Knock knock knock…
Ember opened the door to see Gumball standing there, "Hey, Gumball. Still angry at us? Look, I'm sor⸻"
Gumball started crying before Ember could finish her statement.
"Gumball, what's wrong?" Ember asked.
"Why does the whole family think I have to be dumb, Ember…what's wrong with me?" Gumball asked, wiping away his tears.
"Oh, Gumball, they don't think you're dumb," Ember replied, "We're all proud of you."
"My birthday is next week," Gumball explained, "I wanted to start being smarter, because then I'll be thirteen."
"And that makes sense," Ember stated, "Look, we don't hate you, and you aren't dumb, okay? We're all really proud of you, Gumball. Especially, Penny."
"Oh no…" Gumball paused, "I blamed her…"
"It's okay, Gumball," Ember patted his shoulder, "I know she'll forgive you. She loves you."
Gumball covered his face, "I-I didn't mean it…"
Ember frowned, "Gumball, it's okay."
Gumball went in for a tight hug, and being, well, Ember, she hugged him back.
"Why'd you come to me and not your family?" Ember said as she released her grip.
"Well…" Gumball replied, "I walked into the bathroom when I got home…and my head started hurting…but I didn't want my family to be worried again…so is it a normal headache or…am I sick again?"
"Well, the potion is permanent, but it is April, maybe it's a stomach bug," Ember said as she put a hand on his forehead, "Yeah, you're warm, again. Come inside, I'll get you something."
When Gumball entered, he looked around to see a really organized living room. Ember walked to the fridge and grabbed some tylenol.
"So, is this your house?" Gumball asked.
Ember nodded as she walked into the living room and handed the tylenol to Gumball.
"And you live by yourself?" Gumball asked before digesting the medicine.
"Yeah, me and Ken do. We come from another dimension," Ember said.
"What do you mean, another dimension?" Gumball asked.
"Well, it's like your world, but…another species. We call them humans," Ember answered, "Take Susie and flip her around. Her upside-down face is a human's chin."
"Seems complicated," Gumball replied.
Ember sighed, "I came here because you are a TV show…remember when the signal was out on the TVs and weird things happened, causing Darwin to be angry at you?"
"Yeah…" Gumball answered, "How do you know all this?"
"Same way I know what Anais' face looked like," Ember replied, "The Amazing World of Gumball. That's why I'm your fan, and you're my idol."
"Really?" Gumball replied with a smile.
Ember nodded, "And when we got here, we noticed you were sick, so Ken and I came up with the potion. We didn't want you to die when our whole point being here was to help you guys and meet our idols."
"What's so inspiring about us?" Gumball asked.
"Adventures, friends, comedy, things like that," Ember replied.
"Never thought someone would be my fan before," Gumball gave out a nervous laugh.
Ember giggled and grabbed a thermometer, "Here, let's see how high the fever is."
Ember put the thermometer in Gumball's mouth until and beeped and removed it.
"101.2," Ember read aloud and put her hand onto Gumball's forehead again, "Has your immune system always been this bad at doing its job?"
Gumball slightly giggled, "Nope, it does its job."
"I'll go make you some soup," Ember said as she headed towards the kitchen.
"Where's Ken?" Gumball asked.
"After-school club," Ember answered as she opened the cabinet.
Later…
Gumball paused, "Yep, I think it's the stomach bug."
"Why do you say that?" Ember replied, before the blue cat threw up in the floor.
"Oh dear," Ember said, "Head to the bathroom and I'll get this cleaned up."
"Sorry about your floor, Ember," Gumball said as he headed to the bathroom.
"No worries," Ember replied and headed to the kitchen for some cleaning supplies.
After Ember got the floor cleaned, she headed to the bathroom door and knocked on the door, "Gumball, is everything alright?"
"Come in," Gumball said weakly. She entered the bathroom and saw Gumball's arms resting on the toilet seat.
"Want me to call your mom?" Ember asked.
Gumball shook his head, "Call Penny."
Ember nodded and grabbed her phone and dialed Penny's number.
At the Watterson's house…
Penny was hanging with Darwin, Anais, and the twins when her phone started ringing. She answered the phone, when she saw it was a call from Ember.
"Hello?"
"Penny, I need you to come over to my house. Don't tell anyone, just come over."
"Why, is something wrong?"
"I'll explain it soon."
Penny stood up as the phone call ended, "I have to go."
"Okay, see you tomorrow at school," Darwin waved with Anais.
Penny flew out of the window and headed towards Ember's house. She opened the door and called out to her friend.
"Ember?"
"In the bathroom!" Ember answered.
Penny opened the door to the bathroom, "Oh my god, Gumball, are you alright?" Penny walked over to her boyfriend and sat down.
Gumball moved away from the toilet and hugged Penny, "I'm really sorry for yelling at you earlier…"
Penny patted his back, "Gummy, it's okay, I know you didn't mean it."
"It's just a stomach bug," Ember informed Penny, "It's nothing serious."
