Chapter 7 - I Won't Say I'm in Love


That evening, Vinny and Sheridan, after having a wonderful time, were strolling at the park.

"Wow, Sheridan," Vinny chuckled. "What a day. First, the Steakhouse, then the movie? Man, I didn't think it could be that fun."

"Me, neither," Sheridan agreed.

"Thanks, Sheridan."

"Oh, don't thank me just yet." Sheridan feigned having a sprained ankle and fell into Vinny's arms, then.

"Careful, Sheridan," Vinny said.

"Oh, sorry about that," Sheridan apologized. "Weak ankles."

"Really? Maybe you should sit down for a while."

With that, Vinny carried Sheridan and let her sit on a bench.

"So, Vinny," Sheridan addressed, "do you have any problems with things like... this?"

She stretched her leg in front of his face.

"Uh, weak ankles, you mean?" Vinny guessed. "No, not really."

"No weaknesses whatsoever?" Sheridan continued, moving closer to him. "No trick knee, or ruptured...disks?"

"Uh, no," Vinny happily shook his head. "In fact, I'm fit as a fiddle. Despite my appearance, I'm actually big-boned."

He began to pose away for her. Sheridan was quite impressed.

"Hmmm," she began. "You're a good dog, you know that?"

"Yeah," Vinny agreed as he stopped posing. "You, know, Sheridan, when I was a puppy, I'd have given anything to be like any other dog."

"You wanted to be dishonest and petty?"

"Nobody's like that, Sheridan," Vinny disagreed. "You ain't like that, either."

"How do you know what I'm like, Vin?"

"All I know is," Vinny began, "you're the most amazing dog with, uh, weak ankles I've ever met." He then held her paws. "Sheridan, when I'm with you, I...I don't feel so... alone."

"Sometimes, it's better that way," Sheridan replied. "Nobody can hurt you."

"I'd never hurt you."

"And I don't want to hurt you, Vinny," Sheridan continued as she and Vinny began to give each other a kiss, slowly. "So, let's both do ourselves a favor and... stop this... before... we..."

Before the moment would come, there was a beep on Vinny's phone. It was a reminder.

"Uh-oh," Vinny realized. "Curfew time." Vinny started on his way to the Taurus, but Sheridan stayed on the bench, watching him go. "Hey, Sheridan, ain't you coming?"

"Yeah, just a few minutes," Sheridan replied. "I just gotta, you know, do my business and such."

"Okay, I'll wait in the Taurus for you."

As Vinny walked on, Sheridan turned away.

"What's wrong with me?" she asked herself. "You think a girl could learn."

She then broke into song as she walked the opposite direction...

"If there's a prize for rotten judgment,

I guess I've already won that."

She turned a cupid statue near her, around.

"No man is worth the aggravation."

A group of rabbits popped their heads out behind her.

"That's ancient history; been there, done that."

The rabbits joined in, singing in gospel-choir-like voices.

"Who'dya think you're kiddin'? He's the earth and heaven to you.

Try to keep it hidden, honey, we can see right through you. ("Oh, no-oooooooooh!")

Girl, you can't conceal it.

We know how you feel, and

who you're thinking of."

"Oh-oh, no chance. No way. I won't say it, no, no."

"You swoon, you sigh. Why deny it? Uh-oh."

"It's too cliche. I won't say I'm in love."

The rabbits shrugged to each other.

"Shoo-doo. Shoo-doo. Ooooh..."

"I thought my heart had learned it's lesson.

It feels so good when you start out.

("Aaaaaah...") My head is screaming 'get a grip girl,'

Unless you're dying to cry your heart out." ("Cry your heart out.")

"You keep on denying who you are and how you're feeling.

Baby, we're not buying. Hon, we saw you hit the ceiling. ("Oooooh...")

Face it like a grown-up.

When 'ya gonna own up

that you got, got, got it bad?"

Sheridan began to skip from rock to rock.

"Oh-oh. No chance, no way. I won't say it, no, no."

She then fell, but caught a statue that resembled Vinny. She began to fall for it...

"Give up, give in. Check the grin, you're in love."

...but then came to her senses.

"This scene won't play. I won't say I'm in lo-o-o-o-ove."

("You're doing flips. Read our lips, you're in love.")

Sheridan walked passed the rabbits to start doing her business.

"You're way off base, I won't say it." ("Shoo-doo, shoo-doo. She won't say in love.")

"Get off my case, I won't say it." ("Shoo-doo, shoo-doo.")

After Sheridan was done, the rabbits handed her a flower to give to Vinny, unaware that Bertram popped his head out of a bush.

"Girl, don't be proud. It's okay, you're in love."

Sheridan admired the flower as she saw the Taurus.

"Ooooooh, at least out loud, I won't say I'm in... loooooooooove." ("Shoo-doo, shoo-doo, shoo-doo, shoo-doo.")

"Sha-la-la-la-la-la, ahhh."

Sheridan got into the Taurus and handed Vinny the flower.

"Thanks, Sheridan," Vinny complimented.

"My pleasure, Vinny," Sheridan replied.

The two dogs were unaware that Bertram latched onto the back of the Taurus before it started, giving him a ride.


The Taurus, and Bertram, drove to the Griffins' driveway. Vinny and Sheridan got out of the car and came into the house. Afterwards, Bertram hopped off and peered into the window.

"So," Bertram whispered. "This is where you've been all this time. But what's this? Brian is no longer the family dog, and has been replaced with some dog I've never even met? Well, I'll just have to invite you, and your boyfriend, to a date you'll never forget." He chuckled then.


Author's Note: Most of the chapter is based on a scene from Hercules, especially with the song used, "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)", which is, like "Home", written by Alan Menkin.