Krystal was still very much a regular visitor of Fay's apartment. The vixen loved Fay's company and relished the chance to hear more of the spaniel's stories about Fox and other subjects. For her own part, Fay was more than happy to oblige. Krystal was incredibly sweet, and privately she enjoyed playing silent matchmaker to the vixen's budding relationship with Fox. Of course, Fay approved entirely.

One raining morning, Krystal came by again. They sat in the living room, drinking coffee, and talking about how their weeks had been thus far.

"So," said Krystal, after sharing. "I know you knew this was coming, but," and here the vixen grinned sheepishly, "could I have another story?"

Fay giggled. "I should start charging you, honestly," she said. "But yes, of course! It's fun to tell these things to a captive audience. Now, what to tell you today…"

Her mind went through the number of little adventures she had with her honorary little brother. All of the stories told thus far were sweet or funny in nature, and she wondered about another story like that. Then her thoughts turned to the rain tapping at her window, and her thoughts drifted away to a particular rainy afternoon and evening, one day after school when both her and Fox's rides were late…

She smiled.

"…I think it's become apparent," she said, "that I have something of a sisterly bond with Fox, hm?"

"Yes, of course," said Krystal. "It's clear you watched over him a lot in school. Do you still?"

"In my own way," said Fay. "It's hard to fuss over him now. He's gotten taller, for one!" She giggled. "I ask, because there's a specific memory I can think of where I felt that way strongly. Oh, he was cute back then, Krystal, so it was so easy to spoil him, but in this memory I felt that sisterly feeling the strongest, at the time." She looked out the window again, a nostalgic look in her eye.

"Tell me," said Krystal, leaning forward.

Fay nodded. "This must've been after the second week of classes. It was after school, and…"

Back then…

Thirty minutes, at least. Fay frowned, staring at the text message from her chauffer.

Well, if she had all this extra time before her chauffeur came to pick her up, she might as well see what other classmates were up too at the curve.

"The curve" was the hangout spot far to the left of Corneria High's main entrance. It was where the car line typically was for folks who didn't have their own transportation and depended on their parents, other family, or a friend with a ride to pick them up and take them home. Often there were small crowds of people hanging around and waiting for their rides, chatting amongst themselves. Such was the case today a little over thirty minutes after school let out. There were still plenty of people around.

And Fay happened to spot a familiar looking vulpine standing around and idly scrolling on his phone. She smiled. Fay walked up behind him and covered his eyes from behind.

"Guess who~," she said.

"Oh, hi, Sheila," said Fox. She could hear the smirk on his face. "You sound like Fay today."

Fay rolled her eyes and sat beside him. "Waiting for a ride?" she said.

"Dad's on his way once he finishes with business," said Fox. "So I'm stuck here for now. How about you?"

"Samesies," said Fay. "My ride is running late. Ah well." She ruffled his headfur. "This just means I can bother you more."

"Of course," said Fox. "Say, does it look like it might rain to you?"

Fay looked up. Sure enough, there were some gray clouds over the horizon.

"Good thing I have an umbrella," said Fay. "Hopefully I won't need to wait that long."

They sat silently, talking and watching classmates get picked up. Wow, her ride was really running late. Then she got a text as soon as she finished that thought, and it was of her chauffeur telling her that traffic was murderous right now.

Lovely.

"I'm guessing your dad is off being cool somewhere?" she asked. Fox really was quiet about his father's exploits. Plenty of other kids would love to puff their chests about how awesome their dad was if they were the son of James McCloud, but not Fox.

"Maybe," said Fox. "I just hope he's okay."

For a second Fay saw a touching vulnerability in Fox's emerald eyes, and it made her put a paw on his shoulder.

"I'm sure he's fine," she said.

Fox looked at her, and then at her paw. He smiled gratefully.

More time passed. Now they were the last two people at the curb, and those rain clouds were inching ever closer.

"I want to know," said Fay, pouting, "just how bad that traffic is."

"I'm sure your ride is doing their best, Fay," said Fox.

"I know," said Fay. "That doesn't mean I don't get to frown about it."

"And that rain is coming, for sure," said Fox. "So we both have something else to worry about. Will you be okay?"

"That's sweet of you to ask, Foxy, and thankfully I will be," said Fay. She pulled her umbrella out of her backpack. "Wait. Do you have a raincoat with you, or an umbrella?"

"No," said Fox. "Shoot, I should have either of those. The one day I don't check the weather…"

"Well, you have me," said Fay. "Big Sister will take care of it. You can huddle next to me."

Fox blushed. "Really?" he asked.

"Of course, Fox, and why are you blushing?" said Fay. She giggled. "With how much me, Sheila, and Marie bury you in our chests with hugs, you shouldn't be so bashful about being so close to us."

"I mean…" said Fox, trailing off. Fay knew she had a point, and Fox was trying to find a way out. She put an arm around him and pulled him close.

