"How's things coming along with the sets, gentlemen...?" Caleb had his eyes fixated on his checklist as he and Suki passed the construction crew at work, before turning his attention to the walrus leading the effort. "Those extra supports all in place, Mason?"

"Just got the centre-stage to finish, Mr. Clark. Should have it done by midday tomorrow."

"Hmm... I suppose that puts us a bit ahead of schedule then." Caleb circled something in his notes, showing it to Suki for her approval. "Right. Excellent job, everyone!"

The other workers murmured in acknowledgement before returning to their labours, prompting the caracal and saluki to carry on their inspection in the other areas of the Calatonia Wharf.

"I really can't thank you enough for getting your Redshore crew here on such short notice, Miss Lane." Caleb said. "Mike didn't contact any of our usual contractors in time, so none of them could clear their schedules to make the deadline. It was a bit of a panic, I'm not going to lie."

"Oh yeah, sure." Suki had another glance at the intensely detailed checklist in the caracal's arms. "I can tell you're a man who likes to organise himself, Caleb. Every possible disaster accounted for, huh...?"

"Yeah. It just comes from experience, I suppose." He chuckled. "Drives everyone a bit mad sometimes, but it's always better to be over-prepared than under."

"Hmm... y'know, I think Buster could do with someone like you at the Theatre more often..." Suki looked down at her buzzing phone, pulling a small smile when she recognised the contact. "Right, I gotta head off... are you gonna be okay manning the fort here, Caleb?"

"Oh yes, Miss Lane, you go ahead." Caleb gave the saluki a small wave as she headed off. "I suppose I'll be seeing you and Mr. Moon tonight at the Theatre...?"

"Yep, absolutely!" Suki stopped herself for a moment, turning back to the caracal with a more friendly expression. "Oh, and please, just Suki and Buster's fine!"

Caleb hesitated for a moment or two, before letting out a soft exhale as he spoke to himself. "Right... Suki and Buster it is, then. Good job, Caleb."

"Honestly, you guys are gonna be absolutely blown away by this!" Suki gushed into her phone as she made her way down the street from the Wharf. "Cherry's always complaining about how you and Ellie can never afford Redshore tickets, but Porsha insisted on getting you guys those invites, and this... this, uh..."

Suki froze in place when a golden twinkle caught her eye, slowly turning on the spot to see the familiar piece of jewellery that was hung in the window in front of her. Her brother's voice still spoke faintly from her phone while she looked up at the sign above the window frame: Stephen's Crystals and Jewels - Instant Cash Pawnbrokers.

"Oh yeah, uh... s-sorry, Charlie, I just... I'm gonna have to call you back... love you..." Suki made a dramatic kissing sound into the speaker before she hung up, quickly pushing open the door and approaching the elderly tortoise behind the till. "Hi, excuse me. That um... that necklace there in the window, the moon-shaped one... how long has that been up there...?"

"The Crescent Of Courage... oh, that's been up there years, sweetie." He answered, cupping his chin as he thought to himself. "Some koala came by and dropped it off. Said it was an old family thing. Pretty valuable."

"Hmm..." Suki thought for another moment or two as a smirk tugged at her lips, before reaching into her handbag and pulling out her purse. "Alright... how much...?"

"Ms. Fletcher!" Buster straightened up when he entered his office, where the gorilla starlet was stood observing the portraits and posters that were framed on the wall. "I wasn't expecting you until tonight, Ma'am..."

"Oh, I know. Just thought I'd drop by a bit earlier, see how Tim and Audrey were doing..." Florence remained focused on the photograph that was framed right in the middle of the wall display. "I remember when we took this. It was just before Nana's last show."

"Ah yes! Really is a great photo..." Buster clambered up on the table so he was closer to her level, taking a quick look at the picture for himself. "Whole gang together, huh?"

