Balin was hugging with his aunty and uncle as Millie still held their baby Mitch in her arms.
"Balin, buddy, where've you been all this time?" the uncle asked him.
This made the little boy rub the back of his head anxiously. "...It's a long story, Uncle BJ." he replied.
Mitch then clapped his hands and cooed hearing that from his older cousin.
"Guess that means he loves long stories." giggled Millie jokingly.
"Hehehehe. You know, I had a feeling he'd wanna crawl over here, saying your name." Aunt Corra said, picking up Mitch from Millie's arms. "Again, sorry if he was troubling you, folks."
"Mitch can be quite the little adventurer when he wants to be. Can't you mate?" chuckled BJ, as he ruffled the baby's head with his fingers.
"Yeah. A real cute kid." agreed Moxxie with a shrug. "That's for sure."
Soon, Marijiana tried to be discrete but still picked up someone else's scent with her human nose, before looking to see another kid peaking his head in between the aunty and uncle's thighs. This one looked around 3-4 years old, had brown hair even darker than Balin's, and especially more shy.
"Hello there, cutie." Neptune subtly approached the little boy and knelt down to his level.
"And who's this little squirt?" Loona asked her little friend.
"Oh, that's his big brother, Kai." replied Balin.
"Aww. Hello, Kai." Neptune spoke again, smiling softly at him.
Even with the personal space she kept from him, Kai still felt a little intimidated by all the grown-ups around him.
"Sorry. He's still getting used to people. Especially people like... you all." said Corra sheepishly. "Don't hate us."
It was then Kai stepped from his mother's thigh and slowly stepped out to Balin.
"Hello Kai." said Balin, holding his fist out for a fist-pump.
Unfortunately, being a younger age than his cousin, Kai didn't know how to do that. So Balin gently lifted his hand and gave it a little tap.
Tex couldn't help but shed a tear seeing that from the lil' man who taught him those fist-pumps.
"H-How are y-you doing, B-Balin?" asked Kai in a very quiet whisper, sounding a lot like Mr. Quiet from the 'Mr. Men Show.'
"What was that?" Balin kindly asked his quiet-speaking nephew back.
"Oh yeah!" BJ said in realisation, having heard him. "Mate, we've seen the news about the night you disappeared. How have you been?"
"Yeah, we were all so worried about you." added Cora.
"Really?" Balin then showed a somewhat guilty look on his face. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you..."
Loona saw or sniffed the guilt in Balin's eyes remembering the whole local news thing. She wanted to be brave and speak up for him, but as usual, she felt anxious on judgmental these new people could be.
"Uhm, Mr. and Mrs. ...Johnson, I believe?" she cleared her throat to speak. "I've been taking care of him."
"You have?" the two said together.
"I found him on the streets, and, he's been safe with us since."
"Oh. I see." said BJ. "What's your name?" asked Corra.
"Loona." she replied briefly. "Two Os. No U."
"Loona, huh?" Corra then spoke. "What a pretty cool name."
Once again, hearing that made Loona blush. Even if she heard it from an old lady like Millie.
"Either way, take it from us, MATE." said Blitzø. "You have a gifted man in Balin here."
"So sweet and kind," added Millie.
"And quite the fighter too." finished Moxxie.
"Yep. That's him, alright." chuckled BJ. "We're just so relieved to see he's doing well after the whole... you guy's know what he's been through?"
"Not a single one of us doesn't." sighed Via in response, lowering her head.
As Loona rubbed Balin's back, Kai couldn't help but muster up the courage to give his older cousin a hug.
"I-I'm sorry a-about your mommy and daddy, B-Balin." he whispered again.
"It's okay." replied Balin, returning the hug.
"Yeah, bro. It wasn't any of your faults." added Loona, standing with a smile and a hand on her waist.
Mitch then tugged again, wanting to make it a group hug. So Corra held him close enough to wrap his arms around Balin's other shoulder.
"Would ya look at that?" BJ smiled. "The Johnson men back together again."
Neptune and Marijiana teared up so much at the affection, they planted their heads into their shoulders, not wanting anyone to see the mascara running down their eyes.
