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It had been a while since Kermit asked out Denise and they started dating. Piggy tried her best to ignore her heartbreak and focus on her work, but when she heard Denise's bubbly giggle in the hallways and went to Kermit's scrunched face for a paycheck, it was difficult. Today she had her mind set on what she was going to ask for lunch-wise when Walter ran in, asking for an order, but instead two high-heels entered her office.
"Miss Piggy, can we talk?"
Freezing in her spinny-chair, Piggy swallowed. "Of course, Denise! What do you need to talk about? If it's about Kermit taking baths in the staff-room sink, I've tried everything but he won't listen to--"
"Actually, I wanted to talk about you, I mean, about me, oh, I just need some advice, could you help?"
Trying to ignore the flush that was surely on her cheeks at the way Denise stumbled over her intentions, Piggy cleared her throat. "Sure, what is it?"
"How about we talk over lunch? My treat."
Hopping out of her seat at the offer, Piggy found herself strolling out of the room, the slightly shorter pig trotting after her. Deciding on a nearby family-owned cafe, the two plopped themselves down, placed their orders and turned their heads to focus on each other.
"So, what's bothering you?"
Trying to hide her snout in her drink, Denise twirled at her straw. "How do I say this... I've been struggling for money lately--"
"Oh, do you need some cash? Why didn't you just say so? Anything for a fan--FRIEND. Anything for a friend." Piggy gave her an awkward smile and cursed her heart for pumping blood so swiftly.
Snickering lightly, Denise took a large sip of her drink as the chips and salsa were placed in front of them. "No, no. I just wanted some advice. Woman to woman?"
Piggy pretended to herself that the words meant: 'I needed an excuse to hang out with the pig I'm crushing on,' and continued to try and keep her cool; which for someone as hot and successful as her, shouldn't have been so hard. "Well, woman to woman... how about I take you and the little munchkins shopping this weekend, if you're free?"
"Oh, I'm definitely free, but are you sure?" The gasp in Denise's voice made Piggy snort as she ate a few of the chips in-between them.
"Of course I'm sure. I haven't been able to go shopping in like a week, and I'm dying to get a new swimsuit for this coming summer."
"Only if you're really sure. I will pay you back for this!"
"No you won't, I won't let you. Don't worry about it, Denise, we're friends." She tried to not taste the sting in her own enunciation of the word 'friends' and started to drain her Cola instead, letting the conversation shift to something about work.
As soon as they went to part their ways in the hallways of the ABC building, Denise pulled Piggy into a tight hug, while Piggy tried to regulate her breath. "Thank you."
This was...nice. Piggy could get used to affection like this, especially from someone else who was warm-blooded, well-padded, and not a damn frog. Before she could close her eyes, Piggy spotted Deadly turning the corner at the end of the hallway and pulled away. "It's really nothing, Denise," she averted the curiously wrinkled smirk that Deadly gave her and backed away. "I'll see you Friday, pick you and the rugrats up right after they get home." She watched the other pig go and huffed as soon as Deadly stopped in front of her.
"Need to talk?"
Humming in annoyance, Piggy gave a wave of her head and invited Deadly into her office.
Before she could get a word in, Deadly held up a single finger and spoke. "It's not going to last," he saw her tense and continued, "Kermit and Denise."
Trying to shrug off her feelings, Piggy plopped down into her spinny-chair and swung her legs left and right. "I don't know. I do know I probably shouldn't have done that."
"Hug her?"
"No, I--" Piggy started to raise her voice before letting it tremble back down. "I invited her to go shopping with me on Friday."
"Sounds like that could be a date."
Shaking her head, Piggy inched her chair over to her desk and propped her face up on her wrist. "Not really, I invited her little sisters, too."
"Ahhh, you know I don't think Kermit has even met them yet," he said with an interested hum, "normally I don't offer myself, but how about I go with you? Could distract the kids some and let you talk to her more. You said Friday, didn't you?"
Slowly, Piggy gave a nod. She wasn't used to admitting it, but Deadly did always know how to pull her out of her slumps. "Yeah, was just going to take her to that mall a town over."
"Perfect! I will have to leave a little early as I did make plans with Bobo and his daughter, but they're not until past 10pm." After perceiving the scrunched expression on Piggy's face, he continued. "Her little girl scout friends decided not to go to her slumber party this weekend, even though they have planned it for WEEKS! Bobo invited me over to play board games with them and cheer her up."
