*Chapter 46*

"Those big, blue eyes have stolen my heart," Vanellope chuckled as she squeezed Ralph's hand.

"Imagine how I feel," Ralph said as he smiled down at Vanellope, "It's harder being related to her."

"Good point," Vanellope snickered as the two approached Ralph's house.

The two stepped inside and Ralph closed and locked the door, hoping he wasn't seeming too eager. He gazed at Vanellope; she was quickly making herself comfortable. She took off her racing gear and shoes. She let her hair down and ran her fingers through it a few times before taking a deep breath and smiling at Ralph expectantly.

"You ready?" Vanellope smiled as she flicked her hair over her shoulder and took a step towards Ralph's bathroom.

She slowed gently as she kept her eyes locked on Ralph's. Her facial expressions softened as Ralph slowly moseyed over to her, a knowing smile on his face. Vanellope let her shoulders relax as Ralph very gently made his presence within a foot of Vanellope, his eyes were glued to the floor, his smile small and knowing. Vanellope sighed softly and very gently placed her hand on the middle of Ralph's chest, her eyes gazing up into him.

"It's not every day we get time alone," Ralph chuckled as he placed his large hand over hers, keeping it to his heart.

"I was just thinking that," Vanellope silently chuckled and looked down bashfully, her cheeks red.

"It was hard enough with our usual group, but now that Tammy is old enough," Ralph sighed a small, happy sigh and gazed into Vanellope's eyes, "She's a handful."

"But you love her anyways," Vanellope chuckled, "And it looks like she wants to fix things, so you better get on that soon."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ralph chuckled as he slowly leaned down, his eyes softening a gaze into Vanellope's soul.

Vanellope smiled a wide, closed mouth smile and slowly stood on tip toes to meet Ralph in the middle. She gently gripped the chest of Ralph's shirt as their lips carefully met. Ralph softly tightened his grip on her hand in response, his other hand slowly found its way around Vanellope's back and waist; he gently tugged her closer to him. Vanellope let a small, silent giggle of a breath escape her lips as she pushed into Ralph a little more. She felt herself get lost in him, her heart fluttered wildly as her fingertips softly slipped between the buttons of Ralph's polo. Before Vanellope could inhale another breath of Ralph's familiar scent, the pipe in the bathroom suddenly rattled in a whirl of chaotic clunking. They broke the kiss in a jolt and gazed at each other in shock for a second before relaxing.

"I don't think the universe wants us to have alone time," Ralph chuckled nervously as Vanellope softly gripped his hand for a second. She slowly slipped away from him.

"I wonder what could be stuck in there," Vanellope prod as the two slowly made their way into Ralph's bathroom; both their eyes were wide with caution.

"I don't know if I want to know," Ralph chuckled as the two stood and stared nervously at the slender pipe that disappeared into the ceiling. Vanellope quickly approached the pipe and put her ear to it. She pondered for a second before gripping the pipe with both of her hands.

"Whatever is in there, it's still alive," Vanellope chuckled nervously as she began to pull at the pipe.

"Vanellope," Ralph said nervously, but before he could get more words out, the pipe suddenly broke in half with a loud pang.

Vanellope wobbled backwards and gazed down at the broken pipe in her hand before grinning up at Ralph.

"Yes?" She sneered as Ralph slumped his shoulders and smiled.

"You're a wrecker with tiny hands," Ralph laughed softly as Vanellope set the piece of broken pipe down, "What do you need me for?"

"A lot more than you think," Vanellope said softly with a smile as she bent over and peered up into the broken pipe. Ralph smiled and rubbed the back of his head before peering at Vanellope curiously.

"Do you see anything?" Ralph asked gently.

"Yyyep," Vanellope chuckled as she carefully reached her whole hand and arm into the pipe. She bit her lip as the clunking and clattering creature hit against the pipe rapidly, obviously scared, "C'mon little one, I won't hurt you."

"I hope it's not a dangerous little one," Ralph said nervously as Vanellope slowly inched her arm out of the pipe.

Vanellope slowly turned around; perched awkwardly in her little hands was a small blue bird. Its right wing looked broken, and it was covered in an array of leaves, dirt, and sludge. Vanellope gazed up at Ralph through nervous, yet excited eyes. Ralph choked a small laugh and smiled down at the little blue bird; it looked humbled and pathetic.

"Poor thing!" Vanellope cried as she hurriedly looked around the bathroom, "We have to clean him up!"

