Considering the day they've had, both individually and together, William and Martha Anderson decided to turn in early that Thursday night.
Upstairs in the privacy of their bedroom, they didn't bother with pajamas. The werefox and his werecat mate simply cuddled and held each other close until they fell asleep within each other's furry arms.
"Are you sure son?" William heard himself ask.
"Yes dad," replied his oldest son Nate, as the boy, no... grown man put a hand on his father's shoulder. "You know, you haven't asked me that specific question since Alex popped the question. I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life."
"It's a big step," said William, stating the obvious.
"Mister Anderson," began Alex Ramsey-Anderson, while looking at the older man. "We know everything. Consequences and otherwise. This has been discussed and debated until our jaws grew sore. Please, trust us. It's the right thing to do."
"I never said it wasn't," replied William in return. "It's just that what you are trying to accomplish is difficult to begin with, and unfortunately in some people's eyes you already have a strike against you being husband and husband."
"The difficulty makes what we're trying to do even more worthwhile, but thank you for your support," said Nate, while briefly hugging his father.
"You two should know I'll always be there for you. After all, who gave you away at your wedding Mister Anderson-Ramsey?" William asked Nate.
But before anyone could say anything else, a woman walked into the room from the closed door behind them and said, "The judge will see you now."
Inside the official's private chambers, William couldn't help noticing the stenographer present as the judge, in his formal robe but sitting causally behind his desk, requested everyone sit down.
"Okay, on the record," said the judge to the stenographer, then he turned to face the group before him. "We are here to further discuss the matter of Nathaniel Anderson-Ramsey and Alexander Ramsey-Anderson adopting the minor female known only as Alice. Do you have any further evidence to present in regards to your petition before the court?"
"Yes sir," began Nate. "I've brought my father, Moon Lake College Professor William Anderson here today as a character witness."
MEANWHILE...
"Come back here you little mermaid," yelled Julie Stovall-Anderson as she chased a naked toddler through her home, trying to make the little girl put on a fresh diaper.
"Ever since Melinda was old enough to realize she could see, hear, breathe, and speak underwater as well as she can on dry land," began Eric Anderson, while holding his sleeping, 3 year old son Eric Junior in his arms.
The two men were sitting at the dining room table across from Eric's mother Martha.
"Kids can be quite a handful. I raised you and your brother," Martha reminded him.
"And you have your paws full again now. How's Wilma?" asked Eric, referring to his baby sister, who his parents had after he and his wife moved into their own house to start their family.
"Great. Makes me feel like a kid again in some respects. But sometimes..." said Martha, as she simply shrugged her shoulders. "She's with your father right now running errands today, but will be starting third grade when school resumes this fall."
"You won't be teaching her any, will you?" wondered Eric. "Isn't that like a... conflict of interest?"
"True. I've already made arrangements with the school to make sure Wilma winds up with someone other than me for all her subjects. The most we'll see each other during the day is lunch and recess, with an occasional passing glance in the hallways. But after school she'll come to my classroom and stay until I'm ready to leave for the day. What about..."
"Julie's parents have all our babysitting needs covered since the two of us, along with you and dad both work. Martin's having the time of his life since he retired from politics and is managing a very successful personal portfolio, and Grandma Fishy, as the kids call her, can run Stovall Systems from practically anywhere, which is wherever she puts down her laptop most of the time."
"I'm glad things have worked out for all of us," said Martha with a smile, as Eric turned to the source of a noise growing louder and approaching fast.
"Grandma Kitty! Save me!" yelled Melinda Anderson, as she ran into Martha's arms.
Martha couldn't help but smile again as she picked up her still naked granddaughter.
"Thanks mom," said Julie, walking into the room with a diaper in her hand. "Around the house and the pool's okay, but we're going out later on so Nature Girl here has to get dressed."
"No!" said Melinda, shaking her head negatively to the point her blond curls swished everywhere, as she held Grandma Kitty closer.
And within their own bed, William and Martha Anderson briefly awoke.
Each wanted to say something, but thought the other was asleep, so laid with their furry backs to each other, wondering what it was they just experienced.