Deep breath Viv...  Easy girl.  Honestly, it will be easy.  Just go up to one of the most influential people in the crime families.  Just walk up to her and tell her about these two baby fox kits you found on the streets of Philadelphia with a fox that was dying who wore a collar with her crew's name on it.  Right.  Not crazy at all...  Easy.  Not much of a pep talk, but it was about all Vivien had as she stood on the street.  This was the place where she had narrowed down to be at least close to the Race Street HQ.  In all honesty, she wasn't even sure her info was good...  This could be a trap...  A set up!  She shook her head hard as she carefully reached into the inside pocket of her coat to find the two little fur babies snuggled in close.  They were so young but she had managed to get ahold of milk to feed them but that was about it.  She had no fluid funds, heck she had parted ways prematurely with her parents so she really had no idea or means to even take care of herself...  Much less two little balls of fur who she had so willingly took responsibility for...  Oh yes.  She needed help and as the days went by she was growing a bit desperate. 

Sighing as she glanced around the area.  Her search had found her in Detroit.  It was a wonder that she was still above ground with all the questions she'd been asking, but surely she'd have been drawing quite a bit of attention.  And the more questions she asked, the more questions she was left with.  But here she was with her latest gut feeling.  This had to be the place...  Right?  But what did one do?  She didn't even know if any of these people she had spoken to were from Race Street...  Or if she was even barking up the right path...  Weren't they out in Philly?  That's where most of the the talk of Race Street could be heard...  But her search had landed her in Detroit.  

Well?  Here goes nothing...  Moving up to the door that she direly hoped was the right door, she knocked softly upon it.  Heavens Vivien, what in the world are you doing?  Well one could only hope that she was meeting the Boss...

The door was answered by a burly hulk of a man. As he peered down at Vivien, Tony's face softened a bit.

"What can I do for ya?" 

This was outright cordial, for the likes of Tony. He'd been in a mood all week.

"Tony! Did you feed Runt's cat? I forgot to check on him this morning!" The sound of Elle's voice floated down the hallway behind him, and he turned halfway around to holler back at her.

"Yes Ma'am, the cat is fed!"

"Don't call me 'Ma'am'!"

"Yes Ma- okay!" Tony sighed, a great rush of air blasting from two huge lungs. He turned back to address Vivien.

"I suppose you're here to talk to Elle? Follow me, please." 

The building wasn't large. Quite modest, in fact. At some point, it had been a Victorian-style flophouse, one that had been converted and renovated several times over as the Detroit economy rose and fell. Elle had appreciated the style, even if it stuck out like a sore thumb. Just as Tony was leading Vivien in through a set of double doors, Elle came out, just barely avoiding running into him and spilling the coffee in her hand.

"Oh! We have a guest. Hello, I'm Elle, how can I help you?" The last week's events had taken its toll on her, but her smile seemed quite genuine. 

"Would you like some coffee? It's fresh, but we have tea, too...?"

Well maybe there was no one home.  Maybe this was the wrong place?  It did look awful... Well not like a mob HQ...  Then again she wasn't sure what a mob HQ might look like anyway.  What if they didn't want to meet with her?  What if she was downright intruding?  What if they didn't like foxes?  What if this was the wrong Race Street crew?  What if-  Oh!  Vivien jumped when the door opened and there stood a large burly man.  Yup!  Now he looked like a part of the mob!  But was he the boss?  She thought the boss was a lady.  Elle was a lady name right?  Oh goodness...  Vivien felt herself begin to panic.  She should leave.  Just excuse herself and figure out how to take care of the kits all by herself.  That's what she should do.  She knew that her face was likely showing her emotions like a moving picture.  

But as the man spoke, she knew she was past the point of no return.  She had to go through with this.  She had a feeling.  She had to act on it.  She knew that her feelings typically led her right to where she needed to go.  Just then she felt a soft movement in her inner coat pocket and nodded silently as if affirming it to herself.  Yes.  She didn't know why but she needed to speak to someone from Race Street.  They would know the fox.  After the run in with the man, Ethan in Philadelphia had only been an affirmation.  She needed to do this.

She smiled sweetly up at the man and drew a deep breath to answer him.  But just before words could be uttered, shouting came from deeper within the building.  As such, only a small squeak came through from Vivien.  She bit her lip and sought to regroup and regather herself as they discussed very normal things...  Feeding a cat?  Don't call me ma'am?  Ma'am.  Yup in the same thought, she wondered again if she was in the wrong place and then that thought was squashed again.  No, this was likely it. 

