Reviews :

faolan1230 : LOL you're definitely not wrong there!

Burgie : Aw. Yeah, he's pretty shy about watching Berri's shows, cause she insists actually being there is far better. Gets him into a bit of trouble haha

marinetanker97 : Yeah, I try and keep up with continuity. It's just me, myself and I! Gets difficult sometimes. I'm like whoooooops, gotta bring this plot point home haha

Nikki Firesong : Yeah, Turbo definitely is going through it. They eventually balance out, just the first time Berri's gone is the hardest.

Snake557 : Yeah, Turbo would be in a whole world of hurt lol

SamanthaR1987 : Aw WOW! Thanks for catching up, and from so far back! That's huge :D I'm glad you're enjoying everything so far!


A/N : Hey guys! Sorry for the delay - we went out of town for Thanksgiving and I didn't make writing a priority, because I was visiting family I hadn't seen in a long while. I'll probably take a break for xmas and new years as well, the holidays always throws me off of my schedule - but I'll try and keep up! :) Thanks for understanding, guys! Hope everyone had a lovely holiday!


Song Listened To :

Coins In a Fountain by Passengers


*Chapter 122*

Having arrived into Sugar Rush a lot later than had expected, Berri, Wren and Theo only finally got settled in their lovely palace tower nearing four in the morning. Caught in a whirl of travel, strict schedules, cameras, caked makeup and a whipping five performances, Berri was entirely certain she'd sleep herself silly. In the gentle flickers of Sugar Rush's mid morning sun, glints that cast into her tidy, nearly untouched bedroom, she wrinkled her nose and scanned her room for Chester. Having practiced saying certain words and phrases, with Chester, until she could keep her eyes open, she had fallen asleep with Chester tight by her side, though in the cast of lovely sunlight into her bedroom, Chester was gone. In the cracks of her elbows, she grunted as she hoisted herself up to a sitting position and relaxed with her arms tossed over her knees. Dressed in a cozy tank top and black sweats, her hair frizzed in lovely blue waves, its natural state, almost desperate to fight against the heat damage and every other unnatural thing done to it these past two weeks. Berri ran her fingers through her bangs and tidied it as much as she could, though in a pang of remembrance, she glossed her eyes to her phone and was well aware there was one person she was dying to see the most. Orion City's keeper.

In the gentle steps she took to get her bare feet to her teleportation pad, Berri transferred herself to the towers lovely, sunlit kitchen. Still untouched and kissed with the prettiest sunlight on the face of Arcade, Berri relished in the stillness, having been surrounded by nothing but noise these past two weeks. Berri had an inkling Chester had potentially let himself outside, though as she began to cross the kitchen and into the living quarters, with the tower's back door that lay just beyond, a light down their foyer's corridor caught her eye. The front door was just barely ajar, and although this typically would be a bad thing, due to letting out heated tower air, the wind that soothed through the breezeway made Berri's untamed hair flit in a flurry of renewal, cozy spring time air soaked into her circuits, easily reminding her the epicenter of her being, an embrace that Sugar Rush gave, as if to pleadingly hope Berri never forgot her roots. With a deep inhale through her nose, Berri pressed to the front door and carefully stepped outside to find Chester's whereabouts.

In the squint of sunlight that cast through the nearby trees and onto the fresh, new Sugar Rush candy grass, a lovely show of springtime pink buds that wormed out of the chocolate soil, Berri's eyes followed to where Turbo stood. She froze and watched as Chester firmly chucked Chester's ball far off into the near-rolling hills of grass the palace was crowned with. Underneath nearby trees sat residual piles of properly melting snow, but other than those touches of winter's clinging grip, spring was fully here. Chester huffed a loud noise of excitement and allowed his powerful legs to carry him forward, in the direction of the ball, his bat-like wings sprawling open with further fervor. Turbo huffed a silent chuckle to himself and tucked his hands into his jean's pockets, his back was to Berri's tower. Although Berri wanted to tease him and maybe plan a sneak attack, she allowed her bare feet to ease to the wood of her patio and crossed her arms. She inhaled a deep breath and gingerly called out to Turbo, who was about two dozen feet off, stood in the soil and grass.

