welcome to the thirteenth chapter of my own version of the '102 Dalmatians' film. this is the version of that film that we should've got instead of what we did get. anyway, this thirteenth chapter, though it's listed as chapter sixteen, is a whopping two-thousand-eight-hundred-forty-one words long of storyline. it's a storyline that doesn't include that of this explanatory headnote, right here. it also doesn't include any comments from yours truly guised as author's notes, nor does it include that of the (mandatory) headnote which makes up the paragraph following this exact headnote. speaking of which, would you look at that? it's already time for my obligatory disclaimer.

disclamation: I don't own '102 Dalmatians' in any way, shape, or form. I mean, I own it on DVD, but I was only seven when it first appeared in theaters, at all. so, it wouldn't even be natural for me to have owned '102 Dalmatians', at all. I also don't own either of the '101 Dalmatians' movies. I was but two or three years old when the live action remake came out, and when the original animated classic of '101 Dalmatians' came to theaters, I didn't even exist, yet. all these films are owned by the Walt Disney Movie Productions Company and by Dodie Smith.


That following day back at 'Give a Dog Another Chance at a Home' dog shelter, Brad busied himself with pretending he was flying a plane. He even started imitating the sound of an airplane.

Bradley 'Brad' Stevenson Cordileone: It's the Red Baron, king of the sky.

The volunteers for the dog shelter worked like the dogs they were trying to help. Brad was just playing around, but Raymond did not appreciate his oldest friend and most loyal employee simply playing aero plane wars like a child at the time.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Hey, Bradley, would you stop playing and give me a hand with the rest of the stuff that; need I remind you; we still need to get outta here if we wanna make this place successful?

Then, a mysterious biker came up on a motorcycle. Of course, it was only all too natural that Raymond was impressed by such a set of wheels since dog-lover or not, he was still a guy. As such, he just loved the sight of quite an amazing bike. He also felt honored to apparently be receiving help from the owner of such a bike.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson (continued): Hey, look. Another volunteer. You see, Brad? There are good-hearted people everywhere.

As soon as the mysterious biker removed the helmet from his face, however, Ray was suddenly breathless and forgot what he had been doing at the time since 'he' turned out to have been a 'she'. That same 'he' had not only turned out to have been a 'she', but the 'she' that Ray, at first, thought was a 'he' had also been a very alluring 'she', at that. To Ray, it almost felt as though an angel had descended down from Heaven above and joined the people of Earth, the 'she' behind the motorcycle helmet had been so pretty from his perspective.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson (continued): Beautiful good-hearted people.

Ray was basically hypnotized by the woman on the motorcycle. Of course, Brad could do nothing but panic at the sight of her, as he knew her. With the state of mind in which he was at the time, however, Bradley's words had almost gone unheard by Raymond… almost.

Bradley 'Brad' Stevenson Cordileone: That's my probation officer!

Upon hearing what Bradley had said about the woman on the motorcycle, however, Raymond was suddenly snapped out of his trance just long enough to have wanted to learn more about the woman in question from his oldest friend and best employee. But it was too late for Ray to even try and get the dish about the woman on the motorcycle from his employee because Brad had gone and hidden in the makeshift play structure. He gave it a try anyway.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: What, that's your probation officer?

Just as Raymond tried his hardest to get the scoop from Bradley on his newfound crush and Bradley tried to hide from his probation officer like a frightened baby fawn lost in the forest, the woman on the motorcycle approached them as they talked away about Raymond's sudden crush on her and about Bradley's surprising, yet understandable fear of her.


A/N: a minor homage to 'Bambi' in that particular part about Brad's fear of the woman resembling that of a baby fawn lost in the forest.


Woman on the motorcycle: Are you Raymond Millerson?

Bashfully, Raymond suddenly began stumbling all over his own words as he tried his hardest to speak to his newfound crush. He had suddenly felt like that of a celebrity, as though he had a reputation that preceded him.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Yes. Yes, I'm Raymond_

Raymond did not realize it at the time, but being a probation officer made the woman on the motorcycle's only concern be that of her line of work. She even interrupted him as he tried his hardest to speak to her.

