Author's notes:
The Fridge is one of the most polarizing episodes of The Amazing World of Gumball. While it has a lot of fans for its bonding moments between Gumball and Nicole, it also has many haters for the cruel methods Nicole used to make Gumball a winner without ever really apologizing for it in a meaningful way or realizing how awfully she was acting.
For the most part, I fall into the latter category. I think especially the ending could've been done a lot better and was a wasted opportunity by destroying what was build-up to be a heartwarming moment for the sake of a joke.
Some of you may know that someone else named Metalbrony823 already did a story like this on under the title The fridge: Alternate ending (Nicole's Anguish), but I heavily disliked that one because of how cruel it was.
To put it short, Gumball nearly beats Nicole to death there in the aftermath of the paintball game and compares her to the likes of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin and afterwards she loses her job, gets divorced by Richard, kicked out of the house and disowned by her entire family including her parents, despite the fact that they treated Nicole just as badly in her childhood.
But I still liked the idea of an alternate ending for this episode so I decided to do one of my own where I go for more of a middle way between the two extremes of Nicole just having her entire existence destroyed and her getting away scot-free. Hope you enjoy it.
…
"I don't want to be a winner. I'd rather be a disappointment to you than live like this.", Gumball revealed to the shock of Nicole.
"What? Gumball... no no... disappointed? I could never be disappointed in you. I just saw your potential, that's all, and... I wanted you to reach it. I'm sorry if I upset you. Please, just... just take the flag my little trooper. You've earned it.", she answered.
"Thanks, Mom.", Gumball said before turning around to grab the flag.
Just in that moment though, he heard a paintball dry fire behind him. He turned around in disbelief and saw Nicole aiming at him.
"Did you just try and shoot me in the back?!", he asked not very loudly but angrily.
"No.", Nicole hastily replied, but it didn't sound convincing one bit.
Realizing that, she quickly started grabbing paintballs and placing them back in her gun, apparently still intent on winning so Gumball shot her.
"There! You happy now?!", he wondered, not any less frustrated than during his previous sentence.
Nicole couldn't help herself but chuckle for a moment before she started to full on laugh.
"Sorry.", she said in-between her laughter, hoping that Gumball would join in.
She didn't hear anything from him though so she opened her eyes to see his reaction and he didn't look amused at all. He looked disappointed, like someone who felt betrayed.
"You think this is funny?", Gumball asked silently, but in a way that makes it clear he was holding back a lot of anger right now.
"Well, um… kinda?", Nicole attempted to lighten up the mood once more although she was starting to feel the tension as well right now as her laughter slowly decreased.
"So was what you said earlier just a lie then? How I could never be a disappointment to you?", Gumball responded, still mostly silent but his voice was slowly rising.
"W-What!? No, of course not! Why would you think that?", Nicole wondered as she now wasn't laughing anymore but got worried instead.
"Oh, I don't know.", Gumball replied bitterly in a sarcastic tone, before his anger finally started pouring out.
"MAYBE BECAUSE YOU JUST TRIED TO SHOOT ME THE MOMENT I TURNED MY BACK TO YOU!? Seems like you just said that to emotionally manipulate me into letting my guard down so you can still win the bet and don't have to get rid of the chart after all!"
"What!? N-No, I was just-", Nicole started, but Gumball didn't want to hear it.
She truly wasn't planning to do that and was already content with giving up the chart after finding out how much it damaged Gumball. She was just trying to shoot him afterwards as a little prank.
Unfortunately though, she could see how this could be easily interpreted the wrong way now that he was saying it.
"Honestly I don't know who I should be more disappointed with right now!", Gumball continued with a bitter chuckle.
"You for doing something this cruel to me or myself for believing even for a second that you were genuine."
Nicole's heart dropped after hearing this, but Gumball wasn't done yet.
"Of course it was a lie! 'I COULD NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED IN YOU'", he imitated her words.
"WHAT A JOKE! You basically admitted yourself that you were disappointed when I said that I'm happy the way I am and you answered that that isn't good enough!"
Nicole felt tears pricking at her eyes. She wanted to tell her son how wrong he was about that. But after what she said back then and did right now, how could she while making it sound like it was the truth?
"'You saw my potential and wanted me to reach it'. I was never interested in reaching my potential by your awful standards in the first place but you don't care about what I want, do you!? I'm nothing more than a tool for you so you can further bask in your toxic obsession of being a winner, am I not!?"
