Second Gift/ Pinky Promise

Tommy Pickles was anxious, if not nervous. Two things the 2 year old doesn't show. Ok, maybe when it comes to his cousin Angelica or when one of his friends are in trouble, especially Chuckie. But nothing like this; but than again he's never understood why this person's feelings affect him so much.

Just a moment ago him and others had celebrate the Deville twins; Phil and Lil. Two of his -behind Chuckie- best friends' birthday in the Deville family's backyard. Recently, with a plan in mind, Tommy had been looking forward to this birthday party for days. But now with everybody -with exception of him and his family- left as the party had come to an end. He was ready to chicken out on his plan.

"You ready Tommy?" But with his 1 year old brother Dil knowing what he had plan. The light lavender haired toddler wasn't sure he could back out. But that didn't mean he couldn't try.

"what about Phil?" Tommy said, pointing out the obvious to Dil, to only see his brother look to the coming up 3 year old;who was carrying his new soccer ball with him. Before looking back to him, grinning.

"No propble. Tommy." Then before Tommy could ask how? Dil rush over to Phil stopping him in his tracks, "Hey Phil-up, can you show some of thoses moves from the TB?" And without any hesitation Phil's expression show he's more than happy to show-off the moves from the last soccer game they seen.

Fortunately watching Phil, in the distance, try to bounce the ball on his head for Dil. Tommy felt he's being silly. There was no reason for him to be nervous. I mean when you think about it, even though he's been nervous in the past. It never stop him before. So with this way of thinking, he was no longer nervous while crossing the yard, noticing his dad and Phil and Lil's dad, busy setting up the soccer goal that the twin's parents got them. He made his way in the back door into the Deville's house, to spot his mom and Phil and Lil's mom in the motion of leaving the kitchen and venturing into the living room with filled mugs in their hands. But since his mind was on his 'target' he didn't give another glance to the grown-ups as he continued his search. Reaching the front room of the house(foyer) he finally found his 'target'. Lil Deville who's waving outside the front door as he came up.

"Bye Chuckie and Kimi! Thanks for coming!" Reminding himself he's never one to back down, he approached the brunette now turn 3 and tapped her on the shoulder. "Yes?" Within seconds, those green eyes stare into his blue ones. "Oh hey, Tommy. Did you like the surprise at the party?" Lil asked, smiling. Knowing what that smile does to him, Tommy focus his attention at Lil's question, giving himself a pat on the back for being able to find his voice.

"Wait you knew 'Reptar' was coming and didn't tell us?" The brunette shook her head, letting her short chin-length locks sway in her movement.

"No me and Phillip was just as surprise too." Lil state, giggling. "If we knew he was coming. I don't think we keep it to ourselves."

"Yeah probably right. Phil wouldn't." Tommy agreed, laughing a bit, as Lil close the front door. It's here Tommy got to the point of why he went searching for Lil. I mean he didn't know how long Dil could keep Phil busy or when his parents were ready to leave. "Uh Lil, can I talk to you...alone?" He watch Lil look from one side to the other.

"But Tommy? We are alone?" And in a way she was right, with their dads still outside with both their brothers and their moms in the living room. Regardless Tommy didn't think this was the right place. Mainly since he saw his mom and Lil's mom was in their view inside the living room; though the women seem deep in their talk to even notice the two toddlers. But Tommy didn't see this. He saw him and Lil weren't alone. And though he wasn't sure why he needed them to be alone for what he has plan... He just did.

"Your mommy and mine are there." he pointed over to the grown-ups drinking from their mugs. "So not here."

"But where?" Tommy couldn't help but to rub the back of his head as his nervousness was rising to the surface. "I don't know? But not here." He knew he wasn't making sense and from Lil's look. She thought so too.

However she just shrug to him, "O-kay, we can go to mine and Phillip's room. That okay?" Nearly hearing himself say 'perfect' in his mind. Tommy nodded yes.

Starting up the stairs with Lil leading the way. Tommy felt his nerves shaking the closer they came to Lil's and Phil's room. But he continued on without a sound between them.

"O-kay, we are alone, now..." Hearing Lil speaking -once they reach hers and Phil's bedroom- Tommy -pushing his nervousness down- quickly slip his hand into his pants pocket.

Lil still talking, turned around only for Tommy to display what he pull out of his pocket. "Present? But you gave me a present." With his hand stuck out showing a colorful small box-shape gift to Lil. Tommy wouldn't dare look away from his toddler 'Raptor' sneakers. Though he shook his head no to her words.

