Certainties Chapter 7, a rugrats/all grown up! fanfic

Certainties

an All Grown Up fan fiction story

by Lord Akiyama

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Chapter Seven

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"Hmmm... I don't think this color would fit you," Kimi thoughtfully muttered aloud, rummaging her hands through the rack of shirts. "No... no... nope... Ah! Let's see if this one looks good for you!" She removed the shirt and stepped over to where he sat there with a sigh and a smile. She threw the shirt over his body and they looked together into the mirror.

"Quite a dark shade of blue you found here," Tommy noted.

"Why not?" Kimi asked with a giggle. "It works. Especially with your purple hair. Just be glad I have the fashion sense to know the baby blue you wore as a baby would look just terrible."

"Hey, even I would know when a color just won't work for me," Tommy chuckled. "I don't wanna be caught dead wearing any shade of pink or yellow. And I had enough of the baby blue for one lifetime, that's for sure."

"Oh my God! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself!" Retaining their smiles, the couple turned to spot the other boys staring in complete and utter disbelief over what they were seeing. "How, T?" the speaker, Dil, asked in horror. "How did she brainwash you into this monstrosity?"

"She didn't brainwash me to do anything, guys," Tommy chuckled, amused with how they looked with their jaws on the ground. "I'm just returning the favor I owed."

"Favor?" Chuckie asked.

"I had to put up with him teaching me how to play skee ball," Kimi said with a smile. "Back when he got his license, remember? I figured his wardrobe needed some fixing if he wants to be as handsome as can be."

"Dude, I dunno if this is something I wanna stick around and watch," Phil said, slowly beginning to back away. "In fact, I'm almost afraid that if I stick around too long she'll start picking out our wardrobes."

"Now that is just way too scary for me," Dil swallowed. "Sorry, bro, but we're gonna have to bail on saving you from this. You're on your own with this one."

The elder Pickle began to laugh. "That's okay, Dil," Tommy said. "You guys go ahead and make your grand escape before the other girls corner you and decide to pick up on what Kimi is doing."

The guys almost forgot that today was Sunday Shopping Spree. Like scared creatures, they darted their eyes around to make sure the other girls weren't about before making a run out of the store. The couple began to laugh hysterically, her placing her weight upon his back while he leaned forward.

"That's actually not a bad idea, Tommy Pickles," Kimi said through her continued laughter and giggles. "Maybe I could convince the girls to trick the guys someday and lure them into the trap."

"While you and I will be elsewhere," Tommy added through his laughter and chuckles. "Being boyfriend and girlfriend, doing what couples should do. You wasting all my free money on whatever you want."

"And don't you ever forget it, Mister," Kimi giggled, placing a quick and gentle kiss on his cheek. They soon were able to relax and put an end to their laughter, returning to getting him some clothes. "So, I think we can add this to the pile of shirts to buy. You agree?"

"Yeah, it definitely would work," Tommy nodded, watching her with fluidity place the shirt among the other clothes sitting next to him. "So when exactly am I supposed to try these on, if you don't want me going through the dressing room."

"After we buy the clothes, we're going straight to your bedroom to see how they fit," Kimi giggled, already beginning to rummage through another rack of clothing. "Don't worry, I promise not to steal any peeks when you're changing."

"You sure you're certain with yourself about that?" Tommy asked with a grin, turning to look at her. "Sounds like your dying with anticipation to see me shirtless."

"Oh, you are such a pervert!" Kimi laughed, quickly turning to through the first thing in her hand at him. It was a black shirt. "Typical thought process for you men. Always thinking about jumping into us ladies' pants. You know as well as I do that it ain't gonna happen yet, so start moaning with disappointment."

"Oh Kimi, you're breaking my heart," Tommy chuckled as he sarcastically moaned. He immediately began to look at the shirt for a moment before turning to the mirror and seeing how it looked over his chest. "You know, this shirt looks pretty shabby to me. I could see myself wearing this for a long while."

She turned and walked over to stand behind him. She looked in the mirror and widened her smile. "You're right," Kimi said. "It does look good on you. Maybe that perverted mind of yours ain't so bad after all." He began to chuckle as he tossed the shirt over her head to cover her giggling face.