"N-No, Gumball. I-I-", she started but couldn't continue, too hurt by both the accusation and the fact that it wasn't just blind anger from her son, but after what she did to him he had every reason to think that of her.
"And it's not just me. That's your attitude towards the entire family! You're turning them into beasts such as yourself and you either don't realize it or just don't care! Even Darwin told me during the paintball game earlier that the chart was evil and is only destroying this family! In other words, YOU are destroying this family!"
Nicole flinched at his words once more, but it got only worse.
"I mean are you completely out of your mind!? You let an old lady beat me up with a fish! You forced me to carry you up a bunch of stairs! YOU LET ME STAND ON A ROOF WITH A GOLF CLUB DURING A STORM WHILE I COULD'VE BEEN HIT BY LIGHTNING!
AND WORST OF ALL YOU STRANDED ME… IN THE DESERT! AND FORCED ME TO WALK HOME ALL THE WAY BY MYSELF THROUGH THE NIGHT! SOMEONE COULD HAVE COME UP AND KIDNAPPED ME… OR WORSE!
AND WHAT WAS YOUR EXCUSE FOR IT!? 'NO GAIN WITHOUT A LITTLE PAIN'? WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU!?",
Gumball finished his rant for a moment, giving Nicole the chance to speak.
"I-I…", she tried but couldn't form any words, the weight of her actions finally hitting her. She really became so obsessed with Gumball becoming a winner that she put him in severe danger. Everything he said was the truth. What kind of mother does that?
"Gummypuss, I'm so sorry, I-", she stepped forward and reached out to him desperately through her tears, wanting to hug him but he wasn't going to let her.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!", Gumball screamed and unsheathed his claws, swiping at Nicole's arms as she came closer than he was comfortable with right now.
"OW!", Nicole yelled out while falling back, before realizing that he made impact with her arm. She looked at the red mark on it in disbelief as the realization hit in. Gumball, her son… just scratched her.
The scratch itself didn't hurt too badly, not as much as the emotional pain of him doing something like this to her in the first place, all because he didn't want her to touch him.
"You're a monster. You're the worst mother ever and I hate you! You disgust me! And honestly, if there's one thing this whole situation proved then it's that I was right to not have any interest in being a winner by your standards. After all, the last thing I'd ever want for myself is to turn out like you!", Gumball finished with more venom in his last word than during anything he said before.
That completely shattered Nicole's heart and she collapsed to her knees as she couldn't stop herself from crying loudly anymore.
Gumball just stood there for a moment, looking at her with an unreadable expression before walking away, clearly having said what he wanted to and not feeling any pity for her right now.
As Nicole was all alone only one thought crossed her mind.
Oh my God, what have I done?
…
After a while she finally composed herself enough to return to the car where everyone else was already waiting for her.
The drive back home was filled with an uncomfortable silence.
Nicole tried to appear casual but everyone could tell that something was deeply bothering her and it had to do with Gumball, also because after his own return he told everyone what happened in a massively toned-down version as he wasn't in the mood to waste much more energy on it right now either.
Darwin, Anais and Richard felt just as awkward as Nicole on the way back as they could feel the tension but nobody was brave enough to ask what was really going on in the fear of making things even worse.
As they arrived home, Gumball quickly went to his room. Darwin and Anais could see that he needed some space so they didn't follow him there.
They joined Richard on the couch for a while, hoping to get their minds off of everything by watching a bit of TV but they weren't able to really focus on what was happening on the screen, constantly looking over to the dining table where Nicole has been sitting since they came home, looking dejected, broken.
Eventually they decided that they couldn't leave it like that and went to ask Nicole together about what happened between her and Gumball earlier.
She told them everything. Everything he said and everything she did to him in the last few days.
"You did what!? MOM, HOW COULD YOU!?", Anais furiously asked, barely able to believe it herself.
Nicole flinched at her daughter reminding her once more about how much damage she did.
"I know I messed up-", she started.
"'Messed up' is quite the understatement, don't you think?", Anais interrupted her.
"Sweetie, let's keep it down a little, alright?", Richard said, putting a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"What!? But she-", Anais tried to argue before Richard pointed his head in Nicole's direction as a sign.
Anais looked over to Nicole and realized that her words only made her mother feel even worse. Feeling less angry and more regretful now, she lowered her ears.
"Sorry, Mom. I didn't want to-", Anais began.
