After agreeing to a picnic date between the Aprile family, it was negotiated by Maple and Claudio to which Dario accepted the idea and Claudio's wife, Heather agreed to it later on.

We see Dario and Maple as they were now in casual clothing whilst loading up their bag with some food they bought.

Dario was wearing a red and black checkered shirt as underneath was a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a pair of black and white Adidas sneakers.

Maple wore a white shirt that exposed a bit of her shoulders, dark pants and white sandals. Her hair was in the form of a ponytail.

Maple: Ready for the picnic darling?

Dario accompanied her and wrapped his arm around the moose' shoulder and got on his toes to kiss her cheek.

Dario: You bet. We're gonna have a blast with the Apriles.

Maple: You bet, it was the least we can do for Claudio helping us with those trophies and he got his ox meat that he needed.

Dario: Seth was generous to offer him the body itself.

Maple: Yeah, and let's not forget that moose that tried to flirt with me...what an idiot...

Dario: Definitely, and if that polar bear killed him then we'd be in deep water.

Maple: Speaking of polar bears..*looks down at him* You still haven't gotten over the Wendigo Incident huh?

The Americo-Macedonian went quiet upon that mentioning, the time he first arrived to Canada where he nearly got killed by the man-eater Wendigo. Having nightmares of the latter tormenting him to this day.

Dario: I...I don't wanna talk about it...

Maple: *sighed* I know it's hard Dario but someday you're gonna have to get over it.

Dario: It's hard Maple....*looks down on the ground* That dipshit made me think of a different way of his kind...but...

He looks at her with a smile.

Dario: I'll do it for your sake, I know you want me to get over it and I know it pains you to see me like this...don't worry about it, I'll try my best to get over it...

Maple just smiled and cupped the latter's cheeks.

Maple: I know you can get over it honey, you just gotta try, there's always a first try for everything.

Dario touched one of the hands that cupped him.

Dario: Thanks dear.

Maple: Come on, let's get going, Claudio and his wife are probably waiting for us.

With a nod from the hunter, the two then went to the jeep and started the drive.

Along the ride it was quiet, then Dario spoke up.

Dario: Hey Mapes, since you know my fear I wanna ask. What are you afraid of?

Maple was surprised at the question and looked at Dario.

Maple: My fear? Well...it's kinda complicated Dario..

Dario: How so?

Maple: Well, it's a touchy subject. Yeah let's put it at that.

Dario: I see, but I wanna know sweetie. You can tell me everything, all your secrets, mistakes and pain. I'm always here for you.

Maple smiled and then sighed.

Maple: You're such a sweetheart, ok..if you must know...I fear losing loved ones, and you're among those people.

Dario: What about the other girls?

Maple: Them too, I'm friends with them, I treat them like little sisters that we each share one important person in our lives...but when it comes to you Dario, I'd lose my mind if you were gone...

Dario slightly glanced at Maple as she slowly teared up.

Dario: You always think I'd die, do you go overboard when I'm away, do the others know this?

Maple nods before wiping her tears away.

Maple: Yeah, like the time you went to Siberia and got ruffled up I was actually scared but I was relieved you made it through. Or the time you and Akilla told me about what happened on India where that rhino almost made minced meat of you.

Dario: It's just my life at this point dear, the thing is that I had help in those scenarios. Marcus and Luke backed me up in Siberia, and had Akilla, Rakezh, Vishag and Rajeeb for India. Short story, wherever there's danger, there's also safety.

Maple: I know it's just...

She turned to the human and flashed a heart warming and teary smile.

Maple: You mean the world to me, and I'd be in so much pain if I see you get hurt. I know I may act motherly, but that's just what I am. When you arrived to Canada the first time I just saw you as a nobody, an idiot...but as time grew as we were together you were more than just some money obsessed human..you're a gracious person with a heart. It's no wonder you made a lot of us animals adore you and be beside you.

Dario then quickly stopped the vehicle and turned to Maple and gave her a tight hug, the moose smiled and complied with a hug of her own, she sniffed as they embraced for this heartwarming moment.

Dario: Thank you Maple...I will never forget these kind words...

Maple: Don't you ever forget them you little tyke...I'll always be with you.

Dario pulled away and wiped the moose's tears away and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Dario: Don't cry my love, I don't want tears ruining your beautiful face.

Maple giggled at the remark and playfully slapped Dario's face before kissing his cheek.

Maple: Oh you little cheeky runt, flattery really gets you everywhere huh?

Dario: I mean, it's the reason I got you haven't I? *winked*

Maple: I love you Dario.

Dario: Me too Maple, me too...

The scene changed to nearby Lake Ontario, on a nearby shore area we see the quartet of Dario, Maple, Claudio and Heather Aprile having a nice hang out.

Claudio: And the kids couldn't come since they had an upcoming seperate tests tomorrow, so we left them with their grandparents to study for the day while we had the day to ourselves.

