A/N: Bluh, the last chapter irked me in all kinds of ways. I guess it was more of a release chapter for all the stress I had. Plus some down time for Kanny, Karkat and Carmine with all that's gone on. But yeah, lemme get back on this story yeah?

"You want me to what?"

"I said I wanted you to take Kankri to school with you today."

Carmine sipped at his coffee from the kitchen table, seeming to ignore the look his son was currently giving him. Kankri had been away from school for nearly a week, recovering from any sore body parts and getting used to his 'new' home as he had called it. He seemed to relax a bit and stopped constantly bouncing around from room to room. But he still had that rambunctious personality his younger self was so famously known for.

Which is why him going to school, much less high school was utterly insane. At least to Karkat it sounded so.

"Dad. Dad, you need to stop and think for one fucking second-"

"Language."

"Do you really think it's a good idea to send Kankri to school right now when he's like this?"

"I will not deprive him of education simply because of his personality Karkat."

"But he's a GODDAMN SEVEN YEAR OLD."

The male let out a sigh, setting his mug down and looking up at Karkat. An eyebrow was raised in question. He really didn't mind Kankri going to school. At first, he didn't trust Kankri to go anywhere alone or go outside or even speak to the neighbors. He was worried the childish teen may harm himself or talked down to. But he finally opened his mind up enough to allow it and was pleasantly surprised to know that Kankri could handle himself somewhat.

"Yes I understand that. But if you are worried that he will act out or be at risk of hurtful remarks by the others, it will be fine. Porrim and Cronus will watch over him and you as well. Some of his most trustworthy friends will also keep a watch too."

Karkat sighed, "We all only have three or four classes with him out of seven. That's still not enough.."

"When Kankri was 7, he did not cause any trouble at school nor did he kick a temper. I am sure he will be fine."

The sweater clad teen sighed but gave in, crossing his arms over his chest and turning to march upstairs. When he opened the door to Kankri's room and stepped in, avoiding the newly bought toys and coloring books, he found him asleep on the bed. He was curled up under a large blanket and breathed softly under the material. Karkat reached over and yanked the sheets off, scowling slightly at the footie pajama clad body and crab plush he spotted on the bed. With a hand that was gentle despite his attitude, he shook Kankri awake.

"Kankri. Wake up."

"Mnn...5 more minutes papa.."

Karkat's eye twitched at the remark but he sighed and mulled over a thought of how to wake up his older brother. His brows raised at a sudden thought and he held back a smirk as he leaned down and whispered into the teen's ear.

"Dad's making chocolate chip pancakes."

He immediately shot up as quick as lightning, wide awake now. He grinned widely as he looked up at Karkat, nearly bouncing on the bed as he spoke up.

"Chocolate chip pancakes?"

The younger merely nodded in response, eyes watching him as he let out a happy squeal, pouncing out of bed and running out of the room. He stood there for a few moments and glanced around the room, lingering on the open, untouched books; just like how he had left them and never touched them after his return from the hospital. A sigh left his form as he soon strode out of the room and down the stiars, catching onto the sound of cheery singing and chuckles.

"I'm glad to see that you're enjoying them Kankri."

"They're so delicious papa, I love your pancakes~"

Carmine smiled just as Karkat had stepped in. He looked over at his neutral expression, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at his son's obvious protest against sending Kankri off. He eventually turned his attention to Kankri who was devouring breakfast with exuberance. Reaching over, he pat the childish teen on the shoulder to get him to look at him. Kankri obliged and peered up at him, mouth stuffed full of food as he let out a muffled noise to show he was questioning what he needed.

"Kankri, we have been thinking of how you have been sitting around in this house for quite some time. And I have decided that maybe it is time you head back to school with Karkat."

The room was silent for but a fleeting second before Kankri stood up, mouth open and eyes wide.

"Y-You really mean it dad?"

"Of course. I'd never lie about something like this," he ruffled his son's hair, "now go upstairs and get ready."

"Okay."

