Part 2
In the hotel suite, Norman waited with his kids. He tried to get them to go to bed but they refused, insisting they couldn't sleep without saying goodnight to their mommy. And, in his worry, he didn't have the strength to argue.
He looked up when he heard the door open. The troupe came in looking bedraggled and exhausted but it was more than just exhaustion. He ran to his wife. "Honey?"
She trembled and tears poured down her cheeks. "Norman!" She latched onto him and sobbed. He didn't even need to ask anything else. He looked up at Marcus and his heart broke when he saw the broken producer, all too still. He wrapped his arms around her, crying with her.
After several minutes, she looked at Buster. "We should… we should clean him up… and we should all get cleaned up… Marcus… you too…"
Marcus passed him onto the loving mother. He removed his jacket and put it in a trash bag. He collected Rosita's, Meena's and Johnny's costumes as well.
Carefully, they removed his stained white shirt. They bathed him to get the blood out of his soft, gray fur. It took four changes of the water before the water ran clean.
Meena brushed his fur out, getting out any remaining debris. Johnny found a clean blue suit coat, white dress shirt, pants and tie and Rosita carefully redressed him with the practiced ease of a mother who was used to dressing her children while they slept. They all took turns just holding him and cherishing him. They discussed putting him in a bed but the master bedroom wasn't big enough for all of them, so they chose to lay him on the sofa.
The way he lay there, Meena thought he might just be sleeping. But she knew better. It was unfair. He believed in her when she didn't believe in herself. A big hand on her shoulder made her look into Johnny's broken expression. He hugged her and they cried into each other's shoulders.
Rosita sobbed in her husband's arms. "It's my fault. I couldn't catch him. I tried but I couldn't."
Norman rubbed her back. "Honey, you can't blame yourself. It's not your fault." He wanted to say it would be okay but he knew it wouldn't. The poor little koala had made his wife a star and reignited their passion. He was sure he was one of only a few who saw what happened and really knew something was wrong. Only his 25 children prevented him from running onto the stage to his wife.
"Daddy, why won't Mr. Moon wake up? Why is everyone so sad?" Caspar asked. "Why is Mommy crying?"
Norman was conflicted. His children needed him too. "Caspar, children… Mr. Moon was very badly hurt tonight. So he…. he went to go be with his daddy now."
"But he'll come back right? He'll wake up soon? Right?" Caspar asked.
Gunter pulled Caspar away. "Let's go to bed, kiddos ." He said. Norman gave a grateful half-grin for the dancer's help. He wasn't ready to have this talk with them yet.
————————
Normally, Gunter was the more jovial member of their troupe but he was only barely holding onto his natural optimism. And Caspar wasn't stupid. They were still young but they were ten years old now.
When his siblings went to sleep with little coaxing, he couldn't. "Uncle Gunter… what happened? Why won't anyone tell us?"
Gunter knew the talk had to happen. "Caspar…"
"I'm ten years old! I can handle it! Tell me the truth!" The little piglet demanded. "Why won't Mr. Moon wake up?"
Gunter sighed. "You're right. You deserve ze truth. Caspar, Mr. Moon was badly hurt. Sometimes someone can be so badly hurt that their bodies can't handle it. They go to sleep and… this is a sleep where they never wake up."
The little eyes went bright with tears. "He'll never wake up? But… we love Mr. Moon."
Gunter hugged him. "Ja, we all love Mr. Moon. But it's okay. He's with his daddy now. In a place called Heaven. It's beautiful and he's not hurt anymore. And I bet he's already planning shows for 'ze Choir up 'zere."
Caspar cried softly while Gunter tried his best to comfort him. Eventually, he'd cry himself to sleep. Once the child was asleep, the hog let his own grief pour out.
—————————
Porsha sat in one of the chairs, crying. "This is all my fault. I got Daddy so mad at Mr. Moon. Mr. Moon was hurt because of me." She was only barely aware of two large gorilla arms hugging her and she sobbed into the offered chest.
"No," Marcus said softly. "Your father did this on his own. I will apologize to you however, because while I know he is your father, we cannot let this go."
She shook her head. "Of course not…" When Barry had pulled her father from the booth, she had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing him again. "Oh Daddy, how could you?" She sobbed, mourning for Mr. Moon and her father.
"It's not your fault," Clay said softly. "It's mine. I should have just done the show. When I heard about it, I knew Crystal was ruthless, I knew he might hurt the little guy in retaliation. I could have played along. But I was too busy mourning my Ruby." He was angry at having his peace disturbed but he didn't like that this little koala had paid the ultimate price over it.
Ash shook her head. "No, I shouldn't have let him lie about knowing you, Clay. But in the end, we didn't do this. Crystal did. Evil son of a…" Rosita's eyes went wide and she remembered. "Sorry for my language, Rosita, but he's an evil son of a bitch. Sorry, Porsha."
The wolf shrugged. "He's my father but "evil son of a bitch" is fitting. Whatever happens now… I just… if I hadn't misunderstood Mr. Moon. If I hadn't begged to be in the show in the first place."
"No, Porsha, no. Don't do this to yourself," Ash told her. "You didn't mean for this to happen. No more than any of us did." She knelt beside the still koala and stroked the soft fur, tears falling softly down her cheeks. "What happens now?"
