I do not own the Despicable Me franchise.

Book girl fan: Marlena is the name of Gru's mother, and Kyle is actually Gru's dog. Kyle is Gru's creation :)

CookiesxMilkEXCITEMe: Yes, I happen to be a huge Harry Potter fan. Is it obvious? xD

Banana Time

Tim couldn't sleep.

He stared blankly at the wall, listening to the soft snores of his brothers. Gru's speech had soothed them to a certain extent-now they knew that their beloved boss held no ill-will towards them. But the harsh news of Mark's disappearance dispelled any comfort gathered from Gru's words.

Most of the others had fallen asleep a few minutes after Gru had left. Dr. Nefario had lingered for a moment before offering his own apology, which the minions gladly accepted. They had been with the doctor for far too long to shun him, especially for something that was done in the hopes of making Gru feel fulfilled again.

"Tim?"

The little minion rolled over and peered at the bunk across from him, where Phil slept. His friend peered up at him with wet eyes. "Nac uoy peels?"

"Nah. Woh nac I?" he replied sadly, slowly looking to the bunk above Phil, which was empty. "Od uoy kniht eh lliw emoc kcab?"

"I epoh os," Phil said feelingly. "I ssim mih."

The two fell into silence for a moment, each wishing that the blissful state of sleep would descend over their troubled minds. But when they were still awake after ten minutes Tim glanced down at Phil and suggested, "Banana?"

Phil gave a nod of agreement. Perhaps a snack of their favourite food would comfort them. Tim slid down the ladder and joined Phil on the ground floor. A series of pot lights lined the ceiling, allowing a soft glow to stretch down the hall. The minions followed the trail of light, coming upon the doors and exiting their chambers.

In the silence the noise of the elevator going up seemed like the sound of a gunshot. Tim and Phil winced and stepped out into the living room, listening carefully for the sound of feet padding against the hardwood floor.

"Lla doog," Tim whispered, thankful when no one came to investigate the noise.

They entered the kitchen, where the porcelain bowl of fruit sat in the middle of the kitchen counter. Tim grabbed two bananas and handed one to Phil.

The fruit was gone in seconds, peels thrown into the steel trash can.

"Yum!" Phil rubbed his tummy. "Erom!"

Tim looked at the bowl and froze when he discovered one banana left. Phil and Tim looked at each other for a moment before lunging, grabbing onto the banana at the same time.

"Mine!" Tim cried, digging his feet into the tiled floor and pulling with all his might.

"Nah! I tnaw banana!" Phil whined. "I deen ti!"

"Nah, I deen ti!"

"Mine!"

"Mine!"

"Mine!"

"Mine!"

"What's going on?"

The new voice broke through their bickering. Tim and Phil turned their heads to see Margo standing in the kitchen doorway, her brown hair framing her tired face and cradling Kyle in her arms. Shame broke over the two minions, who knew they were arguing for the sake of taking their minds off of their sadness.

"Yrros, Margo," Tim apologized. "Ereht saw ylno eno banana tfel dna-"

Margo held up hand. A smile curled across her face. "No need to say more."

She set Kyle in the vinyl booth that wrapped around a small table. Kyle yawned and curled up into a little ball, eyes drooping. Margo went over to the cupboard by the stove and opened it. Tim and Phil gasped in delight when she pulled out a full bunch of bananas.

"It's where Gru keeps the bananas he doesn't want you guys to have," she explained, setting the fruit in the middle of the table. "But I think he'll understand-you deserve all the bananas you can eat."

Phil and Tim eagerly climbed into the booth and Margo slipped in opposite them, taking Kyle into her lap. Grateful for the body heat, Kyle licked her wrist affectionately and closed his eyes.

The thirteen-year-old girl watched as her cousins devoured the bananas. When they both had finished they burped in satisfaction and slouched. Margo giggled in amusement. "You guys really like your bananas. So, what brings you up here so late?"

"T'ndluoc peels," Tim admitted. "Boss dlot su taht Mark si gnissim."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Margo said softly, sadness welling up in her chest. Mark was one of the many cousins she knew well. He listened often to her stories, taught her how to play tennis and was her number one rival in the video game Extreme Kart Racing. "But I'm sure Mark will come back."

"Uoy kniht os?" Tim asked hopefully.

"I do." Margo nodded. "Kevin found his way home, even in his crazy evil minion state. Mark will be back."

