Love You

Hello. My name is Rita. Maybe you've heard of me. Maybe you haven't. Either way, you came here to hear my story of how I got to be where and what I am today.
It started ever since I became part of Fagin's gang. We were all puppies at the time, including myself. That was when I first met Dodger.
He was everything a girl could want. A cool attitude, a knowledge of the streets, and a need to help out his friends.
But I wanted more than to be just friends with him.
At first I thought it was only a crush, a dumb little one that would go away. But days turned into weeks, and months turned into years. The feeling wouldn't go away. I loved him, and was in love with him. The problem was, I had no idea if he felt anything at all about me. Especially since he would flirt with other girl dogs.
Whenever I was alone, I would sometimes cry about how Dodger might not love me. There were things that showed doubt, but there were also things that showed hope.
Meanwhile, we ran into a kitten we got to know as Oliver. That turned into a big mess, but we all managed to pull through. There I saw a side of Dodger that I always wanted in a mate: that of a father to our pups.
We don't have pups, however. We may never will.
After that, we saw that Fagin found a lottery ticket, brand new. We weren't that enthusiastic, seeing as how previous tickets failed to get us anything.
That was before this ticket gave us two million dollars. I honestly thought we couldn't stop dancing.
Soon, we moved into an apartment across from Oliver's owner, Jenny. Fagin got a job as assistant manager of a pawn shop, and we stayed over at Jenny's when he was away at work.
One day at Jenny's, though, would really change my life. Dodger's as well.
I was walking in the hallway, thinking about Dodger and his possible feelings towards me, when I heard voices out of Jenny's bedroom. I stopped so I could hear them, but so that they couldn't see me. I recognized the voices as Oliver and Dodger.
"I honestly don't know what to do, kid," Dodger said. "I got to tell someone about this before I crack."
"But why me and not the others?" Oliver asked. "Sure, they'll probably laugh, but they'll get over it. Who knows? They might even be happy for you two."
I froze. Dodger has someone already? He loves someone else?
I felt tears forming in my eyes. I took too long, and now he's taken. I listened closer, though, and tried to hear who Dodger was talking about.
"You're right, kid," Dodger finally said. "So what if they laugh? The joke'll probably be on them since I have the best girl in the city and they don't. Especially since Tito's stuck with Georgette..." At this, they both laughed. I felt myself giggle a bit as well, but quietly. Dodger then sighed.
"You know," he started. "I can't tell you how much she means to me. Her hair, her face, her personality...Every day I just want to spend every moment with her, saying her name...Rita..."
RITA?!? I froze again in surprise. I was right all along. He loves me.
He loves me?
HE LOVES ME!
More tears formed in my eyes, but not because I was sad. I was the happiest I could be at the time. I then decided. Now would be best.
I went into the door to find that Dodger had his back to the door, in front of Oliver. The kitten looked up at me and gave a surprised, then happy look. "Hey Dodge..." he started to say, but Dodger was too caught up.
"Oliver, you're right!" he said triumphantly. "I got to let her know. To let everyone know. And if anyone has a problem with it, they can just take it to someone who cares! I love Rita! Do you hear?" He then started to turn around, towards me. But he didn't know that yet. "I LOVE-"
He stopped when he saw me. We looked at each other, Dodger seeing that I've been crying.
"Rita?" he finally said. I calmed down a bit, but more tears of happiness formed.
"Dodger..." I said. We stood there for what felt like hours. Suddenly, Dodger gave a sniff. I saw he had tears in his eyes, as well as a smile on his muzzle. He then opened his forearms to me.
"Rita!" he shouted, happier than ever. I opened up my arms to him as well, just as happy.
"Dodger!" I shouted. We came forward in a tight, warm hug.
It felt so nice to actually feel Dodger's fur against mine. He was warm and clean after the bath we all took before leaving for Jenny's. He then softly nuzzled my neck with his nose, a wonderful feeling. We cried together, letting out years worth of emotions in those few minutes.
"I love you." he finally said. I looked down at him, since I was taller than him. "I heard." I softly spoke to him. He then laughed lovingly. I nuzzled him as I said, "And I love you too." We then brought our muzzles to each other in a long, sweet kiss.
I couldn't believe it. We were finally together. I kept going with the kiss, soon ignoring the now-disgusted kitten nearby.
I thought I couldn't be any happier than I was that day. It turned out I was wrong after a year with Dodger.
--------------------------------------------------
"Mommy? Daddy?" we heard a small girl's voice ask. Me and Dodger turned to see a small puppy with my face and hair and Dodger's markings. Our daughter, Olivia.
"What's wrong, hon?" Dodger asked, a concerned look on both of our faces.
"Junior had a bad dream. He and Bandit and Evade wanted me to come get you." Olivia answered. We got up from our small bed and went to our other three puppies. Bandit was, in every way, an exact copy of Dodger. Evade was the same case with me. Shivering from fear was our youngest pup, Junior, with Dodger's shape and a mixture of mine and Dodger's fur.
"What happened, sweetie?" I softly asked. Junior told us he had a dream where he was all alone in a dark room where no one came for help, including his parents, me and Dodger. Dodger then sighed, and looked at our children with a soft smile.
"You don't have to worry about that happening, Junior. The same goes with all of you. No matter what, me and Mommy will be there for you. We'll always find ways to keep in touch." He and I then wished the kids good night, with them wishing us the same. We then went back to bed, a small one with a curtain like what I had back on the barge, but could fit both me and Dodger. I stopped to look at a nearby picture of us on our wedding day. We were smiling as bright as the sun was that day, with confetti thrown everywhere. I smiled, and saw that Dodger was tucked in and looking at me, a grin on his face as well. I came over and came in with him, and we cuddled close together.
"You've made me so happy," Dodger spoke lovingly. "I just hope I can make you just as happy." I smiled and nuzzled him.
"You have," I said, and gently put my nose to his. "I love you Dodger."
He smiled. "I love you too Rita." we then kissed and lowered our heads to sleep.
And so, from that day at Jenny's to the end of our lives, it went just like that with me and Dodger.

THE END