No Time to Waste
by TheRealXenocide
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Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer, and this variant since Henry Ford. However, this is the first I've seen it applied to Lizzie.
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A/N: Remember who Clair said saw Lizzie through Gordo's living room window? If not, you might want to re-read chapter 43 before you read this. Oh, and just so you know, I decided that Reggie was going to need a last name.
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Epilog Four
Let's Make a Deal
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As the summer wore on, the lives of many of the people in this story began to feel more normal than they had in a long time. With the exception of new parents Ethan and Kate, everyone fell into the routines of summer which, after last summer, they welcomed with enthusiasm. Even the tedium of summer jobs was welcome. That doesn't mean that there weren't events of note during this summer. Indeed, these ranged from things most comical to things most romantic.
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The comedy highlights included the moment when Lily, in the middle of her fifth birthday party, shouted at a boy her age, "YOU TAKE THAT BACK OR MY BOYFRIEND WILL BEAT YOU UP!" At which point she was pointing at a very surprised looking Reggie.

The other parents were far easier to convince that it was just a crush than Lily was. In the end, Reggie was too nice a guy to shoot her down outright. Instead, he turned her down while managing to leave the door open to something in the distant future. Lily wasn't exactly happy with that, but it was better than nothing. With some help from Miranda, Lily eventually accepted the idea of Reggie as just a friend.
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The romantic highlights included the teens celebrating their anniversaries. Both of the boys managed to remember without prodding, much to the chagrin of the fathers. Each of the boys chose a date which some symbolic significance.

Gordo took Lizzie out to dinner at the same Italian restaurant she and Miranda had followed he and Brooke Baker to. When she asked if he was picking on her, he pointed out that that date with Brooke was the first time he could remember when Lizzie did something for reasons greater than friendship.

In Matt's case, almost everything about their date, even the location, was a surprise for Miranda. Although she had to drive, Matt would only give her directions a step at a time. About an hour and a half later, she turned onto a dirt road. She saw the answer to her questions as she cleared a stand of evergreens. She had to fight back her laughter as she turned to him. "A renaissance festival?!?"

"Well, you seem to like Sir Matthew . . ."

The down side was that many people there had a fairly good idea what their rings were, which caused them to spend some time explaining how two modern kids, so young, were wearing them. Even this turned into a good thing when the wife of the fair's manager, who was herself playing the part of the queen, heard about them. After hearing their tale for herself, they were given seats at the Royal Table for the next meal.

While you might not think of a renaissance festival as a romantic date, the combination of Matt clearly enjoying himself and his treating her like a lady from Camelot made Miranda very happy with his choice.
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One occasion that provided both comedy and romance came when Ethan and Kate were sent to have a day for themselves. After Krystal was born, both became quite the homebodies, doing what they felt they had to do to give their little girl the attention she deserved. While both elder Craft's admired their commitment, Susan pointed out to them that they needed to take some time for themselves or risk burning out, which would be absolutely no good for Krystal. So, reluctantly, Ethan and Kate agreed to take every second or third Saturday just for themselves. But only on condition that Susan had help with Krystal.

Susan might have been offended, but she chalked it up to the younger couple overcompensating for their own less-than-attentive upbringing. Instead, she asked if they had any preferences.

Ethan immediately knew whom he wanted to ask.

Miranda had some experience with babies from helping with Lily. Matt had zero. He had wondered why Miranda wanted him to bring two extra clean shirts, just like she had. The first time he watched Miranda burp Krystal gave him his answer. Despite scenes like this, as well as Krystal's clear dislike for any male not daddy, Matt left that evening with a grin from ear to ear. "What are you smiling about?" Miranda asked as she drove them home. "She clearly didn't like you."

"She took to you instantly, though." He replied. While she had to keep her eyes on the road, she could see enough of his face to tell he was looking at her with an expression of great pride. "You'll make a great mom, you know."

Miranda blushed. 'That boy can still surprise me' she thought. "Thanks, but don't let your mom or my dad here that. I'm not sure they're ready to think about that yet."

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Hearing Lanny's speaking voice upon his return from military school was a welcome surprise for the parents and older siblings of his friends. Not only because he was actually using it, but also because of what the voice that came out sounded like. A baritone that was equal parts subtle and rich, it was suggested by more than one person that he should try singing.

Anyone who wanted to know why somebody with such a voice would refuse to use it for so long, they quickly realized that if anybody knew, nobody would tell. The 'wall of silence' those questions met was so complete, questions were given up as a pointless exercise.

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Gordo had decided that summer to try his hand at movie making again. But unlike the failed science fiction film the framed the credit card debacle years before, this time he went for something more subtle . . . and cheaper. Everyone's varied schedules made it difficult, and it took most of the summer to finish filming, Gordo had to admit that he was pleased with the result. While most of the guys teased him about making what looked like a 'chick flick', everyone agreed that he should enter it in some contests and see what happens.

