(A/N: The first official chapter is now up! Enjoy!)
Forever and Always
Ch. 1
August 26th
"Shenzi," Chuckie gently whispered in his wife's ear, "Shen? Wake up, birthday girl." He laid a hand on her shoulder, and gently shook it. "Shenzi? It's almost 4; You can't sleep in on your birthday." Her pregnancy really took its toll on her in the last few weeks, so she slept a lot more often. When he lightly, but tenderly kissed her cheek, her large, beautiful eyes finally opened.
"Hmm?" She yawned and rubbed her eyes like a child. "What'd you say?"
"I said you can't sleep in on your birthday," He repeated his words, and kissed her lips with one hand on her cheek. "Happy Birthday, my love."
"Thanks, Chuckie, but my birthday's tomorrow."
"Don't thank me just yet," He poked her nose, making her giggle, "Wait 'til after I surprise you with your present today."
"Ooh, you got me a present?"
"Yep," He nodded, "And it's a very special present, so you change out of your pjs, and into something casual." He poked her tummy close to where it was bared, making her flinch and giggle. "Meet me outside. I already packed our stuff." With that, he left the room before closing the door.
"Wait, wha...?" She was about to ask him why he packed their things, but he was gone before she could. Brushing it off, she stripped out of her black Wildfox "Stay Up All Night" and "Sleep All Day" camisole and shorts pajamas set, and black and white camo knee-high socks, and changed into a light green strappy tank top, a black twist-front skater dress with short sleeves, light green Iron Fist zombie flats with a black bow at the outer side, black rose earrings, a lime green single extensions, and black multiple extensions that faded into lime green.
She then walked downstairs and in the kitchen, where Felicia was waiting for her. "Hey, there's my glowing, little birthday girl." She kissed her youngest daughter's forehead, then set a bowl of Lucky Charms. "There you go. You look beautiful today, sweetie."
"Thanks, Mom." Shenzi started eating her cereal, suddenly feeling self-conscious, "But... my birthday is tomorrow."
"Oh, I know. You just eat up, and get fueled for your big surprise," Felicia told her.
"What is this surprise?" She lightly exclaimed with a giggle. "Chuckie wouldn't tell me! He just said that he packed our stuff."
"Well, it is a surprise," Frankie reminded her, "So you can't know what it is until you receive it. But I'll tell you this: It's huge."
"Ooh," She felt intrigued, "That sounds exciting. I can't wait to get it."
"It is exciting," Friar Tuck sat at her other side, "And I trust him with your safety, completely."
"Is it an overnight thing?" She asked them, and they nodded. "Cool! That explains why Chuckie mentioned a surprise today, and packed our stuff."
"Yep," Frankie nodded, "It'll be great, I know it. It'll be just you and Chuckie tomorrow."
"Ooh," Shenzi raised her eyebrows, "That sounds nice." She finished her cereal after a few minutes, and put her dishes away in the dishwasher.
"Alright, now you go brush your teeth and then pack your hygiene stuff, birthday mama," Felicia playfully ordered her, "Papa awaits."
"'Kay," She giggled, and walked to the bathroom, feeling thankful that her toothbrush and toothpaste were still in there. After a couple minutes, she finished and stashed her brush in a portable toothbrush holder, holding the paste tube in one hand as she searched for the luggage. After finding one small bag, which held their hygiene objects, she stashed their items in it and searched for her husband. "Hey uh, guys?" She turned to her family in the kitchen. "You know where Chuckie's at?"
"Yeah, he's outside," Frankie gestured to the front door, where the redhead's car was slightly visible.
"Oh, okay! Th-thanks!" She then walked up to, and hugged them in turn. "I'll be careful, I promise."
"Alright," Friar Tuck nodded, "You have fun with Chuckie, okay? And call us when you're settled into where you're going."
"I will," She agreed to do so, then walked out to the car, where she stashed the hygiene items bag. "Okay, that should be everything. Are you going to tell me where we're going?" She tried to ask him, as they sat in the driver's and passenger seats.
