Author's Note: Alright, so I'm a huge Chucky and Tiffany fan (obviously, ha ha)! And after reading all kinds of stories about how/when these two first met, and seriously wishing that Chucky and Tiffany's first meeting (heck, their whole relationship in the years before that fateful November night in the toy store) would've been elaborated on in the actual series, I decided to come up with a saga-yes, saga- of my own. Well, maybe, depending on the reviews I get for this one...so here I give you Part One of Star Crossed in Hackensack: The Saga of Chucky and Tiffany. I really hope you enjoy, I really do. Reviews and/or suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Nothing hateful and nasty, please. I love writing and I know it's not perfect, but I try really hard. It's just for fun, after all! *Chucky & Tiffany Forever*
P.S.: FAN ART/ILLUSTRATIONS WOULD BE AWESOME. JUST SAYIN'. :)

PART ONE: The New Girl and the Bad Boy

Chapter One: She Ain't That Cute
Hackensack, New Jersey; May 14, 1975

The everyday hustle and bustle swarms through the bus station as a black-haired Tiffany Valentine makes her way through, her hands full with luggage. She wants to rub her eyes so bad, they're so itchy from lack of good sleep...but she knows if she puts her stuff down now, she won't want to pick it back up. Who knew make-up, hair accessories, clothes, shoes, jewelry and books about serial killers could be so heavy?

It was a 6 hour journey from her hometown, Cherryville, to Hackensack. But since it had been so uncomfortable, it felt like a lot longer. But it was all worth it to get her fresh start. She'd just turned 22 a week before, and decided she was sick of living with her judgmental family (mother in particular). They suspected her of being "not right in the head" because she was interested in serial killers, goth and the occult, though she thought they were perfectly normal interests.

Tiffany limps around, looking for any sign of her friend Michelle St. John. She and Michelle had worked together at a department store in Cherryville for a few years, and kept in touch after Michelle moved to Hackensack. A few months ago over the phone, Michelle mentioned how her landlord was raising the rent-yet again- and wasn't sure how she was going to keep up with it. And since Tiffany wanted to leave home, she came up with the idea of them being roommates so they could split the cost of rent. So here they were.
"Tiffany!"
Tiffany turns to the direction of the calling voice. A woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a floral print shirt tied at the waist and high waisted pants, is standing on her tip toes waving her arms around.
"Tiffany!"
"Michelle!"

Tiffany starts running-or at least trying to, with all her luggage- to her friend. Michelle sees her struggling and zigzags through people until she reaches her.
"Hey!" Michelle exclaims as they hug. "It's so good to see you! How was your trip?"
"Tiring," Tiffany sighs. "The next time I decide to ride a bus, remind me to bring some ear plugs and a back pillow."
Michelle frowns. "Mm, I'm sorry. Well, at least it's over now. Ya made it!"
"Yeah."
Michelle bends down to help with some of the luggage.
"Whoa," she says from the weight of the two bags she's picked up. "What, did ya do, bring all of Cherryville with you?"
Tiffany laughs. "And that's just my makeup and hair products...you know, I'm thinking of dyeing my hair blonde."
"Really?" Michelle looks at Tiffany and imagines her with golden locks.
"Do it! You'd look fab!"
"Good, 'cuz I've already bought the dye."

She had actually wanted to be blonde for a long time. But her mother would never approve. Hair dyeing, excessive amounts of make up, piercings, tattoos, anything like that was off limits in the Valentine household.
"If you were meant to have blonde hair," Tiffany's mother Iris would say, "you would've been born with it."
Tiffany's mother said a lot of things... and although she was a wise woman with a lot of good points, Tiffany was sick of hearing her nagging mouth, especially when it came to her "devilish" interests. Nothing was ever good enough for her.
But here in Hackensack, Tiffany knew she could be herself. No more hiding who she was.

"Ya know," Michelle says as they walk outside to her waiting van, "I almost didn't recognize you without your make up and heels."
Tiffany glances down at her grey t-shirt, blue jeans and black boots. It was weird for Michelle, because "dolled up" was the only way she'd ever seen Tiffany.
Tiffany shrugs. "Yeah, no make up and stuff today...I figured, 'what am I getting all dressed up for when all I'm doing is getting on a bus?' Who've I got to impress, ya know?"

