Disclaimer: this story is NOT part of the official SOS storyline. It's just fan fiction! Enjoy 😊

Author: Martina (@smartiismaffin)

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"Since ancient times, evidence from tomb paintings, artifacts, and texts reveals that people at all levels of society kept dogs as loved pets and members of the family [...] Throughout the ages, dogs have also influenced and inspired art and language, just as they do today."

Dotson, M. J., Hyatt E. M. (2008). Understanding dog-human companionship. Journal of Business Research, Volume 61, Issue 5, May 2008, Pages 457-466.

Layla

"You're telling me you wouldn't like me to impregnate you?"

I blushed at his bluntness. I wouldn't mind having little Layla's and Kayden's running around our home. I just thought having a child was kind of a massive commitment, and it would drastically change the dynamics of our relationship. I didn't think I was ready for that enormous change.

"Of course I wouldn't mind that, Kayden. I just think we should start with something with a smaller impact on our life."

"Like a golden fish?" He cheekily murmured as he planted soft kisses on my jawline. It was hard to think straight in that precise moment, but I still found the strength to get the point across.

"You're so funny." I bit back mockingly. "I was thinking more of a dog, or a cat. Whatever you're comfortable with."

"Would you really want another dog?"

"I don't think I would mind. I mean, the other day I read this article where it showed how dog ownership improves a person's physical and mental health, by reducing stress, blood pressure, or fighting depression." Kayden nodded and began scraping my hip with his warm fingers, and gave me his full attention. I continued, "They illustrated different categories based on how dog-human relationships might evolve, as an object-oriented, exploitative, actualizing, or need-dependency kind."

He hummed, pondering on this study. "So, the last category depicts this form of relationship with the dog being a companion or a child surrogate."

"I wouldn't consider a dog as a child, but basically yes, that could be an honest interpretation."

"I must admit I'm a little curious about experiencing the same kind of bond you had with Butters."

It was not surprising. He never had a pet while growing up. "I'm sorry baby, but Butters was the best doggo ever. Our friendship was magical and can't be replicated. But... We could conduct an experiment revolving around the different kinds of relation we'll be able to establish with our pet, and how our different approaches could influence its behaviour. We could build it on the 'secure base effect' theory and analyse the impact on its cognitive functioning and ability to navigate daily life."

A knowing glint passed through Kayden's eyes when finally, he chuckled pressed into my chest. "And later on, when we'll have our kids, we could compare the results and define the similarities and disparities."

Of course, the results wouldn't be reliable, but it could be fun.

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When Kayden and I decided we needed a dog, I proposed we went to the Toronto Animal Shelter, where a program was promoted named, Pawgwarts. Basically, they sorted their dogs into Hogwarts Houses, based on their playful, adventurous, calm, or curious nature.

To honour my friendship with Hailey, I knew I had to go there.

I also wanted to drive Kayden crazy.

Of course, when we finally arrived at the shelter, I was pulled towards the whining adventurous Gryffindors calling out to me. Kayden, instead, went straight to the Hufflepuffs. He definitely didn't want a little menace to destroy our home.

If only he knew how wrong he was...

"Babe, look at this one." I turned around, just to be met by Kayden holding a golden pup as if it was the most precious thing in the whole world. Just by looking at them, I could already imagine the cuddles-sessions in our king size couch, and I couldn't hold back a smile. The hesitant expression softening Kayd's face was catastrophically endearing. "It kind of has your eyes."

He had to ruin the moment.

"I feel like I should be insulted but look at how cute it is." I chuckled as I made my way towards them. Kayden had this softness in his eyes that I just wanted to kiss him and never let him go. I could never have imagined he could be so smitten by a dog. Unbeknownst to him, his feelings would have soon changed.

Just before handing me the pup, it decided to gift Kayden with its warm, yellowish fluid on his shirt.

The man looked horrified.

"Fuck the dog, we can just go for a baby. Go back in the car and get naked." He scoffed; at the same time, I jumped, "That's the one!" The volunteer just looked at us oddly.

The pup was a cute Golden Retriever. I wasn't completely opposed to having another one; they were the best kind, at least in my opinion. Still, I felt like I was betraying Butters by trying to replace him with it.

But this pup had a lighter patch of hair over his right ear, and the brightest eyes I'd ever seen, and the softest looking of furs.

And then, when Kayden started fussing about his ruined shirt and let the dog on the floor, it started running like a crazy pup, stole a toy-bone from the floor, and like a bolting ball of playful, golden wave, it finally landed at my feet.

I was in love. Even when it was panting right in my face.

It was bouncing forward and retreating repeatedly, inviting me to play, and I couldn't hold a soft chuckle from escaping as I watched how fast it was wiggling its tail. I was sure the dog's rear would soon fly up from the ground.

My heart melted some more at its sweetness when it tried to catch me by using its little paws.

And then, as I reached out my fingers to mess with his fur, it decided to do the sweetest thing ever by burying its head in my chest.

At that moment I realized, we didn't hold the power to choose our dog.

This pup had already chosen us.

