Author's note: Same as usual-most most characters belong to Nickelodeon and Klasky-Csupo. Watch out for lines borrowed from any source-TV, radio, movies, other fanfics, whatever.

Rugrats Midlife: Reunion

Chapter Seven: Sensing Something There

We finally broke off our kiss after two and a half minutes, and released our grip soon after that. Though disappointed-we wished that we had more time for smooching-we were grateful to each other, grateful for being honest, courageous, for just being there. I also felt a little paranoid in particular, fearing that some or all of them other Rugrats were watching. Fortunately, the nearest person was Fred, who was inside looking at the interior, and the door was closed, so there was little chance for him on seeing us like this.

Soon, he approached, glass of punch in tow, and when he saw us back in normal stations (we picked up our things and fixed our clothes), he invited us back to the yard. "Kimi, sir, will the both of you come back to the patio? I was wondering what you're doing there." No indication he knew about what we did, and I wasn't ready, no, we weren't ready to admit our love in the open-yet.

"Sure, Gunny, wilco," I replied at Fred, then turned to Kimi, still dabbing on lip balm. "Say, thanks for the lecture, found it very helpful, thanks," and winked at her, the beautiful woman acknowledging it with a smile, knowing I was thankful for more. Back to the palace yard.

And so to the party once more. Chuckie, having found Aunt Charlotte awake now, was consulting with her on how to deal with superiors and the board of directors for the Eaglecom stockholders' meeting tomorrow ("Lebedenko? I never fail to wonder at the new Russians' business savvy, not like in my day," she commented, referring to the company chairperson), Phil and Lil were-so what else is new?-arguing, this time on who has the higher pay, and what not, while Dil and the rest of the elders were seated on the other end away from the band, the mothers with grandkids in tow, eating. Susie had rested from her singing, and the band had stopped playing for the meanwhile as well, as they were eating. Madie had now gone on stage, with a glass of punch in tow.

"Now will everyone sit down on the front," she said, and so everyone did, also with glasses of punch in their hands, with the two of us parting ways for the meanwhile. I walked over to where Dad and Dil were seated, smack-dab beside the rest of the Finsters. "All right everyone, for a friendship that lasted long and strong, a toast." At this point, Dil sniffed the air and whispered, "T, Hugo Boss has yet to produce a citrus scent."

Citrus? Oh God, Kimi's perfume! Must have rubbed on me. Anyway he was discreet enough for Mrs. Finster, seated beside me, not to hear a damn thing. We raised our glasses amidst shouts of cheers.

"Ah, Dilly, it's like this, I got there when she-you know, Kimi-was spraying herself some perfume, and there, yeah, that's it, accidental spraying, that's it." I'm telling you, who's gonna buy that lame excuse? Fortunately, the career manual also had traces of her perfume. Meanwhile, onstage, Chuck joined Madie as they toasted nine years of marriage and Melinda, with Chuck kissing Madie's cheek and abdomen afterwards. I envied him that night.

And the party was over. Phil was sleeping over at the house (brought his clothes with him, he says), while the rest were going home ("Chuck, that Rembrandt is fake!" Fred screeched, with a mock "Please stop persecuting me!" from Chuckie). Dad was complimenting Mrs. Finster for her preparations, while Fred and Lilian were helping their parents and children into their van. Dil had taken over the wheel and offered the two other Finsters transport.

"Oh, you shouldn't have," Mrs. Finster remarked. "Home's just a taxi away from here, and we really don't want to bother you." At this, Dad said, "For the love of God, Kira, at least this ride's free. This is for all you and Chas have done for us in the past thirty-four years." My old man then took a whiff at the nightly air. "Say Tom, you smell a bit fruity." Oh for crying out loud.

Add in the old lady. "Now Kimi-chan, you kind of smell funny too-men's perfume..." Fortunately, she had enough sense to know she, no, both of us, were blushing red. "In the car then."

Dil's Skoda dropped them off at their house silently. No questions asked.

#####

Next day, all of us Rugrats, no kids, no spouses, met at the park for jogging. Not really a good time for a more intimate reunion as far as Kimi and I were concerned. We acted buddy-buddy in front of the rest, the way we preferred to do things anyway.

"Where's Phil headed to?" I asked Chuck.

"Probably looking for an earthworm the length of an Olympic track oval," he replied. "Still the King of Disgusting in our group, though seminary life has tamed him. Still can dissect a frog without flinching, I hear. Not like Angie over there."

"Say what, Finster?"

"Nothing you would want to know, madam."

By this time, Phil had returned, grime smothered over his cassock, looking dejected at his failure to find the elusive earthworm. "Aw, damn, I must be looking in the wrong place. Say, Angelica, can I have some water over there-"

"Hands off me, DeVille! Touch me and you're dead!" She was revolted at his appearance.

"Geez, I'd only touch you to make sure you're dead," he snapped back. She tossed him a bottle. "Thanks, Angie. To the Philmobile!" And he sped off to his red Pontiac Aztec.

"Philmobile?" I asked Lil, who was sitting beside me, tired of all the running.

"His name for that damn car," she sneered, then calmed somewhat. "Say, I've kinda noticed that you and Kimster over there have been acting strangely when paired with each other. Do I smell-"

"HELL NO!" I shouted. Everybody within a 5-mile radius stopped whatever they were doing. A baby wailed, dogs barked, car alarms rang like crazy. "Oops, sorry." Kimi rushed in from her jogging (sixteenth lap, boy, she should have enlisted in the services instead), wondering what the hell happened.

"Oh, nothing, I was just checking on whether there's a chemistry going on-aagh!" Kimi had just elbowed her. "Fine, so no chemistry, just a wee bit-okay, okay, enough, Kimster, okay!" The two of us were making fools of ourselves. Fortunately, Chuck, Angelica and Susie (Phil was celebrating a Mass in the church two blocks away, while Dil was still sleeping at home) rushed in, or else Kimi would have peeled Lil's face off. "The heck's going on?" Chuck asked. "Tom, Kimi, I heard you screaming like mad at the fountain. Found a bomb?"

"No, Chuck, that was something Lilian here was trying to imply," she said, holding Lil by the collar. Note to self: never push her temper-it can flare like doomsday. At this, Lil turned the tables and pinned Kimi on the ground, adding with a grin, "Like the fact that Tommy and you have something for each other?" I broke up the fight before soon.

"Now look here, Lil," I said, dragging her away as Chuckie was dragging the other gal, "we're, uh, only confused, okay? No denying we're friends, but lovers? We've yet to see that come." Fortunately, Kimi wasn't going to allow a little brawl ruin a fine day at the park, and neither was I.

"Say," Susie asked us, the good doctor always the lifesaver, "want some sodas at Moseley's Place? Like old high school days?"

"Sure," all of us replied. Then she turned to the two of us, looked and said, "Maybe you two Rugrats can settle this on a date at Delano's sometime. Good luck!" She wants me, a hapless reserve Marine about to start a consultancy business, and Kimi, a technological consultant now as hapless as I am, to talk all of our feelings over sizzling food at a steakhouse bought by the Finsters years ago. I turned to my partner and asked, "Do you mind..."

"Sure, a date would be fine," she replied. "Friday. We can split on the payment." And with that, we all rushed to Chuckie's awaiting Camaro.

So what's gonna happen on Friday? But first, what about the consultancy? Will Tommy be able to handle the workload? Find out on Chapter Eight: Waiting For Friday!