Author's note: (Why the hell do I have to repeat this) Most main characters are not mine-they're the property of Klasky-Csupo and Nickelodeon. Also, forgive inaccurate informations, pirated lines and slip-ups, for they aren't intended.

Rugrats Midlife: Reunion

Chapter Nine: And Now It's Friday

"So how do I look?" I asked Dad and Dillon. Appearance is a must in your first date with someone, never mind if that someone was your best friend's libertine stepsister who'll like you for who you are. Besides, it's the maitre d' and the bouncer I have to impress if I am to enter a swanky steakhouse like Delano's.

"Just splendid, if you ask me," Dil replied. Dad concurred, but added, "Nice suit. How about a tie? There's gotta be a policy about ties in establishments like Delano's, and the Finsters don't cover even their own relatives for infractions."

"Nah, don't worry, got one in my compartment," I replied. A khaki Marine Corps-issue tie I bring with me in case I forget to wear one. Seriously, though, would a khaki tie fit in with a red long-sleeved polo shirt, a blue zip-up jacket and black pants? My fashion sense equals that of a wildebeest-I thought I would never need it.

"Why don't you try light-brown pants and a light brown buttoned-up suit?" Angelica said as she butted in-obviously she had been eavesdropping on our conversation long before she entered. "If you're gonna impress a girl like Kimi with that you had better get your fashion sense from-"

"You? And I get tips on eating pork from Rabbi Willis!" Dil retorted, only to get sharp looks from Dad and my cousin. "All right, then, I take it back." Angelica was muttering something about hacking Dil to pieces.

"All right then, light brown it is," I replied. "But then, I'd better change quick. Gotta be there by seven!" I hurried up to my old room and got out my small civilian wardrobe.

#####

Looks like I really didn't need the damned tie-folks who showed 10 to 15 percent of their skin and lower were allowed in, provided they weren't unusual-looking. Fortunately it was 6:52 p.m. Unusual to start a date this damned early-I can still see the TV showing the evening news on the bar to my left.

Approaching a table with a view of the river quay, I got myself seated. The menu was there, the view was there, a waiter was approaching. One person left.

"Sir, are you ready to take your order?" he asked upon approaching.

"Afraid not, waiting for someone else," I replied. With that he left my presence, leaving me alone to think about Kimi.

I found myself asking questions. Why now? Why me? Why this late in my life? Lilian and Fred have Jave (Javier's preferred nickname) and Clara and Sara, fraternal twins, to worry about. Chuckie and Madie have Carl and Mellie-the latter soon-to bother with. Suze and Malcolm have Jamal to give them headaches. Fine, so Angie, Dil and Phil aren't married, but there is no way for me to tell whether they're enjoying singlehood-certainly Philip is.

And now I handle myself and Kimi and what brought us together. Was it something we had in common? Other than holding American passports, being fluent in English and basic Spanish (my Japanese is rusty, while hers, even for a second-generation Japanese-American, is clean as a whistle) and losing a parent (no, she lost two, one to a divorce and another to death due to cancer, while I lost Mom due to pneumonia), we were miles apart. She was not fond of rules; I made sure rules were followed. She was a high-reacher; I tend to stay down low. She'd vote Democrat; I'd vote Republican. She's fond of Dummi Bears; I like Reptar better. There are dozens of ways we would contrast, but last Saturday, we found common ground and more. Maybe, just maybe, we found love.

As I was thinking about all this, I figured she'd arrive by now-7:06. Figures. If this keeps up I'd never live it down. As if on cue though, she finally shows up, dressed in a pink cardigan jacket and skirt, blue blouse inside, with her hair still in that (in my opinion) ridiculous hairdo. The shoes she sported were the ones a decent businesswoman would wear. Surprise, surprise.

"Sorry, the guys I've been working with were all beginners," Kimi said the moment she seated infront of me at the table. "Couldn't tell the difference between two motherboards with different components. Spent 5 goddamned hours with the bastards." She then looked at the scenery. "Woohah, the riverside quay. Kaa-sama was persuaded we can buy this place when she saw the lovely view from here. Otherwise thought the whole steakhouse idea was going to be a white elephant." The waiter from awhile ago came again, this time with menus. Piano music gave the whole place a more relaxed ambiance, despite the fact it was virtually filled with people.

Kimi took out her wallet, checked if she had enough money (I had enough to pay the whole meal myself, but we had the deal) and at the menu. "Beef tenderloins, with corn and carrots, for main course. Soup will be cream of chicken and asparagus for me, as well as chicken waldorf salad. How about you?"

"Oh, let's see, uhh, the porterhouse, a la pobre, with garlic parsley potatoes and mushrooms, with french onion soup."

"Dessert?"

