Chapter 15:

(Time for Zeke Alone(but not really) Part II! I figured I'd write the time he had in juvie before he got out. So, now comes how he starts school and adjusted to living with Diane)

Diane had adopted Zeke for Wolf. Needless to say, in a matter of the few months she's been looking after him, he's been great company. "Zeke, it's time for school." She called out to the rabbit, who was still sleeping. "Come on, honey, you can't be late on your first day." Zeke only groaned, "Five more minutes." Diane looked deadpanned at the boy, "Sorry, hun, I have to be at a meeting in a few minutes. Get up and get dressed, okay?" Zeke slipped out of bed dramatically…"Okayyy, but I get a deed to spray paint a wall for art." He said, taking note of the fact that his guardian had authority. Diane only look, slyly. "Not on your life, kiddo." She said, walking from the doorway. Zeke changed into his clothes, picking up some purple shoes. "Governess. Shermy." He said, as he walked to the table. The kitty smiling and meowing lovingly at his friend. "Zekey." Diane said, continuously sly. Zeke sat at the table, working on his drawing in a new sketchbook, "Who's this one?" Diane asked, looking at the drawing. "A hero who's got Goku's haircut." Zeke explained in HIS way, "Zack Fair's his name, actually." Diane nodded, putting a few books in his backpack. "Well, you can work on it, later. Come on." Diane said, grabbing her keys.

"Everyone, this is Ezekiel Wolf-Foxington. He's our new student, and I expect you to treat him respectfully and kindly." The teacher, Ms. Greene said. "Sup, g? I'm Zeke, as Ms. Greene said." Zeke introduced himself to his classmates. "I like video games, art and Kpop!" Some students snickered at that, others had friendly smiles. Akio was here in his class, as well. "Hey, Akio! Staying out of trouble, prankster?" He greeted and joked with what he learned from Ari in sign language. "Ha-Ha. Likewise, I'm guessing?" Akio signed, "Still, shocking that we're in the same class." Zeke giggled at his friend. Ms. Greene started the lesson, while students were conversing amongst themselves. "Here, you need an eraser?" A young coyote girl asked him, "Oh, thanks!" Zeke said, taking the eraser from the girl. "I'm Liv, by the way." She introduced herself, "Nice to meet you, Liv." Zeke gathered up his things from his backpack and grabbed his sketchbook. The young coyote girl had a few streaks of her fur dyed pink.

"Pink looks cool on you." Zeke said, "Thanks. blue works for you, especially." Liv complimented his fur color.

"So, you know Akio? I'm guessing from juvie?" She asked Zeke, "Uh, yeah. We used to get involved in gang fights and junk." Zeke said, clearly joking. "Kidding, of course. Yeah, we're friends from juvie." Liv giggled, "Yeah, I can tell. You two would seem to get along just fine." Zeke giggled at her comeback.

"Wolf-Foxington…Strange last name for a bunny." Liv said, "I'm a rabbit, first off." Zeke said, teasingly. "And it's a mix of my dad's last name and my…guardian's." He didn't really think of Diane as his mom the same way he figured his dad had a crush on her. Liv looked at him with a questioning glance. "Ms. Reita. Mr. Wolf-Foxington. I need you both to pay attention. You can wait until recess to acquainted with each other." Ms. Greene said to the two.

Akio giggled, "Hey, Nate. You think it's love at first sight?" He signed. Nate looked at Akio, "Dude, calm down." His friend said.

The aforementioned recess came. Zeke hung out with Akio. He got aggravated by the rusting paint on some of the playground equipment.

"Dude, it's just rusted paint, nothing to get upset over." Akio signed, not understanding why he was aggravated. "Still, it'd be better if could repaint it." Zeke quickly circled and looked around the playground. "It could use red and blue, maybe?" He asked, translating for his friend.

Akio looked at him deadpanned, "The artist at work." He signed, now smirking.

Liv giggled, "Do you always get this riled up over playgrounds?" She asked, teasingly.

Zeke chuckled, "Only when the paint-job needs to be fixed." Akio signed, "So, what do you guys wanna do?" Zeke thought about a game to play, though he wasn't sure. Either play a new game or think of the archaic ways of their ancestors, playing games like tag or hide-and-seek.

