Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Why does a person own a dog?" 

Charlie Brown askes Linus, as the two sit by an oak tree together. 

"For security, I guess…” said Linus. 

“…For the security of knowing that there's at least one creature in the world who likes you." 

Charlie Brown looks off, to see his doghouse far in the distance of his backyard. 

”What if that creature often walks off and leaves you?" 

Linus answers, 

"You don't let him leave you, Charlie Brown! You tie him up, or lock him in the garage!” 

Linus continues, "You just don't understand security, Charlie Brown." 

Charlie Brown is left unsure of his answer… 

***

A boy and his dog are a classic pair. When you’re really down on your luck, there’s nothing like having your dog at your side. It provides the security of knowing that there's at least one creature in the world who likes you.

At least that’s was Charlie Brown always thought. Good ol’ Charlie Brown was a boy who always felt quite small. Compared to the other kids in his town, it seemed as though he couldn't do anything right. It's not like he didn't try; he certainly tried and tried again and again, even when most his age would give up.

And yet nearly every time he try to successfully lead his baseball team to victory, or gather up the courage to talk to that sweet little red-haired girl he likes so much, or even fly a kite in the air for long, he would fail or screw up spectacularly one way or the other–leaving all the kids in the neighborhood ostracizing him and dooming him as a “forever failure-face”. 

***

“You Blockhead!” 

“Failure Face!”

“You can’t do anything right!” 

The kids all yell out to him.

—

Sure Linus mostly had his back, but most of the time, he felt lonely from everyone…

"You blockhead! You didn't even swing!!"

"You just stood there!" 

"You struck out and you lost the game!!"

Charlie sighs, and mutters to himself, “Yes I know I lost, but its like I always say, its times like this where you need your faithful dog, right?”

“*bleah!*”

He looked to see it was Snoopy, and he was not pleased with his owner either. Snoopy kicked his supper dish at him,

*Bonk!*

It landed right on his head which caused the dog to laugh, before apathetically leaving him as his owner sighs again.

“*sigh!*

***

…and that included even his own dog, a little black and white beagle named Snoopy.

Snoopy really used to seem like nothing short of an enigma to Charlie Brown. Looking back, for a guy who’s usually seen as wishy-washy or dull, living with Snoopy was the most unique and bizarre experience. There aren’t many dog owners who could say that they have gone through nearly what he and Snoopy gone though.

 At first Snoopy seemed like an overall dream dog, a pet every kid could ask for, that could out-perform his owner in so many things. In fact Charlie Brown could remember many kids remarking to him how they couldn’t believe such an amazing dog could be owned by such a “dull owner”…

…But then turned out to be exactly what his dog thought of him. He always tried to be a good dog owner, but there were times where it really seemed like he mostly saw the boy as a meal ticket.

Through it all though, he knew that deep down they truly loved each other.

But then all it took was one summer, where many events ended up changing everything about their owner-dog relationship for the future, and it all started one summer day in July…

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

It was a summers day in early July, a time of Charlie Brown’s youth that he still remembers clearly, being twelve years old at the time. Little Charlie Brown was sitting on the little porch outside on his front lawn, thinking about moments of his past; at least so far in his young childhood, he still had much growing up to do. 

“Charlie Brown?”

He looked over and saw his best friend Linus come over to him.

“Hey Linus, how’s it going?”

“Good…how are you feeling?” He asked.

“I’m feeling alright…”

“It has certainly been an interesting past few days for you, huh?”

“Yes it’s been a while since-” he said.

“My BIRTHDAY! Is coming up! WHOHOO!” cheered Snoopy, as he jumped off his doghouse and danced in the backyard interrupting them.

Yes it was true that Snoopy’s birthday was coming up in just a little over a month now, and as the weather began to get warmer and hotter, the more excited the happy-go-lucky beagle got for August and his birthday.

“WHOHOO!”

“Wow, Snoopy’s birthday is coming up, and he’s been with us for so many years now!” said Charlie Brown.

“Snoopy has always been an interesting dog hasn’t he, Charlie Brown?” asked Linus,

Charlie Brown nodded as he looked on at Snoopy. 

It was hard for him to believe it’s been so long already since the day he first adopted Snoopy all those years ago at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. He could still remember how he felt that day, him as a little four-year old, seeing that small tiny fluffy little beagle puppy his parents gifted him. Back then the puppy almost seemed shy, but soon his true colors really showed, taking the boy and the gang by surprise as he turned out to be anything but an ordinary ol’ beagle with his independent and confident skills. 

This beagle could be light on his feet and dance sensationally with bombastic moves, gracefully skate on ice or surf on the beach waves. It doesn’t stop there, the dog could not only aspire to be a best selling author, the coolest kid in school, but even a World-War One Flying Ace taking the skies to hunt down the Red Baron.

And that’s not even mentioning any of Snoopy’s great achievements he was able to do despite being a dog, like briefly becoming the Head Beagle, being able to go skating, surfing,  dancing like a pro, he even became the first beagle on the moon!”

‘Thats right, that’s why I’m already writing the first draft of my grand memoirs telling my whole life as a superstar beagle!’ proclaimed Snoopy, sitting by his typewriter as he starts typing down.

Soon enough he was joined by a little yellow bird flittering toward him. The beagle hugged him,

“Ah, Woodstock! My little friend of friends!”

The little bird smiled sheepishly. The two had been friends forever, ever since he layed in his backyard, they’ve been close along with being his official secretary.

“\ / \ /?”

“Yes, I am writing my autobiography, you or that crabby girl are free to read it!”

And sure enough came Lucy as well to read it.

“Let’s see what we got here, and You’d better not be writing anything bad about me!…”

she read aloud:

‘My life I’ve been surrounded by a bunch of… weird characters… but I’ve always made sure to be faithful loyal dog!’

Lucy laughed,

“HA! That’s not true! I could tell people so many times you’ve loved to annoy us!”

***In the past…***

*Boot!*

“HEY!”

*Smak!*

A young puppy Snoopy dashed away with a mischievous smile on his face after giving a younger Lucy a kick in the rear before quickly kissing her and zooming away. Snoopy ran and saw a young toddler Linus, still with his baby blanket.

'I just gotta get that blanket!'

As soon as the little boy noticed him sprinting towards him, it was too late as…

*SNATCH!*

*Spinspinspin!*

*THUNK!*

Snoopy snatched the blanket in his mouth, spun him, like a twister, and landed him in the pool where he crashed into Violet and Patty.

"AUGH!"

***Another Time***

  "Rats, I'm hit! Curse you Red Baron! You got me again! Here's the WWI Flying Ace bringing his bullet riddled plane down behind enemy lines . . ."

He comes across Violet and Patty walking and talking to each other.

"After the show we'll stop in and get a hot fudge sundae, okay?"

"Fine!"

But the two girls were very soon interrupted with a tumble as The Flying Ace attacks them before speeding away. 

"Bang! Bang!"

"Running like the wind, I flee madly across no-mans land! Great Scott!! More enemy soldiers!"

*TACKLE!*

*BOOT!*

"AUGH!"

Snoopy tackles Charlie Brown in the stomach and kicks Linus. He dashes away still deep in-fantasy as ever.

"Nothing can stop me now! I . . ."

At least until...

*URT!*

Snoopy halted suddenly, as he was now face to face with Patty, Violet, Linus and Charlie Brown confronting him. He gulped nervously before excaiming.

"...I resign my commission!"

–

“Cmon Lucy, sure there have been moments in he past like that, but he’s still a very good dog, in fact we should do something special for his birthday,”

Snoopy bleahed her younger at her before smiling and hugging Charlie Brown, Lucy rolled her eyes.

But before he could start planning anything, the doorbell rang.

*Ring!*

“Who is it?” asked Charlie Brown as he went inside, to his little sister Sally in her bean-bag, watching TV.

“Big brother, I’m watching a good program! Can’t you get it?”

He sighed, and went in to open the door. And when he did see who it was, he suddenly found that it was an unexpected visitor, one that was interesting...

“Hello?”

It was a young girl, seemingly his age, with long flowing light blonde hair, wearing a purple bow and shirt. Charlie felt like he might have seen her before, something about her seemed familiar. But who was she?

As Snoopy was just walking up to him, the dog gasped loudly, as the girl revealed herself to be a familiar face after all…

“S-Snoopy?”

“*GASP!*”

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

With Snoopy’s independent nature, it always seemed like he’s always in another world, as well as on a completely different page than his owner. The beagle would often make sporadic absences out, traveling outside the neighborhood to places all over off doing his own thing. He never knew what happened because of this, sometimes he would come back with stuff like finding his long lost family of eccentric beagles, but he'd make him worry sick. And now just who is this stranger Snoopy apparently knows?

“*GASP!*”

Snoopy yelped loudly and leaped in the air at the sight of the mysterious girl that just appeared on Charlie Brown’s doorstep.

“…Snoopy?” She asked, as she smiled and tried to go close to him, but as soon as she did he disappeared away in seconds.

*ZOOM!*

“…Snoopy?” She asked, as she smiled and tried to go close to him, but as soon as she did he disappeared away in seconds.

