Chapter Six

Radley was right. In minutes, two Duel Runners roared into the parking lot and over to them.

"Sorry we're late," Yusei greeted as he took off his helmet.

"It's fine, Yusei," Kalin said with a smile. "We're just glad you made it."

"Yeah! Look at these adorable cuties!" Scotch beamed, holding up the carrier. All the Eevees warbled happy greetings.

"They're adorable!" Antinomy exclaimed. He held up his own carrier and Monkey meowed, pawing at the door.

"I'm sorry we can't let them out," Radley said apologetically. "They're energetic and get into everything."

"Yeah, you don't want to let them out here," Yusei agreed. He smiled, fascinated as he watched them climb over each other and Penny as they called in excitement. "They really are cute."

Scotch beamed. "I just love them!"

"Are they a handful?" Yusei asked in some concern.

"They are, but we knew they would be," Radley said. "We're happy to have them."

Scotch nodded. "We'll figure out what to do!"

"I'm sure you will," Yusei said.

"And it's so epic it worked out with the daddy's owner!" Scotch gushed. "She's actually nice and we can visit!"

"That's wonderful," Yusei smiled.

"It's sure a load off our hearts," Radley said.

"Eevee!" all the Eevees chorused.

"I can imagine," Yusei said.

Monkey was chattily conversing with the Eevees, including the new babies. "How do you like your new home?" he asked.

"We love it!" Holly exclaimed. "Scotch is so nice and everyone is too!"

"They are!" Monkey agreed. "They all love animals!"

As Radley watched, a worried look suddenly flashed through his eyes.

"What is it?" Kalin asked low.

"I just thought of something," Radley replied. "What do you think Lawton might do if he learned about the Eevees?"

"Probably nothing," Kalin said. "Animals aren't exactly his speed."

"No, but if he learned they were worth a lot, he might change his tune," Radley said. "Or maybe I'm just projecting Malcolm onto him. I know Malcolm would go for it."

Kalin pondered. ". . . He did end up bent on taking revenge on us," he conceded. "Maybe if it was a revenge plot. . . . He doesn't like taking risks, though. Coming out to hurt us again would be a serious risk at this point."

"Yeah, it would be," Radley sighed. "I don't know, Kalin. . . . Maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily."

"Let's hope so," Kalin said. "But we'll stay on guard anyway."

Scotch, who was very occupied listening to Monkey and the Eevees, hadn't heard the conversation. But Yusei had, and he frowned in concern. "You haven't heard anything from him since he ran away from California, have you?"

"We haven't," Radley agreed. "It was shortly after that when this sweetheart found me again." He smiled at Evie, who warbled. "And aside from that encounter with Portman, everything's been pretty peaceful ever since."

"They really are like your good luck charms," Antinomy smiled.

Evie chirped in pride.

"Eevees should be happy," Radley said. "Maybe God agrees and that's why."

"Evie was sad for years when Team Rocket took her," Virgil said.

"All the more reason she deserves happiness now," Radley said. "All the others too. I know they've all had their share of sad things in life."

The other adult Eevees voiced agreement and snuggled their persons. Penny rubbed the carrier door.

"Whatever the reason, it's good they've all been brought together to be with you," Antinomy said. "This new family too."

"Yeah." Radley smiled, watching the baby Eevees continue to enthusiastically exclaim and run around the carrier. "Scotch loves them so much. We all do."

After a few more minutes of visiting, the groups said Goodbye and Yusei, Antinomy, and Monkey left. The others headed back to Satisfaction Town.

"So we've got to think about all the other things we're going to do to Eevee-proof the house!" Scotch said.

"There's no way we can get to everything," Biff said. "Like the bookcases havta still stay open so we can use them."

"Yeah. . . . But maybe Penny and the others can teach them not to climb them," Scotch said.

Isla didn't look happy to not be able to engage in one of her favorite activities, but she didn't voice an objection.

"We'll have to find ways to put up electric cords somehow so the babies won't be able to get to them so much," Biff said.

"That'll be hard," Scotch worried. "But I'll do it all I can!"

