Part 23

The leaves on the trees were starting to change from green to orange. The heat of the subtropical climate was combating the cooler winds moving in from the north. Autumn was in the air.

That crisp, mid-September morning, just after the stroke of midnight, Rosita was examining their new nursery for what was probably the 50th time that day. She was still getting used to the sheer size of the mansion. With eight other bedrooms, her children were no longer cramped in one room in shared bunk beds. They still had to share rooms but only three to a room and four in the last and they each had their own bed to sleep in. The nursery itself was as big as their old kitchen.

It never escaped her thoughts though. The only reason they had this beautiful home was because of Mr. Moon's death. The original inhabitants had detested the little koala and his death had emboldened them, leading them to reveal their true colors and their abuse and almost criminal neglect of their son. She was grateful for the home and glad they could help Eddie. "Mr. Moon, did you really have to die for all of this to happen? I'd give up this beautiful house in a minute, I'd be homeless if it only meant…"

"Don't say that," a voice cut her off and she turned around. He was sitting in the rocking chair that her husband built for her when they had their first litter.

She gasped and felt her tears renew. "Mr. Moon, is this… are you… what?" She didn't know what to make of it.

"It's okay, Rosita," he smiled up at her. "I'm not really here. I mean I am but… I heard your thoughts. I am so grateful to you for helping Eddie."

The sow began to sob, collapsing to the hardwood floor. "Buster, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I tried… I'm so sorry." The guilt was less than it had been months ago but it still sat in the pit of her stomach, in spite of Nana's mantra.

He shook his head. "Rosita, really, do you really think I blame you at all? It was not your fault. When Crystal grabbed me, I knew it was over. I accepted my fate the moment he let go. It was worth it." He smiled sadly. "Thank you for trying but I don't blame you. You did great out there. It's just a shame I didn't get to hear your song."

She wept. "I miss you so much. We all do." She became aware of him hugging her.

"I miss you all too but I'm still here. I didn't know my mother growing up. So when you decided to make me part of your family, it meant so much to me and I am eternally in your debt. It didn't matter that you were the younger one of us," he chuckled. "You are such a wonderful mother and look at you, another litter coming? Wow! Congratulations."

She recognized the change of subject and took it. "Four girls and one boy that we're going to name Buster." She hugged him. "I hope you don't mind."

"Why would I mind? That's a great honor. I'm going to have to go in a moment though. You're about to wake up," he informed her. "But I'm always with you. I love you, Mama." He began to vanish.

Rosita was about to protest when she felt something odd. Her eyes snapped opened and she realized she was in her bed. It was a dream and it felt like her bed was wet. She folded her blanket down to see what felt so wrong. "Oh! Norman! Norman sweetie!" She called out to him.

Norman moaned. "What's wrong, honey?" He asked.

"It's time!" She told him and his eyes popped open.

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In their new bed, in their first home together, newlyweds, Meena and Alphonso slept securely wrapped in each other's arms. Until Meena's phone rang. "If you don't like the world you're living in…" her big hand went hunting for the offending piece of hardware that was disturbing their rest. "Hello?" Her eyes went wide as she sat up. "What? Yeah, we'll be there. Alphonso, wake up, it's time."

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Ash didn't sleep much these days. Of course, she never really slept very much. She didn't need as much sleep as others might. That's why she was busy writing a song at 1 o'clock in the morning.

It didn't help that she couldn't make her mind shut up. She and Lance had rekindled their relationship after she was convinced that his change was a permanent thing. When he first came back into her life, it was to give her comfort after losing someone she considered a very close friend. When she found out he had kids, it had confirmed that she did not want to get back with him. But she made the mistake of getting to know the kids and getting close. They had found a place in heart despite her best efforts and she wanted a chance to be with Lance again, to give them the mother they deserved. She was scared but she was starting to understand. Fear was never a reason not to try something she wanted to do.