"Hmm... in fact, it... well, it's probably the last time I saw most of these folks. Most of them aren't even around anymore..." Florence took on a more mellow tone, clicking her tongue as she noticed the slender young wolf that was stood behind her in the picture. "Poor Stephanie... terrible shame what happened to her."

"Yeah..." Buster sighed. "Y'know, Porsha never would have found her Mom if it wasn't for this photo. Hmm... he really ruined so many good folks' lives, that Jimmy Crystal..."

"Indeed..." Florence looked to the floor. "It's how Audrey lost her father, actually. Or rather, never had him."

"Really...?" Buster winced a little, before taking on a more sincere tone. "Oh... aw, I'm really sorry to hear that, Ms. Fletcher."

"No no, it... it's alright... Audrey wasn't even born yet when it happened, so... at least till she didn't have to experience it for herself..." Florence cleared her throat as she passed by Buster, taking the seat in front of the desk. "While I'm here, Mr. Moon, I... I really did want to thank you for looking after them these past few days. Her and Tim."

"Oh absolutely, it's been a pleasure!" Buster chuckled. "Yeah, there were a few, um... miscommunications to start off with, but they've been getting along great with everyone here."

Florence nodded, glancing towards the framed portraits of the other cast members placed around the Moon Car Wash bucket. "I must say, I've become quite enamoured with this little family unit you've made for yourself, Mr. Moon. Obviously, you've all known each other for years at this point, but... but I really commend how accepting it feels here..."

"Oh yeah, wouldn't settle for anything less!" Buster boasted proudly. "All creatures great and small. Doesn't matter who you are, what you are, where you come from. As long as you dream big dreams, anybody can fit in here."

""I'm really glad." Florence smiled softly. "After what happened to her father, and... and her diagnosis, I've always tried to keep Audrey a bit sheltered, you know. Perhaps a little too much for her own good."

Buster nodded silently, his attention drifting back to something in the photograph while Florence continued.

"But seeing her up on that stage, singing that song, I... I couldn't help feeling a little sentimental. Often forget that she's not a sweet little baby anymore, but..." She chuckled. "You get used to it, don't you? Looking after them, protecting them... but then they get to that point where they don't need you anymore, and... and you start to wonder you're going to do with yourself after that..."

"Oh yeah... yeah, sure..." Buster wasn't really listening, focusing on the figures in the photograph as he tried to make out where he recognised them from.

"You still love them, of course, and... and they love you too, but... but it's just bittersweet..." Florence sniffled a bit, gently wiping one of her misty eyes. "Still worth it in the end, though. You know, when they go out there, ready to... ready to take on the world all by themselves, then... then it means we've done our job. And that's what -"

"Wait..." Buster cut her off, his eyes widening when he finally made out the faces in the picture. The two young servals that were stood in front of Stephanie seemed somewhat familiar, though the connection didn't click until he saw the caracal in the top hat that was stood in-between them. "Is this Caleb...?!"

Florence glanced back at the picture, pulling a small smirk as she spotted her old friend. "Ah yes, the Incredible Caleb! Finest magic show in Calatonia."

"Magic show? Huh... no kidding..." Buster placed the photograph back in his usual place, before sitting in his usual seat opposite Florence. "Really gotta say, Ms. Fletcher, it still kinda blows me away seeing all the hidden talents you've got in your group."

"Hmm... I could say the same about you and your friends, Mr. Moon."

"Alright, that's it, sunshine! Nineteen down, one to go!"

Rosita sat a few feet away from the pool, calling out to the young wolf who was swimming fully submerged under the water.

"You're doing amazing, Porsha! Just there and back, that's it, I... Porsha...?"

The mother pig's eyes widened slightly when she noticed the silhouette under the water had stopped swimming, and was now floating - motionless, almost lifeless - at the bottom corner of the deep end.

"Oh no! PORSHA!" Rosita quickly ran to the very edge and prepared to jump in to mount another rescue. She tensed back as the water suddenly burst upwards in front of her, and two long arms suddenly shot up from behind it and latched onto both her hands. "GAH!"