*ZOOM!*

“Oh…”

 Before he then ran out into the backyard.

“Snoopy wait!” cried the young girl.

This got Sally out of her bean-bag, she asked,

“What's going on here?! Who is this?”

“I-I have no idea?” exclaimed Charlie Brown.

This all left him dumbfounded and confused. He looked over at the mystery girl still confused, before she spoke, 

“Hello? It’s Lila…”

In which then now the pieces started to come together. He gasped, he couldn’t believe it …Lila?

—

Snoopy couldn’t believe it either, Lila was here?

"Oh, I can't stand it!"

Snoopy runs away fast, covering his eyes while his mind was racing.

‘ Lila's coming to see me?! Why? I haven’t seen her since…’

Snoopy shook his head, he didn't want to think about it again,

.  . . . Everytime I think I've finally put Lila forever from my thoughts, she comes back to me again and again!’ Snoopy thought, 

He layed down with his head in his supperdish, staring at the pale periwinkle sky, the cool water seeming to calm him a little.

‘Ahhh… nothing better to make you feel better than your head in a supperdish…’ he thought.

But even then after being calmed down his mind couldn’t help but drift to thinking about Lila again. He just couldn't help but relive those painful memories again.

‘I had some pretty good times at Daisy Hill, and good times with Lila too... Oh, Lila... Lila ... Lila ... You and I used to have such good times together! But you said it could never work out between us so you left me... And I cried ...'

Lila did try to keep in touch with him afterwards, to recreate the da.

ys just like before. But Snoopy didn’t want to open old wounds, he’d rather just hide and avoid her from them on happy in his new life. 

At least until that one summer evening, that the beagle still remembers so well. The day he received that special letter from Lila, saying how she needed him so. And so after years of trying to forget, Snoopy immediately set off with Woodstock to go see her, (while leaving Charlie Brown in the dark as to who Lila is). 

He had never told Charlie Brown about any of this , he just ran off with no time to spare, leaving his owner in the dust confused to where he was going. For all he knows, it’s a secret side of the beagle he didn’t know that much of.

“But I haven’t seen her since then… why is she here now? There’s a lot I never told the round-headed kid about me… the poor kid is probably confused again…”

Woodstock tilted his head a little confused.

“Yes, I never told him about…her…”

***But in actuality, Charlie Brown did in fact know exactly who Lila was…***

 “Lila?”

“Do you know about me?” Lila asked.

Charlie Brown sighed,

“Yes I do, in fact,” 

She smiled,

“Yes, Snoopy must have told you about me,”

The boy raised his eyebrow,

“Actually no, I don't think so. When he left to see you, it was so sudden, I had no idea what was going on and it was Linus who told me, he found out while doing some investigation at the puppy farm Snoopy grew up from in order to find out what was happening.”

“Oh? Well… yes, I am Lila, and you must be his owner now, Charlie Brown! I can’t believe we never met each other before.”

“Yeah, whenever you came I was always at baseball, so I never saw you…”

But soon his tone changed as he said,

“…I also remember you asked Snoopy to come with you…”

“Yes, him being there saved me, and I wanted him to stay with me…can I speak with him please?”

“Yeah sure, if he’s not hiding like every other time you visit him before…”

As Lila left,  Charlie Brown started to get a bad feeling in this stomach, as his mind went over to the last time he heard of her , and what happened that day.-

“All right, what?! Now you know her too? Just who is she anyways?!” Sally huffed.

Her brother looked at her and sighed, still not feeling sure about this whole thing at all, as he told her,

“Sally that was… Snoopy’s original owner! ”

"She's what?!"

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

 It all brings back to the time he was a puppy, even memories before he met Lila, back with his siblings at Daisy Hill, his original home. He could still remember those days, the valleys and hilltops he and his brothers and sister who play in the flowerbeds of, the good tunes they make happily playing in their family band, and when they were done playing they all go and cuddle with each other at nighttime.

And of course, times with Lila.

"Snoopy, fetch!"

"Roll Over!"

"Oh Snoopy, you're such a good puppy, and I love you very much..."

***

Snoopy shook his head, he didn't want to revlive every memory. He sighed and lamaented, "I still remember A summer gone by Why was it over so fast? I still remember When we said goodbye Why can't our summer times last?"

“\ / \?”

“Oh Woodstock, when you’re feeling blue and putting your head in a supper dish doesn’t work, the next best thing is to repeat lyrics to sad songs you hesrd on the radio!” said Snoopy, pointing to his radio.

It was a sad melody that he felt was almost playing in his heart.  Snoopy leans his head against his doghouse. 

‘Oh, why doesn't she leave me alone? Why must she reopen old wounds?!’

Not only that, she'll probably come right at suppertime again!’

“Snoopy?”

Snoopy's ears stand up and he gasps as he hears the familiar voice.

 “It’s Lila! She's coming to see me! 

Snoopy starts to panic now.

 "Lila's coming! I don't want to see her! I don't want to revive old memories . . ."

Snoopy stands next to the doghouse and looks all around.

"Where can I go? Where can I hide?"

Snoopy looked everywhere, until he spots a way to hide, 

“Under the pool table again!!”

He dashes right into the doghouse fast, hiding and dreading Lila coming out.

“…Snoopy?”

It was Lila, she came outside and looked around looking for Snoopy. She sees his doghouse, that would really be the only place to hide. She grew sad and sighed as she went close to his house, and tried to talked to him.

“…Snoopy, you still remember me? Lila?”

He slowly but surely poked his head out.

How could he forget? Of all those years ago, at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, where Snoopy was born and played as a little beagle puppy, he was chosen by Lila. The little beagle was so happy with her, as the young girl showering him with love and affection, as they played in the months they were together.

But this wouldn’t last, when Snoopy's original Lila's family discovered a new rule in their apartment building prohibiting dogs. Lila was crushed, but they had no choice, so they had to take him back to Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, leaving the poor puppy heartbroken. He cried and cried, wanting to forget all about those days, but he couldn’t forever.

He lay his head low, as she spoke to him,

“I know it’s hard, after what happened before, but I still want to see you. It’s not everyday to find a dog that can write to you, dance such cool moves, or travel all to the way to the moon! I was so amazed when I saw in the news about you becoming Head Beagle, or you became the first beagle on the moon, I  felt so lucky that I could cost you like this, but everytime you would run away…”

There was no response.

“The first time you didn’t run away from me, was when I had to go to the hospital.” 

“I thought that after I was in the hospital, that things would be different, In fact I came here hoping you and your family could let me sleepover? But it’s not any different now…so I think this is going to be the last time I come…”

Still silence. After a while of nothing from Snoopy, Lila sighed and said,

“Well… goodbye Snoopy, and thank you for everything…”

She then left the backyard and the house. Snoopy then finally poked his head and came out to see her gone.

"She's gone ... Lila's gone ...again…"

Snoopy stood, feeling depressed, as he looked on wistfully,

 "Lila's gone, and I didn't even see her . . . I just couldn't . . . I just couldn't bear to revive those old painful memories . . . Oh, Lila, you know you meant more to me than life itself, and now you're gone for good this time. . Oh, Lila . . . “

He sulked sadly, he wanted to go back under the pool table for the rest of the day. But then, at that moment, Snoopy shook his head and exclaimed,

“No! I can’t lose the chance to see her ever again!”

And so Snoopy ran out of his backyard, going as fast as he could to find her. He looked desperately to find her, and saw that she was at the bus station, with the bus starting to drive to her!

“I have to get there before she leaves…I hope I’m not too late!”

He ran and ran, until she saw him.

“Snoopy!” She exclaimed, her face lit up and she ran to him.

The two embraced, and it made Snoopy feel warm inside, it felt great to hug her again.

“Oh Snoopy, I’m so glad you came!”

After the two hugged, Lila said to Snoopy.

“I've also got great news as well…”

She looked at him and whispered something in his ear, something that immediately turned this happy reunion completely on its head…

“Wait…WHAT??!!”

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Snoopy gasped, and shook his head in disbelief. 

Both him and his owner remembered that day, when he first saw her letter, that she was in the hospital and needed him to be with her, and so he along with his buddy Woodstock rushed as soon as possible going on the long journey to find her.

It was quite the adventure, traveling far and wide, even spending a few nights out in the wild, until he finally made it there, wanting nothing more then to be with there and comfort her. 

And when he arrived, his comfort did seem to make her feel better and better, but by the time she felt ready to go back home… was when the trouble began,

“Soon enough, it will be time for all of us to go home!”

Snoopy grew so nervous, he remembered she asked him to come stay with her.

"We'll be together forever! You go and settle your affairs, and then youll never leave again, promise?"

And He was so conflicted about it, he had a life and new friends outside of her. But when he saw Lila watching him tearfully from her hospital window, Snoopy found it so hard to leave her and he ran back, 

But soon this started a truly awful experience for everyone, as Snoopy it was especially even harder to "settle his affairs", thankfully Lila was so caught up in her emotions that time that she had forgotten the “No Dogs Rule” still hasn’t bulged, at least until now…

****

“She said WHAT??!”

Charlie Brown yelled in disbelief once he heard what Snoopy’s original owner Lila had told him, and he was floored.

