Green Tea, Boiling Hot
(Cup Seven)

“You know, you told me that your mom had a way with words, but damn I didn’t think that she would be able to talk my mom and dad into letting me come on the after cruise and all that.”  Cassandra said with a little giggle, her and her lover lying in her bed.

“I wasn’t joking when I said that she has a silver tongue…...sometimes I think that she could talk shit into not smelling.”  Erin said smiling down at her lover in her arms.  “But I’m looking forward to the cruise, it’s going to be a hell of a way to end the summer.”

“I know.  Casey and Chad getting married…..you all dressed up and cute.”  Cassandra said giggling at the thought of her lover in a dress.  “Then us having a room on the ship all to ourselves…..where we can be as…..fun as we want to.”

“I still think that I should wear a suit or something…..or a dress that isn’t all white….I mean I swear that I look like a fucking snowball or something.”  The white bat said shaking her head a little.

“Oh sweetie, you look just fine in it.”  She said smiling and kissing her on the cheek.

“Oh…..and….I hope you don’t mind just how…..crazy my family is, and I don’t mean mom and Chad….The rest of them that you are going to meet at the wedding.”

“Oh they can’t be that bad can they?”

“I don’t know, some of them make me look pretty normal.”  Erin said smiling.  “One last thing….flying with my family is a little…..off putting.”

“Cause of the leg and the TSA?”  The cat asked tilting her head a little.

“Pretty much…..I don’t like to fly a lot because of it…..it’s a little off putting to have to take my leg off and put it on the belt like that with all the people around like that.”

“Well you don’t have to worry about anything like that.  I will be there with you to make sure that no one even looks at you the wrong way.”  Cass said smiling and snuggling against her lover.  “I think that it’s about time that we call it a night, we have to get up at like the ass crack of dawn in the morning to get to the airport.”

“Yeah…...and it would be nice to not sleep on the way there….I mean its going to feel like a long flight out to North Carolina.”  Erin said with a little yawn, snuggling it up to her lover.

The next morning came quick for the pair, the mother bat calling through the house, yelling for everyone to get their lazy asses up and start getting ready.  At that point the apartment became a blur of movement, people clambering for the small bathroom to shower, or whatever they need to do to get ready for the trip to Jonestown INT. and then from there to North Carolina.

Erin settling on something light and easy to move in, knowing that she was going to have to deal with the TSA.  Cassandra settling on something a little more dressy, but nothing over the top.  A nice short sleeve shirt and some jeans.  Once the two had finished up getting ready they made for the living room, greeted with the sight of the rest of the family waiting on them.

"It's about time that you slow pokes got out here, I was starting to think that you two got a little side tracked with something."  Chad said with a snicker.

"Hey, we're not like you and mouse trap.....god you two can get loud."  Erin said with a snicker of her own.

"All of you can get louder than you think."  The mother bat chimed in, smiling at the other three.  "Now come on.  We can't keep Chad's love waiting and all that."  She said as she started guiding the group, with bags in hand out the door and to the elevator.

With the car loaded up to the point that it looked like the group was packing up everything that they owned, they set out on the roughly hourlong drive to the airport.  For Erin and Cassandra, most of the drive was spent snuggled up in the back seat, snuggled up and napping.  Chad giving directions, even though they had been there a few times in the past.

"Ok.  This is it."  The mother bat said as she pulled up to the front of the long term parking building.  "You lot start getting the bags out of the car and all and I will be getting us checked in and all that."  Ruth said as she got out of the car and started heading into the building.

"And so the fun starts."  Erin mumbled as she slid out of the car, Cassandra and Chad joining her at the trunk of the car, starting to pull bags out of the trunk of the car and piling them up.

"Oh come on......It's not going to be that bad."  Cass said smiling as she set the last of her bags on the ground with the rest of them.

"Once I get through the checks and all that, I will be happy."  Erin said watching as her mother came back out with some worker following her, telling her that the tram would be there in a moment, before getting into the care and taking it off to be parked.

"Well we have a few moments to kill."  The mother said smiling at the group, looking down at the pile of bags.  "Y'all did get everything right?  There is no turning back at this point...."

