Kitten: Hi! So, here's the thing; this will be the last time I'll be updating on my stories for a while. Don't worry, no problems here. I'm just taking a break so I can get work done with school, so I can relax over Winter Break which is coming up fast! Yay! But I will be returning once break starts, so look forward to that. Will BATIM Story get wrapped up? Yup, I plan on wrapping it up right when I get the chance once break starts, and I'll continue to work on my other stories as well so... yay!

Kitten: Enjoy chapter, guys! And see you in 4 weeks! Bye!

~Chapter 3-Nightmare~

Mugs and Cups were up late one night, playing video games against each other in their shared bedroom. The two were sitting close to each other on Mug's bed. Cuphead groaned, falling back on the bed and Mugs cheered at his victory. Mugs smirked at his brother. Cups rolled his eyes. "Alright... what do ya want this time?" Mugman giggled, falling back next to his brother. "Well... do you think that you can maybe bake some more of those cookies tomorrow?"

Cups smiled. "Yeah, I guess I can deal with that." He said, and the two boys laughed. "Boys!" Elder Kettle said, opening the door. "It's time for you to go to sleep. Head on to bed." "Awwwww" Cups and Mugs whined, sitting up. "Can't we stay up a little longer, grandpa?" Mugs begged. "Yeah, c'mon ol' man, please?" Cups added. Kettle narrowed his eyes at them, "Would you like to be grounded for two weeks, or go to sleep?" Cuphead and Mugman gulped, looking at each other. "We'll go to bed!" Elder Kettle grinned. "Good. Night, boys." "Night, gramps." Kettle shut the door.

Cuphead hopped off Mug's bed and switched off the TV, putting their games away. Mugs yawned, laying down and pulling his blanket over him. "Hey, Cups?" Cup turned to him. "Yeah, Mugs?" He riposted. Mug smiled. "You won't forget your promise tomorrow, right?" Cuphead grinned. "Nah, of course I won't! I'll start baking 'em when we get up in the morning."

"Yay!"

Cups walked over and made sure his brother's blanket was pulled up enough and he was comfortable, which he was. "Night, Cups." Mugman yawned sleepily. "I love ya." "I love ya too, Mugsy. Sweet dreams." Cups said and kissed his brother's blue nose before walking over to his own bed and climbing in. He pulled his blanket up on himself and the two brothers turned over on their own sides, drifting into a deep sleep.

Cuphead groaned, slowly opening his eyes. The red cup brother glanced at the clock and saw that it was 1:30 in the morning, not even close to being light out. The young boy groaned softly once he realized that he couldn't go back to sleep. Agitated, he gradually climbed out of bed, careful not to wake his brother up, and he walked out of the room to go get a glass of some warm milk.

When the red clad brother walked back in, his eyes widened slightly when he heard some what sounded like screaming and yelling coming from his and his brother's room. Once his eyes readjusted to the darkness, he saw his brother tossing and turning in his bed, yelling, mumbling and screaming inaudible words. Cups rushed over, placing the milk on their nightstand in the process, and went over to Mug's bed, getting up next to him, shaking him wildly. "Mugs, Mugs, wake up!" He whispered desperately. "C'mon, Mug, open your eyes! Your only dreaming! Wake up, Mugs, wake up!"

Mugman shot up, breathing heavily, drenched in a cold sweat. His eyes were as wide as dinner plates, tears were streaming down his face, he was trembling, and sweat trickled down the sides of his head. Mugs looked to his side and once he saw his brother sitting there beside him, even more tears streamed down his face.

"CUPPY!" Mugman exclaimed, launching himself at his brother and immediately latching onto him. "Cups, your alive...!" The poor boy sobbed into Cup's shoulder, his own violently wrenching at the intensity of his sobs.

Cuphead hugged his trembling brother as tightly as he could, rubbing his back. "Shh... it's okay, Mugs... I'm here... it was only a nightmare..." He soothed. He hugged his brother and rubbed his back, kissing his forehead now and then, and wiping away his tears while mouthing comforting words to him. After a few minutes, Mug's sobs died down, and Cups figured this was the best time to talk to him. "Hey," He started softly. "Are you ready to tell me now?"

Mugs wanted to say no, but he knew that he couldn't. Denying it wouldn't help at all, and his brother's voice sounded slightly pleading to him. He really wanted to help him, and he won't push him away. He needed Cups right now.

Mug sucked in a breath, exhaling before slowly nodding. "Y-Yeah, okay." He croaked, his voice muffled from his face being buried in Cuphead's shirt. He pulled away and sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

Cuphead had an arm around his younger brother, holding him close while pulling the blanket up on both of them. Mugs leaned on his brother, his head resting on Cup's shoulder. Cups waited patiently for Mug to tell him while rubbing his back softly. He didn't want to rush him. Mug was still upset, and Cuphead didn't want to make it worse by forcing him to say something, making him cry again.

"...We were back fighting the devil," Mugman started, and Cups immediately looked at him. Mugs stared down, his fingers twiddling the sheets. His eyes were red and puffy from crying and his voice was hoarse. "I...I guess that I wasn't paying attention, and... he was aiming for me, but I didn't look in time... b-but you pushed me out of the way, and...you got hurt for me! I kept on begging and begging for you to wake up, but you just...wouldn't! You were gone, and it was all my fault! And then the devil killed me, and...it was all so real! I thought I lost you, Cups!" Mugs cried, burying his face in the crook of Cup's neck.

Cuphead sighed softly, rubbing his brother's back. "It's okay, Mugs," He said comfortingly, smiling. "It was just a bad dream. That stupid devil can't mess with us anymore. And that would never happen, trust me. I'd never let either of us die, no matter what. Okay?"

Mugman sniffled, nodding. "Okay..." He mumbled. Cups tilted his brother's face up and wiped away his remaining tears. He then reached over and grabbed the glass of warm milk, handing it to his brother. "Here, bro. Drink this." Mugs took it and drank some of the milk, handing it back to his brother. "Cups?" He asked as his brother put the glass on the nightstand. "Can you sleep with me tonight?"

Cups grinned. "Of course, bro. C'mon, let's get some sleep. Gramps will be mad tomorrow if he finds out we didn't get any rest." Mugs nodded. The two brothers laid down in bed, Mug snuggling up next to Cups, resting his head on his brother's chest. "Umm, hey, Cup?" He yawned, beginning to feel sleepy. "Mmmhmm?" Cup replied, looking down at him. "Can you promise me something?" "Anything."

Mugs looked down. "Promise you'll never leave me." He said, snuggling closer to his brother. "I love you so much, Cuppy, your the best brother I could ever ask for. I can't imagine living without you, or the world without you, and I can't stand the thought of losing you."

"And you won't have to ever live without me." Cups whispered softly, tiredly grinning. "You'll never lose me, I swear. I'm not going anywhere. I love you more than anything, and I'll always be here for you." He finished, kissing his brother affectionately on the forehead.

"...Thanks, Cup...I love you..." Mugs mumbled sleepily with a big grin and fell asleep in his brother's arms, his head resting heavily on his chest.

"I love you too, bro." Cups whispered and kissed him a final time on the nose before slowly falling asleep himself, holding him close.