Author's note: Holy shit! Do my eyes decieve me? Is it really...? Could it be...? An... update?!

So, apparently, I was on hiatus. Apparently. To make a long story short, I started like thirteen different projects and only recently finished like a sixteenth of one (which is a milestone, believe me), and I spent at least forty-eight cumulative hours rewatching Red vs. Blue plus the commentary and other bonus features on the DVDs (I have through season 11) and have been reading a lot of RvB fanfiction and I started spending like an hour and a half every day exercising, like jogging and actually doing Dance Dance Revolution instead of just using the controller and doing specific exercises every time something specific was mentioned in any given Achievement Hunter video? ? (I'm so fucking sore I hate myself) Not to mention, I just went to camp for two weeks with no access to electronics whatsoever and way more nature than is healthy. And, of course, obligatory near-relapse. I saw a bottle of pills on the ground and found myself disappointed when it turned out to just be ibuprofen. Regardless. Normally I'd excuse the wait on this chapter with "I'm a lazy jackass," but clearly that's not the case, so "I've been busy" will have to do? ? ? I wasn't expecting the entire fucking summer to be so damn... full. (I really didn't shorten that story at all.)

In other news, I finished the SolKat house in The Sims 3! Check out the pics on the Thigns & Sutff page linked on my tumblr, achievement-tooths, and I'm sure I could figure out how to export the house for anyone who has TS3 as well and wants to download it (the Sims themselves, as well), though I have to warn you, if you want to use it, I have all the expansion packs plus a shit load of custom content, though that is mostly clothing. Actually, the world I built the house in was custom (Los Aniegos or something?). I know I have at least one custom piece of furniture. The lighting's a bit wonky in places (the bedroom closet), there was no large round table in any of the expansions and I couldn't find a single damn one in custom, so I had to piece together a bunch of little round ones, and the kitchen was a fucking nightmare to make. The island counters I used are horrible and I hate them. The left edge piece has a different texture, apparently, than the middle, right, and corner pieces. For whatever reason, the left edge piece is corrupted. Instead of loading properly like the rest, it stays as the gray, untextured shape of the island it's meant to be. The texture never loads, you can't Create-A-Style it, you can't fucking nothing, it's just straight up broken. Somehow, I fooled the game into thinking the left edge piece is a middle piece. Don't ask me how I did it. I could not fucking tell you. I probably couldn't do it again. Just accept it as magic and move on.

That aside, Chapter Twenty-Nine, my friends. Oh man we're so close I'm sorry I'm so lazy. Enjoy~

In order to reduce the risk of my mom returning and finding me and Sollux in the bathroom doing things no "friends" should be doing to each other, I had left the offending room and found my old one. Surprisingly, aside from various half-full cardboard boxes now littering the floor and tucked into corners, or on top of the rather antiquated writing desk and mini-entertainment center, complete with dinosaur television, it had remained largely unchanged since I'd moved out. I sat on the bed and looked at some stupid trinket on my nightstand, some clay thing I'd made in first grade or kindergarten back in Florida that had somehow survived both the move and the fifteen years between then and now. I must have lost track of time looking through my old shit because at some point, I found my mom in the doorway, watching me with a wistful smile on her face. I jumped about a foot in the air when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.

"Jesus! A bit of warning next time, Mom!" She just laughed and sat on the side of my bed, like she did whenever she needed to talk to me years ago. I'd be under my covers in no mood to talk and she'd walk in and sit on my bed and ruffle my hair and say what she needed to say before leaving. I, being the asshole I was, wouldn't say a word until the next day, at which point I'd mumble an apology and excuse under my breath that she always seemed to hear and the world would be right again. But that was moody-teenage-prick Karkat, not moody-early-twenties-prick Karkat who never got to see his mom anymore, as opposed to living with the woman. So instead of scrambling to lie down awkwardly, facing away from the door and pretending to be asleep, I sat down next to her, watching her nostalgia-glazed eyes study the room.

"It's been so long since you left," she murmured.

"Only a few years. And I always come back, don't I?" She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tugged me into a tight embrace.

"Your father told me you almost didn't," she stated quietly, giving me a pointed He didn't tell me much else though, except that things were hard for you and that we should give you your space."

I stared at the ground, gaze unwavering while I told her, "I'm over that now."

"Well, good," she replied, a smile in her voice. "It's not fun watching my Karkitty hurt." She had that almost baby-talk tone only a mother can have while kissing me wherever she could. I immediately began struggling to get out of her grasp.

"Mom! Mom! Knock it off, Mom, c'mon!" I couldn't help but groan when she held on tighter. "Moooooom, please!"

