Wish we could turn back time
To the good old days…
When our mammas sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out.
X
"Wish we could turn back time…To the good old days…" Fox sang quietly to himself, the song from the radio stuck in his head as he walked through the front door of his suburban home, going through the new mail for anything important. Nothing but the very last letter, a gift from Krystal he figured was important as Fox placed the rest of the letters onto the island stand in the middle of his kitchen as Fox opened the letter.
"Jamie? You do your chores?" Fox called out throughout his home waiting for some kind of response.
"Yea dad I did." He turned in the direction of steps coming down the stairs in a hurried pattern. His now 12, almost 13 year old daughter stood a few feet away as she eyed the letter with a small smile. "Is that from Krystal?"
"Yes it is." He gave a smile back as he entered the contents of the letter, a small cipher chip falling into the palm of his hand as he presented it to the young lady. "Looks like a gift."
"Oh I wonder if it's her new album!" Jamie was very excited as she held the small chip within her hands.
"Let's see…" Fox said as he read the letter out loud. "'Dear Jamie, I know it's been a while honey but I haven't forgotten about you. I often find myself thinking of you and your brother and father. Here is my new album, both a cipher chip and original CD as well. I signed the CD case so you can show it to your friends. I'll be sure to visit soon honey before school starts back up.'" Fox met eyes with his older kit as they both smiled. He handed her the CD case, the letter and the nice stationary it was all written on.
"'With much love, Mommy Krystal.'"
"Awesome! I've been wanting it for so long now!" Jamie cheered excitedly as she took everything from the letter in her hands.
"Make sure to thank her when you see her next." Fox turned around starting to make preparations for dinner as the girl stood there for a moment longer. Her smile vanished as she had a pressing question for her father.
"Dad."
"Yes Jamie?"
"Do you think Krystal finds it weird I still call her 'mom' sometimes?"
"I don't think so Jamie. I think she likes it personally. She's known you since you were born. I'm sure you remember me telling you that you were very attached to her when you were a baby, and she was very much attached to you as well."
"Yea I remember." Jamie took her things from the letter and walked to the kitchen table, as she looked to back still continuing the conversation with her dad. "Do you find it weird?"
"Not really Jamie, it isn't the first time I've ever heard it. Why do you ask?"
"Well…I know she couldn't ever replace mom, even if she wasn't my real mom. I just wondered if it bothered you." Fox kept silent for a moment as he just kept at his task, not looking back to the older kit as he washed his hands in the sink. He hadn't been back from the cemetery long, his deceased wife was still fresh in the vulpine's mind.
"It doesn't bother me Jamie." Fox turned wiping his hands, with a small smile. "I think Krystal really enjoys that you call her your mother. And I'm sure your mother wouldn't mind as well, she would be happy that you saw Krystal as someone you could trust so closely."
"Yea, you've told me before they were good friends."
"They were the best of friends. Krystal and your mother were very close. I think she would approve of your relationship with Krystal." Fox turned back as he began cutting vegetables and heating up the pans. He turned back his head as he called out to his daughter. "Did you do all your chores? Is the guest room prepared?"
"Yea it is. Why is Miss Monroe staying with us again?" Jamie questioned as she stood back up.
"Because Jamie, our high school reunion is about a week away, and Katt needs a place to stay while her home is being bombed for spiders and flees."
"Oh okay…Is Krystal staying a few days also?" Jamie couldn't help but be curious.
"I don't think so honey." Fox admitted as he didn't need to turn his head to know Jamie was a little disappointed. "Krystal will come and visit but she has a hotel room rented for the time she's in town."
"Oh okay, I can't wait till she comes and visits again. I haven't seen her in about a year now." Jamie said happily.
"I'm sure honey, could you tell Mark to come down please?"
"Sure." Jamie ran back upstairs as Fox continued making dinner. He gave a small smile to himself as he thought back to simpler times. When the group was still all together, alive…Back in the halls of Shooting Star High doing this and that. They had so many good memories within those halls, it would be interesting to walk those halls again to see how it's changed. Whose still teaching and who has retired, and see how everyone else has changed over the years as well.
Fox could hear small footsteps approaching him as he turned his head downwards to his and Fara's child, a young brown furred kit with the same eyes as his daddy.
