Disclaimer: I've done this enough times.

For SilverStar121, because she asked for it. If you have a request, I'll see if I can pull it off.

Done. Ian thought, closing the mantilla folder and tucking it into his work suitcase. Another hour long report written and finished. That was the worst part of the job. The reports. Half the time he didn't want to relive the events, and the other half the difficulty to remember it all was high. Yet, every single time it was pure bloody annoying to write them.

Sighing, Ian stood up and stretched his long unused muscles. He had been sitting at the desk in his office for two hours. Two long hours of writing, typing, remembering, and feeling like bashing his head against the wall. He had gotten home and fallen on the couch without a word. His eight year old nephew had been at school, and checking the clock, Ian realized Alex should have been home a half hour ago. With slight worry, Ian exited his office, locked the door, and walked downstairs.

He arrived to a strange sight.

His innocent little eight year old nephew was lying on the floor, still in his school uniform, playing with a... a dog?

Ian could've sworn he walked into the Twilight Zone.

Alex had never been one for animals. Not once had the child asked Ian for a pet. Yet, here his nephew was, playing with a puppy. Ian barely knew any dog breeds but even he recognized one of the most popular dogs in England. A little white cotton puppy called White Highland Terrier.

Alex was playing with the little white cotton dog. The little puppy was running around Alex and pouncing on him. It gave a small "yip!", and jumped on Alex's stomach. Alex smiled, actually giggled, and petted the little puppy.

Ian shook his head, and although finding the scene adorable, coughed lightly. Alex jumped up and stared at Ian with wide eyes. The puppy, cocked his head and hid behind Alex's foot. "Ian, I-I-I..."

Ian hid a smile. "Alex, why is there a dog running around the house?"

"I found him. He was sitting by my bike with no collar and he looked hungry so I fed him some of my leftover lunch and he fallowed me home. I couldn't leave him outside so I brought him in here. I-I-I think he's homeless, Ian." Alex said, looking pitifull yet adorable. He bent down and picked up the little cotton dog and held it close.

"Alex, it could belong to someone else." Ian said.

"But he didn't have a collar!" Alex yelled, eyes tearing up.

Ian saw that his little baby nephew already had grown an attachment to the little mutt. That small fact made it so much harder to tell Alex they couldn't keep the little thing. "Alex, he might have lost his collar. Someone could be looking for him."

"But I wanna keep him!" The seven year old said, eyes tearing up.

"Alex, you can't. Someone is probably looking for him. What if he belonged to another little boy? It wouldn't be nice of you to take him for the other kid." Ian coaxed.

Alex looked down guilty. "They didn't care about him if they lost him."

Ian fought another smile. "Alex, he probably got off his leash. I'm sure he was loved."

"But Ian-" Alex said, looking up with tears.

Ian flinched inside. "Alex, tell you what, we'll keep him here for a little bit, but you and I are going to go put up lost and found adds. That way, if his owner is looking for him, he'll be able to go back home."

Alex frowned. "But what if his owner doesn't call?"

Ian knew he was going to regret this but, "then we can keep him."

A bright, hopeful smile erupted on his face. "Okay!"

Fighting back a sigh, Ian grabbed his car keys. "Now let's go get some supplies. You'll have to leave him here, Alex."

"But, can't he ride in the car?" Alex asked, frowning.

"No." Ian said quickly.

"Please, Ian. He'll be good." Alex begged.

"Oh, and did he tell you that?" Ian asked playfully.

"No, but I know he will." Alex said, looking down at the little mutt, silently warning him he better behave or Ian wasn't going to let him go in the car.

Sighing, Ian shrugged. "Alright, but he needs a name."

Alex tilted his head. "Snowball."

Ian couldn't fight a smile. "Alright, come on, Al. Come on, Snowball."

Alex skipped around the pet store, picking out food, leashes, collars, and toys for his new friend. Ian had to buy the leash and collar right away so they could let the little mutt, erm, Snowball, walk around the store with them. Alex had yelled at Ian when he had called Snowball a little mutt. Ian had nodded and grudgingly called the little thing by it's name. Yet, he still didn't like the little... dog, because he was dishing out way too much money for it. Example, Alex grabbed a third toy for the little creature.

"Alex, only two toys allowed." Ian grumbled.

Alex pouted and put the toy back before dragging the puppy along the isle.

"Cute dog." An employ said, smiling. "Did you just get him?"

"No, we found him. Taking care of it till the owner claims him." Ian grumbled.

The girl smiled. "Oh, that's nice of you. I see your son loves it."

