Chapter 32

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Marie sat up and gasped, "What Kitten?" Raven asked waking up instantly. She looked around in fear then burst into tears. "Bad dream?" She nodded and he pulled her to him. "Okay Kitten, okay, I here."

"She okay?" Axel asked coming into the room.

"She had a bad dream," Corey said sitting up on the other side of her.

"Sorry," she whispered trying to calm down.

"It's okay Beautiful," Marc said leaning against the doorframe.

"Guys?" she asked sniffling.

"Still out," Axel said softly.

"Hey since it's early, why don't we go out for some breakfast and then go to the zoo?" Corey asked yawning. "We get there early and we will have plenty of time to see all the animals before the crowds."

"But what about?" She started to ask but Axel interrupted.

"I will let them know but I have a feeling it may be awhile because they just got to the location about fifteen minutes ago due to the location," Axel said and she nodded.

"Okay," she whispered. "We can really go to the zoo?"

"Of course Babe," Brandon yawned. "But first we get ready and eat."

"Okay" she smiled and headed to the bathroom. They chuckled and looked at one another, this could be a chance for her to trust them a little more and give them a chance.

When they got to a breakfast place they could tell she was really nervous about ordering, "Do you want me to order for you Beautiful?" Marc whispered in her ear and she nodded softly. They smiled softly as the stress visually left her. She looked over the menu then cautiously pulled on his sleeve. "Yes Beautiful?" he asked and she pointed to what she wanted. "Okay, and how do you want your eggs?" She frowned and he chuckled, "Do you like when they ooze out and get all messy?" She nodded, "Okay and what about to drink? Chocolate milk?" She nodded excitedly and he smiled. "Okay, got it Beautiful."

"Thank you Marc," She whispered then went back to her game on her phone.

The waiter came over a few minutes later and openly checked her out, "What can I get for you Beautiful?" he asked and Raven growled then put his arm around Marie's shoulders. "Aww the big brute won't let you order for yourself?" he asked and Axel stood.

"I don't appreciate how you are talking to our girlfriend, if you can't be professional then we will go somewhere else and trust me, once I speak to the owner you might want to start looking for another job," Axel said as everyone else stood and Marie went behind Raven and clenched his shirt.

"Chill out dude, it's the 21st century, she should be able to speak for herself," the waiter shrugged. "A little flirting never hurt anyone."

"Let's go Doll, we'll get you something to eat at a better place," Axel said as they left.

Once they got in the car she looked out the window, "I'm sorry, Owen always takes us to places that know our relationship so it doesn't cause drama."

"There's nothing to be sorry for Babe, he was just being an ass," Brandon shrugged. "We're sorry for crossing the line and calling you our girlfriend."

"You were just protecting me," she shrugged. "Owen and the guys won't get upset and will understand."

Raven started to say something but Corey shook his head so he looked out the window. They found another restaurant to go to and Marc had no problems ordering the food that she wanted that time. After Axel cut up her food for her since he knew North still had her grounded from knives, they made sure she ate most of her meal and they even managed to get some pictures of her with each other. When she was full they headed out to the zoo.

Sure enough just like Corey stated, there was barely anyone at the zoo and she had a blast getting to see all the animals. The guys made sure to take a lot of pictures and they loved each time she would grab one or two of their hands and pull them to see what she was seeing.

"He roars like you," She whispered to Raven as they watched a huge black bear stand on its two hind legs and let out a roar. "Can I call you Bear?"

"Da Kitten," Raven chuckled as he put his arm around her shoulder.

"Hey what about us?" Corey laughed and she titled her head in thought.

She pointed at Axel and said, "You make me think your spirit animal is a wolf so you are Wolf."

"I'm okay with that," Axel nodded with a small smile on his lips.

"You are Bean since you are always making new coffee," she pointed at Marc.

"Okay Beautiful," Marc smiled.

"You always make me smile so you are Sunshine," She pointed at Corey and he smiled.

"And you are Sweetie because you are nice to me and remind me of the candy," she pointed at Brandon.

"Whatever you want Babe," he shrugged.

"Hopefully the guys won't mind, oh I need to make a list that's fourteen nicknames now," She giggled and went over to watch the bears some more.

They soon learned that elephants were her favorite animals. She was so fascinated by them. "Did you know they could step on a peanut and not crack it open if they wanted? They are so huge and powerful yet so gentle. Did you know there have been research found that elephants that were separated for like I think 50 years so something like that and were reunited at a conservation and remembered each other! They say they remember everything even after decades. Could you imagine having so much power and still remain so gentle?" She whispered just watching them interact with each other.

"Wow," the group said in unison. Axel was recording her watching them. He did it for them but also for the Blackbourne team. She had a hard time leaving the elephants but once Brandon promised her to find her something elephant related at the gift shop she agreed. Corey also promised she could get the Blackbourne team gifts so she was going to see if she could sneak in gifts for the Toma team as well. She needed to talk to Owen and Sean, she wanted the Toma team to stay in the house for as long as they wanted, they accepted her even when she was anxious like at the restaurant and even almost child like such as when she is at the zoo and they were okay with it. They were starting to remind her of the Blackbourne Team and it made her nervous and confused. Her Owen and Sean would know how to help her with this but at the same time she was scared they would be upset that she was starting to like them possibly as well. Maybe she shouldn't talk to them but then she knew Owen and Sean and maybe even Kota would know something was bothering her. Great now her mind was starting to fill with what ifs...

"Hey let's go see the otters," Axel smirked, "even though I have to say my aquarium is better."

"You work at the aquarium?" She asked shocked.

"Oh Doll, I own the aquarium," he chuckled and her mouth dropped.
"The one with the underwater tunnel?" She asked and he nodded. "You are so lucky!"

"Oh Doll, you can visit whenever you want, okay?" he asked and she looked up at him excitedly. "Just let me know and I will come get you at the door. Everyday if you want."

"Yay!" she squealed and the team chuckled. "I can see the dolphins and whales every day! Meanie says it's a Pisces thing that I love water so much."

"I can see that," Axel nodded. "Well let's go check out what this place has, and I can tell you about mine. We can see about setting up a visitation schedule so the Blackbourne team knows when I work, okay?"

"Okay," she beamed and happily headed to the aquarium with them watching her closely and following behind her. She was thinking hard about something just moments ago but they were happy they were able to get her smiling again.  

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