No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 28
Long Talks and Little Shots
`
Miranda knew Matt was troubled by his friend's. He was pacing in a circle around the bench. "My first instinct is to storm down there. But that will only stop them right now, not later. I just wish they knew people like Larry and Parker. Hell, all I know is what you've told me, plus being there when the note arrived, and I understand . . . the . . . dangers."
His eyes lit up as he said those last words. Miranda could tell he was coming up with a plan. He had that old schemer's look in his eyes. "What are you thinking about doing?"
"Where do you think the nearest pay phone is?"
"If I recall, it's not far at all along the main path."
"Good. I've got an idea, but we need to call Parker."
As they walked, he explained his plan. When he finished, she was worried. "Are you sure you want to get involved like that? Your friendship with them is already on rough ground."
"I know that, but I can't just let them take chances like this. Believe me, I'd be much happier if I'd never known. But I do, and I can't just do nothing. I care about them too much for that. I'd rather they were mad at me than expecting parents."
"I agree with the logic. I just don't want you hurt by this."
"I'll sleep better with them mad I did this than parents because I didn't."
They got to the phone. "Okay. Have you got change?"
He was a step ahead of her, and handed her roughly $1.50 in various coins. "I wasn't taking any chances with you."
"That can call Parker and your mom." After finding the phone was working, she called Parker's home. To her surprise, Larry answered.
"Hello?"
"Larry? Is Parker okay?"
"She doing okay. We had some things we needed to do. Do you want to talk to her?"
"Yes, but wait. Can you ask her to get on another phone, so you both can hear this?"
"Sure. Just wait a minute."
Miranda covered the mouthpiece. "We may get both parts of it for them."
Parker was now on the line. "Miranda, what's up?"
"Well, I need to ask a BIG favor of you two."
~~~~
Fifteen minutes later, four people met at the park bench. "Thank you for this, both of you." Miranda began.
"Yes, thank you." Matt added. "You don't know what this means to me. Those two have no idea the chances they're taking."
"From what you've told us, we're glad to help." Parker replied. "The fact that we were planning our son's funeral today only makes it more important to me. I sometimes wish we'd been found out." She glanced nervously at Larry, hoping he hadn't taken that wrong.
He hadn't. "I know what you mean. If we'd had somebody talk to us, we might not be in mourning now." He needed to change the subject. "Come on, Matt, let's go help your friends."
The four of them started for the meadow. Where the path opened, there were plenty of tall grasses between them and the couple, so nobody caught an eyeful. Soft giggling had replaced the moans. "ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO!" Matt wanted to make sure they heard him. "GET DRESSED. WE'RE COMING TO TALK. YOU HAVE A COUNT OF TWENTY." He turned to the others. "I've already seen more of them than I care to." He kept his count in his head until "EIGHTEEN. NINETEEN. TWENTY." They started walking.
They found them directly below the shelf past the woods. The remains of the picnic were still laying about. Both were clothed, but not neatly. Neither looked happy. "What are you doing here, Matt?!" Melina's challenge was clearly colored with embarrassment. After all, she'd tried this with him.
Matt had decided it would be easier on him to start without preamble. "I thought you both had more sense than this." He pointed to the shelf. "Tall grass won't hide you if somebody should walk up to the ledge to take in the view." They both deflated when he pointed out that now obvious fact. "Like I did." Realizing what that meant, Lanny turned very green. Melina went scarlet, looking like she wanted to hide. "At least tell me you used some kind of protection." Lanny raised his hand. "Well, that's something. Still, I would have thought you'd have more sense, Lanny."
"Don't be so hard on him, Matt." Larry cut in. He looked directly at Lanny. "I've been there. I know there are times when, to use the phrase, the little head does the thinking. At least he thought to use something."
"Let me introduce you all. Lanny and Melina, these are Larry Tudgeman and Parker McKenzie. They're friends of Miranda, Lizzie, and Gordo. More importantly, they know things about this none of us do. They recently became parents. At 16. Because they forgot to use protection once. Just once." He let that sink in, then continued. "I have half a mind to turn you two in to your folks." They looked horrified. "But I won't, IF you sit here and listen, really listen, to what they have to say. I'm going to stay, because I know how to tell if either of you tunes out. Miranda stays because she wants to. Now, which will it be. Listen to them, or your parents?"
They quickly chose Larry and Parker.
~~~~~~~~
As they rested, Ethan made up his mind. No more waiting. While it would be proper to ask her father, what they had just been doing wasn't proper, either. "Hey, you awake."
"Yes. But not by much. You do wear a girl out."
"I need you to be serious for this."
"What's wrong?" She sounded worried.
