Against all odds, Marie and her family were actually settled in pretty well in the 70 year gap between their own time & this one.
While there was still so much about this new world, this New York City, that they still didn't understand, the ritzy cat family were really starting to feel more at home at this strange new environment.
Duchess was becoming more accustomed to the city, and was quickly making herself the talk of the town, almost as much as Georgette. A few people had even commented on how much the two ladies had in common, from their behavior, to their standards, and even their taste in clothing.
That didn't come much of a surprise, though. The cat and poodle had become something of best friends in the time they had known each other, and the former was learning a lot from the latter.
Even her sons, Toulouse and Berlioz, had picked up on some of the latest fashions, and were sporting some of the groovy threads they had seen at the mall, when she and Thomas took the family shopping in this new era.
It was a far cry from the clothing standards back in their day, but it had grown on them pretty well.
And that was just one of the places that their new friends had shown them, around this metropolis. In particular, that Oliver had shown his special new friend.
Almost on a daily basis, whether it was on the weekend or immediately after his school, Oliver came to pick up Marie, and he showed her some of the places he liked to hang out.
At first, he was trying to avoid anything too "boyish", for fear that she wouldn't enjoy them as much as he did, but she insisted that she liked him the way he was, and trusted his guidance.
He had shown her so many places, one of which being a store for some interesting literature called "comic books", where she was introduced to the concept of "superheroes". She found them a bit... Odd, at first, but she was fond of hearing about a character called Catwoman, for fairly obvious reasons.
On that day, she even got to take a few back for her brothers, as a gift from her little friend. They had taken a liking to them ever since.
Another place of interest was something called an arcade, where there were several games of different kinds, from pinball to racing games. It was astounding to see so many colors and lights being shown on the magic glass screens that they were being played on.
Oliver was very good at playing a lot of them, and it was fun watching him work his magic on them, while she tried her hand at a couple herself. She found that she wasn't very good at them at first, but as usual, he was there to lend a guiding hand for her.
Another one of her favorite places he took her to, though only once, was the modern equivalent of a theatre. Upon hearing this invitation, Marie was looking forward to seeing something from her comfort zone; she loved getting to go to the stage shows with her mama back in Paris.
So naturally, she was surprised to see it had quite a few changes since then; rather than a wooden stage for the actors & a curtain for scene-changes, it was replaced with a massive wall with another, massive screen thing mounted onto it.
She remembered the moment all the lights in the room suddenly went down, making her yelp & cling onto her friend out of fear of what was going on.
Luckily, it didn't make him drop the bucket of popcorn, as it was called, nor spill that soda stuff. Apparently, that was a delicacy in this time, and she found herself enjoying it as well. But more importantly, Oliver didn't think any less of her for it; he knew she was afraid of the dark as well as the unknown, and assured her she was in no danger.
She wanted to thank him, but the show started before she got that chance.
And instead of watching actors and actresses performing on stage, with a pit of musicians playing the music, she and Oliver were watching images on the wall, apparently called a "movie", and everything from the characters' voices, to the music, to even the sound effects, were all going on at the same time.
The quality of the moving picture was astounding, and the stories that were being told were incredible. Though she could do without the loud noises, she quickly grew to find it fascinating.
Once it was over, she asked him if there were other kinds of these "movies" that she could see, and if they would be going back again soon.
But their most recent activity involved something called "rollerskating", which Marie had to admit, sounded pretty unpleasant at first; it sounded painful, and she was hesitant to try.
But Oliver would be there with her, and she would be safe with him.
To her delight, it wasn't as scary as she thought it would be, once they arrived. In fact, it actually looked pretty inviting.
The neon lights, upbeat music, wide open space and even the tables & vendors around the main room all made for a fun atmosphere.
And once she decided to join in, things got better.
Turning in their shoes at the reception, both she and Oliver were given a pair of skates for rent, which they put on.
Or at least, Oliver did. Marie needed a bit of help with hers; she was still getting used to shoes with laces.
Her clothing sense had changed a fair bit since the day she arrived; rather than the same outdated dresses she came with, the kitten girl was usually sporting something a little more casual, for this day & age. Even now, her attire consisted of a pink cotton T-shirt, matching her signature bow, with a slogan which read "Everybody Wants To Be Me". A little cheeky, but she found it strangely appealing.
Plus, Oliver's shirt was in a similar style; yellow, with the slogan reading "I Got Street Savoir-Faire", so it felt nice to match him.
Her bottomwear was a simple pair of blue trousers, apparently referred to as "jeans", only a little darker than the shade of the ones Oliver was wearing.
Before they came, he warned her that she might not want to wear a skirt for this activity, though he didn't tell her why.
Though she was still getting used to tying her laces, so it was a good thing he was there.
Once they were ready, the pair stood up, and the girl could feel the wheels on her feet. They weren't uncomfortable or painful, but she was already feeling a bit wobbly on them.
Hoping she wouldn't fall, Marie held onto her friend's arm for balance, and he helped guide her towards the rink, where he showed her the ropes.
It took her a while to get used to the momentum, but she was eventually able to start gliding on her own, and was soon able to keep up with him... But in all honesty, she would rather keep holding his hand.
For a long time.
It had been a wonderful time, despite coming here in unfortunate circumstances, and Marie had a lot to thank him for. He was so kind, so sweet, and so gentle with her.
Her brothers liked to tease her about it whenever she started gushing about him, which was often, but she didn't care. Ever since they got here, she had been so smitten with the kitten, and the more time she spent with him, the deeper her feelings for him became.
So she was REALLY looking forward to tonight; they were meeting up for a fancy dinner.
Not just them, but their whole families. This was the moment when he would finally meet the rest of her family, outside of her mother.
That was probably why time was moving so slowly for her; there she was, standing in the middle of the hotel room, fighting the urge not to look at the clock every passing second.
The young lady was donned in the nicest outfit she could find; a pristine, frilly white dress, complete with fancy, expensive-looking pink ribbons, laces & bows, all that suited well with her favorite bow. Her fur was groomed to absolute perfection, glistening in the hotel room's light, and her face made up to make her look like a gorgeous princess.
She wasn't exactly used to wearing so much makeup, but she wanted to look her best for Oliver. She HAD to.
Normally, whenever it was time to go out, she would be taking her time in making herself look as presentable to the public as she could. But tonight, she wanted to be ready as soon as she could be. She couldn't wait to see him again.
"How do I look, mama?" She asked her mother, who was also getting herself ready for the night out by the vanity table.
The mature cat didn't even turn to look at her daughter, instead clipping the pearl necklace she had chosen around her neck.
"As beautiful as the first 4 times you asked, Marie." She answered with a smile, understanding her baby's nerves.
Normally, Marie wouldn't be this impatient for an outing, but this boy was making her feel things she had never felt before, and it was making her a little excited, in both a good and a bad way.
