A/N: I'll admit it. This chapter didn't go the way I meant for it to... but it made sense as I was writing it.

Chapter 20: Confessions

"I... think maybe you've missed a few steps between here and there." Ralph said as his brain started to work again.

"But that's the idea, right?" Vanellope insisted.

"Why don't... why don't you explain the thought process here? Then maybe I'll understand what you're getting at." Ralph offered.

"Well, it's just..." Vanellope started. She scratched her chin as she thought about where to start.

"This started with... 'The Talk' that Tammy gave me..." Vanellope started.

"It took you this long to jump to that conclusion from there?" Ralph asked.

"Not exactly." Vanellope answered. "She explained sex, and at the time she said that that sort of explained why you were acting the way you were, and why I should act different than what I did when I was little. It made a little bit of sense. But at the time all I could think of is that I didn't want anything to change. But about that time Taffyta and Rancis started dating and when I saw how Rancis was treating her I just... I just really wanted that. I didn't think at ALL about why people date. I just knew that I liked how I saw other people, who were dating, acting with each other. And I wanted that... With you." Vanellope said.

"Alright... following it so far." Ralph prompted.

"And Taffyta explained dating to me. Everyone already thought we were dating anyway, so I had to ask the difference between what we were actually doing and dating. The only real difference seemed to be little things like kissing and touching and that sort of thing. But it's supposed to change when you've been dating for a while, isn't it?" Vanellope asked.

"Not always." Ralph answered, understanding what she was getting at.

"But usually." Vanellope insisted. Not backing down on the point.

"Not after just one date." Ralph pointed out.

"No..." Vanellope agreed. "But the way you acted... " Vanellope started.

"You notice the weirdest things." Ralph said with exasperated disbelief.

"Am I right though?" Vanellope asked. "You do want to-"

"Please don't say it again." Ralph said quickly, sounding a little pained.

Ralph sighed and wiped his face, thinking very carefully about how to respond to all of this. It explained a lot, and made him feel a little better about the whole thing. Vanellope's somewhat narrow-minded view of dating needed to be corrected.

"Vanellope, just because someone finds you attractive, doesn't automatically mean they want to jump into bed with you. I... won't deny that some of your actions have put the thought in my head, but that's not the same as actively attempting it." Ralph clarified. Noting, with a twinge of success, that if he put it objectively, he was able to get through the attraction part.

"But I didn't mean to put the thoughts in your head." Vanellope said mournfully.

"I believe you." Ralph assured. "It's not really your fault anyhow, it's mine."

"What?" Vanellope asked.

"They're my thoughts, not yours." Ralph reasoned.

Vanellope had to think about that one.

"I don't think that's exactly how that works." Vanellope said with a frown.

"No, it's not." Ralph agreed, suddenly remembering his issues with the whole thing. "But it's not completely your fault either."

Vanellope leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. She suddenly stiffened as she realized what she was doing. When Ralph just rubbed her shoulder she started to relax.

"I don't know what to do." Vanellope said miserably.

Ralph gave a frustrated sigh. He really hated having to explain things. He couldn't fathom why Vanellope thought he was so good at it. This was doubly hard since it involved him so closely. It was really hard to be impartial about this.

"I think... It depends on what sort of relationship you're hoping to get out of this." Ralph strained to say. Vanellope just sat there looking confused.

"What?" Vanellope said after thinking about it for a moment.

Ralph tried to think this through.

"What we've both been forgetting, is that we're both the same people. I forgot it a little earlier on than you did, but still..." Ralph started. "There's no reason our relationship has to change at all if that's not what you want." Ralph said. Especially since I've stopped being stupid, he didn't add. Particularly since that still seemed debatable.

"Hmm..." Vanellope screwed up her face. "I don't like that one. Try again."

Ralph paused. That... wasn't the reaction he was expecting.

"There's no reason that dating has to be about a physical relationship." Ralph tried again.

"Hmm..." Vanellope hummed, sounding like she didn't like that one either.

"This might be something you have to figure out on your own." Ralph said before she could object to that last idea.

There was a moment of silence where Ralph could tell Vanellope was thinking really hard. He just kept his arm around her and let her think it out. After a moment Vanellope shifted so that she could look at Ralph's face.

"What do you want to do?" Vanellope asked, sounding surprised that she hadn't thought to ask before.

"...What?" Ralph asked, hoping his brain wasn't going to stall again.

"Well, you have an opinion about this too, don't you?" Vanellope asked, like it was completely obvious.

"Y-yes..." Ralph confirmed hesitantly.

"Well, what is it?" Vanellope asked again. She sat up straight again, to better see his face.

"I don't..." Ralph started.

"Ralph, will you just tell me?" Vanellope pleaded.

"Vanellope, my opinion just isn't as important in this matter as yours is." Ralph tried to explain.

"But I want to hear it anyway." Vanellope insisted.

"I don't want to influence your decision." Ralph tried again.

Vanellope, rather than another verbal protest, punched Ralph in the arm.

"Ow." Ralph complained halfheartedly. He rubbed his arm, more out of nerves than pain. There was an awkward moment where he could feel himself blushing again.

"I guess if it were up to me," Ralph thought aloud. "I'd like to try dating. With the idea that, maybe a physical relationship might come out of it...eventually. Maybe."

"Why?" Vanellope asked. Ralph blinked, not expecting that question.

"Well... We get along well, I already know that I like spending time with you, and you're good loo-" Ralph coughed, apparently still not able to admit to it.

"Good looking?" Vanellope asked with a sly grin. Ralph looked away, blushing to match his overalls.

"Yeah, that." He said quickly.

Ralph coughed, he could feel Vanellope's ridiculously pleased grin on him and it wasn't really helping.

"But the decision has to come from you." Ralph protested quickly, clearing his throat nervously.

Vanellope grabbed his arm in delight.

"Right. My decision." She agreed, sounding absolutely ecstatic.

"Oh boy." Ralph thought with a whimper.

A/N: Yeah... that ended up being a lot of Vanellope talking and not a lot of Ralph. But I decided it was more important that Ralph hear what Vanellope was thinking than her hearing what Ralph was thinking. Because I realized she'd already figured out that Ralph liked her in the last chapter.

Review Response:

To all - Yes, Vanellope is very blunt. She has to be since Ralph is so wishy-washy and indirect about everything. This is always going to be the nature of their relationship.

jeh-nee - No, you're not being naive or oblivious. Vanellope was just jumping the gun. Her brain moves in weird ways. Though his head had totally gone in that direction. Just not anywhere near that far.

phantasma1500, asian115 - Honestly, you didn't really think they were gonna have sex this chapter did you? Where have you been for the last 20 chapters?