High aspirations.

You and Tibby work together to unravel the wrappings from Ashley's arms, after which she pulls both of you into a nice long hug. For a while you just cuddle together and enjoy each other's company, but eventually you get dressed so you can make dinner. Once you've eaten you have some work to do to prepare for classes starting in earnest, and then you play a card game until it's time for bed.

The next morning you all wake up early again so you can have breakfast with Ashley before she leaves the apartment. Since her first day of college went so well she's confident enough to head out by herself, so you and Tibby decide to stay inside until it's time for you to leave as well.

You're stretched out on the couch with Tibby sitting between your spread legs, scratching her back while you ask her how she feels about all these changes. "I think it's really exciting! Ashley is so cool and smart, she won't let anyone stop her from pursuing her dream will she?"

"Not as long as she has us to lean on," you say optimistically. "What about you? Has all this talk of dreams stirred anything in you?"

"Silly master, my dream already came true. You and Ashley are everything I've wanted since I lost...“ Tibby's voice is chipper when she starts talking, but it slows down and falters at the end.

"Do you want to talk about her?" you ask, immediately aware that she means her former best friend.

"I'm sorry John. You don't want to hear about my old owner."

You reach forward to wrap your arms around your pet, pulling her tight against your body. "If you want to talk about her, I want to hear it."

Tibby is silent for a minute before she places a hand on yours where you're holding her. "Do you really mean that?"

When you promise her you do, Tibby starts talking. "We'd been best friends for as long as I could remember. When I found myself it wasn't even a question whether Clara would be my owner. I couldn't imagine being with anyone else. The only question was what her parents would say, we were so young then. But Clara wasn't even nervous, she marched right into her dad's study and told him I was moving in. And he said ok!"

She takes a breath. "Clara's mom was even more welcoming. She helped explain things to my parents, and a week later I moved in with Clara and her family. I was on cloud nine, and I couldn't contain how happy I was. That was the problem."

"What happened?" you ask when Tibby stops talking.

"I just wanted to show Clara how much I loved her. I didn't care where we were or who could see us, I was proud to be seen with my owner! Nobody minded. That's how young love is, and we weren't acting that inappropriately. But a few months after Clara turned eighteen... maybe I don't want to talk about that part. It was embarrassing for everyone. Clara's dad was so mad. He kept yelling about her reputation and the family name, and when he told me to leave I just ran."

Tibby sniffles. "Clara didn't even come out when my parents drove me back to retrieve my things. It was just her mom, telling us she was sorry and wishing me the best." She laughs sadly. "I thought my life was over, but I guess the spirits were listening and granted that wish by guiding us together."

"I guess they did," you muse. You're not superstitious, but the circumstances did line up pretty conveniently to get the three of you together. "And I have enough siblings that my dad would simply disown me if I put the family name at risk. I wouldn't leave you if you pantsed me on live TV."

That gets a real laugh out of Tibby. "You always know just what silly thing to say to cheer me up, John."

"Just to be clear, that does not mean you have permission to pants me. On TV or elsewhere."

She giggles. "I wouldn't! But you know what? I do have another dream."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" you ask.

Tibby frees herself from your embrace so she can turn around in your lap and grin at you. "I'm going to kick your butt in Smash, even harder than Ashley does every time we play that game."