When Fire Collide - Chapter 17
Thunder echoed across Heartland. Cinder had the day off and had decided that the weather was so lousy that she would just lay in bed. She had spoken with Smudge two days ago and was really missing him today. She hated this weather; it just seemed to drag her mood down. She tapped her tag calling Everest.
"Hey sis," said Cinder softly, "How are you and those pups doing?"
"I'm the size of a cow," snarked Everest. "The pups have decided playing trampoline on my bladder is their new favorite sport. Overall, I'm good though. How are you doing?"
"I'm existing," laughed Cinder softly. "How am I ever going to survive?"
"One day at a time sis," laughed Everest. "You two will figure something out soon, I just know it."
"I've been fine for years," Cinder whined softly, "Now I can't seem to get motivated to even get out of bed. It's storming and I just don't want to do anything today."
"So don't," laughed Everest, "It's a girl's option to do nothing anytime she wants. Have you called him today?"
"I tried earlier," said Cinder softly. "He didn't answer. I left a message but I haven't heard from him."
"I'm sure he's just busy and will call soon," said Everest. "It's ok to have down days. It won't be long until you two are together again. How's your pillow case holding up?"
"It's starting to fade," Cinder softly sighed dejectedly. "I'm going to have to mail it to him to refresh the scent. I feel pathetic that this stupid pillow case has become so important to me; it is just a pillowcase after all. I know I'll see him soon, but not soon enough."
"I'm amazed he thought of it," laughed Everest. "I know I'm not letting Marshall leave ever again without leaving me his scent in some way."
"It was a cute idea," agreed Cinder softly.
"Well don't let the weather get you down too much," said Everest, "I'm sorry but I have to go to the bathroom again."
"Talk to you soon," laughed Cinder softly.
Cinder hung up and sat staring at the ceiling. She decided to try Smudge again.
"Hello Love," said Smudge after the first ring.
"Smudge!" yipped Cinder softly. "I tried to call earlier."
"I'm sorry, I was going to call you back but I was tied up," said Smudge. "How are you today?"
"I really miss you today," Cinder softly whimpered. "I really want to see you."
"Well, I have an idea," said Smudge.
"What's that?" Cinder replied, expecting him to have her close her eyes and imagine her in his paws as he had before.
"Why don't you open your door," suggested Smudge.
"What!" barked Cinder, jumping up from her bed.
"Open your door," laughed Smudge. "You kind of messed up my surprise, but I like this way better."
Cinder dashed through her small apartment to the door. She flung it open and there stood Smudge.
"H-how in the world?" Cinder softly said as tears began building up.
"Marshall and I planned on me coming to surprise you," said Smudge. "I was walking up to your door when you called."
"I-I d-don't know what to say," Cinder stuttered softly.
"Well, aren't you happy to see me?" asked Smudge.
Cinder answered by pouncing on him and kissing him deeply and passionately. After a moment of kissing and tearing up she softly said, "Of course I'm happy to see you. I-I'm just amazed Marshall managed to keep it a secret. He's usually terrible with secrets. Either he managed to keep it even from Everest or she didn't say anything."
"Um, I'm not complaining," laughed Smudge, "But are we going to keep kissing out here until someone posts it online?"
"Absolutely not," giggled Cinder softly. "I don't want anyone to see us…"
Smudge scooped Cinder up on his back and carried her into the apartment, closing the door. He carried her over to the sofa and gently laid her down. He turned and promptly began kissing her even more passionately than they had at the door. They both kissed and caressed each other, quite happy and excited to be together again.
"I've missed you so much," Cinder said softly, beginning to tear up.
"Hey, hey," said Smudge, taking her head in his paws and kissing away her tears, "no tears. I'm here and will be here for at least a few days."
"Oh Smudge," Cinder softly whimpered, "what are we going to do? I love you and hate being apart from you."
"Well, I guess I need to figure out how to speak to your father," said Smudge. "I hate being away from you too."
Smudge explained the conversation he and his father had had. He then explained he took a leave of absence from London Fire Brigade and would be here for a few weeks unless they could figure something else out.
"Here, stand up," said Smudge.
Cinder did and Smudge laid down on the sofa and held out his paws. Cinder climbed back onto the sofa and into his paws. Smudge wrapped all four paws around her and pulled her in close. He began kissing her ears and down her neck and shoulders. Cinder closed her eyes and purred with happiness.
"I love you Cinder," said Smudge. "I don't care what it takes. There just has to be a way."
They held onto each other for a while. Cinder's tag alerted.
"Cinder, a certain sneaky pup just admitted to what he and Smudge pulled," laughed Everest. "I'm not sure if I should be proud or mad."
"Proud" giggled Cinder softly, "you give him an extra kiss from me."
