Here is the 55th installment. Hope you enjoy.

Notes now live at the end of the chapter, so here is the obligatory, on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

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Friday Afternoon: Lunch and confrontations

Ed got home just as they finished the impromptu move. He'd have extra work to do the following day, but he could do most of it from home, and what he could not do from home, wouldn't take more than an hour at the office. It was based on a snarky comment from fox-Nick, but wolf-Nick jumped on the idea that Ed could take them, both Nick and Jack, to the office and then they could do something after. Ed quickly agreed to the opportunity to spend more time with the boys.

Ed laughed at the onslaught of puppy eyes from wolf-Nick and Jake. "Okay. I'm okay with that, since tomorrow is saturday, and under the understanding that you will finish all homework when we get home tomorrow before anything else." Both pups nodded eagerly. "Okay. Lastly. Nick, do you mind being called Nikky"

Wolf Nick looked thoughtful. "I guess that would be okay. Could we use my middle name, dad?"

Ed nodded. "Im good with that, Errol."

Nick Wilde shook his head. "Well, Errol. You're lucky there. Mine just wouldn't work."

Errol turned to face Nick. "Why's that?"

Judy laughed. "Yeah, it would just be weird to call him Piberius all the time."

The pups, along with everyone else laughed as Nick huffed. "Whatever, Laverne."

Judy's eyes went wide. "Oh, you didn't!"

Nick leaned down with a toothy grin. "Oh, but I did."

Jake spoke up worried. "Uncle Nick, you shouldn't show your teeth to prey."

Judy looked past Nick. "It's okay Jake, your uncle Nick is just pushing my buttons. I'll make him pay for it later."

Nick laughed. "Promises, promises. Rabbit. Now, who's hungry. We have a recording session to get to in a bit, I don't feel like cooking or making anyone else here cook. So what say we hit the Golden Pagoda, Judy and my treat. Then, Mike, you and Lizz can take Ed and pick up your parents, while the rest of us grab a Zoober to the studio."

Judy nodded. "Now that sounds like a plan. Though this is totally all on you, Nick. As you are the reason I am so much hungrier than usual."

Lizz laughed as they started to head towards the door. "Takes two to tango, Judy."

Judy sneered up at Lizz. "Stuff it, pussy cat! You're no better than me."

Lizz continued to laugh, as did the rest of the adults. "No. No I am not."

With confused pup's and laughing adults they left the complex walking the short distance to the restaurant. As they walked, they got quite a few odd looks. Just about half way to the restaurant, about three blocks, an elephant stopped in front of them, looking over the wolves and tiger with anger in her eyes. "I have called the ZPD. Just let the rabbit and the deer go and walk away and I might forget which direction you run."

Elli looked around a moment before realizing who the Elephant was talking about. "Oh no. Judy... Is she talking about us?"

Judy rolled her eyes, hard, at the elephant. "Ma'am, I suggest you move along and mind your own damn business before you find yourself as the one under arrest for harassment."

The elephant was clearly taken aback as a cruiser's siren could be heard approaching. "What? You want to be around all these predators?"

Jake stepped forward before Elli or Ed could grab him. "Hey. Why are you being mean to my mom and dad? They adopted my brother and me when our first mom and dad died. They love us very much and it doesn't matter that mom isn't a wolf. Because they adopted us, we got new uncles, one that is a fox, and new aunties. One is a rabbit and one is a tiger."

Errol stepped next to his brother. "Yeah. What's your problem, lady? Maybe you need friends outside your species. Then maybe you wouldn't be so mean!"

Elli finally managed to get the boys by their shoulders and pull them back. "Boys. That's enough. This mammal is clearly unaware that some mammals don't think like she does."

Jake turned to Elli. "But why does she have to bother us then?"

Errol nodded. "Yeah. Why can't she just leave us alone, mom?"

Elli shrugged with a head shake. "I don't know boys. Some mammals allow their prejudices to get the better of them and they act out on them, thinking they know better than the mammals they bother."

Jake crossed his arms. "She was still being rude."

Errol crossed his arms to mirror his brother. "Yeah, and she called the ZPD. We won't get in trouble, will we?"

Judy chuckled. "Don't worry boys, Nick and I have got this."

The elephant was completely flabbergasted as the cruiser pulled up to a stop, a cougar and moose getting out. The moose spoke as he looked over the collection of mammals. "Okay, who made the call?"