The mom of the group, Rosita took a deep breath and pulled away from her husband. "Now… I'm going to go call Nana. I don't want her hearing about this on the news. And Eddie. Oh poor Eddie…" They all knew Eddie had deep feelings for Buster but he was always too busy working to notice. Now he never would. "Oh they're going to be devastated. Then… we all need to get some sleep. We're going to need strength to face tomorrow."
Marcus waited while everyone got ready for bed. Johnny didn't go to bed right away. "Dad? What are you going to do?" Though he had an idea. "Whatever it is, we want to help. Let me help at least. Crystal needs to pay!" He visibly seethed while tears ran down his face.
Marcus shook his head. "No. Johnny, what I'm about to do is about trying to do the right thing as much as it is vengeance. I know you're angry and rightly so. Let me handle this. It's about making sure real justice is done and no innocent people are hurt for it," he directed Johnny's eyes to Porsha who cried while waiting for the bathroom. "The only way it can be done is if only a few people know exactly what happened. How would you feel about making her your sister?"
Johnny thought about it. He didn't like how Porsha acted and treated them at the start but it wasn't all her fault. Her father spoiled her. She was innocent and didn't deserve to be punished. "I think that's a great idea, Dad. " He scratched his chin and looked over at his dance coach. "What would you say to two sisters?"
Marcus smiled and nodded. "Good. Go talk to her. You're a big brother now." He chuckled before looking at Buster. "I promise, I'll take care of them."
The gorilla nodded and went over to the wolf. "Hey…"
Her breath hitched. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted Daddy to make Mr. Moon put me back in the show. I didn't know…" She became aware of his arms encircling her.
"I know, I know you didn't want this. It's not your fault, sis. It's not your fault," he sat with her and let her cry.
—————
In the office on the top floor of headquarters, James sat on the gold sofa. Tears fell down his cheeks as he tried to understand what happened. He looked at his hands. He had taken a life. Sure, Moon humiliated him and lied to him and hijacked his theater but then he killed him. He kept seeing it in his mind, playing it over and over. In the split second after he let go, he wanted to take it back, to try and grab him back, but it was too late. He couldn't figure out why anymore. He didn't deserve to die for those crimes. What kind of monster had he become? He wasn't sure anymore.
"Rosamund, please… forgive me…" he buried his head in his hands and sobbed, mourning his actions and what they wrought. He looked at the photo of his daughter and recalled her heartbroken cries for Mr. Moon. "I'm sorry, baby girl…. I'm so sorry…"
"Mr. Crystal," Jerry's voice cut through his anguish. "Are you alright sir? Is there anything I can do?"
Jimmy looked at the tabby. He bit his lip, knowing what was likely coming. "There is… I need you… to go home."
Jerry shook his head. "What? No. I'm not leaving you, sir. And I won't let that brute hurt you."
"Jerry, go home. Relax, have a beer, watch that show you're always going on about. Throne of Games?" The wolf elaborated. "Do not return until morning."
The cat shook his head head. "Sir, I can't… I can't…"
"You can, you must and you will." He looked at the cheetah in the corner. "Benny, take Jerry back downstairs to the limo and tell Raoul to take him home. Go on, Jerry."
He tried to resist but the feline was no match for the bodyguard. Benny simply picked him up and carried him away.
—————
Safely ensconced in her room, Meena did the only thing she could think of. She called her mom.
"Hello? Meena?" Her mother asked with exhaustion in her tone.
Hearing the comforting sound, Meena could only burst into renewed sobs, trying to tell her mother what happened.
—————
Meena's mom was sound asleep when her phone rang with her daughter's ringtone. She fumbled for the device. "Hello? Meena?" She sat up when she heard the unmistakable sound of crying. "Meena, honey? Are you alright? Talk to me, sweetie. Do I need to call 9-1-1?"
"Oh Mom, it's terrible!" She began sobbing over the phone, telling her mother brokenly what happened. It was so garbled that she was only barely able to understand the basic gist.
She got out of bed. "Honey, oh honey. It's alright, it's going to be alright. I'm on my way." She pounded on her father's door. "Dad! Wake up! Meena needs our help!" She went down to her mother-in-law's door and knocked loudly. "Mom! We have to go to Redshore City right away. It's an emergency."
Her father's door opened and he yawned out. "What's wrong, Sitara? Is Meena alright?"
Sitara grabbed her suitcase and a few changes of clothing. "She's not physically hurt but… I had a hard time understanding exactly what happened but poor Mr. Moon died tonight. He was killed by James Crystal or someone who works for him, I'm not entirely sure. She's very upset and not speaking clearly."
Her mother-in-law gasped. "Oh no! Come on, Ishin. Our grandbaby needs us."
"Way ahead of you, Lakshmi," he called from his room. All Sitara had to say was "Meena's upset" and he was already packing. "And whoever did it better pray for the sweet mercy of death because he won't find any mercy in me. No one makes my granddaughter cry!"
Sitara smiled at her family. They had their ups and downs but one thing they were always united under was Meena. "Okay, sweetheart, we are on our way. Rest and take care of yourself. I love you, sweetie." They disconnected and she grabbed a tissue. She didn't know him as well as Meena did but she'd had him over occasionally. He'd even spent the night a few nights while waiting for the theater to be finished.
