All noncanon characters are mine. Hope you enjoy.

Claire spent all her time in the Lombax Dimension galavanting around and making googly eyes at Orion, Franklin instead enrolled in school.

Franklin was sitting in one of his multiple lectures on engineering that day, taking fervent notes as the professor spoke. He was surrounded by papers and no one sat next to him as he took up so much space. Franklin compared his notes to research papers he had gathered and made further notes on them.

A small tap was felt on Franklin's shoulder from behind him. He turned around to see a ginger-colored Lombax behind him. "Hey," he whispered. "Do you have a utensil I could borrow?"

"Yeah, sure," Franklin replied, giving the Lombax behind him the utensil he had just been using. "Just return it to me."

The Lombax smiled. "No problem." He extended his hand. "I'm George."

"Franklin." He shook George's hand. Franklin calmly went back to writing notes until the end of class. He was gathering up his things to find the utensil he'd given George sitting next to his things, George himself gone.

Franklin shrugged before he saw an IP address written on the utensil. The next class was coming in so he packed up his things and left.

He was walking back to his grandmother's house, looking at the IP address. It wasn't one he recognized but he didn't want to simply rub it off.

"What's that?" A voice said beside him.

Franklin looked away to see a little Lombax he knew. Genie smiled up at him. Franklin smiled back. "Just something I got at school today."

"A utensil?" Genie bounced a little to see it. "It looks like the one Grandma Becca gave you."

Franklin nodded. "It is but," he showed her the utensil. "Someone has gone and written on it."

"Are you going to call it?" Genie giggled.

Franklin took a breath. "I'm not sure." He cleared his throat. "Never mind that, what have you got?"

"Algebra." Genie bounced beside Franklin.

Franklin nodded. "Need help?"

"I've got it." Genie laughed. "You're going to need help." She grabbed Franklin's hand and pulled him along.

When they finally made it to their destination Genie let go and went to her Grandma. "Grandma, Franklin needs your help."

"I see." Becca smiled. "Genie, dear, you need to start on homework. Franklin can help me first."

Genie nodded. "Yes, Grandma." She went to the table and brought out her homework.

"Franklin," Becca ordered. "Get the batter out of the fridge."

Franklin nodded and followed orders. "Yes, Grandma." He obeyed her instructions to the letter, listening to his cousins Grace, Mac, Genie, and Harper go over their homework.

"You are like your uncle," Becca smiled up at her grandson.

Franklin smiled. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Not at all." Becca touched his nose. "How are you adjusting?"

Franklin nodded. "I like it here." He shrugged. "But I miss the commotion we have at home." Franklin laughed. "It's not something I thought I'd miss, my siblings running around, my parents making eyes at each other, and my grandfather telling stories." He sighed. "My dad picking on Orion."

"Your father wouldn't do that to poor Orion." Becca laughed.

Franklin laughed. "It's more to torture Claire for bringing him home in the first place."

"Little Genie said you need help," Becca smiled at her grandson. "What do you need help with?"

Franklin brought out the utensil. The writing sadly smudged off. Franklin was a little saddened by this. "I guess I don't need your help anymore. The IP address is gone."

"Sorry, dear."

Franklin simply shrugged. "It's fine. I wasn't even sure who it was from anyway."

"A secret admirer?" Becca teased.

Franklin laughed, turning away from his grandmother. "No way, and as if I'd get romantically involved with someone." He shrugged. "I'm only here a year and I'm not going to waste it making eyes at someone. I'm far too busy for that."

17-year-old Grace scoffed from the table. "Why can't you live a little?"

"Yeah," 14-year-old Harper turned to Franklin. "Zeon left to live on Fastoon and you came here. You should do things other than studying. You can do those things at home."

Franklin took a breath. "But Fastoon doesn't have schools or a functioning government. My mother taught me how to read and write Lombax. You all get to go through formal education." He shrugged. "While I just learned what was necessary to survive and live comfortably. I know more about how to fix an engine then I know about the Great War."

"It's not that interesting." Mac sighed and rested his chin on his textbook.

Franklin shook his head. "And how would I know that?"

The next day Franklin returned to his lecture, before class he set up his little spot.

"Hey," a voice said next to Franklin. "This space is taken?"

Franklin looked up to see the ginger Lombax again. What was his name? George. "No." He smiled. "I don't see why not."

"Do you like this lecture?" George asked, taking a seat. "All you do is take notes. Is it part of your major?"

Franklin laughed. "I'm undecided but I always had a calling for engineering, since I was little." Not that Franklin could choose a major, since he wouldn't be able to finish the program.

"Oh wow." George leaned over to look at Franklin's notes. "How can you read that? Is that even Lombax?"

He pointed to a line that had been accidentally written in the Polaris common language.

