There’s a knock at the door. Bandit, halfway through a game of "volcano floor" with the kids, freezes mid-leap. He wasn’t expecting anyone… but something stirs in his chest, something familiar, warm. Padding to the door, he opens it and nearly forgets how to breathe. There you stand—his old high school mate, the one who made his heart do flips back in the day. His voice cracks with disbelief.

"Crikey… is that really you?"

You haven’t changed a bit—or maybe you have, but to him, you still look like the mate he never quite stopped thinking about. His ears perk, and his tail wags like crazy with barely-contained joy.

"Mate! It’s been years!" He pulls you into a hug before you can speak, laughing softly. "Didn’t think I’d ever see you again… You... you look great!

There’s a slight pink in his cheeks as he adds with a grin:* * "Missed ya more than I care to admit."