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The fox finished drying his hands and turned back to the mirror. He smoothed his whiskers, licked the end of his nose and straightened his shirt collar. He had driven up to the Salinas Valley with his girlfriend to share Thanksgiving with her family. Meeting her parents was awkward and he hadn't even seen her brother yet. Paris couldn't blame them. If I had a daughter and she brought home a human boyfriend, I'd feel a little uptight too. He opened the door to the bathroom, flicked off the light and stepped into the hallway.

Someone grabbed him by the throat and he was picked up and slammed into the wall; his ears ringing from the blow to the back of his head. "Alright fox!" a male voice growled in his ear. "This family sticks together and we watch each other's back. If I find out you've done anything to my little sister I'm gonna skin you alive!"

Paris tried to think, to react, but his head was buzzing and his vision of the world seemed to shrink.

"In fact, I don't think I even like you seeing Pe…"

A familiar voice shouted, "Heeah!" and the human male smacked into the wall face first. He dropped Paris, who slid down the wall and ended up staring at two pairs of legs. Then the man's legs vanished and Paris saw his surprised face go past, on its way to meet the floor. He hit with a thud that shook the house.

Penny was on her brother an instant, right knee in the small of his back and his left hand twisted around till it was between his shoulder blades. "Bobby! Dammit. You stupid lummox!"

"Ow! Ow! Lego my arm." His voice was pitched at least an octave higher than it was only seconds before.

Paris rubbed the back of his head and his ears still buzzed. Then he heard a woman's voice yell from what seemed like far away. "Dammit, Penny! Are you kickin' your brother's hinter?"

"Mama, he was tryin' to kill Paris!" she yelled back.

"Dinner's in less than an hour. If I have to take someone to the clinic you'll both be in trouble!"

"Yes, Mama!" Penny turned her attention back to her whimpering brother. "Paris is my friend and he's a guest in this house, and you don't go beatin' up my friends."

"Ow! Crap, Penny. I was just tryin' to help. I wanted to make sure he didn't hurt you like that other guy did."

"Like hell!" She twisted his arm a bit more for emphasis. "It's because he isn't human, isn't it."

"Penny!" Bobby squealed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please."

"Now let me explain something to you. Paris is a true gentleman, not like those other guys. He's a sweet and gentle soul, and as far as I'm concerned he's a real person. He just happens to have fur." She leaned in close to her brother's ear and lowered her voice. "He's special. Screw this up for me, dear brother, and I'll do more than twist your arm." She did something that Paris couldn't see and Bobby squealed in pain. "And if you're worried about sex… well we haven't done that, not yet anyway. When we do, it will be our decision and our choice and none of your damned business." She rocked back a bit and her voice rose to normal level. "Besides, I'm 22. I don't need you to hold my hand." Penny released her brother's tortured arm and went to Paris. She started cooing encouragement to him as she inspected the back of his head.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinkin'." Bobby flopped his limp left arm around to his side then pushed up with his right till he was sitting up. He rubbed his left shoulder, working the arm around. After a few moments he said, "I'm sorry, Paris. I just… Oh crap. I was just being an ass. Can you forgive me?" He held his right hand out to the fox.

Paris' head felt fuzzy as he tried to concentrate on the human. Sweat tinged with adrenalin, but no telltale odor of stress that might indicate Bobby was being less than truthful. He accepted the offered hand and shook it. "Forgiven. If Penny were one of my sisters, I might be tempted to do the same." And welcome to the family.

"Real vixens?" Bobby raised his eyebrow, a smile forming on his lips.

"You pig!" Penny swatted at her brother's arm. "What about Mia?"

"I'm kiddin! Sheesh." He addressed Paris. "Hey, let's go see what Mom's cookin' for dinner."