Soft. Everything was soft around Tweek. What happened? Where was he? Why was everything touching him so soft? Fluttering his eyes open, Tweek stretched his arms above his head, sighing as he adjusted to the dim lighting of the room. The sun was setting, a light orange color filling the room. Oh! He was in Craig's room, but…why was he in Craig's bed? Tweek blushed as he realized he was in his bed, the idea of being in the same resting place as Craig so foreign to him. But…human beds were so comfortable. So…soft. He cuddled into the sheets, humming as he wrapped them around him more. Reaching down, he itched a spot on his hip that tickled from the fabric of the sheet, blinking as he felt no scales. Everything started to trickle back into Tweek's mind: the pain, the dead color of his tail, the crying, and finally, Craig's shocked face in the doorway. Looking down at the comforter toward the bottom of the bed, Tweek slowly wiggled his new toes, giggling as he saw them moving under the comforter. He brought his leg towards him, using his knowledge of humans and thinking of how Craig moves as he bent his knee. It was incredible. Tweek could do so many things now! He wasn't stuck in some pool (he loved it, but he was growing bored of just being in Craig's room) and was now free to roam around! Well…sort of. The thought of Luis and Blake crept into his mind, wondering if they would recognize him and try and take him away even without his tail. He shuddered at the thought. No. Don't think about them now. You're celebrating. Looking around, Tweek saw that it was around five thirty, the house quiet except for the sound of Laura cooking. He jumped as the door opened, blushing as he saw Craig appear. Their eyes met for a moment, but Craig broke the silence.

"Were you…going to tell me about this…decision?" Tweek couldn't tell if he was excited or angry. No, he wouldn't be angry at Tweek. He did this so he could be with Craig!

"I…wanted it to be a surprise…" Craig rubbed the back of his neck, sighing a bit.

"It certainly was a surprise…" He murmured, kicking the door shut behind him. He walked over slowly to his dresser, grabbing his cigarettes off of it and lighting one up. Tossing his zippo aside, he sat at the foot of the bed, staring at Tweek. The blonde bit his lip.

"Are you…mad at me?" He whispered. Craig thought a moment, his jaw clenching as he thought. His cigarette dangled between his fingers.

"I…no. Not mad just…in shock…I didn't even know you could let your tail dry like that…" He admitted, taking a draw from his cigarette. Tweek watched him, eyes sad.

"I…fuck, I-you're mad."

"Tweek, I'm not mad. I'm trying to process the fact you…aren't restricted to just this room anymore." Tweek blinked, trying to settle his anxiety. Okay, he doesn't seem angry.

"I-I just…I overheard you and your mom the other night about…driving me home…" Craig closed his eyes as he inhaled around his cigarette, sighing as he exhaled.

"You miss your family, Tweek."

"I-I do! But…I'm not ready to leave you yet," He blushed as Craig stared at him. "N-Not now. Not after we just reunited…" Craig stood, walking over slowly to tap the ash of his cigarette into the ashtray on his dresser. Leaning against the dresser, Craig shoved his chullo up a bit to tangle his fingers into his hair (which was starting to get longer on the sides, his undercut still visible though). He tugged his chullo back into place after a minute, looking over at Tweek.

"I…just don't want anything to happen between us that…makes you regret this decision…" Tweek blushed. He didn't even think about that. Then again, Tweek wasn't even sure if anything bad could even happen between the two of them. It's definitely a possibility, he just never considered it. Tweek just knew he did this to be with Craig.

"Don't think like that…" He whispered, pushing himself into an upright position. While he was passed out, Craig must've put a pair of boxers on him. They were blue with planets on them, Tweek blushing more as he realized these were obviously Craig's boxers.

"I know…it's just hard not to." Craig murmured, shoving his hands into his pockets as he watched Tweek move.

"I…," Tweek sighed. "You're right." He grumbled, slowly tugging his legs up to his chest. He couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips, moving his new legs so exciting to him.

"Do you want to try walking?" Tweek looked up at Craig with wide eyes, but he smiled nonetheless. As he nodded, Craig moved over to Tweek as he pushed the blankets out of the way. "So, swing your legs over the edge of the bed and put them on the floor," Tweek followed the instructions, gasping as his feet came in contact with the carpet. He wiggled his toes on the plushy fabric beneath his toes, giggling a bit. Craig's heart fluttered at the sound. "Here, hold my arms," Tweek grabbed onto Craig's biceps (trying to ignore the feeling of muscle under his fingers). "Now, I guess the best way to explain this is, like, push up by using your feet and knees? Like push your weight down onto your feet and let your knees unbend." Tweek nodded, running through his memory to try and remember how Craig has done it. As he slowly stood up, Craig couldn't help but notice how Tweek looked like a newborn fawn. His legs were slightly bent inward as he stood on shaky legs, breathing just as shaky as he tried to focus on Craig instructions. Craig smiled a bit, giving an encouraging nod to Tweek.