Tim and Phil exchanged hopeful glances. Perhaps, one day, they would see their friend again. They just had to have faith, like Margo. "Sknaht rof eht pep klat, Margo. Ew dedeen ti."

"It's no problem. Gru gave us a few of them back at El Macho's lair." Margo paused for a moment before adding softly, "I was really scared. I thought you all were…"

"Er'ew yako!" Tim assured the girl, sliding closer so he could give a hug. Phil did the same, and before they knew it they all fell asleep in the warm embrace.

…

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

The annoying sound woke Gru up from his slumber. An irritated growl escaped from his throat as he glowered at the closed window. "Tryeeng to disturb my sleep, eh? We shall see about dat!"

He snagged his Freeze Ray from his nightstand table and stormed over to the window. He threw the curtains back and flinched at the sunlight that burst through the glass panes. He flicked the latch and opened the window.

"Where are yoo, leetle birdie?" Gru cooed, peering around his backyard for the source of the noise.

Chirp! Chirp!

"Gotcha!" Gru cried and pressed the trigger, freezing the culprit in its tracks. The poor bird was frozen to its nest, its beak open. "Next time t'ink before wakeeng people up with your eenfernal noise."

Satisfied with his mini act of evil Gru got dressed and headed for his daughters' room. He gave a gentle knock and, when he didn't receive an answer, pushed it open. Edith and Agnes were still curled around Kevin but Margo was gone.

Frowning, Gru shut the door and headed downstairs. He checked the living room but the couch was empty and the screen was devoid of morning cartoons. Thinking his eldest daughter might already be eating breakfast Gru went to look.

And was greeted by the sight of Margo snuggled in between Tim and Phil, their heads resting against each other's. Kyle was sprawled in Margo's lap, tongue lolling out.

Gru arched an eyebrow in amusement at the multiple banana peels covering his kitchen table. "Dose better not be from my secret stash," he said loudly.

Jolting, the three snapped awake, eyes blinking rapidly. Margo's brown eyes focussed on her adopted father and she grinned sheepishly. "Morning, Gru."

"Bello!" Tim and Phil chimed, smiling innocently.

Gru picked up a banana peel and shook it in Margo's face. "What did I say about de banana stash?"

"The bananas in the cupboard are for us, not the minions," Margo said instantly. "Sorry, Gru. They just looked like they needed a banana fix."

"A banana fix for dem ees bankruptcy for me," Gru quipped. But he knew that in troubling times the minions would cope by binging on their all-time favourite food. "Fine, I will let eet go dis time. How are yoo boys holdeeng up?"

Tim and Phil glanced at each other before smiling softly. "Ll'ew eb enif. Tahw sdeen ot eb enod yadot, Boss?"

"De recreation room needs to be fixed, for one t'ing." Gru walked over and plucked at the black denim strap of Tim's overalls. He gave a frown of distaste at the silver M stitched over the pocket. "And we need to get yoo boys out of dese uniforms."

"Tub lla ruo sehtolc erew nekat yb Big Jerk," Tim informed. "Eh evag su eseht ot raew daetsni."

Gru tapped a finger against his chin thoughtfully. "Well, dere's still de spare overalls een de closets een de lab. Eef dere ees not enough for everybody Dr. Nefario will have to fire up de sewing machine."

"I can help!" Margo added eagerly.

"Oh really? Yoo can sew?"

"I know a thing or two." Margo puffed out her chest proudly.

Gru grinned. "Den I guess I better go shoppeeng for more denim. Tim, Phil, go wake de others up. I'll give Nefario a call. Eet's goeeng to be one heck of a laundry day."

"Tahw od ew od htiw eseht?" Tim asked, pointing to the black material covering his small body.

Gru paused in the kitchen doorway and glanced back at them. A wicked smile crossed his features and he chuckled darkly under his breath.

"Burn dem. Burn dem all."

The minions grinned widely at this answer and scampered off. Margo eyed Gru warily. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Eet'll make dem feel better," Gru said, waving his hand dismissively. "Actually, eet'll make me feel better."

"What's going on?" Edith yawned, poking her head around Gru. "Did I miss breakfast?"

"With dat nose of yours?" Gru snorted. "Yeah right. I am just goeeng to make a quick call to Dr. Nefario. Den I weell make breakfast. Are pancakes good?"