Once all of her luggage is inside, they drive off. There are already large differences between Cherryville and Hackensack, from the size, to the people, everything.
"There are so many places I gotta show you," Michelle gushes as they drive along. "The malls, the stores, the restaurants-"Vincent's" has the absolute best lasagna you'll ever eat in your life. How about I take you there tomorrow after I introduce you to my boss for that job interv-"
BOOM.

A large burst of flame followed by thick black smoke erupts from the hood of the van. Michelle stomps on the brake, bringing everything to a sudden, screeching halt.
"What the fuck?! No!" Michelle groans. She gets out and lifts the hood, unleashing more smoke.
"Crap!" Michelle gasps as Tiffany gets out too. Using their purses, they frantically wave the smoke away.
"What the hell?! I just took this thing to the shop last month!"
"Well," Tiffany says-coughs- "your mechanic must be a dud then."
"I don't have the money to get it fixed again...oh god..."
It looked like they were stranded. At least they were on a side road, so they weren't blocking traffic.
"I'm so sorry Tiffany," Michelle says. "This is not how your first day in Hackensack should be goin'-"
"No no, it's fine really," Tiffany insists. "It's not your fault."
Michelle paces around for a few moments.
"I got it!" She starts digging through her purse for change. "I'll just call Eddie."
"Eddie?"
"Yeah. He's a friend of mine...well, we dated for a while, but it sorta didn't work out."
"You never told me about him," Tiffany realizes. "Why didn't it work out?"
Michelle made a face. "...Reasons. I'll be right back!"
Michelle readies her change and runs to the telephone booth across the way.
Hopefully this Eddie guy could pull through. All she wanted to do was get in a tub full of warm water and bubble bath, and just soak for a really long time.

It's not long at all before a shiny red Ford Mustang pulls up. A guy with a five o'clock shadow and curly brown hair gets out.
"Hey, Shells," he greets as he runs towards her."You okay?" He looks behind her at the still smoking car.
"Hey Eddie. Yeah, we're fine. Oh-Tiffany, this is Eddie Caputo, Eddie, this is my friend Tiffany Valentine."
"Hey," Eddie greets.
"Hello."
"What happened?"
"I dunno- we were just driving back to my place, and fire popped outta the hood with all this smoke."
Eddie investigates for himself.
"Yeah, Shelly, I think it's a goner. Your engine is burnt out. Looks like it overheated."
"Damn it! Okay fine, we just need to help Tiffany get her stuff back to my place."

Eddie looks in the backseat at all of Tiffany's luggage. This was a van, but Eddie only had the Ford Mustang.
"I don't think I have enough room for all this stuff in my car."
"We could make multiple trips," Tiffany suggests.
Eddie shakes his head. "I don't think you wanna risk leavin' your stuff here. Somebody might come along and steal it." Ironically enough, he realized, somebody like him...
Tiffany shrugs. "Okay then, I'll stay here and watch it."
"Oh no," Michelle says. "You just got here, I'm not leavin' you in a strange town all by yourself."
"Well you can't stay, you're the one with the key to your place."
Michelle sighs, and looks at Eddie. "You know, I think we're just gonna need two cars. We're gonna need some help anyway movin' my van off this road. What about that friend of yours, Charles?"

"Chucky?!" Eddie looks at her like she's crazy. "Nah, he won't agree to do this shit."
"Who's Chucky?" Tiffany asks.
"Charles Lee Ray," Michelle says elaborately with a slow, sweeping hand gesture in the air. "Hackensack's Most Wanted."
"He's not Hackensack's Most Wanted," Eddie corrects. "I'm pretty sure that's some guy named Hank Walters or somethin' like that, but the cops ain't on to Chucky."
Michelle rolls her eyes. "Yet."
"Cops?"
Eddie mentally kicks himself for saying too much around the new girl. But he really had nothing to worry about. Tiffany was intrigued now. This Chucky sounds like a real bad boy...
"When do we meet him?"
Michelle sees Tiffany's interest and immediately shakes her head.
"Oh trust me honey, you don't want him. He's the biggest asshole I've ever met in my life. You can do a lot better than him, he's not worth the time or the trouble. But he's got a Dodge, don't he?"
"Shells- he won't even do a favor for me, and I'm his best friend. What makes you think he'll do somethin' for you and some stranger? No offense."
"None taken," says Tiffany, lighting a cigarette. "Say, listen-what if I offered to pay him?"
Eddie considers it. "How much you got?"

