Douglas Cooper woke from the chair he was sitting in; after watching the nightly news he nodded off. With Darrell snuggled next to him while Douglas was in his wer-grizzly fursona; Douglas didn’t have the heart to disturb the five year old kid’s slumber, so he fell asleep where he sat. Looking further beyond Darrel; Douglas sees Joan Morningcloud. Joan a native American and a naturally born were-tigress; she was Darrel’s care giver when the kid’s mother was away on business trips. Darrel’ mother, Alyssa Cooper was dead; killed by the Seattle chapter by the Luna Brotherhood just last Thursday. Alyssa was Douglas’s cousin and the only other member of his family; At least that is what Douglas thought.
Finding out his cousin had a son and seeing the little wer-mer with his own eyes after he and Joan arrived from Burbank; Douglas was flooded with a host of emotions. From happy to sad and rage; rage, not for the fact that Alyssa kept Darrell’s existence a secret from him, but rage for the Luna brotherhood from robbing the child of his mother. Taking care not to harm Darrel with his six inch long claws; Douglas gently moves him to lie next to Joan as he gets up, Douglas gets up to answer natures call.
Getting out of the washroom, Douglas is jumped on by Darrell.
“Uncle Yogi,” Darrell beams; “are we going to go swimming today?”
“Yes,” Douglas answering; “but first, breakfast and a few other necessary tasks.”
“Can I have more cheesy noodles,” Darrell smiling.
“For breakfast,” Douglas leading the kid back to the kitchen; “wouldn’t you rather have a toad in the hole?”
“What is that,” Darrell asking.
“It’s an egg fried in a hollowed out piece of toast,” Douglas grabbing a frying pan and placing it on the stove; “add in some low fat chicken bacon, fruit and juice and we have a healthy breakfast for a growing boy like you.”
“I’ll have coffee with my toad in the hole,” Joan waking up and stretching; “but first, I need the washroom.”
*******
About fifteen minutes later; Douglas finished cooking up breakfast. Watching Darrell eat his breakfast with glee and then running back to the television to watch Saturday morning cartoons; both Douglas and Joan smile through their muzzles.
“Darrell is taking losing his mother well,” Douglas sipping his coffee; “isn’t he?”
“I don’t think he has processed it yet,” Joan answering; “will the council want him to be present for the proceedings regarding Alyssa’s death?”
“I don’t know,” Douglas answering; “to testify, I doubt Darrell would have anything to add. Maybe as a victim, giving an impact statement for sentencing purposes; I’m sure Darrell asking the werewolves why they had to take is mommy from him, would break whatever bravado is left in them.”
“Darrell does have that talent,” Joan looking at the kid watching an animated program; “he can melt even the coldest of hearts.”
“You want more coffee,” Douglas getting up and grabbing the coffee pot; “or do you want to use the bathroom to de-fur, shower and get dressed?”
*********
While Douglas waits for Joan to finish using the bathroom; he headed to his room to grab a bathrobe. Putting it on as he defurred; feeling a slight pang of sadness as he watches the bear within him being sent away as he reverts to his human form. Pulling the laptop from his dresser he logs into the Moon Lake police department’s servers. Performing a search on Rick Fernando; the name of the father on Darrell’s birth certificate, Douglas said he was going to wait to look him up on Monday. Not wanting to wait; he searches for the man to find a criminal record. Mostly stemming from some juvenile hooliganism; Douglas found that Rick Fernando was once a professional surfer. Seeing an article where he was attacked and savagely killed by a great white shark while competing off the coast of Hawaii; Douglas closes down the laptop just as Joan finished up in washroom.
Seeing Joan in her human form; her raven black hair down to her butt, wearing tight blue jeans and simple white blouse. Joan’s natural green eyes in stark contrast to her smooth caramel colored skin. Douglas could have sworn his heart skipped a beat. ‘You’re even lovelier in your human form,’ Douglas staring at the were-tigress as she walks back to the living room. Entering the washroom to shower; Douglas was feeling flushed as he began to clean himself up. Never finding the time to meet some or having cubs; Douglas felt a higher power was telling him something in regards to Joan.
“Could Joan be the one,” Douglas muttering as he hops into the shower; “why do I feel such a longing for her?”
******
Coming out of the shower; Joan couldn’t help but notice Douglas waiting for her to finish up. Seeing the wer-grizzly sheriff out of his fursona and wearing a simple orange bathrobe; Joan couldn’t help herself as walked in a sultry manner back to the living room. The moment she saw the large imposing were, show such a gentle paw to Darrell; Joan knew this was a man that could possibly be her mate. The tiger with in her; roaring and purring, approving of the grizzly as the male to give Joan cubs later on. Joan subconsciously purrs as she sits next to Darrell watching cartoons.
“Joan not furry anymore,” Darrell pouting.
“We’re going out soon,” Joan smiling; “the sun is up and we have to hide our fun furry side for the time being.”
“No more fun,” Darrell looking sad.
“There is plenty of fun to be had,” Joan smiling; “you’re going to have a fun time swimming later today. Now I want you to get up and use the washroom once your uncle is finished,” Joan chuckling; “teeth brushed, hair combed and fresh clothes. And don’t forget your swim trunks to you little scamp.”
Joan smiles as she watches Darrell bolt to the spare room to grab his stuff; Watching Douglas finally finish with the bathroom just as Darrell barrels on in smiling and shouting “swim day”. Following Douglas into his room and seeing him disrobe; Joan purrs as she watches the sheriff get dressed.
“Like what you see,” Douglas knowing Joan is there.
“Yes,” Joan answering; “I-I think I’m in love with you.”
“I have the same feeling,” Douglas turning around; wearing underwear and not much else. “I saw you leave the washroom and,” Joan stopping him as she hugs Douglas. Feeling conflicted as she knows she should be mourning the loss of her friend; yet sensing a longing to be with Douglas at the same time.
“Is this a cruel joke,” Joan tearing up; “to lose a dear friend and to fall in love with her cousin?”
“If it is,” Douglas helping Joan to sit down on the bed; “then I don’t know what to do.”
“Douglas,” Joan crying; “I miss her already. I miss your cousin Alyssa.”
“So do I Joan,” Douglas breathing hard; doing his best to hold back the tears; “so do I.”
Darrell coming out of the washroom and seeing Joan crying; the five year old kid can’t help but com near.
“Why is Joan sad,” Darrell asking.
“Oh Darrell,” Joan blubbering; “get over here and hug me.”
“Darrell,” Douglas sighing; “Joan is just having a hard time coping with your mother’s passing. Give her a moment.”
“But we are going swimming right,” Darrell being smothered by Joan.
“We will,” Douglas embracing a sobbing Joan; “it’s just… It’s just,” Douglas finally breaking down and crying; “I miss your mother Darrell. I miss her so much.”