The puppies giggled as they played in the backyard. Barbara smiled softly as she sat watching them. The four of them tumbled around trying their best to keep the soccer ball to themselves. Barbara wanted to enjoy her time with the puppies before they were fully grown. She didn't want to miss anymore of her childhood than she already did.

"Hey, what's going on?"

She looked up to see Vinny looking at her with his usual smile. Barbara sighed and looked away, keeping her attention on the puppies.

"Just watching the kids", she answered.

"That's great", Vinny said. "You're a good mom."

She sighed, refusing to look at him. Barbara still wasn't fond of him, but she was at least trying to be nice. Him pushing her to spend time with him wasn't helping at all.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

"I thought we could talk and spend time getting to know each other", Vinny smiled sitting with her.

Barbara's ears flattened against her head as she tried her best not to growl. She was trying as hard as she could to be nice. Attacking him now would be bad.

"What is it that you would like to know about?" she asked with her teeth clenched.

"How have you been doing lately?" Vinny asked.

"Just fine..."

Barbara continued to look away watching the kids. The puppies stopped playing as they watched Vinny with their mother. They still didn't like him or trust him. Watching him get this close to Barbara was starting to get to them.

"What else did you want to know?" she asked.

"You're getting over Brian, right?" Vinny asked. "What do you say you and I..."

He put his paw over hers and blew in her ear. Barbara finally snapped. She growled and turned to look at Vinny before punching him across the face.

"You bastard!" she yelled. "How dare you do that!"

Barbara punched Vinny again before running inside. The puppies watched their mother run away upset. They turned to Vinny and growled.

"What?" he asked backing away.

The puppies continued to growl as they walked toward him.

Barbara collapsed in bed sobbing. She couldn't believe Vinny made a move on her like that. She thought he respected her. He said so. The puppies were right not to trust him.

"Brian..."

She cried into her pillow once again wishing Brian was still there with her.