(A/N: This chapter was originally going to be combined with number 6, but it was getting too long, so I put this part in a whole new chapter. Enjoy!)

High School Daze

Ch. 7

"She's out of the way! Do it!" Susie commanded to the jock with determination.

Fridge stepped back, and ran to the door, using all his strength on it; And it burst off the hinges!

The gang cheered as Shenzi uncovered her eyes. She stumbily ran and jumped in her practically big brother's arms as tears streamed down her cheeks. After he walked out of the room with her, she was bombarded with bear hugs from all of them. Frankie squeezed her so hard, with tears falling, that she couldn't breathe.

"Chuckie!" She yelled with joy upon seeing the redhead. When Chuckie turned away from the window, he almost passed out with joy when he saw his girlfriend running towards him. After dropping the binoculars he was using on the floor, he ran to her, and she jumped in his arms. "Oh my God, Chuckie!" She sobbed in his chest, with one hand clutching his shirt tightly.

"Shenzi, I can't believe it!" He cried out, hugging her tightly with tears falling down his cheeks, "You're okay! I'm never leaving you again!"

"I missed you so much, Chuckie!"

"I missed you too!" As the heartwarming reunion took place, Susie stepped outside and gestured for the police to come quickly. Chuckie set her down, but kept her close to him. "That monster's never going to hurt you again, Shenzi. We won't let him." He kissed her temple, and laid his face in her hair. "I... I love you."

Her heart leapt at his words: This was the first time he ever said those words to her. "I love you too," She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "I want our break to end, and never start again."

"I couldn't agree more," He rubbed her back over her hair, and rested his forehead on hers, feeling thankful that it was actually her instead of the poster, "I can't lose you again."

"Mom? Dad?" Frankie talked in her phone after dialling their home number, "We found Shenzi! We're at Pangborn's house with her! It was him all along! We'll bring her home, I promise! See you then!" She hung up. "H-hey sis?"

"Yeah?" Shenzi turned to her sister from her place in Chuckie's arms.

"Um, I uh, no offense, but... how come you're wearing that?"

Shenzi glanced at herself, before her smile faded away. "He made me wear this." She didn't have to say who she was talking about; They knew right away.

"That creep," Chuckie grumbled angrily.

"I had to wear other costumes like this too," She meekly explained.

"Did you?" She whipped around, and saw two police officers standing behind Susie. "Where are these costumes at? We need all the evidence we could get for the trial."

"I, I don't know," She shrugged, "They're probably in his room." After finding the said location, Shenzi explaining what he did to her as they searched, the cops looked in the closet, and sure enough, it was filled up with sultry costumes in the girl's size. She recognized most of them, but the rest of them were new to her.

"He made you wear these?" Frankie grimaced in disgust, "What a freak!"

"He also has this leash that he used on me like I was a dog," Shenzi briefly explained.

Chuckie wanted to throw up at that. That pervert treated his precious girlfriend like she was some kind of zoo animal? That was just sick and twisted. After the leash was found, along with other pieces of evidence, Pangborn was arrested after he came to. The gang gave him smug smiles, especially Shenzi, when he glared back at them. When the police cars drove away, with the kids on board, Chuckie turned to his girlfriend, who had a warm blanket draped on her shoulders. Her purse was in her lap, as she as wearing her party clothes again. She was thankful for wearing flat shoes instead of those dreadful high heels. "You okay, Shen?"

"Yeah," She nodded, "I'm just glad you guys found me." She hugged him firmly from the side.

"I am too," He held her closer by her shoulders, and laid his head on hers. "From now on, since it's what started our break, we won't do anything expensive for our dates. We'll keep it casual, I promise."

"Thanks Chuck," She laid a hand on his chest, "I promise too." She snuggled in his neck and shoulder a bit. "I can't wait to get home."

"Same here," He kissed her forehead, "You deserve to be safe at home, and not in some pervert's harem." He then got an idea. "Um... Sh-Shen?" She looked up at him, "Would you feel better if I slept at your house tonight? I can ask my parents, and yours."

"I'd love that," She decided, "Thanks Chuck."

"Anything for you," He smiled lovingly at her. After he pecked her lips, they engaged in their very first makeout session, not caring that Frankie was sitting with them.

"Get a room, you two," She joked with a giggle.