"Look dad!" Mark presented his toy to the vulpine father with gleeful eyes and a wide smile. "I built it all by myself!"
"Good job Mark!" Fox picked up his young son as he kissed him lovingly on his cheek, looking at the toy with shown amazement. "Wow it looks so good! I'm proud of you honey."
"Yea it was hard." Mark admitted out loud as it had around 200 pieces, and he had managed to put the construction ship together all by himself.
"Dinner will be ready soon, are you going to be a good boy for when Katt comes?"
"Yes." He gave a small smile as father and son looked to one another, Mark was always happy when auntie Katt came around. "I'll be a good boy."
"I surely hope so. Because Katt hasn't seen you in quite a while and she says she misses you very much, and she would be very sad if you had to go to bed early for being a naughty boy."
"I'll be good!" Mark pleaded with his father as Fox gave an amused chuckle. He was very attached to Katt and that made the father happy. Even with Fara gone, he had a strong feminine figure in his life to be attached to and be well dependent on. However he did also note that his two children had different feminine role models. One to the blue vixen, and the other to the pink feline as it was always a rather awkward atmosphere whenever he thought of the two women.
"Okay Mark. Now go get cleaned up, dinner will be ready soon and your auntie Katt should be here anytime now."
"Okay." Fox let the small kit down as he ran up the stairs to get washed up for dinner. Fox turned back toward his stove as he threw in all the chopped vegetables into the pan along with the beef. He began to boil the spaghetti noodles and seasoned the vegetables and meat just right, now he just had to play the waiting game until it would be time to mix the two together. The oven timer went off just on time as Fox picked up an oven mitt and reached for the pan filled with his special garlic bread. He had already lightly buttered and put his special garlic spread on the toast, but what really made it good was a hint of garlic salt as well giving it a tasty yet not overpowering taste to it.
Cooking gave the vulpine dad to think. He didn't know how or why he got himself into this situation, but he could never guess correctly how either path would follow with each of the two women. He laughed as the scenario really did sound like the days of his youth. The first few years after Fara's death, Katt was around often to comfort the stricken father, and as the years went by they became close. So close in fact they had talked about the idea of being married. However they had a falling out, and since then their relationship just wasn't as strong. Around that time is when Krystal came back into the picture and his life as a potential dating partner. Due to their past chemistry the two bonded again right away, and with so little effort as it was simple. However Krystal's job as a famous musician, which made her travel often for her work, was a major turn off to the vulpine. Like Katt, Krystal couldn't' give up her work to be a mom while she was still young. And Fox wasn't willing to just wait until she had her fun, in result they were constantly on again and off again in their relationship.
Just as Fox was about to finish making dinner did his front door ring as it snapped him out of his trance.
"Jamie can you get the door please?"
"Okay." The young girl called to her dad as she ran for the front door. She opened it widely as she smiled nicely to their guest, as the pink feline had a nice smile for the young girl as well.
"Hi Miss Monroe."
"Hello Jamie. It's nice to see you again dear." Katt gave the young kit as she took her two suit cases and placed them inside the home to the side of the door. After she got her coat off and fixed up her outfit did she turn to the girl. "You know honey, I've told you before you can call me Katt."
"Oh I'm sorry, I guess it just slipped my mind." Jamie came up with an excuse. It's not that she forgot, it's that she just wasn't…comfortable with calling the feline by her first name.
"It's alright."
"Katt!" Mark yelled from the stairs as he quickly yet carefully headed descended to meet the feline he missed.
"Hey honey!" Katt waited for the small boy at the base of the stairs as she opened her arms wide. Mark went straight into her arms as the two hugged one another tightly. Katt gave a nice kiss on the top of Mark's forehead, she had missed him very much as well.
"I've missed you."
"Oh I missed you too Mark." Katt rubbed the top of his head as she made her way to the kitchen, she didn't need her nose to know Fox was cooking another one of his fabulous meals again. She wasn't supposed to go way overboard her diet, but she could splurge for special occasions like this one. Fox turned toward his feline friend as the two met in the center, hugging one another tightly.
"Hey Katt."
