Hello and welcome! This is one of my favorite chapters to write. I hope you enjoy it, and if you see anything you think needs improving drop me a review. I won't be offended. But, please enjoy.

The kids were allowed to sleep in this particular morning, mostly because their father wanted to surprise them and have a peaceful breakfast before the attack came. Kori, Kaden, and Ratchet were the first to the breakfast table, naturally, with little Rosalyn in her high chair. Ratchet got to have his touching moment where he held Rosalyn for the first time, but now he had to deal with the mob.

Moving the baby out of the blast zone Kori called for the kids to come for breakfast, as she did every morning.

And out Claire came, slow and tired. Claire rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Morning Mom, Morning Grandpa." Her brain slow from getting a full night of sleep.

"Morning, Claire." Ratchet smiled, moving back a little from the table.

Claire perked to attention, finally seeing her father. "Oh my gosh!" She screamed and tackled her father in a hug around his neck.

This attracted the rest of the children quicker. Franklin, Ian, and Liza rushed to the dining room to see their father sitting at the dining table. Franklin and Ian grinned madly as they tackled their father with Claire. Liza screamed and followed her brothers.

Kori laughed as her husband was now covered in their children. "Still the same kids."

"Yeah." Ratchet smiled under the pile. "Alright, kids, your old man needs to breathe." The kids let him go but stayed close. "That never gets old."

Kaden gently pushed Rosalyn back to the table and settled into his seat. "It's like they missed their dad or something."

"Speaking of missed," Ratchet stood and hugged Claire, smiling. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

Claire hugged her father back tightly, smiling wide. "You missed me, Dad?"

"Believe it or not." Ratchet laughed, he pulled back to look his eldest daughter in the eye. "What I didn't miss is that you brought someone back with you." He playfully frowned at Claire. "A certain someone of the male gender." Franklin and Ian snickered behind their sister's back.

Claire looked at her mother and grandfather with disbelief. "You told him about Orion?" She pouted.

"Orion?" Ratchet mused to Claire. "Is that the kid's name?" He turned serious, like someone had insulted Clank. "I'm going to have to have a talk with him."

Claire held up her hands. "Daddy, you don't have to do that." She pleaded with Ratchet, her most innocent eyes equipped. "He's nice, you'll like him. I promise."

Liza giggled to her brothers. "Dad's going to put him through the gauntlet."

"No," Claire turned to her siblings. "Daddy's nicer than that." She went to her mother, hands folded and pouting. "Mom, tell Dad that he doesn't have to do that to Orion."

Kori raised her hands. "I'm staying out of it." Kaden following suit as he fed little Rosalyn.

"Let me worry about what I'm going to do to him." Ratchet told his children, sitting back at the breakfast table. "Right now, we are having breakfast."

Kori looked at the time. "I probably should wake up Orion."

"I'll do it!" Claire raised her hand.

Ratchet pointed at Claire with his fork, his frown serious. "No, you're not."

"Can I?" Ian smiled, mischievous and wild.

Ratchet nodded to his second son. "Go ahead."

"Daddy, that's not fair." Claire stopped Ian. "He's not used to Ian's wake up calls." She kept her brother next to her. Or rather her brother's shirt as young Ian slipped out of the shirt and escaped to Kaden's room to wake up the unexpecting Orion.

Young Ian got his favorite tool to wake up people, a small smoke machine his grandfather made for him. Hiding under Kaden's bed Ian turned on the smoke machine. He let the smoke build up before he started screaming.

Poor Orion awoke with such a start, he saw the smoke in the room and immediately bolted, not even stopping to put on pants.

Luckily he stopped at the dining room, seeing the rest of the family not running for the nearest exit. Claire facepalmed as the first time her boyfriend was meeting her father was in his underwear.

While all the remaining children's laughter was being shushed by their mother, Ratchet stayed serious. "Orion, I'm guessing." He frowned and folded his hands on the table.

"You're not doing this to him." Claire glared at Ratchet. "You're not being fair." She went to Orion, turned him around and pushed him back down the hallway. "Get some clothes on, Orion."

Ian tried to sneak back past his sister but she caught him. Holding the kid by the crook of his neck so he couldn't get away. "Dad," Ian feigned choking. "Claire's choking me."

"Claire, no choking your brother." Ratchet's voice scolded her.

Claire called back. "If I really was choking him he wouldn't be able to talk."

Ian took this opportunity to start to make choking noises. "Claire!" Kori scolded.

"I'm not doing anything!" Claire let Ian go and pushed him toward the dining room. She caught Orion on his way back, wearing the clothes he had worn the day before. "Listen," she whispered. "This isn't going to be great."