The elephant turned to the officers. "I did, officers. The poor pregnant rabbit and the water deer are clearly under duress. You need to remove them from the clutches of these wolves and the tiger that are … What?" She became very confused by the fact that the cougar was laughing and the moose was doing his best to not laugh. "This is not funny."

The moose nodded. "You're right. It's hilarious. Lady… That's Judy Hopps, she's married to the fox. The tiger is married to one of the wolves. I seriously doubt that the rabbit is in any fear of any of these predators, even given her condition. Given that, I doubt greatly that the deer is any more danger or has any more fear than the wolves have of each other." Seeing Elli nod and hold up her hoof with her wedding band while leaning against Ed. "Oh. It would seem the deer is married to one of the wolves as well. So. Maybe you want to move on with your life, or should we site you for harassment?"

"This is… What? Married? Why would a rabbit marry a fox?"

Judy laughed. "I've asked myself that question many times. I love the goof."

Nick laughed in response. "Hey! I resemble that remark."

Judy gave Nick a playful punch. "Case in point. Goof."

The elephant watched this in shock and horror, her expression shifting into revulsion. "Impossible. Disgusting!"

The cougar spoke up. "Ma'am… I'd tread carefully with your next statement. I don't know who you think you are, but you have six ZPD officers standing here, four of whom you are bothering while they are out with their mates while off-duty."

Realizing that she had seriously stepped in it, the elephant looked around. There were a number of mammals with their phones out, none of them looked sympathetic to her. "Well, I never! It's like that is it? Well, I will be filing a complaint with Chief Bogo." She then tromped off, head held high.

The moose looked over the mammals standing there. "Well, this will be quite the story to tell at the station tonight. Thanks for that. Everyone okay?"

Mike nodded. "We're good. Thank you Jamie, Lawrence."

The cougar chuckled. "Where you all headed?"

Mike pointed a few blocks up. "Golden Pagoda."

Nodding, the two officers turned towards their cruiser. "Thanks for the laugh. Let us know if anyone else harasses you."

With that the officers got back in their cruiser and left, leaving the group to continue on their way. They nearly made it to the restaurant when a group of six wolves blocked their path. Mike stepped forward. "What is the meaning of this?"

The largest of the six stepped forward. "Simple, Designate. I stand before these witnesses and seek challenge to your claim. I charge that you are disqualified due to your unnatural choice of mate as well as First. Do you accept."

Mike went to speak, but felt a paw on his arm. Looking he sees Nick stepping forward and gives Nick an acknowledging nod. "I would be that First that you are denigrating. This is not a proper place or time for such a challenge. This is in public, and there are pups present. Stand down your challenge and save it for the appropriate time and place."

The speaker waved a paw at Nick. "Oh shut it pelt. You are not a proper First. Once I deal with you, I will deal with the Designate and end the taint he has brought upon the pack."

Ignoring the slight, Nick looked over his shoulder. "Ed, call your mom and inform her what is going on. Everyone else, if you are not already recording this, get your phones out and do so." As he turned back, he took a punch and was spun around, ending in a fighting stance. "Also. Since you are not going to back down, understand that your actions, should you fail, place you at risk of being declared Omega, or even ejected from the pack and blacklisted."

In response, the wolf threw another punch, which Nick dodged easily and completed a textbook ZPD take down, twisting the wolf's arm behind his back. The wolf yelped in pain and bucked Nick off. Standing again, the wolf glared at Nick. "You got lucky, pelt."

One of the others spoke up. "Darr, you need to stop. That fox is ZPD. He's trained and I've seen video of him taking down Tigers and Lions."

The wolf laughed. "He got lucky and both the fox and rabbit are nothing but publicity stunts. I've got a friend in the ZPD that says they get credit for other officers' work all the time, just to help make them look good."

Judy was suddenly standing next to the wolf that asked Darr to stop. "He really believes that, doesn't he?"

The wolf nodded. "He does. Not that it is hard to believe. A little rabbit. A fox. As ZPD officers."

Judy nodded. "Crazy, I know. Yet while everyone keeps saying they're just PR stunts, they just keep cracking open cases."

The wolf looked down. "Yeah… Wait. How did you get over here?"

Judy grinned up at the wolf. "Must be part of the whole PR stunt thing. Oh, look. Darr is going to try and take Nick again with a simple, telegraphed punch."

