From that time on, Nine had a double life, but he was slowly edging toward abandoning his family for BRAIN. Where they were cold and unfeeling, BRAIN was kind and compassionate. Where they were too wrapped up in their own lives to pay attention to Nine, BRAIN would gladly sit and talk to Nine for hours about anything. Where they didn't know anything about his visions and very little about his soul energy, BRAIN encouraged him to share the past freely and practice the power openly. To Nine, BRAIN was more of his family then the Stitchpunks.

Nine was kneeling in his room, writing out his visions where there was a knock on the frame. He looked up and flipped the page over before clapping.

It was Five. "Hey."

"Hey," Nine said, looking away.

"Look," Five said after a moment. "It's been seven months since we found you, and you don't seem to want to spend time with us."

"Seems to be the other way around to me," Nine muttered, playing with his writing stick.

"What? What do you mean?"

"You're all too busy for me," Nine replied shyly.

"Oh." Five knelt down beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders; the feeling of a Stitchpunk touching him startled him, causing him to jump. "You know, you could interrupt us. We wouldn't mind. You're not very assertive."

"Oh, and you are?" Nine growled.

"Well, not really. But I realized this morning that you never spend time with any of us. I intend to change that."

Nine studied him. "You're my friend, right?"

"Of course!"

"And friends show each other things. Tell each other secrets. Right?"

"Right."

"I want to show you something. Promise you won't run away?"

"Run away? Why would I want to run away?" Five laughed. His laughter petered off when Nine just stared at him steadily. "Okay. I promise," he finally said.

Nine held out his hand. Five took it and was pulled flush against Nine. There was a swooping sensation and the light greatly diminished. Five shook his head to clear it and looked up. He screamed as loud as he could. His legs grew weak and he sank to the floor, shaking hard. Nine reached up and BRAIN picked both of them up. Five whimpered, covering his optic as he waited for his doom. Nine and BRAIN calmly waited for him to relax.

After ten minutes, Five looked up and swallowed.

"He's not going to hurt me, is he?"

Nine shook his head. "No. That's what I tried to tell you six months ago. But you wouldn't listen. I would like to formally introduce you to my dearest love, BRAIN. BRAIN, this is Five, as you very well know."

~Charmed.~

"He says he is charmed to meet you."

Five stared at BRAIN, looking frightened still, but curiosity was beginning to override the fear.

"He's large," he said with a nod. "Is he good company?"

"Better company than you Stitchpunks."

Five looked offended. "Hey!"

~I am pleased that you think so highly of me, Nine.~ BRAIN said with a purr.

Nine smiled at the machine and patted his wrist. "Well it's the truth, my love."

"Oh, you do that, too?" Five asked.

"Do what?"

"You're calling him love. Betcha call him darling, too. Baby. Sweetheart. Those sorts of things."

"Yes. How did you know?" Nine asked curiously.

"Well, we not-very-good-company Stitchpunks used to call each other those things all the time. Then…it faded. We don't know why. There was this urge to get closer that we never really fulfilled. We didn't know how."

"Oh, you mean soul bonding. Here, open yourself and take out your soul."

Five glanced at the machine but decided that he trusted Nine and did so. Nine pressed his own soul into Five's. Five gasped and sank down, suddenly not caring that there was a huge machine holding him. He also didn't care when BRAIN's soul met with his and Nine's. It was pleasant.

~You Stitchpunks look so cute like that.~ BRAIN said and Five looked at him.

"So that's how you're hearing him," Five sighed.

~Speak over the bond. I think it's easier.~ Nine replied.

~Like this?~ Five asked hesitantly.

~Yes.~ Nine replied. There was silence for a long while then he spoke again. ~You see what I mean, right? BRAIN is perfectly hospitable and nice. He's a lovely companion. Do you believe me?~

Five reached over for Nine, and they snuggled together. ~Yes, my love, I do. But convincing the others won't be easy.~

~I noticed.~ Nine said forlornly.

~Relax. I'll talk to Two. He'll know what to do.~

~Thank you, Five.~ BRAIN said, lightly petting the relaxed Stitchpunk.

Five didn't have the will in him to flinch. They stayed that way for three hours before Nine lightly parted the souls. Five looked disappointed.

"No more?" he slurred.

~Not right now. Maybe more later, if you feel like it.~

Five nodded and stretched. "My soul feels like its starving now. Like I need more."

~According to Maker, you were supposed to be soul bonding from the beginning.~ Nine said absently.

"Oh?" Five asked then paused. "What do you mean 'according to Maker'?"

