Chapter 2

Mickey left the awkwardness that was his sister and Andrew as he just learned more then he would wish to about his sister's relationship and knocked on the old bedroom door that had been set back up with bunkbeds.

"Yeah. Oh, hi Unca Mickey," Morty said, glancing up from his portable video game as he sat on the lower bunk.

Ferdie looked up from the book he was reading, sitting in the bean bag in the corner, and smiled at the older mouse.

"Hope you like your old room," Mickey started. "I wish I knew more about what you like-"

"It's okay, this is fine," Ferdie said.

"How long has your mom been dating Andrew?" Mickey asked, leaning his back into the doorframe.

"Probably twenty years?" Morty offered, going back to his game.

"He's stayed the longest," Ferdie added. "But I think Mom's done with getting married."

"Oh?"

"Oh right, you probably don't know," Ferdie offered. "After Dad died, Mom married Arthur, who's why we had to stop coming over. That lasted a few years before he left and then she married Carl-"

"Glad he's gone," Morty added in.

"I think after him's when she swore off marriage," Ferdie continued.

Mickey's heart hurt seeing how much pain his sister went through. The back of his mind wanted to ask her why she didn't talk to him at all through all that, but he guessed that all of it was actually what kept her from talking to him. He looked at the two in the room, sad that they grew up like this and almost missed the two he used to know. "So is Arthur why she never called me back?" Mickey found himself asking.

"Probably. He didn't like that we were related to you for some reason," Ferdie explained.

"At least it wasn't something I did," Mickey mumbled. His eyes widened as he realized he'd said that out loud before trying to cover it up with a smile. "Why don't you two go down stairs and meet your Aunt Ortensia."

"Okay Unca Mickey," Morty said, closing his game before jumping off the bed.

Ferdie marked the spot in the book before following his brother out with Mickey behind them. The three made it down the stairs to see Oswald now sitting next to his wife with an arm stretched out behind her as he finished, "-going by Steve now, I think. Those kids change their names so much I know I'd never remember them all."

"Ortensia, I've two people here who wanna meet you," Mickey announced as the two mice walked over to stand in front of her.

"Hey Aunt Ortensia," Ferdie said with a smile.

"Minnie, can I ask you something about the turkey?" Mickey asked, heading into the kitchen.

Minnie followed in surprise. As soon as she stepped foot into the kitchen she said, "All you have'ta do is remember to put it in the fridge."

"I know, and thanks for offering to cook it," Mickey said, sitting down at his kitchen table before putting his head in his hands. "Min, they're sleeping together."

"You know that's normal today," Minnie reminded, leaning against the table to look down at him over her shoulder.

"I know, and if it was anybody else I wouldn't care so much," Mickey admitted, dropping his hands to look up at her. "But she's my sister. Our grandfather was a preacher."

"Mickey, there's nothing you can do about it. I love how you always want the best for everyone, but this is out of your hands," Minnie tried. "If she wants to live with him, then so be it."

Mickey looked back at the table muttering, "But if she can, what have I been doing?"

"What was that?" Minnie asked.

Mickey looked up in surprise before quickly saying, "Nothing."

Minnie looked straight ahead, biting her bottom lip as Ortensia's words from their train ride filled her mind. She looked down at the mouse she loved and grabbed his hand resting on the table. "I love you, and you know I'm old fashioned."

Mickey smiled at that, squeezing her hand as he said, "Love you too. Thanks."

"There you two are," Amelia said, sticking her head into the kitchen. "Andrew wants to know if you wanted to head out for dinner."

"Sure," Mickey nodded his head.

"Well come back out here so we can figure out where we're going," Amelia said before retreating back into the living room.

-.-.-.-

Mickey looked down at his burger and fries, the four settling on a fast food joint as Oswald and Ortensia had to get home. Silence found its way uncomfortably into the table as the four sat down, the only noise filtering to them being Morty and Ferdie talking a table away.

"So, Andrew, how'd you and Amelia meet?" Minnie asked, trying to break the air.

"Actually, I was Morty's teacher a few years back," Andrew admitted. "Found out we were both teachers and it just went from there."

"Oh, you're a teacher now?" Mickey asked his sister.

"Yes, I was sure I talked to you when I was deciding about getting the job," Amelia offered only to see Mickey shake his head no.

The four sat in silence again, each hoping the other would start a new topic.

"I'm sorry, maybe this was a bad idea," Amelia admitted, looking down at her salad.

"What?" Andrew asked, surprised. "I thought you mentioned on the way here we should eat out toni-"

"Andrew, that's not what I mean," Amelia cut him off. She sighed before looking up at Mickey and saying, "Maybe times have changed too much."

"Well then why didn't you keep in contact?" Mickey asked, dropping his hands to under the table so they wouldn't see him ball them up into fists. His voice quivered, but he couldn't stop himself. "Why did you tell me to not contact you or the boys? Why did I find myself being told I wasn't a brother or uncle anymore?"

"Mickey," Minnie gasped, not knowing how badly tore up inside her mouse was. She laid a hand on his under the table, hoping to help.

"No Minnie, he's right," Amelia said, thinking Minnie was trying to scold him. She looked at Mickey and continued, "You helped me so much after Albert died, but then I met Arthur and…" she sighed. "I know, all excuses but none really good. I'm sorry, Mickey. Can I still call myself your sister?"

Mickey looked at her a moment, lost for words before nodding. "You always were."

"Well, that's taken care of," Andrew said, feeling awkward between this family reunion. "I just can't wrap my mind around Oswald also being your brother. Is he a half-brother or step…"

"Half, I guess," Mickey informed. "Since he was created while Walt worked under Universal."

"Mom, can we go and play?" Ferdie asked, getting the four to turn towards their table.

"Sure," Amelia nodded. She watched the two leave towards the play area with a contempt sigh. "They're lucky they're young sometimes."

"The life of a cartoon," Minnie mumbled with a laugh.

"Sometimes I do wish they'd act their age, don't get me wrong," Amelia said, looking at the mouse. "Morty's become rebellious and it rubs off on Ferdie more times then I like."

"But they still get to be care free sometimes?" Mickey guessed, smiling.

"Yeah," Amelia admitted. A memory hit her, causing her mouth to form an O before offering, "Mickey, I hope I didn't say something to offend Ortensia earlier. I noticed after I asked about her family she got quiet."

"I think, with everyone getting together for Thanksgiving's reminding her her mother isn't around anymore," Minnie said, knowing the cat hadn't told many people what happened. "I don't even know the full story, but her mother disappeared or died shortly after Homer was born."

"Disappeared or died?" Andrew echoed. "There's a big difference in the two words."

"I know, but only she and Oswald know the truth, and they don't talk about it," Mickey admitted with a shrug. "Though a part of me just hopes she died in child birth or something more normal with all their family has gone through."