She was about to ask again, wanting to make absolute certain, when the sound of the door opening caught her attention.
As she and her mother turned to look, they could see their brothers/sons entered the room, accompanied by their step-dad/husband.
The boys were dressed in similar ways; button-up shirts, ties and blazers, looking their best as well.
"Ooh la la~" Thomas whistled, seeing his wife and daughter, dressed to impress. "I've got the two most beautiful ladies in the world waiting for me~"
"Oh, Thomas~" Duchess giggled, batting her eyelashes at him and coming over to him. "You look very rich indeed~"
The adult cats shared a kiss with one another, making the boys turn away in disgust at the mushy display.
"Erugh..." Toulouse groaned to his brother. "Sissy stuff..."
"I bet Marie can't wait to do that..." Berlioz remarked, loud enough for his sister to hear as well. "With her boyfriend~"
She blushed heavily, giving her sibling a dirty look, but couldn't think of a witty comeback in time, causing the boys to chuckle to themselves.
Thankfully, their mother was able to swoop in and set them straight.
"Boys, please." She scolded, in a gentle tone. "Marie's very excited about this evening; you're not to tease her. It's not becoming of young gentlemen."
They wanted to argue that they weren't being mean about it, but they knew better than to argue with their mother. So they just complied.
"Yes, mama." They said in unison.
Marie looked over at her mother, and gave her a grateful smile. But her thoughts quickly turned back to the other male kitten in her life; now that everyone was present and accounted for, they were ready to head out for their big meet-up, and she couldn't wait any longer.
"Can we go now, mama?" The girl asked, looking at the clock. "It's nearly 6:30, Oliver will be waiting for us!"
"Darling, we're not even supposed to be there until 7." Her mother assured her, giving herself another look in the mirror. "We have plenty of time."
"But what if he's early, too!?" The kitten continued, sounding distraught at the idea. "What if he gets there and we're not there and he thinks we forgot about him and-"
"Hey, don't blow your top, angel cakes." Thomas spoke up, placing a paw on his step-daughter's shoulder. "If this kid is the sweetheart you say it is, he'll wait a lifetime to see you again."
Marie knew he was right. Oliver was patient with her, and wouldn't get upset if they were a little late.
But she just wanted to see him again so badly, she couldn't keep her thoughts from spiraling out of control. It was a natural thing, when you were in love.
"Well, I suppose we might as well head out anyway." Duchess suggested, seeing her daughter's anxiousness. "If they are there already, it'll give us more time to get acquainted before we feast."
Marie's eyes lit up at the idea, knowing this meant she would are her special friend sooner.
And with that, the family made their way out of the door, with the young girl eager for the big moment.
***
The 10 minute ride in the cab over to the restaurant was filled with generic chatter and such, though the young lady's mind was elsewhere.
Every second felt like it lasted ten, even as the moment of seeing him again drew closer.
But at long last, the yellow car parked up, and after paying the fare, the family of five stepped out, looking at the fancy building.
Bella Notte, as it was called, seemed like a pretty fancy establishment. The kind that the cats would certainly take a few visits to, back home.
Supposedly, it was also famous because a famous couple got engaged here, which certainly made it appealing for the girls.
"Gracious, this is tres manifique~" Duchess remarked, seeing the exterior of the building. "Georgette has outdone herself~"
"Guess she wanted to make a good impression on the rest of us." Thomas remarked, folding his arms as he looked at the restaurant as well. "Gotta say, it's working so far."
"Wow, cool..." Toulouse spoke up, taking a peek through the windows. "This place is awesome. I wonder what kind of burgers they serve here."
"I... Don't think it's that kind of restaurant, Toulouse." Berlioz spoke up, straightening his tie a little. "Not like that McDonald's place."
Marie was in awe as well, though she had something else occupying her thoughts at the moment.
The young lady gave herself one more look over, brushing off anything that even looked the slightest bit messy, to look her absolute best.
Seeing as she was looking forward to this all day, it was little surprise that she couldn't help feeling her heart racing, and her stomach fill with butterflies.
But she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. This was a moment she had been looking forward to, and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
With a smile, she held her head up high and walked up to the doors, with the rest of her family in tow.
The interior of the building was hardly a disappointment, either. The deep crimson carpets matched the laminated oak walls, with some fancy paintings hanging around. Toulouse had taken a liking to them, already.
The tables were neatly lined up, cloths clean & straight, seats looking like they were made of pure velvet, and classical piano music playing in the air.
That last one struck a cord, so to speak, with Berlioz. He knew this song; it was something he used to practice back home.
But moreover, he and his brother were thinking about the kind of grub they had here.
As the parents spoke to the receptionist about their reservation, Marie looked like she was searching for something.
Or someone.
"Table 50." Thomas announced, gathering the kids again. "The guy says we got the good seats~"
Marie nodded, following him as he lead the way to the right table, though she was still looking around.
She could see many other diners occupying the tables, enjoying their meals and/or waiting for their orders.
Most of them were adults, unsurprisingly, though there were a few here with families too. And they all looked fairly well-to-do, not unlike themselves.
It was little wonder as to why this was Georgette's place of choice; it was the perfect place for-
"Hey, is that him?"
Hearing her brother's question, the girl gasped and swung her head forwards, looking dead ahead at the table they were approaching.
It looked like the centerpiece of the dining room; one of the largest tables available, decorated with a literary of chairs, much more than they would need, all of which were on top of a little set of steps to show off its significance.
Sitting on top of it, aside from the candles, silverware, complimentary breadsticks and glass chalices, was a little notice reading "VIP Reservation".
And there he was.
Standing by the table, waiting for them, was Oliver.
His usual orange fur was combed neatly, and he was dressed in his finest; a white-collared shirt with a black vest and matching tie, along with some fetching pants & shined white shoes.
Accompanying him, of course, was his canine mother.
Like always, Georgette was dressed to impress; wearing a lavish, elegan red dress with a silver bow around the waist, and a priceless silver necklace around her neck.
She looked like she was going to The Oscars, rather than dinner.
"Oliver!" Marie called out, spotting the kitten she had been thinking about all day at last.
Hearing his name being called, said kitten turned to look at her, quickly growing a smile on his face.
"Marie!" He called back, getting up from his seat to come towards her.
However, one look at the rest of the cats accompanying her had him a little hesitant. He was looking forward to seeing her again, of course, and he had already met her mother a few times. But now they had some more of them family with them.
The older orange cat was clearly the father, and the two around her age must've been her brothers that she mentioned.
He knew about them already, but seeing them with her at the same time like this was admittedly a little intimidating.
Though he chalked it up to an instinctive thing; he trusted Marie that her family were harmless, even if her brothers tried to act tough, and her stepdad wouldn't hurt a hair on his head... Or the rest of his body.
