Reunion
-By Brooke "Zuzu" Michelle
(Zucccini@AOL.com)
all characters (c) WB, except Jake and Spamela. 
_______________________________________________________________________

	Buster wiped the sweat from his brow.  His heart was pounding.  He could feel the glares of the millions of people that watched and applauded him.  The noise was deafening, yet the only sound Buster could hear was the soft placement of his feet on the stage.
	And then he saw her.
	The most gorgeous figure he'd ever seen.  Graceful, smooth, with a shimmering golden exterior.  She looked like an angel holding a gift to Buster.  The gift was the world.
	He reached out and touched the woman and felt his hands get sweaty.  He was numb all over.  She said nothing.  He said nothing.  He did nothing.
	Nothing, until, the Emmy Awards presenter nudged Buster Bunny to get him to speak.
	"Speech?  Right.  Speech..."
	Buster cleared his throat.  He quickly ran his tongue over his teeth to make sure there wasn't any carrots caught in them.  Clean.  He cleared his throat again.  Finally, he opened his mouth to speak.
	"I-I'm a very lucky rabbit to win this award," he began.  "I must admit, the road was rather bumpy going from a stand-up comedian to a sit-com.  Heh heh,"  There were a few chuckles from the audience.  He felt a little relieved.  "I want to dedicate this award to someone I love and worked with for a very long time.  I'd like to say thanks to my Tiny Toons co-star, Babs--"
	Buster choked as the music went up and the audience cheered.  The presenter told him to exit the stage and to do it quickly.  Buster sighed, still clutching his Emmy, and walked off the stage.
	"My time ran out," he mumbled.


	Buster Bunny, age twenty-eight.  Once the star of the animated program Tiny Toon Adventures, Buster became a stand-up comedian.  After a few years of hard work and tips from his mentor, Bugs Bunny, Buster became a success, famous for his "Bunny Honey" routines involving him dressed in drag and speaking like a southern belle.  A talent scout saw the routine and hired Buster on the spot, soon landing him a show call "Mr. Bunny Honey", which was based heavily on Buster's old routines.  The show had been a hit for around five years now, and Buster is known as one of America's leading male bachelors.


	That night, after signing numerous autographs, Buster drove home to his apartment complex and nestled down into his bed.  He didn't even bother taking his tux off.
	"I'm so tired.  All those fans, all that lipstick-- I'm not *always* a drag queen!"
	Buster undid his tie and looked at his Emmy.  He reached over to her and kissed it gently.  "Who needs a real girlfriend when I've got you!"
	Buster sighed.  He wasn't alone.  He always went out on dates, he always had studio friends to talk with, and of course he has his adoring fans.
	"So why am I so lonely?"

	Suddenly, Buster jumped to his feet and rushed to his window.  He opened it and found the streets below were crawling with fans all cheering his name and shouting their congrats about his win on "Best Actor in a Comedy Series".
	"Don't these people have lives!?!"

	He slammed the window closed and walked to his desk.  He saw some unread mail about a month old on it.
	"Wow, Buster, you really have to keep up with mail *besides* fan mail," he thought, slowly tearing the top of an envelope.
	Poking his fingers in, Buster pulled out a small invitation.  He read it out loud to himself as he scratched his ear.  "'Ten years ago, you embarked on a journey called life,'- this is sad.  '... now an adult... come and show off to old classmates... Acme Looni--"
	Buster was shocked.  He read it to himself silently and then set the Emmy down.  This was big news.
	"Acme Loo is having a high school reunion?  My old school?  All my old friends!"
	He kissed the letter and felt his happiness swelling.  "This is great!  I can find out what the gang's been up to!  Plucky, Shirley, Hamton, Fifi, Babs..."
	He stopped himself.
	"Boy, I wonder what she's been up to.  Miss Popular must be running her own Broadway musicals by now.  I haven't seen her since... since Harriet..."
	Buster closed his eyes.  That was a long time ago.  Babs would be able to forgive him, wouldn't she?