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"Now these, we're gonna save for only the most special of special occasions," Kimi said, holding up the shirt and pants combination before hanging them into the closet. "Because when you wear them, you're gonna be one handsome, sexy beast. I'll be fighting girls just so they get the picture that you're with me."

"Your right about saving them for only the most special of special occasions," Tommy chuckled as they sat down on his bed together, listening to her sigh. "My clothes and your fighting off girls would create such a scene that it would result in us getting thrown into the back of a police car."

"That just shows how dedicated I am to be a faithful girlfriend," Kimi giggled, resting the back of her head just below his shoulder so she could look up into his eyes. "And to make sure you remain a faithful boyfriend."

"Of course I will be," Tommy said, starting to form a grin on his face. "Because if I wasn't a faithful boyfriend, I wouldn't be able to get away with this."

It was their favorite thing to do. Tickling.

She combined her shrieks and laughter together as he pulled her down and they began to roll about on the bed. "Stop it stop it stop it!" Kimi giggled in rapid-fire speed and succession. He had her in such that her back was to him, making it harder for her to counter attack his tickling with hers. They laughed and laughed as she struggled to release herself. This went on for moments on end until she conceded. He rested his back against the wall, holding her such in that her forehead touched the side of his. He legs lay across his lap and they slowed their laughing, their eyes closed. He placed a sweet and gentle kiss upon her cheek before they lost themselves in their gentle embrace and sighed.

"How long has it been again?" Kimi asked quietly. "Since we first started dating?"

"Six months," Tommy replied in a gentle whisper.

"We've been a couple for six months," Kimi said. "And we're about to finish our junior year in high school."

"After summer, we spend one more year before we figure out what to do with the rest of our lives," Tommy said.

"The rest of our lives," Kimi repeated with a soft sigh. "Six months. We've been together for six months. Another twelve months before we, as you say, 'figure out what to do with the rest of our lives.' And yet, all I can ever think about is what the future holds for our lives together."

"You're worried something might happen to our relationship in twelve months?" Tommy asked, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek in the hopes of giving reassurance of his faithfulness to her.

"A little," Kimi replied. "Things can happen in twelve months. And I'm kinda scared our relationship might not be strong enough to withstand another twelve months after spending six establishing that these feelings of ours is true."

"But...?" Tommy whispered.

"But at the same time, I am so happy with how strong our relationship has become," Kimi replied gently. "In the six months we've been together, we've built a relationship that has survived so much doubt and concerns that I can barely think of any other that could cause things go sour."

"So what you're saying is that if our relationship survives the next twelve months, we'll be more than fine," Tommy softly said with a chuckle. "You're saying that if it holds true, then we're ready for that one really big step."

She giggled gently. "I love it when you read my mind, Tommy Pickles," Kimi whispered. "It makes you that much more handsome. And it makes our relationship that much more stronger, being able to know what the other is thinking."

"Like how we're gonna make out this very second?" Tommy added with a grin.

"Show off," Kimi giggled.

Not wasting another second, their lips gently touched together. They shared a tender, yet passionate kiss to further proclaim the strength of their relationship. When they released, they smiled. She gave off a soft giggle, he gave off a soft chuckle. As if waiting impatiently, their lips gently met again.

"Hey T, I was wondering if I could..."

They couldn't help but quietly laugh as they turned their attention to the quite shocked younger Pickle standing in the doorway. Nor did they bother to move from their positions, smiling as they got a good look at Dil turning bright red at the sight of his older brother with a girl somewhat sitting on his lap.

"Oh come on, Dil," Tommy chuckled. "You've seen me kiss her many times by now."

"Wha...?" Dil managed to mutter. "Oh, I know, I know. It's just... well... you guys look like you were getting... well... very... um... I dunno... um..."

"Intimate?" Kimi giggled. They watched him swallow and then nod his head. "Aww, we're sorry, Dil. We didn't mean to plant such a picture in your fragile little mind." She then gave the elder Pickle a kiss on the cheek before gently scooting herself off his bed. "I think I should go any way. I have a feeling Chuckie beyond the point of worrying about me."

"Thanks again for buying me the clothes," Tommy said with a smile. "See you tomorrow?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Kimi said with a smile in return. She grabbed whatever stuff was hers and made her way out of the room, past the younger Pickle. "Later, Dil." Moments later, she was out of visual range.