“S-She told you that her apartment… now allows dogs??! ”

Snoopy nodded nervously. The “No Dogs Allowed” policy at Lila’s apartment had kneed been recently lifted. The boy gasped,

Sally meanwhile was still taken by surprise at the information of Lila being Snoopy’s owner, and was dumbfounded,

“Wait what??! She said that??!”

“Yes Sally! Don’t you remember when we all thought Snoopy was moving away from us??”

It wasn’t recent, but to Charlie Brown and Snoopy it was still fresh in their minds.

“Settling affairs” meant saying goodbye to all of his old friends, including his best friend Woodstock, and especially his owner Charlie Brown. He remembered when Snoopy left to be with her, and the going away party, it was a horrible experience. He was so distraught when Snoopy left, everyone, even Lucy, who often fought with the beagle, was sobbing and wailing as they thought they wouldn’t see him ever again. he left. He even once brought out a full supper dish to an empty dog house. 

He may be gullible sometimes, but he knew what her telling Snoopy that meant, that she wants him to come with her, but Charlie Brown didn’t want to go through this again. Last time, when But after all this time, Snoopy wouldn’t leave his friends again for good, would he?

Of course not. But even though in the end, as he had chosen her, he clearly did it in an emotional state, once it was done he miserably went to her apartment, where they both discovered the “no dogs” rule was still there, and afterwards Snoopy joyfully ran back to Charlie Brown.

So as they both saw Lila come up to them, Charlie went and confronted her.

"Are you kidding?? Snoopy already has a life HERE, with his family and friends here! Don't you know all the agony you puts us through last time this happened??!!!”a

 he turned to Lila, who got startled by his outburst, and exclaimed,

“So…should we leave?” Linus whispered to Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie.

They all came over because to play Monopoly with Sally, until they heard all this.

“No way! I wanna hear where this is going” said Lucy.

Lila stood frozen at the boy’s outburst. He then stopped and stammered.

“*Huff* *Puff* I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to yell like that, it’s just that I was so upset with Snoopy left, and recently, I went through a similar experience that you did, I was in the hospital as well, and I was worrying about him in there too…” said Charlie Brown.

“I understand, I’m sorry, I-I didn’t know-It’s just I thought Snoopy still missed me so much, since he traveled all that way to where I was…” Lila said.

“…W-Well d-don’t ask him to stay with you! He’s not going to be putting us through that again…”

The two remained quiet, both unsure what to say next as the air felt awkward now. 

*SLAM!*

Until speak of the beagle, there out came Snoopy, he came out with a finished manuscript of his memoir. As they all read through his memoir.

“Guess what? I finished it! You all can read recopies!”

He handled out to everyone. He still grew uneasy around Lila, but not less he handled her one too.

“And you can ask for autographs!”

As they read through many things in his life, and Lila in particular ended up reading on many happy memories; From Schroeder playing the piano this happily songs, Snoopy dancing with the whole gang at parties with Schroeder playing his music, the many times Snoopy comforted many with a beagle kiss, to the many fun adventures he had with, as they partied with Woodstock.

It was skimming though this, that Lila slowly realized…

“Charlie Brown… Snoopy… I’m sorry, but I realized you really do have too much here… and you don’t have to stay with me if you don’t want to…”

“Well, it’s okay…”

“If anything, the no dogs policy being lifted means Snoopy can come stay over for a sleepover, without risked getting kicked out?”

Snoopy nodded.

And could I at least sleep over tonight? I have my stuff"

He nodded again.

“Hmm… say… just wondering” Charlie Brown started to say.

“Just wondering, how far is where you we’re at?” He asked.

Lila replied,

“I don’t know for sure, but I’m pretty sure my apartment in New York”

“Oh ok… wait what?! New York?!”

This surprised Charlie Brown,

“WHAT?! That is insanely far from here!”

“Well it's not too far if you take the train or the bus” said Lila

“But don’t you know that no dogs are allowed on those?!”

“There not??!” 

“No!”

Now Lila was confused too.

“But then how could he go there?”

Then Charlie Brown thought about it before exclaiming,

“I think I know… Snoopy? Woodstock?"

“Did you two sleep overnight to get to Lila when she was sick?”

The two nodded.

“B-But that’s crazy!” yelled Lila

“Where did you even stay?” said Charlie Brown.

Woodstock replied,

“\ / \ /, \ / \ / \!”

“What??! Sleeping in the WOODS, and under a BRIDGE??!” They both yelled.

“I-I never thought you would EVER do that??!” Lila exclaimed.

“Oh trust me, he does this a lot, always going off, whether it’s a Beagle Scout trip or going to “skate in the Olympics”, even though it’s dangerous! But I had always assumed he at least was still traveling in-state! This state is big, isn’t it?”

“Not as big as Texas,” Sally remarked,

“Really? Reading through this is so fascinating, When I had him he just played fetch and stuff with me,”

”Huh? But Snoopy hates fetch and playing like a normal dog?” Charlie Brown asked confused.

Woodstock looked at Snoopy, and he shrugs nonchalantly,

"I dont know if I remember that, I mean who wants to roll over, play dead, or fetch all the time?"

“Well anyways, Snoopy, that was so dangerous!” Lila said to Snoopy.

Snoopy looked at her with a cute loving look.

”Aw Snoopy, I know you meant well… and at least it was to visit someone he cared about.”

Charlie Brown heard Lila’s words, and became touched a little as well.

“That’s true…say, I recently went through something similar two weeks ago, I’ll bet that Snoopy was so worried about me, and tried to visit me too!”

Woodstock’s eyes widened. He never interacted much with Charlie Brown’s friends but he sundenely grew confused. He looked over at Snoopy.

“Is that true Snoopy?”

Snoopy wasn’t really paying attention anymore, just caught the end, so he just nodded.

“Yeah sure”

But then he got a hug from Charlie Brown, before he exclaimed a message to all his friends he noticed where here.

“You know all of you guys, all my life I’ve felt like a blockhead who could never do anything right, and last week when I wasnt feeling so well, I felt so alone, but the fact that deep down all of you care makes me feel amazing, thank you guys!”

All of his friends smiled and were touched.

”Don’t mention it Chuck ol’ buddy!” Peppermint Patty said as she patted him on the back.

”Thanks Charlie Brown, and just think, if you didn’t kick Lucy’s hand, she would have let you kick the football!”

Lucy rolled his eyes at him.

”You don’t know that!” She remarked slightly defensively.

Linus responded matter-of-factly to her,

”Yeah? Well if you weren’t going to let him kick it, you would have pulled your hand up to pull it away, and he wouldn’t have kicked it” 

Lucy gasped, she didn’t really think about what happened since she was so mad at Charlie Brown for kicking her hand.

But before Lucy could start arguing with Linus, she saw Charlie Brown go up to Snoopy.

“And I’m gonna do something special for you Snoopy ol’ pal, because you’re man’s best friend!” He said as he hugged him.

“Aw that’s so sweet!” said Lila.

“HA! Yeah right!”

Charlie Brown looked confused at Lucy.

”Um…pardon?”

Lucy remarked,

“That stupid beagle didn’t care or visit you at all last week!” 

This caused Charlie Brown to grow confused.

“Wait what?!”

Then Peppermint Patty spoke up,

“You know now that you mention it, Lucille’s got a point Chuck, I wouldn’t really do anything that special for him right now”

“Wait is this true??!” asked Charlie Brown.

“Yeah, I fed him everyday you were out, and he didn’t even care when I told him, just slept the whole time!” Sally responded.

“W-What??!” said Charlie Brown.

“No… Snoopy’s my pal, if he ran all the way for Lila, surely he would for me…right?”

Linus went up to him and said,

”Well I don’t know for sure, he could have sneaked out at night to try and see you, but I don’t know,”

“I guess so” said Charlie Brown.

However even though that did make him feel a little better, at part of Charlie Brown’s mind still couldn’t let go of that worry, especially as Lila was staying over.

And speaking of, Lila was getting ready to sleep over.

"Hey they don't have any guest rooms, why don't you sleep in their guest cottage?" Peppermint Patty asked.

"Guest cottage? That sounds wonderful! Sure!" replied Lila.

***

"This is a guest cottage?"

remarked Lila, sleeping in her sleeping bag now inside of Snoopy's dog house.

Snoopy smiled at her as he sat on top,

"Goodnight sweetie!"

 —

Meanwhile however, Charlie Brown was still up in his bed, thinking about earlier, the worries still stuck in his head that came into the next morning.

‘Are the others right about Snoopy?’

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

It was the next morning, Snoopy woke up from his doghouse, looked below and saw Lila sleeping below him. His heart fluttered seeing her, he really couldn’t believe that yesterday he was able to put aside his feelings, and finally began to be comfortable around her again. Snoopy wished she’d stay more, but alas, she had to come home soon.

In the Brown household, Charlie Brown was already awake, and was eating breakfast, up until he saw Snoopy wake up. Charlie started looking at Snoopy on his doghouse out the window, still pondering about last night. He just couldn’t shake the thoughts he kept on thinking.

‘I just have to know, surely Snoopy would care just as much for me as he does for Lila… right?’