"Ha," Franklin quickly laughed and covered up the line. "I learned how to write from my uncle, you should see his handwriting."

George tilted his head. "Your uncle? Didn't your parents teach you?"

Franklin harshly pulled away from George. The lie. "No." He took a deep breath. "They didn't."

George frowned. "Oh," he moved away. "Sorry I didn't…"

"It's...nothing." Franklin sighed. "My parents died after I was born. I was raised by the rest of my family."

George was about to apologize again but the professor called everyone to attention. Franklin just sent him a smile, trying to convey that it was okay. After the lecture ended George disappeared and Franklin slowly packed up his things.

He knew his parents were fine. He knew if he really needed them he could go back and visit. He knew his mother missed him greatly and that she would cry if he visited.

But would Franklin have the courage to come back if he saw his mother again?

He hadn't anticipated actually missing his family. Did time pass the same between the dimensions? Were his siblings having their lessons? Was his father working in his garage?

"Aren't you coming?"

Franklin jumped, seeing George on his other side. He tried to calm his frantic heartbeat. "Sorry, in my own little world." Franklin put on a smile. Claire was the daydreamer, what was wrong with him?

"Your next lecture is with Electric right?" George gestured toward the door. "I'll walk with you."

Franklin gently shook his head. "I'm fine, you don't have to go through the trouble."

"It's on my way." George laughed. "Don't worry about it. We can walk and talk."

Franklin relented and walked with George to his next lecture, remembering what he was allowed to tell and what he couldn't tell. Two uncles, several cousins, and his grandmother.

When they finally arrived George wrote an IP address on Franklin's palm. "Call me this time."

"That was yours?" Franklin asked.

George laughed. "You may have a gift for engineering but not much else, do you?"

"Gee thanks." Franklin huffed, turning tail and going inside the lecture hall.

George frowned. "I didn't mean anything by it."

Franklin ignored him and set himself up in his spot. He sniffed and rubbed the IP address off his hand, trying to focus on his lecture.

The day again ended fruitlessly for George. His friends met up with him at their usual spot. "I insulted him, twice." George blushed.

"George," Hilda, a light orange lombax with brown eyes, groaned. "We're never going to get Drilla off our backs if you keep doing that."

George shrunk a little. "How do we even know we can get him to like me? We don't know if he likes guys."

"He does." Stylo, nodded. "I can tell." He leaned to see Franklin walking away from campus. "Keeps to himself, and that walk he has. Screams it."

George bit his lip. "His walk?"

"You don't have it, George," Hilda smiled, smacking Stylo on the back of his head. "Stylo is just playing."

George shook his head. "I don't think that's why he keeps to himself. His parents died after he was born, he grew up sheltered by his family. He had an older sister but she died a couple of years ago and one of his cousins left home." He heaved a sigh. "He's pretty much alone."

"Wait," Hilda brightened. "You got to talk to him?"

George nodded. "Yeah. A little, in between his lectures."

"If you can stop insulting him," Stylo interjected. "We might have an in."

George blushed harder. "I didn't mean to insult him!"

Another group walked up to them. "How badly are you losers failing?" A female sneered.

"We're chipping away at him." Hilda laughed weakly. "It's a work in progress."

The female rolled her eyes. "Get it done by midterm, losers. He's ruining our curve."

"Leave it to George," Stylo smirked. "He's got this, Drilla."

Drilla glanced at George, who shrunk under her scrutiny. "Right."

The next day George started again. He slowly approached Franklin. "This seat is taken?" He tried to smile.

"Yes, it is," Franklin mumbled into his notes, writing in the chapter and section the notes are covering on the top of the page.

George cleared his throat. "Listen, yesterday, I didn't mean to say that. I just get nervous talking to people, especially people like you."

"People like me?" Franklin stopped, turning his scolding glare at George. "Is that a jab at my family?"

George froze. "No, I mean…" If a black hole opened under George and sucked him in, he would be fine with that. "It's just that I…"

"Just find someone else to sit next to." Franklin went back to labeling his notes, pulling out his homework from the night before. George finally saw Franklin's last name: Azimuth.

George groaned internally. That was really why he kept to himself. Azimuths were routinely abused. He didn't have the Azimuth stripes so if no one found out he'd be treated like a normal Lombax.

George sat down in the seat anyway. "Listen, Franklin. I'm an idiot around cute guys." He blurted, feeling the heat build-up in his cheeks. "So I just have to say I'm sorry."

"I'm flattered." Franklin turned away. "But I have to turn down your advances, I'm here to learn. Not to be flirted with."

George bit his lip. "Just let me make it up to you. I know you—"

"You don't know anything about me." Franklin stood, packing up his things to move seats. He moved several rows closer to the front and between two people so there was no way George could sneak himself in.

