Janus awoke the next morning feeling so refreshed and happy that it almost made his shed worth it. After popping up and getting ready for his day, he hurried into the kitchen to make breakfast. He was going to do all he could to try and make up for biting Patton, even if the Heart would say that it didn't matter. He perused the shelves and refrigerator for ingredients then got to work.

Virgil was the first up, no doubt because he had fretted over Janus all night. He slunk into the kitchen and poured a large cup of coffee.

"Hey, Jan. You okay?"

"Hello, Virgil. You want some cream in that anxiety?"

Virgil looked puzzled then flushed. "Yeah, well… You've got a point. How about we split a cup? I need some caffeine at least."

"I'm doing awful, by the way. Just as usual."

"Good. So it all went smoothly?"

"As could be expected, Virgil. I'm totally not humiliated by the thought of what happened. Not a bit."

"Well, at least it's over with," Virgil said gently.

"Yeah, for six months."

Janus spoke sarcastically, but he had a smile on his lips. Virgil could tell he was in a very good mood. He prepared two smaller cups of coffee and handed Janus his.

"Sugar, no cream," Virgil said.

"Deceptively sweet," Janus said, tapping Virgil's mug. He took a long sip and sighed. "The world always seems brighter after a shed."

"Truth," Virgil said.

Janus's cheek turned pink. "Ah. Yes. Of course."

He turned back to cooking, and Virgil watched curiously. "Why are you making breakfast? You're not usually one to cook."

"I am taking care of Patton today. He shall do no work, for it is his Sabbath."

Virgil chuckled. "Don't smother him."

"He'll love it," Janus said.

"Truth."

"Hm. Still, you know he will."

"Ah, to take revenge like that," Virgil teased.

"It shall be as sweet as honey," Janus vowed.

"Mmhm. Just remember too much honey makes you sick."

Patton came into the kitchen and blinked in surprise. "Hey guys. Need some help?"

"Sit," Janus ordered.

Bemused, Patton sat down on a stool and leaned against the counter. "Okie-dokie. Why am I sitting?"

"Thus saith Janus. This is thine Sabbath," Virgil said, his eyes gleaming.

"Um…?" Patton looked between the two of them.

"In other words, you are taking the day off," Janus said. "And if you need anything, I am here at your beck and call." He gave a neat little bow and turned to the coffee maker. "How do you like your coffee?"

Patton gave a crooked smile. "You don't have to do this, Jan."

"I know," Janus replied sincerely. "Cream and sugar?"

"Yeah, Jan," Patton said fondly. "Cream and sugar. Three spoonfuls."

"Mm. Why only three?" Janus asked knowingly.

"Because Logan says that's enough," Patton admitted with a grin.

Janus chuckled and set the mug of coffee down then turned back to check on breakfast. "Almost ready." He turned and summoned the Duke. "Remus! Breakfast!"

"Hope he remembers his clothes this morning," Virgil muttered.

"Doubtful," Janus replied. "Get Logan and Roman, will you?"

Virgil headed out and Patton smiled. "Will you do anything I say?"

Janus stilled and looked at him, his pupils constricting for a moment. "Within reason."

"Would making coffee for the others be within reason? I'd do it myself, but…"

"Oh. Of course," Janus relaxed and reached for the coffee pot. "How do they like it?"

"Logan drinks his black, Roman likes his with a spoonful of sugar and two tablespoons of cream, and Remus… I don't know."

"Mm. Got any chili powder?"

Patton grimaced and pointed at the spice rack. "I shouldn't be surprised."

"Oh, I vary what I put in there," Janus said. "On my bad days, he's had some awful $&!#."

"Truth," Virgil said casually, walking back in. "They'll be right here," he added.

"Hmph," Janus said, his cheek flushing.

"Was that not what you wanted to say?" Patton asked.

"Not exactly," Janus said tersely. "And if you would, please tell me when I say something that sounds out of character."

"Just say truth or something," Virgil said. "It helps him to balance out again."

