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Funkita - Right? Every single member of the Wolf family have each other's back. It's so sweet and they really represent what family's supposed to be all about. Please enjoy!

Howdy!


Playing with Howlmilton and Howldon was an excellent distraction for Clawd, when Maximilian joined them it was a better distraction. It was slightly difficult for them to talk smack to each other in hushed whispers but they were doing it. Clawd kept glancing over to his father and youngest brother, both of whom were now fast asleep. "When was the last time dad ate?" Maximilian asked Clawd discreetly, he was sat next to the wolf while button mashing on the controller.

"Uh, apparently you guys went out to eat yesterday at the die-ner?" Clawd asked in return. "He had a bit of breakfast before work but definitely not as much as he'd usually eat."

Max nodded softly. "Yeah, I figured as much. He's gotta eat something. He'll lose strength quickly."

Clawd sighed, he was already aware of that. Barkley was the one not cooperating at the moment.

Howldon and Howlmilton sat on the floor in front of the part of the sectional where their father and Clawnor were sleeping. They nudged each other discreetly but for the most part they were extremely well behaved right now.

Clawd kept looking down at the beaten up phone in his lap, Deuce hadn't messaged him within the last few minutes but the gorgon was probably driving. He didn't want to distract his love while he was driving. They had their fill of car-related issues for awhile.

Just then the twins paused the game and ran to the front window, the gorgon was still a good block away before they could tell he was coming down the block. "Deuce is home!" They nearly screamed before the youngest pup's head shot up and shushed them, snuggling against his dad.

Howldon and Howlmilton nearly vibrated with anticipation. It wasn't that he always brought them treats – sometimes he did – but it was the fact that they enjoyed when their entire family was home. The most love in the Wolf home was when everyone was present.

Clawdeen and Howleen came in carrying bags of groceries, they may have went to the grocery store hungry and they might now be the proud owners of a few aisles of said grocery store. "Shh." Clawnor warned them as they came in.

Howleen stopped by the sofa and nuzzled Barkley's cheek, carrying on to the kitchen with her many bags – she wasn't a 2 trip wolf.

Clawdeen rubbed Clawnor's head gently, he gave her a sleepy smile. "Are you protecting Pops?" She questioned him in a whisper. When the younger pup nodded she smiled. "Good job, buddy. Keep at it."

Deuce grabbed the last few bags the remained in the car, making sure to hit the lock button before making his way towards the door. He hoped the twins wouldn't sniff out their cupcakes until after dinner.

Howldon sniffed the air lightly. "Do I smell vanilla frosting?"

Howlmilton sniffed around as well. "Cinnamon?"

The scents were pleasurable to most but Barkley sleepily buried his nose in the pillow, he wasn't appreciating them right now.

Clawd paused the game and got up off the sofa, he stretched his legs and headed for the front door. He took the boxes from Deuce and kissed the gorgon tenderly. He'd been wanting to do that all day. Was it strange that he felt comfort in being intimate with him?

"Hey good looking." The gorgon said once the kiss parted, boy this wolf knew how to put a smile on his face. Deuce could see the Clawnor loaf all snuggled against Pops, it was adorable and heartbreaking at the same time.

Clawd sighed lightly, "I missed you so much." He told the shorter, he'd been stressing for hours before the twins and Max decided to join him on the Slaystation.

"Clawnor, come." Scarlet was donned in her evening wear, a set of silk pajamas, a tank top and a matching colored cardigan. Her hair was all wrapped up in a towel on the top of her head.

"No." He said softly. He dug his claws into the blanket beneath him.

Barkley wrapped his arm around Clawnor whom snuggled into him further.

She sighed, ever since they came home from the scene of Clawd's semi-accident her youngest pup had changed drastically. Scarlet wasn't sure if it was for the better or the worse yet. He was definitely more defiant and rebellious. She thought she'd have at least a good couple years before that crap started.

"Well you don't gotta miss me anymore, I'm right here." Deuce said placing a quick kiss upon Clawd's cheek before making his way over to Scarlet. "Hey Ma, how were the bubbles? Don't worry about Clawnor, we'll bath him after dinner." The gorgon said to comfort the female wolf as he hugged her.

She sighed as she hugged Deuce. He always knew how to make things better around here lately. "The bubbles were alright, I skipped my white and went straight to champagne, what does that tell you?" She nuzzled Deuce's cheek and heaved a sigh again. It was easy to see the worry on her face. She kept looking back to the sofa. "I have no idea how he's feeling, he hasn't woken up since we've been home."

