"Jess!" I startle awake at Charlie's shout. My body reacts on its own as it back flips from the chairs and lands in a defensive crouch. My mind is still fuzzy with sleep as my sharp eyes glance around the room for danger. Seeing Charlie covering his mouth with his hand to muffle his laughter allows me to relax. I grunt and collapse face first into the ground.

"I was sleep working, again, wasn't I?" I groan, slightly muffled by the floor. Charlie's laughter was all I needed to hear to know I was right. "That's the sixth time this week. What is wrong with me?" I grumble. I get up and save the work I did in my sleep before heading to the kitchen and heating up some burgers from last night. Almost as soon as I sit the plate down was it covered in hungry bitties. I chuckle and get some coffee, the life force of my mornings. After drinking half of it, I bring up a topic that happens every morning when they stay over. "You guys know that a new Bitty care Center has opened up just past the park right?"

Charlie pauses in his eating to reply, "Yeah, what about it?"

"Just curious. My offer is still open, especially with a closer one. So, you want me to take you guys there, since I'm going back today with Nina, or do you want me to make some doggy bags full of blankets and burgers? I would appreciate it if you would go and just look. You don't have to stay if you don't want." I shrug and sip at my coffee.

Red and Coal scowl but all the bitties huddle together to talk. Charlie is the one to speak up, "Fine. We'll go but only to look and if we don't want to stay, we're leaving with you. Got it?"

"That's fine." I smile. Happy that they are considering it. I finish my coffee and make seven bitty sized paper bags filled with a blanket and some cheeseburgers for their lunch. The blankets are just in case they don't want to stay. I put them all in my messenger bag along with my sketchbook and a normal sized bag of cookies as an extra apology to Cry for flipping her. I grimace at that thought, that came out all wrong.

As everyone is finishing up, I look at the clock and notice that Nina will be here in another ten minutes. "Alright, everyone. Will you be coming with me, following us from a distance or meet us up there?" I clap to gain their attention.

"We'll meet you there." Red grumbles and I wave everyone goodbye as they walk down the street and turn a corner into an alleyway.

I get dressed in a black long sleeved undershirt and a red short sleeved sweater with 'Blood Tastes like Lollipops' in white across the chest over it. I pull on a pair of dark red fashionably ripped jeans and my trusty boots and leather jacket. I brush my hair and notice that my highlights are starting to fade. Perhaps I'll go with purple this time. I finish getting ready just in time to hear several impatience knocks on my door. I look through the peep hole first, better safe than sorry, and see Nina. I open the door and Nina has already tugged me out, made sure I got everything, locked the door, closed it and dragged me halfway across the street by the time I manage to even say "Hi."

"Come on! Let's go!" Nina shouts and she drags me. Nina, sweet, impatient Nina. I snicker and speed up a little.

"Charlie and the gang will be meeting us there."

Nina looks at me curiously, "So, have you finally managed to convince them to go to the CC?"

I shake my head, "Nah, but I have managed to get them to at least look into the new one. Hopefully they'll decide to stay. I swear, I worry about them 24/7 so much that I'll probably have a full head of grey in two years."

"Well, I guess that's good. I just wish they'll let us help them." She replies.

I sigh, "Me too, Nina, me too."

It's comfortably quiet as we continue our journey.

"SO..." Nina trails, "I researched about some bitties last night... Can I have one now?"

I face-palm so hard it echoes down the street. Nina, you impatient little shit... Sometimes I feel like a parent. Oh God! That thought should not exist at my age!

Today is going to be another VERY long day!