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Sometimes they didn’t get together as often as they might like, and once the various offspring came along, even when they did it was hard to focus, but family time was important. Especially closely-bonded family who had been separated because…well, because life happened.
And there was that other thing…
The…well, the point was they were all together. Phee and Clyde had even decided to test out the idea of letting Clyde’s sister and Phee’s cousins on her father’s side, the Bang brothers (Joe, Fish, and Sam…well, mainly Joe) look after the triplets. Fran appreciated the effort, even if Clyde was obsessively checking both his phone and his wife’s every three minutes or so. It was understandable, after what had happened the last time, when Clyde and Mellie’s older brother Jimmy and his fiancée Sylvia had volunteered for babysitting duty.
Who knew three raccoon-shifter kits could cause that much chaos while strapped into a cart on a quick run to the Grocery Castle? Fran leaned against her mate and tried not to smile as Clyde unlocked his phone again—or maybe that one was Phee’s—and looked across the coffee table where Rey was perched on the arm of the chair occupied by her mate, Ben.
Ben had closed the clinic for a long weekend, freeing not just himself but also Rey, who technically helped run the practice but just kind of came and went as she pleased. She preferred to be more hands-on than running reception at a veterinary practice really allowed. It was good, though, building something together. A family business.
Fran turned her head as Phillip wrapped his arm around her and smiled, maybe leaning into him just a little more. He just smelled quite nice. Clean and warm and…
Safe.
Fran frowned and fought the urge to check her own phone. They’d left the girls with Phillip’s mother and her partner, although Fran had a feeling Phillip’s brother Paul and his wife would be there most of the weekend as well.
As if sensing her worry, Phillip gave her a little squeeze and pressed his lips to her temple.
Phee perched on the loveseat, practically in Clyde’s lap, and tore into a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.
Ew. Gross. Had they always smelled so bad?
Fran turned a little, pressing her face against her mate for a moment as Phee crunched happily.
“Did you still want to watch a movie or something?” Ben asked again, as if they hadn’t all agreed before dinner.
Fran yawned. “What time is it?” she asked, blinking against watery eyes.
“’Bout seven thirty,” Clyde confirmed, juggling a lapful of Doritos, Oreos, and Phee to check his phone (probably grateful for the excuse to check for any missed calls or texts).
“I don’t know why I’m so tired,” Fran said, shaking her head lightly and leaning more heavily against Phillip.
“Early morning. Long drive. Two nocturnal kids under four who are also reverse cycling.” Phillip gave her a little pat and tugged her into his lap. Honestly, she was almost surprised it had taken so long.
Rey disappeared into the kitchen of the rental, returning with another bag of Takis from the case she and Ben had brought, adding her own happy crunching to Phee’s Dorito noises.
Huh, maybe they didn’t smell so bad after all. Fran licked her lips and swallowed a few times as her mouth watered.
She didn’t usually eat such things. Just didn’t actually like them (although they weren’t bad with some decent cottage cheese). But it was a party of sorts. Maybe that was it.
Although sometimes at night junk food held more appeal. Especially if she hadn’t spent much time in fur form lately.
Which she hadn’t.
Oops.
Satisfied at having figured it out, Fran rested her head on Phillip’s shoulder as the others moved around and settled in to watch a movie on one of the streaming services, Rey and Ben moving to the couch with Phillip and Fran so they could see the screen.
Rey produced a second bag of Takis and set them on the cushion between herself and Phillip, glaring at Ben as he took a single snack from her open bag. Rey hissed and clutched the bag, probably crushing all the remaining contents which she would no doubt just turn up and pour into her mouth shortly.
Phee ate another chip, playfully snapping her teeth at Clyde as he reached into the bag for a few of his own.
“Want some popcorn?” Phillip asked. Fran nodded and smiled at her mate. Something salty did sound good. Phillip headed into the kitchen as Ben searched for the movie they had all expressed interest in watching for various reasons.
Fran grabbed the unopened bag of Takis, pulling it open and scooping out a handful.
“Hey!” Rey cried, frowning. “I would have shared with you,” her cousin muttered as Fran chewed her mouthful and clutched the bag protectively to her chest.
Phillip came back into the room, clearly expecting anything other than what was happening.
(What even was happening)?
“I didn’t even think you liked those, Frannie,” her mate said. “I mean, except when you were—”
Fran growled and backed up against the arm of the couch when Rey’s hand ventured too close to her prize.
“I just wanted my drink,” Rey mumbled, staring at Fran as if she were some kind of three headed alien.
Fran shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I…”
“Frannie?” Phillip asked, and he had that look. That soft expression when Maggie or Junie did something extra cute, or when he was being all weirdly loving and romantic. Why was he—
Rey moved and Fran hissed at her.
“Geez, you weren’t this territorial when you were pregnant.”
Something clicked into place in her brain and Fran looked at Rey, at Ben’s carefully schooled face, at Phee’s grin and Clyde’s soft almost-smile.
At Phillip.
Sliding her feet to the floor, Fran shakily stood.
Rey caught the snacks before they fell in the floor as Fran covered her mouth with both hands, tears springing up. She shook her head, unable to believe…it couldn’t be…but maybe? Possibly?
Phillip moved surprisingly quickly, standing in front of her, one arm wrapping around her waiis and the opposite hand gently pulling hers down. “Fran?”
“Ye-yeah.”
“Yeah?”
“I mean…I’m not sure but…I think…” She nodded.
The others left the room, muttering about long days catching up, but she knew it was to give them space.
Time.
Fran tucked her head under Phillip’s chin as they gently swayed.
“This one’s gonna be a boy,” Phillip insisted, just as he had the last two times. Maybe this time he’d be right. He had a 50/50 shot after all.