There was a collective yes from the group followed by a little sigh.  The pack stood there for a few moments, talking and chatting about different things, killing time as they waited for the tram to get there, soon they heard the tell tell roar of a bus pulling up and parking in front of them.  A male hopping out as the rest of them boarding, the male putting all of the family's bags into the bus' storage before getting back in.

The ride to the terminal was a short one, filled with general talking and even some teasing of a male bat and his soon to happen wedding, namely Erin and Cassandra picking and teasing him with talk of the dresses that they could have picked out, the ones that they tried to get her to pick, all causing a lot of blushing for the male.  Once at the terminal the group made their way in and up to the baggage check in.

"I'm starting to wonder who packed more.  Chad or Erin."  Cassandra said with a little snicker, looking at the two lugging in bag after bag with her and their mother's help.  

"I would have to say that it's the drama queen there."  Erin said snickering at her brother.  "I think that he has a bag just for his suit alone."

"And what if I do?"  The male said with a little huff.  "I mean I don't want anything to happen to this one, I think that I found one that looks good on me."  He said as the group started handing their bags to the worker.  "That and you have to think that we are going on a cruise and we are going to be needing a lot of clothing and stuff like that."

"I brought enough.....that and I'm sure that there is a place on the ship to do laundry and all that."  Erin said as she handed over the last of her bags.

"So long as I don't have to deal with it."  Ruth said with a little snicker.  "The only person that I'm taking care of this trip is me."  She said pausing for a moment.  "I might take care of a cute man if I happen to find me one."  She said with a little giggle.

"Moooooom."  Erin squeaked out.  "That's gross."

"You know, I just thought about it."  Chad said as he looked over to the bag that his little sister had slug over her shoulder.  "You're one to talk about having a bag for just one thing."

"Hey......I put a lot of work into this, and a lot of money into this thing.....I'm going to make sure that my baby is safe and all."  The younger white bat said poking her tongue out.

"Cass......I sure hope that she takes even better care of you than she does that gaming laptop of her's."  Chad said smiling and nudging his sister.

"Oh she does."  The serval said with a snicker.  "I mean she makes sure that all of my ports and drivers are working and up to date.....and she really knows what buttons to press and when to press them."

"Cassssssss."  Erin squeaked out, blushing dark.

"Come on you pervs."  Ruth said as she waved for the group to come on, handing out the tickets.

"Now comes the really fun part."  Erin said with a little huff.

"Don't worry.  I'm right here with you."  Cassandra said smiling and reaching out and taking her lover's hand and holding it tightly as the two started for the line.

"And for the rest of us, the waiting in the line is the real fun."  Chad said shaking his head a little.

"Oh come on.....you should be used to being in lines and dealing with them....I mean you work in the medical field."

"Mom.....I'm a nurse....I don't deal with that many lines, I deal more with waiting rooms.....far worse."  He said smiling

"You two are dorks."  Erin spoke up as they got to the head of the line, the mother bat going through the screening first, moment's later, her son following her through.  "Well time to get this over with."  She said taking a deep breath and heading into the screening area.

“Please take everything out of your pockets and put it in one of the bins, same with your shoes, take all of the electronics out of your bag and unzip all parts of it.”  The badger said as she waved the bat over.

Slowly Erin did as she was told and started to take her belt off and put it into one of the bins, dumping the few odds and ends in her pockets into one, before pulling her laptop out of it’s bag and the other electronics she had in there.

“Cass……”  She said, blushing and looking to her mate.  No sooner than she said that, the serval was there with her, doing the same with her bag, belt, shoes and pocket contents.

“I’m sorry ma’am.”  Erin said looking up to the badger, her name tag reading Linda.  “I need a little help with this part.  She said as her lover held her as she pulled her fake leg off and put it in one of the bins.

Erin was sure that everyone was looking at her, watching as she hobbled over to the scanner, blushing and shivering a little as the badger walked over to help her into the scanner, Cass having to wait her turn.  The bat was thankful that it didn’t take but a few moments to get the scan out of the way before she was helped over to the end of the conveyor belt, were the badger helped her getting her leg back on before leaning in close to her.

“Sweetie….Ill let you in on a little secret.”  She said smiling warmly.  “Next time that you fly or have to go through a checkpoint, just tell the officer there and I’m sure that they can get you into a private screening area…...trust me I know how having to do what you just did feels…..not to good.”  She said, giving a knowing wink, heading back to her job as the serval walked up to her lover, gathering her things and helping Erin with the last of her things.

