Cheshire and Canuckle ... thanks for the reviews and the feedback. You know I depend on it.
Sorry for the feels Canuckle (not sorry) but there may be a few more before this is all over.
Cheshire, thanks once again for taking the lead on all things Greer and Marie. Love that stuff ...
Rest of you? You know a review or two wouldn't kill ya ... and if it would kill you, maybe get that checked out. Sounds serious ...
As Greer struggled between sleep and waking up, her mind slowly tried to piece together what she was sensing.
She knew pretty quickly that she wasn't snuggled up against Colton ... too flowery ... not fuzzy ... but she didn't snap awake in alarm. Somehow the scent had her relaxed ... still feeling secure. Safe. But then if it wasn't Colton holding her then who ...
Greer poked one eye open to find herself wrapped in her mother's arms, her body tucked next to her as Marie's head rested against her own. Greer just laid there, staring as she tried to remember the last time she had woken up like that and with a smile, wrapped her arms around her mother's middle, nuzzling into her chest and then after a little hesitant pondering, her tail around her mother's ankle. That seemed to get Marie's attention as she jolted awake and Greer nervously lowered her ears but after taking a moment to see where she was, her mother only smiled when she realized what happened.
"Good morning," and returning the gesture planted a kiss on Greer's forehead. That caused the tigress to pause for a second and Marie wondered what she had done wrong only to be knocked back a little when Greer just curled closer into her, burying her head into her mother chest like she was five years old again.
Marie smiled before knowingly rubbing little circles onto Greer's back and stroking her hair.
"I love you too Greer ..."
...
Greer came down washed up but still in her sweats to the somewhat surreal sight of the still human looking Colton and her mother quietly enjoying breakfast together in the kitchen. Giving her head a little shake she padded into the kitchen and giving Colton a quick kiss on the cheek sat down to join them.
She was going to reach for a donut when she sat back in surprise at the pancakes and what smelled suspiciously like one of Ororo's uber-healthy veggie shakes. She glanced over at her mom but she just looked pointedly back at the carb heavy plate.
"All of it." Marie didn't even let Greer ask her question before she grumbled a little and dug in. Apex meanwhile took a look at the plate and rolled his eyes a little ...
Things were quite for a little bit around the table as Greer munched away and did the crossword. That was until she noticed the way her mom was staring at the two of them. For some reason it got the tigress smiling.
"What?" Greer asked with a bit of a laugh as Marie smiled a bit herself and folded her paper as she put it onto the table.
"Well I was just wondering, looking between the two of you, if you were going to be keeping me in suspense much longer." Marie sounded expectant as Greer and Colton shared a look before Greer turned back to her mom.
"I'm sorry but suspense of ..." Marie rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair before gesturing towards Colton.
"Well don't treat your mother like an idiot. You don't think I'd recognize one of those inducer-thingies." Greer's ears slowly lowered towards her head as she realized where this was heading.
"Mom ... listen, maybe it'd be better -"
"Oh come on Greer. Are you going to tell me your embarrassed about how your boyfriend really looks?"
"Embrass- what no!"
"Or did you really didn't think I'd notice the growls?
"Growls ..." Now it was Greer's turn to glare at Colton but he didn't seem alarmed at all. Instead he just had his usual focused look locked on Marie. He knew that this had been coming ... he had imagined a number of different scenarios and most of them didn't end well. But for Greer's sake ... he hoped he was wrong.
"Don't be mad at him. He was just being overprotective ... there are certainly worse things in the world." Marie chided her daughter who gave her boyfriend a very clear, 'we are talking about this later' look.
"Well ... lemme see."
"Oh ... right," Greer had actually almost forgotten what she had suddenly been so scared of but ... well there really wasn't much getting around it. She had known her mom was going to want to meet Colton at some point but ... well things had suddenly gone so well last night after going so horribly wrong. Her mom said she accepted her, striped and all and that she knew Greer wasn't going to have a 'normal' life but ... was asking her to accept Colton pushing things a little too far?
Colton certainly didn't seem to have the same hesitations she did and very deliberately slid his chair back as Greer quickly did the same, slipping her arms around his large one. She thought she was doing it to be supportive but ... for him or for herself she really couldn't say.
As Apex reached for his pendant Greer grabbed his other arm and turned to give her mom another nervous glance.
