Clarissa held tight to him as he flew, and she pressed delicate kisses along his jaw. She pointed to the balconies as she whispered {{I hope she's not mad.}}

Ozzy smiled and thought, {{Yeah. That one's ou... theirs. Let's drop in on them. And I know they'll love you, Clarissa. If they don't, then eh. It's not like I'm not the black sheep, anyway.}}

He landed on the balcony as softly as he could, but before he could knock, he heard a squeal and a familiar voice.

"MOOOOM! There's a catgirl and a big green monster that kinda looks like Ozzy on the balcony!"

"That's nice, dear. Go say hi to your imaginary monster for me, would you?"

Michaela harrumphed before marching out to the balcony and saying, "Mom says I have to come say hi. Why do you look like my brother? Are you gonna eat me? Did you eat HIM?"

Ozzy chuckled and said, "I AM your brother, squirt. I'm a little... different, now."

  Clarissa laughed, and said "Hello Michaela.  Ir's really us, Ozzy and Clarissa.  May we come in, please?"  Her tail flicked around, swishing back and forth, the soft, silky white plume expressive and gorgeously fluffy.

Michaela looked at them wide-eyed, but she recognized their voices. Well, Clarissa's voice, at any rate, and ran back inside to get her mother. Ozzy grinned as Gina got drug out towards the balcony by his little sister, who gasped when she saw the young couple.

<pink>"My stars! Ozzy! That... that IS you. I was surprised when I heard voices, but... what HAPPENED to you? Oh, Ozzy, my baby!"</pink she said as she ran out and hugged him fiercely.

Ozzy chuckled and put a massive hand over his mother's back, saying, "Mutated in the line of duty, mom. Trying to stop some bad guys from selling some bad stuff in Weston. Got a dose of it accidentally, though."

Michaela said, "How come you got all ugly, Ozzy, but Clarissa's all pretty now?"

  Clarissa scrunched her face at Michaela, and said "Hey, be nice to Ozzy.  He got mutated saving my mom from that fate.  We don't know a lot about the crap that does this, but the same stuff that made Ozzy green and nine plus feet tall, made me go all furry with feather-wings.  And a tail.  And sorry, not shaking hands, the stuff always seems to propagate itself.  My claws have it, sorry."  She held up her hand, which let them see the currently extended claws that she'd been hanging onto her purse with.

Ozzy chuckled and said, She's fine. Besides, she's just a little kid. An honest question is all right."

Michaela smiled and said, "Yeah!"

Gina giggled a bit before asking, "So, ah, what brings you two out here? You usually let us do the visiting, because of Ozzy's father."

Ozzy just grinned and hugged Clarissa as he said, "Well, we wanted to give you your Mother's Day present. And then there is happy news, Mom..."

At which point Gina interrupted and said, "Oh dear God, you got her pregnant!"

Ozzy chuckled and continued, "Not just yet, Mom. We're waiting before we have kids. Now, if you'd let me finish... Clarissa and I are going to get married. We wanted to let you know."

Gina grabbed her chest and gasped, "MARRIED!?! Butbutbut... you shouldn't rush into this, son! Marriage is for life!"

Ozzy smiled and said, "I know, Mom. But I love her. I'm sure she's the one. I don't want anyone else, and I never will. We aren't 'rushing into this', Mom. We've been dating for months! And it's not like I can't support her on my own!"

  Clarissa nodded, and said softly "We love each other, Mrs. Gysbourne.  Ozzy was so scared I'd freak out when he got mutated, but I wasn't freaked.  I was just glad he was okay.  Being nine foot plus and green just means there's more OF him to love.  Besides, he's sorta stuck with me, when I got mutated, I seem to have, umm, mindlinked us?  I can't talk to anyone ELSE in their heads, but I can Ozzy."  She flicked her tail lightly along Michaela's arm, letting her feel the silky soft plume of tail.  Knowing Ozzy would feel that she wasn't growling at Michaela, just . . . he was HER Ozzy, and she'd defend him against ANYONE calling him 'ugly'.  SHE thought he was hella-sexy!!

Michaela looked to be on the verge of tears, "But but but... you're not gonna take him away forever, are you? You'll let me come visit, right? What am I gonna do if I need a brother?"

Ozzy chuckled and said, "She's not gonna take me away from YOU, squirt. You can visit us... just make sure Mom calls first, okay? So we know you're coming, and can get ready."

