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Huh, what would you know--a relatively on time update!! Could this be a sign? Well, I hope you're all enjoying the story and what not--let me know what ya' think--what'll happen? What I can do to make it better? Mistakes, critiques and the whole what not! Enjoy!

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"Well...spill," Mary said, her eyes shining with her usual inquiring tone.

"I hardly think it's any of your business," Marion replied with a scoff, but couldn't help a small smile.

"Oh, so something did happen..." Mary said, grinning now.

"Nothing...well..." Marion began, knowing that his kiss with Ben was certainly not certifiable as nothing--at least not in his book. And still, there were other things to consider as 'something' as far as his dates with Ben had gone so far. "It...was an enlightening date..."

"How so?"

Marion looked over and realized that he Mary had no idea about Ben's job, or about the predicament the two were in. He bit his lip for a moment, but knew it was useless. Eventually he and Mary would talk about everything one way or the other. After all, what else did they have to do while waiting for people to come get their medications? He shrugged his shoulders in a manner that showed his own unease and let his ears flicker a bit, "Well...for one...I'm dating my son's chemistry teacher..."

"You dog y--Wait...what?" Mary asked, actual surprise etching into her features.

"Yeah...surprise, surprise....for both of us," Marion said, mumbling out the latter part. It was the Tuesday after Chris's long weekend, and for him he felt like he'd aged a few years. Not even in the course of a week had he found out he was dating his son's chemistry teacher, but had also kissed the male. Well, sure, he had done that before, but their kiss at the end of the date--that had been quite a kiss. They had done a bit more too, talked to him on the phone for easily three hours, forgotten a trip he'd promised to his son, been on non-talking terms with his son, taken his son down back to his home, and what seemed like so much more. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he'd ever lived a calm life anymore--missing some aspects and not even bothering to wave goodbye to others.

"I'm so sorry Marion..."

"Huh...why?"

"Beca--Wait...you did break up with him?"

"No," Marion said, feeling that particular idea was almost stupid--even if when he had found out that had been his first reaction.

"So...it's not, like, against the rules to date your child's teacher,"

"To the best of our knowledge it isn't," Marion said, moving over to a bin and pulling out a bag for an elderly fox, Mrs. Sampson, who always showed up on the last Tuesday of the month to claim her prescriptions at ten in the morning.

"So how did Chris ta--Oh my God Marion!"

That was her reprimanding tone. Marion didn't even have to ask why; after all, they had spent a good five years reprimanding one another on various courses of action.

"You still haven't told Chris!"

"No...I haven't quite found the time to, you know...after having him hate me for the past weekend and not wanting to just drive the nail in,"

"Oh, and what happened to 'we're going to talk' from last month?" Mary asked with a scowl. She loved Marion--like a coworker--a very very close coworker. After all, they told each other about everything, and hey, they could even talk about guys together. Still, sometimes hearing Marion talk about Chris got annoying--not really because the wolf overdid it, but because Marion complained without ever taking a step to change it: like coming out to his son.

"We did talk,"

"Oh? About?"

"School," Marion replied stoutly, not really wanting to get advice from his co-worker on the issue. Honestly, he knew he had to tell Chris--there was no choice. But did that mean he had to run head-first into it? Why not just pickup the pup in a pink car with 'Daddy's gay' sprayed on--that would be just about as traumatizing, right? Heck, the idea of such a car almost traumatized him!

"Marion," Mary said, her voice soft and that general tone that showed care--as when they spoke of serious matters. "You know you need to tell him,"

"I know Mary," Marion replied solemnly. They didn't speak for the next minute as Mrs. Sampson arrived, to which they exchanged polite banter for a few moments--with him wishing the fox a nice weekend and telling her to not forget about flu shots coming up in the next week. In such a crowded city it was of huge necessity to try and reduce the amount of sickness. Even when Mrs. Sampson left they stayed silent for a few more minutes.

"But I'm just not so sure this is the best time to tell Chris," Marion started again, "I mean, really, I don't want to hurt him, especially after having just forgot about my promise to take him down to Nancy's grave--do you honestly think it would go over well?"

"Well....no...no not really,"

"I want to wait...a week...maybe two. Then I plan to sit him down and talk,"

"What are you going to say?"

"I....I'm still working on that,"

"It should be a quick sentence...two words,"

"Yeah...like 'don't freak,' right?"

