Chapter 14: The Finishing Touches

(Special Guests Mentioned: Claudia And Krissie From LivingOnLaughs,and Rattler,Cobra And Joslyn From HPDrummerman.)

So while Charlie Brown,Linus and the rest of the gang were helping each other fix up the former's house for the party due to him accidentally turning it into a literal disaster,and while Ed was off at Mendelson's in the hopes of getting himself some new clothes,Rebecca was instead laying down on her bed and blissfully staring up at the ceiling with lovestruck thoughts of Ed enveloping her mind. Ever since Ed had expressed his true feelings for her the previous night AND had taken her to a dance club and taught her how to dance better for rehearsals along with all the previous time she had spent with him,she had effectively fallen in love with the boy and it was all she could have thought about when she had gotten home.

"Why Ed,you want me to marry you,and you want me to explore the wide open world with you on our honeymoon? This is all so...so sudden but,yes I will!" Rebecca acted out a potential marriage proposal from Ed in a gleefully over the top tone of voice and performance before she suddenly felt herself come back down to reality as her cheerfully bright smile slowly morphed into a somber frown while she murmured to herself "What are you even talking about Rebecca? You're not even eighteen years old yet,you can't be talking about your future life with another boy already." only for the same dreamy thoughts she had about the boy from earlier to suddenly creep back into her mind.

As a result of this Rebecca grew yet another dazed smile and tried to argue with herself about Ed and their possible future together as a couple "But on the other hand he's just so…...so charming,so sweet,kind,funny,and even kind of handsome. It does make me wonder what our lives would be like together." before she closed her eyes and began to have a blissful fantasy in her mind of Ed and her being married and going on their honeymoon across the world,all while they were still the same age too.

So she said "What's the problem baby?"

What's the problem? I don't know well,maybe I'm in love. (Love)

Think about it every time I think about it,can't stop thinking 'bout it.

How much longer will it take to cure this?

Just to cure it 'cause I can't ignore it if it's love. (Love.)

Makes me wanna turn around and face me but I don't know nothing 'bout love,ahhh.

Come on,come on,turn a little faster.

Come on,come on,the world will follow after.

Come on,come on,because everybody's after love.

Sometime later Rebecca imagined herself babysitting and taking care of Charlie Brown's and Snoopy's puppies while he was at work.

So I said "I'm a snowball runnin."

Runnin down into the spring that's comin' all this love.

Meltin' under blue skies,beltin' out sunlight shimmerin' love.

Well baby I surrender to the strawberry ice cream,never ever end to all this love.

Well I didn't mean to do it,but there's no escapin' your love,ahhh.

Next Rebecca imagined herself and Ed gleefully running through a humongous sunflower field in the country side on a clear summer day.

These lines of lightnin' mean we're never alone,never alone,no,no.

Come on,come on,move a little closer.

Come on,come on,I wanna here you whisper.

Come on,come on,settle down inside my love. Ahhh.

Come on,come on,jump a little higher.

Come on,come on,if you feel a little lighter.

Come,come on,you were once upon a time in love.

We're accidentally in love. Accidentally in love.

Accidentally in love. Accidentally in love.

Accidentally in love. Accidentally in love.

Accidentally in love. Accidentally in love.

Accidentally. I'm in love.

I'm in love. I'm in love.

I'm in love. I'm in love.

I'm in love. Accidentally.

I'm in love. I'm in love.

I'm in love. I'm in love.

I'm in love. I'm in love.

Accidentally.

Come on,come on,spin a little tighter.

Come on,come on,and the world's a little brighter.

Come on,come on,just get yourself inside her love.

I'm in love.


It now seemed that Rebecca's fantasy about what her life could possibly be like with Ed had finally come to a close as she reopened her eyes and happily sighed to herself "What a life that would be. It's a shame I'll have to wait so long for it." before she suddenly perked up and was startled when she heard knocking come from her front door to which she stood up and asked herself in confusion "Who could that be? It's getting a little late to have visitors."

Once Rebecca straightened herself out and answered the front door to see who it was,she would instead be surprised and relieved when she saw that it was merely Marcie as she cheerfully greeted her friend "Hi there Marcie,what brings you over here?" to which the visitor cleared her throat and explained herself "Hi Rebecca,Charles gave me a call a while ago and he said that we need to come over to his place,it's for a very important meeting regarding the show tomorrow." bedore Rebecca raised an eyebrow and asked in slight confusion "Wait I thought Charlie said he was sick? That's why he had to stay home from rehearsals today didn't he?."

