Much More Than Maternal

Chapter 8

The Betrayal

A week had passed since Nicole and Gumball had broken the news to Anais, though its passing had hardly been what one would call pleasant. They drifted apart, unable to approach each other for comfort and this only served to amplify Gumball's crippling guilt. Their emotional pain was like a feral thing, twisting and biting at everything it sensed. Nicole became withdrawn and quiet, her daughter's hurtful words had cut too deeply and had rendered Nicole's wishes for a united family into nothing but dust. Gumball tried to persist in his duty to be strong for his lover, but the strain had proven too much for the young cat and he began to see himself as the one who caused his mother's pain. They hadn't spent any time together since Anais had devastated Nicole, and Gumball missed the days when he and his mother would spend all their free time together, encircled in each other's arms.

There was no reprieve from his demons, Gumball would torment himself relentlessly every waking moment, directing every harsh word his tortured mind could conjure into and at himself. He was determined to punish himself for pushing Nicole into something that had ultimately destroyed her. Gumball stubbornly refused to halt the hateful words he threw at himself, even if it meant that he would inevitably drown in his self-inflicted sorrows and end up a hollow shell of his former self. Because in his eyes, he deserved every single ounce of pain he caused to himself. The days played out in the same old routine, Nicole would come home from work and without saying a word, would go into her bedroom and cry herself to sleep. Gumball would do the same, except he would lie in his own bed, screaming obscenities inside his mind at himself. Darwin would try, and fail, to comfort his brother, who blatantly refused any amount of help levied at him.

On the other hand, Nicole would not even speak to her adopted son, her silent tears were the only answers Darwin would receive from his bereft mother. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, Darwin would corner Anais and plead for her to apologize for her words but every time, she had refused. She had shown remorse at her words and made it clear that she wished she had phrased it better. But time and time again, she stubbornly refused to change her mind about Gumball and Nicole's relationship. In her eyes, their entire union was wrong and she refused to believe otherwise. Darwin had shocked himself one night when he had lashed out at his sister, declaring that he was sick of her excuses and that she needed to shut up.

She'd left him without protest, her head bowed in shame as she walked away. Darwin sighed solemnly, he had come down to try to watch some TV but he could hear Nicole's crying from behind her door. Her cries were heart-wrenching, there was nothing but pain in her wails. Nicole and Gumball deserved to be happy, who the hell cares if they were mother and son? He didn't care, in fact, Darwin was happy for them to actually have the stones to even tell Anais about their love. He heard someone coming downstairs and Darwin knew who it was, the saddened sniffles gave it away. Darwin got to his feet with determination, it was about time this whole charade was put to an abrupt end and he was going to be the one to do it. Darwin stood in his brother's path, who stopped and lowered his eyes.

"You're in my way," Gumball stated flatly, his voice was low as if he didn't have the strength to speak.

"Turn around, Gumball."

"Why?"

"Turn around," Darwin repeated, he put a bit more force into his voice this time.

Gumball cast a dejected look over his shoulder and shrugged. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"There's someone who needs you and she's behind that door," Darwin said, pointing at Nicole's closed door.

"I've done enough damage," Gumball's words pulled at his heart but Darwin forged on.

"No, you've done nothing but torture yourself the past few days. Go in there and comfort her," Darwin commanded, pointing a fin at the door again.

"I don't know how! It was my fault that Mom ended up getting hurt. It'd be best for everyone if I just leave."

Darwin slapped Gumball across the face with all the strength he could muster. The loud whip-crack, coupled with the sudden, stinging pain succeeded in jarring the cat out of his stupor. The fish crossed his arms and pointed with his chin.

"Stop doing this to yourself, get in there and do what you do best."

"Yeah, because the things I do best is hurting the people I love," Gumball muttered under his breath.

"You know that isn't true, so cut the crap. Now get in there," Darwin shouted, shaking his head solemnly.

With a heavy sigh, Gumball did what his brother told him to, albeit with some reluctance. He tried the door and found it was locked, he gave Darwin a blank face.

"It's locked," he informed the fish, he shrugged and Darwin's anger spiked at his brother.

"Then knock on the darn door!," he exclaimed. "And make sure you call out so Mrs. Mom knows it's you who did the knocking. She won't open the door for anyone, not even me."