"Well, those might be good prerequisite words. But...you two will get through it, you know that,"

"Yeah, but at what cost? I don't want him looking differently at me,"

"How will he not? I mean, you'll be opening up to him in a new way,"

Marion sighed and shook his head. He took in a deep breath and held it, feeling his lungs seem to stretch a bit--and his brain seeming to work better too. After a moment he let out the breath and looked over at the rabbit, "I don't want him to look at me in a worse light....You wouldn't get it Mary..."

"Oh? Playing the 'you just don't understand card' now?" Mary asked with a light smirk.

"You know it's true," Marion replied with a grimace--easily recalling all those 'it's a woman' things his co-worker had spoken of: like that time of the month, a woman's intuition, having guys objectify you, and so much more. It was almost funny, and he let her know; because for all Mary's women-are-equal points, she had a case where she thought not being treated like an angel was a sin. Of course, that wasn't to say Mary couldn't be an angel--she always gave suckers to the pups whose mothers had dragged them to the store to get medicine with them, smiled and laughed politely with the elderly, and exchanged some banter with customers. Marion knew though, underneath it the rabbit had a bit of feistiness to her: not a bad thing.

"I'm a dad...a father. Don't pups look up to their dad? Isn't he supposed to be strong, independent, stoic, manly.......not gay?"

"Well, I'm not so sure about the last one..."

"I want to be that dad. I want to be the one all his friends would look at and tell him his dad was cool, or to just be the one he wouldn't mind hanging around,"

"You two already hang out more than most fathers and sons I know,"

"I know...but...what if he draws away?"

"Marion--what if he realizes you're lying to him?"

That question did more harm than any of Marion's thoughts could do to him. Yes, Chris hating him for a bit, or thinking he was weird was tough, but he knew Chris would be livid with him if he lied to him. "I'm not lying..."

"An omission of the truth is still a lie Marion,"

"It didn't really matter till I met Ben...and if it doesn't work out it wouldn't matter," Marion said but grimaced. He didn't hate to admit it, but he didn't see things not working out with Ben, at least not in the next few weeks--months even. "Can we change the subject for a bit? You know I plan to tell him..."

"OK...but if you don't tell him soon I'll bake you two a cake,"

"What's so bad about that?" Marion asked with a small frown. Mary had taught him to cook over the past three years--and he was quite proud in the skill he'd made. Sometimes, during lunch, they would exchange meals. He would cook something at his house and Mary would do the same and then they would switch meals and critique one another: even if at first Mary had done nothing but critiqued him.

"The icing will call you gay in big 'gay' pink frosting,"

Marion frowned at the rabbit.

"Soo, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well...me and Ben get along well..."

"Oh?"

"Not that kind of well....pervert," Marion said, rolling his eyes and pretending he hadn't been thinking about the bear the past few nights anyway. He couldn't help but wonder if Ben had thought the same. He shook his head of it and looked back at the rabbit, "I'm...an adult,"

"Well said...but we both knew that..."

"I...I'm just curious," Marion began and shrugged his shoulders, "About the pace me and Ben should be moving at. I mean, I like him, and I know he likes me,"

"He's not pressuring you to do anything...is h--"

"Really Mary! Get your mind out of the gutter!" Marion shot back at the rabbit, feeling even more blood run into his cheeks. He rubbed the fur on the back of his neck down, unsure why the rabbit's words made hi feel so peaked--well, it was something he thought about. He quickly shook his head, "I...I mean, well, you're still young,"

"I'm twenty-seven...and you're what? Thirty-two...three?"

"Yeah...thirty-two..." Marion said, and let out a sigh, "I mean, I don't think I'm old or anything, it's not like that. But...you know...up till mid-twenties life is still such a blur of motion and action...and sometimes you're still trying to find that person and you're always in a hurry and everything,"

"OK..."

"Well...I mean...yeah my life is hectic...but...I've grown up just about all I think I'm going to," Marion said, feeling weird to refer to himself as having grown up even in the past few years. Still it was true. Now he was stay in his prime for a few years--hopefully a good many--before things would get slower and slower. ""And I'm pretty stable now...you know...I'm not going to be moving anytime soon, I've got a great job, I have my priorities straight, and I know what I want,"

"So...you're getting at something,"

"I'm just wondering about the pacing of Ben and my own relationship. I mean, we've kissed--yes, we kissed, ok!" Marion said, seeing the look on the rabbit's face. He couldn't help a small smirk, "And you know...we get along and everything. I'm just wondering...since we both know what we want and what we're doing...how long is too long to wait?"

