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1.
Lucy has heard of dogs that sense their owner is pregnant in fact she did a little research about it when she first found out she was pregnant with Ava. And it may be because of their sense of smell but it definitely happened with Lucy and Kojo. She’s 10 weeks pregnant at this point and she still has morning sickness. And right now she’s bent over the toilet throwing up and wishing she were anywhere else other than right here on the cold floor.
She rests her head on the toilet and is so in the zone of just wanting to feel better that she doesn’t hear Kojo come in. The dog nudges her arm and she looks over to see him staring at her with big eyes.
“Hey boy.” She says softly patting his head. Kojo just nudges his nose under her arm. And she wants to laugh but then she’s once again lurching over into the toilet, throwing up nothing at this point.
Tim finds her and Kojo like that a few hours later. Kojo refuses to leave her side even for a minute. And when Tim helps her into bed, Kojo jumps up and rests his head on her belly. Lucy laughs and strokes his head.
Lucy is not sure whether or not it’s true dogs can sense their owner is pregnant but she thinks Kojo can and she can already tell he’s going to be a great dog sibling to their baby. He’s already so protective of it.
Later that night, when Tim crawls into bed and tries to shoo Kojo out he refuses to leave and just licks Tim’s hand.
“One night.” Tim grumbles. “And then I get her back.” Lucy laughs and reaches over to give him a kiss of reassurance and feeling lucky to have both Tim and Kojo in her life.
***
2.
The next time Kojo is protective of Ava is when Lucy is still pregnant with her. But he must sense that it’s almost time because he’s constantly following Lucy around the house and sticking his nose quite literally where it doesn’t belong.
“Kojo!” She scolds as she almost trips over him for the third time that day. “Come on buddy.” Kojo just sniffs her and follows her to the living room and jumps on the couch with her. He tears his head on her large belly and lets out a breath.
Lucy smiles and scratches him behind his ears, “You are ready for your sister to get here too huh?” She asks him. Kojo doesn’t answer of course just looks up at her. “I’m ready too believe me.”’
Kojo lets out another breath and closes his eyes. Lucy chuckles softly and closes her eyes too. She is awoken by Kojo barking loudly, Lucy struggles to get up and looks over at where Kojo is. He’s at the door growling, Lucy finally pushes herself up and makes her way to the door. Kojo senses her coming and goes to stand by Lucy. There’s a knock on the door and Kojo starts up again barking and growling as Lucy goes to open it. She tells Kojo to stand back and he does but not before he puts his head between her legs.
It’s just a UPS man delivering a package and while Kojo has been protective before he’s never been that protective.
Lucy pats him on the head and then goes to sit down on the couch. Kojo immediately jumps up and lays his head on her belly when Ava gives a big kick. Lucy chuckles.
“I think she’s thanking you for being so protective buddy.” She says quietly. Kojo just closes his eyes with his head still on her belly.
And Lucy can’t wait to see him with Ava for the first time.
***
3.
The third time Kojo is protective of Ava is when she’s eight weeks old. Tim is holding her and she’s sleeping soundly in his arms. He’s relived because just a few minutes ago she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Kojo is at his feet and he has finally settled down from the screaming too. Tim’s not sure if he was upset by the loud noise or that Ava was upset.
Tim gets up carefully so he doesn’t rustle Ava too much and steps over Kojo, who immediately stands up and follows Tim.
Tim puts Ava down in the little bassinet they keep in the living room and watches as Kojo stands guard over it.
When they first brought Ava home from the hospital, Kojo wasn’t too sure about the tiny human that was getting all of Lucy and Tim’s attention. And then he heard her cry for the first time and rushed over to make sure she was okay. He had been glued to her side every since, he even slept next to her little crib in their room sometimes. And he always wanted to make sure she was okay when she fussed.
Tim makes sure Ava is still fast asleep and then he makes his way into the kitchen to get dinner started. Lucy had started back to work this week and while she was still on light duty she was working a little later. And Tim wanted to make sure dinner was ready for her when she got home. He keeps his eyes on Ava as he gets stuff out of the refrigerator and starts to put stuff together but she still slept soundly as Kojo still laid in front of her.
He is just putting the lasagna in the oven, when Ava let’s out a wail. Tim sighs and heads over to her just as Kojo stands up and sniffs her.
“She’s okay buddy.” Tim soothes Kojo as he leans down to pick Ava up. He rocks her a little but she doesn’t stop crying. Kojo is getting more and more distressed.