The wolf looked up to see Nick turn a punch from Darr against himself, causing the wolf to punch a light pole and howl in pain. Looking back down the she wolf found no rabbit standing next to her. Looking around she located Judy, right back where she started, waving at the wolf with a fox level smug smirk.

Nick danced back from Darr and he clutched his paw. "Mike. Should I just end this or let him continue to beat himself up?"

Mike shook his head. "End it, Nick. We have places to be."

Nick smiled. "You heard him, Darr. Last chance to back down and save face."

Darr just growled and charged Nick. With a step inside and around the claw swipe, Nick jumped and drove a knee into the underside of Darr's jaw, causing his head to snap back. After delivering the blow, a spinning kick to the side of Darr's head, Nick slid under the momentum Darr had built in the charge at Nick. Darr kept going forward as he fell, dropping to the sidewalk and sliding a few feet, out cold.

Nick looked up at Ed who held his phone up. "What say you, Alpha." Indicating the now unconscious Darr. "Has he failed? What punishment should befall him."

Victoria's voice came from Ed's phone. "He has clearly lost, and his punishment is pending. First, is there anyone that would care to advocate on his behalf."

The wolf that had spoken up trying to get Darr to back down stepped forward quickly, the others backing away with fear in their eyes as they realized they were on thin ice themselves. "Alpha. I am Terry Fenn, mate of Darr Fenn. We have three pups, ten, seven, and three. Darr is a good wolf, but he is hot headed at times and doesn't always think through what he is doing. I try to guide him as a good mate, but sometimes he gets something in his head or does something before I can act. He has been associating with wolves I disapprove of, but I cannot prevent him from doing so because he also works with them. I beseech you to be lenient and find a punishment that is fitting for his brash, unthinking actions, but does not also punish our pups."

Victoria sighed audibly. "You make a compelling case, but what good is a punishment if it does not also remove him from the influence of the wolves you speak of. First, what are your thoughts?"

Nick turned to Terry. "Terry Fenn, mate of Darr Fenn. What do you do? What does your mate do?"

"I am an accounting secretary, but am currently not working because the firm I worked for went under. They were supporting the anti-interspecies groups. I did not know this, or I would have found other employment to help support our family. Darr was never one that cared one way or the other until these new wolves were hired. To hear him tell it, they are barely qualified for the jobs they have been given, at least that is what he said when they first got hired. He also complained that they spend more time talking than working. He is IT, and very good. He even has a few awards from what he called a hack-a-thon."

Nick nodded and turned to Victoria on Ed's phone. "Alpha. It sounds like Darr is an otherwise smart wolf who may just get better when removed from the influence of these other wolves that are now in his life. Edward. You wouldn't happen to need a mammal or two with such skills? Maybe on a probationary basis?"

Ed nodded. "My firm could in fact use such mammals. Alpha?"

Victoria spoke with authority. "Very well. This is the judgment of the Alpha in this case. Under normal circumstances, immediate expulsion and banishment would be the punishment for such a transgression." Terry began to cry. "However, the case for leniency is compelling, and I have quickly learned to trust the judgment of my son's First. As such, if Edward is willing to take on these mammals as suggested."

Ed speaks up. "I am, Alpha."

Victoria continued. "Very well. If Darr Fenn works to correct his specist, wrong headed attitudes, and improves according to evaluation of the Designate and his First. While also working for Edward. In that case, the judgement of expulsion and banishment will be suspended. Thus pending the evaluation and determination by the Designate and First to deem him unrepentant or redeemed.

If redeemed, the expulsion and banishment will be voided, if unrepentant, then the expulsion and banishment will be immediate upon that determination. During this time, Darr Fenn will be as Omega, and will be beholden to the Designates and Firsts as their thrall. He will accept the employment as offered by Edward and will be expected to complete that employment to the best of his abilities. Terry Fenn, you will, as his mate, share in this punishment as would be expected of mates. Your pups however, upon reaching age, will be free to rejoin the pack, without restrictions at that time. What say you, Darr Fenn. Do you accept?"

Darr had woken up as Victoria spoke, his ears back as he watched his mate cry. "I accept without reservation, Alpha. The punishment is beyond fair."

Victoria spoke again. "So then shall it be recorded."

Nick spoke up. "Alpha, your sons will be picking you up for a surprise in a few hours, so please be ready. Informal is fine."

Victoria chuckled. "The recording session. It was mentioned in passing. We will be ready and prepared to act surprised."

