Lizzy walked up to the retreat. Karuna was sitting out front of the main hall staring out at Adventure Bay as the sun came up.
"Hello Karuna," said Lizzy.
"Hey Liz," said Karuna, "What are you doing here so early? Your shift doesn't start for another two hours."
"I wanted to come hang out with you and ask you a question," said Lizzy.
"Sure, what is it?" asked Karuna.
"I get off at 6," said Lizzy, "Would you like to come pick me up and go check out this pond I keep hearing about."
"Uh, yeah," said Karuna, "That would be perfect."
"Ok, great," said Lizzy.
"Aren't you going to want to get ready?" asked Karuna.
"This isn't a first date anymore," laughed Lizzy, "We'll have years of getting dressed up."
"Uh, ok," said Karuna.
"Why don't you let me take over the rest of your shift?" said Lizzy. "You can go rest up, you're gonna need it."
"Uh, ok thanks," said Karuna, "I'll see you at 6."
"So did he agree?" asked Gale, over her pup tag.
"Yes, but I don't think he caught on," said Lizzy.
"So you're determined to go through with this?" asked Gale, "You're not, you know..."
"Oh, no, not for another week or so," said Lizzy.
"Well have fun," laughed Gale, "I still have treats riding on him."
"Not a chance," laughed Lizzy. She walked inside to begin her log, then returned to start her rounds.
"She said what?" asked Buster.
"She asked me out and then took over my shift," said Karuna. "She said I should go rest, I was going to need it. Doesn't that sound a little strange?
"No, it sounds like you're getting jumped," laughed Buster. "Tell you what, I think your parents are plotting something. Everest asked if I could trade this evening with her, didn't say why. I'll go relieve Lizzy early. Be there at 5:30."
"Ok, Uh, I'm really going to do this," said Karuna.
"Having second thoughts?" asked Buster.
"What? No!" snorted Karuna. "I knew we would be mates the second I saw her."
"Buster?" said Lizzy, "What are you doing here? I thought Everest was relieving me."
"She asked if I would trade with her, she's up to something," said Buster. "I thought I'd relieve you early so you two could go earlier."
"Why? What did he say?" asked Lizzy.
"He's nervous but wants this more than you think," said Buster.
"Wants what?" asked Lizzy, trying to figure out how much Karuna had figured out.
"To be your mate of course," said Buster. 'And also, for what you have in mind,' thought Buster.
Lizzy was finishing her log when Karuna showed up with flowers.
"Ah, are those for me?" asked Lizzy.
"Yes, my love," said Karuna, leaning over to kiss her.
"Let's go," said Lizzy, bouncing toward the door.
"Shouldn't we drive over?" said Karuna.
"We can walk, it's not that far," said Lizzy.
They arrived at the little pond as the sun was setting. Lizzy walked Karuna over to the little bridge and took his paw.
"Karuna, I knew you loved me since I was placed next to you," said Lizzy. "I knew before, but after you defended me against that mountain lion, I knew for sure that I wanted you to be with me for the rest of my life. Karuna, will you be my mate?"
"Yes of course, but I was just about to ask you," said Karuna.
"Well, I beat you to it," laughed Lizzy.
They came together in a passionate embrace and both slumped to the boards of the bridge kissing.
Lizzy began rubbing his ears and then she ran her paw down his chest. She continued rubbing paws over his chest then she keep going lower and lower.
"I think I need to go swimming again," yipped Karuna, jumping to his paws.
"I think I want more than just a swim," giggled Lizzy.
"What?" yipped Karuna.
"I want you to make love to me right now, on this bridge," said Lizzy, with a deep husky growl.
"Uh, shouldn't we talk to your parents first?" whimpered Karuna.
"Do you not want me?" asked Lizzy in her sultriest voice.
"Very much so," squeaked Karuna.
"Well," said Lizzy, turning to him and lifting her tail.
"Oh Dog! You're going to get me killed," said Karuna.
"At least you'll die happy," laughed Lizzy, "Now take me."
Karuna was on her in a moment. He mounted her and bit down on her scruff as he quickly brought her to a point of absolute pleasure.
"Oh DOG! That feels so good," said Lizzy. Karuna just growled as he continued.
They both dropped to the deck panting. After what seemed an eternity Karuna was able to pull away. He rolled over on his back staring at the stars.
"Yep, I'm going to die," said Karuna.
"You know you wanted it," laughed Lizzy. "You're mine now. You will be my love slave until you die."
"Ok, that may be in a few hours," said Karuna. "We still have to talk to your parents, I suggest tonight. By the way did you bring anything to eat?"
"I brought some treats that Buster made," laughed Lizzy.
They walked up to Lizzy's Parents room at the cabin. They could hear laughing from inside.
"Oh crap, they have company," whimpered Karuna.
"Dog treat, that it's your parents," said Lizzy, "Buster said Mom was plotting something."
"Great, I'm going to die with lots of witnesses," said Karuna. "I think I'd rather take on the mountain lion again."
"Wimp, let's go," said Lizzy, as she opened the door.
"Hey, guys?" said Everest, "That was a quick date, did something happen?"
"Did you knock her up bro?" laughed Buddy.
"I hope not," mumbled Karuna.
