A/N:

And so my friends, the final chapter is here… You honestly don't know how much fun I'm had writing for you guys. I admit that I kind of preferred the first one but that's just because I like origin stories XD

I may do a few one-shots based on this series, like Warner memories, little moments in their life with the Nolans etc… And I've got a few one-shots planned that are purely Animaniacs based and have nothing to do with Reality Check, but that'll come another time. But as for an actual third instalment for a trilogy, that'll be up to reader demand and story inspiration.

So, without further ado, read on…

*Talia's POV*

I'm grounded. I'm twenty years old, (even if still physically eighteen) I haven't been grounded since I was fifteen. And now here I am, being grounded by a squirrel. Well to be honest, I didn't care. The second we'd made it back to Burbank, Slappy's house was always going to be the main destination and punishment was unavoidable. Slappy had called it an unfortunate homing mechanism that she just couldn't seem to shake. Everything had happened so fast. One second we were stumbling through the door, then we were being bombarded with questions from every direction and I can't really remember who'd hugged me or who'd taken a swing at me from relief and scares. I guess the feeling of safety was starting to sink in and letting exhaustion take over. Only when I was positive that my siblings were truly in good hands did I give into it, sinking into sleep right where I sat in the middle of the living room.

"Why didn't you let us finish him, Talia? I wasn't stealing your thunder was I?" a childish pout of a voice asked from the inky gloom of my psyche, "I wouldn't do that, I'd let you take the credit."

There she was. My mirror image, but not quite. The ink welled eyes, black ears poking through the hair and flicker of a tail separated us. She looked tired, but still grinning in that same twisted way, although there was more of a welcoming aura to it than last time. "You know why I didn't…"

"I? Are you accepting me, Talia?"

I ignored that, "You could have killed anyone you wanted then and there, but you stopped. Don't deny it, you saw R.J for what he was and didn't like it either, right?"

"Well really it was you that stopped me." She smiled, "Who needs a boss-man anyway? But that doesn't answer my question; are you accepting me?"

Was I? It wasn't that simple, "No… but I'm aware of you. And I'm not letting you out again. I can't."

Taking me by surprise, she softened her expression, "Like I'd want to go out there again anyway. It's more fun in here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked anxiously.

Using her toon-reflex, she plucked an apple from the air, deliberately slowly so that I could see the outline being formed, the colour and shading illuminating and the density gathering. She tossed it to me, "It means it's your turn to have some fun, silly, and I get to watch!"

I caught the fruit and was taken back by how real it felt, "I don't understand."

She blinked, but the ink didn't dribble away like before, "Awe, I tired you out!" she giggled, "Basically, you don't have to worry about me no more; frankly I'm tired out too. Just make sure you have enough fun for the two of us, okay?"

Really? I was being let loose from her? Was this another trick, why was she doing that? My head suddenly felt; clear. Is that it? I'd been terrified of losing control of myself that when I finally did, I found it so much easier to stop it than I imagined. She was no longer a threat to me. I could handle it. Maybe moving on from this wasn't going to be so difficult after all. I allowed myself a grateful smile.

"Thanks."

"Don't give me that or I'll be forced to stick around and kick you back into shape again." she warned.

Fearing she was serious, I changed topic, "There's something I don't understand though, how could you-I; how did that work with the rosehip oil everywhere?"

A crafty smirk appeared on her face that sent shivers through me, "Do you really think a little oil can stop us when someone points a gun at our sis? I don't think so." She leant in close, a dark glimmer skimming across her black eyes, "Maybe you should have let me finish him."

"I'm not a murderer."

"I guess that means I'm not either. But he is…"

"Then why should we turn into him?" I shot back, "He's gone now, he has nothing."

"You're welcome!" she cackled, "Oh, I guess I've got to go; or rather you do, I can't really go anywhere. Well at least you know where I am for next time!"

"There won't be a next time."

