Her white ears perk up from the sound of crackling close by. Her hands feel the soft warmth of the blankets covering her body. Her nostrils take a whiff of some delicious food that makes her lick her lips.

Is this the afterlife? This is too pleasant for someone like me. Is this a mistake?

Her golden eyes shoot open from Jaime tending the fireplace. She shuffles the blankets off of her and eyes for the door or a window to run through. She falls onto the floor from her weakened state.

Jaime spins around to help her. "You shouldn't move. You need to eat something."

She throws the blanket over herself. "Leave me alone!"

Jaime keeps his hands by his side. Silence sits between them.

"There's no one else here, but us. I won't get in the way if you want to leave, but you need to eat and rest first," he gently takes charge while crossing his arms.

She uncovers part of the blanket to look at him while covering her ears. Not even a wrinkle of meanness on his face.

He points to a plate of sausages, chestnuts, and glass of wine on the table near the fireplace.

"Let me help you up." He throws her arm around his shoulders and picks her up with ease with the blanket still around her. Her heart thuds rapidly from being this close to him. He sits her down.

"Do you need help to-"

His sentence is cut off by her stuffing the meal down her mouth. A chuckle leaves his mouth as it reminds him of the first time they met. She takes a sip of the wine. Her eyes well up as the flavors remind her of home.

"That's my wine with-"

"Osmanthus flowers," before drinking her glass down to the last drop. She covers her mouth to muffle a belch. "Darao yixia," she excuses herself.

Her heart pounds to the rhythm of his approaching footsteps. From the corner of her eyes, a blue towel with spare clothes sits on the table.

"They may not fit but use them to keep warm when you leave. The bath's over there with everything you need," he mentions to the left of them.

She clutches her knees to her face, ashamed that she smells terrible to him.

Why do you care since you won't see him again, her mind argues.

"Oh, mierda (Span for crap). I-I didn't mean like that. I was trying to be a good host," after seeing her reaction. He takes the other chair and flips it around before sitting down.

She understands he's giving her privacy to get clean. He hears quick steps followed by the slamming of the bathroom door. She gasps from seeing the bathtub had already been filled with fresh water. She touches the surface with a finger. It's still warm. She removes her old clothes and sits in while putting her tails to the side.

A pleasurable moan leaves her mouth from the inviting water. She takes in the fact that there's no window for her to slip out. Yet part of her doesn't want to leave.

She shakes her blushing head to remind herself of her past. She scrubs her body and tails clean with the soap-soaked brush. The spare clothes feel like a warm embrace to her ivory skin. Her tails shrink to tuck inside her outfit while she covers her ears with her headwrap. She slowly opens the door to see he's still facing the other way. 

"Thank you," she shortly says.

"You're welcome," he turns around to see her. The golden irises properly inspect his room which has a wine rack and cabinets near his bed. They well up from seeing his family photo on the nightstand. Her body shudders from the deep sadness wanting to consume her.

"Let it out, miss," he warmly encourages.

The combined warmth of the room and the person forces the floodgates to open. She covers her face to hide her running tears as she sinks to the wooden floor.

"You...must have been through a lot," he empathizes. Sniffles occupy the silence between them. Her covered ears perk up from the sound of an object being pushed towards her. A box of tissues as Jaime sits on the floor while giving her space.

By the time she's done, a dark winter night welcomes them. The howling winds hit the window of his apartment. Crumpled tissues rest on the floor.

"Stay the night if you want," he offers.

"I can't. Don't you know what I am?"

"A huli jing (a fox spirit from Chin)."

She turns to him in surprise.

"I know some mystical creatures as well. I never met one before. And so beautiful too," he adds at the end. Her face turns redder than wine, but she forces it into a frown.

She clutches her arms around herself. "E-Even then, I can't stay around you. All I do is bring misfortune to everyone. Y-Your parents died because of me! I saw them!"

Before he can even respond, her nine tails come out in a fury. To warn him away for his safety. She rips off her head wrapping.

"Everything bad happens when I get close to people. My own mother was a good spirit, but she died the day I was born. Things always went wrong. I've always been unlucky so stay away from me," her golden irises narrow. Yet the anger isn't directed at him.

His magenta eyes express no horror in what she told him. His eyes reflect the pain deep inside of her which makes her look away.

"You didn't kill my parents," he states out right. She thought he's delusional yet...

His feet approach her. She wraps her tails around her to keep him away. Her fur rises up from the comforting hug he's giving her. A heavy exhale leaves her lips.

"It's not your fault for what happened to them. They were destined to die that night," he continues. Her tails unwrap in confusion from his words.