"Present was from me and Dil...But...this is from just me." Getting brave after the gift left his hand, Tommy looked up and watch Lil. She almost seem to be hesitating to open the pretty wrapping.

"You open it from the top." Seeing Lil nod to this, Tommy figure right. Lil didn't want to ruin the wrapping. Feeling like everything became slow-motion while Lil lift the top from the gift, Tommy swore he heard his heart beat racing for some reason, not to mention he was getting scare each second. And of course Tommy Pickles don't do scared. Uttering this thought, he heard a quick gasp.

Having him bring his attention back to the other toddler in the room. A toddler who pull back the top lid to the present-box during her gasp. Now it was clear Lil was holding a ring-box, staring at a plastic toy ring with a big red glass-gem in it.

"It's so pretty!" Taking her smile as she was happy, Tommy couldn't help smiling too.

Suddenly Lil still smiling with happiness push the ring-box back to Tommy causing a lost look appear. But wasn't there long as Lil said, "Will you put it on me?" Knowing he was the reason, Lil's in this glee state, he laugh a bit, before taking the ring out of the box and slip it on Lil's hand. The same hand he always sees his mother wearing a 'shiny' ring. He even made sure it was the same finger. Once the ring was on, Tommy slipping the box back into his pocket, watched Lil move to the window, rising her 'ring' to the light shining in; having the glass-gem catch the light at every angle of it; something her old ring couldn't do.

"I f-elt bad when Phil say you were gonna wear your old one to Chuckie's birthday. But your fingers can't fit no more. So I got this one from my uncle Ben's jewelry-store. He had toy jewelry too. Uh, do you like it?"

"It's most beautiful, present I ever gotten." And from Lil's comment he was glad he continued his plan instead of chickening out.. Mostly with seeing Lil's eyes sparkling.

With the sun's light still making the glass-gem sparkle by it's light. Tommy smile to himself as there were more to this ring than just being shiny. And it had something to do with the little plastic nubs sticking out of areas of the gem.

"I'm glad you like it. But there's two more surprises to it." He said, only for his face become warm when Lil rush over, having them face to face with Lil's eyes smiling just as much as her lips at the news.

"Really? Like what?" With her hands on his shoulders, and her nearly jumping in excitement. Tommy lost his voice. So unable to speak while looking in Lil's green eyes. He shift his to the next task.

Where his eyes went to the light-switch on the wall, only to frown seeing it was still a bit too high to reach. And though Lil was calm now, Tommy kept his eyes on everything in the room focusing on his 'task'. Mainly since Lil's hands were still on his shoulders and really close. He never could put his finger on it but there's always been something about Lil that had him acting like this. Or he would go out of his way to make her smile, even if it was just a simple 'diaper rash' she got. He just couldn't handle her sad. And yet he still didn't know why or why the feeling seem to get worst each year.

Realizing this, Tommy spotted the bedroom closet and knowing through hide-and-peek with both twins. The closet was the perfect place to show Lil what else the ring can do. "You ready to see your next surprises?" He asked, taking her non-ring hand from his shoulder and into his hand. Too focused on showing the surprises. Tommy didn't see the pink blush come to Lil's cheek at him holding her hand. Therefore not waiting on a respond, Tommy headed for the closet.

Once reaching the closet, and letting go of Lil's 'warm' hand. The 2 year old -in hand reach of the door nob- open the closet. Only to watch Lil cautiously peek her head into the dark space of the closet.

"Tommy, uh..." Being friends with Chuckie. "….is this where the surprises is?" Tommy could pick up on the fear filling Lil's eyes. But the thing is, what was she scared of?

"Yeah..." He spoke, not once moving his eyes from her. "The closet is the best place." Only to see Lil nod slightly and nervously enter the closet. Still not really sure yet what she was scared of, Tommy enter the closet right after and in the process of closing the door on them. Just as the door was an inch from closing, Lil whipped her head to him.

"Wha-t are yo—u doi-g?" Due to him pausing in closing the door completely -by Lil's stutter question- leaving some light from the bedroom come through the ajar door. Tommy was able to see Lil not hiding the fear taking over her body with unshed tears. Wanting to be the last person -if ever- to make Lil cry. Tommy push the door to have it open wide, bringing in more light in the closet. Regardless he did this, Tommy still ask the obvious.