"Nothing." He got up from bed, felt for and opened the smallest drawer in the bed stand. "Come stand by me, please."
"Sure." As she did, she couldn't help but admire the view, but she knew something was on his mind. She took the hand not in the drawer. "I'm right here."
"I've been doing a lot of thinking. About us. I know I'm blind now, but with modern technology, I can still provide for a family."
"I have no doubts about that. But why . . ." She gasped as he took his hand, and something else, from the drawer, then went to one knee.
"I know we're a little underdressed for this, but I can't wait anymore. You're far more then my lover. You are my life. I ask you now to stay with me, as my wife. Will you marry me?"
She hadn't seen it coming. But, in that moment, she realized that she already knew her answer. "Yes, I will."
Despite their earlier activity, they celebrated their engagement by just cuddling and talking. When they looked back on this day years later, they recalled that as the most enjoyable part of the day.
~~~~~~~~
"Well, that was a pleasant experience. Remind me never to repeat it." Matt's rye voice cut through the silence. The four had just left a throughly disillusioned Lanny and Melina. Melina had broke into tears upon hearing about Jacob. The look Lanny gave him as he comforted her chilled him.
"From what I could tell, they needed that." Parker tried to remind him. "To be doing that so young, is just too great a risk. And I know she's a friend, but that girl is a LONG way from ready to be a mother."
"We did try to encourage them to continue their relationship, just without taking that chance." Larry reminded him.
"I know it was necessary, I just hope they can forgive me."
"Give them time, love. They've been your friends for years. I'm sure they'll come back in time." She looked at her watch. "Speaking of time, we should go. I told your mother on the phone we'd be a little late, but it's almost four now."
"Right." He got up, and turned to Larry and Parker. "Again, thank you. Both of you."
"Miranda," Larry cut in, his eyes growing wide, "did I just hear you call him 'love'?"
"Yes, you did. I'll tell you about it tomorrow, when we have time, but Matt and I have become a couple. And before you ask, we've already decided to wait."
"That's good. I can't wait to hear this story."
~~~~~~~~
Jo worried as she waited in the parking lot. When she saw who Matt and Miranda were walking with, she relaxed. 'If anything is going to keep them from moving too fast, it's thinking of those two.' Larry and Parker separated from the others before they were in earshot. When her son approached, she asked them the mandatory question. "Would you mind telling me the reason for the delay?"
Matt felt her stare. He found it tough to keep his word, but he managed. "I'm sorry, mom, but it involves promises to other people. I do want to ask the doctor about how this was handled, but only because he can't talk about it afterwards. You would feel obligated to."
Jo read a lot in his words, but still had too many gaps to be willing to guess. "As long as you're talking to someone, I guess that's better than trying to carry this yourself. Come on, we should get you to you appointment."
~~~~~~~~
Back in the meadow, the two young lovers were trying to digest what they had been told, and figuring out what they should do next. Deciding that this was too serious to chance being misunderstood, Lanny chose to talk. "Melina, I love you. But, after hearing all that, I think we made a serious mistake here."
She wanted to argue, but couldn't. "You're right. I know it." She started to break down again. "Why am I so stupid sometimes!"
He pulled her into him. "You're not stupid, and you didn't do this alone. We both wanted this. Now, however, we know the risks better. We need to figure out what to do next." His next words surprised even him. "Melina, I think we need to talk to your mother."
"WHAT!?! Have you lost your mind?"
"What if it didn't work? What if you're . . ." He placed his hand on her belly.
Her eyes got huge. "Oh, god, it couldn't happen, could it?"
"You heard them, same as me. What if it failed? What if I put it on wrong?"
Her shock faded, and she started thinking again. "We'll deal with that if it happens. I'm due for my period in two weeks. If I'm a week late, we'll tell her. Until then, we say nothing, and we keep our pants on. Okay?"
"I'll try. But if you're not late, let's talk to her about us anyway." He saw the protest coming, and cut it off. "Not to tell her we've already been together, but to say we're that serious, but worried, and ask her advice."
"You always could keep a clear head."
He let out a laugh. "If that were true, we'd still be virgins."
~~~~~~~~
It took Matt and Miranda over a half-hour to describe to Mr. Gordon the events of the day, from their dreams right through to the intervention on Lanny and Melina. They didn't tell him what they were discussing on the bench. When they finished, Miranda added, "I know their parents wouldn't want this kept from them, but to just bring the hammer down would just make a repeat more likely. At least now, having heard from two who know, they have a chance to make the right choices themselves."
