Pooches!

Once safely in the lift Elsie opens the crate and helps you out. “I was worried y’all were gonna start banging on my box again.”

El blushes a bright pink. “Er, yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s alright.” You rub her arm. “Just foolin. Everything is going smoothly. We’re really doing this!”

“Yeah! What did you say to Mom to…to…make her like that.”

“It’s a long story.” You chuckle. “And you’ve got a family cuddle party to get to.”

“Yeah.” She says as the lift doors open and the cool air of the cargo hold comes pouring into the lift. “I was hoping to hang with you and Button but…”

“It’s all cool El.” You assure her. “Go. Be with them. Have fun. It’s important.”

“Yeah.” She sighs. “It is so wonderful to have Fiona back again. For a couple years there…I thought we’d lost her forever.”

“You’ve done miracles with her. Ya know, maybe you really are a priestess.”

“Ha! Yeah right.” She giggles. “Fiona was the strong one. I just helped a little.”

“I hate to tell you this El, but you’re a damn liar.” Leaning in you kiss her cheek. “Don’t be so humble. You keep this family together.”

“Oh!”

“I love you Elsie.”

With a shining smile she says. “I love you too Jesse.”

Bending over your grab the crate and start to roll it out of the lift. “Swing by tomorrow if you get a chance.”

“You know it big brother!”

Just as you leave the lift you startle as your butt receives a hard pinch! Hopping up you spin around rubbing your tush. “Hey! You goosed me!”

Blushing like mad your sister waves as the lift doors close between you. “Byeeee!”

You laugh as the doors seal and you hear the lift head back up to the living level. “The cheek.” Turning back around you roll the case back to its spot.

“Jesse!!!” Comes a bark that echoes through the big bay. From out around a stack of supplies comes bounding on all fours the most ebullient and excited woman you had ever seen in your life. Tongue flopping, ears flapping, tag jingling, and tail wagging like mad Button come barreling straight at you! At the final stride she leaps and sails through the air to land roughly in your arms.

“Ufff!” You grunt as her momentum forces you back a step.

Curled up in your arms Button nuzzles into your neck with a combination of soft yips and whines she licks you and kisses you and even sucks on you. Her soft ears tickle your chin as she sniffs and tastes you. “Jesse.” She hugs you with all her might. “I missed you! I missed you SOOO much.”

You laugh as you set her down on the ground. “It’s only been a bit!”

“I know.” She clings to you arm tightly, overjoyed at your return like only a loyal canine could be. “So everything went well?”

“Better than well.” You say. “My Mom’s on our side. Not only that, she can’t wait to meet you.”

“Oh yeah?” Button peers up at you with those big, sweet caramel eyes of hers. “She likes pups too?”

“Button, my Mom is gonna eat you up.”

“Oh no!” She gasps in horror.

You guffaw as you realize she’d taken you literally. “Not actually! I mean she is going to absolutely adore you.”

“Oh.” Button smiles. “Well, good. Your family sure is different from most women.”

“You’re not wrong there.” You say. “Brrr. Come on. Let’s get out of the cold.” As the pair of you head to the hidden panel Button glances back toward the lift doors. “Elsie’s not coming back?”

“Nah. They’re having a girls night tonight.” You say. “Women only. No boys allowed.”

“That’s terrible!”

You laugh again. “Actually it’s wonderful. My family is coming together at the best possible time. I have a feeling out here we’re going to need each other more than ever.”

“Out here?”

“Never mind.” You boop her wet nose. “I’m thinking we can have a little party of our own. Princes and pooches only, no women allowed.”

“Pooches!?” Button is suddenly seized by a fit of laughter. “Ha ha ha! Pooches!?”

Unable to stop yourself you snicker with her. “Wh-what? He he he. What’d I say?”

“Pooches! AH HA HA HA!” Letting go of your arm she flops to the floor and start rolling around in hysterics. “Ha ha ha ha!”

“What?” Your own laughter rises though you hadn’t a clue why. “He he he he. Is it like a slur or something?”

“You just…pfff he he he he…called me your…ha ha ha…daughter! HA HA HA HA!”

“Oh! I didn’t know. Eeesh!” You cringe in embarrassment. “I guess these translators aren’t quite perfect after all.”

“That’s okay.” She pops back up to her feet. Rushing up to you she slaps my hands on your chest and gazes up into your eyes with a very naughty twinkle in hers. “You can call me pooch if you want to. I don’t mind. I could call you Sire if you want. Is that what you want Jesse?”

“Sire?”

“Father? Papa? Daddy?”

“Ohh! That kind of sire! Oh geez.”

“Imagine! A male with a pup for an offspring!? A genuine princess pup! The scandal!” She yips and slurps your chin. “What a lucky pooch that would be.”

“Ack.” You wipe her slobber from your chin.

“He he he.” She helpfully offers her jumpsuit to dry your hand. Not to be rude you dry it on your own pants instead. “So tell me Jesse, what exactly happens at a princes and pooches party?”

“Since this is probably the very first one, I guess we’re about to find out.” Stepping to the side you slide the panel that had been left loose to the side and invite your new alien friend to go first. “After you.”