"For what?"

"I...I don't. For our kiss,"

"Well three dates seemed to be enough,"

"You know what I mean...I don't want to rush into this, but I don't want to go so slow either. I think Ben is a great guy--for me. He's nice, sweet, funny, good-looking, and everything I would like in a potential mate--I'm not making that jump, don't be deceived,"

"OK...so...you're not thinking of asking him to be your mate after the third date,"

"No...It's just...you know," Marion said, scratching at his cheek, "When is too soon to say how much we mean to one another. Or when can I send him a message just telling him I hope he has a good day. I want t--"

"To move quickly, but not foolishly...I get it Marion. I know what you're going through. I mean...well, you know John, right?"

"Yeah..." Marion nodded, thinking of the rabbit's terrier boyfriend. Really nice guy--would give the shirt off his back for you if you asked.

"OK...girl moment," Mary admitted and waved her paw, "He is movin' hella slow! I mean...I'm not a ring-by-spring girl or anything but, we've been going out for two years and he's yet to drop to his knee except to tie his shoe or pick something up for me,"

"I--..."

"I get you. You want to settle down and relax with your guy--everyone does at some point. You're still young though--and you can be a bit foolish. You know what I'm going to do?"

"Wh--"

"Every time we pass by a jewelry shop I'm going to remind John just what's missing and then if he doesn't get the message....ooooh!"

"Ma--Mary....I think you're girl moment passed into the crazy territory about three sentences back," Marion told the rabbit, but could understand how she felt. There was a mutual desire to move forward--to see where it was going.

"Oh...well...I'm just getting antsy...the babies don't make themselves..."

"I--...Uhhh.......I'm gay Mary, I'm not a woman...so no comment,"

"Hu-umph..."

Marion let out a sigh, realizing that now Mary was in no position to help him or talk about his own problems. She had a habit of, once thinking and bringing her own problems to light, well, of being quite like a woman and being a bit prudish the rest of the day. Her ears flickered excitedly on her head as she made her way back into the storage room--probably to angrily, but with 'love', text her fiancé to be. Marion had the notion of calling the terrier himself and telling him to hurry up. John had the ring for the rabbit, he was just scared stiffless of proposing.

Would Ben like a ring? Well, they probably wouldn't get one, but still, would the bear--at the proper time--accept such a gift? Ben had told him he wanted a mate too, so it wasn't like they were both thinking of different goals. Would the bear be disturbed about talking about the pace of their relationship?

He let out a sigh, a bit annoyed at how Mary hadn't quite managed to help him out of his predicament, instead just saying she was tired of being unmarried. Oh well, it wasn't like he had been expecting a definite answer, right? Of course, knowing what he wanted would've been very nice.

"And that's what the shielding effect of electrons is," Ben told the class, smiling a bit, "Are there any questions?"

Of course not...cause you're all going to totally ace this test... Ben thought when no paws were raised--even if he knew half the class didn't understand. Of course, it wasn't a hard subject. Well, not really. He let out a small sigh, "Umm...so, I gu--"

"Can we have class outside?" a tigress, Janice asked. She hated to be called Janice.

"No," Ben said, straightening up at the suggestion, "It's getting cold an--"

"Let's do an expirement," another voice said.

"We're studying periodic trends and classification," Ben asserted with a small scowl. Maybe if it was spring they would go outside, but as it was it was beginning to get a bit chilly outside. Of course, he liked that, and maybe the other furs did too, but he was not going to have parents calling him asking if he got his license to teach from a cereal box because one of his students got a cold or something. "Now...let's move on if there are no questions.........."

He saw it. For a few seconds he just pretended to be flipping through the book, but he was more than aware of it. How could he not be? Still, he was fair, he would give a chance. "OK, now, we'll start on Pauli Exclusion Principle...which states that........"

And she still continued.