"Hello Fox, it's been quite some time since I last saw your handsome mug." Katt pinched Fox's cheek as she got a nice laugh from his two kids. As he pulled away did she give him a nice kiss to help with the pain. Time had not left its mark on the feline, as she kept her youthful looks as she smiled nicely to him. Katt felt the same way about the vulpine daddy, he was still one of the most handsome men she had ever met. The only different thing about the vulpine is now he had two kids instead of one.
"Yea it has, would you like some help with your bags upstairs? The room is all prepared."
"Oh its okay Fox, I can get it." Katt set the smaller of the two kids down gently as she smiled up to the dad. He went right back to work turning his back as Katt sneaked a piece of garlic bread, him turning around just in time.
"Katt! You're going to ruin your appetite!"
"I'm sorry I can't help it!" She ran away from his reach laughing as Katt took her two bags and went up the stairs. Jamie just looked to the two adults acting like kids as she found it strange. She didn't know why, but she had mixed feelings about the relationship between her father and Miss Monroe. Fara had been gone for a while now, and Fox had tried dating other women before. He and Katt seemed very close, but Jamie didn't know how to respond or react to it. It's not that she didn't like their relationship, she felt as though nothing was wrong with it. But she just wasn't close to the feline, something that Katt had noticed over time and tried to mend.
Jamie just didn't have much too any interest in the feline, as well as the relationship between her and her father. It didn't bother her, at least not very much, but she was much closer to Krystal than to Katt. If only she was going to stay as well. Jamie knew that Mark was close to Katt, and that was alright and all. But she much preferred the blue vixen over the pink feline. What Jamie didn't know however is that Fox and Katt's relationship used to be stronger, they at one point were talking about being serious. Fox didn't want to tell his children unless he was absolutely sure, however the feline couldn't commit. Part of it was her job, and part of it was her attitude. She felt as though she was too young to settle down, get married, and have kids of her own. However now Katt knew she made a mistake, and regretted on not taking Fox on his offer in hindsight. Now they were disengaged, not as close as they used to be. Katt was trying, but Fox made sure to keep his distance to a certain extent.
Katt came back downstairs still holding Mark in her arms as she played nicely with the younger of the two children, walking past Jamie as if a ghost in the halls. Mark very much liked Katt, and Fox must have known this as he watched the two enter the kitchen together while he kept cooking.
"Jamie." The sound of her name snapped the young girl out of her trance, as she looked to her father with a concerned look. "Is everything alright?"
"Yea everything's okay." She nodded with a small smile as to not concern her father.
"Why don't you go get ready for dinner if you haven't already?"
"Okay." Jamie ran back up the stairs as Fox turned back toward the stove putting the final pieces of dinner together. Katt relaxed in the living room that was right next to the kitchen as she and Mark watched whatever kid friendly program was on. She still held the boy close as he sat in her lap. Jamie went to her room after washing her hands, drying them on a towel as she went to her dresser to slip into something more comfortable for the night approaching. Jamie noticed something outside her bedroom window that faced the front of the house, as she showed a huge smile and ran downstairs very excited.
She waited a few seconds before opening the door unannounced as she startled the vixen on the other side.
"Krystal!"
"Oh Jamie honey!" Krystal stood outside the front door of the McCloud residence as the younger girl dove straight into the blue vixen's arms, and the two held one each other close.
"I've missed you."
"I've missed you too Jamie, it's so good to see you again." Krystal played with the top of Jamie's head as they still held one another. Even after all these years, their bound was still strong from the days of when she was a baby, and when Krystal tried to step in as her mother.
"Here let me help you with those."
"Oh thank you so much Jamie." Krystal let the younger girl take one of her suitcases as they both stepped into the cozy home. Being in the McCloud house always made her feel welcome and at home, both in mind, body, and heart.
"Dad! Krystal is here!"
"Wait what?" Fox turned toward the hallway as Katt also held a surprised look, Fox mentioned nothing of Krystal coming to spend…time with him as well.
"Hello Fox, it's been a while." The two met in the center of the kitchen as they wrapped their arms around each other, holding nice smiles. Krystal still looked just as stunning now as she was back in school.
"Hey Krystal, it's nice to see you again." The two broke away still holding hands as they looked into one another's eyes. Krystal loved that look on Fox's face, that look when he was truly calm. Time had not waned on the vulpine's body, as she eyed his figure.