	Buster and Babs shortly after graduation had started their own comedy club.  It was called "No Relation", and it featured night after night of comic geniuses.  Unfortunately, The two had some differences and opinions about the club.  After awhile, Babs wanted to add a juice bar in the back, but Buster wanted to keep costs to a minimum and said no.  Babs wanted to have a special "Friday's Treat" with just Babs Bunny comedy for three hours.  But Buster wanted it to feature the two as a duo.  Not only the disagreements, but night after night, the shows would have one bunny upstaging the other and ending with both rabbits storming off stage.  When people started to come just for the fights, Buster wanted to shut down the place.  But Babs was persistent and thought they could make it work.
	Work problems and problems with their friendship in general got bigger and bigger.  Babs refused to go on dates until everyone in the club had laughed their hardest.
	One night, Babs was closing up the place when Buster walked in with Harriet Hare, Babs's trusted friend.  He explained to her that Harriet thought he had what it took to become a huge star.  He was tired of working in a small-town comedy club and wanted to make it big.  Harriet offered to be his agent since she had majored in business in her local community college.  They agreed, and Buster was saying his good-byes.
	"Babs, I thought we would be together forever.  But if we tried it--" he paused.  "We could never get married."
	Babs swallowed hard.  How did he know she'd always wanted to marry him?  "Well... I could never marry a childish jerk like you anyway!"
	Buster, shocked, took Harriet by the hand and led her outside, softly muttering good-bye.  As he closed the door behind him, he began to think to himself.  'I thought she had always wanted to marry me...'
	They were both twenty.

	"I was such a moron!  She'll never forgive me,"  thought Buster.  He especially knew she wouldn't want to be around him because he had proposed a few years ago to Harriet, which had made national news.  She had shocked everyone by never showing up at the wedding, and had since then never spoken to Buster again.
	He looked at the invitation and inhaled deeply.  "I've got to see her again."


	Buster had hopped a plane heading to Acme Acres shortly after receiving the invite.  He couldn't help but think about Babs and the others.  How would they react to him?  As far as he knew, he was the only toon from Acme Loo to become a Hollywood star, even though many had strived for a movie deal before.
	Buster also couldn't help but wonder how they'd all turn out.  He figured Hamton would be a lot chubbier, and that Fifi would have grown up to be a regular Aphrodite, and there was no doubt in his mind the loveliest bunny in the school would be Babs.  She'd be much prettier than Harriet.  "I'm hoping Harriet's fat as a walrus.  She deserves it," laughed Buster.
	As the pilot made a short announcement about turbulence, Buster fluffed up his pillow and prepared to take a snooze, when suddenly the flight attendant began screaming.
	"Oh my goodness!  It's HIM!  It's Honey Bunny!  He's sooooo dreamy in pants!"
	Buster looked down at his blue jeans.  "Their 'Bunny Boy' jeans."
	The stewardess squealed.  "Oh, I know.  I read all about it in your fan's magazine!"
	"Which one?"
	"Y'know, the one with you in the dress for the cover."
	Buster frowned.  "Which one?"
	"'Buster Bunny: Drag Queen Digest'!"
	"Oh, okay."
	The air waitress giggled before lunging toward Buster.  "I'm touching Buster Bunny!!!"
	Much to Buster's relief, a more experienced stweardess came by and dragged the other one away, explaining that this was her first week.
	"See to it she doesn't bother me again," Buster ordered.  Then he sighed.  "Gotta get some sleep."