"You're right, Miranda." She looked surprised at the doctor. "I think that you two did a good job in a tough spot. You're right, I would want to know if David had done that, and I like to think I could tell from watching him. But, in the end, David, your friends, and you two, all have to be able to make your own choices. It was an interesting idea, getting Larry and Parker involved. If that doesn't scare them back to their senses, nothing could."
"Thank you, sir. I just remembered how I felt when Miranda told me about them, and when the notice came. The real credit goes to Miranda for talking them into it."
"It wasn't that tough. The fact that they were planning Jacob's funeral made their decision easy."
"Well, however it happened, I think it should work." He paused. "The other subject to discuss is, of course, your rather interesting dreams. Sounds like quite the journey."
"It was." They said in unison.
"And definitely better than your nightmares. It seems you were right, Matt, and more than you may realize." Matt looked puzzled. "You said Reggie kept you from moving closer to Melina after she insulted Miranda. Which means you allowed yourself to be stopped. Add that to your carefully thought out attempt to help them, and I'd say your getting a full night's rest has helped both of you immensely."
~~~~~~~~
They were met in the waiting room by Mrs. Sanchez. "Matt, your mother will pick you both up at our home after dinner, which I insist you eat with us."
"Thank you. Is this a special occasion?"
"Yes. We decided it was time to bring Lily home."
"Lily, as in your little sister Lily?" Miranda nodded. "Where has she been?"
"Staying with an aunt. We didn't like the idea, but with everything going on, we thought it was best if she was with someone who wasn't going to be called away at a moment's notice. But now, we think things are safe enough, and we all miss her."
"I didn't remember ever meeting her. I look forward to it."
"Don't be so sure. We tried to help her understand why Miranda doesn't sleep at home right now, but it hasn't gone well. She might not be happy to see you."
"I'll do what I can to help that, if that's okay."
"Thank you."
~~~~~~~~
He wasn't in the house long before little Lily walked up to him. "You Matt?"
He smiled the friendliest smile he knew. "Yes, I'm Matt. Are you Lily?"
"Yes." And before anybody could stop her, she screamed "YOU TOOK MY RANDA!" as her little fist connected . . . at the only place she could have hurt him. She then ran out of sight.
`
When he gathered his wits, he remarked to Miranda, who was trying to help him. "Remind me never to get you THAT angry."
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Now there's a fine hello. Can Matt, or anyone, get Lily to understand things better, at least enough to stop hitting him!? Stay tuned.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
`
Chapter 28
Long Talks and Little Shots
`
Miranda knew Matt was troubled by his friend's. He was pacing in a circle around the bench. "My first instinct is to storm down there. But that will only stop them right now, not later. I just wish they knew people like Larry and Parker. Hell, all I know is what you've told me, plus being there when the note arrived, and I understand . . . the . . . dangers."
His eyes lit up as he said those last words. Miranda could tell he was coming up with a plan. He had that old schemer's look in his eyes. "What are you thinking about doing?"
"Where do you think the nearest pay phone is?"
"If I recall, it's not far at all along the main path."
"Good. I've got an idea, but we need to call Parker."
As they walked, he explained his plan. When he finished, she was worried. "Are you sure you want to get involved like that? Your friendship with them is already on rough ground."
"I know that, but I can't just let them take chances like this. Believe me, I'd be much happier if I'd never known. But I do, and I can't just do nothing. I care about them too much for that. I'd rather they were mad at me than expecting parents."
"I agree with the logic. I just don't want you hurt by this."
"I'll sleep better with them mad I did this than parents because I didn't."
They got to the phone. "Okay. Have you got change?"
He was a step ahead of her, and handed her roughly $1.50 in various coins. "I wasn't taking any chances with you."
"That can call Parker and your mom." After finding the phone was working, she called Parker's home. To her surprise, Larry answered.
"Hello?"
"Larry? Is Parker okay?"
"She doing okay. We had some things we needed to do. Do you want to talk to her?"
"Yes, but wait. Can you ask her to get on another phone, so you both can hear this?"
"Sure. Just wait a minute."
Miranda covered the mouthpiece. "We may get both parts of it for them."
Parker was now on the line. "Miranda, what's up?"
"Well, I need to ask a BIG favor of you two."
~~~~
Fifteen minutes later, four people met at the park bench. "Thank you for this, both of you." Miranda began.
"Yes, thank you." Matt added. "You don't know what this means to me. Those two have no idea the chances they're taking."
"From what you've told us, we're glad to help." Parker replied. "The fact that we were planning our son's funeral today only makes it more important to me. I sometimes wish we'd been found out." She glanced nervously at Larry, hoping he hadn't taken that wrong.
He hadn't. "I know what you mean. If we'd had somebody talk to us, we might not be in mourning now." He needed to change the subject. "Come on, Matt, let's go help your friends."