The lecture went on without event, which Franklin was thankful for, but as he was leaving Franklin caught sight of a small slip of paper with his name written on it.

He picked it up and on the underside was written 'I'm sorry From George' with a sad Lombax picture drawn in the corner. Franklin simply crumpled up the paper and threw it away.

George had stayed to watch the display, his ears and heart drooped at the sight. Franklin was definitely upset with him.

The following month George left these notes for Franklin to find, each time he read it and threw it away. Drilla was not amused at this little way George was working away at Franklin. She decided to take matters into her hands.

They were waiting for the lecture to begin, the students all standing outside. George walked past Drilla, keeping his head down so as to not anger her. She shoved him, aiming for Franklin. George stumbled and grabbed onto Franklin's backpack strap, accidentally pulling him down with him.

Franklin remembered falling but not how his lips landed on George's. He just remembered the warmth that budded in his chest at the sensation. How good it felt until he pulled away.

Then humiliation. Franklin looked down on George's blushing face and felt his own burn with unbearable heat. He covered his mouth and ran away. He wanted to run away to the end of the world, Franklin really wanted to go back home.

"Franklin!" George cried, going after him.

Franklin hid in the bathroom, locking himself in a stall. He slammed his back against the wall to have another sensation. Anything but the humiliation and shame coursing through him. He felt his eyes well up but he harshly rubbed away the moisture.

"Franklin," George followed him. "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened."

Franklin scoffed and instead paced the tiny stall. "Leave me alone." Hopefully, he wasn't terribly late for the lecture if George would just leave him alone for once.

"Please," George pouted. "I can't do this anymore."

Franklin snorted but kept himself separate from George. "You can't? Think of how I feel."

"No," George frowned. "Try to get you to like me when…" he looked into his own reflection for a moment. "I can't help but like you and I don't even know if you're attracted to guys."

Franklin sat down on the ground, curling up into a ball. "I am." Saying the words out loud made Franklin's heart pound and tears returned to his eyes. "I like men."

"You do?" George went to Franklin's stall. "There is nothing wrong with it, you know."

Franklin took a breath and unlocked the stall door. "I don't know anyone but me like this."

"You know me." George started to smile. "And you're letting me in?"

Franklin nodded slowly. "I guess I am."

"It's okay to let others in." George stepped into the stall and knelt between Franklin's legs. He blushed a little. "So...did you enjoy it too?"

Franklin swallowed, blush coming back a little. "Yeah…"

"Want to…" George rubbed the back of his neck. "Try again?"

Franklin took a deep breath and gently pushed George against the stall wall. "If you let me lead." He looked away. "I'm still…"

"I like a good leader." George smiled, taking Franklin's hand. Interlacing their fingers.

Franklin smiled a little for a second. He gave George a peck before going in. The warmth he felt before built and grew to a fiery inferno, his heart pounded in a way it never had done before.

George pulled Franklin closer and Franklin finally understood how his parents could have so many children. If kissing felt like this…

The idea raised more questions in his mind. But made other ideas solidify.

He wanted to know George much better.

Then the truth slammed into Franklin. He wasn't from the Lombax Dimension, he had to go back home. He couldn't take George home with him like Claire took Orion home.

Franklin pulled away, breathing deeply but frowning. George pouted. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," Franklin's heart broke at the words. "I can't do this. This was a mistake."

George felt his heart drop. "What do you mean? I'm sorry if I moved a little fast."

"No," Franklin moved closer to George, his eyes showing his regret. "None of this is you. It's all me." He took a breath. "My family...I don't know how…" Franklin had no idea how to remotely explain his anxieties.

George looked around for a moment. "They don't have to know if that scares you." He squeezed Franklin's hand. "But...I want to take you out for a date at least. Then you can dump me properly so we can say we made it a good try."

"Dump…" Franklin breathed. "The last thing I want to do is dump you."

George smiled at that. "After class, today, meet me and I'll take you back to my place. We should have plenty of privacy there." He got up and pulled up Franklin. "I'll give you my number again."

They went to their classes, Franklin could hardly pay attention. He just couldn't stop thinking about George, how he smelled, how his hand felt, or how Franklin got a strange feeling in his gut just from thinking of kissing him.

The privacy of George's house allowed things to progress and one of Franklin's questions was answered.

It felt better than kissing.

They laid side by side, panting from their previous activity. George smiled as he held Franklin's hand.

"What's on your mind?" Franklin breathed. "After what we just did I think I'm allowed to ask that."

George laughed. "It's super cheesy but I was thinking that it wouldn't be so bad to wake up beside you every day."

"You can at least take me out to dinner first," Franklin smirked. Trying not to think about their inevitable break up and how he swore to himself he wouldn't…

George watched Franklin's expression turn sad. His eyes turned to a thousand-yard stare, looking at George's bedsheets. They hadn't spent a lot of time getting to know each other but...that didn't change that George worried about Franklin.