Unfortunately, the twins, and Lance's inability to find a competent sitter who wouldn't let them run away and sneak into a bus' baggage compartment, meant that getting a date alone with him was hard. They would need to address that problem. She wondered if either Porsha or Nooshy might like to babysit. Gunter was possible but he was generally Rosita's sitter when she and Norman needed alone time. She knew Meena would do it in a heartbeat but she and Alphonso were still getting used to life together.

She looked up from her computer as the door opened. "Hey Clay, did you have a good time?" She asked.

He nodded quietly. "Sitara is knows the city well. She found a theater that plays old films. They were playing A Night to Remember."

Ash smiled. It was great that he was on the mend and finding a new life again. Meena's mother was a kind woman too. If things went well, she deserved to find love again too and she couldn't think of anyone better for her. She jumped as her phone buzzed. "Oh my gosh!" She jumped off the couch and put her guitar and laptop away.

"What is it?" He asked as he hung up his jacket.

Ash grabbed her own off the hook. "Rosita's in labor!" That's all she needed to say. He grabbed his jacket back and they hurried out the door.

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"Mr. Kickenklober, how long are we going to keep at this?" Johnny asked as the old monkey forced him to practice even after midnight. "Ow!" He massaged his chest where the familiar bamboo stick had smacked him.

Klaus glared. "Until you get it right." Since their return from Redshore City, he had only become more bitter and even harder on Johnny. And he didn't know why.

"Klaus, it is late," Ryan argued from the door. "We want to go to bed." He didn't know what to do. He thought his teacher had accepted Johnny, even respected his skill, but his abuse was getting worse. He took Johnny's hand. "Go upstairs, my alien warrior." He kissed him. He waited until he was gone. "Sir, this has to stop. You can't keep hurting Johnny. It's not going to make me stop loving him."

"I don't care about that! He has a show in a few days and he's not ready!" The teacher declared.

"No! Stop! He is ready. He's been practicing non-stop with me and Nooshy. He can do that move when he's not trying to keep his eyes open. This has to do with whatever happened in Redshore. Why won't you tell me?" Ryan pleaded.

The proboscis simply snapped his stick over his knee. "It's none of your business. If Crystal Entertainment thinks he will be a better teacher than me, then fine!" He seethed.

Ryan sighed. "Alright, if you don't want to elaborate, I get it. But Johnny is not whoever this replacement is. And he's not your first boyfriend either. Stop punishing him like he is!"

"When he meets an attractive, lady gorilla and marries her, remember you said that," Klaus challenged him.

The tiger sighed. "He's not going to do that. Even if he did, I love him enough that I'd want him to be happy, no matter what. Can you say the same?" He knew he struck a chord when Klaus looked in the mirror. "Sir, until then I love Johnny. I want to be with him. You need to respect that and you need to respect Johnny. Now, I'm going to bed with my silverback." His voice echoed in the stairwell.

Johnny's hand grabbed his wrist. He was suddenly wide awake. "Nope, we're not going to bed. We're meeting Rosita and Norman at the hospital."

Watching them rush off, Klaus started scratching his chin. Ryan was so convinced of Johnny's loyalty. Maybe he needed to put it to the test. They were starting to accept students and there was one applicant who would be a suitable specimen for the experiment.

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Suki knew she should be on her way back to Redshore but she was just having too good a time. She would visit often and stay over, using her laptop to work remotely. Marcus' apartment was small but it was cozy and she loved the way he made her feel. Even just sitting together on the sofa watching late night tv sitcoms, he just put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned up against him, using his shoulder as a pillow. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so content.

"I can't believe Porsha and Nooshy are starting school on Monday," she said. "What grade is Nooshy in?"

"After testing her, they put her with the freshmen," he said. "Thankfully, she managed to teach herself for the most part. Johnny didn't get to finish school, but these girls will."

She smiled. "You're a good father. Not many would take on someone else's kids like this." She traced his chest with a finger.

