Thumbnail art by @MistressAdaira.",
"writing": "[b][center][t]Three Shades of Ebon[/t]\nCh. 2: New Opportunities\nMarquette, MI\nMay 1, 2001[/center][/b]\n\n``Who are these guys?'' Gwen asked as she picked up a framed photograph from the corner of Mason's desk. In the picture, he was standing beside a Kestrel and a Sable, all three of them dressed in their caps and gowns shortly after crossing the stage at Harvard.\n\n``They're my best friends,'' he replied. ``We met in our freshman year. The Sable is Roger and the Kestrel is Steven. Steve and I were groomsmen for Roger's wedding.''\n\n``What about you and Steven? Any chance of Roger being able to return the favor?''\n\nWith a slight chuckle, Mason answered, ``I don't know if Steve will ever settle down. He takes his work pretty seriously, always has, so his relationships never seem to last. He'll probably just live the bachelor life forever.''\n\n``And what about you?'' Gwen asked. ``Do you think there will ever be a Mrs. Mason Ebonshade?''\n\n``I don't know,'' the Impala said with a soft shrug. ``If I ever find the right woman, I'd like that a lot.''\n\n``Oh? And how's that going?''\n\n``Well, right now I think I might have found her, but she and I need to spend more time together before I can be sure,'' he teased.\n\n``I see,'' Gwen replied with a coy smile before changing the subject. ``What kind of last name is Ebonshade, anyway? I've never heard it before.''\n\n``No, and you likely won't hear it again outside of my family,'' Mason said as he leaned back in his chair. ``You can thank the guys at Ellis Island for that one; when my step-father's ancestors came over from Germany their last name was Espenschied. When they were processed through immigration the clerk spelled it the way he heard it, and it's been that way ever since.''\n\n``I see. Interesting. So, do you still keep in touch with your friends?'' the mouse asked as she set the photo back on his heavy oak desk, returning back to their previous topic.\n\n``As much as we can,'' Mason answered. ``Roger's an up-and-coming hotshot attorney while Steven's a County Clerk. Between the three of us and our hectic schedules, it's hard for all of us to talk as much as we used to.''\n\n``Where do they live?''\n\n``They're both in New Hampshire, the last I heard. Roger's in Concorde and Steve's in Marblecliff. Wanted to stay close to the alma mater.''\n\n``What about you?'' Gwen asked as she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. ``Not as attached to New England as they are?''\n\n``I'm more attached to seizing new opportunities,'' the Impala explained as he reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of an amber-colored liquid. ``Care for a glass?'' he asked as he poured one for himself. ``Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak. Some of the best scotch money can buy.''\n\n``I've never tried scotch before,'' she answered, ``but like you said... seizing new opportunities.'' Reaching out, she took the smoky liquid into her paw and lifted it to her nose. She detected a light, fruity aroma that reminded her of the farmers markets she used to visit back home. ``It smells nice.''\n\n``The key to scotch,'' he said as he finished pouring and sealed the bottle, ``or any other whiskey for that matter, is the first sip. Just gather enough of it to coat your tongue, then let it sit there for at least ten seconds before swallowing.''\n\n``Is it going to burn?''\n\n``Only for those ten seconds or so,'' the Impala explained. ``The alcohol will dilate your blood vessels, then the sensation will pass and the sweetness will start to come out. When you finally swallow, it should go down nice and smooth.''\n\n``You sound like you know a lot about your liquor,'' Gwen observed.\n\nWith a chuckle, Mason remarked, ``I should hope so. This bottle cost a grand.''\n\nGwen nearly choked when she heard this. ``A grand? As in one thousand dollars? I can't drink this! What if I don't like it? I don't want to waste something so expensive!''\n\n``The scotch is replaceable,'' he said dismissively, with a wave of his paw. ``Moments like this? Those are what matter most, and are truly priceless.''\n\n``If you say so,'' the mouse woman said with uncertainty.\n\n``To new opportunities,'' Mason said, holding his glass outward. Gwen reached out with hers and clinked their beverages together.\n\n~~~~~\n\n``Mmm,'' Gwen hummed as she checked her watch. ``It's getting late. You aren't going back to your place tonight, are you?'' She couldn't help but grin. Her head was in the clouds and her face had a warm, rosy glow to it. She liked whiskey, she decided.\n\nHer companion gulped down the rest of his liquor and set the glass down on his desk with a loud thunk. With a glance at his own wrist, he replied, ``No, I think I'll just crash here in my en suite.''\n\n``You should stay over more often,'' the mouse said as she stood up and turned, sitting her small, firm butt on the edge of the smooth mahogany surface. Her fingers walked a playful path across the desk, coming to rest on the back of his paw that held the glass. ``It's nice having you around.''\n\n``Gwen,'' Mason objected, pulling his paw away. ``I thought you were against workplace relationships?''\n\n``I am,'' she said, her large, pink eyes glistening with nervous anticipation. ``I've heard some real horror stories about how awkward the situation can become.''\n\n``And?'' he asked, looking at where her fingers still lingered from touching him.\n\n``I've also heard enough stories about letting chances pass you by to know that if I don't act soon, you'll find someone else,'' the mouse explained. ``And I think I'd regret that more than anything.''\n\nThe Impala stood and circled around to where Gwen was seated, soaking in the sight of her still semi-dressed in her work attire. ``Are you sure that's not the scotch talking? I didn't invite you over here to get you drunk and take advantage of you.''\n\nShaking her head, she answered, ``No. I'm not drunk. Maybe buzzed, but definitely not drunk. This isn't my first time drinking, either.'' She had a hard time looking up at him as she continued, ``If anything, it helped me see the truth more clearly, and to accept it.''\n\n``And why me?'' he asked as he took hold of her chin and tilted her head up to look him in the eyes.\n\n``Because of how you look at me, and how it makes me feel.''\n\n``And how is that, specifically?''\n\n``Sexy,'' she said breathily. ``Desired. Wanted. Needed.''\n\nMason tilted his muzzle forward, leaning down to kiss her softly on her lips.\n\n``You are all of those things to me, and more,'' he replied once they separated. ``You're intelligent, compassionate, playful, curious, and funny. You're, simply put, perfect.''\n\n``I'm far from perfect,'' the mouse blushed, causing the pink that shone through her fur to light up her face to deepen. ``But if we do this, then what?''\n\n``Then we see where it takes us,'' he answered. ``I don't do one night stands, Gwen. I'm serious about you. About us. I think we could have something special.''\n\nA needful whimper rose up from her throat as he kissed her again. She responded by reaching out with both paws and fumbling to undo his belt, her paws trembling in her overexcited state. She shivered as his tongue teased along the edge of her lips, a reaction that only intensified when she felt his fingers tugging the hem of her blouse from her skirt.\n\nThe next couple of moments were a hazy blur as she and the Impala worked together, stripping each other down to just their underwear, relying solely on their sense of touch and subtle cues from one another. Soon, they were a gasping, panting mess, staring into each other's eyes, wild with lust and surrounded by a sea of haphazardly discarded clothing.\n\nShe hooked her thumbs into the waistband of his boxer briefs and eased them down off his hips and over his athletic thighs. She let out a surprised gasp as his hard cock sprang up at her face. It was only the second one she had seen up close, the only other belonging to Ben Mosely, her high school sweetheart whom she had broken up with during her third year of college.