She headed to the kitchen and Deuce followed her.

"On the upside, he's sleeping. He isn't vomiting, so that's gotta be a good thing." The gorgon pointed out as he washed his hands to get dinner started, hopefully he could get Pops to have something to eat even if it was a piece of bread. But the gorgon wasn't going to push food onto the sick wolf, if anything he knew that would make Pops feel worse.

Scarlet gave her hands a quick wash as well. "Yes you're right… I just hate when he's ill. It scares me, we're not getting any younger. Trust me, even the cold gets harder to get rid of as you age. That's not even considering any ailments." She would be lying if she said she wasn't panicked about her husband's high blood pressure.

"Daddy's gonna be fine," Howleen reassured her mother, also giving her hands a wash too. She would be honored if Deuce would teach her some of his wicked kitchen skills. Just enough so she could make a significant other happy. Maybe feed a single pup of her own? "isn't he?"

Clawdeen bit down on her lip. "Didn't you see the pill bottle on the ledge above the microwave? My guess is whatever they are, has pops feeling sick."

Scarlet hummed in thought. Clawdeen had a good point. "Your father does hate knowing side effects, he probably has no idea." She made a mental note to look up the name of the drug on the bottle. She'd do some research of her own tonight.

"The way I see it Ma, when Clawd was sick his body was fighting the venom. Maybe that's what Pops's body is doing with his pills? It's something different and the body thinks it's in danger so it's trying to fight it." Deuce reached into the cupboard and grabbed a frying pan, he was going to cook the meat a little before adding it into the bigger pot. That way most of the fat was cooked off as well. Deuce didn't even think twice when he handed his little helper the pan to put on the stove. "Set the front burner to the number 5, please Howleen."

"Okay!" She did exactly as instructed.

He turned his attention back towards the worried mama wolf. "I'm sure once Pops's stubborn body realizes the pills are there to help and not hurt him – he'll be feeling back to normal in no time. Y'know him better than anyone he has to be difficult."

Scarlet chuckled, "You're damn right about that. Always has been. If he's not being stubborn himself, it's his body." She stopped to think of something. "He did actually take them, didn't he?" She grabbed the bottle off the ledge and read it.

"Yes Ma, he took them right after his fries yesterday. Max and I both saw him." Deuce said turning his attention back towards the food, grabbing a wooden spoon to stir the meat.

Barkley Wolf
Enalapril, 10mg
TAKE ONCE DAILY

She also took notice of the 'May cause dizziness' sticker slapped on the bottle too. "Ah, that probably explains why he won't bring his head off the pillow, poor thing." She set it back down and sighed. She pulled out her phone and a freshly washed wine glass. She was aware of the rest of the dishes in the sink but she'd been too distracted to do them.

Clawdeen figured she'd give her mother a break. She grabbed the half bottle of white wine in the fridge and poured some out for her.

"Thank you, baby." She pulled up the internet browser on her iCoffin. It was one of the latest models, she and Barkley were available for upgrades and they took it. She searched the name of the medication.

"Howleen you don't want the meat sitting in one place for too long, or it will burn. So every few minutes stir it around until all the sides are a darker brown." The gorgon tossed a bit of salt and pepper in for taste, now to start the veggies and potatoes.

She gave a nod and watched the meat carefully, turning the diced pieces until they were each turning nice and brown. "Mhm, smells great!" Deuce didn't tell her what she should do if she felt snack-ish during the food preparation though.

"Pops!" Clawnor's upset voice caused Scarlet to nearly drop her phone.

The bathroom door shut rather loudly and when she looked out, she noticed the blankets her husband was wrapped up in, tossed to the side. She felt bad that he bolted, but at least he'd be awake for awhile.

Clawnor sat outside the main floor bathroom, waiting patiently.

Deuce peered around the corner, trying to see what was going on. Hopefully he just had to go to the bathroom and forgot the youngest pup was snuggling him? He nearly nicked his finger with the knife in the process.

Clawd re-positioned the pillows and the blanket as he waited for his father to come back out. He knocked on the door, stepping just in front of Clawnor, he gave his brother's head a pat. "Dad, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm al-" And then there was vomit. "nope… not alright."

