Until We Meet Again
based on Villains' Bad Girl's universe
by LDEJRuff
Chapter 5 - Barbara's Idea
The following morning, after the Griffin family had breakfast, Vinny and Barbara took Stewie to the toy store in the mall, so he could find a toy to his interest. The dogs were there to find some birthday presents for the puppies.
"OK, Stewie," Vinny began, "Barbara and I are going to decide what to give to the puppies."
"While doing so," Barbara added, "you can find anything you want, and you can get back to us."
"I don't know, guys," Stewie replied. "I hate the toy store this close to Christmas. It's always getting picked clean."
"Well," Barbara began, "see what you can find, anyway."
"Okay," Stewie replied.
And with that, Stewie walked by himself to find a toy, while Barbara and Vinny walked to a section.
"So, Vin," Barbara began, "What should we find for the kids?"
"There's plenty of good stuff here," Vinny replied while looking around. "Look at this," he continued, noticing something. "Heavy bronze sheep bookends. What kid wouldn't want to play with these?" He started acting out a scene with said bookends while Barbara watch. "'Bah. What are you looking at?' 'Not much. That's what I'm looking at.' 'You wanna have a go?' 'I'd watch what I say with that other sheep right behind you.'" He turned one of the bookends before knocking it down with the other one. Barbara's eyes widened. "I played this when I was a puppy. Course, I had to do it with ash trays, but I think the sheep is better."
"Well," Barbara replied, "I think these bookends will be perfect for Marcus, since he's into reading."
"Vinny! Barbara!"
Stewie's voice got the two dogs' attention. They put the bookends down and walked into that direction. Stewie saw a young boy about his size.
"What's up, Stewie?" Vinny asked.
"Look," Stewie replied, pointing to said boy. "That stocking cap. That backpack. They're both mine." It was when he realized something. "Of course, it's me from the past."
The past Stewie was indeed wearing a stocking cap. However, he also wore a pair of gray overalls and a brown coat, and he had just picked up a Jolly Farm Revue toy set.
"I don't understand," Vinny shrugged.
"I do," Barbara replied. "Several months ago, on the night before Brian died, Stewie said that he time-traveled ahead to Christmas so he wouldn't wait all year for the new toys to come out. But he said so while destroying his time machine, so he did it on the week before."
"I still don't get it," Vinny said, again shrugging.
"Now, if I recall from our journey through Nazi Germany," Barbara said, finger under her chin, "Stewie kept the time machine return pad inside his backpack."
"That's right, Barbara," Stewie said as his past self took the set to the cashier. "And I must get my hands on it, so I need Vinny to have that Stewie to take off his backpack."
"You're going to steal it from behind his back?" Barbara asked, wide-eyed. "That's against the rule, 'Thou shalt not steal'."
"Well, do you have a better suggestion?" Stewie asked.
"You should talk to him yourself and ask him for you to borrow the return pad."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Barbara nodded.
While the past Stewie was done paying for the set, he was tapped on the shoulder by his present-time counterpart.
"What?" the past Stewie gasped in surprise. "You're not me from this timeline, are you?"
"Yes, yes I am," Stewie answered. "I'm here to prevent an unthinkable event that broke my heart from happening."
"Really? What happened that broke your heart?"
"Trust me, you'll see sometime after you return to your present."
"Wait, how did you know I time traveled ahead?"
"I quickly remembered. But that's not important. What is important is that I must borrow your return pad to prevent this heart-breaking event from happening."
"Not until you tell me what's going on," the past Stewie demanded.
"I... I just can't," Stewie shook his head.
"Then, I can't give you the return pad."
"Uh-oh," Barbara whispered, hiding behind a kiosk with Vinny. "My idea's not working. I guess it's time to go ahead to Plan B."
Vinny nodded in agreement before the two dogs showed themselves to the past Stewie, surprising him.
"Barbara? And some dog I haven't met?"
Upon the past Stewie's words, Stewie turned around.
"What the hell are you doing?" Stewie shrugged. "I thought you were going to be out of sight."
"We saw that the idea wasn't going well," Barbara replied, "so we decided to let him know about Brian's death."
"What?" the past Stewie gasped. "Brian died?"
"Yeah," Barbara replied, regrettably.
"And this dog's your...?"
"Brother-in-law," Vinny interrupted.
"And that makes you...?"
"Brian's younger brother."
"Brian didn't mention having you for a brother."
"Well, now you know."
"Sorry for spoiling everything," Barbara apologized to the past Stewie. "Just don't tell Brian everything about his death."
"So, that's the unthinkable event you were talking about?" the past Stewie asked Stewie.
"Yeah," Stewie answered before turning his attention to the dogs. "Nice going, guys."
"It's all right," the past Stewie assured. "I won't tell him anything. But while you're in the past, remind me to bring the return pad to where it came from." With that, the past Stewie handed Stewie the return pad. "I'll be waiting for it."
"Thank you, past Stewie," Stewie thanked. "Okay," he continued, to the dogs, "let's go."
Stewie, Barbara and Vinny then ran to the Employees Only section, leaving the past Stewie to wait, tapping his foot.
"I just hope Brian doesn't end up like how my evil half-brother died," the past Stewie whispered, thinking about Bertram.
Cutaway: The baby in question crossed his arms.
"Inconceivable," Bertram said, quoting the character Vizini, from The Princess Bride.
Author's note: Both Bertram and Vizini are played by Wallace Shawn.