\n\nWhile she studied his manhood, Mason caught her by surprise by grabbing her paws and pulling her to a standing position, then took the place she had just vacated on the top of the desk. His paws traced up her sides achingly slowly, tickling her sides and causing her to squirm slightly. She could feel her arousal soaking into the front of her panties.\n\nMason's exploring paws made their way up to her tits. He took one in each palm and gently squeezed them, rubbing her stiff nipples through the soft fabric with his thumbs. ``Mmm,'' Gwen moaned appreciatively as she ran her fingers through the fur between his antlers. His touch was gentle at first, but his grip grew increasingly tighter. ``Ow, babe,'' she cried, though the sudden jolt of pain sent shockwaves of pleasure to her brain. Her wetness was beginning to escape her panties and dampen the fur along her inner thighs.\n\n``Take your bra off,'' Mason demanded as he eased up on her breasts. ``Slowly.''\n\nShe could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn't asking. He was taking control, and while it made her a little nervous, her excitement far outweighed her fear. Reaching behind her back, Gwen did as he asked, releasing the clasp with one paw while pressing the cups to her chest with the other. With a shrug of her left shoulder, she was able to ease the strap down her arm, a process which she repeated with her right. She turned her back to him, letting him see the feminine curves of her buttocks through her drenched panties as she removed the bra completely and dropped it at her side. She shyly turned back to face him, her paws still covering her tits, hiding them from his view.\n\nMason reached out with both arms and took hold of her wrists, pulling her paws down to her sides and exposing her boobs to him for the first time. ``I hope you like them,'' she said softly. ``I know they aren't very big.'' He responded by grabbing her nipples, pinching and twisting them. Gwen could only manage to bite her lip and let a low moan escape. It hurt, but it was a good kind of hurt that caused her pussy to begin to throb with need.\n\n``Mmm,'' Gwen murred with pleasure. ``Mason... Be gentle.''\n\nHe glanced up at her with a knowing smirk. ``You and I both know that's not what you want. You're just trying to come to terms with the fact that you're enjoying me pushing you beyond your comfort zone.'' He released his hold on her pulsing nipples and ran his paws around to the middle of her back. ``Admit it.''\n\nShe let out a pleasured sigh as he slowly ran his paws down over her lumbar spine and cupped the firm globes of her butt in his palms. ``Yesss,'' she hissed through her teeth when he squeezed, digging the tips of her fingers into the tender flesh.\n\n``Take off your panties and turn around. I want to see that beautiful ass.''\n\n She did as he commanded, turning around slowly and giving her hips a playful wiggle as she eased the damp fabric down her legs and onto the floor. As she knelt down to pick them up, it placed the glistening folds of her eager cunt mere inches away from his bobbing erection. She was sure he could smell her desire hanging thick in the air of his office.\n\nSmack!\n\n``Ow!'' Gwen exclaimed as she reached back to rub where he'd just struck her on her left ass cheek.\n\nAnother Smack! This one on the right cheek.\n\nShe groaned, struggling to keep her balance as she wrestled with the combined pleasure and pain. She felt herself approaching an orgasm already, and he hadn't even touched her womanhood yet!\n\n``Show me that pretty pink pussy,'' Mason commanded coolly.\n\nGwen couldn't help it; she felt compelled to do as he instructed. Blushing furiously, she bent over further and spread her legs.\n\n``Wider.''\n\nShe shuffled her footpaws slightly, fighting to maintain her balance while spreading her legs even further apart. At the angle she was now in, she knew he had a great view of her tits, ass, and pussy. She let out a slight whimper of sexual frustration as she felt a slight trickle of her juices escape down her left thigh.\n\nMason gave her left cheek another smack!\n\n``Ah!'' She cried out as a small climax shot through her, causing her to stumble forward slightly. His paws shot out and grabbed her by the hips, helping her to regain her balance. The motion brought him down, kneeling on the floor behind her.\n\n``Open up your pussy for me,'' he said, his face so close that she could feel his warm breath teasing across her nethers as he spoke. Doing as he asked, Gwen parted her labia with her fingers and spread them as wide as she could. ``Oh, God... Gwen, you look just as delicious as you smell.'' And just like that he leaned the rest of the way forward and slid his tongue inside her.\n\n``Ooohhh,'' the mouse woman moaned, her knees trembling as he slowly stroked his long tongue up and down her sweet folds, occasionally pausing to tease her clit. ``Ooohhh-Ah!'' She was caught by pleasant surprise as Mason eased his middle finger into her tight channel and applied gentle pressure to stimulate her g-spot. ``Oh my God, Mason! Right there, yes.''\n\nShe grabbed him by one of his antlers and used it to grind her dripping cunt back against his face, coating his muzzle with her cream. ``Oh, yeah... Like that,'' she moaned softly, enjoying the feelings their combined efforts were giving her. He continued to lick along her nethers and around her clitty, sliding his finger in and out, stroking the ridged bundle of nerves that lined the front of her vaginal wall.\n\nShe was so wet.\n\nHer pussy was throbbing.\n\nShe wanted - no, needed - to cum so badly.\n\nIt was the sweetest kind of torture.\n\nShe nearly fell over when Mason sucked her pink pearl in between his lips and gave a gentle tug, and she let out a cry of pleasure. ``Oh, shit! Mason, I-I'm going to cum! Don't stop! Yes! Yes!'' She could hear his muffled grunts of encouragement as he worked to push her over the edge.\n\nShe gave a whine as he withdrew his finger from her twitching canal. She was so close! Then she felt the finger again. Higher. Further back. Right below her tail, teasing a wet circle around her virgin backdoor before slowly wiggling its way inside.\n\nGwen let out a scream of pleasure as her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave. Her thighs clamped shut tightly around Mason's muzzle as she bucked and writhed on his tongue, her sweet nectar flowing out of pussy and into his thirsty mouth. She could feel her anal ring squeezing and relaxing around his intruding finger as she rode the waves of her release. Mason changed his grip on her hips, switching to holding her by the insides of her thighs to regain his air supply and to create space to continue pleasing her, trying to prolong her climax.\n\nIt seemed to Gwen like she was screaming for hours.\n\nWhen she finally recovered, he stood up. His cock was rock hard. God, she wanted it. No one, not even herself, had ever given her such a powerful orgasm. It was time to return the favor, with interest. As she moved to take him into her paws, he stopped her.\n\n``Not tonight.''\n\nShe paused, confused by his actions.\n\n``But I thought that -''\n\n``Trust me,'' he grinned, ``there will be time for that later. Tonight was about me seeing if I could push you beyond what you were used to. If you trusted me enough to do what I ask of you without questioning me. You did, and I rewarded you accordingly. But it's incredibly late and we need to work tomorrow. You don't need to go back to your room. In fact, I'd rather you stayed here and slept in my bed, wrapped up in my arms. But you need to rest. You'll need your strength and energy for our next time.''\n\nHolding out his paw, Mason helped her to her footpaws and led her back to the bedroom that was attached to his office. Peeling back the covers, they couple climbed in together naked and snuggled in close, Gwen's erect nipples almost touching the fur on his chest.\n\nAs they lay there in the dark together, the Impala softly ran his fingers through her long, silky black hair. ``Gwen?'' he asked softly.\n\n``Hmm,'' she purred happily. ``Yes?''\n\n``I think I'm falling in love with you,'' he confessed.