Running as fast as he can he rushes to beat the flying ball to its landing zone. The local park Alice and Jill take him to is normally empty this early in the morning which he likes. It gives him the freedom to run around without worrying about other dogs or people wanting to play with him.
Leaping in the air he catches the ball with ease landing steadily back on the ground. Without wasting a second, he takes off running back towards Alice and Jill who are sitting on top of a picnic table. He drops the ball on the bench and Alice reaches down picking up the ball and throwing it as far as she can for him to chase.
It's great. One of his most favourite games. Other then tug of war that is.
Trotting back over to his two people he lays down in the grass next to them as they talk and have their morning coffees from the nearby café. Most cafes aren't up this early in the morning, but Jill said it was a cop one and is open twenty four seven. Which means he can get a pup cup every morning as well.
He likes the pup cup.
Normally in the morning, he will go on his morning run with Alice before stopping at the café. Jill leaves the house first letting them sleep in a little longer while she goes for her morning run. Then he and Alice head to the park to meet up with Jill. He gets to play while they have their drinks and then he is handed off to Jill while Alice goes for her own separate run while Jill brings him back home and gets ready for work.
Both Jill and Alice work to protect others. He likes that about them. They protect others and then when they come home, he can then protect them acting as a guard to the house.
He likes the house they live in now. The apartment he first went to was nice and everything, but it was small and didn't have a garden. Jill's uncle left her the house and the three of them moved in not long after he first joined them.
For now, he can just enjoy grazing in the grass with his ball while Jill and Alice talk. The sun has only recently begun to rise littering the field with a soft pinky orange glow. The air is still warm despite it being so early and he can tell it's going to be another hot day in the city.
He prefers the heat to the cold. In the heat, he can sunbathe and lie outside in the garden. When it's cold he's stuck indoors all the time.
In the background, he can hear his people talking. "I don't like this, Alice," Jill states with audible concern in her voice. The worry stops him from rolling around on the field as he looks over to the two women searching for why Jill sounds so anxious.
Alice lets out a deep sigh as she walks over and hops onto the bench resting his head on Jill's thighs offering her some comfort. The dark haired woman starts to stroke his head. "Neither do I. Mansion duty is boring. But I've been reassigned to it."
Jill nods but there's a sadness in her voice that he doesn't like. "Yeah, but it's six months of you living somewhere else pretending to be married to some guy."
"Spencer." The blonde unhelpful adds.
Jill's eyes narrow at Alice following her unhelpful words. "I don't give a fuck to what his name is. I don't want you moving out, having a fake wedding with some Umbrella prick, and barely seeing you for six months." Wait Alice is leaving. She can't leave. Why is she leaving. Can't she stay with them.
"I know, I know." Alice sinks into herself. Not sounding at all happy with this arrangement as Jill is. "If I could turn it down I would."
"Then quit." Jill replies bluntly not understanding the one reason Alice can't say no.'
Alice looks down to the ground defeat narrowing her face. "You also know I can't do that."
Jill's glare intensifies but she turns it away from Alice towards the sky leaning further back onto the bench. "Fucking Umbrella." She spits pure anger her voice that has him whimpering a little. He doesn't like that. He doesn't like when either of them are unhappy. "What do they have on you," Jill asks turning her gaze back to Alice, but her voice and eyes are much softer this time. Her anger seemingly evaporated with her cursing.
But Alice refuses to meet her gaze. "Something bad enough it would destroy both our lives if it got out."
"Fuck."
"I'm sorry." Alice's apology is softly spoken but filled with pain and disappointment that has Jill reaching out and taking hold of Alice's hands.
Jill is quiet for a good few seconds as she rubs soothing circles onto Alice's hand with her thumb. "It's just six months."
Alice looks meeting Jill's gaze. "Just six months then I'm off mansion duty and back in the city," she says reassuring the raven haired woman.
"And I get to see you every week." He can't tell if that's a question or a statement.
Alice nods the corner of her lip tilting upwards. "Twice a week and I can call you every day."
It's something but he doesn't like that he will only see her twice a week. Jill likes this even less but seems to concede to whatever is happening. "I still hate this," Jill admits resting her head on Alice's shoulder. "But I love you enough to wait till six months."
"Love you too." Alice presses a kiss to the side of Jill's head.
"Can you take Rhodie to the mansion with you." Wait he's going somewhere as well. Why.
Alice shrugs at Jill's question. "I'm sure I can take him some days."
"Good. He'll miss you when you're away." He whines in agreement earning a good few strokes from the blonde.
"I'll miss him too. And I'll miss you even more." Alice says earnestly.
Jill presses a small kiss on Alice's shoulder. "Just get it over with so you never have to go back."
"Promise," Alice swears. "Besides there are rumours that the Hive is creating some new vaccine that is meant to battle most diseases like cancer, hepatitis, rabies and more that I cannot name."
Jill halts her stroking of his head at Alice's words turning her attention back to her mate. "That sounds too good to be true."
Alice shrugs. "Well, if I know anything about Umbrella, they are good at pushing the boundaries of science."
"That' s not always a good thing."
"No. It's not." Alice agrees.
"Probably why they want you there," Jill mutters.
"Probably."
After a few more strokes he goes back to playing in the field after Jill throws his ball. He doesn't like the idea of Jill and Alice being a part. He doesn't understand why Alice has to leave. He doesn't want her to go somewhere. But they said it's only for six months. Then they can all be together again.
"Rhodie," Jill calls interrupting his rolling around in the nice grass. "Come on boy time to go." He runs back over to Jill who attaches his lead to his collar. Alice waves them goodbye before they start the walk back to the house while Alice takes off running in the opposite direction.
