Unyielding sunshine stung his ill adapted eyes, he was no longer accustomed to natural light. Five long years had passed, all of which he spent beneath the dull flicker of a fluorescent bulb. Drew squinted, his dominant hand lifting to shield his gaze from the bright morning. He glanced to the side, recalling the bumpy and emotionally exhaustive night that he was dragged into Middleton's favorite Corrections facility.

Oh, how he detested the memory and even more so the damned welcome sign. Drew looked away from the label, his dark eyes rolling as he sharply adjusted his coat with the points of his gloved fingers. He felt uncomfortable as he started forward. His once well fitte attire was loose, his frame having thinned out from a forced routine of exercise.

To the residents within, the home was referred to as the nutcase reeducation center. He had been arrested many times before, in fact he even had a preferred cell block and bunk. Something he often threw a tantrum over if he was placed anywhere else. But The Home was different.

Drew walked past the front garden, which did its job well to disguise what the building was for. The bag slung over his broad shoulders felt all too light, his belongings being depressingly little. But still, when he swung the string closed bag around, his nimble digits pulled it open. He felt strangely happy to have what he did. He owned a notebook, a box of crayons and his white corrections uniform.

"Drewbie! My sweet Drewbie!" His head snapped up, his gaze coming to meet the excited expression of his dear mother. She ran towards him at full speed, her hands reaching out with hurried desperation to grab and embrace him. He clenched the bag closed, one leg coming up slightly to blunt the force of her impact.

Strong arms squeezed around his thin waist. Practically crushing the breath and a strained sound from his body. Debra shook him from side to side, a grunt of approval leaving her brightly colored lips. "Let's get you home and fed!" She held him at arm's length, her smile wide and bright. For once he smiled back, enjoying her overbearing affections despite his usually disdain towards physical contact. "You're skin and bones now bubbie, did they even feed you?" Grabbing hold of his hand she started towards a small, baby blue volkswagen. Drew hadn't seen before but much like most things regarding his mother.

He didn't question it.

Manhandled was how he'd describe the experience of being guided into the car and buckled up. Manhandled and coddled. Though, after five years without her affection, he was willing to put up with it for the time being. With a bouncy strut, Debra Lipsky practically trotted her way to the drivers side. She slipped inside, the door closed a bit too loudly from how roughly she handled it. The Volkswagen chugged to life, before shuddering, giving a pop from the exhaust and then stabilizing into an uneven growl.

Drew grabbed the shoulder strap of his seat belt, feeling himself grow tense as his mother's car jolted back, turned with a screech and then merged into traffic without so much as a turn signal. "Mother-" Drew squeaked, "Do you really have a license?" Debra hummed, her eyes glancing at Drew before returning quickly to the road. "Oh yes plenty! I've some nice lily scented licenses at home."

He sighed, his hands cupping over his face. "That's incense, I mean do you-" Debra interjected suddenly, "Let's get something to eat! Do you want a nice nuggie meal?" Visibly he perked up, though he worked hard to contain his excitement. "Yes." Drew answered before clearing his throat. Good god, nothing else in this world sounded better than chicken nuggets and a cold drink.

Drew was sick of eating so strictly.

The smell of freshly cooked chicken filled the car before he could even really process pulling into the restaurant drive through. His mother dropped the paper bag of food onto his lap, having only ordered herself a cold lemonade. Then a cold fountain drink met his hand, a sensation he could feel through his gloves. Drew hesitated at first, feeling himself become too eager, but after a huff he sucked in a good gulp of ginger ale. The taste covered the entirety of his tongue in the most heavenly way. His eyes closed, a pleased hum rumbling in his wide chest. Placing it securely into the cup holder, Drew started on his actual meal. All the while his mother babbled on and on, catching him up on family and events he had missed while gone. In the past he hated hearing her ramble in such a way, it was once so painfully obnoxious to him. But now it was somehow comforting, just to have her there.