Clawd tried the handle and it was locked. "Pops…" He whined slightly, his unoccupied hand headed straight for a scab he created earlier.

The door soon opened and Clawd hugged him tightly. "Oof," he was glad the door was behind him or Clawd might've just taken him down. "hey bud. What's wrong?"

"What do you mean what's wrong?" Clawd growled lightly. "You're still sick."

Barkley shrugged. "Nah, I'm alright."

Clawnor rolled his eyes, he knew his dad would deny how rough he was feeling. He always did that.

Deuce snuck out of the kitchen and grabbed Pop's old glass, and replaced it with the new glass of fresh water with ice. He slowly made his way back towards the kitchen, last thing Pops needed was to be crowded at the moment. "Good job, Howleen." He patted the wolf on the head. "Now we take the meat out of the pan, carefully, and start making our gravy for the stew." The gorgon informed the she-wolf.

Clawdeen had washed all of the dishes and they were drying in the rack beside the sink. She nuzzled her mom's cheek and headed out to the living room. "Hey dad," she greeted softly once Clawd let go of him. "how are you feeling?"

He shrugged. "I'm okay sweetheart, I feel... off. Don't know how to explain it but, I've definitely felt worse." Barkley didn't like to admit much, especially when he wasn't feeling 100%. He just felt bad when his family worried about him.

He headed back over to the sofa where he was nestled for a few hours and he sat down, readjusting the pillow behind his head. He didn't want to quite lay down but he couldn't keep his head up without this lingering feeling of dizziness. Man that was beginning to piss him off.

Clawnor approached the sofa slowly.

Barkley raised an eyebrow, "Get up here, boy. C'mon."

The youngest pup took no time at all as he sat right next to Barkley. Max had started another game without Clawd. "You suck," The oldest wolf told the Hauntlywood star in his living room. "gimme that."

Max smirked and tossed the controller over to Barkley, who nestled in and began to pick out which casketball team he wanted to play as on the Slaystation.

Deuce looked up from the gravy he and Howleen were making, as long as she kept stirring it wouldn't burn. The gorgon took this moment to sneak out of the kitchen and wrap himself around his wolf. He had feeling Clawd was taking this pretty hard.

Clawd held Deuce tightly, the gorgon happened to notice a few places where the wolf's fur was slightly matted. It probably meant he'd been bleeding somehow. "Thank you, for being here when I need you most." He whispered, kissing Deuce's cheek.

"Can you 2 not make out in front of my view? Pops is dynamite on the court here." Max poked Clawd with his socked foot.

Clawdia stumbled through the kitchen and headed straight out to the living room. "Can you not be a dick to my brothers?" She narrowed her eyes at Max. She looked a lot better yesterday, today… she looked rough. It amazed them all how she looked so chipper and bright the day before and right now… she almost looked like shit.

Her hair was strewn this way and that, she straightened her crooked glasses and she sat down on the other side of Barkley. "Now your pops ain't pregnant, but I bet we feel the same way. Come here, 'dia."

She nodded, putting her head on his shoulder. "We certainly do, pops."

Deuce couldn't help but chuckle at Max's shocked face, he couldn't tell if it was because of how good Pops was at the game. Or the fact Clawdia just told him to zip it, either way the gorgon led Clawd towards the kitchen. After all he wouldn't be a good boyfriend if he let Clawd's wounds get infected.

Clawd lightly sighed, he was grateful for the fact Pops was at least awake. That was good. "It smells fantastic in here." He told Deuce, but wanted to smack Howleen away from the stove. "What's she doing by things that can catch fire?" He narrowed his eyes immediately.

"Hey. Leave her alone. She's doing a great job, plus Ma and I are here. So stop your stressing." Deuce said tapping Clawd's nose, the gorgon was proud of Howleen. "Before you go barking up that tree, you better check yourself."

Clawd rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

"Precisely, Mr. I-Burn-Water." Clawdeen teased him.

Howleen giggled. "Toast isn't meant to taste or look like charcoal either."

Scarlet smirked. "I let your brother near the brand new toaster your father got me for mother's day and Clawd set a toaster strudel on fire with it."

Clawd's cheeks were heavily blushing. "Okay, alright – I got it. I suck at all things in the kitchen, damn."

"As long as you're good in bed, that's what really matters." Max popped the fridge open to grab a bottle of water, he gave Clawd a wink and 'finger-guns' to emphasize his point.