Ben finished his statement before closing the book, keeping a finger in it just incase a student asked for the page number, "Janice, why don't you explain to the class what I just said about Bohr models means,"

The tigress sat up quickly in her cahir, her paw fumbling from the purse on her desk--where a blue light gently shone. She stumbled for a few seconds, obviously confused. The rest of the class was either just as confused or shaking their heads at the fact that the tigress didn't even know the bear had asked her an irrelevant question. She tried anyway, "Well...that's....when you have the protons and electrons bouncing off of each other and....they cause heat,"

Ben had to admit--for an on-the-fly lie it wasn't half bad. Well, it was bad in the fact that absolutely none of it was true. Still, he shook his head, "No...I'm afraid that is not right. If you'd like to stop fumbling around in your purse--I can assure you I'm not a fool, I see what you're doing--and join us, then that would be very nice...for both the class you're making me interrupt and your own education.......you too Chris,"

Chris continued reading.

"Chris,"

Chris jumped a bit more at the sound this time and looked up quickly, "Yes?"

"Is that chemistry related?" Ben asked, feeling slightly conflicted. He had to be fair. He couldn't allow any students to get by with behavior that was inappropriate for class.

"N--No sir," Chris said, closing the book, but much like Ben keeping a finger inside to keep track of where he was. It was a pretty good book--a story about a wolf on a journey to master magic and bring balance back to the world.

"Then would you please put it away and join us," Ben said, and quickly flipped his own book back open, "Now....as I was saying, the Pauli Exclusion Principle is crtical in understanding the electron configuration of atoms........."

OK...well...that went well Ben thought with a roll of his eyes, going over his notes for the next class. He was a bit disappointed in how few of the furs had paid attention. It wasn't that he expected everyone to be enthralled with the lesson, but still--it was their futures on the line, shouldn't they care a little? He let out a sigh and shook his head, I guess I'm just a bad teacher...I mean...I should be able to make it interesting...

Marion thinks I'm interesting....I mean...I think he does. Why else would we be able to talk for so long? I don't think he's just pitying me--unless he's doing it if he's scared I'd fail Chris....ha, yeah...and he thinks he's paranoid Ben thought with a dry chuckle.

For a few more minutes he looked over his lesson plan, even if his mind was much more wondering. I wonder if Marion would think I'm a boring teacher. I could ask him to ask Chris and tell me what the pup says. But...wouldn't that be weird? And then when Marion comes out to Chris...would the pup think about him asking? I wonder if Marion has thought anymore on it...I mean. Well, it's not like I care if my students know I'm dating...I hardly flash it about like Miss Burgess does...and I mean.......

Huh.

Wonder if Marion brags to anyone? At work maybe? If he tries? Is it too soon to start talking about one another at work? Why not? We both like one another--of course, I don't think anyone in the science department wants to hear about me and Marion kissing........

It was a good kiss though. Really good. Ben felt a small smile on his muzzle as he thought about it. The wolf thought about it too--hopefully. A part of him wondered if it would be too much to hope that they would kiss again on their next date. He hadn't meant to lay too much on the wolf, but then again--he had more than wanted to let Marion know he wasn't just going to be idle in the relationship.

After a second of thinking about the enjoyable act Ben began to gather his things. He could always work at his apartment and relax. He pushed the binder full of notes into his satchel he carried. As he did he wondered once more. Would Marion think he was weird for using a satchel?

Indiana Jones carries a satchel Ben thought to himself, and with that dismissed the issue. He could always use that--what was a better example of awesomeness than that after all? Tossing the bag across his shoulder he began to move out. As he did he caught the glint of a magazine he'd disregarded, but his mind quickly began to run.

He'd probably enjoy this, Ben thought with a grin, picking up the magazine. He rolled it up and put it between his arm and body.

Marion let out a sigh as he stared at the news. There was nothing going on really. A few things of this, a few things about that, but nothing truly important. Well, of course there was an accident today--luckily no one was hurt. Coming up next was a show about how to save money--ironically they only wanted four easy payments of twelve fifty.

He flipped through the channels idly, knowing that in an hour or so he would start on supper. Tonight would be lightly simple--he didn't want to try anything complex, and Chris had told him he was busy anyway. The pup was currently upstairs working on a project for school. Well, at least that's what Chris told him. He knew the pup had a habit of being distracted and surfing the internet instead.

A part of him wouldn't have minded a nap--that actually sounded really good. Another sigh escaped him. A nap was a good idea. He began to lean down.

*Ding-dong!*

Whiplash. That was a good way to cause it. As his head began to fall, he jerked it back up at the sound of the bell, quickly looking towards the door. He could make out a relatively large silhouette, and even if there was no real proof he felt a smile run over his features. Getting up he moved over to the door before stopping. Was his fur alright? A quick brush down might've helped, and with that he opened the door. "Hello?"

