I own nothing.
Chapter 4
From the moment those two men appeared in Wilma's life there was only one thing she knew for sure. Her life changed and didn't change back. As the change was happening, she didn't know what exactly to make of it, and most of all she didn't know why it was happening, why it was happening to her or what to do about it. She didn't know that the two men she didn't even know were warring for her.
"Where did they come from?" the question repeated in her mind throughout their battle even as love that she didn't understand bloomed in her heart. Wilma didn't even know when the war began. She only knew that one day, she was an ordinary woman living her life until one day they appeared. Fred and Barny changed everything making her suddenly not so ordinary, but a pursued woman. And it all began with silent tokens of their affection. Not many people knew Wilma's favorite flower that was why she was so surprised one day when a bouquet of them arrived on her doorstep. Hibiscus roses, each long red petal alive with bloom, and attached was a card. A card that told her they were from Barny Rubble, the last person she would have ever expected.
Wilma accepted them with a smile and carrying them into the house she just looked at them. They were amazing. Each one seemed to be almost perfect as they sat in their crystal vase a small note hidden within the petals. Whoever wrote it had terrible chicken scratch handwriting, but she could read their words nonetheless.
"I enjoyed meeting you yesterday. Sorry if I scared you" read the words written in deep chicken scratch filling her with terror at first sight even as she gazed at the name at the bottom uncertainly. The name at the bottom eased her mind though, it said Barny; who was Barny? He was just a vague memory at first. The name was familiar, but at first Wilma just couldn't place it until suddenly she did. The little man who had fainted and lay passed out on her couch. He had sent her flowers. Her favorite flowers too. She didn't know why but looking at the note then the flowers she smiled anyway. She would have expected something like this from the other one, but not him. It made her think she shouldn't be so judgmental. Barny. She thought of him as he lay passed out on the couch. He had seemed so harmless and now she wondered if he was. Or if maybe there was more to him then met the eye?
He had sent her flowers, how sweet, and setting them directly in front of her window, Wilma didn't think about or even notice Fred outside. He too was carrying a bouquet of flowers. Fred had stood outside as the delivery boy gave her the flowers knowing the whole time that they were from Barny. The little guy had out done him and staring at her through the window watching as she enjoyed his flowers, Fred felt lost. His shoulders slumped and feeling completely dejected, Fred quietly left his flowers on her doorstep not staying to see if she would like them too. This moment only served to remind him that he wasn't home anymore.
"What now?" thought Fred finding himself lonely and broke in the streets; he had spent the last of his money on those flowers for her.
"I need a job" Fred knew that was the next step, but he felt like a young kid again; he had no idea what the hell he was doing. Fred walked around hopelessly for a long time. He was feeling sorry for himself in all honesty and that was when he found himself in front of the quarry. The place that gave him his start long ago. Looking up at the sign, Fred knew that it could give him his start again. Once he entered the quarry, Fred felt for a moment like he was home again. There was no change. It looked the same as the bedrock he knew and applying himself it was the same as before. He was hired right away. But Barny beat him again. As he was being led to his dinocrane, Fred saw Barny already there across the way, already working his own crane. It was then that Fred realized they were no longer friends, but enemies.
But he didn't let it deter him for long. Barny was a smart fellow. Fred always pretended like he was above him, but the truth was, they were equals. This would be a fair fight and looking across at him, Fred knew the best man would win. And he would be that man. He would work his ass off to make sure of it. That hard work started that very moment for them both. And Gazoo watched them the whole way. He watched as the flowers were delivered, as Fred left his lonely on the doorstep, and now he watched as they went to war. And he both respected and hated him for it.
"You should be working together, dumdums" whispered Gazoo shaking his head this time not letting them see or hear him. But they would learn that on their own. At least, he hoped they would.