	As Buster dozed off, he immediately began dreaming.  In his dream, he was with his friends back in 1991.  He was about 14 along with Babs and Plucky, the others being 13.  They were doing another episode of Tiny Toon Adventures, and in this particular 'episode', Babs and him were fighting.  The others tried to stop them, but they ignored the pleas of their friends and continued.
	Buster noticed in his dream that he and Babs were slowly aging as they argued.  Soon, he saw a 20 year old version of himself slap Babs.  She fell to the ground, and seemed to morph into her 14 year old self again.  Adult Buster suddenly rushed over to Babs, morphing into his younger self while helping her up.  Suddenly, she turned into Harriet!
	"Buster..."  came Babs's voice.
	He called out to her.  "Where are you, Babs?"
	He was about to yell again, but Harriet stopped him.  "She's gone, Buster.  You've lost her again."
	Buster was puzzled.  "Lost her to what?"
	"You had your chance, but you let her go.  You're a coward."
	"I am not!"
	"Coward!"


	"Oh, Mr. Bunny?"  came a voice.
	Buster shook his head.  He opened his eyes to see a flight attendant shaking him softly.
	"We've arrived, sir.  Welcome to Acme Acres."
	"Acme Acres?"
	"Well...yes..."
	Buster smiled.  "I'll show her I'm not a coward."

	After he got off the plane, got his stuff, and made a quick call to his parents telling them he was in town, Buster called a taxi and was on his way home.
	"I wonder what all has changed in eight years!  I wonder who still lives here," he thought.
	As they turned a corner, Buster's eyes almost fell out of socket.  He yelled at the cabby telling him to pull over.
	Buster hopped out of the cab and ran over to a small building.  He almost cried when he read the sign.  "'No Relation.  Comedy for the lonely and depressed.  Working juice bar.'"

	Buster rushed inside the comedy club.  "Babs!" he called.  "Babs, are you here?  It's me, Buster Bunny!"
	He stopped when he saw a tough looking hare behind the juice bar.  "Oh, uh, are you the owner of this place?"
	The hare nodded.  He extended out his hand and grabbed Buster's.  Buster prepared to have his hand yanked off his wrist, but was surprised to get a kind hand shake instead.
	"The name's Jake.  Who're you?" asked the hare.
	"I'm a friend of-- well, I guess you wouldn't know... ah, nevermind."
	"Coming for the Looniversity reunion?"
	Buster smiled.  "You bet!  Are you?  Because I don't remember you at Acme Loo."
	"I went to a school in Victoria.  That's in the southern part of Australia."
	"Really?  I know a guy from Australia!  Do you know someone named Boomer, by any chance?"
	"Nope, sorry."
	Buster frowned.  He wasn't getting anywhere chit-chatting with Jake.  After all, it was Babs he was looking for.  "Hey Jake, could you make me up a quick glass of carrot juice?"


	After Buster had his drink, he left the club and walked home.  He said hello to his mother and father and was happy to see they were doing well.
	"Buster, dear," said his mother.  "We hope you don't mind, but we sold all your old stuff."
	Buster choked.  "Wh-why?!?"
	His father laughed.  "You're famous, son!  We could make a nice sum of money just by selling your bed post!"
	"So I have no bed?"
	His mom and dad looked embarrassed.  "Well, we didn't expect you to come back home... and you didn't call us in advance, really."
	Buster sighed and told them he was going to take a walk around town.
	Buster thought, "They aren't the best of company, really.  I wonder how Babs is doing."


	As he strolled down the streets of Acme Acres, he saw someone he thought he knew.  "Furrball?"
	A blue cat turned around and looked at Buster.  He smiled and waved at him.
	Buster was overjoyed to find an old friend.  He rushed over to the alley cat to talk to him.
	It seems Furrball had never gone to college, since he was too broke for that, and had gone to the school to work as a janitor.  Much to his surprise, Furrball was asked to be an assistant for Wile E. Coyote.  Furrball was soon asked to teach a survival class, and had since been working as a teacher at the Looniversity.  Of course, with the salary teacher's make, he stilled lived in his box in the alley.


	After buying Furrball lunch at a local sandwich place, Buster bid farewell and started walking to Hamton's.  "If anybody still lives in Acme Acres, it'd definitely be Hamton.

