A/N: Alright, you guys wanted more DxC mushy one-shots, even after I told you I sucked at them. Truely guys, not the best writer! But since you all asked so nicely, I'll indulge you.
'It's been several years since the island,' mused Courtney quietly to herself as she sat in the chair. 'But I still think about him everytime I'm about to do something. I imagine what he would say about it and everything.' She smiled as she saw the lady who handled piercings load the little gun. She wasn't getting it anywhere insane, just her third ear piercing.
The woman put the cold metal over Courtney's ear. Courtney didn't feel it, but she heard the sound of the little metal end piercing through her cartalidge. And then again on the other ear. While the woman cleaned off the gun and rung up the purchase, Courtney examined her newly pierced ear. Two other piercings were already in the lobe and the new one went through her catalidge. She smiled and let her grown out hair flow over her ears.
She paid for the piercings and left the little kiosk that was in the middle of the mall. "I think he would approve of this," she said aloud to herself.
She'd long ago stopped being her preppy self and started being a little more - more normal. She wasn't punk like Duncan, but she was less of a goody-goody. She didn't drink, smoke, do drugs or shop-lift, she just simply stopped trying to please and impress everybody else and started pleasing herself. She liked the piercings, she thought they looked natural on her, and instead of her old prep outfit, she wore a baby blue polo over ripped jeans that weren't exactly form fitting.
She did still, however, love organization. She couldn't shake that out of herself, and frankly, she didn't want to. It's help her one day, she just knew it. Her competitive nature was unrelenting as well. But that wasn't really a bad thing in her perspective, just something to keep people on their toes around her. She smiled at the thought of being able to keep people on their toes now. Before they were completely at ease around her. Not that she didn't have a temper back then, but she was more like a kitten. She wouldn't do anything except yell back then. She had long since learned that quiet, scolding, calm manner was much more effective and scary.
She passed a little store that had T.V. memorobilia. She saw a cardboard cutout of a younger her kissing Duncan. The store owner looked her way, and then did a double take. It was really her. She waved, and he waved back in a struck manner - jaw slack and drooling too. She gave him a questionable glance and went on her way. Even now, a total of four years after the island she was being gawked at and being asked to sign autographs; not that she minded.
There was a loud crashing sound from Courtney's left. She looked over to see a guy no older than her helping a woman clean up her kiosk that he had presumably just plowed into. "Sorry," he said to her as he helped her put the final items back on the shelf.
She smiled at him forgivingly. "It's alright," she said.
"Hey Dunc," a loud, obnoxious male voice called. "We gotta get going. Your mom's making pot roast and we don't want to be in the slammer during it." She turned again, this time to see a kid with light brown hair the words wannabe-punk screaming from his outfit.
'Dunc' frowned at him. "We?" he asked. "You mean you. I didn't do anything wrong. You on the other hand..." He trailed off with a smirk that reminded Courtney off someone. Come to think of it, he really reminded her of someone. His hair was black, his shorts were baggy, as was his shirt. It also looked like he was missing a couple of piercings in his nose and eyebrow. Well, she thought she could see tiny holes anyway.
"Man, ever since that girl, you've been totally..." He trailed off like he couldn't think of a word for it. But looking him over again, Courtney wasn't sure he was even capable.
"AWOL, a goody-goody, whipped, jank?" Dunc started naming off all the possible things that the other dude might be meaning to say. "Well, yeah, I am all of the above. Nels and Min have pointed it out to me time and time again. You should recognize it, Damien, Nels went through the same thing after he met Min." By that time, Dunc had crossed the distance between them and they were starting to walk away.
Courtney followed, unconsciously, wondering where the conversation was leading. "But it's been years," stated Damien. "How can you still like her if it's been years?"
"When it's the right person," said Dunc wisely, as if he had plenty of time to contemplate this. "You'll wait forever just to hold their hand again. You'd climb a mountain just to see their face. You'd face a world full of nightmares just to secure their safety. And if it's the right person, you won't ever let them go."
'That was beautiful.' Thought Courtney. She'd never heard someone, especially a guy, go on about their feelings so strongly. Nor had she heard them describe exactly what she was feeling. "Whoever that girl is," said Courtney to the strangers back. "She's lucky to have someone like you to love her."
The two boys turned to stare at her. Teal met Mocha and suddenly, she realized he was no stranger, not to her. He'd shown her his softer side and she'd shown him her more rebellious self. They knew each other better than anyone else could.
"Princess?" he asked in disbelief. He couldn't get her off his mind for years. He had her constantly on the brain, always wondering what she would think of him, were she to see him now. And here his Princess was now, decked out in some lax clothes, smiling at him. It wasn't timid either. It was a full blown grin, and she couldn't hold it back.
"Hey Duncan, it's been a while, hasn't it?" she asked him, her eyes taking in his new appearance. His mowhawk had been cut off, the aformentioned piercings removed and his piercing orbs just as beautiful as ever.
"Uh, Dunc," started Damien, already sounding confused. "Who's this?"
