Good news, Hiro and his aunt did not kill the trio for feeding Ari sugar when they dropped her off at the cafe, but they did glare at them for potentially spoiling her dinner appetite.

"You're not the boss of me Hiro!" Ari had argued at that.

"He's your brother, I'm pretty sure that's in the job description." Megan commented, at least most of the sugar high was gone from the two.

Unfortunately their sister was still not feeling well from the forbidden sundae, so when they got home, they were just chilling with her on the couch.

"You gonna be okay?" David asked her, he was currently curled in Sienna's arms like a kitten.

"I think." Juniper mumbled. "Never having ice cream again…"

Sara scoffed. "Yeah right."

Click!

"I'm baaack!" Heads turned as Mikan dramatically sauntered into the room, grinning as she noticed the artist. "Hey Sienna, didn't know you were dropping by."

Sienna waved. "I was hanging with David and Sara at the mall, thought I'd stick around for a little."

Mikan made a quick detour to the kitchen, grabbing a challah roll and sitting next to Sara. "So, where did all the adults go?"

"Downstairs." Sara gestured to the basement. "They're talking about boring adult stuff or something, we're not supposed to barge in so we're just skimming through tv."

The snow-striped girl glanced at the television set, a colorful animal cartoon was playing. "No Strange Beings?"

Sara made a face. "Gosh no, you know I can't stand that show!"

"Oh c'mon, it's not that scary, they only showed a little violence last season!"

"Someone losing their head is not what I'd call 'a little violence' Mika!"

Juniper glanced over to David. "Um, what kind of tv do you like?"

"Power Rangers." He shrugged. "It's got really corny jokes."

"Cool."

Another click made them look over as the basement door opened, Juniper perked up seeing who it was. "Hi Mama!"

"Hi sweetie." Barb smiled at her, as she was walking over. "Don't mind me kids, just getting something from the kitchen."

"Try the challah." Mikan suggested as she took another bite of her roll.

As Barb entered and excited the kitchen carrying a few snacks, challah included, Juniper noticed that Sienna was staring at her mama with awe. "Sienna?"

"Oh uh-" The artist turned, face slightly red. "Just didn't expect I'd ever meet you or your mom in person, y'know I'm a really big fan of your performances, wish I got to see them in person, but they look super cool in videos!"

Juniper tried to hide the blush of embarrassment on her face, her mama did a better job at it. "Aw thanks, that's really nice of you to say." Barb smiled at her. "Maybe Juni and I will do our shows again, except for the stealing part, we're not about that lifestyle anymore."

"Definitely not!" Juniper added.

The artist was still smiling, even when the stealing got mentioned "Well, if you do another one of your shows, I'll be sure to attend."

"I'd be happy to see you." Barb told her, then she went back to the basement, leaving the kids alone once more.

Mikan, done with her argument with Sara, decided to chime in with her two cents. "Y'know the stealing made your shows a little dramatic, even with the whole Big Hero 6 interrupting bit."

"That's not what you said about those shows last semester, suck-up." Sara pointed out.

"Hey! I'm allowed to change my mind on things."

Juniper coughed, making the two pause. "Can we talk about something else?" The mention of the stealing was uncomfortable, if she was honest.

It made her think about the drama it put her and her mama through, sure performing from city to city was fine, but days of constant travel did strain their bond at times.

"Sure." Mikan grinned. "Was your mall trip fun?"

She nodded, happy for the change of topic. "Yeah, it was."

"Except for the part where we fed you the forbidden sundae." David chuckled.

"Don't remind me!"

Mikan chuckled. "Learn your lesson on that kid?"

"Yes." Juniper groaned.

"It was fun seeing my dad's friend again." Sienna smiled at the memory. "We always go to his place when it's father's day."

"Awww." Sara gushed. "That's cute, I wish I did something for father's day."

The artist raised an eyebrow. "You don't?"

"Well, I don't have a dad, why would I celebrate father's day?" The wavy-haired blonde pointed out.

Sienna turned reddish again, this time from embarrassment. "Oh, sorry." She had forgotten that little detail.

