Here we go with the next chapter! Let's see how this date turns out! Anyway, enjoy!

Central Park. A nice little park in New York City, probably the fifth most visited place in the world. Of course, when one thinks of New York, they think of Central Park, and the various places and the beautiful nature-like area that is always present. Not too far were places like the Central Park Mall, the Delacorte Theatre, Wollman Rink, and there was also the Central Park Zoo, where if one would look closely, they would swear they see four penguins sneaking around the area... but that is another story for another day and another fandom.

For Doug and Connie, the two had walked over to Sheep Meadow, where their picnic had now been set up as they were enjoying a delicious meal. Mostly sandwiches, coleslaw and iced tea, but it was a fine picnic, nevertheless. At the moment, Doug and Connie were sitting down together as they watched the clouds go by in the sky, eating their lunch. Connie couldn't help but give a slight giggle.

"You know what that cloud reminds me of?" Connie asked as she pointed towards the sky.

Doug raised an eyebrow as he looked towards the particular cloud the green skinned girl was pointing at. "Er... well, if one comes closer, I'd say it looks like a horse-drawn carriage."

Connie giggled as she looked towards the young man. "Oh Doug, charming, yet full of imagination as always. I was going to say it looks like the horse that Paul Revere rode."

"Really?" Doug blinked before looking back at the cloud again. "Well, at least we said something horse related."

Connie smirked. "Heh, I guess that's true."

Now it was Doug's turn as he pointed towards the clouds. "What about that cloud, Connie? What does THAT remind you of?"

Connie paused as she examined the clouds in the sky, before smirking. "Well, I would say that cloud, along with the formation behind it, reminds me of the Hawaiian Islands... and this cloud reminds me of the beautiful face of the philospher, Socrates... and those clouds over there?" She chuckled. "Well, I can see the Rockettes up there, all of them kicking their legs at the same time. What about you?"

Doug blinked twice, before frowning. "I was going to say I saw a pirate ship, but I changed my mind."

The hefty green skinned beauty couldn't help but laugh as she laid her head down next to Doug. "Oh, Doug, you always knew how to make me laugh."

"Glad to see I amuse you..." Doug smirked as he put his arm around Connie's side, pulling her in a side-along hug. As he did so, he noticed a small boat going out on the lake, giving him an idea. "How would you like a boat ride?"

Connie looked up in interest, wondering what Doug had in mind...

Connie gave a cheer as she and Doug were now riding on a speedboat by one of the drivers Doug paid to ride them around for at least a few minutes around the lake. "This is the best, Doug!"

"I-I know, right?" Doug said, feeling the boat's bumpiness along the way. "I just hope you don't get... whoop! Seasick."

Connie rolled her eyes. "Do you get... whoop!" She got splashed by some water from the side from a heavy turn from the speedboat.

Doug got splashed by the water too before chuckling. "No way! Even if I was seasick, you would know!"

Connie smirked as she put her hand towards the water and splashed it upwards towards Doug, splashing him. Doug noticed the mischievous grin on the girl's face before smirking and splashing her back.

"D-Doug! Hey, take it easy, these clothes aren't exactly water safe!" Connie warned.

"Oh really?" Doug smirked as he pulled out his wallet and handed the driver a couple more bucks. "Spin the boat around fast, would you?"

"DOUG!" Connie gasped as the driver took the money and started to swerve the boat around, splashing a lot of water towards the two, drenching them as the couple were now laughing.

Pretty soon, the boat came back to shore as both Doug and Connie departed from the boat, each of them drenched from the splashing of the water the speedboat caused. As they got off, Connie laughed as she said, "I didn't think speeding in speedboats can drench you in the water."

"They don't." The driver frowned. "This speedboat has a broken rudder that sprays water once in a while. It's lucky the boat is even holding this long."

Doug and Connie didn't listen however as they walked off, leaving the driver to give a bored sigh. "Crazy couples... yeesh."

As the two were walking off, Doug couldn't help but examine Connie's shirt. Making it all wet, it started to show a little more of her figure, especially around the upper area. But Doug, being the gentlemen he is, averted the look on there and went directly towards her eyes. "I have to admit, that was a rather fun ride."

"Worth it in the end." Connie giggled as she used her butt to bump against Doug's side, slightly pushing him. "But it's a shame we didn't bring any towels with us..."

Doug paused before looking towards the sky. "Well... it is still beautiful out, and we are in Central Park. What do you say we walk while the sun dries us?"

Connie giggled. "You know, I couldn't have said it better myself..."

And so they walked together, and as they walked, they began to talk about a lot of things, like what the new plans are now that Connie had finished her singing for the Beats, if there was a potential future.

"You know, Connie, I think you might be getting close to your rock star career moreso than you think." Doug said as he and Connie were now sitting on a bench, getting themselves into the sun as they were now mostly dry after about a half-hour of walking.

"Do you really think that?" Connie asked, looking at her friend.

"Absolutely. It's like I always said, good things come to those who wait." Doug smiled, before sighing. "Too bad that didn't work out for me and... well, you know."

Connie frowned a bit, knowing who her friend was talking about, but before she can protest, Doug continued, "You know, Connie, I thought I wouldn't have been able to move on, and I had a lot of dreams and ideas, and while there are some that are coming close to a moderate success, I think I learned that there are some dreams that are just impossible. And some that were always there, but... I never realized it until I thought back to it."

"Oh?" Connie raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Yeah..." Doug chuckled as he blushed nervously. "Don't get me wrong, I don't regret my childhood in Bluffington, and I'll always have the memories of all my friends, but if there was one thing I did regret... it was how I treated you."

Connie blinked twice. "What do you mean, Doug? I think you treated me fine."