"Poor little guy," Lakshmi said sadly. "He always had a kind word for this old lady." She stuffed a few dresses into her pack.
Sitara nodded. "He was a sweet little soul. I like to think he and Naveed would have gotten along." She sighed, thinking of her late husband.
Ishin hugged his daughter. "Let's go to Meena. She needs us now."
—————
When Alphonso and his best friend, and food truck partner, got home, he couldn't stop thinking about what happened, what they'd seen. The more he thought about it, the more he knew that it couldn't have just been part of the show. He heard her agonized cries and it was all he could do not to fly to her side to comfort her as he did the first day he met her.
He went to the window of their apartment. "Tyler, we should have stayed. She needs me…" He said softly.
"She has her friends with her, Alphonso. She barely knows your name," Tyler reminded him. "Bake her a few of your best pastries, little cakes, whatever you want and go find her tomorrow morning. After they've had a chance to process it."
He nodded and went to his desk. He opened a massive tome and a notebook before settling into read for a while. He needed a chance to meditate and think.
"Tell me what I should do…" was his simple request.
—————
While Rosita went back to her and Norman's room to call Nana, Gunter took his chance to approach Buster. "Mr. Moon… I'm… so sorry. This is all my fault…" He choked out a sob. He stroked the soft cheek. "I loved you, Buster." He picked up his small hand, squeezing, hoping in vain that he would squeeze back. Satisfied that they were alone, he leaned down and kissed the cool lips. "I love you…"
—————
After scolding his teacher for his actions that night, the Tiger, Ryan stood underneath a hot, steamy shower with a heaviness in his heart. He hadn't known the koala very well but it bothered him that his dance partner was grieving and he wasn't there to comfort him.
The three weeks of training with the gorilla had been the best three weeks Ryan had even known. Watching him slowly improve and then to see him fully blossom under the tutelage of the lynx. His embarrassed apologies every time he missed the mark or fell. Everything about the gorilla drew him in like a moth to a flame. Johnny had opened Ryan's mind to the possibility that love was more than just a dream or fairytale.
Now, he was hurting. He was hurting alone. Without him. Okay, Johnny had all of his friends and his dad and they barely knew each other but Ryan knew he should be there. But Klaus was adamant that he needed to wait until Johnny came to find him.
—————
Suki took the elevator to the top floor. She stopped in Jerry's office and deleted the footage of Marcus' gang dragging Crystal into his own office and locking the door. She went inside. He was sitting on his gold couch, his hands folded in thought.
"Well, you did it. You killed a helpless little koala. I hope you're pleased with yourself," she growled at him.
He glared silently up at him. "You were supposed to make him leave! That's how it works!" He reminded her of their dynamic.
"I tried! But he's tenacious and stubborn, or he was. He reminds me of a certain someone I know, I was wrong about him," she wept softly. "But more than that, James. Do you know what you've done? Do you fully understand? You had the chance to just be the bigger person. He got Calloway!"
"He made me look like a fool! He humiliated Porsha! Ow!" He shouted. His muzzle glowed bright with her handprint.
She turned her back on him. "You did that to yourself! And as for Porsha, what you did tonight was far worse. You hurt your daughter. You made her believe you don't love her anymore."
"Well you know that's not true! I love my daughter!" He shouted. "I'm not the bad guy here! They broke into my theater, hijacked my theater and…"
"And made you look like a god tonight! You got Calloway! Your daughter was beautiful out there! Didn't you see? How happy she was on that stage? And you couldn't appreciate any of it!" Suki scolded him. She shook her head. "What were you thinking, James? You've ruined everything. You had it all. We could have had it all! James, I told you, I begged you not to lose your temper. I pleaded with you to control yourself. You made yourself look bad. Worse, you made Porsha look bad. You emotionally and verbally abused her and now she's down there thinking SHE'S a murderer."
His blue eyes met her own, shining with anger and unshed tears. "Well that's not true. And I'll tell her that. I'll kill anyone who makes my baby cry!" He tried to excuse his behavior as that of a protective father.
Crack! Her hand flew across his face again, leaving an even bigger impression in his fur. "YOU made your daughter cry! Not Moon! You called her a talentless loser to her face! You tried to ruin her song. You killed someone RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER! You forced your daughter to watch you murder someone! And she thinks it's her fault!"
The wolf looked down, visibly trembling. "I… I didn't… I wasn't thinking, I was so angry. He… he…" He was running out of things to say, the shock of what he did finally setting in, the reality. He had made threats before. But with one or two exceptions, he had never acted on them before. Usually the threats were enough. All he could see that night was Moon. Moon hijacking his theater and turning his own daughter against him, trapping him in that cage below the stage. When Jerry cut the chains off, all he wanted was to rip that koala limb from limb but he settled for the catwalk. He didn't even hear his child begging him to stop as he rode the lift up to the catwalk with Moon.
"I am not a loser. We did what we came here to do. And there's nothing you can do or say to change that." He was amused when Moon tried to stand up to him, acting like he wasn't scared.