"So, what about you guys?" asked Balin, breaking the hug after a few seconds. "What brings you to Hot Slice pizza restaurant, tonight?"
"Don't you remember, mate?" BJ chuckled at his innocence and forgetfulness. "We always have take-out at Nan-Nan and Pops' for dinner every Friday."
"Oh yeah. How have they been?"
"They've been fine." said the uncle. "A little worried too, but still not getting any older."
"That's good." Balin replied in relief.
"Say, how'd you like to join us for take-out night tonight?" asked Corra.
"What? You really want me to?" Balin asked feeling stunned.
"They'll be happy to know you're okay." his aunt replied.
This made Balin a little torn, making him wonder if he wanted to eat with his family again or the demons from Hell he called his new friends.
"Sure. I'd be happy to come." he then looked at him at his hellhound caretaker. "Can I, Loona?"
"Well, I suppose one little visit won't hurt." she shrugged, only wanting to comfort the kid visiting his relatives after a while. "That's if you'd like to, kiddo. But I'm the only one coming lady, you don't want me bringing Blitzø. He's as inappropriate as Taylor Swift music at a funeral."
"So I can see..." Corra sheepishly agreed.
"She's got a point, dear." her husband pulled her slightly away for a private talk. "Are you really sure about this? This is Mom we're talking about. What if she doesn't enjoy the company of visitors unrelated to our family?"
"Honestly, I don't know either." replied Corra assuringly. "But this is the girl who saved our nephew in his time of need. We might as well, just to see if she can be proud of her."
"Mmm... dammit, you're right." shrugged BJ in response. He knew his wife was right. "Well Loona, we'd be happy to have you with him. The least we can do is say thank you with an invitation to our dinner."
"Eh, whatever." said Loona with a slightly interesting tone in her flat voice. "Got nothing else planned anyway. Is your car...?"
"Big enough for the six of us? Yeah." BJ replied kindly. "I'm glad you asked, because I can smell our nearly-ready order. Come on, little men."
BJ ruffled his two sons' heads as he walked off to the counter with them.
"Nice meeting the rest of you." Corra said to the gang, who thanked her as she left as well.
As they left, Loona and Balin held their hands to the counter as she made their order-to-go next before leaving with the relatives.
A FEW MOMENTS LATER...
After a 15 minute drive, the aunt and uncle arrived at the Nan-Nan and Pops' house in the suburbs, parking along the driveway.
The entire fam got out of the car with their hot meals, including Balin's meat-lovers pizza and Loona's changed option of gnocchi.
As the two older relatives called ahead to the grandparents, Loona took a few deep but nervous breaths.
"Shit, please don't fucking hate me." she muttered nervously to herself on repeat.
Balin noticed the stress on the outside, and with his hand in hers, he gently stroked it with his thumb to help calm her down.
"Thanks, Meal." she smiled at him, after accidentally panting like a hellhound for a quick second.
"You're welcome, Loona." he smiled back at her, earning one of Loona's warm hugs without BJ or Corra noticing.
As they broke the hug, the garage door to the house opened and the two soon walked inside.
The entrance to their house was like a little front-yard dining room with sun chairs, plants, a barbecue and sink, some sculpture-like plants with fake cacti, and even a luxury pet bunny cage that caught Loona's eye.
She took a closer look at the cage to see the little golden-furred and white-striped bunny hopping into the light and staring at her.
Loona stared at the rabbit too thinking the rabbit was a little cute at first, until suddenly, the wolf-like urges started making her see it as something delicious she wanted to eat. Like a lion with a zebra, or an antelope, or perhaps another human. Even with her disguise on, she had a lot of instincts in her saying 'Chase! Kill! Eat!' as if her gnocchi didn't exist anymore.
Balin soon noticed her eyes changing to feral red, her teeth growing sharper, and heard her snarl quietly so knowing could hear her.
Thankfully, the rest of the humans weren't there to witness it, but the boy quivered in fright as he quickly hid under the table.
Hearing the table as he quivered, Loona soon snapped out of it and saw him flinch.