	Hamton's house was a humble welcoming for Buster.  It had remained the same since Buster could remember.
	"Hello?  Mr. and Mrs. Pig?  Are ya' there?"  asked Buster as he rang the doorbell.
	Buster started hearing footsteps.  He backed away as the door slowly opened, revealing a very handsome and brawny boar.
	"Hello.  What can I do for you?"  asked the giant pig.
	Buster gulped.  "Uh... I'm sorry.  I guess I got the wrong house.  I was looking for a friend of mine?"
	The pig blinked.
	"Um, sorry.  I guess Hamton moved out."
	Suddenly, the boar started to clench his fists.  He started to look a bit angry.  "Hamton Pig?  That fat little piglet?"
	"Hey!" shouted Buster.  "Stop that!"
	But the pig continued.  "Worthless chump.  He never did anybody any good, unless they wanted their refrigerators cleaned out."
	"Leave him alone!"
	"Hah!" laughed the pig.  "He couldn't defend himself if he were here anyway!  Such a loser.  His friends were losers, too."
	Buster felt his eyelids shut and his own fists clench as he swung them forward.  He opened his eyes to find both hands being held by the stranger at the door.
	"Buster Bunny!" he laughed.  "You never could take a joke, unless you were pulling it!"
	"Who... are you?"
	He grinned.  "Take a good look at what a little self-improvement can do to a pig, Buster!  It's me!  Hamton!"
	Buster blinked.  "Uh..."
	"No really, it is!  I can prove it!"  As he said this, he rolled up his sleeve to show that on his left arm the words "Cleaning Machine" had been neatly tattooed, along with a miniature vacuum cleaner.
	"Hamton... you stud!" laughed Buster.  "She must be one heck of a gal, huh?"
	Hamton frowned.  "You think that a woman made me do all this?"
	Buster felt uncomfortable.  "W-well, um... yeah, isn't that the reason?"
	Hamton motioned Buster inside and showed him to the all-too familiar den.  As Buster sat, Hamton walked out of the den and to, if Buster remembered right, the kitchen.  A moment later, Hamton slowly walked out, his arm around an attractive but very thin female peccary.  She looked like a regular pig, except she was brown and fuzzier, with silky brown hair and two little pig's tusks.
	"Um, Buster.  This is my wife; Pamela."
	His wife giggled.  "Ya'll can call me 'Spamela', if'n you like."
	Buster chuckled softly.  She was a looker, he thought.  'There's no way Hamton was telling the truth back there!'
	Buster turned again to see the lovely swine, but he noticed something very different about her.  Not really different... more like unusual.  Her eyes didn't seem focused on anything.
	"Sweet Cheeks..." cooed Hamton.  "Would you like me to fetch your sunglasses?"
	"No, no, Sugar Swine.  I think I can do it.  You just entertain your guest!"
	Buster watched uneasily as Spamela felt her way around the walls, found her way into the hall, and slowly walked down to the kitchen, feeling along the way so as to not lose her stepping. 
	"Our seeing-eye dog ran away,"  explained Hamton, startling Buster with the sound of his voice.  "but she manages around the house pretty well.  A terrible cook, though."


	After saying his farewells, Buster set off again.  'Wow,' thought he.  'Hamton had enough will-power to make himself lose weight, work-out, and just try to stay healthy."
Buster suddenly halted, turned back, and smiled at Hamton's house.  The little guy finally has some self-esteem.  He continued to walk towards school.


	Bugs Bunny sat in his office looking over the guestlist for that night's big event.  He couldn't believe that only ten years ago these names were his pupils;  that he had taught them every weekday from 8:30 to 3:00 in a small classroom.  Some of them were now big names.  Big names like Buster Bunny...
	"I wonder where dat blue-eared misfit is now."
	"If you're talking about that super talented and handsome rabbit Buster Bunny,--"
	Bugs looked up.
	"--then I can assure you he's pretty close by,"  said Buster.
	Bugs got up and rushed over to the door, where Buster had been standing.  "Kid!  Is it really you?"
	"In the flesh!"
	"Well tell me, Buster!  How's t'ings been?  I see you got yerself a popular show and even a new movie soon!"  exclaimed Bugs.
	"'Buster Horror Picture Show' is gonna be a hit, Bugs!" smiled Buster.  Buster than got a little more serious and said, " I owe it all to you, Bugs!  You're my mentor, always have been, and all."
	Bugs opened his arms for a hug, but as Buster was about to hug him, Bugs instead bopped him on the head.
	"What was that for???"  asked Buster, while rubbing his head.
	"You owe it all to me, you say, but you can't even mention me in your acceptance speech?!"
	"You saw me stuttering on that stage!  I had no idea the Emmy was such a scary award to win!"

