Chapter 63

"So you wanna pick me up today?" Fox could feel Krystal nodding her head on the other end of the phone the next morning. "That's really dangerous you know."

"If I were there now I would hit you, you know that right?"

"Yeah, that's why I said it now." He was laughing when he heard her response. "I'll be ready soon, come on over when you're ready."

"Yeah sure, and I'll make sure to be as safe as possible on my way there." He felt the sarcasm and enjoyed it as he hung up the phone and prepared for the Friday at school.

"Hey kid, you've been quiet this week." His dad walked into the living room, still in his PJ's.

"Yeah, guess I've had myself a bit of a week. Do you think…would it be okay if Krystal came over today after school?" His dad let out a quiet laugh as he ruffled the fur in between Fox's ears.

"There's nothing I'd want more."

He smiled back at his dad as he walked back to his room to make sure he was prepared for the day. 'Guess I won't need my keys…might as well take them in case anything happens.' He strapped on his backpack and pocketed his keys and visor as he bolted out the door.

'Oh, right. She's not here yet.' He laughed and thought to himself, since he usually left on his own schedule rather than waiting for someone to pick him up.

He saw Krystal's car down at the end of the street, easing its way down. He walked down to the end of his driveway and she stopped. He jumped and slid across the hood, only for him to not notice a ridge on the other end of the hood that caused him to lose his balance on his slide and fall to the ground.

"Ahem, hey."He could barely get out in an embarrassed tone as she tried not to laugh at his misstep.

"Hey there you." She put the car in drive but Fox quickly stopped her. "Wait a minute, I forgot something." He bolted out of the car and went to his own, opening the door and grabbing something. When he returned to the passenger seat in Krystal's car he showed her what he retrieved. He hung a decal on the rear view mirror in her car.

"We can share this, I'm glad I noticed that you forgot yours. This way you won't have to drop any money on one."

"That's great, thanks Fox." She smiled at the vulpine as they headed off towards school for sure this time.

"So what did you and Falco talk about yesterday?" They were walking down the hall towards their usual locker area. "Not much, he just let me know everything is the same here. I've missed him and Slippy."

"I'm glad you get to see and talk to them again." Fox put an arm around Krystal and pulled her into a one armed hug as they walked down the hallway. They heard the bell ring before they even got to their spot. "Looks like you drove pretty slow there little girl." Fox relinquished his hug on her as she rolled her eyes.

"See you later?"

"Course you will." She said goodbye to him as they split for their classes.

Krystal walked into her first class and saw Falco already seated. "Hey Falco." She plopped down in the desk in front of him. "Hey Krystal, what took you and Fox so long today? Oh wait… I think I know." He grinned at her while she was couldn't read his thoughts right now, but she figured it out.

"N-no not that! Ugh you're so immature sometimes! I can't believe I missed you!" Her face was red now as she saw him laughing in his seat. She huffed and puffed while she turned around to unpack her bag.

"You missed me?" Now he had stopped laughing and was being genuine. She turned around to see him leaned towards her a little.

"Up until now, yeah I did. I missed all of you. It was just…something I really didn't think about until recently."

"Yeah we missed you too. We were all just in the same boat, it was something we didn't wanna think about really."

"M-hm, that's what Fox told me."

"I'm glad you're back with us all, it ain't been the same without you." She smiled back at Falco, letting him know the feeling was mutual. Later on it was nearing time for lunch. Fox waited at his usual spot outside of the office. "Wolf's here today. He sounded…excited to see you."

"Really? That's not like him."

"Right? That's what I was thinking. Did you read my mind again?" She laughed at his question.

"Not this time, I'm getting more control of my telepathy but it hasn't channeled in much today." After a small pause she gave Fox an example of her power not channeling in.

"This morning Falco thought I was late because he thought we were…" Fox's face had a confused look, then he realized it as he turned a little red.

"Oh…yeah that uh… sounds like something he'd say." She laughed at his embarrassment, knowing that must be how she looked earlier.

"Well well, you're here after all." Wolf greeted them as they approached their usual table. "Good to have you back girly." She nodded to Wolf as she sat across from him.