Gina smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about that. Just... be careful, okay? I can tell you two love each other. You're special, that's for certain. Ozzy was never really interested in girls before you. Just... don't break my little boy's heart, please? I know he's not so little any more, but... well, you'll know one day. Your first, especially, will always be 'your baby', no matter how big they get."

  Clarissa crouched down, and said gently "Michaela, I will NEVER take Ozzy away from you.  He is your brother, and that will NEVER change.  But what I am going to do, is love him, and give him a shoulder to lean on when other people are mean and cruel because they don't see Ozzy, they just see big and green and they get scared.  He's still Ozzy.  And I love him.  I will ALWAYS love him.  And I want him to be happy, and smile.  I will EXPECT you to come visit, and we will visit when we can be sure your Daddy isn't going to have a fit, because he'll not like me now either.  But I promise, Michaela, you will NEVER lose Ozzy as a brother.  Think of it more as gaining a big sister."

Ozzy smiled and nodded, and Michaela burst into a big grin and threw her arms around Clarissa's neck, saying, "Yay! I have a sister! And a brother!"

Ozzy just chuckled and said, "D'aww. C'mere, everybody. Group hug!"

He then enveloped the three ladies in his life in his arms and his wings, smiling softly as he lifted them ALL off their feet.

Gina chuckled and said, "My, my! You've certainly become strong, haven't you, Ozzy? I'll have to call you next time we need some furniture moved. Your father is getting older, after all."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Tue 26 June 2012.

  Clarissa giggled, purring as she got double-hugged.  Her long, silky tail wrapped around his waist, and she told Gina shyly and happily "I even get to call Grandpa Grandpa.  He gave us his blessing too."  She was clearly happy, and her fur, Gina and Michaela found, was soft as silk.  Ozzy already knew that.

Gina smiled, "He's only right to welcome you into the family, dear. It's clear to all of us that you make Ozzy happier than he's ever been. I suppose you should start calling me Mom as well, then."

Ozzy grinned and said, "I'm glad you're so welcoming to Clarissa. And don't worry, Mom. We'll be careful, like you said."

Gina just sighed and said, "I know. I suppose I'm just worrying because I'm your mother. We tend to do that, you know."

Michaela giggled and said, "You're warm, Ozzy! Do you sleep with your wings as blankets?"

  Clarissa smiled, and said softly "Thanks, Mom.  Now, if you get a 'big green monster and a catgirl' on the balcony again, you know it's us.  I can fly too, although I'm not very good at it yet.  I'm GOING to be making Ozzy a new wardrobe, since, well, retail sales just don't make things quite 'Big and Tall' enough to suit Ozzy now!  And he's still growing!"  She whispered that last, knowing he could hear her anyway, and teasing him just a touch.

Gina gasped, "Oh my! You're still growing? I wonder how big you'll get... I hope you'll still be able to live inside! Ohh, I'd hate to think my poor baby was living out in the rain."

Ozzy smiled, "As long as I have Clarissa, I'll be all right. And I'm pretty sure I can have a house built to fit me, if need be. Clarissa can fly, she'd be able to reach if I wasn't around to help her. I'd just want ceilings high enough to stand up under, and maybe a big chair for me, and a nice, big bed that I don't hang off of."

  Clarissa giggled, and said "You'll ALWAYS have me, Ozzy.  After all, SOMEONE's got to tailor clothes for you, right?  Heck, *I* need specially tailored stuff now.  I have wings and a TAIL."

Ozzy set everyone down, then said, "Oh, before I forget, here's your gift, Mom. I didn't want to get you a duplicate of a kitchen gadget, so I got you a gift card. I know you love this store, Mom."

He then gave his mother the gift card, who accepted it and said, "I see your wife-to-be's already giving you sound advice, Ozzy dear. Making me return something I already have would have been a bit of a blunder. But it's the thought that counts, either way."

Michaela just grinned and started singing, "Ozzy and Clarissa, sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Heehee!"

  Clarissa giggled, and said "Well, I DO have an advantage with thinking of gifts for you, Mom.  I'm not a great shake in the kitchen, like Ozzy, but I can sew very well, given time and good measurements.  Which, Ozzy, I'm going to borrow your Mom and Michaela to help me get some measurements, okay?"

Ozzy nodded and said, "Yeah, I'll just sit out here and not break anything. Sound good?"