Luckily for him, he didn't need to make the first move. She did that for him.
Lifting the hem of her dress, the little cat lady came over as quickly but gracefully as her heels would allow her.
Once she was close enough, Oliver could bear witness to hoe stunning she looked. Her attire gave her an otherworldly glow, and the colors of her accessories brought out her cute, feminine charms.
Her makeup was a treat for the eyes too, but he knew she didn't need it; she was naturally beautiful, which she got from her mother.
"Hello, Oliver~" She greeted, batting her sparkling sapphire eyes at him.
"H- Hi, Marie..." He greeted back, a little taken aback by how she looked. "Y- You look amazing..."
"Thank you~" The girl replied, smiling sweetly at him. "You look very handsome~"
Her compliment was making him blush already, which was almost enough to distract him from noticing the rest of them coming towards him.
Whether he was ready or not, it was time.
Clearing his throat, the boy turned to the rest of Marie's family, who were focusing on him.
"Hello, everyone..." He greeted politely, trying not to show his nerves. "I- I'm Oliver. It's, um, nice to meet you all..."
His mother chuckled a little, seeing how nervous her son was, but it was rather cute in her eyes.
She had anticipated he would be nervous at first, but she knew Marie's family wouldn't hurt him. And if they did, she would rip them to pieces.
"Bonjour again, Oliver." Duchess spoke first, giving him a gentle smile. "You look quite handsome indeed."
The familiarity of the mother cat's demeanor helped put him at ease, though that was mostly because he was already on good terms with her.
It was the rest of them he was anxious about.
Speaking of, he could feel a sweat building up, when her father figure took a step forward and looked him over.
"Hello." Thomas greeted in a polite but stern tone, offering a hand to the young cat. "Marie's told us a lot about you."
That sent a shiver down his spine; was that a good thing or a bad thing?
Of course, he did his best to not let that show, and shook his hand.
"P- Pleasured, s- sir..." He replied, keeping his nerves to himself.
Thankfully, the older male didn't seem too off-put by the boy's presence. In fact, he actually looked rather pleased with him.
"Call me Thomas." He suggested, turning to the poodle at the table. "And this is...?"
"Th- This is m-my adop-"
"I'm his mother." Georgette answered in the middle of Oliver's response, standing up from the table and approaching the family. "You must be Duchess's husband."
Thomas had to say, he was a little surprised by this revelation; he hadn't been told that the boy's guardian was a dog.
It looked like both he and his baby girl had that in common; one of the adults in their life wasn't their biological parent.
Ad soon as she was close enough, Duchess approached Georgette with a smile.
"Georgette, madam, you look gracious~" She remarked, taking the canine's hands into her own.
"No less than yourself, dear~" Said canine replied, leaning in and kissing her cheeks.
Duchess returned the gesture, while her sons looked at the dog with attentive detail.
Toulouse, in particular, was in awe at the holy presence standing before him. His jaw was lowered and his eyes were wide, taking in such a marvel of a female.
"Whoa..." He murmured, looking up the dog's magnificent body with great admiration.
How he would love to paint a portrait of her.
His heart skipped a beat when her head turned to look at him as well.
"These must be your sons~" Georgette addressed the mother cat. "My my, what a handsome pair of boys~"
Toulouse felt like he was going to faint, hearing the angelic voice of the goddess addressing him directly, and it didn't help that she was flattering him, too.
"Hello, Miss." Berlioz greeted with a polite bow, as his mother had taught him. "My name is Berlioz."
"What a charming young man you are~" She remarked with a beam, before turning her attention to his brother. "And this must be... Toulouse, yes?"
Hearing his name spoken by this thing of beauty only made the orange cat feel more flustered, causing him to lower his head to hide his blush.
"Y- Yes, ma'am..." He answered, giving her a bow as well. "P- Pleased to make your acquaintance..."
As he found the nerve to tilt his head up, he felt his face burn even more when his eyes accidentally landed on something wonderful.
With the way the poodle was leaning over like that, he was given a teasing view of the the contents down the front of her dress, letting him spy on her massive bosom from within.
He had never been so close to a woman's breasts before; it was overwhelming for the inexperienced male, and he quickly averted his gaze again before anyone noticed.
"What a little gentleman~" Georgette remarked, finding his actions rather cute, before looking at their mother again. "Please, be seated. We have much to talk about."
Duchess nodded her head, and they all made their way towards the table, with Marie choosing the seat next to her special friend.
That came as little surprise, as did Oliver's response to it.
"Here." He spoke, pulling the chair out for her, before she could do it herself.
Her heart fluttered at his chivalry, giving him a sweet smile as she sat down.
The grown-ups looked approving of the gesture, as they took a seat next to their respective kids.
Once they were settled in, the poodle turned to the cat family with a look of delight.
"Well, I'm glad to finally meet the rest of you~" Georgette began, stroking her boy's head. "I know Oliver's been looking forward to getting his all acquainted for quite some time~"
"Marie's been quite the same~" Duchess replied, looking at her daughter with the same look she had. "It's all she's talked about recently~"
"Mama...!" The kitten exclaimed quietly, embarrassed that her mother would say that in front of him, let alone the rest of them.
"Well, it's true~" Berlioz followed up with a teasing tone. "Every day we've been here, you've just been asking about your boyfriend~"
Her brother's remark earned another scowl from the girl, looking at him disapprovingly.
The black cat checked to himself, before looking to his brother to slam the dunk he just volleyed up.
Instead, he saw that Toulouse was in a world of his own, looking dead ahead at something else.
"Hey, Toulouse?" He said, waving a paw in front of his face.
"Huh?" He spoke up, snapping back to relatit and looking at his siblings. "O- Oh, yeah, uh, it's totally sissy stuff."
The way he said it puzzled his brother, though he didn't have time to ask, as Oliver spoke up.
"So, um, I hope you guys don't mind..." He began, grabbing the attention. "Mom and I already ordered for everyone, since it's our treat."
"Aww, darlings, you shouldn't have~" Duchess remarked, placing a paw over her heart, touched by the gesture.
"Don't mention it, dear~" The poodle replied with a smile. "It's nothing we couldn't afford, anyway~ Even with so many guests."
It was then that Thomas turned to look at the five empty seats around the table.
"Speaking of which..." He spoke up, catching Georgette's attention. "Who are these reserved for?"
"Oh yeah, they're for the rest of my family." Oliver answered with a gleeful smile, aimed particularly at Marie.
"Rest of your family?" She questioned, curious as to who else was coming.
But he wouldn't get to answer.
"Hola, gente!"
A loud, boisterous voice suddenly shouted from near the entrance of the restaurant, catching the attention of the families.
