Setting: New Orleans, LA, 1935.

The music is blaring, and everyone is having an overall good time. There were two bars within the city - one for the humans and one for the dogs. At the pub alone sat a Doberman, her head drooped over the drink clutched in her paws. The bartender shook her awake and asked, "Had 'nough Agatha?"

Agatha murmured and put her head down on the table. She was a regular at the pub, often requesting for a few drinks and of course being the type to pass out. The bartender reached out and shook her again. "Agatha, darlin', get up."

"Mmm... bacon and ship boats..." Agatha raised her head, her eyes bloodshot and her motion unstable. She was rocking back and forth in her chair until she fell back. A pair of paws reached out and grabbed her before she hit the floor. Too drunk to notice, Agatha murmured some nonsense again.

The bartender raised his head and smirked. "All right Burt?"

Burt Barkin placed Agatha on the floor and then took her spot. He was a very handsome and charismatic character who closely resembled a German shepherd, but was a mixture of a few breeds. The fact that he was a mix just made him more of an appealing character though. Agatha murmured one more time and then she fell asleep. Burt wasn't worried about her, she usually did this every time they were out in town. Burt ordered a drink and while the bartender was making it, Burt said, "Business all right?"

"Fair, can't complain," said the bartender. "Agatha came in here and got herself-"

"-roaring drunk, yeah I know," said Burt. As the bartender handed him his drink, Burt grabbed it and smiled. "Any good-looking gals about?"

The bartender laughed. "Oh boy, Burt you are such an animal. Yeah there was a couple of nice legs out there, but none really stuck around once Agatha got drunk. She went on yapping about needing another drink and she went and blew her fuse and began insulting all the girls."

"Shame," sighed Burt as he took a sip. "She should really cut down on her intake."

"Well she's your friend Burt, you talk to her."

"Nah, I'll let her sober up."

"Oh there was this one good lookin' girl who came in," said the bartender as he lowered his voice. "Very attractive. I'd suspect maybe a collie, collie mix. And you know how darling that breed is."

Burt laughed. "Yeah I know." He had been with a few collies himself.

"But she was drop dead gorgeous. Bit too shy for talk though. She came in here with one of her friends and left as soon as they had gotten their fill."

"Well maybe I'll drop by early after work and see her," said Burt. Burt was a gambler and dealer at heart, so he could not help but spend most of his hours doing the deeds. But when he finished, he was much richer than when he started.

"If she comes in," reminded the bartender. When Agatha began snoring loudly, he said, "Alright, go and take her home before she scares away the rest of my customers."

Burt finished his beer and quickly picked up Agatha, steadying her to her feet though she had no idea what was going on. "See ya Charles!" he called to the bartender.

"Bye Burt!"

"Mur mi Mrtie mhoy!" Agatha greeted as she drunkenly reached up and touched Burt's face with her paw.

Burt rolled his eyes. "Agatha, stop drinking yourself silly."

"I am so not mhrund..." Agatha fell asleep in Burt's grip again.

Burt sighed. "What am I going to do with you..."

**

As he predicted, Agatha sobered up the next morning. She didn't get up 'till noon but when she did and she walked out into the kitchen in the small apartment she shared with Burt, she looked awful. Burt was getting himself ready. He called his work to tell them that he wouldn't be able to get to them today.

"What're you... still doing here?" yawned Agatha as she took the seat next to Burt. "You got work."

"I called and told them I couldn't go today."

"Huh..." Agatha raised a brow at him. "And since when do you call in sick? What's going on?"

"Charles tipped me off about a lovely lady who is a regular at the pub."

"Uh huh, so it's a girl..." Agatha's voice sounded uncertain, but Burt took no notice to it.

"Y'know Agatha, I'd like to be a family man," said Burt. "I mean my pa was a good man, always stood by his family. I think I'd like to be like that."

Agatha whimpered a bit.

Burt thought that her whimpering was a sign about him not wanting to go out and drink with her anymore, so he quickly said, "Don't worry Agatha, we'll still share some beers now and again."

"Yeah..." said Agatha half-heartedly.

"Well how to do I look?" To Agatha, he looked no different than usual but he smelled good and he freshened up a bit. Agatha gave him a weak thumbs up and Burt smiled. "Good. Alright, ready to go?"

"No not yet, I gotta wash up," growled Agatha. She left the kitchen to go and freshen up. When she came back, her signature ripped bandanna intact and looking overall better than how she looked when she got up, Burt got up and they left.

As they made their way to the pub, Agatha kept on secretly glancing at Burt. She was nervous. She didn't want to lose him. She hoped that this girl wasn't a looker.