George moved closer and kissed Franklin's nose. "You think one day you'll be able to tell me what's wrong?" He blushed. "You know...if we…"

"Yeah." Franklin smiled again. "That would be nice."

George hugged Franklin's neck. "I have much to teach you."

"I'm an excellent student." Franklin turned them so Franklin was on top of George, smiling down at him. "It shouldn't be hard." Franklin took George as his own, focusing on the present, not the future.

Then came the day Franklin had to go home. Montay already made sure the children were reminded of the rules. Feeling the warm air of Fastoon made him homesick, but not for a place.

"Little brother," Claire smiled and spread her arms.

Franklin smiled his best and hugged his sister. "Nice to see you."

"You okay?" Claire immediately pulled away, frowning deeply. "I thought you'd be happy to be home."

Franklin nodded. "I am happy."

"Right, tell that to the rest of you." Claire looked her brother over. "What happened to you?"

Franklin felt his heart pick up. Could his sister tell what had happened? How he…

How he fell in love?

Franklin swallowed his fear and forced a laugh. "I'm just tired, I hope the rest of you didn't mess up my lab."

"You try keeping those three out of someplace." Claire rolled her eyes. "But Rosie stole one of your blankets off your bed. Couldn't sleep without it."

Franklin smiled at that. Little Rosie Posie. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

"At the house," Claire nodded. "Making sure the younger ones clean up their messes."

Franklin checked his backpack straps before setting off toward home. "How easy has that been with an almost 3-year-old?" He arrived at his house, feeling distant from the only place he had ever truly known.

His mother must have seen him approach as the moment he touched the ground his family came out to greet him. His parents hugged him and his younger siblings clamored to ask questions. Minus Rosie who hadn't fully mastered speech yet.

Kori pulled away from him and a look came over her face for a moment. Ratchet laughed. "How was it? What did you do?"

"Go to a government-sanctioned school," Franklin smirked.

Ratchet laughed again and messed up Franklin's hair. "I knew you were related to your mother."

Kori smiled big at her other children. "Back in the house, it's not nearly up to my standards yet." She pulled Ratchet and Franklin aside. "Franklin, sweetheart, is there something you want to tell us?"

"No," Franklin shrugged, trying to not give off any vibes that might suggest he isn't okay. From the concerned looks on his parents' faces, he could tell it wasn't working. "I am happy to be home."

Ratchet sighed. "Son, I've known you since before you were born. You've never acted like this before."

"I'm fine." Franklin groaned. "Why is everyone convinced I'm not?"

Kori gently put her hand on Franklin's cheek, looking up at her son who was his father's height. "Franklin, would you be happier living in the Lombax Dimension?"

"N-no." Franklin turned away from his parents. "I love it here. I d-..." Franklin sighed. "Please don't be mad."

Ratchet shook his head. "We couldn't be mad at that."

"Franklin," Kori rubbed her son's back. "I'd never ask you to choose between us and your happiness." She got in front of her son and smiled for him. "You better make something so we can check on you."

Ratchet laughed. "I'll try to keep your mother from calling you every day after you get it working."

"And," Kori gently poked Franklin's nose. "You better be on your best behavior for your Grandma."

Franklin started to smile again. "I love you guys."

"We love you." Kori hugged Franklin. "I'd tell you to give your Uncle Montay a headache but that's Ian."

Franklin went back to the Lombax Dimension with a weight off his chest, happily going to visit George.

George opened the door to his apartment and was attacked with a kiss from his boyfriend. Who told him he would be with his family. "Hi to you too," George laughed as Franklin pulled away.

"Listen," he told George. "What I'm about to say might sound crazy but you just have to believe me."

"Dad," Lucy looked at George, a big smile on her face. "How did you and Pop meet?"

Franklin lifted an eyebrow at George. "Yeah," he smirked. "How did you meet Pop?"

George laughed and blushed. "How Dads and Pops usually meet, pumpkin."

"Pop," Hugh tilted his head. "How did you meet Dad?"

Franklin shook his head. "Dad tells the story much better."

"Dad is better at telling stories," Douglas commented.

Franklin feigned hurt. "You wound me, Dugger."

"Just tell the story," Lucy wilted dramatically. "Someone."

Franklin smiled again. "Okay but Dad likes me to kiss him at the kissing part." The two boys both voiced their protest and excused themselves. Franklin smiled at his daughter. "You still want the story?"

"You kiss Dad because you love him." Lucy moved closer to her fathers. "Please tell me the story."

Franklin glanced at George, putting his hand on his husband's. "Alright, littlest one. It all started because your Dad needed something to write with."

Thank you for reading! I know it has been a long time but there is still so much coming. You have no idea lol. See you next time!