Maple: Aww it's a shame.

Heather: How about your kids?

Dario and Maple looked at each other, small blushed appeared on their face before Dario spoke first.

Dario: We don't have kids at the moment-

Maple: But it's not to say we're not determined on having one or two hehe.

Claudio: Yeah hehe, in time we'll have to leave for our offspring to take over for us in the near future.

Heather: Yeah, if Aiden, our boy wants to be like his dad over here he has to learn hard, so does Isabel.

Maple: Those are wonderful names.

Claudio: If you were to have a child, how would you name them?

Dario: *chuckled* Once we get there we'll de-

Maple: If it's a girl we're calling her Amy!

The hunter turned to moose with a confused look.

Dario: Right off the bat?

Maple: Yup, if she's a girl we're calling her Amy. I'll let you choose the boy's name if we get a boy.

Dario: Oh you wanna play that game huh? Well I pick Adam.

The Apriles then giggled at the small debate.

Heather: Guess we should make this a bet, the one that got what they wanted gets 50$.

Claudio: That's a bit too much honey.

Heather: Ok how about 25$.

Dario/Maple: Fair enough.

Dario offered his hand.

Dario: Shake on it Mapes.

Maple: Oh I'll shake more than just that hand Mr Vasilov.

She giggled before they exchanged handshakes.

Claudio: Oh god what have we just started haha.

Dario: You guys started the debate and me and Maple are about to end it soon, it's a family matter.

Maple: Oh definitely honeybun, get ready to be proven wrong haha!

Dario raised a brow and looked at her.

Dario: You know, I had enough teasing you. How about we redirect our attention to the people responsible for this.

Maple: Oooh definitely.

They turned to the Apriles who got surprised.

Maple: You guys planning on having a third child?

Claudio: No we-

Dario: Come on, if you do decide to have another one we'd like to be the godparents.

They laughed.

Heather: Considering how funny and quirky you two are I wouldn't mind.

Claudio: Heather!

Heather: What? They decided to double down.

Dario: True that, it's only fair if we do the same thing that you did to us with the question.

Claudio: *shrugged* Fair enough. Alright, IF we do decide to have a third child well let you name it and be the godparents.

Maple wooo'ed in celebration as she wrapped her arm around Dario's neck and pulled him to her side.

Maple: We won sweetheart.

Dario: We sure did Maple syrup.

Heather: Oh I can't you guys are so adorable, you remind me of the time me and Claudio when we were in college.

This made the masterchef blush and look away as Dario chuckled.

Dario: I bet you guys were quite the couple back then.

Claudio: Mhm, very reminiscent of those times back then.

Maple: Well maybe you could recreate them.

Heather looks at her husband.

Heather: That's actually not a bad idea honey.

Claudio: Hmm, yeah it could be fun. Thanks for the suggestion Maple.

Maple: Happy to help Claudio.

Heather looks at Dario.

Heather: Hey Dario what was your job again?

Dario: Contracted hunter, for animals that is.

Heather: And I thought for a second you'd be an assasin.

The group laughed.

Dario: Yeah...I'm glad I didn't apply for that, that'd be just messed up.

Claudio: Definitely, but you have some skills I gotta say.

Maple: Yeah, my guy's taken beatings across the globe. He killed 2 rhinos in near death experiences and survived a stampede of ostriches in Africa.

Heather: That's impressive, guess you are as good as they say.

Seth: Yeah, Seth sure has an eye for talent like him.

Dario: Yeah and speaking of talent I also wanna mention some good friends of mine that are also in the hunting business.

Claudio: I heard of Marcus, he's related to Thibaut Courtois right?

Dario: Yeah, the guy basically is the self proclaimed leader when we're hunting in groups. The other two I wanna mention is Luke, Seth's nephew, he's a really good shotgun blaster.

Heather: I didn't knew he had a nephew.

Dario: Neither did I but I help teach the kid.

Maple: Yeah, he comes over to our place and we teach him stuff about survival and shooting.

Dario: And recently during my trip to India I met a guy named Rakezh and he wanted to join me as a hunter, and via me he got a job with Seth's hunting company.

Heather: How nice of you to help out a friend, bet he's doing great.

Maple: Yeah, he's hunting somewhere in Africa at the moment.

Dario: Yeah and in a few days I'm going to Alaska for my next few hunts.

Claudio: Well good luck with those hunts, because from what I experienced with you in these hunts they're quite hectic.

Dario: You don't need to tell me twice dude.

Maple: Anywhoo what do you say we talk about your recipes Claudio, perhaps I can know a thing or two when I watched you cook in Masterchef Canada.

Claudio: You wanna know some of my recipes, well I'll gladly lend in a secret or two for you.

Maple: Ready when you are *pulls out a notepad*

Dario: Since when-

Maple: I bought it when we went shopping, duh!

They laughed it off as they continued to have fun together as couples.

OK guys, this was chapter 53.

Peace out!