Notes: The sweetheart at the end is meant to be Ruby. The Oz story is hilarious crack, but I think this version is the main timeline version of how Ruby comes. Her arrival was supposed to be more like this all along, but then I couldn't resist the silliness of Ruby in an Oz story instead of ruby slippers.

Chapter Ten

Scotch was eager to rehearse for his concert, so they all gathered in the living room for the first attempt at the performance.

"Okay, so wecan either go with the version of Hi-Lili Hi-Lo from the movie or the Four Seasons' cover," he said. "I have both versions!"

The Eevees listened very carefully to both renditions of the song. The tunes were quite different, and Evie especially looked like she was taking choosing one very seriously. Her tail swished back and forth like a metronome as she listened, and soon she was singing along.

"Eevee-vee, Eevee-vee, Eevee, Eevee, Eevee-vee, Eevee-vee, Eeveeeeee!"

"That's adorable," Radley smiled. "Anne Murray covered the song too. Hers sounds more like the movie version."

"I'll bring that up too!" Scotch said, and soon did. He also found several other covers in the original style.

Evie seemed to prefer the original tune to the Four Seasons' amusingly cheeky cover, and the other Eevees were agreeable to that. Soon they lined up facing Lily and started to sing while she listened and Scotch recorded.

"It's super cute!" Scotch gushed.

Emilio clapped. "They look like they're having a lot of fun!"

Lily had to admit, this wasn't so bad. She could just sit and watch the other Eevees singing to her. It definitely didn't feel nerve-wracking like singing herself would.

At the end, Radley reached over and petted her. "Well, what do you think, Lily?"

Lily nuzzled his hand. "Eevee!"

"It looks like you've got a winner," Radley grinned at Scotch.

"Yes!" Scotch exclaimed. "Okay, let's run through it some more and maybe we can debut it tonight!"

The Eevees quite happily performed several more times until they were sure they had the tune completely down. Then they jumped around exclaiming in joy and triumph.

"You all deserve rewards," Radley said. "It's just about lunchtime. How about a delicious meal?"

They chorused eagerly at that idea.

So did Scotch. "Let's do it!" he grinned.

They all headed into the kitchen, where Radley and Kalin set about making lunch. The Eevees all hopped into chairs at the table to watch.

"You catch on fast," Isla said to Kiryu.

"It's fun," Kiryu said. "I like to sing."

"Me too!" Evie happily chirped. "We all did really well!"

"Is Scotch going to post these videos online like the dancing video?" Lily wondered.

"I don't think he was the one who posted the dancing video, but he probably will put up our performance tonight," Isla said.

"People all over the world will see us!" Evie exclaimed.

That was an incomprehensible thought to Lily. People everywhere would see her. . . . And they would love and not scorn her?

"Maybe your sister will see it too!" Evie said hopefully.

Lily started. Was there any chance? It didn't seem possible, but there was really no reason why it couldn't happen, somehow. She could be passing by someone watching it, or maybe she had a person who would be watching it, or maybe she was even like Isla and could go online herself. She was certainly smart enough.

"Maybe she will," she finally said.

xxxx

The rest of the day was filled with playing and more rehearsing. By evening they were all ready for their debut and Scotch was eager to show them all off. At the diner they all leaped on the stage in full view of the audience and looked out across the group.

"Eevee-vee!" Evie happily called.

Several "Aww"s and cries of "How cute!" rose among the customers.

Scotch hopped on stage too. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you The Singing Eevees with their debut song, Hi-Lili Hi-Lo!" he announced.

Everyone clapped, curious and intrigued. When the Eevees actually started to sing, several phones went up as people enthusiastically started to record.

Lily's fur bristled a bit in her mounting nervousness. This was different than the rehearsals. Now there were so many looking at them, at her. But she hadn't minded people watching them play, so she tried to focus on that. This was just like play. And she didn't have to sing, just to let the others sing to her. Radley would support her no matter what, but it would make him happy for her to be brave enough to go through with this. He was smiling at her now from the audience.

Lily started to relax. She could do this with Radley here for her.

The performance went off without a hitch. Evie beamed as she led the others in singing and Lily was agreeable to being sung to. She even swayed a bit to the music. At the end, all of them received a standing ovation.

Scotch looked ready to levitate. "That was awesome!" he gushed. "Thank you guys so much!" He petted all the Eevees, including Lily. "I knew this would be amazing!"

Radley came over to pet them too. "Congratulations," he smiled at Scotch as well as the Eevees. "All of you did so well!" He petted each Eevee, lingering a bit on Lily. "I know that was hard for you, honey, but you came through with flying colors."

Lily leaned into his hand. Radley was praising her. He would have regardless, but she was so happy she had made him proud and hadn't let her friends down.

"Yay!" Evie beamed. "Maybe we can sing more songs!"

