Well, I was looking at the original 'Come Back, Be Here' story and I thought 'Man, this totally doesn't fit my source material at all!' So I'm rewriting my one-shot into a multi-chapter story. Expect heartstrings to be pulled and Rankin/Bass references aplenty. See if you can figure out which Rankin/Bass specials I reference as we go along. Now let's begin.


7th grade had just ended for the trio of Milo Murphy, Zack Underwood and Melissa Chase. Certainly there were plenty of Murphy's law shenanigans, a Pistachion takeover and an alien invasion...not to mention time travel mayhem, but that was just par for the course in Danville! Without a doubt, the tightest of the trio was Milo and Melissa. They had known each other since 1st grade and since around 4th grade, they had wondered if there was something more between them, even though they had briefly dated other people - Milo with Amanda and Melissa with Zack. The trio was talking about their summer plans when a strange sight caught Zack's eye.


"Guys, check it out!" Zack called out. "Looks like a 'For Sale' sign."

"It is a For Sale sign, Zack..." Milo confirmed. "Looks like someone's moving. Wonder who..."

"Just hope it isn't one of us..." The former boy band front man said as a real estate agent came by and slapped a 'SOLD!' sticker over the sign.

"Guys...I think that's my house..." Melissa freaked. "I'm the one that's moving...I didn't know my parents were planning this..." the redhead said, snapping back to reality.


Milo's jaw dropped when he heard Melissa say that she was moving. He burst into tears as he ran into Melissa's arms.

"Say it ain't so, Melissa..."

"Look, Milo...why don't we talk with my parents, see what the story is. Perhaps this is all just a big misunderstanding. You guys coming?"

"I guess so," Zack said. Milo said nothing, still in shock. He just took Melissa's hand and walked in with her.


"Mom, dad...what's going on here? Are we seriously moving?" Melissa asked her parents.

"Oh hi, honey!" Melissa's mom, multi-time Teacher of the Year Pepper Chase greeted.

"You and your friends might want to sit down for this one," Melissa's dad - Fire Chief Richard Chase instructed. "Now this will take some explaining, but your mom got a great new opportunity at another school district - a sister district to Danville..."

"Really? Mom, that's awesome!"

"As awesome as it may sound, Melissa - the superintendent wants me closer to my new job as a high school principal."

"And where is that, pray tell?"

"Nashville..." Melissa's parents said in unison.

"Why wasn't I informed of this until just now?" Melissa asked.

"The 'For Sale' sign was our way of telling you, Melissa..." Mr. Chase told his daughter.

Milo growled, peeved off that he was about to lose his best friend (and possible girlfriend). "This has Shego written all over it!" Milo said, running up to Melissa's room.


"I heard that!" Melissa said before turning back to her parents. "Mom, dad...I need to head up to my room, something tells me Milo's taking this majorly hard," she added as she walked up the stairs to her room, where she would find her jinxed friend.


"Milo, you ran off in a huff...what's wrong?"

"I just know Shego's behind this! This is 'A Sitch In Time' all over again!"

Melissa giggled and snuggled up to Milo. "Milo, I know you and I are Kim Possible superfans and that we've seen 'A Sitch in Time' 35 times over and while this does have some eerie similarities to what Ron went through in 'A Sitch In Time'...this isn't a Kim Possible movie. I have a strong feeling there's something more to this besides my mom getting a new job."

That's when Mrs. Chase came in.


"And you'd be right, my Little Spark! I hope I'm not interrupting anything..."

"You kinda are, mom..."

"My apologies, Melissa. But you're right, there is something more. Remember that video you posted a couple months ago - your cover of Taylor Swift's 'Sparks Fly'?"

"What of it? Did Taylor herself see it?"

Mrs. Chase gave a nod in confirmation. "She did! Once we get to Nashville, she's gonna put you in touch with her record label and if all goes well, you could be the next Taylor Swift..."

Melissa was frozen. To think this all started with Milo giving her Taylor's 'Fearless' album for her 7th birthday. Now she was on the road to becoming the next Taylor Swift.


"Milo, did you hear that? I could end up as the next Taylor Swift!"

"I know! I heard! Congratulations, Melissa!"

The duo hugged for what seemed like forever. "Did hearing that soften the blow a bit?"

"A little. But knowing you're down south following your dreams while I'm stuck here in Danville...I just wish I could come with you...I wish I could be with you, Melissa..."

