Sorry about the formatting issue before! Seems like FanFiction got a little more ornery than usual this time around.

I hate this broken website so much sometimes.

"So… let me get this straight." Talwyn begins, resting her clasped hands on Ratchet's kitchen table as he and their companions also sit around it, albeit with Kaden looking around, still taking in his son's home throughout the lengthy conversation of having Ratchet catch her up to speed about the very eventful last couple of days.

"Clank finally repaired the Dimensionator and gave it to you, where you decided to finally visit the Lombaxes in their dimension, where you also found out that your dad isn't dead, because he was apparently saved last minute from Tachyon by his friends."

"Yep." Ratchet states with a nod of his head.

"So, then you spent the last two days just spending time with him, getting to know both him and your people, while getting into trouble like getting arrested and nearly executed because of some kind of Dimensionator ban by the Council there?"

"Well, maybe not execute, but definitely prison time, at least. Especially with how crotchety that Harold guy was acting to me, too." He clarifies with some distaste. "Man, he was a jerk."

Kaden chuckles, patting his back. "Yep, he almost never isn't one."

"But then," Talwyn continues, "You also found my dad, who has been living with Angela after he rescued her from Tachyon's empire, because they both got stranded there from that ban, preventing them from going back?" She asks, looking over to her father next to her, who's been resting his arm around her shoulders the whole time. "And that brings us to right now, where you guys finally decided to come back only an hour ago to drop my dad off, and to have yours visit your dimension, too."

"That's right." Max confirms. "You picked up on all of this quite quickly, Talwyn, good to see you've grown,to be a sharp one!" He says, giving her a small, proud squeeze.

She looks at him and returns a smile from the affection, but then looks back to Ratchet across from her with a raised eyebrow. "Thanks, dad, but… I still have one more question for you, Ratchet."

Ratchet tilts his head nervously, bracing for the question that he knew she was going to ask. "Erm… yeah?"

"Why didn't you bring me with you?!" She cries out, throwing up an arm. "Or, better yet, at least call someone before you travel to another dimension?! Seriously, the last time you went missing out of nowhere like that, it took us three months to track you down to Zogg's prison, and you were lucky we did right before he was going to execute you!"

"Is there any anecdote of your life that doesn't involve you almost dying, Ratchet?" Kaden asks exasperatedly, shaking his head.

"Yeah…" Ratchet answers her with an awkward, embarrassed smile, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry about that, Tal. It was just kind of a heat in the moment thing, you know? I got all caught up in finally having a chance to meet the Lombaxes that I wasn't really thinking about anything else."

"Well, obviously." She replies with a roll of her eyes. "You never think twice about half the things you do. It's a miracle you haven't died yet, honestly."

"Erm, I do believe that I am also partially at fault here, Talwyn." Clank speaks up beside Ratchet, who is unable to rebuttal against her admittedly true argument. "I should have been the one to send a message before we left. I apologize for the distress that we caused you because of our inexplicable absence." He states earnestly, placing a hand on his chest.

She gives a sigh. "Look, it's fine, the important thing is that you guys aren't dead and rotting in who-knows-where in the universe right now. And, yeah, while I am still a bit bitter about how hasty you were about it, I can't say I can entirely blame you, Ratchet, I know this is something you've been looking forward to for a while now. And besides… I'd say you've definitely more than made up for it with finally bringing my dad back." She says flashing him a genuine smile while giving Max a tight side-hug, which he gladly returns.

"And I'm glad I have you back, too, sweetie." He says. "We definitely have a lot of catching up to do. I'm excited to hear all about what you've been up to since I was gone, but judging by what Ratchet's here already told me, I'm already incredibly proud of you, Tal."

"I'm… happy to hear that, dad." She responds warmly. "And I'm excited to hear about what you've been up to, too."

"Well, I've been doing a lot of research on Lombaxes, for starters. I'm even a librarian over there!" He states with a hearty chuckle.

She utters a small laugh. "Sounds like the perfect job for an archaeologist like you."