"Freeze-Tag?" Zeke suggested, his two friends nodded and then they played the game. Akio was quick and tagged Liv. "Akio! Not fair!" Liv said, trying to tag him or Zeke.

After the day was done, Zeke was walking off to get in Diane's car. "Zeke!" Liv shouted before the boy left. "Oh, what's up, Liv?" He asked, "I noticed you dropped this." She passed him a note, it was a note he made, quoting a scripture. "Th-Thanks." Zeke said, "Seriously, I didn't mean to lose this." Liv smiled at him. "You know, my family goes to church. I like this verse, always." She said, it was Galatians 6:9. "Reminds me that doing the right thing is the greatest thing of all." Liv said, Zeke blushed a little, unsure of what to say. "Yeah, looks like we have something in common, though." He said, the coyote giggled.

"Anyways, I've gotta go. See ya, Liv!" the two told each other goodbye and went their separate ways for the day. "Hi, Governor Foxington!" Zeke said, still set on formalities with his guardian. "You can call me Diane, hun. I don't mind." She told her ward, Zeke only nodded.

"R-Right, sorry. Diane." Zeke corrected himself. "So, how was your first day?" Diane asked him, Zeke's ears perked up in excitement! "It was a blast! Akio and I are classmates! And I made a new friend, her name is Liv." He explained, "Oh yeah, you need to tell the school about their playground equipment, the paint is rusting." He didn't forget the shameless negligence of a bad paint job. Diane rolled her eyes, still smiling, "I'll see. But look at you, making friends. So, is this Liv girl cute?" She asked, Zeke blushed nervously.

"W-Why would I say she's cute? We're just friends, Governess!" Zeke said, still unsure of how his guardian would take it. She only giggled at his dismay.

"I see. Well, don't worry, sweetie, you'll find someone for you someday. Onto more pressing news…I did get you something." She said. Zeke's blush slowly faded out after the dispute was over, "What is it?"

When the two returned to Diane's house, he found an old plush on the couch. "Pabu!" He grabbed the fire-ferret plush and hugged it, "Was this what you were talking about?" Diane smiled. "Uh-huh. I figured you turned him in because he was bought with stolen money, so I decided to re-buy him for you legally." She explained, Zeke hugged the fox tightly, "Thanks so much, Mom!" Zeke said, unknowingly calling Diane "Mom."

When the two caught the word, Zeke jumped back, "U-Uh…I…I…" Zeke was nervous, he was worried about how Diane would react, but also…

"Oh, sweetie." Diane was happy and filled with joy in the moment, but Zeke looked upset. "Listen, it's okay if you miss your mother." She said, looking at the boy. "You don't have to call me 'Mom' if you don't want to."

"I know…I hope we can find her soon." Zeke said, trying to crack a smile, "Y-You know one time, my Uncle Lou dressed up as a woman and pretended to be my mom for a day?" He tried playing a little joke. Diane patted the rabbit's head and chuckled, "I bet that had to be fun." Zeke looked at Diane, "But still, you've been so kind to me, Governess." He said, "Right now, you're the mom who's with me, so…it doesn't seem fair to you." Zeke understands that Diane and Wolf are his parents now, though he still wonders if his real mother is still here. He never knew what she was diagnosed with. "We'll find her, someday, okay?" Diane said, knowing Zeke needed to know what happened. The boy nodded and smiled gently, "Okay…B-But…Diane, for the meantime…" He was looking at her with embarrassment.

"You can call me 'Mom' if you want to, honey." Diane said, gently patting his head. Zeke hugged his new mom. "Mom!" He said, happily. Diane hugged her son back, "It's okay, kiddo. Now, would you wanna play a game?" She suggested a video game. "Yeah! I'm gonna floor you in Smash Bros!" Zeke perked up and jumped to the couch.

"Not on your life, Zekey! You're going against the former Crimson Paw!" Diane said, daringly. Zeke giggled and smiled at Diane.

"Love you, Mom." He said, "I love you, too, sweetheart." Diane said, happily.

(Aaaand we're here! So, what'd ya think? I know I haven't updated for a while, but I hope things are going great in your lives! Oh yeah, as for Liv, she is voiced by Cassandra Lee Morris from FE: Three Houses and Hopes. I figured it'd be cool to hear both Arval and Sothis' voices for characters here. Remember to stay strong and awesome! And don't grow weary in doing the right thing! Ask Him if you don't know what that is)