Chapter 13: Fond Memories

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters

Italics= SpongeBob's thoughts

Underlined= Sandy's thoughts

He led her inside, his hand still gripping hers tightly. With his new resolve burning brightly in his mind he pulled her into the kitchen before seating her down on one of the chairs at the dining table. Walking around the side, he took the seat opposite her; lacing his fingers together. His bright blue orbs locked onto brown, the concern clear in his eyes. Not only was this an important matter, but it was something that was bothering his friend. It was obviously something that he couldn't ignore, and the first step to follow his mental resolve, was to get her to talk.

Talking was the best way to allow her to let all of her pent up emotions out; and there seemed to be a whole LOT. Even if he had to sit there all day and all night, he would listen to every word. But he knew it wouldn't be easy, she would fight until she couldn't help but let something slip, and then…the dam would break. But finding the right words would be the real struggle; he knew that she could keep her mouth shut until the damage was too great to hide.

The silence echoed through the room, only being disturbed by the ticking of the clock and the slowly shaky breathes coming from the female opposite him. He was chewing on his lip, a habit he had picked up after the incident with the giant worm; but it now only resurfaced when he was well and truly worried. How do I approach this? Do I ask her? Do I coax it out or just demand, not that's stupid … I'll coax it out of her. He opened his mouth, ready to help; but found his voice stuck in his throat. He was scared; scared that whatever came to surface may damage this beautiful relationship that was blossoming before him. He didn't want it to end, but he couldn't let her suffer. Remember, her happiness before your own!

"Sandy?"

She glanced up, hands retracting from the surface of the table to be folded in her lap. The rims of her eyes still threatened to let tears slip, and red rimed the edges of her eyes. Once again, her tongue was useless in her mouth, her lungs refusing to let her breathe properly.

"Sandy…"

He let her name hang in the air between them, failing to find words to follow. His tone was one of empathy, his heart clenching at the sight of fresh tears clouding her eyes. SpongeBob was fighting an internal war; he was buzzing with the need to fly out of his seat and hold her close to him. To wipe her tears and assure her that everything would be alright; that she could forget her pain and start anew. That Sandy could forget the thing, or person, that had caused her this infinite pain. It was tearing him apart, looking at the shadow of his friend; what could've happened to make her like this?

Once again he was biting his lip, trying his hardest to win this internal war.

"Talk to me…Please."

He whispered it more to himself than to her, he wasn't even sure she had heard him. His only indication she had caught the quiet words was the shift in her position as she squeezed the tears from her eyes, letting her head fall downward slightly.

"…okay…"

It was more of a breath than a word, but he managed to hear it in the deafening silence that encompassed them. Sandy took a rather shaky breath and held it before letting it slip from the slight part between her lips.

"It was a few years ago now, but I can still feel it fresh in my mind. It hurts so bad SpongeBob! Please make it stop!"

More tears fell from her clenched eyes, her body shaking slightly and her heart beat becoming erratic. The pain in the sponge's chest grew ten-fold, the force of his habit breaking the skin and a slightly metal taste was invading his mouth. He almost wasn't able to push the words from his trembling lips.

"I can't help you unless you talk to me. You HAVE to tell me what's wrong!" It came out with more force than he had intended, his emotions begging to override his control. He was very surely, and quickly, losing his war.

He chanced a look at Sandy; he was meet with wide brown orbs staring back at him, his outburst having broken her from whatever pull was dragging her back into her memories. They burned with many emotions: hurt, longing, surprise, worry, and the most surprising to the sea creature, hatred. The spark of it was overwhelming, he had to look away or he would loose his composure completely. He would not let her suffer anymore; if being forward, as bad as he felt, was the only way to get her to talk, then so be it!

"Sandy. Tell…Me…" He sounded out the last part slowly, but forcefully.

"…"

"Sandy!"

She gulped, not recognizing this person in front of her. But her restraint was waning and she could feel her grip on her memories loosening. She would tell him, if not for herself, than for SpongeBob.

"I-It was fours years ago. B-Before I… I moved here, I lived w-with my family. My mother, father and my younger brother; there was a boy, he lived in our street about seven houses down from ours. He was so nice, he would come past our house every second Saturday with a new batch of pastries or cake baked in their family bakery. His mum was friends with mine, so we had grown up together. But even then, we barely knew each other… you couldn't even call us friends.

But one day… one day, he came over and I invited him inside. Everyone else was out, I can't remember where, but it was just me and him in the house. It just happened so quick… I-I.."

Sandy choked back a sob and wiped the fresh tears from her cheeks; taking another shaky, deep breath before trusting herself to continue.

"I offered to s-show him around the house, it had been years since he h-had last come inside. When we got to my room, he closed the door and locked it; before I could ask him what he was doing, he turned around with this…look. I couldn't move, I was frozen to the spot from his gaze. He walked forward a-and… h-h-he…"

She couldn't hold back the sob this time, and it wracked her body with shivers. She broke down, not knowing what was going on around her. She felt, who she presumed to be, SpongeBob grip her elbow lightly and motion for her to stand by tugging softly. She followed his guidance over to the couch, where he sat with her and enveloped her with his warmth. Hot droplets fell slowly onto her shoulders and she knew he was crying as well. She let go completely, wrapping both arms around his midsection and falling into his grip, shudders racking her body with such force, she had to clutch onto SpongeBob, afraid she would once again be alone.

Darkness ebbed on the corners of her vision, and she could barely understand the promises being whispered into her ear. Promises of staying with her, of holding her tightly, of waiting until she was ready, of listening when she wanted to talk; and finally, a promise of never, ever, hurting her the way He had.

SpongeBob clutched her as hard as her could without hurting her, he would wait. Wait for her to finish her story, for her to release this pain, for her to get past these painful reminders.

And he would wait for her to accept him.

—

A/N

Hey my Babes, here's a hug for all of you who endured the wait for the new chapter!

I know its been a while, but I did loose my flow for a bit! Any way, there's the new chapter you were waiting for! Let me know what you thought about it!

Also, it may be a while till I update, as I will have to start studying for exams soon and doing homework and school stuff. But I will work on it when I can!

XD Goldenflash100 OUT!