(A/N: I already had Cuddles for C in mind, but I didn't know how to work with it, so celrock gave me this idea. Thanks, celrock! Enjoy! I hope...)

C: Cuddles

Summary: When Shenzi's feeling down, what can comfort her? Cuddles with her boy Chuckie, of course!

The Tucks walked in their house, looking and feeling very despondent. They had just come home for a funeral; But not just for any person. It was for Shenzi's maternal grandmother, who in Shenzi's words was "her only blood relative who loved her." She was not at all fond of her daughter Maya hooking up with Jack Johnson, Shenzi's blood father, and for a very good reason. He was a sexist jerk who only wanted a son.

Whenever her beloved granddaughter visited her at the senior center, she would tell her stories about Maya and her older sister, whom Shenzi was named after. She always loved hearing those stories, but now... she'll never hear them again. As her parents and older stepsister gathered in the living room, she trudged upstairs without a word. They didn't stop her, though; They understood why she was taking this death the hardest. Because now, when it comes to blood relatives, she had no one. Her biological father was still alive, but he may as well not exist, so they cancelled him out.

Shenzi didn't bother to change out of her funeral clothes, which consisted of a black v-back skater dress with buttons on the back, a black cropped short-sleeved cardigan, black opaque tights, black rose earrings, a black rose cameo ring, and black short combat boots. In her long, ebony hair, which was extension-free, was a black veil fascinator clip that made her look as depressed as she truly was. After removing the clip and ring, she flopped face-down on her bed and stayed tranquil. She wasn't going to cry anymore; She cried enough at the funeral, so she was done. She was going to stay strong. Truthfully, she lost count of how many times her adoptive father had to comfort her during the funeral.

Shenzi didn't know how long she had been laying on her bed; Hours passed by and she didn't move a muscle. Her family passed by her bedroom to check on her, but let her have her alone time to heal. It would take a while, but she would manage; She was a strong girl under all her shyness.

When she heard the doorbell ring, she let out a groan. She really didn't want to see anyone right now, not even... "Hi Chuckie," She heard Frankie's solemn voice. "Um, this-this isn't really a good time."

"What's wrong?" She heard his voice.

"Well, y-you see..." Frankie hesitated, "Sh-Shenzi's maternal grandmother died," She finished quietly. Shenzi squeaked in despair from the words alone.

She heard Chuckie gasp a bit. "Ohhh. I, I'm so sorry."

"Thanks. But the thing is, now that she's gone, Shenzi has no blood relatives to turn to." Shenzi clutched her bed covers tightly.

Chuckie's heart swelled with sympathy. He now wanted so badly to cheer up his best friend, but how? Judging by what made her sad, it was going to be very difficult; He once accompanied Shenzi on one of her visits to the center, where he learned how close they were. Her grandmother loved him, and thought he was the perfect boy for her little granddaughter. Tears welled up, but he blinked them away. "Wh-where's Shenzi?"

"In her room," Frankie replied, "But I don't think she wants to see anyone."

"It's worth a try," Chuckie headed up the stairs, "I hate even thinking of her being sad. I want to make her happy again."

"G-good luck," The young blonde stammered. When he arrived at Shenzi's bedroom, the door was just barely closed all the way. He grabbed the knob, and gently knocked on the wood. "

Who is it?" He heard Shenzi's heavy, muffled voice.

"It's Chuckie," He replied.

"Go away," His heart broke at that, but he was determined to cheer her up. He opened the door further and walked in the room, his heart breaking more at the sight of his best friend face-down on her bed. She was eerily quiet as well; He almost thought she was asleep. When he carefully sat in front of her, she pushed herself up with her hands. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were filled up with tears that refused to spill. She stayed quiet as they gazed at one another. Thankfully for him, she didn't tell him to leave again. Chuckie didn't know how she was staying this strong after such a tragic event. She was a real trooper.

But he could see that her shield was slowly, painfully breaking. "Y-you can cry," He stammered with a gentle hand on her shoulder, "It's okay." Sure enough, with a heart-shattering sob, she buried her face in his chest and let it all out. Tears leaked from his own eyes as Chuckie hugged her tightly. He rubbed her back, and stroked her hair when her hand gripped his shirt firmly. He was rocking her a bit as well. He tightened his hold on his best friend when her breath was shaky. His eyes squeezed shut a bit in depression as he listened to her heart-wrenching cries; What could he do to make her happy again? He was stuck on ideas. Losing a relative was very hard, especially when you were very close with that relative, and he didn't know how to mend her broken heart.

Chuckie kissed the side of Shenzi's head as her sobs didn't cease after several minutes. He remembered going to the senior center with her one time, and meeting her grandmother. She was one of the sweetest women he ever met, and she seemed to like him. He recalled her thinking that he was perfect for her granddaughter, which he secretly agreed on. As the memory ran through his mind, tears fell at a faster pace as his breath started feeling shaky. "I-I'm so sorry," He whispered, his voice cracking a bit in the end. He carefully rubbed his head on hers in attempts of comfort. When she was sad before, cuddling with him always made her feel better. "I'm here, baby. I'm here for you." Baby? Where'd that come from? He never called her pet names like that before, ever. He stroked her hair some more as her cries were starting to quiet down, although her breath still shuddered and pitiful whimpers escaped. When he looked down at her, she was now laying one side of her head on his chest, on the wet spot from her tears, so he could see her face. She looked so miserable, it shattered his already broken heart. He rested his forehead on hers as tears fell from their eyes and down their damp cheeks.