"Maybe," Lily said. She wouldn't be so opposed now.

The rest of the evening was happy too. Emilio, holding his incubator on his lap, perked up excitedly at one point. "The egg is moving!" he exclaimed. "Look, it's rocking!"

Everyone gathered around to see.

"I bet all the cute singing helped stimulate it," Radley smiled.

Evie cheered.

Lily watched in awe. That was also a good reason to keep performing, then. She wanted to help hatch this Eevee.

Emilio hugged the incubator close. "I can hardly wait for you to come out and be with us," he whispered. "And you're excited for that too, aren't you?"

The egg rocked again, as if in confirmation.

Radley smiled fondly as he watched. Emilio would be a wonderful Eevee person.

xxxx

The next several days were filled with all manner of activities they hoped would stimulate Emilio's egg. The Eevees sang. Emilio talked and sang. He took the egg out of the incubator and held it wrapped in a blanket. The Eevees curled up with it like the breeder's Eevees had. Sometimes they talked to it too.

Then, after only a week, the egg began to move and vibrate. The sounds inside grew louder and more prominent. Emilio's eyes widened and all the Eevees' ears pricked up.

"I think it's going to hatch!" Emilio exclaimed.

"Eevee-vee!" Evie squealed.

Marisol looked over the instructions. "I believe you are right, Emilio! Let's place the egg on the bed on a blanket or towel."

They did, and all gathered around to eagerly watch.

"It can take hours, sometimes," Robert said. "But sometimes not, depending on how stubborn the Eevee is."

"I'll stay right here as long as it takes!" Emilio said.

"I'll bet Isla was stubborn!" Scotch said.

Robert laughed. "Oh yes, she most certainly was."

Isla warbled with pride.

Radley chuckled. He couldn't picture anything else.

When the egg began to crack, the excitement in the room only built to a higher level. In a moment a sweet paw emerged, pushing on the egg from within. More paws followed, and in a flash of light, the egg fell away and an adorable female Eevee was stumbling to her feet amid the pieces. She looked around in awe.

"Eeveeee!" Evie greeted. "Hiiii, and welcome to our family! We're so glad you're here!"

Emilio was also in awe. Slowly he reached out, lifting the sweet girl into his arms. "Hi, Eevee," he whispered. "You're really here! You're my Eevee, and you always will be."

The baby Eevee warbled and placed a paw on his shoulder.

"You're going to be Ramona," Emilio declared, "in honor of our family, and especially my brother." He beamed up at Radley.

Radley smiled back. "That's a very nice name."

Ramona thought so too. She chirped and trilled and snuggled Emilio while also beginning a conversation with the other Eevees. Evie was so excited she was jumping on the bed.

Lily just stood there, still in awe as she watched the scene. This was what they had been working towards all these days. Now there was a new little Eevee here and Emilio finally had his cherished friend. Ramona just wanted to cuddle and cuddle, purring in happiness. She was very friendly and happy and loved all the Eevees and all the other humans. Lily could see Ramona loved her too. Her worries had been groundless.

"I think even Grandma will love her!" Emilio said. "How could she not?!"

Radley smiled. "I have to wonder the same thing."

"I am glad she said she wouldn't interfere with Emilio having an Eevee," Marisol said. "I hope she will be won over." She also looked like she hoped Ramona would not get into everything like Isla did, but she didn't voice that concern.

Ramona didn't seem to have much interest in getting into things. She stuck close by Emilio with sparkling, loving eyes. She also happily talked with all the Eevees.

"This is so wonderful, isn't it?" she said dreamily. "All of you entertained me and talked to me and it was so fun, I wanted to get out and meet you!"

"We hoped you'd want that," Kiryu said.

"Can I sing with you too?" she asked.

"Of course!" Evie said. "We can all sing tonight!"

"I don't know if such a little Eevee should go on the stage with so many people around," Isla said. "But we could sing here!"

"I'd like to sing anywhere!" Ramona said.

Evie beamed and started to sing Hi-Lili Hi-Lo. Most of the other Eevees joined in. Lily sat and watched, keeping time with the performance with her tail.

"She's singing!" Emilio exclaimed in excitement. Ramona was still cuddled in his arms, singing away with the others.

"That's adorable," Radley smiled.

Scotch promptly started to record the moment. "So cute!"

"You've got a very musical Eevee," Radley continued. "I guess all that singing to her really helped."

"We'll sing a lot back home!" Emilio said.

". . . Did you ever tell her that you don't live here?" Kalin wondered. "Maybe she thinks she'll always get to be with all these other Eevees."

"I told her," Emilio said. "I told her all about what the villa's like. She seemed like she liked that too!"

"Eevee!" said Ramona.

"It's so pretty," Evie said. "You'll love it!"