"'ey Burt!" greeted Charles from his post. He was serving two females, a gray whippet mix and a collie mix. Charles nodded his head at the collie mix, and Burt felt his throat dry up a bit. Agatha snorted and sat over by the whippet mix while Burt took his place alongside the collie mix female.

The female hesitantly looked at Burt as he looked at her, a cheesy but genuine smile on his face. "Hi there."

The female looked down at her drink nervously and did not say anything back. Her friend, slightly drunk bit but not drunk enough to not notice that her friend was uncomfortable, jumped out of her chair and grabbed the female's paw. "C'mon Loni, leb's go and get outta here," she said.

Loni gladly followed after her friend while Burt sadly watched her go. Agatha snorted with laughter in her drink but made this not so obvious. "I don't get it Charles," growled Burt as he faced the bartender. "What gives?"

"Maybe she's shy?" suggested Charles. "She's not much a talker when she comes here anyhow. Kinda like she's afraid of someone."

Burt snorted in frustration. "I'm not that scary..."

"I wasn't saying it was you Burt, but I'm just saying that maybe something had happened to her. How 'bout you try and get to know her? Like worm your way into being her friend?"

"I was gonna do that Charles!"

Agatha rolled her eyes. "Honestly Burt, it's obvious she doesn't want you, so why press the issue?"

"Agatha, you know I'm not a quitter."

"Whatever, I think you're wasting your time."

"Come by tomorrow," said Charles. "Things will work themselves out."

Burt grumbled before ordering his usual. He did not see the look of jealously in Agatha's eyes.

**

The next day they did go back to the pub and there was Loni, all alone this time at a small table in the dark corner of the pub. There was more activity this time at the pub, and Burt was nervous that this atmosphere wouldn't do good to try and be Loni's friend. Agatha didn't notice. She loved this kind of crowd, and so quickly detached herself from Burt to go and join the group.

Burt quickly made his way over to Loni, trying to look inconspicuous as he did. Loni did not raise her head up at him as he got closer, and she did not notice him until he tapped her on the shoulder. "Is this seat taken?" he asked politely, pointing to the empty seat across from her.

Loni shook her head and said shyly, "You can sit."

Burt's heart began to go fast. She had such a beautiful voice and yet... it sounded sad, and he was sad by it because she was too pretty to be sad. He sat across from her and studied her body language. It was very obvious that his mere presence scared her.

"Is something wrong miss?" he asked her. "Where is your friend from yesterday?"

"Oh she had some... stuff to do," said Loni shyly.

Burt frowned. "Are you alright miss?"

Loni sighed. "I don't know..." She looked at him straight in the face. "Why does it concern someone like you? I don't even know you."

Ouch, right in the heart. But Burt wasn't about to give up. "Miss, if you're afraid that I am trying to worm myself into your heart just so that I can use you, I'm afraid you're mistaken. I'm an honorable dog and I would never want to put a lady into that kind of situation."

Loni laid her ears back. "I... I don't know."

"My name is Burt Barkin," said Burt suddenly. "What is your name?"

Loni was taken aback by his comment, but answered, "Loni Bowzer."

"What a wonderful name."

Loni let his comment sink her head, but then decided to stand up. "I'm sorry, I have to go," she said very quickly.

Burt frowned even more and then jumped up after her. Agatha, who was at the counter sipping some beer, turned and saw Burt run after Loni. She clenched her teeth together and raised her paw with a beer glass in it. "Hey Burt, drink's over here bud!" But when he did not turn around to even look at her, Agatha got frustrated and immediately followed after them.

Burt finally caught up to Loni underneath the street light. He took her paw in his gently as to try and not make her any more afraid of him than she already was. "What do you want from me?" she cried out. "Leave me alone!"

"Listen, I don't want to hurt you and I don't want you to think that I'm coming after you," said Burt calmly. "I just don't like to see a lady upset."

"You don't even know me!"

"I know your name."

"Let her go Burt, she don't even want your company." Agatha trotted up to them, an irritated look on her face. "C'mon Burt, let's go back and have a few drinks."

Burt looked from Loni to Agatha and his hold on Loni slackened. "Okay then, I'm sorry for the trouble miss," he said sadly. His ears drooped down, he trotted after Agatha as they made their way back to the pub. Loni looked on but eventually turned and headed her own way.

