A/N: Many thanks to Phish Tacko for her help with this!
Ch. 30
The doorbell rang, pulling Mort's attention away from the television. He and Anakin were watching The Big Bang Theory, but he had been expecting Maryanne to come by.
He didn't want to get up and answer the door. He was so comfortable. He'd just gotten his blanket wrapped around him and he had found the perfect position on his pillow. Maryanne was worth giving it up for, though.
Sighing, he pushed himself up and answered the door.
Maryanne was standing there, wearing a black ACDC shirt and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans.
"Good afternoon, Mort," She greeted him.
"It's the afternoon already?" Mort asked, looking around. The sun was high in the sky. He'd apparently spent the entire morning on the couch and hadn't realized it. "Well shit, it is."
"Did you just wake up?" Maryanne looked Mort over. He was dressed only in a pair of sweat pants, a tattered "Bazinga" t-shirt, and slippers. His hair was wild, as well. He clearly hadn't brushed it yet.
"No, no. I was just watching a Big Bang Theory marathon. Why don't you come on in?"
"Sure."
Maryanne followed Mort inside. Anakin was in his little exersaucer in the living room, eyes fixed on the television.
'Like father like son,' Maryanne thought to herself.
Mort sat back down on the couch. He kept looking at his blanket and pillow longingly, and Maryanne could tell that he wanted to lie down again.
"Go lay down," she said, "It's a Saturday. You get to relax today. Do you need me to do anything? Fold your laundry, feed Buster maybe?"
"Aw, you're so nice. Mom already folded the laundry and... Wait..."
It was then that Mort realized he hadn't seen Buster all morning. Usually the cat stuck close to him and sat on the edge of the couch as he watched television, but he hadn't even seen him come out to eat!
Seeing Mort's expression, Maryanne immediately thought that something was wrong.
"What's up?" She asked. "You look nervous."
"Buster. I haven't seen him all day. Usually he comes out and sits with me and he never misses breakfast. Crap, he probably got out!"
Mort stood back up.
"We have to go find him! Oh, man, he could be out in the woods and he might've gotten eaten by a coyote or an owl or something!"
Maryanne frowned.
"Mort, calm down. Coyotes and owls usually come out at night, and besides, he could just be hiding inside, sleeping somewhere.
Mort listened to her, but judging by the look on his face, Maryanne could tell that he was still nervous.
She sighed.
"Alright, then. I'll take the second floor, you take the first floor."
"Great!" Mort answered.
With that, both of them were off on their search.