AN: I've been looking forward to the opening scene. Oh, let's just say, it couldn't have happened to a nicer woman. Mwahahaha

Part 71

Adelaide Noodleman watched television in her studio apartment. She chuckled as the news reported on the drive-by shooting and the arrest of the buffalo responsible. He kept insisting that he was put up to it but no one believed him. Revenge was sweet. "Now I just need to deal with the swine who keep getting in my way…"

A dark chuckle echoed through the room followed by a snarling growl. The lights went out and she stood up, looking around.

With the lights out, she could just barely make out a figure slowly coming into view, sitting in one of the thick chairs. "You know, I used to believe that family was the most important thing someone can have. I wasn't wrong. But now I understand that family doesn't mean the same thing to everybody."

The black ewe trembled as she realized what she was seeing. She couldn't find any words.

"I mistakenly believed that you loved your son and I trusted you with him. I gave up because I thought it was what was best for him," the koala explained. "And because of that, I never got to tell him how I felt. I never got to know what might have been for us. And now… you do this…" His eyes glowed a bright red. "Now I've had enough…" He snapped his fingers and another snarl made her turn, her scream echoing through the apartment.

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At midnight, Johnny convinced Meena that he and Ryan needed to borrow Alphonso briefly. His father and his uncles met them outside in their truck.

"So, Johnny says you're having trouble with this arse from your past," Marcus said.

Alphonso nodded. "Yeah… it's pretty bad… he's determined to ruin everything. He blames me for him being arrested." He sighed, the shame filling his green eyes.

Marcus looked in the rearview mirror. "Why don't you tell me the whole story on the way. I promise, I am not about to judge you. Nor will my brother or brother-in-law."

Stan laughed. "We're hardly the ones to be passing judgment on anyone."

The bull elephant sighed and, in the space of time between the hospital and the mall, he shared his traumatic memory with the gorilla. By the time he was done, he was sobbing again. "She was just a baby…"

Ryan rubbed his back while Marcus processed. "And he's using it against you…"

Alphonso nodded. "I just want to forget it ever happened and I almost had until Eric showed up at the show last night. I told Meena most of what happened. I couldn't bear to tell her the rest. I couldn't handle it if…."

The truck came to a stop and Marcus turned around. "Look at me. We have all done terrible things that we regret. For several years, I used crime to try and protect myself from my wife's death." He saw Alphonso didn't quite follow. "Okay, you're a Christian, right? What does the Bible say?"

He wasn't expecting that question. He realized that in his state, he'd forgotten his failsafe. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9." He took a deep breath.

"If that's what helps," Ryan told him. "Do what you need to do." He would listen to a thousand verses if it helped Alphonso get out of this dark place he was in.

Marcus nodded. "Yep… you just sit in here and pray or whatever…" He saw the hyena waiting in the parking lot and got out. Johnny, Barry and Stan joined him. Ryan stayed with Alphonso.

Blue eyes went wide as the mountain gorillas drew nearer. Marcus cracked his knuckles. "Eric, I presume."

He stood up straight. "Who wants to know?" He saw Alphonso in the truck. "Oh, I see, the little NARC went and ratted me out."

"If that's how you wanna put it, except we're not cops," Stan said. "But you'll wish he had told the cops by time we're done…"

Ryan had only seen Johnny bare his teeth once, and that was that night, at the climax of his dance battle with Klaus. His glare was even more vicious that night. "Unless you want to leave now and swear to never go anywhere near Alphonso or Meena again."

Eric trembled, backing up. "I don't have to go near her to tell her. And I'm sure Noodleman won't want someone like him working for her theater."

"That theater belongs to Rosita Suarez, and nothing you could say could change how we feel about Alphonso," Johnny vowed. "Now get out of here! And if I hear Alphonso's story repeated anywhere around town, you'll catch these hands. And my father's. And my uncles'. Am I clear?" He grabbed Eric by the collar and shoved him against his car.

"Yeah…. Yeah… yeah…. I'm going…" he glared briefly at Alphonso. "I won't bother him again." Johnny could swear he smelled something. He dropped the hyena and he got into the little vehicle, driving away at top speeds.

Marcus applauded. "Well done, my son! You sent him running! Ha ha!" Barry and Stan joined in praising Johnny.

Johnny shrugged. "I just didn't like him bullying my friend." They got back in the truck. "He's just a bully. He won't bother you again."

Alphonso was slowly regaining his control. "Thanks, Johnny. You're a great friend. And thanks Ryan. I didn't… I don't know what would happen if anyone else found out. If Meena found out…"

Marcus looked at him through the mirror. "I know you're not going to like what I'm about to say. You need to tell her. You need to be completely honest."

He visibly trembled. "What if she… What if… I couldn't handle it if she left me. If I lost her."

"I know it's scary but Meena will understand," Marcus said. "You need to tell her because she's your wife and she wants you to lean on her. Even with the worst of it. Trust us, trust her."

