Chapter 3

"SHE LIKES ME CLANK! SHE LIKES MEEEEEEEEEE!!" Bobble shouted as he flew through the doorway of their shared abode.

"Huh?" Clank managed to mumble before rolling back over and start snoring again from his precarious position on the bottom bunk bed.

"I said, ye great oaf, that Miss Bell LIKES me." Bobble flew in a circle around the room, still euphoric from Tinkerbell's kiss.

"Of course she likes you Bobble, we all like you." Clank yawned and threw his arm over his eyes, as if to block out the noise his roommate was making.

"Not like that ratchet brain, she L.I.K.E.S. ME" Bobble, landing on both feet before the bunk beds, placed a hand proudly on his chest and bowed to his companion as he enunciated the word "like" so Clank might understand.
Clank rose up with a mighty "umpfh!" and proceeded to hit his forehead on the top bunk edge.

"Oouch!" Rubbing his now red forehead, he squinted his eyes and looked up at his friend, preening like a male peacock around the room.

"Oh, you mean she fancies you? Yeah, we all knew that." Clank stood up, scratched his rump and stretched his arms again.

Bobble whirled around as what Clank said registered with him.

"Who's we?" Adjusting his goggles nervously.

"Well…" Clank yawned again "pretty much everyone working in our workshop…the girls Tink hangs out with, umm... the dust keepers…I even heard the Minister of Autumn talking to The Minister of Spring about you and Tinkerbell and how "Sweet" it was. Clank used his hands to make a bird wing flapping motion. It was precisely at that moment an acorn kettle whirled across the room and smacked Clank square in the chest.

"CLANK ya big idiot! Why didn't you tell me sooner… everyone in Pixie Hollow must know by now." Bobble ran a hand nervously through his hair. Had everyone been covertly watching him and Tinkerbell, talking behind the backs of their hands about the two love struck fairies? Bobble wasn't sure, but he felt incredibly insecure at that moment.

"Well excuse meee, Mr. Romantical!" Clank stood up and went for the door. "Geeze, you should take this a good sign."
"Clank, ya just don't understand, I… I didn't want… that is… I didn't want to do anything to make Miss Bell…oh!" Bobble; unable to form the words he wanted to say just turned his back as he friend left him alone in their home.

Bobble sat down at the table, pushing aside a project Clank had been working on. Propping himself up on an elbow, his mind immediately went to his rendezvous with Tinkerbell. His hand rubbed against his cheek, the cheek she'd kiss.

"It's so…so…wonderful." He whispered.

Tinkerbell leaned against the closed door as Phineas left, hearing his whoop of happiness, a smile crossed her face and she wrapped her arms around herself. Spinning in a giddy circle, she landed in a heap on the floor giggling.

"It's so….so wonderful." She whispered, her mind going a million miles a minute, going over everything. Each time Bobble had helped her with a project, each time he had walked her home at night or met her on the way to the workshop in the morning. Their gazes meeting over a workbench and them both smiling. It all made so much sense now.

She stood up and shook herself off and headed for the door. She needed some advice from someone who'd been through this sort of thing. She'd never been courted before. How was she to act? To respond to Bobble? What was considered polite? Unacceptable?

As she flew across the meadow in the twilight, she debated which of her friends she could talk to. Who would give her the best advice? Finally, she decided on Rosetta.

Heading straight for Rosetta's flower patch, she called out to her friend.

"Rosetta? It's Tinkerbell"

A beautiful bloom, the color of cherry blossoms, opened and out stepped Rosetta. The dainty beauty smiled at her friend and beckoned her to her.

"What's up lazytop? It's awfully late to be out." Rosetta looked up at the night sky, the stars twinkling brightly.

"Rosetta…it's…something amazing has happened." Tinkerbell started, her words running together, she began talking faster than Vidia could fly.

"YouseeBobblecametoseemeandwellhekindalikesmealotandhe'sbeenleavingmerosesandIreallykindoflikehimandI'mnotsurehowtoreacttohiscourting." Getting it out as fast as she could, she let out a deep sigh and watched Rosetta absorb it all.

"Whoa, Whoa, slow down sugar. What's this about Bobble?" Rosetta took Tink's hand and they settled themselves into the cool grass to talk.

"He likes me, really likes me." Tinkerbell looked down at the dewy blades of grass; suddenly her shoes had become fascinating.

"Awww, isn't that just sweet! Sugah, it's ok. Do you like him?" Rosetta tilted her head just slightly, gauging Tink's reaction to her question.

"Well, yes, of course, I always have, I just, I didn't think, I did." Tinkerbell stuttered. Rosetta patted her hand in a motherly way and smiled a knowing smile.
"Darlin', it's ok. This happens. You just don't worry about what your friends think. You're in love little lazytop. And it's a beautiful wonderful thing. And Bobble, he's such a little charmer." She winked at Tink and laughed softly.

"Go on now sugar, go home and get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day." Rosetta stood up, pulling Tink up with her and giving her a pat on the back.

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but sweet dreams Tink." Rosetta fluttered off to her flowerbed and left Tink standing there, thinking.

Tink stood looking at the stars for a long time before she started home. Rosetta was right, she needed to just let things flow and go with it. With another sigh, she landed lightly on her doorstep. Almost landing right on another rose blossom. Picking up the bloom, she held it to her chest and inhaled its fragrance.

"Bobble." She turned and looked out into the darkness, hoping to make out the lanky figure of the Sparrow Man who'd charmed her.

"Bobble?" She called, her voice carrying on the winds.