Oh, and Lucy looked down at Tip as she slept off the shock on the couch. "So, what's the necklace she's wearing" Lucy said wondering what happened to make Tip faint. "It is a symbol of Boovship, every year we are holding a meeting to see if anyone of the other species we have been meeting is worthy of being made as one of us. Usually the answer is being no so it ends quickly." Oh sat down and began wrapping a special present for Tip, hoping she'd like it when she wakes up. Lucy smiled as she glanced over at what Oh was doing, "So, this is what made her faint?" "This year an extra decision was made, and an extra honor was given to her. The others hads quickly seen, that part of my good leadership was due to Tip and I being a team. So they also are deciding to be making her CoCaptain of the Boov." Lucys eyes went wide hearing this, "Wow! That's a lot to take in all at once. No wonder she fainted, what's that you are wrapping?" "A Boov Pad and Carry Case, every grown Boov has one in case of emergencies." "But Tip isn't an adult yet." "True, but they said she needs it because she is being CoCaptain."
Lucy thought deeply for a moment, "Hmmm. School is starting back up soon, being CoCaptain won't leave her much time for chores since she'll have homework also." Oh smiled up at Lucy, "I can to be helping with that, my job as Captain is being lessened since Tip is now CoCaptain!"
Tip began to stir on the couch, "Morning mom!" "Actually it's noon, you've been asleep all morning." Tip sat up, and in doing so she noticed the necklace she was wearing "So, it wasn't a dream. It really happened" she thought to herself. Lucy noticed her looking at the necklace, "Seems like you will be taking on a lot more responsibility from now on." "Yeah", Tip said with a shy grin. "I'm not sure how good I'll do being the CoCaptain of the Boov", she said nervously. Oh laughed, carrying a plate of chicken nuggets over to her, "You will be doing fine Tip! This was actually being my thought when I was first being made Captain, I wills be here to helping you out." Smiling at Oh as she ate her lunch, she noticed the gift waiting for her, "What's this?" "It is being something that everyone hads been thinking you would be needing" he said with a grin, "I woulds have given it to you at HQ, but you hads fainted before I could."
Setting aside her lunch plate, and opened her gift. "Wow! It's a Boov Pad and purse!" "You should be keeping you Pad will you at all times, in case there is being an emergency." Tip looked at Oh a little confused, "But, I don't understand written Boovish. How will I be able to use it?" Oh sent her a warm smile, "I will to be teaching you to read and write Boovish, and alsos to understand it when it is being spoken." Lucy and Tip looked at each other then at Oh in confusion, "Why will I need to understand spoken Boovish? They all speak English." Oh looked up at Tip, "Sometimes when Boov are being upset they will be forgetting to speak in English, knowing spoken Boovish will be enabling you to still help them out."
And so the busy days began. School started up, and Tips time was divided between school and homework, learning Boovish and how to use the Pad, and helping the Boov with whatever Earth related problems they were facing. She mastered the understanding of spoken Boovish easily, but it was the written form that was giving her fits. Written Boovish has no letters and words are in the form of differing shapes of circle clusters. One day had Oh laughing, as he was trying to teach her to spell her real name "Gratuity" in Boovish. "No! That is not being 'Gratuity'" he said laughing so hard he fell to the ground. Tip looked a little annoyed at Oh, "I'm trying my best here, and it can't be THAT funny." "Yes, I knows" he said as he started to calm down, "It is only that you have instead spelled a rude word for elbow." They both looked at each other for a moment, before they both started laughing.
It was a weekend giving Tip a little bit of spare time on her hands, and some room to think. Looking at her mom and Oh during lunch she said "We ought to have a 'thank you' dinner for the Boov, it's not everyday someone like me is suddenly made a leader." "That is being a great idea Tip, let us be sure to be inviting Kyle and Smek!" "Why Smek" asked Lucy, the last she knew Smek was a jerk. Tip and Oh looked at each other, "Smek settled down after he was being demoted, in facts he was one of the strongest voices in the selecting of Tip." Tip looked at Oh, "I didn't know that." "I thinks he was very impressed with how you hads acted the first time we were being in Paris. I thinks he was being amazed at you boldness and courage when you stoods up to him, and alsos your smarts when you turned the Eiffel Tower wrong-side up", he said smiling and turning pink. Those memories were super dear to him, that time marked when they became official friends, and looking back now also marked when he first fell in love with her.