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As summer blended into fall, the new school year began with much anticipation. Matt was going to be a freshman. He and Miranda would be in the same school. There were some concerns that seeing them together so often might cause somebody to try something despite Matt making the team or memories of The Clair Campaign.

In fact, somebody did try something early in the year. But not out of spite or envy. Out of revenge.

Devin Miller had always been close to his sister, Clair. When everything began to happen to her, he'd been going to a private school because of a suspension for fighting. Both respected the other's need to deal with things their own way, so he didn't feel the need to ask her about the pranks at first. By the time he asked, she was already starting to crumble. He had been furious about what she told him. But before he could track down McGuire and do something, Reggie Ward and Mark Schrader found him. Between them, he realized that he wouldn't have a good chance to get McGuire right away, and doing so would likely only make things worse on Clair. So he decided to wait. By the end of the campaign, however, all thoughts of revenge took a back seat to helping his sister. It literally hurt him to see the condition she'd been reduced to. He devoted the rest of that school year to her, as well as his summer.

Now, as she was doing better, he was able to allow himself to return to the subject of McGuire.

The private school he and Clair attended started a week later than Hillridge did. He chose to strike on that week, while he could still pass as a transfer. He was careful to watch McGuire from a distance at first. Then, he saw it. A spot in McGuire's daily schedule when he was vulnerable AND where Devin could slip away unseen. On Thursday, he made his move. McGuire turned to look at the bulletin board outside the gym, so he couldn't see Devin's approach. Devin rechecked his grip with his brass knuckles, aimed, and charged . . . and suddenly found himself airborne. Just as he stopped wondering how long enough to realize that he was going to land square on the top of his head, he felt something strike the back of head HARD, followed almost immediately by his tail bone impacting on the ground. His momentum carried him tumbling until his back slammed into the wall at somebody's feet.

"Was it really necessary to kick his head like that?" A female voice the sounded familiar asked.

"If I hadn't, that toss of your's would have landed him on his head." A male voice Devin didn't recognize said. "That might have paralyzed him."

"What's your point?" The first voice asked.

"Before you two start another episode of 'The Bickersons', somebody needs to get Principle Ungermeyer." The voice of the person standing over him said. Devin recognized it as being his target's.

"I guess it's a good thing I needed to speak to Coach Park." Came the commanding voice of a woman Devin could only assume to be Ms. Ungermeyer. Just as Devin's eyes focused on her, he saw the two security guards coming up about half a hallway behind her. His attention returned to the large, dominating presence of Ms. Ungermeyer as she spoke to him. "We've never met, so why do you look familiar to me?"

Devin chose silence, partly in defiance, partly because he was still gathering his wits. Matt answered instead. "Devin Miller."

That short answer seemed to be all Ms. Ungermeyer needed to put it all together. "So, little brother comes to get some payback? Guards." When the guards picked him up by the arms, they were sure to painfully relieve Devin of his brass knuckles. "This," Ungermeyer says as she holds the weapon, "was really stupid."

Matt, Melina, and Lanny followed Ungermeyer to the office, but not before Matt turned to them and asked "When did you two learn how to do all that?"

Melina rolled her eyes. "You didn't really think we could go to military school for a year and not learn SOME hand-to-hand fighting, did you?"
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Before the case made the Juvenile court, a plea bargain was reached. Devin was under house confinement via electronic tether until his eighteenth birthday.

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Other than the incident with Devin, the school year opened without incident.

Matt fulfilled Coach Park's prediction by landing the varsity punter job. It wasn't that difficult, since he was the only person to actually try out for the job. The punter the year before was a third-string linebacker who had been drafted into the job, and he welcomed being relieved of it.

In a move that was a pleasant surprise for her friends, Miranda joined the school's orchestra. While they all knew of Miranda's talent with the violin, she'd never shown interest in being part of the school's group. When Lizzie asked her, she admitted that it had to do with a deal she made with Matt, but she kept the nature of the deal to herself. All she would say was "You'll find out when everybody else does."

That turned out to be homecoming week. One of the events Hillridge High held during the week leading to the Homecoming game was the school talent show. To everyone's surprise, Matt's name was on the list of performers. To sing.

That's when they admitted that Miranda joining the school orchestra was Matt's idea. As much as she liked the violin, Miranda wasn't sure she was ready for that step. Matt was sure, and kept on her about it until she finally challenged him. She'd try out for the orchestra if he'd sing in public. She was sure he wouldn't, so she was surprised when he agreed, on condition that it not be the song he sang at the hospital. She realized how much it meant to him to keep that as just their's, so she agreed.