Gumball threw himself over the toilet again and threw up while Penny rubbed small circles on his back.
"Gumball, we need to call mom," Penny said.
"No, I'm…fine," Gumball said.
"Gumball, Penny's right," Ember told him, "We need to call her, she can help you feel better."
"But she'll be worried," Gumball replied.
Ember shook her head, "This is just a stomach bug. Nothing bad will happen, I promise."
Gumball sighed, "Fi⸻", and threw up again.
Ember dialed Nicole's number and held the phone to her ears.
Back at the Watterson's house…
Ring…ring…ring…
Nicole grabbed the wall phone, "Watterson's residence."
"Nicole, Gumball's throwing up."
"Oh my god, is he alright?"
"Yes, yes, he is, it's just the stomach bug. He's gonna be just fine. 2512 Elmore Groove Street."
"I'll be right there!" Nicole said, as she hung up the phone and sprinted outside and toward Ember's house.
Ember's house…
"What if I'm still sick on my birthday…?"
"Hopefully, you won't," Penny said as she stroked his forehead.
"Do you have a potion for the stomach bug?"
"No, Gumball, the only magic here is mother nature. You'll get over this quickly⸻"
Nicole opened the door, "Where are you??"
"Look to your right!" Ember answered.
Nicole opened the door and walked over to Gumball and sat beside him, "Oh, Gumball. Why didn't you say your belly was hurting?"
"Because it wasn't…" Gumball answered.
Nicole put her hand on Gumball's forehead, "You're burning up. Let's get you home."
Before Nicole could stand up, Gumball threw up again.
"Of course, when you are done," Nicole finished.
"Thank you for taking care of him, Ember, and you, too, Penny," Nicole smiled.
Ember nodded, "My pleasure."
Later...
Penny helped ill Gumball to the house with Nicole behind them.
"What's wrong, son?" Richard asked, sitting on the couch as he watched his wife and Penny walk into the house with his son.
"Stomach bug," Gumball answered weakly. Nicole stayed downstairs and Penny walked upstairs with him. They went to the bedroom and Anais and Darwin paused.
"I-I just need my bed," Gumball said as he collapsed into his soft bed.
"What's wrong?" Darwin asked Penny.
"Don't worry about it," Penny smiled, "He'll be okay."
That night, Nicole would hear Gumball run to the bathroom from time to time, Penny following him. She decided to stay and help for a while as Nicole took care of the twins. The next morning, she kept him from school. Ember would come over after school to help Penny. Soon, Gumball got over his sickness and went back to school.
"Bye, mom!" Gumball waved to his mother as he exited the house and walked onto the bus.
"I saved you a seat!" Darwin said, patting his seat.
"Oh, sorry, Darwin, I wanted to sit with Penny today," Gumball said, taking the seat beside him, "But we can talk until she gets on!"
"Oh..."
"Come on, buddy, you know I still love you."
"Yeah, I know," Darwin replied.
"Look, today is Friday, so we have all weekend to hang out," Gumball reminded him, "Tell you what, we can play video games all weekend."
Darwin was about to agree until he remembered the surprise they were planning, "Sorry, Gumball. Ember invited me to her house this weekend."
"What for?" Gumball asked, "And why without me?"
Darwin shrugged, "She didn't say."
Gumball sighed "Of course..."
Ember and Ken got on and sat in front of Darwin's seat.
"Hey, Ember! Hey, Ken!" Gumball greeted with a smile.
"Hey, Gumball!" they replied in unison.
"How you feelin'?" Ember asked.
"A lot better," Gumball smiled, "Thanks for taking care of me."
"It was my pleasure," Ember answered.
"Small question," Gumball stated.
"Yeah?" Ember replied.
"Why did you ask for Darwin this weekend and not me?"
"Nothing to worry about, Gumball," Ember smiled.
At school...
"Alright, children, settle down," Miss. Simian demanded as she grabbed the graded exams.
"Oh, I'm scared to get my results!" Gumball whined, "What if it's an F again?"
Miss. Simian started passing out the tests and when Gumball received his, he gasped.
"An A??" he said, "Wow...that's crazy!"
"I got a 98!" Darwin said, excitedly.
"Good job, buddy!" Gumball replied.
At lunch...
"This is the first time I got an A on an exam," Gumball told the others.
"I'm proud of you, Gummy," Penny kissed Gumball's cheek.
"I got a B," Ember said, "But, I'm not good with Geography so..."
Gumball giggled, "Rip."
"So, Gumball, what are you gonna do this weekend?" Anais asked.
Gumball shrugged, "I dunno, Darwin wants to ditch me...Penny?"
"Sorry, Ember needs me," Penny confessed.
"I guess I'll just watch Elmore Stream-It...alone," Gumball sighed.
"Sorry, Gumball," Penny frowned.
"It's fine, I mean, I did blame you all for not wanting me to be smart."
"Gumball, we never want you to hide yourself, and that includes being smart," Penny said, "We love that you're smart."
Gumball sighed again, "I know..."
Sunday...
