Nicole stirred her body slowly, and fluttered her eyes open. She felt very warm all over her body. She looked down, and saw Gumball still fast asleep all snuggled up against her. This made her form a gentle smile, and she leaned down and kissed the top of his head. This caused him to also stir. She then heard a small yawn and saw him rub his face slowly deeper into her. It then occurred to her...his face was wedged right between her breasts. This made her blush quite a bit. She certainly hoped this was an unintentional thing on Gumball's behalf, but she didn't want to dwindle on that thought for long. She did note that it still felt rather nice and welcoming to her...

Eventually, to Gumball's seemingly slight dismay, she got up from the bed. Nicole had realized that she must have slept in a way that caused her towel to slip quite a ways down and that gave Gumball an opportunity to snuggle ever closer to her; with no fabric barrier. She felt sort of dirty. Not only was he a teenager, but she was his own mother. Eventually she shook this other thought out of her head and walked downstairs. She needed a break away from Gumball for a little while...

She decided to step outside and onto the pavement of the empty driveway by the house. She wanted to do some yoga. It had been forever since she had done it last; with work and lots of hungry mouths to feed at home. She never seemed to have the time to herself. She shut her eyes, and started stretching. She let her mind wander, and her breathing to slow down...

Gumball woke up with a warm feeling in his cheeks. He felt happy to have slept with mom. It was such a refreshing feeling. He remembered he had a rather unusual dream this time though.

He was dreaming of her...his mom. She seemed to be wearing a very wet towel, and she was walking over to him. She had pulled him close and made his face press right up into her cleavage of her breasts. Gumball remembered a part of this seemed to sicken him, but the other half of him...well, he thought he rather enjoyed it. Gumball then felt her pull away from him, and seemed to be pulled away;further and further. He tried running after her, calling her back, but she was too far now. He then had awoken. He was unsure why he had that dream...but at least he was now awake. He felt his hand was holding something and looked down and opened his palm. It was the family picture from last night...

Gumball then felt emotions start to form inside of him again. This time, Gumball brought the photo up to his face and kissed it. He would always miss them, but he had to carry on. He then placed it back inside his wallet and put it in his old ripped pants and kicked them under his bed. He would keep it out of sight for now. He didn't want to think about them too much; for his mental sake.

He walked out of his room and checked his mom's room. No finding her there, he walked downstairs. He couldn't find her in the living room or the kitchen either...

'Where did she go?' He thought.

Gumball opened the front door to the outside and saw his mother stretching gracefully in the driveway. He admired her form. He had always wished he would be as flexible as her. She was also VERY strong, even if her body didn't seem to show it. Well, except for her legs and thighs. That was a different story... Gumball watched her ears suddenly perk up, and she turned to face him.

"Morning Gummypuss. I was just stretching and doing some yoga." She said, now standing upright.

Gumball waved to her, before walking over to her. She pulled him into a lovely hug, before letting go.

"You want to join me? I'm sure you would like it." Nicole asked.

Gumball seemed to briefly think otherwise, but eventually decided to try it out. He would be new to this. He never had done yoga at home or at the gym before. Hopefully this wouldn't result in him straining something...

Gumball nodded and walked to Nicole's right side and stretched out his arms and legs. Nicole started to explain the basics of it, and Gumball understood. She then started stretching and Gumball tried copying her movements. After a few failed attempts, he did it successfully. They both stretched in different positions and Gumball was starting to get the hang of it. Nicole felt happy he was able to do this with her. Hopefully this could become a routine thing, despite all this chaos around them.

After about 20 minutes of stretching, Gumball seemed to have had enough for one day. Nicole decided to stop too, and they both headed back towards the front door. It seemed like another storm was coming. Nicole could smell it too. She always could smell the scent of upcoming rain. Sure it was a bit unusual, but it proved a bit helpful for dodging soon to be downpours. She then quickly shot the door behind her and locked it. Nicole and Gumball then went to the fridge and picked out breakfast. Nicole had realized that since she and Gumball had arrived, she had been eating more healthier. Weather she could argue that the only food that they found came from fridges was healthy...was another story. She remembered back at home she would buy LOTS of junk food. With Richard being the main consumer, she and the kids would still eat more then what they would consider "healthy amounts". Richard...

Nicole secretly clenched her fist before taking a deep breath and finishing her apple.

"You okay mom?" Gumball asked, now looking at her.

"Sorry Gumball, I was just a bit tired from the stretching." She said, putting on one of her slightly faint but fake smiles.

Gumball seemed to buy it, and continued eating his orange slices. Nicole hadn't seem to have noticed, but it suddenly had struck her like a truck.

'If I'm gone, how the HELL is Richard going to care for Darwin and Anais? He can't take care of himself, let alone the kids! With the death of his parents just a few months back, and the complete cut off from my parents and family...how will they survive?!'

