DISCLAIMER: Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, and their worlds belong to Disney.

Chapter 28- Tramp's Troubled Past

Tramp looked down at the dirt. He then smiled nervously at Lady, who gave him an insistent look. Pongo and Perdita stood expectantly, waiting for Tramp to speak. The puppies meanwhile, remained crouched under the couch, and gave Tramp suspicious looks.

"Okay, okay," Tramp conceded at last. "I'll talk. Look, I…there were many things I shouldn't have done, and I'm sorry..."

"No you're not!" Scamp shouted. "You'd stop lying to us if you were."

"Hey, just listen to me," Tramp told Scamp. He then looked sadly at Lady, and then toward the exit. Lady then gave him a fierce look, and Tramp nervously started.

"I'm gonna tell you everything, okay?" Tramp told them sadly. Tramp gulped, and then he started. "I had a rough life. I… didn't have anybody in my life," Tramp told them, shutting his eyes and speaking wistfully. "I never had any parents to guide me. They got caught by the dogcatcher when I was a week old. I can sort of remember my dad trying to fight the dogcatcher, and my mom hiding me in some bushes. But they were caught, and they never got out, they took the long walk," Tramp gulped sadly. "I had to learn how to do everything on my own. Every day, I had to find my own food and face the dogcatchers. There were some close shaves but eventually, I outfoxed the dogcatchers and with practice I made better and better escapes."

Lady looked confusedly at Tramp. She then whispered to Tramp, "Weren't you…"

"I'll get to it, Pigeon," Tramp answered. He continued, but his tone became more nervous. "As I grew older, I became famous as other streetdogs began to talk about the grey, scruffy young fella who escaped from the dogcatcher every time. And when I got better at escaping, I began to help other streetdogs escape. I didn't want other dogs to end up like my parents, so I started freeing other dogs from the pound myself. Most of them thanked me and ran off. But then one day, I met a puppy who was different. He followed me down the streets. I was confused. I didn't know what he wanted. He told me he that he needed help. He told me that I was his role model, and he wanted me to show him how to steal from meat carts and how to escape from the pound. I spent a week with him, trying to teach him the tricks," Tramp told them guiltily. "And once he got good enough, well, I walked out on him. I felt that we needed to go our separate ways and I didn't tell him, because I … well, I uh didn't like mushy goodbyes, and I felt that it would be dangerous for him to be with me since I led a dangerous life freeing dogs from the pound. And besides I needed my own space and wanted to be free and independent."

"Who was the puppy?" Scamp asked.

Tramp then answered, "You know him just as well as I do, whirlwind."

Then Scamp and Angel gasped. "You mean… that was…" Angel began.

"Buster?" Scamp finished.

Tramp nodded. "You got it whirlwind," he told Scamp affectionately. "But I forgot about Buster when, uh… I met," Tramp paused. He smiled weakly at Lady, who gave him another nudge. Then, Tramp looked downward, and said, "I met a girl. The prettiest girl I ever saw. Her name was Trixie."

"You mean… you broke more hearts?" Angel asked, horrified.

Tramp nervously scratched himself, and began. "Well, I thought I loved her. I walked up to her doorstep, and asked her to be my girlfriend. She snarled and looked down at me at first, since I was a collarless stray. But after I continued to flirt, she eventually fell for me. I took her out to Tony's. Tony was a friend of mine, and he was happy to see that I found a date," he began. "Trixie loved the romantic dinner. But that next day, I met… little Lulu."

"Another one?" Scamp gasped.

Tramp frowned. "Yes," he explained. "And I… I couldn't help it. I started to fall in love with her. I didn't even realize it. But then, I couldn't help it. I walked up to Lulu, and asked if we could date. Trixie was furious, and she stormed off back to her home. But… I didn't care, I hate to say it," Tramp explained awkwardly. "Because I was now with a girl I loved more. And I thought that my love for Trixie was just a silly crush and that Lulu and I would settle down. So I took her to Tony's that next day. Tony smiled at me just like the prior day. He was always happy to see me. But I could tell he was confused on why I was with another girlfriend. Lulu wasn't though. We dated, ate dinner, and then, we spent the night. We had a few days together. But then, Lulu got carried off to the pound. I was heartsick and furious with myself for not stopping her from getting caught. But as I was on my way to the pound to set her free, I met Fifi. She walked right up to me and asked me for a date. And then I felt that same swooping sensation. I just had to say yes! For the third time that week, I went to Tony's, and now, with a third girlfriend."

"You could just stop dating them!" Angel shouted to Tramp. "Why didn't you stop!"

"Because… I was immature and well, I just kept on falling in love," Tramp explained, flinching slightly. "It's hard to…"

"No, it's not!" Angel shouted.

