note: Kind of a companion story to Bromance as this is a Phoebe/D.A.-OTF (one true friendship) fic, but it's not a sequel or anything. I'm basing parts of their friendship on Leslie and Ann on Parks and Recreation, so there will be some quotes scattered throughout. Of course, there will be some A/P, but worry not, so far I haven't planned on any R/DA ;)

Don't own MSB.

Enjoy!

the silver trout and the golden rose
by the ultimateSora

PART I - 1996 TO 2000

I. LIBRARY BLOODSHED - AUGUST 1996

Fourth grade would be starting in a week, so Dorothy Ann Ewing was, of course, spending her last free afternoons in the Walkerville Public Library. She never ventured into the kids' or fiction sections. She preferred the factual books. Anything on science, history, or politics she enjoyed, especially the latter, what with the presidential elections coming up (the Ewings were staunch Republicans, the Dole sign in their yard alone among the Clinton signs on their street).

Dorothy Ann made her way to the stairs to go up to the non-fiction sections, but she stopped when she spotted a familiar figure sitting near the fantasy section. "Phoebe?"

Phoebe looked up from her book, A Game of Thrones. "Oh, hi, Dorothy Ann. How're you?"

D.A. sat down on the chair beside her. "I'm all right. What're you reading?"

Phoebe held her place with her finger and showed the cover. "It just came out. I'm reading a bit of it to see if I want to buy it."

D.A. saw that she was a quarter the way in to it. "You must like it."

Phoebe chuckled. "It's kind of addicting."

Her smile was gone when a balled up piece of paper hit her in the head. D.A. turned when she heard laughter, and she saw Janet with a couple of her friends sitting at table near by. She got up, despite Phoebe's protests, and she walked over to Janet.

"Leave Phoebe alone."

"But it's just so much fun picking on an easy target." She and her friends laughed.

D.A. tightly held on to the strap of her pink messenger bag. "I said leave her alone."

"What are you? Her girlfriend?"

"Is that supposed to be insulting? Because it's not. Just leave her alone, okay?"

"Or what? You'll-"

Janet didn't finish as Dorothy Ann had swung her bag, the bulk of it slamming against Janet's face and sending her flying back on to the floor. D.A. stepped back, shocked that she just assaulted another person. Her shock grew when she saw the blood coming from Janet's swollen nose. She turned to see Phoebe looking equally shocked.

"Run!" D.A. shouted.

Phoebe jumped to her feet, and both girls ran as fast as they could out of the library, laughing despite their fear of getting caught.

II. NOT SO LOST - MARCH 1999

When Suzette Tennelli married Mark Terese in 1997, the new Ternelli family moved in to a new house to call their new home. It took both Phoebe and Ralphie a while to get used to their new living situation, but now, they were close like actual siblings. Phoebe liked not living across town from her only friends, Carlos living on the street behind them. Dorothy Ann was a block over, as was Wanda (in the other direction). Tim and Keesha were a couple of blocks away, but they were still in walking distance. Arnold, on the other hand, now lived in Old Walker Vale, the "old money" neighborhood on the southeast side of town.

Phoebe liked that Dorothy Ann lived so close, especially since she had a permanent bus partner in the mornings. Ralphie and Carlos were sitting behind her, talking about video games or something. She wasn't paying much attention, since she was reading the new A Song of Ice and Fire book, A Clash of Kings, but she looked up when she smelled a familiar body spray.

Dorothy Ann sat down beside her and rested her head on her shoulder. "I like that you got taller. Less tension on my neck."

Phoebe placed her bookmark inside the book. "If I keep growing, you'll be resting your head on my elbow."

She felt Ralphie's hand on her head. "Yeah, stop growing. You're not supposed to be taller than me!"

"We're only twelve," D.A. said. "Boys will keep growing until their twenties. Us girls will probably stop by the summer."

Phoebe looped her arm in D.A.'s. "My best friend knows so much."

They established they were best friends after the library incident. You don't break a bully's nose with your book bag to defend someone else without becoming their best friend.