	Bugs had later taken Buster around all the classrooms.  They talked about old times and new ones, and laughed about joint pranks they'd pulled.
	Things were going well, until Bugs asked about a personal topic for Buster.
	"So how is Babs doing, Buster?  I mean, I haven't read anywhere about you being hitched, but I assumed dat you two have been togedder, at least."
	Buster stopped.  "I haven't seen her in years, Bugs."
	Buster stopped walking when he walked past his homeroom.  He looked in through the window and saw that nothing had really changed.
	Bugs gave him the key to open the door.  Buster hesitated, but he grabbed the key and opened the door with it.
	"Ain't that where you used ta sit?" asked the older rabbit.
	"Yeah.  And Babs sat right there."
	Bugs sat on the teacher's desk up front.  "I'm really proud of you, ya know."
	"Thank you, sir."
	The older rabbit laughed.  "Why so formal?  We were just jokin' a few minutes ago, and now I'm 'sir'?"
	Buster blushed shyly.  "I dunno.  Something about this classroom..."
	"Well you ain't my pupil anymore!" Bugs said while jumping off of the desk.  "In fact, you could probably teach me a few t'ings."
	The younger rabbit sat down in his old desk.  What was once so familiar to him seemed new and warm now.  He lightly traced his desk where he had scratched in "Buster & Babs 4EvR".  Oh, but that was back when the school was new and Babs was always there beside him.  Now the classroom looked old and worn, and he had no idea where Babs was.
	"I think I'd better go home and get ready," Buster told Bugs, breaking the silence.
	"Okay, kid.  But I expect you'll want a ride home?" he asked.
	Much to Bugs's surprise, Buster shook his head and got up to go.  "I got some thinkin' to do."
	With those last words, he left the room and then the school, slowly making his way back to his burrow.


	Staring at his reflection, Buster smiled.  "Come on, Handsome," he said to himself.  "Let's go get us a great friend back."
	*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!*
	Buster jerked a little.  "Y-yeah, Mom?  That you?"
	The door opened a little.  It was his father.
	"Hey, Pop."
	His father was a big guy.  He had dark blue fur and always wore his work clothes around the house.  He never got to be around him when he was little, but Buster respected him and he admired him just as much as he admired Bugs.
	"Son," began his father.
	"Yeah, Pop?" buster asked warmly.
	The two stared into each other's eyes for a few moments.  Buster smiled.  He had never really been alone with his father for any father-son talks ever, and now he felt overjoyed at the notion of being able to discuss tonight with his father.  This was, no doubt, why his dad came in-- to talk about the birds and the bees, how men act around others, what to do to impress the ladies, and how to chug beer.  All the things they'd never talked about... he was here to catch up with him.  All the missed chances of before would be accounted for.
	Buster asked again, "Yes, Pop?"
	"Son," began his father.  "Your mother made some delicious bean and carrot casserole.  I really, really need to go."

	Buster turned and started walking down the hall as he heard the bathroom door slam shut.  "I wouldn't have to use the bathroom mirror if you hadn't sold mine!" he thought.





