"No!" Tommy's voice rang out through the house along with the scraping of chair legs on the floor.

"Tommyyyy." His father's exasperated tone followed shortly after.

"No!" Tommy shouted again as his little feet pattered quickly out of the room and down the hallway.

Phil looked towards the door his son had just taken off down and gave a heavy sigh. He had really hoped that past the age of two the whole 'shout no at everything' stage would be done with. Once more his youngest child was proving just how much of a fool he had been to believe that.

"You going to chase after him?" Wilbur asked from his own seat as he stared at the man.

"No, I don't think so. He'll come back when he's hungry." Phil stated as he went back to his own meal.

"What if he doesn't? Mom will be mad if he goes to bed without dinner." Techno pointed out before taking a large bite of his baked potato.

Phil let out another breath as he leaned his head forward slightly in thought. While Techno wasn't wrong Phil knew he had nothing to fear from his wife...from this…which would resolve itself. Even if Tommy, on the very off chance, didn't return to finish his meal and went to bed hungry Phil only would have to explain that it was toddlers own choice. Kristin, while not a fan of this particular parenting method, at least understood it.

Tommy was at an age where he needed to learn to eat the family meals with them instead of demanding his own separate sort of food. One, they didn't want him to become spoiled, and two it just wasn't practical for various reasons. Considering both he and his wife made sure the meals had something for each of their boys to eat and enjoy Phil really didn't think it was too big of an ask for Tommy to eat his veggies before he had a second helping of the noodles.

Tommy, however, seemed to feel different. Even now as Phil lifted his head to take a bite of his own lingering vegetables he could hear shuffling and things being tossed from somewhere down the hall.

Apparently Tommy was aiming to do some cleaning up before bed as well. Phil was not going to clean up after his tantrum.

"He'll be back." Phil finally stated out loud, half for himself as well as in answer to Techno's comment, "It worked on Wilbur."

At this Wil snapped his head up towards his father with a small frown.

"Huh?"

"You used to run from the table too, when there was food you didn't like." Phil stated with a slight chuckle, "You'd come back after about five minutes or so."

"I don't remember doing that." Wil stated with a full pout this time.

"You were small, but its true. Your mother can back me on this." Phil insisted before pointing his fork at Wil, "You almost got me in trouble a few times because of it, you little shit."

Wilbur's pout vanished in an instant, replaced with one of surprise and amusement as Techno let out a gasp from his own seat. Phil only continued to grin at them for a moment before going back to eating. He knew what he said and he meant it. He knew Wilbur wouldn't repeat it to their mother and Techno himself wouldn't dare let out a 'bad word'. At the tender age of seven his middle child was still at a point where he would sooner call someone out for bad language than to use it himself. Tommy was the only real concern he had and, well, Tommy had stepped out hadn't he?

"Dad, you said a bad word!" Techno reported as if the man himself might not have known.

"That I did, Techno." Phil nodded as sent his son a grin.

"You have to put a money in the 'bad word' jar." Techno informed him ever so diligently.

"Of course. I'll do that right after dinner, okay?"

Phil fought to keep from laughing but did nothing to hide the smile on his face. A smile that Wilbur nearly matched over his giggling. The swear jar had been put into place by his wife when Wilbur himself had let out a few choice words at some neighborhood kid roughly a year ago. They hadn't seen the kid, but Wilbur insisted he'd earned it while Techno only supplied confirmation about there being another kid and Wilbur cussing at them. Considering his wife took special care with her words around kids, theirs or not, they didn't really have to wonder what the source was.

Phil was…less careful with his language. Not on purpose and not even all that often….anymore. It was mostly muttered to himself, he assumed, when his work had been giving him trouble or when he was playing playing games with his friends online. Not something he considered being enough to pass it on to the kids.

So, yea, the jar was mostly for him. Occasionally for Wilbur, but from the look Kristin gave when their son made a deposit, it was still just for him. His wife often teasing that the jar doubled as an ice cream fund and Phil honestly saw no reason to correct her. So long as Wilbur didn't get any ideas on that.

"Tommy?" Wilbur's voice broke into Phil's thoughts and had the man glancing up at his eldest before following his line of sight.