“Only cause I had you there helping.”  She said smiling and kissing her on the cheek before the two walked over to Ruth and Chad who had been waiting for them.

“You know….you two really are sickeningly sweet.”  Chad said smiling and snickering a little as they started walking off, heading to their gate.

“You know that you are one to talk about that.”  Ruth said looking over to her son.  “I mean when you and Casey get to being all lovey dovey…..yeah, you two make my teeth hurt…..all four of you do it.”  The mother bat said with a little giggle.

“Love you too mom.”  Erin said smiling and nudging her mother.  “So what gate is it this time?”

“A Three.”  The mother said as she led them down the large hall that opened into a bigger area, really just a larger hallway with waiting areas to the sides and a few shops in between.  “I think that this is the same one that we got the last time.”

“You all travel a lot?”  Cass asked as she followed the family through the airport passing the other gates before walking into the waiting area of Gate A three.

“Not a lot, I used to a lot more than mom and Chad.  I would go out to Seattle every year and spend about a week out that way.”  Erin said as she sat down in one of the chairs, Cassandra, her mother and brother joining them.

“Yeah….It takes a lot to get mombat there in a plane.”  Chad said snickering a little as Ruth started digging through the carry on bag.

“Oh shush you….go make yourself useful and get us something to drink.”  She said handing him some money.  “Ok, so this is the first time that you have flew with us, we have a little thing.”  She said pulling out a small pill bottle with a yellow label.  “We all take dramamine before we fly.”  She said opening the bottle and passing out a dose to the group.

“Yeah…..none of us know if we get air sick or anything like that…..”  Erin said with a little snicker.  “I know that we don’t get seasick.”  She said taking the pill, about that time Chad was rounding the corner with a bottle of water for each of them.

“Yeah….We were so close to living on a houseboat.”  Chad said with a snicker as he joined the group, taking his pill from the mother.

“Yeah, if mom wasn’t so worried about me falling in, then we would be good…..I might only have one leg, but I can still swim.”  Erin said shaking her head a little before taking her pill, Cass doing the same.

“Well I wasn’t to sure about that when this was all going down.”  Ruth said shaking her head.  “And besides, it’s like my job as your mother to worry about you and all that.”  She said nudging her daughter.

“And yet you let me get in a plan…..then again you're getting in it with us.”  The younger bat said with a snicker.

“And I’m not drunk or stoned…..This is what mother’s love does.”  Ruth said looking from her daughter to her son.  “And it’s all your fault…..having to go off and get married like this.”  She said shaking her head a bit before laughing.

“Love you too mom.”  Chad said rolling his eyes.

The group set there talking and telling stories, Ruth telling stories on the kids and all of the embarrassing things that they did when they were young, how Erin thought that she would be able to do anything, and refused to wear her fake leg unless she had to, or how Chad would be a bad brother and steal her leg.  Chad and Erin telling stories on one another in an attempt to embarrass the other more.

“Now boarding at gate A three.”  A voice came over the entercom.  “First class and special needs, families with small children may bored at this time also.”

“Well that’s us.”  Erin said getting up and holding out her hand to Cassandra.  “You get too bored with me.”

“Will they let me bored with you?”  She asked as she got up, grabbing her carry on bag.

“Well yeah, I mean you are my helper….so come one.”  She said smiling as the two walked up to the worker at the counter.  The bat handing her ticket over.  “Special needs, and she’s my helper.”  She said as she was handed her ticket back, Cas stepping up to hand over her ticket.

“Thank you, you two have a wonderful flight.”  The attendant said as the two made their way down the hall that connected to the plane.

“Sometimes this one legged thing comes in handy.”  Erin said as the two stepped on the plane and started making their way to the seats.

“I see…..”  She said trailing off as they got to their seat, Erin slipping first then Cas.

“Little nervous?”  The bat asked as she dug through her bag, pulling out a blanket.  “It’s a little weird at first, but it’s not bad at all.”  She said setting the blanket in her lap as they buckled up.

“Well I have you here.”  Cas said smiling as she took her lover’s hand.