As he asked the question about her being here to see Elle, she merely nodded in silence.  Yes that was the name! Elle.  She followed mutely, but squeaked again as the woman came flying through but stopped suddenly, just short of running into the man in front of her.  But all was well.  She returned the woman's smile, her eyes dancing with a clear bit of amusement.  Even so, anxiety was clear as well.  "It's so nice to meet you Elle.  My name is Vivien and that would be lovely!  Either is just fine."  Honestly she hadn't had coffee much, but she absolutely adored how it smelled!  She looked up to Tony with a warm and grateful smile to him as well.  "Thank you."  She added quietly before following Elle.  A deep breath was drawn.  Here we go. 

Once they got to where they were going, she drew a deep breath before launching into the story.  "Ok so this is going to sound absolutely and incredibly insane... And you might not believe a word of it but I feel like you need to hear it."  She shook her head a little.  Oh great, she was starting off sounding like a door to door salesman.  "I was in Philadelphia and I had an encounter that many would either find incredulous or not think a thing of and dismiss...  I found this fox.  She was one of the most beautiful creatures I've seen, not that I've seen many foxes up close mind you.  But I found this fox.  When she looked into your eyes, it was like she could see right down to your soul."  She shook her head a little as she found her mind wandering.  "Beautiful and entrancing.  But then she started moving away.  I thought she was going to run but she stopped like she was waiting for me to follow her."  She drew a deep breath feeling it hitch.  "It was then that I saw that she was badly wounded..."  She bit her lip softly as tears began to well up as she once again relived the situation.  "Of course I followed after her."  She gave a soft sniff and shook her head a little before pausing in her story to let the poor woman that she had just met catch up if necessary.  Great job Viv.  At least with Ethan there had been a bit of an ice breaker.

There was a coffee and tea service on a rolling cart, tucked into the corner of the room Elle had led Vivien back into. It was a nice room, one that someone had taken the time and care to rehabilitate. Pine floors, recently stripped and resealed, shone around the edges of a large Turkish rug centered in the room. There was a desk in another area, a roll-top job that hid Elle's clutter of paperwork. In the center of the room, near the propped-open French doors leading out onto a back patio, was a lovely little seating area, one that obviously was Elle's preferred choice for meetings or visits.

"Please, won't you sit down? Oh." Elle laughed a little at the look on Vivien's face. "I know what you're thinking, total dump on the outside? I'm trying to restore the place, one room at a time. It's slow going because I travel too much." She poured coffee as she spoke, adding little bowls of cream and sugar to a tray which she carried over and sat on the coffee table positioned between two winged-back chairs. 

Vivien began to explain why she'd come. As she spoke, Elle's face ran the gamut of expressive emotions. 'Philadelphia' tugged at her homesick heartstrings... but the mention of a fox ripped her heart right out. Her face continued to fall as Merah's ultimate fate was revealed, and Elle found it difficult to swallow past the lump in her throat. She'd known Merah's life had been taken, but to have it confirmed...

Setting her coffee cup down as gently as she could with a shaky hand, Elle cleared her throat and quickly swiped at a tear that had slipped down her cheek. She could do this. She could hear this. She had to. For Merah.

"It's not insane. She could, you know. She could see into you. Please, do continue." Elle knew then and there that, despite an uncertain future and a chaotic lifestyle, the woman sitting across from her was one of very, very few that she could now trust implicitly. 

Merah had vouched for her, after all. 

Vivien quickly found that her need to pause was two fold.  Just thinking and that beautiful creature that she had known but an instant has impacted her more than she had originally thought.  She gratefully accepted the coffee and put a decent amount of sugar into it.  But as soon as Elle also stated that she wasn’t insane, validating again her own feelings as well as the response she has received from the young Don from New York, she felt emboldened but also deeply saddened.  They had loved this fox.  She had been more than a simple pet to then, not that you could really call a fox a simple pet. But in the same thought, she could see why they felt that way even from the few moments she had had.  
 