"Now-now what do I do?"

"Now you move your leg. It's all in your hips," Craig slid Tweek's arms to his shoulders, resting his hands gently on his hips. "This is your hip joint, which is where your legs obviously get their ability to move. Just…put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking across the floor." Tweek blinked, looking up at him.

"Isn't that from a Christmas movie?" Craig blushed.

"You know about that?" Tweek snorted.

"The pier we visit played it around the holidays." Craig let out a soft laugh.

"Well, that's good! You know the tune then. Sing that as you walk." Tweek nodded, both boys singing the tune softly as Tweek took a few tentative steps. Craig stopped singing after about the tenth step, moving his hands up to rest on Tweek's shoulders, letting him get a feel for how his hips would naturally move. He slowly started making their way towards the door, starting to sing again. As they walked out the door, Tweek kept his hands on Craig's arms, Craig walking backwards towards the steps. Tricia popped her head out of her room as she heard the singing, her mouth falling open slowly as they walked by. Tweek was a natural at walking (to Craig at least), but the stairs took some getting used to. He held onto Craig's shoulders as they walked down the steps one by one, Craig grinning up at him in encouragement. Laura furrowed her brows as she heard the tune, wondering why in the last week of March she was hearing a song from a Christmas movie. She wandered out into the living room, her eyes widening as the boys made it to the living room finally, a grin crawling across her face as Tweek looked up.

"Well…isn't this a surprise?" She murmured, chuckling softly. Laura smiled at the look of pure joy and excitement on Tweek's face, her heart swelling at the simple sight. It made her realize that maybe walking is a simple thing she has taken for granted. Just by looking at how joyous Tweek was made her appreciate the simple everyday task.

"H-Hi Mrs. Tucker!" He beamed, Craig watching his face. Tweek quickly turned his gaze back down to his feet, the two of them making a few loops around the kitchen and living room. Laura had eventually gone back to cooking, but then Craig let go of Tweek. Green eyes quickly met blue as Craig took a few steps backwards, motioning for Tweek to come towards him with his hand.

"C'mere. I think you got it. Try walking towards me." He encouraged, the blonde nodding slowly as he let out a shaky breath. Humming the simple song to himself, he slowly took a few steps, placing one foot in front of the other. It was wobbly and he almost fell once, but he made it to Craig, both boys grinning as they repeated the process for the next twenty minutes. Thomas walked in from work during that time, confused by two things: Tweek in nothing but boxers, and Tweek walking. He chuckled, watching the two for a moment before going upstairs. Once he came down changed out of his work clothes, he tossed Craig a pullover sweatshirt.

"The boy needs some clothes." Craig blinked, blushing a bit as he nodded. He handed the sweatshirt to Tweek, who happily accepted the warmth of the clothing. It swallowed him up, the fabric almost at his knees, but it covered him. Dinner that evening was at the table, an extra plate set up for Tweek. The Tuckers enjoyed how their guest found joy in the simplest of things, but they soon realized that this is all new to him. It was like watching a child discover the world outside their homes for the first time. Technically, Tweek hasn't seen anything but the inside of a tank and Craig's room, so this was all new to him and he was seeing everything for the first time. After dinner, Craig took Tweek up to his room, letting him hold onto his hand as they walked up the steps. He immediately started rummaging through the closet, determined to find a pair of old jeans for him. Tweek, meanwhile, was walking back and forth, getting used to the movement of walking. Pluto watched with curious eyes, mimicking a similar movement with his tentacles. He moved along-side the floor next to Tweek, Craig chuckling to himself as he heard the blonde humming the song still.

"Can we see your friends?" Craig blinked as he stood upright, a pair of old jeans in hand. He thought about the question as he walked over, Tweek leveraging himself on Craig's shoulders as Craig helped him step into the pair of jeans.

"Is that…what you want?" He asked, looking up at Tweek after he zipped and buttoned them. A little loose, but a good fit. Tweek blushed, swaying side to side on his feet.

