A/N- Wow, posting this brings back memories of when I first posted it at LJ almost three months ago! Other than that, the only a/n is that the title of this chapter comes from the song on Chicken Little. I chose it since that was the first computer animated film by just Disney, and without it, who knows if we'd have MTR! Also, I had forgotten about the Franny comment...so I hope no one takes it the wrong way...again :P She could easily mean she just wants to spend more time with her husband. Wow, I think I just felt deja vu...


We Both Bruise So Easily

"Mistakes we make when we are younger directly effect the mistakes we'll make as fathers," Franny had forced her husband and son to attend an F.F.A. meeting for real.

"Did you hear that," Cornelius was actually getting into it.

"Yeah, yeah," Wilbur just rolled his eyes. He really wasn't paying attention. Instead, he was listening to an earpiece that was connected to a receiver in his dad's lab. He had talked Carl into playing some music as he ran data for Cornelius. Of course, every now and then, Carl would frantically mention how much trouble they could get in.

"One of the keys to any healthy father/son relationship is the ability to communicate with one another even in our worst moments," the F.F.A. leader continued to speak. "To demonstrate, I need a father and son."

Wilbur was horrified to see his father raise his hand and then even more horrified to feel himself being grabbed by the arm and dragged to the front of the room. "Dad!" He jerked loose as they came to a standstill.

"This is good! I can already sense the tension," the speaker joked. "Now, to prove how easy it is to lose control of our tempers, we're going to elevate the tension. And then, I'll show you how to work through the problem the correct way."

"Dad, this is stupid. He wants us to argue on purpose."

"We can just pretend." Cornelius looked at the man, "We can just pretend right?"

"Of course, of course. There's a great number of scenarios outlined in the F.F.A. handbook," the man started listing some off for them.

Wilbur, however, had turned his attention toward his earpiece and Carl, "Little buddy, I think you should hear this. While I was running data for your father, I came across some recent reports from people in the area. They're all reporting strange behavior in their pets. To be specific, pets no where to be found for hours after nightfall. And in one report, a man claimed to see several pets leaving Mrs. Mugginy's yard at once. Of course, no one has taken any of these reports very seriously. But I think you were right. Something's definitely up at Mrs. Mugginy's house and I doubt it's just a pet party. But you should know, Wilbur, it's more than just dogs. It's all kinds of pets. I'll have Frankie and some of his men hop over there and see if they can find anything."

"Thanks, Carl."

Cornelius stopped listening to the man when he heard Wilbur. "Carl?"

"Yeah, he said he was running some data and he thinks I was right about…"

"And how were you even talking to him?"

"Oh, uh, with…with the earpiece."

"So you've been ignoring everything this nice man has been saying?"

"Not everything. But that's not important now. Listen, dad, Mrs. Mugginy's dog has been up to something, hmm, and maybe her cat too. We have to do something."

"Wilbur, not now. I don't want to listen to any more of your idiotic story," Cornelius immediately covered his mouth, realizing how he had insulted his son. "Wilbur, I'm sorry."

Wilbur was about to answer, but couldn't find any words. Instead, he just pulled the earpiece out and handed it to his dad and walked silently back to his seat. He remained silent for the rest of the meeting and all the way home.

"How was the meeting," Franny asked as Wilbur entered the Robinson Mansion, but was only answered by a shrug of the shoulders as he passed, making his way to his room. "What happened?" she looked at her husband as he walked in.

"I, I don't know," he sighed.

"Well, you must know something. And I can't help if you won't tell me."

Cornelius looked around, ashamed to admit anything if there were others listening. He noticed some of their family gathered in the nearby kitchen. "Do we have to discuss this here?"