"If it makes you feel better, I don't really care about it." Sara reassured the artist. "My mom just always told me he abandoned her and left her with me blah blah blah, said he was supposed to make her important, I stopped listening to her when I was seven."

For some reason, Juniper was staring at her with wide eyes. "Really? Your dad abandoned you?" Her voice dribbled with shock and distress.

How could anyone do that to their own kid? Just leave like they were going to the store and never coming home.

"Don't cry about it Juni, we're convinced Sara's mom made that stuff up." David wrinkled his nose. "She was one delusional lady."

She really does sound like a rotten egg. The dancer noted.

"I don't really care about my dad anyways, even if he's an okay guy, I have Aunt Sally and Uncle Steven as my parents anyways."

Both her siblings nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they're really cool parents!" Her brother exclaimed.

"Mhmm." Mikan then leaned over to Juniper. "Hey, speaking of dads, what's yours like?"

"Mika!" Sara exclaimed. "That's rude!"

She raised an eyebrow. "What? I was just asking."

"I don't wanna talk about him." Juniper glanced away from her. Yeah right. To call him a dad would be an insult, he felt like more of a jailer than a parent.

Sometimes… she even wondered if that man had even cared about her at all. "He's not my dad." Juniper muttered under her breath.

Sara had heard that part, flashing a look of sympathy, but Mikan didn't. "So you do know him! Did he and your mom have a divorce and that's why you're so quiet about it?"

"Mika." David hissed. "Don't be nosy."

The snow-striped girl frowned. "C'mon, she knows who he is." Ignoring her siblings' protests, she poked Juniper. "Did he get run over by a car? What's his name and-?"

For her nosiness, she got a harsh slap to the wrist. "I said I don't want to talk about him!" Juniper all but hissed, then without another word, walked up the stairs and went straight to her room.

Mikan rubbed her wrist. "Ow."

"I told you to drop it." Sara glared at her. "She didn't have to tell you about it."

"Yeah, you acted like those people in middle school who harassed me over who my dad was, and then told me Steven wasn't my real dad when I told them." David was also glaring, sounding rightfully mad.

The snow-striped girl dropped her head in shame. "Sorry… guess I should apologize to her now."

"Maybe do that when she's not likely to whack you over the head." Sienna suggested, not wanting any more arguments to happen.

"If she does that, be sure to bring your camera." David whispered to Sara, except he wasn't very quiet about it and their older sister heard.

Sara nodded. "Sure thing."

"Hey!" Mikan protested.


Teen Dorks Squad group chat:

Rach: cocoa,jpeg

Rach: If I don't ever have hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream, assume I've been replaced by an alien

Karms: Isn't marshmallows and whipped cream a bit much?
Hiro: Only if you're a coward

Karms: THEM'S FIGHTING WORDS GENIUS BOY!

Karms: hotc,jpeg

Rach: omg is that chocolate flakes ON the chocolate?!

Karms: Yes :V

Hiro: so are we all drinking hot chocolate tonight?

Ari: DID SOMEONE SAY HOT CHOCOLATE?!

Ari: OMG KARMI SEND ME THAT DRINK

Karms: get your own hot chocolate

June: What did I walk into

Rach: Chaos

June: I'm just gonna watch, I don't feel well
Ari: Are you STILL in a food coma?

June: Yes? How are you NOT dead of ice cream?

Rach: You underestimate Rosemarys and their power to consume high quantities of sugar

Rach: It's from my mom, she goes thru chocolate bars like water

Baymax: I am concerned about cavities

Hiro: I'm not even a dentist but same, your family dentist must be rich

Rach: omg i do NOT get cavities

Ari: Liar

Karms: And now my teeth hurt


Mikan's pushy words made her remember and Juniper didn't want to remember him, not one bit.

At least the group chat shenanigans were helping to keep her mind off of it, but it wasn't enough. So all she could do was grip Pete in her arms and try to block out the old memories that haunted her.

"Hey Juniper, is it okay if I come in?" That was Sara's voice on the other side of the door.

I really don't want company right now. "Yes." Was what she said instead, not having the heart to turn her away.

