"Help! Help!" Buster yelped.
"All right, kids, off Uncle Buster. Come on!"
There was a chorus of "awws" and "no fairs" as the piglets climbed off, allowing Buster to breathe.
Rosita smiled, apologetically as she helped him up, balancing the tray of cookies in one hand. "Sorry, Buster. They're really excited. They couldn't wait to have dinner and spend time with their 'amazing Uncle Buster'."
Buster blushed. "They said that?"
"Of course! They love and adore you!" Rosita smiled as she led him into the apartment. Buster winced suddenly and Rosita rose an eyebrow in concern as she watched him cradle his paw. She was alerted when she saw blood leaking through the poorly made bandage.
"Buster, are you okay? What happened?" She asked in concern as she knelt down to better examine it.
"I was just careless with a coffee cup." Buster admitted. "It was closed, I guess it reopened during the pile on."
"Come on, let's get you fixed up." Rosita said as she led him inside.
Norman was in the kitchen stirring a pot of spaghetti noodles when Buster and Rosita entered. "Hey! Just in time! How you doing, Buster?" The pig greeted.
"Uh, great!" Buster said, smiling.
Rosita walked passed her husband towards a cabinet and opened it revealing several first aid kits, bandages, rubbing alcohol, and many other supplies. Rosita gathered what she needed and turned to Buster who stood, staring in awe.
"When you have 25 kids, first aid kits are a must." She said.
Once she had properly wrapped and tended to Buster's wound, she went to the pantry to hide Buster's cookies. "The kids know no cookies till after dinner." She said.
"Hey, honey, while you're in there, can you grab the sauce?" Norman asked. Then he turned to Buster. "Would you do me a favor and grab that strainer from under the sink?" He asked.
Buster did as asked and grabbed the requested iten which he put in the sink and watched Norman carry the pot of noodles over to drain them. Rosita then brought over the sauce and helped him combine more ingredients.
Buster watched, smiling as the couple laughed and worked together before the spaghetti was transferred from the pot to a wooden bowl and placed on the dining room table.
"Supper time, kids!" Norman called.
Buster's ears caught the sound of 25 pairs of feets rushing into the kitchen. The piglets were talking excitedly as they took their assigned seats. Buster watched in amazement as a few piglets broke away to help their parents with plates and the salads.
Buster smiled as he raced to help. Casper was on the counter top, carefully handing plates to Lucy who transferred them to the table. Tess was carrying the salad bowl whilst Buster assisted in taking the bread.
Soon the table was set and the family sat to enjoy to the delicious food laid out across it.
Rosita was at one end, with both her boys, Norman and Buster on either side and a row of piglets following each one.
Once plates were full, Norman turned to Buster. "How's the business, Buster? Rosita tells me you're taking a break from Out of this World."
"Only for a few weeks." Buster assured. "But believe me, we're still getting other offers to perform in theaters and I plan to honor them. But I didn't want the group to be pried from their families. So, We devised to hold different showings in different theaters once a month. Whilst we do that, we'll continue to hold shows here. Leaves the group plenty of time for their families and time to relax and prepare."
"And it won't be nearly as stressful on Buster." Rosita pointed out.
"Tomorrow Gunter has a musical/mystery show he wants to do." Buster said.
"Oh! Who's my character?" Rosita asked.
Buster smiled. "You'll just have to wait and find out!"
Rosita made a pouty face but Buster could see the amusement in her eyes as they went on with dinner and conversations. The adults discussed different topics ranging from work to casual whilst piglets became engulfed in their own discussions.
Afterwards, they all gathered in the living room where Rosita had set up the entertainment center to resemble that of a movie theater. The piglets took their spots, some on beanbags, some on chairs and others with a blanket on the floor. Norman and Rosita took their place on the couch. Buster awkwardly hopped up beside them, unsure where to sit before Rosita grabbed him and plopped him in between them. His small size filling the space between them perfectly. They all then sat back, the lights dimmed and the T.V. playing Beauty and the Beast.
As the beginning played, Buster tapped Rosita's shoulder. "This could be next month's show!" He whispered, excitedly.
"Buster, stop thinking about work and just enjoy the movie." Rosita teased.
As the film played, Buster was mesmerized, lost in the world of talking tea cups and clocks. Rosita and Norman smiled, amused at their friend's reaction.
Halfway through, they paused it and Rosita brought in Buster's cookies which proved to be a big hit. The showman smiled, comfortable and happy. It was nearing midnight when Buster finally entered his theater. After the movie, Buster assisted Norman and Rosita in putting the kids to bed and then the three adults sat in the kitchen enjoying a cup of coffee, Buster's cookies and each other's company.
When Buster had noticed the time, Rosita offered their couch should Buster be too tired to travel, but the koala politely declined.
Now he was home in his own theater. He stumbled up the steps to his office, exhausted. The entire wing was dark as he opened the door and entered his office. The room was dark, but Buster's keen ears picked up the sound of someone breathing. He remembered Ash was staying with him, but this was different from her breathing. It was deeper, faster. Cautiously, he took his phone and switched on the flashlight app and scanned the room. He breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized the figure on the couch as a certain young wolf curled up against a pillow, sleeping deeply. He grabbed the blanket draped over the arm rest of a chair and draped it over her.
He smiled as he made his way up the spiral staircase and was surprised to see Ash still up. The room the was dark but the light from the young porcupine's phone illuminated her presence.
Buster tapped on the wall to announce himself and Ash turned and shot him a sheepish smile. "It was late. Thought it'd be rude to make her get a hotel room... I didn't think you'd mind."
