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HypnoArt - I KNOW RIGHT?! She's a straight up bitch, what can I say tho? I apologize that the chapter got you a bit mad but I mean, that just means you're into it which I'm thankful for. I would still keep your seatbelt on as a precaution because there are a lot of ups and downs through out this story so far (we're still going xD). Thanks again!

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lobalunallena

Onward bound!


Deuce could feel the warm water against his skin. Ever since they got back to the Wolf residence Clawd had not left his side. The gorgon could tell the other was concerned and wanted to ask what went on but out of respect he knew Clawd would wait until he was ready to talk.

Deuce hadn't noticed he been crying until he let out a small sob. Right now his mind was his worst enemy, he kept replaying what happened over and over again. How his mother finally made him snap, threatened him with therapy - he didn't need it. What he needed was his mother but she would never see that. Deuce now knew she would rather pawn him off instead of spend time with him.

The young male jumped when he heard a knock on the door, he knew very well it was Clawd bringing him a change of clothes. Just as he said he would do. "Come in."

"Damn!" It was the only thing the wolf could say as the steam came rolling out.

Deuce couldn't help but chuckle, forgetting that the small bathroom steamed up real quick. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." The wolf said feeling for the counter. Last thing he wanted was for the clothes to hit the moist floor. "Take your time." With that, Clawd left giving Deuce his space once more.

After about another 5 minutes, Deuce climbed out of his shower. He hadn't broken down and cried like that in so long. Then again he hadn't been given a reason to. By now he was so used to his mother taking off and not being home that he didn't shed anymore tears on the matter. Growing up he learned quickly that he had to control his emotions.

Once he dried off his body, Deuce slid into the given clothes. Man they were soft. Deuce had to tighten them a little due to the different body sizes, but he was still grateful to Clawd. Cleaning up his mess and grabbing his sunglasses before exiting the bathroom, he beelined it to the Clawd's room. All he wanted to do was be near his wolf if the other would let him.

"Hey," Clawd greeted with a soft smile. He was attempting to get a head start on an essay Mr. Rotter assigned. It wasn't due until the end of the week but he wasn't too sure on what the rest of the week would have in store for him. "Sorry I don't have smaller clothes. Being the oldest boy in the family, technically the second boy."

Deuce raised a curious brow. "Second?"

Clawd gave a nod. "Mom and dad had a pup before Clawdia that was a female and another one before me, that would've been the first boy. They were both stillborn."

Deuce walked over to the wolf who was sitting at the desk and wrapped his arms around the others neck. "I'm sorry." It was all he could say before stealing a kiss and sneakily sliding onto his lap.

Deuce began to think about if the roles were reversed. How his mother would be in her glory with all the attention. People feeling sorry she lost her son, but at the same time not having to deal with bringing up one. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought.

Clawd didn't mind the distraction of Deuce in his lap. He held the other with ease. "Thanks for that, it's hard to know how to feel when I never knew them obviously. I wonder what they'd be like, y'know, personality wise and what not."

Deuce thought their family was complete, however knowing that there was supposed to be others did spike his curiosity.

"Y'know, one time... mom told me a story when I was about 2 and a half. Ma was doing laundry and she had a bout of post-partum depression after losing the pup and becoming pregnant with me not long after. Anyway, so I asked her if she was sad about Barklynn. She was shocked because not once did she discuss any of my stillborn siblings with me. Barklynn would have been the first born female, before Clawdia. I apparently said, 'Barklynn kissed my forehead when I was in your tummy and told me to take care of you and daddy and that she and Pawsley loves us'."

Deuce's eyes widened. That was insane!

"It would have gone: Barklynn, Clawdia, Pawsley, me - I think there were a couple others. I can't quite remember... but how do you explain that?" He asked rhetorically. They always had strong family morals, but that was on another level!

"That's beautiful. Even when they aren't physically here, your siblings are still looking out for their pack." Deuce said snuggling into the wolf. "My honest opinion, if they're your siblings. I can see them with your mother's smile, your father's heart. Pawsley pushing you to be the best, Barklynn beating him up for being too hard on you." Deuce chuckled to himself.