***

And so, later on in the day, once Lila had left, he thought of a plan. He walked towards Snoopy, who was resting peacefully on his house. He got up and yawned.

‘Maybe I should work on my autobiography later? Oh what’s the use, I’m still gonna be sad missing Lila all day, I really should see her sooner… hmm…’

But before he could think any longer, he saw Charlie Brown come up to him.

“…Snoopy? Guess what? I’m gonna ask you a question, and if you answer correctly, I’m gonna give you this, one of your early birthday presents” he told him, as he pulled out a bag of cookies, as well as his supperdish filled with food.

Snoopy jumped excitedly as he started licking his lips. Cookies AND suppertime? Those are the two things he cannot resist, especially if his stomach clock is going off!

“Okay… then… Snoopy, do you remember where I was a few weeks ago?”

Snoopy started to think about it…

“Hmmmm…”

“Cmon, I wasn’t feeling well on the field…”

“Ummm….”

“I really want to eat right now, my stomach clock is going off…What is it…?”

Charlie Brown started to feel nervous now, he stammered,

“C-Cmon, I wasn't feeling well after a game?”

Snoopy kept thinking, but couldn’t seem to think of anything and that started to make Charlie Brown worried.

“I-I was gone for days??! It was the reason why Sally was feeding you instead of me???!”

Charlie grew antsy more and more as he watched Snoopy go on; the beagle just kept thinking and thinking of what it could be, but his mind kept drawing blank. He genuinely did not seem to know or care why his owner was gone, or even know if he was left at all.

“Eh, I give up! But I'm hungry! Could I have food and cookies anyways?” Snoopy eagerly asked to him.

He could see Charlie Brown’s face looking sad as he closed his eyes hanging his head down, and he said,

Now some of the kids started coming down to see him. Lucy came in, overhearing from behind the fence, as she chuckled.

“Ha! See? So much for that! He doesn’t even know!” She exclaimed at him.

Snoopy grew taken aback,

“Ok, what is that supposed to mean?? Thats it! I’ll just go to the cookie jar later!” Snoopy remarked, rolling his eyes wanting to go back to sleep on his dog house.

At least, until he looked over and saw his owner, and when he did, he was taken aback. The boy looked depressed, real depressed. Sure Snoopy has always known his owner to get very depressed often, but this looked different—he genuinely looked dejected, and heartbroken, like Snoopy must have done something to legitimately betray him. And he didn't even know it, but it was true. That one action shattered Charlie Brown's heart, and how he felt of him.

“Huh?? What could have happened with that round-headed kid to get him asking me like this??”

Now Snoopy looked confused, Lucy came over one hand on her hip wagging his finger at him as she told him, 

“Oh just keep on guessing! If you were really a faithful dog to your owner, you would have known already! We wouldn’t need to tell you!” 

“What happened last week? I forgot your birthday? The anniversary of the day you adopted me or something??”

“You tell him off Charlie Brown! Yell at him! That’s what I would do if I had him as a dog!” Lucy exclaimed.

“Cmon yell at him!” She kept on egging him.

“Snoopy! You…you!-“

But he was simply too depressed right now, he sighed dejectedly…

“*Sigh!* Nevermind…”

Lucy huffed at him,

“Hmph! Whatever!”

Snoopy put a paw to his face, wondering if he should look into it. But ultimately shrugged it off, figuring his owner was just in annother bad mood because of baseball or something. 

“Eh, he always gets like this… he’ll be fine”

As the dog went back to his doghouse, Charlie Brown sighed, as he was used to being like this as well.

He had moments like this before, he didn’t even make a fuss after he once had a special dinner only for it to be canceled by his teammates, when he had very right to. He just thought maybe it wasn’t as bad as he thought, and in a few days he’ll be fine. Some would say he has too big of a heart, others would say he needs more of a backbone.

But nonethless, he felt horrible as he slowly walked away. Charlie Brown thought so low of himself before, but to the point that his own pet dog thought nothing of him?  He did later on feed Snoopy, and then went to bed, as he went to bed he hoped that he'll just bury and push away all these feelings, and eventually forget about it.

But as the days counting down to Snoopy's birthday went by, things certianly didn't turn out that way...

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

The days still went by, counting down to Snoopy’s birthday, and as it came closer and closer in the next month to August 10th, contrary to what Charlie thought, he wasn’t feeling fine. His feelings sure wasn’t, all his emotions festered inside him, which wouldn’t be helped by a sudden weird new habit Snoopy started doing…

***

“Snoopy? Where are you Snoopy? *Sigh* Where is that dog?"

Charlie went over to his sister.

"Sally, have you seen Snoopy?"

she shrugged,

"I don't know, I havent seen him since I saw him walking tot he bus stop yesterday..."

"W-What?! He hasn't came back?!"

But then the boy soon spotted Snoopy outside...

-Snoopy?! Where have you been?! You’ve been out all day!” Charlie exclaimed, seeing the beagle finally return home after being gone all day.

But if he was looking for an answer, he wasn’t gonna get one. The beagle turned the other way towards his doghouse, tuckered out and wanting to go to bed.

“I’m not getting any answers…”

Snoopy merely went to bed, but not before secretly smiling and sighing happily to himself.

—

“Lucy, I just don’t get it.. I’ve often  felt down before, but now I feel worse than ever! Not to mention that I’ve noticed Snoopy has been sneaking out way more often to who knows where!!”

“I keep telling you Charlie Brown, you need to stop being so wishy-washy in life! But you hardly ever listen, do you? Well that’s at least good for me, because you’ll keep coming to me with nickels!”

—

After that not-so helpful therapy visit, the boy went home,

Then he came home to Snoopy who just came back again. 

“Snoopy! Why are you sneaking out?!”

But Snoopy kept ignoring him,

“Hey! I’m talking to you mister!”

And now it was Snoopy’s birthday, and the beagle being super happy was an understatement. He joyfully burst into dance, dancing happily all around the yard.

“Yahoo! I’m so excited for my birthday today! Especially since I invited people very special to me!”

He quickly opened up a book, a scrapbook filled with pictures of him and his siblings.

“I invited all my siblings… but they aren’t here yet?”

Then as he was waiting at the door, the doorbell rang. The dog looked out of the keyhole, and gasped in delight.

“*Gasp!* Its her! The other special person I invited!”

He opened it, just as Charlie Brown was walking in, and when he saw who it was, he was suprised as well, thought it wasn’t the same happy surprise as Snoopy.

“*Gasp!* Lila??!”

It was, the blonde girl was indeed once again at his house. Charlie gasped at the sight of Lila, repeating himself as he stammered,

“L-Lila?! Again?”

However he quickly went back to a more polite composure for their guest.

“So you’re here for Snoopy’s birthday party right?”

She smiled and responded,

“Yes, I’m looking forward to so more fun, especially just like yesterday!”

But as she was completely oblivious to this, that turned out to be not a good thing to say.

“W-What? What do you mean? Snoopy was at your house?”

"Yes, ever since like a month ago Snoopy has been visiting me, hasn't he told you?"

“What?! No he hasn't!” Charlie exclaimed as he pointed at Snoopy. He continued,

“You've been going back to Lila's all the time now?!"

Both Snoopy and Lila both grew very confused by the boy's sudden iritation,

“Since when you had a problem with me?! He just liked visiting me!" Lila asked,

Charlie Brown quickly composed himself, and asked her,

"Oh I'm very sorry Lila, I just need to talk to Snoopy for a quick minute about something important, okay?"

"Oh... okay?"

Then Charlie closed the door, leaving her to wait on the front porch, as he talked with Snoopy,

"So that’s it huh? you’ve been sneaking out all this time, multiple times a day, just so you can be with Lila?!”

Snoopy raised his eyebrows still very confused, as he grumblede and gestured to him with his shoulders which basically said,  "What's your deal with Lila??"

Though technically no words were said, Charlie Brown still responded,

“Oh nothing, I don’t have anything against Lila…"

Charlie Brown said, as he walked across from him, his back turned from Snoopy. But then it was a small whisper, but Snoopy caught it, under his breath he muttered,

“Of course you would… after all you cared about her when she needed you, more than me …” 

But Snoopy caught that, he eyed him suspiciously and huffed,

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that??"”

He then got his answer, as his owner turned fast right towards him, taking the beagle aback as he soon got hit with an unexpectdly angry, alomst mean look from Charlie Brown, one that seemed nearly unlike him. He didn't realize it, and neither did the boy either, but after so long, And now this was it, but now the breaking point, that has boiling and festered up inside ever since a month ago, that Charlie Brown had tried to just brush off. But he couldn’t forever… and now he lashed out,

“Snoopy... I was out for days last week…”

He started to say slowly, before he yelled out,

“…because I was at the HOSPITAL!!” He cried.

Snoopy gasped, and shook his head in surprise, like he genuinely didn’t know, 

“Y-You were??”

Chapter Text

***Flashback***

“...I feel kind of woozy…I don’t think I can pitch anymore…”

It was early July day with his team, with Charlie as the baseball manager on the pitchers mound, trying to get his team coordinated for the next game (which wasn’t going very well), until he suddenly started to feel very dizzy.

