Chapter 1

Yuri Sing, owner of C´est Sing---one of the world's most respected clothiers, sat back in her plush office chair, facing away from her desk, and looking out the polarized picture window at the stately view she had of the River Seine. The beautiful snow leopard woman rested her arms on the armrests of her chair, and steepled her fingers beneath her chin, thinking. "Mon Dieu!" she whispered, a lovely smile ghosting softly on her face. Only a mere half-hour before, she had received a phone call…a call she was sure would alter her life forever. But, she confessed, in a very good way! She lowered her slender hands and then her glorious green-gold eyes to her smooth abdomen, where she gently laid a hand atop her belly, and then grinned. She still could not believe what she had been told. She, Yuri Sing, was going to be a mother! "A mother? I? Who would of ever thought such a thing?" she mused aloud, sending her thoughts of joy and happiness to her unborn children.

Yuri luxuriated in her secret several minutes more before she took her hand from her trim abdomen and spun her chair back around. She grinned a clever smile, then pushed the button on her intercom. "Naomi? Please do come in, cheri," she asked, her voice smooth and calm.

Naomi Rousseau, a most alluring cheetah woman, as well as Yuri's closest friend and Executive Director of C'est Sing, ducked her head into Yuri's office, her amber eyes inquisitive. "Oui, Madame? How may I help you?" she inquired, a small fond smile lighting up her face upon seeing her friend.

Yuri saw that look and felt a swell of fierce affection for this svelte tall girl. "Could you please send out an urgent meeting notice to the staff, mon ami? Say in our conference room, in say…fifteen minutes?" Yuri directed, absently flipping her long blond hair over her shoulders.

Naomi canted her lovely head in curiosity, her amber eyes gleaming, but she nodded primly and answered, "Oui, Madame. I shall see to it at once." She then turned and ducked back out of Yuri's office.

Yuri grinned and then spun her chair around like a child, lifting her feet and just enjoying the moment, having to suppress the desire to squeal whee! I am going to be a mother! she told herself.

Naomi returned a few moments later, knocking before entering. "Madame, Desiree has emailed the entire staff. With the exception of only a few, all have agreed to come," Naomi explained as she closed the door. She saw Yuri's fond expression, and looked away, pleased but embarrassed.

"Ah, cheri," Yuri mused aloud. "Come, sit down. I feel the need to talk." As Naomi seated herself, Yuri looked over to her closest and dearest friend. "And, who else would I rather have such a talk with than my lovely Naomi? Hmm?"

Naomi grinned, but blushed. "Madame, I---" she began, only to have Yuri cut her off with a laugh, as she reached out to take her hand and squeeze it. "Madame is in a very good mood, I see."

Yuri laughed her soft warm laugh. "Oui! And, why should I not? After all, cheri…it is not everyday one learns she is about to be a mother!" Yuri pointed out with a grin.

Naomi grinned in happiness. "Oh, Madame! My Yuri!" she gushed softly, her amber eyes glistening from unshed tears. "I am so happy for you, my friend!"

Yuri smiled back, shaking her had at her fortune to have found this darling girl. "Merci, Naomi," she replied, then quite unexpectedly yawned. "Pardonnez moi," she added with a a grin of embarrassment.

"So," Naomi continued, choosing to ignore her friend's yawn. "Have you told Bentley yet, Yuri?"

Yuri flicked her glance back at her friend, then grinned widely. "Oui, he knows," she said cryptically.

"And?" Naomi persisted, her long white-tipped tail begin to snap behind her in her agitation.

"What?" Yuri responded, her exotic green-gold eyes clever.

"Out with it, Yuri!" Naomi then snapped, but then grinned. "Gah, you are such a tease, Madame!" She crossed her slender arms before herself.

"My poor Naomi," soothed Yuri, before she laughed softly. "I am sorry, but the opportunity was too perfect, cheri." She then rested her hands on her desk, rolled her eyes up a moment to think, then brought her gaze back to the most expectant Naomi, and continued. "So, oui, he knows, Naomi. And, after Carmelita was able to bring him out of his faint---the poor dear!---he was most pleased, of course."

Naomi grinned, then giggled wickedly. "He actually fainted?" she asked. "Mon Dieu…I thought men only did that in the movies, Yuri!"

"Apparently not, cheri," Yuri replied with a grin. "Oh, but I am so excited! I have so many questions, my friend!"