Sara opened the door, a plate of veggies, rice, and bread in her arms. "I brought some food in case you don't feel like going back downstairs."

"Is that all you wanted?"

The wavy-haired blonde's cheeriness faded, turning more serious. "I wanted to talk about what happened downstairs." She walked over to the bed, sitting next to her. "About Mika… she didn't mean to push you like that."

She glared at Sara. "Didn't mean to?"

"Yeah, that was a poor choice of words." Sara winced. "But… I know how you feel in terms of having a bad parent-"

"He's not my parent!" Juniper hated how choked her voice sounded at that moment. "He's n-not…"

Now Sara was looking at her like a wounded puppy, like she was a small helpless child. "Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry for yelling." It wasn't Sara's fault, she didn't know how bad he was, she was just trying to make her feel better.

And in response, Juniper was snapping at her at every given moment. "You don't deserve that."

"It's fine." Sara was still smiling at her. "I get it and hey, at least you got away from that person."

It was hard to remember that, if the dancer was honest with herself. She tried to ignore those feelings of fear and worry that she could truly escape his grasp, but they always came back when she couldn't sleep on some nights.

Those were always the hardest nights on the road, waking up in tears and her mama worried what had gotten herself so upset, Juniper couldn't bring herself to talk about it, not wanting to upset her mama, who also had bad dreams herself.

"I guess…"

She sniffled, Sara noticed and brought her closer for a side hug, the warm arms wrapped around her shoulders made the heavy weight of loneliness in her chest a little lighter. "Y'know, I got put in the hospital because of what my mom put me through, that was when she lost custody of me." Then she made a face. "She did not like that and retaliated..."

Juniper glanced over at the faded scars on Sara's wrists, the wavy-haired blonde had told her about them once, and felt a surge of rage towards her biological mom for what she put the kind-hearted woman through. "What did she do?"

"Pulled out a knife and ended up stabbing my uncle when he tried taking said knife away and then he got put in the hospital too."

"Yikes..." She didn't even know what to say to that. Sara's birth mom's lucky she's in jail or wherever Sara said she was or else I'd fry her for every injury and insult she did.

Sara shared the same look of disgust. "Yeah that's how he got his head scars, when I found out after I recovered, I kind of blamed myself for it."

Why would she? Juniper wondered, if Sara wasn't even awake for that part, why did she put the blame on herself? It wasn't like she was the one who stabbed her uncle. "It wasn't your fault, it was your mom's."

"I know, Uncle Steven told me not to, but I just felt really bad my mom hurt him, she hurt us both a lot." Sara sighed. "Even after she went to jail, I still had a lot of bad nightmares and was so scared my aunt or uncle would end up hurting me like she did."

Juniper didn't know what to say, so she just hugged the wavy-haired blonde a little tighter. "Does it…" She mumbled. "Does it ever stop hurting?"

"That's a tough one kiddo." Sara admitted. "It still hurts thinking about my mom, but it hurts a lot less, y'know?"

Juniper nodded, even if that line didn't feel helpful, Sara was being genuine. "At least you're honest, unlike your sister-"

Sara cut her off with a snicker. "Oh my gosh."

"Am I wrong?!"
"Not really, Mika can't be honest to save her life." The wavy-haired blonde chuckled.


Meanwhile with Mikan…

"Ach-oo!" She sneezed at the dinner table.

"Can you not do that on my breadsticks?" David nudged his plate away from her.

Mikan rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. "Sorry." Did I get an allergic reaction or something?


"She'll apologize tomorrow, I know Mika's made you uncomfortable lately, but she's a total softie inside." Sara reassured her. "She's just… bad at being social."

"You don't say?" Juniper raised an eyebrow. "She's really terrible at it and needs to be re-enrolled in social class."

Sara rolled her eyes. "I mean, you're not wrong."

"Do I have to forgive her tomorrow?" She was really mad at the snow-striped girl for bringing back memories of him.

"That's up to you, I'm not gonna tell you to brush off her sending you down an unwelcome trip to memory lane, but if you tell her that it bothered you, she'll understand."

