Peep was both stuffed and exhausted. He rounded out his birthday night by going to Chuck E.
Cheese where a kid can be a kid, then playing 3 rounds of Laser Tag at the Sunrise Mall. He and Oskar teamed up against two jocks from their school and beat them silly.

When Liza popped in to say goodnight Peep was already in dreamland with Hello snuggled up at the nape of his neck. If Liza didn't know any better she'd swear that kitten hadn't grown at all. She brushed it off thinking the kitty must be some expensive dwarf-breed. After kissing both Peep and Hello on the forehead she noticed the horseshoe tattoo right between Peep's eyes. She thought,  "It's probably something he won at Chuck E. Cheese. He can wash it off in the morning." Oh Liza can't you see?

Liza crossed to the door, turned on the Bart Simpson night light and whispered, "Goodnight Peep. I love you."

As soon as Liza left the room Locket flew through the open window.  She bounced on Peep's nose! Doink, doink, doink! "Pssssssst: Birthday boy! Wake up!"

Peep rolled over and mumbled, "My birthday is in 365 days. Good night Locket."

Locket never gave up. Using Peep's pillow as a moon bounce she bounced near is face. "It's not midnight yet!" She pried open his left eye. "Technically it's still your birthday!"

"Technically you're a pain in my a—"

"—Oh Peep a prince never swears!"

Peep shot up in bed. Hello scrambled under the bed. "What do you mean by a prince never swears?"

"Well... "  Locket explained, " Just like it's still technically you're birthday we're sort of... um... still technically engaged. Which makes you a prince! Isn't that cool?"

Now fully awake Peep jumped out of bed. "No that is not cool! I'm barely nine years old! I can't have a fiancé."

"Age has nothing to do with this Peep."  As Peep paced back and forth Locket did her best to keep up. "While I was trying to save our lives is when I made betrothal mark. And there's something you should know!"

"If you tell me I'm a father—I'm jumping out that window!" Peep was serious.

"No silly! We can't be parents we're far too young!"

"But we can be engaged?" Peep was stunned.

"If you'll let me explain..." Locket started shvitzing and glitter began falling. Peep's beige shag run now had swirls of glittery pink throughout.

Peep yelled, "Locket! Look what you're doing? The rug it's pink!"

"Sorrrrrry!" She flew over to the globe on his desk and sat down. "This is your fault too ya know!"

Peep swiveled in his swivel chair. "My fault? How is any of this my fault?"

Locket gulped. "Okay here's the deal. I can fairy-pinch all I like but only way a betrothal mark will appear is if both parties love each other."

"Shut the front door!" Peep pushed his chair backwards and rolled across his room. "Are you insinuating I love you?!"

Locket jumped down to the keyboard. She played hopscotch on the letters. "I'm not insinuating anything. The mark speaks for itself."

Peep objected, "Wait, are you saying you love me?"

"Here's the thing Peep. We may not be in love right now but magic is eternal. It knows that one day we will be."

Peep crossed his arms, "I don't like girls."

Locket crossed hers. "And I don't like boys!"

For the longest time they refused to look at one another. Finally Locket broke the silence. "Look, neither of us are ready to date—let alone be engaged but the betrothal mark doesn't lie."

Peep shook his head. "Then you'd better get this thing annulled or whatever cuz..." He climbed onto his bed and began jumping up and down. "Cuz when I grow up and get married I'm livin' alone!"

While Peep did his Kevin from Home Alone impersonation Locket zipped down to Hello's food bowl. It looked empty. Too empty. "Peep did you remember to feed Hello today?"

Peep continued jumping. "Yes I did bossy!"

"How many times Peep?" He ignored her so she tapped her foot on Hello's bowl and asked again, "How many times did you feed the kitten today?"

"I dunno, one or two times..." Peep didn't like what a fun-sucker Locket was becoming.

"If you forget to feed Hello two times a day she will turn into a regular cat. Do you want that Peep?"

Peep signed and jumped off his bed. "Well you're turning into a regular brat." He dropped a food pellet into the bowl and added 3 drops of water. "There! Happy now?"

"No actually I'm not happy Peep. If you think I'm marrying an irresponsible boy like you—you've got another thing coming!" She zigzagged in front of his face like an aggressive wasp.

Peep waved his arms swatting at Locket but she was too fast. "I'm irresponsible? You'd be the worst wife ever! You're a nag and you've been a real pain in the butt! Look at my forehead! Look at my hair! Look at my arm! Everytime you try to help me you screw up! Go home Locket!"

Locket began to cry big fairy tears. "I... can't... do... magic... when... I'm... crying..."

For a tiny fairy her huge crocodile tears began soaking throw rug. Her tears kept flowing. Soon a fairy river began seeping underneath Peep's bedroom door.

Peep panicked. "Locket stop crying! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it. I take it back!"

Once Locket started crying she couldn't stop. She simply had to cry it out. With her magic stunted she couldn't fly. She swam in her own tears. Hello clawed her way up the Power Ranger comforter and meowed. Peep gently scooped Locket up and placed her on his pillow.

Locket began hyperventilating. She gasped for air.

Peep laid his head on the pillow next to her. He coaxed, "Breathe Locket. Breathe with me. In and out. In and out... That's good... Just breathe..."

Locket settled down. Her breath shuddered a few more times and then she became perfectly calm. "Thank you Peep. I change my mind. You'll make an excellent husband someday."

"Thanks, I guess..." Peep ran to the linen closet to get some towels. His socks were sopping wet. By the time he returned both his floor and his socks were completely dry.

He asked Locket, "Does this mean you're powers are back?"

She zipped over to Peep and sat on his shoulder. "Yes indeedy! Now it's time for your birthday surprise!"

-End of Chapter 19-

Author's note: I have so much fun seeing Locket and Peep's relationship grow. No friendship is perfect but the more they hang out the more they both grow.
(Voting and commenting really helps my stories to grow too!)