"Mum ... we're not trying to hide anything from you or. It's just ... Colton ... Colton is like me." Marie raised a slightly amused eyebrow.
"I gathered as much. Now go on ... let's see the man you told me so little about." Trust her mom to toss a jab in to make her feel guilty ... now she had to show her.
"Alright just - give it a minute." Apex looked down at Greer as she gave a little nod and he turned his eyes back to lock with Marie's.
Colton rumbled and without a word, deactivated his inducer. There was an intake of breath, and he noted how Marie's hand had flew up to her chest and her other had dug into the armchair she was sitting on. Her heart rate had nearly doubled.
There was an uncomfortable pause before Marie remembered how to talk.
"This ... This is how he really-" Greer felt the rumble her mother couldn't.
"Yeah ... but he's still the same person. He just looks ... different." Greer grinned uneasily stepping in front of the giant panther as if blocking him from her mother's view would make her less afraid.
"Different? More like mons-" Marie barely stopped herself in time. Even if it was just a fleeting thought ...
'Have I learned nothing?!' She scolded herself before trying to force her heart to beat at a healthier pace. Trying her best to look at Colton. REALLY look at him.
"Oh lord…" was the only thing that ran through her head. Seeing this gigantic panther standing in her kitchen next to her daughter ... Marie wasn't going to lie, it was surreal.
Disturbing even.
But what really scared her was that this ... man was dating her daughter. Almost instinctually, the reporter buried her face in her hands for a moment, running her fingers through her hair in a bid to buy herself some time.
She didn't know if it was wrong to say it but ... she had to admit ... she was saddened. Maybe even a little disappointed that things had to come to this. She had hoped that despite her daughter's ... "new" appearance, she'd still be able to find somebody ... normal. So that maybe, just maybe, Greer could be eased back into a normal life. But now, looking up at Colton ... Marie reckoned ... No, Marie knew that what she had hoped was impossible.
"Mum?" Greer's voice was obviously concerned at her mother's reaction, "Look I know he can seem ... intimidating but he's a big softie. Honest." The tigress looked up at Colton until he finally turned away from Marie to look back at her, releasing the smallest bit of tension as he knelt his head to bunt foreheads. He had known this would happen ...
Hearing Greer snapped the reporter out of her revere, causing her to look at her daughter. Marie raised her eyebrow. Looking at Greer wrapped around Colton, not as two ... 'humans' but as they were ... how happy she was, how protective and genuinely caring the panther was with her ... Marie gave her head a little shake and smiled.
"Big softie you say?" Marie grinned and that released a sort of tension within the entire room and especially from Greer, who smiled right back.
"The biggest." Greer teased. Apex just let the two go on ... he didn't get what all this 'softie' business was about but it seemed to be working on Greer's mother.
However he kept his stance tall and his gaze wary as Marie got out of her chair and moved around the table so that she was standing in front of him. The two once again locking eyes before Marie gave Greer another smile and taking a breath reached out her hand. Apex tilted his head to the side for a moment as if reevaluating Marie while Greer seemed fixated on the extended hand ... until Apex's large one gently, but firmly met it.
"It's nice to meet you Colton," Greer was now beaming until Marie couldn't help but smirk, "Welcome to the family."
"Mom!"
"What? A mother's allowed to hope ..."
"What is she ..." Apex clearly looked confused at the faux-scowl on Greer's face as she took his hand and led him upstairs.
"Nothing." Marie heard the faint growl in her daughter's voice and laughed a little as their tails finally disappeared up the stairs. Letting out a little sigh, Marie headed straight for her bar.
"I don't care what time it is ... morning like this needs a drink."
"What are you two still doing not getting ready?" Marie had popped her head into Greer's open bedroom door (Greer had grumbled something about not being a teenager) to check on the two felines who had been resting comfortably on the floor against Greer's bed.
"Getting ready? For - oh wow mom ..." Greer had turned around to see what her mother could be asking about to find Marie dressed rather fetchingly for late on a Sunday morning. The dress had capped sleeves and was knee length, cream and fitted, flattering the willowy figure Marie had worked diligently to maintain. The wide black belt, baubly bracelet and matching pumps completing the outfit along with the perfectly constructed updo.
