Authors Note: Now for the episode alot of you have been waiting for. I have as well. Still don't own the characters or anything in bold. Relax, enjoy and review. And a word of warning there probably will be swearing.

Accepting Anxiety Part 1

The screen flickered to life.

Thomas: Uh, hey.. Uh- This is Thomas, and, uh- This is usually where I start off, Uh- by saying something quick and witty to begin the video.

"Um I wonder why you are acting so weird" Joan muttered.

"Don't know" Thomas answered.

Virgil had a sense of foreboding.

Thomas: Yeah. So yeah! Another video. This is awesome! Oh wait, actually, I usually start off this video by saying, "What is up, everybody!" But you know, I don't actually hear your responses. And, strangely enough, I'm not concerned about consistency today. You know what I wanna talk about? Eatin' food. Or you know what, actually? Maybe about that TV show I just watched. Or maybe I should just watch another TV show and eat some food. That's it. Alright, until next time. Take it easy, guys, gals, and non-binary pals-

"Ah fuck" Virgil said pulling his blanket up over his head.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"What is it Virge" Patton asked reaching over and pulling the blanket down off of Virgil's face.

"Umm... Thomas's behaviour may be my fault here. I think I may have withdrawn as much of my influence as is possible" Virgil muttered.

"Well lets just see what happens" Thomas said.

"No you don't understand to pull all my influence from you leaves you and the other sides in danger!" Virgil answered.

"Calm down, I'm sure these three wont let me do anything dangerous." Thomas said rubbing Virgil's back soothing him slightly.

Logan: Uh, if I may.. I'm going to step in for a second.

Thomas: Ahh, Logan's here, so I probably did something wrong.

Logan: What? No. You just seem to be a little.. Uncharacteristically... careless.

Thomas: Hm. I hadn't cared to notice. Ah- pfft, that's it, there it is, that's what you were saying.

"So wrong" Virgil whispered.

Logan: Yes.. I mean, you tend to start the video with at least some sort of direction before the inevitable internal conflict.

Thomas: They do usually follow that story arc. But, maybe, that's a good thing. You know, like, changing it up.

Logan: No. I mean... maybe. I don't know, you're confusing me. I think I have a vocab word for this. Uh. You good, fahm?

"Dont go leaving out my favourite three letters in family. I L Y" Patton grinned.

Everyone smiled at him except Virgil who was still worried about Thomas.

Thomas: Wow. That was bad, but like, you're a really good try-er, Logan. You're really good.

Logan: Thanks.

Thomas: If anybody, like, texted me.. ooh!

Logan: Thomas, you didn't answer the question

Thomas: Your question about whether or not I'm good, fam?

Logan: That's the one.

Thomas: You'd probably know when something is up because you usually provide, you know.. The explanatory exposition in my videos because all the other characters are too zany or relatable.

"Um your probably not supposed to talk like that about your viewers" Lilly said seriously.

All of Thomas's friends and sides were worried about Thomas and Virgil. Why would Virgil try to leave? Was a question in everyone's heads.

Logan: Okay, I'm at a loss here. Should we check on the others?

"Yes!" Everyone shouted.

Thomas: If you want.

Logan: I do. I do want.. that. Are you going to-

Thomas: Morality! Creativity!

Roman: Wow. Rude.

Patton: You too cool to call us by our names, kiddo?

Thomas: Nah. That was just the easiest way to, you know.. Quickly establish what you guys generally represent, in case there are any new viewers watching.

"Um wow" Talyn muttered.

Logan: Jeez. Okay, I- consider taking a more nuanced approach with that explanation next time.

Thomas: He's my logical side. He's my logical side.

Roman: Uh... is everything gucci, Thomas?

Logan: I suppose I could've posed the question that way as well, but that is precisely why I wanted you two here.

Patton: You mean us three?

Logan: Did I say three?

Patton: No.

Logan: Then I guess I didn't mean three.

"You guys should at least try to get Virgil involved" Thomas said.

The others looked down wondering if this was why Virgil onscreen was trying to leave.

Patton: He's made mistakes before.

Logan: An uncommon occurrence.

Patton: Well, then you might say the amount of mistakes you've made is infinitesimal.

Logan: You make one mistake, and this is what happens!

Everyone chuckled tightly still worried about Thomas and Virgil.

Roman: Okay, time out for thee and time out for thee, focus on issues or focus on me.

Logan: Okay, you're right. Let's get down to business.

Thomas: To defeat..

Thomas and Princey/Roman: The Huns!

Everyone chuckled again.

Logan: Please stop. Stop.

Thomas: Come on!

Roman: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Thomas: Mulan!

