Mastavian awoke to the scent of general sweetness hanging over his muzzle, taunting him like schoolyard children.
Briggan was once again cooking breakfast.
Mastace slipped on a clean pair of shorts, but left his upper body unclothed. He walked into the dining room and looked into the kitchen to see Briggan dishing out the food.
"Oh, good morning." Briggan yipped in a cheeful disposition. "I was going to wake you up once I had breakfast done, but I guess you already took care of that."
"So it seems," Mastace cracked a smile.
"So, do you have anything planned for today?" Briggan seemed to glide over to the table and he set the plates of food down. French toast, scrambled eggs topped with shredded cheese, sausage and bacon. He went back to the kitchen to retrieve the syrup pitcher.
"No, not really. I was kinda thinking we did something you wanted to do today. We've been having quite an eventful couple of months so far, and I noticed I was taking the reins for a while there. So, I think we should balance that out a bit."
"Alright. That makes sense." Briggan nodded as he sat down with Mastace to eat.
"Is there something you wanted to go and do today, or did you want to just make today a lazy day?"
Briggan went silent a moment, his face a display of deep contemplation. "I don't know, there was something I was thinking about but..." He was reluctant to finish the thought. He just cut into a sausage patty and ate one of the pieces.
"But... But what, Briggan? What's on your mind, hon?" Mastace refused to touch any of his breakfast until the tension building up inside his stomach was released.
"I got news from Khrysta this morning."
"Oh? How's she doing?"
"She's... shaken. She told me why she was so upset when she stopped by our place the day we all went out."
"How's her family? Is everything alright?"
"Her family is fine. It's my family that the "family business" was about."
Now it was Mastace who fell silent. This was sure to be big and interesting news indeed.
"She said my mother called her that day, asking for where I lived. Khrysta told my mother that she hadn't seen me in years, and had no idea where I was." Briggan continued. "She gave me their address and said that they'd be interested in seeing me again."
Mastace waited to make sure Briggan was finished speaking and that he had the proper words to go with his own thoughts. "How do you feel about the whole thing?"
"I don't know..." Briggan's ears and tail drooped, beginning to avoid making eye contact. "Part of me just wants to hop in a car and speed over there as soon as possible, but the other part of me wants to simply avoid the pain of having to relive that piece of my history. I'm really excited, but I'm also afraid. What if they hurt me again? Just like they have before?"
"Then I will be there to pick you up and help you through it. As I always have, ever since I met you." Mastace took the paw of his lupine mate and held it in his own.
It took a moment for Briggan to process these thoughts. "Thank you, babe. I couldn't make it this far without you."
Mastace grinned, letting the playful light in his face dance across his features once more. "Let's get breakfast ate before it gets too cold."
"Alright, darling."