SpongeBob: Tell her about it
This is set in The Best Dai Ever AU, set before the Help Wanted story SpongeBob's biggest fear since Sandi kissed him has been the thought, he might not be good enough for her or drive her away again and that he may be too needy for her. During filming of a new episode with Junior working alongside Sandi instead of SpongeBob, his fears resurface and he doesn't know how to communicate what he feels about it.
Tell her about it bi Billi Joel
Six weeks had passed since Sandi Cheeks had started going out with SpongeBob SquarePants and little changes in the depressed sponge's behaviour, he hadn't gone back to old SpongeBob from 30 years ago but slowly most of the cast noticed he had developed a bit of a jealously streak if ani of the male cast stood next to or near her. When that did happen SpongeBob would call "CUT" or "SCENE" or even just sneer at them but when it was his turn, he acted so different, instead of hothead he was a sniffling blubbering mess and more prone to forgetting his lines or sobbing in the middle of a shoot which made him a real nuisance to most of the lesser cast to work with.
None of them could see why he was acting like this but under his harsh exterior SpongeBob was mentally crying his heart out every time it happened: every single morning he hoped that this would never happen again because he knew what it was coming from, Patrick's advice years ago. "Why are you falling for that squirrel? You know that one day, she'll leave this place to return home to TAE-AS any chance she'll get and break your heart!" repeating over and over again whenever he saw Sandy interacting with another male even the married or gay ones would send him into a paranoid breakdown, remembering how he'd get beaten for admitting his feelings in the past broke his heart.
It really came to full force when his own son took his father's role in the new episode "Whirly Brains": since Junior was the spitting image of his father, just darker in shading, made it easy for Sandi to bounce off his dialogue amicably:
Listen boy,
I don't wanna see ya let a good thing slip away
You know I don't like watchin' anybody make
The same mistakes I've made
She's a real nice girl and she's always there for you
But a nice girl shouldn't tell you what you should do
The silent cuddle session behind the Patti Vault's door came to SpongeBob's mind, it had been a simple show of affectionate kinda love, the type that was SpongeBob's language, her soft fur smooth against his hands while her own pressed against his pours gently sent thrills all through and inside him which returned every time Junior acted so calm around his father's girl.
Listen boy,
I'm sure that you think you've got it all under control
You don't want somebody telling you the way to stay in someone's soul
You're a big boy and you'll never let her go
Because you'll never let her go!
But that's just the kinda thing she ought to know.
SpongeBob's recent antics hadn't gone oblivious bi Sandi at all even though he tried to hide it, his antics were understandable when she thought of what he'd mentioned the day before the rescue, she didn't have the guts to say near suicide, SpongeBob was a broken man that needed love to heal. Compared to Larry who'd been mentally broken SpongeBob was half emotionally broken and just a kid who needed love after escaping a horrific home, she knew that leaving the poor sponge would break him beyond recognition where some fishes thought he was emotionally abusive to Sandi and believed she was looking through rose tinted glasses but she knew, from experience, SpongeBob wasn't like that.
Tell her about it
Let her know how much you feel
Give her every reason
To accept that you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her
Let her know how much she means
When they were apart at night Sandi would wake to find a secret surprise from the sponge, whether it was flowers, chocolates or notes SpongeBob liked to show his affection through many ways, sometimes he'd even leave coupons for his restaurant which she hid for a special occasion. Sometimes he'd take her out to see a movie or just have a night in even practise a bit of karate and every time he said "I love you" out loud or through gestures the SpongeBob she knew growing up would appear for a second with that adorable smile, rinse and repeat she wished that he could just unload all his problems and deepest fears to her.
Listen boy,
It's not automatically a certain guarantee
To ensure yourself
You've got to provide
Communication constantly
When you love someone
ya always insecure
And that's only one good way to reassure
While taking his break as he ate a Krabby Patti deluxe with no pickles and extra onion SpongeBob tried to visualise what he wanted to say to Sandi and even speak but no words came out without the thought he'd break down, his biggest fear came upfront as the image of Sandi laughing at him for being so weak as he trusted her too much to think she would abuse him.
Tell her about it
Let her know how much you care
When she can't be with you
Tell her you wish you were there
Tell her about it
Every day before you leave
Pai her some attention
Give her something to believe
Walking back into the studio SpongeBob spotted Sandi standing next to Junior who obviously was looking for him while the younger sponge, no his son, drank a glass of water with a casual stance to him that SpongeBob remembered from his own younger dais and when his son spotted him, he tapped Sandi on the shoulder and pointed to his father who just shook.
Cause now and then
She'll get to worrying
Just because you haven't spoken for so long
And though you may not have done anything
Will there ne a consolation when she's gone?
Listen boy,
It's good information from a man whose made mistakes
Just a word or two
That she gets from you could be the difference that it makes
She's a trusty soul she put her trust in you
You know she put her trust in you
But a girl like that won't tell you what you should do
Sandi: SPONGEBOB, THERE you are! Where did you head off to without telling someone, I've been worried sick!
SpongeBob: I was taking a break to clear mah thoughts, I haven't been a good boyfriend or worker recently I've been a real fool, a real jealous silly old fool acting like a little kid blaming someone else to take it all when I should be taking the consequences of mi stupid actions.
Junior: Dad, if the younger cast knew the truth (points to his chest symbolically) they wouldn't blink an eye at your outbursts or mah yells to never say "mother" around me or explain that I only have Dad and no mother. A real mother would never hate their kids or beat their 'husbands' (air quotes) not take their daughter away from the rest of her family.
Sandi: None of those incidents were your faults Junior, if I were your parent, I would be extremely proud of the strong man you grew up to be even after what you went through.
Junior: Thank you, Mrs, er, Sandi.
Sandi: Same goes with you, SpongeBob. Oh, if I ever meet that witch well, I bet she won't come near either of you again!
Tell her about it
Let her know how much you feel
Give her every reason
To accept that you're for real
Tell her about it
Tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her
Let her know how much she means
Tell her about it
Tell her how you feel right now
Just tell her about it
Tell her now or you won't go wrong
Just tell her about it
SpongeBob felt tears spring to his eyes again but he doesn't wipe them away again this time instead he lets them fall, "I know it'll take me a while to heal but I love iou so much Sandi." As he said that SpongeBob walked proudly past the two most important people in his life as thei start to rework on the show.
The End