Claude lifted his hands to smooth down Berger's sport coat collar one more time. His lover caught the hands before they got even halfway up to said collar and pressed kisses to both of them. Expression serious, but eyes laughing, Berger said, "Enough, Claudio. My collar is straight, my buttons are matched, my pants are ironed. There isn't a piece of lint brave enough to even dare approach me. It's going to be fine."

Blushing, Claude ducked his head, "I'm sorry. It's just... I just..." He cut himself off with a frustrated noise.

Lifting a hand to lightly caress Claude's face, Berger smiled softly in understanding, "Look... I don't have to go, you know."

Claude's head immediately jerked up, dismayed eyes locking onto Berger's, "No! You really do, Berger. Sarah's finally off the drugs and she has such a wonderful foster family and she's been doing so well... she doesn't need another role model bailing on her when she needs him."

Cupping Claude's face in his hands, Berger pressed a light kiss to his lips, "Then stop stressing about it. We're gonna go to the art show, Crissy and I are going to see Sarah's paintings and you're going to wander around the room so all your students can show theirs off to you. Our paths don't even have to cross at all tonight if you're that worried about it, OK? Your principal will never even suspect that we know each other."

Claude dropped his head to rest against Berger's chest, hands crushing the sport coat he'd been so obsessively smoothing just a few minutes earlier, "Sometimes I think I really don't deserve you."

Chuckling quietly, Berger wrapped his arms around the other man and said teasingly, "It's 'cuz you don't. I've always been too good for you, but you have your uses, so I let you stick around." Ignoring Claude's snort of disbelief, he added, "But now that you've gone and rumpled the first nice, suit-like outfit I've worn since my grandfather's funeral, I may need to rethink that."

Claude raised his head and frowned at his lover, "You told me you were six when your grandfather died."

Giving Claude a beaming smile as he stepped away to get his keys, Berger said, "I was!"

Groaning softly, Claude shook his head, "You know... I knew the tie was a losing battle before we even fought it and I was surprised that you caved on the idea of the slacks and sport coat... I'm never going to get you into a suit again, am I?"

Claude wouldn't have thought it possible for Berger's grin to get any wider, but it did, "Probably not."

Eyes lighting at the phrasing, Claude asked, "Probably?" At Berger's sly grin, Claude immediately slipped an arm through the crook of the other man's, "Have I mentioned how handsome you look?"

Berger's eyes were positively dancing as he led Claude out of the apartment, "Not in the last five minutes. Keep talking... maybe you can convince me."

With twinkling eyes, Claude started talking, "You're quite dashing, really. One might almost say debonair." When Berger almost stumbled from laughing so hard, Claude knew he had the fish hooked -- now it was time to reel him in. Mood fully lightened, Claude continued to expound on Berger's physical virtues all the way to the high school.

When they reached the building, it was to find Crissy already outside waiting for them. As they approached, her eyes widened and her face flushed. Claude was almost afraid to ask what the petite brunette was thinking about to have made her eyes glaze over like that. When they were within a few steps of her, she let out a low wolf whistle. Making a twirling motion with one finger, she indicated that they should each turn around for her. They each did so, so she could get a view from all sides. When they were done, she said, "Damn, but you boys clean up nice! I am impressed!"

Berger smiled, "It was all Claude's doing. I think he was embarrassed to be seen with me in my usual clothes."

Crissy smirked in response, "Ironic since I'll be the one getting to hang all over you, tonight." Tossing Claude a broad wink, she added, "So, thank you, Claude! I appreciate the effort!"

Sighing heavily, Claude slumped, "Don't remind me. I'd rather be with you two than playing the room making admiring noises about artwork that I mostly don't care about."

Crissy lifted a hand to pat his cheek, "Poor Claude. At least you'll get to make up for it later when we meet the gang for dinner, right?"

As Claude crossed his arms over his chest and assumed a grumpy expression, Berger laughed. Turning to Crissy, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "After an entire night of seeing me dressed up -- with a woman draped on my arm, no less -- and after having to pretend he doesn't know me for that entire time... I doubt that Claude's preferred way to 'make up for it' will involve a public place and a large group of people, Crissy."

Confusion filled her eyes at Berger's words, but when she caught sight of Claude's now intense blush, she clued in. Snickering to herself she said, "Ohhhh... I see." Tapping a finger against her chin, she then said, "Funny... those limitations never stopped you two in the past..."

Berger burst out laughing and Claude just spluttered, "Well, we're not 18 anymore and these aren't the 60s, Crissy!"

