Author's note: Hi guys. Sorry to keep y'all waiting so long! I just have had a busy week and weekend two weeks in a row, ack! I hope you're all doing so well. :) Hugs, and apologies for the shortness of the chapter!
The door to the Buckeye Pets Foundation swung open with the wind, as it had the first day that Anna and Elsa had really met.
But this time, Anna had a pack of sorority girls behind her.
Elsa's boss, Kai, just had surgery so he was recovering. His partner, Gerda, was in the back with some of the other employees, unloading some food and supplies. So, it was Elsa, a little tired from a restless night on Anna's mildly uncomfortable couch, who greeted them.
She had to be there at 11, so she had kissed Anna goodbye around 10 and headed home to change. Anna had only cracked an eye open before drifting back off into a deep (and adorable) slumber.
Sven had been the perfect guard dog the night before, sleeping by the window and even waking Elsa up with a few low barks when a group of drunk people came stumbling across the lawn outside and got a little too close to the house.
She had checked Facebook right before they showed up, and grinned when she saw a relationship request from Anna. Oh yeah, we never did make it 'official,' did we?
Of course, she had approved it happily.
Wonder what all her sisters and all the other fraternity and sorority people think of the Zeta Kappa president dating some random junior girl? she thought idly as she watched them all crowd in.
Not all of Anna's sisters were coming today, but there were still a whole bunch of them crammed in to the front lobby of the shelter. Crookshanks was draped around Elsa's shoulders as usual, purring away, his claws attached to the left shoulder of her light blue t-shirt. Anna herself squeezed her way in, parting her sea of sorority sisters to get to the front. She was in a pink t-shirt and jeans, hair in twin braids.
"Okay!" she called, whipping around to address them. "Everyone's here, right? All the cars are in? Okay, I think Elsa has assignments? Or...something?" she turned her head, smiling at Elsa, and the blonde grinned back, heart soaring.
"Yeah, I thought we could do a quick tour and then work at different parts of the shelter," she said, stepping around from behind the counter. The girls in the front smiled at her, and pointed at the snoozing Crookshanks as they giggled. "I know this is a big group, but I'll try to be loud enough so you can all hear…" She rarely raised her voice for any reason, so she hoped everyone would be able to hear her as they started on the tour.
And she wasn't excellent in front of crowds, either. Class presentations made her nervous beyond all telling. But this was her work, a place she felt comfortable, and she knew a lot of these girls.
Plus, there was Anna, whose presence was warm and comforting, who had probably come out of the womb able to take charge and lead a group of people. She smiled as she imagined little Anna in the foster home or on the playground holding court over some of her peers.
The group of girls listened closely as Elsa talked about the shelter, about the overpopulation of stray cats in the city. She showed them the dog kennels, the room full of cats in cages, the outdoor area where dogs got to play, the storage room, and the little clinic they had where the staff members tested the animals for diseases or gave them their shots.
Crookshanks, of course, stayed balanced on her shoulders the whole way. He was even calm around the dogs, who all freaked out and started barking any time a human walked by.
They ended up back in the main lobby, where one of Elsa's coworkers was helping a family with three kids fill out some paperwork. She smiled at them as the girls all filed in, and scratched Crookshanks behind his soft ears. The boy in the family had his eyes on the cat in wonder.
"Okay," she called, "Now I think we're going to split up?" she looked at Anna, who nodded.
"Yeah. Hey girls, I think we should all kind of try everything in the two hours we're here...so we'll rotate around. Elsa, what all needs done?"
"Oh, the cats probably all need cuddled, the dogs should be walked, we need to make sure everyone has food and that the storage room is organized...and we'll need to clean out the kennels, so I hope no one is wearing expensive shoes. We can split off in...what, groups of 10 or 12? And have one team outside, one in the back room, one with the cats, one with the dog poop. There are staff members around to direct you."
"Sounds good," said Anna. "You heard the woman, ladies! Let's march!" They all began milling around, clumping in groups and eventually filing through the doors. Anna shunted them all along with a smile, staying behind to talk to Elsa.
"This is great," said the strawberry blonde, eyes gleaming. "I think they're having a ton of fun already. I mean, sorority girls meet cute animals-where are the cameras now? This is like the best publicity possible."
The sarcasm shone through, bright as day. "How'd you look on the news? Beautiful as ever?"
Anna flushed. "I only caught a bit of it. I turned it off after a little bit-I looked pale and pissed. And I never realized how many damn freckles I have."