"Oh I know silly but it's just nice to say!" rolling her eyes, she thumbed over her shoulder, "I'm serious about having enough fun for both of us, something tells me that after dealing with this hot-stuff you'll be handling things a lot easier now."

Over her shoulder, I could see a door. It opened slightly, but what was beyond it seemed just as dark as where I stood now. Unease crept over me at the unknown. I didn't really want to go, and staying here with her didn't seem like a good option either. Sure, she seemed saner, and it was like she was releasing me from something. Was I releasing myself? I didn't feel so scared anymore, but I didn't want to believe it just yet.

"What? No dramatic sinking into the inky darkness like before?" I asked, hoping that the door wouldn't vanish as I edged around her to get to it.

Another giggle, "Well you've made a lot of changes in here."

I stood in the doorframe, "So what happens to you now?"

"Is this you caring about me, missy? Well there's a twist! Well you go off and have all the fun, and I'll be having a rest! All those games really took it out of me, but I'll be ready and waiting for another go! Relax, only if you need me."

I hoped I never did, and by the look of her face she didn't either. Maybe now that my fear was leaving, her insanity was too. She understood it seemed. I felt kind of bad leaving her, but as she pointed out, she was me. Technically she wasn't going anywhere, we were blending into one. She was all in my head now, a desperate measure that I could call upon as a defence mechanism. And that was okay with me. Giving her a final look, a smile of appreciation to which she shrugged passively and waved childishly to urge me on. And then, I stepped through…

When I opened my eyes, something tight was wrapped around my forearm. I flinched in panic, a horrible notion that the escape had all been in my head and that I was still trapped in that room, the metal strip still holding me in place. But the room struck me as familiar and I placed that I was still in Slappy's house, laid on one of the beds in the attic room again. Next to me, a known face was peering at me, untying a black Velcro strap from my arm. I gave a weak smile.

"For someone who isn't a medical doctor you definitely know your stuff."

"Vell, viv zer Varner's around it comes in handy." Dr. S answered after taking my blood pressure, "Zey filled me in on vat happened. How are you feeling?"

In my hand, I found that I was clutching something solid and round. I took a look and saw that it was a faultless red apple. An absentminded smile tweaked in my expression, "I'm feeling… pretty good."

After my check up I'd found out that my siblings had also been given one, resulting in an all clear. Turns out I'd only slept for a few hours, and I really felt like going back for another few. Maybe even a week or so. But as if anyone was going to let that happen.

"You can be a real yutz sometimes, girly." Rita announced, rolling her eyes, "If I'm ever in a fix do us all a favour and leave me."

"Yeah I'll remember that." I replied, scratching behind her ears in hopes of forgiveness.

Slappy elbowed Dr. S, "Tell me you got a shot or something to dim that hero complex?" her glare directed to the Warner's, "That goes for you three too! This ain't no after-school special, when you take two kids off on some bone-head trip people are going to notice!"

Pinky cackled at the ranting, which forced Brain to sigh in exasperation. Poppy smiled sheepishly, "But we're back… so it's all okay now, right?"

I put an arm around her, hoping what I said was true, "Better than okay."

"Actually, there is one thing that would make this better…" Yakko said slyly.

"Oh yeah, what's that?" I challenged, arching an eyebrow.

He raised a finger matter-of-factly, "This."

In a blink of an eye he'd grabbed me by the shoulders and span me around, tilting me so that I stumbled. Using it to his advantage, Yakko caught me in the curve of his arm in a dip that left me a mere few inches above ground and gave a swift wriggle of his eyebrows. Then, prominently swooped down to deliver a typical and forceful Warner smooch right on my lips. My eyes widened in surprise but he'd locked me in place so I couldn't move. That sneaky little -! Yeah, enjoy it boy because you're going to be running for your life in a second! Enjoying his victory, he pulled away and raised his arms triumphantly and thus dropping me flat on my back in the process.

