Kimi Finster has been living in New York since she ran out on her wedding at the age of twenty. Now twenty-four she returns to California only to find the person she walked out on still mad at her and she doesn't know what to do to make it better.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rugrats/All Grown Up!
Enjoy!

Back To California

Kimi's P.O.V

If you asked me as a kid what I thought of Phillip "Phil" DeVille, I would say he's an immature, annoying, gross slob. But if you were to ask me now, at the age of twenty-four, what I thought of Phillip DeVille, I would say he's everything I could ask for. The sweetest, funniest, and most caring person I have ever met.

Somewhere through the years, between third and seventh grade, I fell hopelessly in love with him. If you were to ask me if he feels the same way, my answer would just be "I don't know". We were suppose to get married when we were twenty, but I got cold feet and ran out. Can you believe that? Me, Kimi Watanabe-Finster, got scared and ran out on something.

From what Lillian "Lil", his twin sister, told me a few days ago, he's still a mess. She says he hasn't been the same since I left. He's tried calling, texting, even emailing me, but I couldn't find it in me to reply to him. I don't think I'd be able to handle having the conversation on why I left with him.

Now here I am in New York City, far from Phillip DeVille who's in California with all of our friends. My family. I'm standing in the airport, carry on in one hand, cell phone in the other. I'm listening to Lil talk about how excited she is that I'm moving back, and she's promised to keep it a secret from everyone. She says she has a surprise for me when I get to California. I smile, thinking of how everything is going to be. I'll be reunited with my best friend, her husband, my brother, Susie, Dil, and I'm even excited to see Angelica. I hear my plane being called and I tell Lil I'll see her when I get there.

I've been sitting on the plane for three hours, only two more to go. I'm starting to get nervous. Nervous about having to see him. Having to talk to him, to tell him what happened that day. Maybe we can regain our friendship, maybe we can even start new. I sigh and close my eyes, smiling to myself. Besides having to see him, being back in California is going to be great.

I wake up to the sound of the pilot making an announcement, saying that we'd be landing soon. I stretch a little, doing my best not to hit the person sitting next to me. I look out the window and smile. I've missed LA. I get myself situated and ready for the landing.

I get off the plane and take in a deep breath, looking around for my best friend who I haven't seen in four long years. I finally spot her, looking around and her eyes land on me. She smiles big and runs over to me, pulling me into a hug "I've missed you so much, you don't even know!"

I dropped my carry on in order to hug her back. I could feel tears starting to form from being so happy "I've missed you too!" I pulled away from her "Now what's this surprise you have for me?"

Lil made a face like she had forgotten before smiling "Oh! Your surprise! Follow me, Tommy has it."

"Tommy?" I stopped walking and gave Lil a glare "Lil, you weren't suppose to tell anyone I was coming!"

Lil turned around and gave me one of her smiles and rolled her eyes "I didn't. I told him I had to pick up a cousin and that he had to come with me. That's why he's by the baggage claim with your surprise, now come on!" she grabbed my arm and started practically dragging me to where Tommy was.

I didn't realize it until this moment, but I missed my best friend more than I could even begin to describe. I smiled as she guided me through the crowd of people to Tommy and my surprise. She turned to me once Tommy was in sight, that smile still on her face "Close your eyes."

I raised an eyebrow at her "Why?"

Lil started pouting "Kim, please! You haven't seen us in four years and you should be able to trust me, so if you just close your eyes, I can get your surprise."

I sighed and did what she told me to. I felt her grab my hand and start walking again and then she stopped me. I heard her whisper something to Tommy, who I presumed was shocked that I wasn't a cousin, and then Lil started talking "Okay, open your eyes."

I opened my eyes and the first person I saw was Tommy. He gave me a smile before standing up and giving me a hug "I didn't know we were picking you up. It's been too long, Kimi."

I returned his hug and smiled "I know. I plan on staying this time, so don't worry."