Orion tried to smile. "Relax, Claire." He shrugged. "I'm just meeting your dad."

"Who has access to a massive amount of artillery that he's used to save the universe countless times." Claire grimaced, rubbing the back of her neck.

Orion stopped for a moment before he looked at Claire. Fear in his eyes. "Why is that a thing you're just telling me now?"

"Right, Orion," Claire scoffed. "How was I supposed to weave that naturally into a conversation?" She held up her hands and mocked herself. "Oh yeah, Orion, my dad has saved the universe a bunch of times and he has a lot of guns." Claire frowned, dropping her act. "Plus you were supposed to go back to the Lombax Dimension, you were supposed to see very little of my parents. My dad wasn't even here when you decided to stay."

Orion buried his face into his hands, rubbing his face for a few moments before taking a deep breath. "If I die, know that I really enjoyed my time with you."

"He won't kill you." Claire smiled, removing Orion's hands off his face. "I won't let him." She lightly kissed his cheek. "And if he does I'm never speaking to him again."

Orion smiled weakly. "Thanks."

"Come on, Claire," Franklin called. "Before breakfast is gone."

Orion leaned into Claire. "Anywhere else we could get breakfast together?" He whispered, smiling.

"Nope," Claire laughed. "This is the only place on the entire planet."

Orion smirked. "Waffles?"

"No such thing here." Claire shook her head.

Orion wrapped his arms around Claire. "You poor deprived things."

Ratchet finally came into the hallway and removed Claire from Orion's embrace, gently pushing his daughter toward the dining room and roughly pulling Orion by the collar of his shirt.

"Dad," Claire complained. "Be nice to him."

Ratchet sat Orion right next to himself at the table and Claire next to Kaden and Baby Rosalyn. "If he's going to date you, he's got to pass my test first."

"Test?" Orion asked, trying to feign bravado. "What kind of test, sir?"

Claire frowned and crossed her arms. "You didn't have to be tested to date Mom."

"Her father wasn't around," Ratchet nodded to Claire. "Your father is."

Orion nodded. "I'll do it." He shrugged. "Whatever you throw at me, I'll do it."

"Good answer." Ratchet smiled at Orion.

Kori made everyone finish their breakfast before Ratchet set about 'testing' Orion. When they were walking to the first test Claire walked next to her father. "I swear, Dad, if you hurt Orion I'm never speaking to you again." She crossed her arms. "Never infinity."

The other kids tagged along just to watch. "Well," Franklin smiled. "It'll be quieter."

"Franklin." Kori scolded, walking next to Ratchet and Claire. "Besides, your father isn't going to hurt Orion. Right, Ratchet?" She gave her husband the stink eye.

Ratchet smiled. "I make no promises."

"Dad!" Claire huffed.

Ratchet turned to Orion, walking backward. "Now, Orion, how proficient are you with hover boots?"

"Um," Orion smiled sheepishly. "Never worn them or used them."

Ratchet nodded. "If you're going to stay here you're going to have to work. So once we get you into some hover boots we'll see about what you can do for Fastoon."

"Yes, sir," Orion confirmed.

Ratchet turned back around and whispered to Kori. "I'm starting to like this kid."

"I told you he's not as bad as you thought he was going to be." Kori rolled her eyes, smirking. "You're just doing this to torture Claire."

Ratchet kissed Kori's cheek. "I knew I married you for your brains."

"Is that all?" Kori teased. "Get your 'test' over with, the rest of us have work to do." She turned to her children. "Come on, kids. We've got a planet to restore."

Franklin, Ian, and Liza all groaned but followed their mother. Claire continued to follow her father until Kori grabbed her arm. "But," Claire managed before her mother dragged her away.

Ratchet fitted Orion with a pair of hoverboots and let the kid run the course without giving him any instruction. Luckily Orion had nanotech so all the times he fell on his face or butt did little damage to him.

About the 12th or 13th time Orion fell on his face, Ratchet had lost count, he groaned into the dirt. "I hope you're enjoying this," Orion's voice muffled. "Because I am not."

"A little." Ratchet laughed and walked up to Orion, kneeling down next to him. "I see my daughter didn't pick you for your hoverboot skills."

Orion pulled his face from the dirt and rested his chin on the ground. "Nope." He stayed down, putting his arms under his chin.

"Tell me, kid," Ratchet sighed. "Why did my daughter pick you?"

Orion tried to smile but his face hurt. "I can only hope that it's because I make her happy." He kept his eyes low and he sighed. "That's why I chose her, because she makes me happy."

