"...and that's how you came into existence!" a proud father exclaimed by the finish of his story; nodding happily at his wife who stood curled against the frame to their sons room, blithely shrugging.

The son, a near copy of the older man save for the ever-changing hair style, scooted up on his elbows to comfortably rest while granting his father a quizzically skeptical look.

"So... you mean to tell me," his head swayed from side-to-side with each word. "that in order to get with mommy, Dad, you had to battle seven evil people, then get with her, but not before having to go through another epic battle sequence?"

"Against the Koopa King!"

His son shot him a disbelieving and sardonic look.

"It's true!" he pouted with folded arms childishly. "Have I ever lied to you?"

Scott Jr. perked up instantly.

"As a matter of fact, Dad, you have,"

The senior blanched and managed to stutter out a, "Wh-wh-when?"

"You said Santa was real." his lips thinned as if that would make his point stronger.

"Santa is real," the older Scott stated in happy obliviousness, hair flipping up as he gave a slight bounce.

At the tension-filled silence – brought about from Ramona's flaring at their son and the apprehensive waiting for realization to dawn on her husband – Scott slammed his hands against the Hyrulean comforter he sat upon.

Voice cracking, he yelled to his beloved, "HE'S NOT?"

The short, blue-haired-for-the-moment woman gave a strong, pointed stare to her son who simply shrugged and rolled his eyes in a "what the hell just happened?" manner. His father sat curled into a dejected ball in the corner, a shadow of doom enshrouding him.

"I'm... going to bed now..." he flipped over and drew the covers over his chin.

"Good night!" his dad popped up with a wave, shuffling to place his arm around his wife's extended waist.

Shaking her head, she dragged the swift mood-changer along for bed.

Tucked in tight, thoughts of Power-Ups and dreams of slaying zombies in his head, he slept peacefully.

"Scoot, get up. You're going to be late!" his mother called over the sizzle of bacon, using his nickname to differentiate and so as not to confuse the slumbering and roused Scott's.

Shooting up in a straight, his body a perfect right angle, the younger opened groggy eyes to the sight of a cluttered room, with variously placed video game posters, comics, and action figures strewn about. Kicking off his sheets and Pokemon sleep boxers together, he tripped over his first obstacle – light-up shoes – while masterfully jumping over other items like toy hurdles With each lunge, he head the theme for when Mario jumped.

Letting the water run as he "brushed" his teeth for all of two seconds, he tossed the plastic utensil behind his back. He pulled a Kingdom Hearts T-shirt over his head roughly and, upon seeing his disheveled reflection, mussed his own cobalt and sapphire-highlighted hair into a self-spiked disarray. Just the way he liked. As he rummaged around for necessary accessories, his slightly ajar door opened all the way, revealing a distracted mother.

"MOM!" he shrieked, legs futilely attempting to cover himself, arm extended as if to halt her approach.

"Oh geez!" she quickly closed the door, head bowed.

"God! At least wait till I put my pants on, Mom!" he cried out to her.

"Well we wouldn't be having this problem if you'd just hurry up." she told him as she heard the hushed rustle going over thin legs. "Don't forget your underwear..."

At that, he cringed, dropping his clutched pants to gingerly creep to a pair of underpants. Dirty – but they worked well enough for the moment. He grabbed the waistband of his jeans and shot them up his legs, giving himself a much-too uncomfortable wedgie. He righted himself and hightailed out of his washroom.

Nearly slipping on the wooden stair case, he managed to greet his father; eat his meal; half escape a kiss from mother, and bone-crushing hug from father; and get on his bus unscathed.