Disclaimer – I don't own Hairspray or any of its characters.

A.N. – Hope you've all been Reading and Reviewing. Thanks to everyone that has so far. I promised last time that there would be no flashbacks in this chapter, but then again I promised to make the story trink fluff. This one is for THE JulyPie and Kathrine X. for her kind comments :D.

"You haven't told you dad, have you?"

Link feebly shook his head; tears welling up in his eyes. It reminded Corny so much of the first time the pair had talked. It broke his heart.

"Little Link," He really didn't know what else to say. Corny cared about Link so much, and hated seeing him in so much pain, "Do you want to talk to your dad?"

Link opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to work out what he wanted to say.

"Link, Link," Corny didn't want to upset him any further, "You don't have to decide right now, just whenever and whatever you decide…you can talk to me. I'll help you however I can."

Link shot him a teary grin.

"So, how much have you told Tracy?"

Link bit his lip and looked up sheepishly. "Umm….none"

This surprised Corny. Whenever he saw Link and Tracy together, they were always deep in conversation, and they seemed to know everything about each other.

"Well, you know Tracy. I didn't want to worry her,"

"What about Seaweed?"

"I told him a bit…just that I didn't get on with my dad, and that my mom was gone…" A thought suddenly dawned on Link, "You haven't told Maybelle, have you?"

"No, no. I just said…" Corny blushed and trailed off.

"What, what did you say?!" Link looked worried. Over the years he had told Corny quite a lot of personal things…things that he wouldn't want others to know.

"No, nothing like that. I just said, at the start of our relationship, that you were like my son, and you'd always be the most important thing to me, just like I knew Seaweed and Lil' Inez were to her…"

Link was genuinely touched. He had noticed that Maybelle had warmed to him after the pageant, but he had assumed that was because of Inez.

"You ready to go back inside?"

"Yeah…I guess…"

"Little Link," Corny him straight in the eye, "What aren't you saying? I know when you're lying to me,"

"It's just when I see Seaweed and Maybelle…I just wonder if things would be like that. And I know this sounds awful and I'm be selfish, but when I see Tracy and Mr. Turnblad together, I'm so jealous…I just wish things were like that my dad. I mean, I appreciate everything you've done for me, and I love you like a father...It's just…why couldn't my real dad being like that? Why did you need to be my dad?"

"Link, no!" Corny knew what was coming next. He knew that Link tore himself up worrying if the whole debacle with his father was his own fault. This made Corny furious. Link was the sweetest, kindest kid Corny had ever met, and he deserved it less than anyone.

Corny glanced at his wristwatch. They had been talking for over half an hour.

"Link, we should probably be going back in, they'll be worried,"

Link took a final deep breath to calm down, and smoothed back his hair.

"Do I look ok?"

The honest answer was no; his eyes were puffy and his lip was red and sore where he had been biting it.

"Yeah, great," Corny didn't have the heart to upset Link further.

"Then let's go,"

H-A-I-R-S-P-R-A-Y

Back inside there had been uncomfortable silence, everyone – especially Tracy – worried about Link. Wilbur looked down at his daughter.

"What was that about?"

"I-I don't know…." Tracy's eyebrows furrowed in worry, "Do you think he's ok?"

"Honey, I'm sure he'll be just fine," Maybelle placed a comforting hand on Tracy's shoulder. "Corny seemed to know what it was about…"

"Don't worry, Trace…Seaweed, do you know what's going on?" Penny turned to face her nearest and dearest.

"Ummm…." Desperate not to betray his best friend's trust, Seaweed struggled to find the right words, "He'll be fine with Corny….So, did you hear about Brenda's wedding? It was in Gibraltar!"

This got the conversation in a different direction, and soon the ladies of the party were talking dresses and shoes. Seaweed was glad that the subject was dropped, although he couldn't work out why Link hadn't told Tracy.

H-A-I-R-S-P-R-A-Y

When Corny and Link arrived back in the living-room, they were discussing whether a veil would be suitable or not. They were so engrossed that they didn't actually notice the two gentlemen enter until Link placed his am around Tracy. She looked up, worry returning to his face. He tried to shoot her a comforting grin, but she knew something was wrong.

"So….what have you guys been talking about?"

"I-I don't remember," Tracy was still worried about what was going on with Link.

"Well, personally, I'm shattered," Link yet out the fakest yawn, "Wilbur, will you permit me to escort your daughter home?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Tracy, honey, I'll see you at home," Wilbur was as concerned about Link as anyone. He had not been best pleased when he saw his baby girl kissing a crooner, but he in the past five years he had warmed to the boy, and knew that he was genuinely in love with Tracy. He looked out the window in time to see Link open the car door for his daughter. Anyone who could be the perfect gentleman in times of crisis was good enough for his baby.

A.N. What'cha think?? Read and Review!!! I know the last sentence made no sense, but I was tired!;-)