"Okay, okay," Tramp told Angel. "I know it shouldn't be, but it was hard for me to stop. So Fifi and I were settling down… we had a happy relationship for almost a week. But then, Lulu found me. She escaped the pound, and said that she broke out only for me. But Fifi was with me then. When Lulu saw Fifi, she told Lulu to go away. They got into a fight, and then they demanded to find out which of them I was in love with. I… I, uh, couldn't choose right away. I loved Fifi, but I still had feelings for Lulu. I told them I was in love with both of them. So right then and there both my relationships ended."

"Yes," Angel told Tramp. "Nothing like dating two girls at once, is there?"

Tramp sighed. He felt very stressed and strained. Then he continued, "I was beginning to get a reputation then."

"Big surprise," Angel muttered.

Tramp paced as he continued. "Lulu returned to the pound, and the gossip spread about me and my girlfriends. That limited my pool big time. But I couldn't refuse when Rosita Chiquita asked me. She couldn't find anyone to date either. I took her in, I really wanted someone. But… we got into fights. She was scrappy and wanted me to do everything for her, and insisted that I learnt Spanish. So, I realized we weren't meant to be, and so I ditched her. There went girl number four."

Tramp sat down and frowned, before saying, "I was down on my luck. In three short weeks, I went through four girlfriends. But then, I saw Buster again. He was growing up. He smiled at me when he saw me. He told me he was forming a gang. He offered me to co-lead his group."

"So what did you do?" Scamp asked.

Tramp shook his head. "It hurt, but I refused him. I considered it for a couple of days, but I didn't want to be chained to a gang. I wanted to be completely free. And I still wanted to find a girlfriend, it was hard for me to find one as it was and I couldn't find one if I was with Buster all the time. So I walked out on him."

"Buster didn't make it sound like that," Angel told Tramp. "And so did the other junkyard dogs. They said you were one of them."

"Well," Tramp began. "Buster didn't like my rejection much. He decided to spread rumors that I was part of his gang. It was really clever, actually. He already knew I had a reputation for dumping girls, so he could claim that I betrayed him. And since I was a part of the gang under his story, my legendary status allowed him to recruit some members who wanted protection. After all, to be with a co-leader of the Tramp's own gang…that got the others excited. They wanted to join in on the glory too."

Tramp looked sadly at Lady, who gave him another nudge. Then, Tramp sighed, and, avoiding Angel's eyes, continued, "But I didn't care. For right across the street, there was another girl. The prettiest one yet," Tramp sighed nervously. "She was suave, stylish, and charming all in one juicy package. She told me she came from the dog and pony follies and that she was new to the streets."

"Are you talking about," Angel began worriedly.

"Yes," Tramp explained. "Your mother. I found her in some bushes, trying to hide from Buster, who was trying to recruit her into his gang and to make her his girl. She told me she was disgusted with him and so she rejected him and his gang. We took a liking to each other and I decided to take her under my wing. After a while, I realized something. Since she didn't live on the streets before, maybe she wouldn't have known about my past! I had another opportunity. And wow, what a good one I had! We became good friends and I helped her live on the streets for a couple weeks. She flirted with me, but I didn't know if she was serious. Then one day though, Peg was caught by the dogcatcher. I had to free her, I couldn't let her go to the pound! So I saved her as quickly as I could and then escaped. He began to chase me. I ran in the opposite direction so he'd get away from Peg. So I wound up at Snob Hill."

"Your house," Scamp muttered.

"Hold on, whirlwind," Tramp continued. "The dogcatchers would never look for me there. Just when I thought I'd leave though, I was stopped. My eyes laid upon… the most gorgeous girl I could ever feast my eyes on. She was worrying about a baby."

"Yes," Lady continued. "He came in and told me how dangerous babies were, and then he walked off."

"Then though, as I left, I knew I scared her. I had to say I was bummed," Tramp commented. "I didn't know why. I told others hard truths before. But then, as I went back to the street…" Tramp paused nervously. "I was cornered by Peg. And uh…" Tramp looked like he was about to faint in nervousness. "She asked me to go on a date," Tramp spat out very fast.

"And what did you say?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"I thought, of course! I had been hoping for her to ask me out. And here was my chance! So hey, I was back at Tony's again. Your mom and I built a lot of memories," Tramp told Angel. "But…" And now, Tramp took a few steps backward, breathing heavily. Lady gave him a hard look. Then, Tramp spluttered, "I…I uh, was falling in love with someone else too."

"You filthy, dirty cad!" Angel shouted, her eyes glaring at Tramp with deep loathing.

Tramp recoiled. But then he continued, "I didn't realize it then. But I couldn't, well… I couldn't stop… I couldn't stop,"

"Thinking of me?" Lady asked gently.

"Yeah," Tramp spat out. "I told myself to stop it. I told myself that I was in love with Peg and I should stop thinking about that girl from Snob Hill. But I couldn't. I felt like I had to see her again, and I found myself passing by that house with that beauty in it and I was obsessing over the chance to ease her worries. I couldn't help it. I passed by it more and more. Peg grew suspicious. She wondered why I was always going to Snob Hill, and I could tell that she figured out something was up. And then she saw Lady herself. She became furious, and then I had no choice but to split up with her."

