Henry's sleep is abruptly awoken by the sound of his watch going off, as it often is.

The beeping is obnoxious but effective. He clings to his slipping slumber hopelessly, groaning into his pillow as the last night's events wash over him.

After the awkward depantsing, Henry and Jasper spent an hour picking up the place. He wasn't sure when his family would return, and Biana's whole rom-com setup would've raised some red flags.

So, Henry took care of the candles and swept up all the plastic flower petals while Jasper mopped the floors and scrubbed away the mud trail Henry had left on the stairs.

It doesn't feel like he's gotten much sleep since then. Henry pushes himself up out of bed and squints back at the sound of Jasper's soft snores.

Henry feels immediately comforted by the sight of Jasper sound asleep in his designated sleepover spot on the loft couch.

It's only when the piercing beeping shoots through his watch again that Henry reluctantly slaps his wrist.

The bright hologram burns through his eyes. He expects to see Ray, but the words 'Come to the Man Cave Immediately-' repeat over and over, spinning in a bad 2004 meme font.

The light makes his head pound more than it already is and gradually worsens the more awake he becomes, which is why it takes him a moment to register the sounds of his and Jasper's phones buzzing beside each other on his nightstand.

That's the extreme emergency protocol, instructing all employees to come in immediately. This means something is probably going down, which makes Henry suddenly wide awake and fully alert.

He jumps out of bed, feet greeted by the chilling cold hardwood floor. When he gets up, he races to grab a pair of slippers for each of them before quickly pulling their phones off the charger. Then, he hustles up the loft towards the couch where Jasper's sleeping.

Henry hesitates to wake Jasper because he looks so soft, with freckles scattered over his skin and eyelashes resting perfectly against his cheeks. His head is lulled against the armrest, bangs disheveled as they drape over his forehead.

Henry can't help but notice how Jasper's hair isn't curled; instead, it's a wild, wavy mess. It's pretty, but then again, so is the rest of Jasper.

Henry's fingers shake slightly as they slide over Jasper's face, tapping him gently as he whispers, "Jasper."

Jasper shifts in his sleep, murmuring, "Hmm…?"

"Hey, bud.," Henry calls again, sliding his hand back to the top of Jasper's head, fingers brushing through his hair, "Wake up."

Jasper's eyes flutter open, gaze up to Henry with a wide, sleepy smile.

Henry smiles back, "Hi."

Jasper leans into his palm, voice sounding raspy, "Hm, hi."

Henry's stomach sinks when his heart starts to stutter, making him reel his hand back as if he were touching fire.

Impulsively, he abruptly yanks Jasper off the couch, causing him to shout out as he falls to Henry's feet.

"HeEy- Hey?!" Jasper squeaks, eyes squinting as he tries to process the fact he was pushed to the floor, "What was that for?"

"We have to go," Henry tells him in a hushed rush whisper, handing him his phone and a pair of slippers, "I think there's an emergency or something. Ray even sent an alert to you. He wants us all to come to the man cave asap."

Jasper beams as he picks himself off the ground, "He wants us all to come in, even me?!"

"Yeah," Henry answers, grasping Jasper's wrist and dragging him towards the window, "Let's go."

Charlotte is already in the Man Cave, pacing back and forth in her pajamas, when Henry and Jasper fly down the elevator.

"We're here!" Jasper announces as he and Henry stumble out of the elevator.

"Hey Char," Henry greets, "Do you know why Ray would want us here after midnight?"

"I don't know," Charlotte answers, arms crossing, "but if it's because he had a bad dream again, I'm not gonna be the one to sing him a lullaby this time."

"Maybe it's an emergency." Henry suggests, "Like maybe he-"

"Woah, Jasper's hair?!" Charlotte cuts him off, eyes wide at the sight, "It's not curled?"

"Oh yeah," Jasper says, "Piper's girly curly didn't work last night because my hair was wet, and I didn't bring my curlers, so-."

"Are you- why would-" Charlotte stammers, "curlers!?"

"What?" Jasper snorts softly, running a hand through his hair, "You thought my hair was naturally curly?"

Charlotte whips around to Henry, "Did you know about this?"

Henry shakes his head, "Not until last night."

Charlotte tilts her head, "I thought you had a date with Bianca last night?"

"Oh, yeah," Henry stammers, "I did, but she canceled."

"No," Jasper corrects, "She didn't."

"Yes, she did," Henry glares, before he nods, trying to get him to play along with his lie, "Remember, Jasper?"

"No." Jasper argues obliviously, "Didn't you lie to make her leave?"

"oH," Henry scoffs dramatically, "Me, lie? I would never-"

Charlotte looks unimpressed. "You're just so bad at lying that I literally have no choice but to call you out."

"Ooooh," Jasper snickers, "You got caught."

"Shut it, Jasper," Henry huffs, "If you'd just go along with it in the first place, I wouldn't be in trouble."

