Lady and the Tramp II

It was the fourth of July, and the entire town was celebrating. The bright, sunny weather allowed for activities of all varieties, including tons and tons of picnics. Alex lay on a checkered blanket that Aunt Sarah had laid out earlier, tucked under Jack’s arm. The three were also joined by Alex’s parents, Jim and Elizabeth Brown, as well as Alex’s sister, Juliet, and his and Jack’s three daughters. The family had relocated to the local park for the festivities, eating and chatting the day away together. As it got dark, people began to set fireworks off. Choruses of “Look,” and “Wow!” could be heard all around the park, in response to the dazzling show.

“I really think we should keep searching.” Alex whispered to Jack, apparently not as quietly as he had hoped, though, as the rest of his family had heard his comment, as well.”

“Oh, nonsense! It’s the fourth of July. Time to have some fun!” Aunt Sarah tutted.

“You can continue your search after our picnic,” Jim added, sending his son a sympathetic smile from where he sat on lawn chairs with his wife and Aunt Sarah.

“Aunt Sarah, we're not really in the mood to celebrate.” Jack contributed for Alex with a sigh, running his fingers through his lover’s hair in a calming effort.

“Oh, come now. Luke will be all right. You'll find him.” Alex’s mother said quietly, smiling a more hopeful smile thank anyone else had in a while.

“Can we eat dessert now?” Annette piped up, “I won't have my fourth of July ruined by Luke.”

Jack rolled his eyes fondly at his daughter, before kissing Alex’s hair softly and sitting up to enjoy a snack with the rest of their family.

Not very far away, Luke, Buster, and the rest of Buster’s lemmings stood overlooking the very same park that was currently inhabited by Luke’s family.

“Beautiful. Luke! Front and centre.” Buster insisted, to which Luke followed curiously.

Swinging an arm around Luke’s shoulders, Buster asked, “Take a look out there. See that family?”

As Luke looked around, he thought about the mess he’d be getting himself into if he didn’t do whatever Buster said. The strong, almost scary, arm thrown around his shoulders was just proof of that. Buster wasn’t the largest guy out there, but his tough exterior and constant rigid facial expressions overcompensated for the fact. Considering this, Luke almost choked on his own saliva once he realized who exactly Buster was referring to.

“You- You mean that family over there?” Luke responded, hoping he had been the one in the wrong.

Buster rolled his eyes at the boy’s question, clearly unamused. “No, this family right here.” He mocked, quickly reverting the group back to his prior idea.

“Now, as your final test,” Buster hummed thoughtfully, “I want you to infiltrate their picnic... and liberate their cake... right out from under their noses. Yes, sounds perfect.”

“You don't have to prove anything, Luke. Just walk away.” Angel whispered from behind him, almost pleadingly.

“Since when do you care so much?” Luke sneered, annoyed that Angel would acknowledge her knowing about his family at a time like this.

“I thought you were better than this.” Angel mumbled, voice laced with anger. Luke felt bad for snapping at her, he really did, but it was about time she understood where he was coming from.

“Pipe down, Angel cakes!” Buster scolded, Angel crossing her arms and rolling her eyes in reply.

“Come on, kid. You want to hang with us, don’t you? It’s not going to cost you much.” Buster said, scoffing when he saw Luke looking back and forth between him and the family with an unsure expression. “Yeah, I should've known. No kid raised on Snob Hill will ever be one of us.”

“No way.” Luke spat, before bolting down the hill towards his family.

As he got closer, Juliet was the first one to look up and notice Luke. “Luke’s back!” She cried, capturing the attention of the rest of the group.

They all looked up in awe, ready to greet the boy, stunned as Luke simply just swooped up their desserts onced he’d reached them, speeding away.

“Oh, my goodness! Oh!” Aunt Sarah gasped, as the girls and Alex’s parents looked at each other questioningly. Jack just simply shook his head, standing up and jogging after his son.

As Luke fled, he noticed his father following him, so he quickly dropped the off the stuff he was holding with Buster, before taking a detour. His plan backfired, though, as Jack was able to catch up with Luke at the point where one alley met up with another. Luke was glad thaat he had at least strayed his dad away from the rest of the group, but was surprised by how quickly Jack was able to find him.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, slow down there, whirlwind.” Jack panted, reaching out for his son’s shoulder as he tried to sneak away.

“I'm not going home.” Luke spun around quickly, “You can't make me.”

“I know, I know. Easy.” Jack reasoned, “I just wanna talk.” He pulled Luke in for a quick hug, surprised by how eagerly the boy reciprocated. Then leading Luke down to take a seat against one of the alley walls, Jack asked, “So, um, how you doing out here?”

“It's great, dad. I’ve learned so much, I go wherever I want, do whatever I please. It’s so great-” Luke rambled, pausing when his father cut him off.

“No regard for other people, though, huh?” Jack hummed, curious as to his son’s response.

“That's how it is out here on the streets,” Luke smirked, “But then, you know all about that, don't you?”

Jack’s baffled response spurred Luke on some more. The two stood up, tension in the air thick as ever. “You make the rules, dad, but you didn't have to follow them when you were my age. Is that why you didn't tell me you lived out here, too?”

“I didn't want that life for you because I found something better.” Jack confessed, pacing back in forth in front of Luke. When met with an expectant look, he continued. “I found love.”

Notes

enjoy! if you have a second, please leave a comment, because i love getting them throughout the day :-) u guys r so nice 2 me <333