Biting into his third nugget, Drew's eyes narrowed in on the pharmacy they were pulling into. Roughly he gulped down half chewed food, a growl slipping between his gritted teeth before he spoke. "Mother, can't we do this a different day?" Drew started only to be cut short with a stern look from his mother. "Drewbie, the Psychologist said you needed these pills as soon as possible." Shrinking back into the seat, Drew picked up a nugget and squashed it between his index and thumb. Debra was already stepping out of the vehicle. "I'll be right back bubbie, you eat your nuggie meal." He watched her leave through the corner of his eye the rough closing of the door making his ears throb. Popping the nugget into his mouth, Drew chewed with a very visible pout.

Unlike Prison, The Home was focused on more than just making people behave. It was a mental institution in every sense of the word, just everyone inside had committed a crime and then was deemed too unstable for regular punishments. Carefully he placed his feets onto the glove box, his arms crossing as he chewed up his food. The judge of his case had said one thing to him during the entire sentencing. 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.' Drakken had mocked her at the time, bobbing his head side to side as she started the proceedings. He could vividly remember hearing his mother sobbing in the background, the illusion of his radio show broken and replaced with the ugly truth. It was that day he was deemed 'mentally unsound' and sent to the Middleton home. He was made aware that he would be required to engage in mental health services and rehabilitation programs. Drew had resisted for a long time, until one day he didn't. Maybe he was too tired to fight anymore? But regardless of the reason, he had given up and given in. While imprisoned, he was given a cocktail of medications. If anyone asked he'd say they don't work, that he hated taking them. Which he did truly hate taking the pills, but...They did help him feel better. Better than expected and considering he didn't realize something was wrong to begin with. The medications working on him were admittedly frightening.

Swallowing down his food and then taking a drink of his ginger ale. Drew caught a glimpse of Debra leaving the pharmacy. The sight was met with scoff and an eye roll, something his mother didn't see thankfully. She slipped into the car, the paper bag of legal drugs being placed carefully between her thighs. "Okay!" She exclaimed rather happily. "Now let's get you home, I have a big surprise for you!"

Excitement wiggled its way into his body, his mother always had the best surprises. And it had been such a long time since he had anything exciting happen. Drew balled up his meals paper bag, feeling full and content for the first time in years. He slipped the trash into the plastic grocery bag his mother kept pinned to the glove box.

"It's not even my birthday." Drew said with a happy squeak. "It's just as special bubbie! My little sunshine is free and healthy again. " He relaxed into his seat and grabbed his now half empty drink. Healthy was maybe not the right word, but he decided not to fuss.

With his leg now bouncing with renewed energy; he nursed the rest of his drink in growing anticipation. If she had been anyone else, Drew would have already begged to know what was waiting. But Debra had a will of steel. Once she committed to a secret she would never repeat it. So he glanced out the window and watched the familiar scenery blur by.

Drew may as well have leaped from the moving vehicle with how eagerly left it. A shine of relief came to his gaze as he looked over his childhood home. The paint was faded, the bright pink appearing more yellowish and patchy than he remembered. But still the attic window gave him instant comfort.

Debra curled her arm around his, guiding him forward with wet eyes and an emotional expression. "Come on Drewbie, let's get you inside."

They didn't stop to settle in, not until Debra had led Drew to his bedroom. As a child, Drew had been just as odd as he was in the present. Which is why his bedroom was actually the attic. Stepping inside Drew quickly realized what the surprise was. The triangular angle of the roof gave his ceiling an interesting shape, which had been repainted a pleasant earthy color of terracotta.

The walls were no longer the spaceship patterned wallpaper his mother had instinsyed on. Instead it was dark wooden panels but unlike the ceiling and the walls. His floor hadn't been changed. As a boy, It was the only thing he got to pick out when they had fixed up the attic.

He begged for hours for the option of choice and when he finally got it. Drew had chosen a dark carpet. He considered it dark gray but his mother insisted it was black.

He walked towards his bed, which was still the same but the bedding had been swapped out with a cold, bluish gray. Everything else was the same, his desk and belongings had been meticulously put right where he had left them. Even the science project he did before graduating highschool sat on his long, low set dresser.