Greer honestly hadn't seen her mother looking this good since she was little. Certainly not in any recent memory.
"Mom ... you look amazing." Greer had scrambled off the floor to give her mother the proper attention and Marie flicked a hand.
"Thank you sweetheart but enough about me ... why aren't you two ready yet? We're supposed to be leaving in twenty minutes." Greer scrunched her brow and looked over at Colton who just shrugged his shoulders. When did he ever know what those two were talking about anyway ... Marie let out a little huff.
"The Bugle's having their annual brunch in the park today. Remember? I know I sent you at least two emails about last week ..." Marie sounded slightly concerned but Greer put a hand to her forehead. Just with everything that had gone on over the last 24 hours she had kind of ... well forgotten.
"Yea ... sorry. Right ... the party." Apex's ears perked up at that. He knew exactly what those two were talking about now. And no one had ever informed him about any party.
...
"I don't believe this ..." Apex muttered as he grabbed the suit jacket off the bed. Once again ... he was going to not only some 'social event' with Greer, he was going to a party ... in a suit. After he had worn it for Greer's birthday he had swore to never wear the thing again. And now here he was a few days later ... wearing it. Last time he let Greer pack anything ... least he didn't have to wear one of those damn ties ...
"Well don't you look dashing." Greer slipped into the room with a smile and quickly wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck and gave him a welcomed kiss. She'd have gone for the nuzzle but ... she had to take care of this hair.
"So ... what do you think?" The tigress took a step back in order to give Colton a proper look at her outfit. Her dress was white with a light floral print, sleeveless and flared out slightly from the waist. Honestly Greer had brought a different dress for this but her mother had other ideas.
"This is what you're wearing?" Marie had come back to Greer's room to find her putting the finishing touches to her outfit.
The tigress worriedly looked down. She frowned ... she thought she looked pretty good. Black top, white skirt ... it had always been her go to neutral outfit. It looked good when she was ... well it made her look good no matter what. Sort of ...
"What's wrong with it?" Greer asked taking a quick peek at the mirror. Nothing seemed out of place.
"There's nothing wrong. It' just ... when will I get to see you wear something with a little variety."
"Variety?" Greer raised a confused eyebrow as Marie dramatically rolled her eyes. Had Apex been there, he'd have recognized the look.
"Yes, variety. How about a little more color ..." Marie mumbled and before Greer knew it, her mother had made way to her closet, scrutinizing the contents.
"Oh come on mum. Black's always looked good on me." and as if to emphasize her point, Greer activated her image inducer.
"See?" she smirked only to stop when her mother looked over her shoulder and shook her head.
"No I don't see." and Greer could only cock her head in confusion as her mother placed the floral dress against her.
"What do you mean you don't see? I'm standing right here."
Marie sighed and before her daughter could protest, deactivated the image inducer ... There was a pause.
"Mum?"
"I don't see because that's not the real you," and Greer did not like the look in her mother's eyes. It was one she hadn't seen since she was a teenager.
"Real me? Mum of course this is the real me, what are you-"
"This is…" Marie insisted directing Greer to the mirror, pointing at her feline appearance… Something that caused Greer's ears to lower ever so slightly. Marie noticing this, immediately tilted her daughter's chin up.
"You with these gorgeous stripes ... and that beautiful red hair. That's you. You need to stop hiding Greer ..." The tigress smiled at her mother's proud look but her gaze was brought back to the dress waiting on the bed. To be honest ... yes, she loved the dress ... but ...
"It's too exposing mum," Greer mumbled uncomfortably, her tail curling around her ankles, while her ears lowered.
"What if someone touched me… They know I'm not-"
"Not what exactly?!" Marie snapped, turning Greer around, "Greer this isn't the 19th century. What you want to wear is your business. Who cares if it exposes your skin - fur, whatever." Greer really didn't know how to respond to that. She had yet to really fill her mother in on everything she had been through ... including the few expierences she had had where she had been exposed. None of them had ended particularly well ...
"And besides ... If anyone were to ever dare to insult you, or make you feel like you're less, they'll have to get through me first."
And with that, Marie gave a confident nod of her head and left the room, the dress on Greer's bed and her inducer twirling around the reporter's fingers.
The tigress could only stare at her mother in awe, before shaking her head and grinning.
