Disclaimer: The Peanuts characters belong to Charles Monroe Schulz, even in the wake of his passing.

He Is Into You, Lucy van Pelt!

Well, they lost.

But it felt different this time for Charlie Brown. Not the losing: that still stung. But that stinging sensation wasn't affecting him; he wasn't letting it get to his heart. Instead, he felt satisfaction: the satisfaction of knowing that he had given the team and the game his absolute, 100% best. When he ran, he gained crucial yardage. His tackles seldom missed: at least they'd slow an opponent down; at best they'd stop the opponent dead in their tracks. But it was his kicking that earned him the real respect. With the oppositions' slightly better offense and damn near impregnable defence, it was Charlie Brown's field goals that kept his team in the hunt. Field goals that were good from just about any given distance and which were performed to ever loudening gasps and plaudits from those who witnessed them, friend and foe alike.

They might have won too had Peppermint Patty not misjudged her throw in the final play and had the ball intercepted. So yes, they lost. And yet, in the debriefing there were no goats, no fall guys. Just assurances from the coach that everyone had done their damnedest and that he was pleased by their efforts. Even Patty was forthcoming with her praises as she apologized for her misjudgment while openly acknowledging that "Chuck and his right foot kept us in the game."

He'd noticed the sincerity with which she'd made that statement. In fact, her conduct towards him since the day he rejected her advances was no less than cordial, with no trace at all of any bitterness. At the very least she seemed to have come to terms with his decision and was moving on with her life.

There was one other thing he noticed during the game and right now it was perplexing him.

Lucy.

He hadn't seen nor spoken to her since that day when Patty tried railroading him into a relationship. Then on the night before the game, she'd called him to wish him all the best for the game. Two lines from her stuck with him.

"All the best for tomorrow. And all I ask is that you give it your all. Who knows, it might be enough this time…"

Though her words suggested a putdown, they were delivered in a playful and good-natured tone with which Charlie Brown had become familiar and – if he was being honest – had come to consider an irresistible trait of hers.

The second line was equally profound. "And Charlie Brown, when you give it your all tomorrow, do it for yourself and the team. Don't do it for me. I've already accepted you." Then she hung up before he could ask for clarification. And given how little he could afford any distractions, he let the matter rest: there'd be time to address it after the game.

Or would there?

He saw her in the stands when the teams took to the field, doing her bit to egg the home team on to victory. After the final whistle, she was no longer there. She wasn't there when he had collected his gear and was ready for the walk (correction: slog) home. But Sally was. "Hey, Big Bro," his flighty little sister greeted him. "Wicked game you had. And for once we can't pin a loss on you!"

"Umm, thanks?" replied Charlie Brown, realizing that this was as much of a compliment from Sally as he could ever realistically expect. Over the years she had cultivated a roasting technique on him to rival even Lucy's. Damning with faint praise was indeed a sign that her viewpoint on him had softened.

"So anyway, I got a message for you. From Lucy," she said in a teasing voice. "She's waiting for you."

"Waiting?" Charlie Brown enquired. "Where?"

"She didn't say," replied Sally, satisfied that she had accomplished her task, no more and no less. "Only that you'd know where to find her."

The list of options was not exactly narrowed down, and his process of elimination was not helped by Sally interjecting: "So, I know you and Lucy are supposed to be tight now, but are you two now in a relationship? I see even Patty is leaving you alone now." Then, an impish grin crept up on her face and she followed up with: "So…why does Lucy want you alone anyway..? Should I tell Mom you'll be home a bit later?" She capped off her questioning with a little wink.

And Charlie Brown was left flustered by her questions. "I…I…don't know, and it's none of your concern anyway!"

"Big Bro, a girl is interested in you and as far as I know she doesn't seem like a head case. Forget my business, this is front-page news!"

"Just..," Charlie Brown stammered, "tell Mom I'll be late at home!"

"Aw, you sure you don't want me to tag along. Witness a monumental event, maybe?"

Charlie Brown didn't answer that. He simply adopted an authoritative look and pointed away from their location, thus signaling the end of the discussion and for her to be on her way. She relented, but not without a parting shot: "Make sure you don't screw this one up. I mean it!"

She was where he thought she'd be: in the field. He found her kneeling at the center, tossing her football and humming tunelessly.

As exhausted as he was, Charlie Brown still had his curiosity. Why would she meet him here; what was her angle? He cautiously made his way to Lucy, who spoke as soon as he came within earshot: "Hell of a game you played. Almost the most impressive thing I saw you do this week."

OK, he thought as he took the bait.

"Almost..?" he asked, more in curiosity than with wounded pride.

