The second hand slowly trudged around the face of the clock. Ticking, ticking.

Jasmine sat on a nearby crate, by the door. Waiting, waiting.

Axel paced up and down the floorboards. Pacing, pacing.

"He should be here by now," Jasmine declared, breaking the silence suddenly.

"Yeah," Axel agreed. "What was it he said he was doing? 'Attending to business'?" He scoffed. "Like we believe that."

Jasmine said nothing, she just glanced back at the door. Waiting, waiting.

"Is he still not back?" came a voice from behind the two.

Axel and Jasmine glanced around and saw Robin.

"Nope," Axel said. "He's been gone for hours!"

"Do you know where he's gone, Rob?" Jasmine asked her cousin.

Over his shoulder, Robin caught Walter's eye, and Walter gave him 'The Look'. Robin knew exactly what 'The Look' was.

All of the Muppets had recently made a vow to not tell the kids what had happened to their mother – that was Kermit's job and Kermit's job alone.

Robin shrugged. "Beats me. He just said he was going out, no specification. I'm sure it's nothing important, though." He yawned. "Well, I'm off to bed, night, guys."

"Jas, you should go to bed too," Axel said. "It's pretty late."

"I'm staying up until Dad gets back," Jasmine said, stubbornly.

"I thought so."

Just then, there was a clunk of keys in the lock, and Kermit appeared, looking tired and dishevelled.

"Dad!" Jasmine jumped up immediately and threw her arms around Kermit.

Axel, however, stood his ground. "Where've you been?"

"Axel, don't be like that," Kermit scolded.

Axel held his accusing glare for a second longer, then in an instant, it was gone.

"Sorry."

"But Dad," Jasmine put in. "We were worried about you, you were gone for hours!"

Axel raised an eyebrow. Worried? I don't think so. Annoyed, more like.

"Well, kids," Kermit said. "I…uh…I've got something to tell you."

He took a seat on the crate, and Jasmine joined him. Axel was a little hesitant, but he decided to sit as well.

"I…uh…I don't know quite how to tell you this…"

"Is it…bad news?" Jasmine asked.

Kermit nodded.

"Well…uh…you see…"

"Can you just tell us for God's sake, and then we can go to bed! It's nearly eleven o clock!" Axel snapped.

Kermit could see that his son was angry, but he could explain himself, if only he could get the words out.

"It's about your mum," he blurted out. "Something happened the other night…"

"Which night?" Jasmine asked.

"The one before last."

Jasmine remembered the commotion she had heard that night, and how Axel had lied.

"The one with the strange noises?" she asked, looking pointedly at her brother.

Kermit nodded again.

"Your mum…she's…she's gone. She's not coming back."

"What do you mean by that?" Axel asked, clearly fed up of his dad beating around the bush.

Kermit didn't reply, but simply looked at his son, torn-up expression, and tears in his eyes, he just looked at him.

And then everything clicked into place.

"She's dead?"

With one final nod, Kermit buried his face in his lap, unable to hold back the tears any longer.

"What?" Jasmine said. "No…no way. That…that's impossible! That's crazy. That's… That's…" she trailed off, unable to end her sentence. "Dad? It's…it's not true…is it?"

"I can't lie to you, Jasmine," came the reply.

There were no words left after that. Jasmine stood up abruptly, and backed away slowly. Looking back and forth between her father and her brother, it took every part of her not to burst into tears.

"It's not true…"

Her voice was nothing but a hollow echo.

"It's…not…"

She suddenly turned on her heel, and fled.

"Jasmine?" Axel called after her. As she disappeared round a corner, Axel turned to his Dad. "Where's she going?"

Kermit had his head in his hands. "I was hoping she wouldn't react like this. Denial. She's gone to go and find your mum."

"But she's…" Axel tried to meet Kermit's gaze, but when he did, he immediately looked away. He couldn't tell him about what he heard that night. And what he said…

"Dad…that 'business' you were attending to…it's this, isn't it?"

Kermit nodded, no words needed.

"Dad, listen…I knew something was going on…but…I never expected it to be this…"

"It's OK, son, it's alright."

Axel allowed himself to be pulled in for a hug, even though he wasn't great with affection. In fact, this whole situation was making him close to tears…

No! He couldn't cry! He had to stay strong, for his Dad, and his little sister. He was the tough one.

He was…

Wasn't he?

Maybe it didn't seem that way when his face was streaked with tears.

"Axel, are you OK?" Kermit asked.

Axel just shrugged.

"Listen," his Dad said. "I know it's tough for you…but we've got to get Jasmine before she drives herself crazy."

Axel nodded. He sniffed hard and scrubbed his eyes roughly with the back of his hand.

This is it he thought I have to bottle up all my feelings.

But it was for his sister. He'd do anything for his little sister.