	"Oh my stars!" shouted Granny.  "It's Buster Bunny!  How have you been, child?"
	Buster walked up to the doors of the Acme Loo gym.  Granny was there acting as bouncer.  Buster flashed her his invitation, she marked him off the list and he walked inside.
	Buster looked around the gym and saw many old friends.  He spotted Plucky and Shirley and walked over to them.
	"Hiya, toonsters!" he greeted.
	Plucky laughed.  "Boy, I never thought I'd hear that again!"
	"I can't believe how popular you are!" exclaimed Shirley.  "Everyone loves you!"
	Buster laughed.  "Really?"
	"Fer sure!" Shirley nodded.
	"Shirley!" scolded Plucky.
	"Yes, Dear?"
	"I thought you'd worked on that?  I pay good money for those voice lessons."
	Shirley blushed.  "Well, sorry, Hon.  I've improved a lot, you know."
	Plucky sighed.  "I know it's hard, but I got rid of my lisp for you.  Can't you at least do something right?"
	Buster watched as Shirley began to turn red.  This time, it wasn't a blush.  "Oh, come on!  I do all the work around the house!  I cook, I clean, and I also have my own business!"
	As it turned out, Plucky and Shirley got hitched right out of high school.  Buster knew this much, since he was the Best Man.  But what he didn't know was after he left town, they divorced and soon remarried.  When that one didn't work out, they divorced again only to remarry again!  They had married each other six times!
	Plucky and Shirley were both fairly successful people.  Shirley ran a therapy and fortune telling center that was very popular in Beverly Hills.  Plucky, despite his goal to be the star of every play, musical, or movie ever when he was younger, became a fairly good lawyer.  He claims that he went into the business because "it's where the money's at", but Buster figured it was also because he liked to argue.

	Buster walked away from the quarreling couple.  He wanted to ask Shirley if she knew anything about Babs, but he figured he wouldn't be able to get a word in now.
	"Bonjour, Buster."
	Buster turned and saw Fifi right behind him.  He had expected to see her in a stunning gown, but instead...
	"A business suit?" he asked.  "And a cell phone?"
	"Non, zis is a CEL phone!" she laughed.
	"Cute joke.  Nice to see you never lost your accent."
	Fifi cocked her head smartly.  "I am proud to be French.  You can take zee Fifi out of France, but no American will ever take zee France out of Fifi."
	Buster smiled.  He had to admire her.  Despite being a hopeless romantic, she had climbed her way to the top.  Now the CEO of WB, she was known as being a competitive woman that refused to let a rival studio-- especially one that had a man in charge-- become the best.  She was praised and adored and named one of the top ten most beautiful people by Toonsters Magazine.
	"Did vous hear about Monty?" she asked.
	Buster shook his head.
	"Elmyra sued him for sexual assault.  Whezher it vas true or not, she won zee case, took everyzhing he owned, and left him out in zee cold."
	"You're joking!"
	"Non.  It is all zee truth."
	Then Fifi smiled wickedly.
	"What?"
	"Poor Elmyra.  Little did she know that she was allergic to animal fur.  Now zee only zhing she keeps for pets are fish and lizards..." she smiled.  "And Monty."
	Buster's jaw dropped.  "They got married?"
	"He could not accept being a poor man.  So, she said she vould let him 'ave zee money if he married her."
	Buster laughed.  "That's our little Elmyra!"
	As Buster laughed, Fifi took his hands and placed one on her waist and the other in her hand.  They began dancing with all the other toons.
	As the rabbit looked around, he felt his hand being moved from Fifi's to her waist as the song went from slow to slower.  She wrapped her arms around his neck as she laid her head on his chest.  "Zee nation's most powerful woman dances wizh everyone's favorite bunny next door."
	She looked up.  "Vous were my first crush, Buster."
	Buster smiled nervously.  "I thought Pepe LePew was."
	"Vous know what I am meaning."
	"Hey, Fifi, what happened to Babs?"
	Fifi stepped back just as her phone rang.  "Talk to moi," she answered.  She grimaced as the person on the other end mentioned Disney.  "Vell, we can't let zhem to zhat!  Fight fight fight!"
	She hung up and looked at Buster.  "It looks as zhough I 'ave got work to do.  I need to catch the first flight out of 'ere as soon as possible."
	Buster said he understood.  She kissed him on the cheek and congratulated him on everything.  He said the same thing to her and she smiled.
	"I cannot wait to see you in your next film," she giggled.  "I 'ave always wondered what you vould look like in fishnets and high heels."
	"What, you mean you didn't see that episode?"
	Fifi giggled and began walking away.  "Glad I came dressed appropriately," she sighed.