In the opening that lead from the kitchen to the living room Tommy stood as he struggled to pull on one of his coats. A little bear one he'd grown fond of. At his feet was an old schoolbag of Techno's that looked to be stuffed with Tommy's toys and one of Wilbur's sweaters if he had to guess at the sleeve poking out.

"Where do you think your going, mate?" Phil asked, now shifting in his chair to stand up.

"I'm going away." Tommy replied bluntly, voice heated as he gave up on the zipper.

"Away?" Phil questioned with a tilt of his head.

"I'm runnin' away." Tommy replied as he stooped to pick up his bag.

"Running away? You don't have anywhere to go, Toms." Wilbur stated from his seat, though he seemed tempted to get up as well.

Phil motioned for his eldest to remain where he was as Phil himself approached the youngest.

"Why are you running away, Tommy?" Phil asked gently though greatly amused more than concerned.

"You can't run away, Tommy! Then we can't play anymore!" Techno protested from his own seat but Phil just smiled back at him.

"Its okay, Techno. Keep eating your dinner boys." He directed before dropping down to be more at level with the younger blond, "Now, why are you running away, Toms?"

Tommy, who had paused and was starting at Techno now with a fresh uncertainly on his face. Both of the older boys were staring at him and it seemed to breaking his will a bit. Still, Tommy was certainly one blessed with determination and before his will could crumble further his eyes were back on his father.

"I don't like you anymore." Tommy replied bluntly.

It caused Phil to blanch a second, not having expected it in the slightest. He wasn't the only the one apparently as sounds of Techno suddenly choking on his drink could be heard. Wil moved quick to help by the sounds of it, Tommy's eyes only briefly darting to his siblings before refocusing on his father.

Stormy sky blue eyes locked with a startled set of shaded cornflower ones. Phil couldn't even help the pause he gave as words failed him. In all his years of being a dad he'd not had one of his boys yet tell him something like this. Not even when Wilbur was at his most upset.

Even knowing Tommy didn't mean it, it still hurt to hear.

Tommy seemed to realized something in his words was wrong, but he didn't know what to do about it. So, instead he puffed up his chest and cheeks and stared at his father with the strongest frown he could manage as he hugged his bag to his chest.

"Why, why do you say that, Toms?" Phil asked with a slight stutter, his voice a bit softer from before as he himself felt uncertain now.

What were you exactly supposed to do when your child declares they don't like you?

" 'Cus-" Tommy hesitated here as if he himself had no idea what to reach for, " 'Cus you're mean, and stinky and I don't like you!"

It was easy for the feeling of ease to return to Phil at his youngest's reasoning. The same reasons having been used many times against Wilbur or Techno if the boys failed to share enough of their time, toys or snacks with the small blond.

"Okay. So, your solution to not liking me is to run away?" Phil asked, nodding along as if this were making perfect logical sense.

"Yes!" Tommy confirmed with a sharp nod of his head before he turned for the door, "I'm going to run away now."

"Hm. What about your shoes?" Phil asked as he pushed back onto his feet, following his son.

"I can do it!" Tommy declared as he approached the shoe shelf.

The boy paused as he looked over the groups of footwear available. He wasn't, in fact, able to get his own shoes on just yet, but that hardly seemed to deter him. In fact, he seemed to find his own solution easily enough.

Grabbing a pair of Techno's blue rainboots Tommy dragged them to the stool used for getting their shoes on and off. It was a bit awkward but Tommy managed to get his feet inside, the edge of the boot tops just shy of Tommy's knees, making it a task to walk in.

"Are you going to be gone for long?" Phil asked as he tried very hard to stifle to coo that wanted to slip from his mouth.

"Forever." Tommy replied in a wobbly tone as he worked to keep his balance, "Or until you stop being mean."

At this Tommy looked up to his father, pausing as if there were to be some sort of chance for the man to plead for him to stay.

Phil just stared back and shrugged.

"I don't think I'm mean." He replied simply.

This wasn't what Tommy wanted to hear at all of course. The small child seemed even further insulted by the idea that his father was, in fact, not at all a mean or stinky man.

