I know I didn't update Monday, so I wrote a longer chapter for you guys to make up for it.

We've got a healthy dose of family fluff, too, so I'm sure some of you will like that.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

"No!" Michelle cried upon realizing the disappearance of the clock.

Had the clock been stolen?

Without the clock, how could she fix everything? How could she turn the bird's head around and make time go forward again?

Michelle began panicking. Why would the clock just up and disappear all of a sudden? The clock weighed three times as much as Michelle and nothing else appeared to have been stolen, so it was unlikely the clock had been taken. Dad had wanted the clock for years; there's no way he would've sold it.

So what had happened?

Time was going backwards. Dad bought the cuckoo clock on the eighth of February, and today was…

The third. Five days before her father bought the cuckoo clock.

The clock was gone. Her parents would think she was lying or crazy or both. Tommy was definitely out; he'd tell everyone she'd gone insane.

What was she going to do?

"Michelle, what are you doing up so late?" her mother mumbled from the doorway, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Michelle took a deep breath. "I thought I heard something. Must've been the cat."

"You okay?" she asked. "You look a little pale."

Mrs. Webster crossed the room, and she pressed her hand against Michelle's forehead.

"You do feel warm," she muttered. "Let me get the thermometer."

"I'm not sick," Michelle called after her mother, but her mother had disappeared into the kitchen.

Her mother reappeared a few moments later, and she held the thermometer in front of Michelle's mouth. Michelle reluctantly opened her lips and allowed her mother to place the thermometer on her tongue.

A few moments later, her mother withdrew the device and stared at the small digital screen.

"102.2," she tutted. "You'd better get some rest."

Michelle was confused. Last time Michelle was sick, her mother said lay down and drink water before heading off to work. When Tommy got sick, her parents would consider taking him to the hospital for a cold. Her parents rarely even took her temperature.

Michelle knew her parents had to love her. It was a rule. Parents had to love their children. Sometimes it was incredibly obvious how much they loved their children. Sometimes you had to dig to find that soft spot for your child. Could it be possible her mother cared for Michelle more than Michelle had thought?

"What's wrong?" Tommy yawned as he stepped into the room, rubbing his eyes and wearing a blanket around his shoulders like a cape.

"Nothing, Tommy. Go on back to bed," Mrs. Webster told him.

He noticed the thermometer in her hand and Michelle's pale and flushed face.

"Is Michelle sick?" he asked their mother.

Great, Michelle thought, glumly. Perfect opportunity for Tommy to prank and tease me. I'm vulnerable and he's Mommy and Daddy's perfect little angel.

Mrs. Webster nodded. "I'm afraid so, Tommy."

Michelle expected Tommy to laugh and say her face was redder than a fire hydrant or simply shrug and walk back upstairs. What she didn't expect was a hug.

Tommy wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled up at her.

"Feel better, Michelle," he chirped. "Night."

"Night," Michelle responded, shocked, as her brother released her and headed for the doorway.

She expected him to glance over his shoulder and smirk, as though to rub it in that he had fooled their mother into believing he was the perfect little brother and Michelle was the monster.

He didn't glance back. He didn't make faces or smirk or smile in a nasty manner. He kept walking.

"Your brother really cares for you," Mrs. Webster murmured. "Maybe you should show how much you care for him, too."

Michelle could only nod.

Was her mother right? Did Tommy the Terror… actually care about her?

Michelle didn't know if she'd ever be able to wrap her head around that.

The moment between Michelle and Tommy is a stepping stone in a much bigger part of the story. You'll have to wait to see what that is, but I thought I should tell you that that part is there for a reason.

Bye, everyone!

Total word count: 760