In that moment, it felt like he'd jumped out of his skin to watch himself toss Moon off the catwalk like it was nothing. A flash of remorse crossed his mind but it was too late. He watched the mommy pig jump in her ill-fated attempt to save him. The red lenses that colored his vision lifted when he was forced down the lift by the smaller gorilla where he could see the largest of their number holding the broken creature. Watching as Moon fought for his life just long enough to see the ending of their magnum opus. Even he could not believe what he had done as the blue eyes had drifted closed.
"And you didn't just take an innocent life! You ruined your own life and you ruined Porsha's life too!" Suki shouted.
He shook his head. "I did not ruin Porsha's life!"
"You killed someone, James! You're going to be arrested, your entire estate seized, your assets frozen. Everything will go to the authorities to prevent you from buying your way out, leaving her with nothing but the knowledge that daddy dearest is a cold-blooded murderer!" Her words had the desired effect.
He shook his head. "No, they can't leave my baby alone and with nothing! You can't let them. What have I done, Suki. You have to help me! You have to help me protect her. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He trembled and she sighed. She couldn't help but feel pity for her friend.
The office door slammed open and Marcus stood, his expression nothing less than bloodthirsty. "Your daughter will be fine. There's one way to make sure your fuck up doesn't affect her." He stalked over to the tycoon's desk. "Miss. Lane, you might want to leave."
She shook her head. "No. I can't leave. I won't stop you but I can't leave." His dark eyes met her brown ones. "I can't leave him."
He nodded in understanding as he opened the desk. "As I was saying, there is one way to ensure that your daughter isn't affected by your crime tonight." He pulled out a piece of pretty stylized stationary and a pen. He thrust them at the wolf. "Write!"
"Write what?" The question wasn't in earnest. Crystal wasn't a fool.
"Write your goodbyes. I suggest you include some apologies for your actions and make sure she knows that you love her. Make it believable of course," he rationalized. "Because if you choose jail, trust me, it's hard labor and while you think you're hot shit out here, you're not shit in there. Although you might get lucky. After all, you're so pretty, some big gorilla or bear might decide to make you his boyfriend." He taunted, earning looks of terror from the big bully. "Write."
Crystal looked at Suki. "And you have nothing to say? You're really going to let them do this?"
She sighed. "I tried to stop you sir. I can't save you this time. Protecting Porsha and her best interests is all I can do for you now." Quickly, suddenly, she kissed him before turning to the fireplace. "Do what you must." She told Marcus. "I'm sorry sir but I can't let you get away with this."
Crystal realized that she was serious. She wasn't even going to try and talk them down. And he knew he stood no chance against the silverbacks. Running wasn't an option. "Do I get a final request?"
Marcus glared. "I don't know why you should. You didn't give him one. Give me one reason I should give you any form of mercy?" He sighed. "Make it a good one."
He looked at the note. "I know why you need the note. But I can't say it all in a note. I have to tell her. I have to tell Porsha that I love her. The last thing I said is she's a talentless loser. And that can't be it. Please don't let me die without correcting that. Don't let me die with her thinking that I don't love her. And… I need to know that… she'll be taken care of. She's so young and naïve. She can't be alone yet." He pleaded. "And… I need… I need to hear her voice… just one more time…"
The gorilla examined the wolf and pulled out the phone that he'd removed from his person earlier. He found Porsha's number. "I will adopt her as my own daughter. She and the street dancer are going to be my children now. She'll even have a big brother and two uncles." He queued up the call and sent it. "Don't bother trying to get her to beg for you. I'll simply take the device back."
He nodded and took the phone, putting it on speaker.
After a few rings, the line clicked. "Daddy?" Her voice asked tentatively.
Crystal sighed. "Yes, baby girl…" His heart broke to hear how scared she was.
"Daddy….. why? Why did you…" she sobbed. "He was my friend. And he's gone. How could you?"
"I know, baby… I did something horrible. I know. I'm so sorry. I know it doesn't change anything. I can't fix what I did." His chest felt so heavy. "All I can do now is make sure that you are taken care of, that you are not made to suffer for what I did. Not more than necessary. I just wanted to say I love you and I have never been more proud of you than I was tonight. I'm sorry I couldn't appreciate it then. If I could… maybe… but that's beside the point now. The gorilla…" He realized he didn't even know his name.
"Marcus Green," the silverback said. "Johnny's dad."
"Yes, Mr. Green is your father now and he'll take good care of you. I love you, baby. I know you might find it hard to believe after all of the evil things I did today and the things I said, but it's true."
He heard her voice break. "I love you too, Daddy. I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I made you look bad and humiliated you. I'm sorry I made you hurt Mr. Moon."
"No, baby. No, no. You are not to blame for any of this. This was all down to me and my choices and my actions. You did nothing wrong," he reassured her. "But… I expect you to respect and behave for Mr. Green, like you would me. And Aunt Suki too. I entrust you to their care now. I have to go now, baby girl. I love you." He didn't wait for her to respond before hanging up. Marcus Green wiped off his own fingerprints before giving it back for him to slip into his breast pocket. "You better take excellent care of her. She better be happy and she better be safe and healthy. Or I will come back and fucking haunt you!" He looked to Suki. "I'm sorry. I really, truly am. I don't know what's wrong with me…"
Her lip trembled and she nodded. "I loved you, James. I wish I knew what to say or do to make this easier. There's nothing except I'll help Mr. Green take care of Porsha. She'll have everything she needs."
