Teddy looked at his mate in confusion, his odd behavior making doubt to crawl into his  senses. Was Sirius lying to him? It was true that Teddy's and Sirius' bond was only based on sexual activity but he thought that they'd start to unwind each other slowly. Most shifters mate before they even know their names. Only after that they start peeling their  facades off each other, discharging their layers of lies and secrets until they reach their crooked cores. So if Sirius kept something away from Teddy, it must be something deep...

         Going back to the present, Teddy realized Sirius' car took the last turn towards Bullock's house.  The engine stopped roaring  and they climbed out of the car, walking towards the house   with a tense silence set over themselves... 

       ....arms no longer intertwined.

        And lost in his train of thoughts like this, Teddy hadn't realized the entrance door opened and into his arms jumped a small body, clawing at his shirt between excited squeaks.

       "Teddy! Catch my ass cuz I'm falling!" Chip yelped, crossing his legs around Teddy's waist and making the taller shifter finally break out of his daze. 

        "Chip, damn, sorry!" Teddy chuckled, catching Chip from under his thighs and pulling him closer to his chest. 

        "What are you doing, baby boy?"

         "Eating!"Chip mumbled, taking a sausage out of his pocket and starting to munch on it contently. Teddy scrunched his face in disgust, seeing Sirius look at his friend with a similar  frown adorning his brows.

        "Wut?" Chip looked at the two questioningly, opening his mouth to pick up a lint from his tongue before throwing it away and taking another bite of his sausage. 

      Teddy shook his head, proceeding into the house with Sirius following him closely. Soon they were entering the backyard, greeting Bullock and Teddy's friends with small waves and short handshakes. 

      "Hmm,Chip, did you gain a little weight? You seem heavier than the last time I held you into my arms..."  Teddy said as he approached the grill, nodding his head thankfully every time someone congratulated him for his mating. 

         Chip pouted, stuffing the remaining half of his sausage into his mouth and crossing his arms around his chest. 

       "Why, dwo you thwink I am fat?"

         Teddy shook his head, eyes widening when the smaller shifter's lips started wobbling. 

     "Fat? No! Curvier? Yess!" Baloo responded in Teddy's place, making Chip giggle and cross his arms around his neck in a hug. 

       Sirius looked away, feeling jealousy sinking into the pits of his stomach. However, the feeling was not as strong as the guilt of lying Teddy a few minutes ago... especially when him and Baloo had every right to know about his cat. 

        With this in mind Sirius turned around and walked inside the house, finding the kitchen where he took himself a cup of water and drank it breathless. Then he placed the object back on the table and closed his eyes, leaning the heels of his palms on the kitchen counter. 

       "Are you ok, Sir?"

       Sirius opened his eyes, looking up at Brownie with a blank stare. 

       "Quit calling me Sir, Brownie! We are not at an official gathering."

     Brownie nodded, pulling himself a chair at the counter and urging the cat shifter to sit next to him. 

       "Do you wanna talk about it?"

        Sirius shook his head, taking the place offered by Brownie. 

         "Is it related to Teddy?"

         "Yes." Sirius responded, looking at the taller shifter who let out a sigh. 

          "Then you have to talk to him and sort things out, you know? I have been mated for quite a few years and I learned I cannot hide things from my mate."

       Seeing Sirius keep being silent, Brownie continued:

      "Your mate was given to you because he can understand you without judging you. However, lying him, you can risk loosing his trust on you.  For the smallest of lies Chip would stop believing me and start doubting me. That's because he is very insecure and has been betrayed all of his life.  Teddy is no different..."

        Sirius nodded, his gaze lowering tiredly at the ground. 

         "I know you, Sirius! You wouldn't hurt Teddy intentionally anymore, so what you did or what happened, I know he will understand."  

          Sirius bit onto his lower lip, looking up at Brownie gratefully as the later placed a soothing hand over his arm. The truth was that Brownie was the only one who knew about Sirius' past feelings for Teddy. He had seen the cat shifter in his most vulnerable situations and was the only one coming close to a friend for Sirius.

      "Thank you!"

      The two stared at each other for a few minutes, tiny smiles blooming on their faces. 

       "You are welcome, little buddy!"

       Sirius frowned, catching Brownie's wrist into his palm when the taller shifter proceeded to ruffle his hair. 

      "Don't!"

       Suddenly, Sirius' own hand was yanked by the wrist away from Brownie's. 

        "Yes, don't!" Chip muttered, pulling Brownie's other palm away from Sirius' arm and climbing into his mate's lap. He then turned towards Sirius and flipped him the bird, leaning his head against Brownie's chest and huffing. 

        "Chip!" Brownie gasped, turning to look at Sirius apologetically. "I am sorry, I don't know what got into him!"

       Sirius shook his head, standing up and making his way back towards the garden. 

      "Doesn't matter! I should go. anyways. Teddy must wonder where I've disappeared."

          Brownie didn't even have the time to respond and Sirius was already out the door. 

       "You are a little nasty brat, you know?" Brownie said, standing up with Chip cradled at his chest, his big arms engulfing him entirely into his embrace. 

      "Mhm!" Chip nuzzled his face against his mate's neck, sliding his thumb between his red, glossy lips. "But you lwove mei!"

 ❀ ヅ 

      "So, where are you and Sirius going to stay tonight?" Bullock asked, his voice barely audible in the cluster of shouts the boys directed towards the TV screen. 

       "I don't know, but I suppose we will go back to the pack house. I don't think we will have space here if the boys crash for the night." Teddy responded, looking at his mate who was staring blankly at the TV screen, his gaze somewhat hooded like it wasn't completely focused on the match. 

       "You'll always have a place here, Teddy! Both of you!" 

         Teddy offered Bullock a warm smile, turning to stare with a scowl at his brother when a piece of meat hit the side of his face. 

       "Pay attention to the match!" Nash scowled, turning to point his fork at Brownie next. "And you- you stop feeding Chip! He is a grown up chipmunk!"

       "You are just jealous no one feeds you their sausage!" Chip mumbled with his mouth full of food, words all distorted and muffled. 

       "Since when do you even like sausages?!" Nash asked in disbelief, shaking his head and going back to his eating. 

       "Since Brownie's spermatozoon decided to grow eyes into my stomach." The chipmunk shifter shrugged, making Nash drop his fork, mine and Bullock's eyes to widen and Sirius' head spin towards his nonchalant form. 

       "Whaaat?!" Nash yelped, jaw hanged widely open and food let all on display. 

       "Yes, bitches, I'm pregnant!"

      Hey, loves! I am sorry for the crappy updates! I haven't been feeling that well these past few months and my mood affected the things I've written. 

      I hate how the conflict with Vicky's mother devolved so I might edit that part a little. 

        I wish you a great week! 

        Thank you all for being here!

        All the best, 

       Your favorite papa!