Marcie then started to feel herself tense up a little bit as a result of Rebecca possibly catching onto her lying,since the real reason she was here was just so she could pick up Rebecca and bring her over to Charlie Brown's place for the party as she nervously gulped and stammered in a slightly shaky voice "Well,uh,he said that he's been feeling a lot better ever since he took some medicine and that it's generally safe for us to come over for the meeting. So I think we should head on over to his place since Patty and Franklin went up ahead."

Now even though Rebecca was still a little bit suspicious that something else was going on behind the scenes,in the end she ultimately decided to cave in and go along with Marcie anyway as she grew a faint smile and obliged "All right,I'll be out in a second." before she quickly headed back inside to get herself ready,all the while Marcie gave a sigh of relief and thought to herself "That was a close one Marcie,remember you gotta take her through the longer route just in case Charles isn't done with the preparations yet."

"All right,let's go!" Rebecca suddenly suggested in an ecstatic tone of voice as she barged right out of her house with her winter jacket on before Marcie smiled and happily replied "Okay Rebecca,follow me,the traffic is getting pretty bad right about now so we have to take this different route. Is that alright with you?" to which Rebecca merely shrugged her arms and joked while she begun to follow Marcie "Hey as long as we make it there alive,I'm good."

"You know I have never actually asked you about this,but what do you truly think about Sparkyville? You know with you living here for almost half a year and all?" Marcie chuckled and asked out of curiosity as a way to pass the time to which Rebecca cheerfully answered "Oh it's easily the best place I've ever lived at,the sights,the food,the people,you guys,it honestly feels like a dream I keep on expecting to wake up from sometimes." before Marcie patted her on the shoulder and confidently reassured her "Well I can easily assure you that this is a not a dream you're having Rebecca,it's just how this place can be sometimes."

"Yep,this is indeed my life now,and I've been loving every second of it." Rebecca nodded her head and happily agreed with Marcie as they continued to make their way towards the Brown household.

Rebecca's Thoughts: This is life after happily ever after.

And it's all just as sweet as the stories say.

I feel wild,free,as light as can be,and ready to explore.

With nothing at all standing in my way.

True there are certain customs I have to follow.

Marcie: "Look both ways."

Rebecca's Thoughts: Several small obligations I can't avoid.

Marcie: "Rebecca,the time."

Rebecca's Thoughts: A few rules too,well more than a few.

Commitments by the score.

Aside from all that though I'm overjoyed.

Marcie: "This way Rebecca."

Rebecca's Thoughts: And sure there are corsets and buckles and bows.

Plus all those names to recall.

Rebecca: "Chloe?"

Marcie: "Claudia."

Rebecca: "Right!"

Rebecca's Thoughts: Still I can hardly complain I suppose.

This is happily ever after after all.

"Alright Rebecca,how are you feeling about the meeting and all of this so far? These past few days sure have been a wild ride haven't they?" Marcie politely asked out of curiosity while they started to take the longer route Marcie was talking about earlier as Rebecca enthusiastically replied "Busy,but busy is good considering what this is all for." to which Marcie chuckled and enthusiastically remarked "Well I'm glad you think so too 'cause this meeting is only the beginning. Tomorrow's our second day of rehearsal,followed by the show that same night and that's all before our second/last show the following week. Also,I know you haven't been up on stage in front of a crowd before like most of us already have,but when you go up there,you REALLY have to make an effort to play the part." before Rebecca nodded her head and confidently retorted "Trust me Marcie,I'll do my best,I know how important this is to Charlie Brown and the rest of us."

Meanwhile back at the Brown's residence,the gang had certainly managed to fix up the complete mess that Charlie Brown had made and had properly set up the party as Linus authoriantanly announced to Lucy,Freida,Shermy,Violet,Snoopy and Woodstock in the kitchen where they were setting up some paper plates and plastic cups "Alright Cobra,Rattler,Josyln,Claudia and Krissie should be on their way right about now,and Marcie should be giving Rebecca the…..detour we asked for." before Charlie Brown suddenly walked in and cheerfully showed his gratitude nearly out of breath "Okay that's good,thanks for all your help everyone. We really managed to turn this place upside down…..in a good way at least,everything for Rebecca's first birthday here must be absoutely perfect,like that very first day she came back here." to which he had a flashback to that 4'th Of July fireworks show where she came back to Sparkyville for the first time.