"Didja miss me?" Berri eased with a cheeky smile, though her voice crackled from still waking up; Turbo raised his eyebrows in hot surprise and whirled around.

Turbo casted his golden gaze back to Berri's covered patio and felt his heart do a back flip. Although he knew she had come in very late the night prior, Turbo was certain he'd maybe not see her until later tonight, after she had caught up on sleep. The look in her eye, the smile on her face, it all read a very decent amount of quick-maturity, as if the trip about Dance Dance had likely humbled her. The look of softer wisdom in her being was palpable, her stance and posture was not so juvenile, and it was here did Turbo's heart begin to race. Well aware that it wasn't simply one thing or experience that matured a person, he wondered just what kinds of trails she had been through in order to eke this much of a change. Turbo beamed a bashful smile down to his feet and, although Berri began to cross the gap to him, he easily joined in her endeavor and held a smile in her direction. The two began to quietly laugh the second Berri began to run to him, and as he hurried his pace, he lulled his eyes closed in relief the second Berri raveled her arms about Turbo's neck and sunk into his strong, inviting embrace.

Turbo blurt a warm chuckle and squeezed his arms about Berri's being. A gentle sway and a squeeze the two gave one another, Turbo eased his eyes open and allowed his now hazy gaze to peer over her shoulder, past the fresh blue strands of her wavy hair. He furrowed his eyebrows and felt the lovely feelings he had very easily begin to dip into something a bit more sharp and thorny, a pain Berri plainly warned about. Turbo scrunched his eyes shut and clung onto Berri's figure, and trough a hot sigh, he knew this union was likely going to remain platonic. How desperately he wanted to whisk her away, and although he knew he could do so, very easily, and she would likely agree, he halted his desires and only wanted this all if she could officially be his, and not shared with another man. As hard as it'd be to explain to her, he wondered if he could get to the topic very slowly.

"More than you know," Turbo grumbled sweetly as the two pulled away, and in the gentle tug of Berri returning her arms and hands to herself, Turbo gingerly sagged his hands into his pockets and smiled into her lovely eyes. Although not officially his, he could tell, by the twinkle in her eyes, that a little piece of her would always be his, no matter what happened, "You KILLED those shows, Bear... I watched every single one."

"Y-You did?" Berri ogled as she sagged her shoulders and gave Turbo a soft look of glee, she finally beamed a bashful smile and peered off to Sugar Rush's glorious palace grounds, through the crisp spring air and bright sunshine, she was so excited to be back home. She lofted her tight gaze to Turbo's and began to brace for Chester's presence, which was now eagerly trotting back to the two with the retrieved ball, "You just... Watched it live?"

"Every single one," Turbo bobbed a nod he cocked an eyebrow and gave Berri a cheeky smile of understanding, "You really should be the one singing, Bear... You clearly can't help yourself."

"I-I know, I KNOW," Berri urged loudly as the two began to sweetly laugh, an understanding that Berri simply could hold back her other talents, "TRUST me, Gunner gives me shit for it all the time."

"... W-Wait, what?" Turbo pressed nervously, he shook his head and urgently peered into Berri's now apprehensive gaze, "He gives you shit for singing along?"

"Well, we're on stage, I'm supposed to just PLAY," Berri gestured downwards and messily pantomimed a guitar, "I'm not supposed to be singing. Wren is the back up vocals, cause he's a guy. My guitar's mic occasionally picks me up, and it just sounds messy, cause... Well..."

"I thought every show was wonderful, I kept wishing your mic was turned up," Turbo rushed to get in, clearly agitated, though he choked a noise and wobbled as Chester firmly nudged his snout, as well as the slobbery ball in his mouth, into Turbo's shoulder. Turbo raised his eyebrows, took the ball from Chester, reeled back a little and easily chucked the ball off into the great beyond; Chester barked an excited noise, and in a full pant, he tore off in the direction of the tossed ball. Turbo heaved a hard sigh and brought his attention back to Berri, "You can't possibly tell me that guy doesn't see your talent..."

