Shandra hugged her son around the waist, pressing her head against his chest. "It was good to see you again, son."

Venti grinned, crouching down slightly after the hug to kiss his mother on the cheek. "Yeah, but next time could you please give me some notice? What if I had other plans, Mom?"

Shandra gave her son a devilish grin. "You'd have canceled them, of course."

"I'm sorry I even tried to get you to see things my way," Venti muttered, turning to Ted, who held out his fist. Venti did likewise, and Ted bumped his with Venti's. "It was good having you here, little brother of mine."

"Yeah, you weren't boring like usual," Ted said, wrapping his arms around Venti's neck once the jackal crouched down. "And your friend Otis is kind of hot."

"I wouldn't know. He's my friend, and he doesn't date outside his species." Venti stood back up, folding his arms across his chest. "And don't try talking him into a date."

"At least I still have his phone number."

As Venti was thinking up of a response, Shandra gave Art a lengthy hug. "You make my son behave, all right?"

"I'll try my best, but I already have one full time job."

Shandra kissed Art on the cheek, then whispered quietly: "And don't let him sabotage his or your happiness. You remind him that he deserves you, and you deserve him."

Art blinked in puzzlement. "Yes ma'am."

"We have to go now, son," she said, smiling up at Venti. "Be sure to call me every weekend." She then winked at Art. "And I hope you enjoy those photos of Venti."

"Mom, the reason why I don't like old pictures of me is I was skinny."

"You were a handsome child back then, and I want Art to know how lucky you are to have someone who still loves you even when you were skinny." Having said that, Shandra waved, and then joined Ted at the security checkpoint.

"She's quite a woman, your mom."

"I guess so, but at least she didn't find out about my web-camming business."

Art looked up at Venti, arching an eyebrow. "Web-camming business?"

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