swung open.

"Benji" she said, a little relieved.

"What's up? Oh you brought him over to play with Cash for the day," he said, observing she was not alone.

"Yeah…uh play with Cash for the day. Or, um, play with Cash for the day…everyday" She laughed nervously and bit her lip.

Benji appeared to catch her drift but looked a little stunned.

"Everyday…are you moving in?" He asked, missing the point.

Amity had to laugh.

"No I, uh, Billy and Amy came and saw me this morning and they noticed that my place, being upstairs and all, is not exactly ideal for raising a dog and…"

"And Billy suggested you bring him here?" Benji finished.

"Perceptive" Amity teased.

"And you're here to see how I feel about it?"

Amity nodded slowly.

"Well it's cool with me. And I can say with about 99% surety that it'll be cool with Joel too"

"Only 99%?" she said feebly.

"I'll talk him round, or slap him silly" He smiled at her and headed over to inspect himself in the mirror. It was then that Amity realised that Benji was about to go out somewhere.

"So, what do you think?" he asked, turning away from the mirror and facing her.

"Very suave indeed" Amity commented, her eyes travelling from head to toe. New shoes, dress pants, new shirt…tie! This was definitely not Benji's usual attire, where on earth was he going?

"Big date tonight?" she asked inquisitively.

He looked at her for a second as though she had just said the dumbest thing in the world and then, obviously noticing that she was serious, delivered his reply.

"You know it" he said with a wink, and went back to fumbling with his tie.

"Anyone I'd know?" Amity asked as she went over to help him with it.

"Nope"

These short answers were killing her! She felt a great urge to know everything about this woman, though, she did not know why.

"So tell me about her, what's she like?" She asked, taking the tie between her fingers.

Benji surrendered his struggle over to her and smiled.

"Well let's see…Older woman, extremely beautiful…" Amity hated her already.

"Likes it when I call her…" Amity nearly choked him on his tie. He quickly grabbed it from her hands and loosened it into position.

"Mom" he finished, an innocent look on his face.

Amity felt a rush of relief.

"Oh…. your mother!" she went to laugh but then noticed that Benji was not laughing with her.

"She, uh, is your mother right?" she said, momentarily unsure.

Suddenly there came a loud crash at the front door and shortly after, in rushed Joel.

"You're late!" Benji scolded.

"Yeah I got caught up with Morgan" Joel explain, he seemed breathless and as Amity noticed, a little angry.

"She here?" Benji asked.

"She ain't coming" Joel said and it was now evident that Morgan was right at the root of his frustration.

As Joel rushed upstairs to get dressed, Amity, who had the feeling that a cloud had formed over her and Benji, since he hadn't said a word to her after the whole choking incident, decided it best she keep out of his way for a while. Paul and her were supposed to be having a video night together anyway, and already it was 6 o'clock.