First, Matt suggested some "Weird" Al songs he'd like to try, but Miranda quickly put her foot down on that idea. Matt eventually decided that he wanted something pop enough that it could still be played on a current station, yet was old enough that his classmates wouldn't be familiar enough to nit-pick at all the mistakes he expected to make. Gordo referred him to Larry, and together they found a song from a movie roughly six years older than he was.

The movie was "The Karate Kid Part II", and the song was "Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera. The thing that made up Matt's mind was a line in the bridge: "Like a knight in shining armor". He couldn't resist that.

Matt didn't win, nor did he make the top three. However, much to his relief, he wasn't booed off the stage either.

The same could not be said of Ethan's old band. They had managed the astonishing feat of finding a singer worse that Ethan, and the crowd . . . reacted. Loudly.

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From there the school year went fairly smooth. Matt made it through the season without injury, although after a season-high 15 punts in the last game of the season, he admitted to having a sore leg. That game was a wake-up call for the team, which had suffered only one other loss that season. But they played the conference's perennial powerhouse in the last game, and it proved to them that they had a ways to go before they were ready to challenge them.

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Gordo's parents surprised him with news that they would be taking a trip to visit Mr. Gordon's parents during the school's winter break, which that year would start on the last day of Chanukah, Saturday, Dec. 23. They left it up to Gordo if he wanted to stay or go. When he told Lizzie about it, she had a surprise for him. Her parents were going to be visiting Jo's parents in Nevada the day after Christmas, and not be back until New Year's. And her parents had left it up to both she and Matt if they wanted to stay or go. Matt said he'd stay almost immediately.

Gordo took this news with raised eyebrows. "If it didn't sound so far-fetched, I'd think that our parents were giving use the one holiday gift they could never admit to giving us. The time and space we both want for our first time."

Lizzie was obviously surprised at the idea. "You can't be serious! They wouldn't do that. Especially not dad!" She paused, then asked "What about Matt? If you're right, wouldn't they have taken him with them, maybe saying he was too young to be left alone?"

"Maybe. Or maybe they thought not giving him the choice as well would make it too obvious. Besides, there are a lot of things involved we don't know about. We have no idea what this agreement Matt and Miranda have with their parents is all about. We know that they won't try to break them up, but could that include not forcing one to leave the other behind for a trip if they don't want to go?"

"Wow. I hadn't thought about that." She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Still, do you really think they'd all go for a plot to set us up to . . ."

"Make love? Like I said, it's far-fetched. But stranger things have happened in the last couple of years."

Lizzie nodded her agreement to that. Then she got a conspiratorial look. "Do you think we should take advantage of it?"

Gordo took her hands in his. "I think that's something we really need to talk about. But I do know that either way, I'd like to spend as much of that time as I can with you." He then looked at her curiously. "You do realize that, no matter what we decide, we'll probably need to use my house most of that time."

"Well, yeah, considering Matt's going to be home." Gordo looked at her the way he did when she was missing something. Then, she got it, and her eyes got very large. "OH. You think he and Miranda . . ." Gordo nodded. "But they've made such a big deal about waiting, even more than we have. Remember how worried they were the day I walked in on them?" Gordo nodded. "And while we don't know what's going on with that deal, I've overheard enough to guess that there's some kind of deadline or something about them not having sex, and it's sometime this summer."

"Eavesdropping, Lizzie."

Lizzie waved his admonishment away. "If I'm right, why would they do it with that only a few months away?"

Gordo thought about that, as well as some things that both Matt and Miranda had let slip. "I see your point. But even if they don't make love, they might want to spend the time alone. I know I want to be with you, even if we decide not to take that step."

"I guess so. Okay, I'll spend my break with you."

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Indeed, Lizzie spent from December 26 through January 1 at Gordo's. While she couldn't spend all of her break there, Miranda did spend the nights of the 30th and 31th "at Lizzie's", even though it was an open secret that Lizzie wouldn't be there.

And during that winter break, one of the two couples did finally cross that last physical threshold, and made love. But another, arguably more momentous events happened as well.

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A/N: To find out which couple, you have two choices. First, you can wait for the next addition to the regular story, which opens with the couple in waking up in each other's arms. Second, you can read the third, and probably last, R-rated excerpt from this story. The problem there is that, while I expect the finish product to qualify as an R (although a strong R) under the Motion Picture Association of America guidelines that claims to follow, I'm not sure it would be an R under the way actually operates. Therefore, once finished, I will first post the excerpt at my Yahoo group . . . my Adult Yahoo group. There, I will ask those who read it to give me their opinion as to whether or not would cause me a problem if I posted it here. To find my groups, click on my author name at the top of the story, then click "homepage". The way to the adult group will be in the links section.