D.A. tapped A Clash of Kings with her finger. "Have you thought about giving Harry Potter a try?"

"Does it have political intrigue with magic, dragons, and awesome female characters?"

"Kinda."

"It's got a guy that wears glasses for a main character," Carlos said. "Thought you'd love that!" Phoebe's cheeks turned red, and before D.A. could turn to hit him, Ralphie beat her to it. "Ow!"

Phoebe put her book away when they got to school, and everyone headed to their lockers once they were in the building. Walker Lake Middle School ("Home of the Buccaneers!") was the newer of the three middle schools, so it still had that "new building" smell to it. It was also the larger of the schools, and if not for D.A. marking a map for her, Phoebe would still get lost.

There was no separating the sixth grade from the seventh and eighth graders, so her classes could be anywhere in the building, far from her locker. It was March, but she was still intimidated. The sixth grade "E" lockers were not close to the sixth grade "T" lockers, but at least Phoebe had Ralphie with her, "Tennelli" next to "Terese."

Ralphie nudged her with his elbow when she pulled out her map. "What would you do without D.A.?"

"Get lost in this place," she said.

They got to their lockers, and Phoebe hooked her backpack to the interior latch. She opened it to get her things out, and she noticed a folded note at the bottom. She put her books inside her locker and took the note out, opening it.

It was in Dorothy Ann's handwriting: Do you have your report on the Berlin Wall for World Culture? Check right now. Phoebe checked. She had it. She read the rest of the note: I know you have speech now in your Art/Music/Speech rotation. You'll do just fine. I know your biggest fear is stage fright, so when you need to prepare for giving speeches, let me know, and we'll work on it. See you in world cultures. - D.A.

She smiled and got the books she needed for her first three periods. She really would be lost if not for D.A.

III. GOLDEN ROSE OF TYRELL - SEPTEMBER 2000

Phoebe was lying stomach-side down on the couch in the upstairs den when she heard the front door open. Since she didn't hear a duffle bag being tossed to the floor, she knew it wasn't Ralphie. The sweet scent of body spray told her who it was, and the feel of a body on her back confirmed it was Dorothy Ann.

"How was the mock debate?" Phoebe asked.

Dorothy Ann was in the midst of running for eighth grade class president. Everyone in the gang had a role in her campaign: Arnold was her campaign manager, Wanda and Keesha were her "Image Consultants," Ralphie and Carlos were her "security," Tim made the campaign posters and helped write her speeches, and Phoebe, she had said, had the most important job: She was the moral support.

"It went all right. Mike Delucca half-assed his way through his speech, and Stacey Hofmeister seems to think she'll run on beauty and popularity alone."

Phoebe grinned. "Both of which you have, plus the brains and grades. That's why you're my Golden Rose of Tyrell." She had placed everyone in the gang in the great houses of Westeros from the A Song of Ice and Fire books, and Dorothy Ann got House Tyrell of Highgarden.

She arched her back enough so D.A. could slide her arms under her, and D.A. said, "Am I doing the right thing? I mean, 'class president' is more of a figurehead position, but I want the experience for high school and so I have something for my college applications."

Phoebe knew not to bother pointing out they wouldn't have to worry about college for another five years. "Well, I think you should do what you think is best. I'm always here to lend an ear."

D.A.'s hold on her tightened. "That's why you're my moral support."

"Your silver trout of Tully is always here."

D.A. yawned and chuckled. "My silver trout of Tully. Your golden rose of Tyrell. Tully, Tyrell. Tyrully, Tullrell."

She yawned again and grew quiet for a long moment. When Phoebe heard the soft snore in her ear, she knew D.A. fell asleep on top of her. This wouldn't have been a problem if D.A. wasn't a few pounds heavier than her...and wasn't a sleep talker. She mumbled incoherent things in Phoebe's ear before biting on her hair.

On one hand, Phoebe was glad Ralphie wasn't home. On the other, he could probably help her out of this situation, but most likely, he wouldn't.

note: A little short (compared to what I usually write, anyway, haha), but there will be more to come. Comments are always welcome.

Stay tuned for part two!