The two smiled and wiggled a little as they got the blanket pulled up around them, the pair snuggling up happily, watching as the rest of the people walking in and putting bags up and taking seats, the rest of the bat family walking up and sitting in the seats just across from Erin and Cas.  The time came for the plane to take off and Cas was clinging to Erin who just smiled and held her tight, once they got into the air, she felt the serval relaxing a little, soon getting settled enough for the two to fall asleep.

It didn’t seem like long after the plane had taken off that the voice of the pilot came over the speakers, letting everyone know that they would be coming in for a landing, to put up the seat trays and all of that.  The cabin of the plan started filling with more activity, passengers waking up from naps, putting up trays, closing books and laptops.

“Cass sweetie.”  Erin said, softly nudging her sleeping mate.  “We’re here….well almost.”  She said smiling at the slowly waking serval.

“I’m up….it….it doesn’t feel like we were flying that long.”  She said yawning a little, stretching and wiggling a bit too.

“Well it’s not that far….and that kinda why I like flying.”  The bat said smiling and holding her lover’s paw.  “It seems super short to me, but then I’m used to traveling to the other side of the states.”

“I think that I might be able to handle something a little further….maybe.”  She said giving her lover’s paw a little squeeze as the plane started rumbling a little as it started coming in for a landing.

“Maybe me and you could go to one of the GW2 tournaments like I used to go to.”  Erin said smiling.  “It would be nice to have a cheerleader of my own.”

“We will see.”  She said letting out a little mewl as she felt the plane jerk as they landed.  “We’re on ground now right?”  She said glancing out the window, letting out a little sigh.

“We are safe on the ground.”  The mother bat’s voice spoke up from the seats in front of them.

“See mom, I told you that it wasn’t that bad.”  Chad said rolling his eyes a little.

“I told y’all that it wasn’t that bad.”  Erin said, her muzzle opening to say something else, but the voice of the captain coming over the speakers cut her off.

“I would like to be the first to welcome you to the great state of North Carolina, and we would all like to thank you for flying with us.”  The voice said warmly.  “It’s a bit of a hot one out there so make sure that you keep hydrated, we will start the departure process in a few moments.”

“I forgot how hot it can be in the south.”  Ruth said shaking her head a little.  “Someone did pack some sunscreen or something right?”  She asked glancing to her son then to the two behind her.

“That would prolly be the thing that we forgot.”  Erin said shaking her head a little, “it’s not like it’s that hard to find or something.”

“And it’s not like we are going to be going out and basking in the sun.”  Chad said, standing up and starting to make his way out onto the aisle, letting the mother bat out before opening the overhead.

“You might not be, but me and the bat there are going out looking for trouble and all that….at least to the pool or something.”  Cassandra said smiling and nudging her lover as they got their chance to get up, Erin staggering a little.

“You have a fake leg.”  Chad said snickering, “stop forgetting.”

“Bite me….I have been sitting for a while.”  Erin said shaking her head a little.  “And I don’t have the pain there to remind me that it’s there.”  She said poking her tongue out and helping her mate get their bags out.  “And I’m a little iffy about the beach thing.”  She said blushing a little.

“Oh you know that I will be there...and if someone gives you shit or something, I will handle them.”  Cassandra said smiling and fluffing up a little.

“Just don’t get us kicked out of the hotel, it’s a really nice one.”  Ruth said shaking her head as the group started heading to the front of the plane.

“It’s weird.”  Chad said taking a deep breath.  “Casey’s parents were about to abandon him so to speak….but they came around.”

“Well….”  Ruth said as they got to the front of the plane.  “I’m willing to bet I know why.”  She said, leading the group down the connecting hall and into the main building.  “The first thing that a parent feels a lot of the time….at least I did when Erin came out to me.”

“You did?”  The younger bat asked, cocking her eyebrow a little.  “I mean, you didn’t show it.”  

“Well you weren't the one that got the OMG what do I do….did you know… phone call.”  Chad spoke up, the three now standing at the baggage claim, waiting.

“Yeah….”  She said taking a deep breath.  “The first thing that started running through my head, was a list of all the things that could happen to her….and trust me...being a mom, none of them were good.”  She said pulling her daugher into a hug.  “And the fact that all of this was around the time of the leg lobbing...yeah...it was a lot.  But after the shock wore off, and things settled down, I saw things more clearly.  I saw that this is what my daughter wanted or need to be happy, and that’s all that I wanted for her….that and the fact that I got to name her when I had her as my son, that I would get to name her as my daughter.”