Buster smiled. "Of course not. That was sweet of you, Ash."
Ash shrugged. "Don't let it get around that the hard ass rock star has a heart."
"Language." Buster rolled his eyes.
"You seem to be doing better." Ash said.
The statement caught Buster a little off guard as he glanced at her, quizzically.
"It's no secret you're still suffering, Buster. No matter how hard you try to hide it. But you seem to be getting better around Porsha."
Buster's ears dropped a bit. "She is not her father. I don't know why it's difficult to understand that." He admitted. "It's just... when I see her shadow, all I see is Crystal reaching from, grabbing my throat and-" Buster shuddered and Ash crawled across the bed and hugged his close. His body was rattling against hers as she tightened her embrace whilst he attempted to gain control.
Once the koala had calmed down, Ash spoke. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"No... I need to talk about it. I promised you guys I wouldn't bottle it up."
Ash fell quiet for a moment and Buster began a new conversation. "That was nice of you to let Porsha stay. Even if it IS my place." He said it in amusement but Ash didn't crack a smile.
"I didn't want to at first." She admitted quietly, almost to herself, but of course, Buster caught it.
"Why?" He asked, gently.
Ash was silent for a moment before she grabbed the blanket she was sitting on and clutched it tightly. "Because of her I nearly lost you! " she growled. "She didn't HAVE to make a scene! If she had the common sense to actually LISTEN, Crystal wouldn't have attempted to toss you off that building! It was her fault! Her dad's fault, she-"
"Hey, hey, Ash!" Buster cried, getting her attention. She was breathing hard now, anger and fear mixed with each breath.
"Ash, sweetheart, calm down."
"No! I tried, Buster, I'm TRYING! But... I just can't accept her. Not yet. Not after what she put you through."
"Ash, it wasn't her fault. You can't blame her for her father's mistakes."
"Watch me." Ash said, darkly. Then she frowned. "I'm sorry. It's just...I don't know..."
Buster moved closer and hugged his adopted daughter. "You know, you and Porsha have some things in common."
"Like?"
"Well, you're both stubborn, both have amazing voices. Both have a sense of style. And you both stepped out of a toxic shadow."
Ash glanced at him as he continued. "I know it was hard for you, during that whole situation with Lance, walking in on him with another woman. But you got the courage to make something of yourself! You became a local legend! Porsha is not that different from you. She had to step away from her father's shadow. She got the courage to perform and the courage to stand up to him." Buster released his hold and hopped off the bed, smiling at his kid. "You both have outstanding courage. You don't have to accept her right now. But give her a chance. She may share his blood, but she is so much more then Jimmy Crystal will ever be."
Ash peered at him and copied his smile. "If you were willing to give her a chance... I guess I should to..."
Buster's smiled widened. "That's my girl. Get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."Buster was in the middle of pushing a prop box away from center stage when suddenly the box was lifted in to the air and Buster fell flat on his face.
"Oh, geez! Sorry, Mr. Moon!"
Buster recognized the voice as he felt two paws begin to help him up. Buster groaned as he rubbed his nose and found he was now surrounded by his younger theater members.
"You okay, Moon?" Ash asked, brushing off his shirt. "Smacked your nose pretty hard."
Buster sniffed and winced. "Not harm done. What are you guys doing here so early? Rehearsal isn't until 9." Buster said, glancing at his watch and wondering if he'd lost track of time. Nope, his watch just hit eight fifteen.
When no answer came, he looked up and saw the kids staring at him, each with an awkward look upon their face.
Buster tilted his head. "What's wrong?"
Porsha was surprisingly the one to speak first. "We wanted to give ya something, Mr. Moon." She smiled.
Johnny nodded as he dug into his large coat pockets and pulled out a small wrapped package which he handed to Buster with a small smile.
The koala accepted, with a curious glance he begin to unwrap the gift.
His ears shot up and he gasped softly.
It was a picture frame of Buster and his new kids.
Buster was atop Johnny's shoulders, beside him on his left was Nooshy, standing next to her was Porsha. Meena and Ash were on Johnny's right. He remembered when Rosita had snapped this photo just a week ago.
"We wanted to show our appreciation to our favorite theater dad." Ash smiled.
Buster smiled, tearfully. "You guys-"
"I haven't known ya as long as these blokes have, Mr. Moon," Nooshy said. "But I can tell you're one heck of a guy. And listen..." She kneeled closer to him so that only Buster heard her. "Thanks for listening."
Porsha was next. "You took me in, Mr. Moon. In just a few months you've shown me more love then my father has during nearly 19 years with him."
Meena stepped up next. "I didn't really know my dad. But if I did, I'd want him to be just like you."
Johnny was next to speak. "You helped me become who I am. You helped me and dad rebuild a strained relationship. You hold high rank as my uncle."
And finally Ash. "My parents were never really supportive of me. Haven't spoken to them in years. You stepped up and became something I needed. A confidant, my rock and my new dad."
"Face it, Moon," Nooshy said sheepishly. "You're our theater dad."
Buster smiled as he carefully set down the photo and put stretched out his arms. Ash was first to hug him. Johnny then scooped them both up and the team group hugged.
They did set Buster down and the showman wiped his eyes. "You guys are the best. This is going right on my main desk." He said.
The group were still chatting when the rest of the crew arrived and Buster excused himself to duck in to his office.
Frame in hand, he hopped onto his chair and moved a few items on his desk to make room for the new addition.
He then sat back and gazed at it. He never thought he'd be in this position, never saw himself as a father figure, yet here he was. Gazing at a wonderful photo.
Just Buster and his kids.
Hope ya'll enjoyed this story.