"I dunno why, bro," Dil sighed, walking over to his brother's chair and sitting in it. "I dunno why, but I get really embarrassed seeing you two like that. I kinda feel like I'm breaking into your personal space and stuff."

"Ah, it's not all bad," Tommy said. "It's when we're on a date that I get uptight about whether or not you're around."

"But even still, I shouldn't be blushing like this every time I see you guys kiss and stuff," Dil said. "I dunno why, but it's just some feeling I have. Maybe I picked up something from Chuckie, who practically falls apart each time you and she even hold hands." They have a light chuckle at the memory.

"Well, maybe it's a different kind of embarrassment," Tommy suggested.

"What do you mean, T?" Dil asked.

"Suppose you're blushing not because you're seeing your older brother kiss a girl," Tommy explained. "And suppose it's not because I'm kissing a girl who just so happens to be a friend of ours since we were babies. Maybe you're blushing because you picture yourself kissing a girl."

Bingo.

The younger Pickle blushed really hard and tried to sheepishly turn his eyesight away from facing his brother. But then he understood what the older Pickle was saying and nodded. "I guess I'm really nervous about the idea of me dating soon," Dil said. "I admit, I am a strangle pickle. No pun intended. What if I meet someone I really like, but she doesn't like me for who I am? I mean, I really dunno if I can change who I am and stuff."

"Well, then don't think of your being with a girl too much as a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship," Tommy said with a shrug. "I think a good way to start a relationship is to have been friends with someone for a while and then see if you two are willing to take the next step."

"But wouldn't that take fifteen years like it did for you and Kimi?" Dil asked.

The older Pickle couldn't help but roll about in his bed laughing.

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"Hope you didn't embarrass him too much with all the clothes you bought him," Chuckie said, nervously scratching his head while watching his sister grab a soda from the fridge. "How long did you spend looking for clothes any way?"

"Two hours," Kimi said in a casual tone before sitting down in her chair, sitting across from her brother in the kitchen table. "If I had been with the other girls, it would've been five."

"What is it about clothes that makes it forever for girls to buy?" Chuckie asked curiously, unintentionally causing her sister to laugh. He just sighed and slumped in his chair until she went silent and began drinking her soda. After being content with a moment's silence, he changed the subject. "You seem really happy with him."

She smiled. "Of course I am, Chuckie," Kimi said. "You've known that for a while now."

"Yeah, I know," Chuckie said. "But... it's like you're even more happy than you were before. Like you can't stop thinking about him everyday and stuff."

She raised a brow. "Where are you going with this, older brother?" Kimi asked. "Are you jealous I spend more time with your best friend than with you?"

"No, no, of course not," Chuckie cried, nearly blushing at her comment. "It's just... um... well..."

It didn't take long for her to figure out where he was going. "You're concerned with just how far my relationship with Tommy has progressed over the six months we've been together," Kimi said. She watched as he slowly nodded his head sheepishly. She sighed and gave him a reassuring smile. "Tommy and I think about it a lot, you know. We've done so much both in our friendship and in our relationship that there's barely anything left to do before taking the next step. And that's why we've been taking our time, Chuckie. To Tommy and I, there's no need to rush through the relationship and get things over with. We only advance when we're ready."

"Are you sure?" Chuckie nervously asked. "I mean, have you guys been careful about what you do?"

She sighed and shook her head, still retaining the smile though. "Lemme let you in on a little secret, Chuckie," Kimi said with a whisper. "I could not have dated any one else who is more of a gentleman as Tommy is. He does things one at a time, while remaining true to himself and to our relationship. And yes, he's taking very good care of me."

With a bit of shyness, he looked up and stared into her eyes to see that she was telling the truth. He formed a sheepish smile and sighed. "I'm glad you are, sis," Chuckie said. "Guess I'm being the overprotective older brother again."

"Oh, Chuckie," Kimi giggled. "You're always gonna be my brother and I'll love you the same. But you don't have to always be there for me. Just remember that I am capable of taking care of myself, okay?" She watched him nod. "Thanks for understanding and for the support."

"No problem," Chuckie said, taking a deep breath. "So... whatcha guys do after you bought the clothes?"

"Take a wild guess," Kimi said with a grin.

She nearly dropped to the floor laughing as her brother's face went completely crimson.

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October 16, 2005