His eyes glittered down at her. He certainly didn't mean to find this feeling again, especially not with the pretty saluki but somehow he had. "Well you know why I couldn't just abandon Porsha. And as for Nooshy, it just felt right. She's been alone for too long, relying on street dancing to survive. She shouldn't have to do that. She should be able to have a warm bed and regular meals and go to school."

Suki nodded. "I agree." She knew what she wanted to say but she wasn't ready. It was such a big word with a lot of weight attached to it. "You're still a wonderful man to make it possible for them. You didn't have to." She kissed his cheek, making him blush at the show of affection.

He turned his head and kissed her muzzle. His big hand caressed her head and stroked her hair. Until his phone echoed with Johnny's ringtone. He looked at the text. "Oh, Rosita is having the piglets. He's going to the hospital but he'll keep us posted."

Brown eyes sparkled with mirth. "It's nice to think of new life being brought into this world after so much tragedy." She said, thinking briefly of the ones taken from them much too soon.

He nodded, rubbing her shoulders. "The circle of life moves ever onward and we're stuck on the ride no matter how we beg to get off." He kissed her again. He was surprised when she offered him her tongue. "Mmmmm…."

"Big Daddy, Aunt Suki, ewww!" Porsha's dismayed voice cried out. "Seriously, do you know what the number one trauma of all teenagers is?"

Marcus laughed while Suki blushed. "We thought you were asleep."

Nooshy came out of the bedroom while slipping on her hoodie and shoes. "We were until Johnny called. Rosita thinks it's important that all of us are there."

He nodded simply. "I'll drive you." He could call Barry but this wasn't business. It was a family matter and Rosita was almost his family too. It was a strange family born from a love of the arts and love for one little koala but it was a family and it was his.

And Suki understood that. "I'll come with you."

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True to his word, Eddie Noodleman finally moved out of the Suarez home on the same day they moved into the modern mansion he grew up in. He was sad to leave the old pool house where he and Buster made so many memories but it was time. He took only his video game system and the keepsakes he had from his koala. He could say that now. It didn't matter that it was never official. Buster loved him too. That's all he cared about. Anything that ever belonged to his parents he left for the Suarez family. His parents would need to ask for it back. He begged for footage of that encounter.

It was petty, he knew, but it brought him joy right now. He was realizing just how cruel they were. Buster was the only one who really loved him. Well, him and Nana. And now Rosita and Norman. And everyone. They had accepted him as one of them. Buster had essentially willed him his family. It would never be quite enough but he would try and keep trying until it was or until he couldn't go any longer. Then he'd try and get help first.

At least that was the contract he signed with Nana and the Suarez Family including an agreement they were able to give surprise visits any time as long as they didn't try to disguise the visit. They couldn't sneak up on him and couldn't invade his private spaces without justifiable cause. They would ultimately keep the house for him when he was ready for it. By then they might be ready to downsize again. It was late but he finally had real parents. Only he knew that Nana had formally disinherited his parents minus a pittance to prevent them contesting the will and put Rosita and Norman in their place as his adopted parents. His parents just could not be trusted to not take advantage of Eddie at his most vulnerable. Until he had the stomach to fight back, he needed his knights.

Miss. Crawly had been more than willing to let Eddie take the loft apartment above the office. She would have washed the bedding but he begged her not to. So when he climbed into that bed, he could still smell Buster. The shampoo Buster used and his natural musk filled his senses and it brought him both comfort and fantasies, dreams of what might have been. He wondered if Buster ever had similar fantasies in this bed.

He was just cuddling with one of Buster's suits after one such fantasy when his phone buzzed. He looked at the message and leaped out of bed, getting dressed quickly. "Miss. Crawly, it's time!"

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On the stage, everything he did always had to be flashy, with as many bells and whistles as he could get. No one would ever guess that off the stage and outside the theater, Gunter was a minimalist at heart. He lived in a small airstream trailer in the local trailer park. It's only purpose was just as a place to lay his head. If he wasn't sleeping or getting a home meal, he was at the theater or visiting one of his many friends.