"Such as?" Naomi prompted, leaning forward, her black-tipped ears full forward.

"Well," Yuri mused, thinking as she spoke. "How many children shall we have, I wonder, no? And…what will our offspring look like? I mean, we are so different, my Bentley and I."

"I do not know how many children you two shall have, Yuri," Naomi answered. "However, I do know just how they will look."

Yuri's green-gold eyes went large, and her thick spotted tail began to weave sinuously upon the floor. "You do?" she gasped, wanting to know.

"Oh, oui!" Naomi replied with a grin, then reached her hand out to take Yuri's and squeeze it. "They will be beautiful…just like their mother," she told her now expecting friend.

Yuri blinked rapidly, caught unaware by Naomi's response. She then looked back to her friend, and smiled. Then, she got to her feet and marched around to stand beside Naomi. "Cheri…please stand up," she asked.

Naomi hesitated, then asked the obvious question. "But…why, Madame?"

Yuri's resolve then broke and she began to cry, though happily. "Because, my darling Naomi…it is impossible to hug someone sitting down!" she proclaimed.

Naomi was on her feet with a speed only a cheetah could manage, taking Yuri into her arms to hold the gently crying woman close to herself. "Shh, Yuri," Naomi soothed.

"Shh, nothing!" Yuri said pushing back before she stamped her foot. "You are so good to me. How I could be blessed with so kind, so wonderful a friend, I do not know. But…thank you, my Naomi. Thank you for everything."

Naomi didn't know what to say to that. "You are welcome," Naomi managed finally.

"Oh, my Naomi," Yuri said as she took her friend's hand in her own. "What would I do without you, hmm? I love you, ami."

"Oh, Yuri," Naomi replied, now wiping at her own large tearing eyes. "Now you have done it…you do not want to make a Rousseau woman cry, my friend. For we are forever slow to stop!"

Yuri laughed, then kissed Naomi's cheek. "That is perfectly all right, cheri," she assured her friend. "Take as long as you need."

Naomi giggled, wiping at her eyes to dry them. "So, have you and Monsieur Bentley thought of any names for your children yet?" Naomi asked with a smile.

"Non, not as of yet," Yuri admitted. "Though, we do have several names we do both like."

"That is good, of course," Naomi replied. "So, are you hoping for a girl, or a boy? Or, perhaps, some of each?"

"Ah, eager to be an Auntie, are you, mon cheri?" Yuri teased, then hugged her friend once more. Their conversation was brought to a halt a minute later, however, when Yuri's intercom buzzed, and their administrative assistant, Desiree Lausard chimed in to tell them that the staff was now assembled in the conference room…as was requested.

"Merci, Desiree," Yuri replied back. "We shall be there in a moment."

A minute later, both Yuri and Naomi stood before the oak veneered doors of the conference room. "Give a moment, would you, cheri?" Yuri pleaded with her Executive Director. Naomi understood and went inside, leaving Yuri alone in the hallway a moment to compose her thoughts. Yuri smiled at her friend's kindness, then took a minute, rehearsed what she wanted to say…then stepped regally inside.

Inside those door, Yuri found all of her employees…well, not all of her employees---which would number in the hundreds now---but all of her department heads and her direct reports. Yuri smiled as her heels clicked upon the white-veined turquoise marble tile of the conference room---which made up almost half of the entire second floor of C'est Sing. White lights gleamed down upon the stylized cursive 'C' shape of the glass table that took up the majority of the room. Yuri made her way to the left…toward the head of the 'C'-shaped table, where the only unoccupied low-backed chrome and turquoise chair waited for her. As she took her seat, her green gold eyes took in the warm honeyed oak panels that covered much of the walls, complementing the turquoise of the flooring. To her immediate right---of course!---sat C'est Sing's Executive Director, her own Naomi, who---right on cue---got gracefully to her feet.

"Bon jour, my esteemed colleagues," Naomi began, her platinum locks gleaming like some golden waterfall. "Madame has called this very special meeting to make an announcement." Naomi then sat back down, and nodded to Yuri. "Madame?"

Yuri didn't immediately get to her feet…as many of those seated expected. Instead, she took a moment to gaze at each of them. Yuri softly smiled at her Naomi, who gazed back with warm affection and anticipation. To her right, sat Svetlana, the gorgeous little tigress nearly beside herself with excitement, her more sedate friend Maria taking a moment to place a calming hand over her excitable friend's. Yuri shook her head again…thanking Fortune once more for bringing her 'Russians'---as she liked to call them---to her when She had.