"Shut up," Shenzi jokingly giggled back, before planting her lips back on Chuckie's. Knowing she wasn't serious, Frankie just laughed some more, and let her little sister and future brother-in-law have their moment. After around 2 minutes, their session finally finished, and Shenzi laid on Chuckie's shoulder again.

"Shenzi, I, I'm so glad we found you," Frankie squeezed her in a loving hug again, "I don't know what I'd do if we didn't."

"I am too," Shenzi reciprocated the embrace, "It was horrible."

"I can imagine," Frankie agreed, "I mean, him forcing you to wear those skanky costumes, and tickling you like you said he did? That's just sick."

"Uh huh," She nodded. Her heart leapt with joy when the police car began slowing to a stop in front of her house. "Bye, Chuckie." She kissed his cheek, "Call me, and tell me if your parents will let you sleep over with me."

"I will, Shen." He brushed her cheek with one hand, and kissed her lips for a second. "I'll see you later. I love you."

"I love you too." After flashing a loving smile to him, she exited the car with Frankie, while almost bouncing with excitement. One of the cops was following them, so that Shenzi could give her last uncomfortable costume to them for evidence, and tell her parents what happened.

"I'll go first," Frankie whispered to her, and she nodded in agreement. With that, the blonde swung the door open. "WE-E-E'R-R-RE HO-O-OME!" She yelled at the top of her lungs as she entered the house with Shenzi and the officer following. They heard stampeding footsteps down the stairs, before they saw their overjoyous parents.

Shenzi ran at top speed into Friar Tuck's open arms. "Oh, I missed you guys so much!" She cried in his shoulder.

"We missed you too!" Felicia hugged her youngest daughter from behind, "What happened to you?"

"I can explain that," The officer chimed in, "If your daughter feels too uncomfortable to tell you herself." She nodded timidly. "Okay, I'll tell you."

The two adults were horrified from the officer's explanation. "That monster did all that?!" Friar Tuck exclaimed, as he held his nervous youngest daughter closer to him.

"He made you were skanky costumes, and tickle-tortured you if you did something he didn't like?!" Felicia exclaimed in turn, "That's sick!"

"Well no worries, Mr. Pangborn will be in jail for a long time for charges of kidnapping, and in a way, child molestation and sexual harassment."

"Thank God," Friar Tuck sighed in relief.

After the tension and excitement, and the cop, left the family, Chuckie walked in the room. "Hi, Chuckie," Shenzi greeted him.

"Hi, Shen," He smiled at her. "Um, I uh, I want to ask you guys something."

"Sure, what is it?" Felicia asked him.

"Well, I think that Shenzi would feel comfortable if I'm with her when she sleeps. So um, can I sleep over tonight? I'll ask my parents later."

"Sure you can," Felicia smiled at him, "That's very sweet of you. You can dinner with us too, if you haven't with your family yet."

"I hope your parents let you stay here," Frankie chimed in.

"I'll go ahead and ask them real quick." He gave Shenzi a quick kiss on her lips from her place in her father's arms, "And I'll pack my stuff if they say yes. Back in a few." And with that, he left the house. Shenzi sighed dreamily as she watched him go. After a few minutes, he came back holding a duffle bag, with Chaz, Kira, and Kimi behind him. "They said yes. And um, Shen, they wanted to see you, since you're now... found."

"That's no problem; I'd love that." She stood up, and hugged Chaz and Kira in turn.

"We're so glad you're safe," Kira smiled at her future daughter-in-law.

"As am I," Shenzi smiled timidly, "It was not pretty; Although it wasn't painful, other than for my wrists, neck, and lungs, I'd rather not talk about it."

"What would hurt only your wrists, neck, and lungs?" Chaz asked her.

"Here, I know what happened." Chuckie whispered it in his ear, as Shenzi stayed quiet.

"Ohh!" Chaz's hand reached up to his mouth in shock.

"Yep," Chuckie nodded, "So, thanks for letting me stay here for the night. I just feel like it'll help Shenzi sleep if someone's in the room with her."

"I couldn't agree more," Kira smiled, "You too have fun."

"But not too much fun," Chaz winked at them.

"Dad," Chuckie blushed with embarrassment, as Shenzi giggled in her hand. With that, they and Kimi left with the young couple standing at the door.

"So um, since it's still early, I'm going to start on supper," Felicia stood up, "You two just hang out while you wait."