Juniper wasn't sure about that, but Sara had been honest with her so far. "Okay."

"Well-" She got up from the bed. "I better go eat dinner before David eats all the breadsticks and steak, you get a good night's rest, alright?"

"I'll try." But she wasn't sure if she'd get one tonight.

She should at least try, she was really tired anyways…


The next morning…

Mikan ripping off her brother's blanket covers was the best way to start such a day. "Rise and shine, sucker!" She cackled at his reaction. "It's Monday!"

He let out a bellowing groan. "Mika, it's too early for these shenanigans."

"I don't care, since Sara's not here, someone has to get you to SFIT." David then got up, stretching his legs and yawning. "C'mon. I'll bribe you with Lucky Cat food if I have to."

"I'm sold." He chuckled. They both then got ready for the day, morning rituals weren't really much to talk about. "Uh, should we tell our little sis that it's a school day so she doesn't wonder where we are?"

"Oh yeah, good idea." The snow-striped girl gently knocked on the door. "Juni, we're going to school, just letting you know!"

"Yeah, enjoy having an empty house!" David added. When silence greeted their statements, they got a little concerned. "Maybe she's a heavy sleeper?"

She shrugged. "Okay, we're coming in!" Mikan opened the door and her eyes immediately shot over to the bed.

Their little sister looked to be awake, her brown eyes were slightly open, but she looked exhausted.

"Uh…" The silence creeped David a little. "Are you dead?"

"Don't even joke about it." Mikan hissed, she nudged Juniper, who didn't stir. "Juni, are you okay?"

Juniper's response was to turn around, and place her pillow on top of her head to try and tune the two out with a huff. "Go away." She muttered.

"Sorry to bug you." David felt bad, she sounded really cranky, reminded him of when he accidentally woke Sara up too early and she was snappy for the rest of the morning. "Hey Mika, should you-?"

Mikan groaned. "Fine." She did have to apologize for last night, so she kneeled down so she could be eye level with the dancer, if she was facing her direction. "Hey Juni… I'm sorry about last night."

No response, so Mikan tugged her hair a little to try and get her to respond, but Juniper just grumbled in response. "Mika, if she doesn't want to talk, leave her alone." David shook his head.

"I will if she says something back." Now she was starting to get a little worried, it usually wasn't a good sign if someone wasn't responding to you.

"I'll call Dad if you won't leave her alone!"

She scoffed. "Whatever." Her brother left the room, off to follow on his threat. "Hey, I'm really sorry, I know I've been saying that a lot to you because I really don't know when to stop being a jerk-"

She paused in realization. "I am a jerk, aren't I?" Her siblings were used to her sharp sense of humor, but Juniper wasn't, and instead of softening up, all Mikan did was cut her when she was down. "I'm sorry, you probably hate me for how much I've made your stay here uncomfortable and-"

"I don't hate you." Juniper turned around to face her. "But honestly? You are kind of a jerk."

She couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, I am…"

"But at least you apologized, it might take me a while to forgive you, but thanks." She got up, and to Mikan's surprise, hugged her.

"No problem sis." She hugged back, trying to comfort her. "You okay?"

The dancer shook her head. "Didn't get much sleep last night."

"Sorry." That was Mikan's fault, wasn't it? Because I had to be nosy and bug her!

"Eh, I haven't had good sleep anyways." That did not make her feel better. "But just don't ask about that guy, okay? I just have my mama as a parent."

The snow-striped girl nodded. "Got it!" Not gonna make that mistake again…

The creaking of the door made them look up. "Is everything okay in here?" Steven questioned.

Mikan glanced over to the dancer, she had no room to say anything at that moment. "Yeah, Mikan was just apologizing for last night."

"What happened last night?"

David coughed nervously. "Well, we were talking about father's day and-"

"I got pushy." Mikan looked down at her feet in guilt.

Steven hummed. "I see." There was a serious look in his eyes. "Mikan, don't push about that subject, alright?"

"Okay I get it!" She threw her hands in frustration. No need to beat her over the head with that lesson.