To Maria's right sat the somber yet smiling duo of Renee and Antoinette…both of whom on a daily basis still professed their most abject apologies for having been lured away by that pig Gaston Ripperoux. Yuri had quite forgiven them both, the dears…however, that didn't seem to stop then from continuing their apologies each time they saw her. Yuri continued her inspection around the table Ah, there was Miranda Leroux, that cute little fennec woman who kept her Distribution department humming like a well-oiled machine. Oh, and then there was Bianca Desaix, the ocelot woman, without whom her Manufacturing department would be an absolute and utter disaster! Next, sat Candi Lechat, the blonde dynamo, a simple white furred feline who was her legal eagle. And so it went on and so on, to each and every gal that made C'est Sing the amazing force it was…so many loyal companions and friends.

Finally, Yuri did rise to her feet…elegant and flawless as ever. She smiled her thankful smile at one and all before she began. "Cheris…merci, one and all. Without you, C'est Sing would be lost. I know it…and more importantly, you know it!" Yuri observed, grinning.

Her 'girls' giggled, nodded, and murmured in reply…mesmerized by Yuri, their leader, their mentor, their friend.

"Attention, please!" Yuri called after allowing them all a moment to bask in her praise. Once they had all quieted, she continued, gazing at them all fondly. "I have an important announcement," she professed, pausing a (grin!) pregnant moment. "I am certain that many of you---clever girls that you are!---may have noticed that I may have been…er, acting a bit differently than is my wont, oui?"

She smiled as a few of the braver ladies nodded knowingly. "Ah, I see that I am right then, oui?" she told them, and grinned. "Oui, I find I have had the oddest cravings for the strangest of food at bizarre times of the day. Odd, yes? Oh, and as well, I have been quite lethargic of late, feeling sleepy at most inopportune times. I beg your forgiveness…it is not that I am uninterested, cheris…it is that I am tired!" The girls laughed softly, appreciating her explanation. "Oui, all that, in addition to my acting most differently too."

Yuri paused again, taking a sip of water from the goblet before her. "Odd, nes pas? Well, you weren't the only ones to notice, my clever girls. Oh, no! That is why, after a few weeks of my dear Naomi's pleadings and fussing..." Yuri mused, then stopped to smile as Naomi´s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "…I acceded to her wishes, and visited with my physician," Yuri finished. She took yet another sip of water just then. "Now…you are all most likely wondering just where I am going with all this, oui?"

"Oui, Madame!" her 'girls' replied, their curiosity burning now.

Yuri smiled at them indulgently. "Well, then, my friends…I shall tell you. I, just a half-hour ago, got off the phone with my doctor. Now, as a result of her instructions---those being my doctor's of course!---my friends, you must treat me very carefully from this point on." Yuri smiled and waited.

Svetlana, never one to like surprises, spoke up immediately pleading. "Please, Madame, tell us! Why must we treat you so carefully now?"

Yuri smiled, then nodded her assent. "Oh, very well, my dears…I am afraid that in about seven months time, I will not be working here anymore," Yuri admitted.

"Non!" Everyone gasped and began to protest most vehemently. "You cannot, Madame!"

Yuri held up a hand to quiet their protests. "Never fear, cheris…I will still run C'est Sing. That shall not change. I just won't be doing so from here," she corrected them. "And…that will be because I´m going to be very busy at home, my dears, taking care of my babies."

Yuri grinned at the silence that followed that statement, and her grin grew more pronounced in the few seconds it took before the message sunk in. At first, there were many a mouth that fell open. Then, as the realization of what Yuri had just said finally dawned on them, those open mouths turned into exuberant grins. After that, why, Yuri had to laugh as over forty young ladies figured out that their boss was pregnant!

"Oh, Madame!" crowed Candi Lechat from Legal. "That is tres manufique! Congratulations!"

Yuri couldn't discern who said what after that point, as their voices were all jumbled together with their shrieks and squeals of delight. Yuri grinned like a proud parent at her charges. This frenzy of feminine congratulations went on for several minutes…and would of continued but for one thing: Naomi!

"Avec!" Naomi bellowed, beckoning them back, her voice impressive from such a slender girl. "Everyone will back away from Madame…immediately! Back, I say! Give the poor woman some room!" When the throng didn't immediately comply with her wishes, she upped the ante…quite precipitously. "If all of you do not cease your congratulations on Madame's baby…I shall fetch mine!"