"Me too," laughed Smudge. "Give us a few hours, we're still catching up."
"Talk to you soon," laughed Everest, hanging up.
Cinder laid in Smudge's paws as he petted her head and hummed a soothing tune. In no time she drifted off to sleep. Smudge kissed her head and snuggled into her for a nap as the rain drummed against the windows.
"So, I did good?" Marshall asked hopefully.
"You did great babe" Everest said as she sank back down onto her side. It was the only position that the very pregnant husky could lay in comfortably. "I've turned into a beached whale," she groaned.
"A beautiful lavender whale" Marshall cooed as he gently massaged his mate's puppy bump. The puppies inside started seemingly attacking his paw with kicks.
"Not helpful dear" Everest whined, turning one eye to glare at Marshall, "you did this to me" she said accusingly.
"I seem to recall you were a more than enthusiastic participant babe" Marshall said matter-of-factly as he kissed her neck. "Some might even say you took advantage of my instinctual desire to please you."
"Don't you start" Everest replied teasingly as she kissed him back. Marshall responded by kissing her harder. Many giggles and snuggles resulted.
Cinder's eyes blinked open as the sun dipped low in the sky. She stifled a yawn as she pressed herself against Smudge. It brought such a big smile to her face to have him in her paws again. Or was she in his paws? She decided it didn't matter, they were together again. A growl from her tummy reminded her that she needed to eat.
"What was that?" Smudge asked sleepily.
"The song of my stomach" Cinder softly laughed, "let's go get some food, I don't feel like dealing with cooking tonight."
"But what about the benefits of staying in?" Smudge inquired.
"Don't worry, I'll take advantage of you later" Cinder softly teased with a flirtatious wink as she sashayed towards the door, flicking Smudge's nose with her tail along the way. Smudge tripped over a few things as he ran after her because he wasn't watching where he was going.
"Where are we going?" Smudge asked as they walked.
"A place with a beautiful view," Cinder softly replied.
"More beautiful than you?" Smudge pressed, "I don't believe it."
"Charmer" Cinder softly teased, giving him a playful shove, "we are almost there."
Cinder led Smudge to a place called The Dockyard. They headed up the stairs and were promptly escorted to a table that had a small fire pit in the center and a circular couch surrounding it for seats. "This looks fancy" Smudge commented as he looked out over the harbor.
"Just a little" Cinder softly admitted, "the food is really good and I thought that this was just the place to celebrate being together again." The two shared a quick kiss before their server came up.
"Good evening, what are you celebrating tonight, Cinder?" the server asked.
"Good evening, Kelly" Cinder said with a soft smile. "Just being together with this handsome pup is enough reason to celebrate" she added with a wink and a blush at Smudge. "How are you and things here?"
"Life is great" Kelly replied, "so this is Smudge, eh?"
"You know who I am?" Smudge yipped in surprise.
"Unless Cinder has started collecting handsome Dalmatians, I would say I've heard of you" Kelly replied with a smile.
"Don't act so surprised" Cinder softly giggled, "I have been coming here for years and know the staff very well so it isn't surprising that you are known. I'll have the usual tonight, please, and the same for him."
"Certainly, I'll have that right out" Kelly replied before vanishing.
"What is your usual?" Smudge asked.
"You'll find out soon enough" Cinder softly replied, "and don't try your head-cocking trick tonight as you won't find out but I may decide not to restrain myself…"
"What head-cocking trick?" Smudge asked, cocking his head to the side adorably.
Cinder's paw shot out, grabbed Smudge by his collar and yanked him towards her. Their nuzzles met in a very heated kiss that made Smudge's tail stick straight out. "Just remember," Cinder whispered, "I'm not wearing anything under my collar, and neither of our collars will stay on past the front door tonight…"
Cinder tossed Smudge back upright and into his seat. While it was true that they usually wore only their collars, except when they wore their turnout gear at a fire, or anytime they wore specialized gear, hearing her say it that way sent uncontrollable shivers down Smudge's spine.
The two pups chatted and flirted l until their food arrived. Large plates with sweet potato, broccoli and a large porterhouse steak were set in front of them. "Thanks Kelly," Cinder softly said, dipping her head.
"Good evening you two" Kelly replied with a smile before withdrawing again.
"This is your usual?" Smudge gasped as his eyes took in all the food.
"Are you calling me fat?" Cinder softly shot back.
"Uh no, nope, absolutely not" Smudge frantically back pawed.
"Good, because then I would have to have you killed and I would hate to see any of this food go to waste" Cinder softly giggled. The two pups promptly attacked their plates with gusto.
After eating, Cinder scooted next to Smudge and rested her head on his shoulder while they watched the sun set. Few words were spoken as they snuggled.
