(Rose)
The city was now covered in fresh snow and ice. It had been snowing like this for the last few months. I didn't mind it at all because I love snow. Ever since the fight had died down indefinitely, everything has gotten better. It's been a lot better. The only downside is Einstein's health. It hadn't gotten any better since his episode a while back. Whisper had been distant from us for the last couple of months since she had given birth to four beautiful puppies. She is now a mother which makes Dodger and I grandparents again.
Christmas was around the corner, which means we'd be going over to Jenny's house yet again as we do every year. Sammie, Charlie, and Pepper would come along. Whisper would bring her pups and Pepper would bring hers. Ryan and Rita's pups would come by as well. I couldn't wait to see them. I would count down the passing minutes.
Dodger and I took it upon ourselves to have some time alone in Central Park while it was in the middle of the night. The ground surrounding us was a fresh blanket of snow, leaving patches of grass sticking out. The only sound I could make out was not only our deep shallow breaths and crickets chirping in the various shrubs. Like before, we made sure to keep our distance away from the adolescent humans that would bide their time drinking and doing drugs in the deepest alleyways of this city.
Dodger reclined on my side with his world famous impish grins, obviously pleased with himself. "Ya know I hate that, don't ya?" I say with a grin of my own. "C'mon Rosie Posie, you know that's what they all say." Dodger replied, caressing my muzzle with his own. He eventually gets on top of me with both of his forepaws by my head. I wrapped my own paws around his shoulders to pull him closer to me.
Like I said before, I had seen him flirt with other female dogs in this city. But that was before we ever became mates for life. He had changed once we met Ryan. To begin with, I believed him to be nothing more than a brotherly figure but it's completely different now. I gave him a look that only he would understand. "What's with the face, baby?" he whispered to me. "I'm just showing you… that… there's no dog on this earth that I love as much as I love you." I say, licking him on his cheek. "Oh… I love you more… to the moon and back." he replied, kissing me on the lips. My tail wagged in a seductive manner and my whole body quickly heated up. Just like the night we became mates. We were in no hurry and the two of us did some love making underneath that tree.
After our rendezvous, we decided to head back to the houseboat as the wind was starting to pick up a little bit. While walking back, I started thinking about Einstein. I had noticed how he was becoming more confused with every passing day. It was starting to worry me. "Do you think… Einstein will be okay?" I asked in a worried voice. "What do you mean?" Dodger asked me. "You know that he's getting more confused and his body is weakening. With that, Dodger too looked worried. He had known Einstein for as long as I can remember. I have known the great dane for 10 solid years. I mean, Einstein was around 14 or 15 years old.
Before he could respond, Rita had rushed over to us in panic. It was a look I've never seen before on her face. "What is it Rita? You look distressed." Dodger pointed out. "It's Einstein… he's fallen ill. I mean very, very ill." Rita informed, confirming my worst fear. With that statement, we all ran back to the house boat.
When we got there, Francis and Tito were surrounding his bed where he held a broken tennis racket. "Einy! Einy, are you alright?" I ask, running towards him. He looked up at us with his old, weary eyes. "I'm not feeling so good… this weather is making me feel… so bad." he said in a fit of coughs. "Take it easy, old friend." Dodger assured. Einstein laid his head down on his forelegs for a moment. "I… don't want to be alone on Christmas this year. I haven't missed a single… celebration yet. I want to… go to Jenny's with you to see the kid… your puppies Rita and Rose with their own along with Whisper, Beau, and their pups." Einstein wheezed.
"But Einy, you're too ill to be moving. We can't risk you going out there." Rita declared, sounding on the verge of tears. "Nonsense… I'll be fine…" he denied it. He was showing every sign of being feverishly ill. Going out there in this weather would be hazardous to his health. "Let me come with you… if the time should come… I want you all to be with me." he said with determination. Everyone fell silent including me. He really wanted to come with us, even if it meant him dying while we're there.
"Okay… we can't say know to an old friend. Especially a friend who deserves to spend time with his loved ones." Dodger said to him. Christmas was tomorrow and we'd go to Jenny's house for the evening. If Einstein was to leave us during this Christmas, the least we can do is make it as special as we can.