Hello Everyone! Welcome to the next chapter of Another Parental Unit!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats

APU Ch. 8

Douglas raised his eyebrows. "Do you really think this the best idea?" he asked, watching her trembling fingers clutch the remote tightly.

"I mean, think about what you are doing. Do you really want our kids to see you like this?" Douglas questioned, inching closer to her.

"I-I can't let them go," Tilly muttered, shaking violently.

Douglas stepped in front of her, gently taking both of her arms. "Tilly, I promise you, we aren't going to lose them. But you need to trust me,"

Tilly nodded, biting her lip. "I do trust you,"

"Then you need to give me the remote," Douglas said gently.

"D-Douglas, this could be out second chance, we could start over. We could wipe their memories, they would forget about Donnie then," she suggested.

"Please," Douglas whispered, putting his hands over hers. "We can't do anything like that,"

Tilly closed her eyes and nodded, gently releasing her grip on the remote.

Douglas quickly slid the remote out of her hands and put it in his pocket. "See, that wasn't too hard,"

Tilly squeezed her eyes shut tightly, allowing only a few tears to spill out. "It's like we are losing them all over again,"

Douglas put his hands on her shoulders. "No it isn't Tilly. They aren't gone. But we will lose them if you keep acting like this,"

Tilly didn't respond, she just kept her eyes closed and cried.

Douglas frowned and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Tilly, I know you love them, but it's time to take a different approach to this, don't you think?"

Tilly clung to his shirt as Douglas shifted over in front of the couch, getting them both to sit down. Douglas rubbed her back, trying to calm her down.

"Tilly, everything is going to be fine, I promise you that. For now, why don't we go to sleep?" Douglas cooed, draping a blanket around her for warmth.

Tilly nodded numbly, pulling the blanket tightly around herself. After she closed her eyes and Douglas was sure that she was asleep, he carefully stood up and kissed her forehead before heading to Chase's bedroom. Douglas cursed as he realized the door was locked. He walked to the master bedroom and started rummaging through the doors. Douglas stopped when he came across an old photo of the kids and Tilly. He couldn't help but smile, then sigh. He continued searching until he found the key.

"Finally," he mumbled, returning to the doorway of Chase's room. Douglas quickly unlocked the door and entered the room to see his youngest son asleep. He leaned over Chase, checking his vitals.

Douglas sighed in relief. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Donald's number.

"Douglas? What is going on?" he heard from the other end of the call.

"I am back at Tilly's apartment," Douglas replied. "Chase is here, but he is asleep,"

"Is he okay?" Donald asked desperately.

"By the looks of everything, he seems perfectly normal. Listen Don-"

Chase interrupted his father by groaning loudly.

"Hold up, I am going to check on Chase, Talk to you soon," Douglas said quickly before hanging up. He leaned close over the bed. "Chase, are you okay?"

Chase slowly opened his eyes and attempted to sit up, needing Douglas' help in the end. "W-What's going on?" he asked groggily.

Douglas sighed. "You came with Tilly back to her apartment here in San Francisco,"

Chase raised an eyebrow. "I-I don't remember that,"

Douglas bit his lip. "Well, that is because Tilly used the triton app to control you. You can't remember any of what happened while you were under it's control,"

To Douglas' surprise, Chase didn't get angry. "Why did she use the app on me?" he asked hazily.

"She just wanted you to herself. Tilly, you see, is just feeling pretty down about that fact that you didn't embrace her as your mother. She isn't upset with you, per se, but more at Donald for taking you guys,"

"Oh," Chase muttered.

Douglas looked at his son. "Chase, I am so sorry I didn't realize she was controlling you. I invented that infernal app, and I didn't even know that she took it, let alone knew how to use it,"

"It's okay, Douglas," Chase said quietly. "You didn't know,"

Douglas, still sitting on the edge of the bed, looked down at the ground.

"Douglas?"

His father looked up. "Yes Chase?"

"Why did it take so long for her to come see us?" Chase asked carefully. "If she really wanted us so bad, why didn't she come the moment she found where we were,"

Douglas gripped the sheets of the bed. "Because she couldn't,"

"Why not?" Chase asked, before realizing something. "She wasn't really doing a research project, was it?"

Douglas shook his head. "No, she was in rehab,"

"For what?" Chase asked in nothing more than a whisper.

"Alcohol addiction," Douglas replied. "She isn't a bad person, but when she lost you three, she broke. I guess, I guess the alcohol just made it easier for her. But it got way out of hand way to quickly,"

"Is she better now?" Chase asked.

"I suppose, in a way she is," Douglas responded.

That moment was interrupted by a series of crashes coming from the living room.

"What was that?" Chase gasped.

"I don't know. Stay here Chase," Douglas commanded, getting up and walking to the door.

"Can't I help?" Chase asked.