"I'm glad you finally got your dad back, too, Tal." Ratchet says happily. "But, now that I think I've made up for my disappearance, I think we can go ahead and put this past us so we can—"

"Oh, I don't think so, mister." She cuts him off with a smirk, crossing her arms. "I admit you might've bought me off, but I'm not the only one who's been looking for you, you know. I've been asking people to be on the lookout for you, and you've got some of your friends very worried about you. Particularly, Sasha and Qwark."

"Oh. Yeah, I should probably call—wait… Qwark's worried about me?" He asks confusedly. "Are you sure about that?"

"Uh, yeah?" She answers back, mildly confused. "Why wouldn't he?"

"Probably because he's never been worried about me before." He answers back, annoyed. "Unless there's some kind job that he needs me to do that he'll go ahead and take credit for, that is. So, what? Some new power-mad psycho trying to take over the galaxy again? Does he need me to take them out so he can call himself a good president or something?"

"No one's trying to take over the galaxy, Ratchet." Talwyn says with a roll of her eyes. "I went and asked him myself for help, and trust me when I say that he did seem worried about happened to you."

"Well, whatever the real reason is, I guess I'm going to have to find out sooner or later, anyway." He says with a sigh. "But it's going to have to be later, because I'm going to make sure to call everyone else first to make sure I'm fine before I even think of calling—"

He is cut off as Talwyn sucks in her teeth with a grimace, making him return an uneasy look with a squint.

"…What?"

"Well…" She says slowly, "Qwark kinda said that he's stopping by here soon so he can check in with me for any leads about where you went. So… I don't think it's going to be sooner than you hope."

"I… how soon?" He inquires in dismay.

And as she says that, they all hear the distant sound of ship thrusters fade in from outside, getting louder and louder until they could be hard being just outside his home, and after a few seconds, dying down until the room quiets once more, except for Ratchet's very disgruntled groan.

"Right now, it looks like." Talwyn says amusedly.

"Perfect." He grumbles, burying his face in his hand with a frustrated sigh, rubbing his eyes for a few moments before he takes a deep breath and stands up from the table, looking down to Clank. "Well, time to say hi to our favorite president, I guess."

"Calm down, Ratchet, you should be thankful that he cares for you enough to make the trip from Polaris." Clank tells him as he too gets up from the table, following him as he mopes towards the door.

Kaden watches him walk away for a few moments before thumbing to him, looking back to Talwyn.

"Is he right about this Qwark guy being that bad, by the way?" He asks uneasily. "I mean, he's told some stories about him—pretty bad ones, too—but they can't be true, right?"

"Yeah, don't worry, he's not that bad, he's just annoying. And also little dumb sometimes." She assures him with a shrug. "And Ratchet likes to exaggerate a lot when it comes to him, too. What kind of stories has he told you, anyway?"

"Well, that he tried to murder him twice, caused chaos in an entire galaxy just to make himself a hero, constantly puts Ratchet in danger while taking the credit, almost letting a War Grok eat him, and—I really hope this isn't true—giving Tachyon the Dimensionator." Kaden recounts before raising his eyebrow with a small smile. "But, I'm sure that's just exaggeration like you said, right?"

Talwyn doesn't respond, instead biting her lip with a conflicted look on her face, making Kaden's smile slowly begin to fade.

"…Right?"

"Erm… yeah… no." She informs him with a shake of her head. "I'm afraid those ones are true."

"Wha—Including the part with Tachyon?!" He asks with wide eyes.

She gives a hesitant nod. "Yeah, even I was there for that one. To his credit, though, he didn't so much give it to him so much as he stole it from Ratchet and accidentally flew directly to his homeworld after screwing up the autopilot. But… yeah."

Kaden doesn't respond, wearing a look of disbelief on his face. He looks down onto the table in thought, then up to Talwyn, and behind him to the door that Ratchet walked out of, and back to the table again, making her and Max exchange a puzzled glance towards each other.

But then, they hear Kaden take a deep breath before he looks up, giving them an earnest smile and a nod.