\n\nHer stomach did backflips. She'd been head over heels for him since the moment they'd met, but she'd been worried about an office romance. How silly that all seemed now, when she had everything she wanted and more. She felt... whole.\n\n``It's okay,'' Gwen sighed as she wriggled in as close to his body as she could. ``I know I love you.''\n\n~~~~~\n\nMarblecliff, NH\n\nJune 13, 2013\n\n``Mason.''\n\n``Hey, Steve,'' the Impala said as he approached the table where the Kestrel sat, waiting for him. The mayor stood up and they exchanged a friendly hug before sitting down together. ``You wanted to talk to me about something?''\n\n``Yeah. Are you and Gwen still looking into adopting?'' Steven asked.\n\n``Yes. Why?''\n\n``Roger asked me to pass this on to you if you two were.'' Mayor Archer reached down and picked up his briefcase, setting it down on the table. A moment later he produced a large envelope and slid it towards Mason. ``He says you and Gwen would be good for this girl.''\n\nCurious, Mason picked up the file and withdrew its contents. Inside he found several photos of a young skunk girl, many of which showed her badly bruised and beaten, though a few other pictures (presumably taken later) revealed that she hadn't suffered any permanent visible injuries. She had stunning amber yellow eyes and long, flowing lavender hair. What was most unique about the child, though, was that her fur was white, unlike any other skunk he had ever seen.\n\nThe girl's name was Sabrina Osborne, seven years old, currently in foster care after her mother was found guilty of murdering her father. The mother claimed it was self-defense, that her husband had fallen in love with the babysitter and was looking to remove her from the picture. According to the sitter, the mother was prone to erratic mood swings and outbursts of violence, and the marks covering little Sabrina's body were the results of the most recent episode. The father had often talked to her about leaving his wife so that they could be together and raise Sabrina in a healthy environment.\n\nAfter taking several minutes to read over the file, Mason looked up at his long-time friend. ``Wow,'' he said as he wiped away a tear that was forming at the corner of his eye. ``That's horrible. When can we meet her?''\n\n``How about Monday morning?'' Steven asked. ``Roger wants to get her into a good, stable home as soon as possible. The poor girl's been through enough without greedy foster parents trying to game the system for the extra cash.''\n\n``Monday morning's fine,'' the Impala replied.\n\n``So,'' the mayor asked, ``how's your mom doing? Is that knee healed up yet?''\n\nMason frowned slightly. ``Not yet,'' he answered. ``Her age prolongs the healing process, not to mention she's stubborn and refuses to rest it like the doctor ordered. I swear, that woman won't stop to rest until she's dead.''\n\nWith a grin, Steven remarked, ``Yeah, I remember how she was that one Thanksgiving you guys had me over. She was determined to handle everything herself and everyone else was forbidden from entering the kitchen.'' A few seconds ticked by as the men reminisced before he broke the silence again. ``How's Jill?''\n\n``She's fine. Landed herself a job teaching children with special needs close to home so that she can check in on mom,'' Mason said. ``Still pissed at you, though.''\n\n``You know why I had to break up with her,'' the Kestrel began to explain, but his friend cut him off.\n\n``You don't need to justify your decision to me,'' the Impala said. ``I did the same with Hillary, in case you forgot.''\n\n``Still, I feel awful. Did you ever find yourself wondering `what if?'''\n\n``In the beginning, yeah, I did,'' he admitted. ``But there wasn't much I could do to change the past, and I got over it eventually. And if I had to make the choice again, I wouldn't have done it any differently. Gwen's perfect for me, and you'll eventually find the right girl for you. Why? Are you entering your nesting phase?''\n\n``I don't know. Maybe,'' Steven answered. ``It never really bothered me when I had my apartment, but living alone in the mansion...'' He shook his head. ``All that extra room with no one to share it with really reminds me how empty my life is.''\n\n``I know it's not the same thing, but have you thought about asking Leah to move in with you?''\n\nThe Kestrel smiled, but shook his head. ``I'm not so sure I want to see my sister bringing home guys, or having her see the women I bring back to the house.''\n\n``Point taken.''\n\nGlancing at his watch, Steven wiped his beak and stood up. ``I need to get back to City Hall. I'll phone Roger on the way and get things set up for Monday.''\n\n``Tell him I said `thank you.' I really appreciate you both looking out for Gwen and me.''\n\n``I think you two are going to love Sabrina, and I know she's going to love you guys right back,'' Steven said as they walked towards the exit of the cafe. ``Go home. Give Gwen the news. Enjoy your weekend.''\n\n~~~~~\n\nJune 17, 2013\n\n``Roger,'' the Impala said as his long-time friend approached. Holding out his paw, he offered it to the Sable, ``It's great to see you again. How's Melinda?''\n\n``She's doing well,'' the district attorney answered as he took Mason's paw and returned the greeting with a solid shake. ``She and Kaitlyn are in Clearwater for the summer visiting her parents.'' Looking at the white mouse standing next to Mason he added, ``Hello, Gwen. You look radiant. I hope this old goat isn't giving you too much trouble?''\n\n``Nothing I didn't know about beforehand,'' Mrs. Ebonshade chuckled. ``Though if I could go back and do things differentl-OW!'' Both of her paws shot behind her back as she spun on her heel to face her husband.\n\n``You'd do things just the same, just to relive the memories,'' he grinned. ``Don't act like the past twelve years haven't been good to the both of us.''\n\nSticking out her tongue, Gwen teased, ``I still think you got the better end of the deal.''\n\nMason held up his paw with a playful grin, pressing his thumb and index fingers together. ``Don't make me pinch your tail again.''\n\n``Alright, lovebirds, save it for the bedroom,'' Roger said with a roll of his eyes. ``Some of us are spending the summer celibate.''\n\n``Sorry,'' the mouse woman said with a blush. ``So, does Sabrina know we're here?''\n\n``She does,'' the Sable answered as he turned and led them down a corridor. ``Mrs. Tisdale, the head agent here, spoke with her on Friday and told her about your visit. She was understandably nervous; who can blame her after what she's been through? So I went in and visited her this morning and told her all about you guys. She's still a little anxious, but it's more of a nervous excitement than anything else now.''\n\n``I hope you didn't tell her everything,'' Gwen giggled. ``If she knew how bad Mason's cooking is...''\n\n``Oh, just you wait until we get home,'' he replied with a mock growl as his old friend came to a stop.\n\n``Okay,'' Roger explained, ``this here is the visiting room. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but standard protocol says otherwise; the room is monitored. Any interactions between you and Sabrina will be recorded and analyzed by the staff after you leave. Additionally, we will have a follow-up interview with Sabrina to gauge her impression of you both. If everything goes well up to that point, Mrs. Tisdale or one of her staff members will be in touch to arrange an inspection of your home. No getting around that, not even with my endorsement.''\n\n``That sounds reasonable,'' Mason answered, to which Gwen nodded.\n\n``Good.'' Opening the door, the Sable man continued, ``You two get comfortable and I'll have them bring Sabrina down to see you. It should only be a few minutes.''\n\nThe visiting room was set up to resemble the average American living room, minus a television. The furniture looked comfortable enough, maybe not as nice as their sofa back home, but still preferable to the hard plastic-and-metal chairs in the lobby. Holding paws, the Ebonshades walked over to the microfiber loveseat and sat down.\n\n``This kind of reminds me of our first apartment together,'' Mason observed as he looked around the room. ``Remember?''