Nick grinned. "Alpha." The call ended and Nick turned to Darr. "Well, Darr. That could have gone a lot worse for you."

"You kick like a rhino."

Nick shrugged. "That'll hopefully teach you to not underestimate your opponent just because they are smaller. You're lucky Judy wasn't the one kicking you, she actually kicks harder than I do. Ed, when should Darr and Terry show up?"

Ed chuckled. "Monday morning, 9am sharp. We'll get them set up, test their skills, do the usual employment stuff, and then get them to work."

Nick nodded. "Sounds good. Darr, while I would normally not give such an order, you have placed me in the position that not only can I, but I must. You will quit your current job by the end of the day, and report for your new position Monday morning. Between now and then both Mike and I will have some jobs for you, but not until tomorrow. You will report to the Misty Cliffs Family Suites tomorrow morning at 10am. You will wait there until we release you or 10pm."

Judy stepped forward. "Terry, do you have someone who will be able to look after your pups? While you work?"

Terry shook her head. "No. We're not part of any sub or associated pack, we're just pack members. My parents are dead, and Darr's are in a home. We're both only pups."

Judy nodded. "Well, aren't you lucky then. You might want to have your mate inquire of the parents at Misty Cliffs Family Suites tomorrow, as there are parents that do day care and after school supervision. Assuming you go to a school any of the young that live there go to."

"We live in a complex only three blocks away, I'm sure our pups go to the same schools."

Judy smiled. "Then it sounds like your mate needs to make sure your pups can be looked after, no?"

Terry turned to Darr and flicked his ear, hard. "Darr. You are going to be doing that and everything else asked of you, right?"

Looking down. "Yes dear."

After some additional conversation, Ed giving Darr and Terry directions on where to show on Monday, the group finished the last hundred feet of their trip to the restaurant.

The group walked into the restaurant, happy to have finally made it to their destination. The Panda at the front looked up and their eyes went wide. "Oh hell!" Quickly loading themself up with menus. "We'll put you in the back room. It's more private and won't require you to break up your party, unless you want that?"

Mike nodded from the middle of the pack. "That sounds perfect as we would very much like to keep the group together. One bill as well, please."

Nick spoke up as they followed the panda to a private dining room with a rather awesome view of the nearby Rainforest district. "Mike, perhaps you should just call your mom and invite her here for an early dinner or late Lunch. They aren't that far. Though I expect pizza will be provided if things get too late at the record. Maria is just that way."

Mike nodded. "I like it. Lizz, why don't you do the inviting."

Lizz nodded. "That sounds like a job for my First."

Laughing, Judy pulled out her phone. "It is in fact." A few rings later. "Hello Victoria, this is Judy. … Yep, well we… Yes, we were wondering if you had eaten dinner yet, and if not, if you wouldn't be interested in joining the group of us at the Golden Pagoda? … … There's Ed, Elli, their boys, of course Mike, Lizz, Nick, and I, and the new guards. … … … Sure, we will see you in a few then. … We were planning on using a Zoober. … If you're sure. … Okay." Ending the call, Judy looked at the other mammals around the table. "They'll be here shortly, and will be bringing a limo that we can use for the trip to the recording session."

Mike groaned. "It was inevitable. At least you two will be able to tell mom and dad, if you haven't already."

Ed blanched and rocked back in his chair. "Are you insane! Last thing we need to do is get their hopes up."

Mike shook his head with a laugh. "Ed. Take it from me. Don't wait. Just make sure that they understand that due to your only barely compatible state, it's going to be a risky pregnancy."

Lizz nodded. "That's right. They can still be joyful while understanding that it's too early to have confidence."

Elli sighed. "I was planning on telling mom some time this week anyway, sis. So this will be as good a chance as any."

For the next few minutes they reviewed the menus and discussed the various options, opting for two large group options and some individual items. The waiter returning about five minutes after they finished deliberating. "Hello everyone, I'm Yan and I'll be your server. Do you need some more time?"

Judy pipped up. "Nope. We're going to have three more joining us in a short time, but I have their order. It's going to be the Large mammal family sized Shrimp and Chicken fried rice, a medium mammal vegetarian fried rice, the spicy Chicken Kung Pao in Large mammal family sized, a medium mammal Spicy Garlic Shrimp, a large mammal family size vegetarian chow mein, and lastly… A large mammal family sized set of egg rolls, half and half, chicken and veggy."