Carefully, Greer picked the dress up and held it against her body… Looking at the mirror, she couldn't help but smile wider. With it against her, she now knew exactly why she had liked it so much ... and now with her stripes and bright green eyes, it brought out the intricate floral patterns like never before ...
"Oh mum…" the tigress mumbled fondly before pulling off her shirt and slipping on the dress.
Greer had always thought of herself as a reasonably patient and easy going person… She had agreed to go to the party without a jacket, she had agreed to leave her inducer with her mother and sat in the car as her furry self, vulnerable, exposed to virtually anybody who looked into the window… and when they had finally reached the fancy restaurant… Greer turned to her mother.
"OK ... I changed my mind. Inducer ... now." Greer was leaning into the front seat of the car as if hoping it would swallow her. She had been alright, a little nervous maybe, as they had walked to their car and pulled out of the driveway but the closer they got to the party and the more people Greer saw would be at this thing ... no ... abort ... abort!
"Can't help you." Marie said casually.
"What do you mean can't -"
"Left it on the counter ... or was it my dresser ..." Apex actually became concerned Greer was going to go into cardiac arrest.
"Then I'm not going in there! Case you forgot, your boss placed a bounty on my head once." Marie turned to give Colton a look of 'calm down' as he let out a growl.
"Greer, relax. Remember what I told you?" Greer was now desperately looking for ways to avoid being seen. They were getting closer to the valet ...
"Nope ... no ,I am driving this car back right around. You go ... Colton and I could just go home and watch a movie or something."
And apex's ears couldn't help but twitch upwards, his hand subtly moving up to remove the god awful jacket as Marie let out a huff and reaching into her purse came out with Greer's inducer. She quickly snatched it up and slipped it on with a sigh.
Apex clicked his on with a audible grunt.
"Oh relax Greer… "
"Not funny mum… Not funny…" the tigress just growled before deflecting her mum's earflick and activating the hologram.
"You know you can stand to have a bit more confidence in yourself…" Marie suddenly said softly, placing what she hopped was a comforting hand over her daughter's.
"Sure mum-"
"You should." came a subtle rumble causing both Marie and Greer to turn around and stare at Colton. The human looking panther was already exiting the car, making his way to open Greer's door while Marie grinned at her daughter.
"I really like him"
...
Apex crossed his arms, trying to make his large frame as compact as possible. The restaurant was full of people, 117 including servers to be exact ... and he had to resist the urge to growl whenever someone brushed against him every few seconds. The entire place had the look of a greenhouse, the glass ceiling and walls seemingly taunting him with escape being so close ...
"Hey, you doing alright?" Greer came back with a slightly concerned look on her face as she handed him a drink. Not that alcohol was going to make this any easier.
He had been so close to escape ... and now here was.
"Colton?"
"Just fine." Greer frowned a little at his answer. She had been a similar mood when they had first arrived, between the close call with her inducer and regretting letting her mother talk her out of wearing some type of jacket with her dress had her a bit ... on edge. But her mom seemed to sense that right when they had walked in and had spent the first half hour of the party introducing Greer and her boyfriend, while apologizing for the cold Greer was getting over.
And slowly ... Greer started to kinda, actually ... have a good time. People her mom worked with who she hadn't seen in years kept telling her how beautiful and mature she looked. They wanted to know how she was doing ... why she had disappeared for the last five years and what she was up to now. Marie had handled that first answer, letting them know how proud she was that Greer was working as a teacher at a prestigious boarding school in upstate New York ... the same one she had transferred to when she was in high school. And how Colton worked as a ... personal trainer in the area. And even when her mom had told her to 'have a good time' and slipped away ... she had.
It was fun. This wasn't a school dance ... it was an actual adult affair. There was music and drinks. She even managed to talk to a few people that looked close to her age. Everyone was nice and interesting and so ... normal. And after turning around from chatting with yet another reporter, Betty Brant, she felt a bit guilty when she realized she had unintentionally abandonded Colton to fend for himself. She knew that Colton had been doing his best but ... maybe she was pushing it.
"You know ... I think I've had enough party for today." Greer put down her drink to a much relieved Apex and taking his hand started to weave their way towards the exit.
"Besides," the raven haired beauty glanced over her shoulder, "we're kind of wasting time spending all day here. I mean there are other parts of New York I want to show you. Not to mention all the food, shopping ... oh and maybe a musuem!"
