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

A.N. Especially for my friend JulyPie. Also, wesalex11, the kindest words. Just a warning, I may be tempted to revert back to the old flashbacks in this chapter.

When Link started driving, it was silent. Not an awkward silence, Link and Tracy were just taking people in, getting used to think of each other as fiancées. Link pulled in to a parking lot by a river bank. They used to come here all the time, back when they were on the show. Of course they didn't do anything; it just gave them a chance to escape from the craziness of everything; the show, Penny's mother troubles, exams. Everything seemed to disappear – it was just them, nothing else. They would just talk, and learn everything about each other. At least Tracy thought they did. She had been tied up with worry since Link had ran, but she wanted to wait for the right moment before asking him about it. As soon as the car stopped they turned to face each other. Tracy had being planning a speech since they had left Corny and Maybelle's. She wanted to say how much she loved him, and how she would go on loving him no mater what. But when she looked into his eyes she was just lost for words. He seemed so….unhappy.

"What's wrong?" That was all that Tracy would manage before breaking down in tears.

"Trace, Trace," This was why Link hadn't told Tracy, he just hated seeing her cry.

"Link, whatever it is, we can get through it, I can help you…..just talk to me," Tracy was still sobbing.

"Darlin', you know how I don't really…talk about my family?" Tracy nodded nervously, "Well, there's a reason…."

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

The next morning Link lay in bed thinking about the night before. As predicted she immediately started to fret, but the important thing was the she listened. Yes, Corny listened to him, but – like a typical father – he would always stop, and offer advice before Link had gotten it all off his chest. Tracy had nodded as he talked, her ever expressive face showing looks of sorrow, sadness and shock at the right moments and she would stroke his arm whenever she saw tears welling up in his eyes. He told her how afraid he felt when he'd go home and be hit with the familiar, bitter stench of the sour liquor that so often was responsible for the bruises and scars that blemished his otherwise perfect body. He also told her about how between Corny, Seaweed and herself, he distanced himself with all his troubles. He was just lying there, mulling over the previous night's activities. It was weird how although nothing had been done about his father, he felt as though it was barely an issue. That was the effect that Tracy could have on people. She always made things better, and that was one of the reasons Link looked forward to spending the rest of his life with her.

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

Corny lay in bed, watching his wife sleeping. It was amazing how much his life had changed since meeting her. She had changed everything – got rid of his playboy image, invited him into a family and on the days that he completely gave up on himself, she was there, helping him back on his feet. He hoped that Link would have this with Tracy. In fact, there was no doubt in his mind that, in a few years, Link would be looking at a sleeping Tracy, and thinking about all the positive impact that she had on his life. He hadn't had much sleep that night, and it was a surprise – even to himself – that he was so calm in the aftermath of Link's breakdown. As soon as his head hit the pillow he began to think about Link, and if it would be wise for him to return home to the grotesque father that he hadn't talked to for almost four year.

It was Link's 18th birthday, and he had just arrived at the show for pre-filming rehersal. Corny was glad to see that the boy was treating the day just like any other of the guys from the show.

"Quick! Someone ID me!" Link was laughing with Seaweed and some of his friends that had also made the show that year.

"Cracker Boy! My mama's holding a surprise platter party for you later!"

"Seaweed," Corny made his way over to the platform that the guys were leaning against. "What part of 'surprise' platter party do you not understand?"

"How else would Cracker know to come?"

"Link, just look surprised," Corny grinned, "Anyway, Link, can you come with me for a second? We need to look at the songs for tonight's hop,"

Link followed Corny into his dressing room. It had been a while since he'd been there, with all the stress of school he hadn't been on the show as regularly as before.

"So, you an adult now, how does it feel?"

"Well, you know how everyone says that it's like an…anticlimax. And they don't feel any different. Well…that's not true. I feel…free, I think. Like I can finally escape my dad and everything. I know I can't really, but I just feel good…"

Corny just smiled. He liked it when Link talked about how he felt, because it meant he wasn't bottling it up. He had seen Link make himself physically sick with worry on more than one occasion and it worried him greatly.

"So, how's the apartment hunt going?" Link blushed, thinking he had sounded stupid. Corny had been looking for a new place. His old one was in a bad area. Although he earned good money on the show, but his previous lifestyle caused him to buy a flat in the Baltimore party district. It had been fine before – although a little awkward when Link came over – but when he started dating Motormouth, he began to worry about her having to walk through the streets alone to get to his place, so he decided to find a new, more appropriate place that he could be proud to bring Maybelle.

"About that, you know how you want to completely escape your dad" Link nodded, "Well…you could always move in with me…."

"What?! But…" Link had never expected this.

"Well, why not? We get on, we both have the money from the show. It'll be perfect. And I won't cramp your style…well not too much"

Link grinned. Truth being told, he was worried about his next move. It was far to early to ask Tracy to move in with him, he couldn't bear to live with his dad for a minute longer than necessary and the thing that Corny wasn't mentioning was the possibility of living alone. Link was still scared when he was alone, and living by himself would be a nightmare. He hated silence, it made him nervous. He was surprised that Corny would want Link living with him, but he couldn't be happier. Corny always made himself feel safe, they had a great time, and they trusted each other. But best of all, he'd finally have a home that he could bring Tracy to, without the fear of her meeting his father.

A.N. Next chapter will be about the hilarty of Corny and Link living together. I was a bit fed up with all the angst, and LOVE writing about Corny and Link…..especially Corny. Toodles :D