"Okay," Shenzi nodded, before looking up at Chuckie. "What do you want to do?"

"Hmm," He thought about what he wanted to do with his girlfriend, "Why don't we just hang out in your room? That cool with you?"

"Sure," She shrugged, "Anything for you." She kissed his cheek, before turning to the kitchen, "Mom, we'll be upstairs if you need us!"

"Have fun, you crazy kids!"

With that, the young couple walked (Shenzi ran) upstairs. Once they were at their destination, Shenzi ran to her bed, and flopped face-up on it with a loud sigh of relaxation. Chuckie smiled as he watched her. "Man, I missed my bed. Heck, I missed my whole room!"

"I bet," He sat next to her as she stayed down. "Um, d-do you want me to leave, so you can change?"

"I'd appreciate that," She sat up, "Thanks, Chuck." After he left the room, and gingerly closed the door, she started digging around for comfortable pajamas. Chuckie changed into his own in the bathroom while waiting, but he was surprised that only after two minutes, he heard her voice. He hastily pulled up his pants, and stood at her doorway again. "Okay, you can come in now." He opened the door, and smiled upon seeing her pjs; A black Hello Kitty nerd footless hooded onesie with red plaid on the torso, legs, and bow on the hood. On her small feet were black fuzzy socks. And to boost up the cuteness, the hood was over her head.

"Adorable," He chuckled and kissed the top of her nose, making her giggle, "Just adorable."

"Thanks Chuck," She blushed timidly, "So, what should we do before dinner's ready?"

"Let's just... chill," He shrugged, "Y'know, relax. You've had a long day."

"Yep," She agreed, "I'm up for that."

While they waited, they simply enjoyed each other's company. Nothing excited needed to happen. They just needed each other to be perfectly content. With her hood down, Shenzi laid her head on Chuckie's chest as he laid face-up on her bed. When she felt his fingers run through her hair, she almost fell asleep right there; She found him to be more comfortable than any mattress she ever slept on.

With Chuckie, he was still in disbelief that his precious girlfriend was in his arms again after weeks on weeks of her gone. It felt... surreal. "Hey Shen?"

"Mm?" She hummed.

He raised an eyebrow at her response. "Uh, are you asleep?"

"I feel like I will be," She mumbled in his chest.

"O-oh." He thought about tickling her to wake her up, but he figured that she had more than enough of that, so he decided to just talk. "Well um, a-anyway, when I first saw you outside that room unharmed, to be honest, I... I thought I was dreaming."

"Truthfully, I felt the same way," She admitted, "When all of you guys came today."

"That's understandable," His hands rested on her back, where he hoped was comfortable for her, "I mean, after weeks and weeks of... you know, it's not surprising that you would feel that way. Anyone would. I'm just so glad that we found you." He kissed the top of her head.

"Me too," She snuggled in his chest, "If it had been a few more weeks, I would've gone crazy and try to break out on my own, even knowing what would happen if I did." He didn't have to ask her what would happen; He had a strong feeling about what she meant. "It... it just feels great to be home, and with you." She leaned her head up, and kissed his cheek.

"I couldn't agree more," Chuckie smiled lovingly at her.

They were about to share a kiss, the hundredth one it seemed, when Felicia unintentionally interrupted them. "Dinner time!"

Shenzi flinched back in surprise, making Chuckie laugh as he sat up. "You jumpy, Shen?" He chuckled, as she giggled at herself. "Come on, let's go eat." He kissed her temple and they walked downstairs, hand-in-hand. "What's for dinner?"

"I made Shenzi's favorite to celebrate her return," Felicia set out 4 bowls, and an extra one for their guest.

"Mashed potatoes with shredded cheese?" She smiled with excitement.

"Uh huh," Felicia nodded.

"That sounds good," Chuckie sat next to Shenzi, so she scooted her chair closer to his, "I've never tried it before."

"Well then you're in for a real treat, Finster," His girlfriend smiled at him, "It's awesome."

"So, you guys decided to break in your pjs already?" Frankie smirked, before eating a spoonful.

"Yeah," Shenzi shrugged, "I just felt uncomfortable in that outfit I wore for the party."

"Ah," Frankie nodded.

Chuckie scooped out a small spoonful, and ate it up. "Wow, that's great," He smiled after swallowing, "I can see why it's your favorite, Shen."