"Then forever." Tommy repeated as he turned for the door.

"If you really want to then." Phil replied casually as he reached for the handle Tommy himself couldn't fully reach yet to pull down.

"What?!"

"You're gunna let him leave?!"

Phil whipped his head around to see that both Wilbur and Techno had followed the pair out of the kitchen and had been watching around the wall of the hall that bent towards the door. Wilbur's mouth was still dropped in shock while Techno pleaded for some sort of answer.

"If he wants to go boys, then we let him. Tommy is the one making the decision." Phil stated, though he shook his head 'no' to them and hoped they understood.

Tommy was too busy staring with shock back at his siblings to even bother looking up at the man. Wilbur continued to gape, his mouth opening and closing for a moment as he tried to process what he was seeing and hearing at once. Techno didn't seem to have that ability at the moment as he moved towards his little brother.

"But, its dark out and cold and you're small and we'll miss you!" Techno blurted out as he reached for his brother.

Phil picked Techno up quickly and gave him a hug even as the boy struggled to be put down. Phil was, perhaps, starting to feel bad about this little ruse. The whole 'let them try to run away' method didn't really seem to work when you had worried siblings around, let alone two of them.

Phil rocked around so they were slightly more away from Tommy, who was standing by the door still and looking more guilty than before.

"it's okay, tech. he wont make it far. i am not actually going to let him go." He tried to assure his middle child, adding a pat on his back.

Techno let out a thick sniffle as he looked at his father with a small measure of doubt.

"Really?" He asked, his voice wavering with his worry and fear.

Phil nodded, once more stabbed with a measure of regret he didn't recall feeling the last time he did this. Though, the last time it had been Wilbur and Techno was too small to even know what was going on.

"You sure you want to go, Tommy?" Wilbur asked, his own voice softened by uncertainty as he continued to watch his baby brother.

Phil could see the conflicted look on his eldest sons face, but he seemed to have grasped what Phil was trying to do. He didn't rush forwards or yell out reasons to stay like Techno had. But Phil could see the boys hands flexing as if he wanted to.

Looking to Tommy Phil could now see a far stronger doubt on his face than there was before. His expression flickered between a stubborn grimace and a guilty frown with a trembling lower lip. Honestly Phil was surprised Tommy hadn't cracked already, but the boy shook his head and turned for the door once more.

"I'm runnin' away." He insisted, though his voice was unsteady as he spoke the words.

Tommy reached for the door handle, quickly giving a frustrated punch against the door when it failed to open for him. Phil reached out and opened it, keeping Techno on his hip for now.

"Okay, Tommy. You be safe out there, mate." Phil supplied, though a lot less amused than he'd originally planned to.

He couldn't help but feel bad now as he seemed to be the only one finding the humor in the moment. His older sons far more worried than he was, not yet knowing the lack of seriousness in Tommy's attempt to run.

"Okay, bye-bye." Tommy offered back, his voice more tense with his mixed feelings instead of his original anger.

At Tommy's 'bye-bye' Techno's hands tightened in Phil's shirt as he turned his head to watch his little brother. The door creaked as Phil pushed it open enough for the small blond to get through, offering another 'bye' and met with one in return.

As the door shut behind him Tommy stopped and fidgeted in place. Phil thought, and honestly hoped, that this would be it. That Tommy would lose his nerve and come back inside. They'd all sit back down at the table and Tommy, despite all the fuss, would eat at least one vegetable before Phil caved and gave him more noodles. His brothers would tease him about his attempted…or maybe just scold him for it. At this point Phil wasn't sure it would be.

Tommy turned around to look in through the screen of the outer door. He lifted a small hand up, shaky and uncertain, but fueled with a barely holding conviction.

"Bye-bye, Wilby. Bye-bye, Techy." He offered both his brothers, waiting for their reply with something in his eyes that was either hope or just plain tears.

Phil could feel Techno's hand tighten further as he started to shake. He was about to bring it to an end just there but Wilbur spoke up from behind now.

"Bye-bye, Toms. Don't lose your coat."

Wilbur put on a weak sort of smile, but he played along all the same. He glanced up towards Techno, who still seemed far more unsure. But, Techno trusted his brother and father and so he turned to look at Tommy as well.