"Gumball, could you excuse me? I'll be right back..." Nicole said, before standing up, and walking towards the door.

Gumball simply watched as she did this. He had got a bad feeling by the way she said that to him. He watched her shut the door behind her and decided to watch where she was headed. He headed to the window and watched as she went over across the street towards the big and tall oak tree in the yard.

To put it lightly, Nicole was now pissed. She wished she could have made Richard take more responsibility around the house. Instead, she had let him sleep around all day while she had to work her BUTT off all day, 6 days a week. Nicole felt her eyes start to turn red with anger. She wished she had made him learn to cook food for them too. Instead, he would order food...max out her credit card with orders and then devour nearly all of it, leaving almost NOTHING for the kids. Nicole was now only a few feet from the tree. She wished Richard would get a job. She wished Richard would clean up the house. She wished Richard would play with the kids...She wished he would hold her...She wished he would kiss her. She wished he would make LOVE to her!

Nicole screamed with rage and swung her fist as hard as she could at the tree now right in front of her. The tree shattered and broke with a mighty crack and fell towards the side fence, before crashing down onto it and bending the metal and wiring with ease. Then, there was silence. Nicole breathed heavily as she felt the years of pent up anger and stress release from her body in the form of sweat and steam. Her eyes turned back to normal, and her breathing now slowed. She closed her eyes.

'Why didn't I leave him...' she thought, before taking one final deep breath and composed herself.

Nicole turned around and headed towards their house, when she saw Gumball looking back at her through the window. He had a look of sheer terror on his face. She then saw him dart away from the window and disappear. Looks like she will be having some explaining to do...

Gumball, upon seeing his mother absolutely destroy a full grown tree in a fit of rage; was scared. He was scared he caused this pain and anger in her. But what was it that he done? This seemed to scare him more! He immediately felt his blood freeze when he saw her heading back towards the house. He saw her glance at him, and that's all it seemed to take for his legs to activate their "flight mode" and move the rest of him up and into his room, and under his covers. He may be older, but fear was rated E for everyone.

Nicole carefully opened the front door. She poked her head in, hoping to not scare Gumball, but didn't see him. She then looked around the bottom floor, hoping to find him, but didn't. She then walked upstairs and then stopped at his closed room door.

Nicole breathed a final sigh before opening the door.

"Hey Gummypuss. We need to talk again..." she said softly before looking up at his bed...and seeing him covering himself in a defensive manner with blankets.

'*sigh* great...now you DEFINITELY made him fear you...'

Nicole walked over to him, and gently moved some of the blankets off his head. She was met with VERY scared eyes and tears trailing down his face. Nicole felt heart broken seeing this. She had made great progress helping Gumball just last night, and now THIS? It was like she had taken one step forward and three steps back with Gumball...

"Mom...p-please! I'm sorry I made you mad. Whatever it was...I'm sorry. I truly am..." he whimpered.

Nicole suddenly felt a tinge of relief float in her body. It looks like it was just a misunderstanding. She can fix this...

"Gumball sweetie, I'm not mad at you." She said, now smiling slightly.

Gumball upon hearing this opened one eye towards her.

"Y-you're not?" He asked slightly confused.

Nicole leaned in, and kissed his forehead.

"Of course not Gummypuss. I was angry at-"

She caught herself. This wasn't the time...

"I was angry at my past mistakes. I just wished I could change them..." she wearily said, now developing tears of her own.

Gumball now witnessing his mother start to cry, pulled her inside the blankets and shared them with her. Nicole got the message and cuddled up with Gumball.

'Damnit Nicole, you were supposed to be the one to comfort Gumball, not him comfort you! You're such a failure. You can't even care for your own son without breaking down...'

Nicole's harsh mind only brought more tears and now shaking to herself with Gumball now desperately trying to calm her down. He decided to slowly rock himself and her back and forth, just like she did to him. He then quietly shushed her and spoke loving and kindly to her, reassuring her that everything will be alright.

Nicole felt for the first time in a long time...truly loved. Not only had she finally let her anger out, but she was now being embraced and shown love. The purest kind. She was never shown this kindness by her parents. She was never shown this level of kindness even by her own husband. But she was shown this level of kindness...by her own son. It was at this moment, something started to develop. She didn't know what it was...but it felt truly powerful. Not to mention made her feel very warm. But what was it?

Nicole eventually closed her eyes. She was reveling in this moment with Gumball. Just when she thought it couldn't get any better, she felt his delicate hands play with her hair on top of her head. This made her purr. She heard Gumball sort of chuckle at this, before continuing his "lovely assault" on her head of hair. Eventually, she felt the grasp of sleep start to take hold.

"I love you mom." She heard spoken to her before finally...drifting off.