I felt Lil tap my shoulder and I turned around and gasped at what Lil was holding. It wasn't an object, but a person. A child. Her daughter. "Why didn't you tell me?!" I asked before the shock left and was replaced with joy for my two best friends.

Lil shrugged and looked down at her daughter with a smile "I don't know. We never really talked a lot after you left and when we did talk it just never came up in conversation. She's named after Charlotte. She passed away while I was pregnant with her and Tommy asked if we could name her after her, so, her name is Charlotte Elizabeth"

I looked from Lil over to Tommy. I didn't think they would have a kid together, better yet, I didn't think these two would end up together in general. I smiled "How old is she?"

"Three, almost four. Her birthday is actually in a month, So I'm glad you're able to be here for it."

"She's precious." I said to the both of them.

Tommy had grabbed my bag for me and was now standing next to Lil "I think it's time to go. I know Chuckie will be excited to see you." he gave me a smile before him and Lil turned and started walking out of the air port.

My smile fell once they were turned around. Neither of them had said anything about Phil. I just want to know how Phil is. Did he miss me? Is he going to be happy to see me? I sigh and follow them out to the car. The Los Angeles heat hit me as soon as I walked out the door and it made me realize just how much I missed being here.

I watch as Tommy puts Charlotte in her car seat and can't help but smile. I always knew these two would make good parents, but actually seeing them be parents made me happy. I climbed in the other door and sat next to Charlotte. She looked over at me and could see that she looks more like Lil but has Tommy's eyes and smile.

I stared out the window. Four years. Four long years I haven't been to Los Angeles, and it doesn't look any different. Lil and Tommy are talking to each other, but I'm not really listening to them. I look next to me as Charlotte starts to talk "Mommy, can we go to the park?"

I could see Lil smile in the rear view mirror, I could tell just by her face how much she loved being a mom "Not today, sweetie. We have to spend time with Kimi"

I smiled and looked back at Charlotte who was now pouting. I chuckled to myself, she looked just like Lil at that age when she didn't get what she wanted. Charlotte started leaning forward, trying to reach the back of the driver's seat where Tommy was and started whining "Daddy"

Lil turned and looked at her with a smile "Maybe, if you and Kimi get along good enough, we can take you tomorrow, okay?"

"That sounds like it could be fun." I say turning away from Charlotte to look at Lil.

"See? She likes you already." Tommy said, not taking his eyes off the road.

He pulled into an apartment building complex parking lot and into a space before shutting the car off. I wasn't sure if I should be happy or nervous. I know Phil lives with Chuckie in the apartment across the hall from Tommy and Lil so I should be expecting to see him any minute when I walk through their door.

Lil had told me that I'd be staying with them. They had three bedrooms and only used two, theirs and Charlotte's. They usually used the third as a guest room for when Dil or Angelica would stay over. Tommy got my bags out for me and Lil got Charlotte out, and led me inside. "Are you excited to be back?" she asked without looking over at me.

"You could say that." I said with a shrug. She knew exactly why I wouldn't be excited. Phil. "I am excited to get to know Charlotte."

Lil set Charlotte down and let her run through the halls to their apartment "I'm sure she'd like to get to know you, too. She takes after Tommy in the whole being nice to everyone"

"That's good. She'll have plenty of friends then" I said with a smile.

Lil stopped at a door and opened it. I looked around and couldn't find Charlotte, so I assumed she was with Chuckie and Phil. Tommy walked past me and led me to the guest room. He set my stuff down before walking out. I looked around the room and decided that I would put my stuff away later. I walked out of my new room and out to the living room where Tommy and Lil were.

"So Kimi, tell me about New York." Tommy said propping his feet up on the table.

I opened my mouth to say something but their front door flew open, and in walked the one person I was dreading. He was holding Charlotte and he didn't look happy "Lillian, why is she talking about-" he stopped talking when his eyes met mine. "What the hell is she doing here?"