"I can't believe you," Angel muttered fiercely. "You filthy, unfaithful heartbreaker! I hate you so much!"

"Hey, I made some mistakes," Tramp sighed defensively, as Angel continued to glare at him. "But…I made sure that I wouldn't dump any more girls. When I finally met Pidge that spring, I was still in love with her, and I told myself that no matter what, she'd be the final girl that I'd ever fall in love with, even if she wouldn't be interested in me. And she was, and we've been together ever since. No girl can take her place in my heart, and I've learned from my mistakes."

"Yes, you've learned…" Angel told Tramp sarcastically.

"Angel?" Lady added gently. "I… I can understand how you're feeling."

"No you can't!" Angel shouted. "Your mom didn't have her heart broken!"

"No," Lady admitted. "But… well, I knew your mom before," Lady confessed. "We shared a cell in the pound."

"You did?" Angel asked. "But why didn't you tell me before?"

"I had no idea she was your mother," Lady replied, "And I didn't want to talk about her because going to the pound was very traumatic for me," Lady told Angel sadly. "I didn't want to talk about it at all... it was horrible for me. The pound dogs bullied and embarrassed me. But she was different. She stood up to stop the other pound dogs from teasing me. But then she told me about Tramp's past too," she explained. "And like you, I didn't believe him either, I was really angry at him. I thought he betrayed me. But I was wrong. He has never left my side since we fell in love on that bella notte. And Angel? I'm sorry for insulting your mother before… I was just seriously worried that I was going to lose Tramp to her. I hope you would understand, and I sincerely apologize."

Angel nodded, and Lady saw a glimmer of understanding in her eyes.

Tramp confessed, "Look, I didn't want you kids to leave because… I just didn't want you to discover my past. I'm ashamed of it, and I just didn't want you to grow up knowing that your father was a cad. That's why I was tough on the rules with you earlier, because I didn't want you to go out on the streets and learn about my past through street gossip. Now I know that I should've told you earlier, but I thought this way was for the best."

"Yes," Angel scoffed. "Covering it all up like that. That sounds just like you."

"Look Angel, I wasn't at my best. And I understand why you might never forgive me." Tramp told her. "But…"

But before Tramp could say another word, someone slipped through the gate. Lady, Pongo, and Perdita gasped. Without a word, she purposefully hurried over to the couch. Tramp looked back, and then stopped.

"But what?" Scamp asked.

"But just listen," Tramp told the puppies simply. Then, Tramp stepped aside, and Peg took his place and bent down by the couch.

"Hiya sweetie," Peg told Angel.

Angel looked up, saw her mother, and gasped, "Mama…but what are you doing here?"

"You weren't thinking of running off on them, were you?" Peg asked.

"I was!" Angel shouted. "He broke your heart! And mine!"

Peg sighed and told Angel, "Look, Angel. He's a real handsome fella…he was the most charming guy in town… but I see that he's hers now," she explained. "I didn't before. I wanna tell you that I'm not perfect either. It's my fault all of this happened, I tried to split Lady and Tramp up just so I could be with Tramp again. I was being selfish, I forgot what true love was… but then I saw them on the journey up to find you. And sweetie, he's changed. You can never find a couple more firmly in love. And I'm fine with that, really. I got over it. I was reminded of my love for my own husband...the only one I'd really ever be in love with."

"But… Daddy's dead," Angel muttered.

"Yes, he is," Peg told her sadly. "But you have an adopted father who cares about you as much as your Daddy would've…" Peg cried slightly as she spoke. "Come on sweetie… I think you and your boyfriend should go home. I wanted you to find a home for ages…and you'll be loved there."

"Mama…" Angel gasped. "You mean…"

"Trust in him," Peg told Angel intensely. "And always remember I told you to do so."

Angel sighed. She and Scamp looked at Patch.

"So" Patch asked the parents. "You really love us?"

"Yes," Perdita answered. "We'll promise to pay more attention to you, Patch. It's hard work parenting ninety-nine…"

"But we'll always care about you," Pongo finished.

"And we know that you two can take care of yourselves," Lady told Scamp and Angel. "We won't stop you from being yourselves and we'll let you have adventures when you wish."

"And… I've told you guys everything," Tramp added. "Right Pidge?"

Lady nodded. "He doesn't have any more secrets," she explained. "Just remember that we're not like Buster… we're your family, and we'll always be there for you."

Warmly, the parents smiled at their children. Angel, Patch, and Scamp looked at each other, and at once, they agreed.

"Could you leave us alone for a bit?" Patch asked gently. "We need to talk things over."

"Okay son," Pongo answered, and the parents and Danielle walked off.