A Grand Day In

Fluffles took a gentle sip of her tea. Could things be more perfect? Sat in the garden of her home, the sun gently warming her, her beloved Gromit mere feet away from her. He was currently engrossed in a newspaper, with the front-page story only reaffirming Fluffles' current mood:

'Wallace exonerated! Not evil inventor… just misunderstood.'

Thank goodness this vengeance most foul (or fowl, you might say) had been wrapped up. The Blue Diamond was securely on display at the museum, the Norbots were back to normal and all the dark rumours about Wallace had been quashed.

The only hiccup was Feathers McGraw. He was still on the loose. Now promoted to Chief Inspector, following Mckintosh's retirement, Mukherjee vowed that she wouldn't rest until his case was closed and the penguin back behind bars. Fluffles had a feeling she'd make well on her promise. And if Feathers did decide to return to Wigan and their little home…

Well, for his sake, he'd better not. Not while she was around.

Gromit set down the newspaper, releasing a satisfied sigh. He looked over at her, his face crinkling into a smile. She returned it, reaching over and depositing a boop to that adorable nose of his.

Before she could withdraw her hand, he surprised her by taking it. He glanced about furtively. She began to reassure him by patting his hand, knowing he wasn't always confident with open displays of affection and that she didn't mind.

Until he surprised her by kissing the back of her hand.

Fluffles' cheeks felt like they were on fire. Yanking it back, a flurry of giggles escaped her and she gazed bashfully at him. She lightly batted his shoulder, playfully chastising him. Gromit only shrugged, chuckling silently.

"Morning, you two." Wallace arrived, his tea tray laden with crackers, a recently repaired teapot and something concealed under a cloth. "How's my favourite pooches?"

Honestly? Fluffles couldn't remember the last time she'd been this happy. How could anything in the whole world compare to this?

"Oh, I've got something for your garden, lad!" Wallace revealed a remote, one that set Gromit on edge instantly. "I've repurposed the Pat-O-Matic. After all, necessity is the mother-in-law of invention."

With a press of a few buttons, the hand-on-wheels rolled through the garden gate. It clutched a trowel, which it used to dig a small hole that Norbot planted a new addition to the garden. Both the original and the new ones were working away at it, providing a healthy mix of neat and tidy with Gromit's horticultural expertise.

Fluffles was pleased to see her beloved looked very satisfied indeed. Even she had to admit, the Norbots had grown on her. They were handy to have around, but only in measured doses.

"But there's some things that a machine just can't do, eh, lad?"

Fluffles could hardly contain herself at the sight of Gromit, looking so contented, at receiving head pats from his best friend. How was it possible for this dog to be anymore adorable than he already was?

"Don't think I've forgotten you, lass." Fluffles' tail wagged up a storm when her turn came around, throwing herself in a hug at Wallace. "D'awww, you little tyke! Hey, speaking of in-laws, how long is it before one of you pops the question?"

He chortled when the pair of them turned bright red, alternately glancing at and away from each other whilst shifting in their seats. Now, it was Wallace's turn for a shoulder-bat. The cheeky man! It was far too soon to be thinking of anything like that!

And yet, the idea did have a certain appeal. But only in her most romantic of fantasies. She was happy for them to go at their own pace.

"Now," announced Wallace, reaching for the covered thing, "there's one last surprise I wanted to share. A little something just for you, Fluffles. Gromit helped me pick out a few things."

She squealed at the sight. A little gift basket! Laden with her favourite fruit, a couple of sweet treats, some new books and written in Wallace's simple, but legible hand, a small card: 'Welcome home, Fluffles. Love from Wallace and Gromit.'

This was so… nobody had ever… she was just so…!

Wallace and Gromit found themselves pulled into one-armed hugs either side of Fluffles, nuzzling the eccentric inventor and kissing her handsome boarder's cheek. How had she ever gotten so lucky?

Settling back into her seat, she took her mug of tea in hand. The one marked with 'F'. As one, the trio clinked them together.

She and her boys. As it should be.

"Cheers, me old pals." Wallace sipped and sighed. "Ain't life grand?"

Yes, agreed Fluffles. Yes, it certainly was.

IllusionMaster17: I had so much fun writing the lovey dovey stuff between these two. The dynamic of openly adoring and reserved but still adoring partners feels like it fits for these two.

Yellowscar1: They had to come out fine in the end XD

And there we have it, folks!

Yes, like a few other people, I thought it an utter travesty that Fluffles wasn't even mentioned in VMF. Don't misunderstand: I understand it's the nature of the series to revert back to square one. It is, at the end of the day, Wallace and Gromit. I still thoroughly enjoyed the film regardless and Aardman does fantastic work.

But dammit, this little sweetheart deserves only good things!

So, I took it upon myself to pen this what-if. My intention was to give her unique scenes and a defined role, without majorly changing the story's overall structure and events. I just wanted it to be easily imagined the events of the film with Fluffles right alongside the lads.

I hope I've succeeded in doing her justice and that you've enjoyed this. Happy New Year everyone!

Be strong, be swift, be just.