"You seem surprised."
"Well I am a bit honestly. I thought you said you had a hotel room for the time you were going to be in town?"
"Well I thought I did. Apparently someone messed up my reservation, I got there and every room was completely packed. So I figured I would stop on by and see if I could stay here."
"Yea of course." Fox came up with on the spot, even though he knew there wasn't much space left for the blue vixen. "Our home is always your home Krystal."
"Oh thank you Fox." Krystal gave a nice kiss onto the side of his cheek as she searched around for the last member of the McCloud family. "So where is-?" She stopped mid-sentence as Katt and Krystal stood about arm's length apart, the feline still holding the younger kit as she gave a small smile.
"Krystal, so nice to see you again."
"Oh Katt!" Krystal spoke as the two wrapped arms around each other, Katt only a single arm as she still held Mark. "It's been so long, you look so good!"
"Oh thank you, you look very nice yourself." Although Krystal sounded genuine, Katt on the other hand was trying to fake optimism. It's not that she disliked Krystal by any means, but having another woman in the house with Fox wasn't what the feline planned on.
"I overheard about your room, that's unfortunate. Do you have a place to stay?" Katt asked as the vixen took the question in a strange way, Fox had just said she could stay if she wanted.
"Well yea Fox just offered his home, I take it you have the guest room. Don't worry I'll find a spot."
"You can sleep with me!" Jamie offered as she was excited Krystal would be staying with them regardless. She turned around with a smile to match one of the young girl.
"That would be wonderful honey, thank you." She turned back around to face the small brown kit as he gave her a nervous look. "Hi Mark, how have you been?" The kit didn't answer with words, he merely looked away shyly as he burred his face in Katt's chest.
"Aww." The pink feline gave out in a high tone, bouncing the small kit lovingly to try and calm his nerves. "I guess he's a little shy." Krystal took note of how motherly Katt was being to the small kit, and although it didn't necessarily bother her, it did rub her in a strange sort of way…
"I suppose so, I haven't seen him more than a handful of times. Just been busy travelling and with work."
"I can imagine."
"Is dinner going to be ready soon dad?" Jamie asked as she snapped her father out of a blurred trance as he came back to his senses. Fox realized he now had all three ladies looking at him.
"Uh yea…I guess I'll set the table for one more."
"Thank you Fox."
"Sure thing. Jamie why don't you help Krystal with her things to your room?"
"Okay!" The young girl grabbed the hand of her 'mother' as she got Krystal's attention. "Come on Krystal, it's changed since you last saw it."
"Okay honey." Jamie pulled her down the hallway as Katt set the little boy down to go play or to go back to the couch. As Fox set the table for one more, Katt came up to him rather nervous like.
"So Krystal is going to stay, that ought to be fun."
"Yea I suppose so." Fox picked up on the tone of the feline as he quirked a brow. "It's not a problem is it?"
"Oh no." Katt put her hands up defensively as she lowered the tone of her voice, switching her gaze between the man and the stairs making sure no one intruded on their conversation. "I was just hoping we could find some time to talk about…" She paused.
"What?"
"You know." She continued to switch her gaze constantly as Fox knew what she was talking about. He just finished setting the last of the dishes and grabbed the dishes for the food as he set them all about the table.
"Sure, we can talk about it sometime when we are alone."
"That's my point Fox, when is that going to be now?"
"I don't know." He admitted as he didn't know what he could say to the feline. He didn't know what to say or how to say it without offending her. "We'll find a time, alright?"
"Okay." Katt just sighed, a little disappointed now that it seemed as though she and Fox wouldn't get to be alone as much during this week before the actual reunion. Krystal and Jamie came down at the perfect time as their conversation was now over, and they looked ready to bring on the food.
"Well everyone help themselves." Fox said aloud as everyone found a spot around the table. Fox sat at the head of the table with Krystal to his left, and Katt to his right. Krystal had Jamie sit by her left as Katt helped with Mark's plate to her right. Fox let everyone else go first as he just watched everyone gather around and eat. Jamie and Krystal talked a lot while they ate, as Katt tended mostly to Mark and they had a small bit of chatter as well. At least the kind of talk you can have with a six year old, as she tended to his table manners and wiping his face away. Fox just ate silently to himself as he just thought to himself.
