Chapter 7

"Why couldn't we just sleep over?" Morty asked, throwing a glance at his brother as the other mouse rubbed his eye. Monty grabbed Ferdie's free hand and pulled him back on the sidewalk as he started drifting towards the street.

"I thought you two promised Auntie Minnie you'd help with the turkey tomorrow morning," Amelia reminded.

"We did, but-"

"You really think you'll wake up in enough time to get over to Uncle Mickey's to help on your own?" Amelia asked, smiling down at her sons. Her shoulders dropped as she realized Morty was almost dragging his sleeping brother. "I'm sorry I was later than expected in picking you two up."

"You're okay, Mom, but mind the dinosaur," Ferdie mumbled.

Morty eyed his brother, seeing Ferdie could barely keep his eyes open, before looking up at Amelia. "You know Ferdie doesn't do well past ten," Morty pointed out.

Amelia led them up the walkway to Mickey's house and stopped on the front porch as the front light came on. She looked down at the two, Ferdie leaning against Morty as the mouse struggled to stay on his feet, and said, "I'll carry him."

"I've got him," Morty defended, holding tight to the hand he held as his brother used his shoulder to stay up. "Open the door so I can take him to bed."

"What else is it?" Amelia asked, her shoulders dropping as she realized what the boy was doing.

"Nothing, I'm just tired that's all," Morty said, not able to look her in the eye.

Amelia looked at the two a moment before lowering herself to sit on the front stoop.

"Mom," Morty whined, shocked at her actions. Hardening his features, he pulled Ferdie behind himself as he passed her. "Well I'm going to bed, Ferdie's already asleep as it is." He reached up with his free hand and turned the door handle only to freeze as Amelia started talking.

"You must hate me. I know I haven't always been the best mother for you two, but I've tried to do what's best for you. Maybe by that, I instead just hurt you more."

Keeping his face towards the door and hand on the handle Morty mumbled, "I don't hate you." Slowly he lowered his hand and looked down before turning to look at her. Seeing her with her shoulder's hunched over as she looked at the ground between her sneakers he let out a sigh. Grabbing Ferdie around the waist, he turned around and looked at the side of her face. Her hair was showing its normal wear at the end of a long day, it coming out of her pony tail.

"What do you want me to do?" Amelia asked, turning to look her son in the eyes. "What do you want?"

Morty eyed her, unsure what she meant. He threw a glance at the house, knowing Mickey, Oswald, and Andrew were just on the other side of the door, before looking back at his mom. "Mickey told you, didn't he?"

"Mickey?" Amelia echoed, surprised. She shook her head before adding, "Tell me what?"

Unable to answer the simple question, Morty shook his head.

"Can you answer my question?" Amelia asked. "The 'what do you want' one."

"I…" Morty started, unsure how to word it. Realizing the advice he wanted to give wasn't his to give, he clamped his jaw shut. He looked down the walkway towards the street, where the only light was from the street lamps. "I'm just a kid, what good does what I want do?"

"Then humor me," Amelia said. Morty looked back at her as she added, "Tell me anyway. I won't get mad or anything, I promise."

Morty swallowed some solid feelings that had gotten lodged in his throat before admitting, "I want a dad again."

"You have Andrew," Amelia offered.

"What's preventing him from leaving?" Morty pointed out.

"You want me to marry him?"

"That's a part of it," Morty said, struggling to find the words he wanted to explain what he thought. "But, like with Carl, you didn't even try. You two got into fights all the time, and over some of the stupidest stuff. And now you…" he fought with his brain for the words he wanted, freed to speak the thoughts that had been buried in him all this time. "You're like a melted marshmallow," he settled with. "You're still marshmallow but you're stuck on the ground and no one can eat you or make s'mores with you."

Amelia let out a laugh, a smile appearing on her face. "Nice analogy," she commented. Her smile disappeared as she nodded her head. "I think I see what you're saying though. You want me to pick myself off the ground and be what I'm supposed to be, huh?"

"Yeah, that works too," Morty said, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

"Thanks, Morty," Amelia said, wrapping her arm around him to pull him closer and kiss him on the forehead. Letting go, she got to her feet and put her hand on the door. "You still don't want help with Ferdie?"

"Actually," Morty said, struggling to reposition the mouse.

Amelia leaned down and picked up Ferdie, letting the sleeping mouse rest his head on her shoulder. "Can you get the door?" she asked, making sure Ferdie wouldn't fall out of her arms.

Morty reached up and turned the doorknob, pushing open the door. Looking in, he was surprised to see the lights off and the TV only playing static. He flicked on the light switch to find three sleeping bodies on the sofa, a bowl upside down on the floor at their feet. He looked up at his mother as she walked in and said, "I think we're the only night owls in this family."

Amelia took in the sight with a laugh as Morty closed the door behind her.

"Do we have to drag them to bed too?" Morty asked.

"Maybe just wake Uncle Oswald up," Amelia said, already taking Ferdie to his room. "Aunt Ortensia will worry if he doesn't come home."