"Truth does what now?" Roman asked, slumping into the kitchen with Logan a step behind him.

Janus handed them their coffees as Virgil explained.

Logan nodded crisply "Absolutely, Janus. And I take it that you are feeling much better today?"

"I feel terrible," Janus lied casually.

Logan smiled. "Excellent."

"And how are you feeling?" Janus asked. He paused. "Remus! Breakfast! Don't make me come down there!"

"I am refreshed after a good night's sleep," Logan said. "And I am relatively content. Thomas is finally starting to pick things up!"

"Looks like your breakdown was beneficial after all," Janus said.

"Truth," Virgil and Logan said at once.

"%#*&," he grumbled. "Well, help me get breakfast on the table. Remus!"

Nothing. Then Janus remembered the note he'd written to himself the night before.

"Logan, would you finish making breakfast? I need to go and get Remus."

"Certainly," Logan said, sipping his coffee.

Janus went downstairs and straight to Remus's room. Without stopping, he opened the door and stuck his head in.

"Remus! Breakfast!"

Remus groaned and rolled out of bed. He looked awful, pale and sweaty, and Janus scanned his naked form.

"You didn't," Janus hissed.

Remus shrugged. "So what if I did," he croaked, his eyes flickering away.

"#&$% it all, Remus. That's not any more healthy than what Virgil and I do."

"It doesn't matter."

"You need to talk to Roman," Janus said firmly.

"No."

Janus pressed his lips together. "Take him up on the offer."

"What offer?"

"To go on an adventure. You need to do that."

"Do not!"

Janus stormed over to the blanket and shook it out. A small vial fell out and clinked to the floor. He plucked it up and sniffed it. Grimacing, he turned and held it up.

"You were draining oxytocin again. You know Thomas needs that, right?"

Remus flushed and shifted. "So what?"

Janus stomped his foot. "#&$% it, Remus! Just go and talk to your brother! Then you won't need to steal vital chemicals from Thomas's body to feel loved!"

Remus looked down, his expression tight. Janus sighed and walked over, embracing him. Remus leaned close and whimpered.

"#&$% you, Remus," Janus murmured. "Now get dressed and come upstairs."

Remus stepped back and snapped, and he was immediately dressed. Janus studied him.

"We will discuss this after breakfast. Go scrub your face."

"Who is we?" Remus asked stubbornly. There was a flash of terror in his eyes that he quickly hid behind a stern frown.

"You, me, and Virgil," Janus replied, his voice softening. "The others don't need to know this yet. They won't help at this stage. They will hinder. We've handled this before, and we'll do it again."

Relief spread over Remus's face, and he gave a grin as he turned to scrub his face with sand and water. When he came back in, Janus had coaxed Slither out of his hidey-hole and was stroking him. Slither was a small, blue and orange ring-necked snake that Remus kept as a pet. The small snake happily slithered around Janus's wrist and through his fingers. It was a living fidget toy that Janus enjoyed using to stay calm.

"Hiya, Slither!" Remus said happily. He strode over to the bed and clicked his tongue. The raccoon came out from the blankets and jumped onto his shoulder. "And Maskie, too! Now if only Virgil was here!"

"Speak of the devil," Virgil said, slouching in.

"What are you doing down here?" Janus asked, sounding colder than he'd meant to.

Anxiety crossed Virgil's face and he took a step back out of the room. "Sorry. I just thought…"

"You're still welcome in here, Virge. No knocking required," Remus said firmly.

Janus nodded without a word when Virgil glanced at him. The anxious Side relaxed and came in. Maskie automatically jumped over to Virgil's shoulders and nuzzled him.

"He's missed you," Remus said, his face uncharacteristically soft.

"Missed you, too, buddy," Virgil said. He looked around the room then his eyes landed on the vial. He paled. "What's that?"

Remus looked and grimaced, raising his hand to snap his fingers so it would disappear, but Janus stopped him by jerking his hands up to cover his mouth. Remus looked down, unable to move his hands as Virgil walked over and picked up the vial. He sniffed it then his eyes widened.