"Oooh, Balin." she said in an awkward coo-like tone. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to nearly go feral like that."
"It's okay, Loona." said Balin sympathetically, still feeling a little scared. "I mean, it's like you said: hellhound, wolf, guess you're all those things."
"But still..." replied Loona, before looking back at the family pet with no hard feelings. "What's the rabbit your grand-pappies have there?"
"Oh, that's Ben." replied Balin more calmly. "They've had him for the last year, and look how he's grown."
"I know." replied Loona more intriguingly. "Hey, I promise, I'd never eat him. Because I'd never eat you."
"Thanks Loona." Balin then smiled to her again.
"Alright, let's c'mon in." she chuckled and patted his back. "They'll wanna see you already."
With that, Balin and Loona walked up the couple of stairs and opened the front door as everyone greeted them, making Loona jump like a startled puppy.
"Balin?" his Nan-Nan spoke in a husky yet emotional voice seeing him, rising from her barcalounger.
The boy's Nan-Nan was unlike most older women. She had quite the slim body for a 59-year-old with red hair.
"Nan-Nan!" Balin exclaimed.
The two ran towards each other and hugged each other tight.
"I've missed you so much darling!" Nan-Nan started tearing up.
"Me too!"
"I'm so glad you're okay. You are okay, right?"
"Yes, Nan-Nan. I'm okay." Balin said, as she examined him.
"Thank God, no sign of damage." Nan-Nan sighed, as she then looked up at a flat but nervous Loona and walked up to her. "Are you this... Loona? The one BJ told us of?"
"...Yes. That's me." Loona replied with a little sweat.
A few seconds into the awkward mood, Nan-Nan grew a smile on her face and grabbed her hand for a shake. Although Loona still had mixed feelings about being touched like that by anyone, except Balin.
"Thank you! Thank you for taking such good care of our Balin." she said in happiness. "One more thank you."
"Oh, yeah, don't mention it. Or, whatever." she flushed a little, returning the handshake.
"Hey, Pops." Balin smiled walking to his Pops for a hug at his armchair.
"G'day, Mate!" he said in a raspier voice than Nan-Nan's.
"How are you today?" Balin asked him.
"Bedridden." Pops replied straight-up to make Balin laugh, in which cases he did himself, along with Loona as she watched the greetings.
...
While the two cousins played in the downstairs game room, everyone else ate and drink, chatting with each other at the living room as the TV and kettle were on.
Speaking of the TV, the news was currently playing.
"Breaking news in No-Name Town: It's been a week of rejoice as the miraculous recovery of one Balin Johnson, who a few days after losing his family to the custody of the state, ended up missing from his foster home, only to have apparently been saved by this goth chick by the name of Loona... no last time." he explained. "Fuck me, that's a hot one."
"So, what adventures have you been on?" Nan-Nan asked Balin.
"Well, the TV said it for himself." replied Loona.
"Loona found me and took me home." Balin added anyway as she sat next to her for moral support. "She's introduced me to her friends and... work colleagues. Shy's a little shy about those guys." he whispered that last part to his grandparents.
Loona cleared her throat, showing a cheeky wry smile having heard that.
"And since then, I've been going to school, as well as parties and her work." he finished.
"My 'work colleagues' have really been taking an interest in him." Loona continued for him. "And why wouldn't they? He's been, like... the sweetest little boy I've ever known, so far. Tucking him into bed and dropping him off at his school, just to comfort him. I'm a big enough girl to admit that to you since you guys have your thanks, but I still have my dignity."
"That's quite alright." said Pops, drinking his beer. "We all do. Yet that's what makes us who we are at our brightest times."
"Yeah... I guess so." Loona twirled her hair with her finger in slight agreement.
"Okay, I'm going to eat my pizza before it gets cold." Balin smiled to her.
"Sure thing sweetie." Loona replied as he ran to the downstairs room.
As they watched, BJ and Corra looked back at the goth girl with warm smiles as they continued their meals.
"We're all proud of you, Ms. Loona." Corra said. "I can't imagine how hard it must've been taking in a kid at such a hard time like that."