"I see." He states calmly. "Excuse me."

He then stands up from the table, making sure to push his chair back in before he starts casually walking towards the door and out of the kitchen, where Ratchet just went, leading a very confused Talwyn to look back to her father with an amused smile.

"Well, that was weird, wasn't it?"

"I… don't think it's a good kind of weird, sweetie." He replies, staring off to where he left the room with furrowed brows.

"What makes you say that?"

He looks back down to her. "You do know who he is, right?"

"Um…?"

"He's the Keeper of the Dimensionator, Tal. He dedicated his life to protecting it, and he was willing to die instead of giving it to Tachyon." He tells her. "But you just said that the man just outside is the same one who handed it over to him."

"Oh." She responds dumbly, before her eyes widen as she fully registers the statement. "Oh."

Meanwhile, outside, Ratchet and Clank walk through the hot sun and across the dusty ground to an obnoxiously green spaceship parked beside Tal's PDF cruiser, just in time to see its cockpit open, where a large, familiar figure hops out in an elegant suit, stretching out his arms and legs.

"Why did he have to live all the way out here?" Qwark asks aloud, stretching out his back, where a few joints pop. "He knows that the presidential star cruiser's built-in massage seats can only do so much for such a long flight!"

Ratchet sighs. "Hello, Qwark." He greets begrudgingly, slumping his shoulders with an annoyed look.

Qwark stops in the midst of what Ratchet could only assume was massaging a knot out of his glutes as he snaps around, where a broad smile grows on his lips as he walks over, holding out his arms.

"Ah, Ratchet, you're not dead!" He declares as he goes and takes him into a crushing side-hug, squeezing out a pained breath out of him. "What have you been up to this whole time, Cadet? You had us all worried sick!"

"L-Let go!" Ratchet barely manages to breath out, struggling to escape his iron grip.

"Huh? What was that?" Qwark asks, leaning down, and unconsciously taking him into a tighter grip as he does so, making Ratchet sure to think that he was going to pass out from suffocation in a minute here. "You're going to have to speak up, Ratchet! I know you may be starstruck by being in the presence of Galactic President Copernicus Leslie Qwark, but we're best pals by now! You should be used to basking in my glorious—"

"So, you're Qwark, then?" Kaden asks from behind them.

Surprised, Qwark turns around and lets go of Ratchet, who quickly jumps back as he gasps for breath, holding a hand on his chest.

"What did I say about those hugs of yours, Qwark?" He rasps.

"What's this?" Qwark asks, completely ignoring him as he snaps his gaze between him and Kaden, standing there with crossed arms and a firm look on his features. "Ratchet, were you gone because you went ahead and cloned yourself in some kind of clandestine secret experiment? Because if you did, then amazing job! You even made your clone normal-sized, he's practically an improvement from the real McCoy!" He states, gesturing over to Kaden.

"'Normal-sized'?! What the hell does that—" Ratchet sighs, rubbing his eyes. "Whatever, look, that's not a clone, Qwark. That's my dad."

"Dad?" He repeats confusedly, looking between him and Kaden once more.

"That's right." Kaden confirms with a nod, still staring at Qwark with an unpleasantly peculiar look.

"How'd you manage to find another Lombax, then, Ratchet? I thought you were the last one! That was part of your whole shtick!"

"…'Shtick'?" Ratchet repeats, raising an eyebrow. "That's what you call it?"

"Of course, what else would I call it?" He answers back pointedly with a shrug. "But I digress; how did you manage to find another Lombax, much less your father? Oh! Was he hiding away on another unknown planet in the distant edges of the galaxy, living on the run from various assassins and bounty hunters like that Alister fellow you met?" He proposes. "Because if so, you have an amazing knack for sniffing out other Lombaxes, Cadet! At this rate, you'll bring them back just by pulling them out of every nook and cranny in the universe!"