"Lil are you scared the dark?" Immediately Tommy watch Lil take on the defense.

"No." She sat on the closet floor, crossing her arms, looking away from him. "Why would you say that?" Though Lil was trying, Tommy saw her body shaking like Chuckie's did when he refuse to say he's scared.

Surprising himself, Tommy getting to the floor, crawled a bit over to the upset toddler and wrapped his arms around her. "Nothing wrong with being scared, Lillian."

Though it's unheard of anybody calling Lil by her birth name in their group, with the exception of Phil. Cause Lil doesn't like being call 'Lillian' since last year. But right now Tommy hope she let it go just one time for him and his slip, for he had no intention of calling her that.

Fortunately Lil didn't seem bother by it as she hug him back, though she was tearing a bit. "We all get scare some-times. Remember I got scare by lizards..." He added while patting her back a little like his mom does for him when he's upset.

"But Tommy you always face your fears..." Lil begun drawling back from the hug to look to him.

"I'm too scare and..." Trailing off a bit, Lil lower her head. "...Phillip will laugh." Tommy wanted to say Phil wouldn't do that, but he wasn't going to lie to Lil. Cause lately Phil has been taking every chance he can to tease his sister. And Lil not one to cry with others around since she was 2, didn't show his teasing hurt. But Tommy knew it did...now mostly. Thinking of how he makes Chuckie and a few times Dil face their fear. A question hit him.

"But why you sleep at night, if you are scare of the dark?...Do you have night-light?"

"No..." Her head continued hanging down. Lil drawed back from Tommy a little, to have her knees to her chest level, wrapping her arms around her bent legs. "Cause wasn't always scare of the dark."

"You wasn't?" Lil shook her head no.

"A few days ago, when mine and Phillip's uncle Freddy babysit us. He let us stay up and watch movies with him. Everything was going good, but then people in the movie died whenever they were left in the dark and a un-seen monster came for them. Their screams were so loud. And in the end of the movie the monster was never found." Fighting her tears, Lil hidden her face in her arms propped on her knees.

Heard about the same movie from Phil, Tommy knew what Lil was talking about. That's why he knew, when Lil left out that the 'monster' ate each of those people. She probably closed her eyes each time it did. While from Phil describing. The 'monster' tore through his 'kill' like Spike gets into a meaty bone. Tommy was now aware of what Lil was truly afraid of. Therefore he moved closer to the quiet crying toddler until he's sitting beside her against the closet wall.

"You scare the monster in the movie will come after you in the dark." All he got from Lil was her nodding her head as a respond. Tommy frown to himself. "Lil I don't wanna make you do anything you don't want too. But I can't show the other surprises with the light on." With saying this, Tommy watch Lil raise her head to look at her new ring, before looking to him, showing a tear-stain face to him. A look that had him near tears himself as the sad look grabbed at his heart.

"Does it have to be very dark?" Lil's pleading eyes were killing him, that Tommy rack his brain of how he can show the surprises but also make it not too dark for her. He gave her a reassuring lop-side grin and then stood up as he came -he believes- to an idea.

"How about I hold the door, letting in a little light, so it wont be too dark?" Tommy explained, taking a grasp of the nob. As he did Lil got to her feet, wiping a hand over her eyes. Once her face clear of tears, Lil agreed to Tommy's idea.

Getting the go ahead. Tommy pulled the door until it was just a crack between the door and the rest of the closet, letting a small bit of light in the space.

Fortunately the amount of light didn't take away from the ring. Cause within the darkness of the closet. The nubs on the glass-gem begun glowing with individual colors of green, pink and blue. Colors that had Lil forgetting about the darkness as the glowing got a bit brighter where the light colors blend into the darkness of the closet. Soon after, the colors chased most the dark away and created a beautiful light show. The glass-gem started slowly spinning on the ring. The rotating became faster where the glowing colors form into three circles around the gem. With top circle being green, the middle being pink and the bottom one blue. And with the added movement of the gem, the light became to looking like colorful fire-flies covering the space.

By the time Tommy closed the door, Lil's attention was on the wonderful colors all around her. "So beautiful..." But while she's infix on the sight her new ring was displaying. Tommy found himself captivated of how cute Lil look gazing over the lights, with a adorable smile on her lips. He was sure now he got what Chuckie and Angelica meant all those times when they claimed they were in love with someone. Because at that moment Tommy didn't want to be anywhere but here watching Lil's happy expression.

