Defying the Odds

Chapter 4: Birdie in Red

It was night when Sylvester and Tweety went to see everyone and they were surprised to see what was going on. "Hey, what's going on, everyone?" Sylvester asked. That was when he remembered; it was date night tonight.

"Is everyone getting ready for something tonight?" Tweety asked, as she looked at this in surprise. Sylvester, noticing her curiosity, looked over at her and smiled.

"We made an arrangement that we would go out once each week. So all the males and their partner are going out tonight." Sylvester explained. Tweety nodded and then looked over at Sylvester. "Where's your partner, puddy?" she asked. Sylvester didn't want to tell her the truth, so he thought to himself for a bit and then looked over at her.

"You are." Sylvester responded. Tweety was amazed upon hearing this, and then she smiled. "That means I get to have fun with you!" she said, happily. Sylvester was surprised but then smiled, suspecting that this was how she thought of this.

"Yes. I'm going to go get ready, and I'll wait for you." Sylvester explained, and headed to his room to go get himself ready. Tweety went to her room and started to think about what she wanted to do. Noticing one of her red curtains in her bedroom and a small pair of scissors nearby, Tweety had an idea.

Meanwhile downstairs, everyone was ready to go. Wiley and Speedy were staying by themselves because they didn't have partners to come with them. Bugs looked around at the group.

"I think that's everyone." he commented. Sylvester however knew better. "Tweety still needs to get ready." he explained. While this was going on, Tweety slid down the staircase railing. She stopped short right at the bottom.

"I'm ready, puddy!" she smiled. Sylvester turned around to see Tweety and was amazed; Tweety was wearing a beautiful, small red dress that looked like she made it herself. Sylvester stared at her, wordless.

"Tweety, that looks amazing." he gasped. Tweety couldn't help but smile, knowing he was right. With this, she happily jumped onto his shoulder as everyone was ready to go. Tina looked over at Wiley and Speedy.

"Will you two be all right by yourselves?" she asked. The two both nodded and with that, everyone headed out ready for date night. On their way, Sylvester was unable to take his eyes on Tweety who was happily resting against him.

'I don't understand it. I haven't felt the same since Tweety came, and that was only today. Yet, even though it's been so soon, why can't I ever take my eyes of her? Is it possible... that I'm starting to become friends with her?' Sylvester couldn't help but think that he was right; he had been so nice to her recently, that he was starting to wonder whether or not that was the truth.

His thoughts were interrupted when they arrived at the restaurant. But they had an odd seating arrangement; each pair would sit by themselves at their own table. Sylvester gently tapped Tweety to wake her up. "We're here." he said, quietly. Tweety looked around and was impressed.

"Ooh, it sure is amazing." Tweety commented. "Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Sylvester asked in agreement. Noticing that she would be too small for her seat, Sylvester had an idea.

"Wait here for a second." Sylvester said, and headed off leaving Tweety by herself. While she was waiting for Sylvester to come back, Tweety started to think.

'He is so nice; he's unlike anyone I have met before. I'm not sure why, but I feel like he's the one I can't live without. He's the only one I want to be with, and I can't imagine anyone else but him.' Tweety thought. But her thoughts were interrupted when she saw Sylvester there; he was holding a small seat for her.

"Is that for me?" Tweety asked. "Yes, it is. I got a special seat, just for you." Sylvester explained. Smiling, Tweety happily went over to sit. Sylvester watched as she made herself comfortable; he found himself unable to stop looking at her.

After the two took their order, that left them some time to themselves. "So Tweety, where did you come from?" Sylvester asked; he hadn't remembered to ask her about herself until now. Tweety then started to look down, upset.

"What's wrong? Is there something that you don't want to remember?" Sylvester asked, concerned. "Yeah, there is. Are you okay with me saying this, puddy?" Tweety asked, worried about what Sylvester would say. Surprised at first, Sylvester then smiled.

"Of course; you can tell me anything, Tweety." he responded. Tweety smiled softly at this response, and then sighed knowing that this wasn't going to be easy.

