More cuteness coming. Anyone have a problem with that? *crickets chirp* Okay then. On with the show!

Chapter 21: Streaks of White

Toad gleefully ran through the city sidewalks, the building lights and lampposts dimly illuminating the way with white light. Toadette ran behind him, hot on his heels.

"I still have no clue as to where we're going." she called.

"Just trust me on this! But we have to hurry. It's almost time!" Toad giggled as he turned a corner, with Toadette following so fast that she almost tripped over herself.

"Time for what?" Toadette asked.

"You'll see!" Toad giggled as they reached their destination, out of breath. Toad checked his watch.

"Good. We still have time." Toadette was still confused as she walked with Toad up a spiral staircase around a large steel tower. As they got closer to the top, their footsteps echoing as they hit the metallic staircase, she squinted and noticed some telescopes peeking out the sides of the building. When they got to the apex, Toad spotted a picnic blanket that someone had left. He took it and laid it flat on the concrete floor, with just enough room for two.

"Just lie down..." He did, laying down on the striped blanket. "...and look up." Toadette laid down next to him, and they both looked up in unison.

"Whoa..." Toadette breathed in awe as the stars glimmered amongst the black sky.

"I took you here cause there's expected to be a meteor shower tonight." Toad admitted. "I didn't want us to miss out on this... rare sight." Toadette said nothing as she continued looking up at the stars. She looked down again for a moment, and almost as soon as she did, she felt Toad's fingers lace with hers.

"It's time." Toad announced. "Look to your right in three... two... one..." Toadette did as told, and her eyes widened.

"Wow..." She marveled a second time as shooting stars flew across the glittering celestial canopy, blinking in and out of existence. Below them, the city lights twinkled, white, gold and red dotting the streets below. "This is amazing..."

"Not as amazing as you." Toad followed, which made Toadette look back at him for a moment, smile sweetly, and turn back.

"You always know just what to say when I'm around." she complimented, still facing the other way. "I like that about you."

"Hey, the same goes for you, too." Toad giggled and squeezed Toadette's hand softly. She squeezed it back and smiled. They sat down on the blanket for awhile, sometimes squeezing each other's hand or looking back and smiling at each other. After awhile, they looked back one last time, put the picnic blanket neatly where they found it, and started to walk down the staircase, beaming.

"Wasn't that fun?" Toad asked her as they walked down, the stars still shining overhead.

"Yeah... But I know a thing that would make it even better." They were at the bottom of the stairs now, back on the sidewalk.

"And what would that be?" Toad asked her, moving closer, smiling as he already knew just what the answer was. Toadette took Toad's right hand with her left, her other one reaching up behind his neck. She smiled and pulled him closer, her eyes saying it all as they sparkled like the stars themselves. Toad desperately wanted to do what she was planning right then and there, but he decided to wait and let her have the first move for a change.

"I think you already know..." she cooed, looking into his eyes. They moved closer, ever closer.

"Well, what are you waiting for, then?" Toad asked, winking.

"Told you you'd know." Toadette winked. She pulled him even closer, so close that their small noses touched.

"Toadette... I love you." Toad finally said, as he gazed into her eyes.

"I love you too, Toadie." Toadette cooed, then finally closed the gap, her lips softly locking with his. Unbeknownst to them, the shooting stars still went on, illuminating the sky behind them. Toad went just a little deeper into the kiss, making Toadette coo with bliss and kiss him back softly. She eventually picked her right foot up behind her, leaning forward to kiss him a little deeper. Toad giggled, kissing her back, and lifted her up off the ground. He broke the kiss just for a little, as he took her hands and used his strength to spin them around. Toadette's feet flailed on the outside.

"Wweeeeeeee!" Toadette giggled as she was spun, smiling down at him. The scenery blurred in their eyes due to the centripetal force. Toad smiled up at her and giggled warmly. He put her back on the ground. Toadette stumbled a little and he giggled again.

"You dizzy?" Toad giggled.

"Yeah. A little." Toadette replied, chuckling as she regained stability. "But that doesn't mean I didn't have fun with that..."

"Same goes for me too." Toad chuckled as he took her hand. Toadette smiled and squeezed his hand, lacing her fingers with his. They kissed each other on the lips another time, short but sweet, then walked off into the city streets, back to their house again. They couldn't stop looking at each other, which in one instance almost caused them to trip over an elevated sidewalk piece. They got back to their house, opened up the door, and turned off the alarm.

"Ahh..." they sighed in warmth, as they were pretty cold now that the warmth of their affection had worn off somewhat. Toad looked at the thermometer they had plastered recently on the window to gauge the outside temperature. Fifty-four degrees.

"Is it really that cold out?" he asked, tilting his head questioningly. "I wasn't wearing a jacket or anything, and I wasn't cold out there at all..."

"I think I know the reason why." Toadette giggled. Toad took a moment, but then smiled.

"Yeah. Let's just leave it at that." He took her hand again, and they both walked up to their bedroom. Toad turned on the television, while Toadette went in the bathroom to take a shower. Around ten minutes later, after she had finished her nightly routine, she came out wearing soft pink pajamas and motioned for Toad to start his duties. Toad nodded, and they switched places. After that was done, he came out wearing blue footie pajamas and smiled internally at their resemblance to Toadette's. They both yawned and sprawled on the bed. Toad propped his head on a pillow, while Toadette put hers on his shoulder.

Thy watched a romantic comedy on the television for about a half hour longer, giggling occasionally at the characters' antics. After it was over, Toad turned off the television with the flower-shaped remote and placed it on the nightstand. He went under the covers, and Toadette soon followed. Their cheeks grazed in the process, and it didn't take long for them to start cuddling. They held each other sweetly in their arms, emitting soft giggles every now and again. Their feet laced with each other too.

"Hey, Toad?" Toadette said his name to get his attention.

"Yeah?" Toad followed.

"I just wanna say... Thank you for what you did out there for me." Toadette gestured to the window, referring to what happened at the observatory. "I don't remember another time where I had that much fun just sitting there and looking at the stars... I used to go on campfire trips, you know, but..." She trailed off, then started again. "When everyone went out stargazing like we just did, I would just stay behind cause everyone else had someone to share the moment with, and I... well, I didn't." Toad put a hand on her shoulder, feeling their closeness.

"I can relate to that... That used to happen to me too. I saw people just holding hands or hugging in the school hallways, and I was always jealous that they had someone to love and I didn't." He looked up at her. "But now... now I have you. And you have me. I can never thank you enough for that."

"Aww, Toad..." Toadette smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Really, thank you... This is why I love you." They took one another's hands and looked out their window at the twinkling pinholes of light that were the stars.

"This is why I love you too..." Toad smiled and kissed her on her cheek. "It would be a crime not to." She giggled in response and wrapped her hands around him. Soon they were cuddling again, and this time, the warmth was lulling them to sleep. Toadette yawned, and they both giggled.

"Guess we'd better..." Toadette began, but yawned mid-sentence, causing them to giggle again.

"We'd better get to bed, huh?" Toad finished, in a drowsy voice himself. Toadette nodding her head was the only response. They cuddled into each other and closed their eyes.

"Goodnight, Toadette." Toad drowsily murmured, his head on her chest.

"Goodnight, Toadie." Toadette smiled and laid her head on his chest as well, before they both slipped away into dreamland.

To be continued...