maybe then you would have learned a few things about settling your differences.”

         Luna scrunched her face and leaned her ears back slightly.  “I'm confused.”

         “It's like this,” Copper replied.  “Any time there are two individuals, they'll disagree sometimes.  That's what makes us individuals: we think differently, we act differently, and sometimes that means that someone has to have the last say.  Sometimes one gets their way, sometimes the other, sometimes it's a compromise.  In the end, though, it's like the humans say: 'Two can't walk together unless they agree to do it.'”

         Luna frowned.  “I don't think I've heard that one.”

         “Well, it's not word for word,” Copper admitted, shrugging.  “I heard it a while back when I was passing by that tall pointy building.  Anyway, the point is that you and Toby are going to disagree sometimes.  That doesn't mean you have to split up every time you want things one way and he wants things another way.”

         “So what am I supposed to do, let him have the last word every time?”

         “Of course not,” Taya answered.  “It just means that you two need to discuss things calmly and sensibly.  And sometimes that may mean going along with something you don't really agree with.  But if you and he are really committed to each other, it'll work out.”

         “You really think so?”

         Taya nodded and smiled.  “I know so.”

         Luna sighed.  “Well, I guess one way or the other I'll have to talk this over with him anyway.”

         Copper nosed her affectionately.  “Go home and get some sleep, then talk it over with him in the morning.

         Luna yawned.  “I guess you're right.”  She nuzzled them both.  “Goodnight Mom.  Goodnight Dad.”

         “Goodnight Luna.”

         “Goodnight sweetheart.”

         After she left, Copper chuckled.  “You'll have to stop calling her that.  Pretty soon Toby's going to have exclusive rights on that nickname.”

“Well he'll just have to yield to my seniority.”  Both of them laughed.  “Speaking of yielding, I can't seem to remember something.  Which one of us won that argument about whether or not to have pups?”

         Copper laughed.  “I think we both did.”

         It was late morning when Toby finally rose from his bed, and with the pleasant forgetfulness that often accompanies waking up, he briefly forgot what had happened the night before.  It was only when he noticed that Charlie was already gone – usually Toby had the jump on his young master – that he remembered the reason for his late night and let out a groan.  “Now what am I going to do?”

         His bitter mood as he slumped downstairs to start breakfast as the rest of the family cleared away their dishes wasn't lost on Charlie.

         “Dad?” he asked as he balanced a glass on his plate with one hand while rounding up knife and fork with the other, “Does Toby look kind of sick to you?”

         Nolan Winters picked up a water jug as he regarded the poorly-looking blusky.  “I'd say he's probably tired from his long trip.  Give him a day or two and he'll be just fine."

         'A day or two?  That's a laugh.'Scratching sounds at the door drew his attention.  'I wonder who...?'

         “Toby?” came a bark.

         Toby looked up from his breakfast.  “Luna?”

         “We need to talk.  Is this a good time?”

         'Is this a good time?!' he echoed in his head.  Any time would be a good time to get this mess sorted out.  “Yeah, I'll be right out.”  He wolfed down the rest of his breakfast – no sense worrying Charlie any more than he already had, and made for the door.  There was Luna, seated demurely on the steps and looking more shy than he had ever known her.

         Drawing on his vast knowledge of what Luna did and didn't like, what kinds of romantic remarks always got her going, and an acute sense of developed intuition, he said, “Hey.”

         “Hey,” she replied uneasily.

         There was a moment of awkward silence.  “I'm sorry I-” they both said at the same time.  More silence.  “I didn't mean-”  Same song, second verse.  “You go fir...”

         'Good grief this is getting ridiculous,' thought Toby.  He had his mouth half open to tell her to go first when she interrupted.

         “You go first.”

         Had he been an impartial observer, he probably would have rolled his eyes.  As it was, he just took a deep breath.  “I'm sorry about the house arrest.  I was just trying to do what I thought was best for both of us.”

         “I know.  And I'm sorry I ran off like that.  I should have given us a chance to talk things over.”

         He shrugged.  “I would have done the same thing, I guess.  I can totally understand you freaking out.”

         “I wasn't freaking out.  Well, not exactly.  Mostly I was just... worried.”

         “What about?”

         She shook her head.  “I don't know.  I guess after that incident, I started wondering if maybe you didn't love me like I thought you did.”

         “Didn't love you?”  That confused him.  “Luna, I’ve always loved you, even before I loved you like now.  I thought you knew that.”

         “Let me finish.  When you refused to listen to me as you were heading out, it really bothered me.  I felt like you didn’t think I was worth listening to.”

         Toby was silent for a moment.   “Of course I think you’re worth listening to.  I was only trying to protect us.  You even said last night that it was a good idea not to give the gossips anything to talk about.”

         Inwardly Luna groaned.  “Figures you’d listen enough to remember when I admitted you were right,” she said without thinking.

         “Now that’s not fair.  I listen to you other times.”

         “Yeah, but…” she stopped herself.  This was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid.  “Sorry.  I’m doing the same thing right now.”

         “What same thing?”

         “Not listening like I want to be listened to.  I really want things to work between us, and that’s not going to happen if we’re both always trying to come out on top.”

         Resisting the urge to point out that this was right up there on the Obvious Scale next to “You won’t stay dry if you jump in the water,” Toby nodded.  Truth to tell, he had caught himself getting bent on having his own way sometimes.  “So where does that leave us?”

         “Well I’m going to start by talking less and listening to you more, even if I don’t like what you’re saying.  I’m not going to be a pushover, but if we’re going to make this work then we’ve both got to give some.”

         “I think we’re both going to have to give everything.  In a good way,” he added quickly.  “So I guess this