As Dale entered the treehouse, Monterey Jack, Zipper and Chip were sitting on the couch conversing with one another.
"Hey guys," Dale said.
"Dale, could you come and sit down with us for a moment?" Chip asked.
Dale hesitantly motioned towards the sofa. "Sure." He replied awkwardly as he sat down.
"You're not in trouble mate, we just want to talk about you and Gadget." Monterey Jack said.
Dale sighed in relief. "Oh, okay. What did you want to know?" He asked.
"We know you've been dating now for a year and we were wondering if you've considered taking your relationship to the next level?" Chip asked.
"What do you mean by next level?" Dale asked.
Monterey Jack readjusted his position in the armchair. "Well, um, mate you know when couples are together for a while they consider taking their relationship to the next level. Chip knows what I mean, right Chip?" He asked.
"Yeah, I do. We just wanted to make sure you were ready for it?" Chip asked.
Dale paused for a moment and thought about what was being asked of him. "You mean like kissing? We've done it before but nothing publicly. I'm still a little shy I guess." He said blushing while rubbing the back of his neck.
The awkward tension in the room began to grow even more as the conversation continued.
"No, Dale, we mean taking it to a different level." Chip said.
Dale thought some more and then began to frown in disgust. "You guys are disgusting. We've only done it once or twice okay! Does that satisfy your curiosity, Chip?" He lectured in an unamused tone, placing his paws on his hips.
Chip and Monterey Jack and Zipper all faced-palmed themselves.
"Goodness Dale, we weren't asking if you've had sex with Gadget we wanted to know if you were planning on taking your relationship to the next level. Meaning, we wanted to know if you have plans to marry her." Chip explained.
Dale blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, um, just forget about that last part okay." He said nervously, chuckling.
Chip shook his head. "Fine." He said.
"I'm not sure yet if I'm ready for marriage. It is forever after all." Dale said.
"Well pally, we're asking because Gadget is ready to take it to that next stage. The purpose of us talking to you was to find out if and how you may become ready to do the same." Monterey Jack explained.
"Well, gee, I had no idea she wanted to take it to the next level all this time," Dale said.
Chip leaned in closer to Dale and smiled. "You two are perfect for each other. It took me a long time to accept that but I know she'll say yes." He said.
"Thanks, Chip, I appreciate you saying that. Although, I'm still unsure if I'm ready. I need some time to think about it. I'll catch up with you guys later. I'm going to go for a walk to think about things." Dale said, getting up from the couch.
Dale proceeded over to the door and exited the treehouse. He then began to take a stroll through the park.
Dale scoffed. "Gosh, marriage. Man has the time gone by fast." He said.
Dale then came across a small tree log and sat down. A moment later, Todd came by and sat down next to him.
"How are things Dale?" Todd asked.
"Oh, hey, Todd. Things are alright. I'm having difficulty making a tough decision though." Dale said.
"What's the decision?" Todd asked.
"Gadget wants to marry me and I just don't know if I'm ready," Dale said.
"Well, Dale, sometimes it's alright to be scared or nervous about these things. Marriage is a big deal and a lifetime one too." Todd said.
"That's the thing. I'm also unsure if I'm ready for kids yet or not. I'm still young and there are still adventures to be had and I don't know if I'm just ready yet to retire that life and become a father and a husband." Dale explained.
"What makes you so sure she wants kids right away?" Todd asked.
Dale sighed in embarrassment and began to fidget slightly. "After we...did it last time she mentioned the idea of having children." He said with a high degree of embarrassment.
"It's alright Dale, nothing to be embarrassed about. Will all do it at some point in our lives, it's a sign of growing up." Todd said.
Dale sighed. "I guess, it's just the look Chip gave me when I said it was almost like he was surprised and horrified all at the same time." He explained.
Todd patted Dale on the back. "You don't need to worry about anything. He's just a little anxious at the fact that you've grown up so fast. He's even a little scared at the idea." He said.
"Scared?" Dale questioned.
"You're younger than he is and even though you're not brothers by birth, you both consider yourselves to be brothers because you were raised by the same parents. There's also the fact that you two are best friends and you both have done and gone everywhere together. He's just a little nervous at the fact that he might be losing his best friend." Todd explained.
"Gee, I didn't think of it like that. Do you think he'll resent me if I get married to Gadget?" Dale asked.
"No, not at all. I think what you should do is assure him that he still has his younger brother and best friend to count on in life. If he knows that then there's nothing to worry about. Do you remember the saying right that you two have? Todd asked.
"Brothers for life, friends forever?" Dale replied in question.
"Yes, that saying. Can you ensure that you'll never forget that saying between you and Chip?" Todd asked.
"Gosh, of course. Chip's my bestest friend ever." Dale said confidently.
Todd patted Dale's knee and stood up. "Then you've got nothing to worry about." He said.
As Dale stood up Todd glanced at his wristwatch. "You better go on home, I have a feeling Chip is beginning to become anxious about where you are. You've been gone for almost three hours." Todd said.
"Okay. Thanks again, Todd. I'm glad I can count on you to help me." Dale said.
"Take care, Dale." He replied.
Dale began his journey back home where he saw Chip walking towards him in the opposite direction. "Chip?" He called out.
Chip jogged forward to Dale. "Where have you been? We've...Well, I was worried about where you went. Monterey and Gadget went to the store." He said.
"I just lost track of time," Dale said with a shrug.
A light overcast of drizzle began to emerge.
Chip took his hat off and put it on Dale. "That should keep you from getting entirely soaked. Come on let's get home." He said.
Dale readjusted the hat. "Thanks, Chip." He said.
There was a pause of silence between the two before Chip glanced at Dale. "So, did you think about what you had to think about?" He asked.
