Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, everyone! I'm sorry this is taking so long, but I've been pulled in about a million different directions lately. Hopefully the next update will be quicker. :) Onward!

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Chapter Five

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Over the next several days, Sally watched her husband and the elephant interacting. Something was off there, she was sure, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. Luckily, the city was able to approve one of their older daughters, Hyperia, to take over most of Ned's behind-the-scenes duties temporarily.

How he hadn't noticed, Mayor McDodd didn't know, but little Hyperia had joined the debate team and was planning to have a career in government. It made him ashamed to think how he hadn't even noticed her ambition in his fruitless quest to turn his son into something he wasn't.

Instead, he spent the majority of his days for the next week acclimating Horton to life in Whoville and acting as a go-between for him and Dr. Larue.

It was harder than ever to screen his inappropriate affections as he watched Horton becoming used to living in Whoville. Horton seemed to always want to help, from grabbing up a heavy box to carry for an elderly man, to pushing Mrs. Denton's car out of the ditch. He also loved learning about Whoville history, and Ned spent the better part of one afternoon bringing different pictures of his predecessors out to show to Horton, telling him the highlights of their careers.

Both easier and more difficult were the evenings spent at home. When he could skip working, he was afforded the luxury of eighty-three seconds with each of his children. As he walked outside, he'd always see Horton doing something designed to make his heart thump traitorously in his chest.

Trying so hard as little Hadley taught him to read her favorite book.

Playing the part of Romeo for drama student Helen's Juliette.

Letting Hope trace his foot on a sheet of paper and helping her color it in by holding a crayon in his trunk.

If there was anything that could make his unthinkable attraction to the elephant more intense and undeniable, it was this. Seeing how good he was with his many daughters, and how he managed to make them all feel special, was the hardest thing he could endure. Despite the overwhelming feelings, he couldn't act on them, which was a relief in some ways, and a devastation in others. He couldn't allow himself to show it though, so always he marched back inside to help Sally clean up from dinner.

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The next week, Ned was back to work, and Hyperia was back in high school, and Sally was still stuck at home with Heddy and her youngest eleven daughters as usual. She didn't really mind most of the time, she reminded herself.

Just times like these.

The Who-sitter she splurged on once a month so she could have her toe and finger fur trimmed delicately had cancelled, just at the last second, and a replacement had yet to be found. None of her regular choices were free, and even her emergency back up Who-sitter, who charged twice as much, wasn't answering.

It was a silly thing, really, she reminded herself as she watched her girls playing "duck, duck, goose". A luxury she could live without. She had one call left; the one to the beauty shop to cancel her appointment.

"Hey, kids!"

Eyes snapping up, she saw Horton's head coming in a window. The girls abandoned their game and ran to him. "Hey, careful, no pulling now... Hi, there, Sally!"

"Hi, Horton," she sighed.

He spent a moment examining her. "What's wrong?", he asked, concerned.

"It's nothing, really." Sally shrugged and smiled. "I have to cancel an appointment, that's all. The lady I had watching these adorable monsters cancelled on me."

"Well, that's easy! I can watch 'em for you!" Horton announced excitedly.

"Oh, no, I couldn't ask you to-"

"But you didn't ask!" Horton pointed out, smiling. "I offered."

"Oh." Sally stopped herself and then took a deep breath. "Okay, then. I'll go..."

Sally retrieved her purse and a box of graham crackers, then approached the elephant. "Here, give them this snack at two and then have them take a nap. I'll be back by three or so."

"You got it, Ms. O'Malley!" He took the box with his trunk, and announced, "All right, girls, come on outside!"

With a delighted cry, the children ran out the door and into the yard, and Mrs. O'Malley pushed down her fear and walked briskly out the door and down the street.

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Sally tried to relax as her fur was trimmed, but she couldn't help being nervous. Horton had gotten their world to safety, but who was to say that made him good with children? He did a great job with them, but did that mean he could handle a dozen girls all on his own?

She fretted and fretted, and the cosmetologist working with her asked what was wrong many, many times. All in all, she thought it was the least tranquil of her outings to date.

Rushing back home, she spent the extra five dollars to take the bus home, which was faster, but she worried all the way. She ran all the way back from the bus stop to their home, shoving the back gate open and dashing inside.

There was Horton, laying placidly under his pavilion. Her daughters were all snuggled together sleeping, his trunk wrapped around them in a circle.

"Sally! How was your appointment?" Horton whispered.

It took a moment for the words to penetrate her mind. "What? Oh. Yes, it was fine..."

"Wow, your fingers look so pretty and feminine," Horton whispered admiringly.

Blushing, Sally stepped carefully closer to him. "Thank you. How did it go?" she asked tentatively.

"Great! They were perfect little angels!" Horton glanced down at the sleeping girls and smiled. "I told them to curl up for storytime and they were all out before the end."

With a twinge of regret, Sally sank down on the grass next to him. "You know, Horton... I think I may owe you an apology," she said quietly.

With a snort of surprise, he looked intently at Sally. "Why?"

She fidgeted with the verdant blades under her, she sighed. "I seem to be waiting for you to mess up, expecting the worst. I don't know why."

Horton huffed. "Well, don't you like me, Sally?" He sounded surprised.

Laughing softly, she leaned against his shoulder. "You make it hard not to," she whispered, snuggling into his skin.

Heart fluttering, Horton looked down at her. It was a very strange thing, similar to the strange feelings he had when Ned was around, but slightly off, like the difference between the touch of a flower and a butterfly's wing. "Why don't you rest for a bit too, Sally?" he asked quietly.

"Sure," she breathed out, eyes slipping closed effortlessly as she leaned into his warm skin.

Ned arrived home early that day, and found them all, even Horton, asleep in the yard. His heart a strange mixture of sweet and bitter, he went inside to prepare dinner and think.

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To Be Continued...