Tim sits on the couch and rocks Ava back and forth it. Kojo whines and puts his paws on the sofa and then puts his head next to Ava. She whimpers a little and then her crying comes to a stop. Kojo remains like that until Ava’s eyes close and she’s fast asleep again.
“Good job bud.” Tim whispers as he gets up to lay Ava in her basinet. Kojo follows and stays in front of it until Lucy gets home.
Tim smiles as he watches Lucy pick up their daughter and as Kojo does laps around her excitedly.
Tim knows Ava will always have a protector in Kojo, no matter what.
***
4.
The next time Kojo protects Ava is when she is a year old and is all over the house. Tim can’t take his eyes off of her for one second, ever since she learned to walk she has been getting more and more adventurous. And it wasn’t like she was totally stable on her feet because she wasn’t. Not even a little bit.
Tim sets Ava down in the living room next to Kojo and eyes her before turning around to go to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. When he turns back she is gone and Kojo is gone too. He lets out a big sigh and walks through the house wondering where she could be. He’s just nearing the laundry room when he hears a bark, and whine and then another bark. He runs towards the noise and bursts into the guest bathroom where he sees a cabinet door wide open. Kojo barks again and growls.
Tim bends down to see Ava wedged into the cabinet. “Dada.” She squeals. Tim sighs and reaches in gently pulling his daughter out.
“Ava.” He says sternly even though he knows she doesn’t understand a word he’s saying. “You can’t do that baby.”
Ava just giggles and reaches with her hands for Kojo. “Doggy.”
“Yes.” Tim says giving her a kiss. “Kojo is your protector.” Ava giggles and Tim lets her give Kojo a kiss before putting her on his hip and carrying her back to the living room.
He sets her down and Kojo surrounds her, making sure to nudge her back when she tries to walk off again.
And Tim is very grateful for that.
***
+1
Ava is six when she protects Kojo. He’s getting up there in age and both Tim and Lucy know that one of these days they are going to have to sit the kids down and explain well the hard stuff. Sometimes animals get sick or old and they have to leave. It wasn’t a conversation Tim was looking forward to having with any of his kids but especially Ava. Kojo was her best friend, her protector and she loved him so fiercely. They would sometimes find him curled up in her bed with her.
But for the time being Kojo was still okay, and healthy as he could be. Tim shakes his head of the sad thoughts of Kojo.. just being gone and watches as Ava and Daisy run around the park with Kojo at their heels. Even now in his old age with arthritis and everything he still wanted to play. His daughters giggle as they chase each other, with Kojo following closely behind them.
Tim watches as Ava falls to the ground but giggles when Kojo nudges her up. Ava and Daisy continue bouncing across the grass field but Kojo is slowing down. The girls don’t seem to notice though caught up in their own little world. Tim gets up and jogs over to Kojo and pats him on the head.
He’s about to coax Kojo away to sit with him when he hears a little boy’s voice just a few feet away from him.
“Mommy look at that ugly dog.” The little boy says. Tim raises his eyebrows hoping the mom will say something.
The mom however just scoffs and looks at Kojo and then at Tim. “He is ugly. And old. You should put him down.” She says. Tim is about to say something else when Ava comes running up with Daisy close behind her. She bends down to kiss Kojo on the nose when the little boy speaks again.
“Your dog is ugly and old.” He says to Ava. Ava turns to look at him and stands up frowning at the little boy.
“That’s not very nice.” She says crossing her arms. “Kojo is the best dog in the world.”
“He looks dumb.” The boy says.
“So do you.” Ava snaps back. “You aren’t very nice. Kojo is my best friend and he’s old but he’s been loyal.”
Tim’s eyes widen a little bit but before he can pull Ava back, she bends forward to pet Kojo lovingly and she whispers something to him that Tim doesn’t quite catch.
“Come on.” The mom says to the boy and turning him around. They walk away but not before the little boy turns around sticks his tongue out at Ava and Kojo. Luckily Ava still has her face buried in Kojo’s short fur so she doesn’t see it.
She does look up a few minutes later, and she has tears in her eyes as she looks at Tim. “Kojo is the best dog right daddy? He’s not ugly.”
Tim smiles softly and pulls Ava to him. “Yes baby. He’s the best dog.” Tim agrees kissing her on top of the head.
“I love him.” Ava says tears still in her eyes. Tim sets her on his knee and then gives her another kiss. “Kojo loves you too Aves. He’s been protective of you before you were even born. He protects you and your siblings and I know he loves that you protect and defend him.” He says softly. “You are such a good protector Ava.”
Ava smiles and slides off his knee and goes back to loving on Kojo. Tim smiles as he watches them and hopes Ava can have her best friend around for a little while longer.