Clawd smiled. "I'm lucky to have Clawdia to turn to, but I often wonder what they'd think of all their siblings." His ears flattened for a moment. "Mom almost died birthing Clawnor." He looked worried. "I can't remember the exact details, I don't know if something ruptured or he caused her to bleed... I never saw my father so scared."

"I bet. I'm sorry that your family had to go through all of that." Deuce stole another kiss. "I can't imagine your father anything but chill." Deuce said running his fingers through Clawd's fur.

Clawd thought about it. "He's a very chill guy but he knows when to stand his ground to avoid being walked all over. If I had to choose a word to describe him, it would be passionate. If my dad loves, he does it with his whole heart. If he hates, he does that with his whole heart too. He can act out of anger but it takes a lot of shit for him to snap. That's why the boys always listen when dad's stern. Even Clawdia will still freeze in place when she comes home." He laughed.

He could see that the events over the last few hours had worn Deuce out. It was clear he wasn't going to make any progress on that essay either. "C'mon, let's take this to the bed."

Deuce hopped off Clawd and made himself down right comfortable. Apparently he didn't have to be told twice.

The wolf stretched as he got up, he then sprawled out along his bed, next to Deuce. He could use a bit of rest right now.

Deuce snuggled back into the wolf. Thinking about what brought him to this moment. "She wanted me to go back to therapy." The gorgon said out loud.

"Therapy? You?" Clawd also wanted to question the fact that he had been to therapy in the first place, nevermind that he was to go back to it.

"I guess she got angry, 'cause I was paying more attention to my phone than her. It's alright if she does it, but not me." The gorgon couldn't help but chuckle at his mother's double standards. "So I started standing up to her - she hates that. She threatened to send me back to therapy. Saying I have issues I need to work out." He became visibly uncomfortable. "I can't go back Clawd, I just can't. The therapist had me on these pills, they made me so numb. I guess it worked in her favor because for a brief moment I was the prefect son." Deuce informed Clawd, turning away slightly, feeling disgusted.

'Holy shit...' The taller thought to himself. "Deuce, no one's perfect. Not mother, not father, not son, nor daughter. Parenting is hard, but growing up with a parent that... sucks at parenting is even harder. I know I'm blessed to have the family and parental unit that I do. I wish that everyone's home could have as much love in it as mine. Not the same amount of screaming," he chuckled. "no one needs that headache."

Deuce gave a weak smile.

"If anyone needs therapy, it sounds like your mom would be a good candidate herself." He approached this slowly, he didn't want to say anything that would upset Deuce. She was still his mother and blood was thicker than water. "Some people just don't see their own level of toxic, they don't even know how toxic they are..." he didn't want to say that it reminded him of Cleo but... it did. "I don't want you feeling anything but good in your own skin. You can be that here, with us." He caressed Deuce's cheek. "We've all got issues babe, that's what makes us... who we are."

"Wish my mother could see it that way. She brought out that damn day planner and I snapped. She used to schedule my whole life with that thing. Literally." Oh what Deuce would give to get his hands on that book, maybe burn it? Or better yet give it to the twins to chew on. "I knocked the book out of her hand and kicked it across the room. Under the couch, I believe." He cringed. "Then she really snapped, it was the scariest moment. I haven't seen her that angry." Deuce looked up at the wolf, who just happened to be watching him. "I bet you can guess the rest." A small yawn escaped from the gorgon.

Clawd did put 2-and-2 together. "I don't blame you, you did nothing wrong. It doesn't seem like she takes 'no' very well. Her way or the highway. I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop it." He shifted his position, now lying on his back, looking at the ceiling of his room. He used to have stick-on, glow in the dark stars up there.

Deuce noticed his bite mark on Clawd's neck. It was heavily bruised now. He didn't think he bit the wolf that hard...