"I've still got it." He bowed, "Ladies and gentlemen, it's good to be back!"

Dot and Flynn rolled their eyes while Poppy and Wakko started laughing and actually applauding him. Acting upon the advantage of him having his back to me, I narrowed my eyes and gave him a sharp kick behind his knees, making them buckle and him topple backwards onto the ground. He shook the daze away and flashed me a toothy grin.

I deliberately wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, "What the heck was that supposed to be?"

He shrugged, "What? After all the stuff that's been going down, I need to catch up with my game!"

"Then go find another player." I scoffed, getting to my feet.

"Oh, kiddo, I think we both know I'm the only player around here."

"Hey, what about me?" Wakko asked, "Don't count me out!"

The two started bickering amongst each other. Flynn simply huffed and ignored them, seeming eager to escape from here for some reason. Was he okay? He seemed irritable to say the least. I wouldn't bring it up now, but I'd have to talk to him later. After everything that had happened, I didn't want any more friction. All of a sudden, Slappy grabbed the squabbling brothers by the ears and forced their heads into collision, sending spirals in their eyes and stars circling their heads as the collapsed onto the floor. She dusted her hands and arched an eyebrow at me.

"It's about time someone did that; I'm surprised it wasn't you."

And how I hadn't so far I really don't know… Wakko recovered first, sitting up and clutching his head, "That hurt more than Dadoo J smacking my keister after I ate the TV…"

Yakko sat bolt upright and pointed at his brother, "Care to run that by me again?"

He furrowed his brow, "I said… Dadoo J… Or was it Daddo C? No it was Daddo J! Wait…"

"Seriously? You just head but each other and the memories jump through?" Flynn snapped in disbelief.

Yakko grinned, "What can I say? We're cartoons. Animany…"

Wakko span his finger by his head in the 'screw-ball' style, "Totally insaney…"

"My turn for memory laney!" Dot huffed and pointed to herself, "Come on, where's my- OW!"

She glared at her brothers after they'd smacked their heads harshly against hers, pulling out her mallet and returning a wallop of her own. Yakko grabbed his brother and pulled into a duck, "Hey you asked for it!"

"Just returning the favour." She replied sweetly.

Poppy looked at me curiously, "Can they really pass memories like that?"

I watched the siblings in awe as they started spouting memory after memory at one another. There really was so much more to learn about toon anatomy and I really doubted I'd ever understand it. Yakko and I caught eyes for a second and the grin on his face was infectious; this was what he wanted, to be able to share his memories with his sibs.

But in answer to her question to the randomness around us, I simply shrugged, "Well, it wouldn't be the strangest thing around here."

Poppy shifted and stole a look at Flynn, "Very true…"

Over the next few days, Dr. S had made appointments for me and my siblings everyday to keep an eye on us to make sure what had happened hadn't put too much strain on us. I wasn't so fussed on myself, I knew that I'd be okay, but Flynn and Poppy on the other hand seemed a little off. Somedays Poppy looked like she was about to open up and say something, but then she'd cut herself off. Flynn on the other hand was distancing himself and frankly it was worrying me. No matter how much I'd try to talk to him, he'd always give the bluntest of answers and make any excuse to leave. But as soon as we were all given the clear to move back into our house about a week later, I was ready to crack again.

Talking did absolutely nothing. It was like he was scared that he was going to catch something from me. Poppy wasn't so bad, but she always had this childish glint in her eyes that she was harbouring a secret. And I didn't like it. One day, during my appointment with Dr. S, I brought it up. It had been over a week since we'd returned home, and the feeling of normality, or some version of it, still hadn't fallen back into place.

"R.J's back behind bars, he's got nothing over us anymore, so I don't understand why they're both acting like there's some danger lurking around the corner. I thought that it would go away after we moved back but it's getting worse."

He nodded, "Und vat have zey said ven asked?"