"Y-you're okay," He stroked her hair and caressed her cheek. "You'll get through this, I know it."

"I-I don't think I can," She shook her head.

"Yes you can," He insisted.

"You don't understand!" Her sudden raise in volume startled him. "My grandmother was the only one of my blood relatives who actually loved me after my mother died!"

"I-I know, but..."

"Now I have no one!" Her face fell in his chest again.

"Shen, you don't have no one," His hands laid on her back as she stayed surprisingly quiet, "Your family downstairs is here for you. They may not be your blood relatives, but they've been there for you, for your whole life. And also... I'm here for you. I may not related to you in any way, but I'm not leaving you anytime soon."

"P-promise?" She hiccuped pitifully.

"I promise," He rubbed her back in comfort, and planted a kiss in her soft, dark hair. "Um, i-if your grandmother was here right now, she wouldn't want you to be sad. You know how she hates seeing you sad, as do I. She'd want you to celebrate her life, with your family."

She sniffled and wiped her eyes with her left hand. "Y-you really think so?"

"I know so," He replied. She regained her composure a bit more.

"Th-thanks, Chuck," Her voice cracked a bit.

"No prob," He wiped her tearstains away. His heart fluttered when a small smile grew on her flushed face. "There's that smile." He kissed her forehead. "Y-you want to go downstairs with your family?"

"S-sure," She nodded, so hand-in-hand, the two friends walked down the stairs and in the living room, where her family was sitting quietly. They looked up upon hearing their footsteps, and saw them. They saw the wet spot on Chuckie's shirt, but didn't question it; It was pretty clear how it got there.

"How're you doing, Shen?" Frankie solemnly asked her little sister.

"Well, even I'm still very sad... I do feel better," Shenzi quietly replied, "Th-thanks to Chuckie." The said boy smiled down at her.

"Well, we're glad you're feeling better," Felicia smiled sadly, "The loss of a close relative is very hard to deal with, whether they're biological or not." The others nodded in agreement. "But just remember, Shen; Even though we don't share blood with you, we'll always be here for you." Frankie and Friar Tuck nodded again.

Shenzi's smile grew as fresh tears welled up. "Thanks, guys." She hugged all three of them in turn, with a smiling Chuckie watching. She was going to make it through this tragedy, he knew it. She was a strong girl.

After a while, the two friends went back upstairs and sat on her bed. Shenzi laid on Chuckie's chest, finding comfort in his embrace. "You um, you still doing okay?" He asked her.

"I guess," She shrugged. "I-I just can't believe she's gone."

"That's understandable. But... are the dead really ever gone? She'll always be with you, Shen. Right here." At "here", he prodded her chest where her heart was.

"True," She shrugged, "But... I just... I don't know. I'll never be able to talk to her again." Her breath shuddered again.

"Shh, it's okay," He stroked her hair in comfort, and rested his forehead on hers, "It's okay." He hugged her firmly when she buried her face back in his chest, but didn't make a sound. "You're strong; Like I said earlier, you'll make it through this." After carefully laying on his side with her, he started cuddling his head on hers. "You'll be okay." He ran his fingers through her dark tresses as her breathing was starting to settle.

Shenzi relaxed in his hold as her eyes started burning a bit from fatigue. Why did she find his embrace so comforting? She cuddled in his shoulder a bit, with her arms around his midsection.

Chuckie smiled when he felt her movements. He held her closer, and stroked her hair as he laid his head still on hers. He hated seeing his best friend as sad as she was when he first came to the house earlier that day. She even initially wanted him to leave! He knew that she was very upset if she didn't want even him around, although it was only for a moment. When she was sad, so was he. Same with anger, but he loved seeing her happy. When she was happy, he was too.

When he looked down at her, he saw that she had drifted off into a peaceful sleep, despite still wearing her funeral clothes, although her boots were now on the floor. He was about to release his hold on her and tell her parents, but he decided against it. They'd find out eventually, right? Besides, he didn't want to leave her. So instead, he laid his head on hers again, and stayed quiet. He scratched her back soothingly over her sweater and dress as she moaned in her sleep a bit. "You're okay, baby," He whispered again, "I'll stand by you, forever." He kissed her hair before he drifted off to sleep in his day clothes, including his glasses.

When Frankie passed by the room, where the door was wide open, she stopped walking at what she saw; Chuckie was sleeping peacefully with her baby sister in his arms. She saw her hoisery-covered legs behind his, and her boots on the floor, along with the redhead's sneakers. She smiled at the sweet scene; Chuckie was truly the perfect boy for her sister. He was able to comfort her in minutes, whereas for her family, it seemingly took hours. How did he do it? Frankie had to know! She yearned to comfort her baby sister when she needed it, but she just didn't know how. She wasn't that good with soothing words.

Deciding to leave them be, she walked downstairs and told her parents that the two friends were sleeping. They were happy to hear that she wasn't crying anymore, and that Chuckie managed to comfort her.

Shenzi Tuck was going to make it through life, even with this tragedy stuck in her mind. Especially with Chuckie Finster by her side.

(A/N: I hope you enjoyed this one. You know the disclaimer. I already have an idea for D.)