Marcus looked between them. "Take a few minutes to say whatever prayers you need to…" He was starting to feel sorry for this man and he didn't want to. The pain the wolf lived with was palpable. He looked at his desk, at a framed photo. A beautiful female wolf holding a baby Porsha on what must have been her birthday. The desk was full of such photos. This wolf was him. Or could have been him. He was so close to becoming just like him five years ago.
"Her name was Rosamund," Crystal said softly, knowing what he was looking at, able to see the gorilla in a mirror on the far wall. "She was the love of my life… until the accident. We were driving home from a vacation in the mountains when some fool slammed into us. The car rolled. I was able to get out and save Porsha but… before I could get back to Rosamund… the gasoline ignited and…" he buried his head in his hands.
Marcus put the frame down and sat down on the sofa across from the wolf. "I won't say I don't understand. My wife got sick, really sick. They found a large mass on her breast. They tried chemo and at first it worked. She went into remission. But it just came back even worse a year later. She died just a few weeks after Johnny's tenth birthday. I didn't handle it well. I turned to crime, robbing banks, to try and hide from my pain and support my son at the same time." He didn't know why he was telling him this. "Then five years ago, my son auditioned for a singing contest held by Mr. Moon. He didn't even tell me because he knew that I wouldn't react well. He was right. The rehearsals conflicted with a job and I and my brother Barry and his partner Stan, we were all arrested. Johnny was supposed to be the getaway driver and he wasn't there. I tried to disown him as punishment until I saw him singing on tv and playing the piano. Mr. Moon saved my family. He could have saved yours tonight, if you'd let him."
James trembled. "And I know that's why you want revenge. I understand. I can't even figure out why I did it. He was right. I had nothing to gain and everything to lose."
Marcus sighed. "Revenge is only part of it. If it was, I'd give you to the cops and let your cellmates have fun with you. I simply don't want your child to suffer for your crimes. And I know you don't want that either. Because I believe that you really do love her."
James nodded. "More than anything. Everything I've worked so hard for was for her! Now it's all ruined. I'm not going to see her eighteenth birthday, walk her down the aisle, meet any grandkids and it's my own fault." He sobbed for several minutes, lamenting what he had become. He became aware of a small hand rubbing his back. He looked at Suki, not sure when she sat beside him. "I'm sorry…"
She nodded. "I know. I know. I'll be with you until the end. It'll be alright. Rosamund will be waiting for you. I know it."
He took a deep breath and stood up. "There's no point in putting it off. But I mean it. You had better do right by her!"
—————
With Nooshy and Porsha so close in age, it just made sense for the girls to share a room. Porsha let Nooshy use the bathroom first. When she came out, she heard the wolfette talking on the phone and politely returned to the bathroom to let her have the conversation in private.
She didn't quite know how she felt about the other teen. With this one present exception, all of her problems were so first world. She had literally everything. Enough money that neither she or her kids would ever have to work. She probably had three or four houses, maybe even a private island. She never wondered how she was going to eat that day.
That said, her one real problem was serious enough that the lynx couldn't help feeling bad for her.
But at least the wolf would still have a home. She had heard Marcus asking Johnny about adopting Porsha. She would have a home and when they left, Nooshy would be back on the street. She was pissed because Johnny didn't hear the conversation she'd had with Buster.
—————
Johnny was receiving praise from the others while his family worked on thrashing Crystal's security team. Nooshy stood on the edge of things, smiling bright.
"Well, Nooshy, I don't know how you did it, but you really helped Johnny out," the gray koala praised her. "Thank you."
Nooshy smiled. "It was my pleasure. That big fathead deserved to get humiliated like that." She laughed. "It's been fun helping Johnny the last couple of days. But I guess you guys will be going home tonight."
Buster nodded. "What's your plan?" He asked her. "Do you have any family we can take you to?"
She shook her head. "Nahh, I live in a box in the nearby alley. But it's been great staying in the hotel while I helped Johnny. I appreciate it."
The koala thought. "This might be a stupid question but… do you want to go back to the alley? There's a perfectly comfortable couch at the theater or we could put another bed in with Miss Crawly."
The lynx had to grab onto the control table in shock. "What? Are you serious?"
"I mean, I guess I can understand the allure of a cardboard box in an alley but if you would like a real house… unless you're really attached to Redshore or something," he smiled at her. "You could work for the theater and if you want to keep street dancing, I'll help you get a license."
She felt her heart beating faster. "Yes, yes, I'd love that, thank you."
—————
The koala had promised her a home and now that promise was gone with him. Mr. Green wouldn't want to take in another orphan. Everyone else was too involved in their grief to think to offer. And she couldn't bear to ask.
—————
It was after midnight but Nana was still awake. When she lay down that night to sleep, she couldn't help the feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Ma'am, there is a phone call," her penguin butler entered the room with her phone on a silver platter. "It's Mrs. Rosita."
Rosita? Why would the pig be calling her? Buster usually called her. That feeling grew worse as she accepted the phone. "Yes, Rosita… what can I do for you?"
Hobbs waited patiently. He wasn't ready for Nana to drop the phone receiver. "Ma'am?" He handed it back to her.
