The next morning began with a swift motion of activity from the Watterson's. Tristan, who had spent the night sleeping with his father, Gumball, in the recliner chair he favored; as Tristan soon shook his father's arm to wake him up.
"Hey! Hey, Dad! Wake up!"
Tristan had stated with soft urgency in his voice, as Gumball continued to snore.
" *Sigh* You're really going to make me do this, huh?"
Tristan exclaimed with a slight tinge of disappointment in his tone, as he crawled up to his father's face and moved the blanket off of him.
"I'm sorry to have to do this again Dad, but we got to get going and save the rest of the family!"
Tristan soon gave a slight nibble on his father's left ear, which suddenly gave a jolt of surprise to the larger blue feline; successfully waking him up.
"OW!"
Gumball yelped, as Tristan soon got off from his father's lap, and stood up in front of the chair with a face ridden with guilt.
"Are you alright, Dad?"
Tristan asked with worry and concern in his tone, as Gumball continued to soothe the affected ear from the bite.
"Yeah...Yeah I'm okay...but did you really have to do that move again? I remember you doing that as a toddler to wake me up, but I thought you grew out of that."
Tristan's face soon transitioned to one of being sullen.
"I'm...I'm sorry Dad, it's just that you weren't waking up and-"
Gumball quickly placed a paw on his son's shoulder and gave a reassuring smile.
"Hey kiddo, I'm just messing with you! It's my fault for not being up earlier to get us prepared!"
Tristan was relieved to hear this from his father, as he soon jumped for a hug into his father's arms.
"Awwww, it's okay little man...Hey! That actually was the same tactic I used with with your grandmother when she was sleeping and forgot to get us ready for kindergarten with your Uncle Darwin!"
Tristan soon pulled away from the embrace with his father and looked at him with confusion.
"Wait, REALLY?!"
Gumball gave a smirk.
"Yep! Granted, It was a much more...bombastic reaction to what I had with you just now..."
Gumball was about to continue, before a soft female voice soon crept up behind the chair; sending shivers and chills down both felines' spines.
"Well, That's because she had just finished an arduous and tiring shift at the Rainbow Factory...but yes, perhaps she did overreact a little..."
Gumball and Tristan soon shifted their heads to see Nicole smiling at them.
She soon took one of her paw's to ruffle Gumball's fur on top of his head.
"But, I'd be remiss if I said those days with my little Gummypuss didn't bring me joy and memories as well."
Gumball soon rolled his eyes and dawned a embarrassed expression.
"And you STILL insist on that nickname, Mom?"
Nicole chuckled, as she soon kissed the top of her son's head.
"Indeed, and there's nothing you can do about it, mister!"
She soon rotated around the chair, and picked up her grandson, Tristan.
"Speaking of nicknames, how's my little tricky Tristy doing?!"
Tristan soon looked down at his father, who soon gestured with a paw.
"Just roll with it little man, there's no changing your grandmother's mind when she has sought out to do something...especially assigning nicknames."
All three of them soon chuckled and smiled, as Nicole placed Tristan back onto the floor.
"Well, it seems like in your adulthood as a parent Gumball, you're certainly teaching your son valuable advice!"
Nicole crossed her arms, with a confident smile, as Gumball smiled back at her.
"Well, more like a warning more than anything..."
Nicole did a playful gasp.
"Now what's that supposed to mean, Gumball Watterson?!"
Fear soon climbed into Gumball's consciousness, as his mother crossed her arms and stared at him with one eyebrow lifted.
Tristan stood next to his father as well, with slight unease with the emotional tension that was building.
Before both male felines knew it though, Nicole burst into a fit of laughter, tears soon welling in her eyes.
"Oh my goodness, I can see why you guys loved doing this so much as kids! Haha!"
Nicole stated through her laughter, as Gumball raised an eyebrow of confusion.
"Uhhhh...loved doing what?"
Gumball asked, as Nicole regained her composure wiping away a stray tear from her eye.
"Having fun and pulling pranks, silly! I can't believe I didn't partake in this sort of stuff with you guys when you were kids! I was really missing out!"
Gumball smiled as his mother finished speaking, soon walking over to provide a gentle embrace and hug; slightly catching Nicole by surprise with this show of affection.
"It's okay Mom, you were busy with keeping the house afloat with your strenuous job at the rainbow factory and besides; you were there on quite a few occasions for fun! Remember the camping trips we did? Or the paintball events we participated in?"