\n\n``How can I forget?'' Gwen laughed. ``That place was small and sparsely furnished. You really had it rough until I moved in; I think I spent every penny of my first three paychecks on groceries and furniture.''\n\nMason shrugged. ``I was living alone, trying to save for a bigger goal. Certain sacrifices had to be made. Plus, half my days were spent at the mansion.''\n\n``I know,'' his wife said, squeezing his paw in hers. ``And I respect what you did; just look at how well it paid off. But I won't lie, I had my doubts at first. I honestly thought about leaving for a simpler lifestyle more than once.''\n\n``You never told me that,'' the Impala said. ``So what stopped you?''\n\n``Something my grandmother once told me,'' Gwen answered. ``Love isn't easy. It takes time and dedication to make it work, but if you put that time and dedication into the right person, love can be beautiful. That was the best advice anyone's ever given me, because it gave me the patience to stick by you and help you achieve your goals.''\n\n``And look at us now,'' he said, staring deep into her sparkling pink eyes. His brow creased with worry as he saw tears welling up behind them.\n\n``Mason?''\n\n``Yes, dear?''\n\n``What... what if Sabrina doesn't like me? Doesn't like us?''\n\nHe pulled her tight against his body and hugged her close. ``Just be yourself,'' he said soothingly into her ear. ``You're the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate person I know. Roger reached out to us specifically because he thinks we're just what she needs. Trust his judgment.'' He ran his fingers through her long, silky black hair as he spoke, and she gradually relaxed in his arms.\n\n``I know,'' she said softly, pressing her paws to his chest and feeling the calmness of his heartbeat. ``It's just we've talked for so long about having cubs...''\n\n``And I told you, you don't need to give birth to be a mom,'' Mason interrupted as he placed his paws on her shoulders and gently pushed her back to stare once more into her eyes. ``You're going to make a fantastic mother.''\n\nThe couple sat together in silence, cherishing the warmth and comfort of each other's company, until a newt woman opened the door and led a young girl into the room. ``Sabrina,'' Mrs. Tisdale began, ``this is Mr. and Mrs. Ebonshade. They'd like to talk with you for a little bit and maybe adopt you.''\n\n``Hello,'' the young skunk said shyly.\n\n``I'll be right outside,'' the social worker said warmly. ``If you need anything, just press that button.'' She pointed to a button to the left of where they were seated before turning around and exiting the room, pulling the door closed behind her.\n\nThe cub walked over to where the couple was seated and sat down across from them. She was taller than Mason expected. As much time as he spent at Sphinx Elementary, he figured the average seven year old to be about 4 feet tall. Sabrina, though, stood nearly six inches over that which was especially unusual since she was a smaller mammal.\n\n``Hello, Sabrina,'' the mouse woman said warmly and with a gentle smile. ``My name is Gwen, and this is my husband, Mason.''\n\n``Hello,'' the Impala smiled, ``it's nice to meet you, Sabrina.''\n\n``It's nice to meet you, too,'' she returned with a shy blush.\n\nAn awkward silence smothered the room for a moment before Mason spoke up again. ``Well, Mr. Ashbacher told us a little about you, and he says that he told you a little about us. But how would you like to hear us tell you about us in our own words, and then - if you feel like it - you can tell us more about you?''\n\n``Okay,'' Sabrina nodded.\n\n``Awesome,'' he smiled. ``I'll go first, then. I'm thirty-eight. I have a sister and two brothers, and five nieces and nephews.'' The cub's expression brightened a little bit at this revelation as he continued. ``I don't really know my real dad, but my mom remarried and I got a new dad, though he died years ago. I met Mr. Ashbacher when we went to school together, and we've been friends ever since. I'm in charge of a company that operates several private schools. My hobbies include running, cycling, hiking, kayaking, golfing, playing Frisbee, reading, and painting. My favorite color is green. I'm a terrible cook. Horrible.'' Gwen made a disgusted face and stuck a finger in her mouth when he said this, causing the girl to giggle. ``I don't really listen to music; that doesn't mean I don't like it, but in the car I like to listen to the news because it helps me with my job, and at home I like to listen to nature sounds because it helps me relax. Did you notice how a lot of my hobbies are outside activities?'' Sabrina nodded. ``I'm strict, but I try to be fair. I believe that rules need to be in place, but only if they make sense. I also believe that there should be rewards for following the rules and punishments for breaking them, and that these should also be fair.'' Seeing the girl nod again, he looked at his wife and said, ``I think that's about all I have to say for myself. Your turn, dear.''\n\n``Okay,'' Gwen sighed as she nervously wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt. ``Well, let's see... I'm an only child, my mom passed away six years ago, but my dad has a house in Ocean City, not far from the beach.'' This news seemed to excite Sabrina, which gave the mouse woman more confidence. ``Since Mason's job pays so well, I stay at home and take care of the cleaning, shopping, and yes, the cooking, too.'' She and the young skunk got a giggle out of this, while Mason just grinned. ``My favorite color is pink, because it matches my eyes. I like yoga, swimming, playing tennis, cycling, kayaking, and dancing - especially to pop music.''\n\n``She's a fantastic dancer,'' the Impala added.\n\n``You're no slouch, either,'' Gwen responded, squeezing his paw in hers before looking at the young girl. ``Now then, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?''\n\n``Okay,'' Sabrina said with a shy smile. ``Well, I like to cook. Kelly taught me how to read recipes and directions, and I used to help her make dinner for Daddy and...'' Her voice cracked and she was forced to wipe a tear away from the corner of her left eye. ``I also like to swim and dance, and reading. My favorite color is purple, like my hair.'' She ran her fingers though one of her pigtails to draw their attention to them. ``Aaaannnndddd when I'm older I want to be a writer.''\n\n``That's neat,'' Mason replied. ``Do you know what you'd like to write?''\n\nThe cub nodded, replying with, ``I'd like to write scary books for kids, kind of like `Goosebumps.' They're my favorite.''\n\n``Have you ever read the fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen?'' the mouse woman asked, and Sabrina shook her head `no.' ``Well, he's the man that created `The Little Mermaid,' `Thumbelina,' `The Emperor's New Clothes,' and `The Snow Queen,' which was the inspiration for that Frozen movie.'' Sensing the cub's efforts to hide her disapproval of so many Disney films, she chuckled and continued, ``Don't worry, his stories are a lot darker and scarier than in the movies. I actually think you would like them.''\n\n``Okay,'' the girl nodded, though the doubt was still evident on her face. ``Can I ask you guys a question, please?''\n\n``Of course,'' Mason answered.\n\n``Anything, Sweetie,'' Gwen added.\n\n``I don't like my name anymore,'' Sabrina explained. ``My mother picked it out. So if you adopted me and changed my name, what name would you pick for me?''\n\nBoth adults took a moment to consider the question before finally answering.\n\n``Grace,'' the Impala said.\n\n``Charlotte,'' his wife replied.\n\n``Charlotte,'' the girl said with a smile. ``Charlotte Grace Ebonshade. It sounds pretty.''\n\n",
"writing_bbcode_parsed": "
Three Shades of Ebon Ch. 2: New Opportunities Marquette, MI May 1, 2001
``Who are these guys?'' Gwen asked as she picked up a framed photograph from the corner of Mason's desk. In the picture, he was standing beside a Kestrel and a Sable, all three of them dressed in their caps and gowns shortly after crossing the stage at Harvard.