"Do you think the little bear would like spending time with two piglets?"
"Oh no, you don't get to drop two more kids on me! If you and Denise want to come over then fine, but no just dropping her sisters off and leaving me to babysit. It's hard enough to watch your little nephews, I don't want to even try babysitting little piggies I don't know."
"Fine, fine."
Huffing gently, Deadly crossed his arms and uncrossed them. "Only if Bobo is alright with it. Then I guess you and Denise can come over, too," he let out an amused, maniacal chuckle. "You're really in love with this woman, aren't you?"
Groaning, the pig started to usher her best friend out of her office. "I'll text you the details later, now I need to go over my questions for the guest star tonight." With a gentle shove, Deadly was out of the office and Piggy was alone with herself once again, letting her daydreams of the brunette pig swim around her mind in laps.
Finally the weekend approached and Piggy found her stomach swirling as Denise and her younger sisters crawled into her car. Right away, Diana started rambling about how excited she was to be hanging out with Piggy, and that calmed the driver's bundle of nerves. As soon as they had arrived at the mall and met up with Deadly, Piggy really let her shoulders relax. She shouldn't be so nervous; after all, she's just shopping with her best friend and a few other people who mostly looked up to her and enjoyed her company. Sure, one of those people was Denise, and was standing directly beside her and letting their shoulders squeeze together, but still they were friends, and Piggy needed to let herself breathe.
Deadly must have noticed the tension as he glanced between the two adult pigs and then to the kids, listening in on the heated complaints coming from the youngest piglet about how she didn't want to do anything at the mall except hang out in the arcade. Shuffling from one store to the next, Piggy slowly started to relax and enjoy herself. Bringing the group into one of the fancy clothing stores, Piggy browsed the shelves when she felt Denise's chin hovering over her shoulder.
Inhaling sharply, Piggy blinked up at the phone that was shoved in front of her face. "Selfie?" Denise asked sweetly and Piggy couldn't say no to that, with how good she looked today (and always). Just as the phone started to click, a blur of a piglet appeared in front of them and as Denise looked at her cellphone she gasped loudly.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that Piggy," Denise tried her best to contain her snorts of laughter but struggled, "I guess Darcie wanted in the picture." She held the phone up for the other pig to see, revealing how the piglet had hopped in view of the camera to flip it off.
Unable to stop herself from snorting as well, Piggy searched around for the tomboy pig who perched herself innocently by her teenage sister and Deadly, listening in on the intense conversation the two were having.
Nearing the others, Piggy and Denise slid back in front of the group, just as Deadly held up a finger to emphasize his point. "And that's why I think that Ross should ended up with Chandler instead."
"Agreed," Diana said simply with a nod, smiling over at her sister and Piggy as they rejoined the group. "so, where to next?"
"Let's go to Make-a-Muppet," Deadly ushered out, crossing his arms when Piggy cast a confused expression his way, "We're going to Bobo's afterwards, remember? I want to surprise his daughter with a little toy or something."
"Yanno, I don't think the girls or I have ever been in a Make-a-Muppet," Denise whispered to Piggy as they made their way to the toy store, "what's it like, anyways?"
Overhearing, Deadly gave a loud groan. "You poor thing, you've never been in a Make-a-Muppet. You have been seriously deprived of true happiness until you step foot in that store."
Rushing forward, Darcie ran up and down the choices of toys to stuff as the rest of the squad caught up with her. The second Piggy spotted the little piglet plushes, she snatched one up and gazed at the cute eyes plastered on its face. Gasping beside her, Denise picked up her own piglet plushie. "Aren't these the cutest thing, Piggy? I can't believe they have little pig ones!" Letting out another short gasp, Denise grabbed onto Piggy's arm and held tightly to it. "Oh, we should make each other! Wouldn't that be cute?"
Ignoring the way her arm burned, Piggy gave a short oink of amusement and agreed to the idea, letting herself be led around the store by the excitable woman. As they finally neared checkout, Piggy glimpsed over everyone's choices; Diana had picked out a purple rabbit plush and dressed it in a Princess and the Frog inspired dress, Darcie carried a floppy-eared dalmatian with a faux-spike collar and a devil costume, and Deadly cradled a tie-dyed teddy-bear, complete with a Weezer shirt and baseball cap in one arm, a stuffed flamingo with star-shaped sunglasses and a bright blue cape on in his other. When asked, he explained that the flamingo was for Gloria Estefan, obviously.