Nicole soon smiled as she rested her head on her son's shoulder, both squeezing tighter in their hug.
"Indeed I do little man...We really kicked butt in the "Family competition" rounds...I never knew how good you were at paintball!"
Gumball chuckled slightly.
"I guess it was because I had the best Mom in the world to show me how it was done."
Nicole felt immensely touched hearing that compliment for her son, as emotional tears started to well in her eyes this time; as she desperately tried to hold them back.
"Oh Gumball..."
Nicole gave her son a small peck on the cheek, before grasping her son's arms.
"I couldn't be more proud either to call you my son...Darwin, Anais, and you really did complete my life...it presented a side of me that I never knew beforehand..."
Before Nicole could say anything further, a voice soon piped up in the background.
"What about me, honey?"
Nicole and Gumball soon turned to see Richard, standing next to Tristan smiling.
Nicole smiled, before walking over to Richard; standing up on her tippy toes to reach the pink rabbit to give him a kiss.
"How could I forget you of all people, Richard? You're the one I started my life with after all..."
Richard smiled as his wife said this.
"I know honey, I was just teasing."
Gumball smiled alongside Tristan, who's eyes were covered by Gumball as the two older Watterson's embraced for a small romantic moment.
"Well, we better get moving...we still have more of our family still out there waiting for us to reunite with them."
Nicole stated, as the morning progressed for the Watterson's; getting a quick breakfast before departing from the department store to the unknown and desolate streets of the Void once again.
Gumball led the Watterson's at the front this time, as the family continued to push forward, hoping to spot one of the irregular portals they had found from previous memories of their family members.
"So...what you're saying is that these portals are completely by random chance and can pop up at any moment?
Richard asked his daughter Anais, as they walked together.
"That's precisely right Dad! Hence why time is of the essence with finding all of our family and returning back to Little Elmore! It's not as simple as locating them on a GPS or a map, these are randomly generated by the Void it would seem; and it doesn't seem like they have a pattern to their positions of spawn. Then there's the dilemma of what's on the other side of the portal and the memory it has stored...all the while locating the current family member, as opposed to the memory generated one."
Anais continued to explain, before having a paw placed on her shoulder by her father, Richard.
"Sweetie...all of this is a lot to take in...do you mind explaining this at another time?"
Richard asked with sincerity, before Anais returned with a gentle smile.
"No problem Dad...I was getting a little sidetracked in my own thought process anyway..."
Anais then looked up towards the front of the group where her older brother, Gumball, was stationed.
"Anything that you've seen so far Gumball?"
Anais asked, as Gumball turned around.
"Nothing so far sis, but I'll let you know if I see any shiny oval portals that are really out of place!"
Gumball stated, as Anais gave a slight chuckle.
"Always the joker in the family..."
Richard smiled as well.
"I guess he gets that from me...hehe..."
"Well, you always were the parent that did those cool meals and created fun activities while Mom was gone to work so...yeah, I can definitely see your point, Dad."
Anais remarked, as both pink rabbits smiled at one another before Richard brought his arm over Anais' briefly over his daughter; and hugged her.
"That's very kind and thoughtful of you Anais...I'm so glad I was able to fulfill that crucial role as a Father somewhat..."
Richard stated, as he dawned a slight smile as Anais shifted her head to face the larger leporid.
"You did more than enough Dad...you were the best father the three of us could ever ask for as kids..."
Richard shed a single tear at this remark...the words every parent wants to hear from their kids over a lifetime caring and supporting them.
"Th-thank you so much Anais...and you three kids were the best your mother and I could ever ask for as well...there are so many great memories that we spent together with you guys that I will never forget."
Anais smiled once again.
"Then let us continue to create some more memories together as a family once we get out of this fiasco okay?"
Richard smiled at this remark.
"Agreed."
Soon a voice from the front of the group spoke.
"Guys! I think we found another one of those portals!"
Gumball announced, as the group of Watterson's squinted to enhance their vision further, and sure enough; just 100 yards away was another one of the portals that they had seen numerous times before.
This particular portal was multicolored once again, bearing a tinge of pink, beige, white, pink, and blue.
As the Watterson's got closer, they became entranced by the mesmerizing colors that cascaded along the borders of the portal's entrance.
Nicole's ears soon perked up and she immediately turned to Richard.
"Richard! This must be our parents!"
Richard nodded in agreement at his wife's statement before, they turned back to the rest of the group.
"Well guys, I guess we'll see you on the other side, okay?"
