Moose's place

Iknow this particular asker wished this answer to be in story form, so here youhave a little taste of how such a situation might play out ;)

Lilly leaped up the stairs tothe old apartment building, clearing three steps in one jump. She could hearChristy yelling for her to hurry up or they would miss their bus. Jamming herkey into the lock, she flung the door open, almost falling into the livingroom. Her mother never put on the security locks when she slept over withfriends.Gordy was away on soccer camp, so his twin sister had jumped at the opportunityfor her and her best friend to have a sleepover.

Lilly’s homework lay as shehad left it the day before, neatly folded under her pencil case on her chair,ready to put into her backpack. Which she of course had forgotten.

She did not take the time toput it in her backpack, just snatching it from the chair before turning to runback out the door. However, an unexpected figure in the living room stopped herright in her tracks, her eyes widening in joy and bewilderment.

“Toby!?”

Tobias stood mortified infront of Hazel’s bedroom, feeling his stomach sink to the floor. He silentlythanked the heavens that he at least had put on his boxer shorts before headingto the bathroom.

“Hi Lilly.” He said meekly,wishing he could disappear between the cracks in the floorboards. Behind him,he heard Hazel frantically shifting through the bedsheets searching for hernightgown.

Tobias could see thequestion forming in the tiny bunny’s eyes and he was in no way ready for thatconversation this early in the morning.

“Sweetie, honey,” Hazelemerged from behind Tobias in the doorway, looking slightly dishevelled. “Whatare you doing home so early?”

Hazel was trying her best totie her lilac robe at her waist, but she never seemed to get her paws tocooperate enough to tie a knot. Beside her, Tobias stood frozen in place, notable to move a muscle.

“I forgot my homework.”Lilly held up her homework for them to see, while her eyes darted from hermother to Tobias. “Did you two have a sleepover?” She got a smile on her face as if she had justsolved a riddle.

Hazel let out a nervouslaugh, and looked up to try to catch Tobias eye, but all he could do was toswallow heavily.

“Yes, we did.” Hazelconfirmed, trying to smile calmly at her daughter and not look like her motherhad just busted her with her hand down the cookie jar.

Lilly’s eyes narrowed a bit,and she put her hands on her hips in a way that reminded Hazel very much of herown mother.

“Is Toby your boyfriend?”

The silence was pressing fora few seconds before Tobias finally managed to find his voice.

“Yes I am.” He feltstrangely intimidated by the bunny kit in front of him. “I hope that’s alrightwith you Lilly,” he added.

This was not the way theyhad planned to tell her, but there was no use denying it. Hazel carefully clearedher throat as they stood waiting for Lilly’s verdict like to misbehavingchildren in front of the principal. To both their relief, Lilly beamed up atthem.

“I know your mom’s boyfriend,”she grinned, clasping her paws behind her back. “I’ve seen you kissing.”

Tobias let out a short embarrassedlaugh while Hazel hid her face in her paws.

“Lilly! What’s taking solong, we’re gonna miss the bus!”

All three heads turned towardsthe apartment door still open to the hallway to see Christy sticking her snoutaround the doorframe. Her eyes widened at the sight of the large tigeroutsizing everything in the apartment.

“Coming!” Lilly said. Shetook the time to hug her mother around her waist and Tobias around his legbefore running out the door. “See you after school Toby!”

“What’s a tiger doing inyour apartment?” Hazel and Tobias could hear Christy ask as the kit and piglethurried down the hallway.

“He’s my mom’s boyfriend!”Lilly chirped happily.

Hazel closed the door afterthem, leaning her back against it with a sigh.

“She’s going to tell herentire school, isn’t she?” Toby asked, still standing in the same spot outsidethe bedroom door.“Yes.” Hazel answered, giving him a careful smile.“And your neighbours?”“Probably the entire neighbourhood.”

Tobias laughed, running hispaw over his head, tugging at his ears. “You ready for that?” He asked with thinly veiled concern.