"No!" Douglas snapped. "Stay in here Chase. Let me handle this,"

Douglas rushed to the living room, where Tilly had already tipped over the coffee table and smashed the large black vase into tiny shattered pieces.

"That rotten, despicable little man," Tilly cursed, throwing her wine glass into the mirror hanging one the wall, causing it the fall to the ground and shattering itself.

Douglas ran to her side and pulled her away from the mess. "Tilly, Tilly, please calm down,"

"I can't calm-lm down Doug-glas," Tilly slurred. "He ru-ruined our lives,"

The strong scent of Tilly's breath made Douglas lurch back. Douglas put an arm around her. "Tilly, it is time to go to bed," he said firmly.

"I'm n-not tir-red," Tilly responded.

"Yes you are," Douglas countered, leading her to the bedroom.

"But Dougie," Tilly said, a lop-sided smile on her face.

Douglas couldn't help but smile back. "Tilly, please, for me, let's go to sleep,"

"Fine." Tilly yawned. Douglas guided his wife, helping her slide into bed. He made sure she was snug tightly between the comforters. He then set down a glass of water and a couple of pain killer tablets on her nightstand.

"Good night Tilly," Douglas whispered, leaning in to kiss her goodnight on the forehead. "I love you,"

Tilly smiled sleepily, her eyes still closed. "I love you too,"

Douglas smiled and turned off the lights, walking out of the room and carefully shutting the doors. He looked up to see his youngest looking back at him.

"Is she alright?" Chase asked.

"I told you to stay in your room," Douglas replied, starting to walk back towards the living room.

Chase followed him closely. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure you both were all right,"

"She is fine, except for- She's fine," Douglas said quickly.

Chase looked around the living room as Douglas grabbed a broom and dust pan. "What happened in here?"

"Your mother was just a little upset earlier," Douglas said.

Chase saw the empty wine bottles laying sprawled across the couch.

"She drank, didn't she?" Chase said, realizing what happened. "She got drunk and made this mess,"

"I was hoping that seeing you three would help her feel better, but I think I just made things worse," Douglas sighed. "Seeing what she missed must have upset her too much. This is all my fault," he whispered, bending down to clean up the shattered glass.

Chase knelt down to help him clean up.

"Do you want me to call Donnie and have him come pick you up?" Douglas asked after a short bit of silence.

Chase shook his head. "No, I'd rather stay her for the night,"

Douglas raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I think it would just be easier for everyone. I can text Mr. Davenport and let him know," Chase said.

"Okay, if you are sure," Douglas murmured as they finished cleaning up.

Chase threw away what he had in his dustpan and turned towards his bedroom. "Good night Douglas,"

"Night Chase," Douglas smiled before going to his own bedroom.

The Next Morning

Douglas, naturally, was the first one up in the morning. Bored, Douglas decided to do what he did best. Well, what he did best legally. He started making breakfast.

The eggs, the pancakes, and oh lord, the bacon.

Douglas hummed happily as he sliced up the strawberries, then turning as he heard his wife enter the room. "Good morning honey," he smiled.

"Morning," Tilly smiled sheepishly, sitting at the counter.

"Want some breakfast?" Douglas offered, getting out a plate from the cupboard.

Tilly shook her head. "No thanks, after last night I am really not that hungry,"

Douglas gave her a puppy dog frown. "Aw, come on. I made your favorites for breakfast. Blueberries pancakes with strawberries on the side, turkey bacon, and mushroom and white american cheese omelet,"

Tilly couldn't help but smile. "Okay then, if you are going to pout, I'll eat,"

As the couple giggled, their son entered the room. "Morning guys,"

Tilly curled her arms closer to her sides, still ashamed about last night.

"So, Chase, are you ready to go back to the island?" Douglas asked.

Chase took a seat next to Tilly at the counter. "Can I at least have some breakfast first?"

"Sure," Douglas smiled, dishing Chase up a plate identical to Tilly's and setting it in front of Chase.

Chase's eyes widened in delight. "Wow, all of my favorites in one breakfast!"

Tilly smiled. "Mine too,"

"You guys won't happen to have any-"

Tilly cut him off by handing him the blueberry syrup.

Chase smiled. "Thanks mom," he said casually while drenching his pancakes in the corresponding syrup.

Tilly's face exploded into happiness and she turned to Douglas, who just smiled back at her.

She threw her arms around her son. "Your welcome Chase,"

Chase shrugged. "I just thanked you for some syrup,"

Tilly regained her composure, still grinning like a madwoman. "I know, and your welcome,"

"So, are you going to come back to the island with us?" Chase asked her.

"Of course," Tilly grinned. "I can't wait to reunite outwholefamily,"

Whole, I guess that means Donald, huh? *suspenseful music* We will just have to wait and see what happens. Tilly may be crazy, but she sure does love her children. None of her actions are really justified, but she isn't completely evil.

Please please please review and tell me what you think. Thanks ~AzulaTano