Reining in his laughter to a dirty snicker, Berger pinched Crissy's cheek, "Yeah, no more orgies in the park for you, Crissy. Sorry!"

"That's it. I'm walking away from you guys before you get me into trouble," and with that last statement, Claude stalked away.

Sighing dramatically, Crissy said, "No sense of humor. Shall we go find Sarah and get this ball rolling, then?"

With a gallant wave of his hand, Berger said, "Oh please, lets," and led her into the school.

Claude eyed his watch with a small groan. Only 7:45. The school's yearly art show was not his idea of a good time. Back in Kansas he'd usually managed to wiggle out of going. He'd gone the first year he'd worked in this school out of a sense of responsibility. When he'd discovered that student art shows were as torturous in New York as they were in Kansas, he'd tried to duck out of it this year. Then Berger had dropped his little bombshell into Claude's neatly laid non-plans. The poor girl that Crissy had told them about what seemed like forever and a day ago, but in reality hadn't been more than a few months, had done wonders for his lover's self esteem. Helping her get over her addiction and get settled into her new life with her foster parents had given him a real sense of purpose in his own life. Claude couldn't be happier for him or prouder of him. And underneath all her anger, Sarah was a sweet girl -- she deserved the second chance that Berger's support had given her. So, when she'd shyly asked Berger to come to see her entries to the art show, he hadn't hesitated to say 'Yes'. They hadn't realized that she went to Claude's school until after the fact. And so, he was stuck. He couldn't let Berger and Crissy loose in his school without him there to do any necessary damage control -- especially since at least one teacher now knew who Berger really was.

Digging up another insincere smile from somewhere, he moved to the next young artist in line. He was surprised to be met by a quiet snicker. Looking down into the bright blue eyes of Kelly Donovan, his smile gained at least a touch of sincerity. The girl had become one of his staunchest supporters ever since that day in March when he'd bared his soul to her and the rest of her class. If she wasn't so brightly innocent about her almost groupie-like behavior, he'd have been extremely uncomfortable around the girl, but it was hard to be offended by anything she did. She just had that kind of a way about her.

Beaming up into his pained eyes, she asked innocently, "Are you having fun yet, Mr. Bukowski?"

"Of course I am, Ms. Donovan. Why wouldn't I be?" He'd answered too fast. He could tell the moment the words left his mouth and he winced accordingly.

She just smiled, "Not a big art fan, are you?"

Dropping the smile that was starting to make his face hurt, he sighed, "No... not really." Recovering quickly, he added, "But I'm sure your work is beautiful. Why don't you show it to me?"

Laughing out loud, she led him over to where her artwork was hanging. He couldn't have said if they were any good and he wasn't entirely sure what he was looking at, but he had to admit, the chalk pastels that she'd used certainly had a pleasing look to them. At least the colors were nice.

Kelly's excited voice broke through his musing, "Oh! I almost forgot! Since you're here, I'd really like my dad to meet you! I managed to convince him to come and I'm not sure I'll get another chance to get the two of you to meet. Wait right there, I'll go find him!"

Before he even had a chance to answer, the girl had scampered off. Not long after that infamous class, several of those students had started coming by his classroom and just hanging out for the extra-help period. Comfortable with them in a way he wasn't with most of his students, thanks to the unusual circumstances, he'd found himself not minding the company. Kelly seemed to come around more consistently than the others, but it didn't really bother him, especially since she'd so clearly needed someone to talk to and his own show of bravery in the classroom that day was what had given her the courage to seek him out in the first place.

Her parents had gotten married a few years after she was born -- apparently, her father hadn't known about her until then. When he found out, he'd promised to take care of the woman and child, not really considering whether they were a good permanent match, just desperately wanting to do right by them. The early years of the marriage had at least been happy ones. Her mother had a good job working in business and her father worked in a small music store. Then they had another child -- her little sister, Eileen -- and that was when it started going downhill.

Her mother had ambitions for herself, very high ambitions, and they didn't involve staying home and raising two children. Her father, on the other hand, would have been happy with barely two pennies to rub together and adored his little girls with everything in him. Unfortunately, the people that her mother worked with and the friends that she had didn't find it an acceptable solution that the husband should stay home with the children while their mother worked. The strain of the situation had broken their marriage, but it wasn't until last year that the divorce had been finalized and her father had gotten custody of them. He'd moved them to the city where he'd lived when he was younger and opened his own music store. That at least let him dictate his own hours so he could be around when they needed him. For the most part, Kelly had admitted that she and her sister were much happier now, as was their father, but that didn't mean it was easy.