“What’s going on?” asked Lucy, a bossy, crabby little girl, who would often hang out with Charlie Brown–mostly to give him advice criticizing all of his many faults, which she seemed to be an expert in. She went over to him on the mound, and he responded,

“...I feel sick..”

She remarked,  "You've probably been hit on the head with too many fly balls."

More kids come to the mound as Charlie Brown walks off needing to lie down,  "I think I'll go home." 

Lucy repeats, "He's probably been hit on the head with too many fly balls,”

Charlie’s little sister Sally approaches as well, and asks, "Have any of you guys seen my big brother?"

"Charlie Brown? He wasn't feeling well so he went home . . ."

Sally walks away and says, 

Sally mutters, "He probably got hit on the head with too many fly balls." 

 Lucy stands in the outfield and shouts, "That's what I said!" exclaimed Lucy.

***

But it really wasn’t that. Charlie Brown soon was later checked in to the hospital, where he had to stay there for several days. The little boy had never had this sort of thing happen before, and he had to lie there for several days. where he felt scared, anxious, and lonely, even more so than before... 

…But little knownst to him he wasn’t so lonely as he thought. Thankfully Charlie Brown ended up feeling better, and he came back home, and when he did, he was greeted with almost taken aback to find out, that all of his friends where worried sick about him. which something caused some of his friends to realize how much they really cared for him.

Linus checking up, Peppermint Patty and Marcie visiting him (with a declaration of love from Marcie that he didn’t know about), but the most interesting part was about how his crabby friend Lucy responded.

Lucy was always so harsh to Charlie Brown with her constant insults as “criticism”, especially driving him crazy with the footfall pranks. But she ended up being so worried for him that she made a promise to let him kick the football, which she had never done before!

Which was such an incredible opportunity to Charlie Brown…

…If he didn’t end up accidentally kicking her hand…and landed her to the hospital for a few days as well.,.

***

“Charlie Brown, next time you go to the hospital, stay there!!” Lucy yelled, now in a cast.

—

But eventually her cast was taken off, it seemed like now life was getting back to normal for Charlie Brown, and he was happy to be everyone again, especially a certain beagle…

***

When he came back home, Charlie Brown was so excited to see his dog, quickly running over to his backyard, approaching a small red-painted wooden doghouse, finding a fuzzy white beagle who was sleeping atop, mystifyingly able to perfectly balanced on top its pointed center using his jet-black ears to lock in as he napped.

"Home! I can't believe it! Snoopy!” he calls out.

He runs outside to to Snoopy, sitting atop the doghouse. He exclaims beaming with his hands in the air, 

"Snoopy?"

Snoopy opens his eyes and sees him as he exclaims. 

“Hi, Snoopy! I'm home from the hospital!"

 "It seems like I"ve been gone forever..I sure missed you..."

 Charlie Brown continues,

"I used to lie there in the hospital at night worrying about you.... anyway, it's good to be back home."

As Charlie Brown walks off smiling wide, Snoopy looked on at him putting his hand to his chin in thought. 

‘Now, I remember! He's that round-headed kid who always feeds me… where did he say he was again?’

He thought about it, but then just thought,

‘ Eh I don’t really care’ He shrugged before lazily resting again for the rest of the day.

***

“…Are you serious?”

He squeaked out. He couldn’t believe it, his own dog, that he thought was his bestest buddh, didn’t even move a minute for him. he always knew Snoopy could be apathetic, but this? 

“You really didn’t know?! What were you doing that day?! Did you care at  ALL when I was at the hospital??” He asked.

He looked at him with a pained, sad look, but he was unable to read Snoopy’s expression. He just merely looked at him, before apathetically shrugging and starting to walk away.

But he couldn’t go any far he was suddenly  unexpectedly, found himself being confronted, and what Snoopy didn’t expect was to see Charlie Brown then suddenly hit him with a look of disgust.

Charlie Brown shot him a mean look, one that he rarely ever showed. Snoopy is taken aback a little, but still has his composure; he normally expects his owner to be a pushover except when he tries to “discipline” him with a lecture and some yelling, that otherwise doesn’t last long.

“L-Listen here Snoopy… are you really serious, after everything I do in order to-!“

“ “After everything I do to take care of you!” Blah blah! I’ve heard your lectures all before!” Snoopy mocked before turning his back to walk away from him,

Until he unexpectedly found himself getting confronted by Lucy, of all people. She demanded at him,

“Why you inconsiderate, lazy, stupid dog!! “You didn’t care at all when he was in the hospital!  Everyone else did! Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie! She started ranting.

“Heck, for as how I treat him, even I cared more, about him than YOU ! ME! I even gave him a chance to kick the football !” Lucy shouted, sounding in disbelief to herself saying it all out loud, like even she couldn't believe what she was saying.

Snoopy couldn’t believe it either, that is, more so that he had to be dealing with this right now. He exclaimed.

   “I didn’t ask for your opinion, sweetie! *BLEAH!*”

But Lucy wasn’t done yet. She still continued.

“Yet when your old owner was in the hospital too, what happened? You immediately ran away, nearly killed yourself in the woods, just to be with her!”

She turned to Charlie, who looked as thought that made a whole epiphany, as Snoopy did go for Lila. He went for her, not him. It made him more hurt the longer he thought about it, turning what he previously his whole relationship with Snoopy on his head. He exclaimed,

“Lucy-your right… your absolutely right!” He shouted.

“You know what? I actually agree with Lucy! You did all that for Lila, and not me?!”

“Big brother, you’re getting loud-“

“Oh I DONT CARE!” He yelled, startling Snoopy.

“Even though I had you for longer! All the years we spent, all the times I fed you, cared for you, did that all mean nothing??!”

Snoopy stood wide eyed, with no response.

“And you apparently were gonna give that all away and LEAVE all of us!

We were all so heartbroken when you left! You were even gonna leave your best friend Woodstock! All for some girl you only knew for like a couple months!!” Charlie Brown exclaimed..

Snoopy gasped and now got offended.

“Do NOT say that about her!!!” Snoopy barked out at him.

“Oh so now you get mad! YOU never cared what anybody said about me or how they treated me, you even joined in sometimes!”

“Oh I don’t need this! I’m out of here!” Snoopy exclaimed with a huff before going outside. But soon he was suddenly met with a crowd surrounding them. It was the rest of the gang, and they weren’t happy. 

Snoopy got confused as to why all the kids were angry with him at the moment, but then he saw that each of them all held a book of his memoir.

‘Ohh that’s right… they got to the end of the book!” He smiled,

The kids did finish the book, and when they did, they both discovered it contained many unhappy memories as well as contrast to the cheerful ones they read earlier…

Lucy confronted him,

“Why you inconsiderate, lazy, stupid dog!!! You are always doing what you want!!”

“Yeah, are you seriously having the nerve to go and actually publish this?” exclaimed Linus.

“You know how embarrassing it will be?!” yelled Peppermint Patty. 

“Snoopy! You really wrote all that in this book?! Do you know how mad that’s gonna make everyone?!” Charlie shouted.

All of this only made things worse, as this ignited more anger from Charlie Brown as he lets out of what he’s been feeling about his dog over the years, 

“Is it seriously too much to ask for a loving dog that does things like get happy to see his master when he gets home, or play games together like fetch? Lila told me you loved to play that with her! Meanwhile you never ever even listened to me, always doing what ever you want!”

The more and more Charlie Brown ranted on, it seemed like the boy was slowly coming to an epiphany, and he did, as he slowly came to the sad realization…

“*Gasp!* …It’s what I secretly thought of the possibility before hasn’t it? That …you wished you were still with her, do you? And you wished you were never even adopted by me?”

Now this did it, Charlie Brown words really dug in Snoopy now. What could he honestly say to that? He wanted to say no, but he suddenly found himself unable to say anything. The beagle now had an unreadable blank expression, as he turned away from everyone.

Snoopy flinched, but didn’t respond, just looking away from Charlie Brown wanting this conversation to be over.

"Snoopy? Are you hearing me??"

Snoopy stayed silent for a while, refusing to anwser, ccausing Charlie to lash out and demand,

“ Look at me when I’m talking to you Snoopy! Answer, do you??!”

And now this got to him! Snoopy turned over to Charlie Brown, along with all the other kids, with now his turn to rant at them,

"ALRIGHT! I DO! I ADMIT IT!' He barked out at evryone, causing them all to gasp,

"*GAAAASSSSPPP!*"

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

"YEAH, I SAID IT! I do! Sometimes I DO wish I was still with her! Who wouldn’t after being STUCK in this neighborhood filled with nothing but… TOTAL BLOCKHEADS!”  

Snoopy barked out loudly, fully becoming infuriated with everyone. Now... it was his turn to rant, and in his rage, Snoopy maniacally started running around to each of the kids, and pointed at each of them before doing various miming of whatever he wanted to say to each of them, beginning with Charlie Brown;

“Lila was always loving towards me! She never judged me, tried to take me to obedience school or RUINED my chance of beating Babe Ruth’s record like YOU HAVE!”

He rushed over to Linus, Peppermint Patty, and Frieda.