"Yes, my nephew does. Unfortunatly."

The girl laughed. "Well, have you began to put up flyers? We can help with that easily."
"That would be great." Ian said, smiling.

The girl nodded, pulling out a piece of paper. "Now let's see. White Highland Terrier, probably not even a year old. I'd say six months. Where did you find him?"

"Brooklands School." Ian answered, keeping an eye on Alex.

"Alright. Did he have a collar?" She asked, scribbling down information on the paper.

"No." Ian stated.

"A name?"

"My nephew named him Snowball. He didn't have any sign of a name." Ian said, watching as Alex walked over to the pet beds. Oh no, you're not making me buy a bed for that mutt. Ian grumbled silently.

The girl laughed. "That's cute. Don't worry sir, we'll find his owner."

"Thank you." He said, walking over and ruffling his nephew's hair. "Alex, put that back. Let's buy the food and toys. No more."

"Okay. Who was that lady?" Alex asked with his big button brown eyes.

"An employee. She's making the flyers so Snowball can find his owner." Ian said gently.

Alex's bottom lip quivered. "Ian, I wanna keep him."

"I know kiddo, but we can't." Ian said, kneeling to Alex's height.

"Why not?" Alex asked with a stomp of his foot.

"Because he belongs to someone else. Plus, Alex, I'm always away for work. Who would take care of him?" Ian challenged.

"I would!" Alex yelled.

"Alex, you're seven. Maybe when you're older we'll get a dog. Right now, you're a puppy too." Ian said, smiling. He kissed Alex's cheek and ruffled his hair. "Now come on, kid. Let's check out."

Alex was playing fetch in the backyard with his new friend when the owner came. Ian was suppose to leave the next day for a mission, and he was starting to worry that he would have to let Alex keep the dog. Thankfully, a women with a boy Alex's age arrived at the house.

"Excuse me, are you Ian Rider?" She asked.

Ian nodded, tensing. "Yes."

"Hello, I'm Margaret Harris. This is my son, Thomas. I believe you have our dog, Snowball?" She stated with a tight smile.

Ian nearly choked. "Yes, but my nephew named him Snowball."

"No, I did!" The black haired, blue eyed boy said.

The lady laughed. "Seems your nephew and my son think alike."

Ian nodded. "Well, he's in the backyard with Alex. Come on, I'll lead you back there."

"Great." The woman said, fallowing Ian with her son skipping behind her. "How old is your nephew?"

"He just turned seven a couple months ago." Ian said, remaining tense.

"Well, wow. Tomas is seven too. Just turned seven a month ago. We bought him snowball and he let her get loose." The woman said, silently chiding her son.

Ian nodded. "Wait, her?"

"Yes, Snowball's a girl." The woman stated.

"Oh." Ian mumbled. "Alex!"

His nephew looked up, face falling in seconds. "Ian? Who, who are they?"

"Alex, this is Mrs. Harris and her son, Thomas. They're Snowball's owners." Ian said gently, grabbing his nephew's shoulders. "They're gonna take him, I mean, her, home."

Alex's eyes teared up. "But-but-but..."

"Thank you for taking care of her, sweetie." Mrs. Harris said, smiling at the cute little blond boy.

"Snowball!" Tom yelled.

The dog yipped before running over to her master and licking his face.

"Ee-Ee-Ian?" Alex whimpered, tears slowly crawling down his face.

The black haired boy saw this and cocked his head. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want her to go." Alex mumbled, burying his face in Ian's shirt. Ian hugged his nephew and rubbed his back soothingly.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Thomas?" The woman said hesitantly.

"Can he come over and play with Snowball and me?" Tom asked.

The woman sighed. "Sweetie, you start your new school tomorrow."

"Where?" Ian asked.

"Brooklands." The woman grumbled.

"That's where Alex goes to school." Ian said, standing. "Al, would you show Tom around tomorrow."

Alex nodded, eyes rimmed red.

"Well, look here, you already have a friend, Tom. Maybe he can come over and play with you and Snowball." Mrs. Harris said, smiling.

Both boys smiled at each other.

"Cool!"

"Yea!"

Ian shook his head and smiled. "Alright, but not till Wednesday, Alex. You're new babysitter is going to be here tomorrow and you need to come home right away. Remember, I'm leaving tomorrow."

Alex pouted but nodded. "Wednesday?"

Tom nodded. "Wednesday."

It's a date!

Lol, that was kind of fun to write.

Plz review, I'm almost at one hundred!