Charlie Brown's Thoughts: And back then at last you were here in my arms.

I won't permit you to fall.

I must protect you from all the world's harms.

We'll live happily every after after all.

"Big brother! The pizza just got here,what do we do with it?" The voice of Sally suddenly called out from the living room as she and Snoopy's family came walking into the kitchen with a huge stack of pizza boxes to which Charlie Brown snapped out of his daze and nervously suggested "Huh? Uh just-just set some of them on the snack table,but not ALL of them unless we just want to lose ourselves another table." before Peppermint Patty came waltzing by,shook her head and sternly asked when she saw that Charlie Brown was still in his messed up and filthy pair of clothes "Gee wiz Chuck,how do you expect yourself to be a good party host for everyone if you're looking like that? You might as well ask Pig-Pen to be the party host then."

"Hey I'm open!" Pig-Pen chuckled and jokingly retorted from the living room when he happened to overhear Patty's sny remark as Charlie Brown looked down at his clothes and timidly agreed while he and the others walked into the living room "Yeah I suppose I could go ahead and freshen up with me looking like this,but speaking of clothes,I still have to wonder what's taking Ed so long at that place downtown." before Ed suddenly burst right through the front door with a white tuxedo and top hat on,much to the shock of everyone.

Ed: Hoo-hoo-hoo Chuck my man,this hat ties the whole outfit together!

Now I know what you are all thinking,why is Ed in such a good mood today? I mean what gives?

Now that we're living splendidly. Our dreams fulfilled extendedly.

Why leave things open endedly for Rebecca and mwah?

Tonight I'll hand this rose to her,kneel down and then propose to her,and give this ring I chose to her. Nice.

"Woah!" Everyone in the living room including Snoopy,his family,Woodstock,Amy and Jasper exclaimed in sheer awe of the craftsmanship of Ed's new gold ring when he showed it off in a blue box.

Life's gonna be like strawberry sherbet,once she is Mrs's Edward Fitzherbert.

Okay not great last name but how about this?

Once she is Princess Edward Fitzherbert!

And what better day to propose to a girl than at her birthday party?

Everyone: This is life after happily ever after.

And our story has finally reached it's end.

Charlie Brown: Settling down here.

Lucy: Year upon year.

Franklin: Contempted and secure.

Sally: With dozens of duties we'll have to tend.

Everyone: And now that we've gotten the dream that we've chose.

Now that we're in for the haul.

Soon our adventures can come to a close.

Living happily ever after after all.

However as Marcie and Rebecca continued to make their way towards Charlie Brown's house for the "meeting",the latter's attention would suddenly be diverted over to a small house on the right side of the neighborhood where a family of four was appearing to be moving out,with a possible reason why being the white sign nailed into the yard that read "Notice Of Repossession By The Bank Of Sparkyville."

As a result of seeing this,Rebecca started to have thoughts of them possibly not being able to pay the bank back in time creep into her mind despite all of the overwhelming evidence that they would as she grew a somber look on her face and slowly waved the family goodbye while they passed by her in their car.

Rebecca: Now that I've gotten,the dream that I've chose.

Why does my world feel so small?

If this is it,and it is,I suppose.

Is this happily ever after,after all?

Marcie eventually noticed that Rebecca wasn't following her anymore and grew a slight look of confusion as she turned around to see her friend staring at the now empty house that once sheltered a family before she walked up to her and meekly tried to comfort her "Rebecca,I know you're a little worried about the bank taking our homes away,but we got this. I know that we'll manage to pay them back on time,I guarantee it."

Rebecca thanks to Marcie's words of wisdom and encouragement now started to grow a little bit of an uplifted smile as she sighed and timidly agreed with the girl while they continued to head towards the Brown's residence 'Yeah,you're right Marcie,it's just that I didn't want to have to see that family lose their home like that. It's not right." before Marcie looked back at the house for a brief moment and tried to look on the bright side of things "Well maybe when we pay off the bank,their house will no longer be in repossession and they'll be able to come back." to which Rebecca's smile grew a little wider and she couldn't help but agree yet again "Maybe. I hope. It's mainly up to us now to fix all this,and I know we will."

"Accidentally In Love." Copyright Of Geffen Records. Written By Adam Duritz,Dan Vickery,David Bryson,Matt Maloney,and David Immergluck. Sung By Counting Crows.

"Life After Happily Ever After." Copyright Of Walt Disney Records. Written By Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.