Woman on the motorcycle: And you call yourself a dog-lover?

Of course, Raymond was suddenly quite confused as to why the woman on the motorcycle would have doubted the truth about him. He was almost speechless at the thought of being accused as a non-dog-lover. He tried his hardest to explain that he was, in fact, a dog-lover.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Well, yes, I do. I am.

Bradley decided to try his own hand at courage against his probation officer as he got ready to come to his employer and friend's defense. After all, it was one thing to refuse his request for a probation. It was another to threaten his friend and employer, which was something he would never forgive and could never forgive, no matter how easy his probation officer had always failed to notice she actually was underneath her tough exterior.

Bradley 'Brad' Stevenson Cordileone: He does. He is.

Of course, being a professional in her own profession, the woman on the motorcycle had already had a snappy comeback to give to Brad about what he had tried on her at the time.

Woman on the motorcycle: I'll get to you, Bradley.

After such a comment from her, Brad just went right back to cowering from his probation officer in the makeshift play tube.

Woman on the motorcycle (continued): I'm Kimberly Sefton. Cruella De Vil's probation officer.

Upon the realization that his probation officer was at 'Give a Dog Another Chance at a Home' for Miss De Vil and not him, Bradley suddenly figured that he could at least earn his probation with Kimberly by pointing the young woman in the right direction towards her assigned case for whom she was there.

Bradley 'Brad' Stevenson Cordileone: Ooh! She's in the back.

Of course, Raymond voluntarily got off of his work shift for the dogs to guide Kimberly to where Miss De Vil had busied herself in her work towards the shelter.

Just as men all brought in the new stuff for the dogs after getting rid of the old and chattered away, Bitsy, Slobberton and even Diggit all suddenly noticed Kimberly with Raymond.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Is there some problem? I mean, uh_

The dogs also noticed every last look that the blond owner of their beloved shelter was giving to the brown-haired young woman.

Bitsy: Ugh. Look what the cat dragged in. A woman.

Slobberton: I know. And can you see the way Raymond's looking at this girl? It's like he's hypnotized by her. She probably has mind powers or something.

Diggit: This situation definitely has 'future trainwreck relationship' written all over it.

Bitsy: I bet this one's even a maneater, practically. Maybe, we should run some interference in this potential hook-up. I'm going first.

The dogs actually went for their interference with Raymond's potential relationship with Kimberly, along with his feeling of love at first sight towards the young woman in question. Bitsy started them off, just as she had said she would.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Oh, excuse us, Bitsy. I mean, Miss De Vil, she seems devoted to_

While the dogs were just slightly jealous of all the looks Raymond was sending in Kimberly's direction, Spixington only responded to the young woman's presence with an approving wolf whistle.

Spixington: Nice bird!

That was when Kimberly noticed Spixington. She even noticed that he was an endangered Spix macaw, of all birds. Of course, Kim had a thing for endangered animals like him. If Spixington had only been able to see that he was, in fact, an endangered bird and not a dog.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: You are a nice bird.

Ever as stubbornly delusional as he was and had always been, Spixington, however, just snapped at the nice bird for calling him a bird in the first place.

Spixington: I'm not a bird.

Naturally having known what his feathered friend had really meant; Raymond suddenly went in to inform Kimberly about whom the stubbornly self-delusional blue Spix macaw had really called a nice bird. The blond had felt rather uncomfortable having to clear up about whom his feathered friend had really been talking.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: He means you.

Naturally, the brunette also suddenly grew uncomfortable towards what the apparently stubbornly deluded macaw had called her. From Bitsy, Slobberton and Diggit's perspective, Kimberly's sudden discomfort with what she had been called by the delusional bird had told all three of them that the brunette was completely clueless to what she had done to the owner of their beloved shelter just by walking into his life that exact day.

Bitsy: Does this woman not even know what she's done to Raymond, at all?