Lucy obliged him with her answer, although her expression changed to one that Charlie Brown couldn't exactly read. "I saw what happened between you and Patty the other day," she began, sounding uncertain about the wording to use. "At first I thought you were a spineless, gutless milksop when you let her bully you into letting her kiss you."

Charlie Brown felt a stab of guilt in his heart upon hearing that revelation. "For what it's worth, Lucy," he began a stumbling attempt at an explanation, "I didn't enjoy it."

Lucy's expression remained unchanged. Charlie Brown didn't sense anger, nor jealousy. If anything, Lucy looked disappointed, only her disappointment didn't seem directed towards him. She continued: "But then I saw how you stood your ground against her, telling her how you couldn't accept her feelings and that there was someone else whom you truly cared about."

"And I meant it too, Lucy!" Charlie Brown confirmed. "Despite everything, I truly enjoy your company. I enjoy being with you. You're pretty and you're not afraid to speak your mind and keep me honest."

Surprisingly, Lucy's expression did not perk up at the confession. If anything, she seemed a bit sadder. "And there I stood, willing to give up on you. No benefit of the doubt, no trust, nothing! While you showed you were fully committed to me…and to us."

And before Charlie Brown could offer a rebuttal, she continued by placing the football in position for a placekick. "I now know that you trust me wholeheartedly, Charlie Brown. Now I want you to know that I am worthy of that trust."

What's her angle, he wondered. Is this a genuine display, or does she plan on getting back at me for what happened with Patty? By the time he was done cycling through the myriad possibilities and variables and nuances, he realized he was standing away from Lucy, ready to begin his runup.

What the hell, I'll know in five seconds!

Five-and-a-half seconds later, Charlie Brown was standing in awe as he watched Lucy's ball in mid-flight. The ball carved a long, wide parabolic trajectory as it sailed majestically through the autumn sky. He watched, as it landed with a satisfying THUNK some distance away from them. He then turned to Lucy, whose expression he saw had changed one of expectation, of longing.

Longing for his trust.

Longing for his acceptance.

Longing for his love.

He answered by dropping to his knees in front of her, to embrace her on the ground and hug her like he was sure she'd never been hugged before. He should not have been surprised when she hugged him back. And to be honest, he wasn't. At least not by her hug. It was her crying that took him by surprise.

"Lucy, you're crying," he stated.

"Well spotted, you blockhead!" she replied. A somewhat encouraging display that despite the emotions come to the fore, she hadn't lost all of her abrasiveness. "I've just had the world's biggest blockhead accept me fully for who I am, good and bad, and here I am thinking it one of the happiest moments of my life!"

Charlie Brown's eyes lit up when he heard that confession. "Wait, does this mean..?" He dared to hope.

"That depends," replied Lucy now with a reclaimed spark of mischief. "How exactly did Patty kiss you?"

Charlie Brown smiled back at her and answered: "Like this." Whereupon he brought his mouth to hers for a kiss that he hoped would mimic the emotion and intensity that Patty had shown him. It did, as Lucy smiled a goofy smile afterward and declared: "Oh, I could get used to this!" She then returned the kiss, and once their lips had parted, she followed up with: "Definitely. I could definitely get used to this!"

Then: "Say, Charlie Brown, how much of a hurry are you in to get back home..?"

And so they remained, sitting in the field, hand-in-hand with their fingers interlocked. Leaning against each other in the utmost content.

Who could know what was to follow? Maybe the union was doomed to be only a childhood fling, maybe it would signal the beginning of a romance for the ages. Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt had no way of knowing. Nor did they particularly care. All they had was each other and the here and now. And, in all truthfulness, right that moment they wanted for nothing more.

Hidden from their sight, someone had witnessed this sequence of events and was thoroughly satisfied with the outcome.

"What can I say?" Sally Brown chuckled to herself. "He really is into you, Lucy van Pelt!"

THE END

And so concludes this tale. I hope you enjoyed it. This was intended as a one-shot and end with Lucy warming up to Charlie Brown. Truly, I initially considered it a side project, to be done as a lighter tale while I was writing my rather dark Hey Arnold fic, In Her Honor, which I considered my main project. *COUGH* Shameless plug! *COUGH!*. Then, however...wouldn't you know it? I became more invested in the story and the characters and wanted to explore its possibilities even further. Meanwhile, the likes and (especially) the follows started spiking and I really began feeling obligated to let the tale run its full course.

So thanks to all those who read, commented, liked, and followed. It was an absolute joy writing this story for you!

Finally, a big thank you to my readers in:

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If ever you wanted proof of the universal appeal of Peanuts...

Anyway, that's it for this story. I hope to encounter you in the not-too-distant future. Peace out!