Bear paused as he was making breakfast. They were giggling again. He didn't know what they were talking about and truth be known he was a little jealous but it would seem Lulu and Goldie were made for each other.

Goldie had been right to be concerned as it took several months for Lulu to warm up to the idea. At first she was all fired up, she did not like the idea of sharing her Father with anyone. She immediately mistrusted Goldie. Possibly being afraid she would take her place or steal him away from her.

A few more months went by and Lulu was down right cold. When Bear did try to get them together Lulu refused to speak to Goldie. It would seem she was just barely tolerating Goldie's presence but Goldie was wonderfully patient and kind. Slowly working her way in, and then one day it happened.

Everything fell into place. Lulu began to warm up to the idea of Goldie being around and before Bear knew it, he started to feel like the one on the outside looking in as they were constantly putting their heads together, giggling and sometimes Lulu would beg to hangout with Goldie so they could do some "girl" stuff together.

It was hard to agree but Bear knew it was what was best for both of them. He had learned a whole lot more during those months about Goldie's past. He knew how much it hurt her to be rejected by Lulu as it was her greatest wish and dream to be a part of a family. It was a dream he was hoping to make true for her and soon.

He brought the tray with breakfast all laid out into his bedroom.

"Ahha! Looks like someone has been sleeping in my bed and..." he whipped the covers off them both, "here they are."

Goldie smiled and Lulu had a giggling fit.

"He caught us," Goldie said conspiratorially to Lulu.

"Yes, I did and there will be no running away this time," Bear told them.

They scooted up to sit in the large bed making room for him to join them. Lulu was between them and Bear placed the breakfast tray over her lap, and they all took turns picking at the food, enjoying a meal together.

Lulu looked at Goldie and then looked back at her Dad. She had done this several times and Goldie noticed that she seemed to be having trouble sitting still.

"Everything okay?" she asked the young girl.

"Uh-huh. Couldn't be better," Lulu added but still seemed a bit anxious.

Goldie couldn't remember ever seeing Lulu eat so fast.

"All done!" she notified them and Goldie thought the situation just kept getting stranger.

"Now?" she asked, looking at her Dad.

"Soon," her Dad told her.

"What's going on?" Goldie asked, as she watched Lulu slide out of bed and run excitedly from the room.

Bear ignored her question and as Goldie stared at the doorway wondering where Lulu had run off to, Bear brought her attention back by gently turning her face to look at him.

"Goldie, I owe you so much. I felt I was lost out in the woods only to return to my old life and find everything in disarray. I know I was a grumpy bear, in the beginning but you stuck it out, with me, with Lulu, somehow you just made everything right."

Goldie smiled and kissed him. "You were worth it. I never felt a part of a family. Red and Gran... they were always there for me but it still wasn't right. Most times it was me driving Gran crazy and Red bailing me out of whatever trouble I found myself in. Here, with you and Lulu... just feels like the perfect fit."

"You have no idea how much I needed to hear that," Bear said, "and I'm not the only one."

Goldie looked over and saw Lulu peeking in from the doorway.

"Now?"

"Now," Bear said and Lulu came in the room looking very serious about whatever it was she and her father were talking about. Bear moved the tray and she climbed back onto the bed but didn't get between them like usual. This time she sat on her knees facing the two of them.

"Goldie?"

"Yes?" Goldie said apprehensively, beginning to feel as a nervous as Lulu looked and now she noticed Bear had suddenly become.

Lulu pulled from behind her back a small black box and flipped it open.

"Will you be a part of our family?"

Tears immediately sprung to Goldie's eyes so quickly she did not have the chance to recover quick enough before one slid down her cheek.

Bear wiped it away, took the ring from the box, and slid it on her finger. It was not too big. Not too small. It fit her just right.

"Please say yes."

Goldie's eyes looked from one to the other. They were asking her together. Bear was not asking for her hand in marriage but together they were asking her to be a part of their family.

"Yes!"

Bear and Lulu yelled in unison before tackling her in a pile on the bed. Bear kissed her and she kissed him back and Lulu snuggled in between. Goldie wrapped her arms around her and Bear wrapped his arms around them both. It was now the three of them, together as one.

When Goldie had met Bear he wasn't very happy. When he first introduced her to Lulu things still weren't right. But now that it was the three of them together, Goldie couldn't imagine a happier ending.

No more running away.

She finally found where she belonged, the perfect fit. Together, everything was going to be just right.

The END.

RECIPES 

PEACHES and CREAM Muffins

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min.  Bake: 20 min.   MAKES: 10 servings

Ingredients

1 egg

1/2 cup milk or sour cream

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen peaches, thawed

Directions

1. In a bowl, beat egg; add milk and oil. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir into the egg mixture just until moistened. Stir in the peaches.

2. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. 

Nutritional Facts

177 calories: 1 each, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol,211mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

HOMEmade HOT CHOCOLATE

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 2 min.  Cook: 5 min.  MAKES: 4 servings

Ingredients

1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup of white sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/3 cup of boiling water

3 1/2 cups of milk

3/4 tsp of vanilla extract

1/2 cup of half and half cream

Directions

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Nutritional Facts

310 calories: 1 each, 8.7g fat, 28mg cholesterol, 102mg sodium, 52.8g carbohydrate, 9.3g protein. 

***So you want to know why Bear's Hot Chocolate was better than everyone else. He added a dash of Coffee to bring out the flavor of the chocolate.  Give it a try and let me know what you think?