Knowing Me, Knowing You

Cha-Cha gave in to admitting she could find another fabulous lover, but she was determined to keep it from repeating too much for comfort. For example, it took a ridiculously long time for her to agree to living together compared to Rob. It had been a matter of weeks before, where in this case, pushing a year.

"I don't want to rush you, hon," he said that afternoon. "But..." Ken tried to think of an I-don't-mean-to-pressure-you-but-I-really-think-we-ought-to statement. "...I'm here more than my own apartment anyway..."

"I know," Cha-Cha said with a small sigh as she straightened out his collar. "I know, I know..."

She'd taken him back to New York a few times to see the girls, and they immediately took to him, and she saw that as another good sign. Her paranoia had long since disappeared, and wasn't nearly as cautious.

Ken didn't plan to bring up the previous conversation again any time soon. He always allowed more than the amount of time he thought she needed, but was constantly disappointed that he got a 'no' each time. But... he didn't want another freak out, and was glad that within the past year, he'd only set off two.

Less than a week later, Cha-Cha strolled casually into the kitchen to find Ken sitting at the table, newspaper hiding him from view. "Baby?" she started as she twisted the top off the peanut butter.

"Hmm?"

"What do you think of moving some of your stuff here today?" Ken's jaw and paper dropped simultaneously. "I mean, you practically live here anyway, so it'd make sense, because you know, we spend like, every second together, so you might as well if you still want to, 'cause you mentioned it last week, but I was all 'no I don't think so' but now I kinda think it might be a good idea, so-"

"Yes," he interrupted quickly, springing up and running over to her. "Yes, yes, yes!" Ken wrapped his arms around her and gave her a short kiss. "I still want to." He kissed her again and plopped in a chair, pulling her down on his lap. "But what changed your mind?"

"Oh honey," she said with a chuckle. "Every time I said no you got this look in your eyes like the world was ending. And besides, you're right."

"About?"

"You practically living here already." She wiggled around to sit sideways, allowing her to see him properly. "I'll move some of my dresses to work, there's plenty of room there. And if you brought another dresser over or something we could squeeze it in the bedroom. I have too much stuff to try to share mine," she giggled.

"You don't have to rearrange too much, I could use the other bedroom."

Cha-Cha blinked. "Well, yes honey, but I assumed you'd want to sleep with me."

"I do!" Ken insisted, giving her a squeeze around the middle. "I meant throw my stuff in there."


The two spent the day hauling over whatever they thought they needed for now in Cha-Cha's car, and planned to store the rest until they had room. And means to bring it over and up to her floor.

"Glitz and Lynn said they'd drop by later to help too," Cha-Cha called over the box she was carrying. "You know," she said, setting it down as Ken walked in the room. "Funny how all of your things were nicely packed before we even got there."

"Well, I...you know...I anticipated that eventually..."

Cha-Cha giggled. "How long have you been living with all your stuff stacked along the walls?"

"A month or two...or three..."

She giggled again. "What if I never agreed to having you move in?"

"I don't even wanna imagine it," he laughed. "So how is the big stuff getting here? Who has the van?"

"Well, first off, it's tiny. Nothing huge is coming here. Not a bed, that's for sure. But we only need one," she grinned. "And we couldn't get it up the stairs anyway. And second, it's Lynn's ex-boyfriend's cousin, who apparently she still talks to."

"Weird."

"Agreed." She headed out to grab another box. "Follow me," she started. "So I was thinking that we could just throw out some of my stuff. Furniture's crap."

"No it-"

"Compared to yours? Yes. It is." She rambled on, listing off what she'd keep, what she'd toss, and so on. Ken nodded and agreed, still dumbstruck she'd finally decided to let him in.

"Cha-Cha!"

"Glitzie!"

Her friend jumped on her. "I don't believe it, this took forever!" She hugged Cha-Cha tightly. "I would have been demanding he get himself in my house day one!" Glitz teased.

"Yeah, well..." Cha-Cha blushed. "Help me carry this in?"

"'Course." She began to lug a box of books toward the stairs. "Why did you have to choose the third level?" she asked, complaining already.

"I don't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time."


After an exhausting day of running up and down to the car and van, they had enough of Ken's things stuffed in Cha-Cha's-excuse me, their-apartment. The rest would remain over there until the lease was up. Ken also appreciated having somewhere to go should Cha-Cha have another panic attack and need space. But he sincerely hoped she was over that.

Lounging on the couch, Cha-Cha tapped her fingers along his arm slowly, feeling drowsy.

"It doesn't really feel different tonight," she commented. "I thought it might. I guess its like any other night. Except I know you aren't going anywhere tomorrow." She yawned.

"Or the day after that."

"Or the day after that."

"Yep," he grinned, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Mmm, I want more than that, honey." After all, Ken didn't have to leave in the morning. They had a whole night ahead of them, and she suddenly didn't feel the least bit tired.


Cha-Cha blinked sleepily, and as she rolled over she bumped into something lying beside her. Ken still slept soundly, breathing deeply. She smiled, happy that her love would be the first thing she'd see every morning.

She got up quietly, sneaking into the kitchen to make breakfast only to realize it was past noon. How late had they stayed up? she wondered. Without Ken having to leave, they'd felt like they had no time limit. Not that it ever truly affected them.

Feeling less of a need to be silent, she began working on lunch. The smell drifted down the hall, and soon a hungry Ken was wandering toward the couch, sleepy smile in place, looking into the kitchen as he went.

"Morning," he slurred

"Good afternoon," she laughed.