"The freckles are adorable." Anna snorted and her blush grew deeper. "Any news this morning about Mal and the gang?"
"No, I don't think so. Saw some buzz on Twitter that someone saw a purple sports car pulled over on Lane Avenue with a few cop cars behind it, but nothing substantial. Trying not to think too much about it." She frowned, which Elsa of course found adorable. She was beginning to think everything Anna did was adorable. She even walked adorably-quickly, as if she was headed somewhere, and with a spring in her step.
"Okay, let's get moving. This place needs all the help it can get," said Elsa, smiling.
"It seems like it. I didn't know you had so many animals here," replied the shorter woman, fiddling with one of her braids.
Elsa sighed. "I know. We try to have specials and get the word out about adoptions, but...you know, people always want to buy expensive purebred puppies, or get a brand new kitten. Animals that are older or that are mutts, they don't get enough attention. And there are so many strays out here, it's crazy."
"Well, you never know. It takes all kinds. And besides, I think one older cat is getting attention," Anna said, inclining her head in the direction of the family. Elsa looked over to see that the blonde boy's eyes were still fixed in wonder on the cat. The tall woman smiled, squeezing Anna's shoulder and going over to kneel next to him.
"Are you guys looking for a new pet today?" she asked. The dad, who was holding a little boy, looked up and smiled. He was a broad-shouldered, strong-looking guy with thick blonde hair.
"We are," he said in a deep voice. The toddler giggled and pointed to Crookshanks.
"Kitty!" he said. Elsa grinned. Animals were one thing. She loved animals. But animals with kids? Kids who lit up at the sight of one particular animal or another? That gave this job a joy beyond all telling.
The older boy and the daughter, a thin girl with dark hair, had their eyes on Crookshanks as Elsa carefully picked him off her shoulders and set him in the dad's lap.
"Be gentle with him, Jack-Jack," said the man, and the boy reverently patted the cat's head.
"Does he do any tricks beside sit on your shoulder?" the boy asked excitedly.
"Hmmm. Well, he knows his name, for starters. And sometimes he likes when I will throw a toy for him; he'll go get it and bring it back. So, he's like a dog in that regard."
"Cool!" said the boy, reaching over to pet the cat. His parents smiled. "Is he your cat?"
"No, but we're close. He's here as our official greeter. He's very calm around people, and even the dogs."
The mother, a pretty woman with brown bobbed hair, finished the paperwork and handed it to the other staff member. She turned to Elsa.
"He seems very sweet," she said. "Is he neutered?"
"Yep, sure is. Has his shots, he's free of worms, ticks, fleas and the like."
"Is he declawed?" asked the dad, as the boy lifted the cat over onto his own lap. His sister also joined in to scratch under the fluffy ginger cat's chin.
"No sir, and I wouldn't recommend that he would be at this age. He's a few years old, and that surgery is, in my opinion, too cruel to do while he's an adult. Or at all, really," she said with a frown.
A look passed between the parents. Elsa held back a sigh. People didn't really understand how mean it was to declaw a cat. It would be like removing the top part of your own fingers on a human.
"I'm Helen, by the way," the woman said, sticking out her hand. "Helen Parr. This is my husband Bob, and our kids Violet, Dashiell, and Jack."
"Mom, I told you I wanna be called Dash," protested the boy.
"Hi, I'm Elsa," she said, shaking hands. "Elsa Michaels. And that guy is Crookshanks. He's a good kitty."
"It seems like it," said Helen with a smile. "Guys, let's go look at the other animals, okay?"
"Aww," said Dash, looking up from where Crookshanks was sprawled on his lap. "Can we see Crookshanks again later?"
"He'll be here," Elsa assured him, standing up from her uncomfortable position with a wince. "Come on, bud, let's go check on our volunteers." She left the Parrs with the other employee, and headed off to check on Anna and her sisters. The cat happily allowed her to put him back on her shoulders. It was like getting a massage, really, with how much his body shook when he was purring.
The Zeta Kappa girls were moving through their tasks with surprising efficiency. Even the girls cleaning out the dog kennels seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was cool and a little overcast outside, but keeping up with the dogs was enough to have some of them sweating a bit.
She found Anna by surprise in the supply room, as the strawberry blonde almost knocked her flat on her back with a box.
"Sorry!" she panted, gasping as she realized she almost took her own girlfriend out. The blonde stepped back in time, but still got clipped in the head with Anna's box-the shorter girl was carrying something tall, which obscured her vision. Crookshanks meowed in surprise and jumped down, darting off. "Elsa! Are you okay?"