"I-I mean…if you're cool with that! I miss Wendy and-and I want to see the outside world! I've never seen any land that wasn't along the ocean!" Craig smiled a bit, chuckling.

"Alright. I was gonna go over later tonight anyways." Tweek's face lit up, the shorter boy practically stumbling forward to toss his arms around Craig. Squeezing his arms tight, he placed a quick kiss to his lips, Craig staring at the wall as Tweek thanked him over and over. The quick kiss left his lips tingling, craving more. He didn't want to push it though, his mind memorizing that quick kiss as they began their walk to Token's house across town.

Walking to Token's took a little longer than anticipated, but only because Craig wanted to let Tweek stop and ask questions about anything or stop and just stare at the way a butterfly took off from a flower. He noticed that, despite how quickly he was able to get the hang of walking, Tweek never let go of Craig's arm. The raven haired boy wasn't sure if it was because Tweek was too afraid to ask about holding hands, or if he just wanted to be close to Craig. Maybe it was just to help steady his still slightly shaky legs, but Craig wasn't sure. He'd like to think it was all three. When they reached the door, Craig turned to Tweek before knocking.

"Listen…they maybe a little…drunk." Tweek blinked.

"What does-"

"You know what alcohol is right?" Tweek nodded slowly. "Well, when someone drinks too much, they get what's called drunk. They don't act themselves and they get stupid…especially those group of guys and gals in there. They're extra stupid."

"Even Kyle?" Craig tensed a bit at the mention of his name. He still wasn't used to the fact Tweek knew of their past.

"Sometimes. He isn't a big drinker." Tweek nodded slowly again.

"Do…I have to drink?"

"Tweek, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, okay? Don't let Cartman influence you. Don't let Kenny influence you. Don't fucking let Stan influence you…don't let any of Kyle's friends influence you." Tweek giggled a bit, nodding.

"Aye." He said, Craig ringing the doorbell a few times. It took a minute, but a slightly tipsy Token answered the door.

"Hey Craig and-" Token stopped as he saw Tweek standing there, rubbing his eyes a bit with his free hand. "Holy shit, how much did I drink?"

"You're not dreaming, dude." Craig said, pushing past him as he held onto Tweek's hand. The blonde's face turned a bright red to match the sweatshirt he had on, the simple feeling of Craig's fingers laced with his sending shivers up and down his arm and spine. There was heavy music coming from the basement, the bass tickling their feet even through their shoes as they headed downstairs. The laughter and conversations came to an abrupt halt as they both made it to the bottom of the stairs, the song fading out and the room was instantly filled with an…awkward silence. No one really knew what to say at first. What were they to say? The last time any of them saw Tweek they had to bust him out of an aquarium because he had a tail. Now, he stood before them with two legs and feet and clothes that didn't fit him. Clyde, of course, broke the silence first.

"What the fuck?!" Craig snorted, tugging Tweek over towards the couch. Wendy rushed over, tossing her arms around Tweek.

"When did-how did this happen?!" She practically squealed as she pulled away. Tweek blushed, grinning slowly.

"T-This afternoon…I gave up my tail!"

"Can you get it back?!" Stan asked, Tweek turning a darker red as he quickly darted his eyes to Craig, then back to Stan.

"I-It's complicated."

"Can't be that complicated." Kenny chuckled, sipping at his beer.

"No-no it is!" Tweek squeaked out, not willing to have a conversation about how he'd have to have sex in the ocean with Craig Tucker.

"We have time to hear this explanation, merdude." Cartman added, sipping from his own beer.

"N-No we really don't! What's this?!" He grabbed the beer from Wendy's hand, taking two big gulps and grimacing as he handed it back. Craig let out a soft laugh, rubbing small circles in his back as he noticed the blonde visibly shaking at the shoulders as he coughed from the taste of cheap beer.

"Jesus Christ, guys, this isn't twenty questions! Back the fuck up, alright? Give the kid some air." Craig shooed them away, keeping his hand on the small of Tweek's back. Tweek, meanwhile, appreciated the gesture. He was anxious because he knew he needed to tell Craig there was a way for him to get his tail back, but he wasn't sure when he'd tell him. Instead, he turned to look at him, looking his face up and down.

"What else do people drink?" He asked, genuinely curious. Tweek needed to relax, and it sounded like humans relaxed through drinking. And that's exactly what he wanted to try.

