The Tuckers found a quiet table in the back of the local diner and had a late supper together.
Or at least, they tried to.
Frank was famished from the start and directly dug into his meal.
Diane started off slow, but since her big brother ordered her favorite things on her behalf, Frank's youngest sister and legal ward was soon digging into her meal.
Kathy kept drifting off, lost in thought about Rikki, the medical and scientific side of today's events, and their consequences toward the future.
"Honey, I wish you would eat something," protested her husband. "You've barely eaten anything. Both you and our foal need your nourishment," he added, reminding his wife that she was carrying their werehorse child.
"Sorry dear. I was just thinking about Rikki," admitted Kathy.
"That certainly doesn't surprise me."
"Actually, I was too," said Diane.
"Oh?" both Frank and his wife replied, at practically the same moment.
"You said Rikki hardly remembers anything?"
"Yes," confirmed Kathy, wondering what her sister-in-law was thinking.
"Well, since we're adopting her, why not name today her birthday?" asked Diane.
"We'd have to adjust the year to reflect her age," began Kathy.
"But that's a wonderful idea!" declared Frank.
Diane smiled broadly, before raising her soda and saying "Happy Birthday Rikki Tucker!"
"To Rikki!" said Frank and Kathy, before clinking their glasses together.
MEANWHILE...
Andrew, currently in his weregorilla form, was pacing in the small space of their hiding place in the woods he called a bedroom.
Okay. Henry said NO rescue attempt, which Mary and Adam agree with. I have mixed feelings about that. Henry said he'd make a formula so I'd de-age and be able to fulfill my dreams of being with Plunkett. Yet I don't even know whether or not Plunkett survived, let alone successfully became a female werecheetah. I've got to do something, but what?
Back in the Moon Lake General Hospital, Rikki slept peacefully after a very light meal and another check of her vital signs.
But she wasn't alone.
"Hey kiddo. How's it going?" asked a female voice.
Rikki looked around in the darkness and saw, thanks to her newly enhanced night vision, the werecheetah before her. "You tell me," she requested, twirling around to show off her new, 14 year old body. The fact that she was totally naked didn't phase her at all.
"Looking good. How do you like your new fursona?" asked the werecheetah, before turning around to show off all her feline charms.
"I love it. We look great," replied Rikki, smiling at herself.
"Glad you think so. We went through a lot to get to this point. I'll admit, the road was a lot rockier than either of us wanted it to be, but we certainly can't argue with the end results. Anyway, Moon Lake is a very special place. You're gonna have a great life here, and you can't want for better parents than the Tuckers. Diane is going to make a great big sister, and everyone will have their hands full once Frank Junior arrives next Spring."
"Kathy is going to have a boy?" asked Rikki.
"Yeah, but she won't find out until her next prenatal check up, so don't spill the beans," requested the werecheetah.
"I promise."
"Anyway, don't worry about being unable to remember any of your past life. That's for the best. It's the present and the future that matter now. We have a brand new life ahead of us Rikki. It's time to live and enjoy it. Ready to embrace the future?" asked the werecheetah, as she held out her furry arms.
"You better believe it!" shouted Rikki with a smile on her face, as she ran toward the werecheetah.
And within her hospital bed, the newest citizen of Moon Lake smiled as she happily assumed her werecheetah form in her sleep, dreaming about the days to come.