Claude had to admit, he'd been interested in meeting the man ever since Kelly had first started talking about him. He sounded like an interesting fellow, and more importantly, he'd gotten this odd feeling that Mr. Donovan and Berger might understand each other, maybe could even be friends... and Berger could use a few more. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't immediately notice as Kelly came back, practically dragging her father behind her. He heard her voice before he saw them, "OK, Dad! This is the teacher I was talking about that I wanted you to meet. Mr. Bukowski, this is my dad, Neil."

It was on that last word that Claude finally got himself turned around to face the pair... and then froze in absolute shock. Fortunately, the lanky, long-haired, slightly scruffy man standing across from him wasn't fairing any better. They stared at each other for what felt like hours, then just when Kelly looked like she was going to step in and say something, they started babbling at each other at once.

"Jeanie said she lost touch with you almost 8 years ago and she hasn't been able to find you since! We've been looking ever since I got back! Where the hell have you been?"

"I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!! You're not dead! Holy sweet Jesus, G-d in heaven, I knew it! I was right! Take that, Miss 'I know everything' Franklin!"

They both paused for breath at the same moment and in so doing, realized that by babbling at each other at more than a polite volume and grabbing each other in back-breaking hugs, they'd brought more than a little bit of attention to themselves. Poor Kelly looked like she was torn between wanting to shrink into the floor and wanting to join in the excitement. Blushing intensely and smiling weakly, Claude said, "Kelly, Woof... maybe we should take this outside."

He got them all outside as quickly as he could, darting glances around the room trying to find his other two wayward friends. To his dismay, he didn't see them anywhere. He did see Walter, however, who raised an eyebrow at him in query as he passed. Shaking his head, he tried to indicate that he would explain later... much later.

Once they were outside and away from prying eyes, Woof immediately latched back onto him like he was afraid that Claude would disappear like smoke if he let him get out of arm's reach. Claude wrapped his arms around the other man and cradled him close, "Shh... Shh... It's OK, Woof. I've got you. I'm not going anywhere. Not this time."

Woof had his face pressed into Claude's neck and was liberally soaking it with his tears. Kelly wryly piped up from behind her father, "I, uh... take it you two know each other, then?"

Woof let out one last sniffle before raising his head to answer his daughter with a warning tone, "Kelly..."

Kelly laughed, "I know, I know. Don't be a wise-ass."

Frowning, Woof wiped his eyes on his sleeve, "And don't use that kind of language, either." Turning back to Claude, his face broke into a wide smile, "Damn, Claude... I can't even begin to tell you how great it is to see you!" Then in a lightning fast change, his face took on an expression that was a cross between horrified and supremely excited. He grabbed Claude's hand as though to drag him somewhere, "Oh G-d! Claude, if you're here and you're alive, we have to go talk to Jeanie! Or Crissy... Crissy would know, too. Oh, maybe we'll just go find them both. Between all of us, I'm sure we could find him! We've done it before..."

Digging in his heels to avoid being dragged, Claude finally managed to get a word in edgewise, "What are you babbling about now, Woof?"

Making a frustrated noise, Woof started gesturing wildly with his free hand, "We have to go find him and tell him that you're not dead!"

Getting more confused by the second, Claude burst out with, "Who??"

The answer came from behind him and the tone of voice was so serious that, for a moment, Claude didn't recognize it, "Me, Claudio. I think he wants to go find me."

Now it was Woof's turn to stare in confusion as he slowly turned to take in the owner of the new voice. He didn't recognize him, Claude could tell. Then again, dressed as immaculately as he was, with his wild hair pulled into a neat ponytail at the nape of his neck, Claude wouldn't have known him either... at least not at first. Woof's hazel eyes took in every minute detail, thoroughly examining Berger from head to toe, then from toe to head. After a few minutes of that intense scrutiny, his face broke into a wide, beaming smile. Then he launched himself at Berger with all the enthusiasm with which he'd latched onto Claude earlier, "Banana-Berger! You're sober! And you're sane!" Leaning back for a moment to sweep his gaze up and down once more, his voice filled with awed wonder, "And you look fantastic!"

Berger rolled his eyes, "Don't get used to it. This is a one-time deal, just for the art show tonight, OK?"

Eyes wide with no small amount of hero-worship, Woof smiled, "I don't care. You still look great." Turning his head to look at Claude, he asked, "How did you find him? How did you get back? When did you get back?" Face taking on a hurt look, Woof asked plaintively, "Why didn't you tell us you weren't dead? I... I'd never been wrong before, Claude... I haven't trusted myself since."