"Okay, now let's call Gumball and invite him over!" Darwin said as he grabbed his phone and dialed Gumball's number.
Penny, Carrie, Darwin, Anais, Nicole, Richard, Greyson, Naima, Ember, Ken, the whole were all in Ember's house to surprise their friend, Gumball.
Gumball, at his house, was watching Elmore Stream-It when his phone rang.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hey, Gumball."
"What do you want, Darwin?"
"Meet me at Ember's place. She needs you."
"Oh, now she needs me?"
"Just c'mon, buddy."
"Fine," Gumball hung up the phone and left the house, heading toward Ember's.
"Okay, he's here, get into position!" Darwin shouted as Gumball appeared on the lawn.
He twisted the knob and opened it slowly, "What do y'all want?"
"Surprise!" the others popped out from their hiding places.
Gumball's eyes widened as he saw the balloons, his friends, family, all standing with gifts for his thirteen birthday the next day.
"You guys..." Gumball uttered, "You...did this all for me?"
"Yes, of course," Nicole smiled and walked over to Gumball, "Happy Birthday, honey."
"B-But I thought—"
"Gumball, the whole point in a surprise party is that it stays...well...a surprise," Ember giggled.
Penny walked up to Gumball, "Happy Birthday, Gummy." She kissed his cheek.
"Who planned this?" Gumball asked.
Everyone then pointed to Ember.
"When you were mad at us, we thought a party would help you realise that you can be as smart as Anais and not be possesed," Ember giggled, "Oh, Nicole, did you know that Gumball here got a 100 in his final exam?"
"You did what now?" Nicole turned to her son.
"Surprise," Gumball smiled nervously.
"Oh, that's awesome, your first 100?" Nicole asked.
"No, my second. I got a 100 on a quiz that we had right after I came back from all the sickness...or at least the first one," Gumball smiled.
"Wow, this is an improvement, I'm proud of you, Gumball," Nicole smiled as well.
"Let's get this party started!" Ember shouted. The others cheered and Gumball ran over to Ember and hugged her.
"Thank you so much, Ember," Gumball said.
"Let's get this party started!" Darwin shouted as the music turned on. Gumball made his way over to Penny as Penny made her way over to Gumball.
"Hey, Gummy," Penny smiled.
Gumball smiled back, "Hey, my beautiful fairy angel."
Penny giggled and went in for a dance from her handsome boyfriend.
"I love you, Penny."
"I love you, too, Gummy."
"Alright, time for presents!" Ember announced.
Gumball headed to the couch and sat down. Ember handed him a present and he opened it, "Oh...my...goodness...a Gumball...T-Shirt..."
"It's got everyone one it!" Ember informed him, "you, Darwin, Anais, Nicole, Richard, Greyson, Naima, Penny, Carrie, Tobias, Bobert, Banana Joe, Masami, Alan, Carmen, literally everyone."
"Woah, this is awesome!" Gumball said as he slipped the shirt on, "How do I look?" he giggled.
"Here!" Darwin tossed a present to Gumball, "That one is from Ken!"
Gumball opened it to reveal a karate set, whilst he gasped, "Karate!"
"I see you like karate," Ken chuckled.
"I do!" Gumball said as he set the gift down, "I can't wait to use it!"
Nicole handed her gift to Gumball and motioned him to open it, "It's from everyone."
Gumball opened it to find a scrapbook filled with memories of him and his friends. Him and Alan, him and Darwin, him and Tina, him and Masami, him and Anais, him and Ember, him and Ken, you name it!
"It's...beautiful," Gumball smiled.
"Here's the last one," Penny said as she handed Gumball a small box.
He opened it to find a necklace. Half a heart, while she put the same one on.
"It matches," she smiled.
Gumball put his on and reached up to the other piece of the necklace to reveal a shape of a heart.
"It's beautiful, Penny," Gumball smiled, "Just like you."
The crowd all said "Awe!" as Gumball stood up and hugged Penny.
"Let's finish this party!" Gumball shouted, the music returning to volume and everyone dancing again.
"Happy Birthday, Gummy," Penny kissed Gumball on the lips this time instead of the cheek.
Gumball could feel himself blush, "T-Thanks, Penny."
She giggled, "Come on, this party isn't over yet. Time to dance!"
"Broter?" Naima crawled to Gumball with a painting.
"Yes, Naima?" Gumball said as he turned to see the painting.
"Happy Birtday," Naima said cutely.
"Awww, it's so cute!" Gumball said as he reached out for the drawing.
"They're balloons," Naima said.
"They look awesome," Gumball smiled as he reached out to hug Naima and Greyson, who was beside Naima.
Penny chuckled, "I see being a big brother again is easier than you thought?"
"Maybe it isn't all bad," Gumball confessed, "I completely love it.
Penny yawned, "I love it, too."
"Alright, Penny," Gumball giggled as he stood up. He made his way over to Penny and kissed her cheek, "Good night, angel." he smiled as Penny left the room.
"Good night, Gummy," Penny said before leaving.