Preparations were made, and Oh sent out the invites, along with making Boov foods. Tip and Lucy decorated the apartment, and made the Earth foods, along with a big platter of chicken nuggets that both groups could eat. By dinner time the little apartment was as packed as when Oh had thrown his first party. Most of the Boovs sat out in the living-room as they ate, but Kyle and Smek were at the main table where Oh was. Smek noticed Oh grabbing a big bunch of chicken nuggets from the platter, "Are you sures you should to be eating those" he said confused and slightly worried "You knows Earth foods are not being really good for us to be eating." "It is OKs, I has checked with Big Brained Boov, and is completely safe, the breading is in small amounts. Alsos it is really being good, you should to be trying some" Oh said with a big grin. Smek and Kyle nervously grabbed one from the platter, and looking at each other put them in their mouths. Both of their eyes went opened wide, and they stared at Oh in amazement. "Wherefor did you get these? I hads thought Koobish lived only on Boovworld, and hads gone extinct when the Gorg destroyed it" Smek said with stunned surprise. Tip and Oh looked at each other and laughed before Oh said in reply, "These are being called 'chicken nuggets', Tip gave me some when I had heard that some Boov were saying that chicken tastes like Koobish. I was just as surprised to be finding them tasting exactly alike. Nows we have to be remembering to save some chicken for Humans also." "That's right" Tip said "Humans like eating chicken just as much as Boov do."
"How is going your Boovish lessons Tip" Smek said turning to her, "Cans you understand it when it is spoken?" "Yes, it turns out it wasn't as hard as I had thought it would be." Smek smiled and said something to her in Boovish, Tip and Oh burst out laughing at the same time, and Kyle was trying hard to hold back from laughing. Lucy looked at Smek in confusion, "What did you say?" Tip answered, "Smek was just telling a joke about when we first me each other. And Kyle was there to." Smek smiled, "Your smarts still amaze me, how is it going with the written form?" Tip winced, "Not so good, I still can't even spell 'Gratuity' right." Oh leaned over and whispered in Smeks ear, and they both started laughing. Lucy was again confused, "What was that about?" Tip sighed, blushing with embarrassment, and said "Last time I tried to spell my name I instead spelled a rude word for elbow." "They have a rude word for elbow?" "Yes. Apparently they do" she said laughing a little herself now. "Not to worry Tip" Smek said, putting a reassuring hand on her arm, "You will be getting that hang of it soon. In the mean times we will all to be helping you out." "Thank you Smek" Tip said with a warm smile "it's hard to get used to words with no letters." "Is no problem Tip" he said smiling back, "Is least we could be doing for fellow Boov, and alsos CoCaptain!" Tip blushed again, "I'm still not sure I'll do a good job at leading." "You will be doing fine" he reassured her "Remembers, you has alreadys done a lot which is why you are now Boov, and CoCaptain." They kept on talking with each other like this over dinner, and even afterwards. All the Boov were encouraging Tip, as well as thanking her for her past deeds.