“Wow…..I love you too.”  Erin said hugging her mother tight.

“Hate to break up the love, but here come the bags.”  Chad said, pointing to the bags that were coming out.

“We taking bets on what comes out first?”  Erin asked, watching the random bags coming out.

“Nope...I refuse to take a bet with you.”  Chad said shaking his head.

“And I know better, I’m the one that she gets it from.”  Ruth said snickering.  Once the groups bags had been gathered and a little freak out taken care of the group started heading for the exit, to where the shuttles picked up people.

“Wow.”  Erin said going a little wide eyed.  “It’s hot.”  The bat said looking around, setting down and bag.  “Over there.”

“Look at it like this...the white fluff will help keep us cool….I think.”  Ruth said smiling as her daughter picked up her bags, the family walking to the car that was waiting on them, Chad’s soon to be wife waving to them.

“Hey sweeti.”  Chad said as he walked past kissing the smaller mouse girl, the two of them going to the back of the car, popping the trunk.

“I take it that the flight went nice and all that?”  She asked, helping them putting their things into the trunk.

“Really well...I mean...mom bat didn’t freak out….and Meowmix there didn’t break my paw squeezing it.”  Erin said as she put her bags in, pulling the mouse into a hug.

“Wow…..you sure that mom bat wasn’t stoned or something?”  Casey said with a little giggle.

“I’ll have you know….I am totally sober….now...later that might change.”  She said smiling and helping loading her bags into the car.  “This is a vacation...for a day or two and then the wedding.”

“Well I have lots of things that we can do...There is a lot to do in this town...and...well my family is paying for it.”  The mouse said as they all started getting into the car.  “It’s a little odd...but...I know that they are doing it out of love.”

“Well...like I said, things would get better.”  Chad said smiling and leaning in to kiss Casey on the cheek.  “It’s like I told you...it’s kind of a lot to be hit with at once….that and I think that you’re sister really got them to understand.

“Oh….Alice can’t wait to see you and your girl.”  Casey said looking back to the two love birds in the back.  “I think that she said something about taking you two out for something.”

“Should we be worried?”  Erin asked as the car started moving.  “I mean, I know that she has a wild streak a … few miles wide.”

“I don’t think that it will be anything to bad…..I told her to take it kinda easy on you and all.”  The mouse said as she drove to the hotel, “I think that I said something about you being a little on the fragile side….that or you had a mate now and she couldn’t do anything that would get ya hurt or she would be picking cat teeth out of her ass.”  She said snickering a little.

“I don’t think that I would be that mean….as long as she didn’t do it on purpose….I mean I’m a pretty tame cat.”  Cassandra said snickering a little, “then again Fluffy there is kinda important to me.”

“Love you too, dork.”  Erin said leaning in and kissing her lover on the cheek.

“Keep it in your pants till we get you to the room…..and remember...be safe and all that mom stuff that I have to tell you.”  Ruth said snickering a little.  The drive from the airport to the hotel was a little on the long side as it was out on the beach, but it was worth it, it was clear that Casey’s family was pulling out all the stops.  

“Ok….so I need to hand these out.”  Casey said pulling some plastic cards from her skirt pocket.  “One is an express card, the other is your room key.”  She said handing one set to Erin and one set to the mother bat.

“Wow.”  Erin said softly.  “This is going to be a hell of a vacation.”  She said smiling, the group gathering their bags and loading them onto the trolley thing that the worker had brought them, before heading in and to one of the elevators, Casey hitting the button for the suite floor.

“Casey….did you just hit the button that I think that you did?”  Cassandra asked, looking to make sure. 

“Yup...we are all on the suite floor.  Me and Chad, you and Flappy, and then mom bat.”  She said as the elevator came to a stop, the group piling out and heading to the first room, Erin’s and Cass’

“Oh my.”  Erin said as she opened the door and got a look at the room.  “This….this is….well...amazing.”  She said looking around a little before her and her mate started gathering up their bags and setting them on the floor of the room.

“That’s one way to put it.”  The serval said looking around.  “Oh god...we have a balcony.”  She said rushing over to the glass door that lead out to it.  

“Kinda like the first place that we frenched.”  Erin said walking up behind her and giving her rump a little grope.