Apex nodded halfheartedly, more focused on getting out here than anything else. As they approached the door he felt his tension lighten considerably. "Fifty yards and we'll be out of this nightmare." He thought hopefully only to tense up when a random man with light brown hair grabbed Greer's extended arm.
Greer immediately went to clutch her image inducer and instinctively tried to swat whosoever arm off before he discovered her secret ... only to stop upon recognizing a familiar face.
Apex on the other hand was flash considering the best way to neutralize a threat while maintaining his and Greer's cover. If he had already felt through Greer's inducer to the fur that rested below it ... Apex settled on applying pressure to the man's nerve bundle in the man's as the quietest and most efficient way ... only to stop himself just in time when Greer suddenly wrapped the man in a hug.
Apex watched the two in confusion before lowering his hand quickly when Greer turned around and signaled for him to come over. He growled mentally. Even if this man proved to not be a threat, Greer was still in danger and the objective of exiting the building immediately was paramount.
Of course, with Greer, things never seemed to work out how he wanted them to. Apex approached Greer and skeptically scrutinized the man Greer had her arm wrapped over. He didn't like that ...
'Athletic built, short but lanky... Age probably twenty ...DLSR Camera. High model and expensive while clothing is threadbare. Likely a photographer for the Bugle. But what is...' He stopped analyzing when he felt Greer slip next to him.
Greer meanwhile, after recovering from her initial shock of being grabbed, had quickly smiled and given her friend a hug. Turning around, she had caught sight of Colton subtly lowering his arm, the look in his eyes telling her he had been ready to attack if he needed to. The notion was sweet but...
'oh Colton...' she thought a little in exasperation.
Gently, she slipped next to him, trying to ease his discomfort. She knew he was wary of people and she hoped what she was going to do next wouldn't make him too uncomfortable...
"Colton, I want you to meet my friend... Peter Parker. Peter, this is my boyfriend ... Colton."
Greer watched as Peter shifted his gaze up towards Colton only to stiffen slightly and grab his head, as if having a migraine. She was about to ask him if he was alright but Peter just shook his head a little and smiled before turning his attention back to Greer's incoming boy -.
"Wait ... did you say boyfriend?" Greer wasn't sure if she should smile or growl at that comment. Seemingly picking up on that, Peter quickly tried to recover.
"I mean of course! Boyfriend," Peter gave Greer's tall, silent companion another once over and extended his hand.
Greer looked up expectantly as Colton's eyes narrowed into slits suspiciously which was quite a remarkable feat considering the hologram when Peter extended his hand. She almost thought he was going to say something but heaved a silent sigh of relief when Colton didn't dismember Peter's limb and instead shook it.
"Pleasure." She heard Colton mumbled in monotone while Peter on looked momentarily at the hand encompassing his and shot Greer a quick look of understanding. She knew he could feel the fur ... but to his credit he didn't say anything.
"Colton, nice to meet you. Any boyfriend of Greer's a friend of mine. I hope this isn't rude or anything but first thing you have to tell me ... are you a pro wrestler?"
"No." Colton said dryly. Greer rolled her eyes ... typical Peter Parker.
"Hmmm well you look like one ... dude you're like ... huge! Like in a good way... I mean... Woah... How do you do it? C'mon man... Tell me your secrets..."
Greer bit her lip as Peter continued to interrogate Colton about workouts. The look on Colton's face was enough to tell her he wanted to do nothing more than leap out of the window if it meant escaping the crowded building and Peter's questions.
"Maybe I should have warned Peter in advance..." she thought a little in regret before quickly deciding to intervene as she caught sight of Colton glancing at a window.
"Um Peter?"
"Just a sec Greer... So about bicep curls..."
"Peter..." Greer warned but it fell on deaf ears. She proceeded to cringe harder when Colton kept his eyes on Peter and asked dryly.
"I wonder if he keep talking even if I take the head ..."
An uncharacteristic pause settled over Peter whose hazel's eyes widened as he seemed to take in Colton for the first time.
"He's kidding..." Peter mumbled uneasily as he slowly inched backwards before he chanced a quick look towards Greer not wanting to take his eyes off of her suddenly very scary friend. "Greer he's kidding right?"
