Writer's note: My friend Crafty prompted Felix and Cal's romantic dinner gets interrupted by the Nicelanders.
The gazebo by the lake was the perfect spot for a romantic evening. Felix made sure everything (table set, candles lit, wine chilled) was in place for he and Tamora's date. He stepped off the gazebo stair, pausing to check a pocket on his tool belt. A velvety box met his touch, and a wide smile crossed his face.
Tonight was the night. He would propose to Tammy, and with any luck, she'd say yes. Felix was so caught up he didn't notice the woman occupying his thoughts had sauntered up.
"Evening, short-stack."
Felix raised his head, his mouth hanging open at the sight that welcomed him. Tamora stood there, adorned in a fitted black dress. Her hip was cocked to one side, emphasizing the sexy split up one side of the dress.
"You look amazing, Tammy," Felix said in awe. He shook himself from the enticing sight, and walked over to Tamora, offering her his hand. "This way, my lady."
Tamora accepted, flashing him a pleased smile. "What's all this about?" she asked, indicating the fancy setup. "I don't recall it being any type of anniversary."
Felix pulled out her chair. "I thought it would be nice to have a special dinner since our dates usually consist of burgers and game jumping."
"Will this dinner include a special dessert?" she smirked, but her seductive tone flew right over his head.
"I whipped up a pecan pie and whip cream to go on top and-" Felix paused, noticing Tamora's bedroom eyes and instantly, the honeyglows attacked. "If all goes well-" he sputtered, nearly dropping a wine glass he held.
Tamora laughed lightly. She enjoyed making him flush, because he was just too darn cute when he got that way. "Good, because we can put the whip cream to better uses."
Felix had to push aside the images Tamora had planted in his head, resisting the temptation to skip dinner completely and go straight to the dessert his lady had in mind. He breathed in deep, focusing on pouring the wine. "How was your day, Tammy?"
Soon he'd filled their plates with the prepared food, and Felix felt himself relax as the wine and good conversation crossed the table. His confidence was building as the time to pop the question drew near, and he hoped he wouldn't abruptly become a nervous nelly when he was ready.
Something buzzed at his side. Felix glanced down, his shoulders drooping at the message scrolling across his pager's narrow face. Pipe busted, kitchen flooded, Mary- it read. That sounded like a pretty serious problem; there was no chance he could ignore it.
"What is it, Fix-It?" Tamora asked, noticing his disquietude.
"A pipe busted in Mary's kitchen," he explained, giving her an apologetic look, "I really need to go fix it before it gets out of hand."
"Go ahead."
"Thanks, Tammy." He hopped out of his chair. "I promise I'll be back in a jiff!"
"Before you go," Tamora wiggled a finger, indicating for him to come to her, which Felix obeyed without question. She leaned down, planting a sweet-tasting kiss on him. "Don't keep me waiting, soldier."
Felix dashed off toward the Niceland building, set on getting this problem fixed pronto. When he arrived at Mary's apartment, he was startled that the round woman wasn't exaggerating. Water stood at least a half a foot deep in her kitchen. The poor woman was using every good towel in her home to try and sop up the mess.
Felix excused himself passed several onlookers watching the catastrophe from the open front door. He trudged through the water, stepping carefully to not splash any wet on himself. He quickly found the busted pipe, miffed that no one had thought to turn off the water. So much for not getting wet; at least his hammer could fix that.
In one swift tap, the pipe was fixed; poor Mary sifting through the puddle thanking him profusely. There was nothing his hammer could do about getting rid of the standing water. He'd have to come back later to fix any water damage to the floor.
Felix sheathed his hammer and started out the door, his mind completely on his lady waiting. He'd barely taken two steps out the door when Roy ran up in a panic about the water from Mary's kitchen seeping down from his ceiling.
"Can't it wait, Roy?" Felix tried keeping his voice calm, but it was getting harder as the time ticked by loudly in his head.
"It's dripping on my model boat collection!" was the frantic reply.
Felix's hand itched toward his hammer. There was someone in need, triggering his urge to fix the trouble at hand and be the hero. As of late, Felix was starting to get really irritated by the insistent feeling.
He followed Roy, getting the job done. His anxiousness was just about making his hand tremble as he hurried toward the lobby. He was within reach of the front door when his name was called.
"Hold up a minute, Felix," he heard Gene say, "Mary got all the water up and is ready for you to fix her floor."
Felix's hand gripped the door handle. The handyman wasn't one to lose his temper, especially with the denizens of his game, but what he had planned this evening was probably the most important thing he'd ever do in his life.
His shoulders tensed up nearly up to his ears, and Felix whipped around wearing the most disgruntled look. "I said I'll stop by later! Y'all know I'm on a date with Tammy!" The small group of Nicelanders looked startled by his outburst; their hero was never ever short with them. "And not just any date, I'm gonna propose to her!"
Felix noticed the Nicelanders' eyes switch from him to the space behind him - well, more like the space above him. He glanced behind him to find the towering figure of his date, glaring down at the building's occupants.
Felix covered his face with a gloved hand, kicking himself for blowing the life-changing surprise. What more could he do now but apologize? He steeled himself and faced Tamora. "I'm so sorry, Tammy. It got out of hand here and-"
Tamora snapped her finger then jabbed it out the door she held open. Felix frowned, obeying the order with his head hung. "You people should be ashamed," he heard Tamora hiss behind him.
The most awkward silence followed them as they walked back to the gazebo. All the determination to fix this was depleted from him. He'd messed up big time tonight, and there was nothing he could think of to make it right.
As they approached the stone path to the gazebo, Tamora walked right passed it. Felix followed her lead until Tamora stopped at the nearest bench and sat down - a bountiful view of her leg showing from the split in her dress as she crossed one leg over the other.
Felix heaved a sigh. "I'm sorry I ruined the surprise."
Tamora shook her head. "Not completely." She waggled a finger for him to come closer. "The romantic dinner, dressing up, and no anniversaries to celebrate were kind of giveaways."
"Oh." Felix blushed at the realization. They're time spent together consisted of either action-adventures or quiet evenings spend cuddling on his couch; of course, the fancy setup would be a giveaway!
"But there's one thing you haven't done." When he looked at her puzzled, she chuckled. "You haven't popped the question."
Felix was startled out of his puzzlement as a smile finally returned to his face. He stepped back, retrieving the velvety black box from his tool belt. He knelt down before Tamora, grasping her hand and holding up the ring box with the other. This was his chance to make up for the ruined evening, and he was going to lay it all out. "Tamora Jean, I love you with all my 8-bit heart, and I want to spend the rest of my programmed life with you. Will you be my wife?"
Tamora uncrossed her legs, leaning over her lap to draw Felix closer to her. She closed the gap between them with a kiss that spoke far more than words, and Felix gladly answered back. She broke the connection a good moment later, a satisfied smile lingering on her lips as she gazed at him. "Does that answer your question?"
Felix could barely contain the grin on his face as he slipped the ring on Tamora's finger. The evening may not have happened as he'd planned, but the results were all he could ask for.