"Nothing. Flynn just snaps at me that there's nothing wrong and Poppy pretends that she doesn't know what I'm talking about. Haven't they said anything to you?"

"No, but I do agree zat zey are uncomfortable viv something."

"Like?" I urged, "I know about confidentiality but they're my family and I let you talk me into letting them have this therapy so please tell me."

Looking at me sympathetically, he wrung his hands like he was scared to offend me, "Vell, my theory is zat zey are starting to understand the full effects of your, ahem, toon qualities. I feel zat zey are scared of growing up viv zeir sister staying zer same. Zeir resentful for leaving you behind und can't stop it."

My toon skills had been improving on their own as of late, but it wasn't like I was happy about it, "So what do I do? It's not like I can stop it either."

A nervous, yet knowing smile, "I've, uh, been vorking viv someone who might have an answer."

That didn't sit well with me, "Who?"

"Talk about timing, huh?"

I span around in my seat at the sound of a new voice. Instantly I recognised him, my teeth bit my tongue to stop a gasp of shock, "Jared?"

He shook his head, "No, I'm starting over. I go by Jack now." Jared and Mackenzie; now just Jack. I nodded and he extended a hand with a knowing smile, "Nice to meet you, Miss. Nolan, I'm Jack Richards. But you can call me Jack."

Wow, as cocky as ever I see. I rolled my eyes at his attempt at humour, but returned the handshake all the same, "It's Talia. And nice to meet you too; Jack." I dropped the act and turned to Dr. S, "What's going on here?"

"He's still legally zer CEO of zer company."

"So… you're staying?"

"What can I say? Something just keeps pulling me back." He shrugged, "And from the, uh, events of the other week, I've had a lot to think about. And I figured that even if it was set up by R.J, I've loved being here and that it's kind of a good place to be right now."

Was I happy to see him? I wasn't quite sure but I had to admit that knowing that he was making choices for himself was kind of nice. Jack, well it wasn't a big change, I could get used to it. It actually fitted him pretty well. Okay I have to say, I wasn't that not happy to see him…"Does this mean the toons can't call you Jar-Head anymore?"

Jack chuckled, "Well, because it's them, they can call me anything they like."

Dr. S sank in his chair, "You may live to regret zat one."

"At least I'm living." He shrugged.

He had a good point, "So you two have been working together recently?"

They nodded. "Mr. Richards had a theory about zer rosehip oil…"

The next night, my choice still hadn't been made. I hadn't told anyone about what I'd been told, but news of Jared, no, Jack's return had spread like wildfire and the toons had a field day. And no, they did not stop calling him Jar-Head. But my secrets were still sealed tight. I held the bottle in my hand and thought about it. If I drank a bottle of this every day for the rest of my life then the toon part of me would be dampened enough to cancel it out completely. It was normally dangerous for people to ingest the oil, but Jack had tried it and it had worked for him. So why not me? I'd start aging again, I'd lose the abilities and if I got hurt, then I'd heal like I should be, like a human. This was what I wanted. I could go back to having a more or less normal life. So why wasn't I as happy as I thought I'd be? A thought flickered past me. The reason I didn't want immortality was because it just meant watching people grow and leave you behind. The toons had been through that for who knows how long. I didn't want to be another name on a list. But at the same time I couldn't let my siblings go on while I stayed the same, it wasn't fair.

"I told you, baby, how I feel. One word can close this deal. Baby, be my queen of hearts. Please gimme that love you've got." I flinched at the sound and darted my eyes around the room. What the hell was that? "A-won'tcha say yes? Don'tcha say no. Make me feel good, kiddio…"

"Hello?"

"Evening!"

"Jesus Christ!" I gasped, almost dropping the bottle and forcing to hide it in my pocket.

Yakko suck his head up from under the bed and jumped up next to me, "One day you're going to just be happy with me and not build your hopes up."

"Yeah, one day…" l replied sarcastically, "What song was that?"

