Author's note: As usual, Rugrats and All Grown Up are owned by Nickelodeon and Klasky-Csupo, while "Look of Love" is owned by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. Watch out for scenes I, er, "borrowed", from movie and TV scripts.
Rugrats Midlife: Reunion
Chapter Six: All Stops Pulled
Looks like Susie joined in the singing, I thought to myself, as a female voice paired up with Phil in the background-welcome relief when you consider that he's been singing since five o'clock. Looks like he'll be missing some Masses tomorrow.
And speaking of missing something, Kimi's been droning off about consultancy, tackling on requirements. I felt too silent to even talk, and it seemed only worthwhile listening to her voice, with that voice's message being forgotten. I felt I was scribbling nonsensical lines and shapes into my notebook. By God, I told myself, love mode's kicking in again.
Love mode, Tom? You kidding? You may have had thirty-four years with her, but you are just muddled up with infatuation. You felt loveless in elementary, junior high, high school, basic training, the Crucible, your years in active service. Why now? I felt too helpless to answer. I looked at my watch, then at Kimi, then at the garden. Susie, who I guess is alone on stage now, had begun another song.
The look of love
It's in your eyes,
A look your smile can't disguise...
"Beautiful," I suddenly muttered, and then I heard Kimi stop her lecturing. She looked at me, wondering, I guess, as I stared into the manicured lawns.
The look of love
It says so much more than just words could ever say,
And what my heart has heard, why, it takes my breath away...
"If you're talking about the garden, then you're right," Kimi interjected, as she stared at them with me. I dropped my pen and notebook on the front porch, but I didn't give a damn. "Funny why Chuck wants to sell this place soon..." "No, that's not what I meant," I said, finally finding the courage to look at her straight in her shining, beautiful eyes. She dropped the manual on the floor, head shaking. The background song was now a duet, with Phil joining in.
I can hardly wait to hold you, feel my arms around you,
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you, now that I've found you...
I didn't know how to begin, but what the hell. Pull all stops now. "Kimi, I wasn't ready the last thirty-four years to tell you this, but, but I can't take it anymore! I've managed to live loveless, parents' and friends' love excluded, in all those years, and suddenly, out it goes after, what, only three days. I don't know what to do, but say this..." Here goes, Thomas. "Kimi, I...I...I love you." There you go.
You've got the look of love
It's on your face,
A look that time can't erase...
She was just dumbfounded, her face showing surprise, confusion, mistrust. Can't say I blame her-she broke up more relationships than she could count. She sensed, as well as I did, that there's a potential for another failure. "I-I...I don't know, Tom, I just don't know," she said, gasping for air in between. "That was so sudden...I know how in blazes you feel right now, please try to understand. I..." Tears were welling up her cheeks.
Be mine tonight
Let this be just the start of so many nights like this,
Let's make a lover's vow and seal it with a kiss...
"Oh I don't know, Tommy, but I feel I love you too." That was enough for me. I held her hand, and with her head nodding, I embraced her. We were close to crying, as our tears cascaded each other's shoulders. Maybe they were tears of joy.
I can hardly wait to hold you, feel my arms around you,
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you, now that I've found you,
Don't ever go...
"Whatever happens, Kimi, please, don't ever go," I told her. "I promise you I won't." She just looked at me, and eyes filled with tears, replied, "You can count on me, Tommy. You can count on me." Our grip tightened as we kissed, all regrets we had in our past gone for now.
Can the lovebirds sustain it? Are they even ready? Stay tuned for Chapter Seven: Sensing Something There, coming soon!