"I'm sorry, Nana…" Rosita apologized. "I tried… I tried…"
The elderly sheep forced herself to breathe. "There's nothing to apologize for. I don't blame you. I just wasn't expecting a call like this. Thank you for letting me know." She heard the pig crying. "Look, you get some rest. I'll talk to my grandson. We're coming out there." She hung up and dialed. "Eddie, dear, I know it's late but I need you to come over. Yes. Right now. Pack a bag. It's not something that can be discussed over the phone. Just come over right away, sweetheart, please." She hung up and let Hobbs take the phone, leaving her alone before allowing herself to grieve. How could she push Moon into making that journey? He was safe here. Her last words to him had even been a taunt to make sure he went to Redshore City. She had lost many friends in her time but this was the worst blow she'd felt in a long time. Tears hit the blanket as she wept. "Mr. Moon…. I'm sorry… this wasn't supposed to happen."
——————————
The cool wind billowed through Crystal's fur and his blue suit as he let the gorillas drag him out onto balcony. He trembled as it sunk in what he had to do. To protect his child from his terrible crime. He looked back at Suki, as if hoping for some form of mercy. Marcus just got in the way. He jabbed a large finger at the balcony.
"I'm sorry… please… I'll change, I'll be better!" He pleaded, terrified of what would come. "Please… I don't want to die…"
"I can let the cops have you. If I do though, then they'll freeze your assets. Everything you worked for will be for nothing. I'll still adopt her but she won't have anything to start her life with once she's ready. I don't have much to leave her. And I'll have two other kids. I'm a former bank robber turned mechanic moonlighting as a security guard," he told him. "And eventually someone in jail with you, will leave your mutilated body to be found in the bathroom. So you'll just die a worse death and Porsha will have to hear about it," Marcus said. "Believe me, I've seen these things happen to "tougher" men than you. Only the strongest survive and you're nowhere close. If you really love your daughter, you know what you have to do."
Carefully, Crystal climbed up onto the barrier of the balcony. He looked down, tempted to try and escape, until he felt something brush up against him, forcing his legs to buckle and he lost his balance.
Suki wept mournfully on the gold sofa, her ears covered desperately. His screams had been harder to bear than she thought they would be. A big, strong arm went around her and rubbed her back, just letting her cry. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that had to be done."
She shook her head. "You were kinder than the law would have been. Kinder even than he was to Mr. Moon…" She sobbed. "I loved him…"
He nodded. "I know, I know. It's okay, you're not alone." He promised her.
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Ryan lay in his bed to try and sleep but every time his eyes closed, he heard Johnny's scream. Johnny's scream morphed into that moment when Crystal came running in, grabbing the director before anyone could intervene. How he wanted to barrel rush Crystal himself but he was too far away. He could only watch uselessly as the wolf jettisoned the helpless koala over the catwalk. His eyes would then pop open. He curled up into the fetal position.
——————————
After hanging up with Nana, Rosita went back out to the living room. Everyone had gone to bed. She knew she should but she couldn't. She sat on the sofa and pulled him into her arms, cradling him. "Mr. Moon…. I'm so sorry…." Tears fell down her cheeks. "It doesn't seem real. Just a few hours ago, you were so excited. How did everything go so wrong… so fast…?"
"Rosita, honey?" She looked up at her husband. "You should come to bed."
She shook her head. "No. I need time alone with him. Just give me maybe twenty minutes, thirty. I'll be in soon."
He nodded. "Would you like me to sit with you?"
She shook her head again. "No, thank you. I won't be long. I promise. You go to bed without me." She stroked Buster's head.
Norman sighed and nodded. He cast a brief, mournful glance at the little guy.
Alone, Rosita looked down at him. "Why did this have to happen? Why did you leave us? What are we going to do without you? You brought us all together. Now you're gone." She sobbed.
——————————
When Nana called him "sweetheart", Eddie knew something was gravely wrong. She never called him by anything more than his name. He grabbed a bag and threw a single change of clothing into it.
Hobbs led him into Nana's sitting room. She was drinking a cup of lapsang souchong. "Hobbs, serve my grandson a cup of tea before we talk, please. Sit, Eddie dear."
Eddie sat down. "What's wrong Nana? You never call me "dear" or "sweetheart." Something's wrong."
Nana was firm. She would say nothing more until Eddie had a cup of tea. The smokey wood scent was soothing.
Nana stood up and went to her window. The same window where she had once stood and called Mr. Moon a liar. She wasn't wrong but there was so much more to him. "Eddie, dear… I had a call from Mrs. Suarez." He tilted his head curiously. "Rosita?"
Eddie was immediately at attention. "What? Why? Is she okay? Is Buster okay?" He heard her breath hitch. "Nana, is Buster okay?"
The old ewe turned and he saw the tears. "Eddie, there was an incident. The New Moon troupe have been in Redshore City for the last three weeks, preparing a show. There was an altercation between Mr. Moon and Mr. Crystal… Eddie, Mr. Moon has been killed. He's gone, dear."
Brown eyes went wide and he shook his head. "No… no… that's not true Nana. That's not possible…." He protested.
She put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She hugged him. He began to shake and pulled away.