"... I think he'd enjoy my talent if it wasn't constantly ruining shows or practices," Berri grumbled, she twiddled her fingers and looked down, "He may have quite enjoyed the idea of it all if I maybe... Reserved my singing for more candid times, and not for important shows or practices."

"He's kind of self centered," Turbo muttered, though he felt his face get hot the second Berri shot him a mildly protective look; he frowned and shook his head softly, "S-Sorry, Bear... I'm an outside perspective, but... I respect that he's your boyfriend."

"We fight over it, a lot," Berri sighed, she crossed her arms and looked across the palace's glorious lot, "I'm not positive how we'll get over it. I constantly am asking to sing at least ONE song on the tour, but... I get why it'd be too spontaneous, not rehearsed. I understand."

"Well... Hopefully one day you get through to him," Turbo grunted and shrugged, "Before someone else does..."

"What do you mean by that?" Berri prod, and though she continued to feel protective, she almost giggled and wondered just where Turbo was going with that notion.

"Nothing, I just... I think we need to... Sort of rethink what we have going on, here," Turbo mumbled softly, and with the switch up, Berri sagged and noted his seriousness.

"... Is everything okay?" Berri wondered softly.

"Everything's fine, I just... I have to be honest with you," Turbo stated in gentle regret, he looked down to his feet for a second before he finally peered his curious, golden gaze into Berri's, "I... I nearly lost my mind, the other night. I'm not positive if your mom told you, or not."

"She... May have mentioned Lash nearly being unbubbled," Berri blurt with a nervous giggle, she peered to Turbo in a pleading show of wanting answers, though as Turbo heaved a hot sigh and regretfully looked off, Berri softened and eased her hand to Turbo's forearm, "I... I know the root of this issue. And I know it's not simply the protector I brought home."

"Wh-where is it, by the way?" Turbo staggered nervously as he dart his eyes back to Berri's tower, the door hung ajar in the gentle, sunny breeze.

"Mom thought it'd be wise to bubble her," Berri eased sadly, she shrugged and allowed the bittersweet notion to age, "I... Really didn't want to, but we just don't know if something could go drastically wrong. My mom doesn't want anything else happening to the game, or Arcade."

"She's wise," Turbo pressed with a nod, "Her and Zed fought tooth and nail to keep the game safe. I'm sorry we had to bubble your friend."

"It's okay, mom said I can unbubble her in the security of the code room, as long as she's paused of her powers," Berri shrugged, "Maybe you can meet her tonight."

"What's tonight?" Turbo wondered gently, to which Berri averted her gaze tight to his.

"Palace meeting," Berri reminded, Turbo bobbed a firm nod and snapped his fingers.

"Right, forgot... It'll be good to get the rundown of what's going on," Turbo pressed, though he bashfully glanced in Berri's direction; she almost expectantly looked him in the eye and remained silent. Turbo swallowed hard and bashfully carried on, "Berri, I... I really struggled to focus, while you were gone, and... I'm beginning to think you were right, about that whole pain, thing..."

"My dad told me that I should work to hone my foresight," Berri stated regretfully, she sighed and looked down to her bare feet, her toes melted into Sugar Rush's velvety pink grass, "I guess... That was my first task. You and I..."

Turbo sighed and also looked down to their feet, a warm breeze that soaked between the two, and as Chester's pattering paws could be heard approaching, Turbo took advantage of the silence and quietly retrieved the ball Chester provided. In a firm grunt of a chuck, Chester barked a noise of glee and was easily off, once again. In the gentle swing back to normality, Turbo brought his eyes back to Berri and heaved a warm sigh through his mouth. He knew hwta had to be done, no matter how hard it'd be, he was well aware it was a must if their friendship was to remain in tact.

