“Junior, dear, what are you still doing up?” said Darling as she entered her 8-year-old son’s room.
Junior, not yet in his pajamas, still in his dark-blue khaki pants and pale blue top, sat up on the bed, fingering a red dog’s collar in his hands.
“Junior?” Darling glided gracefully into the room and sat primly on the edge of the bed. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Yeah,” murmured Junior. His eyes were on the collar. “Mom?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Why do you think he went away?”
Darling was partially confused. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Fang.” Junior wrinkled up his nose. “Why did he leave, Mom?”
Darling ran her hand through his hair and smiled. “Oh, Junior, dear, he couldn’t stay. He wouldn’t have been happy here.” She kissed his forehead. “You don’t want him to be unhappy, do you?”
“No…” Junior sighed. “You think he remembers us?”
“Of course.” Darling nodded solemnly. “You must remember—he is a stray.” She made her next words sound wonderful and adventurous. “Free to rummage through those icky garbage cans and run as long as he likes. He belongs on the streets where no one can chain him up.”
“But he’ll always be my pet.” Junior said softly. He looked up at his mother. “Right?”
Darling smiled as Jim Dear quietly joined them, ruffling Junior's hair.
“Right.”
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That's Junior at 8 years old, yes. This is sort of a 5-years-later afterthought of Rivalry. Remember Fang's red collar, how he had Angel keep it? Whenever Junior (who loves his pets, past and present no matter what) felt guilty or sad that Fang had left the Darling family those years ago, he picks up the collar to remind himself that Fang will ''always be his pet.''
The song, the lyrics above Fang's head is from Nickleback, called ''I'll Always Come For You''. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeNTNlOIz_0&feature=player_embedded
Fang had a connection with Junior when he lived with the Darling family, something I didn't elaborate on too much in the Rivalry Fanfics. But it's there.
I enjoy doing Junior in an older look. I love his hair and I loved giving him another outfit other than those blue footie pajamas.
So I hope you like this! --Doverstar