Gumball did as he was told and knocked twice. "Mom, it's Gumball. Can you let me in, please?"

There was no answer but Darwin noted that Nicole's cries had ceased and he could now hear soft footsteps from behind the door. There was a sharp click and the door opened with a minute creak. Darwin could not see Nicole, she was hidden behind the door, all he could see was a part of her shoulder. Gumball entered without a word and the door swung shut behind him with a quick snap, the lock clicking back into place. Darwin gave the closed door a hopeful glance before heading outside, it was up to them now and he knew in his heart, that they would be able to work through their pain.


Gumball watched his mother as she locked her door then she walked past him and sat on her bed, she hadn't even looked at him. He went to Nicole and hugged her, nuzzling his cheek into her neck. Nicole threw her arms around Gumball and hugged him back, she still hadn't said a single syllable to him.

Gumball looked deeply into her eyes, his bottom lip quivering precariously. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"For what?," she finally said, her voice was so soft, Gumball could scarcely hear her speak.

"For making you talk to Anais. If I'd known-," she stopped him mid-sentence with a shake of her head.

"Stop there, honey. Neither of us could've known how Anais would take the news," Nicole's eyes welled with more tears and she pulled Gumball tighter against her, she wasn't showing it, but she was overjoyed he was finally in her arms.

They cuddled together quietly for a minute, nuzzling their cheeks together gently until she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I've missed this," Gumball whispered, his breath tickled at Nicole's neck.

"I've missed you," Nicole whispered back, placing heavy emphasis on the final word.

Nicole looked into his eyes, wanting to lose herself in their brilliance but all she could see in his eyes was pain.

"Gumball, what happened is not your fault. Please, stop blaming yourself."

"Mom, I was the one that came up with the stupid idea," his guilt rose violently, biting at his heart like a wounded animal and he had to clench his teeth to hold back the tears.

"Yes and I went along with it, but that still doesn't change the fact that none of what happened was your fault. Anais took the news very hard and she said some hurtful things but nobody is to blame here. Please, stop torturing yourself over this," Nicole insisted, she tried to reassure him with another kiss when he started to cry.

Gumball's crying was weak, the crippling guilt he'd fought for an entire week had finally overwhelmed him and Nicole was grateful he'd broken down in her arms, he would be safe with her. His cries dug deeply into Nicole's psyche like razor-blades, hearing him cry was hell to her, plain and simple. Having Gumball with her was all she had wanted during the week but he'd never come looking for her. He would disappear into his room, only coming down to eat and he barely spoke even then. Admittedly, Nicole hadn't been in a talking mood herself during the whole week. Anais' words had sunk in like red-hot claws, they'd hooked into the back of Nicole's mind and that is where they lurked, tormenting her like a wound that wouldn't close.

Nicole supposed Anais hadn't meant to sound so disgusted, she couldn't have possibly been serious when she had suggested Nicole needed help, that had to have been the shock talking. But if she didn't want to accept them, then that was her choice and Nicole couldn't force her to change her mind. They would have to settle with the hope that, in time, Anais would warm to the idea of them being together. Gumball spoke and Nicole pulled herself from her tormented mind, she wanted to give him her undivided attention.

"I still feel bad about Anais" he managed to choke out between sobs.

"Shh, it went very badly but it's to be expected, sweetie. It's not everyday a mother and son fall in love," she kissed his forehead as she spoke.

"Did Anais really mean what she said?"

"I honestly don't know, she must've been still upset from the morning and it got to be too much for her. She is still young after all," Nicole said, she hoped she was telling the truth.

Gumball settled in her lap and cuddled tightly to her chest, Nicole was more than glad to hold him. Despite his sadness, he purred softly as Nicole squeezed her arms around him tighter. His crying was slowing, all that remained was his tears and Nicole raised his face so she could wipe them away. She gave her son an affectionate smile, he responded with one of his own and Nicole felt gladdened to finally see him smile.

"Do you feel any better, honey?," she asked, wiping his final tear from his cheek.

"I still feel upset, but it's not as bad as before," he was truthful in his words.

"Honey, I really did mean it when I said that what happened isn't your fault," she never broke eye-contact as she spoke.

"But if I hadn't said anything-."

