Author's Note: I would like to thank Jaded Angel, Denise Simpson, and Penname wa Silver B for their reviews. Chapter 12 should be coming shortly. Sorry this chapter is so short, but I think you're going to be interested in how it ends.

Chapter 11 – Realizations

Fry walked out of the diner and stopped on the sidewalk. The sun had already begun to tint the morning sky a soft pink. He smiled as he looked at the rising sun. The city was beautiful at this time of day. Too bad he had never noticed. Hands in pockets, he began to walk back to his apartment.

For the first time in almost a year, his mind wasn't racing with thoughts of Leela and Rodney, though he didn't realize it. His thoughts belonged to the pretty waitress with the freckles and sweet smile. She had been so easy to talk to and so easy to be with. And she was cute. A smirk crossed his face at the thought of the way she called him "Mr. Fry." So cute. But she was no Leela.

Fry stopped dead in his tracks and his shoulders sagged. No, she wasn't any Leela. There could never be another Leela. But then, there had never been a Leela, really. He had never had anything more than her friendship and insults. There could be no Leela, but maybe, just maybe, there could me a Rae. The thought weighed heavy on him, but brought a smile to his face nonetheless.

He continued walking towards his building, a battle in his mind raging between memories of Leela and the new thoughts of Rae. Rae, the young waitress with the light brown braid and eyes as blue and clear as the morning sky itself. She had the beauty and innocence of a child while Leela had poise, self-assurance, and sophistication of a true woman. But Leela also had Rodney.

"Fry," he heard a familiar voice call out.

Fry tensed up and stopped where he was. He knew to whom the voice belonged, did he really want to look? Sighing, he resignedly turned to the street. There, in his hover care sat Rodney flashing his million-dollar smile at Fry.

"Hey Rodney," Fry said quietly. Speak of the devil, he thought.

"Why don't you hop in, Fry? I think we need to talk?"

Fry looked at him and cocked an eyebrow, "About?" he asked suspiciously.

Rodney laughed, "Come on, Fry, just a conversation, man to man."

Man to man? Fry thought bitterly, then why would I want to talk to you?

"Actually, Rodney, I'm kinda tired. I'd like to go home," Fry answered coolly, starting to walk in the general direction of his apartment and away from the hover car.

Rodney shook his head as he watched Fry walk away. That was the shell of a broken man. He put the car in drive and continued to drive toward Planet Express. Today was the day that Brannigan would be finalizing the details with the Professor about the delivery. He had been keen on going in hopes of talking to Fry, but Fry obviously had no intentions of attending the meeting.

He looked around as he maneuvered through the busy city streets and thought about last night and Leela. There had been something different about her. She was unusually tense and when she relaxed in his arms, it hadn't been a peaceful relaxation but more of a sense of resignation.

When he had got up that morning to shower, he had seen Fry's picture still sitting beside his on Leela's nightstand and his heart had grown heavy. He knew then what the resignation had meant. Her body had been with him the night before, but her heart had been somewhere else

There were numerous questions running through his mind as he thought back on the past few days. Many things that had confused him suddenly became clear with his morning realization. When she had cried on his shoulder that night at Elzar's, it hadn't been because she had missed him. In some strange way, she had been crying for Fry.

Rodney kicked himself for not seeing it in Fry's face when he had video phoned Leela and when he had come to pick her up at Planet Express. There had been definite pain in his face. He wondered why he hadn't seen it before now.

He parked the hover car in front of Planet Express and got out. He noticed Brannigan's chauffeured limo sitting in front of his own rental and rolled his eyes. Brannigan was one person that Rodney could not stand. He respected him as his superior and as captain, but when it came down to it, he saw Brannigan as the missing link between man and his ape ancestors, evolved enough to look and act like a human, but still too primitive to act like anything other than a hairy mammal.

As he entered Planet Express, Rodney pondered on what to do about he and Leela. He knew that she loved Fry, that much was obvious. But there was love there for himself as well. Rodney didn't question Leela's love for him, but a lump began to form in his throat at the thought that he would be standing in her way to her happiness. It was then that he made up his mind. He would call off the engagement.

Tears began to fill his eyes as he walked through the lobby. He stopped outside the conference room and wiped his eyes gently, hoping that no one especially Leela would notice. His wish was granted.

As the door opened and he started to walk in, he collided with Brannigan's bulk. The captain was in a hurry.

"Out of my way, soldier," he scolded, "Kipf, find that Rodney fellow. We must leave immediately."

Kipf rolled his eyes and sighed, "He's the soldier you just pummeled to the floor, sir," he answered tiredly.

"Oh," Brannigan said cautiously, looking down at Rodney, "Of course. Get up Jones, and meet me back at DOOP Headquarters. We're leaving immediately." Brannigan stormed out of the lobby.

Rodney looked at Kipf momentarily who simply answered, "Fatso offended Lrr of Omicron Persei 8."

Rodney nodded knowingly and rose to his feet, hurrying with Kipf out the door. He would have to talk to Leela later. Right now, the entire universe was at the mercy of Brannigan's dumb ass remarks. Rodney seethed as he left Planet Express.