"Okay, first off, don't talk about Alister like that, Qwark." He says firmly. "And secondly, no, I didn't just find him 'hiding out'. I found him in another dimension. It's a long story, way too long for me to tell you about it right now, but the important thing is that he's here right now." He says before walking over to stand between them. "So, dad, this is Qwark, Qwark, this is my dad, Kaden." Ratchet states, gesturing between each party.

"Well, while that hastily-worded explanation you gave is very cryptic and undoubtedly ripe with adventure, you're indeed correct in that the important thing is that he is here along with you!" Qwark tells him before looking back to Kaden, holding out his hand. "And it is my pleasure to meet the father of my favorite sidekick! He's quite the little helper, I'll have you know!"

But while Ratchet scoffs at the comment, Kaden simply keeps his arms crossed, only glancing at his hand before glaring back up at him. "Pleasure." He responds with little worth.

Ratchet and Clank exchange a puzzled look to each other at his uncharacteristic coldness, but Ratchet couldn't deny that he enjoyed it as Qwark retracts his hand in order to use it to cover his mouth as he awkwardly clears his throat.

"Well, um, you seem like quite a stoic fellow!" He says with a nervous chuckle. "Now, as you may have guessed from my immaculately pristine appearance and handsome build, I am Galactic President Copernicus Leslie Qwark, and me and your son go way back—"

"I know." Kaden interjects. "I've heard all about you, along with some of the things you and my son have done. Especially what you have done." He emphasizes.

"Ah, it's great to hear that my reputation precedes me, even transcending dimensions by the sound of it!" He states proudly, flashing a toothy grin as he places his hands on his hips. "And what, pray tell, are some of my bold tales you have heard?"

"Well, the fact that you apparently tried to kill my son, for starters." He answers simply with a shrug. "Twice, in fact. Am I wrong?"

Qwark's grin falters as he says that, and Ratchet can't help but smile in vindication at seeing all the wind knocked out of his sails so effortlessly like that.

"I-I, erm, while you might not be, well, entirely incorrect about that statement, I have to also declare that I have moved on from that dark time in my life just as I moved on from my previous Hygienator after I accidentally destroyed it from a particularly thorough session! Me and Ratchet here are best pals now, stuck to each other like glue, are we not?" He asks, leaning over to drape an arm around him as he flashes him a forced smile that Ratchet knew all too well said 'help me'.

However, he only returns an unamused look. "Let go of me, Qwark."

"Don't worry, I've heard other things about you, too." Kaden continues as Qwark awkwardly retracts his arm. "Most notably, what you did when my son was trying to stop Tachyon."

"Ah, yes! That!" Qwark hurriedly exclaims, raising a finger with a smile. "It took a lot of work, but rest assured, me and your son had rightfully avenged your people after stopping that heinous villain right in his tracks!"

"Oh, really? Is that what you call what you did with the Dimensionator, then?" He asks coldly, raising an eyebrow.

"Erm… What do possibly mean?" He asks with a nervous chuckle.

"Well, you see, Qwark, you might not know this, but I am the designated Keeper of the Dimensionator." Kaden explains, gesturing to himself. "It is my sworn duty to protect that device by any means necessary so as to protect my people, and also the multiverse as a whole, as well. And when the Lombaxes evacuated my dimension after Tachyon attacked, that job became especially important, as if he managed to actually get the Dimensionator, there would be nothing to stop him from completely exterminating our species. So, I spent a sleepless, hellish, absolutely soul-crushing three days doing everything in my power to prevent that from ever happening, including fighting that monster myself until I was nearly killed, bleeding and broken on the floor until my friends rescued me. And ever since then, I've been living my life thus far feeling assured that I upheld that duty, and that he wouldn't ever get his hands on it."

He then gestures over to Ratchet, witnessing the exchange with curiosity along with Clank beside him as Qwark stands in an uneasy silence, not liking where this was going.

