Candy Vantas cautiously opened the front door. The living room was empty and the kitchen was clear. She entered carefully then proceeded to close the door.

With her back on the wall Candy shuffled down the hallway towards her room. pausing at even the smallest of sounds. Safely reaching the brown door that seemed like a gateway to her room she gave a low sigh. She quickly entered her room and gently set her satchel on the back of her desks chair. If it had not been for the gentle bell like sound she wouldn't have known another presence was in the room.

The small troll froze in fear, a red blush forming on her face as she turned towards her bed. Her father stood in front of it guarding the only hiding place in her room. In his crossed arms he held his black leather belt. Candy made a beeline for the door, Karkat quickly grabbed her by the back of her white shirt before she even grabbed the knob.

"Something came in the mail while you were at school today." Karkat said holding up a paper as Candy gave a tiny squeak. Not waiting for any reply he continued. "Your failing both Math and Writing. You may have to repeat a grade..."

"I twy my hawdest daddy honestly I do!" Candy said trying to appeal to her case. Karkat ignored her and proceeded to remove the four-year-olds pull ups. "Pwease! No!"

Karkat stood her up on his lap so he could see her face fully. "Sorry Candy but this is the only way I know fully that progress is being made. I'm doing his because I care about you..."

He finished removing the child's pull ups and set her on his jean covered lap. The belt was lifted in the air and bought down on Candies exposed bottom.

As Strider Makara walked past the door he could hear Candy crying and a slapping sound. He sighed before entering his own room where his father was waiting near his closet. Strider gave his father a quick hug before heading to the basement to collect a Faygo. Unlike Candy, Strider was more focused at school and as long as at hand was a Faygo, relaxed. Rather than bad grades he had a different problem, fighting.

About once a week Strider would get into a fight with some kid at school. His father had said that if he got into a fight this week he would be grounded for life and severely punished, that threat was not to be taken lightly. Strider chugged down the Faygo and headed back upstairs just as Candies punishment was finished.

"Sh...Sh...Sh...It's ok now Candy...Shhhhhhh...I still love you...Shhh..." Strider could hear Karkat mumbling. Candy was sobbing a bit as her door was opened and Karkat carried her out.

Candies face was buried in Karkats grey neck, a mixture of snot, saliva, and tears trickled down his black shirt.

"StRiDeR," Gamzee said picking up his son quickly "DiD yOu FiGhT tOdAy?"

Strider shook his head and felt his father squeeze him a bit tighter. Strider smiled and put his arms around his fathers neck and hugged him. Gamzee frowned as he saw his sons right eye. A ring of black had formed around his bright orange eye.

"StRiDeR," Gamzee growled in a low voice. "WhO hIt YoU?"

Strider looked away and his father sat down on Striders blue bed allowing his son to sit on his lap.

"WhO hIt YoUr EyE?" Gamzee bounced Strider on his knee lightly. Strider just buried his face in his fathers shirt and cried. Gamzee wrapped his warm grey arms around the child. "ItS oK sTrIdEr...iTs Ok I hAvE yOu..."

(First homestuck fanfic! Yay! Strider and Candy are mine. Gamzee and Karkat are not a couple! They just live together and I only did Gamzee's typing quirk because I didn't want it to seem like Karkat was yelling at Candy. They live in 4 story house not including basement and attic. Their wives died and both kids are 3 1/2 review please!)