``They're my best friends,'' he replied. ``We met in our freshman year. The Sable is Roger and the Kestrel is Steven. Steve and I were groomsmen for Roger's wedding.''
``What about you and Steven? Any chance of Roger being able to return the favor?''
With a slight chuckle, Mason answered, ``I don't know if Steve will ever settle down. He takes his work pretty seriously, always has, so his relationships never seem to last. He'll probably just live the bachelor life forever.''
``And what about you?'' Gwen asked. ``Do you think there will ever be a Mrs. Mason Ebonshade?''
``I don't know,'' the Impala said with a soft shrug. ``If I ever find the right woman, I'd like that a lot.''
``Oh? And how's that going?''
``Well, right now I think I might have found her, but she and I need to spend more time together before I can be sure,'' he teased.
``I see,'' Gwen replied with a coy smile before changing the subject. ``What kind of last name is Ebonshade, anyway? I've never heard it before.''
``No, and you likely won't hear it again outside of my family,'' Mason said as he leaned back in his chair. ``You can thank the guys at Ellis Island for that one; when my step-father's ancestors came over from Germany their last name was Espenschied. When they were processed through immigration the clerk spelled it the way he heard it, and it's been that way ever since.''
``I see. Interesting. So, do you still keep in touch with your friends?'' the mouse asked as she set the photo back on his heavy oak desk, returning back to their previous topic.
``As much as we can,'' Mason answered. ``Roger's an up-and-coming hotshot attorney while Steven's a County Clerk. Between the three of us and our hectic schedules, it's hard for all of us to talk as much as we used to.''
``Where do they live?''
``They're both in New Hampshire, the last I heard. Roger's in Concorde and Steve's in Marblecliff. Wanted to stay close to the alma mater.''
``What about you?'' Gwen asked as she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. ``Not as attached to New England as they are?''
``I'm more attached to seizing new opportunities,'' the Impala explained as he reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of an amber-colored liquid. ``Care for a glass?'' he asked as he poured one for himself. ``Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak. Some of the best scotch money can buy.''
``I've never tried scotch before,'' she answered, ``but like you said... seizing new opportunities.'' Reaching out, she took the smoky liquid into her paw and lifted it to her nose. She detected a light, fruity aroma that reminded her of the farmers markets she used to visit back home. ``It smells nice.''
``The key to scotch,'' he said as he finished pouring and sealed the bottle, ``or any other whiskey for that matter, is the first sip. Just gather enough of it to coat your tongue, then let it sit there for at least ten seconds before swallowing.''
``Is it going to burn?''
``Only for those ten seconds or so,'' the Impala explained. ``The alcohol will dilate your blood vessels, then the sensation will pass and the sweetness will start to come out. When you finally swallow, it should go down nice and smooth.''
``You sound like you know a lot about your liquor,'' Gwen observed.
With a chuckle, Mason remarked, ``I should hope so. This bottle cost a grand.''
Gwen nearly choked when she heard this. ``A grand? As in one thousand dollars? I can't drink this! What if I don't like it? I don't want to waste something so expensive!''
``The scotch is replaceable,'' he said dismissively, with a wave of his paw. ``Moments like this? Those are what matter most, and are truly priceless.''
``If you say so,'' the mouse woman said with uncertainty.
``To new opportunities,'' Mason said, holding his glass outward. Gwen reached out with hers and clinked their beverages together.
~~~~~
``Mmm,'' Gwen hummed as she checked her watch. ``It's getting late. You aren't going back to your place tonight, are you?'' She couldn't help but grin. Her head was in the clouds and her face had a warm, rosy glow to it. She liked whiskey, she decided.
Her companion gulped down the rest of his liquor and set the glass down on his desk with a loud thunk. With a glance at his own wrist, he replied, ``No, I think I'll just crash here in my en suite.''
``You should stay over more often,'' the mouse said as she stood up and turned, sitting her small, firm butt on the edge of the smooth mahogany surface. Her fingers walked a playful path across the desk, coming to rest on the back of his paw that held the glass. ``It's nice having you around.''
``Gwen,'' Mason objected, pulling his paw away. ``I thought you were against workplace relationships?''
``I am,'' she said, her large, pink eyes glistening with nervous anticipation. ``I've heard some real horror stories about how awkward the situation can become.''
``And?'' he asked, looking at where her fingers still lingered from touching him.
``I've also heard enough stories about letting chances pass you by to know that if I don't act soon, you'll find someone else,'' the mouse explained. ``And I think I'd regret that more than anything.''
The Impala stood and circled around to where Gwen was seated, soaking in the sight of her still semi-dressed in her work attire. ``Are you sure that's not the scotch talking? I didn't invite you over here to get you drunk and take advantage of you.''
Shaking her head, she answered, ``No. I'm not drunk. Maybe buzzed, but definitely not drunk. This isn't my first time drinking, either.'' She had a hard time looking up at him as she continued, ``If anything, it helped me see the truth more clearly, and to accept it.''
``And why me?'' he asked as he took hold of her chin and tilted her head up to look him in the eyes.
``Because of how you look at me, and how it makes me feel.''
``And how is that, specifically?''
``Sexy,'' she said breathily. ``Desired. Wanted. Needed.''
Mason tilted his muzzle forward, leaning down to kiss her softly on her lips.
``You are all of those things to me, and more,'' he replied once they separated. ``You're intelligent, compassionate, playful, curious, and funny. You're, simply put, perfect.''
``I'm far from perfect,'' the mouse blushed, causing the pink that shone through her fur to light up her face to deepen. ``But if we do this, then what?''
``Then we see where it takes us,'' he answered. ``I don't do one night stands, Gwen. I'm serious about you. About us. I think we could have something special.''
A needful whimper rose up from her throat as he kissed her again. She responded by reaching out with both paws and fumbling to undo his belt, her paws trembling in her overexcited state. She shivered as his tongue teased along the edge of her lips, a reaction that only intensified when she felt his fingers tugging the hem of her blouse from her skirt.