Time passed quickly after this, and Tip did eventually master reading and writing Boovish. It made her life a bit more hectic. As soon as she could use her Pad, the Boov started to message her about Earth related questions and problems. It got to the point where she had to turn it off before bed, and before school as well. Oh worried about her, turning a little blue as he saw what the toll the extra stress was taking on her. "I'm fine Oh", she said when she noticed him looking concerned "I'm just a little tired that's all." The blue of his skin lightened a little, but didn't go away. He could see her reply wasn't completely true. Between school, and leadership duties she had almost no time to rest. And one day after Tip came home from school she got so sick she collapsed shortly after getting in the door. Oh seeing her do this turned a vivid yellow and rushed to her side. She was unconscious, and feverish. Oh not knowing what to do hollered over his shoulder, "Lucy! Please to be coming quickly! Tip is needing help!" Lucy hearing the very worried tone in his voice, and seeing the yellow of his skin rushed to join him. "What happened" she asked casting a worried look a Tip. "She hads collapsed as soon as she got home, I am not knowing what to do!" "Any idea what might have caused it" Lucy asked turning to face a now deep blue Oh. He sighed, "Most likely it is being stress from her juggling school and leadership, what should we to be doing?" Lucy looked at him, and noticing the tears forming in Ohs eyes, laid a hand on his arm. "Let's get her to the Hospital, they'll know what to do" Lucy said smiling reassuringly at Oh. His color lightened, but just by one shade. He was still so worried, worried that he might loose his dearest friend.
Lucy noticed Oh taking Tips Pad, "What are you doing?" she said as together they loaded Tip into Slushious. "She is to be needing her rest" he said as he climbed into the passenger seat "By taking it she will be undisturbed by the Boov, alsos I has an idea of a new feature which will prevent this from to happening again." "You are a true friend to Tip" Lucy said smiling at Oh. This made Oh turn pink, at least for a little while before going blue again, "Yes, and more" he said. Lucy looked over at him in confusion, but noticed he had fallen into a somber silence. As they neared the Hospital, Lucy noticed that Oh had pulled out his Pad and was typing on it. Noticing that she was curious Oh told her, "I am alerting our inner circle of friends what has happened, they and the other Boov should to be knowing so Tip can be having her rest."
At the Hospital Tip was settled into her room, and Lucy and Oh were soon joined by Kyle and Smek. They had flown over on their Bubble Pods as soon as they had heard. Tips eyes fluttered open, "Where am I? What happened?" Kyle grasped her hand and told her, "You are being at the Hospital, you collapsed unconscious and feverish after getting home today." Looking around she saw her Pad was missing, a brief look of panic shone in her eyes imagining it was lost. "Where's my Pad?" "You are needing rest now, Tip" said Smek who was smiling at her "Oh can handle the leader duties while you get better. I knows you are taking your job being very seriously, but you are needing to rest and relax. We can not be having our CoCaptain getting ill on us all the time, Oh took the Pad so you could rest. He is also to be adding a feature that will be preventing this from happening again." The doctor came in and looking at the people gathered said "Gratuity should be fine, all she needs is a few days of bed rest. After that she should be good as new." Oh instantly cheered up hearing those words. Together they all went back to the apartment, and settled Tip into her bed. Lucy smiled as she saw Oh, Klye and Smek all gather stuff for her to keep her occupied so she wouldn't be bored or tempted to cheat as she was resting. Thankfully it was Friday, which meant she didn't have to worry about school for a couple days. Hopefully she would be better my Monday, and in the meantime Oh stayed by her side helping her out. He brought her food to her, helped her dress, and travel to the restroom. Ever wanting to be ready to help, he even brought his sleeping bag into her room, just in case. His love continued to grow as he helped her out, often rendering him pink. Soon it was Monday, and Tip still looked tired. She wanted to go back to school, but on Ohs advice she relented. Lucy called the school and let them know that Tip wasn't coming. Oh was quite relieved to be seeing Tip looking much better, her fever was gone though she wasn't completely better yet.
Kyle, and Smek stopped by to check up on Tip, and all agreed that she should be able to return to normal activity by tomorrow. Tip was very relieved to hear this, she was getting seriously stir-crazy, and didn't want to fall any further behind in her school work. This turned out to be perfect timing as Oh was almost done putting the new feature together for her Pad. By Tuesday morning Tip was back to her usual self, and Oh gave her back her Pad. "What did you do to it" she asked as she put it pack in its purse/Carry Case. "I mades it so that it will now only be alerting you if message is urgent, or if there is being an emergency." Still wanting to help her out, he flew her to school in a Bubble Pod. As she stepped out, and was about to head towards her first class, Oh called out to her. Stopping she turned and looked back, Oh was getting out, and soon he gave her the biggest hug he had ever given. Looking down at the hugging Oh, she couldn't help but notice the bright orange his skin had become.