Crissy finally made her presence known, lifting a hand to rest against Woof's back, "He didn't remember, Woof. He had amnesia until a few years ago. The minute he started to remember he came back and he found us. We've been trying to track everyone down ever since. You were one of the last ones we couldn't find."

Berger laughed, "Maybe Cloud's right about Jeanie's karmic crap. There appears to be something to it, after all. How the hell else do you explain this?"

When the resultant laughter tapered off, Kelly finally found her voice, "OK... I've just got one question..."

As one, Claude and Woof shot back, "Only one?" Meeting each other's eyes, both men smiled in pure understanding.

Kelly at least had the grace to blush, "To start with, at least." Woof waved her to continue, "Dad... why the hell are they all calling you 'Woof'?"

To everyone else's intense interest, Woof blushed hotly at that question, then mumbled, "I think we'll save that story for another time, OK, Kell?"

Sighing dramatically, Kelly grumped, "In other words, you'll tell me when I'm older, right?"

Wincing a small smile, Woof answered, "If ever."

At Kelly's purely adolescent wail of, "Da-ad!" they all broke back up into laughter.

Crissy took pity on her and patted the girl's shoulder, "Don't worry, sweetie. If he won't tell you, one of us will." Cutting off Woof's protests with a raised hand, Crissy continued, "In the interest of not explaining all of this stuff more than once, how about we save the rest of it for when we meet the others at dinner, OK? Berger and I already said our goodbyes to Sarah, so if the rest of you are all done, why don't we just get out of here?" She then turned to give Woof a stern look, "Because you are coming with us... right?"

Woof gave her an unsure but game smile, "Who all is going?"

Crissy answered, "All of us, Jeanie and Cloud, Cloud's friend Zack, Hud and Dionne." At Claude's questioning look, she explained, "I don't think they're bringing the kids, Claude. Last time we talked they said something about finding a sitter."

Claude raised an eyebrow, "Not what I was going to ask. What about Tom?"

Crissy blushed, "Oh... him." Clearing her throat, she raised her head defiantly, "Apparently with all the things he learned about me in the last year, he decided that I wasn't appropriate girlfriend material after all." Her look turned cold, "So I say, good riddance."

Berger stepped into the suddenly brittle silence with a loud clap, "And on that extremely awkward note, what say we get going?"

Woof stepped smartly up next to him and beamed. They then wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders and set off in perfect step as though it hadn't been 14 years since the last time they'd walked like that. Claude couldn't help but laugh at their antics as he offered Kelly his arm. At her questioning look, he explained, "Remember all those stories you told me about your dad? Well, I'd finally decided that I really wanted to meet him... because I had a feeling that he and Berger would get along really well." Snorting out a laugh, he finished, "Looks like I'm not such a bad judge of character, after all!"

Berger wrapped an arm around Claude and smiled, "Oh, come on... It wasn't that bad..." Claude just buried his face in Berger's shoulder and groaned.

Kelly was hiding between Cloud and Zack and shooting her father and the rest of the adults horrified glances. In a quiet voice she whimpered, "I've never been thrown out of a restaurant before..."

Jeanie threw her arms around Woof and caroled out proudly, "We have!"

Crissy threw her arms around him from the other side, "At least eight or nine times!"

Woof put his arms around the girls, threw back his head and howled.

Dionne snuggled closer to her husband and slipped him a glowing smile, "Is it just me, or do you suddenly feel 18, again?"

Hud gave her a gentle squeeze before ignoring that question in favor of throwing out another, "So, where to next, oh fearless leader?"

That question stopped Berger in his tracks, a look of profound surprise on his face. Woof and the girls almost ran into him and Claude before they realized the pair had stopped walking. Berger slowly turned his head to look at Hud, a very vulnerable express scrawled across his face. He cleared his throat, but no sound emerged.

Hud just smiled an understanding smile, "We're still your Tribe, aren't we?"

The moment seemed to stretch on forever until Claude leaned over and whispered something in Berger's ear. The stunned look fell from the other man's face and a wicked grin bloomed in its place, "Well... there's this really nice park right near our apartment building -- it's not as big as Central Park or Washington Square Park, but these days, it's a hell of a lot safer..."

Dionne laughed in sheer delight, "Banana-Berger, that sounds like a fabulous idea! Why don't we all run home, pay our baby sitters a little extra and change into something more comfortable? We'll meet at your apartment in say... an hour?"