"A classic, kiddo, you learn to love 'em!" (A/N: Kiddio by Brook Benton, thanks 'Frumouttamimind' for sending it to me, I love it XD)

Guilt was building inside of me. The bottle was heavy in my pocket and I just couldn't bring myself to mention it. In my silence, he just arched an eyebrow smugly as if knowing that I was hiding something and it was just a matter of time until I spilled the beans. Not again… No, I would have to try a different approach and distract him. Well, there was something that I hadn't said yet that I'd been meaning to. May as well go with that…

"I haven't said this but," I shrugged truthfully, "I am glad to have you back to normal again." Even if it did get annoying sometimes, I added to myself.

"That's me, as normal as the next guy." He quipped, but softened with a quick wink, "And for the record, kiddo, I'm not that ungrateful about what you did to get me back."

"Is that a thank you?"

"It's a: thank toonness for the reckless hero-complex. Like a true toon."

I didn't want to repeat myself by saying that I wasn't a toon and didn't want to be, so instead I just gave a scowl that seemed to make him smile. For a while we just sat there, Yakko whistling the tune from earlier.

Wanting to take the attention from me, I forced a smirk, "You okay?"

"By name and nature!" he grinned.

"Evidently…" I rolled my eyes.

"About time me agree on something."

"Like next time one of us needs saving we actually come up with a plan?"

"Now there's the pot calling the kettle black right there."

"Touché."

"What's my tushie got to do with this?"

And now we were off on a tangent; I shifted down and lay my head on the pillow, not really wanting to go into much more detail on anything else, the rosehip oil taunted me from my pocket, "Goodnight."

"It's never a good night without a little catch." He grinned, snuggling down to drape an arm under my shoulders so that he was locked onto me.

"Too bad for you."

"Looks like something's bad with you too." He challenged, "R.J's going to think twice about messing with us again, you know that right?"

From what I'd heard, the Warner's had snuck into his prison cell and had gone full out. But just to torment me, they hadn't given details, "Yeah I know…"

"Oh this is rich, he had a little pearl of wisdom when we were leaving." He offered, "He tried to pass on a guilt trip that you'd have had a pretty good life without us in it."

So R.J still tried mind games, "Don't know about good, but it would be quieter."

For a split second, he hesitated, but flashed me a raised eyebrow, "Do you regret it?"

I deliberately paused, enjoying the slither of unease before putting him out of his misery with a playful shove, "As if! Normal's overrated anyway." The irony of that sentence kind of hurt me.

A toothy grin formed and he suggestively leaned on my shoulder, "Even after near-death experiences you can't resist me."

"Modesty, it's your strong point." I retorted sarcastically.

"Besides, kiddo, you were way off normal even before we came along."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He counted the ways off of his fingers, "You eat toast in circles nibbling the crusts off first and work your way in; you beat people with baseball bats on a first or second meeting; all your books and movies are in alphabetical order; you check behind the shower curtain before you lock the bathroom door even when you're home alone and -"

"First off the books and movies are easier to find; I don't like toast crusts so I eat them first to get rid of them; I told you to let the baseball thing go and… Hang on; how do you know I look behind the shower curtain if I'm supposedly home alone?" I narrowed my eyes questioningly.

He rubbed the back of his neck in mock nervousness, "Uuuuuuhhhhh….."

"Pervert!" I shoved him.

"Priss." He returned calmly, returning to his previous position of having an arm over me, but suddenly retracted, raising an arm above his head in victory. I froze, it was the bottle, "What have we here?" I tried to lunge for it but he ducked, taking a sniff of the stuff and wrinkling his nose as he clicked what it was. "Tut-tut, kiddo…"

"You don't understand." I insisted, "Just hear me out…"

Thankfully, he did so, but still didn't hand the bottle back to me. I told him that it would dampen the toon part of me enough to start resuming my original human state. It was best for my siblings, it was best for me. All the while he just sat there at the foot of my bed, listening intently without changing his confident manner. Finally, when I finished explaining, he just simply tossed the bottle back to me.