Alphonso bit his lip while Ryan added. "We can be there with you when you tell her. But she won't judge you. You know Meena better than that. We all have things in our past we'd prefer to forget, some worse than the others."

The elephant sighed. They were right. He loved Meena. She deserved to know the whole truth.

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After everyone else had their chance to see Eddie, giving him words of encouragement that they hoped he could hear, Gunter took his turn privately. Rosita and Norman were happy to let Sara spend the night with their brood so he could stay overnight.

He held the sheep's trotter. "Hey, Eddie… I really hope you can hear me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you but… please…. I need you to wake up. I need you to stay with me. I… I… I love you…" He realized that he hadn't said that yet, not in that capacity. Everyone always made it a point to tell Eddie how much they loved him, Gunter included, but this was much different. The last time he felt this way was the first time he saw the handsome koala. When he stepped out on that stage and looked into the crystal blue eyes that would judge his performance. He still remembered the way his heart skipped a beat. "Please… please… I know you're tempted to join Buster but I need you to stay with me. I'll protect you better this time. No one will hurt you again." He leaned over and kissed Eddie's lips.

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"Gin," the sheep laid out his cards.

Buster gaped. "Again!" He looked at the cards in dismay. "You always beat me at Gin." He laughed.

Eddie laughed with him. "I miss this. Playing games late into the night. I miss you."

"I miss you too…" he admitted.

"Please… Eddie… I need you," Gunter's voice echoed through the hospital room. "I love you."

Brown eyes turned up. "Gunter?" He asked.

Buster nodded. "It's okay, Eddie. This is what I want. There's no one I could trust more than Gunter. I know that you would be very happy with him. So why haven't you told him how you feel yet?"

Eddie shrugged. "I just haven't felt ready yet. It still hurts."

The koala nodded. "I know but the hurt will heal. This is the first step. Let someone else love you now and love them back." He stroked his cheek. "Besides, you're not really going to let him try raising that little girl alone, are you?" He laughed.

Eddie laughed despite himself. "No, I wouldn't do that. I do want to wake up. I want to live. But… I'm torn. I don't want this to end…" He admitted. "I'm afraid of saying goodbye again."

Their lips touched as they shared a deep, passionate kiss. When Buster pulled away, there were tears in his smiling, blue eyes. "It's never really goodbye. I will always be here. In every song, in every note. When you hear the wind whistling, that's me saying I love you." He pressed his forehead to Eddie's. "It's okay… Go on. Wake up. Live for me. Love for me."

His lip trembled but the sheep knew he was right. He needed to wake up. "And… my mother won't… She won't try again?"

"Nerp! Buster confirmed. "She won't hurt you or anyone else again. I'm just sorry it took me so long to act." He couldn't resist getting in one last, quick kiss. "Share that one with Gunter, please."

Eddie nodded, still breathless from the kiss, unable to resist the pull any longer. Buster faded from view, the room grew lighter and the hog came into focus. He realized he was laying back on the bed, tubes and wires sticking out of him like a Jules Verne experiment. He smiled up at his shocked expression. "I love you too."

Silver-blue eyes filled with joyful tears before Gunter leaned down again, kissing him with every bit of passion that he'd felt in the dream with Buster. This. This is what he wanted. Where he wanted to be. Who he wanted to be with. His hand went to Gunter's head and he returned the kiss.

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Meena was trying to read the Bible that Alphonso gave her as one of her Christmas presents. It was her favorite shade of turquoise and the cover read Keep Calm and Read Your Bible with a small crown in-between the phrases. There was a place for her to journal and she could ever color the pages with the colored pencils he included.

She remembered what Alphonso said about being mad. Mad at God for taking his mother. She understood what he meant. She wanted to believe like he did. "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted." She looked up when the doors opened. "Alphie, you're back. Were you able to help Johnny and Ryan?"

Alphonso looked back at Johnny, who nodded. "Actually, Meena… they were the ones who helped me. There's something… something I didn't tell you about… about my past. I've been trying so hard to forget about it, I didn't even want to talk about it…"

Meena took his hand. "Whatever it is, Alphie. You can tell me. No matter what it is." She let him pull her away to a secluded section of the waiting room.

It took several minutes, tissues and comforting hugs, but he finally told her what he told Johnny and Ryan. She could hear the self-loathing in his voice.

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I should have told you the truth last night. I should have told you before I proposed but… I understand if… if you hate me…"

"What? I could never hate you. Never. I love you. I love you more than anything, Alphie. And everything you've been through only makes me love you more," she reassured him. "All of that is part of what makes you who you are today. And I love you." Her arms encircled him and he hugged her back.

As they pulled away, the door leading back into the hospital opened. The doctor came out with a gigantic smile on his face. Meena felt herself releasing a breath when she heard him say, "I have good news!"

AN: So ends this chapter. Sorry it took so long. I've been getting into my Sofia the First crossover. A Royal Production. I hope you'll check it out too and please review both stories. I love hearing your thoughts, whether criticism or praise. Be brutal!