Kelly opened her mouth as though to ask a question, but Woof ran right over her without even looking, "No, you don't get to come. It's a school night and I'm sure you have homework you didn't finish."

Kelly stared at her father for a moment before spluttering, "Dad, how the hell did you do that? You weren't even facing me to see me open my mouth to talk!"

Now it was Woof's turn to pause. Jeanie's mouth slid into a gentle smile and she lifted a hand to caress her friend's cheek. Eyes shining with emotion, she brushed a kiss against his jaw, "Welcome back, Shaman."

A wildfire blush raced across Woof's face at the attention and he tried to duck his head. Neither of the girls were having any of that. Crissy tucked a gentle hand under his chin and turned him to face her. Once she had his attention, she smiled, "Remember, Woof? Not the least important -- not by a long stretch."

Woof finally relaxed again, then pulled Crissy and Jeanie to him in a tight hug. Voice roughened with emotion, he said, "I have missed you guys!"

The girls responded with an equally strong embrace. Jeanie's cheeks were now wet with the few tears that had escaped, "We've missed you, too, Woof. We've missed you, too."

Once everyone had calmed, they said their see-you-laters and departed for their various homes to change clothes.

Berger stood in the bathroom, idly turning over something he'd found tucked away in his old vest. He hadn't thought about it in years, hadn't even remembered he still had it. Before he could gather the courage to open it and read it, however, Claude's voice called out from the bedroom, "You're not going to believe what I just found, Berger!"

Berger quickly tucked the much-creased and tattered envelope back into his vest where he'd found it and went to join his lover in the bedroom, "Well, then why don't you tell me what it is and let me decide?"

Claude had opened his mouth to respond, but when he turned and caught a glimpse of Berger standing in the open doorway, his eyes widened and he seemed to forget what he'd been about to say. Berger just laughed and obligingly turned a circle for him, feeling a small thrill as the old fringe swirled around him as he moved. When he was done, he struck a pose in the doorway. In a pair of ripped jeans, with his top half clad only in his old suede vest and with his hair a wild cloud around his face, he knew he looked good. Still... it was gratifying to know that 18 years after you'd met, you could still reduce your lover to speechlessness. He smirked, "Like what you see, Claudio?"

Still struck dumb, Claude nodded vigorously. Taking a moment to return the favor, Berger looked him over, as well. He'd put on a white long-sleeved, v-necked tee-shirt -- not as flamboyant as what he used to wear, but when it clung so nicely to his physique, Berger sure as hell wasn't going to complain -- and a pair of jeans. For just a moment, Berger felt a pang of regret that they weren't that old patchwork number with the British flag sown onto his ass. He always had liked those... Shaking off the melancholy, Berger finished his visual exploration. There it was... the coup-de-grace. Claude had pulled his shoulder-length hair free from its tie and let it float loose around his face. He didn't do it often, and almost never in public, and the sight of it was too much.

Stepping forward, Berger buried his hands in that honey-gold mane and pressed his lips to the juncture of Claude's neck and shoulder, inhaling deeply. Sense memories washing over him in an unending wave, he let out a low growl and nipped at the flesh under his mouth. Claude let out a ragged gasp and pulled him closer. Berger reared back at the sound, eyes dilated and feral, "Claudio... are you sure you wouldn't rather stay home?"

Claude moaned and dropped his head onto Berger's shoulder, "Oh G-d... you would ask that now, wouldn't you?"

Berger stepped back, deliberately putting a few inches of space between them. Clearing his throat, he answered, "No... no, you're right. We told everyone we'd meet them." His eyes locked onto Claude's with an almost violent promise, "Besides... there's always later..." Seeing Claude's shiver of anticipation was all the reward he needed for his restraint. Smiling brightly, he asked, "Now, what was it you wanted to show me?"

Wordlessly, Claude held up a strip of material. It took Berger a long, slow moment to figure out what it was and when he did his breath caught in wonder. It was Claude's old headband. How had that escaped his parents' purging of his belongings? He took it from his lover with shaking hands and ran his fingers over it. Claude smiled and gathered up half his hair so that Berger could help him slide the headband on between the layers. As Claude patted his hair back into place, Berger took another step back to admire his handiwork. There was something about that headband... G-d, it took those 18 years right off him. With his hair loose and flowing about his shoulders and that stripe of colored cloth across his brow, dressed more casually than he'd seen him in a long time and with that almost impish grin crossing his features... he looked like a teenager again.