Well this is awkward Krystal picked up on his cognitive thoughts as she pretended to not hear them. She just didn't know what was awkward. Was it her sudden appearance or the fact that Katt was here as well? Unlike the feline, Krystal didn't know about Fox and Katt's relationship. She didn't even know they were a thing, it all happened before her and Fox were getting back together. Unlike Krystal, Katt knew of the existing relationship between Krystal and Fox. Though she was glad it was more on the side of a break than being together. As Krystal ate her food in silence, she decided to do a little digging as well.
Man why did Krystal have to show up now of all times? The blue vixen heard the feline's thoughts as she was almost offended, but kept her cool as to not let on that she knew anything. She dug deeper through the thoughts, over the last couple of years since Fara's passing. After a moment she found it all, she found what Katt and Fox were trying to hide from her and it made her livid.
Part of Krystal was steamed, absolutely lit ablaze and appalled as what Fox was doing with Katt. However she knew this was several years ago, it was before her and Fox were a thing again. They had no time together since he and Krystal had spent time together, so at least that was good. He wasn't doing anything repulsive and dishonest behind her back like he did before in the past. Now she knew why Fox found it awkward, why he had returned to 'his old self', and why this meeting was more awkward and anxious instead of happy. Part of it made Krystal upset, and the other part of it made her sad. But she couldn't hold it against him, they were older now, more mature. She had broken things off with him, she chose her career and her youth over the chance of being with someone she could say she loved. Now, like Katt of how Krystal found, she was regretting that choice. She only counted herself lucky that Katt had turned down his offer at first as well.
"So Krystal." Katt tried to break the ice as she smiled to the blue vixen. "How is your work doing? I hear your new songs all the time, they're usually on top of the popularity charts." Krystal didn't respond at first, she was trying to guess if Katt was genuinely interested in what she was doing, or if she was somehow trying to trick her into showing no interest to the vulpine.
"It's going good." She started off slowly. "It's a lot of fun to meet the fans, especially my number one fan right here." Krystal rubbed the top of Jamie's head as she referred to the young girl. She could feel the jealousy boiling over in the feline's mind.
"But the one thing that really bugs me is that it keeps me away from home, from what's really important." Krystal looked toward the vulpine dad as he was completely caught off guard as he tried to not make eye contact. He knew that Katt also picked up on what the blue vixen was referring to, as she tried not to show it in her face and posture.
"How is the modeling business going Katt?" She looked back to the feline with a small smile, hiding her victory within her mind.
"It's going good, it's hard balancing out diets and where to be when for my show case runs, but it's always rewarding. I'm just glad my work doesn't make me travel, I don't think I could handle it, or being away from this little guy and his dad for so long."
Katt knew what Krystal was trying to get at beneath the surface, as she fired one back. Rubbing Mark's head affectionately and gave him a peck on his cheek. Making the young boy laugh and giggle as Fox was yet again blown away, trying to hide his face as he knew this would not end pretty. That remark stung the vixen in the heart, she always regretted staying away from Jamie, Mark, and Fox for so long, lengthy periods at a time. Part of the blue vixen wanted to argue it out here and now, but the other part of her kept it calm, cool, and collective. She had only just got here, it would be a long week if they were at each other's throats already.
"Well who wants dessert?" Fox tried to change the subject as he got up heading for the freezer, obviously the two kids oblivious as to what's going on cheering for joy that their daddy was allowing them to have dessert, which he rarely ever let them do. Krystal and Katt said nothing as they just gave each other blank stares, trying to figure the other one out.
"Katt? Krystal? Either of you some cheesecake?"
"Okay Fox." Krystal politely gave as he placed a slice in front of the blue vixen.
"No thank you, the pasta alone was already so good, can't have too much of a good thing."
"Alright if you insist." Fox gave everyone a slice except the feline as she placed her hands under her chin, and smiled toward Krystal.
"Would you want to run in the morning Krystal? You know, work off dinner and dessert?"