When he first saw the flier for the singing competition, the prize was only a small bonus compared to the idea of finally performing live on stage for a massive audience. He never imagined that he would find the greatest friends a hog could ask for.

When he left his mother and father behind in Heidelberg as a young pig, he had promised that he would become famous and then bring them over to join him. That never happened but he found a new family and a new home with the New Moon troupe.

Rosita had become the baby sister he always wanted as a kid and she had made him her de facto big brother and uncle to her entire brood. So he was the first to get to the hospital, with a large bundle of balloons. He was so excited that he beat Rosita and Norman.

"Awww, Gunter, they're beautiful," Rosita gushed as they arrived at the check-in counter. "Thank you for coming."

He hugged his dance partner. "Like I would ever miss this! This is awesome!"

"Mr. and Mrs. Suarez," the nurse called.

Rosita smiled. "Okay, here we go. Wish us luck." She teased her best friend as she sat in the offered wheelchair.

The others slowly trickled into the hospital maternity ward waiting room. They greeted each other with warm hugs before settling into wait for news.

Alphonso and Meena sat together, talking with Johnny and Ryan. "No, no, you cannot tell my dad!" He insisted as Ryan expressed his concerns over Klaus' behavior. "He won't be able to resist punishing Klaus himself."

Meena held out her hand. "It's not right that he's treating you like this again." She touched his shoulder. "You can't let it continue."

Ryan shook his head. "It won't. I won't let it. He's trying to scare Johnny away from me." He held Johnny close.

"And he's not going to. I don't care how hard he tries," Johnny declared. "He won't scare me away."

Alphonso nodded. "If you need us to, one of us is happy to sit on him until he cleans up his act." They laughed at his jest.

Ryan nodded. "How are you holding up, pal?" He asked.

Alphonso sighed. "I'm alright. At least he got to come to our wedding." A few weeks after they returned from their honeymoon, they received a call that Mr. Ramirez had gone into hospice care and Nana kindly flew them out so Alphonso could say goodbye with his wife and best friend by his side. "Thanks for asking. I'm blessed to have the most wonderful wife on Earth to help me."

Meena blushed and hugged him. You'll always have me." She vowed.

He smiled at her. Everyday he loved her more than the day before. "I can't believe the piglets are coming already. Has it been four months already?"

Eddie nodded from where he sat with his laptop. "I know. It hardly seems possible." He drank his cup of coffee. He became aware of eyes watching over his shoulder. "Hello Gunter."

Gunter read what the sheep had been typing. "What is zis?"

"I'm working on the script for Cinderella," Eddie explained. "With Rosita as the Fairy Godmother. Johnny as Prince Charming and Meena as Cinderella."

Johnny laughed. "Me? The prince? Okay, I can deal with that. I love the variety shows we're doing lately but it'll be good to get back to normal. And maybe Klaus can get off my back for a bit."

"He's not still giving you a hard time, is he Johnny?" His father's voice made him regret those words. "Tell me the truth." He demanded as his son came to give him a hug.

"It's my fault, Big Daddy," Ryan explained. "He thinks he's protecting me from something. I'm dealing with it."

A big gray finger jabbed itself at the tiger. "You better be. I've trusted you to look after my son and you better be standing up for him."

Johnny got between them. "I don't need Ryan to stand up for me, Dad! And I don't need you to protect me either. I'm an adult and I can defend myself!" He snapped. "I can handle Kickenklober." He sunk into his seat, his arms crossed in front of him. He was so embarrassed by the situation. "I had his respect before, I'll get it back."

Ryan hugged him. "But you shouldn't have to. I'm the one he's protecting and I don't need his protection." He explained.