Claude's grin stretched wider and he lifted a finger to shake it at his lover, "Uh-uh, Berger. I recognize that glazed look in your eyes. Remember, we have to meet the others."

Berger took one slowly stalking step forward as he nodded in gentle agreement, "Mm-hmm... We sure do."

Claude's grin faltered at his distracted intensity and he took a step backward, "Berger... They're gonna be here any minute..."

As Claude's grin faltered, Berger's widened, "Mm-hmm... They sure are."

Claude backed up another pace, putting his hands up in front on him, "Berger, I mean it! Any minute now!"

Berger's smile became a smirk and turned wicked, "Well, then I guess we'll just have to be quick about it, won't we?" Claude had barely enough time to let out a startled yelp before Berger finally growled and pounced.

Jeanie frowned as another of their group joined them at the door to Claude and Berger's apartment. She looked down at her watch and sighed. She'd been standing out here for the better part of 10 minutes already. Granted, with Zack and her son practically shoving her out the door, she'd been early, but still. Hud raised an eyebrow as he and Dionne approached and Jeanie shrugged in response. Crissy made an irritated noise, "Did you try your key?"

Jeanie threw up her hands, "Of course I did! They've got the chain up."

Woof approached from the stairs and smiled at the rest of the group, "Did we decide to have the party in the hallway?"

Dionne scowled, "No, we did not. It's just that we've been knocking for the last 10 minutes and neither one of them is answering."

Woof eyed the door for a minute, then his face flushed. He scuffed his foot against the carpet, "Oh... maybe we should give them another few minutes."

Hud's eyes narrowed at the taller man, then widened, "You mean...? Oh. Oh. That... that's just..."

Jeanie's mouth dropped open and she started to giggle. That started off everyone else. When they finally calmed, Crissy commented, "For goodness' sake! I know we haven't done something like this since we were teenagers," eyeing the colorful, hippie-styled group around her, she smirked, "And we all apparently had the same idea to dress the part... but this is just ridiculous. Do they have to act like teenagers, too?"

Hud rolled his eyes as he stepped up to the door, "Maybe they're still trying to make up for lost time." Lifting his fist, he pounded hard on the closed door in front of him, and in the kind of powerful voice that only a cop has, yelled, "NYPD! Open up!"

Woof's eyes widened, "Well, if that doesn't get their attention..."

It did. Barely a minute later, Claude flung open the door. He was out of breath, his shirt was on backwards and he looked more than a little disheveled. Before he could even start to come up with something to say, the group in the hallway sputtered into laughter again. Berger walked up behind him, feet bare, jeans zipped but not buttoned and his fringed vest slung over his shoulder, looking completely comfortable and more than a little smug. Draping his free arm around Claude's shoulders, he smirked at the other man's blush. Planting a butterfly kiss on his lover's red cheek, he said simply, "Um... Claudio?" When Claude turned to look at him, he laughed, "Your shirt's on backwards."

Claude's eyes widened and he immediately cursed and stormed back down the hall into the bedroom to fix his appearance. Berger waved the rest of them inside. Hud was the last one in and he gave Berger an arch grin, "Got a little distracted, did we?"

Berger didn't even try to hide his cat-that-got-the-canary grin, "Yeah... I guess you could say that."

Hud laughed and clapped Berger on the shoulder, "Well, good for you, then, man. Good for you."

A/N:

And I think it's time we had some chibi silliness, don't you? ^_^

Woof: *cheers* Woohoo! I got to be in the fic! It's about time!

Claude: O_O Woof... that... that's not really a good thing.

Woof: *blinks innocently* It's not?

Claude: *shakes head* No, it's really kinda not.

Woof: *frowns* But... she likes me... Doesn't she?

Claude: *twitch* That's not really a good thing either, Woof.

R-chan: *cuddles the Woof* Don't you listen to him. He's just grumpy. I'll take care of you -- I promise. *faraway look* I have plans for you...

Woof: *sweatdrop* You know... I think I see what you mean... *begins to edge away*

Berger: I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Woof: *whimper* Why?

Berger: *smirk* Because if you run away, you'll only make her mad.

Questions, comments, spaghetti squash?

Nuriko: *twitch* Oh, come on! Spaghetti squash? You've actually been writing so much you ran out of fruit?

R-chan: *pout* No. I just like spaghetti squash.

Nuriko: O_O

Coming Soon: The Tribe spends the night out in a park under the stars, dreaming of simpler times... and Jeanie finally clues them in to what she's been up to for the last two years. And as she predicted... Australia would have been the safer choice.