"Only cause you asked so nicely," she told me, giving one last squeeze before pushing herself to her feet. "Alright, Karkles—" She ignored my scoff at the nickname. "—I don't wanna know why you're in here instead of outside with everyone else, I definitely don't wanna know what you were doing with Sollux in the bathroom, and—"

"I wasn't — h-how'd you know that?!" I interrupted, shocked indignation pervading my tone.

"I'm a mom, honey. Mothers know these things. On the other hand, I didn't know until you told me just now. Just a hunch." I sputtered at her self-satisfied response, mentally slapping myself for admitting to it in the first place. "Please come out and join us soon, okay sweetie?"

"Uh... y-yeah." Shit, here's my chance, I realized, stomach sinking. "Uh. Mom?" She, of course, was already down the hall. "Mom, wait!"

"Yes, dear?" she replied almost expectantly, stopping and turning around.

"I've been wanting to tell you that... I... uh. Love you," I finished lamely. Wow, nicely fucking done, I scolded myself, almost rolling my eyes. So much for that.

She smiled, something in her expression telling me she knew more than she was letting on. Rather than declare it, however, she just said, "I love you, too. Now, come out, you still haven't said hello to your sister."

"Uh, yeah. Okay." So I followed her out, finally greeting Nepeta thirty minutes after my arrival, an event rather akin to the greeting she'd given me on her birthday that elicited a laugh from those paying attention. Sollux had reentered the crowd long before me, but it still wasn't hard to pick out his tall, lanky ass from the throng of people, especially as he made his way towards me.

"Hi."

"Hi yourself."

"Aw, did th'omebody get their featherth' ruffled?"

"Shut up, shitprick. I. Uh. I need help." His expression changed from mildly amused to slightly concerned.

"With?"

Taking a deep breath, I told him, checking she wasn't within earshot, "I can't tell my mom."

"About—"

"About us, yeah."

"Can't ath' in you're incapable of telling her, or can't ath' in telling her will have catath'trophic resultth'?"

"Potentially both? I just, she gave me the perfect opportunity, and I tried, and I just, 'Mom, I gotta tell you something. I love you,' I just, like, fuck me. The look she gave me, it's like she already knows and she's just waiting for me to tell her."

He thought the situation over for a moment. "Maybe... maybe she doeth'. Already know, I mean. You told your dad, and—"

"He said he wasn't going to tell her, that it was something I'd have to do. I mean, I don't know why I'm even having a problem with this. She grew up in, like, the most acceptant culture ever, probably the only reason Dad's okay with it is 'cause of her, like, I really shouldn't be having this problem. But, I am, and... I don't know what to do."

"She might have gueth'ed," he suggested after mulling over the new information. "I mean, my mom knew before I did that I liked you. My beth't advith'e ith' to juth't bite the bullet and go for it, 'cauth'e you might not ever tell her if you don't now and then she'll be really confuth'ed in twenty yearth' when you and I-I-I mean, u-uh, yeah."

Had I not been so distracted by my stomach's vicious rumbling at Robert's yell of, "Turkey's ready!" across the yard to my dad, I might have said something about the way Sollux's cheeks burned when he caught himself, a light blush passable as exertion to those who'd last seen him playing with the little kids, but definitely a blush.

"Let's deal with this after dinner, okay?" I dismissed, practically gravitating toward the table.

"But, KK—" He growled when I ignored him, but followed me to the table all the same.

After we'd eaten, about half of us were jam packed into the living room while the rest were making use of what little light dusk still offered in the in-ground pool out back of Sollux's parents' house. None of us, save Rob and my dad, really gave a shit about football, so everyone else's conversations were occasionally interrupted by loud yelling directed at the television and chip crumbs flying across the room from the two of them leaping out of their seats after an incredible play, or a turnover to the other team, or a touchdown, or something of that sort. Most of the older folk, my mom included, rolled their eyes at the outburst, or complained that they were trying to have a conversation, but Sollux, his oldest cousin Mituna, Latula, and I all laughed.

The two were engaged in a heated conversation about skate culture and the best skateparks in town, a topic they both found as enthralling as my dad and Rob found football, while Sollux and I laid back with painfully full stomachs and an air of contentment around us. Until I remembered what we'd been talking about before dinner. Getting his attention, I told Sollux I'd be right back and pushed myself to my feet, walking around the massive armchair containing somebody's sleeping family member that had been pushed into the hallway.

I found my mom in the kitchen, preparing desserts as though anybody had any room left to eat them. There would be a lot of leftovers to take home. She jumped as I cleared my throat. Not bothering to even attempt an apologetic smile, I tried to ignore how queasy I felt and rose my voice only enough that it could be heard over the volume of the other room as I asked, "Can I tell you something?"