That had the desired effect…everyone knowing that Naomi's 'baby' was her Uzi submachine pistol. That, and the fact that the ladies knew that Naomi always kept her promise, so they reluctantly backed away, giving Yuri her space.

After she was certain that her authority had been restored, Naomi burst out in happy tears, hugging Yuri. "Oh Madame! I am so happy for you!" she cried, holding the lovely snow leopard woman to herself.

"Shh. Merci, my Naomi,"Yuri replied tenderly hugging her friend back.

"Eh, what happened to five centimeter rule, Naomi?" One of the more daring of the seamstresses proclaimed, smiling as she teased.

Yuri still held the sniffling Naomi, and softly chided the teasing girl. "Now now…you be nice, cheri," Yuri warned. "After all…when I am off on my maternity leave, my Naomi here will be in charge. I think it would be most unwise to get yourself on her bad side, don't you?"

As she grinned at Yuri's defending her, it took a moment before Naomi realized just what Yuri had said. In shock, Naomi´s eyes went wide. "B-But, Madame!" she protested. "I cannot! Take over running your shop? I could not!"

"Ah, but why not, cheri?" Yuri countered.

"Da, Naomi…why not? It is as Madame says, nyet?" Maria pointed out. "Every one of us here know just how much you and Madame mean to one another, nyet? Do come now…you know her the best of us all, and as such, you would know precisely how Yuri herself would run things. Tell me this is not so."

"But, Madame!" Naomi still protested. "I am not you!"

"Indeed, you are not, mon ami," Yuri said, then decided to take action. "Now, cheris! Who wishes Naomi to take over running C´est Sing when I am gone on maternity leave?" Yuri asked them all.

There was a cheer, and everyone raised their hands in affirmation. "Oui! Naomi!" they answered.

"Well, cheri," Yuri ventured with a clever grin on her face. "I suppose that has been decided, oui?"

Naomi still sputtered out protests, one after another. But, finally, she realized how futile her protest were, and desisted. "Very well, I will…if Madame wills it."

"There, that wasn't so hard now, was it, Naomi?" Yuri teased, and Naomi had the good grace to laugh. "Now…any further questions?"

Maria and Svetlana raised their hand almost at once. "Yes, my Russian friends?" Yuri prompted, waving her hand to encourage them both.

Svetlana blushed at being the center of attention suddenly, but soldiered on nonetheless. "Madame, why if your Bentley will be moving in with you after your children are born...um, where will Maria and I live?" The little tigress' big brown eyes were filled with nervous apprehension.

Yuri smiled fondly at the petite lovely girl. "Ah, my Svetlana! You and Maria are always welcome at my home. You know this, oui?" Yuri told them. "However…" Svetlana blinked, and hung on Yuri's every word. "However, please keep in mind that you two may not be able to get much sleep any longer once Bentley moves inn and my children are born." The assembled staff laughed softly at Yuri's levity, but Svetlana heaved a sigh of relief, and smiled a brilliant smile.

"Not to worry, Madame," Maria told her in reply, nodding over to Svetlana. "We will manage somehow." There was ripples of laughter at this.

"Now," Naomi then proclaimed. "My first orders as Yuri's soon to be temporary replacement." She turned and leveled her amber gaze at her colleagues, then held out one long slender arm and pointed toward the door imperiously. "Out! Back to work…all of you!" The corners of her lips tugged up as she tried hard not to give away her mirth. "Do not make me fetch my 'baby'," she warned, but her amber eyes twinkled with laughter.

The ladies were startled at first, but then quickly cottoned on to Naomi's teasing. However, they also realized that she wanted them to give Yuri her space, and they all happily accepted that. As the many ladies shuffled their way out of the conference center and down the stairs back to work, they each took the opportunity to shake Yuri's hand and wish her all the best.

Yuri smiled wanly as finally, at long last, only Naomi, Svetlana and Maria remained in the nearly vacant conference room. "Come, cheris," Yuri offered. "I forgot to inform you all that I promised Carmelita that I would stop over at Le Hotel Champlain. I'm sure she wishes to offer me her own congratulations. And, what a friend would I be---I ask you?---if I reneged on such a promise, no?" They all laughed at that, and with that, the four women all left C'est Sing for the day, heading toward their cars, and eventually toward the home of their dear friends...