Jack said "I like the idea, but I'd have to ask Penny.  I know I'd like to have some place where we can settle in permanently, and not be on the run anymore, but until we get the issue with me being framed dealt with, I can't offer that to Penny.  She needs a place where she knows where everything is.  Somewhere she knows she's safe, and it's her space too, you know?"

Jeff subtly stopped the record function on the Ipod. It sounded like they had what they needed.

"It will get worked out. Don't worry Jack...now then, how about we get out of the mall? Maybe go to the park or the arcade?"

  The mall was packed.  It was early may, and Mother's Day was coming up.  Clarissa poked him lightly with one finger, and asked softly "What sort of things would make a good present for your Mom, Ozzy?  It's close to mothers day."

Ozzy shrugged his massive shoulders as he said, "Well, she loves to cook, so spices and stuff are good. I also made a necklace for her one year. Just a crystal I bought at a 'new age' place and put on a chain. It's like a prism she can wear."

He put a hand on her shoulder and asked, "And what about your Mom? What should we get her? And... well, she might still be in the hospital. I had Mr. Witness call an ambulance for her, just in case. Wanna go and try to visit her, later?"

   She kissed his cheek, and said softly "Let's get your Mom a present, and something for my Mom.  Think we can sneak a visit in to both of them today?"  She was sitting very daintily on his forearm, and she tickled the loop-handle of the leather leash against his shirt in a playful caress.

  Some of the other patrons in the parking lot were giving him wide eyed looks of mild alarm.

Ozzy hoooked the leash onto his collar, then waved at the gawkers and said, "Uhh... hi! We come in peace?"

He did look a little nervous, though it was mostly because he didn't want to turn this into some huge human/parahuman war thing.

  She kissed him, and said lightly "Head for the doors, you big sexy beastie."  She waved to the folks now openly gawking at him, since he was now leashed, and one of them said (he had to be about five) "Mommy, why is he on a leash?  He's not a doggie . . . "

  Clarissa told him affectionately "You know, I think they can tell who's in charge of this little shopping trip.  I love sitting here in your arms, but I'll probably have to walk when we get inside."

Ozzy nodded and strode towards the doors, saying, "Yeah. At least the Mall's nice and open in the main part, so I won't have to be ducking down the whole time. Tall ceilings for the win!"

He ignored the people for the most part, just kept a smile on his face and didn't make any sudden moves.

  She giggled, and kissed him again, then let him either open the doors or set her down to get them.  She said "I think you and I are going to get a fondness for stores with high ceilings and lots and lots of ope spaces.  But you do look good.  Let's start in the craft store.  Then maybe we can find something for your Mom in The Great Indoors, and for my Mom . . . I think we should check Hallmark.  She actually collects teddy bears."

Ozzy did indeed get the door, though he opened it gingerly, as if he was afraid he'd break it. He then let her down so she could go in before ducking through the door himself.

"Sounds like a plan, babe. I'm sure we'll find something for my Mom. If nothing else, a gift card would work. She loves that store. Yours collects Teddy Bears, eh? So are we looking for a special one, or should we get a generic one then customize it?"

  She waited for him to get through the doors, not wanting to yank on his leash, and said  "Well, we can either get your mom a gift card, or a pasta machine, or maybe both, depending if she likes the personal touch, or to make her own selections.  My mom is easy.  There's a new bear every month, and one just came out yesterday.  I'm SURE she couldn't have bought it yet, so we could easily get it and make her day complete with it.  You are such a sexy beastie, my Ozzy.  Watch your tail, don't let it catch in the doors."  She held the door open so he could get the tip of his tail in, then caught his hand, the leash-loop around that wrist as she headed them toward The Great Indoors.

Ozzy chuckled and replied, "Yes, dear. I'll be careful."

And he did indeed keep his tail close so that it went through at roughly the same time as the rest of him. When they were through, he stood up again and pondered, "Man, those doors feel so tiny now. And I'm getting bigger! Will... will I even be able to come inside here after a while?"

  Clarissa looked up at him, and said "Of course you will.  We'll just have to use the double doors that auto-open for you.  You're very tall, love.  Sexy too."  She   was so totally fearless, he soon got surrounded by a bunch of other classmates from school.  One of them asked him "Dude.  Are you Ozzy??  Cause, you know, you look way different than you did at school."

  Clarissa smiled, and said "Of course it is.  You think I'd let this big, sexy beastie get away from me even if he DID double in height??"  Which got some chuckles.  It had become a bit of a running joke in school that she had chased him until he caught her.