"Maybe so, but back then, even though I did see you as sweet and cool, if a bit naive sometimes, I never realized that you... er..." Doug bit his lips. "...let me ask you something, Connie. Back in school... did you ever, well..."

"Like you? As in, did I have a crush on you, is that what you're asking?" Connie asked. Doug gave a nod. The green skinned girl paused for a bit as she took a deep breath. "Honestly, when I first met you, there was something about you that... felt nice to be around. I guess I've always tried to get your attention in some way, shape or form... like the time I tried to get a new haircut for your birthday party..."

"Right, you were hiding your hair because you were embarrassed by it." Doug snapped his fingers, the memories flooding back in his mind.

"Yeah, looking back, it was a bit of an embarrassing haircut, but when you saw it, you never made fun of me for it." Connie said, before chuckling. "Actually, believe it or not, that type of hairstyle fit perfectly during my punk phase."

"You had a punk phase?" Doug raised an eyebrow. "Funny, I never saw you as that type."

Connie giggled, before shaking her head. "But yeah, there were more things I tried to do, like the time I tried to be nice to you when your bike got stolen..."

Doug chuckled nervously as he blushed heavily. "Yeah, I guess my mind was on other things that day, and I really suspected everyone because I thought my old bike got stolen, when it turns out my parents just traded it in for a new one."

"Still, that was quite an adventure." Connie laughed. "And I don't think I need to remind you of the Bumpkin Day Hoedown and the whole Melvin business."

Doug gave a small laugh as Connie gave a sigh, continuing on. "So yeah, I guess I did have a small crush on you..." She shook her head. "Okay, okay, a big crush. But you were so focused on Patti at the time, and I knew I didn't want to get in the way of your dreams. I mean, I guess I did see the signs that you did like Patti, and I felt a little jealous, but... I didn't want to break it up, and I wanted you to be happy, so I just let it play by ear and see what happens."

"Wow..." Doug paused as he looked over towards Connie. "And... now? What do you feel towards me now?"

Connie's eyes looked surprised at this question, before looking up. "Uhhhh... nothing."

Doug smirked, hearing the tone of her unsure voice. "Are you lying to me?"

Connie frowned as she looked towards Doug. "Why are you asking me?"

"Hey, I'm just a curious guy, is all." Doug smirked as he leaned closer.

Connie crossed her arms in a bit of a huffy tone. "Doug, just because I have had a huge crush on your as a kid doesn't mean those feelings are still lingering, and if you're still in that fantasy that childhood friends between a boy and a girl can be lovers, you got another thing coming. You could kiss me right now, and I wouldn't feel a-"

Doug immediately made his move and smashed his lips into Connie's, surprising the green skinned beauty as he put his arms around her body. Connie's eyes widened in shock, before closing them as she put her arms around his body and kissed back with intensity. The two held their formation for about a minute before going apart, a trail of saliva connected to their lips as they both looked at each other.

"How was that?" Doug smirked.

"Doug..." Connie giggled, before looking up playfully. "Nope. Didn't feel a thing."

Doug looked surprised, before smirking. "Well, I didn't feel a thing either."

"Not surprised, considering that's the best you can kiss." Connie flirted towards the young man.

"Oh, you want me to show you how best I am at kissing?" Doug smirked.

"As a matter of fact-" Connie started before Doug grabbed her face and leaned towards her, going in for a second kiss. Connie closed her eyes as she kissed back once again, both of them putting their arms around each other. Connie then rolled her body towards Doug's, pinning him to the bench as the two continued to kiss for another good minute.

They finally separated once again as they looked at each other, both of them smiling as Connie giggled. "Okay, okay, fine. I admit it. I still have a crush on you, something that... was kept dormant for a long time... and thanks to you, it's starting to open up."

"I should be thanking you, Connie." Doug smiled as he looked into her beautiful eyes. "From the moment we met up again, you've always been so kind and understanding to me, helping me through a lot of rough times. I know it's been a few months since we've been hanging out, but the more I hang with you, the more I realized... I missed a lot on you during my childhood. Well, I hope to not make the same mistake again in this life, because... well, Connie. I think I'm in love with you, and..."

"You think you're in love with me? After going in for those two kisses, you THINK you're in love with me?" Connie pushed him in a teasing manner.

"Okay, maybe I AM in love with you! It's just... it's always a bit awkward when it comes to me. My point is... after this date, I think I want to go on more of them. Connie Benge, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" Doug asked.

Connie gasped in shock as Doug's eyes lit up happily as Connie stuttered a bit. "Uh, w-wow, Doug. This is... I can't believe... wow... well... you see..."

Later that night, as Skeeter and Judy had just finished cleaning the apartment, they heard the door opening. Both of them turned to see Doug was walking inside, his head looking down with Judy giving a smile.

"Hey, bro. How did your date go?" Judy asked.

"Yeah, you gotta tell us! Did she have fun?" Skeeter asked.

Doug kept his head down for a moment, the air slowing as both his sister and friend looked rather concerned. It was then Doug looked up, a neutral expression on his face. He took a deep breath. "Guys..."

He then used his hand to motion behind him as someone came in. Judy and Skeeter's eyes widened as they saw Connie giving a smile. Doug then gave a big one as he put his hand to Connie's. "You may already know Connie, but... I would like to reintroduce her... as my girlfriend. She'll be living with us for a while."

Connie giggled. "Doug told me all about your money problems, and the minute I heard you all were struggling, I thought I'd help you out. After all, the business I make with my job rakes in a lot of money, so... expect to see me around the house a lot."

Judy and Skeeter looked at each other, too shocked for words.

And that's the second to last chapter done! How did you guys like it? Next time, in the final chapter, we'll be seeing the aftermath of Doug and Connie's time together, what their future brings! What'll happen? You'll have to read on and find out! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, everyone!