"So what's keeping you? Bottoms up." Yakko arched an eyebrow. When I didn't answer, he gave me a look, "You don't know what you want, do you?"

"No… I don't."

"For the record, kiddo, I kinda like you like this. Get any older and it may just make what we have here a little awkward." He smirked slyly.

I rolled my eyes, "Thanks, that makes my decision a heck of a lot easier."

He grinned, but took pity on me and looked at me closely, "Okay, so what's so good about being human?"

"I get to have control of what I do, I get to carry on with the same pace as Poppy and Flynn…"

"And what's keeping you from doing that?" he challenged.

"How used to this toon thing I've gotten, how I'm slowly learning to get the hang of it… But I'd be leaving my family to carry on going without me. It's not like they can become half-toon either, I wouldn't ever put them through that pain and doubt that they'd even want to turn; and… if I go back to being human then it'd be you guys being left behind again…"

"So; you want to be where you have control, stay the same with your sibs and still not leave little old us either?"

"In a nutshell." I sighed, running my hands through my hair.

"Why're you so eager for everyone to stay together? I'm not complaining but it seems a life goal for you."

I wrapped my arms around myself tightly, "Because from experience, no one can stay together forever. My mom, my dad, grandparents; Mackenzie, Jared; you and the Fleischer's; I just don't want to keep saying goodbye all the time."

Truth, every word. I didn't want to leave the toons behind and neither did my siblings, but I couldn't stay half-toon and have to face saying goodbye to them at some point just to stay close to the toons. I was not going to put Flynn and Poppy through what I did just so they would be like me. It would be too painful for them and plus it would have to be their choice, one that they were too young to make. Trapped, always trapped. I felt Yakko's hand on my shoulder. Surely he understood. He wasn't one for goodbyes either, none of the Warner's were.

He snapped his fingers, making me jump "I think I can fix this." He ran from the room, only to return a millisecond later to take the bottle from me, "I'll take that!"

*Yakko's POV*

And fix things I did… try… Well I had to wait until the beauty sleep had caught up with the gang, right? And I wasn't leaving her alone with that stuff because knowing her track record she'd only do something crazy. Boy things just didn't get easier for kiddo did they? You got to admire the irony though. She wants to stay toon because she likes us yet doesn't want to stay toon because she doesn't want to leave her sibs; yet by the looks of things the sibs ain't going anywhere! It had been over a week and just as I figured, there'd been no change on the front line. Red seemed okay with it, heck, half the time I felt like I'd opened up a Q&A stall with the amount of toon tactics she'd wanted to learn. Slugger on the other hand… hard to say. He asked no questions and kept to himself. I gotta say, he's got a great career as a mime.

Well, I said I'd fix it, and so I shall! As soon was everyone was up the next day, the sibs and I planned an unveiling. And it wasn't even that elaborate for us either! In fact, it was pure and simple. And old faithful! I'd handle kiddo, Wakko took Red and Dot nabbed Slugger. So what was our big plan you ask? What masterful skills did we exercise? It was the ever classic: Take them by surprise and lock them in the closet together after making an inception trick. And this is how it goes!

We wait while everyone was eating. All was normal, all was silent; all was about to go down the drain! All was going to go crazy if I keep up this narration style, bleugh! I cleared my throat and looked at the sub-sibs, "So… why don't you guys tell kiddo here about how you were spiked with ink-shots the other day?"

Oh if those eyes widened anymore I'd have a new set of mirrors. Talia froze and gave an anxious glare, "Spiked ink-shots? What's he talking about?"

"It's nothing." Spat Slugger.

"Um…" Red mumbled.

"Tell me." Kiddo demanded.

Dot gave me a thumbs up and Wakko grinned. Perfect timing. Before the company even knew what hit them, mainly because nothing did, the switch was in action and in seconds we were slamming the closet door and hammering a few wood planks and padlocks in place for good measure. Now they had no choice but to talk it out. Or… so we thought.

