Rapunzel and Donatello finally got seated after a forty-minute wait—that's how hard it was to get into Mother Hubbard's. The restaurant lived up to its reputation: crystal chandeliers, white tablecloths, and a staff that looked like they'd walked off a magazine cover.

  Their waiter was a faun with copper curls and legs that went on forever, wearing nothing but a silk vest and tight leather shorts. He moved with practiced grace, setting down menus with a smile that probably earned him excellent tips.

  "This pce is something else," Donatello murmured, watching an elf waitress glide past in a dress that was more suggestion than fabric.

  Rapunzel's gaze drifted to a rge framed photograph on the wall nearby. She'd seen it before on previous visits, but it never failed to catch her attention. The image was striking—artistic, intimate without being explicit. A muscur man with wolf ears and a tail, wearing only a pair of shorts, held a completely nude woman in a princess carry. The woman gazed up at him, her face tilted toward his, their lips just a breath apart. The composition was all longing and trust, beautiful in its vulnerability.

  Below the photograph, a small pque read: "Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, to get her poor dog a bone."

  "You know the story behind that, right?" Rapunzel asked, nodding toward the photo.

  Donatello gnced over. "Mother Hubbard and Mr. Bone?"

  "That's them. Lady Cupboard and Mr. Bone—their stage names from back in the day." Rapunzel smiled. "That nursery rhyme everyone knows? It's about them. Mr. Bone's a changeling, werewolf form. They were the biggest names in adult entertainment sixty years ago."

  Donatello studied the photograph with new appreciation. "They started this pce?"

  "When they were in their twenties. Put all their earnings together." Rapunzel looked around the elegant restaurant, taking in the crystal, the well-dressed patrons, the stunning staff. "They're in their eighties now, both retired, and they're sitting on millions. Built a whole franchise."

  The faun returned with water gsses. Up close, Rapunzel noticed the subtle coding of oil on his chest, the professional way he carried himself—confident, unbothered.

  "Anyone who works in the industry eats free here," Rapunzel continued once the waiter left. "It's their way of giving back to the community."

  "Free?" Donatello raised an eyebrow. "That's generous."

  "They take care of their own." Rapunzel picked up her menu, though her eyes drifted back to the photograph one more time. "That shot is from the movie that unched them. They made several films together, but that one made them famous." Mother Hubbard had been gorgeous—still was, from what Rapunzel had seen in interviews. But in that photo, young and fearless and held in Mr. Bone's arms, she'd been absolutely breathtaking. "They proved you could build something real, something sting. Not just survive the industry, but thrive."

  ---

  Rapunzel was mid-sentence, expining something about the restaurant's history, when she heard someone call out.

  "Donnie? DONNIE!"

  She turned to see an eccentric-looking man weaving through the tables toward them. He was older, maybe in his fifties, wearing wire-rimmed gsses with wild hair and clothes that looked like he'd gotten dressed in the dark—mismatched but somehow working for him.

  Donatello's face lit up. "Uncle Aldous!"

  The man reached their table, grinning wide. "Knew that was you, kid." He looked at Rapunzel, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "And who's this? New girlfriend? Donnie, she's a looker!"

  Rapunzel felt heat rise to her cheeks. There was something charming about him, even if he was completely unfiltered. "I'm Rapunzel."

  "Rapunzel," Donatello said, shaking his head but smiling, "this is my uncle."

  "Pleasure, sweetheart. Absolute pleasure." Uncle Aldous was about to say more when an attractive woman appeared behind him—feline, about five feet tall, with cat ears and a tail, wearing nothing but a red bikini. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing herself against his back.

  Rapunzel blinked.

  Donatello raised an eyebrow. "Uncle, you want to introduce us to the pretty woman rubbing herself against you?"

  "Oh! Yeah, this is Pame." Uncle Aldous didn't seem the least bit embarrassed as Pame slid around to his side. He reached down, pying absently with her bck furry tail while she draped herself against him, purring.

  "Hi," Pame said, though her attention stayed fixed on Uncle Aldous. She nuzzled his shoulder.

  "Pame works here," Uncle Aldous expined. "Met her tonight. She's a waitress."

  Pame smiled, cat-like and knowing. "Among other things."

  Donatello gave his uncle *that look*—the one that said *doing okay, old man?*—but he was grinning.

  Uncle Aldous caught it and ughed. "Okay, okay, I'll let you two get back to your date. Just wanted to say hi." He looked at Rapunzel again. "You take care of my nephew, yeah? He's a good kid."

  "I will," Rapunzel said, trying not to ugh.

  "Tell your mother I said hey," Uncle Aldous added to Donatello, which made them both snort—clearly his mother would have a fit if she ever knew he'd been at this type of restaurant, especially with her brother.

  Pame tugged at his arm, her tail swishing. "Come on, Professor. Back booth is waiting." She gave him a look that made it very clear dinner wasn't all she had in mind.

  Uncle Aldous winked at them both before letting Pame lead him away, her hips swaying, his hand still pying with her tail.

  Rapunzel watched them disappear toward the back of the restaurant, then looked at Donatello. "So. That's your uncle."

  "That's my uncle," Donatello confirmed, shaking his head fondly. "The cool one."

  "I can see that." Rapunzel picked up her menu, biting back a smile. "Does he always pick up waitresses at fancy restaurants?"

  "Probably." Donatello ughed. "He's got a thing for feline women."