Gina chuckled as she lead Clarisa into the apartment, "I do a bit of sewing myself, Clarissa. I may not make many clothes, but I've fixed more of Ozzy's pants than I can count. Shirts, too. That boy almost seemed to ENJOY falling down and hurting himself when he was learning tricks on those skates of his."

Michaela giggled and said, "Yeah! Mom always said she was surprised he never lost any teeth!"

  Clarissa giggled, and said "We're going to try kilts.  But I have to special tailor them for the tail.  Okay, I need a whole slew of measurements, for MY clothes.  Would you two both be willing to help?  Mom, you know how to do inseams and bustlines, and waistlines, and all that fun stuff, so if you measure, and Michaela can write them down, please?  I'm also going to need wing thickness, and height, and I can't SEE my back to do that.  And how far the base of MY tail is from my waist.  Because, you know, the mutations Ozzy and I have, they're permanent."

Gina smiled and said, "It'll be interesting, to be certain, as you DO need some fairly non-standard measurements taken. But we'll get you taken care of, don't you worry. Will we need to get Ozzy's done, too? There's an awful lot of him to measure, you may need a few extra hands."

Michaela went and got a pad and pencil to write down her measurements, and let them know when she was ready to start writing. Meanwhile, Gina got out her measuring tape, smiling as she said, "You know, these numbers would be handy for making you a lovely wedding dress, too."

  She grinned, and said "I think I can get Ozzy's.  He's, ahh, got more sensitive sense of touch?  And, well.  I'm trying to save him the blushes, Mom.  I AM his lady love, and, well, some of them WILL be rather personal."  She slid out of her clothes, knowing Gina would see the soft, silken coat of ALL OVER fur, and whispered to Ozzy {{Okay, love, let the paint shirt go away for the moment, I need to get measured.  I'll take YOUR measures when we get home.}}

Ozzy nodded, and the paint shirt slithered off of her chest and back to Ozzy.

Gina chuckled and said, "Very well, then. I suppose if you're going to be his wife, you do need to... get to 'know' him. Now, dear, where should we start?"

Michaela giggled, "But, Mommy, I'm pretty sure Clarissa knows Ozzy already. They're getting *married*, after all. Would Ozzy marry a stranger?"

  She arched her wings delicately, and said "Let's start with the wings.  Top to bottom, along the base, where they join to my back.  I can't get that, and I'm going to need that figure.  Then I'll need waist to top of tail."  She glanced at Michaela, and smiled, admitting "We DO know each other.  Very well.  That's why I'll measure him at home.  His enhanced senses. . . could, umm.  Let's just say that there are SOME things that have changed since last you saw your son in his altogethers.  A scorpion tail is one of them.  His wings are also VERY sensitive.  But they're lovely warm to sleep under, just like Michaela said."

Gina blushed furiously, and said, "Oh! Oh my... so you two DO know each other, then. Right, I forgot that that's something that you teenagers do, sometimes."

Michaela looked confused and asked, "I'm confused. What are you two talking about? I know plenty of boys at school."

Gina hurriedly tried to explain, "Michaela, sweetie, it's something you'll understand when your older. It's a way that only grownups can know each other, and only if they're very much in love. Would you go get me a glass of tea, Michaela? All the sudden I'm feeling thirsty."

Once Michaela went to go get her mother some tea, Gina whispered, "I know this is a personal question, Clarissa, but I have to know. Is my son the only boy you've 'known'? And are you two using protection?"

  Clarissa nodded, and said softly "Yes.  Ozzy is my first, he will be my only, forever.  And yes, we're using contraceptives.  I KNOW I didn't have anything, since I was THOROUGHLY checked over after my parents had me in detox.  So don't worry.  We have a spell.  Yes, I'm a mage too, now.  It says it absolutely will not fail to prevent pregnancy.  And . . . I don't even know if I CAN get pregnant NOW.  I'm not . . .exactly human looking any more.  But I know Ozzy loves the tickle of my fur, so when I measure him, there's GOING to be a reaction.  A big one.  I figured you'd prefer not to see Ozzy, umm.  Get sprung?  His wing membranes are about as sensitive as umm, the dangly bits.  So, I don't think you want to go handling them.  But I can tell you, Mom, it really DID mean a lot to him that I didn't freak when he came home mutated.  He was afraid I'd freak and run, but I'll NEVER do that."