Slobberton: I know. Talk about being caught unaware. She doesn't seem to notice all the looks Raymond's been sending her way.

Diggit: While being clueless to her own appearance is a plus, she doesn't seem willing to use it. I'd say she barely even knows how she looks at all.


A/N: beautiful, yet unaware of it? that's the best kind of beautiful there is.


Then, Raymond scolded Spixington about his terrible remark about Kimberly.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Where are your manners?

Ever the weird dog-deluded bird, Spixington had his own comment to give Raymond about his manners in his remark to Kimberly. It was perhaps the weirdest comment as of yet which Spixington had made by that point.

Spixington: Buried in the yard with my bone.

If Spixington had only realized just how wrong such a comment was coming from a bird. Instead, it had always been as though he was permanently self-unaware. Of course, Raymond only tried his hardest to introduce his newfound crush to his feathered friend.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: This is_ um_

Just one look into her face, however, and Raymond had already forgotten the name of the person he was introducing to his feathered friend.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: Kimberly. Kimberly Sefton.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Kimberly, meet Spixington. He's a rottweiler.

Of course, Spixington made nice with Kimberly upon being introduced as a breed of dog.

Spixington: Hello.

Kimberly, however, was more than doubtful that the unhealthily idealistic blue Spix macaw was a dog, at all.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: That's funny, because he looks like a blue Spix macaw.

Clearly offended by Kim's contradictory comment about his dog-hood, Spixington fiercely barked up a perfect storm. She and Ray stepped back as Spixington barked like a big dog. Ray then placed his hands in front of Kim, telling her not to question Spixington's dog-hood.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Trust me. He's a rottweiler.

Of course, Kimberly had a thing or two to say to Raymond about trust.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: You know, I don't think I trust anyone who knowingly puts Cruella De Vil anywhere near dogs.

Of course, Raymond, himself, had a few things to say about his newfound crush's statement towards the woman who had voluntarily showed up and started helping him through his most recent tough times.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Well, yes, but, uh, she's changed.

Kimberly, however, did not believe a word from out of Raymond's mouth as he talked to her about change and new chances.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: People like Cruella don't change.

Naturally, Raymond could easily see that his newfound crush, Kimberly, just needed to understand that he understood where Miss De Vil had been coming from when she first entered his dog shelter.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Of course, they do. That's all why I started this shelter. I knew what it was like to need another chance. The same also goes for dogs.

Raymond pet Diggit on his head as he demonstrated his need for another chance. Bitsy had been watching from afar and wanted in on the action.

Bitsy: Start with me! Start with me!

Of course, Raymond, knowing what Bitsy was saying in her native tongue, grabbed on her as soon as she leapt into his arms.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Take Bitsy, here, for example. She chewed through three postal workers before I rescued her. Now, she wouldn't hurt a flea.

As the volunteers showed up to carry the bed on which Diggit still lay, Raymond then pointed him out.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson (continued): Then, there's Diggit. He was banned from every park in London as a menace to roses.

Diggit then spoke up with his own voice in his native tongue, himself.

Diggit: It's just something I do. I'm actually a sensitive soul deep down, even if I seem thick-skinned on the outside.


A/N: just a little reference to Pumbaa from 'The Lion King' in Diggit's words.


Then, along came Slobberton, who had also wanted his chance to prove that Raymond deserved to be heard by Kimberly.

Slobberton: If we can't stop Raymond from liking this girl, we can at least help him get with her. I'm goin' in.

Of course, Raymond was willing to accept the help necessary from even Slobberton.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: And Slobberton_

Slobberton, however, still slobbered all over Raymond's hands that time as the blond tried to demonstrate to the brunette the changes the dogs at his shelter had gone through just to become adoptable.

Slobberton: OK_ That might not have set the best example for our guy to demonstrate about any of us to this girl.

Raymond still went along with what Slobberton had done on his hands, more or less, while drying his hands of it on his own scarf, embarrassedly.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Well, Slobberton hasn't really changed much.

