The stars became visible as the sun had now faded from view. Nicole and Gumball were now making their way back. It was a silent trip. Nicole wasn't surprised. So much had happened between them so fast. Nicole was swirling with emotions and thoughts.

'What happens now? What do I say to him? Oh god, did I shatter our fragile relationship? I can't lose him...not again.'

As Gumball trailed behind his mom, he too was full of emotions and thought.

'She kissed me. She actually kissed me...on the lips? But...why? I got to find out!'

After walking out of the lawn of the park and down their street, the two made it inside. Luckily the moon seemed to have provided enough light to navigate back. As Gumball made his way into his room without a word, Nicole decided she needed to take a shower and think.

The warm water bathed down her form as she was still lost in thought.

'Why did I do that to him? I lost myself for ONE second, and completely changed us...'

Nicole quickly slammed the side of her fist to the shower wall.

'Now I got to explain the reason for doing that. But how do I go about that when I don't even know the reason myself? Oh Gumball...'

Just thinking his name sent back that memory of them kissing. She felt that 'feeling' again. It was warm and spreading throughout her body.

'Why am I feeling this...warm feeling again? I don't think it's from the shower. It feels like the same feeling from...from...'

"Oh my god." Nicole said out loud.

She covered her mouth, and felt her knees give in. She collapsed onto the shower floor. It just came to her. Nicole had finally connected the dots. Something so obvious, yet...so shocking to her. It literally shook her to her core. She...loved him. She loved him, but not the way she had originally thought. It wasn't parental love. It was...something more. How could she have been so blind?

Nicole felt tears well up in her eyes. What was she thinking? How could she possibly love her son like that? Gumball was her SON. Her own flesh and blood. Someone who she had given birth to. Surely this couldn't be right. She refused to believe it. She couldn't.

As the water continued to cascade down onto her, it did little to stop her shivering. She had to tell him. Best case scenario, he would understand. He would think she was simply confused. Mentally weak from being alone from him for so long. Nicole closed her eyes a moment. The truth was she knew she was stronger mentally. She had made great efforts to train herself to accept he was gone, and to focus on herself. Ever since that night with the knife... Nicole quickly pushed that memory aside. That was something not to linger on. But pushing out one thought replaced it with another one. A scarier one. If she was mentally stronger, why did she collapse suddenly to Gumball just this evening so easy then? Just thinking that lead her back to her previous theory. A theory that was only proving itself more and more.

Nicole then thought of something else. If she told Gumball he loved her...that way, what if he gets angry, or scared of her? What if he leaves her? What if he...

'No. Not that. He would never do that.' She reassured herself.

Then again, she never thought of hurting herself with a knife either...

Nicole let out a heavy sigh, and pinched the bridge of her nose. This was going nowhere. She was overthinking this.

'Just tell him, and be there for him. After a little while, things can settle down, and go back to normal. We can get back to where we were before. We can still be on good terms. Just tell him how you feel...'

Nicole clenched her fist. She had to do this, one way of another. She would go in there, tell him how she feels about him, then apologize. End of story. She exited the shower, dried off, and put on simple nightclothes. As she made her way towards Gumball's room, she was shaking.

'Okay Nicole, just breathe, and be strong. You got this.'

She knocked on his door, before opening it.

"Hey Gummypuss. Can I...talk with you for a moment?"

Nicole saw Gumball laying in his bed, having changed into a simple T-shirt. He looked at her, before nodding. She stepped in, before closing the door behind her gently. She made her way over to him and sat on the side of his bed. Gumball seeing the nervousness on her face, decided to join her on the side of the bed. He sat very close to her in order to give her comfort, but inside Nicole was only growing more nervous by this.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Gumball asked innocently.

Gumball really knew what this was about; They both did, but it was best to ease into it, he thought.

"Gumball, I want to talk about what happened on our...little date." Nicole started.

Gumball nodded before looking down at his lap. Nicole closed her eyes for a second before continuing.

"As you know...I...perhaps went a little too far. I felt...so loved and cared for at that moment, I just...lost myself."

Gumball looked up to face her now.

"Gumball, sweetie, I've been feeling so strange around you...I feel so, warm being with you. It's been so long since I've felt this way, I..."

Nicole was clenching the bedsheets with a death grip now. She knew what she had to say. Now was the time to say it...

