The girls all slept in Tweak's room. In the middle of the night, Tweak and Dashi woke up to Coco sleep talking.

Tweak rubbed her eyes, yawning. "Guess that much hasn't changed since childhood…."

Dashi nodded, stretching. "Almost comforting."

Tweak nodded, smiling, and leaned against the wall. She mumbled, "Can I say something?"

Dashi nodded. "Go off."

Tweak mumbled again thoughtfully, "Is it bad I just want her to stay? This is the first time we have known she was safe for a while. I don't want to lose that secure feeling."

Dashi nodded. "I understand. To be honest, I kinda wanna just keep her here. And if we are lucky, she might, but we can't force her to stay in the end. You know how Coco is."

Tweak groaned softly frustrated, she rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, "I just wish she wasn't! She's doing this to protect us, but we don't need protecting. We are older now, we can help her, but she won't accept it."

Dashi nodded and smiled sympathetically. "She feels she needs to protect us. She always has, she always will. She has it in her mind that since she's arguably the most physically strongest, she needs to be the most mentally strongest. All we can do is be there for her and not push her. Let her open up naturally."

Tweak sighed, nodding, lowering her hands. She glanced back at Coco. "Just wish we could help more."

Dashi scooted closer to Coco and reached over her for Tweaks hand. Tweak laid on Coco's other side. Dashi whispered, "We are helping her plenty. Just remember what I said."

Tweak nodded, dozing off again "don't push her… let her open up naturally. Love ya, Dash."

