Billy sat on a park bench, waiting for Amy to show up, beside him were a pair of roller skates, the two had been meeting for a few months, he had been so happy when he had gotten a call from her a few days after their first meeting, he was almost ecstatic when she asked if they could hang out again, and he had made sure they had done things that she had never done before, things that he thought she would have fun with, these things included going to the movies, the mall, a small amusement park, Billy even took her to his favorite restaurants.
"Billy!" Amy shouted happily, running over to him from Mouse's side.
"Hey Amy!" he said happily, running over to meet her, "you ready for today?"
'Of course, I brought the skates like you asked, why do I need them?" She asked curiously.
"One of my friends took me to this really cool place, and I thought you'd like it."
"Amy." Mouse said, making Amy look over, "I'll be back, I need to make a call, you two be careful until I come back, alright?"
"Okay Brother!" she said with a smile, Billy took her hand.
"Come on." He said with a smile as he started running, Amy blushed a little but followed, soon they came to a large building covered in sheet metal.
"What is this place?" she asked curiously.
"It's called Roller 8, it's a roller ring." He opened the door and Amy's eyes widened, seeing the large smooth floor filled with people roller-skating; there were arcade games in a medium sized room beside the floor and what looked like a small restaurant right beside the door.
"This place looks amazing!" she said in awe.
He grinned, looking at her astonished face, "come on, lets put these skates on and get going!"
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Mouse watched the two kids have their fun, "ah, young love." He said with an amused chuckle, "They don't even know, they just assume that they're great friends."
"Mouse." Someone whispered urgently, making Mouse look over, his eyes widened, "Gorgovitch! What are you doing here?" he asked urgently, looking at the old man in a trench coat and hat, wearing sunglasses in the dimly lit room, "and why do you look like you're about to shoot the place up?"
"I'm incognito, I wanted to make sure our young queen wasn't being used." He said.
"She has been hanging out with Billy for three months now, what makes you think he's using her?"
"I'm just being cautious." He muttered, watching the two have fun, "I have to admit, I have not seen that kind of joy on her face since her parents passed."
"She's finally having fun." Mouse said, "and with a friend that does not take caution because she's a royal."
Gorgovitch nodded, "what will we do when we have to go back to vlatava?" he asked, "the boy will be crushed…and it will not be easy for the queen either."
"Maybe we can arrange something." Mouse suggested, "but for now let us not worry about such unpleasant things, let us just relax, and let them have their fun."
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
"Blast that one!" Amy shouted, pointing at the alien on the screen, Billy shot and blew it to bits.
"Got it!" he cheered, doing a little dance, making her giggle.
"You are such a funny boy." She said with a chuckle.
"I try.' He said with a grin, "are you hungry?"
"A little." She said, her stomach growled loudly, 'okay a lot."
The two laughed and walked over to the restaurant, buying burgers.
"So when do you go back to Vlatava?" Billy asked.
"In another month or so." She said sadly, "I wish I could stay here."
"Why can't you?"
"My caretaker works for the government, and we only stay in America temporarily."
Billy nodded, "that sucks, I've had a good time hanging out with you Amy."
"As have I." she said with a soft smile, "perhaps…we can remain friends when I leave?"
"Of course!" Billy said instantly, "I wouldn't want it any other way!"
Her eyes lit up, "I am so happy you said that." She said.
Billy grinned, "so uh…there's a…um…dance…next Friday…and…you know, It's supposed to be fun…one of my friends invited me…and uh…well I don't have a date…so uh…." He scratched his head, his cheeks reddening, "I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?"
She looked at him, a small smile gracing her lips, "of course Billy." She said, "I will go with you to this dance."
He grinned, "cool…I mean uh…awesome…I mean…"
She giggled, "I know what you mean you silly boy." She said lightly, she looked behind him, "what is that?" she asked, pointing at a photo booth.
"Oh, it's a photo booth, you put a dollar in and it takes a strip of pictures." He said.
"It sounds like fun." She stood up and threw her trash away, "lets go!"