Unfortunately the 2 year knew, from his uncle Ben, that the ring will die down when it gets too hot before going off. He didn't fully get it, but he knew soon the whole closet was going to be dark again. And there was no way he's going to let Lil become sad again. "So you like your surprises?" He asked reaching for the closet nob.

"Oh yes, Tommy very much. It's better than the sunbeam from the other ring. This one makes me feel like I have a whole rainbow in it." Smiling to himself at her words, Tommy reopen the closet, having the room light cover any other source of light like the ring's. Bringing a frown to Lil looking to him.

"Sorry, Lil. But the ring's lights will go out soon. I didn't want you to be sad again when the dark comes back." Getting Tommy's reason when she watch the ring's light dim-out. Lil smiling, walked out of the closet.

"Thanks, Tommy. But can we keep my fear of the dark between us?"

"Sure Lil." Tommy closed the closet door, before him and Lil made their way over to Lil's and Phil's separate beds were. They were standing at Lil's pink night-stand.

"I love my new ring. It'll make a good night-light." Lil stated, opening the bottom drawer to the stand.

"But will you be mad if I don't throw away my old ring? Even if I got this one?"

"No I don't mind. I still have my yo-yo, I got when you got your old ring. Even with it broke."

Revealing a secret nobody knew Tommy wasn't surprise by Lil's shock.

"But you told us you threw it away, after Dil broke it?" Lil stated, which was true. But since Lil trust him with her secret, he might as well share his.

"If didn't remind me of facing my fears of lizards. I might would have. Don't tell the guys." Giggling Lil stuck out a small finger.

"I pinky promise I wont tell your secret and you wont tell mine." Tommy laugh a bit before sticking out his pinky,

"I pinky promise to keep all the secrets you tell me." Neither one looked away as they smiled at each other as they locked pinkies.

Thereafter they stayed in the room talking and playing. Where Lil chose to only wear the ring at night at bedtime. That's why it was back in it's ring-box and put away when Phil came up looking for them. Not long afterward, Tommy heard his mom call to say it was time to go.

"Race you down stairs." Phil said taking off right after.

"Wait for me!" Tommy yelled back about to take off after him.

"Tommy." But stop when he heard Lil. When Phil came to the bedroom earlier, Lil stayed on her bed coloring while him and Phil played on the floor. Not one time did she speak with Phil in the room.

"Yeah?" Seeing her jump off her bed, Tommy's eyes never left Lil as she walked across the room over to him.

"Wanna thank you again for my ring. Now I have two special rings." Tommy look at her in confusion.

"The new one is special cause it's a night-light. But why is the first one special?" Not receiving a respond at first, Tommy watch Lil lower her head and start playing with her hands. She still was, as she answer.

"You don't get it. Those rings are not special cause that." As her head came up, Tommy could see her cheeks were light pink. Her eyes never move from his as she step an inch more to him. "Their special cause they both remind me of my bestest boy-friend. The same bestest boy- friend who save the first one for me, even facing lizards. And gave me the second one." Thereafter Lil launch at him, hugging him. Immediately Tommy's face was getting warm with Lil's closeness. Sure they hug many time before, but most of them were in group hugs...or comforting the other. But this one was different, the way Lil's snuggling into his shirt with the top of her hair tickling his face, mostly his chin. This hug meant more as those rings meant something to the both now. Thereby Tommy wasn't shy he was enjoying the hug as he wrapped his arms around her strengthening the hug more.

Unfortunately sooner than he wanted. Their hug ended when Lil remove her arms and stepped back a little. But Tommy wasn't disappointed. How could he? Lil's giving him the most cutest smile he ever seen so far. "So I'm your bestest boy-friend...what about Phil and Kimi?"

"Phillip's my twin brother, so he's my bestest friend, and Kimi's my bestes girl-friend. Making you my bestest boy-friend. And don't worry I know Chuckie's your bestest friend, like Spike is your bestest animal friend. So I don't mind being just your friend, cause I'm sure Phil's your bestest boy-friend."

Being the one to step up this time. Tommy pokes Lil on the nose. "Then that make you my bestest girl-friend." Lil only could smile before Phil with Dil came back to the room asking what was taking them so long. For some-reason both Tommy and Lil didn't tell their brothers of their new 'friendship' title to one of another.

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