"What?" Krystal didn't know if she heard that right or if Katt was suggesting she was overweight, as she looked toward the feline straight in the eye as she got everybody's attention, and not in a friendly matter either.
"Oh sorry I just didn't know if you were going to work out tomorrow after all of this."
"Oh I will, maybe tonight as well." The two shot each other a small glare as Fox only got up quickly, his face incredibly red as he forgot about dessert for the time being.
"So who wants to watch a movie? Maybe on the porch or go swimming instead?" The vulpine didn't know what he did to deserve both this women fighting over him, and it was only the first day. He turned on the lights outside to give light to his backyard porch, although Sol wasn't down completely it was still going down, giving the sky it's darkened blue glow with a hint of orange in the sky. The two kids finished their dessert rather quickly as Krystal and Katt only looked toward one another. Katt was the first to break it off as she gave a smirk.
"Well why don't we go watch the stars or so?" She got up to catch up with Mark as Krystal just left her cheesecake, not really in the mood to eat it anymore. Krystal was the last to exit the house as she watched father and daughter shooting hoops with the basketball hoop Fox installed himself. This was a pretty big backyard given the size of the two story home. Half of the backyard was completely taken from the large swimming pool and hot tub installed, as it was an indoor swimming pool with a large plastic covering over it. The other half had been converted into a basketball hoop, and a covered area to sit on the porch. Fox had built a large screen that sat on the top of his fence, to project movies from home. The covered porch had a fire pit and plenty of chairs around it as Katt sat with Mark in her lap, completely ignoring the blue vixen as she was out of her element.
Krystal yearned to be that close with Fox's kids again like Katt was, however her situation was just different. Jamie was older now, and it was harder to have that same level of bonding on the emotional stigma of it, not just physical attachment. But she still held a special place in Jamie's heart, she knew it as well as Fox did.
Fox noticed Krystal standing by herself in the doorway as he called out to her. "Krystal, come join us."
"Alright Fox." Krystal smiled as she stepped off the porch heading for the court as Fox bounced her the ball. She was out of her element as she shot awkwardly and far, however made it in the basket regardless, beginner's luck.
"Let me try." Jamie recovered the ball as she took her stance at the three point line, as Krystal thought it was rather far for the young girl. However Jamie proved herself as she followed through the motion, a perfect swish from the three point line.
"Oh wow, good job Jamie."
"Thanks, dad's been teaching me." Jamie smiled to her father as he went to recover the ball.
"Jamie played point guard for her school last season, she's going to try out for it again now that she's in middle school."
"That's so wonderful honey. I'm sure you'll do great." Krystal frowned as Jamie picked it up. "I'm just sorry I couldn't come to any of your games, your dad gave me your schedule but I just couldn't make it."
"It's alright, maybe this year." Krystal loved how optimistic Jamie was, as if she never had a bad day in her life. But that couldn't be true…Krystal knew she suffered when Fara passed away. But she was trying to be strong, and remember the life her mother lived, the same as Fox did with his wife.
"I hope so." The blue vixen looked back to Fox just as he was getting ready to shoot. She called out to him grabbing his attention. "Fox, can you dunk the ball?"
"I don't know, good question." Fox prepared himself as he charged the basket. At the perfect moment did he jump as high as he could, surprised himself that he was able to dunk the ball. Fox held onto the rim for just a moment before letting go, what a show off.
"I guess I can."
"Nice one." The two smiled as Katt just watched from the distance. They stayed outside until it got dark as they decided to just hang out instead of watching a movie or playing in the pool. Mark let out a loud yawn as he snuggled into Katt's chest closer, the feline smiling as she held him close.
"Hey it's past your bed time kiddo." Fox heard the yawn as he left the two girls at the court and headed to pick up Mark from Katt's grasp. "Time for bed."
"But I don't want to go to bed." Mark tried to get out but couldn't between how much yawning he was doing.
"Well I think its bedtime. Are you going to give Katt a goodnight kiss?" He looked to the feline still sitting as she smiled. Katt got up from her chair as she stood next to the vulpine daddy still holding the small kit. He leaned toward the feline as Mark gave the feline a small kiss.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight honey. Sleep well." Katt said to the boy as she planted her warm lips onto his forehead, before Fox disappeared into the house with Katt following behind. Krystal watched the entire scene as it made her feel weird on the inside. She cared for fox and his wonderful children, but she didn't know if he felt the same anymore. Perhaps the role she once saw in a future vision, the one she shared with the vulpine was truly gone now, and replaced with someone else.