"Ha ha, gotcha!"

Porsha playfully yanked Rosita into the pool with her, pulling the pig into a tight embrace as she floated back towards the centre of the pool. After overcoming her initial shock, Rosita was grumbling in lighthearted annoyance and embarrassment as she pried herself free, splashing water in Porsha's face.

"Ugh! Don't scare me like that, Porsha! I thought you were gonna - AAH!" Rosita shrieked as Porsha splashed her back, before pulling a smirk as the wolf's eyes widened. "Oh-ho, you're in trouble now, young lady!"

They went back and forth with this splashing fight for a good few minutes, both laughing and squealing playfully the whole way through, until they finally tired themselves out and Rosita called for a ceasefire.

"Alright... alright sunshine, I think that's enough for today's lesson, don't you?"

"Yeah... man, I'm beat..." Porsha took a moment to regain her breath as she clambered out and sat on the edge of the pool, still gently pulling Rosita up and sitting the pig down beside her, both dangling their feet over into the water. "That, um... that was twenty today, right?"

"Uh-huh. Ten last time, twenty today, and hopefully thirty next time!" Rosita patted Porsha's knee affectionately as the wolf looked down at her. "Y'know, for only your second lesson, Porsha, you've been doing absolutely amazing! Really getting into your element here, huh?"

"Aw yeah, it feels great!" Porsha gushed proudly, holding one hand over her heart while she held Rosita's with the other. "I mean obviously, I got you to thank for all that, Rosita, but it's been incredible! Couple days ago I couldn't even go in the water without ya havin' to save me, but I keep this up, I'm gonna ace that stunt in no time!"

"Well you've gotta give yourself some credit, Porsha, cause as a teacher I can only take you part of... wait... the stunt...?"

Porsha pursed her lips and her ears drooped slightly, mildly put off by Rosita's tone. "Uh, yeah... what about it...?"

"Well Porsha, that..." Rosita hesitated, then sighed. "It's like I said before, sunshine, that's not really the reason we're doing this."

"Well what the heck are we doin' it for, then...?!" Porsha nearly laughed. "I mean come on, it all makes sense, doesn't it? Y'know, I get better at swimming and I can do the stunt again, so then you gimme my part back, and then I... oh..."

The young wolf cut herself off when she realised how this sounded, and slouched down in shame as she put a hand to her face.

"Aw man... I'm acting like a brat again, aren't I...?" She groaned. "Oh gosh, I'm real sorry, Rosita! I'm not gonna try and steal your part again or anything like that, I was just -"

"No no, it's okay, Porsha, it... it's not about that, sweetheart..." Rosita gently held the wolf's hand. "These lessons, they... they never had anything to do with the show. I'm just giving you some baby steps so you can learn to swim on your own speed. Y'know, so you don't have to be pressured by anyone."

Porsha lowered her ears. "Well I dunno, maybe... maybe my own speed's real fast, y'know? So I can just get better and I'll do it without freaking out like I did last time..."

"You weren't freaking out, Porsha, you nearly died." Rosita was slightly sterner. "Now, you are gonna improve, sunshine, don't get me wrong, but... but stuff like this can take months, years even. I don't want you to rush into this before you're ready... your safety means more to us than some stunt, Porsha..."

"Well yeah, but I've gotta do it, I... I just gotta get outta this stupid funk!"

"Funk...?"

"Funk, or slump, or whatever it... I just gotta get out of it, y'know!" Porsha pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look... ever since I fell in that pool, I just... I just feel like such a... like such a mess!"

"Aw honey, you don't have to be so hard on yourself. Plenty of folks haven't learned to swim, Porsha, it's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Yeah, but I do feel ashamed! I mean, I just feel like a... ugh... I can't even sing or dance anymore, and I love singin' and dancin' so that doesn't even... y'know...?" Porsha sighed, her eyes misting up as her lip quivered a bit. "It's like... it's like a spark's gone outta me or something, and... and I dunno if I'm ever gonna get it back if I don't do this, Rosita..."