"I told you," She giggled, before eating some herself.

"I remember this was the first solid food that you've ever eaten, Shenzi," Friar Tuck told her.

"Was it really?" She smiled after swallowing.

"Uh huh," He nodded, "I remember it like it was only yesterday." The girls and Chuckie listened intently as he started telling them how it went.

l-l

Shenzi was only 6 months old when she started moving on from formula to "grown up food." She was in a black ruffled t-shirt, a white diaper, and black and white striped Mary Jane socks. In her black hair, which already reached her shoulders, was a small, black and white striped bow. Like in the present time, she had big, innocent eyes with long lashes.

Friar Tuck smiled as he watched her play with one of her baby toys: A red guitar with buttons that made different sounds. She flinched back when she pressed one and music suddenly started playing from the speaker, but she started laughing and babbling with joy. His smile grew as she stood up, and tried to dance along to the music. In his eyes, she was the most precious baby in the whole world. Although in a couple years, a new addition would join that category. Shenzi's coos, babbles, and giggles were among the cutest sounds he ever heard in his life. When the song ended, she rolled on her back and looked up at him upside down, her hair spreading out on the floor.

"Hey you," He knelt in front of her, and leaned down a bit so she was looking at him. His heart melted as she babbled and reached up to him, while practically fluttering her eyelashes. Her large, blue and green eyes were almost physically shining with joy at his presence alone. In several years, there would be a newcomer to that group of those she loved immensely like this. He playfully covered his eyes as she watched. "Where's my favorite little girl?" After a second, he drew his hands away. "There she is!" She squealed and giggled, while kicking her little legs. Her mouth was wide open, revealing her new tiny, white baby teeth. She was growing up fast.

After around a minute, she pouted when her tummy growled. "Are you hungry?" He asked her, before he lifted her up. "Come on; It's time you learned to eat like a big girl." She babbled in response as he set her in her high chair. "You just wait here, cutie." He kissed her cheek, making her blush and giggle, but just as he was the perfect distance away, she let out a little sneeze. "Excuse you!" He laughed as she giggled some more. "Okay, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." As she watched, he filled her favorite bowl with mashed potatoes and heated them in the microwave, so they were warm, but not too hot.

He then set the bowl along with a little spoon on the highchair's tray. She just blankly stared at them, then at him, so he scooped up a little bit of the mashed potatoes in the spoon and held them up to her face. But she just continued staring; She almost looked shell-shocked. "Come on, you'll love this," Friar Tuck smiled at her, "You want to be a big girl, don't you?" She cooed in response, still looking skeptical. "If you do, then you'll want to eat like a big girl. Can you try it for me?" She looked a bit surprised, but as if she understood him, she opened her mouth. "Good girl." He carefully fed the spoonful to his little baby. She made a cute gross face after a second, making him laugh again. "You're picky, aren't you?" He teased her, but she stayed quiet. "Let's see what we have to make them better." He looked in the refrigerator, and took out a new pack of shredded cheese. "How about this?" She babbled, so he decided to try that for her. As he mixed the cheese in her potatoes, she watched with some fascination. "You enjoying the show?" He teased her, and she giggled.

After he was done, he scooped out a small bite, and held the spoon to her. Thankfully for him, she opened her mouth and ate the cheesy spuds right away. After tasting it, a happy smile grew on her face. "You like that?" He smiled at her, and she giggled with the bite still in her mouth.

Little did he know that they'd be having that meal for dinner for years to come.

l-l

"And that's how it went."

"That's adorable!" Frankie gushed, "I wish I was there."

"Me too," Felicia agreed.

"That's pretty interesting," Chuckie smiled, before turning to his girlfriend, "Now I know why it's your favorite, Shen."

"Yep," She nodded, "That, and it's so good!" She jokingly reached her spoon towards his bowl.

"Uh-uh," He protected his bowl with his arms with a smirk, "You have your own potatoes, Missy."

"I know," She giggled, "I was kidding." She then turned to her father. "I really almost sneezed on you?" She laughed.

"Yeah, you did," He nodded, trying to keep his composure himself.

"What kind of gross face did I make? Or do you not remember?"

"It was like this." When he demonstrated, Frankie almost choked on her bite of potatoes; She covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut, before she was able to swallow her spoonful.