She quieted her son with a kiss, enjoying the awkward way he returned it. Gumball began to enjoy their kiss and when Nicole broke it, he couldn't help feeling a little upset.

"Listen to me Gumball, what we have is the most important thing in the world. I don't care if Anais won't accept us, that's her choice and we have to accept it, no matter how much it hurts. I want you to stop blaming yourself, it's not fair on you to continue."

He lowered his eyes from her, his voice low. "But, I-."

"Please, sweetie, stop hurting yourself. For me?," Nicole pleaded, she raised his face to hers.

"I'll try, for you," Gumball said, his mother kissed him when he finished talking.

"All I ask is you try. Want to go out now?"

"I suppose so, Dad is probably making dinner by now," Gumball let go of his mother's shirt as she leaned back.

"Before we go out there, I want to give you something, Gumball," Nicole stated to her son who cocked his head curiously.

"Is it a pony?," his joke question succeeded in making Nicole laugh as she let him go and got to her feet.

Nicole went to her bedside table, opened the bottom drawer and removed a small bag that was hidden under some clothes. It was obvious that whatever was in the bag meant a great deal to his mother, Gumball could see this quite clearly. Nicole went to her son, passing the young cat the bag as she sat beside him. With a mix of eagerness and curiosity, Gumball reached in, his fingers coming to rest on what sat at the bottom. Whatever it was, it was hard and he closed his fingers around its spine. He removed the small book and stared at it blankly, he turned it over to read the title.

"Sex Ed?," he read aloud, giving his mother a perplexed look.

Nicole put an arm around him. "I want you to read it. Not now though, later and make sure you read the entire thing."

"Uh, okay. What is it supposed to show me?," he flipped through the pages, caught a glimpse of a nightmarish picture and shut the book with a snap.

"You'll see when you read it, honey. I'm ready to take the next step in our relationship, but I can't do it without you," Nicole said, putting a hand on his thigh.

"Why do I have to read a book though? Can't we just do it now?," Gumball groaned, he frowned at the book in his hands and Nicole giggled at him.

"I would love to take our relationship to the next level with you, right here and right now. But you need to learn what it is I want to do with you."

"Does this have something to do with that above the shoulders stuff you were going on about before?," he placed the book back into its bag and set it down on the floor.

"Yes, what I want requires complete trust in both parties involved. Gummypuss, I won't give myself to you until I know for sure that you are ready," Nicole said, kissing him on the cheek.

"Give yourself to me? Mom, what are you on about?"

"Read the book, sweetheart, you'll know what I mean," Nicole insisted, she took her hand from his thigh and ran it across his cheek.

"Okay, do I have to hide the book?"

Nicole shook her head as she stood. "No, just tell anyone that asks that you're learning it at school."

Gumball nodded as his mother opened the door, she peered through the small crack then turned to speak.

"I can't see anyone, so you go out before me then-."

"It's okay, Mrs. Mom. Anais and Mr. Dad aren't around," Darwin's sudden voice startled Nicole.

"They aren't?," Nicole asked, she opened the door the rest of the way and stepped out.

"Where are they, Darwin?," Gumball called from behind his mother.

"They've gone to get dinner," Darwin answered, his head appeared from behind the couch.

Darwin smiled at the pair, they seemed happier to him, his suspicions were confirmed when Gumball came out and hugged his mother around the waist.

"It's good to see you two are doing better," Darwin said, the two cats returned his bright smile.

"We just needed to have a talk. I think we're going to be okay," Nicole confirmed, she placed her hand on Gumball's head.

Nicole looked at Darwin, he was still smiling at her. "Thank you for convincing Gumball to come to me. I can't thank you enough for being there for us."

"I like seeing you two happy. Nobody should have the right to dictate who you love," Darwin said, her thankful expression left a warm feeling in his chest.

"How do you know Darwin talked to me?"

"I could hear your brother shouting at you," Nicole replied, tussling her son's hair.

"I had to get strict with him. I didn't want to see you two end up heart-broken over Anais," Darwin returned his attention to the TV, realized the news was on and grunted disapprovingly as he started to flick through the channels.

Nicole sat beside Darwin, Gumball hopped into her lap and snuggled up to her. Nicole gave her son a squeeze, she was about to kiss the top of his head when she noticed Darwin was eyeing them up. Their public display of affection must have bothered the fish and Nicole held her arm out to him.