Vivien nodded at Elle’s urging.  She wasn’t insane, no matter how crazy her story sounded. Following foxes...  “A more beautiful and loving creature there is not in this world. But something was vexing her.  She wasn’t frightened...  not like any other fox I’ve known of, but insistent.  So I followed her to a secluded place at the pier...  Sheltered and protected...  I found what she wanted me to find.”  She sniffed softly and carefully reached into the inner pocket of her jacket.  Slow but sure movements, and a soft whine of protest later, Vivien carefully produced a tiny pile of russet fur.  Ever so gently cradling the pair of kits, Vivien felt her own control erode and the tears fall.  “Sh-she didn’t make it. I couldn’t save her...  But...  I made a promise to her to take care of her little ones.”  Vivien felt tears roll down as the small female nestled in against the crook of her elbow and the little male stood out tall, blinking as he investigated the scents around them.  “She went peacefully and I gave her a respectful send off...  I had a feeling that Philadelphia had been her home so it felt right that this had been her place to be laid to rest. I just hope I wasn’t wrong. I mean I could have been, or I...” Finding that she was rambling again, she bit down on her lip taking a moment to take in the beauty of this room.  It really was comfortable while being very unique at the same time.  She smiled slightly through the tears almost apologetically as she changed gears.  “Your place is truly beautiful...  And I see now that my search was not on the wrong path...  Sh...  She was wearing this...” Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew the emerald collar  that Merah had worn.  “Merah of Race Street...  Race Street Solutions...  I hoped to goodness that you were one and the same.” Her voice softened again as she looked up at Elle.  “I-I don’t want charity...  But I don’t know if I can care for them alone.” She looked down.  Now Viv didn’t share the same story with many on the streets.  She could go home if she wanted. But she knew the kits would not be received there and that broke her heart.  So here she found herself at Elle’s doorstep instead.  Well in her parlor as it were.

Elle's hand raised slowly. She was unaware it had come to rest on her chest, where a painful ache had begun. Was this what Merah's final moments had felt like? She wanted to believe it was an accident, a stray bullet meant for someone else, but this world could be inconceivably cruel, and more often than not. 

Merah hadn't died alone, though. Even as her last minutes on this earth had passed, she'd somehow, miraculously, found a good soul, one she could trust with her offspring. Elle gasped quietly as the two tiny bundles of fur were brought out of Vivien's pockets.

"Oh. Oh I didn't know. I didn't even-" There'd been the move from Philly to Detroit, and then Jack had made her a captain. Elle couldn't recall Merah's whereabouts during those busy moments, but can you really ever keep track of a fox? Impossible as it were, Elle felt she should have done more. 

She could certainly do more now, that was for certain. 

"May I?" Elle reached out hesitantly, wanting to touch the kits but afraid to break whatever protocol might be in place for ones as young as this. 

"You will have all the help you want or need, Vivien. We have plenty of space, the rooms aren't all finished yet but maybe that's a good thing? You can choose which ones suit you and tell the contractor yourself just exactly how you'd like them done. We can knock out walls, make powder rooms larger or, um-"

What was it that foxes needed? Elle recalled Merah pretty much going wherever her nose led her, whether that meant a cubby in Jack's bar, or a space beneath the Tasty Kake cart. There was that one time on Velvet's burlesque stage, and Elle had to suppress a smile even as she continued to sniffle.

"There's a yard in back! It's fenced and there's trees and flowers and lots of sunshine. Will you stay, Vivien? I hope you will. It feels like fate that you're even here and-" She looked down as something small, cold and wet touched her still-reaching hand. One of the babies had nosed at her, investigating. Elle quickly threw up a little prayer that Vivien would join them here, because she wasn't sure her heart could take another loss of something so precious. 

Vivien quietly divulged all she knew about the fox's end but as she shared her part in this sad story, she kept glancing up to check on the woman she shared the information with.  The pain in her eyes was nigh unbearable and a few times, Vivien thought about apologizing and running from the situation.  But something drove her on.  She knew that Elle needed to hear this.  Or at least she had a strong feeling that this was the case.  Oh she direly hoped she wasn't wrong.  Even so as with most things...  She went with her gut feeling.  But the more she spoke, the closer she came to running out of words to share...  At least about this situation.  But even so, she watched the look in Elle's eyes change drastically when the kits were produced.  Even in the face of death, there was still life and hope that kept on...  A new generation that needed and deserved the love and companionship that their mother had enjoyed and come to love deeply...  

