Final chapter.

~This is wonderful…~ Four sighed.

~Yes, yes, brother.~ Three purred.

~Fascinating, too.~ Two said with a relaxed smile.

~It's 'zactly what we've been missing.~ Five murmured in a pleased tone.

~I'm glad you and Nine discovered it.~ One said.

~Um…right.~ Five said nervously.

~Five?~ Two asked.

~Nothing. Just…~

~Does it have something to do with that other presence?~ Seven asked.

~That's Nine.~

~No, the other one.~ Six said. ~There's most definitely another presence on your periphery that isn't a Stitchpunk.~

Five glanced away. ~I…I can't. Nine will kill me.~

~Speaking of Nine, you two have been sneaking away.~ Seven said quietly.

"You what?!" One gasped out loud.

Five flinched. ~We've just been going for walks.~

~Toward the Factory.~ Seven's voice was fainter, as if she didn't like tattling on Five.

The pressure grew too great as everybody stared at him, and Five broke. Nine watched passively as Five explained about Nine's soul energy and everything about BRAIN. The memory faded, and Nine was left sitting on top of BRAIN. That had been a week ago, and they still hadn't come to find him. They didn't love him, it would seem. They didn't want him.

~Nine, do not dwell on it. They will come for you.~

~No, they won't.~ Nine said sullenly. ~They want perfect, obedient Stitchpunks. I'm neither.~

BRAIN quietly pet Nine as the Stitchpunk wallowed in misery. He didn't know what to do. Usually Nine was painfully optimistic. Now…well, he'd give the world's greatest pessimist a run for his money. There was a soft noise. BRAIN looked down to see Five. He squealed and poked Nine, who looked down as well. He frowned and turned away.

~Come now, Nine!~ BRAIN exclaimed, picking the youngest Stitchpunk up and setting him down next to his elder. Nine immediately turned his back on him. BRAIN poked him again, so Nine zapped him lightly; he'd turned the electricity off months ago, but he could still use his soul energy. BRAIN jolted and hissed his displeasure.

"Nine, that's completely unnecessary," Five said softly.

"Traitor."

"I don't do well under pressure, Nine," came the embarrassed reply.

Nine peeked over his shoulder. "I noticed."

"You're not talking to me over our soul bond." Five's tone was sad.

"That requires intimacy. I don't think you want to hear my thoughts right now."

"Yes, I do. Even if you're mad at me. It's better than blocking me out."

Nine frowned before sighing and tentatively opening the bond. Five was bombarded with a mixture of emotions. He was surprised to find bits of shame and embarrassment in there. He lightly embraced Nine from behind, kissing him.

"What's wrong, Nine?"

Nine whimpered through the bond. ~I don't belong with you. Any of you.~

"What makes you say that?" Five murmured.

~Look at me, Five. I woke up a machine and gave him a piece of my soul. None of you would have done that. And then there's the fact that I can't do anything right. All I do is disappoint them. Especially One. And I walk with the machines, too. Seven and Eight are going to be mad. And One, too. Everybody's mad at me for being what I considered kind. BRAIN needed a companion, a friend. And he definitely needed a soul.~ Nine paused and began to cry. ~I'm just a screw up!~

"You most certainly are not!" said another voice.

Nine looked up through his sorrow to see the others warily walking up to him, glancing often at BRAIN. Well, most of them were. One was striding toward him purposefully. Nine hid his face in Five's neck. One pried him away from the middle Stitchpunk and embraced him, kissing his cheek repeatedly as Nine lost himself to misery. When he became aware of himself again, he was pressed in between One and Six, who were both looking nervously up at BRAIN.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Nine asked shyly. "I mean, I disobeyed you, One."

"True," One said, looking down at him with a smile. "But Five very thoroughly showed us he is nothing to fear."

~Yet you are afraid.~ BRAIN said. Five repeated it.

"Yes, well, we ran from your Cat Beast and Winged Beast for ten years. You'll have to pardon our fear." He paused. "Five said a soul bond would help alleviate it. So, let's get to it."

They were very content to lie there as their souls pressed together, but when BRAIN added his, he picked up Nine and Five to place them on his casing. One yowled and reached up.

"Mine!" he whined. "Give them back!"

~I refuse to soul bond with Nine on the ground.~ BRAIN said harshly.

"Then lift us all up!" One growled.