Nicole said, as her and Richard disappeared into the entrance of the portal; leaving the rest of the group standing together.
Gumball looked down to his son, Tristan and smiled.
"Come on little man, let's get your great grandparents out of there and we can move on to saving your mother and sister."
Tristan smiled and accepted his father's paw.
"That sounds like a great plan Dad."
Both cats then ventured forth, the impending memory ahead of the remaining uncertain.
Gumball and Tristan soon entered the memory, and to their surprise they were back in Elmore! Granted, it appeared to be 4 decades behind their current Elmore.
Tristan's ears soon popped up, as he saw his grandparents, Nicole and Richard standing next to Nicole's parents Mary and Daniel; his great grandparents.
"Dad! There they are! Over there!"
Gumball soon turned to face in the direction his son was gesturing towards with his paw, and saw his grandparents and parents standing and peering into a window of a nearby house.
Gumball quickly rushed over to the older Watterson group.
"Hey Grandpa Daniel and Grandma Mary, it's great to see you guys again; but you guys cannot be standing out in the open like th-"
Before Gumball could speak any further, a paw from his mother gestured towards him as if to say "There's no need".
"It's alright Gumball, Mom and Dad just explained to Richard and I that nobody can see us in this memory."
Nicole was interrupted by Carrie and Anais quickly rushing up to the window.
"Mom! You can't jus-"
"I'm already explaining that very point right now Anais, in this memory they cannot see us."
Anais and Carrie looked at one another with confusion, as Darwin was just behind them with Vlad and Anastasia.
"But...all the others..."
Nicole shrugged.
"I guess this is an anomaly and outlier, sweetie. It's true, I tested it out with Richard a few minutes before you arrived, we walked right in through the front door and no one even noticed the door was opening or us."
Nicole explained, as Anais soon had a contemplative expression.
"Absolutely fascinating...the Void truly does hold secrets unbeknownst to us still...but why did you walk into a random stranger's house? Why this one?"
Nicole soon looked down for a moment, before glancing up to look at her daughter again.
"Because...this was my home..."
Anais and the rest of the Watterson group soon ventured closer to the window, and upon further inspection, saw a teenage Nicole; along with a younger Mary and Daniel.
The Watterson's gathered around the living room window of the front porch, and began to listen into the conversation...or argument that was transpiring.
"IT'S BECAUSE I LOVE HIM, ISN'T IT?!"
The younger Nicole shouted, with tears streaming down her eyes as she tried desperately to make them stop.
Daniel, whose arms were crossed, soon stepped forward.
"Young lady, it's not the fact that you have a boyfriend it's who you have chosen that is the problem!"
Nicole soon wiped away more tears from her eyes, before feeling more anger boiling up inside her, internal rage and fury festering just beneath the surface just waiting to be unleashed with a whirlwind of words to be hurled at her parents.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH RICHARD?! HE UNDERSTANDS ME MORE THAN ANY OF THE BOYFRIEND'S YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SET ME UP WITH! HE'S GENUINE, KIND AND THOUGHTFUL!"
Nicole was practically screaming these words as she had done so many times before to make her parents understand.
"He has no prospects, Nicole! He's utterly incompetent and he's a nincompoop! I've seen the way this kid acts, and it is NOT the kind of boy you should be hanging around with!"
Nicole snapped when she heard these words from her father, her anger spilling over and ho she had lamented it so...but this time it was too much...it was her final straw.
"SEE?! YOU ADMIT IT! IT WAS NEVER ABOUT FINDING SOMEONE WHO TRULY CARED ABOUT WHO I WAS AND WHAT OT TRULY MEANT TO BE LOVED...I WAS ALWAYS JUST ANOTHER ACCOLADE FOR YOU TO PARADE AROUND AND TO SHOW OFF TO THE REST OF THE WORLD...AND THAT INCLUDED THE GUYS I MET!"
Nicole soon stomped her way up the living room stairs, and soon returned with a suitcase in one of her paws.
"Where do you think you're going young lady?!"
Daniel stated in a firm tone, as Nicole opened the door.
"I DON'T KNOW! BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE SPENDING THE REST OF MY LIFE HERE!"
Nicole rushed down the patio steps and into the streets of Elmore.
Mary felt tears well in her eyes, as she began sobbing into her paws seeing her daughter walk away from their home.
"Oh Daniel...were we too hard on her? Did we go too far this time?"
Mary asked, as Daniel stood firmly with his arms crossed, his stern expression not in the least bit phased.