The four of them started for the meadow. Where the path opened, there were plenty of tall grasses between them and the couple, so nobody caught an eyeful. Soft giggling had replaced the moans. "ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO!" Matt wanted to make sure they heard him. "GET DRESSED. WE'RE COMING TO TALK. YOU HAVE A COUNT OF TWENTY." He turned to the others. "I've already seen more of them than I care to." He kept his count in his head until "EIGHTEEN. NINETEEN. TWENTY." They started walking.
They found them directly below the shelf past the woods. The remains of the picnic were still laying about. Both were clothed, but not neatly. Neither looked happy. "What are you doing here, Matt?!" Melina's challenge was clearly colored with embarrassment. After all, she'd tried this with him.
Matt had decided it would be easier on him to start without preamble. "I thought you both had more sense than this." He pointed to the shelf. "Tall grass won't hide you if somebody should walk up to the ledge to take in the view." They both deflated when he pointed out that now obvious fact. "Like I did." Realizing what that meant, Lanny turned very green. Melina went scarlet, looking like she wanted to hide. "At least tell me you used some kind of protection." Lanny raised his hand. "Well, that's something. Still, I would have thought you'd have more sense, Lanny."
"Don't be so hard on him, Matt." Larry cut in. He looked directly at Lanny. "I've been there. I know there are times when, to use the phrase, the little head does the thinking. At least he thought to use something."
"Let me introduce you all. Lanny and Melina, these are Larry Tudgeman and Parker McKenzie. They're friends of Miranda, Lizzie, and Gordo. More importantly, they know things about this none of us do. They recently became parents. At 16. Because they forgot to use protection once. Just once." He let that sink in, then continued. "I have half a mind to turn you two in to your folks." They looked horrified. "But I won't, IF you sit here and listen, really listen, to what they have to say. I'm going to stay, because I know how to tell if either of you tunes out. Miranda stays because she wants to. Now, which will it be. Listen to them, or your parents?"
They quickly chose Larry and Parker.
~~~~~~~~
As they rested, Ethan made up his mind. No more waiting. While it would be proper to ask her father, what they had just been doing wasn't proper, either. "Hey, you awake."
"Yes. But not by much. You do wear a girl out."
"I need you to be serious for this."
"What's wrong?" She sounded worried.
"Nothing." He got up from bed, felt for and opened the smallest drawer in the bed stand. "Come stand by me, please."
"Sure." As she did, she couldn't help but admire the view, but she knew something was on his mind. She took the hand not in the drawer. "I'm right here."
"I've been doing a lot of thinking. About us. I know I'm blind now, but with modern technology, I can still provide for a family."
"I have no doubts about that. But why . . ." She gasped as he took his hand, and something else, from the drawer, then went to one knee.
"I know we're a little underdressed for this, but I can't wait anymore. You're far more then my lover. You are my life. I ask you now to stay with me, as my wife. Will you marry me?"
She hadn't seen it coming. But, in that moment, she realized that she already knew her answer. "Yes, I will."
Despite their earlier activity, they celebrated their engagement by just cuddling and talking. When they looked back on this day years later, they recalled that as the most enjoyable part of the day.
~~~~~~~~
"Well, that was a pleasant experience. Remind me never to repeat it." Matt's rye voice cut through the silence. The four had just left a throughly disillusioned Lanny and Melina. Melina had broke into tears upon hearing about Jacob. The look Lanny gave him as he comforted her chilled him.
"From what I could tell, they needed that." Parker tried to remind him. "To be doing that so young, is just too great a risk. And I know she's a friend, but that girl is a LONG way from ready to be a mother."
"We did try to encourage them to continue their relationship, just without taking that chance." Larry reminded him.
"I know it was necessary, I just hope they can forgive me."
"Give them time, love. They've been your friends for years. I'm sure they'll come back in time." She looked at her watch. "Speaking of time, we should go. I told your mother on the phone we'd be a little late, but it's almost four now."
"Right." He got up, and turned to Larry and Parker. "Again, thank you. Both of you."
"Miranda," Larry cut in, his eyes growing wide, "did I just hear you call him 'love'?"
"Yes, you did. I'll tell you about it tomorrow, when we have time, but Matt and I have become a couple. And before you ask, we've already decided to wait."
"That's good. I can't wait to hear this story."
~~~~~~~~
Jo worried as she waited in the parking lot. When she saw who Matt and Miranda were walking with, she relaxed. 'If anything is going to keep them from moving too fast, it's thinking of those two.' Larry and Parker separated from the others before they were in earshot. When her son approached, she asked them the mandatory question. "Would you mind telling me the reason for the delay?"
