A/N: Next chapter! On with the tour...

Chapter 4: Waiting

Ralph gazed across the arcade at the blank screen of the Sugar Rush cabinets. He had a perfect view of it today, even from the bottom of the building, because there were no kids in the way. He had to admit that the black on the screens was terrifying, even knowing what was going on.

Everyone in the arcade was in their start screen positions, playing through their demo screens. Aside from Sugar Rush, DDR, and Kitty's Kitchen anyway. Ralph was having a hard time playing his part while his mind was so occupied. He kept looking back at Sugar Rush where Mr. Litwak and the technician were.

Mr. Litwak was in one of the Sugar Rush seats and looking at the screen while the technician was fiddling around in the wires they'd exposed when they'd opened the side panel of the cabinet. Ralph couldn't see what he was doing, but he had a metal box beside him, the upgrade itself.

Ralph shouldn't really be worried. Upgrades are nothing new, and Vanellope seemed pretty excited about it. At least after Yuni told her about what was going to happen. She didn't seem to be scared at all of going into the game and having the power temporarily shut off. It had sounded a lot better than the alternative.

The technician picked up the box and started plugging wires into it. The connectors made a loud snap, Ralph flinched with every one. After the box was connected it was slid into an installed shelf designed to hold it. The tech flipped a switch and the lights on the cabinet went on.

Ralph watched as the screen lit up and showed the familiar Sugar Rush logo. It looked more like it was made out of icing than ever before. Before Ralph could admire it too much the screen blacked out and a bunch of text popped up on the screen.

"Alright." Mr. Litwak said as the tech closed up the side of the cabinet. "It's loading the updates."

"Great. I told you it wouldn't be a problem." The technician replied.

"Well, you never know." Mr. Litwak said. "You remember what happened to the Dance Dance Revolution game that one time." He reminded.

"We never did figure out what was up with that..." The tech mused. "Anyway, this was the last of them. We can come back in a few hours to see if they need anything else."

Mr. Litwak got out of the seat and started putting all the parts away. After a minute he and the technician were out the door.

After a moment someone sounded the call clear. Ralph rushed down to Game Central Station.

+++[Hours later...]+++

"Ralph..." Felix sighed.

"Yeah?" Ralph replied distantly.

"You've been sitting out here for hours. Don't you want to come and have a root beer at Tappers?" Felix asked hopefully.

"Nah... I'm okay here." Ralph answered.

"Ralph, there's still hours to go before Sugar Rush opens again. You don't have to wait out here the whole time." Felix argued.

"I told her I'd be the first one to greet her after the upgrade finished and I'm gonna." Ralph insisted. Felix sighed and sat down next to Ralph.

Felix sat there for a minute staring at the closed off entrance to Sugar Rush. He sighed and looked at Ralph. He slouched back and crossed his arms, mimicking Ralph's pose. Finding that uncomfortable he pushed himself up straight and put his arms down to dangle between his legs.

"You really would do anything for her wouldn't you?" Felix asked, admiration all over his face.

Ralph looked down at Felix in surprise.

"Is that weird?" He asked after a moment. Felix shook his head vigorously.

"Oh NO. I think it's wonderful that you've found someone to care so much for." Felix answered.

"Hmph." Ralph grunted in surprise.

"What?" Felix asked indignantly.

"Nothing, nothing." Ralph answered.

"Ralph!" Felix argued.

"Really, it's nothing." Ralph insisted. "It's just... it really IS nice. I guess."

Felix frowned at that. He had to wonder if Ralph had really thought about it before. Maybe not. Ralph knew that it was nice when people cared about you. But just like this was the first time anyone cared about him, this was his first time caring about anyone else too.

There was a comfortable silence where both Ralph and Felix sat and stared at Sugar Rush and didn't move.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to come to Tappers?" Felix asked again.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Ralph answered.

Felix patted Ralph's arm and stood up.

"Well, when Vanellope gets out why don't you bring her by? We'd like to see this new upgrade too." Felix said.

"Will do Felix. Will do." Ralph said as Felix started walking away.

+++[Even more Hours later...]+++

A loud whirring noise woke Ralph up from his dozing. He jerked up and flinched at how stiff his back was. He sat up straight and stretched, groaning with satisfaction as he heard his back pop and crackle. He relaxed and looked up at the sign for Sugar Rush as he rubbed his neck.

The sign was lighting up again and the train on the track started down the tunnel.

Ralph stood up, knowing that Vanellope would be barreling down the track in her kart just about any minute now.

He stood there... and stood there... and stood there some more.

He whistled, and tapped his feet as he waited.

After several 'any minute now's had past Ralph was puzzled. Then annoyed. Then worried. Then suddenly anxious.

"Should I go in?" Ralph wondered.

There was always the possibility that the update wasn't actually finished... If he went in now then who knew what could happen.

Ralph scratched his chin as he thought about it.

"I'll go to Tapper's first. See if Felix is there and let him know what I'm up to." His last experience game jumping had taught him a few things. Even though it was only coming up on 'closing time' you never knew how long this sort of thing might take.

He headed over to the Tapper's exit, looking back at Sugar Rush just once more to make sure.

No... Vanellope wasn't there. He was going to have to go looking for her.

A/N: Cliff Hanger! Hanging from a cliff!... And that's why they call him cliff HANGER!

Review Response:

BrightLight15: The montage is a cute idea. But literature and film are two different mediums. I just don't see that working as well as it does in visual. Thank you for the suggestion. But I'd rather take the time to do it right.