Author's Update:

It's been forever since an update on this! I think the last chapter I wrote was way back in December so it's been like seven months since then. I would be surprised if I still even have any active fans still around. I know I posted an update back in March saying there might be an update soon but that obviously didn't happen. I ran into a pretty bad writer's block and I still can't really promise any reliable updates after this, but hopefully it won't take so long for another update again. I also went back and did some minor changes in the first chapters that were bothering me. Sorry again for such a long break, I'm still alive and hoping to finish this story eventually.

Chapter 5

Tim ran ahead of Bolt. He was starting to feel worn out by the little rascal as he continued to zoom around the yard. He was about to follow until he heard Zoey and Mittens murmuring to themselves. Curious, Bolt snuck behind a worn out and old sofa to listen in on their conversation.

"Doesn't it bother you?" Zoey asked while Bolt's ears twitched with an uneasy feeling.

"What do you mean?" He heard Mittens ask back.

"That well… how you won't be able to have your own kits?" Bolt held his breath as his mate hesitated to answer.

"Yeah… I have thought about it." She admitted. Her sad tone sent guilt deep within his heart. He padded away, knowing Mittens would follow up with how she didn't care or how she was willing to give it up for him, or maybe she did care and it was something important to her after all. Either way, he felt like she was giving up more for him than he was for her and he felt horrible about it.

"Bolt? Are you okay?" Tim padded up to the lonely shepherd who was resting his head on one of his paws as he lied on the ground. Bolt glanced over to the little pup.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"But you look so sad."

Bolt chuckled softly, he was an actor and apparently he couldn't even lie to a puppy. "Well, you're pretty smart Tim. Yeah…I guess I am a little sad."

"How come?" The pup, who was now lying down next to him, looked at him curiously with his big puppy eyes. Bolt couldn't help but admire his curiosity and he suddenly felt a warm feeling of happiness while looking at the little dog. Is this how Mittens felt whenever he pulled the dog face on her? He proceeded to play along with the pup for a bit.

"Do you know where little puppies come from Tim?" He nodded his head.

"When a daddy dog really likes a mommy dog, the mommy dog can have puppies." His eyes lit up a little as he answered confidently.

"That's right. It works the same way with cats too." Bolt suddenly lost his train of thought as he struggled to think of how to explain the rest, but Tim interrupted before he could continue with his explanation.

"Do you like Mittens?" Bolt couldn't help but grin.

"Yeah, I do."

"Do you really like her?" Tim asked cheekily. This time Bolt laughed softly.

"Yeah, I really like her a lot."

"Are you sad because she'll have kittens and you want puppies?" Despite being so young, he was rather clever for his age and had quite the imagination. It surprised Bolt and amused him.

"No, that's not it exactly." Tim widened his eyes in confusion. Somehow, Bolt didn't have the heart to tell him the truth, but maybe it was because he hated admitting it. A dog and a cat can't have kits or pups. Bolt patted the top of Tim's head. "It's a little hard to explain, but you'll understand when you're older."

"Are you listening to me, Bolt?" The white shepherd walked alongside his mate quietly, staring at the ground ahead of him while his thoughts distracted him. The two were headed home after spending the day with their new friends.

"Of course I am."

"What was I talking about then?" He hesitated and it was obvious to her he wasn't really listening. She giggled and spoke again before he could even try to give an answer. "What are you thinking about?"

He was thinking about a lot of stuff. Stuff he wasn't really sure how to bring up with Mittens. The conversation he overheard earlier triggered some thoughts he had been trying to avoid asking Mittens, let alone himself. It was something that bothered them both, but he really wasn't sure what to do about it.

"You." He replied, still looking at the ground ahead of him.

"What about me are you thinking about though?" She rushed up ahead to jump on a short stone wall along the sidewalk. He slowed his own pace as he carefully thought of an answer.

"What I can give you, but also what I can't." Mittens stopped suddenly in her tracks on the wall. She grew slightly suspicious and started to wonder, but she jumped down and waited for him, only to notice him keeping his distance from her as if she was a stranger.

"Well, what can you give me?" Some clouds passed by and hid the moonlight from the city. The city went silent, as if the darkness itself was blocking out all other sound. She suddenly felt cold and alone and wasn't even sure if Bolt was still behind her. "Bolt?"

"Don't worry, I'm here." he whispered in her ear, which startled her, "I can always be here for you, anytime, anywhere. I can talk with you. I can carry you when you're tired. I can protect you." He wrapped his arms around her from behind and hugged her tightly. "And I can give you hugs too."

She smiled while resting her own arms on the ones that embraced her. She couldn't see much in the dark, but she could see his white fur. Knowing he was there with her, she no longer felt lonely and trusted him to protect her. Every time he hugged her, she felt warmer not only under fur, but also in her head.

"I like all of those things." She murmured.

"But… there are also some things I can't give you Mittens. I'm not a cat, and I can't give you kits." It was then when Mittens realized why Bolt was acting so strange tonight. "So if those things are important to you, I need you to tell me so you can be happy."

So you can be happy. She repeated his words. He can't change either of those no matter how much he wanted to so he would leave her so someone else could make her happy.

"I would be lying if I said those weren't important to me, Bolt," he let go of her, but she continued to hold tightly to one of his arms, "but the things you can give me, no one else can."

She rested her head on his arm and he brought her in close to his chest with both arms. She could hear his heart faintly beating fast.

"I love you, Mittens."

It was the first time he told her because for the first time, he was sure of it. And he meant it more than anything in the world. He can't give her everything, but he was going to give everything he can.

"I love you too, Bolt."

She wouldn't want it any other way or with anyone else.