Chapter 22: Meeting Wolf's Parents

Looking out the window of the vehicle we were in as we travelled towards our next destination, I felt both excited and terrified. While I trusted Wolf, and I loved him with every ounce of my heart, he was the only human I had any trust in, and while I knew his parents were good people –as they had raised Wolf and made him into the my wonderful soon-to-be husband- I didn't know how they would react to meeting me. Wolf had seemed hesitant when we first officially met, but he had been alone in the woods for much of his stay on Cerinia, with his only visit out of the woods having been to explore Iris on one occasion, and then to chase after me as I had rushed home.

What are you thinking my lovely vixen?

As I turned to look to Wolf, I felt his hand wrap around my own comfortingly, and I felt myself starting to smile as I looked into his concerned and warm gaze. My heart felt like it was about to melt as I looked into his eyes, but while I didn't feel like telling him my worries, I knew it would be rude to ignore the one that hadn't only saved my life on multiple occasions, but also the one that was going to share my love.

"I'm thinking meeting your parents is going to be an interesting experience."

He smiled as he tightened his hand around my own, and he leaned over and gave me a comforting kiss along the side of my muzzle. I felt myself leaning into the feeling of his warmth, and I felt a warm glow beneath my fur as I knew the two human guards in the front seats had probably seen it. It will be an experience I hope you won't regret. Don't worry... if they start to make you nervous, I will be there the entire time.

When he pulled away, he unbuckled his seatbelt and slid closer to me, before he clipped the other one around his waist and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Smiling as I leaned against his body, I had to move my muzzle a bit until it was comfortably under his chin, before I took in a deep breath. While it was the shampoo I used, I enjoyed the smell coming from him all the same, but I felt even more comforted as his arm tightened around my shoulders. He was my guardian, my lover, and soon my husband... there was nowhere else than in his arms that I wanted to be...

-X-x-X-

The sun was streaming in through the open parts of the treeline and landing on the road as we began to approach my old home. My human home...

Smiling as I looked down towards Krystal, I saw she her look up into my eyes with a slightly worried twinkle in her beautiful green eyes, and while I knew she would be fine no matter what, I also knew this entire ordeal was probably going to be unnerving to her more than it had been for us when we had first met.

This time the meeting would take place with us, and my parents. They knew about her, and she knew about them, so this could either go smoothly, or it would be very awkward for her and myself. When I had first met her parents, it had been after a recent shootout with the rebels that had tried to kill them. This meeting would be very... very different.

As the SUV pulled into the driveway beside the house that I knew my parents were in, I smiled as I softly said, "There is nothing to worry about as long as I am here with you. Just smile, look beautiful how you always do, and act yourself." The worry lessened the longer my gaze remained locked on her own, and as we sat there, I saw confidence beginning to take up resolve in her eyes. Then I asked, "Are you ready now?"

She smiled, before she leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on the lips, before she puled away and undid the buckle for her seatbelt. Smiling myself as I did the same, I looked towards the front of the vehicle as the driver said, "We will wait here until you two are finished."

Nodding my head, I said, "Alright, thanks." And then I got out of the SUV along with Krystal.

Walking beside Krystal, I felt her grab my hand, and I gave a comforting squeeze to her hand as I looked to her. I saw not a trace of hesitation or worry in her eyes, and as I looked back forward, I felt a wide smile cross my lips as I began to make my way towards the porch. I wasn't sure what the day was, but I knew both mom and dad would most likely be home if they weren't out in town; but I knew if they had been in town they most likely would've seen Krystal and I.

Each step of the porch seemed to be much higher than when I had been here about a week or so ago, but each step I took was a step closer to having my parents meet the one I had told them about.

Stopping in front of the door, I reached a hand up, and gave it a firm and loud rapt of my knuckles. I heard the noise it made on the other side of the door, and I knew if they were home they would hear it without a doubt, and so while we stood there, I looked to the side of me and at Krystal. She was smiling widely as she faced the door, and her ears were pointing towards the door as if listening to hear any footsteps. Smiling some more as I looked back forward and at the door, I began to trace the outline of doors exterior as I thought 'out loud', "You look beautiful Krystal."

All I felt was her hand tightening around my own before the door handle twisted and the door creaked open, and standing there in front of us framed by the doorway was my mom wearing her favorite baking apron. Her eyes landed on me first, and I saw her eyes widen a bit, before she reached forward and pulled me into a firm hug. I let go of Krystal's hand so that I wouldn't jerk her forward with me, and as I returned the hug to my mom, she let out a gasp of breath that sounded close to a sob, before she said in a happy tone, "I'm so glad you are back and safe this time Wolf!" There was another choked sob, before she said, "When we got the letter that you were going to be staying on Cerinia for the rest of your life..."

She didn't say anything else as she simply continued to hug me with all her strength, but it was then that something that she had said clicked into my mind. Who said I wouldn't be able to visit home?

The thought was to myself, and even though it was a bit interesting that someone had lied to my parents, right now I was engaged in a slowly growing struggle to breath as my mom choked me with her smothering hug. I didn't want to separate from my mom, as a lot of important events have happened since the last time I had seen her, but the need to breath was a bit more important to me than most would think.