"Umm...Hey..." Ben said, smiling sheepishly at the wolf. Was this too weird? Would the wolf be angry he had showed up uninvited? He didn't think so. After all, the wolf had seemed to know before he opened the door--why else would the wolf's figure have quickly fixed all his furs into place. Tell him he looks nice! "You look nice!"

Marion jumped a bit at the quickness and tension in the bear's voice. Still, it was a nice compliment. He felt his face go lightly red--even if seeing such was impossible under his black fur. "Thanks...you do too,"

It was silent for a few moments. A part of him wondered why the bear was standing at his doorstep, but a much larger part of him didn't care. He was just happy to see Ben. Maybe the bear would like to come in? That sounded nice.

"Oh...Umm, I forgot to mention...but I really liked that movie," Ben said, smiling at the wolf and blushing a little. He didn't know what he was doing. He'd seen a magazine, remembered an article and suddenly was at his boyfriend's house to give him the magazine. God he'll think I'm totally crazy!

"You did?"

"Yeah...one of the better ones I've seen...sure, it wasn't very actiony but it was good nonetheless,"

"Action doesn't make a movie good," Marion said with a playful scowl.

"Bet I could name more highly acclaimed action movies than you could anything else,"

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Ben said with a small laugh. Before it could continue he pulled out a magazine from his jacket, "But before that...I just wanted to stop by and give you this,"

"What is this?" Marion asked, reaching out and taking the paper.

"Oh...it's just a magazine. The Fur Guide to Science and Life...I...sometimes read it," Ben said, not wanting to sound entirely nerdy--even if he had a lifetime subscription. It was a good read though. They had various articles on the latest researches from psychology to physics, and then talked about how such things could relate to life. They magazine didn't go into depth, and that was the real beauty of it--nearly anyone could pick it up and enjoy it. "The article is on page twenty one...I...folded the page..."

"Thanks Ben," Marion said, blushing a little. He wasn't about to tell the bear he'd already read this issue--or that he had a set of these magazines dating back to his sophomore year of college sitting upstairs in his office. Still, Ben liked it, so that was good, right? What was the shame in telling the bear he enjoyed reading such things too? Well for one you don't want to say you've already read it...just be happy he came to see you--I am happy! Marion thought to himself, arguing a little about what to do.

"Umm...so...I--!"

Marion leaned forward and gently kissed the bear on his cheek before pulling back. What was that?! Move faster...oh yeah, let's do that. But that doesn't mean you just kiss the guy randomly! Well...I could say it was for the magazine...who kisses someone about getting a magazine? Crap....umm...talk...talk, say something--no, first smile! Marion thought frantically, unsure what had come over him to kiss the bear. He grinned at the relatively stunned bear, "...That was OK, was it?"

After a few moments Ben smiled back and shrugged his shoulders, "Kind of light...if you a--"

"Dad?" a voice asked, very familiar voice that was running down the stairs.

"Crud!" Marion hissed and slammed the door, the last thing he saw was the bear's shocked expression. Idiot! Marion told himself, having somehow forgotten his son was just upstairs. He had been so happy to see the bear that the idea of his son being home hadn't quite hit him. Idiot! You just shut the door right in Ben's face!

That one was a bit harder to justify in his mind.

Ben jumped as the door slammed in his face. Even though he normally would've felt insulted--which he still did to an extent--he didn't want to be the one to out Marion either. He quickly moved down the concrete stairs that led up to the wolfs' house. Idiot! Did you forget that Chris lives with Marion? I mean, seriously! "Oh it's fine...it's just my boyfriend's house......and his son who has no idea!"....Moron Ben thought as he turned down the street, his face red at his lack of thought about the situation he'd just put his boyfriend in.

Marion spun around, and quickly hid the journal in the back of his pants, stuffing it between his shirt and pants. Just as quickly he pulled it out. It's a journal--on chemistry!! It's not like it screams from your teacher to a very gay father...r--right?

"Dad?" Chris asked, leaning over the banister and cocking his head.

"Yeah?" Marion asked, fidgeting with the magazine in his paw.

"Who was at the door,"

"Oh...Jehovah's Witnesses," Marion spat out, glancing back at the door as he did so. Really? Really Marion? How stupid can I be?