Nine froze. He looked up at Five and shook his head, trying to downplay his words and his embarrassment. Five was having none of that.

"Don't shake your head at me. Tell me what you meant."

~You'll just tell One, and he'll yell at me for them.~ Nine muttered shyly.

"Yell at you? For what?"

Nine looked up at him and realized that Five wasn't going to let this go. He grabbed Five's hands and drew him into a vision.

They were standing on a grassy field. Two children on the older side of the spectrum were playing gaily. Five looked around at the lush, green sward and couldn't believe it. He then proceeded to look more closely at the children. The girl tackled the boy and they landed right in front of the two human-sized Stitchpunks. Five gasped.

"Maker!"

Neither human looked at them or acknowledged them in any way. Five looked to Nine.

~They can't hear us. They can't see us. This happened many, many years ago. The girl is dead and Maker is missing.~ Nine explained sadly as the vision melted away.

"I don't understand. What was that? How did you do that?"

~You've never seen Six's visions, have you?~ Nine asked faintly.

"No…Wait, you see visions?!" Five asked in wonder. "Why didn't you tell anybody?"

~Because everything everybody says gets back to One, and I don't want him to yell at me for it. He denies his own visions and berates Six for telling anybody anything about his.~

"Oh, Nine!" Five said compassionately. "That was years ago! He's much more in touch with himself now, and he and Six often sit and talk about their visions. You would be welcome to join them, I just know it."

Nine looked wary. ~I don't think so.~

Five sighed and looked out the window. "Oh! We'd better be getting back." He looked hesitantly at BRAIN, who he'd basically forgotten about. "It was very nice to meet you and to soul bond with you. I hope we meet again soon so I can get to know you better."

BRAIN smiled over the link and nodded. ~The same for you, Five. Nine was my first love, but you are a close second.~

Five laughed. "Many thanks, BRAIN. See you later."

~Goodbye my love.~ Nine said, kissing his optic lightly.

The youngest Stitchpunk hugged Five and they appeared in Nine's room again. Five relaxed and shook his head.

"That was wild."

~If you think that was wild, you should meet Skull and Talon.~

"Who?"

~Um, the, er, Cat Beast and the Winged Beast. They're not fully reprogrammed and reformatted yet. Once they are, I plan on riding on them. BRAIN's promised me they will be wonderful when he's done with them.~

"Cool." Five paused. "Come with me."

They went through the curtains so Nine switched speech. "Where are we going?"

They approached Six's room, and Nine turned, but before he could walk away, Five grabbed him then knocked on the frame.

"Come in," Six called.

Five steered the younger Stitchpunk into the room. Six stood and wiped his hands on a piece of cloth.

"Yes?"

"Go on, Nine," Five said softly.

Nine shook his head, hugging himself. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do. Tell him. I promise he won't be mad, and neither will One."

"What about the others?"

"Of course not. They'll think it's interesting. Two and the twins will question you. They'll want to know more. So, come on. Tell him."

Six had watched the exchange curiously and quietly approached Nine. He took his hands and smiled.

"Come on. Whatever it is, it'll be alright."

Nine hesitantly let the scene melt. This time, the past swirled around them from all different time periods. Egypt, Spain, France, Russia, Germany, Israel, they saw it all. When it faded, Six was very still. Suddenly, his optics lit up and he crowed in triumph. He seized Nine's arm and yanked him into the main room.

"ONE! One you have to come here right now!" Six screamed at the top of his vocal capacity.

There was a scramble and everybody was soon there. One came barreling through the twins, Two at his side. He looked around wildly.

"What happened?! What's wrong?!" he gasped.

Six looked extremely happy. "It's Nine," he said simply.

"Nine? What did he do this time?" One asked, calming a little.

"Show him," Six said, turning to smile kindly at his companion.

Nine shook his head viciously, hugging himself. He felt so shy and scared.

"Show me what?" One asked gently, pulling Nine close. Nine shook his head again.

Six frowned briefly then he turned and said proudly.

"Nine is the past, One! He's our third vision seer!"

One stiffened and Nine expected to be struck for his audacity. Instead he was kissed several times.

"Why didn't you tell us?" he asked softly.

Nine didn't answer so Five did. "He saw you yelling at Six for his visions. He didn't think to look closer to now to see if you'd changed your mind."

One snorted. "Silly Stitchpunk. Now, I believe we need to talk about this. Six, clear a spot on your floor."

Six nodded and dashed into his room. One kissed Nine again and sent the others back to what they were doing. The two Stitchpunks walked into the room and settled onto the floor. Nine was still so very nervous. One and Six were staring at him expectantly. Nine started to cry. He wanted BRAIN. They embraced him, shushing him and kissing him lovingly. When the youngest had calmed down, One pushed him back slightly.