The next couple of moments were a hazy blur as she and the Impala worked together, stripping each other down to just their underwear, relying solely on their sense of touch and subtle cues from one another. Soon, they were a gasping, panting mess, staring into each other's eyes, wild with lust and surrounded by a sea of haphazardly discarded clothing.
She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of his boxer briefs and eased them down off his hips and over his athletic thighs. She let out a surprised gasp as his hard cock sprang up at her face. It was only the second one she had seen up close, the only other belonging to Ben Mosely, her high school sweetheart whom she had broken up with during her third year of college.
While she studied his manhood, Mason caught her by surprise by grabbing her paws and pulling her to a standing position, then took the place she had just vacated on the top of the desk. His paws traced up her sides achingly slowly, tickling her sides and causing her to squirm slightly. She could feel her arousal soaking into the front of her panties.
Mason's exploring paws made their way up to her tits. He took one in each palm and gently squeezed them, rubbing her stiff nipples through the soft fabric with his thumbs. ``Mmm,'' Gwen moaned appreciatively as she ran her fingers through the fur between his antlers. His touch was gentle at first, but his grip grew increasingly tighter. ``Ow, babe,'' she cried, though the sudden jolt of pain sent shockwaves of pleasure to her brain. Her wetness was beginning to escape her panties and dampen the fur along her inner thighs.
``Take your bra off,'' Mason demanded as he eased up on her breasts. ``Slowly.''
She could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn't asking. He was taking control, and while it made her a little nervous, her excitement far outweighed her fear. Reaching behind her back, Gwen did as he asked, releasing the clasp with one paw while pressing the cups to her chest with the other. With a shrug of her left shoulder, she was able to ease the strap down her arm, a process which she repeated with her right. She turned her back to him, letting him see the feminine curves of her buttocks through her drenched panties as she removed the bra completely and dropped it at her side. She shyly turned back to face him, her paws still covering her tits, hiding them from his view.
Mason reached out with both arms and took hold of her wrists, pulling her paws down to her sides and exposing her boobs to him for the first time. ``I hope you like them,'' she said softly. ``I know they aren't very big.'' He responded by grabbing her nipples, pinching and twisting them. Gwen could only manage to bite her lip and let a low moan escape. It hurt, but it was a good kind of hurt that caused her pussy to begin to throb with need.
``Mmm,'' Gwen murred with pleasure. ``Mason... Be gentle.''
He glanced up at her with a knowing smirk. ``You and I both know that's not what you want. You're just trying to come to terms with the fact that you're enjoying me pushing you beyond your comfort zone.'' He released his hold on her pulsing nipples and ran his paws around to the middle of her back. ``Admit it.''
She let out a pleasured sigh as he slowly ran his paws down over her lumbar spine and cupped the firm globes of her butt in his palms. ``Yesss,'' she hissed through her teeth when he squeezed, digging the tips of her fingers into the tender flesh.
``Take off your panties and turn around. I want to see that beautiful ass.''
She did as he commanded, turning around slowly and giving her hips a playful wiggle as she eased the damp fabric down her legs and onto the floor. As she knelt down to pick them up, it placed the glistening folds of her eager cunt mere inches away from his bobbing erection. She was sure he could smell her desire hanging thick in the air of his office.
Smack!
``Ow!'' Gwen exclaimed as she reached back to rub where he'd just struck her on her left ass cheek.
Another Smack! This one on the right cheek.
She groaned, struggling to keep her balance as she wrestled with the combined pleasure and pain. She felt herself approaching an orgasm already, and he hadn't even touched her womanhood yet!
``Show me that pretty pink pussy,'' Mason commanded coolly.
Gwen couldn't help it; she felt compelled to do as he instructed. Blushing furiously, she bent over further and spread her legs.
``Wider.''
She shuffled her footpaws slightly, fighting to maintain her balance while spreading her legs even further apart. At the angle she was now in, she knew he had a great view of her tits, ass, and pussy. She let out a slight whimper of sexual frustration as she felt a slight trickle of her juices escape down her left thigh.
Mason gave her left cheek another smack!
``Ah!'' She cried out as a small climax shot through her, causing her to stumble forward slightly. His paws shot out and grabbed her by the hips, helping her to regain her balance. The motion brought him down, kneeling on the floor behind her.
``Open up your pussy for me,'' he said, his face so close that she could feel his warm breath teasing across her nethers as he spoke. Doing as he asked, Gwen parted her labia with her fingers and spread them as wide as she could. ``Oh, God... Gwen, you look just as delicious as you smell.'' And just like that he leaned the rest of the way forward and slid his tongue inside her.
``Ooohhh,'' the mouse woman moaned, her knees trembling as he slowly stroked his long tongue up and down her sweet folds, occasionally pausing to tease her clit. ``Ooohhh-Ah!'' She was caught by pleasant surprise as Mason eased his middle finger into her tight channel and applied gentle pressure to stimulate her g-spot. ``Oh my God, Mason! Right there, yes.''
She grabbed him by one of his antlers and used it to grind her dripping cunt back against his face, coating his muzzle with her cream. ``Oh, yeah... Like that,'' she moaned softly, enjoying the feelings their combined efforts were giving her. He continued to lick along her nethers and around her clitty, sliding his finger in and out, stroking the ridged bundle of nerves that lined the front of her vaginal wall.
She was so wet.
Her pussy was throbbing.
She wanted - no, needed - to cum so badly.
It was the sweetest kind of torture.
She nearly fell over when Mason sucked her pink pearl in between his lips and gave a gentle tug, and she let out a cry of pleasure. ``Oh, shit! Mason, I-I'm going to cum! Don't stop! Yes! Yes!'' She could hear his muffled grunts of encouragement as he worked to push her over the edge.
She gave a whine as he withdrew his finger from her twitching canal. She was so close! Then she felt the finger again. Higher. Further back. Right below her tail, teasing a wet circle around her virgin backdoor before slowly wiggling its way inside.
Gwen let out a scream of pleasure as her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave. Her thighs clamped shut tightly around Mason's muzzle as she bucked and writhed on his tongue, her sweet nectar flowing out of pussy and into his thirsty mouth. She could feel her anal ring squeezing and relaxing around his intruding finger as she rode the waves of her release. Mason changed his grip on her hips, switching to holding her by the insides of her thighs to regain his air supply and to create space to continue pleasing her, trying to prolong her climax.
It seemed to Gwen like she was screaming for hours.
When she finally recovered, he stood up. His cock was rock hard. God, she wanted it. No one, not even herself, had ever given her such a powerful orgasm. It was time to return the favor, with interest. As she moved to take him into her paws, he stopped her.
``Not tonight.''
She paused, confused by his actions.
``But I thought that -''
``Trust me,'' he grinned, ``there will be time for that later. Tonight was about me seeing if I could push you beyond what you were used to. If you trusted me enough to do what I ask of you without questioning me. You did, and I rewarded you accordingly. But it's incredibly late and we need to work tomorrow. You don't need to go back to your room. In fact, I'd rather you stayed here and slept in my bed, wrapped up in my arms. But you need to rest. You'll need your strength and energy for our next time.''