“No…..At least not in the middle of the day.”  Cass said shaking her head a little.  “I’m wild and all, but that is a little much.”  She said poking her tongue out a little.  “I say that we take a little walk on the beach...I need a good stretch.”

“Well knowing you...there is a lot that we could get into….you know that you have a naughty streak a mile or so wide.”  Erin said as she walked over to the small pile of bags and things that they had brought, looking for the one that her clothing in it.

“You’re one to talk….Ms. Shotgun.”  The cat said smiling and joining her lover, digging through a bag of her own.  

“And you know that you got me back for that one….not that it was a bad thing.”  She said blushing a little.  “And if I go down to the beach, then you have to help me clean all the sand out of the hard to reach places….”

“Only if you do the same for me.”  She said smiling and pulling out her bathing suit, starting to change out of her clothes and into it, not having to worry about anyone other than Erin seeing her.

“Well you know, as fluffy as we are.  It might take the better part of the night...and you know how we can get sidetracked by all kinds of little things.”  Erin said as she pulled out her bathing suit and sat it on the chair near by, starting to get out of her cloths.

“And I’m sure that we will have all of the time to spend with one another and all that, specially when we get on the ship and all….I can’t wait to see you in that dress.”  Cassandra said as she walked up to the bat, now dressed in her bathing suit.  The bathing suit that she was wearing was more for sports than it was for swimming, the top looking a lot like a sports bra and a matching bikini bottom.

“And to hear mousetrap and Chad….this is going to be a big...and I mean a big boat.”  Erin said as she wiggled a little as she pulled her swimming shorts on and tied the drawstring.  Her choice in swimwear was a pair of shorts with a bikini top, something a little on the tomboyish side.

“Hopefully it won’t rock and all that…..I don’t think that I get seasick.”  The cat said as the two made for the door.

“I know that I don’t….but if you do...there is still lots of dramamine and all that.”  Erin said as she grabbed the little waterproof card holder, slipping the cards into it, before slipping it onto her neck.

“I think that I can handle it.”  Cassandra said as they started out the door, Erin follow, pulling the door shut behind them.  The walk for the hotel to the beach was a pretty short one, it was clear that Erin was a little hesitant to be walking on the beach or really out in public with shorts on, but thanks to the help and reassurance of the serval that was with her, she managed to pull her mind off of it and enjoy the walk.  

“See I told you that no one would be looking at your leg.”  Cassandra said smiling to her lover as the two walked under the pier, stopping for a moment.

“I know...it’s just a little weird...I mean ever since I have had the operation, I wore long pants….I think this is like the second time that I wore shorts in public since it happened.”  She said pulling her lover close.  “Thank you.”  She whispered before planting her lips against the serval’s, her tongue soon snaking it’s way into her lover’s muzzle, starting the dance.

The moment that her mate’s tongue found it’s way into her muzzle, her paws started sliding down the bats sides, soon coming to rest on her hips before pulling her close.  The two stayed there under the pier, making out and letting their paws feel around and tease one another before breaking the kiss.

“Someone is in a naughty mood.”  Cass said smiling, pressing herself close, purring a little as she could feel her lover’s hardness.

“Well you know….when you have a mate as hot as mine...sweet and helpful too….yeah it’s kind of hard not to keep a boner.”  Erin said leaning in and starting to nip at her lover’s neck and shoulder.

“I don’t think that you would make it back to the hotel with that tent.”  Cassandra said smiling, reaching down and squeezing her lover.

“Well…”  Erin said looking around a moment.  “There are the changing huts right there...and there is no one between here and there.”  She said smiling as she took her lover’s hand and started pulling her along.  It felt lit it only took them a few steps to make it to the changing room, and even less to have one of them pinned to the wall and tongues in one another’s muzzle.

“You’re so dirty.”  Cassandra said smiling and licking her lips as they broke the kiss.

“You’re one to talk.”  Erin said smiling, letting out a little squeak as she felt her lover turning her in place and sitting her down.

“Now...let's do something about this, so that we can get you back to the hotel room and onto the real fun.”  Cass said as she started playing with the drawstring on Erin’s swim shorts before slipping to her knees and pulling the shorts out of her way.

“I’m starting to think that you have me beat.”  Erin said, the last of the sentence turning to a moan.