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Billy was lying on the couch in the cave, looking at the pictures he and Amy had taken, one in particular made him smile, it was the last one they had taken, while the first few were attempts at seriousness and silliness, the last one Amy had done something surprising to him, she had very quickly leaned over and kissed his cheek, the camera had caught this, and the look of surprise on Billy's face, it also caught the grin that had spread across his face too.
"What's that?" Kaldur asked, walking in.
"O-oh just a strip of pictures." He said, turning red and putting them in his pocket.
Kaldur raised his eyebrows, "of you and…?"
"Me and Amy." Billy said, attempting to be nonchalant, he stood up and went into the kitchen.
"And how is Ms. Barns?" Kaldur asked.
"Great…good…wonderful really…" Billy said, looking into the kitchen.
Kaldur walked past Billy and reached into his pocket, pulling the pictures, "well aren't you two a cute couple." Kaldur said.
"Hey! Give that back!" Billy said, reaching for the pictures, only to be stopped by Kaldur's hand.
"What're you looking at Kaldur?" Superboy asked, walking in.
"See for yourself." Kaldur said, handing the strip to Superboy, who laughed at the pictures, "stone cold huh?" Superboy asked teasingly.
"Come on guys! Quit it!"
"Why are you two torturing Billy?" M'gan asked, walking in with Artemis.
"You will two when you see these." Superboy said, handing the pictures over.
"Don't make me go captain marvel guys! I'm serious!"
"You won't risk it, might damage the pictures." Artemis said, holding them between her and M'gan.
"Aw! You two look so cute together!" M'gan gushed.
"Good catch Billy." Artemis said nodding her head.
"Whatcha guy's lookin' at?" Wally asked, running in and plucking the pictures from M'gan's hands.
"Oh come on! Can this get any worse?" Billy groaned.
Wally looked at the pictures and his eyes widened, he looked at Billy and back at the pictures, then back at Billy, "you…her…together…what the…how the…"
"Why are you so surprised Wally?" Artemis asked.
"Yeah, we knew something like this would happen when he said he was hanging out with her so much." M'gan said.
"No…it's something entirely different…that girl…" he ran off and came back with a newspaper clipping, "Is Queen Perdita!"
Everyone's eyes widened, except for Billy's.
"Yeah I know." Billy said simply, making everyone look at him.
"You knew? And you didn't tell us?" Wally demanded.
"I didn't think it was any of your business." He said, snatching the pictures out of his hands, "I figured it out the first time I met her, you know, wisdom of Solomon and what not."
"And you didn't tell her?'
"She'll tell me when she's ready guys, I mean, she's not the only one with a secret identity." He gestured to all of them.
"Kids got a point." Artemis said with a nod.
"But still, you, and Perdita…dude, you're dating a queen!"
"We're not dating!" he said, blushing.
"Oh really?" Wally asked, snatching the pictures out of his hand, pointing at the bottom picture, "That picture begs to differ."
"I-I-I didn't know she was going to do that! I-I mean…I didn't hate it…but…that's not…I…"
"Aw he's flustered." M'gan teased.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Perdita brushed her hair, humming softly to herself, the pictures she and Billy took taped to the corner of her mirror.
"Perdita…" Cherbov said softly, walking into her room, "we need to talk."
"About what Cherbov?" she asked, turning in her chair.
Cherbov hesitated, and then spotted the pictures, "what is this?" he asked, carefully pulling it off the mirror.
"Oh…me and Billy took pictures today."
He looked at them, 'you and the boy have grown close over these past months." He asked quietly.
"Yes, he's such a wonderful boy! I am so glad I have met him."
Cherbov sighed and put the picture back on it's place, 'have you thought of the consequences?" he asked, "We do not have long here."
"I know…but it is good to use what's left of our time to the fullest no?"
"You are right." He admitted, ruffling her hair, making her laugh.
"Cherbov! I just brushed my hair!" she chastised him lightly.
He laughed, "sorry my queen…" he stood up, walking towards the window, "I…I'm sorry to tell you this my queen…but the people are getting restless…Prime Minister Reedus is asking that we hasten our return…"
Amy's eyes widened, "but…he said we had another month at the least!" she exclaimed.
