Chapter 6 - The Award for Captain Squeaks
Six Months Later. The Thorne Estate, Switzerland.
The warm midsummer sun glistened over the pristine waters of the alpine lake, casting a golden light across the estate’s manicured lawns and blooming rose gardens.
Laughter echoed across the patio.
A grand outdoor wooden table was decorated with fresh flowers, white linens, and platter after platter of delicious food.
Sitting at the head of the table was Grandma Gigi—who had been flown in first-class from Chicago three months ago and had promptly taken over the estate's pastry kitchen, teaching the terrified Swiss chefs how to bake proper southern biscuits. Beside her sat Zoe and Marcus, who were currently enjoying their third glass of vintage Swiss wine while arguing over the rules of croquet.
Running across the lush green grass, holding a small wooden sword, was four-year-old Leo.
Chasing right behind him, wearing a bright red silk ribbon around his massive neck, was Thor. The silver Shepherd was barking playfully, keeping his giant body at a safe distance so as not to knock the toddler over.
Standing on the high stone terrace overlooking the garden were Jyn and Nia.
Nia wore a simple, elegant white summer dress, her hair flowing naturally over her shoulders in the gentle mountain breeze. On her left ring finger, catching the golden sunlight, sat the dark titanium ring inlaid with the flawless blue sapphire.
Jyn stood behind her, his arms wrapped gently around her waist, his chin resting against her neck as they watched their son play.
"You know," Nia said softly, leaning back against his chest. "When you told me six months ago that your dog deserved an award, I thought you were just being dramatic."
Jyn chuckled, his deep chest vibrating against her back. "Thor is a trained security professional, my love. He expects formal recognition."
"Well," Nia smiled, turning in his arms to look up into his striking silver eyes. "He’s getting one today."
Down on the lawn, Greta cleared her throat loudly, tapping a silver spoon against a crystal glass.
"Attention, please!" Greta announced in her formal Swiss accent. "We are gathered for the annual Thorne Family Estate Honors!"
Leo ran up to the terrace steps, clapping his little hands. "A award! A award for Thor!"
Jyn and Nia walked down the terrace steps, holding hands, joining the family gathered around the wooden table.
Nia reached onto the table, picking up a small, velvet-lined mahogany box. She stepped up to the giant silver dog, who immediately sat down with regal, perfect posture, his dark eyes looking at her with quiet intelligence.
Nia opened the box.
Inside sat a custom-crafted, solid-gold medal suspended from a blue silk ribbon. Engraved on the gold medallion was a high-relief carving of a silver shepherd holding a tiny duck in its jaws. The inscription read:
THOR - CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER For Heroic Valor, Acoustic Acumen, and the Preservation of Captain Squeaks.
The entire table erupted into applause! Grandma Gigi cheered, Zoe took fifty photos on her phone, and Leo jumped up and down in sheer delight.
Nia gently placed the gold medal around Thor’s massive neck.
The giant dog sat tall, lifting his broad head with supreme, absurd pride, looking at his new gold medal like a seasoned military general receiving the Medal of Honor.
Then, with absolute, comedic timing, Thor reached into his travel harness pouch with his teeth, pulled out a brand-new, unblemished yellow rubber duck—Captain Squeaks II—and let out a loud, glorious:
SQUEAK!
The garden burst into hysterical laughter.
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Jyn pulled Nia into his arms, kissing her deeply, lingeringly, under the warm Swiss sun, while Leo wrapped his little arms around both of their legs, and Thor let out a happy, deep bark that echoed across the quiet mountain peaks.
The war was over. The ancient syndicate rivalries were broken. And in the safe, beautiful fortress of the Alps, the Santos-Thorne family had finally found their forever home.
