"Well, that was cute," Lizzie stated, hopping off the couch and ejecting the video from the VCR. Gordo yawned loudly, and rubbed his forehead.

"Yeah, good movie. Tell me again why we watched this?" Lizzie smacked his head gently and sat next to him, clinging to his arm.

"Because I wanted to," she said, grinning. Gordo raised his eyebrows and looked at the couch cushions, nodding his head.

"There is that…"

"Yes, and that you love me."

Gordo just smiled and kissed her forehead. "Yeah. I love you."

**********

Matt McGuire sat on the couch - phone in hand. Jo was watching him intently, and every once in a while Matt would give her a look as if to say, "Give me some space. I'm working here!" Jo would just smile and lean back on her chair, running a hand through her graying hair.

"Mmmm… yeah. You talked to her today? Where was she?" Matt inquired.

There was silence as he waited for a response.

"Oh. Sure."

He waited.

"Hey! That's a good idea!" Matt turned to his mom.

"Mom, Miranda wants to know if you're willing to throw a party. Here."

Jo grinned and nodded her head. "Sounds good. For Gordo, right?"

Matt nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"For Gordo."

**********

Lizzie came out of the shower, hair slopping wet, and her towel wrapped tightly around her slim frame. For the first time since Gordo left all those years before, she was able to sing in the shower without feeling like she betrayed some part of herself. She smiled happily, and hummed to herself, fishing through her desk drawers for her comb and brush. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Lizzie screamed, surprised, and turned around. Rolling her eyes, she glared playfully at Gordo.

"Don't do that! I only have a towel on!"

Gordo grinned. "I know."

Lizzie rolled her eyes again and kissed him. "You're such a freak."

"And you're beautiful."

Lizzie's heart melted as her gaze met his, staring anxiously back at her. She chuckled, and tightened the towel. Gordo removed his arms reluctantly, and backed towards the door, not able to avert his gaze from her face.

"I'll let you dress now, Liz." His hand was on the door.

Lizzie smiled appreciatively. "Always the modest man, Gordo. Thanks."

**********

Matt smiled excitedly. "Everything's set then, Mom?"

"Yeah, but I'll have to do some shopping." She shrugged. "No biggie. We have most of the decorations and stuff."

"Should I call Lizzie?" he asked, preparing to dial. Jo shook her head.

"Leave that to Miranda."

Matt frowned. "Mom, I didn't even tell her to call."

"Believe me, Matt, she will. I know her."

Matt mumbled something, but set the phone down.

**********

Gordo sat down on the tinted blue couch, feeling as if he were living a dream. Only a few hours ago, he was worried if Lizzie or her parents even lived at their old house anymore. Now, he didn't feel like he had a care in the world. Just Lizzie. Lizzie McGuire, the woman he loved since eighth grade. He sighed, content. Closing his eyes, he began to drift into the realm of dreams…

Ring! Ring! Ri -

Groggily, Gordo picked up the phone and held the receiver to his ear. "Hello? McGuire residence."

"GORDO!" There was a scream at the other line, and Gordo almost jumped out of his skin. "OH-MY-GOD! GORDO!"

Suddenly, he smiled, still feeling shaken from the speaker's outburst. "Miranda, that has to be you."

"The one and only." He could almost see her grinning face. "I still can't believe it. I mean, I wasn't even sure that Matt was telling me the truth when he called me. But –" Gordo heard sniffling and a nose being blown " – now I know he was. My God. You sound old, Gordo."

"Ha, ha, Randa. I'm no older than you."

At the other end of the line, Miranda blew that away with a flick of her wrist. "So…" she prompted.

"So…" Gordo repeated, not able to finish the sentence. Miranda furrowed her brow and glared at the phone.

"You. Lizzie. Lizzie. You. Together? A couple? An item?"

Gordo laughed dreamily. "You sound like you're talking in code, my friend."

"My patience is wearing out Gordo, sweetie," said Miranda with irritation. Gordo chuckled again.

"Sure. If that suits you."

Miranda tilted her head. "Does that mean, sure, 'Lizzie and I are a couple,' or sure, 'your patience is wearing out'?"

"Which one do you want more than anything?"

Miranda squealed loudly into the phone. "OH-MY-GOD! THAT IS SO CUTE! I'VE GOT TO TELL EVERYONE!!"