She leaned in and said into my ear, resting her hand on my shoulder as she began to guide me out of the kitchen, "Of course. Let's go down the hall so we can talk." My heart began thumping in my chest, I could hear the roar of blood in my ears, in the time it took me to actually get up and talk to her, adrenaline had been pumped through my veins in the worst way and I was scared shirtless and painfully nauseous, God, I shouldn't have eaten so much, shit, no, I can't back down now, I can't, fuck, I should have asked Sollux to come with me, I wish I had, no, no, I shouldn't have, I'm glad I didn't, that would be worse, don't think about it, Karkat, you're okay, or you will be, fuck I can't do this.

Somehow, I managed to follow her down the hallway.

"What's up, honey?" she asked, her knowing smile boring into my brain, shorting it out, keeping me from making proper connections. Her smile fell when I didn't respond, but the damage was done, I couldn't form sentences, I couldn't make words, I couldn't— "Karkat?"

"I'm gay." Wow. Wow, fucking tactful. Fuck. Fix this. "Er, no! Not completely. I-I'm bisexual, I like girls too! But, I. I. Uh. Uh." And there went words. Anything else I might have said died in my throat, along with my dignity.

Then came the tears. I didn't wanna cry. I didn't wanna cry, in front of my mom, because of what I'd just told her, I didn't want to, but there wasn't a lot I could do about it. I wondered what the scene looked like to anyone else. Somebody glancing around the corner would find a grown man in tears and a much older woman no taller than him at a loss for what to do. Or I'd thought she was, anyway, until she wrapped her arms around me and let me sob my eyes out against her. It was comforting in a really bizarre way, and yet another nostalgia trip. Her hand moved back and forth over my back, patting my shoulder every so often.

"It's okay, Karkat. Let it out."

"I'm fine," I insisted weakly, trying to push away.

She leaned back and looked me in the eye. "Really now?" I shook my head, not trusting words, and wrapped my arms more tightly around her. I proceeded to bury my face in her shoulder and cry my fucking eyes out. To her credit, she didn't stop trying to calm me down, just held me like she always did and tried to quiet my sobs. I was lucky those in the living room couldn't hear me, but I attributed it to the volume of the television. After a bit, I managed to take a deep breath and calm down.

"Do you want to sit down?" I nodded, and she guided me with a hand on my shoulder to my old room while I tried to wipe the remnants of tears off my cheeks. We both sat a while in silence, her hand running calmingly over the back of my shoulder while I tried (failed) to get a grip.

"It's okay, honey," she said finally. She wasn't laughing, which I counted as a plus. At the same time, her tone also different than before, which worried me. It was less... comforting. I hoped it was just her trying to come to terms with this information, but if I'd guessed right and she already knew, which I think she did, I couldn't imagine why she'd need to do that. I tried not to think too hard about it. "I love you no matter what, Karkat. You know that, right? You'll always be my little boy." I kinda snorted at that, part in derision and part in relief. She smiled.

"Uh." Shit. Come on, brain, get a fucking move on. "That's... not... all there is to it. I'm also. Uh. Sollux and I are — also. Dating. Um."

"So that's what was going on in the bathroom," she teased, clearly trying to lighten the mood. I wasn't entirely convinced it worked.

I could feel my face heating up. "Mom, no, not-not that. We weren't. Doing. Stuff," I forced out, wishing my voice would stop shaking. "The stuff Dad told you about is — was — still going on. Sollux was just. Helping me. Get over it, I mean." I figured it was better she knew that I was okay than how I'd gotten there.

She put her arm around me. "Tell him I said thanks, will you?" I nodded.

"Alnet!" She perked up at the sound of my father's voice.

"Yes?"

"There's some timer goin' off, shut it off!"

She laughed at that, standing up as she said to me, "Stay here a moment, Karkat." Looking back towards the kitchen, she yelled even as she walked out, "Turn it off yourself, Kolby!"

"Baby, please, you're killin' me!" Her musical laughter filled the hall in her place. I took the time of her absence to really compose myself, so by the time she came back, I was ready to actually talk again.

"How're you doing, honey?" she asked from the doorway.

"I'm okay."

After letting out a little hum of satisfaction, she told me, "That's good. I'm glad to hear it." She walked in and sat next to me again, looping her arms around me and holding me tight. "Sollux was looking for you."

"I should go find him," I said, making no move to do just that. Lucky for me, he found me first. "There you are, KK," he said, relief clear in his voice. "I'm ready to go, th'o..." He let the statement hang, clearly unsure of where to go with it. I could tell he wanted to say more, but didn't want to with my mom in the room. "Come find me when you're done," he finished, tone rather uneasy as he added, "I'll be in the living room."

"What's his deal?" I wondered aloud as he left.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll see." I wasn't sure I liked the knowing tone in her voice or the sparkle in her eye. Both vanished when she changed topic. "I'm so happy you're okay Karkat. I really am. I love you so much, you don't know what it means to know you can be happy again." Her eyes got glassy as she said that, in answer to which I shot her a smile. It only got wider when she smiled back. "And, I'm glad you were able to come to me about this. Does anyone else know?"