Tip quickly caught up on her classwork and with the modifications Oh made to the Pad, she easily found a good balance between school, and leadership duties. The rest of her school days seemed to fly by. Finishing Jr. High, and then High School. Oh smiled warmly as he saw Tip putting on her Cap and Gown. She had been given top Honors, due to her high grades, and Oh couldn't be prouder of her. A lot of Boov turned up to see her get her diploma, Kyle and Smek were there, so were all the Big Brained Boov (who were happy their CoCaptain was so smart), and also a few others. As the cerimony drew to and end, Oh gulped. Tonight was the night he would finally tell Tip how he felt. Tip noticed on the way home that Oh was strangely silent, and was fiddling with his hands. But whenever Tip asked him about this he would just briefly smile at her in silence and go back fiddling with his hands. It seemed he had a lot on his mind, she was left to conclude.
As Tip was putting her Cap and Gown away in the closet she heard a soft knock on her door. Opening the door she saw a deeply pink Oh standing there with a bashful look on his face. Telling him to come in, together they went and sat on her bed. "What is it Oh?" "I knows that for a long time you has been wondering what pink means, and now I am being ready to tell you. Pink is meaning love, I am loving you Tip. I has been loving you since you made me unrecognizable outside of Paris. Tip, will you do the courting with me?" Tips eyes went wide with surprise, but a warm smile quickly replaced it.
"Of course I'll date you, but why did you wait so long to tell me?" "Part of it was my being shy, and the other part was knowing you were not yet grown. I wanted to be waiting until it was proper to do so."
Tip smiled at him and place a kiss on his cheek, he froze. A big smile was plastered to his face, and his coloring shifted to one she had never seen before. He was now orange/pink with lighter stripes of pink traveling thru is body. He shook himself out of the shock and noticed Tip was looking at him curiously. "Did my colors change" he asked with a big smile, already knowing they had. "Yes, you are orange/pink, with light pink stripes traveling thru you. What does it mean" she asked puzzled at the new color display. He sent her a big warm smile, "These colors are showing that you has returned my love. Soon all Boovs will be knowing that we are being a couple now!" "How come" she asked he face showing she was confused by this. "When Boovs show these colors it will not be going away for a while. It will be taking two days for the colors to fade." She pulled him close, kissing him this time on the lips. This caused a Shockwave of light pink stripes to travel thru him starting from the area kissed. She smiled at him, she was just fine with the others knowing they were a couple.
Since Tip was no longer in school she had a lot more free time. Oh and Tip went out on dates at least once a week. While they were out, female Boov would visit Lucy, and together they would start planning for what they all knew was sure to come. One night about a year into their courtship Oh was silent again, and fiddling with his hands. Having a hunch what it meant, but still not sure she asked "What is it Oh?" Looking up at her, he pulled out a small box from his pocket. Opening it he showed it to her. Gulping, he took a breath and said "Tip, will you do the marrying with me?" Tip gasped with tears in her eyes and hugging Oh said, "Yes! Of course I will marry you!" Tip smiled with joy has he put the ring on her finger, it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. She looked at Oh, "When do you want to do it?" It didn't even take a full minute for him to answer, "I was thinking on the anniversary of when we first met" he said with a warm smile. "Yes, that's perfect Oh" she said before giving him a big kiss. Soon things were set in motion. The date was set, and the venue was soon after. After talking to Kyle, Smek and many of the other Boov they both agreed that best place would be the Boov Lunar Colony. They both eagerly looked forward to that day.
Thanking you Randomness for letting me be using some of your ideas! I loves the 2 day orange/pink period for the returned love coloration! :)