Logan: Thomas, this aloofness that you are displaying is highly... unproductive.

Thomas: You mean I can't make babies? What? Just kidding.

"Oh my god" Valerie said shaking her head. Thomas was blushed.

Logan: Can someone else please- some wh- le- Flames. On the side of my face. See- Seething.. Seething fire.

Everyone chuckled at Logan's frustration.

Patton: Is something bothering you buddy?

Roman: An unattainable dream? A hopeless romance?

Logan: Lack of sleep, a- a puzzling situation.

Patton: Having trouble with adultery?

Thomas: Oh yeah, you always say that instead of 'becoming an adult' or 'adulthood'. As if you didn't know the troubling definition of the word you're using, which actually means, you know, when a-

Roman: Wait! Pumba, not in front of the kids.

Everyone laughed at the face Patton pulls.

Patton: I don't know what you two are talking about, but something definitely seems to be off.

Thomas: You keep saying that, but honestly, I'm good... fam. Patton: Now, don't you go shortening the word family by cutting out my three favorite letters: I L Y

Everyone chuckled about the repeated words.

Logan: Okay, well, Patton definitely seems to be doing okay. How 'bout you, Roman?

Roman: Let's see, uh.. Disney references, regal appearance, general awareness that I'm better than you two...Uhh, I'm feeling pretty good.

Logan: Then what could be wrong here?

Patton: Boy, you both always act like you know all the answers.. So, it's surprising that you keep overlooking something so simple.

Virgil smiled at Patton happy that at least one side was looking out for him even though he wasn't there.

Roman: Oh, is that so, Patton? You're so cute.

Logan: And, uh- what might that be?

Patton: Where is Anxiety?

"Exactly" Terence said. Everyone hoped they could find him. Or that he would come if called.

Logan: Hmm, do you honestly think it's necessary to have him here?

Roman: To offer his mopey, dopey input? I- I don't like him.

Everyone rolled their eyes at Romans continued dislike for Virgil.

Thomas: I'm still hungry.

Logan: No- no.

Roman: Stop him. Stop him!

Logan: Thomas, this is highly... *sighs* We can't afford these detours..anymore.

Thomas: Ooh! I found some granola!

Roman: We're try- we're doing a- we're doing a vid here, buddy.

Logan: Alright. Well, at least it's something healthy.

Everyone chuckled at Thomas's actions but were you know still worried about it and about Virgil.

Roman: Thomas, isn't there a more important thing that you should be focusing on right now? Oh, you're just getting it all over the carpet, aren't ya? Alright, well...

Logan: Wh- what if you have guests over?

Thomas: That wouldn't happen for a while so it's not really a big deal.

Patton: Well, he's definitely inviting some ants over.

Logan: Just aunts? No uncles?

Virgil laughed. "He meant the animal ant"

"Oh, yes that makes much more sense" Logan smiled at Virgils happiness even if it was temporary.

Roman: Can you at least- can you take off the hoodie? Like, you look like a hot mess. Nay, not hot, cool. Nay, not cool, uncool. An uncool mess.

Thomas: If you want me to.

Roman: Oh, dear, sweet MOTHER of hairbrushes, what is your hair?

Thomas: I'm just letting it do its thing.

Roman: There's a... lot of viewers that are gonna see you like this so-

Thomas: Eh, they've seen me on better days, so it evens out.

Logan: You know, Thomas, I don't know if that makes sense.

"It doesn't" Joan said.

Patton: You have kind hair.

Thomas: Oh, thanks I guess.

Patton: Kind of hair that grows on a dog's butt!

Thomas: That's probably an accurate comparison.

Roman: Ugh, just put your hood back on.

Thomas: You're the boss, Hoss.

Roman: What does that mean? I'm not... Hoss. I'm Prince Roman. Ugh, okay. Well, better bring in Count Woe-laf. Any input is better than what Mr. T is contributing.

Thomas: Roman brought the clever nicknames to the table, I brought the oats and honey clusters to the table.

Roman: Put them down!

Thomas: Okay.

Everyone chuckled at that.

Logan: Fine. Let's get him here. Anxiety? Hm. That's odd.

Roman: He's probably listening to that PG-13 music again. Anxiety!

Roman: Ugh. How dare he? What?

Patton: Now, now, try to be a little more loving. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Anxiety! Come on up here, kiddo. Come on up here so everyone can see that cool makeup! Well, love has failed me.

"That is not a good sign" Thomas said.

"No it looks like I have defintely tried to leave" murmured Virgil.

"Hey now remember if you see thi mistake we can change it in the future" Patton said giving Virgil a small smile and reaching across and grabbing Virgils hand in support.