Drew turned and smiled at his mother. "This is fantastic." And it was, everything that was changed he had suggested it as a child. "You really remember all my suggestions mama?" Debra brightened, surprised by being called mama instead of mother. Drew hadn't called her that since fourth grade.

Sniffling, she answered with little control of her volume. Her emotions finally burst from her stocky frame. "Of course I remember Drewbie!" She hurried to him, his waist once again getting squeezed by her strong arms. The love of mother was intense and somewhat painful, Drew mused as Debra reached up and cupped his face. Drew yelped and whined when she dragged him to her level. "Mother please, I'm not a child!" He complained as she placed kisses onto his cheeks.

Drew grabbed her iron gripped hands and removed them from his face. "You're getting your lipstick all over my face!" A grumble resonated from throat and then desperately he started rubbing bright red lipstick from his pale skin. Though he was prone to whining Drew still knew when gratitude was in order. After his face was mostly clean he gave Debra a reasonable hug. "Thank you, this is just how I always wanted it."

Parting from the embrace Debra spoke in a normal tone. "Anything for my little boy." She patted her pants pockets before retrieving a key. "There's one last thing…" Debra cleared her throat, "The attic key…" she placed it carefully into Drew's hands. "Don't worry about finding a place, you can stay here as long as you want Bubbie."

In awe and visible shock he stared at the old key. He didn't expect the exchange, mother didn't like it when he locked doors in her home. "Okay!" Debra chirped, "I'm going to go to the living room. I've some albums to finish making, if you need anything come holler."

Drew nodded in agreement, suddenly feeling very excited with being alone. No bunkmate, no guards checking on him. Finally he would have real privacy. The idea shook up his bones with how ecstatic he was becoming.

Debra descended the attic stairs leaving them untucked from Drew's preferred position. He huffed before walking down them to grab the attic chain. The wood of the retractable stairs creaked as he pulled it close. And yet, even with the key to the attic he still left it unlocked. Besides, his back was aching from getting hugged so harshly. Bending over to lock the hatch up would be inconvenient, yes that was his reason.

He walked up to the window and settled himself on the cozy daybed beneath it. His favorite little spot to read and work on smaller inventions. Drew watched the world from behind the glass, the horizon slowly shifting into a state of twilight. Middleton was peaceful when he wasn't trying to destroy it. Though it'd be that way permanently now that he was 'reformed.

Drew swallowed anxiously at the thought. he really reformed? What does a functional member of society even do all day? The man really had no clue. A job perhaps? But what person would hire an ex-villain with a bad reputation? Immediately he started to feel stressed out. He shook his upper body, physically trying to shake the feeling off." I'll worry about it later." Drew mumbled out loud.

As if linked together, Drew felt the comfort of his full size bed call to him. He practically leaped from his spot at the window. He didn't just lay in bed. He fell forward into it, the front of his body and face collided into the mattress. A muffled but satisfied groan left his chest. The bed at the home wasn't even beds. It was just a yoga mat at best.

Drew grabbed the blanket and then rolled over, bringing it over his body like a cocoon of fleece. He kicked his legs a bit out of habit, he just couldn't help but move when he felt so happy. Plus the kicking helped him remove his boots. The pair dropping to the floor loudly.

But then, as if blinking, he was waking back up. Drew grumbled, feeling extremely groggy. He had slept hard through the night, so hard the wrinkles of his pillow had left an impression on the left side of his face. The length of his spine popped as he sat up and stretched. Then he caught the muffled sound of a man's voice from downstairs. A frown twitched his lips, his slight confusion making him suddenly agitated.

Mother didn't have any male friends and his father had been gone for years. Quickly he got up and approached the retracted staircase. He leaned down a bit, tilting his as if that would somehow make it easier to hear. Drew realized quickly how unbelievably silly the concept was. Leaning closer does improve someone's hearing. Especially his, considering he has lost about ten percent of it over his career of evil.