"Not yet," He shook his head, while closing his side door, "And until then... you'll have to tie this over your eyes, so you can't see it ahead of time." He held out a black and white paisley bandanna to her.
"Wha-what?" She stammered. "What if people think you're kidnapping me? I don't want you to get arrested!"
"I'll be alright," He assured her, "And so will you. When we stop for bathroom breaks, you can take it off, but you have to put it back on after we're done at every stop."
"What if I don't?" She raised an eyebrow at him cheekily.
"Then I'll convince you to," Chuckie poked her side to prove his point, making her flinch and giggle. "Now then." He gently tied the bandanna over her glasses, kissed her lips for reassurance, then started driving. For this special day, he was wearing dark green floral jeans, a lime green t-shirt, and purple Converse low-tops.
As he drove along the roads, explaining any sudden stops, Shenzi waited in anticipation. She was trying not to question his motives, but after an hour passed, she couldn't help herself. "Can you give me a hint on where we're going?"
"No, sorry," He shook his head, "I don't want to give it away."
"Are we almost there?"
"Yep," He nodded, "We're about 10 minutes away from our destination."
"Ooh!" She jittered a bit, "I'm excited!"
"As you should be," He chuckled. After a few more minutes, plus a bathroom break, he finally parked in a very special parking lot.
"Can I look yet?"
"Not yet," He replied.
"How am I supposed to walk blindfolded?"
"Here." Chuckie shifted her on his back, as the suitcases were hooked on her feet. "I'll carry you there."
"Aww," She giggled, "Thanks Chuckie." She held onto him as she heard and felt him walk to wherever they were going.
As he walked, he hoped that no one around them would give away their location, unintentionally ruining the surprise. Although luckily, that didn't happen. When they were in front of a certain spot, he set her down carefully, filling up with excitement. "Okay Shen, you can look now."
She eagerly took off the bandanna, and her eyes widened at what she saw; The Disneyland park! She gasped in shock, then turned to a widely smiling Chuckie. "Disneyland?! Oh my God, Chuckie!" She practically jumped on him in an excited embrace. "Thank you so much, Chuckie! This is the greatest present ever!"
"You're very welcome," He kissed her lips for a second, "We're going to stay here overnight, and go to the parks tomorrow, on your special day," He winked, as she tied the bandanna around her neck, "That's why we left kind of late."
"Yay!" She cheered, then helped him with their luggage as they headed for the hotel he made reservations for. In the lobby, Shenzi giggled at the large Goofy statue at the desk.
"How may I help you?" The employee asked the couple.
"I made a reservation," Chuckie explained, "It should be under Finster, for a group of two. Or a duo of two," He chuckled, "Not really a party."
"Ah, I see it now," The man nodded, then gave him a room key, "Room 215. I hope you and your wife have a magical time."
"Thanks," Chuckie accepted the card, and led Shenzi to the elevator.
"What kind of room are we staying in?" She asked him as they waited for the elevator to stop.
"Um, it's uh, a standard room," He hesitantly answered, "Sorry that it's not a suite. They're crazy expensive."
"It's okay!" She assured him. "I'm happy with a standard room! I promise!"
"O-okay," He nodded, "But it has a good view of California Adventure."
"Ooh, awesome! I can't wait to see it, and our room!"
Before long, the elevator stopped on the 15th floor. "Here we are." Chuckie led her out of the elevator, helping her with the luggage she pulled, and found their room. "Aha! 215." He unlocked the door, and led her inside as she stared in awe. "What do you think?"
The walls were light beige, a darker brown floor, and one bed with white sheets and pillows and blue and green bed skirts, a rectangular table with a sun mirror by the window, and a small lamp above the bed. The curtains matched the bed skirt, and across from the bed was a couch with blue cushions and a lamp to its right. The bathroom had beige vertically striped two-toned wallpaper, a dark brown porcelain sink with a silver faucet, a surfboard printed shower curtain, and a white bathtub with white tiles on the walls around it.
"Wow!" Shenzi breathed out in awe. "It's beautiful!" She hugged Chuckie after he closed the door. "This is wonderful!" She practically jumped on the bed, her shoes flying off her feet. "I love this pillow!" She giggled, grabbing onto the round pillow that resembled a beach ball.