"Alright." Ratchet nodded and pulled Orion up. "Come on, if you want to date my daughter you have to earn it."

Orion moved his head and his neck cracked a dozen times over. "Yes, sir." He nodded, straightening up to the best of his ability. For the next month if ever there was a heavy lifting job to be done it was up to Orion to do it, including building his own room onto the house.

After one of the harder days Orion was laying on the roof of the house, partly to hide from Ratchet and party to catch his breath. He watched Claire come up onto the roof, if he hadn't been so sore Orion would have sat up to greet her.

"Sorry," Claire laughed. "My dad can be a real character." She sat beside him for a moment before laying down beside him.

Orion couldn't laugh, he was so sore. "It's okay, I signed up for this."

"To have my dad almost kill you every day." Claire scoffed. "No one in their right mind would sign up for that."

Orion smiled a little. "Good thing I'm not in my right mind."

"Oh jeez," Claire laughed. She resisted hitting Orion, as to not cause him more pain.

"Claire and Orion." Ratchet's voice came from the ground. "Get down here."

Claire got up and looked down at her father from the roof. "No." She crossed her arms and frowned. Ratchet mirrored his daughter, and the battle of wills commenced.

Orion groaned but got up. "Coming." He slowly retreated from the roof, regretfully to Ratchet's side.

"Orion!" Claire scolded him, saddened that he chose her father over her. She gave one final huff before zooming away on her hoverboots.

Orion frowned and looked at Ratchet. "Sorry, but I have to. If this means I fail, I don't care." He chased after Claire, gliding away on his own hoverboots.

Ratchet smiled and turned toward the house. "You pass."

Claire was running the hoverboot course, not caring if she crashed or got hurt. Her heart burned with anger, and feeling the wind on her face was somehow a remedy for it.

"Claire!" Orion called for her. She just kept going so he started to follow after her. "Claire, please listen. I'm sorry, I'm an idiot."

Claire sniffled and evaded him. "No kidding." She huffed and crossed her arms, continuing the track no problem. "He probably told you to come after me, you're practically attached at the hip."

"He didn't tell me to go after you." Orion sighed, tired and sore. "I don't care if following after you makes me fail the test. I follow your dad around and do all of the stupid things he has me do because," He rubbed the back of his neck. "I want to be with you."

Claire stopped and took a deep breath. "I told you." She looked at him, crestfallen. "I told you meeting my dad wouldn't be great."

"And I believe you." Orion gently approached her, laughing weakly. "But I'm sorry I haven't been able to spend time with you." He shook his head. "Your dad has been demanding I do every little job under the sun to prove I can date you."

The far off voice of Kori came from the house. "Dinner time!"

"Come on." Orion reached out his hand to Claire. "I'll walk you to the house." Claire took his hand and they both jetted back toward the house. Orion smiled a little. "I would rather spend time with you then with your dad, he's cool and all but….no one could replace you."

Claire smiled weakly. "He is kinda cool. Kinda." She laughed a little. "Right now I like my mom and grandpa better because they're actually nice to you."

They made it to the house and Orion's dinner wasn't outside. The couple looked at each other for a moment before Claire went in. Everyone was around the table already and there were two empty spots next to one another.

"Um," Claire looked to her parents, full of teenage attitude. "Are we starving Orion now?"

Ratchet gave his daughter a confused look. "No, why?" He raised an eyebrow at Claire. "Where is Orion?"

"He is waiting outside for his dinner." Claire frowned and put her hands on her hips. "You know, like you've been making him."

Ratchet shook his head, frowning a little. "Get him in here, and don't forget to clean up for dinner."

"What?" Claire blinked.

Kori lightly elbowed Ratchet. Ratchet tried not to laugh, keeping his face at least a little serious for his daughter. "Come on before dinner gets cold."

"You mean…." Claire started to smile. "You mean he passed?!" She tackled her father around the neck and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Claire bounced with excitement.

Ratchet patted Claire's back, smiling. "Alright, kiddo, just go get your boyfriend before he's stolen by scavengers."

"Yay!" Claire cheered and ran off to fetch Orion from outside.

Kori leaned around Ratchet to yell at the teenagers. "Don't forget to wash your hands!"

"Okay!" Claire called back. She ran out and dragged Orion into the house, making sure both of them washed their hands before sitting at the dinner table.

Orion looked around for a moment before looking to Ratchet. "Does this mean I pass?"

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Remember if there is ever a story you want to read let me know. Anyway, I'll see you next time, bye!