"We should probably get going to school now, Mika." David reminded her.

She got up. "Right, we don't wanna be late!" She bounced over to her brother, giving Juniper one last wave. "Feel better soon!"


Once the two siblings were gone, Steven turned to Juniper. "You doing okay sweetie?"

"Meh." She mumbled, falling back under the covers. "Mmm so tired." She just wanted to chill in her room all day, not really having any energy to be productive.

"I know, do you want me to get you a bowl of sliced oranges? They always make me feel better when I'm tired in the morning."

On cue, her stomach growled. "Yes please."

Steven chuckled. "Okay, one sliced orange bowl coming right up."

He stayed nearby even after hanging Juniper the bowl of oranges. "Your mom'll be home soon, she's just picking Momakase up from the hospital." He had told her when she asked if she could see her mama.

"Um, Steven?" She looked up at him after a moment of hesitation. "Sara told me about how you got the scar on your eye."

He blinked in surprise. "I didn't know she did."

"Does it bother you?" Juniper asked him. "Sometimes my scar bothers me." She gestured to the chip scar on her neck.

Juniper hated that scar, all it did was remind her of when she wasn't in control of her own mind and body. A permanent mark of the nightmare that was Sycorax…

"Not anymore, honestly I see it more as a badge of honor, proof that what doesn't kill you makes you-"

"Do not quote that song." She hissed.

He chuckled. "Sorry, but I don't see shame in my scars, all they do is tell you that you survived something."

"I guess that's one way to see it." It was optimistic, that she could one day look back at the chip scar on her neck and think it was a badge of honor to have survived the hell she had been put through.

Ding-dong!

"That must be Barb." Steven noted the doorbell ringing. "I'll go let her in, you gonna be okay up here?"

He got an eye roll in response. "I'll be fine."

So he went downstairs to open the door. "I forgot to bring a house key with me." Barb explained as she walked in.

"No big deal." He shrugged.

"Nice place you have." The newcomer muttered as her mint-green eyes looked around. "It's certainly more comfortable than prison." That's when Steven noticed the metal device on her ankle. "Then again, your house is just a cozier one."

"Very funny Momakase." He scoffed. "I can see where my son gets his sarcasm from."

That got her to smile a little. "Is David home?"

"No, he's at school. But he'll be happy to see you when he gets back." He explained, then turned to Barb. "Hey, Juniper was asking for you earlier."

His friend's expression grew concerned. "Is she okay?!"

"She's not feeling well." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Barb nodded, then headed up the stairs to check on her daughter. Hope she feels better now that her mom's home.

"I'm guessing she's still recovering from Sycorax, is she?" Momakase raised an eyebrow.

"Don't say that so loud." He whispered. "It's a touchy subject, and how are you calm bringing it up when you went through a lot in there too?"

"You have a point but I didn't get it as bad as those two." Steven glared at her. "What? I'm not making fun of them."

"You better not be!"

Momakase shook her head. "Please, I might be cruel, but I'm not that heartless."

Steven chuckled nervously, feeling bad for accusing her. "I didn't say you were-"

"Is she not feeling well because of Sycorax?"

He shook his head. "No, it's about a different trauma. But it's something Barb and Juniper should say if they wish to, not me."

"Very well then."

"Also, I don't think you're cruel." He told her. "Otherwise, I don't think David would be so forgiving to you, he's not one to forgive so easily."

She raised an eyebrow but did not press it. "Well, I hope not all introductions are this… tense."

"Yeah there's usually more explosions, violence, and musical numbers."

"..." He got a weird look from Momakase, it was frankly the weirdest look he ever got from her.

"I'm joking, don't look at me like that. I swear it's a joke."

"Why are you like this? Is this why my kid and his siblings are so crazy?"

"Welcome to the family, there is no such thing as being sane here."


AN: As yes I love my original HV backstory which is just angst

And Mikan is trying her best n.n; she might be a jerk but she's one with a heart of gold.

And now Momakase is finally in CC *laugh track audience cheers* it's gonna be so fun writing her addition into this found family dynamic of chaos :3

See y'all next week!