Vivien's gaze moved over the kits and then back to Elle in turn.  This still could turn out poorly...  Elle could still tell her that she wasn't welcome, that they didn't have room...  That they couldn't take in two foxes and another person...  Money was tight these days.  What if she was wrong?  These doubts continued to assail her even as Elle gazed lovingly at the foxes.  There could still be the 'but'...  Snapping out of her fearful reverie at Elle's question, Vivien blinked her eyes a few times and then nodded enthusiastically.  "Oh yes!  They love to be cuddled!  I swear, their favorite place is the inside pocket of my jacket..."  She giggled as she invited Elle to pet them, even holding out the tiny female for her to hold if she wished.  "From what I've read, you don't want to pet them in the wild...  Because if their mother smells another scent on them, she could abandon them...  But at this point there's no chance in that."  She smiled wryly and shook her head a little.  "From the sound of it, there wouldn't have been a problem before either though."  She laughed softly as she could only imagine the place that Merah had held with these people. 

Elle's words sent Vivien's heart to pounding.  She was saying yes!  She would help her with the kits!  Or at least give her a place where the kits could be.  That in itself sent Vivien's prospects to soaring.  She had to try hard to keep herself from wiggling with a childish glee.  Vivien had chosen to grow up...  Real quick.  And it was an act that she didn't take lightly.  Vivien had always had a strong responsible streak...  Something that only grew faster as she did.  She knew what it was to be out on her own, even if only in theory.  She knew it would be hard...  Even harder with three mouths to feed.  But at Elle's words, she nodded with unabashed awe shining in her eyes.  "Thank you...  Oh Elle anything would be perfect.  Even just one room where they can call their own...  I-I'll be honest I haven't read enough to know what foxes need yet.  I don't know that there will be any books out there about them living with people either...  It will have to be something we figure out day by day.  But I promise I'll try to be as little of an impact as possible.  Thank you!"  

The enthusiasm was contagious and Vivien looked down to the little foxes as her mind already raced with how she could make them the most comfortable and how she could help them thrive just as much as possible.  With a place to do so and people around her who held the same goals...  These foxes would have the best life ever!  Vivien clapped with glee as Elle mentioned the yard.  "Oh I bet they'll spend a lot of time out there!  They'll love it so much!"  She gushed as she gently scratched behind the little kit's ears.  

Vivien felt the blood rush to her face as Elle asked if she'd stay and spoke of fate drawing her here.  These were all things that she'd only half considered.  She had put all her efforts and energies into getting here...  She honestly hadn't thought much past that.  Honestly she had little idea at best just what she was stepping into.  But Elle...  Already Vivien loved her to pieces and she had already committed to taking care of these kits as long as it was within her ability to do so.  This seemed a grand avenue to do just that and so making what could be the fastest decision as well as the most pivotal one, she nodded solemnly.  It was not a nod of a rash decision maker, but of one of who's word is their bond.  "I will stay Elle...  I will stay as long as you'll have me."  Her eyes misted just a little as she looked to the tiny ones full of hope.  This was a good step.  The right step.  With a look back to meet Elle's eyes as the little fox kit investigated her hand, she was sure of it.

"Well. I guess it's settled, then." Elle's voice came out a little watery due to the emotion, but there was no mistaking the undercurrent of relief there. She wasn't sure what she'd have done if Merah's little offspring left here today. It was probably safer for them in the long run if they did, but Elle wasn't sure her heart could take it. It was only fair, though, to try and convey to Vivien what, exactly, she was getting herself and the kits into.

"Vivien, when you sought us out... I mean, during your search, did anyone mention..." Elle studied Vivien carefully. She seemed so wholesome, innocent. Did she know what kind of work they were involved in? Did she notice the bulge of the firearms they carried, or hear a stray rumor? A dozen rumors? They were all probably true.

"...did anyone mention what line of work Race Street was in? The kinds of things they did? Not everyone has the stomach for it. You just seem like such a nice girl, and this kind of lifestyle isn't the safest. Just by association, you could..." 

End up like Merah. 

"I'm not trying to scare you off, really I'm not. I just want to make sure you're, what's that phrase I heard the other day...oh. 'Making an informed decision'."

Elle wouldn't dare go into any gruesome detail, but as she sat there petting the little russet babies, she could at least feel as if she'd let Vivien know what she was taking on by aligning herself with Elle and the crews of 12th Street. The whole underbelly of Detroit, really. Elle would take a bullet for Vivien and the kits, there was no doubt or hesitation about that at all, but the simple fact that there was even a possibility of that coming to fruition was certainly something needing Vivien's consideration. 