"What was that for?"

Oh, I forgot that kiddo was getting the hang of doing toon switches too, we turned to see her just behind us, "For a good cause?" I offered. Huh, so that's what it felt like being on the other end of those.

Suddenly Slugger's bedroom door flung open and he flopped out onto his back, looking more confused then Stallone reading a script. So he could jump places too… Kiddo blinked in surprise, "What the… How…?"

"Ow-Hey!" Wakko moaned, adjusting his cap. We eyed him as he removed it and started shaking it as if trying to dislodge an anvil or something.

One weird shape anvil though; shaped like a Little Red who looked pretty pleased with herself, "I did it!" she announced, but then caught sight of her frozen sis, "Whoops…"

Kiddo suddenly flushed, turning to me, "What the hell is going on?"

I sighed, isn't it great how I'm always the one who gets the blame here?

*Talia's POV*

I marched right up to Jack after the story had come spilling out and slapped him across the face, "You injected my siblings with toon ink? You made them like me and you said nothing! How could you?" Before he could answer, I was yelling again, "They're just kids! They had their whole life ahead of them and now they're stuck like this! And don't give me that crap that they can just take the rosehip because Poppy is in love with the idea of being half-toon and Flynn refuses to take the stuff because the idea came from you! And frankly I don't blame him!"

"I was under R.J's control, I swear Talia, I didn't know!" he insisted, then paused, "Wait, they're seriously like… like us now?"

Was he for real? "No I just thought I'd say it for a laugh; yes they're like us and it's not fair on them!"

"No, I agree… God, Talia, I'm so sorry, I didn't know. I… They really won't take the oil?"

I ran my hands through my hair, "Poppy thinks that this is the best thing to happen to her and Flynn doesn't trust anything that comes from you or R.J."

"Have you thought that maybe they don't want to change back?"

"They don't know what it's like! And they; they had a life ahead of them. How're they going to go out and do all the things they want if they're stuck as kids?"

"Isn't this what you wanted? For all of you, and the toons, to stay together?" he asked softly.

It was, this was why I was reluctant to take the oil, but it still didn't seem right. Sure no one was getting left behind now, but that wasn't the point. Flynn had wanted to go into law enforcement, how was he going to do that no stuck at twelve? Poppy was so young, she didn't understand the other factors to this. It wasn't fair on them. Every option was a loss. If we stayed like this, then my siblings wouldn't have a future. If they changed back but I stayed, I'd be leaving them behind; there was no way I'd take the oil if they weren't, not without them. And if we all changed back, then we'd be another set of names that the Warner's had to say goodbye to. None of this was fair. This was R.J getting the last laugh on us. He was warning me that he'd always win. I felt sick…

I was suddenly aware that I was crying and that Jack had a comforting hand on my shoulder. Not wanting his pity, I tried to shake it off but he held firm, "I did this, so I'll undo it."

"They won't take the oil, Jack." I groaned, knowing full well that they were just as stubborn as me to spite themselves.

"Then I'll find another way. It'll give them a chance to see how difficult it really is and they might come around on their own. But until then, I'll find another way. I'll even stop taking the oil so we can use it together."

"You… you'll what?" surely he wasn't serious.

"You heard. I'm sorry, Talia." He gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze, "I really am, let me make it right."

He leant in to deliver a peck on my forehead, but I pulled back, "We're starting over remember? Make it count." I turned away to head back home and give my family the news, "And you'd better make this right."

Jack sighed, "I promise…"

"So you're staying like this for a while?" Wakko grinned hopefully at Poppy, "Faboo!"

"Yes!" she grinned, giving him a high-five.

"Everyone's jumping on the bandwagon." Dot rolled her eyes, "We should start charging."

I sighed, "It's not permanent, but I don't know how long until it'll be until something is sorted out for us."