"What was that?" asked Yeshe, "And Buddy, consider yourself on extra guard duty tomorrow."
"Ah, mom, I was kidding," whined Buddy.
"So you were saying?" said Rocky.
"Everest, Marshall," Karuna started, "as you've known, the day you placed Lizzy beside me in the nursery, I knew she would be with me for the rest of my life. As such I would like to ask your permission to ask Lizzy to be my mate."
"I figured you already asked her," said Marshall.
"For the record, I asked him," said Lizzy, 'I win!"
"You what?" yipped Karuna.
"She bet she would ask you first," said Yeshe. "We knew this was coming. I'm still surprised Buster beat you to it."
"Technically he didn't," laughed Lizzy, "Gale asked him."
Everest walked over to hug Karuna and Yeshe did the same to Lizzy. They both stopped and took a deep sniff of their fur.
"Um, did you want to tell us something?" asked Yeshe, turning to Karuna.
"Oh, crap," whimpered Karuna.
"Oh, crap," said Rocky and Marshall together.
"Relax Moms," said Lizzy.
"You seduced him didn't you," said Everest.
"Well yes, But I asked him to be my mate first," said Lizzy, matter of factly.
"She's been hanging around Skye again, hasn't she?" snickered Marshall.
"You're not, you know..." asked Everest.
"No mom," said Lizzy, "I'm not stupid."
"Way to go Karuna!" yelled Buddy.
Rocky tried to stifle a laugh.
"Don't encourage him," said Yeshe.
"Um, Yeshe?" said Everest. "While this is a little unorthodox, I'm still ok with them being mates. What do we do?"
"I agree," said Yeshe, "I mean the deed is done. Technically she did ask him before she seduced him. And I seriously doubt my son had to be badgered to take her up on the offer."
"Mom, We're still here," said Lizzy.
"Yeah, We haven't forgotten," said Yeshe, turning back to Everest.
"Mom, I know this is probably not how you envisioned this going," said Karuna. "I love her. I wouldn't have mated with her if we hadn't agreed to be mates."
"Yes honey," said Everest, turning back to Yeshe.
"I give up," said Lizzy.
"I think they are plotting where to hide my body," said Karuna.
"Actually we're trying to decide if we kill you both or, uh, you know what?" said Everest, "Your mates, Now she's your problem. Yeshe would you like to go away and enjoy ourselves, you can bring your husband."
"Don't drag us into this," said Marshall.
"Just let them plot," laughed Rocky.
"Yes Everest," said Yeshe, "Let's just leave them to figure it out. I think we deserve the time they would have taken.
"Lizzy?" asked Karuna, "what just happened?"
"I think they decided to go on our honeymoon for us," said Lizzy, "Let's go to my room, I'm tired."
"Ok, I'm sure you'll let me know what I'm supposed to be doing now." whimpered Karuna, following with his tail dragging.
"I think he's catching on quickly," said Marshall.
"I agree," said Rocky, "This is a little weird, but I'm up for another honeymoon."
"I'm not doing anything until I'm told," laughed Marshall.
"Come on boy's," said Everest.
Rocky and Marshall just shook their heads and followed like good puppies.
Gale and Buster came by to congratulate the new couple the next morning.
"So where are the parents?" asked Buster.
"So I kind of forgot about mom's nose," laughed Lizzy. "They both figured out what we had done immediately."
"Yeah so they decided to go on our honeymoon for us," laughed Karuna. "I guess I'm taking Mom's shift while she enjoys herself."
"And I suppose I'm taking my mom's," laughed Lizzy.
"So you let her seduce you huh?" laughed Buster.
"Yeah, took a whole of convincing, didn't it honey?" laughed Lizzy.
"So are you two going to live here?" asked Gale.
"Yes, I'm going to go speak with Rubble," said Lizzy, "and ask if he minds adding a room for us and our pups."
"We figured since we both work at the retreat, it only made sense," said Karuna.
"So gonna try for pups right away?" asked Gale.
"Oh no," said Lizzy, "I'm thinking future, maybe next year, we'll see."
"Me too," laughed Gale.
Rocky called Zuma and asked if he and Sunny wanted to join them on their punishment honeymoon.
"Well, that's an interesting twist," laughed Zuma, "We'd love to, but Sunny still doesn't want to leave the nursery for a few more weeks at least. Her and Skye are really getting close, spending so much time together right now."
Rocky and Marshall were laying outside the Lookout talking when Everest walked up.
"Ok boys," said Everest, "get your stuff, we're leaving."
"I thought we were going to spend some time away," said Rocky. "Are we going back already?"
"No, we're going on our kid's honeymoon," laughed Yeshe, "We rented the beach cabin that I was staying in when we first met."
"Well ok," said Marshall, "That sounds like fun."
"Great a beach cabin," laughed Rocky, "Just because I'm starting to be ok with water doesn't mean I want to go to the beach on purpose."
"Who said we were going outside," said Yeshe, as she turned to walk toward her truck.
"That goes double for you," laughed Everest.
"Yes Ma'am!" laughed both of the boys.
Ok guys, I've decided I'm enjoying this story line too much. I'm willing to start a new book if there is interest, let me know in the comments.