"We'll probably have to do things like that in some rooms of the diner too," Radley said. "Like the lounge. Maybe sometime the babies will need to be in there if there's no one available to help watch them at home."

Kalin grimaced. That didn't seem advisable at all. But Radley was likely right that they needed to be prepared anyway.

"What's a lounge?" Heidi wondered. "Can we climb it?"

"It's a room," Penny explained. "People go there to relax."

"We want to play, not relax!" Peter said.

"There are things to climb in the lounge," Isla offered.

Kiryu frowned at her in exasperation. The babies cheered.

Radley chuckled at the cute conversation, even though he couldn't understand it. "Hey, how did they climb your curtains anyway, Scotch?" he wondered. "Eevees don't have claws." He ran a finger up Lily's velvet paw as he spoke.

"They grabbed chunks of it like they were rope-climbing and went up!" Scotch said. "It was something to see."

Radley shook his head. "I can imagine."

"I wish I had seen," Isla said.

"We'd like to show you, Aunt Isla, but Mommy doesn't want us to do it again," Holly said.

"Yes, you should definitely mind your mother," Isla said, awkwardly realizing she was indeed encouraging them when she shouldn't.

Penny relaxed at this. "There are other things that are fun to do that aren't dangerous," she told her children.

"Yeah! Like explore!" Peter said.

"Those balls were nice," Ivy said.

"Yes, you can play with the balls when we get home," Penny said, relieved for some sense.

"You should tell Emilio about the babies when he calls next!" Scotch said to Radley.

"He should be calling tonight," Radley smiled. "Last night he called before we found them."

"He'll be so excited!" Evie exclaimed. "Ramona will too!"

"He'll probably want to come right out and see them all!" Scotch said.

"I think you're right," Radley chuckled. "It's an exciting sight for any animal lover, and especially an Eevee lover."

"You can show him the video I sent you!" Scotch said.

"Yeah, I'll have to send it to him," Radley said. "I'll do that right now, actually." He got out his phone.

A few minutes later the phone rang. Having fully expected it, Radley chuckled and answered. "Hey," he greeted his brother.

Emilio looked absolutely starry eyed. "Radley! All of the Eevees in the video are so cute! Scotch must be so happy!"

Ramona, Emilio's beloved Eevee, cheered in his arms.

"Oh, he's over the moon," Radley smiled.

"We want to see all of them!" Emilio declared.

"When you call at your usual time, we should be all settled," Radley said. "Right now we're driving, so we can't take them out of their carrier. They get into everything!"

"I can hardly wait to call back!" Emilio said.

Evie said Hi to them right then, warbling happily with tail wagging. Emilio and Ramona greeted her in turn and then said Hi to all the others. A warbling chorus started up, and for a few minutes, no one could hear anything but "Eevee!"

"Okay, guys," Radley finally said, laughing.

"We can all talk more when Ramona and I call back later tonight!" Emilio said.

"Vee!" Evie said happily.

Now a chorus of Goodbyes started up. That continued until the call ended with Emilio and Ramona waving to everyone.

"That was super cute!" Scotch said.

"Vee!" Evie said with pride.

"Eevees know how to entertain and make people feel welcome, that's for sure," Radley chuckled.

All the Eevees on his lap snuggled him.

Soon they arrived back home and went directly to Scotch and Biff's house to be there for Emilio's phone call. When Scotch opened the carrier, all the Eevees got out excitedly and went for the ball toys on the carpet.

"At least they were apparently planning that and not mischief," Robert remarked.

"I wonder," Kalin grunted.

Penny and the other adults played with the babies until Radley's phone rang. Then they all looked up with one accord.

"Hi, Radley! Everyone!" Emilio exclaimed. "The Eevees are all so cute!"

They warbled happily.

"They sure are," Radley smiled.

"Do they have names yet?" Emilio asked.

Scotch eagerly nodded. "This is Penny and her kids Holly, Ivy, Heidi, and Peter!" He pointed to each in turn.

"We want to come out and see them all right away!" Emilio declared.

"We hope you can," Radley said. "They would love to play with you and Ramona."

"Mama said we could come soon, if you can have us!" Emilio said. "She said you might be too busy trying to take care of all of them."