"It was safer you weren't. Trust me. I appreciate your concern but I can't put you in danger. You've got a family that needs you." The gorgon shifted so he was using the wolf's chest as a pillow. "Question. Does that still hurt?" Deuce asked reaching out and running a finger along the mark.

Clawd winced when the gorgon poked it. "Yeah, it's more sensitive now after the fact." He intertwined their fingers, "Deuce... if you wanted to be with me, forever... we'd become our own family. You'd be my other half, I think no matter what it comes down to... you have to have the back of your other half. It'd be us against the world. Y'know?"

A shiver crawled it's way up the gorgon's back. "I would love that. Honestly, I would love what your parents have. They don't just have a spouse, they got a partner and best friend." Deuce said snuggling into Clawd. "Hypothetically if we did ever have kids, I don't want my mother anywhere near them." Deuce said bluntly. "I mean it. She's not to be alone with them. Ever."

Hearing the startling bits of information about Medusa Gorgon that Clawd had received alone in the last few hours... he absolutely agreed. "Consider it done." He took a moment to adjust so he was able to soothingly rub the small of Deuce's back. "My parents are definitely relationship goals. They set an amazing example. The bar's pretty high but that's a good thing." Clawd tried to picture himself a father, it was blurry in his mind. "Even if we didn't expand, my siblings will probably have enough pups to spoil... don't you think?" The wolf knew he was rambling, he didn't realize how long it took him until the tiniest snore was audible.

Clawd let out a contented sigh and remained silent, hoping rest would eventually sneak up on him too.

(¯`·._(¯`·._(¯`·._( MONSTER HIGH )_.·´¯)_.·´¯)_.·´¯)

Clawd sleepily brought the blankets up further on Deuce, tucking him in. He had a hell of a day! He knew that shallow waters ran deep and muddy when it came to Deuce's relationship with his mother, but he didn't know how truly complicated it was until now.

C u tonight! ;) - Lala

Clawd heard the vibration and managed to grab his cellular phone without bothering Deuce. He immediately cursed upon reading it. Shit! He forgot all about Draculaura, he was completely wrapped up in everything... that was Deuce.

He bit down on his lip. He could cancel the date he wasn't aware he had but that would be incredibly coward-like. If he didn't straighten things out with her now, when would he? He was reluctant because he wanted to stay here with Deuce.

Decisions, decisions.

He kissed Deuce's cheek and the other stirred lightly. "I'll be back soon."

Clawd got up from his bed quickly to prevent him from losing his nerve to get this over with. He left his bedroom and headed up the basement stairs. He headed towards the kitchen but stopped just short of it when he heard his parents talking.

"If she laid a single hand, slimy ass snake, tenticle - anything on that boy Scarlet you don't know what I'll do."

"Calm your ass down, Barkley. You're too old to be actin' a fool. You have babies to think about," There was a pause. "what do you mean, she?"

Growling could be heard. "She's back, Scarlet. Dusa is back. You must think I'm real stupid if you don't think I'm connecting her arrival with his red cheek."

A light whine left his mother. "You're positive?"

"Yes! I warned Clawd to be leery of her, her motives - he'll find out soon enough." He heard a slam. "I hate that bitch, always have."

"Shh, Barkley, the pups are asleep." She sighed. "I know, honey."

There was another growl. "You know she hates us right back. What do we do?"

Clawd decided that he would enter the kitchen at that point. "Hey guys, uh... I have to take care of something."

"Would it be something in the form of a pink vampire?" Scarlet raised an eyebrow. Clawd looked guilty. "I trust you'll do the right thing, sweetheart."

Clawd nodded. "I will, mom." He turned to his father. "Dad, I'm sorry if I did anything..."

Barkley softened. "No Clawd, your old man's just going off about some shit. It's alright, all is good."

Scarlet gave a nod of approval. Every good, solid relationship had its bumps and bruises along the way. They learned a long time ago that there was a proper way to argue and how to do it skillfully around the children if they had to. "We'll keep an eye on Deuce. Go, sweetie."

Clawd gave a sigh and hugged his mom and then his dad. "Love you guys, see you soon."