A/N: Holy Mother of Pingas, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, even though it is a bit short. :D

Originally, I was gonna introduce Scout's brothers, but I've decided to wait for a little while before I bring them into play.

Anyways: I would like to thank xXReviewManXx for a lovely plate of Internet cookies, Lord of 34 and Anomnion for nice reviews, and Massacrerose for being not only my first reviewer for this story, but giving me some epic ideas for another one! :D Thanks to you guys, and all the people who favourited and/or for following it.

And yes, I did somewhat inspire a few moments from Clannad in here, too. The reason if any of you anime geeks (And I mean that in the best way) notice the similarities, is my lack of creativity and you got the right to send hate mail. :) I hope you enjoy the cuteness, anyway.

Scout sat on the couch as a Micky Mouse cartoon played, trying to soothe his complete and unfathomable rage. Not only did his Father have barely anything to say to him, after he had DISSAPPERED FOR FOUR GODDAMN YEARS, he had left out the fact that he now had a little sister running about the house that no one ever told him about. Well, his Dad may have upstairs with his Mother at the moment, but the kid was by no means his responsibility. She could disappear, for all he cared. He didn't know her. She didn't know him. It was OK if he forgot about her. Scout put his hands behind his head, ready to fall asleep, already tired of the day at a record time of 5:34 PM. He was just drifting off to sleep when:

Scuffle.

Scout irritably turned his head towards the door of the living room on his left, where his little sister stood. Upon almost meeting his eyes, she gasped and ducked behind the wall next to the door, trying and failing to hide her presence. Scout rolled his eyes. Heavy was stealthier than she was.

"I know your there, kid," growled Scout, "Whaddya want?"

Silence.

Scout turned his head towards the door in confusion. Perhaps he was using too dictating of a tone? But within five seconds, he realized his concern was pointless, as she wasn't there anymore. Odd. Well, seeing as how she was naught more than four years old, she probably saw something shiny and scurried off.

He continued to watch the black and white animalistic characters chase each other on the screen, wondering why an animation company had picked a mouse of all animals to represent them, until he felt something tug his right pant leg. He peered down and jumped back a little in surprise at the sight of the little girl crouched down there. Ok… Maybe she was a bit stealthy. And on the verge of tears. She holding a toy turtle with four wheels under its shell, with a broken wheel.

She mumbled some nonsense about the object and handed him the toy, "Fixit?"

Scout apathetically looked at the toy, then to her. She was looking towards him, blue eyes urging him to do something about it. Scout, despite his ego screaming at him to kick the kid, got up and went over to the kitchen to find some glue, Alley nervously trotting behind him. He walked into the cream-themed kitchen and began searching through the wooden cupboards.

After inspecting them thoroughly, he finally found the hard-to-reach-glue bottle.

"Gimme the toy," said Scout, sternly. Alley waveringly handed over the turtle, and Scout immediately began fixing it. He put in a dab of glue and carefully attached the wheel in its socket. …There, he was done in under twenty seconds. Why were kids so freaking dumb? He handed the toy back to the four year old.

"Ok," said Scout, "Wait a few minutes before you play with it, or the wheel will get stuck."

Alley took back the turtle and ran off with it to who-knows-where while Scout rolled his eyes and decided to grab himself a snack. He looked through the fridge, seeking something light and tasty. After discovering a mysterious block of cheese, Scout was about to bite off a giant chunk… When Alley came running back to him with the toy again.

"Wheel's stuck," she explained. Scout slapped himself on the forehead.

"Well, what did ya expect, idiot?" he growled. Alley shuddered while fearfully taking a few steps back, and looked to the floor, miserably. Suddenly, Scout felt a pang of an emotion he hadn't experienced in a long time – Empathy. He was suddenly reminded of one of his awful childhood memories. It was fuzzy, but it was something about an expensive family-photograph and being forced to dress up fancy. Everyone had been so serious, and Nathan had been trying to make a funny face for the camera. A smack across his face and an enormous lecture from his daddy was the result. From there on out, he hated special occasions like that. Though it didn't have much to do with the current situation, Alley somehow sort of brought back those memories… And he didn't like it. At the same time, though… Perhaps it was because he was behaving like his Daddy would if he was a fast-talking, Bostonian Mercenary? Maybe being a bit more… Blegh…. Gentle, might help take the guilt away. …Damn, he hated children.

"I mean, I told ya so, right? Why would I have said dat if I wasn't tellin' da truth?" asked Scout, trying his very best to be sweet towards the child, despite the fact he had the urge to laugh at her, "…Anyways, I'm real sorrys, but I can't fixit nows."

Alley looked up at him, upset.

"But it's not like you can't still play wit'…. What's its name?"

"Tut-Tut." Said Alley.

"…Tut-Tut. So, it can't roll on da ground anymore, dat sucks bawls, but it can fly now! Don't dat sound cooler?"

Alley seemed to think this over in her four-year-old brain and looked to the toy thoughtfully. She then gave the slightest of smiles, and ran down the hall with it, making vrooming noises.

"Stupid kid," muttered Scout, "'Er fault da stupid turtle broke." He however pushed these thoughts aside, and looked to the cheese in his left hand. Finally about to get to eating some damn food. He took a giant bite of block… And spat it all into the sink, disgusted at its bitter flavour. Even the FOOD Nathan's Dad ate was bitter!

Well, didn't this suck.

Just then… Something else happened. He got the bad feeling again. He grunted a little at the unpleasant feeling, and held his churning stomach in dread. Something awful had just happened, and he didn't know what. He could only pray it had nothing to do with the team.

(-)

Sniper, Medic and Demoman sat at the moonlit kitchen table, three (and a half) eyes growing wide with horror at the note left for them.

"…W-We… There's gotta be some kinda mistake…" stammered Sniper, trying to comprehend that the most horrible of horrible things was about to happen, "They… 'E can't… Not when… We can't just let 'im!"

"Zhere's… Nothzing ve can do…" murmured Medic, hands tensely holding the note to the point of nearly crumpling it.

Demo said nothing. He just sat there, completely sober with dismay as he took in what he just heard.

"But… He's…" Sniper mumbled, "He… He can't do it…"

"He has to," said Medic, bitterly as he put the note on the table with distaste, "It iz his job."

Sniper realized there was nothing he could do at this point, so he dejectedly took his hat off his short, black hair, and held it against his chest mournfully, in a fruitless attempt to comfort himself, like a kid and their toy. Medic slowly stood and headed off to the Infirmary, equipped with the awful news. Demoman stood as well.

"Who'll break th' news too th' oth'ars?"

Medic gave him a miserable, tired look.

"I vill, in za morning," he muttered, heading down the corridor towards his infirmary/Room.

Medic had always been a bit skeptical of the Mann Wars and the morals of them. Mind you, he wasn't exactly a very moral-driven person, but he knew that if someone did something bad, they got in trouble for it. Medic, having practically nothing to live for, and no fear of death, did not fear consequence, and thus got away with nearly everything he wanted with only minor annoyances and never a full punishment. The concept of a War like this one was a bit odd, what with Nine Classes, Units, and game-like battles fought in secret of the public eye, but, hey. It was cool, and in the end, it did not matter. Hell, he had been beginning to enjoy his life with his crazy, 'family,' for the first time in years. This, however? Lunacy. Complete madness.

The Administrator had truly gone insane if she thought he should be killed.

DUN DUN DAAAA! :O Ha, I bet you all thought it was just gonna be cute filler, didn't you? Nope. The story's just gettin' started. :D Once again, sorry for the shortness, but what can you do, eh?