Chapter Six
Robin sat on the middle step of the stairs, watching, and singing along. He kept a special watch on Kermit, and wondered if his uncle would cry again if he crept into view. He wasn't sure he wanted to risk it... But no Muppet could resist music... He tiptoed down the stairs.
Sometimes it's no fun to be this small, Robin thought as he weaved through the maze of legs. But sometimes, it's got a good side. It didn't take long before the young frog reached the piano bench and hopped up to sit next to Rowlf.
Kermit didn't notice the young frog at first, but as his gaze swept over his friends, he suddenly found himself looking straight into those eyes.
He flinched. He looked away but, overcome with a multi-dimensional guilt, he forced himself to keep his eyes on the dark green skin. He had missed his nephew so much... and now he couldn't even look at him. He quietly kicked himself for it, and for the reason for it, and for...
He winced, forced what he hoped was an apology for Robin into his eyes, and eventually allowed them to move on.
Robin frowned, wondered why looking at him made his uncle upset, hoped it would get better, decided to set it aside for now, and joined in with the song.
They sang for a long time.
Kermit stole many glances at his nephew. Each glance inflicted pain. He found that he couldn't bear to look at the young frog, and couldn't stand to ignore him. So he stole glances, brief little glances, and listened to his sweet little voice, and hummed along with some songs.
Between the glances, his eyes slowly danced over all of his friends, and one by one, he greeted each of them.
But, as Miss Piggy noticed, and Fozzie did not, he did not look directly to his left, at her, or to his right, at him. He did not say hi to them, either.
He said hi to the penguins and the Swedish Chef, and looked around, and realized that there were only three people he had not yet officially greeted.
One was small and green, one was brown and furry, and one was... well... she was.
One hurt too much to look at- for which he was less than pleased with himself- one probably hadn't even noticed the lack of notice, and one was sending off vibes of impatience.
It would be fun to make her wait.
He spent the next song looking at Fozzie. The bear's paw refused to move from Kermit's shoulder, and he found himself grateful for that. His hat was still there, and the tie was still white with pink polka dots. His ears still wiggled.
Yes. Fozzie was still Fozzie.
The song ended.
"Hi Fozzie," Kermit said quietly.
Fozzie turned and smiled at him. "Hey Kermit," he said happily.
As subtly as she could, Miss Piggy quietly leaned over the piano. "Rowlfie?" she whispered. The dog nodded.
Rowlf played the slightest little flourish, drawing attention to the piano once more.
Attention would not be on the piano for long.
Kermit had been holding Miss Piggy's hand the entire time they had been singing. She released his hand and walked her fingers up his arm as she took a solo- whether the other Muppets liked it or not.
"Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly!"
Her hand crept to his shoulder and then to his chin.
"I've gotta love one- frog- 'til I die. Can't... help... loving that frog of mine!"
Oh yes. She had his full attention.
Fozzie knew his place and awkwardly lifted his paw from Kermit's shoulder.
"Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow! Tell me I'm crazy- maybe I know," she giggled. "Can't... help... loving that frog of mine."
Her hands lightly traced over his shoulders and cheeks, just enough to make him tremble and squirm.
"And when he's away...." Her hands sank down to his chest. "That's a rainy day..." They trickled down to his sides. "And when he comes back that day is fine! The sun will shine."
Her fingers made stepping-stones of the buttons on his uniform, right back up to caress his chin.
"He can come home as late as can be..."
He didn't even notice that his good hand stretched out and settled itself on her waist.
She leaned in. "Home without him ain't no home for me," she murmured. "Can't... help... loving that frog of mine..."
As Rowlf played a closing flourish, Kermit looked straight into her eyes and wondered how on earth he was still standing.
He took a deep breath- oh.... she smelled beautiful...
"Hi Piggy," he managed to whisper.
She smiled and pressed up against him. "Hi Kermie," she murmured, and she gave him a disappointingly chaste kiss that left him desperately yearning for more.
"Oh, please," Sal groaned, "Can't you save it for when you don’t have an audience?"
Miss Piggy playfully pushed herself away from the frog. "If you insist," she trilled smugly.
His arm snatched out around her waist and held her close. He was discreet enough that no one called him on it, but he had very little intention of letting go.
And then it was dinnertime.
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