"This was so much fun, Piggy. Are you really sure you're alright with paying for all of this, though? I promise I can save up and pay you back." Denise rambled as the quintet maneuvered out of the busy store,nearly running right into a young piglet.
"I'm so sorry, miss, I didn't mean to--" The girl, who had to be no older than fifteen, sputtered out, her blue eyes widening at the sight of Piggy. "Oh my goodness, Miss Piggy!"
Giving a bright smile, the superstar let her ego take over for a minute. "Yes, Brenda is it? You seem familiar."
"It's Alynda, Mom run your local fanclub and Ma is one of your scheduling agents!"
"Of course! Yes, Maureen does an amazing job of running my fanclub, and I can't go anywhere without Annie-Sue's help. No offense, but I don't remember them having a kid, though."
"They adopted me two months ago, but I ran into you before! Remember when your tail popped out and I came to tell you about how that happened to me, too? Anyways, can I please get a picture, pleaaaaaaase?"
"For my biggest fan, sure," Piggy brought the girl to her shoulder and gave a wide smile as she posed for the selfie. As soon as the phone made a clicking sound and Piggy inspected the picture, she took notice of the small pride button on Alynda's shirt. "Awh, that button sure is cute."
"You mean my lesbian button?" Alynda held it up and smiled widely, "You really like it? That's amazing! Say, Miss Piggy, are you a member of the LGBTQ community? I already idolize you but that would make you even more awesome, if that's even possible." Not noticing the weasel muppet slipping closer to them and eavesdropping, Piggy gave a thoughtful hum and glanced between Denise, Deadly, and the rest of her group and pondered if she should be honest or not.
With a short and shaky huff, she gave her answer. "Yes, you could say that."
Squealing, Alynda waved her hands around in glee and stopped as soon as she saw the weasel slip in front of the beloved superstar. "Miss Piggy, did I just hear you say you're a member of the gay community?"
"Yes you did hear that, why?" Tensing up, Piggy glanced around the group. Deadly and Denise were silent and watching the weasel carefully while the teenagers talked happily to themselves and Darcie focused her attention on her plush toy.
"Interesting, interesting, and I'm assuming this young woman must be your girlfriend, then?" The weasel pulled out a notebook and pencil and started to rapidly write words down.
Trying to untie the knots in her gut, Piggy swallowed hard. "That's none of your business."
"You are clearly making her very uncomfortable, you need to get going. Do you understand me?" Deadly boomed out, but the weasel completely ignored the catfish-like muppet's words and continued his tirade, this time redirecting it to Denise.
"How long have you been dating Miss Piggy?" The man asked, now pulling out his phone and frantically snapping a picture of the two before going back to his writing. "How serious is your relationship? Are these your kids?" He motioned to Diana and Darcie, who both seemed to pick up on the situation now, tensing up as well. Turning back to Piggy, he jabbed his phone near her. "Please tell the world Piggy, are you dating a young mother? Do you have plans to marry her?"
Taking a glimpse at Denise, Piggy picked up on how the other adult pig stared at the ground and and fidgeted with her Make-a-Muppet box. Shaking, Piggy scrunched up her snout. "I am not answering any questions. Get out of my sight." When the weasel didn't budge, Piggy raised her voice and began to yell. "I said go away, I don't want to answer anything!"
Puffing out her shoulders, Alynda glared over at the weasel, "Miss Piggy, is this man bothering you and your girlfriend?"
"Yes, he is."
Piggy almost regretted answering as Alynda leaped forward and started to strangle the weasel, but took the chance to make her escape, looping her arm protectively around Denise, leading the ensemble to the food court and hiding in a booth.
After everyone caught their breath, Darcie gave a smirk up to Miss Piggy. "Yanno, maybe I was a little bit wrong about you being super lame and weak. It was kinda cool how you stood up for Denise. Only a little."
"Thanks, kid. Now, I don't know about you guys, but after all that I need some lunch. A pizza sounds really good right now." Piggy relented, scrambling down everyone's toppings of choice and fetching the pizza and drinks with Deadly helping her.
