I wrote this chapter because over two years I've gotten 20 reviews on one chapter. Again, no idea if I will ever continue, but I figured you persiverent peoples deserved this.

Rosie paled and looked at Atta, startled. "His father?"

Atta nodded. "Yes, Push was Flik's father. He was a very good ant," she said quietly, fiddling with her fingers and looking downcast. "Even though I was just a little ant at the time I…" she trailed off. "He used to make me toys and things to play with when I was little," she explained. "These things helped me get through all the 'royal' treatment and keep me humble." Atta gave a tiny smile. "You'd be amazed at how playing with a doll made from grass and seeds would humble a princess.

"Anyways, when he led the revolt against Hopper, he knew it was a fool's errand. But he hoped… it would give us courage. It didn't really, but it's good to know he didn't know that," Atta looked up, her eyes a little bright. "I'm sorry. It's an important part of our history and it's very important for everyone to know about, but it's… hard."

"We understand, dear," Manny said kindly. "Go see the lad. I daresay he needs you more then we do right now."

Atta gave him a grateful look and picked up Flik's crown. She murmured a quiet

'excuse me' and left the room.

"Poor dear, I tried to warn them," Dr. Flora sighed as Atta left.

Atta walked into Flik's room to see the poor ant curled around a leaf pillow. She bit her lip and walked in, sitting at the edge of his bed. "You okay?" she asked softly.

Flik's antennae twitched but he made no other effort to reply. There was an awkward silence for a minute before Flik took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "No," he finally answered.

Atta nodded and lay down next to Flik, patting his back soothingly. "I know you don't like to be reminded of him," she said kindly. "But he's part of our history. His legend will live on forever, and believe it or not, that's what he was trying to accomplish when he did what he did."

Flik nodded slowly and turned over to face Atta. Atta drew back her hand and gave Flik a small smile. "I didn't know you could be so depressed, I always thought you were the happy one."

Flik laughed and little and returned Atta's smile. "I wanted to see how you'd respond under pressure," he joked weakly.

Atta laughed for his sake and propped her head on her fist. "Well, you picked the right night to do it."

Flik sighed. "I know, I know. The guys are out there and everyone should be celebrating… but…"

"Flik," Atta said sternly and drew Flik's face up to look at hers. "You're upset, and you have every right to be upset. I'm not berating you for anything. If you don't want to be out there, then no one is making you. Especially not me."

Flik's grin widened a little before dropping. "It's not that I don't want to be out there. It's just that…" he trailed off slowly.

"Yes?" Atta asked, prodding him to go on.

"Every time I hear his name, I see… I see what Hopper did to him," Flik sighed. "I don't remember the great man who helped the colony, or my dad. I just remember his last seconds in life, over and over…"

Atta's eyes widened before she drew Flik into her embrace. "Oh… oh…" she said softly. "Flik…"

"I can't help it," Flik said quietly. "I don't want to but…"

"Shhh…" Atta cut him off. "It's all right. No one can get over that kind of thing completely. Don't worry."

"Thanks… Atta," Flik said softly.

"Always," Atta replied and continued to hold Flik until they were both fast asleep.

The next morning, Flik and Atta slowly came down to the main hall where breakfast was being served. Both were yawning and looked slightly mussed as they sat down next to the Circus Bugs.

Rosie gave them a sidelong glance and winked at Flik. "Long night?" she asked.

Flik laughed and then turned a bright red. "Nooo…" he said slowly. "We just talked, about stuff…"

Atta nodded and patted Flik's arm. "Can you please go get me some nectar, I'm thirsty."

"Sure," Flik said brightly and got up from the table to oblige his fiancée.

Atta turned to the rest of the bugs and lowered her voice. "We talked about his dad last night," she said quickly. "And then he fell asleep. Please, don't bring it up anymore. I prefer him happy."

"As you wish, dear," Manny said with a wink.

Slim and Francis both hid small laughs as Flik came back with three cups of nectar. "Here you go," he said brightly, handing one to Atta.

"Thanks," Atta said gratefully and took her cup from Flik and downed it.

"Three cups?" Slim asked. "May I ask what the third one is for?"

"Not what," Flik replied, setting them down. "Who."

"Who?" Molt asked.

"Wait one second," Flik laughed and turned around, standing still for a few seconds.

Atta smiled as she sipped on the sweet drink. "What did I ever do without you?" she asked herself quietly.

"RAWR!" a loud voice growled as Dot came flying from nowhere right into Flik's outstretched arms.

"She got me!" he said dramatically, swinging Dot around and flopping into his chair. "Here you go," he said with a grin as he handed Dot the extra drink.

"Thanks!" she said excitedly and sipped on the cup.

Flik took his own cup and drank it happily while Dot went on and on about what she was doing in school and how she was doing to the other bugs.

"Oh, and we have this awesome report project to do!" she said excitedly. "You get to pick your role model and do a presentation on them! Flik is my role model!"

Flik snorted into his drink and coughed a little. "Y-yes?" he asked.

Dot turned around and grinned. "Is that all right?" she asked.

Flik blinked down at her then smiled. "Sure, if that's what you want. Mind warning me next time?" he asked.

Dot giggled. "Sorry, I got so caught up in everything I forgot to ask. Oh, and can you come in on the presentation day?"

Flik exchanged glances with Atta who in turn shrugged and finished off her own drink. "I don't see why not," she said.

"Yay!" Dot cheered and hugged Flik. "That's awesome! I can't wait to tell everyone else."

"You better get going though, or you won't have time to tell anyone anything before class," Atta told her.

"Right!" Dot said and jumped off Flik's lap. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Atta's cheek. "See ya!" she said brightly. She turned and did the same for Flik and waved excitedly as she ran out the hall door.

"My my," Rosie said. "So full of energy."

"And so absent minded," Francis laughed. "Like someone we know," he chided while looking at Flik.

"I aim to please," Flik countered.

The bugs at the table began to laugh as Atta's mother came into the hall and plopped down next to Atta. "Well, that was the first good night's rest I've had in ages!" she exclaimed. "How was your night?"

"Fine," Atta and Flik said together.

"You know, if you two want your own room, all you have to do is ask," her mother laughed.

Atta and Flik both blushed scarlet and pretended to sip on empty cups.

"Also, since your coordination is over with dear, you also need to choose a wedding date," she added.

Atta rolled her eyes. "Yes mother," she sighed.

"Well, this colony will need new ants soon," her mother said matter of factly. "Oh, by the way Flik dear, thanks for going with Dot to the school thing. She was so excited."

"She told you yesterday but not me?" Flik asked with a laugh.

"She really is following in your footsteps," Slim replied.

Flik shrugged. "I'm more then absentminded you know."

"Now," Atta added.

"Hey," Flik started to protest but Atta countered it by kissing him on the cheek.

"I was teasing you," she said with a grin. "Come on guys, some things have changed since you last left."

"Tour?" Molt asked. He clapped his hands together and rubbed them like a little child. "Oh goodie!"

"We've got a western tunnel done," Atta answered and motioned for them to follow. "Come on, we'll show you."

"Don't forget to pick a date!" her mother yelled as they left.

"Yes mom!" Atta called back as she walked out the door.

Atta's mother rolled her eyes and downed her own cup. "Kids, no matter how old they get, they never seem to grow up."