"No, it's okay. You're absolutely right.", she interrupted Anais while looking down.
The rest of the family looked at her in sadness, not sure what they could say to lift her spirits. While Darwin and Richard didn't lash out at her, they were also very shocked and a bit disgusted by what Nicole had done to Gumball.
But they restrained themselves from voicing their thoughts, seeing that Nicole was already feeling bad enough and adding fuel to the fire wouldn't really get them anywhere.
"I don't know how I can ever make this up to Gumball. Or if he'll even give me a chance at doing it in the first place.", Nicole added while she started to tear up again at the thought that she may has lost her son for good.
"Come on, you know that he was just lashing out and doesn't really hate you, right? Gumball loves you. He just needs some time alone right now.", Darwin tried to reassure her.
"On the other hand, if you really want to show him how much you want to make it up to him, it might be better to do it quickly and not wait too long or else you might give him the impression that you don't want to put much effort into fixing things.", Anais offered a different solution.
"Uhh... what she said.", Richard added while pointing at his daughter.
"But what would I even say to Gumball? He wouldn't even let me touch him earlier.", Nicole asked.
"Just go up there and pour your heart out! Tell him how you feel.", Anais advised her.
"And… what if he's not ready yet? What if he rejects me again?", Nicole wondered.
"Then that's his decision and you need to accept that. But at least that way nobody can say that you didn't try. That way he might see how much you care. You have to give it a shot.", Anais continued.
Nicole thought about it for a moment before making her decision.
"You know what? You're right!", Nicole said, suddenly much more determined now than they had seen her since the end of the paintball game.
"That's the spirit!", Darwin cheered her on.
But before she went up, Nicole had something else to say.
"And uhh… I wanted to apologize to all of you too. Gumball wasn't the only one I hurt with this stupid chart. I made all of you feel like you weren't good enough and had to prove yourselves and pushed you into becoming as obsessed with succeeding as I was. I'm so sorry for what I did.
I promise, nothing like that will ever happen again. We'll throw that chart away and none of you have to prove yourselves with achievements or anything. You're all amazing as you are and I'll do better from now on to be the wife and mother you actually deserve.", Nicole added in a regretful tone.
"Awww, it's alright. We know you didn't mean it like that, right kids?", Richard asked while pulling Nicole into a hug.
"Yeah, Mrs. Mom. We forgive you.", Darwin said while joining the hug.
"Don't worry, Mom. Everything will be alright.", Anais finished before also joining the group hug.
"Besides, not all of it was bad. I had some fun during the paintball game.", she added.
"A bit too much fun I'd say.", Darwin jokingly replied, remembering how she tried to hunt him and Gumball down during the game.
They all laughed for a moment, enjoying the moment before Nicole pulled away.
"Thank you all.", she said before turning to the stairs and gulping. "Well, it's time."
And with that she walked up the stairs as the rest of the family waited downstairs.
With every step that she came closer to her children's bedroom, she got more nervous though, going through scenarios in her head of Gumball having a bad reaction to her continued attempt to apologize, maybe even lashing out again.
As she stood in front of the door, she was tempted to just abandon the mission and try later again, thinking it might be better after all if she gives it more time.
But she couldn't do that. Not now. She had to face this. For Gumball.
So she knocked on the door before speaking up.
"Gumball, sweetie? C-Can I come in?", she asked with a mix of hope and fear.
He didn't say anything for a few seconds before eventually answering in a silent tone.
"You can."
Apprehensively, Nicole opened the door and stepped inside before closing the door behind her.
She saw Gumball sitting on his bed, as he was putting his phone away that he just played with since coming home to distract himself.
He turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. He didn't seem to be angry right now, but he didn't exactly look welcoming either. He was kinda just looking at Nicole like she was a stranger.
And somehow, that made it even worse.
Gumball himself had mixed feelings right now. On the one hand he was still rather angry at his mother for everything she has put him, and by extension the rest of the family, through these last few days.
On the other hand though, he was also feeling a bit guilty about how far he went in his rant towards her and even attacked her. All the frustration that has built itself up these last days just came up all at once and seeing his mother try to shoot him in the back after seemingly manipulating him into letting his guard down was the last straw.
He meant most of what he said, but was getting carried away at the end in an attempt to let everything out that he could at the moment. Even after everything he just couldn't bring himself to hate her.
