Chapter 12

Amanda held the pieces tightly as tears came to her eyes. She watched Robbie walk towards the other exit of their place. The girl couldn't let him leave.

"Wait!" She shouted between sobs. Robbie stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned around and saw Amanda crumple into a heap on the floor. Rushing to her side, Robbie wrapped his arms around her.

"Robbie Rotten, you've hurt me. How could you?" She asked as she pushed him away and threw the check pieces at him.

"There's no way for me to explain what happened. I can only say that I'm extremely sorry. I never wanted things to go the way they have." Robbie told her as he wiped the tears off her face.

"That's…" he didn't let Amanda finish.

"That's not good enough, I know. All the money in the world could not bring back the happiness we once shared. That check isn't worth losing you. There is only one thing I want you to know." Robbie continued. Amanda dropped her defenses, her shoulders sagged, and she let him go on.

"Out of all the people in the world, there is no one I'd rather be with, nowhere I'd rather be than right here with you. If you can't find it in your heart to forgive me, then I understand but please don't throw what we have away because of my moment of stupidity. But I've got to know where we stand. Let me know that you still care for me or tell me that you hate my guts but either way, I gotta know." Robbie finished.

Amanda absorbed all that her boyfriend had said. He did at least deserve to know where they stood. The only problem was she didn't know where that was exactly.

A few hours later, Robbie knocked on the apartment door. Stephanie saw him through the peep hole and let him in.

"Hi Robbie. Is there something I can do for you?" She asked.

"Is Sportacus around?" the man asked sullenly.

"He's with Joshua. Let me get him for you." Stephanie smiled. She turned and went down the hallway.

Sportacus had just put their child to bed for his afternoon nap. Quietly, he turned to leave and saw his wife standing in the doorway. She whispered to him that Robbie was here and to give them some privacy she was going to see her uncle. Sportacus kissed her and promised to see her later.

Now out in the living room, the above-average hero met with his friend. It was quite obvious that Robbie was not in a good mood.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Amanda came by this morning and we had a long talk." The ex-villain told him.

"And…" Sportacus wondered.

"And she said to give you this message. 'The Show Must Go On.' She said you'd understand." Robbie said. Sportacus smiled.

"It's her way of telling me and you what's going to happen." The above-average hero got up and popped a CD into the player. Skipping to the track, he wanted; Sportacus hit play and indicated his friend should listen.

"Empty spaces - what are we living for
Abandoned places - I guess we know the score
On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for...
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore
The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
I guess I'm learning (I'm learning learning learning)
I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning (turning turning turning)
Round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free
The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah yeah
Ooh, inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

Yeah yeah, whoa wo oh oh

That's when Robbie heard a familiar voice come over the top of Freddie Mercury's. Amanda opened the apartment's door singing along

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly - my friends
The show must go on (go on, go on, go on) yeah yeah
The show must go on (go on, go on, go on)
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On - with the show

Ooh, I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the show
On with the show
The show…

The CD ended and Robbie looked at her in amazement. Amanda smiled and sat down next to him on the sofa. Taking his hands in hers, she said,

"Robbie, we've been through a lot. No one can deny that. I just want you to know that I'm not giving up on you or our relationship. Things are not going to go right back to where they were but I want us to be together. No matter what. I don't care if we live like we do now or if we lived like royalty. As long as you're with me that's all that matters. I love you." Then she took his face and brought it to hers and the two kissed.

The End

Well Ladies and Gentlemen, that it for this one. Keep your eyes peeled for the next installment.

I'd like to thank everyone again for their support. Writing and talking to you guys helped me through my Nana's last days and I really appreciate it. So as readers and friends you guys are the greatest.

Thanks,

18lzytwner