"Bye-bye, Tommy." His voice was much quieter than the other two but Tommy heard all the same.

The small blond only frowned back at them, waiting a bit longer before turning away from the door once more. Phil could hear little mutters of 'bye-bye' under Tommy's breath as the child took a step forwards down the paved walk, then another.

Phil, despite knowing Tommy wasn't really going anywhere, couldn't help the anxiety building as the toddler passed over the first full stone, and then the second. It was like a timer was building in his head, telling him just how many seconds it would take for him to reach Tommy at the growing distance.

Techno was hugging tighter and tighter as Tommy progressed as well. Wilbur's hands finding their wait to Phil's shirt as he had moved to stand beside the man in order to see Tommy better as he moved away. As Tommy reached the fourth stone, only one more away from reaching the main sidewalk Phil reached a hand out to the door, ready to chase his stubborn youngest down and bring him back.

It hadn't been necessary.

Just as Phil's hand reached the door Tommy had come to a stop. He stood still, staring ahead of him and making Phil hold his breath. With another small beat of a pause Tommy looked back at the house. The sight that would have met him being his father and two older brothers staring at him, most likely with various expressions of worry.

The silence that settled between the family was awkward more than anything. Phil knowing what was going to to happen, but three young boys that really had no clue. Tommy let out a single breath of a whine as he started to turn towards them.

The toddler dared one step in the family's direction but seemed to force himself to stop. Phil could see the crumbling of all that was left of his resolve. He could also feel Wilbur's hand flinch against him making the man wonder between the two who would fully break first.

Tommy took his next step towards the house and then another, by the third his mouth was open in the beginning of a sob. Wilbur was moving faster than Phil thought and had shoved the door open as Tommy was starting his awkward run back towards them. Wilbur held onto Tommy tightly and Tommy held back just as much. With a short sniffling of his own Wil lifted Tommy up and worked to carrying him back inside.

Phil held the door open for the pair, letting a wiggling Techno down as soon as Wil had Tommy back near the shoe station. Techno added himself to the hugs and Tommy continued to cry into his brothers' arms. He was sobbing out the words 'I don't wanna go' and honestly Phil was evenly divided between his amusement and his heart breaking.

This was definitely not supposed to be this heart-wrenching.

With a sigh Phil moved towards his kids and placed his hand on Tommy's hair, giving it a reassuring ruffle.

"You're okay, Toms. You don't have to go. In fact, I think this shows just how much we all prefer you here." He tried to sooth, hoping he wasn't too later to start doing so.

"Don't leave, Toms. Don't leave ever" Wilbur was demanding through his own now falling tears, though he wasn't sobbing like his younger brothers were.

"We don't want you to go!" Techno added in agreement as he rubbed his face into Tommy wherever he could reach.

It took a few minutes of similar words before Tommy calmed enough to respond. He was slow to nod his head to them, a small and softly spoken 'ok' just barely audible.

X-x

At that point Phil had lifted Tommy up and taken him to wash up and undress from the outside gear he'd gathered. Both Techno and Wilbur had been sent back to the table to finish their eating, but the two, of course, didn't touch a thing until Tommy was back with them.

Phil had waited a good few awkwardly quiet minutes before asking Tommy to at least try one of the veggies on his plate. He wasn't in the slightest expecting the boy to finish all of them. Tommy hadn't even tried to pawn them off on his siblings or drop any on the floor. Though, Phil had at one point noticed Wilbur sneaking a piece for broccoli away from Tommy when he thought their father wasn't looking.

Honestly, the whole thing had made Phil feel so bad he didn't even hesitate to offer them ice cream for dessert. So what if Kristin had made fruit cups for the night. After he explained what they'd gone through he was sure she wouldn't at all mind. Right after she gave him a talking to about his letting it get that far that is.

Xx-XxX-xX

So, I've decided to make a short poll of the idea I put in the last notes regarding making this a full on story within the oneshots style.

a href=" /poll4441221x95584f09-139" rel="nofollow"Quiz Maker/abr /

Never made one of these before so let me know if it works or if its broken.