A/N- I quite enjoyed that last chapter. I hope everyone else did as well. Well, onto the next!

Chapter 8- We Meet Again

Gosalyn had refused the ride home from Honker. She told him that she needed a breath of fresh air and that she would call her dad as soon as she was ready to go. Now, as Honker's moped disappeared into the distance, she sat on one of the stools around the mouth of the gigantic hippo. The temperature had dropped a degree or two in the past hour, and she shivered slightly. She had poured herself a cup of coffee, black, and put it on the tab she was allowed to have with the Hippo. She took a small sip of it now and sighed, her mind once again racing.

Just what, exactly, was she hoping to solve by seeing Negaduck again? What would it change?

Suddenly, an unfamiliar car pulled into one of the parking spots at the side of the Hippo. The door opened and shut. Her guest stepped into the light.

"Negaduck," she said, smiling slightly.

"Gosalyn," he said, hurrying to sit beside her. He looked worried. "Are you hurt? Are you all right?"

"I think so," she said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Gosalyn sighed. How does one explain what is not totally known to themselves? How could she properly describe how she had been feeling since he had told her of his love?

"I mean… ever since the crystal ball… I've felt… different," she said, hesitating every now and then.

"What do you mean, 'different'? Was there another spell on the crystal ball? If so, then you need to talk to Morgana, not me," Negaduck inquired, concern in his voice.

"No! There wasn't another spell!" she said, exasperatedly. Sighing, she rested her head in her hand.

Negaduck was staring at her. He seemed to be genuinely worried about her. Well, of course he was. He was in love with her, wasn't he? Gosalyn sighed again.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know how to tell you this."

"Gosalyn," Negaduck said, seriously, resting a hand on her shoulder, "you can tell me anything."

Looking up at him, she blinked. He wasn't so bad. In fact, with all the kindness she had seen from him in the time that had passed, one could almost forget he had once led a life of crime. Almost.

"Let me tell you a story," she began.

"Uh… okay,"

Poor duck. He was becoming confused by her.

"Last year, a week or two before the St. Valentine's dance at my school, I began to worry about whether anyone would ask me to go or not. I've always been a tomboy, so I don't really tend to concentrate on attracting a guy. Well, surprisingly, it was my best friend, Honker Muddlefoot, that asked me to go with him. I accepted. I knew that he meant it as a date, and I thought I could try to date him. But… I just couldn't see him as anything other than my best friend. Before he took me home, we shared a kiss. When he asked me afterward if I had felt anything towards him, I said no. He accepted that answer, and our friendship continues today."

"Gos, I don't understand…" Negaduck muttered.

"He asked me to go with him to the dance two weeks beforehand. I had two weeks to feel something, and I didn't. It's been the same amount of time, give or take, since I left you behind… And…"

She looked away just as Negaduck's eyes widened. He stood and turned his back to her.

"Negaduck, I won't say that I love you… because I don't know that… all I know is that I do feel something for you. Is that all right? Is that okay?" Gosalyn said, standing as well.

He wouldn't turn around. Gosalyn felt tears welling up in her eyes. Then, as she began to sniffle, he turned.

"Gosalyn… Gosalyn, no, don't cry. It's all right… it's just… I never thought," he said, placing both hands on her shoulders.

"But what are we going to do? Dad… and Launchpad…" she said.

"I don't know, but we'll figure it out," he said soothingly, taking her into his arms, holding her close.

Once her eyes were dry, she sighed. Pulling back, she stated, "You should go. I have to get home. I get off tomorrow night at the same time. Meet me here again?"

"Of course."

He stared at her for a moment, then turned and got into the car. Once his car had pulled away, Gosalyn smiled. However, it was quickly wiped away.

"Gosalyn?" came Morgana's voice from behind her.

She turned to find Morgana with her hands clasped together in front of her heart.

"We have to talk, dear," she said.

End Notes: Okay, so, what did you think? Hope you enjoyed it. See ya next chapter! Please R & R!