"The party just arrived!" It spoke again, not seeming to care much for decorum
It didn't belong to anyone that Marie or any of her family knew, although the sound of collective footsteps told them that whoever it was seemed to be approaching them.
There were too many sets of shoes hitting the floor for it to just be two, or even three. They were definitely part of a group of some kind.
And just a few seconds later, she and her loved ones would be acquainted with the source.
From around the corner, someone leapt out and skid across the carpet, looking like quite the polar opposite of the orange kitten & his guardian.
He looked to be a chihuahua, similar age to the other grown-ups, though not exactly on their level of sophistication. His attire consisted of a white vest & green cargo shorts, along with a pair of (muddy) trainers. His facial decoration wasn't what the high-life folk would approve of either; a dusty green headband that sat just beneath his orange hair, along with a gold ring clipped around it.
"Yo, what's cooking, amigos?" He greeted, waltzing his way over to the table where the poodle & cats were sat.
Naturally, the latter were rather shocked by this intrusion, who didn't seem like he was one for reservations, or manners.
"Good heavens..." Duchess gasped, putting a paw to her chest in surprise.
"Who's this punk think he is?" Thomas asked quietly, leaning down and glaring at the approaching canine, looking like he was ready to show him the door, if need be.
However, with what (and who) came next, he might've reconsidered.
A second later, more canines turned the corner to join him, showing themselves to the sitting families.
One of them, looking to be their leader, was a Jack Russell Terrier white white fur and a brown face & ears. He strutted over with a confident sway in his walk, as was evident by the way his hands were in his biker jacket's pockets. A black jacket that was zipped up, snugly fitting the red bandanna around his neck, along with a pair of dark grey pants with a couple of cuts here and there along them.
Besides him was a bulldog, boasting a horizontally-gifted physique. His outfit was at least a little more appropriate for the dinner setting than the chihuahua's; a dark grey suit jacket, a white shirt and a pair of black pants.
But that wasn't as surprising as the others that followed.
Right behind him was a great dane, who was a bit of a big fella, though quite the friendly face as well. He was wearing a black shirt under a brown corduroy jacket with a pair of blue jeans, and a trucker hat on his head.
And finally, on the other side of the Terrier, was the only female of the group. A brown saluki with a black leather jacket & a red top, with a darker & tighter-looking pair of jeans hugging her legs & waist, along with a pair of black pumps.
Whoever these strangers were, they looked like trouble-makers, and the chihuahua's introduction didn't help put the cat family at ease.
It was especially concerning for Marie & her brothers; whether it was the fact that they were strangers, dogs or the way they were dressed, the kittens felt like they were in danger, and some instincts told them to run and/or hide behind their parents.
"'Ey, what've we got 'ere~?" The Jack Russell spoke up with a grin, looking over the scene in front of him. "A little dinner date~? Hope we ain't interrupting~"
"Then keep hoping." Thomas spoke up, staring the dog down as he slowly stood up, looking ready for a confrontation. "Just turn around and walk away, pal. We don't want no trouble."
The canine stopped walking and raised his hands to the former alley-cat, not looking too worried.
"Whoa, take it easy, pops~" He replied, almost sounding amused by the reaction. "We ain't lookin' for trouble, neither. Besides, they're ladies present~"
Sensing a potential confrontation coming up, Duchess decided to intervene, gently pulling her husband back down.
"Thomas, darling, there's no need for that." She insisted, giving the gang a sympathetic smile. "Please, mister, we're just trying to enjoy ourselves. I'm sure there are plenty of available tables for you and your... Entourage."
To her surprise, she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder from the other side, prompting her to look around to see who it belonged to.
"That won't be necessary." Georgette told her, standing up and looking at the gang. "We're so glad you could make it."
Her comment suddenly turned the heads of the cat family, earning a couple of gasps from them.
But they wouldn't get the chance to ask, before they were given another surprise from their other host.
"Dodger!" Oliver's voice called, excusing himself from the table and heading over to the head dog.
"Oliver, what are you doing!?" Marie called out, reaching a hand out to her little friend, as if to pull him back.
He didn't look concerned though, as he approached the Terrier with a smile on his face, before holding out his arm to the side.
"You made it!" The male kitten announced, swinging his hand around & upwards to the canine.
"Wouldn't miss it, kid~" He responded, mimicking the action to slap the cat's hand, then doing it in reverse, followed by up, then down, and grasping each other's.
The sight of the two boys sharing a practiced handshake like this sent Marie and her family into a state of awe, their eyes wide and their jaws dropped.
They quickly realised that they knew each other. Which subsequently made them realise something else:
He invited them.
"Hey, kiddo~" The saluki spoke up next, kneeling down and giving him a friendly hug. "How've you been?"
"Great, Rita!" He answered, hugging her back for a moment before breaking it off. "Come on, sit down! I can't wait for you guys to meet Marie!"
The mention of her name made the female kitten flinch more than blush, causing her to back up a little when the dogs' eyes turned to look at her.
She hadn't felt this scared since she and her family first arrived at this strange new world. Even including the times at the swimming pool, with the whole swimsuit incident.
The bitch, apparently named Rita, was the first to approach her, giving her a look over.
"Hey~" The dog greeted in a soft, cooing voice. "So, you're the little cutie our kid's been gushing on about~?"
Her question caused the girl's cheeks to redden a little more, as did Oliver's when she saw him looking away sheepishly.
She didn't know which was more uncomfortable; the fact that these strange adult dogs knew about her, or that they did so because of her relationship with Oliver; the things he couldn't told them about her...
No, she didn't believe that. This was Oliver, after all. She trusted him with her life by this point.
"Yeah, that's right..." The male kitten spoke up on her behalf, before clearing his throat. "A- Anyway, come on, sit down, guys!"
The aristocatic family weren't given any more time to prepare themselves, before the other guests came over to the table.
"Sit next to us, Dodger!" Oliver suggested to the Jack Russell, pointing to the chair beside Georgette, before looking at the others. "You too, Rita! Come on over, Uncle Tito! Francis, Einstein, over here!"
With the kittens' heads all turning to look at the dogs, they were given a better look at them as they came over.
Berlioz, sitting on the end, was given the worst of it, when the bulldog took his seat right next to him, looking down at him with somewhat judging eyes.
The sight of this massive dog towering over him like this was unnerving to say the least, and he felt like he could literally eat him at any moment.
There was so much more he wanted to do in his young life. He wanted to perform in the theatres and make his mama proud, like he always dreamed. He wanted to write a masterpiece and achieve fame for his work. He wanted to tell Frou Frou how he felt about her, even with as unlikely as it was that she would accept his feelings, let alone return them.
But now, his life was flashing before his eyes.
However, as he was about to beg for his life, he noticed the bulldog's eyes gaze over at the band stand, where the music was coming from.