"Oh...well, OK," Chris replied, cocking his head a little at how his father seemed to be sweating. It wans't hot in the house--if anything it was a bit chilly. Maybe the visitors had said something that upset his dad? He dind't know what that might have been, his father was generally able to deal with many types of people. He shrugged his shoulders and began to turn around, "Oh...Dad, what are we doing for supper again?"

"Chicken," Marion replied curtly and. He gave his best smile, though it probably came across a bit crooked. "How's that project coming?"

"Ehh...boringly,"

"Ahh...well...I...uhh, yeah, I'm going to go start on supper," Marion said, beginning to move towards the kitchen. He wiped at his lips--as if there would be some sign that said he'd just kissed the bear. Smooth....really smooth...

"I'm sorry," Marion said later that night, his tail ducked between his legs and expecting an admonishment or even a break-up talk on its way. That didn't happen though. Instead there was a gruff laugh on the other end.

"Haha...Marion, it's OK," Ben replied, wanting to do-away with the whine he'd noted in his boyfriend's voice. Of course he'd been a bit hurt and annoyed at the treatment of getting a door slammed in his face, but just hearing Marion say he was sorry--and sounding so much like he meant it--was enough to make all those things go away. "I didn't quite have a door to slam, but I'm sure I reacted a bit like you too,"

"Really?"

"Well, obviously I'd think it's a bit more personal for you, but...the idea of a student catching me with my boyfriend...still heart-attack inducing. But really...I am sorry. It was stupid of me to come by,"

"No it wasn't Ben...I really liked seeing you," Marion replied quickly, even if he agreed that the bear's sudden arrival hadn't been terribly well-thought out.

"Well...thanks...still...a bit of panic for us both I think,"

"Heheh...yeah...you can say that again," Marion said, unsure whether to feel relief that Ben wasn't angry or still terror that Chris had nearly caught him with his teacher. What would he have said? He was delivering a paper? The truth? Something else?

"So...Umm...I don't mean to push the subject...but...when are you going to tell him? I know you said he was upset...but......." Ben said, letting the question that had hung in the air ever since they both learned of one another hang yet again. He couldn't deny that the entire situation could've been annoyed if the pup knew his father was dating his teacher. Of course, another part of him wondered if they would be hiding their relationship anyway--due to the fact he was the pup's teacher?

"As soon as I can Ben..." Marion replied lightly. He moved over to his bed and let out a sigh, "I want to tell him...I really do...I'm just terrified...what if he hates me?"

"He won't Marion...I can guarantee that,"

"Nice words.......but I'm afraid they don't really hit me much," Marion replied, hating to sound so depressing with Ben but deciding it was for the best. The bear told him he was there for him--so why not lay everything down?

Ben frowned too, and scratched at the back of his neck, "I...I don't really know what to tell you Marion. I really do think it'll all work out in the end though. And...just know, that no matter what, I'll be here for you too,"

"Really?" Marion asked, thinking of the bear's arms wrapped around him at the moment. That was it. That was something he really wanted. It wasn't about the pace--it was about the fact he felt like he could trust the bear. There wasn't a time-line for it, it was just there.

"Of course Marion...I...well, I really like you...I care about you. I want you to be happy...and I'd like to be one of the guys who makes that happen too...but...I know how much Chris means to you...how difficult it is to come out...well, at least about some of it. It was hard enough coming out to parents and family, right?"

"Yeah," Marion replied with a light laugh. It was silent for a few moments, and Marion let out a sigh. "Ben...can I ask you something?"

"Of course,"

"We...I mean, we've had about four dates...if we want to chock up our nightly talks as one entire date too. And...well...I mean, I like you too--care about you. I was wondering...for our next date--if you wouldn't mind, well, first I thought we could go somewhere nice,"

"Dress up nice?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Only if you don't mind me paying,"

Marion was about to object, but decided against it. If Ben wanted to pay, then the bear could--he'd just pay for a different meal. "OK...and we could talk,"

"Not about chemistry?"

"Not if you don't want to...I guess there's something on your mind too?" Marion inquired, feeling giddy that Ben was on the sae page as him. They were moving from those 'hey who are you' dates to the 'I like you and would like to know you better' dates! He imagined them gently rubbing their legs together under the table, not sure why it was the first thing to come to mind.

"Wouldn't mind talking to you...you know...about other things. I like lots of stuff, and I wouldn't mind hearing you talk about all the things you like too: your pet-peeves, little quirks...your dreams..."

