A/N: Hi guys! Happy New Year! Anyways, I wanted to thank you all for the reviews/follows/favorites/hits. Thank you guys, you all know how to make a girl feel special. :)
Because I can't really respond to guest reviews, I figured I'm going to try to respond to them in the author's notes. Weirdo-spy-person-thing and The Depressed Loner, as well as all you guys who read this story, I have to thank you for your continued support. And I've decided not to answer your questions directly as it would spoil the mystery, but I assure you, all or hopefully, all your questions will be answered in this chapter. Hopefully everything will be a lot less confusing. I actually never intended for the story to get this complicated, but I'm trying my best to fix that as it's even complicated for me.
Special thanks to my beta Harmony Valenka Smith for the help and her increasing patience and ability to get me out of writer's block.
The Nightfall Sector is this story's version of the Twilight Zone, because I don't want to get sued lol.
I love you all so, so much. This chapter isn't the last, last chapter, there will be an epilogue so stay tuned for that. :)
Oh and before I forget, to all of you who read Lectures On Love, you will see in the A/N for the deleted scene, that I was basically bashing my writing, I just wanted to clarify that I love you guys and no matter how bad I feel about my writing, you are free to ignore me. I tend to be self-deprecating, but I swear I'm not doing it for attention, so ignore me, unless you see me bashing my head in with the keyboard, then get help, but at other times, please ignore me. Lol. :)
Now, onto the story. Please enjoy.
Moving On (Or At Least Trying To)
—Still the 'other' Daffy's POV
A few weeks later
Daffy sat at his breakfast table drinking coffee and contemplating his life that had suddenly turned upside down. He was trying to stay positive and that was helping immensely, but he couldn't help but feel as if he had to right some wrongs, especially by apologizing to a certain person. Namely, Bugs.
After he had some time to think about it, he realized that despite whatever went on between them, they had been costars once. And Daffy, who never really cared about professionalism, decided that now was the time to care.
The paparazzi had been asking him tons of questions lately when word got out about his little outburst at Bugs' chateau. It was just one big mess and the wedge between he and Bugs was just growing bigger and bigger. Not to mention their reputations were at stake. The public eye thought they were friends, and no one seemed to remember that they were a couple. And Daffy, who was starting to feel as if he dreamed their whole relationship, figured that it was best to have the world believe they were still friends and tone down the drama by at least acting a little civil to Bugs.
There was a part of him that despite his efforts to smother it with hate and logic, still loved the blue-eyed man and though Bugs no longer or probably didn't love him back, he needed to make it right. Sever the ties between them and let Bugs be happy. Even if it wasn't with him.
Ever since they took his car, because of the DUI's in a time long ago, he had to depend on Porky to drive him around. And so, he would have to ask Porky to take him back to Bugs'. That would be difficult because his friend had outright told him that they would never see Bugs again if it kept hurting Daffy.
"Porky, you don't understand. I have to do this, please." He begged his friend on the other line of the phone.
Porky huffed, which meant that he was getting annoyed, but Daffy hoped his resolve was slipping somehow. "Do I have to remind you what happened last time?"
"No, but Porky, it's not like I can just call him and explain. He doesn't want to talk to me and I don't blame him," Daffy's voice trembled and he bit his lip. "But dammit! I need to tell him this, if it's the last thing I ever say to him."
Porky sounded hopeful. "Will it help you move on from him? Do you think this will work?"
Daffy had to think about that. He didn't know for sure, but he was hoping it would. With a breath of courage, he said: "I hope so. And even if it doesn't, this is the right thing to do."
"You know you don't owe him anything, right?"
"Yeah, I know. But I want to do this." He admitted. "So are you in?"
"I don't think I have much of a choice. If it would take you out of zombie mode, than yeah I'm in." Daffy could practically hear Porky smiling from the other end and he couldn't help but smile too. His heart was beating a mile a minute, but after he hung up the phone and got ready to wait for Porky, he felt more hopeful than he ever had in a long time.
They pulled up in front of Bugs' chateau and Daffy told Porky to wait in the car. Naturally, Porky refused. "If there's a confrontation, you need me to have your back."
Daffy was about to say something like "You watch too many movies," when someone came up behind him.
"You're not here to slap me again, are you? Because if you are, I'm going to have to call security."
Daffy whipped around to see Bugs standing there with his arms folded. He appeared to be waiting for something and then Daffy remembered that he was asked a question.
"Bugs, I—um, I'm here to apologize, sort of."
Bugs raised a grey eyebrow.
"And-and to tell you that it's okay. It's okay for you to be in love with someone else." At that, the blue eyed man's carefully controlled expression faltered briefly, before he regained his composure. Daffy continued knowing that he had Bugs' full attention. "I was afraid to see you go, to lose you, but I think it's because I'm just selfish. You don't love me, you love Lola. You loosened the ties of addiction that I was tangled up in, and so I'm releasing you from the ties that bind us. I love you, but it's time for a clean break. So Ryder Bronx, I wish you the best with your marriage to Lola Alves and if you ever need anything, you know where I am." Daffy smiled through the tears that had apparently started streaming down his face.
