Family Decisions

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

01/02/99:

"Welcome back," Kalie said as I came into the kitchen. She
was sitting at the table, finishing the last bit of a large
meal and reading a newspaper. She looked relaxed, but had a
slight nervous twitch to her that was unfamiliar.

I smiled to her as I set my bag down next to the table.
"Thanks," I replied, as I pulled out the teapot and started
some water on the boil.

"Enjoy your trip home?" she asked quietly, flipping the
page.

"Very much," I answered, smiling broadly as I pulled out the
tea leaves and started to rip some small pieces off the
large palm. "Though I had quite a time explaining Oriana to
my Mom."

She laughed softly, "How did she take the announcement."

"Better than you might excpect," I said, pulling a cup from
the cupboard. "By the way, would you like some tea?"

"I'd rather not," she answered.

I nodded, closing the cupboard, and preparing my cup. "I
told her that Oria and I were engaged," I continued, "but
left out some important facts." I returned to the teapot and
poured the water into my cup.

"Like the fact that she is pregnant?" Kalie suggested.

"That," I answered, stirring the tea as I sat down at the
table. "And that she's not human, or the fact that she used
to run a whore house."

She nodded, smiling slightly. "Sounds like you didn't tell
her much then."

I laughed. "I told her a lot, it just didn't add up to much.
Said the same thing half-a-dozen times in different ways. At
least once Oria and I are married she can come to Earth."

She smiled wider, then glanced down at her empty plate.
"Sounds like you had fun, then. It's always nice to go visit
your parents whenever you get the chance." The tone of her
voice implied more than she said, but I wasn't sure how.

I stirred my tea a bit more. "Speaking of Oria, where is
she?"

"I'm not sure," she answered, folding the paper up and
setting it down on the table in front of her, gently
pressing out the creases in the pages. "She took Beca to the
market... at least I think she did. I'm not sure why,
though."

"Oh, she's just a good mother," I answered, smiling a bit as
I remembered some of the things she told me just days after
we had met. She had said she didn't want children, and
couldn't stand them. I chuckled softly at the memory.

"Fox!" Oria said as she stepped into the kitchen, Beca
curled up in her arms, asleep.

I laughed harder, smiling wide. "Your timing is impeccable,
we were just talking about you!"

"So is yours," she said, bending over and kissing me on my
cheek. "We have an appointment with Rachel in two hours."

"That's cutting it a bit close," I answered, glancing at my
watch. "I thought you would schedule it for after I was
Rhea."

"I'm sorry," she said, adjusting Beca in her arms. "Rachel
called the day after you left, and said this was our only
chance to talk to her for a month. I guess she's going on
some kind of personal visit to all the worlds that will be
in the Consortium."

"Oh," I answered in a monotone voice, blinking slightly.
This was cutting it close; I had considered staying one more
night and leaving in the early morning so I could get back
in time to shift. It was only because my family had other
plans that I left went I did.

"You get ready, and dress nicely," she said, starting out of
the room. "I bought you something a little nicer than you
normally wear, it should be laid out on the bed. I'll put
Beca down and join you in a few minutes." Then she was gone
down the hallway.

I sighed, sipping at my tea. "There goes my schedule," I
said, shaking my head.

Kalie laughed as she stood up and took her plate over to the
sink. "I have never seen you keep any kind of schedule Fox,
I don't think the gods would allow it."

With a shrug, I stood up, "knowing some of the gods I've
crossed, I wouldn't doubt it in the least." Then, my cup
still in hand, I headed to the bedroom.

I found the clothing right away, folded up neatly on the
bed, which was made very nicely with proper corners and
everything. I guess that was the biggest difference between
Oria and I; she was neat.

Finishing my tea, I took out my contacts (colored ones, so
my family wouldn't notice the change) and  took a quick
shower, just enough to get clean and make my hair stay down.
Back in the room, Oria was waiting, she was dressed in
somewhat formal wear: a light gray shirt, with matching
pants, both of which seemed to be loose enough to fluff out
a bit as she moved.

"Nice," I said, walking over to the bed, and picking up the
clothing she got for me. It was essentially the same outfit,
but in black. I noticed that the tail hole had been
carefully sewn up so that it didn't show unless you were
looking for it.

The fabric was some kind of silk. Very light, soft to the
touch, and very comfortable. I also found that it included a
pair of soft shoes in the same color as well. Another
accommodation to me since Oria's race didn't use shoes most
of the time, and she wasn't wearing them at the time,
herself.

Buttoning the top closed, I adjusted it over my shoulder,
then took a look at myself in the mirror. The fabric almost
swayed as I moved, the small air currents caused by my
walking pulled and tugged it out, even when I came to a
stop.