Kankri downed the last of his breakfast and ran back upstairs, leaving Karkat and Carmine alone once more. The crabby teen glared a tad which was only rewarded with a warm smile and wave by his father.

"Oh Karkat, do not be so over-dramatic. He will be fine."

"Uh-huh. Whatever you say dad."

Sooner or later, Kankri had bounced back downstairs dressed in a black t-shirt with red streaks blazed across it and dark jeans with his usual red sneakers and disheveled hair. They regarded him with raised brows as they were not used to Kankri going to school like that. It was nearly unethical in their house. But they hadn't questioned it, leaving the other to twirl around with a backpack slung over his shoulder with a wide grin. He bounced from one foot to the other in eagerness.

"Ooh this is gonna be sooooo much fun, isn't it Karky~? It's gonna be the bestest thing ever cause we're going to school together and we're gonna have lotsa fun~"

Karkat threw his head back, groaning distastefully as he snatched up his own backpack and headed for the door. Kankri waved to their father before taking off after Karkat. Carmine had watched them leave and chuckled a tad. He had full belief that they were going to be just fine.

"Karky, why are you going so fast? Slow down!"

The begrudging teen slowed his pace enough for the other to soon catch up. Kankri had matched his pace and they were both walking to school. It would've been quiet but even how he is now, he was still able to chatter away the whole walk much to his brother's annoyance. They had finally reached the school as others were flooding around and heading into the building, some sparing Kankri's new fashion sense a second look. The older shuffled closer to Karkat, a nervous look spreading onto his features as he focused his attention on the ground. Karkat felt a pang in his chest from his attitude and took a hold of his arm, dragging him quicker into the school.

"Karkat...this school's really big.."

"I know. But it'll be okay, this isn't a bad place or anything."

The remark managed to soothe Kankri's frayed nerves moderately as they walked in. Cronus was already close by, striding over and wrapping an arm around Kankri's shoulders with a wide grin.

"Ey chief, how's it going?"

"Huh? Oh hi Cro! You go to this school too?"

"Yeah I do and I got classes with you too, so we'll be seeing each other a lot today."

"Yay!"

"Ahem."

The two males peeked over at the short male who had his arms crossed with an unamused look. Cronus merely chuckled, reaching over to pat Karkat's head which elicited a growl from him.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me."

"Chill out Karkat."

"I'm not going to chill out until you remove your dimwitted, cigarette toting, greaser wannabe body off my brother."

"Ooh touchy today, ain't we? Relax man, I'll watch over Kan while you're not around. 'Sides I gotta lead him to his locker and what not, help him get his bearings you know. So turn off that overprotective brother act you're showing off right now and go chat with your own bros."

He began to lead Kankri away from Karkat, the former turning his head back to look at his younger brother with some anxiety. Karkat knew he couldn't do anything more but he managed to give him a thumbs up as they left, giving him some confidence as Cronus led him away. Kankri caught on and smiled warmly, giving him his own thumbs up. It rustled a little smile out of the younger Cancer and faded away just as quickly as it came as the two males disappeared into the crowd.

"Hey KK."

Karkat turned to see Sollux making his way over, brows raised as he looked over in the direction that Cronus and Kankri had went before looking back at him.

"Tho...how'th your brother?"

"I guess he's better now.."

"Hey. Don't blame yourthelf for this."

"And why shouldn't I? I made him this way. I had to be the world's biggest stumpdick and yell at him, even tell him that I never wanted to see him again. All because I was angry and stressed. He didn't deserve it.."

"It'th amazing how an accident that made your brother become a theven year old again can change your point of view and make you realize the truth."

Karkat fixed him with a look that told him to shut up but the bespectacled teen merely chuckled in response and continued to walk, leading Karkat to follow. The shorter allowed himself a moment to stew in self loathing for a few moments before he snapped out of it when Gamzee had strode up to them, letting him forget about his stress if just for that time.

However, a lingering part of his mind still worried for Kankri and would for a while.