"Handel." He spoke up, in a tone that sounded like a mixture of the posh etiquette of Berlioz' own family & the toughness that was expected of these street-dogs.
"H- Huh?" The black cat asked, looking cautious at his single word.
The large dog turned down to him again.
"This song. It's a work of Handel's, I believe." He pointed out, earning a look of surprise from the small boy. "He used it in one of his operas."
His statement caught Berlioz off guard, but he was pleasantly surprised by it, and decided to follow-up.
"Berenice, I think." He answered, and the dog's eyes widened a little.
"You know of it?"
The little cat nodded, before elaborating.
"Yes, sir. I'm a bit of a pianist myself, so I'm familiar with many classical pieces."
The bulldog was clearly impressed with this, and he gave the boy a smile.
"Ahh, a connoisseur of the classical taste~" He remarked, offering a hand to him. "And at such a young age, too. How marvellous~ Call me Francis."
"Berlioz." He replied, taking the dog's hand and shaking it. "I guess you're into this kind of music, too?"
"Quite, my boy." Francis confirmed, straightening his jacket. "Fine music, ballet and theatre are a long-time passion of mine. T'was a time I, myself, took to the stage. But alas, hard times fell, and I was thrust into a new life. But I still carry the memories of the performance, and they shall last forever."
"Whoa..." The kitten whispered, feeling like this story he had to tell sounded like a good one.
Suddenly, his fear about this dog had changed to intrigue. There was more to him than meets the eye, he could tell. And if he loved the same kind of music tastes as him, then they'd likely end up being great friends.
Meanwhile, on the other side of him, Toulouse was still watching the poodle with careful eyes, hoping she wouldn't notice him, for fear of being seen as creepy.
But unfortunately for him, it seemed he had some competition.
"Hey, baby~" The voice of that abrasive chihuahua called out, coming over to the same poodle. "You miss me~?"
"Hello, Alonzo." Georgette greeted without looking at him, even as he placed his arm on the head of her chair.
"What, no kiss for yo' man?" He followed up, not put off by her dismissive tone. "C'mon, show me some love, gorgeous~"
To accompany his words, the Hispanic-sounding canine closed his eyes and leaned in with his lips out.
Toulouse felt his heart skip a beat at his bold move, waiting to see what the response would be.
There were a number of ways he expected this to go, but the one he hoped for was the one he got; she swiftly blocked the incoming kiss with the menu.
"Uh-uh." She warned, her eyes bearly turning to look in his direction. "Especially not in front of the kids, mister."
This caused him to chuckle, as he sat down on the seat besides her, and the kitten watched them with some agitation.
He never felt this way about a girl before, so seeing another man flirting with her felt like a threat to him directly. And if there was anything he had learnt from his dreams of living the tough life on the streets, it was that threats should be matched with confrontation.
"Hey." He spoke up, standing up from his seat. "Knock it off, you creep."
Hearing his remark and knowing it was directed towards him, Tito turned his head to look at the kitten.
And the moment his eyes locked on his, the young cat felt a pang of regret. This dog might've been smaller than the rest, but he was still bigger than him. Plus, he was an adult, and he probably wouldn't hesitate to smack him down.
Yet his stance didn't falter, and he kept his determined glare on him, causing the chihuahua to smirk.
"'Eyy, we got a feisty one over here, man." He remarked, standing up from his seat as well. "You wanna wrestle? C'mon, c'mon, man! Right here!"
The way he was teasing him made the boy grit his teeth, and he reacted accordingly.
"Hssssshhhh!" He hissed, leaning towards the dog, like he was ready for a fight... Even if it was certain that he would lose.
"Grrrrrrr!" Tito growled, mimicking is actions.
"Toulouse!" Thomas announced, standing up and placing a hand on his step-son's shoulder to hold him back. "Easy, tiger. He's not worth it.
"Knock it off, Tito." Dodger also spoke up, sounding like the leader of his pack. "Don't pick on the kid."
"Ahh, man, I was only playing." The smaller dog argued, sitting back down at his seat besides Rita, though keeping his eyes on the little orange kitty.
Said kitty did the same thing as he retook his seat.
Both the feisty boys kept their glares on one another, hoping the other would break and look away first.
But neither of them were going to give in.
"Goodness me..." Duchess remarked with a rightfully worried tone, turning to look at Georgette. "Shouldn't we intervene?"
"That won't be necessary." The poodle remarked, looking at the two boys, then back at the cat. "Alonzo knows his place; he'll calm down in just a moment."
This, and the fact that she & the other dogs were treating this as normal behaviour, only made the aristocratic mother more concerned.
But another look at the two of them showed her what she meant.
Suddenly, instead of glaring, the two of them were actually smiling at one another, even though their brows were still furrowed.
And then, they both began to snicker a little, before breaking out into fits of laughter.
"Hey, I like you, kid." Tito remarked, sin his chair across the table. "You got guts. I'll make a tough guy out of you yet."
"Yeah, yeah..." Toulouse responded, his earlier hostility dissipating into a little grin. "And I'll be sure to teach YOU a lesson, too."
His threatening promise caused the chihuahua to raise an eyebrow, as if he was eager to see what he was made of.
And Toulouse was just as eager to commit to it. Ready any time Tito was. He'd show him who's boss, and prove to Georgette that he was the real man here...
Actually, that wasn't really a factor he was too concerned about. He still thought she was stunning, sure, but he was more focused on winning the respect of these street dogs, and proving himself as the tough alley cat he aspired to be.
A rivalry had birthed from their interaction, and they were kind of looking forward to it.
Meanwhile, in another part of the table, the father figure to the cats had his attention on the one dog he still had his concerns about.
Dodger, as he was called, was giving him something of a bad vibe. Maybe it was the way he was dressed, his mannerisms, or perhaps the fact that he was the leader of this pack.
In a way, he reminded him or Scat Cat and the others back home, but only vaguely. Not enough for him to trust him the way Oliver seemed to.
He seemed like some kind of delinquent that'd be a bad influence on his daughter's friend, and by extension, his daughter.
Subsequently, his trust in his little girl's potential future husband was wavering a little, and he was starting to wonder if he was as safe for her as he was starting to think.
He still wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Marie trusted him, and like most fathers (or close enough), he wanted his girl to be happy. But if that happiness meant leading her down the wrong path with bad people, it needed to be sacrificed, for her own safety.
And he was going to have a word with the one leading her down this path.
"Ahem..." Thomas began, clearing his throat to get the Terrier's attention. "Dodger, wasn't it?"
The dog's ears perked up, and his head turned to look at him.
"That's the name~" He confirmed with a little smugness. "You should be Tommy, right? Pleasure's all yours~"
The condescending tone to his remark put the former stray on edge a bit, though he kept it to himself for now.
"Thomas, to you." He corrected, leaning forwards a little. "Listen, I don't want to make a scene here, but I just want to make one thing clear..."