“She never kicked me out of the pool! Or stopped inviting me to parties after finding out I’m not a “funny-looking kid”! Or REPORTED me to THE HEAD BEAGLE for not chasing rabbits, or hated to get kisses from me, LIKE EACH OF YOU GUYS ALL HAVE!!!” 

Then finally he ran over to Lucy, and bitterly shouted,

“… And she NEVER said that I “deserved” to have my whole house BURNED DOWN! Or that I should be “put in line”!! She LOVED ME and I LOVED HER!!!” 

Snoopy stopped, breathing quickly after such a rant. Nobody could explain it, but somehow they were all able to completely understand the big rant he just said. And it was now everyone’s turn to lash out at him,

“OH YEAH??! Who says you’re such a “man’s best friend”?? Would “man’s best friend” purposely SABOTAGE a loving romance between a boy and a girl named Truffles?!” yelled Linus.

“Would “man’s best friend” LEAVE me at the ice show when HE agreed to train with me, RUINING the chance for me to be a skating star?!” yelled Lucy.

“Would “man’s best friend” not even CARE when ALL of my furniture was stolen the night he was supposed to be a guard dog??!” yelled Peppermint Patty.

“Would “man’s best friend” leave me to get BEATEN UP at the playground just because an old girlfriend of his showed up?” yelled Sally.

“Would “man’s best friend” leave me all alone at the testimonial dinner, where all of his friends left him because it was too ”hypocritical”??!!!” Charlie Brown yelled

However all of the kids grew silent. They completely forgot about that! They all started to look extremely guilty at Charlie Brown, especially Linus.

All except Snoopy however, who instead was getting more infuriated at all of this, culminating in him raging out,

“I DON’T NEED ANY OF THIS! Lila needs ME now! A-And if she needs me…”

Snoopy ran in and out quickly with his supperdish.

“…Then I’LL GO!!”

Snoopy took a few breaths after letting all that out, while everyone else had a few time to process what this means.

After a few silence, Charlie Brown looked at Snoopy, he could not believe this!

“You wouldn’t! After everything you have because of me?? Even after all I’ve done to take care of you! Even working hard enough to earn money to buy that collar I gave you!”

Snoopy then took off his collar and gave it to him. Charlie Brown stared at it for a few seconds. Snoopy did this many times before, but this time was certainly different.

Snoopy looked at everyone for a response.

“Now this time I don’t care if you all are crying, or how sad the going away party is, I’ve settled on this and I don’t care!”

Snoopy looked at Charlie Brown expecting him to plead for him to stay, but he didn’t, he just sighed sadly with acceptance, down and finally said,

“…Ok Snoopy…”

“W-What?!”

Snoopy looked at Charlie Brown, who looked sadly at him.

“It really hurts me that you didn’t care that I was sick and cared more for Lila when she was sick…B-But…” he started to say, his voice cracking a little at the end until he took a breath again.

“But, I can’t force you to like me, so after all this time if you still don’t care about me and you really want to go , and you’ll really be happier having her as an owner instead of me, you can go…”

Snoopy’s eyes widened, he was so angry he didn’t really fully take in what he truly meant.

“W-What??”

Then all of the kids got angry with him.

“Oh, you want to leave, and you don’t care about any of us? We’ll then get out of here! We don’t care anymore!”

Snoopy gawked looked at them with his mouth open in shock, staring at all of them,

“No way…t-they have to be all bluffing! Are all of them really saying this??!”

In the midst of a period of awkward silence, two passerby’s have overheard this whole thing,

“Did they really actually understand Snoopy during that whole thing?” asked Patty.

“Either he’s really god at miming, or they all lost their minds” shrugged Violet.

***

Snoopy stood there, gawking and staring at all of them with his mouth hung open with shock. He couldn’t believe this. He just told them he was going to leave them all again, and this is how they react?

“What are you waiting for? You want to leave don’t you? You don’t care about any of us anyways…” Lucy muttered.

Charlie Brown looked at Snoopy for a little before sighing and slowly walking away with the rest of the gang, leaving Snoopy alone all to himself.

That is, except for Woodstock. The little bird looked at him nervously as he asked,

“/ \ / \?”

The beagle stammered,

“...Y-Yes, I-I did say I was going to go with Lila, but-“

And this response caused nothing short of an uproar from Woodstock, the bird cried out in distress,

“\ / \ / \??!! / \ / / \ / \ \ / /???!!!”

Snoopy stammered backpedaling,

“B-But Woodstock, you can come with me right??!”

Woodstock looked at him and started to think about it. He did genuinely love his friend, and wanted to go, but he couldn’t. He explained to him that he didn’t want to move to the city, it seeming so big and scary to a teeny little bird like him.

“Oh…”

Woodstock pleaded for him not to go, which made Snoopy even more worked up.

“I-I’m sorry I said that! I-I don’t know-I don’t know why nobody else is as sad as you are now, like last time I left?!

Snoopy walked by and looked at the gang. This time there were no sobbing or going away parties, they just gave him a bitter look as he walked.

“It’s as if they don’t care anymore… why don’t they care about him anymore? Why-”

Then it finally hit him. It struck his mind,

‘…just like how I didn’t care anymore about them!’

And Snoopy gasped at the realization when it did. It hit him like a truck, making a hollow feel in his stomach, making him cry out,

“Oh good grief! Why did I not even get a little concerned when the round headed kid was at the hospital??! I was so worried for Lila and wanted to run to her so much when she was sick, so why didn’t I do it for him?! Did I not care if he got better or not???

Snoopy started reeling back all that he remembered from that day. He’d always known he could be apathetic and a jerk at times, but this? As much as he racked his brain, he genuinely couldn’t think of a good reason to completely ignore him in the hospital. Furthermore, the dog pondered what Charlie had asked him,

“Do you really wish you were still her dog isn’t of mine?”

He looked over at Lila, who was apparently outside still on the front lawn the whole time. Back then, with that first good bye party, he felt so guilty leaving them all, and was crying the whole time, and felt absolutely miserable on his way back to Lila’s. But at them same time, he still felt he had to go through with it, and he went all the way to Lila’s before he saw the No Dogs Allowed sign, seeing it as his perfect “way out” of sticking with his choice. But what would he have done if the sign wasn’t there, would he still have went through it?

The dog hung his head low, and sighed sadly,

If I was a kid who had a dog like me I wouldn’t want him after this either, I still can’t even bother to remember his name…”

But then he shook his head,

“No no no! Cmon, I’ve been with them for years, t-they’re not seriously gonna let me leave! I’ll just try to apologize, work this out, it will all be good!” He reassured himself.

He walked towards them, ready to talk, but they were all reading something.

“What are they reading? Is that my typewriter I left out eariler that had my…*GASP!*”

Snoopy gasped in horror as they all read beta pages for the manuscript of his memoir, and what he typed.

“*GASP!* No! Don’t read that!!”

But it was too late, and soon he was met with everyone looking even more infuriated.

“Welp, I sure blew it!”

He looked at them nervously, as the kids approached him. Strangely Lucy walked up to him, not to blow up or yell in his face, but simply stated calmly,

“By the way Snoopy… I hope when you’re with Lila, you don’t write such awful things about her, like you did with each of us in here,”

Snoopy gasped and covered his ears, he didn’t want them to read it aloud, but they did,

“The little crabby harpy girl that lives next to me is the absolute worst! Always shrieking, who can stand this kid? Why does her family keep her around?””

Snoopy tried to turn to Linus, surely he who gets into fights with his sister regularly could vouch for him on this. But maybe he would have, if he didn’t write such things about him as well,

“But at least she’s cuter than her stupid brother who still carries a blanket! Not only that, but he believes in a “great pumpkin?” No wonder their other brother other tell me he wants to be an only child!” exclaimed Linus.

And then Charlie walked to him, and read a piece,

“…and with my owner, what is there to even say about him? I don’t even have much to say about them at all, since he’s so “wishy washy and forgettable” that you forget about him! The only thing worth talking about, besides the fact he feeds me, are his pathetic failures!”

Snoooy gasped, and started sputtering.  

“W-WHAT??! It was a first draft! Those were written as jokes!!! I wasn’t really gonna-I-OH COMEON! Seriously??!” He cried.

Snoopy was freaking out, and all of his emotions were spiraling too, leaving him to lash out,

“Grr…I DONT HAVE TO TAKE THIS!”

He yelled out, before gritting his teeth in anger.

“As if they weren’t perfect themselves! Or have called me such things, such as a “dime-a-dozen”, “stupid mutt!”, or when I’m not allowed to sleep outside because “their mother doesn’t like dog smell!” or not even allowed to stay at most of the other kids houses because “dogs aren’t allowed on the furniture here!”

Heck, once staying at Crabby’s house, I was kicked out of the living room, forced to sleep outside on a little doll bed becuaee It was “where I belong!”

Snoopy then stood up with a slightly different attitude and strongly exclaimed,

“You know what?! I’ll go! I’ll have the bestest time with Lila, send you all the pictures of what you’d be missing! And the you’ll be begging and begging me, crying “Snoopy come home! YOULL ALL SEE!!!”

The beagle yelled out before storming out of his house.