Excitement welled up within her at this whole idea.  It was novel.  Sure it wasn't what her parents would have chosen for her path...  But this path was her own.  And it seemed right.  She knew for sure deep down that this was where the fox kits needed to be...  But she also knew that she wouldn't leave the fox kits willingly.  She had made a promise to that fox, and to her, that meant something big.  She noticed how Elle responded and her heart went out to the woman.  She had cared for the she-fox deeply.  That was clear to her and she was fairly removed from the situation.  But she wouldn't bring the kits to her and then take them away.  That would be cruel!  And Vivien may be young and naïve, but she was not cruel.

Elle's words gave her some slight pause but Vivien had done her research.  Alright so she had as much as one can on an underground organization...  Chasing rumors and shadows wasn't exactly something concrete.  Although Vivien had some idea what she was walking into.  She bit her lip a little and nodded slowly at Elle's words.  "I do understand these things Mrs. Ott.  But I also know too that to step into this life is to step into a family.  Their lives...  My life...  It is to be entwined with yours."  She reached down to gently stroke the kit nearest her as her voice became softer.  "A family that watches eachother's backs...  Nurtures each other and lives each day to the betterment of the family and city."  She smiled a little cheekily before raising her gaze to Elle's with a little more knowledge in those eyes than should be there for an outsider.  "At least once I'm part of the family that is.  But besides all that...  I feel very strongly...  That their place is here.  And so is mine.  As long as you'll have us.  I feel that we were meant to become family.  All things happen for a reason, and I don't think this is any different."  

She shook her head a little and beamed.  "May I see the yard?  I think these two could do with stretching their legs and running around a bit.  I swear they sleep for hours on end!  I mean I guess that's what babies do, no?"  She grinned at Elle as she watched the woman interact with the two that had become her whole life so quickly.  But her life was about to broaden more than she knew.

Elle shook herself out of the reverie she'd fallen into, all those memories of Race Street and its unique collection of members. All so special. All now gone.

"Oh. Yes, of course, the yard!" She stood up quickly and took several steps over to the double French doors leading to the small patio and the large, fenced yard beyond it. With a dramatic little flourish that she found herself doing whether someone else was in the room or not, Elle flung the doors wide.

"I'm not going to lie. It's because of this, that I chose the place. Now I know why!" Fur brushed against one of her feet and she looked down in time to see both kits race out to the patio. 

"It's safe for them here, don't worry. There's high fencing beyond all that climbing ivy, and none of the flowers are harmful if ingested, according to Tony. He has a shop, I guess he would know." Elle laughed a little, then looped her arm through Vivien's when she came to stand next to her. Both observed the kits for a few moments in silence, until Elle broke it with a whisper.

"I'm so glad you're here!"

Vivien held her excitement in as Elle eagerly recalled the fact that they were going to go out and see the yard.  Yes!  The littles were getting restless, so it was definitely a good next step.  Vivien watched completely intent upon the woman before her as she walked forward in such a regal manner before throwing open the double doors open wide.  Vivien beamed as she saw it draw the attention of the kits at once.  The little female took a moment to look up to Vivien while the more bold little male didn't even hesitate.  He took off for the opening and the sunlight beyond.  Vivien giggled and nodded silently toward the outside.  Even so young, she knew that the kits wouldn't wander far from her.  She didn't have fur but there was a seeming unspoken agreement that she was as like mother as could be.  The little she-kit quickly took off after her brother as the two exploded into the sunshine.

Vivien allowed the delighted laughter to bubble up from her as she made her way after them.  Even if she was fairly sure they wouldn't go far, she wanted to keep them in eyesight. Listening to Elle's assurances did wonders of dropping her anxiety further.  She drew a deep breath of the outside air as she stepped out beside Elle gazing out over the grassy yard.  It was expansive and she was certain that the kits would make full use of it in the coming days and months. She beamed as her mind began to mull over possibilities and a wonder at how her fate-guided movements have brought her to a new adventure and a new life.  One full of freshness and lacking in the staleness that her young life had already contained.

Feeling movement and then touch at her side, she turned her head to look to Elle...  A kindred spirit and a fast friend.  She beamed at her only to bite her lip almost sheepishly.  "I'm glad I found you."  She admitted softly as she watched the kits again for a few moments before looking up at Elle very seriously.  "Thank you.  I know that there are great things ahead of all of us.  I don't know what they are and I'm sure they'll be challenges.  But we'll take them as they come.  Together."  She nodded firmly.  She honestly had only a small idea what she was walking into, but something told her it was just right.