Ozzy nodded, "Yeah, it's me. I'm a superhero, and got mutated in the line of duty. It's all good, though. I'll adjust, and deal with it."

He then smirked and said, "And I'm not running away anytime soon. She's got me leashed up and everything. No complaints, though."

  She grinned, and said "And you're my superhero, love.  All mine."  She leaned against his arm, smiling.

  One of the guys asked him "Does it feel weird to be, like, huge and green, instead of, you know, before?  Doesn't it make things hard?  You're like, twice her size!"

  One of the girls said "So, is EVERYTHING that big?"

Ozzy shrugged at the guy's question, "This happened, literally, last night. I'm still kind of figuring stuff out, man. Like, I feel stronger. Lifting Clarissa takes about as much effort as picking up a barbie doll for you guys. It's been interesting trying to not be constantly breaking things."

When the girl asked if EVERYTHING was that big, he did indeed blush a bright shade of red, before stammering, "Uh... wow. Kinda... personal question you're asking there. You don't mince words, do you?"

  Clarissa gave her an arch look (she was six inches shorter than the girl who'd asked him that), and said "Like I said, Maggie, he's MY superhero.  You'll never know.  But I can promise you, he's a very good catch."  She reached up, leaning against his leg to hug his waist as she said happily "And I know you're far more fun to talk to than Maggie is, love.  She's a real maneater."

  Maggie looked at him, and he felt distinctly like a cat had just spotted a naked and defenseless canary out of it's cage.  Maggie said coyly "If that's built like everything else, Clarissa, you're a fool if you aren't riding him hard and putting him away wet every time.  I'd love to borrow him and see if he can be a good stud."

Ozzy's blush got darker, and he grabbed onto Clarissa and said, "I'm not for 'borrowing', sorry. I'm a one woman man."

He was starting to wonder if this was how Andy had felt when Clarissa's cousins had had him spooked.

  Clarissa patted his belly reassuringly, and said "All mine, love, and you're not getting borrowed."  She slid her hand down his hip, and turned to look at Maggie.

  Maggie looked at her, and said "I think he can do better than a little addict.  I don't think you've got the spine to stay clean enough to keep a stud like that."

  Clarissa arched one eyebrow, and her right hand came up on her hip as she said "Maggie, my dear, you have no idea what I've got the spine for.  I'm the lady my sexy Ozzy has chosen, and I am by god going to keep him.  You come sniffing around like the little trollop you are, and I will make you so sorry, you won't get laid for a month while you heal."  And she sounded like she meant every word.

Ozzy chuckled, "I'm quite happily taken. And she's been clean since Christmas, and shows no signs of going back. And even if she did, I'd help her get back off. So, yeah, not happening. Read the tag."

To illustrate his point further, he crouched down and wrapped his arms around her, smiling.

  When he crouched down, she grinned, and turned, tipping his chin to kiss him, the sort of hot, searing kiss that told everyone exactly to whom he belonged.  And when that kiss broke, she glanced over her shoulder at Maggie, and said "My only addiction is Ozzy, Maggie, and I don't share."

  Maggie gave them both the dirtiest look he'd seen in a very long time.  And he could see the glitter of both desire, and of lust.  She said "Just you wait.  You'll get what's coming to you, you little addict-bitch!"

Ozzy snorted as she threatened Clarissa vaguely, and said, "You have no idea what a man wants, do you? You might be plenty for a little boy looking to just get laid. But to me? You're just annoying. Get lost, and I'd advise you not to carry out that threat."

  Clarissa shot Maggie a look over her shoulder, and slid closer, parking her ass on his forearm as she leaned against his chest.  "See, Maggie, you don't know how to make my Ozzy smile.  I do.  And it starts with him being HAPPY to have me cuddled up to him."

  Maggie gave him a sizzling look, and whirled, stomping away.  He heard (but Clarissa couldn't) "He WILL be my bitch.  If YOU can pussy whip him, I'm sure I could do it."

Ozzy smirked as he said mirthlessly, "Old 'friend' of yours, love? She seemed to recognize you well enough. And she seems to have the impression that I'm whipped, too."

  Clarissa leaned against him as she said "She's only the biggest maneating, ballbusting bitch in the school, Ozzy.  The guys she dates are normally either jocks with no brains, or they have money.  She might think you hit both, but I know better.  You have far better taste than to think a trollop like her was sexy.  She's slept with more guys than I can even name."

  One of the other guys said "Yo, Ozzy?  You're in a collar and leash.  Most guys would call that looking pussywhipped, since, no offense here, the chick holding your leash is half your size and looks small enough to be snapped like a toothpick with a good hard hug."