He sits down in front of her. "Let me at least explain before you decide to leave. Do you know the story of the Skeleton Queen?"

"I-I do. Why?"

He points at himself. "I'm one of her children."

The fox ears twitch from the words he said. Her eyes squint at him to look for any deception.

"There were some things omitted from what you heard. Let me give you the truth."

He goes to a cabinet and pulls out a specially decorated bottle to help illustrate his points. He spills the full version of events: "Melina Ramirez" and "Queen Melody" were the same person using the bottle as evidence; his father's spell to return her humanity with the consequence involved; his mother's intentions to right her prior wrongs; and everything else. 

Her ears tell her that every syllable uttered is the truth. Her eyes almost pop out of their sockets from what she hears. Conflict stirs within her mind as the new revelation clashes against life experience.

Does that mean I wasn't at fault for.... She shakes her head. "Jaime, you told me a lot. But that doesn't change that I'm unfortunate."

"If you were misfortune, I wouldn't be here with you," he argues with a smile. Another verbal projectile adding to the conflict.

"But what if it gets worse later?!" She refrains from yelling to get through to him. Magenta eyes don't waver away from her.

She grasps his wrists. "You've already been through too much. I would rather leave you than cause you any more pain. You deserve to be in love with a wonderful woman," her golden eyes hope he would finally listen. 

His fingers caress her cheeks, making her tremble in a good way. "Let's make a deal."

Her eyes opened in confusion.

"Let's know each other for a full year. If the bad outweighs the good at that time, you're free to leave. If not, I hope you stay with me. I want to know you. What makes you angry, so I can be angry with you. What makes you laugh, so I can tell my best jokes. To be happy when you're happy and every emotion. That's how much I want to love you."

Sparkles dance in her eyes while her mind processes his offer.

"You don't have to meet all my family at once. I will help you get acclimated over time," he gingerly strokes her hands while holding them.

"One condition," she counters.

"Wh-"

She pulls him to where their noses touched. Their hearts pound louder than a drum.

"If I leave at the end, I want you to say this: "Gaobie (Farewell), Mei-Xing."

He nods in understanding.

"Mei-Xing," he pronounces her name to burn into his mind. "That means a beautiful star, a fitting name."

"I was born on the night of shooting stars!" She stammers out while blushing.

"I hope to prove you wrong because you deserve to be loved," while lifting her chin up. He lifts her hand to kiss it. She pounces on him while using her tails to soften the fall behind him. 

"Whoa," he utters out as she cups his face between her hands.

She gets off of him after realizing her assertive manner. "I am so sorry. What was I even-"

Her chin is moved towards him as he sits up. He kisses her ears to accept her animal side before moving straight for her human lips. Her tails instantly wrap around the new couple before they separate.

"My-My first kiss," she smiles from ear to ear. They exchange numerous tender kisses before he pulls her in for a deep embrace.

She hugs him back with newfound confidence that it's not her fault. "I'm sorry about your parents, Jaime."

"Thank you."

He helps her onto the bed, and they get under the covers. They embrace each other where their hearts can "sing" to each other. His caramel fingers run through her silky black hair. Her heavy eyelids close with a peaceful smile on her face. Jaime kisses an ear before falling asleep.

----

"Hermano!" Hermano!" Hector calls from outside his room. Mei-Xing stirs awake from the young voice. Jaime feels something soft brushing against his cheeks that wakes him up.

A tail waves in front of him which makes him smile.

Knocking. "Hermano!"

"I'm up!"

"Is the woman you saved with you?"

Jaime looks at his new lover for her consideration. She nods her head to meet his sibling.

"She is!"

"Did...you sleep with her?"

The fox woman buries her blushing face into a pillow from the imagery in her head.

"Not like that!" Jaime answers. "Just a second!"

Hector waits outside his door until his brother comes out. "What is-"

Jaime covers his mouth. "Mei-Xing is nervous when it comes to new people. As of last night, we are officially courting each other. She is special to me," before removing his hand.

His young sibling is astonished since Jaime isn't one to settle down. Jaime pulls him inside and quickly closes the door.

"Ni hao," she greets him with a modest bow.

"Hel-"

He thought his eyes are playing tricks on him until Jaime pats him on the back. A Chin woman with nine white tails and two long ears on the top of her head. The golden eyes magnetize him.

"This is my brother, Hector."

The young knight in training is speechless. Jaime sits him down and they explain what happened last night. His expression is blank from taking it all in.

" I know it's a lot, but-"

He stands up and hugs Mei-Xing to her surprise.

"Thank you for making my brother happy," he happily cries. Her eyes almost well up as she embraces back. Jaime and Hector tell her more of their family that she will meet over time.