"I'm really excited to see it!" Ramona said. "Will you visit?"

"Of course!" Evie exclaimed.

"I hope you'll come a lot," Ramona said. "I'll miss you every day!"

"We'll come as much as we can, and we'll video chat too," Evan said.

"You love us all so much even though you're only meeting us now," Lily said in amazement. "Why?"

"I met all of you when you were helping me to hatch," Ramona said. "You're all so nice! I have so many Mommies and Daddies!"

"That makes sense to be seen that way," Evan mused. "I wonder if it's like that with all Eevees who are bred from eggs."

"I certainly saw my first person as a father figure," Isla said. "I still do, really."

Although the humans couldn't understand the specific words the Eevees were saying, they definitely understood Ramona's innocent feelings as she cuddled Emilio with happy purrs.

"She probably thinks you're her daddy," Radley smiled.

Instead of finding that funny, Emilio was clearly honored by the responsibility. "I'll do everything I can to be a good daddy," he said.

"You already are," Radley said. "I know you'll take good care of Ramona."

"Yeah!" Emilio beamed.

As he gently stroked Ramona's fur, Marisol couldn't hide how proud she looked. She was sure this would be good for Emilio. And perhaps when Lucia saw that, her feelings would soften even more.

Radley hoped the same. "How much longer can you guys stay?" he asked.

"We really should be getting back," Marisol admitted. "Perhaps we may stay the rest of this day and leave tomorrow." She smiled. "Thank you, dear Radley, for everything you have done. You have made Emilio so very happy by arranging for him to have this darling Eevee."

"I'm glad there was one available," he smiled. He didn't say it in front of the Eevees, but he was sure Lucia would be much more accepting of a purebred Eevee with a pedigree than a wild one of spurious origin.

"Yeah! It's been a lot of fun hatching her!" Scotch chirped. "I bet it'll be fun raising her from a baby too!"

"It was certainly fun with Isla," Robert mused. "There was never a dull moment."

Isla trilled.

"I want to video call every night!" Emilio declared.

"That's a great idea," Radley smiled. "You can call at the diner so Scotch and Isla and Kiryu can be there too."

"I'll do that!" Emilio beamed.

Ramona and Evie cheered. The others soon did too, even Lily.

xxxx

The rest of the day was filled with excitement and celebrations and fun. The Eevees sang and played and dined on delicious foods. Ramona was too little for full meals like the others, but Radley and Emilio made sure she had nourishment too.

Lily stood and watched as Emilio lovingly held Ramona and fed her a bottle of formula. She was delighted, placing all paws on the bottle as she drank from the top. Scotch gushed about how cute the scene was and immediately filmed.

"I wonder what it would have been like to have been raised by a human instead of in the wild," Lily said softly. "It looks like it would have been so happy."

Evie nuzzled her. "You get to be with humans now, at least! We're all happy here together!"

Lily smiled. "I never thought I could have happiness at all, and now I get to have so much."

"And we're so happy you're here!" Evie exclaimed.

Radley was relaxing at a desk near the living room window as he watched the sweetness around him. Realizing the window had been left open for some reason, he moved to close it but was stopped by a ball of fluff leaping in and landing on his lap. "Whoa!" he exclaimed.

Everyone looked up with a start.

"Another Eevee?!" Kalin said in disbelief.

The Eevee warbled with glee, rubbed Radley, and made a beeline for Lily as she jumped down. "I saw you online!" she exclaimed. "I've been looking everywhere for you for months, and then there you were!"

Lily could only stare. ". . . Sister?!" she finally gasped.

The new Eevee nuzzled her. "I never should have left," she lamented. "We belonged together!"

"I should have gone with you," Lily said. "I've been so lonely without you!"

"Looking for romance was stupid," her sister said. "It'll find me when it finds me, if it's going to!" More humbly she added, "I want to be with you in this wonderful life you have . . . if you'll have me."

Lily's eyes filled with tears. The last puzzle piece had fallen into place. Her sister was home.

"Of course," she said, hugging her close. "I know Radley and Kalin will adopt you too. We'll finally be together again!"

Radley and the others were staring in amazement. "They clearly know each other," Radley said.

"That is so epic!" Scotch exclaimed. "Look how much they love each other! You'll adopt her, won't you?! She needs to be with Lily!"

Kalin was still staring. "How did she find Lily?"

"I have no idea," Radley said. He smiled at Kalin. "But what do you say, Bro? Do we have room for one more?"

Kalin stared at the snuggling Eevees. ". . . How can I say No?" He finally smiled. "Of course we have room."

All the Eevees cheered. Lily hugged her sister more.

"You're home," she said softly. "We're all home."

She hadn't thought her fairy tale could get any more amazing, but somehow it had. Everything was so right.

Happily ever beginning indeed.