"No… no! I won't believe it. It's a lie! Buster's just… he's messing with me to get us down there. He's fine!" He all but shouted. "Let's go. I'll show you!"
—————
Rosita just sat on the sofa and held her friend close, petting his soft fur. "I'm sorry I never got to tell you how grateful I am. Because of you… I got to sing and dance for the masses. I owe you everything. We all do. I love you, Buster." Her eyes hurt and she was so tired but she couldn't leave him. She couldn't just leave him alone.
"Rosita?" Norman's voice asked softly. "You never came to bed."
"I said I'll be there in twenty minutes!" She snapped.
He touched her arm. "Honey, the sun is up." He directed her to the window. He hugged her.
She let out a sob. "I tried! I couldn't catch him! I tried! It's not fair Norman. He worked so hard with us on this show. He wanted it as much as we did." Tears wet Buster's gray fur. "It's not right!"
Nooshy, Johnny's friend and dance coach, came from the bedroom she was sharing with Porsha. She didn't know the little koala as well as Rosita or Johnny but it was hard not to like him. She'd seen plenty of death, growing up on the streets, but she still felt a little sadness for Mr. Moon. Knowing her new friends, Johnny especially, were all so upset, made her even sadder.
Absently, she picked up the remote, vaguely aware of a door opening and closing, and turned on the news. Her mouth fell open and she quickly shut it off as she saw Porsha coming out. "Do not turn that back on." She warned Rosita softly.
"What's wrong?" Porsha asked. "What is it?"
Nooshy bit her lip and reluctantly switched it back on. "This just in, Mr. James Crystal was found this morning, dead from an apparent suicide. He was found just outside Crystal Tower Headquarters." The arctic wolf was sprawled on the ground, contorted in ways the body was not meant to be contorted. A brown striped cat was sobbing brokenly over his body. "I'm sorry." She wasn't sorry for the wolf's death but she was sorry for Porsha's loss.
Porsha's trembled. "Daddy…" Her lip shook and she fairly fell into the loveseat, sobbing.
Rosita left her task of keeping vigil over the koala and went to the wolf. Tenderly, she pulled the teenager into a hug and let her cry.
"It's… I'm okay…" she lied. "I knew it was coming. At least…. He can't hurt anyone else now… he's with my mom now." She hugged the sow and sobbed. Losing two people she cared about back to back was hard on her.
"It's okay to cry for him, honey. No matter what he did, you still loved him and losing him is still hard on you. None of us will ever hold it against you," she rubbed her back.
One by one, the cast trickled out of their bedrooms. They each took a mournful glance at their boss before trying to go about their morning routine.
The door suddenly opened and Marcus came in with Barry and Stan. They each carried bags of fast food. "We got breakfast!" Marcus announced. "Come and eat!" When no one responded to the mention of food, he turned to Johnny. "Come on, boy," he nudged the younger gorilla. "You need to eat something." He knew they didn't want to but they had to continue on.
Johnny recognized his father's commanding expression. "Thanks, Dad…" He dug a breakfast sandwich from one of the bags. The spicy turkey sausage would have been a treat any other morning but this morning, it just felt like his life was falling apart and he couldn't enjoy it. Until Buster Moon, his life had been an empty pursuit of being a lookout for his dad's criminal gang of robbers. Just leaning against the alley wall and singing for his own enjoyment. Before Buster Moon, the last person who thought he could be a singer was his mother. But it was all over. The little koala who believed in him was gone.
Marcus, Stan and Barry took it upon themselves to push everyone to get a sandwich as well. Marcus was a forceful gorilla when he needed to be.
Rosita tried to refuse. "Please, let my kids and husband eat first. There's so many of us… I'm not hungry."
"Yes, you are," Marcus challenged her. "You're hungry and you're exhausted. Your children need to see you eating."
"Please, honey," Norman begged. "Eat for me?"
She sighed and took out an egg biscuit. "I just don't know… what's going to happen to us?" She asked the question on everyone's mind.
"I don't know…" Meena said. "I called my mom last night. They're coming out here to try and help." They looked up when they heard a knock on the door. "I'll get it." Peering out the peephole, she gasped before opening it. "Alphonso?" She couldn't keep from smiling when she saw him. "You came to find me?"
The ice cream vendor smiled. "I missed you last night and I asked around. I hope I'm not being too forward or creepy." He held out a small box. "I brought pastries."
She giggled. "That's so sweet. And no, it's not creepy at all. I'm sorry I didn't stick around."
He nodded. "I… I… I saw… what happened…" he looked down, hoping he wasn't overstepping. "Are you…"
Her lip trembled as she understood the question. She wondered if he was the only one in the audience who really understood. "It's a shock… please, come in. We were just having breakfast."
He let her lead him in. "Hey guys, this is Alphonso."
Rosita forced the best smile she could. "It's… it's a pleasure to meet you, Alphonso."
He nodded. "I… I just wanted… I saw what happened and… I… I wanted to extend my condolences. And I brought some… well, I bake, so I brought you all some…" He offered the box.
The sow nodded and accepted the box of baked goods. "My goodness, thank you, Alphonso. You're very kind. I can see how you caught our Meena's eye."
The cow-elephant blushed a bright red and hid her face.