This prompted the mutt to pay attention to him, as the cat's eyes narrowed.
"You or any of your boys even think about laying a finger on my kids, and I'll show you the way my old gang deals with street punks. Got it?"
Rather than being intimidated, the leader of the gang simply smirked at the feline's threat.
"Easy there, pops..." He replied with a light chuckle. "We don't bite. Besides, the kid & the champ invited us here; we ain't about to ruin their dinner."
Thomas wasn't entirely convinced that he was being truthful, but he figured this was the best he could get out of him.
With a grunt, he leaned back in his seat and rested his arms on the table.
"Fine... But I'm watching you, buster." He warned, keeping his narrowed eyes on the canine.
"Take a good look; it's a sight to behold." Dodger replied, stroking his face in an attempt to look suave.
The older cat's eyes narrowed further, not enjoying the attitude he was getting. Although, he couldn't deny that he would probably answer with the same kind of quip, if this was him.
As much as he didn't like to admit it, this dog reminded him a fair bit of himself. The cool, suave nature he was going for, the way he clearly lived by the streets, being a proud member of a gang like this, something of a father figure to a cat that clearly didn't have their real one, it was a lot like how he was before he met Duchess.
It still didn't mean he trusted him, but he could see him for who he was, rather than just what he was.
While this was going on, another one of the street dogs was talking to the member of the family that was the reason they were here tonight.
Rather than taking her seat, Rita stood behind Oliver & Marie's chairs, a hand on the top of either one of them as she loomed over the young lovers.
"So, this is your little missus~? I can see what he sees in you~" She remarked, looking down at the girl. "You're a real cutie, honey."
The young lady smiled sheepishly at the compliment, especially because it was due to Oliver.
"Th- Thank you, miss..." She responded, trying not to stutter too much.
"Hey, we'll have none of that." The bitch remarked, waving her free hand at her. "Call me aunt Rita, kiddo."
Her attention turned to Oliver next, who looked like he was anticipating a comment about the two of them at his expense.
And he was right.
"Looks like we're gonna be getting a new member of the gang~" She teased, giving him a wink. "Don't rush her into marriage, baby~"
This made him blush, as well as his guest, who gave him a shy glance, feeling her heart pounding.
"Rita...!" The kitten replied, trying to hide his embarrassment. "I- I'm not... We're not even..."
His sentence trailed off, not knowing what he should say in response to that.
Marie wasn't much less flustered by the implication of their relationship, though she wished it was true. Her mind started to wander to thoughts of her walking up to the alter, her veil lifted and his eyes meeting hers, and the big moment when they were officially declared married. As well as what came next~
She had to admit, the idea of them being together like that made her heart flutter, and if she had a choice, she'd do it right now.
"Haaaahhh~" She sighed in the midst of her daydream, batting her eyelids at the idea.
Then, without realising what she was doing, her hand moved to rest on top of his, which was laid on the table, and held it gently.
This caught Oliver's attention, as well as Rita's, causing the former to blush deeper and the latter to giggle behind her hand.
"Well, looks like she's happy with it~" She added, enjoying the sight of the young romance blossoming between them.
It was harder for Oliver to deny that they were a couple, and he knew it. His heart was pounding harder, feeling how soft the kitten girl's touch was.
He tried to change the subject as quickly as he could, without making matters worse.
"A- An- Anyway, uh..." He began clearing his throat before turning to his dog friend. "D- Did I tell you that Marie's a singer, too?"
Rita seemed interested by the detail, looking at the girl with a raised eyebrow.
"That so, sweetie?" She asked, bringing the girl back to Earth when she realised she was being spoken to.
"Oh, yes." She answered earnestly, nodding her head. "I love to sing; I practice my vocals everyday, Miss- I mean... Aunt Rita."
The saluki smiled at being called that, and stroked the feline's hair gently.
"How about that, our little lovebird's also a songbird~" She teased in a familial manner, before looking back at Oliver. "You two up for a duet, for everyone~?"
That idea made the male kitten a little nervous, and the girl wasn't much better.
Marie was well aware of the fact that she had a talent for singing, as her parents testified to, but having to perform for so many people instead of just her family was making her unsure.
Though if she was with Oliver, she felt that there was nothing she couldn't do. That was just the way she felt when she was with him.
He, on the other hand, wasn't as confident. He didn't mind singing; Dodger & Rita had been teaching him a few tunes they knew. But he knew he wasn't exactly the best at it.
Plus, more importantly to him, he didn't want Marie to feel uncomfortable, or to do anything she didn't want to.
"M- Maybe some time..." He suggested, earning a look of understanding from the older dog.
"I'm just teasing, honey." She assured, giving him a knowing wink. "You guys take it at your own pace. Just treat her right, like I know you will."
"Thanks, Rita..." He responded, feeling a little better, but not knowing how to respond to her confidence in him.
Thankfully, he didn't need to worry about that for long.
It was at that moment that the waiters had arrived with the meals, and everyone was ready to eat.
"Whoa!" Toulouse declared, as the buffet-worth of a feast was laid across his eyes.
Everything, ranging from a variety of fish to premium cuts of pork & beef, to neatly decorated salads, to fancy-looking pastas & sauces, to a litany of breads & butter, to an array of desserts, was placed on the table in front of them.
There was so much food on offer, the cat family were overwhelmed by the sight.
"Wow..." His brother spoke up, looking up at their hosts. "Is... Is ALL this for us?"
Georgette smiled at the young gent, before nodding and following it up with an announcement.
"Before we begin, everyone..." She spoke up, standing from her chair with a wine glass in hand. "I believe a toast is in order, to celebrate a certain happy couple~"
"Oh no..." Oliver murmured to himself, already knowing where this was going, and feeling Marie's hand squeeze his in response.
"To our two little sweethearts~" The poodle continued, gesturing the glass to the kittens. "A magical phenomenon across time brought them together, and they found true the same day~"
Her words were making her son blush, resulting in him having to hide his face from the rest of them.
Marie's cheeks were more pink than red, by comparison to his, but she seemed to take the teasing remarks better than he was.
In her eyes, he was still handsome even when he was flustered, and she pressed her cheek against his in response, nuzzling him affectionately.
The sight of them acting this way together was making the ladies swoon; Duchess, Georgette and Rita all awed at the adorable display, while the men had varying degrees of laughter as their reaction.
Still, that didn't mean they weren't happy for them. Berlioz and Toulouse, for as much they fought and spat with Marie in typical sibling fashion, were glad that she found someone who made their sister this happy. As for the gang, Dodger and the boys were proud of Oliver, having made a little lady friend & was treating her right to the point of her family practically welcoming him as one of their own.