After she swallowed, she cracked up laughing with her eyes squeezed shut. "That's the greatest gross face ever!"

"Like this?" Shenzi popped a spoonful in her mouth, and imitated the facial expression. Frankie cracked up yet again, but Felicia and the guys joined her that time. Chuckie had to wipe tears out of his eyes.

"Yes! Exactly like that!" Friar Tuck laughed.

After they finished eating, and brushed their teeth, Shenzi and Chuckie went back in her room to "chill" some more. "Hey, Shen?"

"Yeah?" She smiled up at him from her head's place on his chest.

"From what your father said, you must've been an adorable baby," He smiled back.

She blushed timidly from his sweet words. "Aww, thanks. You were a very cute baby too."

He was confused. "Huh? How would you know?"

"Well, that one time I stayed over at your house, you had to take a shower," She started explaining, "While you were in there, Chaz and Kira showed me some of your baby pictures."

Chuckie sighed, as he blushed in embarrassment. "Figures."

"It's okay," She giggled, "No need to be embarrassed. They were adorable."

"Shenzi, nothing I can think of is more adorable than you in those pajamas."

She giggled as her blush deepened. "Thanks, Chuck." She kissed his lips for a second, and another makeout session started between them. It stopped after a couple minutes when they needed to breath. "I, I know I've said this before, but I really missed you."

"I missed you too," He stroked her hair, and kissed her head, "Like you wouldn't believe. School was so dull without you by my side."

Shenzi suddenly gasped in shock. "School! Oh my God, I'm going to be so behind! I'm going to flunk every class! Even math!"

"Hey, hey, hey," Chuckie gently cupped her cheeks with his hands, "It's going to be fine. I'm sure the principal will understand; You can get tutors to help you catch up."

She took some deep breaths, before she was calm. "O-okay," She nodded, "Sorry that I freaked out like that. I just..."

"It's alright," He assured her, "I understand. That creep made you fall behind; It's not your fault." He rested his forehead on hers. "All that matters is that you're home, safe and sound again."

"Y-yeah," She agreed, with her hands on his wrists.

"Like I said, school wasn't the same without you," He continued his topic from before she freaked out. But he decided to change the subject. "You know who else missed you, other than me, our friends, your family, and their families?"

"Who?" She asked him.

Chuckie reached behind her back, and she giggled when he grabbed a certain plush cat. "Kitty missed you." He set the cat in her hands.

"Aww," She set her cheek on the cat's head for a second, "I missed you too, Kitty." She sighed in relaxation as she laid back on Chuckie's chest with the plush toy in her lap. "It's great to be home." She leaned her head against his when he rested his chin on her shoulder. "And it's great to be with you again."

"I couldn't agree more," He kissed her cheek under her long bangs, "I love you."

"I love you too." And without him realizing it, she was out like a light.

"Hey, Shen?" Chuckie wanted to ask her an important question, but she didn't respond. "Shen? Shenzi?" He looked, and smiled upon seeing her peacefully asleep. She looked like she didn't have a care in the world. With reluctance, he gently laid her face-up on the bed, being careful to not wake her up. "I'll be right back, my love." After pecking her lips, he quietly walked downstairs and in the living room, where Frankie, Felicia, and Friar Tuck were at. They wanted to spend time with Shenzi, but they decided to give Chuckie time with her first. She'd be theirs tomorrow. "Hey uh, guys?" They turned to him. "Shenzi's pretty tired, so we're going to hit it early."

"Hit what?" Frankie smirked, recalling her sister telling her what happened during the camping trip from 5 years ago.

"The sack?" He smirked back.

"Oh yeah," She giggled teasingly, "Well, g'night. Make sure my baby sister stays here."

"Will do; I promise." After the adults bidded him goodnight, he walked back upstairs and in the dark bedroom, where his girlfriend was still peacefully asleep. After gingerly taking off her glasses, placing them on her cupcake table, and turning off her lava lamp, he took off his own glasses, and carefully laid next to her. "G'night, Shen." He kissed her forehead, and gently held her closer in a loving embrace. "I love you." With one hand, the other on her back, and his face in her hair, he drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

(A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! You know the disclaimer. Well, now you understand why I divided chapter 6 into 6 and 7. XD The flashback is the same as one from an old story, "Memories". Here, it's just written a lot better. XD)