No additional warnings for this scene.
One Year Later
Ray carefully checked each one, like he did every morning and every evening and on the days he took long lunches and before they sat down for dinner and during commercial breaks. He picked it up, inspected it, and put it back. They all got equal time.
“I’m sure Dief or Daisy would let us know if there was a problem, say, if one of them grew an extra leg.” Fraser said blandly from the doorway of the utility room.
“I am like their godfather, okay? It’s my job to make sure everything is just right for them, that they are all happy.” He picked up the next puppy.
Ray walked in behind Fraser and looked at the litter. “They’re getting fat.”
“They are puppies, that’s their job. Fat and happy.” Ray smiled beatifically and tickled the belly of the little male pup in his hand. Fraser could not stop himself from smiling, even if he wanted to.
“Well they better be happy, we bought a damn house for them.” Ray grumbled, and walked over to check the clothes in the dryer, staying clear of Daisy’s nest. In the chaos of the birthing, he ended up with afterbirth on his Armani slacks and had forgiven no one as of yet. Fraser held out hope.
“Actually, Ray, the house is more of an investment, and you were always the one complaining about having to take Dief and Daisy to the park for a walk twice a day.”
“Yeah, despite the fact that YOU never walked them.” Ray said snippily, picking up another puppy. Daisy watched his hands carefully, trusting but still protective. He was the only one of them she allowed to manhandle the puppies in the days after their birth, and even now he could get closer to the litter than anyone else, including Dief.
Ray folded clothes, casting furtive, affectionate looks towards Ray on the floor with the puppies, blushing when Fraser caught him at it.
“Seems a shame, though.” Ray sighed, putting down the last puppy and scratching Daisy’s chin.
“What?” Fraser stepped closer, wondering if Ray saw a problem with one of the litter.
“Well, this big two story house, nice area of town. Decent yard. Dog. Half-wolf. Puppies.” He trailed off, not looking at them. “Good schools.”
Ray dropped the socks he was holding and turned to Fraser, who just barely stopped himself from stepping backwards into the ironing board. They stared at each other in shock and then looked at Ray, who was still petting Daisy, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“I mean, we got good jobs. Who wouldn’t want Fraser as a dad, anyway? It’s not like we use the other two bedrooms for anything. Lots of kids need dads, and here? Three dads, ready made. We could do it. We could do it right.”
Fraser desperately fell into parade rest and looked towards Ray for guidance, but he was busy flapping socks in the air, frustrated and beyond words and rolling his eyes.
“Kids love puppies,” Ray announced from his spot on the floor, as if that explained everything. The puppies crawling over his legs all seemed to agree.