**

Burt called in sick for the third day in a row and he, alone, made his way to the pub. Agatha had made herself drunk and silly yesterday night and was now suffering from a hangover, leaving Burt all by himself. He didn't mind, he wanted to be alone anyways. When he made it to the pub, there was a low level of activity, but enough customers to keep Charles occupied from talking. Burt quickly ordered a drink and sat at one of the tables, staring intently at the drink sitting in front of him.

Why did he let Loni bum him out? He liked her, that was a fact. But it depressed him that she wanted nothing to do with him. But why did he care so much? Burt didn't know the answer and didn't care to answer it as he took a quiet sip of his drink.

"Excuse me." Looking up, Burt was surprised to see Loni looking at him. She shyly smiled at him. "May I sit here?"

"Of course," said Burt. Now he was confused: didn't she want him to get away from her? So why was she here now all of a sudden?

Loni sat down across from him and immediately said, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I... don't generally like to be around guys."

"Oh?" Burt looked at his beer and offered it to Loni. She declined the offer, but Burt himself didn't want the drink anymore either so he set it off to the side. "Why? I'm sorry if this is getting too personal, but what happened that made you so-"

"My boyfriend," said Loni sadly. "Well... my ex-boyfriend I guess I could say now."

"Ex? Did he hurt you?"

Loni shook her head. "He was a very sweet and loving boyfriend. But... he died in a gang fight." Loni's eyes suddenly started to fill with tears. Quick to action, Burt ran and got a napkin and handed it to her. "H-He was v-very young. And he was j-just killed." Loni blew her nose on the napkin.

"I'm sorry for your loss," said Burt sadly. "He must've been extraordinary."

"He was! B-But now I feel being around so many other males... will be like an insult to his m-m-memory..."

Hearing this now made Burt feel guilty about liking her. He hesitated a bit before taking his paw and laying it on top of hers. "I'm sorry if-"

"It's ok," said Loni sweetly. "Thank you for listening Burt."

"Do you want a drink?" Burt gestured to the still-full beer bottle next to him.

Loni smiled. "I think I will need a drink."

Burt smiled back. "That'a girl." He handed the bottle to her and watched as she drank.

**

Burt did not immediately earn Loni's love, but he did earn her respect and friendship. To try and develop the relationship, he often invited her to his apartment where a grumpy Agatha was always waiting. Whenever Loni entered the house, Agatha would curse loudly and excuse herself to another part of the apartment, but not too far where she couldn't listen in on what Burt and Loni were talking about.

She hated Loni with a passion. The hours became days and the days became weeks and the weeks became months and so on and so forth, and pretty much it felt like Loni was practically living with them. At first Agatha made her hate for Loni discreet, but as time and time went on, Agatha made her absolute loathing for Loni more public. Loni knew she was not welcomed in the apartment but Burt allowed her in anyhow, often telling Agatha that he was the one who paid for the apartment. More fights between Burt and Agatha sparked, about how Burt was avoiding his job now in order to spend more time with Loni, and how Agatha's jealously of Loni was uncalled for. Their friendship was crumbling underneath their noses.

"Uncalled for?!" snarled Agatha during one of their fights. Loni was in the other room listening in on Burt and Agatha as they shouted back and forth. "You're the one who keeps on inviting her over! And you keep on blowing off your job! We're not getting any money and the guys are gonna get pissed!"

"Then I suggest you stop being such a slob around here and go and find yourself some work!" shouted Burt. "Go work with Charles 'cause we all know how much of a drunk you are!"

"Hey don't be such a hypocrite! You used to drink yourself silly too!"

"I have enough common sense to not allow myself to get crazy drunk! You, however, have no sense at all!"

"You never had a problem with it until she came along! Face it, you changed once she came in your life! I want her out, NOW!"

"No... I want YOU out! Get out Agatha!"

Agatha was taken aback by this, her fiery temper now sizzling fairly quickly. However Burt kept his angry demeanor and pointed to the door, whispering the words, "Get out" underneath his breath. Agatha couldn't believe what she was hearing. He was choosing some girl over his best friend!

"FINE then!" shouted Agatha. "I didn't even want to live here anymore anyways! I hate you Burt Barkin!" She quickly went to pack her stuff while Burt went over to a tearing Loni to try and comfort her. Agatha finished packing and quickly ran out the door, her tough demeanor fading to now one of someone who felt as though they were punched hard in the gut.

The first place she thought of going to was Charles's pub. She went there and was thankful to see him at the counter. Agatha sighed loudly, throwing her luggage next to the chair as she sat down.

"Agatha, where's Burt ol' boy?" asked Charles. "Ain't it so nice he got himself a girl?"

"Yeah, whatever," growled Agatha. "Just give me the usual Charles."