She took a deep breath, and looked Gumball in the eyes. His gaze was almost piercing her soul. She couldn't think straight staring at them. This went on for only a second or two, before she averted her eyes away to continue.

"W-what I was trying to say was...the reason I kissed you, the reason why I've felt these...feelings, is because...I...I..."

"I love you."

Gumball hearing this, seemed to breath a...sigh of relief?

"Mom, THAT was the reason? Heh, I could of guessed that. THIS is why you are so nervous? This isn't really a big deal. I love you too. I'm always up for kisses, you know that."

Nicole was very much taken aback by this. This was NOT what she was expecting to hear from him. Why was he behaving like this? Didn't he understand?

"Gumball. I...I didn't mean it like that..."

"What do you mean?" He asked, now confused.

"I MEAN that I...Love...Love you."

Gumball was still confused.

"You...love love me? What does that mean?"

"It means I'm attracted to you."

Gumball went silent. He continued to stare at her, looking for more answers, looking for a smile followed by a 'got you silly goose', looking for...anything. But didn't find it. She was being serious. She was...actually in love with him. With this, he stared down at his lap. He felt like he was in shock.

Nicole knew that it finally occurred to him what she was trying to say. She let out a silent breath, before speaking again.

"Gumball, I've felt this way for a long time. I wasn't sure what it truly was until recently. I didn't want it to hurt you. Ever since I lost you...I..."

Nicole felt tears in her eyes again. She did her best to choke them back. Now wasn't the time.

Gumball finally looked back up at her.

"Gummypuss, when you showed me such kindness, such...love, I felt so happy. I felt confused. It was subtle at first, but it grew so fast."

Gumball inched closer, listening to every word.

"When it occurred to me your father didn't seem to notice me anymore, and how he didn't even decide to take me out on a date, I just..."

Nicole finally let loose the tears. It was too much. The pressure, the confession, all of it, was just too much for her. No matter how strong she prepared herself, she just couldn't hold it together towards Gumball, she just couldn't. Not now.

"I'm so sorry Gumball...I'm so sorry..." She wept.

She couldn't look him in the eyes. Not in this state. She was supposed to be his mother. A STRONG mother. Yet, she felt as strong as a dry twig. So weak, so...vulnerable. Something she thought no one should see in her.

She soon felt a pair of warm hands on her cheeks, and they raised her face up. Her eyes soon met Gumball's. He wiped away her tears from her eyes, and now she could see him clearly. His face was had a look of sorrow, but a hint of understanding. Nicole waited for what he had to say. She waited to hear something terrible, she waited to hear something touching; She waited to hear anything.

Gumball then leaned his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes. This seemed to calm Nicole a bit. It felt so warm against hers. The closeness of him slowed her racing heart. It was...beautiful. She closed her eyes too. She wanted to bask in this feeling. Then, to her sadness, he pulled away. Just as she was about to open her eyes...she felt it. A pair of warm lips against hers. It sent a shockwave of pleasure throughout her body. She couldn't think, only feel. It was so amazing. It felt even better then the first one. It was so gentle...so loving. So genuine. She quivered in his embrace. Eventually, she felt the warmth of his lips go away. She opened her eyes wearily, and focused on him. He was now smiling warmly at her.

"I love you too."

Nicole felt the tears return. Never had she heard him say that with such sincerity. Despite everything that she had said to him, all the words of love, and expecting words of hatred and shame in return...only to be given words of the most sincere love back shook her to the bone.

Gumball hugged her, and she hugged him. She squeezed so tightly. This was one of the most wonderful days in her life. She laughed. She cried. She let her emotions run wild now. She didn't care. Not even one bit. Not in his arms. She was safe here. Safe from judgement, safe from scolding, safe from shame. He had accepted her love; against all odds. He had done it. Nicole couldn't have predicted this outcome in a million years. Despite it all...he did it.

After what seemed like hours, she let go, and pulled away just enough to look him in the face again. She gave him a warm smile back, before resting her forehead against his this time. They both gently swayed side to side, almost in a trance; but they didn't care. They had each other, and that's all that mattered right now.

Nicole felt the warm feeling continue to work it's way through her body.

Perhaps this night and morning wouldn't be so awkward after all...