"Pancakes are fantastic," Edith agreed. She shuffled into the kitchen with Agnes and Kevin trailing behind. "What's with the banana peels?"

"Tim and Phil had a midnight snack," Margo explained as her sisters dropped into the booth across from her. "They were upset."

"Htiw doog nosaer," Kevin said feelingly. "Ll'ti ekat lla fo su a elihw ot teg revo Mark."

"What's wrong with Mark?" Agnes asked. "Is he sick?"

"Oh…uh…" Kevin glanced at Margo helplessly, as he hadn't realized the little tyke didn't know of the missing in action minion.

"Agnes," Margo said carefully. "You know there are a lot of cousins, right?"

"Uh-huh. Lots and lots!"

"Well…with so many of them taken from us, there was no way to tell if we rescued them all or not."

While Agnes' expression grew puzzled, Edith connected the dots. "Mark's missing?" she asked, disappointed.

Margo slapped the palm of her hand against her forehead as Agnes' eyes grew wet. "Way to break the news with grace, Edith."

Edith could only give a shrug of apology as Agnes burst into her famous shrill screams. Kevin groaned in frustration as his already-shattered goggles broke completely, the glass spilling out of his lenses.

Gru rushed into the kitchen, hands pressed tightly over his ears. "What happened?!" he bellowed.

"Mark is goooooone!" Agnes howled in response, her tiny fists scrubbing into her eyes. "He's gone!"

"Not forever!" Gru said quickly and was relieved when that caused Agnes to quiet. "He'll be back."

"How do you know?" Agnes asked, sniffling.

"Er…well, I just do," Gru answered. He scooped Agnes up and nuzzled her nose with his. "Do not be sad, keeten. Mark weell be back one day."

Agnes took his words to heart and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Okay," she mumbled into his grey turtleneck. "But I hope he comes back soon."

"Me too." Gru patted her back. "But now ees not de time for sadness. We have to be strong. Can we all be strong?"

"Yeah!" Margo, Edith and Agnes cheered.

Kevin blinked, his damaged goggles hanging in his hand, and gave a shrug. "I sseug os."

Gru rolled his eyes. "Dere's de vote of confidence I'm lookeeng for," he drawled. "Now go downstairs and take off dat stupid uniform…and get some new goggles while yoo are at eet."

"Tub I t'nod evah yna rehto sehtolc!" Kevin protested, not at all content with the image of walking around butt-naked in front of the girls.

"Dr. Nefario and Margo will be makeeng new ones for dose who've soiled all of dere backups." Gru arched an eyebrow pointedly and Kevin gave a sheepish shrug.

"A tol fo boombas og ffo nwod ereht. Od uoy wonk woh drah ti si ot teg tuo nrub skram?"

"Eef yoo guys didn't fight as much when transporteeng, yoo wouldn't go through so many clothes," Gru said dryly.

"Sreisae dias neht enod," Kevin joked. He hopped from the booth and scurried out of the kitchen.

Edith wrinkled her nose. "We're doing their laundry?"

"Yup," Margo answered, going to help Gru pick up the banana peels.

"That's a lot of laundry," Edith groaned, pulling her beanie over her eyes in annoyance. "I was going to do other stuff today."

"Like what?" Gru demanded, having no idea what sort of stuff would be pre-planned by a nine-year-old girl.

"I was going to play ninja with Jack and Henry," Edith responded. "I need to work on my moves."

"I'm regretting buyeeng yoo dat costume now," Gru muttered under his breath, which was unfortunately heard by the nearby Margo.

"I told you so," she sang, dumping her armful of banana peels into the trash.

"Yeah, yeah," Gru grumbled, playfully shoving her aside to get to the bin. "Keep rubbeeng eet een my face and dere weell be no breakfast for yoo."

"I'm old enough to make my own," Margo retorted. "And my pancakes are better. Dr. Nefario even said so."

"He's old. His sense of taste eesn't what eet used to be."

Margo laughed and dropped back into the booth. She watched as Gru gathered the ingredients, Agnes and Edith fawning over their not-really-a-dog Kyle, and thought of the thousands of cousins and one uncle (who she had yet to gather the courage to address him as such) already at work down in the lab.

She thought of Lucy, the eccentric spy who probably would be visiting in the next few days.

Yes, the family she had was not the one she always dreamed of having.

But she wouldn't change any of them for anything in the world.