Suki nodded. "He's right. Klaus was fired because of multiple complaints about his behavior towards you during your tenure at Crystal. You don't have to tolerate abuse like that from anyone." She chuckled. "He's really lucky that Crystal didn't have to deal with him."

"Because someone who murders helpless koalas cares if his dance instructor is abusing his students," Johnny rolled his eyes at the memory of the evil bastard.

She nodded sadly, realizing how hard that would be to believe. "The point is, while you may want to earn his approval, you don't need it. And yes, Ryan does need to stand up for you because it sounds like Kickenklober is attempting to speak for him. And that's not his right or his place."

Johnny looked up at his boyfriend. "It's just… he's important to you. So I want…" A finger on his lips silenced him.

"You're right, he is important to me but guess what, so are you and I won't let him tell me who is good enough for me. You're important to me and he's mistreating you," Ryan said sharply. "He should be respecting you out of respect for me."

Marcus nodded. "That's right." He and Suki sat down.

Nooshy rolled her eyes. "That old fart is just so bitter. Don't worry, Johnny. I'm your dance coach. Forget him."

Johnny nodded. "Thanks guys. Sorry if we interrupted your date, Dad." He wasn't sure how he felt about his dad dating again, especially someone like Miss. Lane. She was nice but he couldn't help feeling she held some responsibility for what happened.

He chuckled and blushed. "Actually, I did that!" Porsha announced proudly, teasing her new father.

Marcus laughed. "Yes, well, we probably would have come anyway." He smiled at Suki whose own cheeks were tinged a pleasant pink. He whispered just loud enough for her to hear. "I forgot how much of a cock block kids could be."

She giggled. "After everyone is settled, we'll go back." She promised him, blowing gently into his ear. "We just wanted to give Porsha and Nooshy a ride." She explained to the others.

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, you're fine. We'll keep you updated." He promised.

Ryan waved his hand. "Yeah, go on, you crazy kids. Don't do anything we wouldn't do."

"There's a lot of leeway in that statement," Nooshy cracked. The couple left and she looked at Johnny. "You might be in line for a new stepmom, Johnny."

The gorilla sighed. "As long as Dad's happy. That's what matters init?" He tried to find a new topic. "Are you two ready for school on Monday?"

Porsha pumped her fists. "Heck yeah! I've never been to public school before."

Nooshy laughed. "I ain't never been to school before. Thank goodness for libraries." She picked up a magazine.

Ash looked at her watch. "I wonder how Rosita is doing?" She asked out loud.

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In the semi-private room, Rosita squeezed her husband's hand, screaming in agony. "Ahhhhh, I forgot how bad this hurt! Where's that epidural already?"

Norman winced as she squeezed harder. He had forgotten how bad the birth could hurt too. "It's okay, dear, it's coming. Just keep thinking of our new babies. Soon they'll be here and we can hold them."

Suddenly the pressure was gone and he could breathe again. She panted, sweat pouring from her forehead.

The nurse came in. "Alright, let's see how far we are…" she performed the necessary exam. "Hmmm, I don't think we're going to get to use the epidural. You're at ten centimeters. It's time."

Rosita looked at Norman and clutched his hand just as another contraction tore through her. "You are never touching me again!" She screamed. They both knew she wasn't serious. He squeezed her hand back, wishing not for the first time that he could take the pain on for himself.

"It's okay honey, keep breathing, just think of the reward at the end," he stroked her forehead. "They're almost here. It'll be over soon and then we can introduce them to the family. Hee hee hoo, hee hee hoo…" he coached her.

She just continued to scream with pain, forcing herself to do her breathing.

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Porsha went to the vending machine to get a bottle of diet cola. "Hey, Eddie, how's Jerry doing?" She asked the polled sheep.

"Nana is still having to force him to eat but he's eating. I've been trying to visit but he hasn't been ready to see anyone," he said.

"Just keep trying. Poor guy, I don't think he had any friends except maybe my dad and my dad was not nice to him." Porsha was starting to accept that her dad was not a good person and not really a good father to her. Trying wasn't enough.

