Culmination | A Tinkerbell Fanfiction

Chapter 3: A Step In the Right Direction

"And that's the last of it!" Terence announced proudly, handing the last of the baskets down to Tink who carefully set them into the mouse-drawn cart and wiped the excess Pixie dust from her hands. Each of the baskets was heavily filled with as much dust as could be fit, designated to go toward the festival and the fireworks--Clank and Bobble's specialty by this point.

"Thanks for doing this, Tink," the dust-keeper went on. "I know you're really busy but I'm glad you were able to come over and take these." He gestured to the basket. "I'm not sure I could have done it myself."

"No problem!" Tink replied, dropping the last container and wiping her brow, stepping back to admire her work. "It was a team effort! You did a big share of the work too!"

Terence hummed something as he carefully maneuvered his way to the ground beside her. "Hey, Tink?" he asked carefully. "Where are the guys? Weren't they supposed to be helping you with these?"

"Nah," Tink answered quickly, not meeting his gaze as she continued to stare pointedly at their creation. "I told 'em I had this one. Besides, I'm sure they're busy getting the fireworks launcher ready for the festival. You know those two love to mess around. Actually, I'd be surprised if the Nook is still in once piece upon my return."

I know how the boys are, Terence thought, trying to ward off the frown creeping onto his face. But I also know how stubborn you can be, Tink. And how you have an even harder time apologizing when you know you've been in the wrong. He knew she was trying to avoid them, Bobble most likely, and he knew why. But he wasn't there to judge her. That wasn't what a boyfriend was for. He was there to comfort her and occasionally give advice as needed.

"All right," he said slowly, setting down his gloves and taking a seat on an old tree stump. "Why don't we take a break for a bit? You've been working really hard and I have a fresh pitcher of lemonade straight from the baking-talents with me. Come, sit down and breathe for a minute."

"Okay, just a minute," Tink requested, already kneeling down to fiddle with something outside of Terence's line of sight. "I just have to get this piece here in just right and--"

"Tink." Sighing and realizing what she was trying to do, he moved on impulse, quickly taking her by the hand and drawing her attention away from the baskets. "Could you...could you stop for one second and look at me?"

"What is it, Terence?" Tink asked, not sharply, exactly, but definitely hovering on the edge of irritated. She blew another bunch of bangs from her eyes as she peered back at him, her mind clearly still on whatever imperfection she had found with the baskets. 

"Tink, I..." Terence paused, trying to figure out how to voice what he was feeling in a way that wouldn't send her off the deep end like she was so prone to doing. "You know I care about you, don't you? That I want you to be safe no matter what?"

She blinked, actually halting her work at these words. "Yes...?" she said carefully. "Terence, what's wrong?"

He chuckled. "That's funny. That's actually what I was going to ask you."

She frowned, fluttering over to take a cautious seat next to him. "I don't think I understand."

"Listen," Terence went on before she could question his actions too much. "I don't want this to come across wrong, but...I've been noticing...well, not frustration exactly, but something. You've not been yourself and it's...well, I think we all know why."

She made a face. "If this is going where I think it's going, it's okay. You can spare me the pep talk because Fawn already gave it to me. In no uncertain terms, she made it quite clear that I've been acting a little out of sorts lately. And," she took a deep breath, focusing on her shoes and not the dust-talent creeping ever-so-closer, looking ready to hug her. "I'm sorry."