"Mom?" Jamie snapped the vixen out of her daze as she turned with a smile to the young girl. It always made her happy to hear Jamie call her that still, after all these years. "You don't mind if I call you mom right?"
"No of course not honey." Krystal held the young child as she looked up to the stars, showing a face of concern and wonder as she didn't know what her place would be in Fox's, and Jamie's life in the future. "Is there something on your mind?"
"Well…yea honestly." Jamie wanted to share with the older vixen, she just didn't know if it was her place to question things that she may not have understood.
"What is it honey? You can talk to me about anything Jamie." Krystal kneeled down to match the young kit's height as Jamie looked away at first.
"Krystal…are you going to marry my dad?" The question came out of nowhere as Krystal's cheeks heated. She didn't know how to respond as she stayed silent for a moment. Truth be told, part of Krystal's time she would spend here the blue vixen hoped to talk to Fox about such an arrangement. Like they had once before, only for Krystal to foolishly throw it away and now be in this current situation. Fighting for his attention and affection with someone else.
"I know you two used to spend a lot of time together."
"I don't know honey. Would you want me to marry your father?" Krystal turned the question around.
"What why are you asking me?" Jamie didn't know what to say as her cheeks heated. She never would have thought that her answer could impact such a union if it was or was not meant to happen.
"You would be surprised on how much your decision could persuade your father Jamie. He wants to be happy, but he wants to make sure you two are happy as well." Jamie looked to the older vixen as she was embarrassed, Krystal smiled gently to the young vixen as she knew she was just curious, trying to give her some comfort thoughts.
"And your answer could perhaps persuade myself even Jamie."
"Really?" She sounded amazed as she never would have thought Krystal could be her mother if she simply asked for it.
"Well your father would have to ask to marry me, but it just might. Go on Jamie, tell me what you want." Krystal smiled to the younger girl.
"What I want?" Jamie looked to the ground, as Sol was nearly complete going down and the two were shining in the artificial light from the porch. She was trying to not be sad, trying to fight back her tears as she let go of the ball and dove into Krystal's arms.
"I want you to be my mom. I don't want you to leave again. I missed you so much." Jamie admitted the deepest feelings in her heart. She knew Krystal and her weren't blood related, and she knew just how busy Krystal was. But now that she had visited again, for the first time in a long time, Jamie felt as though she needed to let Krystal know how she felt while she was here.
"Oh honey." Krystal enwrapped the fragile child in her arms as she tried to calm her mind. She never knew just how much Jamie missed the blue vixen. Sure she missed her, as Krystal missed Jamie as well. But she also missed that strong feminine support from having a mother, and now it was like her mother was always gone on business. Krystal was the closest thing Jamie had to a mother now, and it made the blue vixen feel guilty.
She knew that most children this age wasn't ever picked up from their parents much anymore, but Krystal made an exception as she lifted Jamie comfortably into her arms, patting her back trying to give her comfort thoughts.
"I'll talk to your father sometime about it while I'm here, no more tears now, alright?"
"Okay." Jamie only gave back, trying to wipe her tears on Krystal's dress.
"Now how about bed? I'll tell you a few things about where I come from. I think I can show you something that might make you very happy." Krystal referred to the mental powers her people had, as well as the vision she once shared with Fox as it made her heart sing.
"Okay. I love you." Jamie gave to the blue vixen as it only made her heart melt, and wrap her arms around the young girl tighter.
"I love you too honey, so much." Krystal walked up the porch and into the home, making sure to close the door behind her as she headed for the stairs. So many things swarmed in this home. So many memories of the past, and ideas of what the future could hold. So many mixed emotions and feelings, as well as a few hearts that could be strengthened by bonds or shattered left in heartbreak's wake. This week before the reunion would be so much fun, but many things were still unclear under this same roof the two women shared, not only a physical, but an emotional household as well.
And it was only the first day
Author's Notes
The lyrics at the very beginning was from the song Stressed Out – By 21 Pilots