Duncan slapped his forehead. Damien could be such a moron. "Damien, this is Courtney." he said slowly, as if talking to an incompetent child.
"Courtney, Courtney." He repeated her name over and over again as if he was trying to place her. Which maybe he was. Damien was never the sharpest pocket knife. He had watched the show. But then again, Damien had wondered who Duncan was when he'd cut off the mohawk, and Duncan had know Damien since they were in fourth grade. And Princess looked way different than she did before. And not in a bad way either.
Damien snapped his fingers in remembrance. "That prep you teased on the island was named Courtney!" he said. He took in Courtney's new look. "I don't think she's very preppy anymore, Duncan."
Duncan balked. He was surprised that Damien had figured out that this was the same Courtney. Most of the time he would just think the person had the same name as the other, but would greet them anyway. "Yeah," he agreed slowly. "Not so preppy anymore." A smile spread across his face. He loved his prep best when she was being rebelious, but he would definitely take lax over stuck up.
"You don't look so juvenile anymore," she said to him, walking a little closer. "Not so much of a delinquent anymore either." She took another stride forward. "Still dangerous, I bet," she purred, starting to circle him.
"You bet I am," he said, watching her circle him. "I wouldn't give up being dangerous for anything."
She circled to far for him to see. Her voice came from directly behind him. "And why is that?" she asked him, lips directly next to his ear. Her hands were lightly resting on his shoulders, making him shiver.
"Because being dangerous brought me to you." he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the whole entire world.
She was surprised. She never thought she'd hear those words come out of his mouth. He did actually like her. He wasn't just playing games or teasing her back on the island, well not by the end anyway. He genuinely liked her. And he still did, just like she still liked him.
He grabbed one of her hands and pulled her to his front. He kissed her and she kissed him back. Neither one was sure who intiated it, but the mutally ended it because of lack of oxygen. They smiled and rested their foreheads against one another. Reunited after so long, their passions for one another were never extiguished, distance only made the heart grow fonder.
He took her hand and said, "Come on, I want to show you something." He dragged her through the mall and out of the exit. Damien followed behind because Duncan was his ride. He unlocked a big black truck and lifted her into the side cab, and let Damien in behind her. He ran to the other side and jumped in himself.
They drove for a few minutes, catching up on each others lives. Damien talked with them too. This was the girl that his best friend had been in love with for years, and she was totally cool. She recieved a star in his book.
They pulled up to a fairly lage house, and Duncan lifted Courtney out of the truck. "Is this your house?" she asked in awe.
"Yeah, home, sweet home." said Duncan. He lead her to the door and let himself in. "Hey mom." He called.
A slim woman entered the room through a swinging door. "Yes, Duncan?" she asked, eyes taking in the sight of Courtney. The woman wore a simple white apron over a pair of jeans and a purple button up. She could see where Duncan got his eyes and his smile. Her hair, however was a light blonde color.
"Mom, this is Courtney. Coutney, this is my mom."
Duncan's mom gave Courtney a warm smile. "The same Courtney who set you on the right track a suppose." She stated it more than said it, but Duncan nodded in conformation. Duncan's mom walked forward and hugged Courtney. "Thank you for bringing him back to me." the woman whispered in Courtney's ear. Courtney didn't know what she meant, but nodded. Duncan's mom pulled away and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Courtney. My name is Lorraine You came on a good day. Duncan's brothers and sister are here for a visit and we're having pot roast." She smiled warmly at Courtney. She then turned to Duncan. "Go pry Nels and Min upstairs, dinner's almost ready."
Duncan nodded and disappeared down the hall. Damien had already slithered through the door that Lorraine had come from. Lorraine took Courtney's hand and led her through the door. On the other side there was a kitchen with an exremely long table that had, like, thirteen chairs, one which sat Damien and two others sat men with black hair, one which was greying slightly.
The younger of the men gave Courney a knowing glance, while the older one - Duncan's father she was guessing - stared at her questioningly. "Honey," said Lorraine to the older of the men. "This is Courtney. Courtney, this is Duncan's dad, Martain." Martain had chocolate brown eyes, which the other man shared with him. His smile was off balance and he certainly didn't seem unkind.
"Oh, Courtney?" He stood up and crossed the room. "It's a pleasure to meet you, hon. You're always welcome here." he told her. She was a little amazed at the warm welcome. Based on Duncan's former attitude, she hadn't expected it to be this nice.
"Thanks," she said. She felt a little guilty for judging Duncan's family before she even met them.
The other man stood up and offered a hand. "Hi, I'm Duncan's older brother, Brent. But of course, I know all about you. Duncan couldn't shut up the first few weeks back, and we all saw the show." He gave a smile that matched his mothers. He gestured back at Damien. "I see you've met the worm." he said jokingly.
"Hey, I resent that!"
"Spell resent." challenged Brent. Damien's face went blank. "My point exactly." He smirked.
"R-E-Z-E-N-T!" spelled Damien loudly, trying to prove he wasn't stupid. It felt warm here. Damien wasn't even related, and he was taking part in the family banter without any hesitation. Courtney was lucky if she got to see her parents, much less eat with them.
