This, people, is as fluffy as I'm ever gonna get in this fic. And, according to a fellow 5/H shipper, as believably fluffy as these two can get.

Just read. You'll know what I'm talking about...

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Chapter Nine

"...and that's what happened in Numbuh One's dream."

It was dusk, and Abby and Heinrich were still in the living room, sitting on the floor while Carmelite remained unconscious on the couch. Abby was answering all the questions Heinrich had to ask about everthing that had occurred so far.

"You get betrayed by your teammates?" Heinrich said, "Now, vhere haff I heard ZAT before?"

"Heiny, we're not talkin' about Guatemala right now."

"I vas just pointing out zat maybe now you know how I felt..."

"Anyway, maybe now you can tell Numbuh Five what's really wrong."

Abby waited for Heinrich to explain, but he didn't speak. Suddenly, there was a low growling sound coming from Abby's stomach. The two of them realized they hadn't eaten in more than a day.

"Numbuh Five'll be right back." Abby told Heinrich, as she got up and headed for the kitchen.

Heinrich still said nothing as he was left alone in the living room. He looked around the room in boredom, and finally glanced at Carmelite.

"If you can hear me," he muttered, "I vant you to know zis is all you und your brother's fault."

Not surprisingly, there was no response. Heinrich stared at the floor.

"Not like zey care, anyvay...it's not like I vanted to come along."

"You're gonna look crazy if ya keep talkin' to yourself like that."

Heinrich turned in the direction of the kitchen, to see Abby walking back into the living room, two candy bars in her hand. She sat back down on the floor.

"There's some leftover pizza in the microwave." Abby explained, tossing a candy bar to Heinrich, "These'll hold us off till it's done."

Each kid unwrapped their candy bar and took a bite. Even a time like this couldn't keeping them from satisfying their sweet tooth.

"So what were you sayin' about not wanting to be here?" Abby asked, in between bites.

"Just zat - I don't vant to be here."

"You sure that's all?"

"Who is Maurice?"

"You changed the subject."

"Who is zis Maurice? You seemed vorried about him earlier..."

"If you really wanna know, he's an old friend I've known as long as I've been in the Kids Next Door."

"'Old friend'? You two must haff been close..."

"What makes you think that?"

"Never mind..."

"Y'know," Abby pointed out, setting down her candy bar, "If you'd just say what was wrong, maybe Numbuh Five could call Leopold and get him to take you back home."

"I don't vant to help in zis search." Heinrich stated, "I don't think I need to be involved vith you und your family."

"Yeah, you do."

"Nein, I - vait...how do you know?"

"I figured it out, and the kids said I was right."

"Und you didn't tell me?"

"You're not supposed to know till later."

"I suppose it involves vhatever idiot you marry..."

"He's being an idiot right now."

"Vhat's zat supposed to mean? Who is it anyvay? Zis Maurice boy you vere panicking about? Or maybe ein teammate of yours?"

"Heiny, they put me in jail. Why would I be married to any of 'em?"

"Sometimes, ze people you care about betray you."

Abby pulled out the small peppermint she'd found on the floor of the prison cell from her pocket.

"If ya really want to know who my husband is," she remarked, tossing the candy to Heinrich, "Here's a hint."

Heinrich inspected the candy, wondering what it could possibly mean. Suddenly, the expression on his face changed as all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

"Y-you mean..." he stammered, "You...I...ve...end up..."

"That's right."

"So, Carmelite und Leopold..."

"They're our kids."

"But...but...zat's impossible!"

"We time-travelled thirty years into the future, and you're callin' us being married impossible?"

"Ve're enemies now! Vhat about Guatemala?!"

"It's like Numbuh Five said yesterday...you've been mad at me before, but we always forgave each other."

"Still...ve're married?!"

"Not yet. But stuff can change after a while..."

There was a beep from the microwave as the pizza finished reheating, and Abby left a still-panicky Heinrich to sit in shock as he tried to handle what he'd just learned. Heinrich decided to calm himself down, then glanced at Carmelite again.

"I don't say zis a lot..." he commented to the girl who he'd just learned was his daughter, "But...I'm sorry."