"Thanks Pat" Virgil murmured.

Thomas: Ho-ho-ho! That can be applied to many instances in my life. The first being-

"Um you really need to get Virgil back." Talyn said shocked. Everyone agreed.

Roman: Steady now, Thomas. Are we really going down that road? Uh, you usually don't like talking about that kind of stuff.

Logan: You've got no shame.

Patton: Definitely not much of a filter.

Roman: Yes, and no fear...

Logan, Patton, and Roman: You have no-

Thomas: I have no anxiety, is that what you guys are trying to say?

Roman: Okay.. Well, he also has no sense of tension build-up. That's disappointing.

Logan: This is very disconcerting.

Roman: I don't know. Shouldn't a lack of fear be a good thing?

"Not necassarily. Fear can make sure you take safety steps when doing activities that could be dangerous. Like crossing the road. The fear is what make sure that you look both ways before crossing." Logan lectured.

Patton: *GASP* Roman, I'm surprised at you.

Roman: What?

Patton: Anxiety can be a gloomy goober sometimes, but he's still one of us.

"Exactly" Thomas agreed.

Roman: Is he though? Check it out. Morality, Logic, Creativity. We three, are the most important facets of Thomas' personality. Plus, we all contribute a little extra stuff too. We got along just find without him in the first two Sanders Sides videos.

Logan: He may not have had a physical presence, but he was always there within Thomas, to some extent. And he contributes more than what you credit him. Plus, he too, may represent more than just anxiety, even though that is a significant part of who he is.

"That is true" Joan said.

Roman: Even still, I just don't see why he's necessary. If Anxiety is gone, what do we have to lose?

Thomas: I don't fear death.

"Oh my god" everyone said shocked.

Patton: Wow.

Roman: So, you're super brave. That's good.

Logan: There's a difference between bravery and acting without caution. Think fast!

Roman: Oh, my- sweet Cole Sprouse, what-

"Logan! Don't throw things at him." Virgil snapped and started scanning the room for hazaards vowing to reduce or eliminate as many as he could during the first break.

Thomas: That really hurt. Was that a laptop? That, like, hurt real bad. Woah..

Logan: Unalert, and without his natural defensive reflexes. Yes, it seems that Anxiety has officially clocked out.

Virgil shifted uncomfortable with the danger he had left Thomas and the other sides in.

Roman: Okay. Well, he can work on that.

Logan: Thomas, did you remember to lock your motor vehicle earlier today?

Thomas: I probably did, I'm not sure, but probably.

Logan: Weaker memory.

Roman: Wh- that's not a symptom of a lack of anxiety.

Logan: Not directly, but with the anxiety over leaving his car unlocked.. Thomas always double checks to make sure, securing that memory in place.

"Oh god, what if his car gets stolen" Virgil muttered.

"Virgil it will be ok" Thomas and Patton said at the same time.

Thomas and Patton: I doubt anybody will go looking through my (his) car- oh my gosh! (-goodness!)

Patton: You just see the best in people.

Logan: But he can't always afford to.

Patton: Ugh, yeah.. I guess you're right.

Thomas: Well, it sounds like I'm in trouble or something.

Roman: No, it just sounds like these two are worrying too much.

Logan: That's the thing- is anyone among us worried?

Patton: It's because he isn't worried and that doesn't seem right, Roman.

Thomas: Princey's never liked Anxiety, that's his problem.

Roman: That's not true.

Thomas: Mmm...

"Oh flashbacks" Thomas said interested.

Anxiety: Hey there, Princey.

Roman: Ohhkay, I can't stand that guy.

Roman: I'm trying hard not to like you right now.

Roman: Still don't like you.

Anxiety: What was that?

Roman: Uh- chim chim charoo.

Roman: To offer his mopey, dopey input.. I- I don't like him.

At the end of the flashbacks Virgil felt so bad he felt something that hadn't happened to him in months. He sighed internally. He had beeen doing so well. Quickly but softly so as to not alarm Patton he pulled his hand back in to himself and out of Patton's and allowed the change to happen.

Roman: Oh, now your memory works.. That's convenient.

Logan: It is interesting to note that Patton and I have both had our moments of seeing eye to eye with Anxiety.. But you seem to remain resolute as ever in how you perceive him.

Roman: Look, I am the dreamer, and the one BIG thing that gets in the way of pursuing any new adventure, is fear.

"he is probably trying to point out safety concerns in the adventure" Valerie said.

"Hmm, you have a point" Roman said looking over towards Virgil.

Seeing what he thought was an empty seat he gasped.

"What?" Logan asked seeing the expression on Roman's face.

"Where's Virgil?" he asked.