Another black haired boy came bounding down the steps that led into the kichen. "Smells great mom." he said to his mother's back. He spotted Damien and put him in a headlock from behind. "What's up, worm?" he asked the struggling Damien.
"Let him go," said Brent dismisively, like he really didn't care whether or not he did. "Hey Rod, this is Courtney. Duncan's 'princess.'" he said, putting air quotes around princess.
'Rod' let Damien go, and looked over at Courtney. "Courtney? The Courtney?" he asked disbelievingly. Brent nodded. "Hi," he recovered quickly. "I'm Rodney, Duncan's younger older brother." He gave her sloppy grin to match his sloppy sentence.
She smiled back. Another door banged open behind her. Courtney turned to see a bouncing, small red-head enter the room. She bounced right up to Courtney and gave her a hug. "Hey Courtney," she said as if she and Courtney were best friends. She kissed her cheek. "You and I are going to be great friends." she said genuiniely.
Duncan laughed from behind her. "Give her a break Minature. She just got here." He noticed his brothers. "I trust my brothers have already corrupted your innocent mind." he laughed.
His brothers smiled. "Not yet, Duncan." started Rodney.
"But soon, very soon." finished Brent. They both had scary, matching glints in their eyes that they shared with their younger brother.
Courtney felt a tap on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm Nelson, but most people just call me Nels." he said to Courtney once she'd turned around to face them. She was about to introduce herself when Nels held up a hand. "I know who you are. Duncan doesn't ever stop talking about you."
"I do too." he called from the other side of the room.
"Fine," Nels called back. He leaned down and whispered in Courtney's ear, "He so does not." She giggled at his statement.
Another door opened and Courtney turned to see two girls come out; twins. They were wearing matching outfits and each had one teal eye and one green eye. "Hello mom." they said in that freaky twin unison way.
"Hey, Kennedy, Trinidy, look who the cat dragged in. Well, more like Duncan, but close enough." Brent said with a mocking tone.
The twins turned to look at Courtney. They smiled brightly. "Oh, Duncan," said one.
"She's precious," said the other, even though Courtney was pretty sure she was older than them.
"Hi I'm Courtney," Courtney said.
"Oh, we know." said one of the girls. "He never stops talking about you. I'm Trinidy and this is my twin, Kennedy."
"We know it maybe hard to tell us apart right now, but it gets easier, and soon you won't be able to be fooled by our appearance." said Kennedy, seeing the look Courtney was giving them.
"Soups on!" called Lorraine, and everyone jumped into a chair. Courtney was pulled into a seat between Brent and Duncan. Everyone chatted quietly while Lorraine soaked up every compliment for her great cooking; she certainly deserved it. The pot roast was amazing and it was accompanied by mashed potatos, green beans, biscuits, corn and some sauce. It was delicious.
Suddnely, Damien exclaimed, "Hey," Everyone stopped what they were doing for a second to look over at him. "We all have N's in our names somewhere!" he said excitedly, as if it were the best thing in the world. Everyone burst out laughing and Damien's excited face fell to confused. "Why are you guys laughing?" he asked
Brent leaned over to Courtney. "Just goes to show you how little the worm has on his mind." Courtney cracked up at that.
Dinner finished and Courtney volunteered to do the dishes with Lorraine. Everyone insisted that she was a guest, but Courtney's will was unwavering and they all reluctantly let her.
Courtney was scrubbing a dish when Lorraine said, "You truely brought him back to us, Courtney."
Courtney looked at Lorraine confused. Lorraine caught the look and added, "You did! Before you, he would hardly speak to us anymore. He wouldn't even be in the same room as his dad. He advoided Kennedy at all costs, and annoyed Trinidy half to death. But then he got on that show and met you, and he's been so much better. He hasn't been arrested once." She sighed happily. "And it's all because of you."
Courtney smiled. She had made such a difference in Duncan without even knowing it, and she was unjustly proud of it. "You're welcome." she said as she moved onto the next dish. "You know, Duncan made changes in me too. I used to be all stuck up and preppy. I tried to please everyone - everyone except me. And now I'm - now I'm happy."
Lorraine hugged Courtney. "I'm glad. Dry off your hands. Duncan will drive you home." Courtney obeyed and left the kitchen.
Duncan was in the front room waiting for her. "um, your mom said you would drive me home." she said, suddenly feeling shy.
"Okay let's go." Duncan grabbed his keys from his pocket and twirled them around one finger. This time, he let her get in herself.
The drive was spent in silence. Courtney wasn't sure what had happened, but didn't want to make hime mad or anything. They pulled up in front of her house. She unbuckled and got out, and surprisingly enough, Duncan got out too. They both stared at her house.
She broke the silence. "You really waited for me." she stated.
"Of course I did."
"Why?" she asked him.
He turned to her with his signature smirk. "I would've waited forever just to hold your hand."
A/N: So how'd you like it? Was it good, bad? Should I be thrown in a firey pit for my sucktastic writing? Let me know!