Matt felt her stare. He found it tough to keep his word, but he managed. "I'm sorry, mom, but it involves promises to other people. I do want to ask the doctor about how this was handled, but only because he can't talk about it afterwards. You would feel obligated to."
Jo read a lot in his words, but still had too many gaps to be willing to guess. "As long as you're talking to someone, I guess that's better than trying to carry this yourself. Come on, we should get you to you appointment."
~~~~~~~~
Back in the meadow, the two young lovers were trying to digest what they had been told, and figuring out what they should do next. Deciding that this was too serious to chance being misunderstood, Lanny chose to talk. "Melina, I love you. But, after hearing all that, I think we made a serious mistake here."
She wanted to argue, but couldn't. "You're right. I know it." She started to break down again. "Why am I so stupid sometimes!"
He pulled her into him. "You're not stupid, and you didn't do this alone. We both wanted this. Now, however, we know the risks better. We need to figure out what to do next." His next words surprised even him. "Melina, I think we need to talk to your mother."
"WHAT!?! Have you lost your mind?"
"What if it didn't work? What if you're . . ." He placed his hand on her belly.
Her eyes got huge. "Oh, god, it couldn't happen, could it?"
"You heard them, same as me. What if it failed? What if I put it on wrong?"
Her shock faded, and she started thinking again. "We'll deal with that if it happens. I'm due for my period in two weeks. If I'm a week late, we'll tell her. Until then, we say nothing, and we keep our pants on. Okay?"
"I'll try. But if you're not late, let's talk to her about us anyway." He saw the protest coming, and cut it off. "Not to tell her we've already been together, but to say we're that serious, but worried, and ask her advice."
"You always could keep a clear head."
He let out a laugh. "If that were true, we'd still be virgins."
~~~~~~~~
It took Matt and Miranda over a half-hour to describe to Mr. Gordon the events of the day, from their dreams right through to the intervention on Lanny and Melina. They didn't tell him what they were discussing on the bench. When they finished, Miranda added, "I know their parents wouldn't want this kept from them, but to just bring the hammer down would just make a repeat more likely. At least now, having heard from two who know, they have a chance to make the right choices themselves."
"You're right, Miranda." She looked surprised at the doctor. "I think that you two did a good job in a tough spot. You're right, I would want to know if David had done that, and I like to think I could tell from watching him. But, in the end, David, your friends, and you two, all have to be able to make your own choices. It was an interesting idea, getting Larry and Parker involved. If that doesn't scare them back to their senses, nothing could."
"Thank you, sir. I just remembered how I felt when Miranda told me about them, and when the notice came. The real credit goes to Miranda for talking them into it."
"It wasn't that tough. The fact that they were planning Jacob's funeral made their decision easy."
"Well, however it happened, I think it should work." He paused. "The other subject to discuss is, of course, your rather interesting dreams. Sounds like quite the journey."
"It was." They said in unison.
"And definitely better than your nightmares. It seems you were right, Matt, and more than you may realize." Matt looked puzzled. "You said Reggie kept you from moving closer to Melina after she insulted Miranda. Which means you allowed yourself to be stopped. Add that to your carefully thought out attempt to help them, and I'd say your getting a full night's rest has helped both of you immensely."
~~~~~~~~
They were met in the waiting room by Mrs. Sanchez. "Matt, your mother will pick you both up at our home after dinner, which I insist you eat with us."
"Thank you. Is this a special occasion?"
"Yes. We decided it was time to bring Lily home."
"Lily, as in your little sister Lily?" Miranda nodded. "Where has she been?"
"Staying with an aunt. We didn't like the idea, but with everything going on, we thought it was best if she was with someone who wasn't going to be called away at a moment's notice. But now, we think things are safe enough, and we all miss her."
"I didn't remember ever meeting her. I look forward to it."
"Don't be so sure. We tried to help her understand why Miranda doesn't sleep at home right now, but it hasn't gone well. She might not be happy to see you."
"I'll do what I can to help that, if that's okay."
"Thank you."
~~~~~~~~
He wasn't in the house long before little Lily walked up to him. "You Matt?"
He smiled the friendliest smile he knew. "Yes, I'm Matt. Are you Lily?"
"Yes." And before anybody could stop her, she screamed "YOU TOOK MY RANDA!" as her little fist connected . . . at the only place she could have hurt him. She then ran out of sight.
`
When he gathered his wits, he remarked to Miranda, who was trying to help him. "Remind me never to get you THAT angry."
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Now there's a fine hello. Can Matt, or anyone, get Lily to understand things better, at least enough to stop hitting him!? Stay tuned.