Jasper throws his arms out in confusion, "How was I supposed to know you wanted me to lie?"

"Because I did my suggestive lie voice." Henry snaps, voice shifting lower, "It sounds like this, ya know- because I want you to lieeeee."

"Well," Jasper frowns, snapping his fingers, "That was not clear."

Charlotte questions, "Why is that something to lie about anyway?"

"I dunno." Jasper answers, hushing his voice, "He's probably just embarrassed about canceling on her and kicking her out in the middle of a downpour."

"Henry, the second horniest person in Swellview," Charlotte whispers back, bewildered, "canceled a date?"

"Yeah," Jasper nods, "They were gonna bone too."

" Yo!" Henry shouts, waving his hands between them, "First of all, I am right in here. Second of all, where are you getting these Swellview horny stats? Cuz I did not agree to publish my-"

The tube alert suddenly blasts through their conversation, cutting Henry off and stealing all their attention when both Ray drop from the tube. He lights up, wearing a big dopey smile as he skips down the platform.

"Heyyyy, hello friends... and Jasper," He sighs happily, arms spread wide as he frolics forward, "Welcome, welcome."

Charlotte, Henry, and Jasper all share a quick glance and mumble out some incoherent responses at the same time, "Uh- sure. Yeah, hey."

"And now," He starts, clasping his hands together, "I want to introduce you guys to someone very special."

Their features mutually shift in confusion, but Ray's face ignites as the tube sounds again, making him turn around as a strange new woman appears.

She has long dark hair, a full face of subtle alternative makeup, and is fully decked out in leather.

Admittedly, she's attractive, but there's something off about her...

Charlotte whispers to Henry, "Whose that?"

"I dunno," Henry answers in an equally hushed voice.

Jasper nods along to their conversation, stating, "It looks like a woman."

"Yeah." Henry agrees, making Charlotte pinch her nose in frustration.

Ray immediately moves forward and pulls her into a kiss. It's a short and brief smooch before he lends her his hand and guides her down the tube steps.

"Everyone," He announces, leading her to them, "This is Gwen."

She wraps her arms around Ray's neck and barely glances at the others, "Hi, guys."

"Uh hey.." Charlotte hesitates, "What's up, Gwen?"

"Yeah, hey." Henry forces a smile, grabbing his boss's shoulder, trying to guide him away from her, "Ray, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Ray protests as Henry pushes him away, "Hold on, I'd really rather -"

"It'll just take a sec," Henry cuts him off, apologizing to Gwen as he forces Ray past, "So sorry. I'm so sorry -"

"Isn't she great? Ray gushes, "So pretty -"

"Are you crazy!?" Henry blurts out the second he thinks they're far enough away, but he still keeps her in his eyesight if she tries something, "You can't bring some stranger down to the man cave!"

Ray rolls his eyes, waving his hand in the air, "Gwen's not a stranger."

"Well, how long have you known her?"

Ray says proudly, "Almost three hours."

"Three hours?!" Henry yells, eyes widening, "What?!"

"Oooh, that reminds me." Ray continues, seemingly unbothered, "I gotta tell her you're Kid Danger."

"What?" Henry squeaks, pleading as Ray drags him back to the group, "No, no, no -"

"Hey, honey?" Ray calls, wrapping his arm over Henry's shoulder." I bet you'll never guess who this lovable knucklehead really is?" He challenges, ignoring everyone's protest and answering, "Kid Danger!"

Henry shoves him off, and they all cry out, "Dude!"

"It's okay, Gwen even knows I'm Captain Man." Ray rolls his eyes again, "And guess what else?" He asks, reaching for Gwen and pulling her in his arms, "Gwen and I, we're getting married."

This cannot be happening.

Henry runs his hands through his hair, scowling and rolling his eyes as he looks at the newly betrothed, starting to suck face like the rest of them aren't even here.

He forces himself to look away, eyes catching Charlotte's as they share a look. It's a silent, knowing glance, both thinking the same thing.

Gwen is not to be trusted.

Ray has never mentioned her once, which goes entirely against his bragging nature. It's impossible for them to be a legit couple- much less engaged.

"Well," Gwen sighs, finally pulling away, "I have to go."

"Oh," Henry pouts sarcastically, "How sad."

"Yeah," Ray wines, genuinely, "How sad."

"Don't worry," Gwen smirks, pinching her fiancée's cheek, "I'll be back soon."

Ray pulls her into another kiss, murmuring against her lips, "I'll miss you."

"Yes," She smirks, pushing off his chest, retreating towards the elevator, "I know."

"Bye-bye, baby." Ray waves, expression shifting into sadness, "I love you."

Gwen doesn't say it back, which is honestly no surprise. As the elevator doors close, she gives one last glance toward Henry, her eyes narrowing smugly.