"And then, a couple days ago, I met my son, and as we were catching up, him telling me all about his adventures, we came upon the topic of his ordeal with Tachyon." Kaden continues in an innocent tone. "He told me all about how their first encounter, some highlights, too, and especially the part where he actually beat him, and avenged our people. Naturally, I was very happy and proud—if not a slight bit unnerved at first—to hear all of this, and I still am. But, he also told me about a little…"

He takes in a breath, resting a finger on his lips before he brings it back down, pointing it at Qwark. "—Incident that apparently involved you and the Dimensionator."

Qwark gulps, pulling at his suits collar slightly while raising a finger. "W-Well, you see—"

"Apparently," Kaden cuts him off, "As soon as Ratchet here reclaimed the Dimensionator from some space pirates, you swooped in, stole it right out of his hands, and flew off to who-knows-where, except you didn't. What you did do was fly directly to—out of all the places in the universe—the Cragmite's homeworld, where as soon as you ran into Tachyon, you gave it to him." He states with firm disbelief, glaring intensely into his soul. "The one thing—the one thing—that I almost died to prevent from ever happening, accomplished just like that by some big green dumbass in a spandex suit! Just tell me, in the name of all that is holy, why did you even take it from him in the first place if you were going to something so insanely, unfathomably stupid as that?!" Kaden demands, throwing his arms over to Ratchet, who—although surprised by his father's outburst—can't help but look down to Clank with a smirk.

"You know, I'm actually starting to be kinda glad Qwark showed up now." He whispers to him. "This is awesome to watch."

"A-Actually, I have a good reason!" Qwark fearfully responds to the question, trying his best to muster a smile even as he shrinks from the intense anger bubbling in Kaden's gaze.

"Which is?" He asks through gritted teeth.

"I was going to throw the Dimensionator into a black hole to destroy it! I recognized the danger that device of yours could cause with how many unsavory parties were attempting to acquire it, and all the chaos that could result if any of them managed to bring back the Cragmites! Or more space pirates! Or even my evil, less handsome counterpart version of me!" He recounts, shivering only on that last thought.

"But, yes, while that plan may have run slightly afoul, it doesn't change the fact that my intentions were noble! I was trying to protect the universe from the dangers of the Dimensionator! In fact, it was almost as if I was also acting as one of those Keepers to protect people for the greater good—just like you!" He declares proudly, losing most of his visible fear as he poses heroically, placing a hand on his hip as he gestures to Kaden with the other.

Kaden doesn't say anything, instead only opting to just stare at him, slack-jawed in utter disbelief as Ratchet can be heard sucking in through his teeth as Clank simply places a hand over his mouth.

"Uh oh." Ratchet mutters.

"Indeed." Clank quietly agrees.

"What?" Qwark asks genuinely, looking over to them. "Do I have a stain on my suit that is ruining my moment? I knew I shouldn't have eaten those cocktails as I was using the extra rumbly setting of the presidential cruiser's massage feature!"

"Oh, wait, yeah, you actually do have a little something on your face." Kaden calmly states, resting a hand on his chin. "Here, lean down for a second, I think I can get it for you."

"Really? Why, thank you, Kaden!" Qwark says, leaning down to his request as he looks over to Ratchet. "Take notes, Ratchet, for I think your father can teach you a thing or two about manners—"

He is abruptly cut off as Kaden connects a swift punch into his jaw, sending him down to the ground from the unexpected hit, prompting Ratchet and Clank to stare at Kaden in shock as he shakes out his hand with an indifferent look.

"Yeah, I see what you mean now when you talk about wanting to shoot him all the time." He casually tells Ratchet. "You're a better man than I am if you manage to keep yourself from doing that every five minutes." He says, thumbing over to the heap that is Qwark on the ground, groaning.

"What the—What just happened?!" They suddenly hear Talwyn cry out, making them all turn back to see her throwing out her arms with a look of worried confusion, along with Max standing next to her, crossing his arms.

"Uh… My dad just punched Qwark in the face." Ratchet says with disbelieving amusement, thumbing over to him as he starts to pick himself up off the ground. "And it was good one, too."

"You're telling me, that actually hurt my hand a bit." Kaden agrees, flexing out his fingers.