"Here," Ralph said as he quickly turned the faucet of the sink on.

"It's okay little buddy," Vanellope said to the small, brilliantly colored bird.

It squeaked in protest as Vanellope gently began to dribble the soothing water over its feathers, cleaning it of dirt and debris. It tried its hardest to squirm and protest, but it squaked in pain as his broken wing remained awkwardly tucked to his body. After a few minutes, Vanellope had cleaned the little bird of dirt and dust, his brilliant blue feathers glistened with cleanliness. Vanellope smiled and graciously took the towel that Ralph had handed to her. She bundled the little bird in the towel, keeping him warm and dry.

"Poor bird," Vanellope sighed, "I think his wing is broken."

"I wonder how he got stuck in that pipe," Ralph wondered as he gazed at the broken pipe.

"Well," Vanellope sighed as she stroked the little bird's head, "We better get Tammy then."

"I'll be back," Ralph said with a smile as he quickly left.

Vanellope sat down on Ralph's lidded toilet and pet the blue bird's small head tenderly. She brought the bird to her eye level and smiled longingly, the little bird's chest of feathers breathed wildly, a look of sheer panic in his eyes. Vanellope frowned and softly caressed his little head, hoping he would calm down soon. She felt her heart swell with love for the little, helpless creature. She knew that upon rescuing this bird, she had subconsciously adopted it. She wrinkled her nose and gazed at her new little pet.

"We're going to get that wing of yours fixed up," Vanellope said to the bird, "I promise."

"I can fix it!" Tammy's little voice could be heard entering Ralph's house, she pranced towards the bathroom and immediately stopped in the doorway of the bathroom. She laid eyes on Vanellope and the small blue bird, "Ohhh, a birdy!"

"This poor little bird was stuck in Ralph's pipe," Vanellope chuckled as Tammy slowly approached, her eyes glued to the little bird.

"Aw, he's so scared," Tammy said with a saddened voice, Vanellope nodded and sighed.

"His wing is broken," Vanellope said gently as Tammy looked up at her through sad eyes, "I'm going to keep him, and nurse him back to health."

"You're keeping the bird, Vanellope?" Ralph chuckled as he stopped in the doorway and rested his large arm against the door frame.

"He can't fly away, Ralph," Vanellope said sadly towards him before looking back down at the bird, "He needs help."

"Why don't you just get Felix or Tammy to fix him up?" Ralph asked with a small chuckle and a smile.

"I want to nurse him back to health the old fashioned way," Vanellope said pleadingly, "It's more rewarding that way."

"What are you going to name him?" Tammy asked eagerly as she gazed up at Vanellope through beautiful, blue eyes.

"I'm not sure," Vanellope wrinkled her nose before smiling down at Tammy, "Maybe you should be the one to name him."

"Me?" Tammy asked in surprise with a wide smile, "Hmm…you should name him, Boba."

"Then Boba it is," Vanellope chuckled as she rubbed the top of Tammy's head.

"Will Boba ever be able to fly away?" Tammy asked as both girls peered down at the beautiful blue bird.

"One day," Vanellope smiled, "We just need to wrap his wing and make sure he's kept somewhere safe.

"Will he stay with you?" Tammy asked.

"Yeah," Vanellope smiled, "I'll take good care of him. You can visit him anytime you'd like."

"Yay!" Tammy exclaimed as she smiled down at Boba; he seemed to calm down.

"Ralph, do you have anything we can wrap Boba's wing with?" Vanellope asked softly, Ralph nodded and slipped away.

"I see that pipe needs fixing," Tammy said eagerly as she quickly lifted her shining, golden hammer.

"Yes," Vanellope giggled as she stood and got out of Tammy's way, "Fix it, Tammy!"

"I can fix it!" She hollered with glee as she hit the pipe a few times with her hammer. The pipe glitched and quickly repaired back to normal.

"You're getting good at that," Vanellope said happily down at Tammy; she turned around and beamed a girly grin.

"Thanks auntie Vanellope," Tammy said endearingly.

Vanellope and Tammy slowly made their way out of the bathroom and into the kitchen where Ralph was. Vanellope kept Boba safe in her hands; he sat perched and nervous, his feathers puffed out. Ralph had a long strand of sturdy, white cloth in his hand. He handed it to Vanellope as she approached him, his eyes apprehensively locked on the small blue bird tucked away in Vanellope's hands.