"It's good to see you Wolf. How's…how's Panther?" Wolf laughed at her question. "He's fine. Seems to be a lot less stiff now. He was sure quiet for a while after you… how'd that actually happen? If you don't mind my asking that is." Her ears drooped a little at the sound, she was glad that Panther had recovered, but did she really mean that little to him?

Fox rubbed her back. "Don't worry about it Krystal. But I've been wondering that myself. Do you mind?"

She shook her head, "Of course not, now let me see… Oh, right. I told him what you said happened, and he denied it of course. It was just so hard to believe… he seemed so nice but Fox didn't seem to be lying. What would he have to gain? He didn't care about me…at the time. Panther had everything to lose and Fox nothing." She looked down at her can of root beer.

"And then I found him with Fara…I guess really it was just a silent agreement. He didn't want me any more I guess." Her ears continued to droop.

Wolf tapped on the table to get Krystal's attention, he did just that. "Hey, girly, don't be concerned about that. He's one of my buddies, but we both know how he can be. Plus, it looks like you've got something else." She looked over at Fox and moved her foot on top of his as she did.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom, see you two around." Fox waved as the lupine stood up and took his leave.

"So do you…wanna come over today after school?"

"That…that sounds great. What about your parents?"

"Dad said that he'd love to have you over." He smiled over at her once more before standing up to embark towards his last class.

Krystal was late that afternoon while Fox was waiting for her outside the school. 'She's something else.' He thought as he silently laughed to himself.

"Hey Fox! What's up man?"

Fox turned his head to see Falco coming towards him. "Hey dude, just waiting on Krystal. She drove us here today." "So the roles are reversed huh? Guess that's why you guys were late this morning?" Fox laughed, remembering what Krystal told him. "Yeah, contrary to what you thought was the cause of our tardiness." The bird had a grin on his face remembering how he lightly antagonized the vixen that morning.

That same vixen walked out the front door as they turned to see her.

"I forgot how pretty she is." Fox leaned over and quietly whispered to his friend.

"Hey Fox. Falco." She shot the avian a playful, scolding look, not forgetting his antic from earlier in the day.

"You haven't changed a bit girl." He chuckled a little at her look.

"So later then?" The bird turned back towards Fox.

"Actually uh, Krystal's coming over today. But sometime later this weekend or next week we can hang." Falco rolled his eyes then swung his arm like he was cracking a whip. "Yeah yeah whatever you say, see you later."

Fox and Krystal walked off toward her car as they waved goodbye to their friend. "So are you ready?" Fox had his hand on the doorknob to his house as Krystal nodded her head.

"Mom, dad, we're home!"

Krystal laughed a little before stepping inside,

'we're home'she thought to herself.

Then she saw them walk in. "Krystal…sweetheart I'm so happy to see you." Vixy slowly walked towards her.

"Hi Vixy…it's been a while hasn't it?" Krystal felt so awkward, how could she not? You disappear from this place for a few months and now you're back. She stepped towards the older fox and hugged her. Vixy gladly returned it with a tight hold on Krystal. "It's so good to see you. I'm glad you're back." Vixy's smile felt so warm to both the teenagers as she relinquished her hug.

"James!"

Shortly after his wife called him, he appeared. "Krystal, it's great to see you again. I heard you'd be coming." Krystal felt even more awkward now, she'd have to do this again.

"Hi James. I'm glad to see you too." He held out his arms for a hug and she was glad to return the gesture. "It's so great to see you both." The young vixen smiled at both of them, she could sense how overjoyed they are to see her.

"Oh and son, we've both got some work to do tonight. I'm flying out with Peppy for a mission overnight, and your mom picked up a nightshift."

Fox's ears drooped, "But why? I wanted you guys to be here tonight so we could all spend time together as a fam- so we could all spend time together since it's been so long."

Both his parents raised an eyebrow at what he almost said, Krystal did too even though he couldn't see it.

"Well I guess we can another day. I'm gonna go put my stuff up in my room." With a rather fast pace he made off for his room. Krystal smiled at Fox's parents as she chased after Fox.