"Great…" Flynn muttered.

"You should have told me; I know it's a bit hypocritical coming from me but look what secrets have done for us!"

"I thought it would go on its own!"

"Come on, Slugger, when has anything to do with us ever gone away that easy?" Yakko grinned, "And, kiddo, isn't this what you wanted, no one getting left behind?"

"Yeah!" Poppy nodded, "Tied together like a double knot."

"Right!" the Warner's chanted, forming their ears into bows.

As true as that was, I was still scared. Suddenly Dot snapped her fingers, "Hang on! I got it! Flynn's just being a sour-puss because he secretly wants to stay with us! He's deliberately refusing help!" she leant on him with a dreamy look in her eye, "I didn't know you loved us so much!"

He scoffed, "No! I just… Don't trust anything that came from that lunatic is all."

"Keep telling yourself that, Slugger." Yakko commented, and I was sure that Flynn gave a quick smile. Even just a ghost of one.

It was a nice thought, and if it was true or not I couldn't tell. "Flynn, Poppy, if we're waiting for another option, there's no telling how long it's going to take. It might be weeks or years… Are you sure about this?"

"Yes." Poppy replied instantly, locking her arms around Wakko who smiled goofily.

"It's not like we can't take the oil later anyway if things go wrong." Flynn mumbled as he shifted and shrugged, ducking his head slightly, "Well… I guess I can put up with it… But I'm not learning any toon stuff."

"Where've I heard that before?" Yakko arched an eyebrow at me. I shrugged and he yanked all of us into a headlock, "So how much are we charging a toon lesson? Say, ten bucks an hour?"

Dot wriggled away, "Nah, twenty!"

"I'm not paying!" Poppy insisted.

"And I don't want lessons." Flynn added.

"You will…" Wakko taunted.

"They all do in the end." Yakko smirked.

I was trying to ignore the little bubble of comfort in my chest as the banter continued. Sure this wasn't how I planned for things to turn out and even if we did find a back up that was safe for all of us, I wasn't sure how things would play out to take it. Maybe we were just making excuses not to help ourselves. Maybe it still wasn't fair that my siblings would have to give up plans for a future if things didn't change. Maybe I was still scared about what was around the corner. I didn't understand why Jack was offering to halt his own treatment to help us, but I was grateful. And, as I stood there in my living room, my siblings by my side and three of the most crazy, weird and downright amazing best friends I'd ever had… I figured that maybe this wasn't the worst thing to happen. We were together and, in a certain light, we were happy.

The bubble gave a little quiver and I found myself smiling. I lowered my eyes and breathed the words I'd wanted to be true for a long time. The words I hoped finally were true. "All for one and one for all times six…"

A/N:

And that as they say, is that…

Again, if a third is in high enough demand then I'll think about making one to please but I'll need ideas galore, lol XD

So R.J is locked away, the Nolans are subconsciously pushing help away to stay with the toons, Jared/Jack is in charge of the studio and is on hand to help out, and the famous six are… well, happy, and together. I had to end on a happy note, right? Sorry if it's a little rushed or sappy but that's just me XD

Thank you all so much for helping me with this, all of you. Without your reviews, PM's and guidance then this would never have gotten off of the ground. A big big special thank you to 'Frumouttamimind' who practically co-wrote this with me and became my guru throughout the series. Thanks to all who reviewed every chapter (there's so many of you) and I send out Warner hugs for you! And to all the other reviewers, what the hell I send Warner hugs for you guys too! XD

Even though this story is done, I still hope to keep in touch with some of the friends I've made on here because I really couldn't have written this without you. I loves you all and if I don't end up writing a third, then I still hope to hear from you on any one-shots that might arise or even on some of my other works from different archives. Lord knows I'll be keeping an eye out for what you lot have planned XD Thanks again everyone, you've been awesome and just epic!

Thank you and…. Mwah! GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY!