12

Something There

A/N: Yes, I use THAT song from Beauty and the Beast; so sue me. 8P

"Cake!"

Derek kept squealing that delightful word over and over as Lombard and Vera cleaned up, ignoring each other. The party was over and the parents had gone home. Neither one of them had spoken a word to each other since their accidental kiss. The mere thought of it made their cheeks flush.

Why did we do that? thought Vera. I mean sure, we've gotten to know each other quite well over the past few weeks, but...a couple? Us? She shook her head. No. I promised myself I wouldn't complicate this further by getting into a romance with Philip. Although, she smiled, he has proven himself to be rather charming. I still don't approve of his morals—which, I suppose, is hypocritical of me—but he's a bit of a gentleman.

She turned around and saw Lombard cleaning up some left over balloons that had popped. She smiled and went back to cleaning up her share of balloons and thought, I think I'll just see where this goes. It might just be a friendship, but it could also be something more...

There's something sweet

And almost kind

But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined

But now he's dear and so unsure

I wonder why I didn't see it there before

Lombard smiled to himself as he cleaned up. He was surprised that he and Vera were kissing, but he also felt a bit pleased with himself. Even though he had sworn off committed relationships for life after Jennifer, he was now strongly tempted to dive back into the waters of romance.

He turned his head to see Vera cleaning up.

Strange, he thought. I could've sworn that she was glancing at me. He laughed and shook his head. Wishful thinking, I suppose. On the other hand...I don't quite recall another time she ever looked at me in the same way she did when I caught her when she fell.

She glanced this way

I thought I saw

And when we touched she didn't shudder at my paw

No it can't be, I'll just ignore

But then she's never looked at me in that way before

Finally, neither one of them could stand the silence any longer. They both turned at the same time and were facing each other. They stood there awkwardly before Vera said, "So..."

"So..." repeated Lombard dumbly.

"So...why did we...do that?" said Vera slowly.

"Do what?" said Lombard nonchalantly.

"You know perfectly well what," said Vera, walking up to him. "That kiss we shared."

"Oh yes, that," nodded Lombard. "Well, I suppose it was because we both got up at the same time and turned in each other's direction and it just...happened."

"Just happened," repeated Vera. "Philip, these things don't just happen; they happen for a reason."

"Have you considered that perhaps it was because we're looking at our relationship in a whole new light?" said Lombard bluntly.

Vera looked him in the eye and slowly said, "You know...perhaps there's a grain of truth in that."

They put their brooms aside. "Does Hugo have anything to do with why you seem so reluctant to accept this?" asked Lombard.

Vera tensed up then relaxed. "Well...sort of," she admitted slowly. "It's just that...I do want to get into another romantic relationship, I really do. I promised myself at the beginning of the year that I would put Hugo behind me, but after that weekend...it's becoming harder than I thought it was, because that weekend brought up all those horrible memories all over again, so...it's difficult." Her eyes met his again and she said, "But I'm willing to try. And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out."

Lombard smiled and took her hand in his. "I'm glad to hear that," he said. "Well, I think we're all done cleaning up here. What do you say we go out to see the latest Gabrielle Turl film that's bound to be nothing more than a load of rubbish?"

Vera smiled back. "I would love too," she replied.

New and a bit alarming

Who'd have ever thought that this could be?

True that he's no Prince Charming

But there's something in him that I simply didn't see

"Cake! Cake! Cake!" squealed Derek as Evelyn bathed him.

"No, no, Derek, no more cake," said Evelyn firmly. "You've had enough."

She dried him off with a blue towel and changed him into his diaper and baby blue pyjamas. As she walked out of the bathroom with Derek in her arms, she saw Vera and Philip holding hands and walking out of the house together.

A smile twitched onto her lips. "I knew it all along," she said softly.

Well, who'd have thought?

Well, bless my soul

Well, who'd have known?

Well, who indeed?

And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?

It's so peculiar, wait and see

Evelyn put a hyperactive Derek down for his nap and sat by his crib for a few minutes on a white chair, pondering about Vera's relationship with Philip. Something inside her knew this was going to last...but only time would tell.

We'll wait and see

A few days more

There may be something there that wasn't there before

"Evelyn?"

Evelyn looked up and saw Richard in the doorway. "Did you just see what I saw?" he asked.

"Well, did you see Philip and Vera walking out of here, holding hands?" asked Evelyn.

"Indeed I did," remarked Richard. "I don't think I even realized there was something there."

"Oh, Richard," sighed Evelyn. "I think it's been there all this time; they're only realizing it just now."

Perhaps there's something there

That wasn't there before

There may be something there that wasn't there before