Author's note: New Follower! I hope REDNICK2002, my other followers, and all my other readers enjoy this new chapter!

From now on, the progress of TBFC will be a little slower because I want to focus on some of the other stories as well and I actually don't have any more chapters premade. So it'll be a bit before the next one's ready, but don't worry. I'll do my best to not leave you all hanging.

Chapter 12

…

…

"Hello? Someone there?"

"Go away!"

"I'm just wondering if you'd like to buy-ow!"

"I said go away!"

"R-right!"

…

…

"I'm sorry, son…You'll have to wear these around other people."

"Why?"

"Y-you know about Inklings and Octolings. I've told you before."

"But why, mommy?"

"It's for your safety…"

"Okay…"

"Hey now, be proud of them. They were your dad's."

"Where is daddy?"

"He's…he's not around…anymore."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you when you're older…"

"Okay, mommy. I'll wear the goggles."

"And don't show your eyes to anyone but me and Gerald, okay?"

"Okay, mommy…"

...

…

"Hey kid, never seen you here. What's your name?"

"…"

"Are you lost? Where's your mom?"

"Mommy!"

…

"Get away from my son!"

"I was just trying to help him!"

"I said stay away! Leave us alone!"

Alright, geez…crazy bi-"

"Come on, Timmy. Let's go inside."

"Octo, I hate those squids…They just take everything away…"

Another perspective…

It was…an interesting morning. Gerald invited me over to the nearest diner. I saw Gerald at a table with a…surprisingly muscular squid that was well-shaven except for hair on his chin. I guessed it was his son. Gerald saw me and invited me over. His son was surprised to see me and a little nervous.

"Um…hi…" I greeted him.

"Uh…hi…" He turned to Gerald, clearly wondering what to do.

"Son, this is Amphia." Gerald introduced me. "Amphia, this is Stanley. Oh, here. I'll scoot over for ya."

We made our orders shortly after I sat down. Gerald and Stanley got their drinks shortly after.

"Dad, are you sure?" Stan asked. "This is the same lady who beat me with a stick once for talking to her son for two seconds. Didn't hurt much, but still."

"Well, she has somethin' to say." He then turned to me and invited me to speak.

"I…I'm sorry, Stanley." I apologized. "It was wrong of me to do that. I just…it was inexcusable. I just wanted everyone to stay away."

"Let's just say she's had some hard times before comin' here, Stanley." Gerald told him. "She didn't trust anyone. She's lucky I found her tryin' to steal the sandwich I accidentally left on the porch or she probably would've died a while ago."

"Oh, so she's the person you've been spending so much time with." Apparently he didn't know. "I thought you were getting back into the dating game all these years."

Dating game?!

"Oh, heaven's no!" Gerald assured him. "I'm way too old now for that now and besides, I don't think any could live up to my sweethearts of the past."

"Wasn't it just mom though?" Stan asked.

"Er, right…" That sounded suspicious.

"I hope I'm not too old." Stan hoped. "I don't wanna go too long without a sweetheart of my own."

"Wait, I thought you had a wife." I noted. "Gerald told me you did."

"Well, I did…" He replied. "Things started to go downhill and eventually the feelings just stopped. We haven't told the kids yet."

"Sorry to hear that." I really was.

"So what about you?" He was curious. "I noticed you and your son, but where's the father?"

"Dead." I answered.

"What happened?" He asked.

"I…I don't want to talk about it." I stated. "It's painful."

"Oh, okay…" He decided not press the matter.

"Amphia, I found out what happened." Gerald told me.

"What?" My eyes widened.

"Turns out you were at the wrong place at the wrong time." He continued.

"What do you mean?" I didn't understand.

"One moment…Stanley?" He turned to his son.

"Yes?" Stan replied.

"Amphia and her son are Octolings." Gerald revealed.

"Really?" Stan tilted his head.

"Yup." Gerald replied. "And they were comin' to talk to us, but were at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Please explain." I begged.

"Well, turns out the local authorities around Mount Nantai were huntin' some dangerous criminals. Who were in the area" Gerald explained. "It seems when they saw the armed Octoling soldiers, they assumed you fella's were part of some kinda gang and they had orders to take down any armed combatants."

"I…can't believe it…" I really couldn't. "So it was all bad luck? My husband died due to random chance?"

"Afraid so." Gerald nodded. "And they were buried near the base of the mountain with tombstones naming them by their most notable traits since they were never identified. If ya want to visit his grave, I think I know which one it is."

"They buried him?!" I was shocked to hear. "They couldn't be bothered to cremate him?!"

"Woah now, missy." Gerald wanted me to calm down. "What's the matter? They marked the grave and everything."

"Sorry, it's just…" How do I explain this? "Burial is considered offensive to Octarians. The thought process is we already live underground. We shouldn't be buried further…"

"Oh…" Gerald understood.

"They couldn't have known that." Stan remarked. "We didn't even know that. I don't think they knew the ones killed were even Octarians at the time."

"I…I guess…" I sighed.

"Oh hey!" Gerald wanted to change the subject. "Food's here!"

Stan and Gerald got their meals.

"What about mine?" I asked.

"Yours will be out soon." The waitress told me.

"Oh, okay…." I said as she left. "That's a lie, isn't it?"

"What makes you say that?" Gerald wondered.

"I could tell be the way she looked at me." I answered. "She knows exactly who I am. Why do you think I haven't gotten my lemonade yet?"

They looked at my side of the table, realizing I was right.

"Well, we'll just wait a bit." Gerald remained hopeful. "Maybe it's just taking a while."

We chatted for a little longer and soon they finished their meals. The waitress came back and took their plates away.

"I'll be back with your check soon." She told us as she left.

I rolled my eyes.

Gerald looked concerned while Stan got up and walked to the counter. He told the waitress that she forgot my food while she kept her voice down so I couldn't hear. They seemed to have a short argument before Stan came back.

"Your food and lemonade will be here shortly." He told me.

"Th-thanks." That was nice of him.

A minute later, my lemonade got here. I could see the drink machine, so I know she didn't spit in it.

Another minute later, my food came. I touched it.

"Cold." I said.

"Excuse me." I let Gerald get off of the seat and he made his way over to the counter.

He complained to the staff. A minute later, he came back clearly upset.

"We're leaving!" He told us.

"Without paying?" Stan wondered.

"They don't deserve it!" Gerald stated. "Let's go! I'll whip up some eggs."

We left the diner right after and Gerald made eggs and toast like he said he would.

"Sorry about that." Gerald said as I ate. "I thought they'd act a little professional."

"Well it's their loss." Stan said. "We're regulars there."

"Well, it showed me one thing." I told them. "I'm not going to be easily forgiven."

"Some won't, but maybe others will have an open mind." Gerald hoped. "I mean, so far Stan's had no problem here."

"Still a little uncomfortable," Stan stated. "But I'm willing to give you a chance."

"Well, it's a start." I guess.