"Ralph, is it possible if you can hold Boba while I wrap his wing?" Vanellope suggested casually.

"Me? I-I, uh," Ralph stammered and gazed down at the delicate bird in Vanellope's hands, he quickly opened his large wrecking hands and frowned, "I don't think that's wise."

"C'mon Ralph," Vanellope said gently as she gave him an understanding look, "You held Tammy the day she was born, you were as gentle as could be. I know you can do it."

"You still hold me without wrecking anything!" Tammy said cheerfully with a giggle as she pat Ralph's large hand.

"Okay," Ralph sighed after a few moments of pondering silence.

"Alright," Vanellope smiled as Ralph nervously held out his two hands, "Careful now."

"You guys doing alright?" Felix said as he slowly made his way into Ralph's house. He approached the kitchen with curious eyes.

"Dad!" Tammy exclaimed, "Uncle Ralph found a blue bird in the pipe!"

"Would you look at that," Felix chuckled as he hugged his daughter close to him with a smile.

"Boba here has a broken wing," Vanellope said sadly as she set the small bird in Ralph's large, nervous hands.

Ralph swallowed hard and gazed down at the helpless creature in his hands. It shifted nervously and settled into the nook between Ralph's thumb and the middle of his palm. Ralph breathed a small, surprised chuckle and carefully stroked Boba's back with his thumb; he tried his hardest to be gentle. Vanellope smiled and pat Ralph's free hand with a smile.

"See? That wasn't so hard," Vanellope said sweetly up at him. Ralph smiled before gazing down at Tammy; her eyes were glued to Ralph's reactions with an eager smile.

"Uncle Careful-Ralph," Tammy laughed, everyone chuckled down at her.

"Wrecking is only his profession," Felix smiled as he nudged Ralph's elbow, "Off duty, Ralph is just a big softy."

"Bluebirds, nieces and girlfriends abound," Ralph scoffed as he rolled his eyes before smiling down at Tammy. Tammy giggled and covered her mouth as Vanellope softly began to work on wrapping Boba's wing.

Boba squeaked in protest and tried to flap around, causing Ralph to widen his eyes and stare nervously down at the little creature in his hands. Vanellope tenderly managed to wrap the bird's wing securely. She heaved a long sigh after a few long moments of careful wrestling with Boba. She smiled up at Ralph and slumped her shoulders.

"That should hold," Vanellope said as Ralph carefully handed Boba off to her.

"Would you like me to fix him up?" Felix asked kindly with a smile.

"Thank you Felix, but," Vanellope sighed and looked down at the little bird in her hands, "I think I'd like to try to nurse him back to health myself."

"He's her pet, now," Tammy said with a smile before yawning a long, lulling yawn.

"Looks like someone is ready for a reset," Felix chuckled as he softly tapped his daughter's nose. Tammy wrinkled her nose and let out a small groan of protest.

"I could do with a reset myself," Ralph chuckled as he rubbed his face.

"C'mon Tams, time for bed," Felix said gently as the two slowly began to mosey towards Ralph's front door.

"See you guys later," Tammy called with a calm smile and a wave. Ralph and Vanellope gently waved back before Felix and Tammy carefully slipped out the door, closing it behind them.

"Ralph," Vanellope chuckled as she faced him, the blue bird in her hands burrowed into itself, "How come you are so nervous when it comes to holding things?"

"It's not just holding anything," Ralph sighed as his shoulders slumped, he stepped away from Vanellope, "I-I just, I know I'm a careful guy but I'm also bumbling and clumsy and short tempered."

"I know you'd never hurt Tammy, or Boba, or me," Vanellope said softly, "Or anyone for that matter. We trust you, Ralph."

"I appreciate that," Ralph frowned, his back to Vanellope, "I just get so anxious. Do you know how hard it is to be gentle when you weild so much strength?"

"I'm starting to understand," Vanellope chuckled as she shrugged a shoulder and rolled her eyes playfully; Ralph slumped his shoulders and turned around to give her a knowing, annoyed stare.

"Your hands are five times smaller than mine," Ralph grumbled.

"Ralph, even in the face of rage, I know you'd never hurt anyone or anything, you were holding in your hands, that didn't deserve your anger," Vanellope barked gently, Ralph furrowed his brow.

"I don't think you understand," Ralph barked back, his temper flaring;

Vanellope egged him on.

"I understand plenty, Ralph," Vanellope said loudly as she held Boba closer to her, "Our code swap was a lot more than just a night of fun, I hope you realize."