He felt someone touching his shoulder and when he looked up, he saw Bugs, looking at him with an unreadable expression. "Thank you, that means a lot, coming from you I mean." Bugs admitted.
"Yeah, well. What can I say? I'm chock full of this stuff."
They both let out a stilted laugh at that.
"Daffy?" Bugs said after a beat.
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to come inside?" Bugs offered.
Daffy smiled. "This isn't how I pictured it in my mind, you know? I thought I'd walk away after I gave my big speech. I guess, it's still hard to walk away from you."
When Bugs said nothing, Daffy requested. "Could you just tell me one thing? Do you love her?"
"Do you want to know the truth?"
Daffy winced, the truth would hurt, but he needed to hear it if he ever hoped to heal. A clean break, that's what we need. He told himself.
"Yes."
Bugs sighed. "It's complicated."
Daffy's face creased in bewilderment. He was about to ask Bugs to clarify his statement when suddenly noise could be heard from down the lane of Bugs' driveway. From so far, it sounded like there was a great commotion and soon all three of them were racing to investigate.
What they found was a girl, probably no older than sixteen, arguing with one of Bugs' security guards. They were both standing on the street the lane tapered off to, and were getting pretty loud.
Bugs naturally, and being that this was his home, walked up to the two of them to see what the matter was while Daffy and Porky watched. Both wondering the same thing: who was this girl and what was going on?
Some say everything happens for a reason. Daffy didn't necessarily believe that, but he had to think there was a reason for him being there at that exact place and time to see it coming before the worst could happen.
He had looked away from the two people arguing and a concerned Bugs trying to calm them down when he saw it: the wayward car swerving recklessly on the road heading right for them. The security guard, sensing danger, carried the girl to safety in a matter of seconds, saving both his life and hers. But Bugs didn't see the vehicle.
Some say that certain events happen like an action movie, but to Daffy this was more like a tragedy. Instead of everything happening so fast like they say on T.V. It just went in slow motion.
He felt Porky gripping onto his shoulder, trying to stop him, but he couldn't allow that. All he saw was Bugs and the car and everything he ever cared for, ever loved being taken from him. So he ran, legs pumping below him and heart pounding wildly in his chest, and ran, reaching Bugs and pushing the grey-haired man. There was a loud thud and at first, he thought he was too late, when suddenly he felt it; the agonizing sting that ripped through his torso. The last thing he saw prior to the world going black was Bugs' screaming 'no'.
Daffy could feel it, and boy was there a lot of it: pain, in its rawest form. Every time his heart pumped blood, another shooting ache racked him.
He wanted to moan and complain, but his mouth tasted like chalk and felt like it was filled with cotton.
Are you there? Can you hear me? A voice asked him. He wasn't sure if he was thinking it or not or if he were simply going crazy, but as another shocking sting tore through him, he realized he wasn't in the right mood to contemplate such things and all he wanted to do was sleep.
But the voice wouldn't go away. Daffy? I think he's awake. Someone get the nurse!
Soon there were many voices. Mr. Knight?... Are you conscious?… No don't crowd round him, he needs to breathe... Mr. Knight, if you can hear me say something.
But there was one voice that was familiar amongst the cacophony. This voice didn't belong with the others. Daffy, it's me Bugs. Bugs? Bugs! But what was Bugs doing here and where were they? His eyes shot open then and immediately blinding light flooded his vision.
Tears came to his eyes and he quickly shut them again. I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead… He repeated to himself.
Oh thank God. The beautiful voice extolled. Daffy you aren't dead. Wake up. Please.
Daffy was sure he hadn't said anything out loud. Was Bugs reading his mind or did he actually speak? "Is this heaven?" He asked, hazarding an attempt to talk and wincing at the scratchy sound of his own voice.
"No, this isn't heaven. You aren't dead and thanks to you, neither am I." Bugs' tone overflowed with gratitude and Daffy felt a warm hand take his.
Tentatively, he opened his eyes again and the sight of Bugs brought everything back. And they hurt worse than the aches currently assaulting his body since the accident. The memories of their relationship, the promise ring, the fight, the road, himself jumping in front of the car…oh! They were all coming back…
He felt the tears return to cascading down his face and he stared at Bugs, fighting back all the feelings he had inside him. And if our love ceased to be, that would be the end of my world for me…
"Daffy please don't cry. You saved my life. All I've been was a jerk to you and you saved my life." Bugs' grip on his hand tightened.
"Don't you dare feel guilty or as if you owe me now." Daffy commanded, though he couldn't stop his voice from trembling. "You need to marry Lola. Forget about me. I saved your life sure, but you don't belong with me as much as it kills me to say, you belong with Lola."
"Actually, he belongs with me." They both looked up to find someone who looked too much like him for his own good, enter the hospital room.
"Bugs? Who is this?" Daffy questioned, rubbing his eyes to check to see if he wasn't dreaming.
Bugs stood up then and placed his hand—the one that was apparently not in a sling— on the shoulder of the man who just walked in. "This is the other you, Daffy. The one from another dimension."