"I don't know, who are you again?" asked Elsa, feigning a head injury.
"You dolt, I'm your girlfriend," she snorted quietly, setting the box of cat food down and peering at Elsa in concern.
"I'm fine," said the blonde with a smile. "You're all doing well! We won't have any work to do all this week with everything you're getting done."
"Good, you can skive off and come hang out with me," Anna said with a week, high-fiving a few of her sisters as they reorganized the shelves.
"I mean, gladly." she grinned as she playfully bumped Anna with her hip and speed-walked outside to the supply truck before the other could retaliate.
"Hey, what are you doing later?" Anna asked as they each took a box from Gerda.
"Thanks boss," Elsa said with a wink as she took the stuff. "Uhhhh, probably homework. Don't you have your weekly meeting?"
"Nah, it's been a stressful enough week. I'm just sending stuff out in an email."
"Oh! Cool," said Elsa with a smile, suddenly excited. "Want to come over for dinner or something? I'm off at five. And it's my turn to cook, so."
"What are you making?"
"Well, I wasn't sure yet. What do you want?"
Anna laughed as she held the door open. "Whatever you make me, Top Chef." Their arms brushed as Elsa walked by, and she felt a tingle shoot through her core.
Damn it, don't you dare get turned on at work. Elsa shot a look at the younger girl, who smiled demurely.
Anna hadn't been to walk the dogs yet, so Elsa followed her to the kennels once their time in the supply room was up. She waved at the Parr family, who were looking at the kennels, as a happy and hyperactive pit bull mix dragged Anna outside to play.
Shortly after 3 p.m., all the pets had been walked and fed, the supplies were organized, and the kennels were clean. The girls looked tired, but were all smiles as they thanked Elsa and said goodbye-a few of them seemed to have grown attached to certain animals, and said farewell as they walked out.
"Call me later?" Anna said as she passed.
"Yeah," Elsa said, a smile sliding across her face as she watched the shorter girl go.
She turned, realizing that the Parr family was just getting ready to leave. "Hey guys, did you find anyone to take home?"
"No one really caught our eye," said Bob with a frown. "There are plenty of great animals here, though! Thanks for letting us look." Dash and Violet stopped to pet Crookshanks, who was sprawled out on the front desk.
"Mom," said Violet quietly. "What about him?"
"Yeah!" Dash piped up. "What about Crookshanks? The lady said he's up for adoption. ...right?" he asked, turning to Elsa.
She nodded, a strange feeling settling into her chest as the kids grinned.
She knew that, one day, maybe-someone would come adopt this cat. And that was good! He needed a home, he needed to live somewhere besides the shelter. All the animals did. But she was attached to the orange cat, a little bit.
Still, there was something extraordinary about seeing the two older kids-and Jack-Jack, who was reaching for the cat-light up as they interacted with him. The parents were communicating wordlessly, and she waited patiently for them to address her.
"How old did you say he was?" Bob asked, stepping over to pet the cat himself. Crookshanks rolled on his back, exposing his fuzzy belly.
"Hmmm, probably somewhere between two and four. It's hard to tell, but he's definitely a young adult. And he's a healthy weight behind all that fur."
"He probably sheds a lot, huh?" asked Helen.
"Not if you brush him often, and he loves being brushed. And he doesn't mind getting his nails clipped, either. He's a very chill cat."
All three kids looked up expectantly to their mother.
"You guys know you'll have to help with scooping the litter and feeding him, right?" she asked, trying to appear stern. "A cat is a big responsibility, kids."
But it was a lost cause.
Twenty minutes later, Elsa was waving goodbye to the cat, who was wrapped tightly in Dash's arms and purring. She bent her knees slightly so her bright blue eyes could meet the cat's yellow ones. He blinked slowly, a sign of affection. She kissed him on his furry ginger head, trying not to cry with both happiness for his future and the knowledge that she would really miss him.
In the end, the happiness won. The cat had been there a long time-people didn't want to adopt grown-up cats, but he really was the perfect pet for a family. He was patient, calm, and loved to cuddle. She was sure that even a toddler couldn't piss him off.
But she still had tears in her eyes. Her throat closed as she lifted a hand to say goodbye, and could only whisper a farewell, not wanting to dissolve into a mess right there in the doorway.
"Ah, fuck," she said to the empty lobby, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hand.
Again, my apologies for my tardy update. I hope you all enjoyed and I also hope to have something else up very soon. :) Love you guys!