"Of course he is!" Greer said as cheerfully as she could. "You're just kidding... right Colton?" she elbowed a still unblinking Colton who shrugged in reply. That and Greer's best attempt at a reassuring smile at least got Peter to stop his retreat ... if not get him to come any closer.
A silence settled over the three before Greer decided to break the ice.
"So Peter... How has MJ been doing?" she asked while also eyeing Colton. Hoping that would stop him from looking at Peter like a very interesting piece of meat.
"Huh MJ? She's fine! Totally fine! Knows where I am and when I'm supposed to be getting back." Peter declared quickly only to look back at Colton uneasily.
"Um Greer... Can you tell Colton to stop eying me like that? Its like he wants to eat me or ..."
"Interesting..." Colton interrupted, the look on his face unreadable but his golden eyes were shinning with fascination. Greer had distracted him and the mass of smells had clouded his scent but when Apex had given "Peter" the proper attention, he finally figured out who he was seeing.
"You..." Now it was Greer's turn to be alarmed at both Colton's sudden change in tone and the way he was looking at Peter.
"Yea, it's still just me. Peter Parker..." Peter was giving Greer the pleading eyes and his head was killing him.
"No not just Peter Parker ... Adhesion abilities. Enhanced strength, speed, durability, agility... and that unique extrasensory ability. That did cause problems..."
"Greer! Who is this guy?" Peter demanded taking a few steps back away from Colton who inched forward only to stop when Greer stepped in between them.
"Sorry Peter..." She said sheepishly while putting a hand on Colton to ensure he stopped inching forward but it was like stopping a truck. Greer added some emphasis by grabbing Colton's arm through his jacket enough that her claws actually scratched skin. That got his attention.
"Hey, what the hell? This is my friend! What's going on with you?" Greer whispered harshly. Apex looked down as if just realizing Greer was there but Greer turned back to Peter and paused as if replaying what Colton had said. "Wait ... do you know Peter or something?"
"No. Of course not. I didn't mean to frighten your little friend."
"Hey! I'm not that little..." Peter seemed torn between defending his honor and getting any closer. Greer gave Colton one last look before trying to repair the damage.
"I'm sorry Peter. Colton's just a bit… Unfamiliar with people…"
"Well yeah… I can see that. But how does your boyfriend -"
"Oh my god did you say boyfriend?" a high pitched shout from the crowd had all three turn as once again Greer was wrapped in a hug.
"MJ!" Greer said excitedly while Apex released a low moan.
"Not another one..." he thought as he watched the two girls embrace.
"It's been so long! How are things with my favorite tigress?"
"Shhhh ... MJ not so loud..."
"Right ... Sorry my bad ... Hey, where did you get that dress? You look beautiful..." Greer blushed and brushed her hair back.
"Here in New York actually... I don't remember the shop but..."
"Hold on wait," MJ slipped an arm around Greer to turn towards Colton, "is this your boyfriend?" Greer couldn't help but laugh a little. MJ was just too much fun. Apex meanwhile hadn't expected this MJ person to address him directly. She had seemed so preoccupied with Greer. And it really didn't come to a surprise to Apex. "Leather handbag, expensive shoes, strong perfume, clothing that was barely a week old..." This girl was a fashion enthusiast. Just like Greer...
"Mary Jane ... Colton. Colton ... MJ." Peter seemed like he was going to say something but caught his breath as the two shook hands briefly. MJ seeming to enjoy giving Colton a few look overs before leaning into Greer.
"Well done ..." MJ whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, earning a slight pout from Peter as he stood next to the towering feral who seemed resigned to his fate. He knew what was coming ... and less than two minutes of high speed, high pitched talking later ...
"Hey why don't we come with you guys?!" MJ suggested resulting in a loud "NO!" from Peter who immediately stopped talking when MJ turned and gave him the most poisonous of looks. For a moment, Apex actually felt sorry for the tiny person ... he had experienced that look before ...
"Colton?" Greer looked over at Colton hopefully, as if he was dumb enough to get between Greer and shopping with a friend. Besides ... having MJ there would hopefully excuse him from most shopping duties.
With a nod from Apex, Greer and MJ quickly linked arms with their respective dates, keeping themselves side by side with Apex and Peter shooting suspiscious glances at the other, and headed out the door.
