reached Jenna’s house, he still didn’t know what to say to her. Propably should have thought of something while I was walking. He paused at the door. He sighed “Might as well.” He said to himself.

He was about to paw at the door when heard a voice. “Well it looks like you remembered.” He froze he knew it was Jenna. Someone, save me!

He slowly turned around he could see her, and she wasn’t very angry as he thought, but more disappointed, judging by her face.  “Jen, I’m.” He stammered. “Sorry.”

“It happens to the best of us.” She replied with a tint of anger in it. He could feel a lump in his throat.

“Jen, I..went for a run, and I’m sorry Jen, it was that.” He tried to say it as bad as he felt, but he knew he wasn't making a good case for his defence.

“That, you went for a run and got caught up in it, and just love running and just, just like that forgot right?” She finished for him.

“Yes, that’s true.” He lied; his ears went back but he forced them forward, trying to hide his guilt from her.

“Sorry Jen I was just careless..” He tried to make her feel better, but didn’t know how. He knew 'sorrry' had never worked once. Another question for Hector.

“Careless? Careless!” She was getting angry. He took a step back as if trying to lighten the blow of her words. He couldn’t help it his ears went back.

“Balto it’s just that you have started getting to things later and later till you miss them, you always say your careful, but when occasion calls you’re just careless?!” She pointed out to him, to him more scorning him.

He knew she was right, he had been spending more and more time away lately, he had been late to many things. Trying to lighten the mood, quickly he brought a smile up.

“I don’t mind missing the start as long I’m here for the end.” He said reassuringly.

“Was that some joke?” She practically yelled out. That didn’t work. He said to himself, looking away at the ground for a moment. He took a light breath, before facing her again.

“No, it was a saying Jen, I know a lot of them.”

“Were did you get that one?!” She wasn’t getting any happier with him.

He closed his eyes and sighed “It was from Odysseus, he  used this term much in war.”

“So, are you in some war? Well are you?” She asked loudly.

“No, but in sled race tomorrow.” He answered trying not too angry himself. Calm down a fight won’t help.

“Frist its just a relay race, no sleds...Are you actually going to show up to that one or just start at the end of the race, you wouldn’t mind missing the beginning as long you’re at the end, right?” She angrily spoke.

His eyes angered not liking her tone, but they loosened, not letting himself into an argument. “Yup.”

“Do you even care?!” She yelled out at him.

He calmly nodded his head, “You know that do Jen, so it’s not worth fighting over.”

“Sure, you never risk your neck out for anyone in your life have you?” She rudely yelled, looking away to her side, annoyed with him.

He was an inch to snapping. Never have?! Well to get the medicine was for no one?! Putting you in the care of Muk, Luk, and Boris is nothing? He thought for a moment, he sighed in defeat, sure he did that, but what about what he did recently that showed he cared...not much. “You’re right Jenna.” He nearly whispered his response.

She seemed to about to yell again, but didn’t expect that answer. There was silence, which made him feel worse. He no longer could say anything the lump in his throat, felt so big that he swallowed to try to bring it down, but wasn’t working.

He started to walk away, he figured he should go back to his boat...that date they planned was ruined now, thanks to his stupid 'run.'

“Were are going?” She asked clearing her thought slightly.

He turned to her, “I think that you just need a moment to calm down Jen, and I.. just need to think more responsible.”

“More responsible?” she questioned his choice of words, it seemed off.

“An irresponsible father, isn’t worth knowing about...to them at least, I rather not even be mentioned if I’m..” He cut himself off not thinking of the thought.

Jenna was rather surprised by the remark that Balto just said. Are those his guideline for to be mentioned, or to be father? Why such a dramatic line?

“Sorry Jen I just need a moment to think and to change, this me will not be their father.” He softly declared as he started in a run, not wanting to continue that conversation.

She watched him run out of sight into and alley. She suddenly felt sorry for yelling at him. He was thinking about them already. She took thought about it as she walked to her hang out at the boiler room.

When she arrived her friends and other huskies were there she guessed that half of them were their warmth. Jenna saw her friends. She could hear gossip.

“Hey Jenna.” She knew who it was Celeste, she sighed. She wasn't exactly the female she'd like to speak to after the small argument she just had.

Celeste was pure breed retriever, and in her opinion she was a racist against wolves, including Balto she always talked him down. As far as she could see Balto wasn’t bothered by it. She found it sad he didn’t mind for he was still surrounded by it, in spite all he’s done for Nome. He was still mocked. 

“Welly well, it looks like they’re coming soon.” Celeste stated pointing her nose towards her belly.

“They got four weeks, they’re still a while away.” She replied back to Celeste.

“They come faster than you except, Jenna.” Celeste gave her a smirk, like she knew something she didn't. Who was she to speak? She never had pups before...and likely for a reason she'd wager.

Blankly and somewhat annoyed she replied, “And you would now this how?”

“Jenna I’ve told you before I was raised in breeding home. The so called due date is always off. They varry Jenna.” Celeste said to her.

“Celeste mine can't be that can’t be that off.” She replied to her with annoyed tone.

“I’m just telling you it happens,” Celeste spoke then was with anger and suspicion “How is Balto, he hasn’t shown to occasions lately, likes the wild and woods more than you, and your friend.”

She twitched at that she didn't mind saying that to her mate, but having used against her irritated her, “He shows up, just a late that’s all, he always shows.”

“Look I’m just going to tell you something about wolves in general they can and do turn, on everyone even the ones they used to love, they’ll toss aside. Often the half ones do so on a consitantly.” Celeste said to her harshly. 

She felt angered by the remark, the word turn and Balto, always heated her blood. She had defended Balto from that term, “Balto isn’t like that nor are any wolves for that matter! He loves me, and he always will.”

“Humph, have you ever met any wolves? No. Perhaps Balto has wolf friends?” Celeste asked with a smirk as she continued, “No? I doubt if Balto even had any he wouldn’t tell you, and why would he tell you? I thought Balto could trust you-”

She cut her off, “He would tell, I trust him with everything, and he does the same!”

“Oh. Really! We could you tell me why he’s never around?” Celeste asked her accusingly.

There was a moment of silence, she couldn't ever answer that question...it was always the same. “Balto..He was never really accepted...he just needs some time.” she said quietly, dogs like you keep him away!

“Well, doesn’t he live on that old boat.?” Celeste asked doubtingly.

“Yes, but-” 

“Then why is he always late?!” Celeste raised her voice, “I mean if ‘he’ cared, and then why does he never comes around or shows up, well sometimes late from what I can tell.”

“He shows Celeste, he will be at the race tomorrow.” She spoke with confidence, she knew Balto would show to that event, he loved running and loved racing.

“Will he even finish?” Celeste asked inferring he wouldn't show up, or arrive late and not compete.

“Might be first” She hissed back, she turned away, their conversation was over, now.

“very well, bye Jen.” Celeste said as she retuned to her friends.

She really ‘didn’t’ like being called “Jen” by anyone but by Balto. You will show her tomorrow Balto, but what if Celeste is right about the birth date. She wondered about this thoughout the day.

Balto walked out the town of Nome and just wondered about not really paying any attention to where he was going. The one thought raced though his mind the word father. Face it Balto your going to be one, you made that choice you loved it.

“Then why I’m not loving it any more?” He said to himself. Something changed him, he