"Somehow I did, didn't I?" Loona said eating her gnocchi.
"Have you ever thought of becoming his adoptive mother until Elton and Raven get out?" BJ asked her.
This made Loona swallow her food the wrong way.
"Why the hell does everyone keep asking me that?!" she tried to cover up her true feelings a little again, until she saw the surprised looks on her relatives' faces. "Sorry, it's just... I look like someone a little early for that. Even then, I can imagine how horrible of a mother I'd actually be. One who drinks, smokes, plays on her phone 24/7, and swears!"
"Somehow it works." Nan-Nan said sympathetically. "Nobody's ever ready, but it does, because it's better than nobody being the right role for it. That's what's great about parenting from time to time. While some things are unplanned for, there's still room for joy and laughter to waltz into the house. Mistakes are made, but we all have room to improve."
Loona slowly put on a smile the entire time Nan-Nan spoke. It made her think she could be a good mother figure for Balin, if she put in the effort.
...
Meanwhile, Balin was watching his two nephews playing together with toy animals and cards, like he was their babysitter, until Loona came in patting on her full belly.
"Hey, kiddo." she sat down to him, accidentally releasing a hiccup. "You doing alright?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Good."
She hiccuped a couple more times, before releasing a burp that revealed her hellhound tail, making the two gasp in worry.
Loona tried to poof it away before it was too late. But Mitch crawled to it and started fluffing it with his curious hands.
"Floofy!" he cooed in his baby voice, before cuddling it like it was a... "Blanky!"
Loona personally felt a little violated by this and cringed at the sensitive touch, one as gripping as a baby's, as she lifted the tail to her face.
"Come on, kid. Let go of the tail." she said sternly. "It's not a blanket, it's sensitive."
But Mitch didn't listen or let go, he just fell asleep holding onto it.
"Mitch...!" she slowly started feeling like growling out of annoyance.
"It's okay, Loona." Balin said with care, and a little more nerves. "He's only one-year-old after all."
Looking at the littler kid, Loona knew Balin was right, then remembered the advice from Nan-Nan. So she looked back at the baby and smiled as she sighed 'Okay...' and draped the tail over him like the long, warm, and fluffy blanket it was, lowering him down on the couch.
After a minute or so, Loona decided to tickle him awake with the tip, making him wake up laughing. But soon, she decided to make a little game with it.
Slowly, she began wagging the tail from left to right, making Mitch chase after it laughing even more. Every time he turned around and got close to catching it, he couldn't, and Loona just giggled a little.
It was like a game that a mother wolf would play with her pups. Hellhounds in a mama wolf's case were no exception whatsoever.
After 20 seconds of this goofiness, Mitch finally caught the tail and fell back asleep in it.
"You know you can't keep this up forever, squirt." Loona smirked, as she then pulled him close to her with the tail and poofed it away before anyone else could see it.
Soon, holding him in her arms, Loona then woke up Mitch again with a gentle little kiss on the nose, making him squeal in happiness.
"Oh. You like that?" she cooed to him, as she then planted a few more kisses on his nose.
Balin showed a small and gentle smile seeing the two getting along as Loona started tickling his tummy with her fingernails.
"Awww, is someone getting jealous?" she cooed to him next in a sing-song voice.
Soon, she put Balin on her lap then started kissing all over his face and nipping at his ears. This made him laugh even more, as Loona began going back and forth from Mitch to her first human friend again.
Kai watched this affectionate moment between the three, and for the first time in his social anxiety, he began to smile. And Loona noticed it too.
"C'mon over bud. There's plenty of me to go 'round." she patted him a spot on the couch with the snuggle bunch.
So he walked over feeling a little confident and sat down on the couch with the other three. Loona then pulled him close to her side, rather sweaty and pale, as she turned on the TV to an episode of PJ Masks' 'Catboy's Cat: Mad with Moon Power.'
Without them knowing, for now, Nan-Nan peaked over the staircase hearing Mitch's laughter and saw Loona as she snuggled up together watching the cartoon
"Yep." she thought to herself in a smile. "This one could be a good mother."
A/N: See y'all in the next chapter.