Holding out his paw, Mason helped her to her footpaws and led her back to the bedroom that was attached to his office. Peeling back the covers, they couple climbed in together naked and snuggled in close, Gwen's erect nipples almost touching the fur on his chest.
As they lay there in the dark together, the Impala softly ran his fingers through her long, silky black hair. ``Gwen?'' he asked softly.
``Hmm,'' she purred happily. ``Yes?''
``I think I'm falling in love with you,'' he confessed.
Her stomach did backflips. She'd been head over heels for him since the moment they'd met, but she'd been worried about an office romance. How silly that all seemed now, when she had everything she wanted and more. She felt... whole.
``It's okay,'' Gwen sighed as she wriggled in as close to his body as she could. ``I know I love you.''
~~~~~
Marblecliff, NH
June 13, 2013
``Mason.''
``Hey, Steve,'' the Impala said as he approached the table where the Kestrel sat, waiting for him. The mayor stood up and they exchanged a friendly hug before sitting down together. ``You wanted to talk to me about something?''
``Yeah. Are you and Gwen still looking into adopting?'' Steven asked.
``Yes. Why?''
``Roger asked me to pass this on to you if you two were.'' Mayor Archer reached down and picked up his briefcase, setting it down on the table. A moment later he produced a large envelope and slid it towards Mason. ``He says you and Gwen would be good for this girl.''
Curious, Mason picked up the file and withdrew its contents. Inside he found several photos of a young skunk girl, many of which showed her badly bruised and beaten, though a few other pictures (presumably taken later) revealed that she hadn't suffered any permanent visible injuries. She had stunning amber yellow eyes and long, flowing lavender hair. What was most unique about the child, though, was that her fur was white, unlike any other skunk he had ever seen.
The girl's name was Sabrina Osborne, seven years old, currently in foster care after her mother was found guilty of murdering her father. The mother claimed it was self-defense, that her husband had fallen in love with the babysitter and was looking to remove her from the picture. According to the sitter, the mother was prone to erratic mood swings and outbursts of violence, and the marks covering little Sabrina's body were the results of the most recent episode. The father had often talked to her about leaving his wife so that they could be together and raise Sabrina in a healthy environment.
After taking several minutes to read over the file, Mason looked up at his long-time friend. ``Wow,'' he said as he wiped away a tear that was forming at the corner of his eye. ``That's horrible. When can we meet her?''
``How about Monday morning?'' Steven asked. ``Roger wants to get her into a good, stable home as soon as possible. The poor girl's been through enough without greedy foster parents trying to game the system for the extra cash.''
``Monday morning's fine,'' the Impala replied.
``So,'' the mayor asked, ``how's your mom doing? Is that knee healed up yet?''
Mason frowned slightly. ``Not yet,'' he answered. ``Her age prolongs the healing process, not to mention she's stubborn and refuses to rest it like the doctor ordered. I swear, that woman won't stop to rest until she's dead.''
With a grin, Steven remarked, ``Yeah, I remember how she was that one Thanksgiving you guys had me over. She was determined to handle everything herself and everyone else was forbidden from entering the kitchen.'' A few seconds ticked by as the men reminisced before he broke the silence again. ``How's Jill?''
``She's fine. Landed herself a job teaching children with special needs close to home so that she can check in on mom,'' Mason said. ``Still pissed at you, though.''
``You know why I had to break up with her,'' the Kestrel began to explain, but his friend cut him off.
``You don't need to justify your decision to me,'' the Impala said. ``I did the same with Hillary, in case you forgot.''
``Still, I feel awful. Did you ever find yourself wondering `what if?'''
``In the beginning, yeah, I did,'' he admitted. ``But there wasn't much I could do to change the past, and I got over it eventually. And if I had to make the choice again, I wouldn't have done it any differently. Gwen's perfect for me, and you'll eventually find the right girl for you. Why? Are you entering your nesting phase?''
``I don't know. Maybe,'' Steven answered. ``It never really bothered me when I had my apartment, but living alone in the mansion...'' He shook his head. ``All that extra room with no one to share it with really reminds me how empty my life is.''
``I know it's not the same thing, but have you thought about asking Leah to move in with you?''
The Kestrel smiled, but shook his head. ``I'm not so sure I want to see my sister bringing home guys, or having her see the women I bring back to the house.''
``Point taken.''
Glancing at his watch, Steven wiped his beak and stood up. ``I need to get back to City Hall. I'll phone Roger on the way and get things set up for Monday.''
``Tell him I said `thank you.' I really appreciate you both looking out for Gwen and me.''
``I think you two are going to love Sabrina, and I know she's going to love you guys right back,'' Steven said as they walked towards the exit of the cafe. ``Go home. Give Gwen the news. Enjoy your weekend.''
~~~~~
June 17, 2013
``Roger,'' the Impala said as his long-time friend approached. Holding out his paw, he offered it to the Sable, ``It's great to see you again. How's Melinda?''
``She's doing well,'' the district attorney answered as he took Mason's paw and returned the greeting with a solid shake. ``She and Kaitlyn are in Clearwater for the summer visiting her parents.'' Looking at the white mouse standing next to Mason he added, ``Hello, Gwen. You look radiant. I hope this old goat isn't giving you too much trouble?''
``Nothing I didn't know about beforehand,'' Mrs. Ebonshade chuckled. ``Though if I could go back and do things differentl-OW!'' Both of her paws shot behind her back as she spun on her heel to face her husband.
``You'd do things just the same, just to relive the memories,'' he grinned. ``Don't act like the past twelve years haven't been good to the both of us.''
Sticking out her tongue, Gwen teased, ``I still think you got the better end of the deal.''
Mason held up his paw with a playful grin, pressing his thumb and index fingers together. ``Don't make me pinch your tail again.''
``Alright, lovebirds, save it for the bedroom,'' Roger said with a roll of his eyes. ``Some of us are spending the summer celibate.''
``Sorry,'' the mouse woman said with a blush. ``So, does Sabrina know we're here?''
``She does,'' the Sable answered as he turned and led them down a corridor. ``Mrs. Tisdale, the head agent here, spoke with her on Friday and told her about your visit. She was understandably nervous; who can blame her after what she's been through? So I went in and visited her this morning and told her all about you guys. She's still a little anxious, but it's more of a nervous excitement than anything else now.''
``I hope you didn't tell her everything,'' Gwen giggled. ``If she knew how bad Mason's cooking is...''
``Oh, just you wait until we get home,'' he replied with a mock growl as his old friend came to a stop.
``Okay,'' Roger explained, ``this here is the visiting room. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but standard protocol says otherwise; the room is monitored. Any interactions between you and Sabrina will be recorded and analyzed by the staff after you leave. Additionally, we will have a follow-up interview with Sabrina to gauge her impression of you both. If everything goes well up to that point, Mrs. Tisdale or one of her staff members will be in touch to arrange an inspection of your home. No getting around that, not even with my endorsement.''
``That sounds reasonable,'' Mason answered, to which Gwen nodded.
``Good.'' Opening the door, the Sable man continued, ``You two get comfortable and I'll have them bring Sabrina down to see you. It should only be a few minutes.''