And for Thomas, while he was a little concerned about trusting his little girl in the hands of this boy he had only just met, especially seeing as he had connections to street punks like these guys, he could see that Marie really did like him, and he did seem like a nice kid.
He wasn't ready to be calling him his son-in-law yet, but he was warming up to him, and that was good enough for now.
"And I'm sure were all looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them~" The poodle continued, turning her smile into a smirk. "Besides giving me some grandchildren, I'm sure~"
"Mom...!" Oliver groaned, hiding himself even further, while the others laughed.
Once again, Marie seemed to approve of the idea; she had always wanted to be a mommy, and the thought of having kittens with him specifically made her heart soar.
Of course, she didn't want to rush things. She'd wait for as long as he needed.
"It'll be sweet to have some new members in the gang~" Dodger spoke up next, also standing up and raising a glass. "We could always use a few alibis, maybe a getaway driver, if we need one~"
"Dodger..." Rita sighed, rolling her eyes.
The Terrier chuckled to himself, as he continued.
"We couldn't be happier for you, kid." He assured, giving the kitten a genuine smile before looking around the rest of the table. "You gotcha friends, your mom, a new family, and a little missus. Life don't get much better than- Einny!"
Suddenly, everyone's attebtion turned over to the Great Dane, who was already int he midst of stuffing his face.
It wasn't until his name was called did he halt, looking at everyone with darting eyes... Before proceeding to smile with his teeth showing, along with the remnants of food on them.
"Is it my turn?" He asked obliviously, earning a little laugh from Marie's brothers at his lovable stupidity.
"We're not supposed to eat until the toast finished..." Rita spoke with a disappointed tone.
Duchess had to conceal a laugh at his odd nature as well, before she contributed.
"Well, I suppose we had better wrap up." She declared, standing up and raising a glass. "Here's to our little darlings~ May their love be eternal and as pure, now and forever~"
With her toast done, the rest of the table raised their glasses, and echoed "Cheers!", before taking a sip from their drinks.
"Can we eat now, mama?" Berlioz asked, looking eager to dig in. "It all smells so good~"
"Yes, my little ones~" She answered, taking a seat and getting a plate ready. "Enjoy yourselves~"
With that, the families began to get their meals sorted, taking their fair share of the meal.
The kittens in particular were indulging themselves in as much food as they could; there was so much to try, and they didn't want to miss out on any of it.
Not that they were foreign to this kind of luxury, both here and back in their own day, but this food was to die for.
Marie took a little bit of everything, since she didn't want to look too greedy, but the smell alone was making her mouth water, and she couldn't resist reaching for a piece of fish...
Just as Oliver did the same.
Suddenly, their hands made contact with one another, both of them taking the same piece of salmon, and they gasped.
"Oh, s- sorry..." The boy apologised, retracting his hand.
"That's alright~" The girl replied with a smile, before gently taking the piece from the tray and dividing it in half. "Here~"
Offering him half of it, Oliver blushed and took it, with her doing the same with hers.
"Hey, Marie?" He asked, as he began to eat his half.
"Yes, Oliver~?" She responded, her eyes fixed on his as she awaited his reply.
"I just... Wanted to say... I'm really glad you're here." He spoke up, his tone sincere. "And... I'm sorry. I didn't think tonight would... Go like this. I mean, I was excited about you meeting the rest of the guys, but I didn't mean for them to embarrass us like this..."
The little lady had to giggle at him, before she moved her seat closer to his & reste her head on his shoulder, looking up at him.
"Oliver..." She whispered to him with batting eyelids. "Tonight's been wonderful~ I'm so happy you invited your family, too~"
Her response made him feel better about it, and he smiled back at her.
Seeing the young couple like this made the gang and the cat family both share the same sentiment; this was what it was all for, seeing them happy together like this.
Most of them anyway.
"I dunno about this, babes." Thomas remarked, looking at the two with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not sure about this kid, being in a gang and all..."
"Thomas, darling, please." Duchess reassured, swallowing a piece of pork. "Oliver's a very sweet boy, I can vouch for that."
Her husband grumbled, before turning his head to look at the Terrier sitting near him.
"See something you like, big guy?" Dodger asked with a smirk, catching him looking.
"Watch it, pal..." Thomas shot back, reaching for a chicken drumstick.
Once again, Dodger didn't seem bothered by the cat's uncertainty of him. He seemed certain that he'd come around, eventually.
"Look, it's not that I don't trust the kid; if you say he's on the level, then he oughta be." The orange feline continued, looking over the rest of the canines. "I'm just worried about what's gonna become of him, and where it's gonna lead little Marie, and the boys, for that matter. I mean, if they hang around these guys, that's like-"
"Like when they "hang around" monsieur Scat Cat & the rest of your entourage?" His wife commented, showing a rare moment of interrupting someone mid-sentence. "If it leads to them to be like you were, before we met?"
Her remark was unexpected, but not untrue. Before they got together, Thomas wasn't exactly a prime example of the ritzy life. He was a stray, living the street life & all the dangers that came with it, and he didn't want the kids getting into the same trouble he had been.
No matter how much Toulouse insisted he lived for that kind of danger.
But as much as he didn't want to admit it, this Dodger guy reminded him of that. Just witha bit more of an ego.
He wasn't necessarily proud of those days, but he was happy and still knew right from wrong. It wasn't like he was only out for himself, and at the very least, he had his own gang to have his back.
If that was the kind of life that these dogs lived, then maybe these guys weren't... So bad. Plus, if they were personally invited by this poodle chick to be here, they must've been a pretty good influence on her kid.
"Yeah, I guess..." The male cat sighed, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt. "I just don't wanna see him trying something funny on our girl, is all..."
"You don't need to worry about that." The voice of the other bitch in the room told him, as she spoke up from her seat.
He turned his attention to the saluki, who was looking over at them with a smile on her face.
"I've been babysitting these boys for years, so watching Oliver ain't any different." She added, stabbing her fork into a slice of foie gras. "He'd never do anything to hurt her."
This helped to ease the father's mind a little, and he was glad to hear that from someone who knew him better than he did.
His attention then turned back to the two kittens, who were talking about something as they enjoyed their meal.
As much as he still had reason to be concerned, seeing his girl so happy brought him to the same feeling.
"Alright..." He muttered under his breath, smiling a little at the sight. "I guess I trust him... Until he gives me a reason not to."
"Thank you, Thomas." Duchess whispered back, giving his cheek a kiss in response.
Seeing the affectio between them, Dodger and Rita smiled before sharing a look with each other.
"Reminds you of anyone?" The Terrier asked, causing the bitch to chuckle a little.
"Not at all~" She answered, going back to her meal.
Meanwhile, with Berlioz still conversing about music and their shared interests with his acquaintance, and with Toulouse sharing glares with his new rival, the two that brought them all here were more focused on their conversation.