Reaching my hands up and easing them between us, I had to push my moms arms away my pushing on her shoulders, but when We had some separation, I saw her watery gaze turn towards Krystal, and although I did see a bit of surprise, she still smiled nonetheless. Smiling myself as I looked towards Krystal, I saw her smiling towards my mom as well, and I decided it would be better if I gave a proper introduction.

Pulling Krystal close to my side with one of my arms and giving her a firm one-armed hug, "Mom, this is Krystal. If it wasn't for her, then I wouldn't be here at all on multiple occasions." When her eyes widened, I let go of Krystal and stepped to the side while thinking, Brace yourself Krystal. I felt a smirk cross my lips as I saw Krystal starting to look towards me, but that ended as soon as my mom... our mom reached forward and pulled Krystal into a strong hug. Tell me when you need to breath.

As mom continued to hug Krystal with all her strength, I heard a masculine voice I knew all to well speak from deeper inside the home, "Wolf?" Looking up, I felt my smile widen as I saw dad standing in the doorway to the living room. Nodding my head towards him, I saw him smile before he began to approach.

Wolf, some help please...

Looking over, I saw Krystal's ears were flat against her head as she feebly attempted to free herself from moms grip. That meant it was time for me to intervene before Krystal needed some CPR...

...

"Please explain that last part again?"

Leaning against Krystal as I felt her do the same, I looked down as I felt Krystal wrap her fingers in between my own, and as she held my hand, I could only stare down at the comforting blue fur. Looking back up and into dads waiting eyes, I felt a smile stretch across my lips as Krystal laughed quietly as she said, "From a young age, depending if I was in direct contact with someone or if I was able to focus enough, I would be able to utilize telepathy."

I saw unease in dads eyes as he leaned back in his seat, and he asked, "So are you reading my thoughts right now?" His eyes didn't seem angry, rather he looked more worried than anything else as his eyes seemed to look over towards me with worry as well as he asked, "Does she know everything you think about?"

Looking over to Krystal, I saw a bit of pain flash through her eyes, but I only gave her a smirk that she seemed to return half-heartedly. We both looked back towards our parents as she said, "I have learned how to only use my skill when the other person gives me their consent. I can... hear your thoughts, but I'm not listening. It's almost like being in a café... you can hear other conversations, but you don't really listen to them unless you want to."

Dad still didn't seemed convinced, but it was obvious when he said, "But that still doesn't answer my second question, does she know everything you think about Wolf?"

Krystal's hand tightened on my own, and I could only laugh as I said, "No, she doesn't, but she knows she can read my thoughts if she wants." Looking over to Krystal, I saw her smiling, but I said, "But that isn't to say all my thoughts and memories are available to her. I can still hide behind mental walls if I want to." And before you ask or say, that is indeed a challenge for you for later.

Turning and looking back to our parents, I saw mom was watching with a thoughtful face, but my dad had one of relief. Feeling myself chuckle as I leaned back some more, I turned to mom and said, "Mom, we were wondering, do you know of any good floral shops? Krystal and I are planning on using a mix of Cerinian and human flowers for our upcoming wedding."

"Wedding...?" Mom looked over towards me with large wide eyes, but after a few moments of silence, something seemed to pop into place, and she smiled as she said, "Oh yes, the wedding. Well... the only floral shop I would think to suggest is the one in town. The owner there will cater to weddings as far as South Dakota... but I'm not sure if she will go to another world, so you would need to ask her yourself. If you don't want to use her shop, then I wouldn't know who else to refer, as she grows everything right there in her shop." The thoughtful expression on her face slowly began to morph into one of sadness, and she said more to herself, "My little baby is getting married..."

I felt Krystal press into my side, and I looked over to see a smirk across her muzzle as she was looking directly up at me, and I didn't need her telepathy to know what she was thinking. Reaching a hand behind her back, I pulled her closer as I leaned down and planted a brief kiss between her ears.

Pulling away, I looked towards our parents and saw dad was comforting a gently crying mom. Yet that was when I felt Krystal kissing my cheek, and she decided to use her telepathy, Her little baby, my big brave husband...

I felt myself starting to smile, and she moved her head until her muzzle was pressed against my neck, and I felt my heart skip a beat as I thought back for her, And you are my little but beautiful blue vixen...

"Dad," When he looked up, I saw a smile adorning his lips, a rare smile too, "I'm not sure it will work, but Krystal and I will try to get you and mom invitations to the wedding." His expression seemed to brighten a bit, and moms teary eyed face looked up with a wide smile as well.

Wolf, I know we didn't spend much time here, but it is time for us to return to Cerinia... besides, we can take another shower...

Oh! Covering my mouth as I choked a bit on what felt like a cough, I knew exactly what she was hinting at, and that thought alone was enough that I knew I would light up like a tomato. "M-Mom, dad... a-hem... sorry, but Krystal and I need to leave for Cerinia..." They both smiled warmly, and they both nodded, and I added, "We will have the invitations be mailed to you, and possibly have people pick you up."

"It was so great to see you again Wolf..."

My mom smiled as she wiped her eyes, and then she said, "We will see you at your wedding deary..."

Getting to my feet, I felt Krystal do so as well, and it was then that she let out a brief giggle, and then she said, "It was a pleasure to meet you two. I look forward to seeing you both at our wedding..."