Scribbling quickly on his notepad Yan nodded. "Sounds great. And drinks?" The drink orders went around the table, with the pups even being allowed a small soda."Okay. I will get this all in for you and escort your additions when they arrive." WIth that, Yan left and the group settled in.

Mike turned to Nick. "Okay, Nick. What I am wondering is why you advocated for leniency on Darr?"

Nick smiled. "Think it through a second. You've only been officially married a few days, openly in a relationship going on two weeks. I get the impression from Terry, Darr's mate, that the change in his attitude was new. That means the mammals working with him are new as is their influence on him. There is also her characterization of his initial reactions to them. Complaining about how they talked more than worked. I'll bet they were talking about you, and spouting anti-inter crap. Even trying to ignore it, he's clearly just a Delta. As such, over time, and probably not long, they would have influenced his thinking just by all their chatter and agreeing with each other. Interacting with Ed, you, me, etc… will hopefully undo what those other wolves filled his brain with. Also, we need to know who these wolves are that essentially filled him up with this crap and pointed him at you. He was a tool, and we should use him as a tool as well."

Nodding, Mike chuckled. "I see. Tactics. He was a warning shot, but we can probably get information out of him."

"Exactly, and with his skills, he should be useful as well."

Mike leaned back and smiled. "Well, then I'm glad you did. I suppose a list of those that talked him up at his former job will be our first job for him."

Giving an evil grin, Nick nodded. "Exactly. Now you get it. There will be others who we will just let go, let them return to their masters as a message, but this is way too early. If we play it right, turn enough of them to our side, they'll think twice. If we just had him kicked out of the pack…"

Mike nodded with a sigh. "It would have shown a lack of forethought, as well as supporting the idea that I'm unqualified."

Nick nodded. "Exactly, again, and while we could have done that to put them off the scent, turning him is more useful to our position at the moment."

Ed laughed. "Damn, Mike. That is the kind of thinking you need in a First."

Mike nodded and sighed. "Which is why Lizz and I picked them. It's just shocking how they manage to think so many moves ahead. I know a few that think Nick and Judy are just PR stunts and don't actually deserve their reputation. Anyone that has that idea in their head has never worked with either of them."

Elli nodded, taking a sip of her water Yan had just dropped off. "It is like your opponents are playing checkers."

Nick lept in. "And we're playing 3D chess! We can work on them, flip their pawns like Darr, and if they are not just pawns, but a knight or a rook, then we work them for larger players in the game. We're playing a game of chess with multiple kings and queens on our opponents side and just one of each on ours, and these are just the first moves. We set up the board in our favor with the wedding and making it public the way we have. They've now made a first move, testing the waters, and we've responded. Likely in a way that they did not consider we would."

Judy laughed, shaking her head. "Nerd! But you are right."

Nick leaned over and gave her a kiss. "And proud of it."

Victoria and Arron walked in, led by Yan at that moment, Victoria asking. "Proud of what?"

Nick grinned. "Being an unrepentant Nerd."

Arron gave Nick a High-paw as he walked by to the reserved chairs for them between Lizz and Mike, and Ed and Elli. "That's what I'm talking about. Wear it with pride."

Victoria groaned. "Oh gods. What brought this on?"

Judy smiled. "We were just discussing why we didn't just let Darr get booted from the pack, and while epically nerdy… Nick's description of us being in a game of 3D chess where our opponents have multiple kings and queens, and all the other pieces on their side, and we only have the one set." Indicating Mike and Lizz. "However, in this game, like with Darr, we have the chance to not just take pieces off the board, which just going with the expulsion from the pack would have been; but like a merge with Othelo or Go, we can flip the pieces to our side. The reference to 3D chess, which I know Nick was referring to Star Trek and his namesake, is why I'm calling him a nerd."

Nick huffed in Judy's direction. "Don't start with me, rabbit. You know I can go for hours with the pop-scifi references."

Victoria groaned. "Oh gots. Not another one."

As if in answer to Victoria's silent prayer, Yan and a red panda whose name tag read Yun, entered with the food on a large cart. Once distributed, they all began to enjoy the offerings, Elli even trying a small piece of chicken.

After eating the piece of chicken, Elli shook her head. "Judy. I just… I don't know how you do it. I watch you eat and enjoy the chicken, Shrimp, etc… I keep trying, but I can't do it. A bite or two. I can withstand enough to taste it when I'm cooking for Ed and the boys, and I don't get sick, but I just can't do it. Do you think I'll have cravings when I get farther along?"

