Hello again!

Welcome to Chapter 2 of Time Waits for No One. I'd like to thank the people who gave feedback previously, I'm always looking for comments. Constructive Criticism is welcome. Please read and review.

Thanks,

PenguinDust

Chapter 2: An Unfamiliar Ceiling

Yancy gave a cup of coffee to his younger brother. Fry drank it slowly, savoring its strong hazelnut taste. Yancy watched him, his hands gently tapping the table. Fry wondered what Yancy would ask him, and if he told his older brother that he went to the future, would Yancy believe him?

"So...Phil...how are you?" Yancy asked casually. Fry cocked an eyebrow at him, his brother was usually more of a straightforward person.

"I'm okay, I guess." Fry answered, sipping his coffee.

"Good, good."

Yancy and Fry sat for a minute in silence. Yancy took a breath and began,

"Where the hell were you!? We were worried sick! Do you think it's funny to just disappear for years without even a reason!? DO YOU!?!?"

"I have a reason! I went to the future! Like the year 3000!"

"Like hell you did! Are you effing insane!?"

"I'm telling the truth!" Fry shouted angrily.

"Liar! Just admit why you went missing!"

Fry and Yancy glared at each other, their teeth gritted. But suprisingly, Yancy stepped back.

"You're going to have to sleep on the sofa tonight." He said, calming down. Fry once again looked at him in disbelief. What's with all the spazzing?, Fry thought.

"But...what about my old apartment?"

"We sold it."

"What the hell!?"

"Because you were missing for three years, Phil. And honestly, we thought you were dead." Yancy's voice sounded bit like he was choking up. Fry decided to stop talking and began to sip his coffee once again. Was I...was I really gone for that long?, He asked himself. Time really did go on without him.

Fry woke up, the morning light making him blink rapidly. He slowly got up and went to the window. No tubes...? Fry remembered where he was, he was back in old New York. Fry stared at the ceiling, contemplating if anybody from the future. Did Bender? Did Leela?

"Hell no." Fry muttered. He was still, unfortunately, in the dumps. And it didn't help when Yancy announced his little plans for Fry.

"You're going to have to BEG Mr. Pannucci for your old job back."

"What!? No way! I don't want to be a delivery boy again!" It is the only job that I'm good at though.

"Stop whining!" Yancy sighed and continued,

"We found your old bike, so ride that to the pizza place. I won't be back until late today."

"What is your job anyway?"

"Uh...I'm a sales clerk." Yancy said shyly. Fry laughed, but immediately shut his mouth at Yancy's glare.

"So...why are you gonna be out late?"

"I'm going out to dinner..."

"With who?"

"My fiancee...but what do you care?"

"Really?"

"What's so hard to believe?"

"I always thought you were gay."

Yancy shoved him and then went out the door. Fry smiled, he was starting to feel more comfortable back home now. But he still wondered. Gazing out the window, Fry still thought of his friends in the year 3000. Fry wondered again, did they miss him? Did they know he was gone? That was something he couldn't answer for himself.

Meanwhile in New New York:

Leela woke up late that morning, it was already 12 PM. There was a sour taste in her mouth and her head felt heavy. I'm not hungover, am I? I didn't have that many drinks last night. Leela rubbed her crust-filled eyes and sat up in bed, trying to remember last night. Oh yeah...I went out with Fry last night, Leela recalled. The date had been disastrous, and she rejected poor Fry once again. It's not like I was wrong, though, Leela thought adamantly.

"He's had too many chances." Leela said to herself out loud. She began to get up and get dressed, almost stepping on the sleeping Nibbler. Leela gazed into the mirror, she felt like something was wrong.

"My womanly intuition?" Leela muttered. Suddenly, the phone rang. Leela trudged over to recieve it, still not completely awake.

"Hello?"

"Leela? This is Bender."

"Uh huh, what is it, Bender? I'm kind of tired, y'know..."

"Is Meatbag at your place? 'Cause he ain't home. Oh, wait, I know, you guys-" Bender snickered. Leela cut him off and continued,

"NO, we didn't. And Fry's not at my place. Last time I saw him, he was..."

Leela frowned. Fry had been sitting outside of her apartment almost all night. Oh great. Don't tell me I'm responsible...

"Umm...I don't know." Leela lied, feeling guiltier with each second.

"Maybe he got lost?"

"Fry's an idiot, but he's smart enough not to get lost."

"I wonder sometimes..."

"Bender, Fry's idiocy isn't the point. Meet me at the police station." Leela commanded. She then whispered,

"We can talk about Fry being an idiot later."

Fry rode his bike to Panucci's Pizza, though a little wobbly at first. It had been a long time since he had ridden a bicycle, in New New York, bikes were unnecessary. After a few times of falling, Fry finally caught a good stride. The wind smelled like a combination of warm detergent and leftover pizza. Not uncommon in New York. Fry started to stop his bike around the pizza place. The Pizzeria looked so...old. Fry knew he hadn't been there in ages, but was it that long? A few of the Neon letters had stopped working, and the A in Panucci was crooked. Fry went a little closer, but then stopped. A smile came to his face. It was Seymour, Seymour Asses, his old dog.

"Seymour!" Fry exclaimed.

Seymour poked his head up and widened his eyes as his old owner came to greet him. Fry gave Seymour a hug and realized he was getting old. His fur was graying and it felt more fragile. His eyes were more sunken now. But despite Seymour's apparent aging, Fry still felt closer to his old friend than ever.

"It's good to see you're not a rock anymore." He muttered, petting Seymour's head. Fry stood up, giving a sigh. He was back to his old ways. Once again, Phillip J. Fry was a pizza delivery boy.

More chapters on the way. Reviews are appreciated. Thanks!