"We're not bothering you, are we, Darwin?"

He shook his head, his words were genuine. "Not at all, Mrs. Mom. I like seeing you happy with each other."

"You're not just saying what we want to hear, are you?"

"No way, it's just upsetting that everyone seems to hate your love, even though you're clearly so happy together," Darwin insisted, he smiled at Nicole and she nodded in agreement.

"It's not a pleasant thought, knowing that what Gumball and I have is shunned by the vast majority of people. But I honestly wouldn't trade it for anything, he's perfect."

Gumball blushed at his mother's loving words and he hid his face in her chest, he couldn't help feeling embarrassed. However, Darwin was quick enough to catch it and he laughed, pointing a fin at his brother.

"He's blushing!"

"I am not!," Gumball retorted, his voice was muffled against Nicole's chest.

"I saw it, don't lie!," Darwin said, he reached over Nicole's lap and punched his brother in the arm.

In spite of his burning cheeks, Gumball looked up and returned his brother's punch with a shaky fist. He over-extended himself and fell into Nicole's lap with a grunt, missing Darwin by a good length. Both boys exploded into wild laughter, their mother was scarcely able to contain her own laughter and she too, burst out laughing. It was times like these that Nicole cherished greatly, doing nothing but spending quality time with her two sons. It made her love her life and the fact that she was finally with Gumball was like the last piece of the puzzle that made up her entire life. She truly felt complete. The boys were rough-housing on her lap and she playfully egged them on, giving the boys a poke in the side every now and then for good measure.

Their fun continued, even when Richard and Anais returned, their arms laden with buckets of fried chicken. But once the enticing smell of fried chicken reached the boys, their hunger overtook their rational minds and they systematically devoured every piece of chicken they could get a hold of. After they were done stuffing their faces, Nicole told them it was time for bed, they did have school in the morning after all. They had no complaints, both boys had eaten an entire bucket each. Darwin was asleep the second he entered his bowl, his brother on the other hand, had decided he wanted to stay up with Nicole, despite his looming food-coma.

"Mom, I want to stay up. We missed a whole week we could've spent together."

Nicole shook her head and tucked him into bed tightly, drawing the blankets up so they were level with his chin.

"Sweetheart, you have school tomorrow. No matter how much I want you by my side, you need to get enough sleep for school," Nicole said, smiling at her protesting son.

"Screw school, I want to spend my days with you," he was being sincere and Nicole had to take a deep breath to steady her emotions.

"We have plenty of time for that, honey. Now go to sleep, I'll see you when I get back from work tomorrow."

Nicole kissed Gumball deeply, drawing a purr from the pleased cat as she pulled away.

"Sleep well, sweetie. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom," Gumball rolled over and was asleep almost instantly.

Nicole sighed with contentment, he was so cute and she wanted to spend time with him but his education came first, no matter how crazily she wanted him. There was an awkward cough at the door and Nicole whirled around, her heart skipping a beat. She expected Richard to be standing there. Luckily, it wasn't, it was her daughter who stood at the door. Anais grimaced at her mother, she had seen them kiss and the sight had filled her with revulsion. Nicole held out her hands to her daughter, she smiled meekly at her daughter.

"Come here, sweetie. I'll help you up onto your bed."

Anais shook her head, she grimaced again. "No thanks, I'll do it myself."

"Oh, okay. Sleep well, Anais," Nicole bade her goodnight and walked out quickly, she didn't look back but Nicole could feel her daughter's eyes drilling into the back of her skull.

Anais climbed to the top bunk, stopping when she was halfway up so she could look at Gumball. He was firmly asleep, a smile stretched across his face as he muttered something unintelligible. She continued her climb, she stretched out on her bed, her mind refusing to let go of the image of Nicole and Gumball kissing. Their love was wrong, it sickened her to see them openly display their affections. Anais shook her head as she rolled onto her left so she could gaze out the window. From her vantage point, Anais could see the stars twinkling merrily at her, the distant lights of Elmore starting to turn off as the town went to sleep. The bunny closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than sleep to take her from her bed. She had to do something, their love would only end in pain, not just for them, but for the entire Watterson family. She had to tell her father, it was the only justifiable course of action Anais could see. Sleep enshrouded her in its wings, guiding Anais into a deep sleep that was infinite and dreamless.