He nodded. "I won't stay and interfere. It's none of my business what exactly happened. I just wanted to see Meena and make sure she was alright."
She took his hand. "Please, don't go… Stay and join us for breakfast…" She didn't want him to go.
He heard the pleading in her voice and nodded. His eyes saw the fallen director on the sofa and he pulled out his phone. "I'd love to stay… I'll just let Tyler know." He hugged her, letting her use his shoulder. "Is it okay… can I ask… who he was?"
"He was our leader, our friend… someone very special to all of us," Meena said. He rubbed her shoulders as she wept.
It was quiet, very quiet. Until Johnny spoke up. "I remember trying out for him. And when you were arrested, Dad, I was going to steal the prize money to bail you out. But I saw his notes on my audition, he said I was a natural-born singer."
Ash nodded. "He hated Lance but he gave me a spot. He tried to make me into a pop princess." She laughed and sang. "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy. But here's my number, so call me, maybe." She imitated Buster's moves. "Yeah that didn't work."
Gunter chuckled. "Und when he put Rosita and me together."
"I did not expect that to work out," Rosita admitted. "He thought I was boring to watch and he wanted us to dance. I didn't think I had it in me anymore but… I'm glad he did. You're the best dance partner I could ask for, Gunter."
The flamboyant pig smiled. "Ja. I told you, you just needed to let the music move your body parts." He looked at his boss. "He loved ze theater." He wiped his eyes with a tissue. "Remember his motto. Dream big dreams."
Meena nodded. "I failed my audition. I was so afraid to sing in public that I couldn't do it. But… then the theater flooded and we thought we'd never get to do the show. I never cared about the so-called prize money. I went back and I just started singing with my headphones. And suddenly he was there. Asking me if I could sing in front of an audience. I almost didn't and he gave me encouragement."
Ash smiled. "And you totally blew them away. Heck, you literally brought down the house." She saw Clay was listening while he tuned his guitar. "He really was a very special guy."
The lion smiled sadly. "I'm sorry I didn't get to know him better than I did."
Alphonso listened to their stories, wishing he'd gotten to meet the producer for himself. Unable to think of anything that might comfort them, he said the first thing that came to mind, however puerile it might sound. "I can't believe it, you're Clay Calloway."
He nodded. "So I've heard." He grabbed a bagel sandwich from the bag and ate.
——————
When Suki had first met the koala director three weeks prior, in his little local theater, she had liked their show. It was absolutely adorable. However, she didn't think they were ready for Redshore. They definitely weren't ready for her boss. She was heartbroken when she was proven right. While their performance had been a hit, the cost was just too high. When she watched her boss take and throw Moon from the catwalk, she felt sick to her stomach. If Marcus hadn't insisted on her letting them deal with Crystal, she would have had him arrested.
She held the note he had been forced to write. She somehow felt she owed it to Jimmy and Porsha to be there with him as he was given his punishment for his wicked deed. She had tried so hard to save him from himself but he had chosen his path and followed it to its most logical conclusion. All she could do now was look after his daughter for him. Marcus had promised to do the same.
"Miss Lane, there's a pink and purple helicopter coming this way," Jerry said, his voice breaking as though he had not stopped crying in hours. And he hadn't. He had genuine feelings for his boss, feelings he never got the chance to express, even if they were unreturned.
Suki looked perplexed as she went out to the helipad. Jerry was right. A pink and purple helicopter was just landing. A penguin jumped out of the pilot's seat and opened the door. She covered her mouth in shock. "Aren't you Nana Noodleman? The world famous opera singer."
A white sheep pushed past the elderly ewe. "Forget that, where is Buster? Where is he? This joke he's playing isn't funny."
Suki looked at Nana. "We're friends of Buster Moon and his troupe. Take us to them at once." She ordered the dog.
———————
They were still reminiscing on their early days with the theater. The few who weren't there to witness the events only listened.
"So he really offered 100,000?" Porsha asked. "He didn't have that did he?"
Johnny laughed. "Not even close but Mrs Crawly told me it was only ever supposed to be 1,000. She accidentally included two more zeroes. And he spent the rest of the contest trying to get the money."
"Buster!" A familiar voice shouted from outside before a loud bang came from the door. "Buster, open this door! You got me down here and it's not funny!"
Rosita opened the door for the two sheep and Suki. "Eddie… Nana… thank you for coming."
Eddie pushed past her. "Where's Buster?" He demanded. "This joke of his isn't funny. Because it's not possible! Buster can't die! Not when his own theater flooding and falling down around him couldn't kill him. Buster!" The Suffolk sheep finally found him. He ran to the sofa and began shaking him. "Buster, buddy. I'm here. Come on, pal, I came. It's time to stop kidding around. Please… wake up…." He began to quake. "Buster… Buster please… I never got… I never got to tell ya… Nana, please, make him wake up." He pulled his best friend into his arms, the truth hitting him like a semi.
Rosita felt her heart breaking even more than it already was. "I'm so sorry, Eddie. I tried…."
The sheep fell to his knees, clutching the koala, and burst into sobs. "Buster! Please! Come back!" The rest of the cast looked at them with empathy.
Nana had been secretly hoping Eddie was right, that it was just some joke. She knew it wasn't but she'd been hoping. Now, the hope was gone.