"You know how I said before that I don't think Denise and Kermit will last?" Deadly whispered to his best friend the second they were out of ear shot of the rest of their entourage.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"I nearly have proof that I'm right. You might not have noticed but I did. When that weasel first mentioned you and Denise dating, the look on her face spelled out her feelings, trust me."
Shaking her head, Piggy placed their order and turned back to her friend as they waited. "Don't get my hopes up, Deadly."
"I swear I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. I've always been good at reading people, you know that. I'm right, and you'll realize soon." Glancing back over to where Denise was staring absent-mindlessly at her phone, he nodded and patted Piggy's shoulder. "Trust me on this one."
"...I hope you're right." Leaning against the counter behind her, Piggy gazed over to the table with lovesick eyes.
"I always am about these things." Deadly said nonchalantly, grabbing their pizzas as they were placed on the counter and carrying them back to the table. As soon as everyone had gobbled down their greasy mall pizza, the group set their intentions on stopping inside the Claire's and Target store in the mall before they would head out to Bobo's home. After Diana got her left ear pierced and both piglets picked out several outfits in Target, Piggy found herself settling back into the driver's seat of her car, listening to the girls talk in the backseat about how Diana hoped Alynda would like her new earring and how Darcie hoped she could give herself a tattoo soon (Denise obviously said no).
Rolling into Bobo's driveway, Piggy started to gather her purse as the younger girls hopped out of the car and zoomed inside, chattering amongst themselves while Denise stayed silent and glued to the passenger seat. Before Piggy could stand up and follow after the kids, Denise reached over and gently grabbed at her wrist. "Hey, do you think we could talk for a minute before we go inside? Maybe go on a drive?"
Settling back into her seat and trying not to show her emotions that started to simmer again in her stomach, Piggy bit back a smile. "Of course, Denise. What is it?"
"About earlier, I wanted to apologize," Denise spat out, pulling her hands back to herself, "about if I seemed...uncomfortable when that weasel-guy was asking if we're dating."
Tensing up in her seat, Piggy started up the ignition again, "You don't have to apologize for anything, Denise, that guy was a total creep. He had no business asking either of us anything so personal."
"Still, I just wanted to let you know that I wasn't being homophobic," Denise started up, her words trembling out of her mouth. "If anything, I was... scared people would find out that I'm bi. My parents don't know, and they already barely talk to me. I don't know what they would say if that weasel posted something about us dating."
Pulling into the park's lot, Piggy rolled down the windows and let the air flow in. "I promise that I'll have his head on a platter if he tries something like that, Denise. I want to own my sexuality, not have random reporters writing about it." Leaning back, she stared over to where Denise was studying her own hands.
"Are you sure it won't get out? I don't wanna risk the girls not having a relationship with their parents, either."
Inhaling sharply, Piggy reached a gentle hand over and rested it on Denise's arm. "No offense, Denise, but... maybe it's best your sisters don't have a relationship with their parents if you're worried of how they would react to you being open about yourself."
Her shoulders visibly tightening, Denise jolted forward. "How could you say that? As their sister, shouldn't I be doing whatever I can to keep our parents in their lives?
Shrugging,Piggy pulled her arm back. "I don't know, Denise. I just know that if your parents won't accept you for something like coming out, what makes you think they would accept your sisters?"
Staring at the other for a long minute with a fixed pout, slowly Denise let her face relax and let out a sigh, redirecting her eyes back to her lap. "I just don't know if I'm strong enough, Piggy. I know it would be for the best if I cut them out of our lives, but..." Sniffling, the brunette hid her face behind her hands, "Honestly, I'm scared to stand up to them." Unable to fight her feelings off, Denise began to shiver and cry softly. Cautiously, Piggy leaned forward and unbuckled her seat-belt, pulling Denise as close to her as possible with the cup holders between them.
"Oh, you're strong enough. I mean, you stand with Kermit through his...issues. But if you need support, I'm in your corner."
Holding tightly to the other, Denise started to wipe at her eyes."Really?"
"Of course, Denise," Piggy swallowed the lump in her throat, "You mean a lot to me."
Denise welled up again at that and leaned her snout into Piggy's cheek. "You're an amazing friend, Piggy. Is it okay if I treat you to dinner, to make up for today?"
"Oh, you don't have to do that, but... I would love to eat something other than Bobo's frozen dinner. How about you and I go out now?"
