Bonus Story - A Late Christmas Present (Patreon)

It was the morning after Christmas and Hope felt like she was hungover from all the festivities the day before. It had been a very exciting day with all sorts of presents opened and family protocols and traditions, she was glad that Sherri was there to help and the doggirl had stayed the night over as well. This morning however, Hope was eager for a quiet morning since the family was going to the store to pick up new clothes and essentials for the skiing excursion that would take place the following day. 

It wasn’t more than a minute that Hope’s wish for peace in the kitchen was interrupted by a bubbly and excited doggirl happily strolling in wearing only her hoodie and panties. The raccoongirl savored the brief seconds that she was able to pour, and stir her coffee when she glanced to the side seeing Sherri holding a blue box with a gold ribbon around it. “Mm.. G’morning Sherri.. Whatcha got there?”

“Oh nothing!” Sherri’s voice was chipper which immediately made the raccoongirl’s ears perk and her eyes narrow with suspicion. “Ooooh, coffee! Yesplease!”

With Sherri it was like a triage of concerns for Hope, like a myriad of disasters that could all occur at any given moment that she had to protect not only herself but her brother from. In that manner she completely forgot the dubious box and instead focused on preventing the hyperactive doggirl from becoming any more of an excitable lurid threat. “No!” Hope’s voice cried out more than she intended and quickly brushed her hair from her face as she directed Sherri to a more sensible morning drink. “Ahhah.. How about hot cocoa instead?” 

Those bright brown eyes lit up and Hope could have sworn she saw hearts in them at the suggestion. “Ooooh yes please! With little marshmallows? And uhm, whipped cream! The thick kind not the super thin spray kind-“ 

Hope covered her face trying to recount the events that led to her offering to make hot chocolate for the doggirl guest but instead she simply caved and went with it. The coffee maker had filled the pot with coffee and could easily be repurposed to make hot chocolate instead without much trouble. A sip of coffee and courage passed Hope’s lips as she began to fix up Sherri’s fantastical hot chocolate order. “You know usually a guest is more prone to being helpful and the dance involves the host insisting on being amenable.” Hope sported a glare in Sherri’s direction but cracked a smile when she saw that Sherri was right up beside her with her elbows on the counter, cheeks in her hands, and looking up with bright puppy eyes and that bouncy bubble butt dancing with her tail flapping back and forth behind her. “..Uh huh..” She’d never be able to prove it but she was sure Sherri did cute things like that on purpose.

“Houwahhhhhyhhh…” Justin stepped into the large kitchen with his mouth agape and his clawtips scratching at his belly. His naturally toned figure a result of his line of work that often had him utilizing his muscles more often than not. He was practically naked with only his lucky Assassin’s Creed boxers covering his body. Normally coming downstairs for breakfast like this would be chastised within their home but Hope was guilty of the same lax attire with only her pink bathrobe draped upon her form and it didn’t even bother to cover up the middle of her body either. “Mmhh.. You guys making breakfast?” Justin paused. “Did everyone leave already? Did I miss the shopping trip?” 

“No breakfast,” Hope stated matter of factly as she clicked the coffee maker parts into place with the cleaned out coffee filter now empty so the hot water could simply pour into the pot. “And yeah everybody left for the mall earlier this morning.” She checked her phone, it was a little after ten, “About an hour and a half ago.” She leaned against the counter and sipped her coffee. “They said if we needed anything we can go on our own later. Maybe meet them for lunch at the mall?”

The male twin of Hope was scratching along his belly with another sleepy yawn escaping his muzzle as he tried to boot up his brain processor and take in all the data. A sleepy wink and his eyes were cleared of the sand with his hands as he let out a slight groan, “Well that’s no good. We need to get Sherri all kinds of stuff for the ski trip tomorrow. Why didn’t they take her with?” 

The doggirl gave a curious sip of her presented hot cocoa, warm liquid chocolate with a thick creamy top and of course Hope didn’t forget the crunchy Lucky Charms styled marshmallows sprinkled atop of the crème. In fact, the raccoon girl saw fit to add little dark chocolate shavings atop of it as well. Hope felt a proud smirk come upon her lips when she saw Sherri’s ears perk and her tail wag after consuming another sip, those little paws dangling happily back and forth as she took another quickly after. “Mmm!” Sherri crooned happily before blinking again at the conversation that brought up her name and Hope followed Sherri’s eyeline towards Justin in turn. “Wait what?”

“Well you don’t have anything other than that hoodie and the stuff you packed.” Justin stated after having accidentally gone through Sherri’s luggage. “So you can’t go up to the mountains like that.” 

“You were clearly unprepared for a midwestern winter.” Hope gave another sip.

“I mean, well.. uh, I didn’t figure about going up to the mountains?” Sherri said shyly shrugging her shoulders and taking another sip. “It’s expensive right? I mean, my flight is only delayed another couple of days..” 

“Uh huh.” Hope smirked and glanced over at her brother, “She thinks she’s just going to get our family to fall in love with her and then not take her up with us on the ski trip? She’s so cute when she tries to be modest.” 

“Whatever. We’ll just go on our own to the mall and pick up her stuff and meet up with them for lunch.” Justin opened the fridgerator door peering over the stacked Tupperware containers full of leftovers that could feed a small army for a week. Settling for dessert for breakfast he pulled out one of the leftover chocolate chip cookies instead of something healthy and substantial like Hope would have preferred. Ignoring her glaring disapproval he took a bite and glanced over to the box on the counter. “Hey what’s this?” 

“That!” Sherri chirped excitedly having forgotten it as well, she took another sip of her cocoa and set it to the side presenting the box to Justin. “Is your Christmas present! ..Kinda forgot to give it to you earlier.” 

Justin and Hope exchanged curious looks. “But, you got me something already.” He glanced at the carefully wrapped golden bow blue covered box, almost feeling embarrassed that Sherri gave him a gift but not Hope.. who was coincidentally trying not to look jealous as she took a sip of her coffee.

“Well.. It’s kind of both of yours..” Sherri smiled brightly and bit down on her lower lip. “Open it up already!”

Now he was scared and Hope secretly made a small prayer while she took another deeper sip of her coffee while her curious ears twitched. Justin carefully loosening the bow on the box and lifting with bated breath. Knowing Sherri anything was possible from a GameStop gift card to an Indiana Jones style trap that would leave them wrought in her shenanigans once again. But he never would have guessed this as he saw the plastic device that seemed alien.. foreign even.

Hope on the other hand recognized it immediately and her eyes went wide as saucers as she stared at it, her heart stopping as she tried to keep her trembling hand holding onto the porcelain mug that almost spilled to the floor. “No.. You’re joking..” Hope whispered as she covered her mouth.

It took Justin a moment to catch up to his sister but he saw it, two distinct lines upon a small screen on a plastic looking stick. “..Us?” Justin’s eyes followed Hope’s gaze and both of them stared at Sherri who was grinning brilliantly. “This better not be a joke!”

“Sherri!” Hope choked slightly, this sort of joke was definitely something Sherri would pull with her prankster princess attitude. “If you’re joking I swear to god you’re sleeping outside I don’t care how much it snows!” Hope desperately tried to be threatening, and if it was indeed a prank she would back up her threat without hesitation, but as she glared at Sherri the teardrops welling up at the sides of her eyes made it obvious that she didn’t want it to be a joke.

A bright and happy giggle escaped Sherri’s lips and her fingertips carefully pet along her belly with a proud smile showing upon her lips. “Nope.. They’re yours.” Justin and Hope felt their fur stand upon the back of their necks as Sherri’s tail wagged. “All four of them!”