Eddie shook his head, smiling at his computer. "No, he wasn't as lucky as some of us were to have such good friends to help when it gets hard." He looked around the room.

The cast all smiled back at him. Miss. Crawly gave him one of her famous hugs.

Meena thought. "Maybe I'll bake a cake and take it over." She smiled at Eddie.

"I'll go with you, Goddess," Alphonso promised. "And I know Tyler will have no problem popping over to give him something to laugh at." He looked at his watch. "I guess we're up for the day…" He stood up. "I'll go get us all some breakfast."

"Would you like me to help, Alphie?" She asked.

He kissed her cheek. "No, dearest one. Keep me in the loop. I won't be gone long."

She sighed with a loving smile. 'I'll join him for his evening time', she promised herself. "How about you, Eddie? How does it feel to live in your own apartment?"

He shrugged. "It's lonely but I'm trying." He looked down. "I still miss Buster. But the bed still smells like him so that helps."

Meena nodded. "And you have all of our phone numbers. You can call Alphonso and me any time, day or night."

Eddie nodded. "Thank you all and I promise, I won't be a burden." He said quickly, making them all look at him. He only used those words when…

"Eddie, have you seen your donors lately?" Ryan asked.

The sheep looked down sheepishly while Gunter fielded the question. "Ze Noodleheads, zey come every day with a new girl for him to meet. Miss Crawly tries to make them leave."

Ash frowned. "Those jerks. Why didn't you tell us they were harassing you?" She asked.

Eddie shrugged. "I didn't want to bother anyone. They're my parents, they're my problem." He tried to sound logical.

"What do they say to him, Gunter?" Johnny asked. He was glad that Gunter was so frequently at the theater.

"Oh the most horrible things… that he's a burden on Rosita and Norman and how we're all just using him to get to Nana," he sounded so offended at the implications.

Clay nodded. "Same time everyday?" He asked.

Miss. Crawly gave Eddie a fresh cup of coffee and took his empty one. "Every morning at 9am." She clarified.

The lion nodded. "Yes, I think I can fit that into my schedule. Is my paint gun and ammo in storage?" He asked Ash.

"Yeah, I'll get you the key," she promised.

Meena sighed. "Eddie, you know you're not a burden to us. We love you. My grandpa can be pretty intimidating when he wants to be. I'll tell him what they're doing. Just give us a call when they come." The way his parents treated him left her floored. "You are not a burden." She hugged him carefully.

He forced himself to smile but they could tell. His smile never reached his eyes anymore. His parents seemed determined to drive their son to an early grave in the way they kept trying to force their will upon him. They could see why Nana had been worried about him. Why they were all still very worried about him.

For a change of subject, Meena looked at Clay. "So, Mr. Calloway, I talked to my mom tonight." She couldn't help smiling. Her mother had been alone for longer than he had.

He blushed. "Your mother is an endearing woman. And I think…. I've been alone long enough. Are you alright with this?" He reckoned he should have checked. She was her daughter.

She shook her head. "No, I think it's great. I love it. My mom deserves a new adventure now. I'm glad she's ready to start dating again."

Johnny heard her words and groaned. She was right. His dad had been alone a long time too. He had sacrificed so much for him. Even if it was with Suki, he deserved this. "Can you believe we made it this far? And in two years, we could be back here for Meena's turn." He teased his troupe sister.

Meena blushed and hid her face. "I'd really love that. Alphonso and I want a houseful of kids. At least four."

Ash nodded. "I can see it, Meena. You're great with kids. Raquelle and Lancy love you. And of course, the piglets."

"Speaking of… how's it going with Lance?" Meena asked curiously. "I never imagined you two would ever get back together."

It was the porcupine's turn to blush. "It's going alright, but we have got to find a way to get some alone time. After they ran away from Miss Magoo, he can't find one sitter he trusts," Ash said frustrated.