Judy shrugged her shoulders. "You see. The doctor said that my eating meat was probably what primed my body to be able to have Nick's kits. You taking in more when you are cooking may have done the same thing to you. Your body adapting to it means you can intake the extra you would need to actually support the fetus as it develops."

Victoria nodded. "That actually makes sense…" Her eyes going wide as the meaning of the conversation hits her and she starts to tear up. "Elli? Is it true? Are you and Ed?"

Elli grinned. "We found out last night. We didn't want to get your hopes up because the doctor said we are only just barely compatible and while we got pregnant, there is no guarantee I'll be able to cary it to term. She wants me to eat as much meat as I can stand, but to also not get my hopes up too soon."

Victoria nodded, wiping her tears of joy. "I get it. But it means that, even if this one doesn't make it."

Elli nodded. "That with the help of the doctor, we may just be able to in the future. We're overjoyed, but we don't want to plan too much until the little one is viable. Doctor said I'm about three weeks in, and since our gestation is about the same in modern times. It's gotten longer for both our species. The doctor said that at about four months we can be pretty confident that, as long as they are healthy, we'll make it all the way."

Victoria took a big breath. "Okay. You just let me know what you need. I was happy for all of you, I promise I was, but only Frankie was likely to actually give me Grandpups. Now... Not only are MIke and Lizz going to, but you and Ed are going to be able to too, and have already given me two." Turning to Nick and Jake. "Nick. Jake. Don't you boys think for one second that I forgot about you or that I love you any less."

Errol and Jack grinned. Errol speaking, having managed to have gotten a seat next to Nick. "We understand Grandma. I am going by Errol now, at least when Mr. Nick is around, so there is no confusion.

With a bright smile, Victoria wiped a new tear from her eyes. "Well, okay then. Errol. As long as you are okay with that."

Errol gave a brilliant smile. "I am."

Lizz looked over the food and laughed lightly. "Well, we certainly cleaned up here. It was also delicious."

Mike nodded with a smile. "Totally agree love."

Yan and Yun walk in, Yan speaking. "Can I get you anything else?"

Judy smiled up at the panda. "No, nothing other than the check." She then turned to Nick with a curious look on her face.

J: Am I smelling that right?

N: You are. Do you have one of the doc's cards in your purse? I have one in my wallet if needed.

J: I keep several, though I need to get some more at our next visit.

N: Then I suspect our Friends Yun and Yan would appreciate one.

Judy turned to look at Yun and Yan. "Excuse me. Unless my nose misleads me, you two are mated?"

Yan nodded as Yun blushed as she responded. "We are. Yan and I couldn't help but overhear." Looking to Elli. "You are pregnant by a wolf?"

Elli grinned. "I am." Leaning against Ed. "This goof. But if you are wondering about the doctor, it was Judy and Nick that turned us onto her. A red panda like yourself."

Judy nodded. "Dr. Reddilis." Pulling a card from her purse. "She's a specialist. She is the one that makes sure Nick and my, as well as Lizz and Mike's young, are developing healthily. Lizz and I have both reached the point where the doctor doesn't want to see us until we go into labor. Lizz is knocked up by her wolf, and me, by my fox."

Yun stared a moment before squealing and clapping her paws. "Yun. We must see this doctor. If a fox and a rabbit, a tiger and wolf, or even a deer and a wolf can, surely we can too."

Yan nodded with a loving grin at his mate. "We will call and make an appointment right away. Thank you all. You have given us hope."

Mike spoke with a warm smile. "We are happy to. Now, we do sadly have somewhere we need to be, so how much do we owe you."

Yan and Yun shook their heads, Yan chuckling. "Nothing. Consider it a wedding gift and a thank you for the hope you have brought here."

Victoria frowned. "Yan…"

Putting his paw up. "Please, Alpha. Allow us this gesture of support for your son and his mate. We may not be wolves, but we understand the difficulties of being an interspecies couple. You all give us hope."

After some more pleasantries, Aaron slides three hundred Z's, as a tip, under his plate, much to Yan's frustration. Telling him to consider it their thank you as the Alphas and to put it towards the cost of their first visit with Dr. Reddilis. They then piled into the limo and made their way to the recording studio.

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A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to dcballard . com ( Direct: ascensionnovel . / scribblings (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

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