"Seriously?" The phone rang. "Got it." He stayed put on the couch.

She let out a sarcastic "Mhmm" and headed for the phone. As she passed in front of him, he pulled her down onto his lap, giving her cheek a quick peck.

"Honey, the phone," Cha-Cha giggled. He made a pathetically cute mock depressed noise. "Maybe we won the lottery."

"We don't play."

"I believe in miracles, now let me up!" He released her and she swiped the phone on its last ring. Still giggling, she tried to sound serious. "H-hello?" Her laugher definitely carried over.

"Hey Cha-Cha, you wouldn't believe how hard it was to track down your new number. Didn't you give it to anyone? They all told me they didn't have it."

Her eyes had never been wider. There was a moment of silence as she walked quickly back to the kitchen. "Rob?"

"She remembers my voice at last!" he chuckled.

"What do you want?"

It was his turn to pause. His tone changed from cheerful to confused. "Little harsh there, hun, don't ya think?"

"I honestly don't know what to think. I don't hear from you in years, and then, that's when you call me up out of the blue one day? 'Hey Cha-Cha, long time no see?'"

"When you say years like that you make it sound like it's been a million, and it's hardly been two."

"Pushing three."

"Well." He didn't have anything to say to that. "How have you been?"

"I had a helluva time getting back on my feet," she admitted. "But I did, and I've been great."

He seemed to be encouraged. "I'm glad, hun. I mean it."

That tone used to melt her on the spot, but Cha-Cha was surprised when she found she felt...nothing. A fond memory or two surfaced, but...nothing new. He didn't still effect her like she thought he might. "How's what's-her-name?" she asked flatly.

"There is no what's-her-name now Cha-Cha, and there never should have been. I was wrong to leave the way I did. To leave at all. And...honey, I just can't express how sorry I am."

Cha-Cha knew he thought he was talking to the girl that she used to be. "Please don't call me that," she said sadly.

Rob lost some confidence. "Please don't be bitter, babe." Before she could repeat herself, he continued, "You remember how we were."

Remembering had never been a problem. It was forgetting. "Robbie-"

"I missed hearing you say that," he smiled. She kicked herself. "Don't you think we could be that way again? I know I've got a lot to make up for, but there's no one for me but you, Cha-Chi."

She'd been doing good, but the old nickname got her and he knew it. However, Ken chose that moment to call, "Who is it?"

"Just an old friend, sweetheart."

An awkward silence. Cha-Cha spoke first.

"Rob, I was so angry and sad and..." She couldn't think of anything that accurately described it. "When I knew we were over, I can't tell you how many nights I spent crying over you. Every man I saw was a potential threat, and I was convinced I'd never find anyone again. But I did."

"Cha-Cha, you can't match what we had, you know that."

"You're right." She took a breath. "I've topped it. It's a once in a lifetime love."

He hadn't expected that. "Isn't that what we said about ourselves?" Rob was getting more defensive. "You can't have it twice."

"You did."

"I've realized I was wrong, no one can compare to you."

"What about, whoever it was."

"She's gone. You were always the one for me. Forget about her," he insisted.

I love her, Cha-Cha. "Well ya know what," she said, "I think I might have trouble with that."

Silence.

"...Did I really screw it up for good?"

"I'm afraid so," she whispered. "But, don't think I didn't love you. I loved you s-" Cha-Cha stopped, knowing she wouldn't be able to later if she kept that up. "I won't say that I'm sorry that I met you, Rob, because I have some great memories of you. But I've got Ken." Breathe. "You're just a memory now, but I never will forget you."

He was quiet. "There's nothing I can do?"

She'd felt it for a while, but this phone call confirmed it. She could shoot him down. She was one hundred percent devoted to Ken, not even Rob could shake her. "No Robbie." She paused a moment, but she had to say it. "She left you, didn't she?" No response. "Please don't call here again."

"I love you."

Cha-Cha's throat tightened as his voice cracked and she hung up quickly, and found herself unable to prevent the crying. She knew Rob never knew her like he'll be knowing her now. She dropped the phone to the counter, and before she could cover her face with her hands Ken was up and rushing over.

"Hey," he cooed, voice gentle and concerned. "Hey, hey, hey." He embraced her, baffled. "What's wrong, babe?" He loosened his hold to lean back and look at her, but all she could do was open and shut her mouth, tears flowing. "It's okay," he promised, having not a clue what upset her but certain she needed to cry it out.

Ken gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and to his surprise she tugged him back for a stronger, saltier kiss. "Are you okay?" he asked. She still was struggling to put together a sentence, when all she really wanted was for Ken to simply hold her forever. "What'd they say?"

She thought she could tell him now why it'd taken her so long to give in to love. Why she had been afraid to let him near her, and why it had taken a year for her to allow him to move in, when it had taken another weeks. She'd start from the beginning of thier end.

"He said he loved her."


AN: Sorry!! Vacation got in the way, then school and work. I know I know, excuses... This is the end, ta da xD I wrote the ending a million different ways, and this is kinda like bits from each thrown in. I had emo Cha-Cha, angry Cha-Cha, indifferent Cha-Cha, crazy Cha-Cha xD no crazy really carried over, neh? Well, I can post an alternate ending if you're interested :) Which would actualy be the same ending, just differnet Rob/ChaCha phone convo.

This story was based on the song Falling Out of Love by Reba McEntire. If you can, listen to it and let me know how you think I did going from lyrics to story

sidenote-I was asked why the line 'she left you, didn't she' was thrown in. I meant to imply that he only called Cha-Cha back cuz this other woman left him