The next morning found Soulful Heart still sleeping on the Liger's pull out couch, curled up and hugging his own tail. Around him, the house started to awake. First Stellar came downstairs yawning and started up some coffee.

Soulful snoozed on, his ear twitching as the rest of the Ligers came down.

"Nooo, don't mess up my mane!" "Hey, that's my chair!" "Could you move over a bit?"

Soulful just shut his eyes tighter, hugging his tail close to him, as his face rested on it; his tail serving as both blanket and pillow. Connie peeked into the living room and asked in a whispered sing-song "Soulful, you getting up yet?" The fox didn't respond. He just flicked his ears, adjusted his blanket and...started to suck his thumb. Her eyes and mouth getting very wide, Connie quickly covered her mouth and grabbed the digital camera from a small, decorative table near the door to the den. She sneaked over to the side of the 'bed', and snapped a few pictures without using the flash.

Something of a heavy sleeper, Soulful didn't stir. Finally Connie giggled. "Uncle Soulful, wake up." She grinned.

"Hm-, wha--huh?" He blinked sleepily, his finger withdrawn from his mouth as he yawned groggily.

Connie giggled again, pre-viewing the pictures in the camera's little window. "H'lo, Rip Van Winkle."

Squinting, Soulful tried to look but he was still too blurry eyed to see the camera. "What was that?"

"A camera." She snickered at the very last picture.

"Hrm?" Not being a morning fox, he's a little slow to start up in the morning, not seeing the importance.
"Yeah. You wanna see?" She showed him.
"Hrm? Yeah sure I---" Soulful's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. THAT woke him up.

Conne backpeddled trying to save her behind now. "I think the one Chance took of me the other morning is still on there, lemme look." She started clicking through the photos.

Soulful didn't looked. He just started blushing incandescently, moaned and promptly buried his head back under the pillow, trying to hide, except for that fact that his tail and hindquarters were sticking out. Connie was gripped by the urge to snap more photos...but relented. "Here, check this out..." She showed him the pic Chance took of her; somehow or other she ended up with her upper half hanging upside-down off the edge of her bed, and is sleeping with her mouth wide open. "C'mon, please don't be like that?" With a grunt, Soulful got off the bed. He stretched and idly scratched himself. He adjusted his nightgown and looked at the picture with a snicker. "Cute look. Tugs seen these yet? He should if he's gonna be sharing a bed with you."

"No, not yet..." Connie mumbled, actually blushing.

Soulful smiled. "Why so red, Connie?" Connie shrugged, shutting off the camera to save the battery. Soulful patted her arm. "So, what's for breakfast?"

"Waffles, choice of syrup or stewed strawberries." As if in confirmation they heard Regal from the kitchen.

"Don't eat the batter, Chance, there's RAW EGG in that!"

Soulful snorted before turning back to Connie. "Not both?" He followed Connie down the stairs to breakfast.

"Sure, if you want." She hopped the last two steps and went to join the others in the kitchen.

Soulful rubbed his eyes as he walked in after her. "Morning, cats and kittens."

Rega; smiled. "Good morning."

"Mm." Stellar waved a weary paw; he hasn't had his coffee yet.

Soulful nodded and sent a weak smile to Regal before sitting down to breakfast. "Smells good."

"Thanks." Regal said as she set a huge platter of waffles on the table. Soulful had to resist from drooling on them as he helped himself to four waffles, liberally doused with syrup and strawberries.

"Got any whip cream?" He asked, licking his chops. Chance, who was about to squirt some into his own mouth, hunched guiltily and handed over the can. Soulful quirked a brow at Chance as he added the whip cream. "You know, you really make me able to say in all sincerity that "I'm a monkey's uncle." "

"I blame Playful Heart's influence."

"You of course being a total innocent that was led astray..." Soulful said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Exactly." Chance winked to show he's kidding.

Stellar drained his mug and went back for a second. "Coffee, Soulful?"

"Sure. Thanks." He nodded. "None of you kids touch that stuff though." He said to the Ligers.