"Oh, I think we can swing a visit," Radley said with a wink. "We always love seeing you guys."

Ramona cheered.

"We'll come tomorrow or the day after!" Emilio said happily. "Mama said we could probably only stay the day, but that's better than nothing!"

"It sure is," Radley smiled. "We'll all look forward to seeing you."

The Eevees all romped about in the holographic projection and called greetings to them.

"How old are you?" Ivy asked Ramona. "We're several weeks!"

"I'm several months," Ramona said. "Emilio and everyone helped hatch me!"

"Mommy hatched all of us alone!" Heidi said. "She kept us warm and sang to us and talked to us!"

"I love being sung to," Ramona said. "And I love singing!"

"Aunt Evie is teaching us how to sing!" Holly said. "She's really good at it!"

"She is," Ramona agreed. "She sang a lot to me too!"

"Well, they're getting along swimmingly," Radley remarked. "Not that I expected anything else."

"I don't think we've seen any Eevees that don't get along," Kalin grunted in agreement.

The rest of the conversation with Emilio and Ramona was peaceful and happy and all the Eevees were calling in delight. They were still chatting with each other after the phone was hung up.

"Well, that was lively," Radley chuckled.

"And Ramon is supposed to call too!" Scotch reminded.

"I've never seen Eevees on a video call before," Kalin grunted.

"It's incredible!" Scotch said. "They all sit up to the computer and warble back and forth at each other! It's the cutest thing ever!"

"That's what happens when Isla video calls?" Radley said in amusement.

"Yeah!" Scotch grinned. "And this will probably be even cuter with all the babies!"

Penny was already settling down at the computer chair while Ruby turned the computer on for her. Shortly after it was on and the chat program loaded, Ramon contacted them.

"Eevee!" came the adorable sound from the speakers. The picture switched to Ramon sitting in his computer chair, one paw on the mouse.

"Eevee!" Penny happily answered, and all the babies chorused too. Holly rubbed the screen.

"How cute is that?!" Scotch began to film it all.

"This is going to be a good thing for them every night," Radley smiled as they observed the family talking. Penny was definitely happy, and the babies were delighted. When the talk finally had to end, they were all in even higher spirits.

"I can still hardly believe they can operate computers," Kalin grunted.

"They're certainly talented," Radley said.

Ruby beamed.

Scotch held up Holly and Ivy. "Now we'd better get everybody to bed! Right, guys?"

Penny agreed. The babies weren't so enthusiastic, but they went along. Soon they were curled up in the soft, warm pet bed, nursing one last time before sleep.

"I'll get their collars on tomorrow," Scotch said.

"How can you even tell which one's which?" Kalin had to ask. "Out of the girls, I mean."

"I can tell!" Scotch insisted. "Holly's the big one who likes to hang her ears down. Ivy's always following her. And Heidi and Peter are always together!"

Radley chuckled. "You are very good at this," he proclaimed.

"It's easy when you're around them all day!" Scotch said.

"That is a good point," Radley agreed.

The babies finished their late-night snack and Penny started grooming them. One by one, they snuggled close to her and each other and fell asleep.

"That's adorable!" Scotch beamed.

"It sure is," Radley said. "And they've got the right idea. We'd better get back to our place so we and you guys can get to sleep."

"Oh. Yeah, you should!" Scotch said.

Goodbyes were exchanged all around and Radley and Kalin headed out with their Eevees. Within minutes they were pulling into the garage.

"That was a really amazing day," Radley said as they all got out and headed for the back door.

The Eevees all chorused happily in agreement.

"It's nice seeing the video calls," Radley added. "I wondered how that was going to go for them, but it looks like it's going to be great."

Kalin nodded. ". . . I wonder if Ruby actually could be customer service for Amazon or some other big company," he deadpanned, really not kidding.

"It's sure a cute thought, isn't it?" Radley remarked. "I'll bet she really would be better at it than some of the unknowledgeable morons who have jobs like that."

Ruby puffed out her ruff with pride. "Vee!"

Evie exclaimed happily too. "Eevee-vee-vee!"

Radley petted them and Lily and set them down for their nightly play ritual. Kalin added Evan. The Eevees romped and rolled, having a grand old time. They played until they wore themselves out and collapsed on the pet couch several minutes later.