"Of course I realize that," Ralph snapped, feeling defensive.

"Then you must hear me when I say that controlling your strength isn't beyond you," Vanellope stated firmly.

"But what would happen if one day it IS beyond me?" Ralph complained loudly as he threw his hands up in the air in frustration, "What would happen if I was angry while holding Tammy, or Felix's second born, or Boba, o-or even, a baby that we coded?"

"Ralph," Vanellope said gently, her face secretly smiling and blushed red.

"What if my short term anger results in a long term loss?" Ralph barked, his eyes turning glassy, "What if I truly can't control myself?"

"Ralph," Vanellope said louder as she stepped closer to him; his anger was palpable.

"I'm afraid to get too close to anyone, physically or emotionally," Ralph said louder, his face written with angry binary.

"Why?" Vanellope barked as she suddenly grabbed his large hand and placed Boba there again. Ralph widened his eyes and gazed down at the small, helpless bird in his hand before glaring at Vanellope. He inhaled a shaky breath and froze.

"Because, I usually end up wrecking everything!" Ralph hollered down at Vanellope; she stood close to him still, showing her courage.

"Yes, you usually do!" Vanellope agreed; Ralph flinched and gave her a confused, enraged look.

"It was a pure stroke of luck that I didn't accidentally hurt Tammy whenever I've held her," Ralph growled at Vanellope; she stood her ground.

"The only reason you never hurt her was because you were never angry while you were holding her," Vanellope yelled.

"Well why don't we just go test it out then!" Ralph hollered in Vanellope's face. Vanellope smirked and glanced down at the small blue bird in Ralph's hand; his other hand was protectively hovered over the bird.

"You already are, you idiot!" Vanellope shrieked as she gestured to Boba, who sat unharmed in Ralph's enraged, trembling hand.

Ralph darted his eyes to the bird in his hand he had forgotten about. He slumped his shoulders and untensed his whole body, including his trembling hands. Boba squeaked and tweeted a few times, his wings awkwardly adjusted as he got comfortable in Ralph's palm. Ralph heaved a faltering sigh and gazed long and hard down at Boba. He opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly interrupted.

"You're so worried about what others have maybe viewed you as in the past," Vanellope calmly explained as she placed a firm, yet gentle, hand on Ralph's free hand. Both of their palms met as Vanellope inhaled sharply to continue, "You're forgetting that underneath all this bumbling, clumsy wreck of a guy is someone who has a really big heart."

Ralph heaved a patient sigh and kept his eyes glued on Boba. He gently stroked the back of Boba's head with his large thumb. Vanellope inhaled a calm breath and softly rubbed Ralph's large, lower arm; she gazed up at him through intent, understanding eyes. The air was still and silent between them for a few long moments before Vanellope carefully broke the stillness.

"You shouldn't be afraid to hold helpless things in your hands, that were made for wrecking," Vanellope said softly, "You're holding this expectation over yourself that's keeping you from doing normal things."

"A part of me doesn't want to have a family purely for the fact that, something so little and helpless would be completely under my care, in the hands designed to wreck everything I touch," Ralph stammered, his face turning red; he kept his eyes glued to Boba

.

"Ralph," Vanellope chuckled as she kept her hand on his lower arm, "Your kids are going to love you to death, and you know that you will do anything and everything to keep them from harm's way. The little wreckers of your own will be in great hands."

"Wreckers," Ralph breathed with a small chuckle, he paused for a few moments before lulling his head just barely before continuing his train of thought, "Racers."

Vanellope felt a breath catch in her throat as she bashfully looked down, her face suddenly turned red. She tried to hide a beaming smile as she softly slipped her hand into Ralph's. He squeezed her hand tight and finally let his eyes come unglued from Boba. He smiled down at Vanellope through apologetic eyes.

"Vanellope," Ralph breathed with a frown, "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"It's okay," Vanellope chuckled as the two locked their hands together, "I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to stick with you."

"Yeah," Ralph scoffed and looked away in a pathetic way; Vanellope chuckled and quickly pushed into Ralph's chest. She firmly wrapped her arms around his chest as best as she could. She pushed her face into his collar and smiled.

"I think you're going to be just fine," Vanellope smiled as she rested the side of her head against Ralph's chest, both gamers gazed down at the blue bird still nestled in Ralph's hand.

"Here's hoping," Ralph sighed as he wrapped his large arm and hand around Vanellope's upper back.