He then walked more slowly when he got to the bus stop where Lila was.

“Snoopy? You want to come back?” She asked.

He nodded yes and she grew surprised.

“B-But you’re friends, that youve been with for so long—are you sure?”

He nodded.

“But in your book it-“

*Bonk!*

He kicked it away from her hands, it flew right over the yard into the backyard of the cat next door, causing it to be torn to shreds.

“*MEOWR!!*”

*SLASH!!*

The shreds of paper started to rain over them, such a shocking gesture shocked Lila.

“None of that ever mattered?”

He shook his head yes.

“Well… thank you Snoopy, this is so great-“ she began to say, but then she took a look at Snoopy, and he looked miserable,

“W-What’s wrong? Are you okay? You don’t have to go if you don’t want to”

But Snoopy shook his head,

“I don’t know much about your life here, but Charlie Brown said you really cared about him-“

“NOPE! They don’t want me back, I’ve made my statement on them, so *BLEAH!* to them!”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Snoopy shook his head no.

”W-Well okay then, maybe later… I guess we are gonna be together again?”

Snoopy gulped as he stared off at his old home. Was this really his decision now, that he was going to have to go through with it all the way this time?

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

And so, this was it. Snoopy made his decision, and he’s gonna have to go through with it. He really is gonna leave everyone to go back with his old owner, this time for good.

***

Snoopy starting getting all of his things before going back to Lila, each second getting picked growing ever so closer to the moment he dreaded the most, saying goodbye to everyone…

***

First it was Woodstock he said bye to. Snoopy hugged the little bird, and they both cried just like last time as well, Woodstock crying tiny tears as they hugged.

”\-\ / \ /-/-/ \!!!” He sniffed, before closing the embrace.

Snoopy then walked towards to face the rest of the gang, but they were nowhere to be seen anymore.

”Hmph! Well just for that, I won’t be giving them any of my stuff this time!”

Already feeling heavy hearted, Snoopy then walked towards Charlie Brown, which was he was dreading. Snoopy just didn’t know how to face him. The boy looked at him, and said softly,

 “You know what Snoopy? I just want to tell you something… when you left the first time, do you know how awful we all felt? How said I was? I could barley sleep or eat that day…I just want you to know that…”

But Charlie Brown couldn’t finish, he felt like was gonna cry any minute, so he just hugged him.

Afterwards Snoopy slowly walked towards the bus with Lila (It was one of the rare buses that dogs were allowed on). As the red sun was setting, Snoopy took a long look outside, to see if his now previous owner was there.

And he was, Charlie Brown looked at him, but was he…crying? 

Snoopy swore he saw tears coming out of his eyes, but he was too far to really know. Even despite all of his moments of depression, Snoopy hardly ever saw his owner cry, the last time he remembered him crying? The last time Snoopy left him. Snoopy felt like he wanted to cry himself, and he started to shed tears. Lila tried to comfort Snoopy,

“Oh you poor dear, there there,” said Lila, her warm embrace making him feel a little better.

”Are you really sure about doing this?” She asked.

But Snoopy didn’t answer, just kept hugging her her the whole ride.

***

And so the bus now drove off, with Charlie Brown left staring at it as it slowly disappeared in the distance, trying to fully process.

Snoopy didn’t want to live with him anymore, and now he wasn’t his dog anymore. 

He had to accept it, but how could he? After all the years they had spent together? Was he really that bad of a dog owner? He always thought he wasn’t, he always tried his best.

He kept staring, even when the bus was gone, wistfully lost in thought.

‘Well Snoopy, I do hope your happy with Lila…’

***

The ride to Lila’s was long, very long. As the bus drove over, Snoopy stared on out the window, looking lost. Lila honestly didn’t know what to say, or just what was going on in that little head of his. Sure enough, as big buildings started passing by, he knew they were now in the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Snoopy though about the last time he took this bus to go to the big city. It was years ago, he travelled with the “kid with the blanket”, had a blast skating to his heart’s content on the winter rockefeller center ice rink in Manhattan, and accompanied his owner watching him live at some spelling bee, before going home to sleep.

“That’s right, I came because the round headed kid was entered in, a spelling bee, was it? I had a great time skating, if only the people at Broadway saw me, I gotta go there again next time! Then I went home…”

But then he shook his head, as he suddenly remembered,

“No… wait! He lost the spelling bee, right at the final round, and the word was beagle!”

He couldn’t believe he forgot, as all the kids and epsecially Charlie Brown were upset by it at first, before everything went back to normal, though he didn’t remember giving support back then either, even when. 

“*Sigh*, Am I making the best choice? I just don't know…”

Part of him was telling him that this was a ridiculous decision, that he should go back to the kid who he’s lived with for so many years.

But at the same time… the other part of him? Actually wanted this?

He just couldn’t help it, as much as he liked living with the gang, almost every time a new lifestyle opportunity came at him he adjusted to it and quite liked it. He didn’t mind being in the woods for many nights in a row, and when the circus came to two , at first he didn’t like being forced to perform but ended up loving it (which was probably helped by him being lovesick with Fifi), until they were gonna force him into some pink dye. But even so, Snoopy can’t recall if he was planning or even thinking abt going back to his owner if it weren’t for that.

Before Snoopy had any time to think any more, he saw a familiar building, as the bus had finally arrived at her apartment home.

As they both walked out of the bus, Snoopy shut his eyes, before taking a deep breath and opening them at the front of the building and…

…truth be told, the “No Dogs Allowed” sign really wasn’t there. Snoopy gulped nervously, this time there really was no way out.

He looked over at Lila, who just looked so happy whenever he was visiting. Charlie Brown had friends (at least Linus as a good one), did Lila even have any other friends? Or was she so lonely that’s why she resorted to mailing her letter to a dog she used to keep when she was sick?

Snoopy just wouldn’t think of breaking Lila’s heart. So he had to go through with this. This was it, no going back now, this was really his new life…?

***

--

--

--

”Charlie Brown?”

It was Linus, coming back outside in the night, to see Charlie Brown still at the bus stop where Snoopy left. 

The boy had stood still there, staring at it even all the way until night fell. He just couldn't believe it, Snoopy was really gone this time, and all at once he was left alone and sad. Just when he thought him and his pal really loved each other, all those happy days together...

"It changes, it always changes, and now Snoopy is living with someone else..."

Linus walked and comforted Charlie Brown, and He said,

“Charlie Brown? Are you okay? You’ve been here a while,”

He replied,

”It’s night already? I guess I’ll go home now…”

"Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like, and then just stay together forever? Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. And then we'd have to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes..."

***But them going to his house didn’t seem to make him feel better…***

“M-Maybe I let my emotions get the better of me in the moment,  maybe I shouldn’t have let him go…” said Charlie Brown.

“Don’t worry Charlie Brown, I think he will be back soon” Linus said.

“You think?”

“Yeah…I never thought Snoopy would even be the type to have fun in an apartment…”

“M-Maybe, I just need to relax, and-“

*RING!*

”Who is it this time?” said Charlie Brown.

He opened the door, and found…

A whole family of beagles!

”Hello! It’s me, Snoopy big bro Spike! We wanted to come over early for his birthday party! Did we come on time?” said Spike.

He also came with Belle, Olaf, Andy, Marbles, Rover, and Molly, the whole beagle siblings.

Charlie Brown just looked at them, before bursting out crying,

”…I CANT STAND THIS! *SOB!*”

*SLAM!*

he slammed the door, leaving all the beagle siblings outside.

“Okay…” said Spike.

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

“ Snoopy! I’m home!”“Arf Arf Arf!”

Barks a little puppy Snoopy as he excitedly runs towards a younger Charlie, during one of their first weeks together where he went out.

"Hey! Take it easy! Take it easy!"

Charlie Brown exclaims happily as Snoopy literally runs circles around him yipping gleefully, even doing backflips jumping right in the air.

"Boy! What a reception!” 

You're really glad to see me, huh, Snoopy?!"

Snoopy does another somersault, wowing the young boy even more.

“What a greeting! This touches me deeply... I-I think I'm going to cry."

Touched, Charlie Brown starts sniffing, as he murmurs,

“Never before has anyone really cared for me like this *snif!* Everyone usually says, "Go away!" or else they say, "What do you want?!"

Charlie Brown kneels down and says, "But not you Snoopy... you've treated me as an equal! I'm really touched... I can't stop crying!"

 Charlie Brown briefly stops as he says, "Gee, I don't have a hankerchief with me."

But then resumes,

There's no doubt about it, Snoopy... you're a real pal!"

Charlie Brown says… as he dries his eyes with Snoopy's ear, oblivious to the puppy’s now annoyed face.

* **Now, in the present...***

Charlie Brown felt heartbroken. He was nothing sort of deeply depressed when he woke up to find himself bringing over a supper dish to an empty doghouse. A doghouse that used to belong to a dog owned by HIM, his ol pal Snoopy. 

He always knew that Snoopy has such an independent dog, but at the end of the day he always never never to be to far from the supper dish.

He had always thought he and his dear old dog Snoopy would be the best of buddies forever. But life didn’t turn out that way for him and Snoopy, once a little girl named Lila had started all kinds of problems, with one nasty fight between the boy and his dog, and what did end up happening was what none of them had ever expected.