The stairs clunked and creaked as he detracted it. "Drewbie?" He heard his mother call loudly from across the house. Whoever was here with his mother seemed to be just as loud as she was. Drew could hear him barking out with obnoxious laughter in reaction to his unfortunate nickname.

The bare pads of his feet thumped against the wooden floor. His legs carried him towards the laughter in a rush. At the living room entrance he stopped. Standing beneath the archway with his arms crossed over his chest.

For a moment he stared at the man sitting in what he considered his spot on the sofa. The place closest to the end table and his mother's recliner was his place. "Who is that?" Drew asked, his attention moving onto his mother. Debra hesitated, his cheeks becoming rosy with embarrassment. But why would she be embarrassed?

"Drewbie, this is Andrew." He glanced at the stranger then back to his mother then once more at Andrew. It was as if his brain was trying to connect the dots but it just wasn't doing a good job. Debra spoke up again, "He's mama's new man, you have to play nice with him Bubbie." Silence followed, an awkward period of time passing by before Drew gestured to Andrew sharply. "That's my spot." He informed him gruffly. "Move."

Andrew obliged, though he looked annoyed. Obviously bothered by the way he was ordered around. "That is his spot." Debra explained, "My baby is very particular about where he relaxes." Drew pursed his lips, his single brow furrowed as he settled onto the sofa. He pulled his legs up and then beneath him. Sitting in a way similar to his mother. "Andrew wanted to talk to you muffin." Drew looked towards the man, his brown lifting a bit.

"I have a job offer!" Andrew exclaimed before Drew could get a question out. "I run the disposal service for Middleton, one of our girls is out on maternity leave and we needed a temporary stand in. You interested?" Andrew was a garbage man? His mother was dating the town's garbage man-He hated that instantly. But a temporary job did sound promising-though garbage disposal wasn't something he really wanted or felt he should do.

Drew looked at Debra who nodded encouragingly. The ex villain frowned, feeling his face go hot with shame and insult. But as insulted as he felt…Getting a decent job would be impossible-And Drakken needed the money. He didn't exactly want to stay with his mother forever.

While his skin was still darkened with discontent. Drew huffed out his shame and accepted. "I'll fill in for the soon to be mother, but only if I can wear a construction grade face mask." A puzzled stare met his dark gaze. Andrew appeared more confused than what Drew considered normal. "I don't want to breathe in any fumes that may pollute the air within my vicinity. It would be vile and I'm certain I'll catch something equally as awful."

Andrew slowly gave a nod of understanding. "Uh, right…That'd be just fine, I think we have those in supply…" Peering at his mother, it was then he realized she had gotten up and made everyone a cup of coffee before anyone even noticed she had stepped away. How such a loud woman could move so silently, the scientist's simply would know.

Not much was said about the job after the agreement. Andrew agreed to pick Drew up for the position once the weekend had passed. Agreeing with Debra that Drew needed time to settle in first. The conversation between Andrew and Debra was both foreign and exceedingly random. They bounced from topic to topic, some of which Drew insisted he'll need therapy for. But under his observation…He could tell how happy and natural his mother felt around the man.

Drew didn't really care if she dated. Of course not, why would he? He didn't want all her attention and constant coddle. Then why did the touchy and domestic interaction between the two disturb him so deeply?

It wasn't until after lunch that the oversized, small headed buffoon that was Andrew finally left. Drew was relieved to see him go and was just about to go to his bedroom when Debra stopped him in his tracks. "Soo." She started with a grin, "What do you think? Isn't he just wonderful?!" Drew froze mid step before he cleared his throat and stood normally. "You're out of his league-But I guess if you're happy with him I can get used to him."

Debra chuckled at his sour attitude,"I knew you'd say that Drewbie. Just be nice to my smoothie moochie. " The ex-con made a disgusted face, his tongue poking out as he dramatically gagged at his mother's public affection. "Mother please, we just had lunch." She just laughed a little more before walking away as she said her last piece. "You'll get it when you're old like me."