"You're going to wear this thing out really quick if you keep pulling on it like you were today boy."
Tramp waited patiently for Jim Dear to remove his leash. He watched as the man hung it right next to Lady's on a hook in the wall, it's red color contrasting greatly with that of his mate's lighter green.
"Then again, this was probably your first time," Jim Dear conceded, bending down to scratch the gray dog behind the ears, "Just promise me that next time you'll try your best to calm down a little."
Tramp licked the man's face, whining softly, his way of making a promise.
Jim Dear scratched Tramp behind the ears once more, then stood up to leave to some other part of the house.
Finally able to enjoy whatever freedom he now had, Tramp immediately set out to find Lady. As his time in the family passed, he had discovered that there was only so much that one could do indoors. It was a big change from how life on the streets had been and he figured that the best way to spend most of his waking hours was next to Lady. The only reason he was where he currently was.
He found her sitting quietly by an unlit fireplace. As soon as she noticed his presence, she nuzzled into his chest lovingly. He returned the gesture, gently planting his muzzle on the top of her head. Soon the two found themselves laying side by side, enjoying the heat brought about by a comfortable fire that Jim Dear had started.
Tramp wondered whether they would fall asleep right then and there, or if the day still had more events to offer. Fate would bring about the latter option.
"Tramp?" Lady asked, her tone questioning.
"Yeah Pidge'?"
"Do you remember the first time that the two of us met?"
"Well," He cleared his throat, lifting his head up a little, "That sure was quite a while ago, but assuming my memory hasn't betrayed me, it was a nice, sunny day out, you and your innocent nature caught my eye and from there the flowers blossomed all by themselves."
"Yes, yes, but do you remember about the baby?"
"Of course I do. 'When the baby moves in, the dog moves out'," Tramp chuckled at the memory, finding those words silly.
"And did you know that not only humans can have babies? All sorts of different creatures can have them."
"Yes, that's fairly common knowledge Pidge'. Is there something...you need to tell me?"
"There is," She looked him intently in the eyes, "I don't know how I know, or how I can tell, because this is all very new to me, but...I think that I might have babies of my own one of these days."
"Sure you can, if you really want to." Tramp chuckled again, this time at what he presumed was her naivety.
"It's not that I want to, it's that well...I'm not exactly sure if this is the right term, but I believe that I may be what's called 'pregnant'."
Tramp's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, well congratulations Pidge'. I wonder who the lucky-" He stopped suddenly, the obvious nature of the situation finally snapping in his mind, "That one night," He recalled quietly, staring off at nothing in particular.
"Tramp?" She asked concernedly.
"It all happened that one night...we're gonna' be parents Pidge'!" He exclaimed.
She recoiled at his sudden outburst, "Why yes, I suppose that's what having babies is all about."
He nuzzled into her again, with a newfound joy, one that would stick around for ages.
There was nothing left.
Every room had been stripped of their appearances and features. Furniture was gone, pictures were gone, homeliness was gone.
Why then was it so hard for her to accept what was only a long time coming? To accept that this was goodbye to the only home that she had ever known?
Maybe that was the answer, this was the only home that she had ever known. It was in this house that she first knew of the loving embrace of two owners. It was in this house that she made friends that would stick by her side for ages. This was the place where she had been able to raise her children. Maybe that then was why it was so difficult to ponder leaving this house behind.
She stood up finally, sadly and left the living room. Her attempts at remembering all the warm memories she had spent there, not suceeding in the least.
To make matters worse, she couldn't find Tramp anywhere. No matter how much she called out, he never showed. It was eerily similiar to a nightmare that she had once had. She thought of seeing what Jim Dear and Darling were up to, but then quickly remembered that they were still far too busy to pay her their attention just yet. She couldn't even find Junior. There was simply nothing to do, she had no one and no one needed her. No owners to please, no children to raise.
And so she instead left the house, feeling an acute, strangely mixed sense of both uselessness and boredom. She didn't bother walking far, plonking down on a patch of grass and taking in the sights, scents and sounds of the backyard for the last time. It was much too quiet for her to bear.
She stood up, preparing to let her legs drag her to wherever they saw fit, but stopped herself when she heard who could only be Jock.
"Mornin' Lassie. I hope ya' weren't plannin' on leavin' without sayin' goodbye." He spoke with a smile, although Lady could tell that it was a forced one. Everything with Jock seemed to be forced recently. Although, she supposed that she couldn't blame him considering that Trusty was no more and they wouldn't be seeing each other anymore.
She smiled back at him, in an effort to make him feel better, "Why, I could never even imagine doing something like that Jock. I just needed some time alone."
"I can't even begin to think..." He trailed off, blinking tiredly, "It must be difficult, sayin' goodbye to this place, sayin' goodbye to yer' children, sayin' goodbye to..." He trailed off again.
"To you." She finished his sentence for him, sighing in the process, "Jock, I hate to leave you here alone, especially with Trusty gone, I just-"
"Nothin' you can do about it Lassie. Sometimes these humans of ours just have their own agendas in mind."
"But, will you be alright? All here by yourself?"
Jock smiled again, it looked much more sincere than before, "Lass', I don't want ye' to be troubling yer self over me. I want ye' to be happy. To be happy wherever it is that ye' going, to be happy yer' partner and owners."
By then, Lady's eyes had begun to gloss up with tears. She gave one of her oldest friends one last show of affection, nuzzling into him gently.
"Goodbye Jock."
AN:
No, this is not the final 'Moving Day' chapter. It is simply the final chapter within the on-going series. For those keeping track, the latter part of this chapter takes place after 'To The Streets and Back' and is set before next year's 'LATT: Farewell'.
'Moving Day' will remain an open project to anyone who might be interested, although 'PenName099' is currently working on several longer chapters.
Thanks for reading.
