Taa-daa! I finally finished chapter 5! Okay, there might be a little romance in this chapter (Obvious enough..."Dinner for two"...sweet!) To tell you the truth, I'm no good when it comes to romance, lol! Anyway, enjoy the story folks!

Again, Flushed Away is owned by (c)Dreamworks and (c)Aardman...obviously

Chapter 5: Dinner for two

It was night time in Ratropolis, some of the residence turned out their lights to sleep and some shops were closed. But some are still out of their house just to enjoy the night walk, or just to have dinner in a restaurant or a drink in a bar. Officer Collin patrols at night to keep an eye out for suspicious rats roaming around the city. But he isn't aware that two rats were on the scene. Spike and Whitey went to every house and store in Ratropolis leaving posters in their mailboxes, while others were pasted on the shop windows.

"This is just like Christmas time eh Spike?" said Whitey putting paste on the poster "I'm Santa Claus and you are the little elf delivering gifts to every house."

"First of all it's not Christmas" said Spike taking the poster from his partner and sticks it on the wall "and second, why do I have to be the little elf, eh?"

"Well, you are smaller than me" smiled Whitey, then carried the box of posters and went to the boat, Spike followed behind wearing an unpleasant, twitchy face.

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In the Malone residence, Rita and Roddy were dressed beautifully for dinner. They went inside the kitchen to find Rita's mother preparing the table and chairs. Some of Rita's sisters and brothers helped her placing the utensils and plates neatly on the table. The room was dim and their mother brought out a candle and lit it. Rita was surprised and confused at the same time. Her family prepared a beautiful dinner especially for her, but seeing her mother prepared only two chairs, it made her wonder.

"Oh Rita you're here" said Rita's mother and looks at the couple "My, you two look amazing." Roddy and Rita couldn't say anything, they just smiled and blushed.

"Now then, let's have dinner shall we?" Mr. Malone forced himself to move forward and the wheelchair went towards them and gave both of them a push.

"Wait a minute Mr. Malone" said Roddy looking surprised "how can we all have dinner if there are only two chairs?"

"Don't worry Roddy" said Mrs. Malone "we're done eating anyway."

"But then" said Rita with a puzzling look "who are--" before she could say anything, Rita looks at Roddy and herself, looking surprised, she turns to both of her parents. "You mean--"

"That's right," said Mrs. Malone and puts her arms around them and takes them towards the table. She then leaves them and grabs her husband's wheelchair and pushes him to the living room and the children followed her.

"Enjoy the both of ya" shouted Mr. Malone with a grin.

Roddy and Rita stared at the table for a while, then Roddy looks at Rita and began to speak. "Umm...let's have dinner shall we?" said Roddy and holds her hand. "Okay" nodded Rita. They both went to the table, Roddy pulled out the chair for Rita to sit.

"Thank you Roddy" Rita sat down and Roddy pushed the chair towards her "but there's no need for you to do this"

"Well" said Roddy and sat down on his chair "it is your birthday after all"

"Yeah" sighed Rita, she lowered her head and looked at the hot soup in front of her. She took her spoon and dipped it in her bowl.

"Ri, I'm worried about you" Roddy gave her a concerned look "what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?!" snapped Rita and thumped her fist on the table "Oh nothing's wrong, except I forgot to tell my friend that it's my birthday" she paused and took a deep breath to calm down, trying not to let her emotions take over. "I'm such an idiot." said Rita, putting her hand on her forehead.

"No you're not" said Roddy and holds her hand to comfort her. Rita gave him the are-you-serious look. "I mean it Rita, why would a lady like you who out smarts a group of hoodlums and their warty, amphibian boss, and survives the rapids to go up top, calls herself an idiot?" said Roddy boldly. It made her smile a little.

"Well, I couldn't have done all of those things without you." said Rita and smiled at Roddy. Roddy smiled back.

"By the way Rita" said Roddy "why didn't you tell me about your birthday anyway?" then Roddy saw her smile turning to frown "I-I'm not angry or anything, just curious" added Roddy to avoid her from frowning. Rita didn't say anything for a while, she then looks at Roddy and began to speak.

"In the past few years I never celebrated my birthday" said Rita "though my mum and dad wanted to throw me a party, but I said no, let's forget about it."

"But, why would you say that?" asked Roddy

"We have little money, Roddy" said Rita "and I don't want to be a burden to my parents. I don't want them to use the money just to throw me a party or to buy me gifts. A simple greet would be enough to make me happy." she paused for a while then starts to speak again "But five years ago, dad came home covered with bruises and cuts. I was worried about him so I approached to him. He opened his hand and gave me a gold hairpin. He told me that he found it while he was scavenging, and a bunch of rats beat him up to steal the hairpin, he almost got killed but he managed to escape. I got angry at dad that night, I was lying on my bed, crying all night, feeling sorry for myself, and wished I have never been born." Roddy could do nothing but to sit and listen to Rita's story. Rita wasn't showing any signs of crying at all, not a single tear rolled down on her cheek, but it was painful for her on the inside. She stopped for a moment to ease the pain, she then continues to speak. "That's why I didn't tell you about my birthday 'cause I don't want to be a burden to you Roddy."

"Oh, I see, so now you think I'm an idiot" said Roddy sarcastically. Rita was amused by his sarcasm.

"No, it's not like that" she said "I was just afraid that you might ask me what you'll buy me for my birthday" she gave Roddy a sarcastic tone. Roddy smiled sheepishly. "I wanted to tell you, but I guess it's too late, sorry Roddy." said Rita. Roddy then remembers the necklace that he kept from Rita. But he knew if he told her about it, she would be frustrated, but if Rita can tell her secret, so can he.

"Um, Rita" said Roddy nervously "close your eyes"

"What?" said Rita and thought that it was another one of Roddy's sarcasm

"Just trust me" said Roddy. Rita closes her eyes and wondered what he has in store for her. He took out the gift and put it on Rita's palm and folded her fingers. "Now open." Rita opened her eyes and was surprised to see a gift on her hand. She looked at Roddy and opened her jaws, looking surprised. "I found it back in the pile while you weren't looking" said Roddy nervously "I was going to tell you about it but I was kinda, well--"

"You little snitch" she interrupted

"Okay, I'm sorry I didn't tell you" said Roddy "but now we're even, right?" Roddy was still nervous, he couldn't know what Rita is thinking. He then realized Rita wasn't angry, she just smiled at him.

"Sure we are." said Rita. Roddy was relieved, he thought for sure that Rita was going to throw him a chair and argues like last time he smashed her ruby. "Should I open it?" asked Rita.

"Sure" nodded Roddy. Rita untied the ribbon that was around the gift, she then ripped out the wrapper and took out the chain. It was nothing she had seen before, the glisten made her stare, it looked expensive to her, but what she focused on was the white gold locket that was hanging from the chains.

"Roddy, it's beautiful" she said and wears it around her neck "so, how do I look?" she asked

"Beautiful" he replied, admiring her wearing the shiny trinket. "What are we sitting around here for?" he added "your parents made us dinner, let's not let it go to waste."

"Well we better eat while it's hot" said Rita and both of them began eating, without knowing that Mr. and Mrs. Malone were peeking from the door.

"I think they get along great, don't they?" said Mr. Malone and his wife nodded. Then their mother popped out behind them.

"Oohh, can I eat with Tom on my next birthday?" she asked eagerly

"Alright, off to bed with you mum" Mrs. Malone pushed her mother towards the stairs to take her to her room.