A.N. Sorry Tracy fans (I include myself in that) but she doesn't feature much in this chapter (once again) but I'll include her next chapter, I think. Maybe. For now, though, it Corny and Linky!! With a wee bit of Maybelle thrown in!

That Friday it was Link and Corny's housewarming party, and rather predictably it didn't go entirely to plan – after all, they were two men.

Link flung his coat onto the coffee table as he returned from school. "Corny? You home?"

"Through here!"

Link laughed when he looked round the lounge door. Corny was tangled in a string of fairy lights, which he had obviously been unsuccessful in his draping around the picture board.

"Wh-what?! " Link tried – and failed-to control his laughter.

"Shut up and help!" Corny was now getting upset.

Once Link recovered he began to unravel Corny

."What were you trying to do, anyway?"

"Well, I was trying to get them the same way Maybelle has at her Platter Parties and I got….stuck,"

"Speaking of Maybelle," Link was trying to change the subject, for fear he could not longer contain himself, "Did you sort out the music?"

"Oh, she'll bring it round about six-ish, an hour before everyone else arrives,"

"So…it's getting serious between you too…"

"Yeah, I guess…why?"

Link silently shook his head.

"Little Link," Corny frowned. Link had been nothing but supportive towards his and Maybelle's relationship

"No, it's just you've not had the best history, and Seaweed's close to his mum…and I was just worried that it would end up like you and Rachael…"

Rachael was a harlot that used to work back-stage on the show. She had scarlet hair and morals to match. Corny had been infatuated with her for several months, and he was convinced that she was "the one", but the relationship didn't last long, and – although only she and Corny knew the intimate details – everyone knew that it didn't end on great terms. In fact, it ended on terrible term; she quit her job and left Baltimore, and he played Roy Orbison's 'Crying' in every show for months.

"NO, Little Link, don't be ridiculous! I love Maybelle, and I would never hurt her. Another Rachael?! Is that really what you though?!" Corny looked actually offended by Link's comment.

Link blushed, ashamed at how little he had thought of his mentor.

"Sorry…it's just, she wasn't the only one who got hurt there. You were in a bad way then, I was worried about you; we all were,"

"You have nothing to worry about. Maybelle's the one. It'll be her, and only her, from now on, "Corny – who was now completely untangled looked down at Link. As much as he enjoyed the heart-to-hearts with Link, it wasn't much of a build-up for a party, so he decided to lighten the mood. "So…..you and Seaweed talk about me, huh? What else did he say?"

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

There was a knock on the door. Link rushed to answer, buttoning her shirt on the way. Corny was still in the bathroom, primping. Link wasn't sure why; he'd been going put with Maybelle for about a year and she'd seen him much worse.

"Miss Maybelle!"

"Link, honey! How are you?!"

"I'm just fine, Ma'am, do you need a hand with the records?"

"That would be just lovely – they're downstairs in the car. I take it Corny's still grooming himself?"

"Of course, you know he's only got an hour or so until everyone else arrives!"

Motormouth rolled her eyes. She had never dated a man who was vainer that herself, but in Corny she found it endearing.

"I'll get the records, and you just make yourself at home. I'm sure he'll be ready soon."

Maybelle smiled. Of all the boys on the show Corny could have become emotionally attached to, she was so glad that it was Link. He was such a polite boy, and when they found out about his mother, she and Edna took to mothering and fussing over him non stop, and he had shown them nothing but gratitude. She also felt that he had a good influence on Seaweed and – of course – he was the reason Inez had been so successful. She watched Link make his way to the stairwell and went to fetch Corny.

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

Link struggled his way up the stairs with the huge box of records Maybelle had brought. Of course, Corny had to choose a flat on the tenth floor! He was just thinking how great it was that although the record store had been handed down to Penny, Maybelle still kept a lot of the records: it showed that she actually cared about the music, and wasn't just in it for the money like so many DJs were.

"Surprise!"

Link was shaken away from his thoughts so suddenly that he nearly fell down the stairs. He turned around and saw Tracy standing behind him, looking fabulous in a gorgeous sequined black dress that ravished her waist and flaired out at the hips, that came down far enough to remain tasteful, but still showing the pink lace at the top of her over-the-knee socks. The pink chubby (A.N. reference to the Nikki Blonsky/Adam Shankman audio commentary on the shake and shimmy DVD, although I'm not sure how it's spelt)that was draped across her shoulders matched the lace perfectly, as did her platform shoes, that had frills running down the front and a block heel.

"Lil' Darlin', you scared me,"

"Let me help you, " Tracy stood on her toes in order to get the top box of records from Link.

"You're early…any reason?" Link looked at her hopefully.

"I'm just hear because I thought you might need a little help setting up – I figured Corny would be trapped in his own reflection as usual"

"Now that's not fair Miss Turnblad – I'm sure Link takes even longer practicing that wink of his in the mirror,"

"Uh…uh…Corny…"

As they approached the flat's door, Link and Tracy didn't notice Corny and Maybelle standing in the doorway.

"Tracy, it's nice to see you!" Corny grinned. He knew his vanity was a running joke amongst the kids, and he wasn't ashamed of having pride in his appearance. "Let me take that box from you. Link, that's no way to treat your lady! Where're you manners at, boy?"

Link laughed inwardly – Corny was getting more like Maybelle every day. However, sometimes he just couldn't pull the 'street-talk' off.

The three continued into the lounge and began to sort through all the records, each of them making their own pile that was to be scrutinized by the others.

"Pat Boone?! Link, you're now serious are you?" Maybelle laughed at Corny's reaction to the young boy's choices.

"What?! I know she's not exactly 'wild', but her songs have a good beat and you can dance to them!"

Tracy and Maybelle exchanged looks.

"Maybe we should choose the music, and you kids can organize…food?"

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

Yes, a lot had happened in that flat. The prom party, the graduation party….All major events in Link's life could be trailed back to this apartment. It also meant a lot to Penny, Seaweed and Tracy. This is where they would come after a late night at the drive-in, or an after-hop party if they didn't want to wake their parents. Link would miss this place. As much as he didn't want to leave, he knew that a top floor flat was nowhere to raise a family, which was something he and Tracy had been talking about for the last couple months. Link knew that it was usually the girls that wanted to settle down and have kids, but he had always been attracted to the idea. He always wanted to be part of a 'normal' family – two parents, a couple of pretty little kids and maybe a dog. He had missed out on being a child in the scenario, but he looked forward to becoming the father. He wanted to be a father who was always there for his child, who could talk about anything, who could offer advice and help in any situation…he wanted to be as good a father as Corny.

A.N. Okay, I know this is REALLY not working, but I'm trying to get out of thos flashback black hole I've dug myself into. Next chapter will be on track and better, I promise. Toodles xxx.