Dale turned to Chip and nodded. "Yeah, I did. I'm still a little uncertain but I'm sure I'll figure it out soon enough." He said.
Chip nodded without making eye contact. "Good, that's good to hear." He muttered.
Chip stopped and Dale turned. "What's wrong, Chip?" Dale asked.
The rain picked up and a crash of thunder roared and a lightning bolt struck in the sky behind Chip. He presented a concerned and worrisome expression to his best friend.
"I'm sorry about how everything's turned out, Dale." He said.
Dale raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes in confusion. "I'm not sure I understand, Chip." He said.
"You will in a second. This is what you get for stealing Gadget from me." He said in an emotionless tone, revealing the gun from his right jacket pocket and firing two rounds directly into Dale's torso.
Dale jolted from his sleep in the living room and screamed. "NO!" He shouted, beginning to pant heavily as he grasped his chest with his left paw. A crash of thunder could be heard from outside the treehouse.
Chip in the dining room heard Dale and rushed into the living and over to Dale. His face plastered with a look of fright and uncertainty. "What's wrong, are you hurt?" He said, kneeling next to Dale who sat up on the couch.
"Let me get you some water. Just try to stay calm and take deep breaths." Chip said, rushing off to the kitchen.
Dale nodded his head a few times rapidly as he began to inhale deeply and exhale slowly. By the time Chip returned with the water Dale had calmed down to the point where he could speak.
"Here, Dale." Chip said handing Dale the thimble of water.
Dale nodded slightly and sipped the water. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I was having a nightmare.
Another muffled crackle of thunder could be heard. Dale winced at the noise in slight fear.
Chip smiled slightly in reassurance and sat down next to Dale, wrapping his arm around him. "I know you're scared of thunderstorms. There's nothing to be afraid of Dale, you're safe with me." He said in a soothing calm voice.
Dale rested his head on Chip's shoulder and closed his eyes. His breathing calmed with every breath he took. He then slowly drifted back asleep. Chip waited a little bit before laying Dale softly back onto the sofa. He then grabbed a spare blanket and covered him with it. Brushing back the tufted fur on his head he smiled as the peaceful snores from Dale softly echoed in the hollow tree. Chip then resumed his work in the kitchen, preparing dinner for when Gadget and Monterey returned.
Soon though, Monterey Jack, Gadget and Zipper returned, soaked from the storm. They changed their outfits into dry clothes and sat down for dinner that was prepared by Chip.
Gadget glanced over at the couch. "Is Dale not joining us for dinner." She asked.
"He's sleeping on the couch. I didn't want to wake him." He said in a whispering tone.
"Oh." She replied, hinting a tone in disappointment.
As dinner concluded, the Rangers, excluding Dale cleaned the table and washed the dishes. Soon after it was nearing dusk and everyone decided to turn in early for bed. Chip walked over to the couch and with all his strength managed to carry Dale to the shared bedroom. Chip placed him on the bottom bunk bed softly and covered him with a blanket. Chip then got changed into his nightgown and climbed onto the top bunk where he laid down to sleep. However, Chip couldn't sleep so he jumped down from the top bunk, grabbed his mystery novel and reading glasses and proceeded back to bed. As he cozied himself into the bed and began to read Dale was awoken.
"Chip?" He called out.
"Yeah, Dale?" He replied, flipping a page as he continued to read his mystery novel.
"Did you carry me to the bedroom?" He asked.
Chip readjusted his glasses and flipped another page in his book. "Yes, I did. I know for a fact that you are afraid of three things: The dark, thunderstorms and being alone. So I figured that leaving you alone in a dark room during a thunderstorm would pose an issue." He said in a snarky way.
Dale chuckled nervously and sighed. "Oh, yeah." He said feeling ashamed of his fears.
"You know, Dale, there's nothing to be ashamed of, we all have fears." Chip said.
"What's your fear, Chip?" Dale asked.
In his mind Chip knew that his true fear was losing Dale but he was too embarrassed to admit it. He attempted to think of something. "Um, I have a fear of heights." He said in an unconvincing tone.
Dale being his gullible self believed Chip, unfortunately. "Gosh, how are you able to stay in the Ranger Wing then?" He asked.
"It takes a lot of strength, Dale." Chip said.
"I wish I was that strong. Every time I hear a crack of thunder I behave like a coward." Dale said.
Chip pulled back the blanket and climbed down from the top bunk. He sat down next to Dale who was laying in the bottom bunk. Dale slouched himself up against the headboard of the bed.
Chip looked at Dale with a serious glare. This glare even made Dale a little uncomfortable. "You're not a coward, Dale. You're one of the bravest animals I know." He said.
"Chip, I can't even tell Gadget whether or not I'm ready to marry her. She's expecting an answer tomorrow and I just don't know what to do." Dale said.
"Do you love her?' Chip asked.
Dale nodded. "Yeah, I love her." He replied.
"Do you want to be with her forever?" Chip asked.
"Yeah, well, I'd like to," Dale answered.
"Then, Dale, you are ready to marry Gadget." Chip said.
"Gosh, I am. I am!" He exclaimed. His raised voice of excitement caught Chip off guard as Dale latched forward onto him and hugged him with all his might.
"Oh thank you, Chip, thank you for helping me." He said with glee.
Chip smiled from ear to ear. "You're welcome, Dale. I know you'll treat her right." He said.
Both released from their embrace. Dale was the first one to speak. "I'm going to propose to her tomorrow during breakfast." He said.
Chip's eyes widened and his eyebrows raised in shock. "Wow, tomorrow morning!" He said.
Both hugged briefly again. "I'm so proud of you Dale, you've grown up to be a really good chipmunk." He said.