Earth-82.

The woman watched as her husband fiddled with the small device in his hands, muttering under his breath. "Come on...I had it...come...EUREKA! I FOUND IT!" The device, which resembled a remote control covered in tiny Christmas lights, was emitting a high beeping noise. "I found it! Nora darling, I found it!"

Nora Schlumper beamed. "You mean...?"

Wayne punched the air in glee. "Yes! I found the frequency that will allow for the door between this Earth and the one Oscar was forced to flee to to open for a short window of time! It should be just enough for the three of us to make it through!" He turned to his wife, blue eyes bright with joy. "I can finally see my brother! Tesla, do you know how long it's been? I can only imagine what he's been up to all these years."

Nora gave him a tight hug, which he returned. "You sure you want us to go with you?"

Wayne gaped at her. "Of course I want you to go with me! What kind of brother would I be if I didn't introduce Oscar to his new family? Speaking of, you better go wake him up. I'll get the door open." Nora nodded and went down the hall.

She walked into a bedroom decorated in sailing ships, silently making her way over to the crib and the lively baby that lay inside. He was gumming on his favorite toy, a stuffed polar bear, and he beamed at his momma. "Hello little guy. Daddy's going to take us on a trip, wanna go?"

"Go!"

Nora bent down and picked him up, carried him out to the living room, and did double take. There was a hole in her wall shaped just like a door. "Wayne...is..is that safe?"

"Course it's safe! I wouldn't put you or Nick in danger! But just to be sure, I'll go first." Wayne took a deep breath and stepped through. After a few moments, Nora followed, Nick wailing in protest and fear.

Nora felt as if she was being stretched, and she could hear a strange whooshing sound. She shut her eyes, her voice stolen from her. Her arms locked around Nick.

EARTH

Wayne opened his eyes. His head was pounding, he was seeing double, and he felt like he had gone three rounds with the bullies at his old high school. He could see Nora and his son nearby, both looking rather green around the gills. Quickly, he pulled out his device, blinking until the numbers came into focus. "WE MADE IT!"

Nora made her way over. "Great. Where are we?"

"A place called Minnesota. Now we just have to find my brother, and I have no clue where to start."

Nora scrunched her nose in thought. "Hmm...are you sure he's here?"

"Oh yes, I programmed this to take us within an hour's journey of his location. Though an hour in which direction I couldn't say." He looked around, taking stock of his surroundings. "We're in a park or nature preserve of some kind. I propose we walk in a northerly direction."

"Bird!" Nick pointed at a sparrow that had landed on a branch above them. Nora laughed, then spoke to Wayne.

"Why north?"

"Why not? It's as good a direction as any." Nora couldn't argue with that, so they set off down the path.

"Looks like someone is having a picnic." Wayne could see a large group under one of the pavilions and smell burgers and hotdogs cooking. His stomach rumbled, and Nora elbowed him in the ribs. "Hey! I can't help it, I'm hungry."

He continued down the path and nearly collided with a small child. "Oh, do excuse me!"

The child-a girl of about ten with flame red hair and very familiar blue eyes-gaped at him. She blinked, looked back at the picnic area, then back to him, her gaze piercing, and he felt a slight shiver run up his spine. "Umm...is everything okay?"

"You look exactly like my Uncle! My name's Charlene, what's yours?"

Wayne held out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Charlene. My name is Wayne Schlumper, and this is my wife Nora and our son, Nicholas. Miss Charlene, are you okay?"

Charlene's eyes were as wide as dinner plates. "Uhhh...yeah...I'm great! Hey, listen, why don't you come and join our picnic! We're celebrating my sister's birthday and the park is the best place for it because she can use her powers and not hurt anyone."

"It sounds tempting, but I'm afraid we must pass it up. You see, I came from a long way away looking for someone, and I can't waste any time."

Charlene frowned, then brightened up. "Just come on over. It'll be fun."

Nora looked over at him, shifting Nicky higher on her hip. "It couldn't hurt." Nicky wriggled. "And I need to sit for a moment anyway. Lead the way, Charlene."

Charlene trotted off towards the pavilion, the others following. When they arrived, Charlene cupped her hands to her mouth. "UNCLE INSANO! COME HERE!"

"There is no need to shout, Charlene!"

Wayne and Nora gawped in surprise as a man who looked exactly like him save for a pair of spiral goggles covering his eyes came over, a small pink object tucked in his arm. "What is...oh." He blinked at Wayne, then laughed. "Ahh, parallel Earth, no doubt. I always knew there was more of me out there. Well...this will come as a pleasant shock to your father, Charlene."

Charlene was practically bouncing in glee. "I know! Where is he?" Insano pointed over his shoulder, and Charlene giggled.

Wayne looked in the direction his parallel doppelganger was pointing and felt the world spin. He made his way through the crowd, ignoring the stares, double takes, and whispers of shock until he came to the last picnic table and its two occupants, a rather lovely woman with the same hair as Charlene and a man that he would know anywhere. They were currently engaged in an intimate conversation, and Wayne gulped. "Umm...ex...excuse me..."

The woman looked around first, and Wayne realized that she wasn't looking at him in shock. Rather, she was grinning. "Well, talk about serendipity. Guess Fate finally decided to favor you. Oscar, there's someone here you might know."

Wayne felt time stop as the man turned around. He had spent hours rehearsing what he was going to say when he saw him again. He would tell him he understood, that he had never stopped trying to find a way to be with him, and that he was proud to be his brother. But now, all the grand speeches were driven out of his head at the look of incredulous joy mingled with shock on the face of the man he hadn't seen in years.

"Hello, big brother."