"No...it's not us who have made this mistake...it's her, she just hasn't realized it yet..."
Upon hearing this outside, Gumball turned to see Mary and Daniel distraught and sullen...they truly felt sorry in their expressions for how they had acted.
Soon, both the tall female feline and the shorter cream colored feline walked over to their daughter.
"Look, Nicole sweetie...we're..."
Before Mary could speak any further, her and Daniel were met by a tight hug.
"It's okay guys...I understand that this is in the past and we have moved on..."
Daniel and Mary immediately accepted the gesture of their daughter and embraced; as the rest of the Watterson family smiled.
Daniel soon cleared his throat and spoke up.
"Nicole?"
"Yes, Dad?"
"You're not a disappointment honey...you never were...you were the greatest gift that was ever given to us in life. You started a wonderful family, and you couldn't have picked a better husband in Richard...we're so proud of you sweetheart..."
Nicole's eyes were welling with happy tears, as the rest of the Watterson family had their hearts melting at the sight of such reconciliation and forgiveness...but most importantly: Love.
The embrace continued for a few more moments, before Nicole pulled away at the realization of something.
"Wait...This is the same night Richard got evicted from his home too...he doesn't live too far away, if we rush we can still make it and find Jojo, Frankie, and Louis!"
Nicole finished speaking, as the rest of the Watterson family followed her lead down the streets of Elmore, until they finally reached Richard and Granny Jojo's old home.
Sure enough, just as Nicole had stated; Granny Jojo, Frankie, and Louis were standing and peering into the window of their home as well.
Soon though, a door could be heard being opened, with a younger Richard being kicked out onto the street with a suitcase of his own.
Granny Jojo's younger self could be seen slamming the front door shut, leaving Richard to roam the streets of Elmore.
(If "Heaven" by Bryan Adams is compatible with your device, please press now)
The younger Richard soon stood up, only to see in the near distance to see Nicole standing concerned in the middle of the street with him.
She quickly rushed over and hugged him.
"Richard?! Are you alright?!"
Richard soon put on a slight reassuring smile.
"Well...not really, Mom just kicked me out of the house and I have nowhere to go."
Nicole's face soon turned to one of sympathy.
"What are you doing out here so late anyway? Shouldn't you be back home with your parents? At least they haven't kicked you out..."
Nicole's face soon turned into a frown and her ears drooped, as she looked back down at the ground.
"I...don't think I'm going back there anymore..."
Richard's expression changed to one of shock and confusion, as he placed a paw on his girlfriend's shoulder.
"What...but your parents care about you! You have a home, warm food and-"
Nicole soon interrupted Richard, as she placed a claw on his lips.
"It's not that Richard...it was another argument about us being together in a relationship..."
Richard's ears soon drooped as he heard this.
"Oh...I uh...I probably should've guessed that, huh?"
Nicole soon picked up her suitcase and extended her paw.
"It doesn't matter now, what matters is that we can start our own life together, you and me having each other's backs through thick and thin...what do you say Richard? I'm ready to throw my old life away...and to begin my own chapter for once...and that first chapter starts with you."
Richard smiled as he heard these heartfelt and sincere remarks from Nicole, as he accepted her paw; both of them holding each other close as Richard looked into Nicole's eyes.
"Then...let's begin that journey...wherever it may takes us, Nicole Senicourt."
Both the blue feline and pink rabbit walked down the long, quiet street of Elmore, the tranquility of the night air carrying them forward...not knowing what would happen in the future, just knowing that they had each other.
Gumball soon turned to see his parents smiling at one another, Nicole giving a kiss to Richard as the rest of the family was still preoccupied watching the memory unfold in front of them.
Granny Jojo was the first to walk over and console her son.
"Listen...Richard, sweetie...I-"
Richard smiled.
"You don't have to apologize Mom...because of what you did...I met the greatest woman in my life..."
Nicole soon blushed next to Richard, as the Watterson family all awed.
Louis soon stepped forward.
"Not to uh...break up any heartfelt moment here but uh...shouldn't we head back now? We still have to rest before finding Penny and Penelope, right?!"
The rest of the Watterson's laughed at Louis' dry humor, as Louis shrugged and sighed.
"Leave it to this family to laugh at an existential crisis that can wipe out our world as we know it..."
Gumball continued to laugh, until he stopped abruptly; realizing what was to come.
"Penny and Penelope...and then we're finally ready to go home!"
*END OF CHAPTER*