	Buster was walking through the halls towards his old classroom.  "I can't believe I forgot to ask her about Babs again!" he muttered.  "I'll never find her."
	As Buster stepped in front of the door to his classroom, he noticed it was unlocked.  He peered in and just about dropped dead.  "Babs...you came."
	The pink rabbit looked up from the desk she'd been sitting in.  Her eyes filled with tears.  "Hiya, handsome."
	Buster laughed nervously.  The two looked down uncomfortably.
	"Congratulations."
	Buster looked up.  "What?"
	"I said...congratulations.  It seems you're a bigger hit than I am."
	"Me?  Bigger than you?"
	Babs sighed.  "I read all about you and your old acts.  Some of them seemed very familiar to me."
	"Honey Bunny?" he asked.
	"Oh yes," she smiled.  "I remember that one.  You had the audience howling!  It always made me giggle, too."
	Buster leaned up against the wall.  He felt very uncomfortable being near her for some reason.  He couldn't quite explain it.  "So, uh, what has Miss Drama Queen been doing with herself?"
	"Broadway," she said.  "I can sing, I can dance, and I can show my acting abilities as well.  They don't have too many comedies, of course, but I guess I can't have things perfect, ya know?"
	"Yeah.  Broadway's a good place for you, though."
	The two looked at each other for a while.  Babs seemed glad to see him, but she was definitely sad about something.  Buster didn't understand why, but he felt the same way too.
	"Buster, why didn't we stay together?" she asked.
	He blinked.  He'd been wondering that himself.  "I...I don't remember.  Creative differences?"
	She shook her head.  "No, that wasn't it."
	"Well, it doesn't matter now, Babs.  We can be together again!"
	She blinked.
	"Uh, like a duo again?  You know?  Like the way things used to be!"
	"Buster," she sighed.  "I can't.  WE can't."
	"What do you mean?  Sure we can!"
	Buster walked over to Babs and sat on his knees next to her.  "I'll get you a part on my show!  We can be like Sunny and Cher all over again!"
	"Buster, they broke up years ago.  Cher is doing bad pop songs and Sunny died.  Right now, we almost are like them."
	Buster was getting annoyed.  "You don't understand, Babsy.  I need you!  I'm nothing without a co-star!"
	"What happened to Harriet?"
	Buster gulped.  "Well, uh..."
	But Babs just turned her head to him and smiled.  "She left you at the alter.  I heard all about it."
	"From who?!"
	"Feef.  You know she's got all the inside info on Hollywood."
	Buster was surprised.  "You two still talk to each other?"
	Babs nodded.  "Sure.  I still keep in contact with my friends."
	At this remark, Buster felt three inches tall.  He had come to Acme Acres totally shocked to see how his friends had changed so much.  He wondered if Babs new about Hamton and the others as well.
	Noticing Buster's embarrassment, she put her hand on his head and scratched his ear playfully.  "We had a big get-together a few years ago."
	Buster took her hand away from his ear.  He held it in his hand and looked fondly at the girl in front of him.  "Please, Babs.  Say you'll come with me."
	"Buster, I--"
	"Babs listen.  I've always loved you.  I always think about you and I hate myself for losing you.  Please, Babs.  I love you."
	"And I love you too."
	Buster's eyes widened at this remark.  She did love him!  She forgave him!  He was happier than he'd been in years.
	"Then what are we waiting for?  Let's go tell the reporters that we're an item again!  You can do an impression or something in front of them and totally knock their socks off!  Come on Babs!  Babs, yo, come on..."
	"But I don't love you like that," she said.
	Buster stood up.  "What?  Babs, I--"
	"And I can't run off to Hollywood.  I'm not the way I used to be, Buster!  I've got responsibilities back in New York.  I've got a career, I've got a home--"
