Shout Outs~

Willow: ^^;; You'll see in the next 2 chapters

SwedishGirl: ::looks at plot line::  Oops…

Princessred: Yeah, that's what I (Stage) think too…buy hey, she chose the name.

Silversapphire: Eh? O.o

Ladybug: Wait, I thought Homer and Virgil wrote separate thingys…or at least that's the conclusion I came to when my English teacher brought it up.  Then again, she needs to brush up on her Greek mythology.  I (Stage again) ended up talking to the class about how Aphrodite indirectly started the Trojan War.  Did I say pre?  I did mean post…whoops.  And…what was it?  Oh!  Ehy is pronounced like you're saying the letter 'a'.

****

"Whoa," Stage's eyes sparkled with evil thoughts of mischief-making.  "No way.  You like Windy?  That's so cute!"

"Adorable!"

"So that's why you were always the last one up!"

"Youse sly, Mop."

"You have to tell her!"

"Yeah!"

"Go on, Moppie.  She's downstairs!"

"Kloppman ain't around, eithah!"

"But…what if…what if…" Mop Top started to protest.

"The worst she can say is 'no'." Ivy cut him off.

"Yeah, exactly!" [1] He replied, seriously.  "Besides, she'll think its 'cause I've been drinking.  Windy wont take me seriously, she never does."

"Don't think like that!" Belle insisted, whacking Mop Top a little harder than intended.  "You gotta hold your head up high!  Now go down their and sweep her off her feet!"

"But—"

"NOW!"

"Belle—"

"I'll kick your ass if you stay up here and mope."

"I've already been smacked, punched, and poked.  Ya'll are abusive, ya know that?" Mop Top grumbled as he got to his feet.  He swayed for a moment before shaking his head and heading for the doorway.  Mop Top missed the door, walking straight into the wall.  He backed up, shook his head again, and went out the doorway.

"Some night in shining armor." Dottie commented, sarcastically. 

"I wouldn't want him sweeping me off my feet." Sparkles added.

"Youse don't have ta worry 'bout dat." Bumblits grinned, "sweeping her off her feet".  Stage rolled her eyes as she took another sip of the vintage wine.  She looked up as Skitch trotted over and dropped cross-legged onto the floor next to her.  Dutchy was soon to follow.

"What'd we miss?" Skitch asked.  Stage and Specs looked at each other.  Specs snatched the bottle from Stage's grasp and took a huge gulp.

****

Mop Top made it down the staircase and leaned against the wall at the bottom.  He blinked rapidly several times, trying to clear his vision.  Mop Top then proceeded to make his way over to where Windy was behind the desk, pouring over some paperwork.   She looked up when Mop Top banged his knee on the desk and swore.

"What's wrong?" Windy asked, looking up at the Greek.  He gave a hesitant, apologetic smile and leaned on the desk.  Windy raised her eyebrows at him.  "Mop Top, is there something you want?"

"Well," He started, looking as though he was thinking really hard.  "It's not really 'something'…"

"No?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.  "What is it then?  I have a load of paperwork to do." Windy stated, reaching for the manila folder on her left, Mop Top's right.  He pulled it off the desk and held it behind his back.  "Mop Top, I'm not in the mood to play one of your games."

"Who says I'm playing games?"

"Give me the folder."

"What about what I want?"

"Fine.  You can have anything if you give me that back!"

"Anything?"

"Anything!"

"Ok." Mop Top surrendered the folder.  Windy sighed heavily and opened it up.  She looked up a few minutes later when Mop Top had not moved an inch.

"What is it?"

"I want what I want."

"Alright, fine.  What is it you want?"

"You."

"Be serious!" Windy sighed in aggravation as she turned away.  Mop Top vaulted over the desk.

"I am serious!"

"What you are is drunk."

"So?  I can still think straight." 

"Mop, you've never been able to 'think straight'."

"That hurts, Windy." He replied with a pout.  "Seriously, though.  Look!  I even brought you some!" Mop Top said, waving the small bottle.  Windy took it and read the label.

" 'Peach Schnapps'.  How very thoughtful…and in a train-sized bottle, too." She said, lifting her eyebrows again.

"Its your favorite flavor."

"How the hell did you know that?"

"I pay attention more than you think." Mop Top grinned.  Windy had to smile at his lopsided smirk.  She shook her head with a small laugh and went back to what she was doing.  Mop Top grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.  Windy turned around again, and Mop Top repeated his action.

"Stop that." Windy pushed him.  He grinned and swept her up into his arms.  Windy shrieked and whacked his arm.  "Mop Top!"

Mop Top walked out from behind the desk and headed for a doorway across from the desk. 

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere less public."

"MOP TOP!"

"Ow!  Not like that!  You dirty-minded girl." He teased her.  "Besides, if you haven't noticed…the others are spying from the stairwell."

****

[1] This reply actually came out of Stage's mouth when she was debating whether or not to ask a guy out.