Gordo flushed pink. "Miranda? Privacy for us, please?"

At her apartment, Miranda frowned. "Fine. Okay. But, you have to tell everyone at the party."

Gordo's eyes widened. "What party?"

"For you. We're hosting a 'welcome-home' party at the McGuire's."

"We?" Gordo asked. Miranda laughed breezily.

"No. Matt and Me. The party is in two days, from 2 o'clock to whenever everybody feels like going home."

Gordo felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck tenderly, and he smiled up at Lizzie. "Oh. Okay. Do you want to talk to Lizzie?"

Lizzie nodded her head frantically, and she grabbed the phone. "Hey Miranda!" she cried happily. Gordo stared at her. She and Miranda had always had this freaky skill: they knew who was on the phone without even asking. He settled deeper into the couch, and sighed heavily. Lizzie was chatting away, still not removing her arms from around him, and he was glad. She smelled good, like that cucumber-melon shampoo that she used in high school. Gordo sighed, and Lizzie looked at him, love burning in her eyes. His eyes met hers, and they leaned forward, meeting in a passionate kiss. Lizzie dropped the phone on the sofa as she continued to kiss Gordo, closing her eyes tightly. Miranda, on the other line, was oblivious to the interruption.

"So what do you think?" She paused. "Lizzie? Gordo?"

The couple didn't even hear her.

"Fine. Don't talk to me." Miranda sounded cross, but knowing. "I'm hanging up… in 1, 2, 3… okay, bye!"

There was a click as Miranda hung up her phone.

At the sound, Lizzie and Gordo opened their eyes, and blinked.

"Hey," Gordo whispered, smiling.

"Hey yourself," Lizzie said softly, playing with his chocolate curls.

"What do you want to do?" he asked, just as quietly. Lizzie grinned.

"Why are we whispering?" she asked delicately. They burst out laughing. Gordo shrugged.

"Beats me!" Lizzie chuckled and looked at the clock, sighing heavily.

"I'd better go to bed now… I have school in the morning." Gordo laughed, furrowing his brow.

"They held you back?" Lizzie rolled her eyes, and put a hand on his knee.

"No. I'm a teacher."

"Oh." Gordo smiled. It was the perfect job for her… "Well, goodnight then, Liz."

Lizzie lifted her hand off his knee and looked at him. "Where are you going to sleep, Gordo?"

"On the couch, I guess," he replied, turning a shade of red that even he didn't think was possible. Lizzie noticed this, and blushed too, turning her head away.

"Might be better, I guess." She looked thoughtful. "But if you need a real bed, mine is across the hall." Gordo nodded his head.

"Thanks Liz, but…um… I'll be okay."

Lizzie nodded her head in understanding. As much as they loved each other, she knew it wouldn't be good for them to be rushed into something… intimate. She gave him a chaste kiss, and went into the other room, ruffling her hair to dry it. She closed her door halfway, and crawled into bed, turning off the light with shaking hands.

In the bathroom, Gordo suddenly realized something: his bags were at the McGuire's. It was obviously too late to pick them up, so Gordo sighed, and pulled off his pants and shirt, feeling odd that he couldn't brush his teeth. He rubbed his tongue along his gums and teeth, trying to give himself a short brushing. Carefully, trying not to wake Lizzie, he crept out of the bathroom and into the main room. Sighing, he laid down on the couch, resting his tired bones. Only now did he realize how tired he was; flying was a pain. With an exhausted hand, he reached above him, grasped a blanket, and pulled it down over him. Soon, his eyes were shut, and his lips were pulled into a lopsided grin.

A/N: *hahaha* next chapter: more cute L/G (*sigh* too cute), the reason why Leo's important, and the party. Yay. How will everyone react to the new couple? (Besides Miranda, of course…) sorry this took so long to put up! I was on vacation, and then… well… my brain was gone for a while. ^_^

Please review! I love your input!

Thanx a bunch -

~Tic-Tac

btw… I am really mad at my computer. I have a program up that won't allow me to write any swear words, or anything that resembles a swear word, so, whenever you see the "#"s, that's what it is. I'm sorry. For me, and you guys. I believe swearing adds spice – but hey. I can't do anything… *sigh* here, I'll show you - #### - See?