"Do you think it would be alright with Deadly and Bobo if the girls stay here while we eat..?"
Piggy gave a wide grin, knowing the answer was no. "Of course it would be alright. Now, let's go to Guisepe's."
The two sped off as Deadly glared out the window, but Piggy pretended not to notice. After the two sat down to plates of alfredo with shrimp and broccoli, a strained expression washed over Denise's face. "Hey, uhm... can I ask you something?"
"Why, of course you can, Denise. What's bothering you?"
"Well, it's... it's Kermit."
"Kermit's bothering you...?" Piggy said slowly, before flashing a smug smile. "Do you need me to hit him with my car again?"
"No, no, don't do that," Denise laughed wryly before clearing her throat, "I just wanted to ask.. when you two were together, did he ever.. act like he hated going on dates?"
"Hm? Whaddya mean?" Piggy sipped at her wine and tilted her head.
"Anytime we go out, he acts like he doesn't wanna be there. It doesn't matter if it's dinner, a movie, or bowling. Even if he suggested it, he acts all..tense? Like he would rather be anywhere else."
"Oh, that..." Piggy set her fork down with a loud clink and stared down at her plate. "He's always been like that. I always assumed it was just because of me, but.."
Right away, Denise reached across the table and snatched Piggy's hand in hers, clenching it tightly. "No, don't say that. He should have done better by you. I still can't believe that he's the one who broke up with you." Denise's face fell again, staring at Piggy's hands, that were clenched securely in her own. "I always assumed it was the other way around until he told me."
Piggy wished she could hide the red in her cheeks that grew darker by the second, but there was no running from it. "Thank you, Denise. That really means a lot to me." She wasn't lying about that, either. She always felt guilty about how she treated Kermit, throwing him into the light when he didn't want to be seen. But she needed to be seen, to be appreciated by others. She didn't know why he seemed so ashamed of her.
"Sorry for bringing up your break-up," She pulled her hand back to herself, setting it by her plate. "It's just.. Kermit doesn't ever want to make time for me. I have to make the time myself, and even then, he hates spending it with me. It's just so...confusing. I wish he would just be more open and honest with me."
Swallowing hard, Piggy retrieved her own hand from the middle of the table and picked her fork up again. "Well, whatever happens, Denise," she twirled her fork around her noodles, "I'll be here for you."
Denise smiled widely at that and went back to her own meal. As the two finished eating and hopped into Piggy's car, a loud Reba song interrupted their conversation. Opening her purse, Denise pulled her phone out and answered it.
"Oh, hey...oh yeah?" She hummed in acknowledgment before gasping lightly and grinning. "That sounds amazing! I'll see you then. Love you!"
Piggy felt her heart drop into her stomach and splash around like a fish out of water. "Was that Kermit?"
"Yes! He invited me to a pool party at Gonzo's condo. I can put good use to that swimsuit you bought me today!"
"That sounds fun," Piggy said, as she drove into Bobo's drive-way. Denise's younger sisters ran out of the house and into the car, and soon they were pulling into Denise's drive-way. The girls shuffled to the trunk and pulled their different bags out of it, with Denise grabbing her Make-a-Muppet box out last. Before she ran inside, she leaned forward and pulled Piggy into an embrace.
"Thanks again, for everything. If you change your mind about me paying you back, just say it."
Shaking her head, Piggy tried not to dwell on the warmth Denise's hand left on her back. "Nope, I don't want paid back. Now go ahead inside, and get yourself some good sleep!"
Piggy hopped back into her carr and started driving herself home, her chest heavy with emotions mixing together dangerously into a confusing cocktail. She was angry at Kermit for making Denise doubt herself, she was swelling with love for how Denise made her feel, she was fueled by jealousy over their relationship. As she pulled into her own garage and went inside, she pulled her Make-A-Muppet box out of the back seat and set her bags down on her bedroom floor. She pulled the Make-A-Muppet box open and peered inside, her felt eyes widening in realization.
As she pulled the plush out, she realized Denise had taken the wrong plush, and now she was left with the cute, button-eyed piggie with a brunette bun on her head. Humming, she pulled the plush into her arms and pulled her phone out, scrolling through her contacts and choosing one at random.
After all, she had to get herself an invite to a certain blue-muppet's pool party.