"Ash, that's not too hard. You could almost give any one of us a call," Johnny reasoned.

Gunter nodded. "Ja, call me! I love babysitting!" He really did and all of the piglets adored the jolly hog they called uncle.

Ash laughed. "We might just take you up on it. Now I just have to convince Lance. It doesn't help that he's still trying to find a new job."

"Roc's really fired him over it?" Ryan asked. "His kids were missing."

She rolled her eyes. "They just said that it's not their problem and he should have just called the cops to deal with it." She waved her hand dismissively. "Corporate stooges."

Johnny rolled his eyes. "Maybe…. Maybe he could work with us. We always need more stagehands." He wasn't sure about the guy but at least he was trying to be a good dad.

"I asked him and he's thinking about it but he also doesn't want to get a job because of me, you know. He wants to try and find something on his own," she explained.

"Maybe he could talk to Alphie and Tyler. They want to hire a couple more people to help work the truck," Meena said. "Alphie wants us to have plenty of time to figure out life together." She blushed.

"Yes, how is that going?" Ryan asked with a suggestive tone. He was rewarded with her ears covering her face. "That good huh?"

She scratched her head as everyone looked at her expectantly. "Alphonso is great, he knows just how to make me feel loved. What to say, what to do. Every morning, we study together. I love hearing him read to me."

"And at night?" The tiger teased. Johnny nudged him playfully. "I'm just saying if I had something like that, I'd be saying a few prayers myself…"

"Hey! You do have something like that," Johnny kissed him. "But there are minors and ladies present. Norman!" He all but shouted in surprise when the doors opened and the exhausted father came out. "How's Rosita?"

The boar looked like he could almost fly, his eyes were ablaze with joy and he hugged them all. "They're here. All five of them are here. I'm a father for the third time." His eyes overflowed with the joy he felt.

"Congratulations!" The adulation was repeated around the room while Meena sent Alphonso a text.

In the recovery room, Rosita lay pleasantly tired after her ordeal. Her five new piglets nursed, their lower bodies covered by their receiving blankets to keep them warm. She stroked each one adoringly.

She looked up as all of their friends piled into the small room. "Awwww!" Their voices cooed in unison.

"They're so cute!" Meena gushed.

"Excuse me, immediate family only, please," the nurse scolded them from the door, astounded by the number of guests.

Rosita shook her head. "They are our immediate family. They are all welcome." She hated someone telling her who she could consider family.

The goose gave her an incredulous glance. "Really? A gorilla, a porcupine, a sheep, a tiger, a lion and an elephant are your immediate family?"

"Yes," Rosita said sharply. "They are all my children." She smiled at Eddie. "How are you doing sweetie?"

"Great! What about you? Five new piglets. Are you feeling alright? Is there anything I can do?" He asked.

She giggled. "Just come over here and give me a hug." He gladly did just that.

Ash gazed down at the baby pigs. "They're… wow. They're actually here. Are you going to introduce us?"

Rosita nodded as they finished nursing. One by one she handed one to each of her friends. "So remember the game we played at the baby shower and you all contributed one name? Meena is holding Lakshmi. Johnny, you're holding Marian. Gunter, you have Elisabeth, named for your grandmother. Clay, with your permission we would like to name this little sweetheart for your wife, Ruby."

The gruff lion looked down at the girl-piglet that Ash was holding. He nodded, his eyes misting over. "Thank you… I think Ruby would be very pleased."

Rosita held the last baby. "And this… everyone is Buster." The last and smallest of the litter stared sightlessly up at them. She had saved him for last, knowing their emotions would probably get the better of them. She was right. With the exception of Alphonso returning with breakfast and a huge bunch of flowers for the new mama, the rest of the morning, they sat in a combination of grief and celebration.

AN: The first part of the next season. Setting up some plot points. Will Eddie's new friends be able to protect him from his abusive family?