Deuce paled when he heard Max's comment, he quickly turned his attention back towards Howleen and the gravy. He drained the veggies and potatoes. "So now you mix everything together. Need help?" He asked, not wanting her to burn herself.

Scarlet chuckled, "Oh boys, there's no shame in this household. If I can ask the twins to stop picking their nose in everyone's plain sight, why can't we talk about sex?"

Clawdeen looked at her mother's almost empty-glass. "Excuse me, Ma. Are you drunk?"

"Did we get the usual dish-washer loaded?" Max inquired, a goofy grin on his face.

"Get out of here you famous flea-bag." She grabbed an orange out of the fruit bowl and threw it at Max, whom caught it perfectly.

"Drink and a snack? Thanks Ma!" Max bid his farewell from the kitchen.

Clawd gave a nod of approval. "Nice arm, Ma!" He complimented her.

Deuce froze in fear, he didn't know if wanted to run downstairs or try and hide in the cupboard. Either way he had a feeling he couldn't escape this very public conversation.

Clawd rubbed his arm, doing his best to comfort the other. "And this is why we all struggle to bring someone home." He supposed it was an open-family problem. It sometimes made him wish his family was a bit more cautious, or up higher on the conservative scale but if they were… they wouldn't be his family.

"It's not our fault if you can't find someone who likes your personality," Scarlet snapped at him, downing the rest of her drink. "Regardless, we are a very fun-loving bunch."

Clawdeen grabbed the bottle of white wine and tipped it back for herself, taking a few generous sips. "Ma, the only way we're having this conversation is if we're both tipsy."

Howleen and Deuce were busying themselves with the stew, which was coming along fabulously. "I'm glad I'm still at the bitches-have-cooties, stage."

Clawdeen set the near-empty bottle down. "Bitches? Are females your kink, sis?"

Her cheeks blushed heavily. "Boys can be bitches too!"

"Will you leave the untainted pup alone?" Deuce said looking up from the stew and snagging Clawdeen's wine. Man he could use this right now, especially with the conversation topic.

Clawd raised an eyebrow. The mention of sex in this conversation was making Deuce uneasy… but did he forget what happened last time he got tanked? He sure went looking for that sex that he couldn't talk about.

"Untainted pups are the most boring." Clawdeen told them. "Besides," she poked her sister's butt and then the side of her boob. "she's got the parts of a woman, she'll be untainted soon enough."

"Nope, she isn't allowed. Not until she's finished school and started a career. At least 5 years into the career. Then we will talk about this and see if she's ready." The gorgon said taking another sip.

Scarlet sighed, putting her phone back in her cardigan pocket. "Well, seems like you have it quite under control. Please see Deuce for any relationship restrictions, I'm going to get another bottle of wine." She headed out to the sofa and saw Clawdia now snuggled up with Max, she stole his orange and was now eating it. Clawnor was still right next to Barkley as he was playing the Slaystation still. "Hiya hot-stuff," Scarlet greeted her husband, plopping down on the sofa beside him – she was definitely buzzed.

He swallowed hard. All he could smell was alcohol. Normally it didn't bother him, if anything he liked to enjoy a few drinks too here and there, but he wasn't sure how to tell her he could barely stand the smell of her. "Hello my darling," he greeted, his head still on the pillow. As long as he didn't leave it, he felt alright. He still hadn't figured out how he'd go to work like this though… "what's up?"

She frowned. "I guess not you tonight, huh?" Scarlet poked his eye, however she probably meant to poke his nose.

"Ow," He shifted away from her slightly. "what are you poking me for?" He asked her.

She shrugged. "I'm worried about you."

'Enough to have downed a bottle to yourself, hmm?' Barkley thought to himself, but knew not to say anything. "Baby don't be, I'm just tired. I feel alright for the most part. It's just the new pill the doc has me on. I told him not to tell me what any side effects were because y'know me, I wouldn't take it then. But I'm alright. Actually, I gotta take it again soon." He glanced at the clock. Maybe a reminder could be set in his phone?

Scarlet nodded, that sounded right. "You sure you're okay? No sugar-coating bullshit?"

Other than the headache beginning to start up again… but he was positive that was the scent of alcohol. "No baby, no sugar-coating. I'm alright for now." He wasn't going to promise her he'd be alright later… but for right now, he was good and that's all that mattered.