Disclaimer: I do not own The 10th Kingdom. This is merely a fanfiction.

~0~

"Oh, Huff Puff! Racks of lamb! Beautiful filets! Gasp – pork tenderloin? A wolf could die and go to Heaven!" Wolf tore ravenously into the meat-filled plates, ribbons of meat and juices flying onto the walls. The caterers stood there, horrified by the snarling and ripping.

The head caterer wiped flecks of animal fat from his white tunic. "You're … entirely sure your fiancé wanted you to sample the dishes yourself?"

Wolf spun around, meat juice running down his face. "Well, yeah. She's busy elsewhere today. She gave me free reign! Trust me though – I know food! I have quite an experienced pallet, and I know what my Virginia likes! Only the best for my creamy, dreamy wife to be!"

"Speaking of which," the caterer interrupted. "How do you intend to … pay for all this?'

"Pay? Virginia didn't say anything about paying!"

"The fee for your courses is $250 per plate sir."

"Per plate?"

"We have some cheaper dishes sir -."

Wolf was indignant. "Oh no, no! My Virginia is a Queen! A goddess among women! Only the best for her!" He stopped. He spun around, speaking to himself in hushed tones. "Oh, Huff Puff! But Virginia said to not, under any circumstances, go above $150 a plate! Keep it small and informal." His eyes fell on the plates of meat laid out on the tables. "Oh, but this is a wedding! My wedding to the succulent girl of my dreams! How can I deny her anything but the best?! Oh, but we can't afford it!" He paused, his eyes shifting. "Or can we? I can work double shifts at the Park Grille! We can pay it back! Yes, yes … no, no, she'll be so mad at me!"

"Sir, if you're quite finished muttering to yourself, we have other couples scheduled for today -."

Wolf spun back around. "I'll take it!" He whipped out the American Express card Virginia had given him for the wedding. "For the down payment." He wrung his hands as the caterer swiped his card.

He just hoped Virginia wouldn't be too mad at him.

I'll just break the news gently, he thought. After the wedding. Oh, she can't be mad at me on our honeymoon!

Or can she?

~0~

"I'm sorry Miss Lewis. The bank will have to turn down your loan." Mr. Fleming smiled sadly across his desk at Virginia. He pushed an envelope with the loan details towards her.

Virginia smiled, confused. "I don't understand. My loan officer said it should go through no problem!"

"We have a new policy. No more business loans without showing liquid assets. I'm sorry, Miss Lewis. You have a wedding and a baby coming, you live in an apartment and you and your fiancé both work minimum wage. I just don't see how the bank can approve this loan."

"Isn't there anything that can be done?" Virginia was growing desperate. "This is my dream. To open a restaurant."

"I'm very sorry. Perhaps in a few years … when you have more collateral and less debt."

Virginia nodded. She scooped up her loan proposal and walked away, accepting that she would have to put her dream on hold for the time being.

~0~

Wolf stood in his chef's smock. Virginia had gotten him a job as a line cook at the Park Grille. He hummed to himself as he dropped several beef strips onto the grill. "Shepherdess makes quite a mess, but little lambs are lovely."

The line cook next to him raised an eyebrow. "Where the heck did you learn that?"

"Ummm … Nursery school?"

"Man, you are weird. And don't think I haven't caught on to you sneaking tastes of the lamb chops. If Phill catches you, it's your butt!"

"Or his," Wolf muttered. "On a silver plate."

The door to the kitchen opened and Virginia entered in her waitress uniform. Wolf immediately dropped his filet, spraying grease all over the place. "Virginia! Light of my life! How scrumptious you look this evening! Succulent!" He planted kisses on her hand and up her arm. He eyed her curiously. "You seem tense? Perhaps you need another one of my … special wolf massages?"

"No, it's not that. It's … the bank didn't approve my loan."

"Oh no! That's terrible! Who's the mangy mutt who thinks he can dash the dreams of the love of my life?!"

Virginia shrugged. "We just have too much debt. With the wedding and everything. How did food tasting go by the way?"

His eyes darted to the side. "Oh fine, fine."

"You kept everything under $150 a plate?"

"Umm … yes, yes, of course."

"Wolf?"

He smiled. "Hey – I'm a new wolf. Honesty is my middle name. Well, no it's not. It's Meredith. Don't laugh!"

Virginia's face remained solemn. "And it's not just the wedding – our lives are about to change. In eight months the baby -."

Wolf looked away sheepishly. "Well, sooner than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Wolf cubs gestate much quicker than full human cubs. Didn't I tell you?"

Virginia was stammering. "Q-quicker?"

"Much quicker."

"How much quicker?"

Wolf turned and went back to sautéing the steak.

Virginia's face was pure horror. "How much quicker?!"