Dashi smiled "Love ya to T."

~~~

At 11:00 A.M (much later than usual, especially for Dashi), Captain, Kwazii and Shellington decide to come and wake them up.

Shellington spoke first, "Um, Dashi?"

Dashi awoke with ease. "Hmm? I'm up…."

Shellington chuckled. "It's 11."

Dashi groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Crap already that late?"

Kwazii spoke next. "Yow, it's still pretty early."

Shellington added on "Besides, you just got your cousin back. We didn't want to disturb you guys."

Dashi smiled. "Yeah, they are out cold."

Tweak, and Coco were indeed fast asleep. Coco somehow tangled herself in the blankets and had two pillows on top of her head. Tweak, however, was halfway off the bed with no blankets or pillows insight. Dashi shook her head and stood up, stretching. Dashi sighed. "I really don't want to wake them up…."

Kwazii looked at her, a bit confused. "Why not matey?"

Dashi groaned. "The wrath of them combined due to being awake is not a good one."

Barnacles finally spoke up, "I'm sure it couldn't be that bad…."

Dashi raised an eyebrow before shrugging and turning back to her cousins, considering how to wake them up. Muttering to herself, she spoke, "Yelling works typically, or shaking them… though Coco might still be an extremely heavy sleeper."

Shellington looked at her before she shrugged, grabbing Tweak. Starting off slowly, she gradually shook her harder until she was full-on, shaking her violently. Finally, after a minute or so, Tweak woke with a jump "Wha? Who?"

Dashi smiled at her sweetly. "Good morning, sleepyhead."

Tweak grumbled, collapsing back on the bed face first, mumbling multiple explicit words. Dashi sighed and pulled her up. "Come on, you have to help me wake Coco."

Tweak sighed, sitting up. The boys went to leave before Dashi stopped them. "Oh no, you guys started this. You're staying."

They stayed as Dashi gently shook Coco, trying to be mindful of her injuries. Tweak grew exasperated. "Oh, for goodness sake- Move!"

Before Dashi could say anything, Tweak, not so gently, nudged her out the way and shook Coco, pulling her off the bed in the process. The boys were shocked as Dashi sighed, "She's injured!" Dashi muttered, rubbing her forehead, "Dumbass…."

Coco groaned, leaning her head up to glare at Tweak. "Fuck... all of you…."

Tweak smiled fakely and leaned down to Coco. "Morning, sunshine!"

Coco growled, pulling her legs, so Tweak fell with a thud. Dashi rubbed her forehead, moving to break up the two girls wrestling. Dashi spoke exasperatedly. "Stop it! It's breakfast, not WWE."

Coco stuck her tongue out at her getting up. The boys watched as every time one of them winced, everyone did. Kwazii spoke up, "Yow, are you three connected or something?"

Coco looked at Tweak, having caught on that she was dating Kwazii already, "Really?"

Tweak looked away. "Look, they know ok, just not the full extent."

Dashi nodded and continued, "Like they know, we aren't human. They just don't know the magic Tweak's mom put on us."

Barnacles spoke confused "wait, she has magic too?"

Coco spoke before anyone else could, "Hold up, he's your captain and didn't realize we were all magic?"

Dashi tried to speak before Tweak and Kwazii were laughing as Barnacles looked embarrassed. "Look, I didn't put two and two together right away, ok? It isn't every day that people just have magic."

Coco walked over and looked him up and down. To everyone else, it looked like she was sizing him up. However, Dashi and Tweak knew she was trying to get a read on him "Where were you raised?"

Barnacles took a small step back, not being used to the close contact but answered anyway, "Alaska… well a bit everywhere but mostly the city?"

Coco raised an eyebrow looking him over once more before speaking, "Makes sense, city boy."

Barnacles was shocked. "Excuse me?!"

Coco smirked while looking at him. Leaning in close, she spoke again, "You heard me, City Boy."

Barnacles looking away, coughing, seemingly a bit intimidated by her, "Ah, well, I will be over here."

The rest of the crew down there were amazed, staring at Coco as she crossed her arms, smirking. When she turned around, she looked at them. "What?"

Kwazii spoke first, "How in the hell did you do that?"

Coco looked at him, confused. "Do what?"

Tweak spoke excitedly, "Get Cap' to- I don't know what you did, but he was like intimidated?"

Dashi also spoke a bit impressed "I have never seen anyone, dare I say, fluster the captain!"

Shellington spoke, "He almost seemed embarrassed?"

Coco shrugged nonchalantly, though there was an uneasiness in her eyes. "All I did was talk."

Tweak and Kwazii looked at each other wide-eyed before saying before stepping closer, "Do it again!"

Coco looked uncomfortable and wrapped her arms around herself. "Do what?"

Kwazii jumped excitedly, accidentally edging closer. "Say something and intimidate him!"

Coco looked at them wearily again. "Like what?"

Kwazii went to speak before Dashi cut him off, stepping between the two. "Nothing. Let's go upstairs and eat, pumpkin."

Coco and Tweak nodded before anyone could leave though Dashi spoke, "Coco, Peso needs to check your wounds, so you go, and I need to talk with everyone else. Captain, come here, please!"

Coco nodded and left as Barnacles came back. Dashi looked at Tweak, sighing, "Tweak."

Tweak looked nervous, shifting from one foot to the other "Yes...?"

Dashi deadpanned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "What did we speak about a while ago."

Tweak spoke quietly, "Not to push Coco into being uncomfortable here and let her open up naturally…."

Dashi sighed, hand dropping "and what did you do?"

Tweak spoke, "pushed her-"

Dashi cut her off. "You pushed her to open up!"

Everyone flinched at Dashi's raised voice. She spoke again calmer, "Let her open naturally until forcing her into friendships."

Tweak nodded, and Dashi turned to Barnacles "and what was that about!?"

Barnacles looked shocked. "What was what about?"

Dashi looked at him incredulously. "The looking intimidated and stuff around Coco?"

Barnacles looked genuinely confused as he spoke, "I honestly have no clue what you are talking about…."

Dashi rubbed her forehead. "Oh my Gosh, are you oblivious…"

Barnacles was confused before Dashi spoke again, "Nevermind! Come on, let's eat."

Tweak spoke as they walked to the kitchen. "Five bucks says she bonds with Peso."

Dashi sighed as Shellington spoke, "What makes you say that?"

Dashi spoke as she shook hands with Tweak, signifying the bet was on "Peso is the same age as two of her younger brothers."

Barnacles spoke, "Really?"

Tweak nodded "yeah, she's got like 10 of 'em."

Dashi counted quickly on her fingers and corrected Tweak, "13 brothers."

Kwazii chuckled. "Yow, that's a lot…."

Dashi chuckled, "Family reunions are fun."

Tweak scoffed, "Chaos, you mean there."

Peso finished rebandaging Coco as she spoke, "Your name's Peso, right?"

Peso beamed up at her. "Yep."

Coco looked at him, nodding, "You seem young?"

Peso looked away sheepishly, "Yeah, I am 20."