The visiting room was set up to resemble the average American living room, minus a television. The furniture looked comfortable enough, maybe not as nice as their sofa back home, but still preferable to the hard plastic-and-metal chairs in the lobby. Holding paws, the Ebonshades walked over to the microfiber loveseat and sat down.
``This kind of reminds me of our first apartment together,'' Mason observed as he looked around the room. ``Remember?''
``How can I forget?'' Gwen laughed. ``That place was small and sparsely furnished. You really had it rough until I moved in; I think I spent every penny of my first three paychecks on groceries and furniture.''
Mason shrugged. ``I was living alone, trying to save for a bigger goal. Certain sacrifices had to be made. Plus, half my days were spent at the mansion.''
``I know,'' his wife said, squeezing his paw in hers. ``And I respect what you did; just look at how well it paid off. But I won't lie, I had my doubts at first. I honestly thought about leaving for a simpler lifestyle more than once.''
``You never told me that,'' the Impala said. ``So what stopped you?''
``Something my grandmother once told me,'' Gwen answered. ``Love isn't easy. It takes time and dedication to make it work, but if you put that time and dedication into the right person, love can be beautiful. That was the best advice anyone's ever given me, because it gave me the patience to stick by you and help you achieve your goals.''
``And look at us now,'' he said, staring deep into her sparkling pink eyes. His brow creased with worry as he saw tears welling up behind them.
``Mason?''
``Yes, dear?''
``What... what if Sabrina doesn't like me? Doesn't like us?''
He pulled her tight against his body and hugged her close. ``Just be yourself,'' he said soothingly into her ear. ``You're the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate person I know. Roger reached out to us specifically because he thinks we're just what she needs. Trust his judgment.'' He ran his fingers through her long, silky black hair as he spoke, and she gradually relaxed in his arms.
``I know,'' she said softly, pressing her paws to his chest and feeling the calmness of his heartbeat. ``It's just we've talked for so long about having cubs...''
``And I told you, you don't need to give birth to be a mom,'' Mason interrupted as he placed his paws on her shoulders and gently pushed her back to stare once more into her eyes. ``You're going to make a fantastic mother.''
The couple sat together in silence, cherishing the warmth and comfort of each other's company, until a newt woman opened the door and led a young girl into the room. ``Sabrina,'' Mrs. Tisdale began, ``this is Mr. and Mrs. Ebonshade. They'd like to talk with you for a little bit and maybe adopt you.''
``Hello,'' the young skunk said shyly.
``I'll be right outside,'' the social worker said warmly. ``If you need anything, just press that button.'' She pointed to a button to the left of where they were seated before turning around and exiting the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
The cub walked over to where the couple was seated and sat down across from them. She was taller than Mason expected. As much time as he spent at Sphinx Elementary, he figured the average seven year old to be about 4 feet tall. Sabrina, though, stood nearly six inches over that which was especially unusual since she was a smaller mammal.
``Hello, Sabrina,'' the mouse woman said warmly and with a gentle smile. ``My name is Gwen, and this is my husband, Mason.''
``Hello,'' the Impala smiled, ``it's nice to meet you, Sabrina.''
``It's nice to meet you, too,'' she returned with a shy blush.
An awkward silence smothered the room for a moment before Mason spoke up again. ``Well, Mr. Ashbacher told us a little about you, and he says that he told you a little about us. But how would you like to hear us tell you about us in our own words, and then - if you feel like it - you can tell us more about you?''
``Okay,'' Sabrina nodded.
``Awesome,'' he smiled. ``I'll go first, then. I'm thirty-eight. I have a sister and two brothers, and five nieces and nephews.'' The cub's expression brightened a little bit at this revelation as he continued. ``I don't really know my real dad, but my mom remarried and I got a new dad, though he died years ago. I met Mr. Ashbacher when we went to school together, and we've been friends ever since. I'm in charge of a company that operates several private schools. My hobbies include running, cycling, hiking, kayaking, golfing, playing Frisbee, reading, and painting. My favorite color is green. I'm a terrible cook. Horrible.'' Gwen made a disgusted face and stuck a finger in her mouth when he said this, causing the girl to giggle. ``I don't really listen to music; that doesn't mean I don't like it, but in the car I like to listen to the news because it helps me with my job, and at home I like to listen to nature sounds because it helps me relax. Did you notice how a lot of my hobbies are outside activities?'' Sabrina nodded. ``I'm strict, but I try to be fair. I believe that rules need to be in place, but only if they make sense. I also believe that there should be rewards for following the rules and punishments for breaking them, and that these should also be fair.'' Seeing the girl nod again, he looked at his wife and said, ``I think that's about all I have to say for myself. Your turn, dear.''
``Okay,'' Gwen sighed as she nervously wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt. ``Well, let's see... I'm an only child, my mom passed away six years ago, but my dad has a house in Ocean City, not far from the beach.'' This news seemed to excite Sabrina, which gave the mouse woman more confidence. ``Since Mason's job pays so well, I stay at home and take care of the cleaning, shopping, and yes, the cooking, too.'' She and the young skunk got a giggle out of this, while Mason just grinned. ``My favorite color is pink, because it matches my eyes. I like yoga, swimming, playing tennis, cycling, kayaking, and dancing - especially to pop music.''
``She's a fantastic dancer,'' the Impala added.
``You're no slouch, either,'' Gwen responded, squeezing his paw in hers before looking at the young girl. ``Now then, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?''
``Okay,'' Sabrina said with a shy smile. ``Well, I like to cook. Kelly taught me how to read recipes and directions, and I used to help her make dinner for Daddy and...'' Her voice cracked and she was forced to wipe a tear away from the corner of her left eye. ``I also like to swim and dance, and reading. My favorite color is purple, like my hair.'' She ran her fingers though one of her pigtails to draw their attention to them. ``Aaaannnndddd when I'm older I want to be a writer.''
``That's neat,'' Mason replied. ``Do you know what you'd like to write?''
The cub nodded, replying with, ``I'd like to write scary books for kids, kind of like `Goosebumps.' They're my favorite.''
``Have you ever read the fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen?'' the mouse woman asked, and Sabrina shook her head `no.' ``Well, he's the man that created `The Little Mermaid,' `Thumbelina,' `The Emperor's New Clothes,' and `The Snow Queen,' which was the inspiration for that Frozen movie.'' Sensing the cub's efforts to hide her disapproval of so many Disney films, she chuckled and continued, ``Don't worry, his stories are a lot darker and scarier than in the movies. I actually think you would like them.''
``Okay,'' the girl nodded, though the doubt was still evident on her face. ``Can I ask you guys a question, please?''
``Of course,'' Mason answered.
``Anything, Sweetie,'' Gwen added.
``I don't like my name anymore,'' Sabrina explained. ``My mother picked it out. So if you adopted me and changed my name, what name would you pick for me?''
Both adults took a moment to consider the question before finally answering.
``Grace,'' the Impala said.
``Charlotte,'' his wife replied.
``Charlotte,'' the girl said with a smile. ``Charlotte Grace Ebonshade. It sounds pretty.''