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A couple of days had passed since we officially adopted the pup, yet we couldn't come out with a fitting name. We were lazing in bed for the day when finally, the dog decided to grace us with its presence. Despite its small size, it took half of the mattress space, pushing with all its strength our bodies apart.

He fitted perfectly between us.

Overloaded by cuteness, we started throwing around random names, with the wishful hope to finally stop calling it just "pup".

The battle of names, however, proved to be more treacherous than expected.

"Layla, sweetheart, it's obvious it's a female."

"But the volunteer said it was a boy."

"Well, something is missing for it to be a boy."

Kayden had a point, but I'd already chosen a few male names, and I couldn't just let my creativity go to waste. "But I wanted to name it Jude Paw."

"Jude Paw, really?

"Yeah, or Brad Pitbull."

Kayden let out an incredulous laugh as he bit the tip of my nose. "That's not even fitting, she's not a Pitbull."

"Okay, you're right on that one." Maybe... "What do you think of Bark-Obama?"

"I can't believe you're being serious right now."

"Well, Professor, do you have a better proposition?"

His mischievous grin was already telling. "I do, actually."

The pup barked in anticipation.

Soon, Kayden was beaming as he proclaimed himself the winner of the battle.

Margarine. It was just so fitting. How come I didn't come up with it? Probably because I was thinking of punny names to annoy, Kayden. Gosh, I love him.

Even the pup accepted her new title, deciding to lick Kayden's face instead of peeing again on him.

It was a good sign for sure.

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Adopting Margarine taught me a few things. First, she was a messy eater. Every time we put food in her bowl, she acted like she was starving for life. She was always so enthusiastic to eat, and often found herself running after the bowl she pushed around our home.

We also figured out that Margarine could jump. We learned that the hard way, when just the other day we left the kitchen to... take care of an unresolved business. The mistake was to leave the turkey for dinner on the very edge of the counter, calling out to Margarine wickedness and everlasting hunger.

We ate pizza that night, so it was a sort of win-win for everyone.

She was also a fearless little pup. She wasn't, in fact, scared of vacuum cleaners like many other dogs. Even Butters, that was the sweetest of dogs, was absolutely terrified of it. He used to hide under our couch; but when I was at home, he would come running into my room, and would stand steadfast between me and the vacuum cleaner, trembling like a leaf but valiantly determined to protect me from that "monster".

Margarine, instead, wanted to defy the metallic enemy just because it dared to disturb her nap times.

It turned out that little Margarine loved a lot of things. Unfortunately, Kayden's and mine relationship was not one of those.

Despite her first meeting with Kayden, where she gifted him with pee, Margarine decided to go after his heart. That little menace dared to love Kayden more than me.

What a traitor, that dog!

She would follow him around whenever he moved, always at his heels. If he stopped, she would lie down. If he decided to watch the tv, she would jump on the couch and lay on top of him. She would always listen to him as if she were really understanding what he was saying, tilting her head one way and the other, wagging her tail every time he would look at her.

When I talked to her, Margarine would just twitch her adorable brows in that way that meant she wasn't figuring me out.

If I tried to kiss him, she would jump in between us.

I was starting to become jealous of a dog.

I knew Hufflepuffs were the devil.

Still, I loved that little ball of fur. I let her prettiness power disarm me. When she didn't try to separate us, she was kinda adorable. For instance, she was used to having conversations on her own, woofing around whilst making the strangest expressions. They were of unbearable cuteness; she went from "I want cuddles too" to "This shoe looks delicious" by putting her little paws over her eyes, or by wrinkling her nose just before letting out a little whine.

I took pride on the fact that I had become the best interpreter of our little "Guardian of the Couch."

She loved to tunnel under a warm blanket from where she often emitted a deep rumbling purr, and wagged her entire body at me as if to say, "I can't contain this much love". She adored galloping inside the house, ignoring Kayd's preoccupied gaze.

And she enjoyed swimming. It didn't matter if it was in the water, or inside a puddle of mud. Kayden was so pissed when Margarine decided to take a blast in the living room like a silly child, leaving behind brown, little paw prints. That day she stood waiting for him to play with canine proudness, truly claiming her throne inside the house.

The tell-tale mud in her paws were mere proof of her wickedness.

She particularly cherished her relaxing days at the beach, where she had the almost perfect camouflage. She relished her moments of glory by playing fetch in the water, and by laying under the sun; or just by sniffing around the area and coming back with a sand encrusted nose.

Margarine was simply paw-rfect.

She was the sort of dog you wanted to hug until the world felt right again. I guessed, as with all things that are alive, she was a sort of poetry I took into my soul.

We certainly missed having a silent house, or dog-hair-free clothes; yet, Kayden and I knew there wasn't a better home for us, with little Margarine snoring and huffing on our couch.

A/N: All right, Ladies, that's a wrap. This was my poor attempt of a one-shot to thank you Ami for her work and her catastrophically intriguing characters. I'm a student, I'm broke. And soon, I'll be a researcher, so... yeah, this was my only way to do it. (See what I did here? No? Okay...)

I just love Layd and dogs so much, and when Margarine was mentioned, I knew I had to write something. Sue me. 

I welcome criticism, so feel free to comment whatever your heart desires. And obviously, thank you for reading 😊