Tiffany opens her purse and sifts through her wallet. "I can give both of you... $50 each."
Michelle looks at Tiffany. "Are you nuts?" She turns to Eddie.
"50 bucks, but you two share it."
"Alright," Eddie says, still doubtful. "I'll call him."
Eddie walks over to the phone booth, and puts his change in.
C'mon Chucky... pick the hell up...c'mon, c'mon, c'mon-"

"Whoever the fuck this is, it better be important."
"Ay yo Chucky, it's me, Eddie."
"Eddie! Where the fuck are you?" Chucky demands. "You were s'posed to have been back here with the beer n' pork rinds an hour ago! What the heck is a good game without beer n' pork rinds?!"
"It's Shelly and her friend from the bus station, they need some more help. The friend's got a shit ton o' luggage and I can't fit it all in my car."
"Not my problem, Eddie."
"Aww, c'mon Chucky! You know I've been wantin' to get back with Shells for a while now! Plus she needs help movin' her car! This could score me some big points!"
"Still not my problem."
Damn!
Eddie tries desperately to come up with something that will make Chucky want to help.
"...Her friend's cute," Eddie offers, knowing it's been a while since the last time Chucky had a date.
Well, it ain't a total lie... I mean she ain't blonde like Chucky likes 'em, but...
"Her name's Tiffany, and she's willing to pay us."

Now he was speaking Chucky's language.
"How much?"
"50 bucks."
"Each?"
"We share it."
25 bucks? That's chump change, I got more than that off the homeless guy I sliced up the other night...
"I want more than that, if I'm gonna be missin' the game for this shit. Did you say we're moving Michelle's car too?"
"Alright, how much?"
"Well I can't speak for you Eddie, but...I want at least $75."
"$75... alright, but Michelle might talk me down."
"Do I give a fuck what she has to say?"
"Alright, alright, Chucky. Just get your ass down here."

Eddie comes back from the phone call.
"Chucky's comin', but he wants more money."
"How much?" asks Tiffany.
"He wants $75."
"$75?!" Michelle says. "That snake! Don't give it to him, Tiffany."
"But he's already on his way now, right?"
"Listen..." Eddie starts. He knows what he was about to say would hurt. But the surprised look on Michelle's face would be worth it, especially since she'd broken up with him for being selfish.
"Don't worry about paying me."
Michelle's eyes widen. "Eddie Caputo? Turning down money? You sick or somethin'? C'mere, let me feel your forehead."
"I'm fine, it's no problem," Eddie said. "Really."
"Wow."

About twenty minutes pass, when a brown two-door Dodge pulls up behind Eddie's Mustang. Out steps Charles Lee Ray. Chucky.
Tiffany cannot take her eyes off him.
He is a tall, slender man wearing a black blazer over a white button up, the sleeves rolled half-way up, black slacks and sunglasses. His wavy, shoulder length brown hair moves effortlessly like a lion's mane with each move he makes and every step he takes. As Chucky approaches them, she can see he is devastatingly handsome. She can feel butterflies build in her stomach as Chucky looks in her direction. He notices Tiffany, in her grey t-shirt and blue jeans, and lowers his sunglasses to look at her some more.
Was this it?!
He furrows his brows and wrinkles his nose at her, then takes off his sunglasses and slaps Eddie's arm.
"Ow!"
"You fuckin' lied Eddie!" Chucky sneers. "She ain't that cute! She ain't cute at all!"
Michelle's mouth gapes open in disbelief. "Shut up you jackass!" she scolds, slapping at Chucky. He blocks her hits long enough for Eddie to stop her, then points at her threateningly.
"I'm warning you, woman!" he says through gritted teeth, with rage behind his piercing blue eyes. The absolute most beautiful, breathtaking eyes Tiffany had ever seen...she didn't even care that he'd pretty much just insulted her. Plus his anger was turning her on.
Damn! I should've worn my make up and stuff today after all! Now he thinks I'm just blah...
"I told ya!" Michelle says to Tiffany, "Didn't I tell ya he was an asshole?"
"Let's just get this shit over with," Chucky says. "Ay, you got my money?"
"Huh? Oh-yeah..." Tiffany goes into her purse and pulls out the money, two 20's, three 10's and a 5. Chucky takes it, counts it, then holds each bill up to the sky to check its authenticity. When finished he puts the money in his wallet, then goes to start moving suitcases.