"Berri, I... I want US, and nothing more," Turbo bravely admitted, his voice began to shake, "I-I know I told you that you could have your cake and eat it, too, but... That was incredible selfish of me, and... I-I don't want that for us, any longer."

Berri furrowed her eyebrows in warm despair, an ironic state of feeling sad and relieved, all in one go. She knew she had come back to Sugar Rush with the same exact feelings, though somehow, having Turbo beat her to it, she felt her veins run cold in understanding that this was, indeed, real.

"If we're going to ever be a thing, I don't want another man to be in the picture," Turbo sagged, he looked off and shook his head, "Just... Spending these two weeks, imagining you in his arms, sleeping in his bed... I can't share someone so incredible, someone so valuable."

"Turbo, I-I... I can't-"

"I'm not asking you to leave Gunner, love," Turbo's sorrowful voice pressed in tenderness, he shook his head and gave her an apologetic smile, "I understand this is my battle... I have to fight for what I want, and... I-It's... Just going to be, well... Really difficult."

"... I understand," Berri concluded nervously, she looked down and sagged, although she thought it strange to feel heartbroken here, she scolded herself and was well aware this would be the outcome, something she had predicted.

"...But, not impossible," Turbo added, although his voice was low and soft, his smile and warmth held a great deal of promise, "I'll... I-I'll eventually leave the game."

"Y-You will?" Berri staggered in a now skyrocket of sweet release she had been dreaming of, she shook her head and felt her hands begin to shake, "Wh-when?"

"I'm not positive, I... I can't tell you when, cause even I don't know when," Turbo's voice began to lightly shake, he beamed a nervous smile down to their feet and shrugged, "I just... Need time. But, I don't want you to waste that time giving half of yourself to two guys. When the time comes, it'll just... All be right. Maybe not now, maybe not soon, but... You're my best friend, and I can't lose you to the silly notions I decided to put into your head, out of pure selfishness."

Berri peered to Turbo in a great show of warmth, the way. his confident eyes hooked into hers, Berri felt relief. Although she would easily pick Turbo over Gunner, she wondered if she should at least attempt to iron out the kinks her and Gunner had, rest assured a beautiful, exciting relationship would be underneath it all. She smiled down to her feet and felt more at ease than she had in a long while. The raw fact that Turbo was practically promising her his efforts, eventual upward spiral they both could fall into, she bashfully melted her eyes to the grass, underneath, and felt grateful that Turbo had now taken the pressure off of the two, and they could now carry on as what they were; the best of friends, with no expectations or deeper temptations to get distracted by. Berri inhaled a refreshed breath through her nose and gave Turbo a grateful smile, just what kind of a roller coaster their friendship had been on, how much it had already endured, she felt confident that one day, they'd make it.

"Thank you, Turbo," Berri warmly concluded in a gentle shake of her head, "I-I was going to present the same notion to you, because... Th-the strain, especially with the distance, is just... Too much to handle, right now."

"Well, we're free of it, now," Turbo stated softly, and although he was certain he'd be really sad that the romantic aspect was now sucked right out of their situation, he felt a weight lifted, as if they now could start over and do things right, whenever that situation presents itself, "You're now rid of my probably lasting-too-long kisses."

"It was fine, stop it," Berri blurt a laugh and swat at Turbo's shoulder, the two began to slowly mosey in the direction Chester was, far across the palace field.

"I'm rusty, but surely I wasn't half bad," Turbo mumbled cutely as they easily fell into step, the gentle trek they took together was kissed with renewing sunlight, "I mean, right?"

"Hmmm, I don't know," Berri fingered her lip and looked up, to which Turbo scoffed a noise, rolled his eyes and looked off in playful dismay. Berri blurt a hard laugh and nudged Turbo's shoulder, "You did fine, knock it off. You may think you're a rusty, dusty old fart, but I guarantee you'll make some woman very happy, one day."

Turbo eased her a warm smile and softened, and although this now was a silent, unspoken topic between them, he blurt a gentle chuckle and looked on, with Berri tight by his side, "That's definitely the plan."