Jasper steps towards Ray, voice soft as he assures him, "It's okay to cry."

"Why would I cry?" Ray cries, tears instantly streaking down his face, "I just lost the love of my life- n-no big deal!" He blubbers, collapsing onto Jasper, sobbing, "I miss her already!"

"Oh, 'c'mon, Ray?" Henry deadpans, shaking his head in disbelief, "She's been gone for like…" He checks his watch, "….a second."

Ray rubs his snot-covered runny nose across Jasper's shoulder, wailing, "That's one second too long!"

Jasper's face scrunches up in disgust as he awkwardly pats Ray's arm, "Um, It'll all be okay. She said she'll be back."

"Jeezus." Charlotte groans, pressing her fingers to her temple, "Jasper, why don't you take Ray to bed?"

"I'm too sad to be sleepy!" He argues, making Jasper dizzy as he violently shakes him, "How am I supposed to go on when my soulmate is somewhere else!"

"Think about it this way, Ray," Charlotte offers, gesturing towards his room, "If you go to bed now, by the time you wake up, Gwen could already be back."

"Okay," Ray nods numbly, blowing his nose into Jasper's pajamas. "It'll be like fast-forwarding the time until I can see my Gwen again."

"Exactly," Henry agrees, "So off to bed, buddy."

"Good night, friends," Ray nods, shoving Jasper back as he pushes himself up, "...and Jasper."

"aGH!" Jasper lets out a sharp, pained gasp as he falls to the floor, voice croaking, "Why do you people keep shoving me?!"

Jasper takes a second to inhale a deep breath, trying to hide the discomfort from hitting that same sore spot again, which wasn't that hard to do since the others didn't even acknowledge his fall until Ray walked out of view and into his room.

They only barely glance at him sprawled on the floor when he reaches out his hands and expects help, but neither of his best friends offers to aid him up.

"Sorry, dude," Henry cringes, stepping back, "I'm not touching you."

"Yeah, Jasp," Charlotte shrugs sympathetically, "You're covered in Ray snot."

"Thanks," Jasper huffs a breath of air that blows up his bangs before he forces himself to sit up, muttering sarcastically, "You guys are so helpful."

All three of their heads turn as the back panel shifts open, their attention falling to Schwoz as he walks out, expression shifting in surprise as he sees the trio there so late, "Vhat's the… happening?"

Henry turns to him in a monotone panic, saying, "Ray's getting married to a woman he met three hours ago."

"Vhaaaaaaaat?!" He questions in shock, mouth gaping in shock, his gaze falling to Jasper, and his pupils narrow in on him, "And… why does Yasper not have those curls in his head?"

"Because," Charlotte answers, gesturing down, "His hair is not naturally curly."

Schwoz glances at her momentarily before his sight falls back on Jasper, a look of betrayal flashing in his eyes, "Vhaaaaaaaat?!"

"Yup," Jasper says, forcing a smile and running a hand through his uncoiled hair, "You guys couldn't handle seeing me all natural."

Henry cringes but doesn't say anything, and neither does anyone else.

Jasper forces laughs when no one responds. Everyone seems to look down at him with that unimpressed, blinking silence.

The kind of look makes him feel insecure like he's said something wrong again. It must be another classic Jasper move.

"Okay," Jasper laughs again, rolling his shoulder, "I'm gonna hit the showers then." He decides, picking himself up off the floor -without help- before pausing, "Unless you guys need my help to figure this out?"

Charlotte starts to speak, "I strongly suggest you-"

"Pfff, yah right!" Schwoz cuts her off, jabbing his elbow into Charlotte's side, "Us need his helps, so fonny."

Charlotte pushes his arm down, finishing her sentence, "Go ahead and shower." She smiles, "We'll be fine."

"Yeah," Henry agrees, nose scrunched, "You should get all that Ray boogies off you."

"Alrighty," Jasper cheers, snapping his finger and pointing forward, "Showers, here I come."

The room continues in nonchalant chatter, murmuring among themselves on the best way to deal with the situation as Jasper slides past the group and back behind the panel, happy expression nearly cracking the second he's out of view.

After Jasper leaves, Schwoz develops a semi-decent plan to gain insight into Ray's marriage situation and informs Charlotte and Henry about this new device he had started working on.

He describes it as "Sister truth. Like blaster, but it vill just let us see vat Ray see'ded in his mind when he met the ladiee."

"That's great," Henry nods enthusiastically, "That'll give us a start."

Schwoz cuts him off, "But vhere is a problem."

"Problem?" Charlotte repeats, "I don't like the sound of that."

"Yah," Schwoz starts, "It izn't finished yet."

"Okay," Henry mumbles, eyes distant in thought, "But if we start on it now, we could theoretically finish it before Ray wakes up?"

"Vell," Schwoz shrugs, "Maybee."

"Alright," Henry claps, "Where do we get started?"