"Now, there's nothing for you to fear. That was many years ago that I yelled at Six for his visions."

"Why? What happened to change that?"

One laughed uncomfortably. "You see the past," he said with a wave of his hand. "You look it up."

Nine stared at him then shrugged. One realized his mistake a split second before the scene solidified.

One was bedridden, looking very ill. He was turned to the side, avoiding looking at Two and Six, who stood beside his bed.

"Thank you, Two," Six said softly. "I believe I'll take it from here."

"If you're sure, Six," Two replied. He gave one last concerned look at One then left the room.

Six sat on the end of One's bed, stroking his foot through the blanket.

"I did warn you this would happen."

"You didn't say it'd be so painful," One rasped.

"So you're admitting you see visions?"

One was silent then a spasm passed over him, and he moaned as he began to cry.

"Yes, yes!" he sobbed. "Just make this atrocity stop!"

"It's far from evil, One," Six said calmly, inching up to spoon him. "It's natural. It's wonderful even, when you use it right. Now, just let it happen. I'm right here. I'll show you what to do. I'll show you how to do it."

"I can't," One whimpered.

"Why not?"

"I'm scared."

"Of?" Six prodded.

One hunched over. "What the others will think. I've been such a…a…an ass to you about your visions. They'll hate me."

"Shh, they won't hate you. Just explain that you're scared. Tell them the truth."

"The truth hurts."

"Not as much as being ostracized from your precious little Stitchpunks," Six argued softly. "I mean, you're so far away from us emotionally. Come back to us, my love. Please. Come back to us."

One chuckled brokenly. "Nobody's called me 'love' in a while, my dear," he cooed.

Six giggled. "We've all stopped. I feel as if we're all drifting apart. But who would listen to me about that?"

"I'm sorry, Six," One said sincerely. "I've completely discredited you. I am well and truly sorry."

Six smiled, kissing the back of One's head. "It's okay. We can fix it one Stitchpunk at a time. For now, relax…Deep breaths…Center yourself…"

"Six?" One said softly as he forced his body to obey. "I don't tell you I love you often enough."

"I love you, too. Ready?"

One hid his face as he nodded. There was a bright flash of green light then visions assaulted them. There was nothing definitive. Just flashes of scenes, blurs of colors, random sounds. One and Six both came out of it with gasps of shock and relief. One was shivering and crying from the intensity of it. It was now dark, so Six lit the candle before curling back up with him.

"Shh, it's okay. Relax. Just relax. It's over for now. Now, stand up, you have to move around or you'll lock up."

"I-I can't move," One said hoarsely after attempting to do so. "G-go get Two. But…hurry?"

"Of course."

Six hurried back a few minutes later with Two, who immediately set to work massaging the Stitchpunk's joints. Six pet his foot kindly; his fingers made massages rather tricky. Two looked up while he was working on One's left foot.

"So…what did you do?"

"Just let it happen," Six said with a yawn.

"Let what happen?"

Six lightly tapped One's shoulder. "Come on, now."

"But Six. I can't."

"One Stitchpunk at a time, and Two's a good place to start."

One began trembling again, and his voice shook hard. "I-I j-just…v-visions, Two. Visions."

"Visions?" Two asked. "So you have visions?"

One nodded stiffly.

"Well," Six put in. "He's supposed to. Problem is, he's been keeping them in for so long that there's a block. We're going to be here in his room for at least a week as we chip away at all the visions he hasn't let out."

"I'll let the others know," Two said. "So they can at least mull it over before they see you again."

"Much appreciated, Two," Six said with a smile. "Now, he needs rest. I'll come get you if he locks up again."

"Alright then," Two said, smiling back. "Have a good rest, One. You, too, Six."

He departed, blowing the candle out, and Six snuggled close to One again, curling their hands together.

"See? It'll be alright," Six whispered.

One hummed. "Mmkay."

Six giggled then they relaxed and fell asleep. There was a swooping sensation and they were back in Six's room. Nine looked thoughtful.

"So you really don't mind visions anymore?"

"No, I really don't mind," One said with a smile. "But I didn't mean look at it now. I meant later. But it was rather interesting to see it from an outside perspective, so I don't mind."

"Now," Six said firmly. "Talk to us about the ones you can't control."

Nine hesitated for only a brief second before he began to show them battles in Egypt. They were fascinated by his control of the visions and were content to sit and watch for hours. Nine fell asleep that night feeling happy. Now if on only he could get them to like BRAIN like Five did.