"Well, that looked fun," Radley chuckled in amusement.

"Vee!" said Evie.

"I wonder where they get all their energy from," Kalin deadpanned.

"They really seem more active than us lowly humans do, don't they," Radley smirked.

Kalin nodded. "All that they have strength for is something else."

"I wonder things like that myself," Radley said. "I know I don't have the strength for all their play. It's exhausting just watching them. Or maybe that's because I'm really tired right now."

"Sleep definitely sounds good," Kalin grunted. "It's been a long day."

"It sure has." Radley petted each Eevee and then straightened. "I'm going to go shower and then get to bed."

"I will too," Kalin agreed. "It'll probably be another long day tomorrow."

"I'm planning to stay here in town tomorrow, at least," Radley chuckled. "We'd probably better start Eevee-proofing the lounge in the diner."

"That'll be a big project," Kalin said.

"Yeah. But worth it." Radley headed for the upstairs bathroom while the Eevees chorused after him.

Kalin petted the Eevees too and then went downstairs as the Eevees also called Goodbyes to him. He had to smirk a bit. Who'd ever think he'd be raising fluffy, adorable animals?

He wouldn't have it any other way, though.

xxxx

The night passed peacefully for everyone. When Kalin stirred come morning, Radley and most of the Eevees were apparently in the kitchen making breakfast. Evan had stayed back to snuggle with Kalin.

"Hello," Kalin mumbled, petting Evan's head.

Evan warbled and nuzzled him.

When Kalin was fully awake, he got up and carried Evan into the kitchen. "Good morning," he greeted everyone as he set Evan in a chair with Evie. The two Eevees warbled and rubbed each other.

"Good morning," Radley said with a smile. He flipped pancakes on the griddle while the Eevees watched in anticipation and delight.

Kalin went to get plates out of the cupboard. "Have you figured anything more out on how to Eevee-proof the diner?" he wondered.

"Not a whole lot," Radley said. "Of course the kitchen will have to be off-limits. The lounge seems mostly safe, if we can keep them away from the fireplace."

"And this is right when we'll be wanting to use it," Kalin grunted.

"At least the adults will surely tell them it's hot," Radley said. "I'm more worried about them deciding to play in it when it's cool and getting soot everywhere."

"That would be a disaster," Kalin proclaimed.

"A nightmare, even," Radley said with a dry smirk.

"Eevee-vee," Evie said.

"I don't really want them in my office until they learn better how to behave," Radley said. "But maybe there's another room on the second floor we could fix up just for them to have."

"That would be the best thing, if it's possible," Kalin said.

Radley nodded. "I'm going to check out all the rooms up there and see what I think."

"The other rooms are mostly storage," Kalin said.

"I might be able to combine the contents of at least one of them," Radley said. "Then I'd have a bare room to fix up any way we need to."

Evie cheered.

Radley smiled at her. "And you guys will help, won't you?"

"Vee!" Evie said with a nod.

"I also called some breeders about eggs for West and Nico," Radley said. "One guy has siblings available, so I reserved those."

"That's great," Kalin said. "But isn't it early to call anyone?"

Radley chuckled. "Not really. We slept in late."

Kalin glanced at the clock. It was 10. "Oh."

"So how do you think we should do it?" Radley mused. "Should we go in to get the eggs and give them as surprise gifts, or should we tell the kids ahead of time and go in with them?"

Kalin shrugged, pondering. "I think they'd like to go in and get them," he said at last.

"I think so too," Radley said. "I'll talk to Jordan about it today. Maybe we could go in tomorrow and make a day of it."

"Would we take Scotch and the Eevee family?" Kalin wondered.

"Probably," Radley said. "And they'd probably want to see Ramon if he's available. We'll have to call Kelly too."

"We surely won't be able to visit every time we go in," Kalin said.

"Nah, I'm sure we can't," Radley said. "But at least we can sometimes."

"How does it feel knowing she named Ramon after you?" Kalin curiously asked.

"Kinda overwhelming," Radley said. "Still hard to believe. But nice." He smiled.

Kalin smiled too.