Meanwhile, Wilbur was in his room, taking out his frustration with a game of chargeball. "I know that he didn't mean what he said. Did he? I have been known to get into trouble. Hmph. I don't know. Maybe I deserved it. Carl was right about my never obeying…I wasn't obeying when I had the earpiece. But why is mom so concerned with the F.F.A. thing anyways. Me and dad have always been tight. Okay, so maybe we're not as tight as we used to be. But that's just because I'm growing up. Even though I am only 13." Wilbur let out a cry of confusion, "Why is this so complicated all of a sudden." He took out the last block against his computer opponent. He was about to make the winning goal, but stopped when he heard Carl come into his room.

"Okay, little buddy. I don't approve of eavesdropping or anything. But your father is pretty upset. Maybe you should go talk to him."

"You're right, Carl. I need to figure out why he's acting so, so…"

"Fatherly," Carl suggested.

"No, I was looking for the word strange. Where is he?"

"I saw him headed towards the music room with your mother."

Wilbur made his way to the music room. He was about to go in, but stopped to think of something to say first. He could hear his mom and dad talking about what had happened at the meeting.

"Hon, the two of you have fought before. And over much sillier reasons. But I know the two of you will be laughing together again in no time."

"I don't know why I exploded the way I did. I didn't mean to insult him…it just came out. I guess this proves I've turned into a horrible father."

"Nonsense. You just lost your temper, that's all. It's something you almost never do. So I'm sure Wilbur knows that you didn't mean it."

"That's just it. Now that I've done it once, I can't let it happen again. I'm determined to be a good father."

Franny only sighed. There seemed to be no convincing her husband that he was already a good father and that what had happened was just something that happened but didn't mean anything.

"He thinks he's a bad father? Something's not right. Was it something I did?" the thought crossed Wilbur's mind but didn't stay there. "Nah. Maybe it's just some kind of psychological breakdown. Ooh, ooh, maybe it was like that guy said. What was it now…hmm, something about mistakes made in the past…I know what I can do. I'll just keep dad from ever having a psychological breakdown in the first place. That should make up for disobeying him earlier. Yeah…" As usual Wilbur had already worked up a hairball scheme that he was sure would make everything right, and he was off to see it through.

"Listen, Cornelius. And I mean, really listen. A silly F.F.A. meeting is no substitute for a heart to heart. If we don't show Wilbur we're concerned about his behavior or about what's possibly going through his head now, it will be harder when he gets older. We need to work this out before we go any further. Just tell him the truth. You think that maybe he's trying to get our attention with all of his wild stories. And maybe he'll tell you something that we need to know."

"I think you're better at explaining things than that F.F.A. leader."

"It's called being a mom. It comes with the territory." She gave her husband a reassuring hug. "It'll be alright. You'll see." She sealed her intuitive knowledge with a kiss.

Carl entered the room, but immediately looked away. "Oh, uh, am I interrupting...I'll just come back…uh, later." He was about to leave, but was stopped by Franny and Cornelius.

"It's okay, Carl," Franny laughed. "You weren't interrupting anything. His attention is all yours...for now anyways," Franny smiled and left the room.

"How did I get so lucky," Cornelius smiled a nerdy smile and then turned his attention back to Carl.

"Not so lucky. You left the earpiece at the meeting you were at. Some man just called."

"Is that it?" Cornelius almost expected more urgent news the way Carl has burst into the room.

"Oh and...one of the time machines is missing and I can't find Wilbur."

"What? Okay, okay. No need to panic," the worst passed through Cornelius's mind including the thought that maybe Wilbur was running away, but Wilbur was smarter than that he hoped. "Carl, I want you to run a timestream scan for the time machine. Once you get a lock on him, I'll get the other machine and find him. I'm going to go and get the earpiece so that we can keep in contact," he sighed. "I knew I should have taken the time to fix that other earpiece."

"I'm sure it's okay. Do you want me to tell..."

"No! Don't tell Franny, not just yet. I don't want her to worry more than she needs to. I'm sure I'll find Wilbur in no time."

"Well, time is on your side," Carl tried to be funny but only felt foolish. "Probably not the best way to try and lighten the mood."