"Why not?" Faith asked as Stellar set a mug of black coffee in front of Soulful with cream and sugar on the table.

"Because," Soulful answered as he added both. "It's a filthy, filthy habit." He took a deep drink.

"I thought that was smoking, not coffee drinking..." Pace commented.

"Both are addictive. I mean, look at this stuff. It smells terrible, it tastes worse..." His eyes narrowed as he saw Stellar reaching for his mug. "...and if you take it from me I will break your arm."

Stellar blinked. "Sorry...not quite awake yet." He took his own mug, which isn't too far away, and moved it to the other side of his plate. "The first time I tried coffee, I hated it. Now I can't start my day without it." Soulful nodded in agreement.

"So, what're you lot doing for the summer?"

Pace started blushing slightly. "Well, Hugs and I have plans to visit the boardwalk...or one of them, anyway." Soulful covered his mouth with his paw trying to hide a grin, his tail swishing gently.

"I…see." He looked around at the others.

"Seems Faith and I are the only ones who're dateless..." Chance said with a glum face.

"Oh, I have a date. Only it's a platonic one." Faith corrected.

"Oh? Who with kiddo?"

"With Justin. He has to fix a leak in the Hall of Hearts' ceiling, and he needs a partner in case he falls off the roof or something."

"Sounds...fun." Soulful said evenly. Faith just shrugged. Then Chance yawned widely. "Bleh...Wasn't ready to get up yet."

"Had a stressful day of pranks?" Soulful looked at his nephew.

"No, I just got to bed late..." He whispered. "I was out TPing Playful Heart's house..."

Soulful gave him a curious look. He doesn't normally approve of pranks...but does not disapproving of pranking Playful Heart...so it balances out. "A-Huh." He gently mussed Chance's mane. Chance jerked his head away and gave it a shake, making the tendrils stand up. "You know, I know a barber who could help you with that." Soulful said, continuing on. "He lives in London, on Fleet Street. A Mr. Todd. Mr. Sweeney Todd. Want me to give him a call?"

"Nooooo thank you." Chance said quickly, a little more well-read than he looked.

"Are you sure? I'm sure his downstairs neighbor Mrs. Lovett could make you a nice pie afterwards..."
Chance turned aside and pretended to be sick.

"Nice." Faith made a face.

Soulful smirked, his tail flicking. "Say Regal, who do you blame for Chance? Does he take after you, or Stellar?"

"I don't 'blame' anyone. As for who he takes after...well...I would have to say, both at once and neither one. Chance is Chance." She replied with a grin.

Soulful polished off his fifth waffle, then leaned back to pat his stomach. "Urrrgh....so good. I don't think I'm gonna be able to move..."

"Maybe you just need a good burp." Stellar rolled his eyes and sighed, though he's more awake now.

"Dream. On. Chance." Soulful snorted with an eye rolls.

Chance grinned and put his plate in the dishwasher. "Well, I'm off. Missions to do, people to help."

"'Here he comes to wreck the daaaaaaaay.'" Faith sang.

"Not bad." Soulful grinned at her. To Chance he added. "Just don't assign Loyal to rescue any more cats out of trees...ditto for Proud Heart and lost dogs. Loyal looked like a mess after that mission you and Playful sent him on, you cad!" Then he pinched Chance's arm.

"Ouch!" He jerked back. "Well, it was funny!"

"Ya huh....suuure. If I could get up, I'd noogie you until you became bald." The fox said.

Chance chuckled and left while the others finished up and began to clear up the table and go.

"Gotta go, gonna be late." Regal announced.

"Late for what?" Soulful asked.

"I have a couple Missions this morning. Nothing major, but I don't want to keep them waiting too long."

"Ah. Sounds good."

"Later, Soulful. Nice having you over." She kissed her husband and waved. "Bye, kids!" She left followed closely by Stellar, Pace, and Faith.

Soulful made his own way out. He briefly looked at Regal as she walked off, then sighed and went on his way.

&&&