	"We can move that to California!  Babs, I'm rich!  Anything that needs to be done can be done for this!  I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want you to be comfortable and happy."
	Buster began walking to the door.  As he turned the knob to open it, Babs stopped him.
	He turned to her.  "Babs, we need to..."
	Buster almost died.  Sitting in the desk, Buster wasn't able to see Babs fully.  But now he could, and he wished he had never met up with Babs that night.  Barbara Ann Bunny was eight months pregnant.
	"He's very good to me, my husband is," she said.  Her voice wavered when she spoke.  "I love him so much."
	Buster felt the door in front of him being pushed open.  He backed away as a tall rabbit in a tuxedo walked in with a glass of punch.  Buster noticed it was the same rabbit he'd seen in the comedy club.
	"Oh, g'day!  You're the rabbit from No Relation, eh?"  he asked.
	Buster nodded.  He watched as Jake kissed Babs softly.  It was then that Buster noticed Babs's wedding ring.  He really was too late.
	"Thanks, hon," smiled Babs, taking the drink from her husbands hand.  "I just got too hot."
	Jake laughed.  "I understand.  'Ow on earth women c'n stand to 'ave the babies is beyond me, though.  But I admire ya fer that."
	Jake turned to Buster.  "Isn't she great?"
	Buster nodded.
	"Jake and I have been staying in Acme Acres for the past few months of my pregnancy.  It was my wish to have the baby in the same town I grew up in," said Babs.
	"We were thinking about maybe moving here, too," added Jake.  "I like this much better than New York."
	Buster was silent.  He couldn't believe he would not be Babs's first (no further details; this isn't TTBS).
	Babs turned to Jake.  "Darling, why don't you go out and tell the others that I'm leaving.  I don't want to have to waddle out in the middle of the party.  I'm beat!"
	"Sure, luv!  I'll go around and bring the car out front,"  He turned to Buster.  "Can you escort my lovely wife outside for me?  I'd 'ate for her to get too tired and collapse when I'm not around."
	Buster said he would.
	Jake kissed Babs and bounded out the room, shouting over his shoulder that he was trusting Buster with Babs's life, jokingly of course.
	"Mortimer usually takes care of No Relation."
	Buster looked up.
	Babs continued.  "I couldn't bare to lose it.  It was everything we'd worked for."
	Buster sighed.  "You and Jake?"
	The lovely pink rabbit held out her hand.  "You and I, Blue Ears."
	Buster smiled as he took her hand in his and escorted her down the hall to her car.


	When Babs's child was born, Buster was there.  Babs had insisted on him being there for when she gave birth.  Afterall, she was naming her son after him, and she wanted the godfather to be there for it.
	The child was a healthy bunny, and as he grew older Babs and Jake found him to be very much like Buster.
	Buster's movie was a hit, and this bumped his fame up greatly.  However, he always found the time to take a break from his work and his fans, fly to Acme Acres, and catch up with old times and old friends.
	Of course, he still loved Babs, but he kept his relationship with her just good friends.  Unless, of course, Babs had pulled another practical joke on him.  Then it was personal...


FIN

(Ooooh, I'm so fancy!  I used "fin"! LA LA LA!)
______________________________________________________________________

	Okay, yeah, I ruined the ending.  So sue.

	Anyhoo, this is just how I see things.  I don't think Babs and Buster would make a good married couple.  They are great partners, but as you know, co-workers and relationships don't mix (as a general rule).

	I also thought it would be cool to have Hamton become a studmuffin.  I like that part of the story.

	I didn't do much with the actual reunion because that's not what the story was about.  It was about Buster and how he matured without Babs and how she-- well, you read the story, so you know.

	Visit my art page at http://oddimals.com
	I love you.