Over the coming weeks, Jaime introduces the rest of his family to get her acclimated. The rest of his siblings are each astounded by who she is, but ultimately happy for him.

"It's about time you settled down!" Esmerelda teases him.

"Don't be fooled by his ways, Mei-Xing," Emilia "warns" with a wagging finger to her sibling. 

"He's a trickster since birth," Will Jr adds. The fox woman laughs as the siblings argue.

During that time, Jaime shows her the sights of Engla. He took her to a traditional Chin restaurant and discovers something new from her eating Hunan beef. She coughs from the kick in the back of her throat and spits out the meat into a napkin. Her eyes water from the spiciness.

He hands her some water and some honey to cool her tongue. He orders the same meal without the spices so she can enjoy herself properly. After eating, she rests her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," she appreciates.

"I at least know what not to put in for you. I will let the family know before they make dinner for you."

"You don't have to do that. I can tolerate it for you."

He shakes his head. "I won't force you to do something that you don't like. I accept all of you."

Seeing her golden eyes sparkle is a blessing for him.

Each date led to more kissing when they return to his place. Her hands begin scratching his back under his shirt. His hands stroke along her wide hips and the base of the nine tails. But they always separate before going too far. Jaime figures that it will make things more difficult if she proves him wrong at the end of their deal.

He even takes her on as a helper for his business. They visit a shop that sells a variety of Albarino Mel's wines. She admires the designs that he and his mother created for the bottles. She picks one up that has the figure of Anzan balancing his fingers on uneven stones.

"Isn't he pretty cute?" A brunette asks her.

She turns to her direction. "Who?"

"Jaime. I wouldn't mind getting lost in his stunning eyes."

Her heart kicks against her chest. Anger rises up to her throat from the woman's flirtatious comments. Her teeth almost bare at her.

"He's my boyfriend," she states clearly while reigning in that anger.

"Oh, my heavens! I'm so sorry about that. You're a lucky woman," before she makes her way out of the shop.

Although she's gone, her hand grips tighter around the bottle. An audible crack forces her to stop.

"Are you okay, novia?" Jaime asks her.

"Can-Can I talk with you outside? Please?"

They go behind the shop to talk privately.

"What was that feeling I just felt? I was mad yet protective like I would lose you to her."

"Jealousy."

Her ears droop down. "Should I feel bad for how I felt?"

"It's a normal reaction, Mei-Xing. You have the right to find other men attractive."

Her ears shoot up in shock, thinking it's indecent to think like that. He answers the questions in her eyes.

"Some strangers can catch your eyes or make your heart race. It's how we act on those feelings that matter. We can't stop their flirtatious comments but know that I will always love you," while cupping her face in his hands.

A smile cracks across her face from the security of his words. "I love you too, Jaime Bennett-Ramirez."

They lock lips before rubbing their noses together. He leads her back into the shop to continue his job.

----

One day, he introduces her to Bumva.

"This is my second mother, Bumva. Mom, this is Mei-Xing, my girlfriend."

They reveal how they met and that she knows the truth about his biological parents. She reveals her animal form which excites the female orc. She pulls her in for a warm embrace.

"I never thought I would see the day!" Happy tears run down her green face.

"It was going to happen...at some point," Jaime mutters under his breath.

The fox woman cries happily from his family's acceptance of her. Yet, part of her wishes that she didn't know them. What if something bad happens-

A kiss on both cheeks from her boyfriend stops her thoughts. His thumbs wipe away her tears.

"Jaime likes strong women, just like his father. I see your strength for choosing love," Bumva acknowledges her.

"Thank you," she deeply exhales.

"Would you like to have dinner with all of us this weekend?"

"I would like that."

That night, everyone in the family hosts a welcome dinner for her. Because of Jaime's methods, she's used to talking with them all. Barriba's crying grabs her attention. 

The fox woman notices the baby is fussing while fighting to keep her eyes open.

"May I help her sleep?" She offers to Ghulnea.

"I would appreciate it," she hands her carefully to her. "Keep a hand on the back of her neck."

Barriba's emerald eyes fixate on the woman holding her. Her cries make Mei sad for her. She brings out one of her tails to softly brush against her head.

She hums a lullaby from her childhood to calm the fussing child. The dwarven-orc baby clasps her hands around the end of her tail to bring to her chest like a blanket. Her lullaby works as Barriba is fast asleep.

"Thank the heavens that you're here," Ghulnea sighs while relaxing on Gulak's arm. 

The huli-jing notices eyes are on her. Jaime's eyes in particular. His eyes are in awe of her actions. She gently smiles back at him while holding onto Barriba.

She thinks of their future together, if things will work out for them.