Nicole straddled Gumball's lap as she ensnared him in her arm, effectively locked his face into her chest. She was lavishing the young cat with kisses, barely allowing him pause so he could breathe. Gumball realized he didn't have pants on and strangely, this little fact didn't bother him. Nicole was grinding her underside against his raised thigh, her mouth was moving in what could be described as a seductive way but there was no sound and this irritated Gumball to no end. He wanted to hear what she was saying, it was probably important. Maybe it had something to do with her shoulders?

The silence bugged him incessantly, his thoughts were quite loud in his own head and he let loose with a violent scream. Like his mother, his wail was silent but he could hear his scream echoing throughout his head. With infinite slowness, Nicole leaned forward and put her lips to his ear. He braced for whatever revelation she had for him, but instead Gumball was jarred from his sleep as his alarm blared like a foghorn. It took his drowsy brain a second to register what had happened and when he finally put two and two together, he groaned loudly. Darwin was already up, he was putting on his shoes and he turned when he heard Gumball's groan.

"What's up with you?," he asked, he slipped his other shoe on and reached for the next.

"I was having a really weird dream but it was also really good," Gumball replied, his voice was deep with sleep as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"Who was in the dream?"

Gumball strained to think but sighed, the majority of the dream had faded into obscurity. He shrugged and jumped off his bed.

"I don't remember much, but Mom was in it, I'm sure of that."

"Don't give me too much info," Darwin said, pretending to recoil in shock.

They laughed and Gumball left to have a shower, he was still trying to remember the finer points of the dream but it was like trying to read a book in the dark. After his shower, Gumball went into his room to find his favorite sweater. A small paper bag caught his eye, its corner was peeking up at him from under his bed. He picked it up, recognizing it as the one that held the book Nicole had given him. He retrieved the small book and turned it over in his hands. He opened it, jumping when a small note fell out of the first page. He bent to pick it up with a groan, he recognized his mother's handwriting and read the small sentence aloud.

"Don't forget to read this, it's important. I love you, Mom."

He cast a curious look over the book, the cover was pretty lackluster. The two words 'Sex Education' were emblazoned on the cover, the rest of the cover was white, save for the typical details of the publisher on the bottom.

What the what is sex?, he thought as he thumbed through the book again, then stuffed it back into the bag.

He decided he would read it after school and he jammed the bag back under his bed. With a hop, he went downstairs to have some breakfast.


As her son was enjoying his breakfast and laughing himself silly at the morning cartoons, Nicole was finishing up a successful call with a client. The confused man had called to tell her about some problem she didn't hear and she, without thinking, told him to plug his appliance in. A second later, the man had stammered out an embarrassed apology and Nicole had hung up on him, without thanking him for calling. Her thoughts were too preoccupied with her son, she was missing him terribly. He was right, they'd missed an entire week and that was time they would never get back. The first thing she'd do when she got home would be to scoop Gumball into her arms and kiss him with every bit of energy she could muster. Nicole looked up at the clock above her cubicle and grimaced, it read quarter to nine. She'd been on the phone for two long hours. Nicole rubbed her tired eyes, she groaned dejectedly as the phone beside her rang again. It was going to be a long day.


With a heavy heart, Anais watched her brothers bolt out the door, she didn't even bother to answer Darwin's hasty goodbye. They were on the school bus in a flash and Anais shut the front door, ignoring Darwin again when he waved goodbye at her. Gumball had practically ignored her the entire morning but she couldn't let that little tidbit bother her now. Anais was too busy weighing every pro and con she could find, her mind was reeling with emotion, did she really want to do this to her family? The repercussions would be nothing short of disastrous to every family member. It could even prove ruinous to the Watterson name if the details ever got out. No, she had to do it. It was for the good of the family and for the good of her mother. Nervously, Anais called her father to the living room. He answered her with a happy shout, his silly grin only hurting his daughter more. She gestured for Richard who sat at the couch and Anais joined him, she was struggling to put her words together. Finally, she found her voice and started to speak and as the truth tumbled out, Richard's countenance grew ever darker.

