Present…

Duckie and Mush walked hand in hand over a small bridge in central park. Looking over the edge, into the small pond that it sheltered, on the sunny day in August, was a perfect retreat for the happy couple. Their relationship was always a cute one due to the cheeriness of Duckie and the protectiveness of Mush. This couple had never fought until a week ago when Duckie had something to tell Mush.

One week ago (past)…

Duckie slowly walked away, head hung and her arms hung limply at her sides, away from her friends after she told them the news. Each friend had a look of sadness. Slowly each girl gave their friend encouragement in their own way, and then slowly walked away, without saying a word (and to this bunch of friends, that is highly impossible). In this situation, Duckie should have been extremely happy for herself getting this once in a lifetime chance, however, the reality of leaving her friends and her love was too much to bear. She slowly walked into Tibby's, and spotted Mush instantly… she knew what she had to do!

Mush looked up from his lunch (courtesy of Tibby himself) and to him, his day just got better. As he arose from his seat, he greeted Duckie with a hello and a kiss on the cheek, when she sat down at his table without saying a word, he knew something was up, something bad.

"Honey what's wrong?" Mush asked as he placed his hand on hers in a comforting manner. Duckie however, in the current circumstances, pulled her hands slowly and placed them in her lap and kept playing with a paper napkin.

"Mush, I have something to tell you, and you might not like it!"

"What won't I like? Ducks, you've got to tell me what's the matter! Are you sick? Do you need to lie down?-"

"Whoa Mush slow down!" Duckie gave him a small smile but continued to tell him the news. "I was offered a job!"

"Really? Honey that's great!" He said pulling her out of the seat and spinning her around then kissed her on the neck. Then he realized something… "Why wouldn't I like you having a job?"

"You better sit down for this." She said pointing to his chair, after he occupied it; she sat on his lap to look in his eyes. "Well… that's the thing! It's in Paris… as in France! I really want to take the job! This could be a big thing for me Mush!"

"What? Paris? Ducks, that's way to far! I'll never get to see you! And… and… and… I forbid you to go!" Duckie appalled at his out burst got up and started for the door.

"Fine if you deny me of my one and ONLY wish in life, I don't think we can be together!" She broke down crying, and then as soon as she was out of the door burst out into a run. As she ran this way and that, she still didn't notice that Mush was running behind her, trying to apologize. But when she stopped running in the streets, she started to run straight into the girls lodging house.

Duckie slammed the door to her room, which she shared with Quotes, Iris, and Dice. The only occupants were Iris and Dice, who were in a complete fit of giggles over the strange habits of their men, when Duckie ran to her bed and collapsed on it, by doing so, creaking the old floorboards.

Dice and Iris gave a shrug to one another then slowly walked over to their crying friend.

"Duckie…" Dice trailed off not knowing what to say. "… is there something you want to tell us?"

"I can't believe he won't let me go!"

"What? I say go, if he can't acknowledge the fact that you actually WANT TO do this then… then he doesn't disserve you!" Dice said while walking around the room stopping on top of a bed in the opposite side of the room.

"See, I would've let him go do wherever, to do his… whatever it's called!"

"Boxing?!" Iris added sarcastically while punching Duckie lightly on the arm.

"Whatever!" Dice and Duckie said simultaneously, Duckie turned over while Dice flopped on the bed.

"Well… I would let him go! I wouldn't let him throw his wish away!"

"Um… Duckie? Isn't there boxing in Paris?" Dice asked while walking over to the pair and sat on the floor.

"I think so…" Duckie said while whipping her tear-streaked face.

"Well then it's settled! You can paint in Paris, and he can box underneath the Eiffel Tower!" Iris said while jumping on the bed Duckie occupied and started jumping repeatedly over and over. "Then…" She said slightly out of breath, "You can be together and then you guys can BOTH have your wishes come true!" She screamed over the fit of giggles below her, and then Dice and Duckie joined in too.

The three girls started jumping on the beds, each having a turn in saying why they can't live with men, and why they can't live without them. Then all three girls jumped onto the same bed, causing it to crash to the floor into pieces. Fits of laughter filled the room while the sound of footsteps from the stairs and the hall were heard from the opposite side of the door.

The three girls were in tears while the door burst open and Quotes, Blink, Mush, and Race filled the room with questioning eyes.

"THAT WAS MY BED!" Quotes screamed joining in in the laughter. Quotes leaned on the wall for support but slid down due to lack of air.

The three remaining boys looked at each other then back at the girls. Blink turned to his girlfriend and helped her up, as did Race to Dice. Iris however helped Duckie up and when the other couples left the room, gave her an encouraging look and then left saying something…

"I'll go and tell Ms. Cook that we'll need another bed… again!" Then she smiled at Mush, walked out the door, and closed it behind her. Crossing her fingers on the other side, hoping everything would go well for Duckie, Mush… and herself for explaining what happened with the bed.

In the once filled room, Duckie was looking out the window while Mush stayed on the side of the door, both afraid to do or say something. Mush took one step forward causing the floor to creak under his weight. At this, Duckie turned and the first thing she saw was Mush's big brown eyes shed tears.

Duckie ran up to him and enveloped him in a hug, guiding him to the bed and sitting down, she let him cry, and started to cry herself.

"I'm sorry I said that! I just can't picture my life without you!" Mush said after breaking the silence and after he whipped his tears away.

"I know I couldn't either! That's why I was going to ask you to come with me to Paris for awhile, you know… study…" She paused thinking of the word, "…boxing."

Mush looked at Duckie and, just like in Tibby's, picked her up and spun her around, cries of joy emitted from both their lips. Mush stopped spinning Duckie and stared into her energetic blue eyes. Caught up in the excitement, they kissed each other passionately; Duckie raised her hands up to his head and tried to get more of him, and Mush who tightened his grip around her waist, finally came up for air. Smiling shyly, Duckie took his hand and lead him to the bed, pulling him on top of her.

"Duckie-" Mush started but was interrupted by another hungry kiss by Duckie. Mush slowly took off her shirt, as did Duckie to Mush. This couple, completely unknown to the world, provided a promise to each other, through their actions, they formed a bond that man or machine could break… a bond of true love.