"A slice or two of apple cobbler, if you want some. I'll have some water to wash the whole thing down, or maybe some Coke.

"Apple shandy."

"Will that be all, Kim?" Now I wasn't damn sure if I can pay all those.

"Don't worry. You forgot our deal? Fifty-fifty?"

"Oh." We chuckled at your humble friend's pointless worrying. Could have laughed ourselves to expulsion.

I finally cleared my throat as the waiter approached. We told him our selections (I chose water), and we got $596.75 charge. No need for either of us to have worried about payment. Our feelings, though, had a different story altogether.

"So, Tommy," she started, "care to tell me what had been going on since you joined the Marines?"

"Aagh, Kimi, this will be damned long." I then looked at her again, straight in the eye. "And why in blazes do you want to find out?" Why did you have to ask that? You know the answer.

"Life in the Corps is tough, Tommy, and you know it. Though you're semi-retired you'll be called back to service anytime. I...I just want an idea of what hardships you get your sorry ass into. I don't want to be kept in the blank about what you're doing for all of us." Kimi Finster has just shown her concern for my welfare. I just thought she wanted to start a conversation. Looking back, it was a good way to start one.

"Oh, all right then. So you see, the moment I graduated from the Academy, I was first sent to Laayoune to help in distributing food to the refugees in Western Sahara..."

#####

"Your order has arrived, sir, ma'am," the waiter said as two sizzling steaks were put on our tables and gravy was poured over the hot, black plates stacked on planks of wood. I had long finished telling her my years of service (including the time we rescued refugees from attacking militias in the Congo for which I won the Distinguished Service Cross) and she had told her years as a consultant in San Francisco, complete with her love life ("Nine break-ups as of the last count," she said with fatalistic candor). They got our empty soup bowls out of the table and had placed another basket of dinner rolls and a plate of butter.

Halfway through our dinner, Kimi stopped eating for the meanwhile and asked me, "Uh, Tom?"

"Yes, Kim?" I had swallowed the piece of porterhouse in my mouth with little chewing.

"About the fling we had on Saturday..."

"What about it?"

"Did all of your, should I say, pent-up feelings, just pop out then and there?"

"Maybe. Honestly, I didn't feel anything unusual around you when we were still teens, or even kids."

"Ever felt affection for someone before? You told me you felt loveless." That was partly true.

"Well, maybe once, in Guam, but I wouldn't go deeper. At any rate, she, uhh, er..." Left for greener pastures. And I never got to even say I love her-she doesn't know. I just bowed my head and breathed deeply.

"Sorry. How inconsiderate of me to even ask." We found ourselves staring down our food, and afterwards got our act together and continued eating.

After we finished, we got ourselves talking again. About almost anything that got to our heads.

"You still fond of Dummi Bears, Finster?" I asked her with a grin.

"Yeah, so is that a crime?" she replied in defense of herself. "I'm betting you still like Reptar-"

"At thirty-six, it is," I snapped back, chuckling. "And I've outgrown that damn dinosaur." I then looked at her. She's so funny when she giggles, I thought. "You look so cute when you giggle."

"Indeed they tell me," she replied, and we both shared a laugh. The first time we would do so in a situation like this. Oh if we found each other sooner, I thought.

Soon, the waiter arrived with the bill, and as agreed, we evenly split the payment. Change was another matter- I got the dollar and the quarter while Kimi got two dollars change. Ah, well, it's a petty thing compared to falling in love with a childhood friend. We decided to get up and leave for the riverfront quay.

The place was not much crowded, and it soon we aproached the railings near the waterfront. No boats for today, which was just the way we wanted it.

As we looked out to the pristine river, I found myself asking, "Are you sure we love each other?"

"What makes you say that?" Kimi asked in turn, also staring blankly into the water.

"I'm not really sure if we can make it," I replied. "Maybe it was the punch or shandy that got us smooching. Maybe it was more than that." I looked at her, and she did the same as well.

"Certainly more than that, Tom," she replied. "I wouldn't have kissed you if I weren't certain."

"Maybe that goes for me too," I replied, and with that, we held each other's hands, embraced, and kissed each other as deeply as we can. Not really an opportune moment considering what we just ate, but we didn't give a hoot.

"Next time around, Kim?" I asked afterwards.

"Sure thing, Tommy," she replied, adding, "Now are you sure you love me and I love you?"

"Yep," I replied. "Pretty damn sure."

Pretty damn dure, he says. So now that they're an official couple, what will the rest of the gang know and say? And how will this affect their relationships with the other Rugrats and their families? Can they really last? Don't miss Chapter Ten: So Tell Us About It, coming soon!

P.S. Remarks? Comments? Suggestions? Please read and review! (Constructive ones only accepted-be as nice as you can be.)