As darkness settled around the harbor, punctuated by all the tiny lights on the ships lighting up, Cinder finally shook herself. "Time to go home," Cinder softly said. The two pups stood up and walked toward the door. "Any issues?" Cinder softly asked as Kelly met them by the door.
"None whatsoever" Kelly replied with a wink, "and we, of course, kept everything suitably discrete."
"Thanks Kelly, you're the best" Cinder softly thanked her before they walked out. Smudge had many questions but Cinder's quick pace didn't leave him any time to ask them.
When they reached her apartment, Cinder swiftly unlocked the door and slid inside. Her black and white paw shot back out and yanked Smudge in after her. Smudge heard the door shut a split second before Cinder pinned him to the door, ripped his collar off and tossed it on the counter next to her own. Smudge felt his breath being sucked away as Cinder kissed him.
The moment they broke for air, Smudge felt himself being briskly dragged through the apartment and then tossed into Cinder's bed. Smudge barely had a moment to breathe before Cinder was assaulting him again with her muzzle. "Kiss me and snuggle me all night long" Cinder softly panted into Smudge's ear. And this is exactly what they did.
The next morning, Cinder's eyes had barely fluttered open when she felt strong paws wrapped around her. She smiled as she recounted the previous night.
'What a great night' thought Cinder happily.
She was about to slip out of Smudge's paws when she felt them tighten and before she could react Smudge had grabbed her by her scruff and pulled her back to him. She was quickly flipped onto her back and pinned.
"No, no tickles," Cinder began softly giggling.
"Just a few, maybe a little right here," said Smudge as he nipped her neck and then returned kissing her lips as they both melted into each other.
Cinder giggled as she laid back staring into Smudges deep blue eyes. Smudge licked her nose and then burrowed his snout into her neck fur.
"Mmm, I like that," cooed Cinder softly.
"So, what do you want to do today?" laughed Smudge.
"I like the idea of staying right here and doing this all day," Cinder softly said.
"I'm ok with that," laughed Smudge.
"We could go see Marshall, Everest, and the pups," Cinder softly suggested.
"That would be fun," agreed Smudge.
"Let's run by the station and I'll turn in a leave request," Cinder said softly.
A little later the two Dalmatians walked into Skipper's office, he was on the phone.
'Yes sir, I'll get on it and figure something out,' Skipped said into the phone, "Good to talk to you again as well, have a great day."
"Hello you two," said Skipper, standing and walking over to shake Smudge's paw.
"You don't seem surprised to see Smudge," said Cinder softly. "Did he warn you he was coming?"
"No, but a friend of mine reached out and did," laughed Skipper.
"Oh, who would that be?" laughed Smudge.
"Your Fire Chief," said Skipper, matter-of-factly.
"My Chief!" yipped Smudge.
"Oh, yes," said Skipper, "We talk often. We started talking before you came for your initial training and have kept up since then."
"Well, I'm glad he's reaching out," said Smudge, "I know there are several programs you have implemented here that would greatly benefit the London Fire Brigade."
"Yes, well," said Skipper, "I'm assuming you're coming to request a leave of absence?"
"I was going to request a couple days," said Cinder softly, looking quizzically at Skipper.
"Oh, I figured you were going to go stay with Everest until the pups came," said Skipper. "Then you'd have time to enjoy them and spend time with Smudge as well."
"Well, I guess that would make sense," said Smudge.
"Skipper," Cinder softly started, "I can't do that. I have reports to complete. I have programs to oversee, I can't be gone for a month or more."
"You also are going to Adventure Bay," said Skipper, "Home to one of the most inventive pups on the planet. One that can easily set up a remote office for you to handle routine admin from."
"You had this planned already," Cinder said softly and suspiciously.
"I might have made a call and set up something," laughed Skipper. "Rocky already has the computer station set up for you. Y'all have fun."
"I don't know what to say," Cinder softly whispered.
"Well, I'm a phone call away if you need something done," said Skipper, returning to his desk and sitting down.
Cinder and Smudge turned to walk out the office door.
"Oh, and Cinder?" said Skipper.
The Dalmatians turned back.
"I expect an invitation," smiled Skipper.
"To what?" asked Smudge.
"The wedding," laughed Skipper. "You can close the door on the way out." Skipper was already picking up the phone to belay any reply. Out of the corner of his eye he could see two bright red Dalmatians.
Without a word both Dalmatians walked out the door closing it behind them.
Skipper looked down at the local gossip paper on his desk, 'The Heart of Heartland'. He snickered at the front page which showed a silhouette of two pups leaning against each other, staring out at the sunset. The headline read 'Mystery Dalmatian couple spotted at The Dockyard.' He couldn't be sure as the only confirmed fact in the whole story was that there were two pups, but it looked ever so slightly like the pair that had just left his office.