Milo broke down and cried into Melissa's chest.


"I know, Milo. I wish you could come too...with any kind of luck, I'll be back in time for high school graduation," Melissa said, lookin back at her mom. "Mom, when do we have to move?"

"We have to have everything packed by Thursday so we can be on the road Friday," Mrs. Chase said to her straight-A daughter.


'End of the week...' Milo thought. 'I got until Friday to tell Melissa how I feel about her. I'm gonna dread Friday so much...'


"Milo, how about all this week, we do whatever we want...make enough memories to hold us over until I can come back home to Danville?"

Milo gave a half-smile, looking at Melissa. "S-Sounds good, Melissa..."

"Milo...you...me - all this week. We'll make it count. We've beaten Murphy's law...so what's a few years a thousand miles away? Now come on! We gotta get rolling! Mom, Milo and I are gonna be out all day...don't wait up for us..." Melissa said as she pulled Milo out of the house.

"Have fun, you two!"


After a day of go-kart racing, arcade games and even a Yankees game, Milo and Melissa looked to the horizon.

"Melissa, I still can't believe you're moving..."

"Neither can I, Milo. Just promise me this one thing..."

"What's that, Melissa?"

"Promise me that no matter where I am, we'll never lose touch with each other..."

Milo sighed. "I sure hope so..."

"Milo, relax. We can handle whatever life throws at us. I promise I'll be back in time for senior year..."

"Yeah. I'll believe it when I see it..."

Melissa knew she wasn't getting through to Milo this way. But an idea came to her quickly.

"The world is full of surprises..." Melissa teased as she burst into song.


There's more to the world than meets the eye

When doubt's in your mind

give your heart a try

Let up a little on the 'wonder why'

And give your heart a try

If you can't believe what you can't see

Here's what to do to become like me

Let up a little on the 'wonder why'

And give your heart a try

What is spring

without the Easter Bunny?

Like a rainbow

that doesn't end in money!

And a Valentine

would certainly look stupid

without a Cupid

so let his arrow in your heart!

That would be a start...

There's more to the world than meets the eye

When doubt's in your mind

give your heart a try!

Let up a little on the 'wonder why'

and Give Your Heart A Try!


"Well...you haven't steered me astray yet, Melissa..."

Melissa smiled and hugged Milo. "Just trust me on this, Milo. I'll be back by senior year...I promise."


Tuesday and Wednesday were fun-filled for the duo as well. As Milo got home on Wednesday, he took a look at his calendar and gave a wistful sigh.

"2 more days left..."

Milo's mom came in and saw the concerned look on her son's face. "Milo, what's wrong?"

"Melissa's moving on Friday...I wish I could go with her..."

Brigette smiled, knowing that the day would eventually come where Milo would crush on his best friend.

"I knew it. Milo, you fell for Melissa...I always knew this day would come..."

"How long have you known?"

"Whole time. Your dad, Sara and I were waiting for you to admit it."

Milo's fangirl sister Sara ran in as if on cue. "Is it true? Did Milo finally admit to his crush on Melissa?"

"Believe it, Sara...I'm in love with Melissa," Milo admitted. "Problem is that she's moving to Nashville on Friday and every time I try to tell her I love her, I mess up..."


That's when Milo's mom got an idea. "Hang on, Milo...I got something that might help..." she said as she went into her jewelry box and pulled out two half-heart lockets. "These were mine and your dad's when we were your age. We went through the same thing you're going through now. I moved away after middle school, came back in time for college and we've been literally inseparable since. I was saving it for you and Melissa for when the time was right; and I think now's as good a time as any. Just got it engraved and I even put a picture of you two in it!"

Milo smiled as he looked at the locket. On it were the words 'Milo + Melissa Forever' and inside was a picture of Milo and Melissa at their 7th grade dance. Milo was driven to tears as he hugged his mom. "Mom...thanks...I-I'll give it to Melissa on Friday before she leaves!" the jinxed boy said as he ran off.


"My little brother...finally all grown up..." Sara said, smiling. "Wait! Milo!"

"Yeah, Sara?"

"How are you gonna handle a long-distance relationship? Do you even have a plan?"

"I'll let you know as soon as I think of it..."


So...will Milo be able to tell Melissa how he really feels about her? And what of the locket he just got from his mom? What's the significance of the locket? We'll find out next time!