Marion grinned to himself again, a feeling like he'd struck gold. Ben--despite being the cause of angst between his desire to keep the bear and to not have his son hate him--was so amazing. The bear was acting like something he hadn't quite expected from the lumber-jack teacher: a romantic. "That sounds good--maybe we could continue the date after. I'd like to get closer to you too...you kno--"

"Watch a movie at my place? You and me...a blanket if you want. And clean paws,"

Marion let out another sigh--more happy that Ben hadn't jumped straight to sex than anything else. That's how it had sounded in his mind, but the bear knew. He wasn't quite sure how Ben knew, only that he was glad the bear did. "Yeah....that's exactly what I was thinking..."

"And...well," Ben began, deciding if they weren't going to hide the desire to be closer, "I wouldn't mind having a nicer place to kiss..."

Marion felt his face go a small shade of red but he felt like jumping with happiness at the suggestion. After all his years in college and even before meeting Chris he hadn't given kisses the proper praise the deserved. They were--well, they could be--everything or anything. He wished he had a bit more time to enjoy the notion, "That...sounds nice,"

For a few more minutes Marion found himself engaged in a conversation with the bear that never seemed to move too fast or too slow. Sometimes they spoke seriously--throwing in a comment about either their relationship or Chris--and other times less so--throwing in a comment about hugging or kissing the other. It was nice. He didn't feel rushed with Ben, the bear actually seemed comfortable with the pace. They both agreed that they were adults and knew what they wanted, but also that that didn't mean they should rush into anything.

The bear made him laugh a lot. Marion found himself staring up at the ceiling and smiling even twenty minutes after having hung up on the bear. They were going to see each other on Friday hopefully. That would be nice. They could go to a nice restaurant, as a serious couple, maybe go for a short walk afterwards, and then they could relax at te bear's place. Something familiar stirred in Marion, but he pushed any thoughts away--for the moment.

He leaned up in his bed and let out a sigh--deciding to make sure Chris had gone to bed before he did the same himself. He couldn't help but feel that he'd neglected the pup a bit today, what with having been rather startled by the pup having almost seen him and Ben.

The thought surged in him.

He knew. He knew Chris had to learn--that he had to tell the pup. Less happily than before Marion found himself walking down the hall, his thoughts now polluted with terrible scenarios. The pup would hate him? Would the pup reject him as his father? Could the pup disown him? Would they never speak again? What if Chris just moved out as soon as he could? What if. What if. What if. So many ifs.

And they suddenly stopped.

Marion stood at the door of his son's room, hearing a chord humming in the air. Then another chord hummed. The notes began to begin in a steadier stream, but never gaining a definite form for the moment. After a few moments he leaned back on the wall, staring at the door. He heard a click--a gentle hum--and then more notes beginning to stream under the door.

The pup played for a few minutes. It was a nice tune, one Marion didn't recognize. Of course then again, his favorite part about listening to the pup was how Chris was much more of an improve player. The pup could take something like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and add so many different parts--tones, paces, and other musical terms he didn't know--that it sounded original and new. Of course the simple melody was hidden within, but it was by no means the part that made you smile.

Right now he could tell some kind of improvisation of the Moonlight Sonata because of the iconic beginning, which soon moved away from its almost mournful sound to one that one might expect to hear in a country idyllic scene as the camera panned through the world. It honestly reminded him of how The Shire might be shown in The Lord of the Rings. The pup would still venture back into the melody, but always kept off the depressing tone by jumping gracefully up an octave or making a scale progression of some sort--along with notable changes in the left paw notes.

Marion closed his eyes and enjoyed the music, it was something to just relax to. The pup made the music last for just about five minutes, ending it with a very slow series of chord runs that seemed to round off any ideas that the song had not reached its maturity. There was the end of the gentle hum of electricity his son's piano produced, and Marion quickly stood, ready to be walking down the hall if his son came out. He didn't want Chris to know how often he listened to the pup playing music--it was his greedy secret. Besides, what he really enjoyed was hearing the pup's emotions--something that was so well brought out during a time when he imagined no one else was around.

Chris never came out of his room. The light that escaped from under the door turned off and Marion heard the shuffling of his son wrapping himself in a few blankets, followed by a sigh of tiredness. He stood there for a few moments, now just staring at the door.

"I have to tell him," Marion said to himself after a few moments.