She sensed someone approaching from the back room - all this time with Wolf, she thought, I’m nearly as perceptive as he is now. She turned and smiled as Wolf leapt into the room and swept her into his arms. He sniffed her hair.

"Did you catch my scent?" he asked hopefully.

"No, Wolf, I don’t guess I’ll ever be able to smell who’s coming, but I could hear you breathing!"

"Huff puff," he growled with a grin, "I can’t help it - every time I see you I start to pant. Baby boy!" he cried, stooping to press his cheek to her belly, "I think I can feel you moving in there! Don’t you worry little cub; it won’t be too long. Just you wait - we’re going to have such fun when you get here! Mommy will teach you everything you need to know about subways and taxicabs and health inspectors - just like she’s teaching me. She knows a lot, that mommy of yours. And me, I’ll teach you all about being a cub! I’ll teach you to run and jump and track a scent, and your mom will teach us both how to stay out of trouble - someday."

Virginia laughed, but just then, Wolf caught a familiar scent in the air. Mumbling wildly to himself he ran through the swinging door into the dining room of the restaurant. Crouching low behind the counter he stalked his prey, who had just come in off the street and was headed his way. As the figure passed the counter, Wolf pounced: "Tony!" he cried, lifting him off his feet, "It’s so good to see you, what are you doing here?!?" Slowly he released his father-in-law from the wolf-hug and set him on the floor again.

Straightening his clothes, Tony took a deep breath. "I’m afraid I have some bad news, Wolf, but I don’t want you to tell Virginia - I don’t want to upset her."

"Cripes," Wolf whispered. "What is it?"

"Well," Tony began, and launched into an explanation, "It seems the Peep family was pretty upset with us all. After the trial and everything, they were driven out of town and their farming and shepherding licenses revoked. They were devastated. You have to remember this town was founded by Sally Peep’s great-grandmother."

"Yes, yes I know," Wolf said. "My parents told me all about Bo Peep. She used to tease my great Uncle Nero - flaunting her delicious plumpness, provoking him - she was a vixen, that Peep. Everyone thinks she was such a great woman. Truth is she was an awful shepherdess - why do you think she lost those sheep anyway? They wandered off while she spent the afternoon under a haystack with some kid named Blue from the next village. When she came home without them, her folks were really mad, so she told them it was Nero - he’d scattered the flock and chased her away! They were enraged, of course, and ran off to get Uncle Nero. Nero was getting old and confused, so he turned back and ran right through the town square and onto Peep property, and just as the townsfolk had him cornered in the sheep pen, here came all the sheep, wagging their tails behind them. Not a single one was missing, and Bo Peep came out smelling like a rose. I’m telling you, those shepherdesses are a menace."

"Yes, well, there are still those in the community who think you are a menace - I believe they were short a whole coop of chickens after your visit. Anyway, the Peeps went to a witch and had a curse put on you. From now on, the first born of yourself or any of your descendants will be a sheep."

"No!" cried Wolf, causing Virginia to run into the room. "It can’t be!"

"Daddy!" Virginia cried. "Wolf, why didn’t you tell me he was here? Wait," she paused, seeing the expressions on their faces. "Something is wrong. What is it? What?!? Wolf, honey, say something, you’re scaring me!" She clutched her stomach; "Tell me what is going on, please!"

"Virginia!" Wolf cried, running to her side, "Sit down, rest, we’re just worried about you and the baby - please."

He led her to a chair and sat her down, enveloping her in his arms and rocking her gently. Slowly she calmed down and reached for him. Holding his face in her hands, she looked into his eyes.

"Wolf, I know you better than that. There is something wrong. Please tell me; I can handle it. The baby is fine, I am fine, just tell me what is wrong."

"Hmmmm," he whined with puppy eyes. "My creamy sweet Virginia, I could never lie to you, there is a problem, but I’m sure we can work it out. I’m sure it’s no problem at all. Tony, what do we have to do to break the curse? Do you know?"

"Curse? What curse?" she asked as Tony simply shrugged.

"This is your department," Tony said to Wolf. "What do I know about magic and curses and all the insanity that happens in the Nine Kingdoms?"

"Tell me what you’re talking about - you’re scaring me again," Virginia insisted.

"Well, cream puff, it appears there is a slight, outside chance, that our baby, our little cub, our sweet little chop in white wine sauce, will be just that."

"Just what?"

"A chop. A lamb. Baa baa black sheep."

"WHAT?!?" Virginia cried, and passed out.