"He's in his chair silly" Patton said looking at Roman then looking towards Virgil. Shocked when he didn't see him. He got up and pulled the blankets back. Sitting in Virgils seat was a child about four years old. The child looked up at him scared.

"Oooh hello little one. Who are you?" Patton asked picking up the child.

"Xiety" muttered the child quietly.

Everyone was shocked to realise that this was Virgil. Everyone that is except Deceit and Remus.

"He has not done this before" announced Deceit.

Remus just giggled but stayed back knowing how scared Virgil was of him when he was this age.

"What happened to him though?" asked Thomas.

"Regression silly" Remus grinned.

Virgil moved further into Patton's arms, he felt strangely safe here.

Patton moved back to his seat and sat with Virgil on his lap wrapping his blanket around them both.

Thomas: Took my pants off!

Roman: Why?

Thomas: No one can see, I don't care.

Logan: Yup, we are getting your anxiety and shame back. I cannot deal with any more of this ridiculousness.

Everyone chuckled at how exasperated Logan sounded. Young Virgil looked at everyone shocked at how many people there were and the weird sounds they were making.

Patton: You put them back. Right now.

Thomas: Alright, fine. Well, if Anxiety's not here, where is he?

Roman: Ugh, probably in his room.

Thomas: His room?

Logan: Technically, it's the corner of your mind that you go to if you wanted to enhance your anxiety, for some reason.. Or if you wanted to cathartically indulge in typically troubling emotions. Think, "the mind palace," but specifically for Anxiety.

"That's pretty cool" Lilly said smiling. Young Virgil wondered what that thing she was doing wth her mouth was.

Roman: Where else do you think we come from? Where do we go?

Patton: Where did it come from cotton-eyed Joe?

Everyone laughed at that. Young Virgil copied them then crinkled his nose when it felt weird. Patton thought he was adorable.

Thomas: So, you all have one? Oh, my goodness- more stuff I'm learning about myself. Uh, I'd rather go to Patton's. Can we go there?

Logan: Nope. We need to go to Anxiety's room to check on Anxiety. This is the priority, do you remember what we just were talking about?

Thomas: Ah, okay.

"We''ll probably end up in Morality's room at some point" laughed Roman loudly. Young Virgil placed his hands over his ears. That one was loud. He snuggled closer to the kind light blue one he sat with.

Roman: So we're all going to Anxiety's room? Who knows what THAT tragic kingdom looks like? Hhmm...

Patton: Are you good to join us on this Thomas? 'Cause we need you to get us all there.

Thomas: Yeah, it sounds fun or whatever.

Logan: Ohhkay. I thought I would like you without your.. Never-ending assembly line of predicaments, but this is truly, truly bothersome.

Roman: Just focus on the things that would normally make you anxious. That is the corner of your mind where we need to go. It may be difficult to go down that road-

Thomas: Got it.

Roman: ..Yeah, okay. There is no drama in this today.

Everyone chuckled. Young Virgil looked at them and wondered what that sound was.

Logan: Into the unknown. Here we go.

Patton: Again on my own, going down to Anxiety's corner in Thomas' mind..

Thomas: Oh, I guess I'm doing this too. This is new. Woah. I knew I should've taken that left turn at Albuquerque.

Everyone huffed in laughter.

Logan: Uh, no. This is where we needed to go.

Thomas: I know, I- it was just a- uhm... a joke.

"Well that was a troublesome episode" Logan said.

"Endcard" Talyn smirked around them at the others in the room flashing a small smile when catching the eyes of Young Virgil watching her.

Young Virgil didn't know what too make of this person though they seemed very nice he couldn't place a gender.

Roman: Wh- are- are you serious? A cliffhanger for a YouTube video?

Logan: Highly unusual... and frustrating.

Patton: Oh, I'm sure it won't be that bad. How long do we have to wait?

Logan: According to Thomas's schedule, just a couple of days.

Patton: Yay! And knowing Thomas, he'll get this video out when he says he will, right on time.

Logan and Roman: Riiiight...

Everyone laughed. Young Virgil decided to copy everyone again so laughed to. It felt funny. Nice but funny.

"Well let's move straight into the next episode." Thomas said.

Everyone agreed.

"I wonder when Virgil will be back to normal" Terence asked looking over at the small side.

"It varies from couple of minutes to the longest time was three weeks" Remus grinned.

"I don't care I'm gonna make sure he is well cared for" Patton declared.

Young Virgil looked up at the side holding him with amazement. This side wanted him around. He remembered some of the other sides he had met. None of them seemed to like him. They would chase him and were very mean.

Everyone settled back into their seats all eyes went to the screen.