"Goddamn!" Chucky exclaims. "I oughta charge you extra, lady! The fuck you got in here?!"
He takes his blazer off and slings it on top of Michelle's busted van before getting back to work.

Chucky may have been lanky, but he was a helluvah lot stronger than he looked. It takes him and Eddie about 5 minutes to move half of Tiffany's things to Eddie's car, and half of it to Chucky's.
When that is finished, Michelle gets behind the wheel of her car, and Chucky and Eddie push it to a curb.
"Alright," Eddie says. "Michelle, you can get in the car with me and Tiffany can get in with Chucky-"
"...Or," Michelle chimes, killing both Eddie and Tiffany's excitement, "Me and Tiffany can get in your car and you two can get in Chucky's car."
"Sounds good to me," Chucky says. "Let's do it."

It takes fifteen minutes to get to Michelle's apartment. Eddie gets out to unload luggage, but Chucky stays put.
"I ain't helpin' the bitch move in too," he says, putting a cigarette in his mouth. He lights it and takes a puff. "I've done my fair share of hard labor for the day."
Tiffany and Michelle start moving stuff inside. Eddie catches up with them and Michelle notices that Chucky is still in the car.
"He's not gonna help anymore, is he?"
Eddie shakes his head. "Nope."
Tiffany looks back at Chucky, smoking his cigarette, and it gives her an idea.

Once all her luggage is inside she searches for the small, red leather suitcase-there, on the loveseat. She takes it and pulls out a large box of Cuban cigars. Guys like Cuban cigars, don't they? He looks like he'd like Cuban cigars.
It was a perfect excuse to go up to Chucky. Maybe if I offer him something he likes, he'll warm up a little...
Right before she goes outside, she stops in front of the mirror hanging on the wall. She flips her shoulder length black hair a little, and straightens her shirt. Damn, I should've at least worn one of my push up bras...

When she gets outside Chucky is leaned up against the hood of his car, cigarette smoke swirling all around him...looking like a God...
"Chucky, I"
"Uh-that's Charles to you," Chucky says. "Only my friends get to call me Chucky. What?"
Tiffany bites her lip. "Oh, uh- sorry, Charles. But I just wanted to give you a little something extra for helping me out today."
She opens the box and reveals the cigars.
"I don't know if you smoke these," she starts as Chucky takes one out and sniffs it. "But if you don't they're worth some money, I think."
"Damn, these are the good kind...how'd ya get your hands on these?"
"I stole them," Tiffany says, hoping that that fact would impress him. "From my uncle, before I left home."

Chucky is slightly impressed. But he wasn't about to let that show; he could tell by the way she was looking at him that she had the hots for him, but...no. He takes the cigars and gives her a quick, half-hearted smile.
"Thanks."
"Your welc-"
"Hey, Eddie!" He looks past Tiffany at Eddie, who is talking to Michelle.
"C'mon! If we're lucky maybe we can still catch the last couple quarters!"
He turns around and gets inside his car.
Eddie says bye to Michelle, and climbs in the passenger seat.
"See ya around," Eddie says.
Tiffany watches, a little disappointed, as they drive off.
"What's wrong?" Michelle asks.
"Hmm? Oh... nothing. Nothing at all." And it was true. She lived here now. Which meant she was bound to run into Charles Lee Ray again at some point. Hopefully soon. And next time, she would make sure he still didn't think she was cute. Next time, she would make him think she was gorgeous.
"C'mon," Michelle chirps. "We gotta get you settled in. Welcome to Hackensack!"