The semblance of normalcy was shattered at the Watterson home, but the day continued on, except at a painfully slow pace. The hours melted together into one amorphous blob, leaving Nicole with a sense of wonderment when she finally looked at the clock and realized her shift had finally ended. It had felt like eternity, her day was nothing short of mental torture but the thought of going home to her son helped her push through. She left the rainbow factory in a rush, babbling hurried goodbyes to her colleagues as she jumped into her car. On the drive home, her mind ran with countless way she wanted to greet Gumball. If the family was around, Nicole would have to settle for a hug but if he was alone, she would give him the biggest kiss he'd ever experienced.

Pulling up outside the house, Nicole was overcome with an intense feeling of happiness as the thought of seeing Gumball after work danced before her. She smiled to herself, thinking of ways she could could surprise him. Nicole walked to the front porch with a very noticeable spring in her step, her handbag bouncing madly on her arm as she hummed a slow but delightful melody. She entered the silent house and shut the door quietly, she didn't notice her husband sitting at the kitchen table, his face was grim.

There was a creak behind her and Nicole twirled, noticing Richard for the first time. Something about his expression worried her but she couldn't quite place why. Nicole met his gaze and she had to stifle a gasp, his eyes were dark and unforgiving and the longer he stared at her, the darker they became. For the first time in weeks, Gumball was the furthest thing from her mind and her husband was now at its forefront. She swallowed nervously, her throat had suddenly gone bone dry.

"R-Richard, what's the matter?," she stammered, her voice cracking as she spoke and she gave her husband a half-smile.

There was that accursed fear again, hovering over her like a malicious cloud as if waiting to drench her in every insecurity that Gumball's presence kept at bay. But Gumball was nowhere in sight and she was frightened, of what her husband would say, of what he couldn't possibly know. He answered her question with a calm, almost serene voice. It was like he was barely keeping his emotions in check, which was a first for the rabbit as he was always a mellow person.

"I know, Nicole."

It was like a dam had given way, the fear that flooded Nicole's body was like a tsunami of black, icy water and she could feel her hands beginning to shake. She clasped them together in front of her in a futile attempt to stop the shaking, or at the very least, hide it from Richard. Her weak attempt at a smile vanished, instead she frowned deeply, she found herself wishing that her hands would stop their damned shaking.

"Know what?," the fear was growing deeper, enveloping her entire being as her husband shook his head at her.

Richard took a step closer and Nicole had to fight the urge to take one back. His eyes narrowed menacingly and she could almost hear him accusing her.

"I know about you," he paused, sighing before he stared her dead in the eyes. "And Gumball."

At that instant, Nicole was sure her heart had stopped beating, the fear crashing against her like waves would against a bed of rocks. This wasn't happening, there was absolutely no way Richard could know about her and Gumball. She felt sure she was stuck in some nightmarish landscape where her fears ruled over everything and she was going to wake up in her bed with her secret still safe. But as her husband's words sunk in, Nicole knew all too well that this was no dream and her nightmares had escaped into reality.

"Richard, let me explain-," he cut her off with a dismissive flick of the wrist.

"I want you to turn around, walk out that door and never come back."

For one crazy moment, Nicole was sure she hadn't heard him right but his expression all but confirmed his words. Their relationship had been found out and her nightmares had come true.

"Richard, please-," she began, she flinched when Richard, once again, dismissed her words with another flick of his wrist.

"Leave. I am giving you this one chance to do so. If you don't go, I will call the police. And believe me, Nicole, I don't want that to happen."

She was struck with a sense of curiosity at his confession. "Why?"

"Because I don't want the last image the children see of their mother is of her being dragged away by the police. So, please leave," he replied, his eyes never left hers.

"Last? Richard, you're not trying to say what I think you are, are you?"

He opened his mouth to answer her when Darwin appeared at the top of the stairs and Nicole saw that he had been crying. Seeing the fish, Nicole couldn't help feeling her anger smolder under her fear.

"Why?," she asked the fish, who recoiled at his mother's pained expression.

"I didn't say anything, Mrs. Mom. I promised!"

"If it wasn't you, then it was-"

"I told Dad," Anais said as she stepped from the kitchen into Nicole's line of sight.