It didn't take long before Tweek felt the warmth of the tequila he was sharing with Craig. He wasn't planning on getting drunk, but he was fond of the liquor, the scent familiar to him (a lot of beach goers enjoyed an icy margarita on hot days). Craig was comfortably drunk as well, Tweek leaning into his side as they watched Clyde and Kenny arm wrestle for the umpteenth time that evening. When Clyde pushed Kenny's arm down, Tweek watched as the beer went tumbling over. Quickly, he shot his hand forward, the can continuing to fall as the beer hung in the air. Everyone froze, watching Tweek. The blonde blushed, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry?" He slurred, Kenny reaching down slowly and putting the can on the table. Tweek twisted his hand slightly, the stream of liquid flowing back into the can. Craig let out a low whistle next to him as he took a swig of their shared bottle of tequila, Clyde and Cartman enjoying the little trick a little too much.

"What the fuck that's so sick! There's a pool outside! Can we do more shit?!" Cartman begged, practically tossing himself on top of Tweek. Tweek grinned slowly, nodding as he giggled and stumbled to his feet, following the two boys outside. Everyone else slowly followed, Craig grabbing hold of Kyle's wrist before he walked outside. The red head had been awfully quiet, causing Craig to grow worried.

"Talk." He mumbled, Kyle scrunching his nose up at the scent of tequila.

"There's nothing to talk about, dude."

"You're lying," Kyle bit the inside of his cheek. "Your nose scrunches when you lie." Kyle blushed, scratching the tip of his nose as he swore under his breath.

"I just…he's got legs now…so we're officially over I guess, alright? It's just…weird." Craig blinked, sighing a bit as he set his bottle aside. Leaning his forearm against the wall above Kyle's head, he leaned his face into the curly mop of red hair, closing his eyes.

"Don't think like that." He murmured, thumb rubbing lightly over Kyle's wrist.

"I-It's hard not to when now he'll be around all the time." Craig place a light kiss to the top of his head.

"I know, Kyle…and I'm sorry okay? What-what if we helped you-"

"We? You're using we now?" He whispered, Craig blinking as he realized what he said.

"Kyle, we're not-I don't think…things are complicated right now, alright? I-I'm not doing this to rub it in your face! You're the last person I'd want to hurt," He tilted his face up to face him. "You know that, Broflovski. You're smarter than that." Kyle's eyes darted up and down his face, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.

"You reek of tequila, Craig." He grumbled, shoving past him and towards the back door after everybody. With Tweek a considerable distance away from him, Craig was left to silence. It was odd, especially since he normally could hear this time of day now since he was always with Tweek. He forgot how daunting it is to be left to your own thoughts. Enjoying the silence for once, Craig tried to think about what Kyle said. He wasn't rubbing this in, right? Tweek wanted to come here. He wasn't going to tell him no! He wanted to see Wendy, get out of the house, and explore what life had to offer! Yeah, he was helping Tweek! Or was he doing this to show off? Shaking his head, Craig rubbed at his eyes, making his way outside slowly. Everything was starting to feel heavy, his body exhausted from the drinking. He tugged a cigarette out of his pocket as he walked outside, lighting it up as he watched Tweek walk slowly out onto the surface of the water. He blinked as he stared at him, his feet so delicate on the water. The guys were freaking out (except Kyle, who kept to himself as he sat on a lawn chair nursing a beer) and Wendy, Bebe, and Heidi Turner all cheered as well. Craig turned his attention to Heidi for a moment, noticing her gaze directed across the water. He followed it, smirking around his cigarette as he saw her target: Kyle. Well, at least he knew he could try and make that work. For now, Craig walked over to the edge of the pool, staring at Tweek as he smoked his cigarette. He isn't sure if he would ever tell the boy this, but as Tweek turned on the water to face him and his eyes and face lit up when they saw each other, he felt his heart swell out of his chest. Craig wasn't sure if it was the combination of nicotine and alcohol, the reflection of the pool light and water on Tweek's pale skin, or the way Tweek smiled so wide Craig though his face was going to rip in half, but Craig knew he had it fucking bad for Tweek.

NOTE: I started this chapter a week ago and I literally have not had the time since to sit down and write. And when I do have the time, I'm fucking exhausted. Please be patient with me this next month or so! I am so incredibly busy and I haven't been taking care of myself properly and it's starting to take a toll on me, but here I am! An update! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry it isn't crazy long, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless! As always, any and all feedback is appreciated!

Also: I was jamming to that damn song from "Here Comes Santa Clause" that Craig sings to help Tweek walk, so please enjoy it if you haven't heard it before! It's literally called "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" and can be found on youtube!