Five minutes later Fox's phone beeped. He looked at it, and got a worried look in his eyes.

"Dad's gonna be…really late," said Fox. "More late than usual."

Then, with perfect timing, it started to rain. Not hard, thank goodness, but rain was rain. Fay unfurled her umbrella and opened it over the two of them. She kept Fox close, and despite his bashfulness he leaned against her.

"Do you know when he'll be around?" Fay asked.

"…No," said Fox. "But he'll come. This happens sometimes with his work, where he's later than usual. Things usually come up."

Fay took a long look at Fox, and her gaze couldn't see any resentment in Fox's eyes towards his father, or any anger. Rather—and it broke her heart—she saw a quiet sadness in his eyes. At his circumstances or his father being late, she couldn't know, but it hurt her to see it. Fay was at least partly aware of the tragedy in the McCloud family. James McCloud lived a dangerous life, and…Fay knew something happened to Fox's mother. Something awful. But as Fox's oldest friend Slippy once mentioned, it was something you never spoke of around him. It was just never done.

"…you two get along just fine though, right?" said Fay.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, we do," said Fox. He smiled fondly. "Dad works very hard. He says he likes doing the right thing, and he wants to do it his way. That's why Star Fox was formed. I admire that."

"It is very admirable," said Fay. "Still, I wish he wasn't so late to pick you up…"

Fox yawned. "You really are a sister."

Fay smiled, her tail wagging. "Aww. That's sweet of you to say."

The rain fell around them, and she cuddled Fox a little closer. With Fox's remark, she felt a strong instinct to keep him close. It felt right. Then her phone beeped, and her chauffeur told her he was finally fifteen minutes away from her. Her grumbling thoughts of both gratitude and annoyance were hushed when she felt a weight settle against the side of her chest. It was Fox, nestled against her. He was asleep.

Her heart leapt into her throat. Really, did he have to be so darling all the time?

Then she heard a phone ring. It wasn't hers, and she saw something vibrating in Fox's pocket. She pulled out his phone and answered it—and thank goodness, he was still asleep.

"Fox!" said a man's voice, very worried and tired. "I'm so sorry, kiddo, but it's like every brass head at Corneria HQ is trying to pull me aside, and-"

"Mr. McCloud?" said Fay.

"…hello?" said the voice, which could only be James McCloud. "Who is this?"

"It's Fay, Fay Sinclair," said Fay. "One of Fox's friends."

"Oh!" said James. His relief was palpable. "One of the cheer girls! Fox tells me stories about you ladies fussing over him." He chuckled. "It's a hard life, being doted on by four lovely ladies, I'm sure."

Fay decided she liked James McCloud immediately. "Yup! I'm one of them."

"Is Fox fine?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. She looked down at him—and suppressed a squeal when he nuzzled into her chest more. "He's-"

"Oh, thank goodness," said James. Then a tired sigh came through the line. "And I have more meetings the general needs to have now. It's…it's gonna be late, and Peppy is here too and Beltino is tied up with things…"

An idea occurred to Fay.

"I'll take him to my place for the night," said Fay.

"…you'd really do that?" he said. "I…Miss Fay, it's on such short notice—"

"Don't worry Mr. McCloud," said Fay. "I look after him enough at school." She chuckled. "That does include spoiling him rotten, occasionally, but don't worry. He'll be fine."

"Oh, jeez," said James. "I…I owe you one, Miss Sinclair. Seriously." There was conviction in his voice. "I will repay you. I hope I don't seem like a dead beat dad—I really hate it when work makes me seem like that—so I mean it when I say I will repay you."

"No, not at all," said Fay. "Things happen."

"Thank you so much," said James. "I will be contact. Thank you!"

He hung up.

A good man, she thought. Fox was in good paws.

As she looked down at Fox, her fondness for him swelled. Without her being there today to take him home, and give his father piece of mind, where would he be? Caught in the rain? Would he be as social as he was now? She wasn't one to fixate on the worst case scenario, but a protective, sisterly feeling was swelling within her that made her clutch Fox closer. She texted her chauffeur, letting him know of their extra passenger, and she would not take no for an answer.

"Don't worry, Foxy," she said. "I'll take care of you."

"I know what you mean," said Krystal.

Fay smiled. "I figured you would."

"Fox…he works too hard," said Krystal, staring off into thought. "He looks after everyone. It's who he is. And he's had a hard life. Beyond him being precious to me, there's that part of me that wants to look after him too." She looked back at Fay and smiled. "Mother would say that's my Auntie Garnet in me."

"I can understand how you feel," said Fay. "I…even now, I do try to keep my eye on him." She tapped her chin in thought. "Why, I think I know what it is."

"What?" said Krystal.

"As much as Fox tells others to not call him a hero, he is one," said Fay. She smiled fondly. "Hero's need people to worry and care about them, right? Perhaps life has a knack for putting Fox in front of people who can do just that…"