"I'm glad you're okay Karkat. I really am. I love you so much, you don't know what it means to know you're okay. And I'm glad you were able to come to me about this. Does anyone else know?"

I thought a moment. "Dad does. Oh, and Robert. He's known since, like, the beginning." She raised an eyebrow with just a hint of a smirk behind it, but didn't comment. "Sollux, of course. And—" My throat caught when I realized I'd been about to say Kanaya. She didn't know. Not anymore. I pointedly ignored the crack in my voice when I continued. "And I think that's it." I sincerely doubted the rest of our friends and family didn't have their suspicions, but I didn't voice the thought.

"Well, alright then," she said with a smile. "Now that I know who not to discuss this aspect of my favorite son with, I should let you get home, huh? Wouldn't want to keep Sollux waiting," she chimed, tone sing-songy as she waggled a finger playfully in my face.

"Mom, stop!" I begged, face growing steadily more red by the second.

"Alright, alright," she ceded, her smile warm as ever. We got to our feet in almost the exact same way — a mannerism I didn't know I'd picked up from her — and she hugged me tight. I just let the embrace remind me why it was worth it to stay on this Earth. Why it was worth it to live. For her, for dad, for Sollux, and Nepeta, and Robert. For Kanaya.

My mom broke contact and began talking again as she led me down the hall. "I made pumpkin pie and we have plenty of leftovers, so take your pick and I'll pack you two some to take home." I rolled my eyes, a smile rising regardless as I wondered how long we'd be eating Thanksgiving leftovers for. At least Sollux wouldn't be able to bitch about cooking for a while.

True to her word, we were sent home with more than a few plates of leftovers, probably more than our fair share if I was honest. Something told me she just didn't want to keep them around, knowing how my father ate. I witnessed a short conversation between my mom and my aunt 'Rezi before Sollux and I took our leave.

"What were you and Karkles talking about for so long?" she'd asked, her tone both casual and borderline scandalous.

"I don't see that it's any of your business, Terezi," my mom had replied, crossing her arms briefly over her chest. "If he wants to tell you, I'm sure he will."

"Come on, Nettie, I've got a five-to-one bet against Sebastian that he was coming out." She did her best to hide it, but the brief shock that showed on my mom's face was answer enough for 'Rezi. "Yes! Time to make some cash!"

With that, she'd turned-tail and searched the crowd in the living room with an unnerving hunger, darting toward her target once she'd caught sight of him. Alnet shook herself out of her surprise and followed meaningfully. "Now, you listen here, 'Rezi — 'Rezi! Terezi! Stop right there!"

All I could do was hope she could get her sister under control, 'cause my stomach was churning at just the thought. Aunt 'Rezi was a gossip. If she knew, everyone would know, soon enough. I tried to push the thought away and distracted myself with other things.

I didn't see my mother again until Sollux was tugging on my sleeve, practically begging to go. I asked what he was so eager about and all he had to do was point at our cousins, who were heatedly making out in the corner behind yet another sleeping uncle of Sollux's. In the scant second I was watching, I saw Mituna's knee wedge itself between Latula's, and I immediately understood why my boyfriend wanted to go home so bad. "If I have to lith'ten to them make out for much longer, I'm gonna loth'e it," he growled, glaring at the carpet at their feet.

Just then, a lecherous moan rose just barely above the volume of commercials and conversations in the living room. "Jeth'uth' Chrith't," he groaned, rolling his eyes so hard his head followed. I let out a short burst of laughter, something that had Sollux grinning in an instant, annoyance forgotten. Shortly after that, she'd found us and piled plates upon plates of food into our arms.

After receiving about thirteen, maybe fourteen thousand hugs, Sollux and I were well on our way home. I glanced back as we pulled out and caught just the briefest glimpse of my parents, my dad's arm over my mom's shoulders and her arm around his waist, standing on the front step and waving at us as we drove into the night.

If you're having trouble visualizing Alnet, just imagine an anime mom, all smiles and happiness, just with short, ash brown hair, wrinkles, and none of the unrealistic attractiveness (psst there's also the Sim I made if you're still having trouble). Speaking of which, the Sims 4 is coming out late September, I'm so excited! I'm trying to download the Create-A-Sim demo but I literally cannot get to the download site at home, the internet's so bad right now, and the school has that one aspect of the Origin site blocked, so that's a no-go. I'll probably get it at the office or something in a couple days. Or today. I got it today. Why does Karkat look Asian. Help.

Review please I know I'm terrible but it's almost done and it'll be finished soon and then you won't have to deal with my terrible three month breaks between chapters again i'm sorry.