"See? I told you." Max tells her with a smirk.

"That doesn't—" She stops to rub her eyes for a moment before rushing over to Qwark, doing her best to help him up off the ground, made more difficult by the sheer size of his frame. "Qwark, are you alright?" She asks.

"Erm, y-yes, of course!" He anxiously assures her, fearfully batting his eyes towards Kaden, simply standing next to Ratchet while crossing his arms. "I am the Great and Might Leslie Copernicus Qwark, after all, I've gone through more daunting trials than just a punch! Although, I have to admit that it was quite fierce. And hurt. A lot."

"Well… that's good, I guess? But, if you need to stick around for any longer to finish up whatever you need to do, then go ahead, because I promise you will not get punched any more. Right?" She asks, turning to Kaden with a strong look.

"Maybe." He answers back casually with a shrug. "But maybe not. It depends."

"That's not the right answer I was—"

"Erm, no need, Ms. Apogee, I believe that my business is done here anyway!" Qwark hastily tells her, patting her shoulder, still glancing to Kaden. "I came here to see if Ratchet is safe, and wouldn't you know it, he is just fine! So, I think it's best I be on my way to take care of other important presidential business, farewell!" He says as he quickly turns around and starts walking over to his ship, waving a hand over his shoulder.

"Wait, seriously?" Ratchet asks in surprise. "That's it? No asking me to go fight some kind of monster by myself, or for me to promote you, or anything like that?"

"Of course not, Cadet!" Qwark replies, climbing into his ship before situating himself into his cockpit's seat, looking back at him. "What kind of opportunistic, self-centered jerk do you take me for? I have nothing but the utmost concern for my second-favorite sidekick's wellbeing! Is that hard to believe?"

"Yes, actually." Ratchet replies astutely, crossing his arms before his brows furrow as he registers his comment. "Hey, what do you mean second-favorite sidekick?" He asks in an unconsciously offended tone.

"Behind Skrunch, of course!" He answers.

But as Ratchet opens his mouth to ask him who was the one that had to save him time and time again from who-knows-what, Qwark bellows out another farewell before he quickly closes his cockpit, his thrusters igniting and then taking off only a few seconds later, where his neon-green ship soon disappears into the clouds in the light-blue sky.

"Huh." Ratchet comments, before looking back down to Clank with a smirk. "That was probably the least painful encounter we've had with him for a while. Well, least painful for us, at least."

"Indeed, he is rarely that punctual about his visits." He agrees.

"Wait, who's Skrunch?" Kaden asks them confusedly.

"Oh, he is Qwark's vice-president." Clank answers pointedly.

"Who is also a literal monkey." Ratchet adds distastefully. "And who may or may not also technically be his brother-in-law based on what Qwark said about his sister during mating season on Florana."

"…Just what is wrong with that guy?" Kaden mutters, staring off into the sky where his ship disappeared as Ratchet shudders at the unpleasant memory of eavesdropping on his conversation with Skrunch.

"Just what is wrong with you?" Talwyn asks, placing her hands on her hips with a disapproving look. "He might be an idiot, but he's still a galactic president! I could have you arrested for assault if I wanted to, you know!"

"Well, even if I did go to jail, I still think it'd be completely worth it." Kaden replies with a shrug. "That dumbass needed some sense knocked into him, and judging by hastily he left without bothering Ratchet any more than he already did, I'd say I did a fine job." He states with a satisfied smile, crossing his arms.

"…Wow, you really are Ratchet's dad." She mutters, staring at him with mystification.

"And hey, you can't deny that it didn't not feel at least a tiny bit great to watch Qwark get punched, too, right, Tal?" Ratchet asks, raising his eyebrows at her with a smile.

"Well… That's not…" She sighs. "Alright, maybe you're right about that, I'll admit. But that doesn't mean I want it to happen again." She states firmly, pointing back at Kaden. "I've got a reputation to uphold as the Polaris Defense Force's commander, and I can't have the president going around getting punched this way and that on my watch, got it?"