BRAIN obliged and they snuggled together. Except Nine. He was lying on his belly a short way away, head on his upraised fist, absently stroking BRAIN. BRAIN, in turn, was petting him lovingly. One untangled himself and grabbed Nine's foot. With a grunt, he began pulling him closer. Nine began to resist, but then Eight took over and Nine quickly found himself in the pile. He shifted uncomfortably as hands stroked him, drawing him as close as he could be. It was…nice. He hated to admit it, but it was. He yawned and stretched out. Soul bonding was just so relaxing. No stress. No strain. Just intimacy.

~Little pig, little pig, let us in.~ Three said teasingly.

~Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin.~ Nine replied.

~Ooh, brother he knows it!~ Four gasped.

~Wrong response.~ Nine snickered.

~Oh, sorry.~ Four composed himself. ~Then we'll huff, and we'll puff, and we'll blow your house in!~

~What are you three going on about?~ Seven demanded.

~It's a children's story.~ Nine said. ~Middle bookshelf, third shelf up, fourth book from the right. It's illustrated.~

~Illustrated?~ Eight asked blankly.

~Just a fancy way of saying it has pictures.~ Nine replied.

~Oh. Is it something for my level of stupidity?~

Nine snorted. ~You are not stupid, Eight. You are far from it. So you don't understand words very well. That's fine. You compose the most breathtaking music I have ever heard, and that's the truth.~

Eight stiffened as everybody looked at him. ~You compose music?~ One asked curiously.

~So that's what you do with all that paper!~ Six exclaimed.

~Well…yeah. But it's stupid. It's not all that pretty.~

Nine glared at him before playing a beautiful piano duet, with light guitar strums behind it. Eight was staring at him in shock, ignoring the shocked looks directed at him.

~How?~ Eight asked, completely flabbergasted.

~Every note has been played before. I just put them together.~ Nine said with a shrug. ~I've written lyrics for some of them, but I can't sing them.~

Eight's face melted into one of warmth and he spoke out loud. "You didn't have to do that, Nine."

~It was my pleasure. I love music. One can read it, too, but you wouldn't know because you never show it to anybody.~

Eight shrugged. ~They wouldn't like it anyway.~

~You need more confidence in yourself.~ Nine said with a nod. ~You sound like I do.~

~Sounds like you need some self confidence yourself.~ Two replied.

Nine looked away. ~Yes, but I don't know where I belong with you.~

~You belong wherever you fit in.~

~But where do I fit in?~ Nine asked. ~I feel like I'm a part of everybody, but I don't want to be stuck somewhere.~

~You don't have to be stuck somewhere.~ Five said in confusion. ~What makes you think that?~

Nine blinked. ~None of you ever switch.~

The Stitchpunks laughed heartily. ~Just because we don't switch doesn't mean you can't, Nine. We've tried everything before.~ Two explained when they had calmed.

~Yeah, we just like what we do.~ Five said with a smile. ~So all that time you spent alone in the Watchtower was to avoid us because you didn't know where you fit in, is that right?~

Nine suddenly felt embarrassed as he nodded. It did seem rather silly now…

~It is not your fault, Nine. They should have been much clearer with you.~ BRAIN replied.

~I won't deny that.~ Five replied. ~But you should have known to ask.~

~I suppose.~ Nine muttered, trying to wiggle out of the pile.

~Oh no you don't.~ One said, gesturing for Eight to grab him.

Eight snagged him and held him close. Nine grumbled over the bond. He needed space.

~We are soul bonding right now, Nine.~ BRAIN said calmly. ~Relax and enjoy it. You only think you want space.~

Nine finally relaxed and the Stitchpunks were pleased.

~Wish you could come to Sanctuary.~ One said to BRAIN, wrapping his arms around his youngest Stitchpunk. ~You could keep Nine in line.~

BRAIN growled, a harsh sound of gear grinding on gear. ~Nine behaves just fine, thank you very much. He might have a rebellious streak, but with Skull and Talon around, he shall always be safe.~

~Ah, yes. The Cat Beast and the Winged Beast…~ One said nervously.

~Yes. I shall introduce you later. For now, hush. Relax. Be at peace. Be whole.~

~You're quite smart.~ One said with a yawn.

When the other Stitchpunks were asleep, Nine wriggled out and sat away from them. It was overwhelming to have so many touching him. They weren't BRAIN, after all. Said machine comforted him without words, stroking him lightly. No words needed to be said. They were quite content with each other. They knew they would get through this new swing of attention. When Nine was asleep, BRAIN nestled him into the pile again, knowing One would be angry if Nine didn't wake up with them.

~Rest well, my little Stitchpunks.~