Kimberly, profoundly confused by Raymond's demonstration of change and new chances on dogs, just tried to make heads or tails of his motives for trying to convince her that Miss De Vil could have been trusted by the time she first came to the shelter.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: Those are dogs.

Naturally, Raymond had wanted nothing more than to clarify his beliefs to Kimberly at the time.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Oh, but dogs are people, too.

With the classic 'animals-are-people,-too' philosophy coming out of his mouth, Kimberly suddenly went from not trusting Raymond worth her own dogs' skins to being confused as to how someone who loved dogs so much, he believed them to have been people in addition to humans, themselves, could have ever trusted someone such as Miss De Vil. She continued trying to make heads or tails of what she thought of him. So, she gave him her personal beliefs about 'Ella'.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: But Cruella is_

Then came the time for Raymond to finally interrupt Kimberly as a little payback from when he tried to talk to her earlier.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: Changed.

Raymond then pointed his newfound crush, Kimberly, into a different room. Within said room, Cruella was working with her Jamaican-accented valet, Jermaine, her dog, Carlisle, and her cat, Harriette, to give the shelter dogs some pampering such as new hairstyles and bubble baths.

Cruella 'Ella' De Vil/Estella von Hellman: Who's washing who, Jermaine?

Then, as though her 'changes' could not have been any stranger than just the new hairstyles and the bubble baths, alone, Miss De Vil, of all people that either Kimberly or even her own dog, Patch, had ever known in their lives, let out an uncharacteristically good-natured chuckled at the comment she just made. Obviously from the way he spat out some soap bubbles which had gotten into his mouth, her valet, Jermaine, had been more annoyed with the community service than 'Ella' clearly was. Then, Miss De Vil just continued to style the fur of the dog with which she had presently been working.

Cruella 'Ella' De Vil/Estella von Hellman (continued): Now, hair must be a statement, a reflection of our inner life. Color is important, of course, but I can tell you firsthand, my dear, that texture_

Then, Miss De Vil shot a whip of hair mousse out of the styling spray can in her hand.

Cruella 'Ella' De Vil/Estella von Hellman (continued): _is vital.

Miss De Vil just continued to style the animal's hair as Kimberly and Raymond watched on from just outside the door. It was a rather weird sight to see from the brunette's perspective. Of course, Raymond just silently chuckled at the sight of it.

Cruella 'Ella' De Vil/Estella von Hellman (continued): Voila!

Then, Miss De Vil turned the dog's styling chair in the other direction and even held up a mirror in the dog's face after she turned the chair around.

Cruella 'Ella' De Vil/Estella von Hellman (continued): Oh, darling, darling. It's you.

The dog whose fur Miss De Vil had just styled only whined uneasily about its new look, with ribbons and everything. Then, it responded to 'Ella's question in its native tongue.

Dog in styling chair: I don't know if I'd say it's really me. I happened to like my old self better.

Carlisle and Harriette voiced their own sympathies to the dog in the styling chair with whom both the dog and the cat were both quite unhappy styled, herself.

Carlisle: I feel your pain, only a whole lot worse than you feel it.

Harriette: Just be thankful that you don't live with this woman. That's a real nightmare.

Since the dog in the chair was just a dog, however, of course, Miss De Vil could not hear its remark about liking its old look better. She also could not hear the remarks about basically hating a life with her from her own cat and dog, either.

Cruella 'Ella' De Vil/Estella von Hellman: Do you like it?

Meanwhile just outside the door to the room, Kimberly still had a thing or two to say about what Miss De Vil was even doing to and at the old dog shelter.

Kimberly 'Kim/Kimmy' Sefton: I'll be keeping an eye on her.

Of course, Raymond would have been more than happy to have had Kimberly visit his dog shelter more than just that one time, even if it were just to keep an eye on Miss De Vil as she had said it was.

Raymond 'Ray' Millerson: I hope so.

Then, Raymond looked in Kimberly's direction, praying that she did not catch his remark that he had meant to keep to himself at the time about the blond's newfound crush on the brunette.