"I'm glad you're happy," He sat next to her, feeling amused at her excitement, "Were the wait and blind trip worth it?"
"Absolutely," She nodded, before letting out a yawn, "I'm tired."
"Why don't we get ready for bed?" Chuckie suggested. "I'm going to take a shower real quick."
"Okay," She nodded, "I'm going to call my parents." She took out her phone, selected Felicia's number in her contacts, and waited for an answer. As she held her phone to her ear, she propped her arm on the beach ball pillow for support.
"Hello?" Felicia answered after only a couple seconds.
"Hi, Mom! We're in the hotel!"
"Ah; So you now know the surprise?" Felicia asked her with a playful tone.
"Uh huh," She nodded, "And it's wonderful! We'll be going to the parks tomorrow."
"Oh, I know; Chuckie told us your plans."
"Ohh, okay."
"Where are you staying?"
"I thought he told you guys our plans," Shenzi giggled.
"He didn't tell us where the hotel is," Felicia explained.
"Oh, okay. Well, it's the Paradise Pier hotel. It's awesome! There's a beach ball pillow on the bed!"
"That sounds cute," The older woman giggled at her daughter's ecstasy over such a trivial factor.
"I'll send you a picture later!"
"I look forward to it, honey. Now you have fun with Chuckie. I have to get ready for bed."
"Alright," She nodded, "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Bye," They said at the same time, before they hung up. After taking a picture of the ball pillow on her lap and setting her phone on the table, Shenzi sighed in relaxation as she laid face-up on the bed over the covers, holding the pillow on her chest. She seriously had the greatest husband any girl could ask for; He was sweet, caring loyal, handsome, and he took her here for her birthday! She was not letting him go anytime soon, ever.
She figured that several minutes had passed, because when she looked up, she saw Chuckie walking up to the bed with damp hair, and a towel on his shoulders like he was ready for swimming. Surprisingly, he wasn't wearing a shirt with his pajama pants; He didn't do that often. She liked it. Not to mention he looked sexy with wet hair... still. "You comfy, Shen?" He asked her.
"Yeah," She nodded, "This bed is great," She sighed in relaxation, and laid further in the pillows. As Chuckie towel-dried his hair, she couldn't help but watch. He still wasn't toned or muscular in the slightest, but his pale, slender chest always made her heart skip.
When he saw her gawking at him, his freckled cheeks flushed in self-consciousness. "You enjoying the show?" He chuckled at her.
"Ma-aybe," She teased him with a giggle, "I'm going to brush my teeth, and change into my pjs. I'll be back in a few minutes." After grabbing her necessary items from their luggage, she walked in the bathroom and closed the door.
Chuckie put his towel in the hamper, and sighed as he sat on the bed. He had a feeling that this trip was a good idea; Shenzi was very happy, and in turn, it made him happy. He smiled as he heard his wife brushing her teeth in the bathroom, before he heard her changing her clothes. He was going to make sure her birthday is the best she would ever have, no matter the cost. Her happiness meant everything to him, and vice versa. His heart jumped in surprise when he felt the bed shift to right; He looked, and saw Shenzi in small shorts and a tank top. "You ready for bed?" She asked him.
"Yeah," He nodded, "I brushed my teeth right after showering. Let's hit it." After requesting a wakeup call, he held his wife in his arms once their glasses were on the table.
"I could stay like this forever," She whispered with her head on his shoulder.
"Does me being shirtless have anything to do with that?" He smirked at her.
"Possibly," She giggled, then snuggled into his chest, "G'night." With that, she was out.
Chuckie kissed her dark hair as she slept peacefully. He let out quiet giggles when her hair tickled his bare chest unintentionally, but didn't try to stop it. As long as she was comfortable, he didn't care if he was or not. As he petted her soft locks, he drifted off to sleep.
(A/N: Well, they're at Disneyland! Or at least, close to it. ;) You know the disclaimer. I couldn't resist making Chuckie shirtless in bed for once. XD)