"As long as he doesn't do anything else to make me want to do it again, then sure." He tells her with a nod.

"That's… I'm just going to hope you don't have to meet each other again anytime soon." She responds, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Well, anyway, I guess that's Qwark crossed off the list." Ratchet says. "I should probably go ahead and call Sasha before she decides to show up and chew me out, too."

"And I should go ahead and get my things all loaded up so Talwyn can take us back home." Max speaks up, walking up to beside her as he rests his hand on her shoulder with a smile, thumbing over to his stack of suitcases, still sitting on the ground where he left them. "I hope you've kept the space station in good shape after all this time!"

She chuckles, wrapping her arm around his side. "Don't worry, dad, I've taken good care of it ever since you left."

"Except for all those times you've blasted holes into the walls whenever I show up for surprise visits." Ratchet counters with a smirk. "It's always funny how jumpy you are with a gun."

She quickly snaps her head to flash him a stern look and a frown that only makes him snicker in return, along with Max, uttering a hearty laugh.

"Sounds like you've still got to work on your quickdraw skills even after all these years!" He says, patting her shoulder once more. "But as long as you patched them up, then I don't mind one bit. And as long as we're out here, why don't you help me haul my things? We could catch up a bit while we do it."

She gives him a warm smile, and grips him tighter in their side-hug. "I'd love to."

"Excellent, because these things are not light." He replies as they walk over to the pile. "I wanted to take as much back as I could!"

"Of course you did, dad, I wouldn't expect any less from an archaeologist." She says with a roll of her eyes as she follows him.

And as they walk off, Kaden watches them for a few moments with a glad smile before looking back down to Ratchet, wearing a similar expression as he too gazes at them beginning to pick up the suitcases, with Talwyn almost stumbling over from the unexpected weight as her dad utters a small laugh.

"Kind of reminds you of us, huh?" He asks, nudging Ratchet lightly, snapping him out of his gazing.

"Yeah, it really does." Ratchet replies contentedly. "I'm happy for Tal. It feels amazing to finally have your dad back from the dead, and I'm glad she's getting a taste for it."

"And I'm happy that Max finally got to reunite with his child after being stuck over there from the Council's stupid ban. Although, I doubt he feels the same satisfaction from being able to shove it in their faces that he was right all along about her not being dead for twenty years." He adds with a shrug. "But I bet it still feels just as great nonetheless."

"I'm sure it does, too, dad." Ratchet agrees amusedly. "But I think we should give them a minute to themselves. It's not like we had a couple of guys awkwardly staring at us as we were catching up, after all, right?"

Kaden replies with a small chuckle and a nod. "Good point. I suppose you said you had to call your other friend, too, huh?"

"Yeah, the sooner the better." He replies as he starts walking back to his home with Clank, Kaden following shortly behind. "You should be there with me, actually, I think it'd be a good idea!"

"Wow, you're pretty eager to have your friends meet me, aren't you?"

"Well, it's actually mostly because of the fact that I'm pretty sure she'll yell at me a lot less if I have you right there backing up my story with me." He answers back with a smile and a coy shrug. "But that too."

He rolls his eyes as they walk past Max and Talwyn, beginning to carry his suitcases over to her ship as she tells him all about her first solo adventure she carried out with Cronk and Zephyr after he disappeared.

"Ah, yes, because every father knows that they'll at some point be dumbed down to simply be evidence in their child's alibi of being in another dimension so they don't get chewed out by their ex-girlfriend." He comments pointedly. "I always knew this day would come when I first held you in my arms after you were born."

Ratchet slumps his shoulders a bit. "You don't have to join in if you don't want to, you know."

"Hey, I didn't say that, I'd love to be your alibi!" Kaden tells him with a grin. "Plus, it's fun watching you get yelled at, too, so you know I definitely want front row seats this time."

He sighs as Clank chuckles beside him. "Thanks, dad. Glad you're here." He says dryly.

"No problem, Ratchet." He replies gladly, patting his shoulder as they walk back inside his house.