I know, it's pathetic, and short. But I've been super busy with college and work to really get into writing anymore, and even less time to go back and edit old ideas. So, sorry if it isn't perfect, but it's fanfiction, fit it to your own head cannons! That's what I do!


Cornelius had been at his lab far more than 16 hours. It was 8:20 and Franny sat by her bedroom window, watching for Cornelius to come home. Even in the far distance, she couldn't see lights, or any indication that would mean he would be coming. Art and Gaston peeked their heads into the room and shared a nervous glance with one another before venturing closer to their sister.

"Hey, Ny." Art greeted gently.

"Watching for Cornelius?" Gaston asked.

Sighing, Franny turned her gaze to her brothers. Her eyes told them everything; she was worried, she was nervous, and she was afraid. "I... Cornelius hasn't been home sense

he rushed out after his nightmare. I'm... I don't know." She turned her eyes longingly back to the window, hoping she'd see him soon.

Art placed a hand on her back. "You know Cornelius, he probably lost track of time in his lab. Who knows what he's creating! But you should really get some sleep. I bet he'll be back before you wake up." He comforted.

Sighing, she looked as if she were contemplating going to bed. "I'll stay up a bit longer. If he doesn't come home in the next hour, I'll go fetch him instead." Franny decided aloud. Art and Gaston sighed defeatedly, and kissed their sister's cheek good night beforemleaving her to sit and wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Franny had drifted in and out of sleep for two hours, not realizing what time it was. She glanced at the clock with sleepy eyes. It read 10:34pm. Sighing, she climbed off the window seal and stumbled in her sleepy state. It's not safe to go get Cornelius. Not like this. Maybe Art is right. Cornelius will be home before I wake up. She crawled across her bed and buried herself under the covers before falling into restless sleep.

"Mom. Mom, wake up!" Wilber called, shaking her from sleep.

Groggily, she sat up and Wilber shoved the phone into her hands. She blinked a few times, her eyes slowly getting used to the light blaring from the window. "Hello?" She asked into the other end.

"Hello, Mrs. Robinson!" Came a male voice from the other end. "It's happened again."

Sighing, Franny replied, "I'll be there in a bit. Try and keep him from sleep-working."

"Will do! And I'll let the others know your coming! Good morning, mrs. Robinson!"

She didn't even say good bye. She just clicked the off button, and dragged herself out of bed.

"Dad fall asleep at work again?" Wilber asked, though he had a joking smile, Franny could see the worry in his eyes.

"Yeah. I need to go pick him up." Franny said, stumbling out of bed. She dragged her feet as she went to the closet to change.

It was almost an hour before Franny actually arrived at the labs. She walked the halls, subconsciously turning down whichever halls she needed to get to her husband's lab. She always gave a halfhearted "good morning." Back to whomever greeted her along the way.

The doors slid open at her coming, and Michael Stanford - a friend, and lab partner to Cornelius on occasion - stood off tithe side watching said husband looking over equations on his large digital boards and shuffling through his written notes in a mumbling mess. She quietly entered the domed room, and placed her hand on Mike's shoulder to let him know she was there. He smiled, nodded, and took his leave.

Franny's heels clicked against the metal floor, gripping her skirt nervously as she watched her husband shuffle around, completely out of it. "Hunny?" She called out. He didn't seem to hear her, lost in his own escaping thoughts. "Cornelius?" She placed her hand on his arm when she was close enough, and he jumped.

"Franny?" Blinking furiously in confusion, Cornelius looked down at his watch, though his eyes seemed unable to comprehend the numbers. He looked back to his wife, giving up on learning the tome. "W-When did you get here?"

"Cornelius, you're scaring me." Franny stated, lightly gripping his bicep.

His shoulders slumped in exhaustion as he looked at his Franny's tearful eyes. "I-I don't know how to explain it." He ran a tired hand down his face. Franny eased him to the ground, to help rest his aching limbs, noticing that his chair had been thrown across the room.

"Try." She said, kneeling next to him, holding him close.

"Something will-has happened, and if I don't...Wilber..." he cried out in frustration, burying his face in Franny's shoulder.

"It'll be okay. It'll be okay, hunny." Franny rubbed circles into her exhausted husbands back. He sobbed until he had no more tears left, but he was still depressed.

"If I do it, there's a chance Wilber will be lost, but if I don't, I don't know what will happen."

Franny didn't speak for a long moment. "I've always trusted you and your judgement. I will always support you no matter your decision." She held him closer, as he calmed down.

"We may not remember the reason for this conversation. Time is a tricky thing." Cornelius said quietly.

"Then remember the feelings." Franny replied just as softly, carding her fingers through his hair. "Come home, rest, and begin again. You need to take care of yourself."

Cornelius nodded, and Franny helped him up off the floor. "Everything will be okay, Honey. Because you won't stop until it is."