"This is formal wear?" I asked Oria, smiling to her
reflection in the mirror.

"Not really formal," she answered, walking up behind me and
adjusting the collar a bit. "It's a casual dress for almost
formal occasions. Asking Rachel to marry us does qualify."

I nodded, and cleaned my glasses quickly as Oria pulled her
fingers though my hair, tying it back so it was in a loose
ponytail.

"Almost long enough to braid it," I commented as I returned
my glasses to their perch on my nose.

She smiled to me, and pulled my hair back again, I could
feel her tugging on it in a few directions, but she didn't
allow me to see it. Finally she grabbed another hair tie and
tied it off. "There," she said, turning me sideways.

Picking up one of the hand mirrors, I checked my profile in
the mirror. She had managed to get a short pig-tail from my
hair. It didn't hang down far, but it was a start. "Thanks,"
I said, setting the mirror down, then spun on my heel, and
kissed her gently.

She returned the kiss, but it lasted for a woefully short
time. She pushed me away, and patted some of my hair down.
"Now is not the time to get distracted, Fox."

I nodded, taking a step back from her, and playing with her
top a bit. She laughed and swatted my hands away. "My
clothing is fine!"

Sticking my tongue out at her, I walked over and sat down on
the bed. Playing with the buttons on the shirt a bit, I
fiddled the bottom one in and out of it's hole.

"Nervous?" Oria asked as she sat down on the bed next to me,
resting one paw on my leg.

My response was a short nod.

"So am I," she said, patting my leg gently.

"I'm still not really comfortable with marrying two people,"
I told her, placing my own hand on her leg. "It just goes
against everything I've always been taught."

She smiled a bit, cuddling up a bit closer to me. "I know,
Fox, just like the idea of lacking that third makes me
worried. Cultures clash, that's why cross-cultural
relationships are always discouraged. Thank you, though, for
being willing to take this on. I know how it must make you
feel."

I returned her smile, as I slowly petted her leg, feeling
her fur move under the pant leg. "I understand why you want
this as well, Oria, I'm perfectly willing to provide it, I
just don't want to share you."

She laughed deeply, pressing herself close to me. "And what
about my profession, hum? I'm still a whore, even if it's
only a part-time job. You will still be sharing me then."

"Just feels different," I answered, which was true. Somehow
that fact of what she did didn't give me that strange
feeling in the pit of my stomach, but having to share her
with someone else in a marriage, that seemed somehow wrong.

"I'm not sure how I feel," she told me, nuzzling her cheek
against my neck. "I know what I want, but somehow, being
with just you seems to feel righter than it should. We do
need three people to be married, that's accepted, but we
don't have to all live together. It could just be you and
me, and Rachel would do what she wanted."

The logic made perfect sense, but still, "It just doesn't
seem fair."

"How about we wait and see how it turns out?" she suggested,
pulling back slightly. "Once we're all together we can
decide how to deal with things."

I nodded slightly, smiling up to her.

A quick glance of her watch led her to eep softly. "We're
going to have to leave soon, or else we're going to be
late!" she said as she shot to her feet.

"Of course," I answered, standing up as well, watching as
her tail swished quickly from side to side. "We wouldn't
want to be late for this."

She gave me a sharp little nod, and started out the door. I
followed just behind her, perfectly content to allow her to
lead this trip. This really was her choice, and I was
perfectly willing to go along it.

We walked though the house, only stopping to tell Sora and
Kalie to keep on eye on Beca while we were gone. Once
outside the front door we found a taxi waiting at the end of
the driveway, the driver looking slightly impatient with us.

As we climbed into the car, Oria gave the driver our
destination as I slipped my debit card through the slot on
the back of the seat.

Once in the air I took Oria's paw, holding it gently. She
was nervous, that was plain to see. Her ears were twitching
back and forth, and she keep talking to herself under her
breath. Trying to reassure herself, I guess; I could have
used some myself, my nerves were just as bad as hers.

While the ride continued, I was gently stroking the fur on
the top of Oria's paw. I felt just as nervous as she did,
which caused a tense and cold feeling to gather at the base
of my spine. I probably showed it just as much as Oria did
if anyone cared to look.

Neither one of us said a word as we traveled through town,
the taxi moving effortlessly through the mid-afternoon
traffic on it's way to the Marble Hall. After a few short
minutes of travel we were set down at the closest entrance
to Rachel's office.

With her paw held in my hand we walked into the Hall, moving
quickly down the levels until we came to the old Council
offices. The lobby was devoid of anyone, so we went back on
our own. Navigating the complex corridors we finally came to
Rachel's office.

Her secretary saw us, and waved for us to go right into the
office. We did so quietly, closing the door behind us.
Rachel was bent over her desk, doing some work, only
watching us out of the corner of her eye.