"So..." Oliver spoke up, wiping the mess around his mouth with a napkin. "You're not afraid of my friends anymore?"
Looking over at the dogs in question, Marie could see them enjoying their food and talking amongst themselves.
"I think they're nice." She replied, looking back at him. "Besides, I can't be afraid of anything, when I have my prince with me~"
Her statement made him blush again, and he had to look away. It was like she knew just what to say to make his heart race.
His reaction caused her to giggle, before she moved in closer, pressing her cheek against his again.
"Thank you for inviting us, Oliver~" She added, nuzzling him affectionately. "This has been a wonderful night~"
He had to agree; despite some shortcomings, tonight had been amazing, and he wished the evening wouldn't end.
But it would be ending soon, and when it did, he was going to have to take her home. and say goodnight.
***
Sooner than either of them would've liked, that was exactly what happened.
The clock had just about reached 9, and the sky was getting darker by the second. The sun had set, and that meant it was past the kittens' bedtime.
The group had left the restaurant and were returning to the hotel, where the families would split up and head their separate ways.
Of course, they wanted to see this through to the end, and walked together all the way to the front door of the building.
"Thank you so much for the wonderful night, Georgette~" Duchess spoke up, turning to the poodle. "It was very kind of you to treat us all~"
"Most certainly, my dear~" Georgette replied, with a smile. "You all were a delight~"
"Thank you, miss..." The boys chimed in, rubbing their full tummies with a mix of regret and no regret.
"I see you boys have had your fill." She remarked with a giggle. "I hope all that ice-cream doesn't give you too bad of a tummyache."
Berlioz had to conceal a little belch at the mention of the sweet dessert, before answering.
"We only had 4 bowls..." He remarked, turning to look at Francis. "I don't know how you managed 10."
"A true poet needs his fill, to energise his mind for a sincerely meaningful sonnet." The bulldog answered, looking prideful in his repsonse as he sounded in his work.
"More like a walrus needs his fill, for a sincerely long nap." Toulouse whispered to his brother, getting a little laugh from him.
"Beg pardon?" Francis inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I said I had a lot of fun." Toulouse added out loud, before glancing over at the short chihuahua.
The dog gave him a smirk, and he returned it.
"Grrrrr..."
"Hsssss...."
These two were definitely going to have to settle this later.
The mothers giggled at their antics, before the cat turned to her male companion.
"I suppose we should be getting the children to bed." She suggested, stroking the boys' heads. "Thomas, would you mind? I think Marie wants to say goodbye, first."
"Sure thing, toots." He answered, before turning to his step-sons. "Maestro, Tiger, let's go."
The boys didn't argue, since they were feeling a little tired themselves and really wante to lie down after the biggest meal of their lives.
With that, the three of them made their way to the door & towards their hotel room.
Before leaving, however, Thomas turned back to look at his little girl & her date. With the way they were standing, Oliver could see him looking and felt his nerves coming back.
But his fears were soon put at ease, when he saw the father cat give him a smile.
"See you later, kid." He told him with a small smile, before heading through the door.
The kitten's heart lifted; that was a good sign that he was in good steads with the dad at last. Though he still had to deal with the girl's brothers at some point, he was sure.
But ntil then, he had Marie to address.
"Thank you for a wonderful night, Oliver~" The little lady spoke up, taking his hands into her own. "This was the best evening yet~"
"I... I'm glad you think so." He replied, trying not to blush too much at her words & contact.
But that would be even more of a challenge, when she did what she did next.
Slowly, she leaned in towards him, her eyes closed and her lips puckered.
Seeing her pink lips pointed towards him made his heart skip a beat, and with both their mothers watching, he knew he couldn't refuse.
So he tightly closed his eyes, and inched in slowly, until contact was made.
The feel of her soft mouth pressing against his own sent shivers down his spine, and he hoped he was doing it right.
She didn't seem to object, even pressing herself in a little more to enjoy it for what it was worth.
They heard the ladies cooing at the display, followed by a bout of applause at the young love birds' kiss.
It was nice to have that encouragement, though it still made them blush a little.
After a few seconds, Marie broke off from the embrace and moved back, opening her eyes again.
"I'll see you tomorrow~" She promised, before turning around and following after the rest of her family.
Oliver stood there for a moment, in awe at what had just happened, before he finally smiled again, then turned to his own mom.
"So, did you have fun?" Georgette asked him, with a knowing smirk.
The kitten nodded his head with a large grin.
"Yeah... It was great..." He answered, before looking back at the front doors of the hotel. "I can't wait for tomorrow..."
"Someone's gonna be having sweet dreams tonight~" Dodger commented, getting a little nudge on the arm from Rita.
"Leave him be, Dodge." She remarked, looking down at her little friend.
The cat blushed a little, but didn't deny it; the thought of that perfect girl being the last thing on his mind before he fell asleep was hard to resist.
"Alright, time we made tracks." The Terrier announced, looking at the rest of them. "Let's split, guys."
"Goodnight, Oliver." Rita wished, leaning down and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Do me proud, with her."
"Night, kid." Tito added, ruffling the kitten's head before looking at the poodle. "Hey, how's about a goodnight kiss for your man, baby~?"
"Maybe in YOUR dreams." Georgette responded, heading off with her son.
"See you, guys!" Oliver called happily, waving them off.
"Farewell, young prince." Francis told him with a bow. "May the sandman visit ye and bring pleasantries."
"I'm sure he will." Oliver replied, before looking at the Great Dane. "G'night, Einstein. Thanks for coming."
"Thanks for the grub!" He answered with a cheery smile.
And with that, the gang went their separate ways, leaving the boy and his mom alone.
The poodle looked down at her son, who was still looking up at the hotel with a longing gaze.
"Missing her already?" She asked, causing him to flinch.
He turned around to face her, trying to deny it.
"N- No! I was just... Thinking..."
The smile on her face told him she didn't believe him, and he looked away.
That gave her the chance to lean down and pull him in to a hug, stroking his head in the process.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetie." She whispered into his ear, making him smile again. "You were a complete gentleman, from beginning to end. That's my son~"
He knew that he did try to act the part, but he was a little surprised to hear how good he was at it, especially from her.
"Thanks, mom..." He replied, hugging her back as he closed his eyes.
Their embrace lasted a little while, before Georgette spoke up.
"So, ready to head to bed?" She asked with a stroke of his head.
Though she was surprised when he didn't answer right away, and when she pulled him away, his eyes were still closed.
"Zzzzzz..." His soft snoring told her that he had dozed off, right there in her arms.
The poodle couldn't help but giggle at the sight; it wasn't the first time her son had fallen asleep on her, but it was still cute to see.
So, she lifted him into her arms and carried him home, gently closing her eyes and wishing him the sweetest dreams for the night.
And sweet they would be.