"Hmm..." Rosita thought for a moment, pulling a small smile. "Great set of pipes, but boring to watch."

"Huh...?"

"It's what Buster said to me when I first auditioned." Rosita stifled a nostalgic chuckle. "You might not think it, Porsha, but I wasn't the confident woman I am now when I first joined the troupe."

"Yeah, say it all ya want, Rosita, but I still ain't believin' that!"

"Well, it's true. When I did my first rehearsal, I fell flat on my face!" Rosita laughed, before taking on a gentler tone again. "Anyway, my point is, I... I thought I lost that spark too, Porsha. But if I'd just given up and called it quits back then, I'd still be living a miserable life cleaning the house and getting groceries, y'know?"

"Yeah... I guess."

"But it wasn't too late for me. And it's not too late for you either, Porsha..." Rosita nodded confidently. "And maybe you don't need to do your Mom's stunt to get that spark back, y'know... you can find your own spark by helping someone else find theirs. Like Meena."

"Meena...?" Porsha sank even further, biting down hard on her bottom lip. "Oh yeah..."

"Yeah, after what happened with Fletcher's run through, I bet Meena feels exactly the same way you do, Porsha." Rosita's encouraging tone only made the young wolf feel even worse, though she didn't notice as she continued. "If you two think you've lost the sparks, there's no better way to find it than by working together. That's why Buster paired you up for this."

Porsha could feel herself starting to hyperventilate as her claws dug into her kneecaps, her eyes misting up again as she looked back to the mother pig.

"Rosita, I... I really gotta tell ya something about Uncle Buster..."

"Oh... what about him?"

"After the stunt went wrong, he... he talked to me about the show, and... and he wanted... h-he wanted me to..."

Rosita could tell that something was upsetting Porsha, so she quickly placed a comforting hand on the wolf's shuddering knee, while taking on a gentle but firm tone. "You can tell me, Porsha... it's okay..."

"He... he just..." Porsha hesitated for another moment or two, before finally letting out a small, defeated sigh as she looked down again. "He was really lookin' forward to seein' me do my Mom's stunt. He didn't say it, but I... I really feel like I let him down... like I let all of ya down."

"Porsha... honey, look at me." Rosita sounded sterner as she cupped Porsha's chin, turning the wolf's drooped head to face her directly. "You've not let anyone down here, okay? No matter what happens. Fire or water, sink or swim, you're a part of this family, and we're here for you, sunshine."

Porsha pulled a small smile, touched by these loving words, before looking away and stifling a nostalgic chuckle of her own. "Y'know, she... she used to call me that."

"Hmm...?"

"Sunshine. My... my Mom always called me that when I was little..." Porsha winced slightly, unsure how Rosita would react to this revelation. "I know ya call me that all the time too, Rosita, I just... I just think it's kinda funny how ya both do it, y'know?"

Rosita pursed her lips for a moment, before laughing warmly. "Well, I guess we can't help it when a nickname like that fits you so well, Porsha."

"Yeah, I guess... I've thought about telling ya before, but I didn't wanna make thing weird, saying you're like my new Mom or something. I mean yeah, I guess you kind of are, cause ya always take care of me and stuff, but... but um..." Porsha itched the back of her neck, straightening up a little. "Ugh... I'm makin' this way too weird, aren't I...?"

"Hmm. Nah..." Rosita shuffled closer to Porsha, pulling the wolf into a gentle embrace as they both gazed out into the distance. "It's not stupid at all, sunshine..."

Author's Note: Just wanted to give a quick shout out to UNCLE SAM THE MAN, the creator of Suki's OC family (her brother Charlie, his wife Ellie and their daughter Cherry) from his wonderful Moon Family series. Your work has been a major inspiration ever since I started writing my Sing fics, and I highly recommend it for any readers that haven't read them yet. Take care!