I helped Oria lower herself into one of the chairs, and I
took another one. We still had not let go of each other
throughout this whole process.

We all sat like that for the next few minutes. The only
sound in the room was from our breathing, and from the
papers and PADDs on Rachel's desk as she sorted through
them.

Finally she set her pen down, gathered up the papers in
front of her, and set them to the side. Then moving her
chair back she looked up at us, a smile drifting across her
muzzle. "I'm sorry to force you to make an appointment, but
things have been hectic lately, and I hardly have time to
sleep."

"I understand," I answered, "I'm in much the same position
with IMF, lots to do, and no time at all to do it in."

She smiled a bit more, before standing up and stretching out
her arms as she walked around the desk. Pulling out one of
the other chairs from the corner of the room, she sat down
in front of us.

"What did you want to talk about?" she asked.

"Ah, well..." I started, finding that I couldn't think of
how to broach the subject to her. "I think it would be
better for you to explain, Oria."

She nodded, squeezing my hand gently. "We would like you to
be married with us," she said, her voice catching slightly
as she asked.

Rachel looked slightly stunned, almost frozen as she thought
about what she had just been asked. "You mean," she finally
said, "Perform the ceremony?"

Oria slowly shook her head. "No, Rachel. My culture requires
three people for a marriage, we would like you to be that
third."

"Oh," she said, slumping back in her chair, resting her paws
in her lap. "Why me? I... you had enough trouble accepting
Fox as a partner, it would be even harder for me."

"I think we can, though," she answered, shifting slightly in
her chair. "You are very special to both of us."

Rachel nodded, pulling herself to her feet. "What about
Sora, Jadith, your own sister, Oriana? They have more free
time and are better qualified than I would ever be."

"Sora and Jadith are both out of the question for many
reasons," was her answered, "and my sister is just a
disgusting thought."

She nodded, walking back around her desk. "I'm sorry, such
things are acceptable in my world." She sounded slightly
stunned as she spoke.

I frowned, I knew where this was quickly going, and squeezed
Oria's paw tightly. She returned the gesture with the same
amount of strength.

Rachel sat down in her chair, and pulled it up behind her
desk. "I can't accept your offer," she answered, measuring
each word as she spoke, the stunned sound in her voice
growing. "I can see how important this is to the both of
you, but there is no way I can accept being married again.
I'm sorry."

Oria gripped my hand so hard that her claws cut into my
skin. Hard enough that she forced my own claws to unsheathe.
Otherwise she was completely still, even her breathing had
become shallow enough that I had to listen hard to still
hear it.

It was a panic reaction.

Reaching over with my free hand, I squeezed on her shoulder.
She jumped a bit, yanking her paw away from my hand before
turning to look at me. The reaction was made of sadness and
shock rolled into one.

"Thank you, Rachel," I said, not taking my eyes off of Oria,
"We'll see you again when you get back." I stood up after I
spoke, pulling on her shoulder gently as she came to her
feet.

"I'm sorry," Rachel said, her voice almost a whisper.

Neither of us turned to look at her, instead we just left
her office. Not in anger, but more of a contained sadness.
Slowly we walked out of the offices and then out of the
Hall.

Once into the city, we didn't hail a cab, we just drifted
into the park. With each step Oria was leaning on me more
and more, finally I was carrying her. She had her arms
wrapped around my neck and I had my arms under her rear.

Eventually we came to a stop deep in the forest of the park.
Settling down onto the floor of pine needles and leaves I
continued to hold Oria, even as she started to cry into my
shoulder.

I comforted her the best I could, neither one of us saying
anything as we sat in the slowly moving shade. We just sat
there, even after she had stopped crying and was just hiding
her face in my shoulder.

"I had hoped that I could have a proper family," Oria
finally said after an hour had past. I felt it best to say
nothing at this point in time.

Carefully she pulled herself out of my hands, sitting down a
few feet away and looking up at the trees around us. "It
took me a long time to believe that I could have a real
family. Three people, married together, two mothers one
father, and our children."

She turned around to face me. "Did you know that even in my
religion, it's a Sin to have children without being
married?"

I shook my head.

"It is, there are also _penalties_ for it," she said the
word penalties with some trepidation. "If we lived on my
world, it would be grounds to close the House down."

"So it's a very bad thing, then," I said.

She nodded slowly.

"I don't know what to do."

She sat back down next to me. "Neither do I," she rested her
head against my shoulder, wrapping her arms around my chest.
"Neither do I."

-----

This story is (c) 1999 by Fox Cutter, hardcopy reprints
limited to one a person, all other rights reserved. This
story may not be distributed for a fee except by permission
of the author, and this copyright notice may not be removed.