Coco smiled. "And you got a job like this. That's so cool."

Peso brightened up. "Really?"

Coco smiled, "Hell yeah."

He started rambling for a while about his job as Coco listened happily. Halfway through his rambling, Coco's mood changed. She realized that besides Tweak and Dashi, there could be one person she could trust. She decided in her mind. This child is now my brother, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

As everyone was in the kitchen, Coco sat down between Tweak and Dashi, silent. Peso was confused as it was completely different from how she was in the sick bay. Tweak and Coco sat back, not eating. Shellington noticed, "Why aren't you guys eating?"

Coco spoke harshly. "What's it to you?"

Dashi hit her on the back of the head a bit roughly, earning a glare from Coco. "What the hell?!"

Dashi gave her a pointed look. "Be nice."

Coco mocked her, "Be NiCe- Ow!"

Dashi hit the back of her head again. "So help me. I will call Aunt Jess."

Coco crossed her arms. Tweak mumbled as she slouched and picked at her food a bit. "I ain't say shit don't call pa…."

Coco looked at her, betrayed. "Traitor, you are supposed to be my ride or die!"

Tweak looked at her exasperated "It's Dashi!"

Coco nodded and slouched back in her chair, arms crossed. "Hm, fair."

Dashi rolled her eyes as she ate. Speaking once she swallowed, she answered Shellington's previous question, "They don't usually eat in the mornings, never really have."

Tweak smiled, elbowing Coco in her side "Oh, the fights you got into with Sam and Ralph. And Soda too, once he came around."

Coco nodded, allowing a small smile as she answered, clearly fond of the memories, "I know it's like they would not let me off the hook unless I ate something."

Dashi pointed at Coco with her fork. "Then again, in kindergarten, we did get in trouble for that…."

Kwazii looked at her, curious "How?"

Before Coco could answer snidely, Tweak explained to her boyfriend, "The medicine we were taking at the time required food, and we had to take it in the mornings."

Coco nodded, giving out a small tidbit for the rest of the crew. "I remember, like, none of kindergarten."

Dashi giggled, "We were sick for half of it."

Coco shrugged. Everyone finished breakfast with idle chatter.

Coco left, and Dashi held everyone back to talk. As they finished cleaning, Shellington hugged her from behind and spoke, "So what's up?"

Dash sighed and leaned against him. "I understand Coco is a bit…."

Tweak spoke up when Dashi trailed off, "Of a bitch-"

Dashi cut her off, groaning, "Tweak!"

Tweak laughed "Oh, tell me I'm wrong. She says the same thing daily."

Dashi shook her head, obviously wanting to say more on the matter but not wanting to break Coco's trust, "She is not gonna trust quickly."

Tweak nodded her head at Peso. "She will trust you, Peso."

Peso looked up, surprised. "M-me?"

Dashi nodded, smiling softly. "You are the same age as two of her younger brothers."

Tweak nodded, looking thoughtful "Coco always has had a motherly side, especially to her siblings."

Peso nodded, and Dashi spoke gently, "and I know we have no right to ask this, especially after all you have done for us. But if you guys could be patient with her and not get offended, we would so appreciate it."

Tweak nodded and joked, "Hey Peso, you fancy getting another sister?"

Peso laughed and nodded, "That explains the sickbay."

Inkling looked up, curious now. "Sickbay?"

Peso nodded and explained, "Yeah, she was talking and stuff. Almost energetically."

Dashi nodded as Tweak held out her hand. "Dashi."

Dashi sighed and got out her wallet, giving her five dollars. "I need to stop making bets with you."

Tweak smiled "Muchas Gracias."

Dashi stuck her tongue out at her. Tweak shook her head, continuing, "Yeah, she'll do that, though."

Dashi mumbled something before pulling out her phone to google something. Inkling, catching on to the rest of the younger crew's quirks quickly, spoke up, "Dashi, you have an idea?"

Dashi spoke, mumbling, "I know it probably would be a long shot, but…."

Dashi trailed off as Tweak looked at her, clearly frustrated she took so long to make her point. "I mean, we weren't listening or anything."

Dashi picked back up, glancing around at each crew member to gauge their reactions, "what if... Coco became an octonaut?"

Tweak shook her head "that would be like months of training."

Peso spoke, "not to mention she needs to heal up first."

Dashi frowned but continued, "What if and hear me out, we trick her."

Tweak sighed and spoke sarcastically, "Hmm, let's see, let's trick the girl who we are mind connected with! Great plan!"

Dashi frowned and tapped her chin "right…."

Tweak raised an eyebrow at her cousin, sighing. She spoke, "Since you suck at planning, here me out. We wait for two months till Coco is healed. At the end of the first-month Peso bonds with her-"

Peso spoke, "M-Me?"

Tweak spoke, moving her hands. "Yes, she already sees you as a little brother. Play into that. We have discussed this."

Peso nodded. "Like just be a little brother?"

Tweak smiled and snapped her finger. "Exactly, then after they've bonded at the end of the second month, we spring the idea on her-"

Barnacles interrupted, confused. "Shouldn't we ease the idea on her, like let her get used to the plan?"

Dashi and Tweak spoke, "Nope.""Not at all."

Dashi explained at the confused looks of the crewmates, "Coco is an over-thinker."

Tweak nodded. "Not to mention an adrenaline junky. She's more spontaneous. You give her the idea and immediately show her that the concept can be done. She is much more likely to do it. Anyway, spring the idea on her. Training takes... like a year? Then she joins."

Dashi spoke, "If she tries to deny?"

Tweak put a hand on her hip "we use Peso. Coco can't stand hurting her little brother's feelings. One of her very few weaknesses."

Peso looked up, jokingly putting a hand on his chest. "I feel used a bit…."

Tweak spoke, "Wouldn't you like to keep Coco here?"

Peso nodded. "Well yeah."

Dashi spoke, "then we convince her."

Barnacles nodded. "It sounds interesting."

Dashi nodded as Tweak spoke. "Besides, She would be so fun to have on the crew. I could finally have my chaos bud back."

Dash looked at Tweak, impressed "you thought all of that through now?"

Tweak smiled. "Just thinking like an engineer! It is my gift."

Kwazii nodded, smiling. "It sounds like it could work?"

Dashi shrugged. "I'm down. I've done worse with you both."

Kwazii nodded, raising his hand. "I'm in."

Shellington smiled. "If Dashi is down, I am down."

Tweak spoke, "I came up with the damn plan, so I'm in."

Barnacles spoke, "I suppose it isn't the worst thing we have done."

Inkling sighed and smiled. "It sounds interesting having a new member, so I will join."

Tweak smiled and pumped her fist. "Sweet!"

Outside the kitchen door, Coco shook her head. She smiled while speaking, "They really want me to stay…."

She smiled as she walked down the hall, looking at pictures. "It might be fun."

She shrugged and returned to the launch bay.