Charlie sighed, looking out the window once more. He guessed that maybe this was to be expected, how could a blockhead like him complete with a girl Snoopy truly loved? Was he really only staying with him before because he was stuck with him?

He could only wonder now, as Snoopy was off far away from them all, in the big city… 

***And how did Snoopy fare with Lila sleeping at her place for the first time? Well let’s see…***

—

Snoopy sulked sadly at his bus seat, feeling absolutely miserable. He really was the opposite of a faithful dog was he ? He was the worst dog he ever known, for pulling a stunt like this.

But there was no going back this time, as the bus getting closer and closer to the big buildings of the city, before finally making it to Lila’s apartment, cementing that.

”Well…here we are Snoopy…”

Snoopy took a big look in front of Lila’s apartment. He was now in the city, and had arrived to the front doors of Lila’s tall apartments building. This was it, this was what he wanted, didn’t he? Finally being with Lila? 

Snoopy wasn’t really sure what he wanted anymore. He didn’t feel good, he felt there was a hole in his chest, and just wanted to go to bed. Lila looked at Snoopy with concern, and tried to reassure him.

“We’re gonna have fun together, okay? Just like old times, we’ll be together forever, and you’ll never leave me again…” she said as she hugged him, before opening the door of the building.

Snoopy looked at the wide open door, took a big breath, and stepped in, and walking into the place. It looked very nice, almost like a hotel. He eventually went into the elevator to her room. He walked to her apartment room, and they both walked in…

…Only to be greeted be her CAT?

“WHAT! A CAT! I FORGOT SHE HAD ONE!” Snoopy squealed.

“Oh you don’t like cats do you? I’m sorry Snoopy. Truth be told, this isn’t really my cat, it’s the neighbors cat, whenever she visits she brings him, I used to want a pet so bad when I didn’t have you anymore that I started calling her my cat and it stuck. I can ask her to not bring him when you’re here.”

Snoopy took deep breaths.

“O-Oh, that’s fine…I’ll just make sure to keep away when he’s here!” 

***

Once after he calmed down, he got a good look at the apartment. It took a while for Snoopy to get used to the place, but it was quite nice and spacious for an apartment. 

He met with Lila’s parents who were delighted to see him, but it was whatever to him. He was never really attached to Charlie and Sally’s parents if he was being honest.

And soon it was now nighttime, and time to go to bed…

“Well here’s your old dog bed!” said Lila.

Snoopy went up to it, and just stared at it. He hadn’t slept in a dog bed in years. He winced at it, but made sure not to draw too much attention to himself with Lila,

“Snoopy?”

Lila looked around only to find Snoopy started sleeping on the top of her bedframe.

“That’s…new…”

Lila muttered to herself, not sure what to make of it. She shrugged, and asked,

“Do… you wanna rest with me instead?” she asked.

His ear perked up, and he got down hopped into her bed. 

“Well, good night Snoopy.”

As Snoopy lay in bed however, soon his expression was saddened. He really went through with doing this, leaving them all. Would Charlie Brown accept it? Or would he try to get him back?

‘M-Maybe he’ll be here tomorrow, pleading for me to come back… won’t he?’

As Snoopy thought anxiously Lila looked at him and gave him another embrace.

“It’s okay Snoopy, come here…”

As she hugged him, she planted a little kiss on his head, that heart flutter felt. He smaked her back, and she didn’t mind at all, unlike most of the girls back at home. He felt at ease, the two slept.

Chapter Text

The next day it was time for Lila to start her fun again with Snoopy, so she took him to the park in her nieghborhood. He walked with her down the street, feeling better than yesterday but still a little uneasy a the same time, especially if it was a dogpark. 

He wowed at the city it was so big snd busy, much more than his suburban neighborhood.

“When was the last time I even went to a dogpark? It was probably ages ago, when I nearly got racked up by a saint bernard…”

He didn’t know why the thought of it being filled with all kinds of dogs made him so nervous, those were “his people” right?

As they walked down, he noticed he was starting to get weird looks from both kids and adults alkike. Whether they were curious or just weirded out, he guesses most havent seen a dog able to walk on his hindlegs for such a long time.

“Just wait till they see my dance moves”

Snoopy paused, as he saw Lila suddenly bring out a small rubber ball,

“Come on, Snoopy, fetch!”

She threw the ball, however Snoopy didn’t fetch it, only stared at it.

“Snoopy? Is something wrong? Why won’t you fetch the ball?”

Snoopy looked down at his feet, looking nervous. The girl grew curious, and asked him,

 “Snoopy? I don’t mean to impose or offend you if you dont feel like anwsering, but if you don’t mind me asking, why are you so…different… now than when you were young? 

I didn’t really question you walking on two feet or acting so… human-like, before because I was so happy to see you, but I am curious, Charlie Brown even said you didn’t like to play fetch anymore.

“Oh…” 

Snoopy looked down melancholyily,  trying to think of an answer, but it was hard. It had been so long, and he had always had a disdain towards doing things like a “normal” dog. But he wasnt always this way, why did he not like doing those things again?

***Years Ago…***

"Get it, Snoopy!" 

A young Charlie Brown exclaims happily as he throws a ball for Snoopy, who was now just brought into the Brown household as a puppy, to fetch.

Snoopy however, isn’t so happy.

With a sad sigh, Snoopy trots off to get the ball and brings it back to Charlie Brown. 

"Isn't this fun?"

Snoopy just stared at the little boy with an intense frown, which gives him all the anwer he needs.

"I guess it isn't..."

***Another time,***

An annoyed young Snoopy sits on the grass in front of little Charlie Brown. The young boy holds a ball and says, "Here, Snoopy...catch!"

Charlie Brown throws the ball and it hits Snoopy, who just stood there unmoving grimacing, not changing even when it bonked atop his head, leaving him puzzled.

"I'm sorry...I didn't know you were in a mood..."

***

“Snoopy! Back boy! Back! Heel!” Charlie Brown calls at a now older Snoopy, having just came back from school.

However he is calling ou to noone, as Snoopy was not giving him the excited greeting he hoped for. He merely drooly sat on his doghouse looking bored.

“Some dogs are happy to see their owners come back from school… some even play games or tricks with them, I dont see you doing those things! You dont even play fetch or roll over or play dead or anything!” he nags at him.

Snoopy rolls his eyes in annoyance, as Charlie Brown storms off muttering,

“Sometimes theres nothing worse than a dog who isn't a dog!”

***Present***

He remembered being so sad after Lila returned him. He was sad, and even scared to first be in Charlie Brown’s house, and he didn’t want to do any of the things he did with Lila anymore, and start to do his fantasies.

“Hey Snoopy, don't look so sad! Let’s see, what do you like do for fun now?”

Snoopy had a big smile, as he then ran super fast in and out in a flying ace get up.,

“Huh???” said Lila.

***As the two start to have more of a better day, just how is Charlie Brown feeling without Snoopy so far? Let's see…***

*Knock!*

*Knock!*

“Hello? Oh it's my Sweet Baboo!” exclaims Sally as she saw Linus at their door.

“I'm not your Sweet Baboo!I just wanna see Charlie Brown, okay?”

Sally let Linus come into the house to look for his friend,

“Charlie Brown?”

But he wasn’t anywhere to be found, which worried him. 

“Where is he?”

“He’s been in his room all day today”

This worried Linus deeply, the last time he remembered a situation like this happening was when he thought he let everybody down losing the Spelling Bee.

But Charlie Brown might have been even worse when Snoopy first left to Lila, not only was he so depressed, he also got very angry, even grabbing Linus by the shirt skating and yelling at him when he still wasn’t told who Lila was. Linus just had to get to him, so went over to Charlie Brown room, and slowly opened the door.

“…Charlie Brown?”

“Go away Linus” Charlie Brown whispered softly.

“But Charlie Brown, have you been in here all day?? That’s not good!”

“But Linus… he still isn’t here,  I just looked at the house through the window all day today, a part of me just hoped that maybe, just maybe, he would come back. But who am I kidding? If he is truly better with Lila than me, who am I to ruin that? Lila is probably a better owner than I am, I can never do anything right after all! Nobody even really likes me, not even my dog!”

Linus’s heart pained for his friend, so he gave him a big hug, while also giving him his blanket.

“It’s okay Charlie Brown, you not a failure, and I like you,”

Charlie Brown looked at him, and smiled as they hugged.

***

“So how was big brother?” Sally started to say as Linus went out of his room.

“Well... I think he's feeling better” He said

Charlie Brown watched Linus run out, and looks at his bed to see that Linus left his blanket with him. He holds it, and it does make him feel a little better.

He was about to lay down in bed again, but he looked over, and saw something, that was coming towards his window?

He looked closer and saw that it was Woodstock. He opened the window and let him in.

“So… you were Snoopy’s little friend, right?”

Woodstock looked at him teary-eyed, nodded, and started crying again.

“Oh Woodstock, there, there” he said, trying not to cry again himself as he tried comforting the little baby bird.

To Be Continued...

“I wonder how Snoopy is doing tonight?”