But that didn't mean that he was exactly comfortable around her right now. Still, he at least felt like she deserved a chance to speak, something she tried to do earlier but couldn't as she was too overwhelmed with the situation.
Nicole carefully approached Gumball's bed, hoping that he would be okay with her sitting down beside him.
He didn't protest against it or evaded her so she sat down, still trying to figure out how she would start this conversation.
"Sweetie, I-I don't know what to say. Words can't even begin to describe how sorry I am.", Nicole admitted, hanging her head down.
Gumball stayed silent, waiting for her to continue and see where this was going.
"You were right, you were right about everything you said earlier. I was so awful to you and I don't know how to ever make it up to you.", she continued.
"So… you're gonna take that chart down then?", Gumball asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What? Yes, of course I will! That's what we agreed on, remember?", Nicole wondered.
"I remember. I just wasn't sure you were willing to actually keep your word. Especially considering how you still tried to shoot me in the back at the end after your so-called apology."
Nicole's heart sank at the reminder of that moment again.
"Speaking of, how do I know you're honest right now? How do I know that this is not just more fake regret so I'll forgive you only for you to turn back to your old ways immediately afterwards?", Gumball asked while crossing his arms.
This made Nicole feel even worse, hearing that she hurt her son so badly that he didn't even feel like he could trust her anymore.
"Gumball, I know how this must sound but I swear on my life, I was never intending to still win the bet at that point. Me shooting you afterwards was just supposed to be a little fun, but that was clearly the wrong situation for that and I-I see that now.
I already made my decision to take the chart down after hearing how much it upset you and even would have done that at that point if it wasn't for the bet. I should have realized before how you felt.", she admitted sadly.
"I-I really meant what I said there. I was never disappointed in you. You're such an amazing son and brother and I'm so proud of you.", Nicole continued with tears in her eyes.
Gumball was relieved to hear that his mom was never intending to betray his trust after all, but still wasn't certain if he should believe it. Even if she was telling the truth, that didn't take away from everything she did before.
"How? How did you not realize before how awful it all was for me? After all the terrible things you put me through!?", he wanted to know.
"I-I think I'm a lot more like my parents than I thought.", Nicole admitted guiltily.
That answer surprised Gumball. Nicole never talked much about her parents and he still didn't exactly know what happened between them, only that they are no longer in contact and that his mom didn't like to remember what happened, so he never bothered her with it.
"When I was your age, my parents cared for nothing more than my success. They put me through every possible after-school activity, said things such as 'Second place is first place for losers' whenever I didn't meet their expectations and never approved of anything I did or wanted as long as it wouldn't benefit their plans of giving me a successful future.
And I hated it. When I was old enough and couldn't take it anymore I moved out and haven't seen them ever since. I promised myself that I wouldn't be like them and give you kids the freedom to decide your own future and not put you through the hell I went through. But I failed.
I'm not any better than they were. I took more from them with me than I ever wanted and I know that's not an excuse for what I did but I do want you know how sorry I am. But I'll understand if you hate me now. I hate myself too for what I did to you.", Nicole finished as tears were now streaming down her face.
Gumball needed a moment to take her words in before he responded.
"I don't hate you.", he said silently, causing Nicole to lift her head with confusion and some hope.
"I was just… really angry and lashing out at you earlier. I meant most of what I said but not that part. I… also had no idea you went through the same thing with your parents when you were a kid.", he continued while Nicole was waiting to see if he'd say even more.
"I'm… sorry too. I shouldn't have said those awful things at the end. I shouldn't have clawed at you when you wanted to hug me-", Gumball started, but Nicole interrupted him.
"No, Gumball. Stop it. You have nothing to apologize for. You had every right to react how you did. I deserved to hear those things or else I never would've realized how much I messed up. I swear, things will be different from now on. I'm so sorry and I never want you to feel like that again.", Nicole reassured her son.
Gumball thought about everything she just said before a little smile grew on his face.
"Okay, I think I'm ready to forgive you now.", he said.
"Y-You are?", Nicole asked, wondering if she didn't mishear what he said.
"I do.", Gumball said again, before opening his arms and Nicole didn't hesitate for a second before pulling him into the tightest hug she ever gave him.
"I love you, Gumball.", she earnestly said. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mom.", he replied just as affectionately as he hugged her back.
Tears began streaming down Nicole's face again as she held him, only this time it were tears of joy. She was so happy that she had her son back and she would make sure to never let him down again.
The End