So I want to point out that everything that occurred in the sequels (besides Rob going to college, getting married, and having a son) didn't happen, and this story takes place in a separate universe where the gang is forced to move on without Toaster to guide them. Therefore, Rob didn't study to become a veterinarian in this universe and there are no animal rescues or insanely weird trips to Mars.

Warning: Some self-harm. Based off an old fanfic I did for another fandom.

Hang in There Kid/Helping a Friend

Ten Years Later…

Lampy jolted awake late one night to a loud clang coming from the kitchen. Letting his curiosity get the best of him he quietly hopped down from Rob's computer desk, and raced downstairs in search of the culprit responsible for disturbing his peaceful slumber.

Once he approached the doorway he poked his head around the corner. There he saw young Blanky frantically digging around in a kitchen drawer looking awfully troubled by something.

"Oh hey, Blanky. What are you doing up so late? Couldn't sleep, huh?"

The little Blanket didn't answer him, nor did he even bother turning around to face the other appliance. Instead he kept his tiny beady eyes glued to his left arm.

When Lampy didn't get any response from the electric blanket, he then spotted a pocketknife Rob kept to slice open letters and envelopes with laying there on the floor. His eyes widened in extreme shock at the sight of a huge gash scraped straight across Blanky's now torn up fabric.

"Blanky, what in the name of Edison happened in here?! D-did you cut your arm while we were all asleep? Why did you do that?"

Blanky slowly turned to face Lampy with a quivering lip. A wave of intense sadness quickly came crashing down over him.

"I-I did a bad thing, Lampy. A very bad thing! I-I couldn't control myself!" He was now in hysterics. Tears streaming down his face like a child who had done something horrific.

"I should've stopped him, but I didn't wanna be separated from our master again. Now Toaster's gone forever and it's all my fault! What is wrong with me?!"

Nothing's wrong with you, Blanky!Lampy thought in remorse, but choose not to say anything aloud due to believing it was a rhetorical question.

Lampy spontaneously threw his cord around Blanky and hugged him tightly. To see his little friend look and sound so crestfallen was more than enough to bring tears to his own eyes.

It had been approximately ten years since Toaster's death and it had struck his friends hard with each passing day, especially poor Blanky. Christmastime being the most heart-wrenching of all.

Lampy still remembered the day of Robbie's arrival from the hospital, and how fast Blanky rushed into the kitchen filled with excitement to tell Toaster about the special delivery only to be sadly met with a dark and cold room and an empty space up on the countertop. Almost as if Toaster's absence had stolen all the light and warmth that once filled the room.

Some nights he'd dreamt Toaster would still be alive and kicking ready to plan their next big adventure. In others he sadly wouldn't survive, or fell into a comatose state shortly after being rescued from the rusty old gears. Those dreams would often leave Blanky feeling traumatized and awfully hopeless.

Radio would help calm him with a gentle lullaby Toaster used to softly sing whenever he had nightmares back at the cottage on stormy nights, and Lampy would always gladly read him one of Rob's favorite childhood storybooks.

Kirby? Well, although still cantankerous and not really the comforting type he too would pitch in regardless whenever Blanky needed a hug and a shoulder to cry on.

"It's not your fault, Blanky. None of us even knew where Toaster was at that very moment, and we just couldn't leave the master's side since the magnet was constantly after us. That and it highly goes against our appliance code around humans. It's okay. Look, I know I'm not very good at this comforting stuff, but-"

He stopped mid-sentence when he felt Blanky snuggle up against his gooseneck.

"it just felt like the right thing to do…"

Blanky immediately brushed away the remaining tears and slipped himself out of Lampy's cord. He'd felt so ashamed of doing such a horrible thing. He and the others often heard about and had actually seen with their own eyes some bad things humans were capable of doing. However, never had they ever suspected one of their own would commit such crimes.

"It's okay, Lampy. I'm sorry I scared you like that. I guess I just let my deep sorrow of missing Toaster get in the way. I was trying to find a bandage when you came down here. I really appreciate your company, Lampy. Thanks."

Lampy smiled sadly and nodded in understanding. He lightly pat Blanky's head with his plug, then grabbed some bandages from the first aid kit inside the drawer and wrapped up Blanky's arm.

''It's alright. Hang in there, kid.''