Slawberry Kisses

Chapter Three: Truth of the Heart

As Chowder frantically waddled his way through the marketplace, searching for Panini, he started doing something he didn't do an awful lot of: thinking. Why was he feeling so bad at having tricked Panini? He had thought that the strange feeling in his head he got after having Panini kiss him was just guilt, but it was actually something else, something that confused him. If it wasn't guilt he was feeling, then what was it?

Chowder cast his mind back to the events of the past week. Every day, he had hurried to get his "fix" from Panini, to assuage his cravings for sweet, sweet slawberries. But somewhere along the way, something changed. Though he hadn't known it at the time, Chowder had started liking the taste of Panini's kisses less, and started enjoying the sensation, the feeling of warmth as their lips met. Not only that, but the moments they spent together between those kisses, Chowder had felt less nervous and repelled by Panini's antics, to the point where he was only haf-heartedly making excuses to get away from her. Deep down, Chowder had known that his feelings for her had changed, but he refused to admit it... until now, when he was confronted with the possibility of Panini getting out of his life for good. Only a few weeks ago, that possibility would have filled Chowder with elation, but things had changed. He knew that now, and he was determined not to lose Panini.

He finally found Panini behind a utensil stand, sobbing her heart out. Just the sight of her in such pain made Chowder feel even guiltier then he already did, and instilled within him a yearning to use everything in his power to comfort her.

"Panini?" Chowder inquired tentatively.

"Go away." sniffed Panini. "I don't ever want to see you again, you lying jerk!"

"Yeah, I did lie to you." admitted Chowder. "But I'm really sorry, I swear!"

"Oh, yeah?" said Panini. "And how do I know you're not lying now?"

"You don't." replied Chowder. "Just listen to what I have to say, then you can decide whether or not to believe me."

"Okay." said Panini warily.

"To begin with, I only wanted you to kiss me because your kisses taste of slawberries." explained Chowder. "Because of the shortage, I was so desperate to get that taste, I was willing to do anything for it."

"I see." snarled Panini, her temper flaring up again.

"But it wasn't always like that." continued Chowder. "Over this past week, I've started to really like hanging around with you, and not just because of the kisses."

"You have?" asked Panini, her hopes raising.

"Yeah," admitted Chowder sheepishly. "And I really started to feel bad for tricking you. I just couldn't bring myself to tell you the truth. And the truth is... I do like you."

"You do?" asked Panini, both elated and suspicious. Composing herself, she said "How do I know you're not lying again?"

"If I were lying, would I do this?" asked Chowder, before doing something he'd never done: He embraced Panini and kissed her full on the lips. "Now do you believe me?"

Panini didn't answer. She was drifting in a sea of euphoria, an ocean of bliss.

"Panini?" called Chowder. "I said 'Do you believe me?'"

"I do now." murmured Panini happily, before collapsing into Chowder's arms.

"Are you okay?" asked Chowder, slightly worried.

"Never been better." sighed Panini.

"That's a relief." said "I thought I'd broken you, or something."

"You know," declared Panini, getting to her feet. "If you'd wanted a kiss, all you had to do was ask."

"Funny how that never occurred to me." smiled Chowder.

"So, does this mean..." Panini asked hopefully.

"Yep." said Chowder. "I am your boyfriend."

Overcome with glee, Panini hugged Chowder joyfully, and Chowder hugged her back.

"Now then," said Panini. Might we finally go on that date I've been asking about this past week?"

"You bet... pum-pums." Chowder chuckled, bringing Panini in for another kiss. "Man, if I knew how much fun this kissing stuff could really be, I would've taken it up years ago!"

"Well, you know what that means." purred Panini. "You've got to make up for lost time."

"With pleasure." Chowder purred back, and the two embraced yet again, longer and more passionately then they had done all week. When they had finished, the two young lovers held hands and walked home, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.

The End

(Chowder and all associated characters are the property of Cartoon Network Studios.)