Nicole's fear gave way to pain, pain that she had never dreamed could exist. It was the kind of searing pain that accompanied what one would call, a broken heart. Nicole gulped at the air like a fish, her mind was reeling, trying to shut down and make her faint but she wasn't going to give in like that. She wanted answers.

"Why would you do this to me, Anais? Your own mother?," Nicole asked, she was starting to cry and she hated herself for that.

"You're not the same woman who raised me. She would never fall in love with her son because she would know that it is wrong," Anais said, her own eyes were wet with tears and she looked down at the floor.

Anais' word stung deeply, the pain in Nicole's heart was unrelenting. "You don't mean that."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I never wanted it to come to this."

"Do you know how much you're hurting me?," Nicole almost screamed, she looked back and forth between her husband and daughter, her brain refused to believe their words.

"Mom, I never wanted to hurt you. I did it for the good of the family," Anais hid behind her father, she began to bawl into her father's pant leg.

"Good of the family? How is this good?"

Richard raised his hand. "Enough! Nicole, leave now. Please, you're only making it worse."

Nicole stopped and despite her crushed heart, she agreed with her husband. Darwin and Anais were both crying, their pain too great for them to conceal. Nicole lowered her head, a tear fell from her cheek and landed on the carpet, staining it with a small dot.

"I want to talk to Gumball," she finally said, she needed to see him.

"No, I have forbidden him from seeing you. I don't think it'll be good for him to ever come into contact with you again," Richard's words were like a solid wall, they crashed over Nicole and she was unable to think of anything redeeming to say.

"Nicole, leave. You can keep the car."

"Where am I supposed to go?," she screamed back, she couldn't control her rampant emotions and they were pouring out of her like a waterfall.

"You will have to figure that out, now please go," Richard said, he held his crying daughter close, as if he was shielding her from Nicole.

Nicole glanced at Darwin, her eyes pleaded for help and he shamefully lowered his gaze, his own tears pattering softly onto his green shoes.

"Can I at least see Gumball?," she asked desperately, but her hopes were dashed when Richard shook his head again.

"No."

It was just one simple word, but it was like a blade of glass had been forcefully pushed into her heart and Nicole struggled to breathe. She was drowning in pain that was as wide as the ocean and there was nobody coming to her rescue. No other words were needed and Nicole turned to leave, looking back in the vain hope that someone would stop her. When none of them moved toward her, Nicole opened the door and walked out, she was unsure how was going to be able to continue. Nicole got halfway to her car and stopped, she felt like someone was watching her and she looked over her shoulder. From his window, Gumball looked down at her, his expression was one of pure pain and Nicole had to avert her eyes to keep from collapsing into tears. She looked back up at him and her son put a hand to the window pane, he said something she did not hear but Nicole had a good idea of what it was.

She turned to leave, she couldn't bring herself to utter the three words he had said, they hurt her too much. She opened her car door when a scream from the house made her glance up. Gumball was half out the front door, his father had an arm around his flailing son in an attempt to keep him from running after Nicole. Gumball whimpered as he held his hand out to his mother.

"Mom! Where are you going?," Gumball shouted, his voice sent needles of pain into her and she looked away as she sat in the car.

"Don't go! Mom!," Gumball continued, he was crying and he didn't care if anyone saw him.

Nicole gave her son a teary look, lowered her eyes and drove away, the simple act of pressing the accelerator was agony to her. Even with the windows up, Nicole easily heard her son scream for her and only then, did she allow herself to cry. Gumball tore from his father's grip, his sweater remained clutched in his father's hand as he ran off after his mother. He reached the footpath and stopped, his eyes darting around in search for the tail lights of Nicole's car. When he failed to find them, he fell to the ground as an avalanche of grief overwhelmed him. Richard went out to him and tried to comfort the boy, but Gumball slapped his hands away in disgust. Gumball snatched his sweater from his father and with a heart that was heavy with grief, he went inside. But his home was not the warm and happy place it once was, it held only pain.

AN: Sad news guys, I have to take a hiatus from writing the story. I do apologize but there's been some real life issues and I need to step back and deal with them. There is no need to worry though, I WILL finish the story. I'm not the type to leave things half-finished. I'm lazy, I know that but I enjoy writing. I never leave stories without their endings. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but you'll know I'm back when the next chapter is up. I'll be seeing you all soon! Have a good one.