Charles looked over the counter and saw the bags next to her chair. "You... going somewhere?" he asked.

"I'm leaving this stupid town," said Agatha dismissively. "Now can I have my usual?"

Charles sighed and went to go make her drink. "Did you and Burt have a fight?" he asked her.

"I don't want to talk about it Charles."

"Was it over Loni?"

"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" shouted Agatha.

Charles winced and quickly gave Agatha her drink before disappearing to the back. Agatha didn't really notice. She just took her drink and chugged it all down. She didn't even notice a group of dogs walk in, nor did she notice a chubby mean-looking dog sit next to her.

"Bartender! Let me have a drink!" growled the chubby dog.

Charles returned and raised his brow at the dog. "Oh... hello Carface."

Carface grinned evilly. "Just give me a drink and I'll leave, no trouble, I promise."

"You know I don't trust your promises."

"I got two sets of bones here to pay for. Will that do?"

"I'm a business. Though I don't care for you Carface, I do care for pay." Charles disappeared again.

Carface smirked and then turned his attention to Agatha as she slumped over the counter, her drink all finished. "You look familiar."

Agatha raised her head and recognized Carface immediately. "I know you. You work with Burt don't you?"

"Burt Barkin? That son of a..." Carface slammed his paw on the counter. "Keeps on blowing off work! Doesn't he know who I am? I gotta make a business and if I don't have a guy to do business..."

Agatha licked her lips. "Apparently not," she said dryly.

"Lookit here you, this is a business. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."

A sudden idea popped into Agatha's head. "Wanna know why Burt's been goofing off from work?"

Carface leaned in, suddenly interested.

"He's been hangin' with this girl, Loni. You get rid of her, you get Burt back."

Relaying this in his mind made Carface smirk widely. "Girlie I think you've solved our problems. Where do they live?"

Agatha gave them the address and Carface thanked her before taking his leave without even bothering to have his drink. Agatha took the drink herself and after having it, fell asleep on the counter.

**

"Hey you guys gotta come out here!"

"Someone's been killed!"

"Oh my god..."

There was a lot of commotion happening the next morning. Agatha awoke to all the screaming and also having Charles persistently shaking her shoulder. He took her paw and led her down to her apartment where a big circle of dogs were. Agatha did not register what was happening, but as Charles pushed everyone aside and they came upon the scene, Agatha saw what was going on.

On the asphalt laid Burt, beaten and dead. Nearby was Loni, weeping loudly and carrying on how she was pregnant. Agatha gulped loudly and sunk to the ground, staring at Burt's body.

"Do you know what happened?" Charles asked a bystander.

The bystander, a smoker, took a long drag on his cigarette and said, "Some gang business or whatever. I live in the floor above this guy's. Yeah, I heard all this commotion outside and saw them beat him outside. Something about him ditching his work and having to pay or something."

"Who would..?"

"I don't know. But that girl there, she's pregnant. After I saw him getting beaten, I ran downstairs and saw her locked up in one of the rooms, refusing to leave. Poor gal, to have that happen to her."

Charles felt his eyes become watery and he turned to look at Agatha, whose mouth was wide open as she studied Burt's body.

Loni raised her head and saw Agatha. "You... IT WAS YOU! YOU KILLED BURT!" She cried out, pointing her paw at Agatha who did not take mind to her for she continued to stare at Burt. Everyone else looked at Loni and then at Agatha, and they continued to look at Agatha until Charles thought it would be best to remove her from the scene.

They went to the back of the pub where Charles sat her down and asked what happened.

"I don't remember..." she said softly.

Charles sighed. Agatha was broken. He continued to prod her with questions but she kept on repeating herself. Finally, seeing as he wasn't getting anything out of her, he told her to get out of the city and move far away. Agatha seemed to have barely heard him for her eyes stared past him to look at the wall. Charles shook her violently. "Agatha listen to me! Get out of here!"

"Uh huh..." said Agatha absently.

Charles sighed. He took care of Agatha. He booked Agatha a trip out of the state and got her to get all of her things together. Each and every day he was doing this, Agatha was slowly becoming less and less responsive, until one day she just finally stopped communicating. By this point Charles was too frustrated to care about her problems and just threw her out of his life forever.

Agatha never did make that trip. Agatha was staying with someone somewhere a few miles from New Orleans and had entered the local pub. She drunk herself silly until she was no longer conscious. When Agatha opened her eyes, she found herself no longer in the pub she was spending time in the night before.

In front of her, a pink-colored whippet appeared to her, a big smile etched on her face. "Welcome to heaven."