"I know…I've gotten him to hold off your departure until next Saturday…but I cannot stall longer then that…I'm sorry my queen…"
"But…but…" she tried to find the words but couldn't, tears stinging her eyes.
"I know, but there is nothing I can do, I am sorry…"
'It is not your fault Cherbov…at least I'll get to see Billy one more time…before I leave."
"It won't be the end of the world, you will still get to see him when we come to America for UN meetings."
"I know…but the next one isn't for another six months…"
He smiled," a strong relationship, can withstand the strongest of storms my queen." He stood up, "It would benefit you to tell him, soon.'
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Billy sat in class, boredly doodling in his notebook, scratching his chin as he waited for the bell to dismiss them to ring,
"Hey Billy." Scott, one of his friends, whispered right behind him, "you down to hang out Friday night?"
"Can't, I'm going to the dance."
"What?" Scott asked in shock, "Billy Batson is actually going to a Valentines day dance? The world is ending.
"Shut up!" he said quietly, turning red, "I promised a friend I'd take her."
"Her? What happened to 'I'm never getting into a relationship?"
"I-I'm not in a relationship!" yet… he added quietly to himself.
The bell rang and Billy quickly stood up.
"So why are you taking her to a dance?'
"Because…because she wants to go." Billy said, slinging his backpack onto his shoulder, as they walked out. "Now I gotta go, i'll catch you later!" he ran off, going towards the park. Where Amy was already waiting, "hey Amy." He said with a smile, his smile slowly disappeared when he saw the look on her face, "what's wrong?"
"My…time here in America is about to be cut short Billy…" she said sadly.
'W-what do you mean?" he asked.
"My caretaker has been summoned back to Vlatava…I only have a week left…"
"But…but…you said you had a month."
"I know…I'm sorry." She said softly, hanging her head.
"I'm sorry…" he apologized, "I…I'm just…upset."
"Do you think I am not?" she asked, her accent even thicker then before, "I did not want to leave…but I have too…" she bit her lip, trying not to cry
Billy looked at her, "I know…" he said, making her look up, tears stinging her eyes, she let out a soft whimper and wrapped her arms around Billy, burying her face into his sweater, Billy hesitated only for a second before wrapping his arms around her, "it'll be alright." he said softly.
"How will it be alright?" she mumbled, "we just met…and now I have to leave…"
"You'll be back." He said, "and I'll be waiting, patiently until you do…and we have Skype…and…texting…"
'It's not the same as getting to spend the day with you."
"I know…" he muttered, "but it's the best we can do."
She sniffled, "I know…"
He hugged her again, "don't worry Amy…" he said, "it'll all work out."
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
"So she's leaving huh?" Wally asked, he was sitting on the counter in the kitchen, looking down at Billy, who was sitting against the wall, hugging his knees.
"Yeah…" Billy mumbled glumly, "I told her not to worry…but I'm worried…what if she doesn't come back...or doesn't remember me when she does…"
"Dude, you're worrying too much."
"But what if she does!?" he exclaimed, standing up, "what if she meets someone else over in Vlatava and forgets boring old Billy Batson…I don't want to lose her friendship."
Wally rolled his eyes, 'oh my god man, just admit you like her already!" he said, "seriously, it'll make things so much easier."
Billy was about to retort, but stopped himself, "what if she doesn't feel the same way? Huh?"
"She feels the same way man, you just gotta take that first step and tell her! I mean come on," Wally grabbed an apple, "look at me and Artemis, we both denied it for what? Three months? Longer? And if Vandal Savage's plan had gone through, we wouldn't have ever gotten together, it's better to take the chance, then play it safe and never do anything."
Billy sighed, "you're…you're right…" he mumbled.
"I know I am." He said, biting the apple, "oh and I'm wondering, why don't you just fly over there as Captain Marvel?"
"Because I don't want her to know I'm captain marvel…it could put her in danger…and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to her…because of me."
Wally nodded, "I understand that." He said, he stood up and started walking out, "good luck Billy, hope things go good for you man."