"So let me get this straight," Daffy said, staring at his doppelganger, "you and I somehow switched places and we both ended up in the wrong universe where we live two completely different lives?"
The other other Daffy nodded. "That's completely correct, and," He looked over to Bugs who was watching the two of them thoughtfully. "he's my Bugs."
Turning to the grey-haired man, the other other Daffy uttered: "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry…for everything." Bugs amended. They both shared an intense stare and stepped closer to each other, but Daffy interrupted them before anything could happen. "If he's your Bugs then where's mine?"
There was a knocking on the door and in walked…his Bugs?
The room fell silent once they laid eyes on each other, him and his Bugs. Daffy could feel it, the planets aligning, and time coming to a halt, everything righting itself. Neither one of them said anything. His Bugs approached the hospital bed and threw him into a fierce hug. And Daffy, despite his current surroundings, felt at home.
"It was a crazy stalker who felt as if Bugs wronged her by getting engaged to Lola. She tried to run Bugs over with her car." Porky explained to the four of them once they were all back at Daffy's mansion, thankfully arriving there without being spotted by anyone.
"And you're also saying the reason we are all here is because of Dr. Fudd?" The Daffy in the full body cast asked.
"Yep," Porky shook his head. "You are all under hypnosis and thus he was able to lift your consciousness into another realm."
"But how and why?" The Bugs without the sling around his arm inquired.
"It's some really spiritual, inter-dimensional type stuff. It was all because you guys needed this to happen. Think about it," Porky urged, "if Daffy never crossed into the next dimension, he'd never stop his drinking or at least he wouldn't stop his drinking for now, and if they never switched, who would have saved your life Bugs?"
"So you're saying, Dr. Fudd the crazy guy, is a hero?" One of the Daffys asked.
"Yeah, I guess he is." One of the Bugs said.
There was a chorus of I love you's followed by lots of kissing and Porky grimaced feigning discomfort, though he was happy for his friends, whichever ones they might be.
"So how do we go back and is that crazy stalker in jail?" Someone asked. Porky didn't know whom as he had turned around.
"Yes she's in jail, but as for how you guys go back, from what I gleaned from The Nightfall Sector, you know that weird scifi show? What you all have to do is wake up. After all, there's no place like home."
Daffy awoke with a jump. "Bugs?" He called immediately as his senses returned.
Bugs was right beside him staring at him with the same shocked expression that he wore. "Daffy? Is it really you?"
"That depends," Daffy smirked, "is it really you?"
There was a sigh from somewhere in the room and they both turned to find Dr. Fudd studying them quizzically. "You both are the real you, well the yous from this world."
They both stared at the older man, confused, before Daffy caught up to speed. "Thank you so much Dr. Fudd for fixing our relationship...well for starting our relationship." he exclaimed, reaching for Bugs' hand—the one not wrapped in a sling— and giving it a squeeze.
Bugs turned to him, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry I gave up on Baffy and then tried to marry Lola. The truth is, I was trying to bury my feelings for you."
Daffy nodded. "And I'm sorry that my drinking was so out of control."
They both smiled and said in unison. "It's okay."
"Then consider your relationship healed. I think," Dr. Fudd began, grinning at them both, "that this, for you two and the other yous, is the beginning of something beautiful."
"Speaking of the other us," Bugs began, "what happened to them?"
"Why, they're probably with the other me, happy as you two are to finally be back in the right world." Dr. Fudd divulged.
Daffy appeared sad. "Will we ever see them again?"
"I hope not." Bugs admitted, "I think our lives are complicated enough without having to deal with other dimensions and that stuff."
"Sure, sure." Daffy agreed, "Though according to The Nightfall Sector there are still many dimensions left to explore."
Bugs rolled his eyes tenderly at Daffy before kissing the hand the dark-haired man had intertwined with his. "Well, I don't care how many dimensions there are, there could be millions of dimensions and a million mes, I'll always choose one of the million yous."
They shared the same loving glance until Daffy felt a twinge of pain ring through his head. "Hold that thought. My head hurts, what do you say Aspirin for breakfast and then you and I go watch a movie? We can watch your favorite?"
Bugs raised an eyebrow. "And what did the other Bugs tell you my favorite was?"
Daffy smiled. "Titanic."
Bugs blushed then. "You know what? My arm is killing me, Aspirin for breakfast sounds really good."
"Yes, Rose." Daffy smirked and that earned him a soft punch on the shoulder.
Meanwhile in one of the other dimensions…
Daffy was in agony, but Bugs was there and never left his side. Their lives soon fell back into their comfortable routine.
With Bugs tending to him, Daffy barely noticed the pain. Their relationship was stronger than ever and neither of them could remember a time where they were ever happier.
Sometimes when you fall, it's nice to have someone there to catch you…
Fin
A/N: Dr. Fudd was behind this all along. How sneaky. :)
Thank you again for reading! I didn't mean for this to be the ending, but overall I think I'm satisfied with how it ended. Hope you guys are too! Epilogue coming soon!
3 3 3 -Alicefray