was one who valued honesty very highly. "I know, but even if I did tell her would it make any difference?"

"It might. Who knows, being honest might make them go away, instead of keeping them all bottled up inside you," Boris suggested. "It might help you sleep better too so that you're not kicking old Boris early in the morning."

"Sorry about that, you know I didn't mean it," he apologized.

"I know, but I shouldn't have to flip you over just to wake you up," Boris scolded, stretching his back. There was a very audible crack as everything popped back into place. "You aren't exactly a little pup anymore."

"No, but if you want I'm sure you'll have no trouble rolling my pups around when they come," he replied, hoping to finally get them off the subject of his dreams.

"Hey, as long as they don't bite, I'll always take little pups over the bears," he grumbled.

"Oh Boris, don't be like that. I know that deep down, you love playing with them," Balto teased, smirking a little.

"I don't know where you get these funny ideas. I don't love playing with Muk and Luk… I survive the play."

"Play? Yay, let's play!" The voice came from below the deck, and was soon followed by two round balls of white fluff charging out before tackling Boris and squeezing him in a tight hug.

"Ack, Luk let me go!" Boris snapped at the larger one. "And no, Muk, I don't want to play right now. Can't I talk to Balto for a moment?" he added, turning to the smaller one. Muk and Luk were two polar bear cubs that Balto and Boris had also taken in when they found them alone in the town. They were a very rambunctious pair and would charge towards anything fun at the drop of a hat. They had a great love for their 'uncle' Boris, despite the older goose's misgivings towards their dynamic style of fun and games.

"Aw, but we love you Uncle Boris, isn't that right Luk?"

"Mmm ffm mfff fff mmmmm." Luk's speech always came out in a mumble that only Muk seemed able to translate, giving the brothers a secret language of their own.

"Look, if you really loved me, you'd let me have a moment with Balto here," Boris grumbled as he freed himself from Luk's death grip and sucked in air.

"Fff, mmm mff?"

"No Luk, he isn't angry with us," Muk reassured. "He just wants to talk to Balto and then we'll play."

"I didn't agree to any playing!" Boris exclaimed. "Help me out here Balto."

"Actually, I was just on my way out. I'd hate to keep you guys from your fun," Balto put in, trying not to smile too much.

"Balto, don't you dare run out on me again! Help me!" Boris cried. "Ugh, on second thought maybe it will be better when the pups are here. The bears can play with them and leave me be."

"Oh we'd love that too! When can we play with the pups Balto? When? When? When?" Muk asked, bouncing around excitedly.

"Soon. They still have to be born and Jenna and I are thinking that's still a few weeks away; but it won't be long, so don't fret."

"Mmmm fmm fff mfff mfmfm?"

"That's a really good question Luk! Where will your pups come from anyways?"

"Uh… well…" Balto was caught a little off guard on this one. He knew they probably wouldn't understand the true story, but he hadn't had time to think of a good cover for them yet. "Actually, I think Boris would be able to explain it better for you."

"Oh no, you're not dragging me into this one. They asked you, not me."

Balto groaned, while Boris grinned at his own little payback. "Well… you see… pups come from… you get them by… well they start very small when you first get them."

"But how do they start in the first place?" Muk asked.

"Well, you have to ask for them in a very special way… but that way is a secret that only mothers and fathers can know. It's all a very complicated process and you'd have to be older to fully understand it," he finished, hoping that would satisfy them.

"It's actually not that complicated…" he heard Boris mutter. Fortunately, the bears didn't hear him.

"Mfff ffmmm, fff mm?"

"I don't know how you'd ask either, Luk. Balto said we'd learn it when we were older, so we'll just wait for that."

"Ffmf mfff mmm, fmf?"

"Hm, that's a good guess," Muk said, rubbing his chin with his paw. "Or maybe you ask with some sort of song, or maybe a dance?"

"So, do you think they're getting closer? I'd say their dance guess is almost there," Boris quipped, causing Balto to roll his eyes.

"Hey, it's either that or the clichéd stork story. Hopefully it'll keep them happy enough… almost as happy as they get when playing with uncle Boris!" he replied, raising his voice for those last few words so that the bears could hear him.

"Vhat? No!" Boris cried, starting to tremble.

"Yes! Play with us uncle Boris, play with us! You said you would after you talked to Balto!" Luk exclaimed, grabbing the old bird and shaking him in joy.

"Ack! But I… I don't… ugh, okay, I'll play with you. How about this, we play hide and seek? You two hide, and I'll seek. Ready? Go!" With that, the bear cubs dashed off the ship to try to find some hiding spots, leaving Boris and Balto alone once again. "I think we handled that quite well," Boris added. "I actually like your little story on where pups come from."

"Even though it was improvised and didn't tell them anything at all?"

"Hey, that's what a cover story is supposed to do. You give them something they can understand until the time is right for them to know the truth. If you could improvise something like that, then you'll do fine… because there will come a time where curious pups will want to know where they came from too."

"I know… hopefully by then I'll think of something a little better," Balto replied. "Well, as much as I'd like to stay and chat, I probably should go see Jenna."

"Yes, of course. Go see your sweetheart," Boris replied, urging him away.

"Just don't forget to look for the bears," Balto finished before jumping over the side of his boat. Boris waved him off and took a moment to enjoy the peace.

"Of course I will look for bears… when I feel like it," Boris chuckled before waddling back into the wheelhouse to sleep in a little more.

----------

Balto made the dash towards town in record time, eager to see Jenna. His paws sloshed through the wet snow as he crossed the tundra surrounding the town. The temperature had been rising steadily over the past few weeks, but even in the early days of May some snow still remained. He'd heard the humans musing about how this winter was ending a little later than usual, but in this case it was better late than never. Already there were some bare patches of ground, but it would take some more time before the snow would completely disappear with the coming of spring.

He quickly found the old totem pole that he used as a marker on his way to Jenna's. It sat right in front of the opening to her street and he dashed past it, not giving the worn carvings a second thought. It was still early in the day, so most of the town wasn't awake yet. The streets were empty, giving him a clear path as he ran along the dirt road. Very few would notice his entrance, but it wasn't like he needed the cover. He was always welcome in Nome thanks to the courageous deed he performed a few months ago.

Diphtheria broke out among many of the children in Nome, and the sled team sent to find the medicine got lost in a storm. With no one else to help, Balto set out alone and returned the medicine safely, saving the children – including one little girl who'd always had a soft spot for the stray half-wolf. This deed won him the favor of the town, but that was nothing compared to the prize he cherished above all – the love of a certain husky.

He reached a small home a few minutes later, trotting around the side towards a small shed. He poked the unlocked door open, and entered very quietly. The space was large enough to accommodate two people comfortably in addition to all the gardening and home repair equipment along the back wall. In one of the corners, curled up comfortably in a basket was a red and cream husky who had the power to warm his heart on the coldest days. Jenna - she was the love of his life, his inspiration, and every other great thing Balto admired. She was still fast asleep, so he quietly padded over to her, before gently rubbing her neck with his nose, right above the bright orange bandana she always wore around her neck.

She sighed a little at his touch, and when he brushed up against her ear, she giggled. She opened her brown eyes and stared up at him, smiling when she saw her love. At a glance, one could tell that they came from two different worlds. She had the privileged, well-groomed life of a house dog while he lived a rougher life as a stray. His brown coat was thick, and there were a few spots where the fur stuck up, refusing to bow to any sort of grooming. However, these were small things compared to what she really loveed about him. His eyes were very deep amber, a sure sign of his part wolf breeding. While some