"Remus!" he exclaimed, dismay crossing his face.

"We will totally not discuss this after breakfast far away from prying ears," Janus said tersely. "Now, let's go and eat with them and have a good time."

"Are you guys coming or not?" Roman whined from the top of the stairs. "I'm hungry!"

"Princey thinks we're taking too long," Virgil said. "He made me come to get you since Patton is having his Sabbath."

Janus smiled. "Excellent. He's taking my intervention horribly. Now come. And not a word, Virgil. Not a single word about the oxytocin."

Virgil's lips tightened and he nodded once. "Then let's go eat."

The three Dark Sides parted from Remus's pets after giving them snacks and headed up to breakfast. Patton was sitting at the table, waiting patiently as Logan refilled his coffee before coming back to the table.

"There you are. Is everything well?"

"Of course," Janus said breezily. He grabbed his coffee and didn't see Logan's sharp eyes dash between the three of them.

Remus sat at the table and Janus set his coffee in front of him. Roman stared at it in fascination.

"Why is it bright red?"

Remus didn't hesitate to gulp down a large mouthful. "Mm! Spicy!"

"Chili powder," Patton said with a smile.

"Good sleep, Janny?" Remus asked.

"Absolutely horrendous," Janus replied, tipping his hat. "And it's a lovely morning."

"Truth," everybody said at once.

Janus looked irritated as his cheek colored and he sat down. "Let's eat, shall we?"

Remus didn't take a serving of food, focusing on his coffee. Logan noticed but said nothing. He suspected that Janus had lied when he'd said everything was fine, and he peered closely at Remus. The Side looked pale, a bit out of sorts, but besides not eating, he was his usual peppy, rude self. Logan's concern was not eased by the end of breakfast, and he set his mug down.

"Remus, are you well?"

Remus turned to look at Logan. "Why do you asked, Servo Geek?"

"You seem… off today."

"Well, I'm not turned on," Remus pointed out. Then his voice changed to a perfect copy of Logan's. "Sex is not our function, after all."

Logan pressed his lips together. "You are avoiding answering."

Remus leaned his elbow on the table and trailed his forefinger in the wet chili powder that lined the rim of his coffee mug. "I had a bad night."

Janus didn't automatically respond, something he did whenever a lie was uttered in his presence, and Logan relaxed. "Ah. I am terribly sorry about that, Remus."

"What kind of thoughts keep you up at night?" Patton asked.

Remus's expression tightened as Logan tapped his chin. "That is an excellent query, Patton." He looked at Remus expectantly. "Well?"

Virgil and Janus stood up abruptly. "Patton, do you want some more coffee?" Janus asked.

"Logan, I need help," Virgil stated, purposefully throwing himself into a mild anxiety attack.

At once, both Sides were distracted.

"Oh, yeah, kiddo! Maybe just half a cup, though."

"Help with what?" Logan looked up and stood abruptly. "My word! Your mask! It's expanding! Are you okay?"

Virgil paled and shook his head. "Take essence sample. Hormones… Chemicals…" he gasped. "Questions…"

"Good lord, okay. Just breathe. Come on to my room."

And very suddenly, Remus was alone with Roman, who sat across from him, playing with his fork. Roman noticed that they were alone and looked mildly panicked for a moment. Remus looked away and licked his finger clean of chili powder. Roman stared at his brother, and he gave in to the urge to try again.

"Hey, bro. I'm going into the Imagination today. We can still go on that adventure."

Remus was feeling distant and cold, and it wasn't just Roman's fault. Oxytocin withdrawal would have made any Side feel distant. So he didn't bother to restrain himself as he replied.

"I'd rather %#*&ing die, Roman. Go and have your adventures without me. That's what you wanted."

With that, Remus stood up and strode down to the Subconscious. He didn't even glance at his twin, so he missed the utter devastation that crossed Roman's face as he gazed hopelessly after him.