She walked in and saw him toss his backpack onto the floor and sit down on his bed, she shut the door as she also tossed her backpack on the ground.

"Hey"

he looked back up at her as she practically fell on top of him. "Hey what are you doing?" She just laughed as she snuck her arms around the back of his neck while he was laying beneath her. He couldn't help but follow with her laugh and wrap his arms around her slender lower back.

"Your parents are so nice."

He began to rub her back when she spoke. "Yeah, I think they're not too bad. I'm glad you decided to come over today." She closed her eyes and rested her head below his.

"I'm glad too, I've missed this place too. I missed spending time with you. So much." He loved the feeling of holding her close, the warm feeling that she gave off all the time. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed her company, even if they're not doing anything particularly special. She pulled her head back up to look into his eyes once again.

"I've missed you so much." He couldn't think of anything else to say, he only spoke the truth.

"Hey Fox?"

"Yeah Krystal?"

"I've been wondering…since we went to corner café earlier this week, and especially after today…"

"Yes?"

"I just was wondering…what are we?"

If his hands weren't so occupied giving her the back rub that she was clearly enjoying, Fox would be scratching his head in thought. "I don't really think I understand what you're asking."

She bit her lip trying to think of how she should try to ask the question again. "I was just thinking, after what Falco assumed, what Wolf said about me…having something else. And then just a few minutes ago you were going to say… family. It's just so long ago we actually dated and so much has happened since then…I just wanted to know what you think."

The thought had crossed Fox's mind in the past, but that was it. It only crossed his mind and he never really thought about it. In truth, there was something much bigger on his mind, his future.

"What about your future?"

She caught him slipping a little when he thought about it, and she heard it.

"Krystal, please…"

"You're right, I'm sorry. I was invading your privacy, I'm so sorry."

Fox shook his head, "It's okay. There's just… there's a lot I have to think about. I'm sure you noticed." He got her to grin a little with his last remark.

"I didn't hear anything specific, just that there is a lot about your future that you're concerned about." He shook his head. "It's okay, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want." He shook his head again.

"We'll talk about it one day, right now I just want to focus on us."

"Us? So you mean…"

"I guess we might as well. Can't let a pretty thing like you end up in the wrong hands." She smiled at him as he leaned up to rub her cheek with his nose.

"I never really thought about it myself. I really do care about you, I guess I just don't know how to tell you. I guess it had been so long since we were together, and even then you disappeared…you know…"

"Yes Fox?"

"You know that…" She just smiled at him as she understood.

"I love you too."

He laughed because he knew how she knew what he wanted to say. "Just this once." He laughed as he finished speaking.

"I love you Krystal."

"I love you too Fox."

Then it happened.

She let her head drop and she kissed him. He was surprised but didn't hold back as he pulled her closer and she did the same. They didn't move, time didn't matter.

"I've missed that." She said as she tried her best to regain oxygen.

"You're not alone." Hardly had Fox finished speaking did he lean back up and Krystal returned his gesture. This is something that had been building since before even their meeting at corner café. The meeting that fateful night when Fox found Krystal's car on the side of the road was merely the spark at the end of a top of a lighter. It had been built up, unknowingly, for a long time.

She pulled away then once again lay her head on him. "I could stay like this forever." He held her closer than before, he felt the same way. "I could too. We can't forever, but how about we stay like this for as long as we can?" He knew her eyes were closed.

He sat up for a moment, causing her eyes to shoot back open.

"What are you doing?"

"What's it look like? I'm taking our shoes off. I don't want our nasty shoes on my bed."She giggled a bit at his habit.

When he had both their shoes off he held her close and scooted up to the top of his bed and lay his head on a pillow as Krystal lay back down on him, her pillow.

Fox felt Krystal drift off to sleep quickly, and so long as she lay with him, he wouldn't have any trouble slipping away to slumber himself.


Nothing like a little romance huh? Since it's been a while since I did some actual romance writing, a little R/R wouldn't hurt if you don't mind.