"I used to have my own partner." Tweety said simply. Sylvester was wordless, but decided to listen because he wanted to help her. "What happened back then?" he asked, wanting to know about this.

"I used to live with my owner and my boyfriend, who was a canary like me. His name was Tyler, and we were both very happy together for a few years. But then one day, he did something that I'll never forget..." Tweety said.

A few years ago...

It was a moonlit night and Tweety and Tyler were both looking out at the stars. "Isn't this wonderful, Tweety?" Tyler asked. Tweety happily nodded; she loved it whenever she and Tyler headed out like this, She always had a wonderful time and she couldn't imagine being with anyone except Tyler.

"Tyler, this is wonderful. I can hardly believe how amazing it is just to be with you. I always have a wonderful time, and I'm always happy just being with you." Tweety explained, smiling. Tyler smiled, noticing her happiness. But then, he had an idea.

"Tweety, I want to make this night even more memorable for you." Tyler said, looking over at her. Tweety was surprised, upon hearing this. "Really? How?" she asked in surprise.

Tyler smiled; he had wanted to do this for such a while now. "I want us to be able to be very close, and be able to talk about important thing with each other. I want us to have a relationship that will last forever." Tyler explained. Tweety's smile grew big listening to this; she had never heard him say that before.

"Of course, Tyler. I'll do anything that you want to; I want everything that you want as well." Tweety said, happily. Tyler smiled listening to this and got down to one knee.

"If that's true, then Tweety, will you give yourself to me, and make me the happiest canary alive?" Tyler asked. Tweety was wordless; Tyler was asking her to marry him. But she didn't know why, but this wasn't what she wanted.

"Tyler... I can't." Tweety responded. Tyler stared at her, alarmed. "What was that, Tweety?" he asked, confused. He couldn't believe that Tweety was refusing a request that could change her life forever.

"Tyler, I don't want to. I'm sorry, but I don't want to go through with that, not yet." Tweety explained. Tyler was wordless for a few moments, but then his expression changed from sadness to anger in only a few seconds.

"Tweety, I don't think you'll like having said that after this is over." Tyler said. Tweety was horrified, knowing what was about to happen next...

Present

Sylvester looked at Tweety, shocked as she was sobbing uncontrollably. "He really did that to you?" he asked, alarmed by what he had just heard. Tweety looked up at him and nodded slowly.

"After it was over, he said that if he couldn't have me, no one could. And if he saw me again, he would make sure that I was his, no matter what it took." Tweety continued. Sylvester was horrified; what kind of person would do such things to Tweety? For someone to treat her this way, Tyler had to be the devil himself.

"Tweety, you don't have to listen to such horrible things." Sylvester said gently and simply. Tweety looked up at him, confused by why he wasn't upset with her at all.

"What was that?" she asked. Sylvester got out of his seat, and got Tweety out of her seat holding her close. "You didn't deserve to be treated that way, and you should never face things like that. Tyler must have been a complete jerk to act that way towards you. You shouldn't have to face such unkind treatment; you didn't deserve it." Sylvester explained, kindly. He didn't know how he was saying this, but he knew it was what Tweety wanted to hear.

"But I refused a request that could have changed my life because I felt I wasn't ready, and I paid the price for it. I must really be such a terrible person; no one would ever really care about me." Tweety said sadly. Sylvester couldn't believe this; why would Tweety say such things about herself?

"That's not true, Tweety. I don't want to hear you say something like that, because you have people who care for you now. You should be happy that you're somewhere that you can be safe, and have others that care for you. You should be happy that you're here, just as I am." Sylvester explained. Tweety was amazed; she didn't hear Sylvester say such things like that before, but it was wonderful.

"Thank you so much, puddy. I'm sorry; I didn't realize how lucky I am now that I'm here." Tweety said. Sylvester smiled, and gently hugged her. He never felt this way before, but he could be certain that it wasn't something he hadn't experienced before. But he didn't care; he was just glad that Tweety was happy again, which was how she should be.