Anti woke up the the smell of coffee. Sniffing the air with his eyes still closed, he stretched. He vaguely could feel someone's arm around him but didn't really mind all that much in his sleepiness.

Then he could hear voices mumbling and talking quietly.

Our of irritation, he finally opened his eyes. Most of the Septic Egos were gone from the couch but Anti looked up to see he was still held by Jackie and Chase. Sometime during the night, they re-situated themselves and Chase was lying behind him on the couch cuddling him like a teddy bear while Jackie was lying opposite of them. Somehow, though, they were both in his lap even if just their legs. Groaning lightly, Anti cracked his back and stretched upwards to get out of their grasp as quietly as possible.

But that was in vain, "Anti? You awake lil bro?"

Anti wanted to hiss at the nickname but was still too drowsy to respond with his usual sass.

His back cracked again and he shuffled away from Chase. The father merely pat his back with a smile, "I smell coffee. Go get some, dude. You clearly need it"

Jackie's eye cracked open at the very mention of the dirty bean water and he unconsciously licked his lips and stretched as well, "I'll come with."

"Aw, leaving me all alone" Chase mumbled, "And cold"

"Get up then" Anti playfully flicked his forehead before trotting off to the Iplier kitchen.

"Ow! Little fuck"

As he walked away, he could hear Jackie getting up, too and snorting, "Someone's feeling back to themselves"

"Brats, the lot of ya" Chase commented.

Once Anti finally made his way into the kitchen, he was surprised to see so many people in there all strewn about. All of the Iplier egos and the rest of the Septics were standing around, leaning on counters or walls chatting happily together. 

No one seemed to see him but he was okay with that for the moment. He needed coffee. Nudging through people to get to the coffee machine, he finally broke through to see someone already standing in front of it finishing the pot. He was about to grumble until the bastard turned around.

Almost everyone went quiet, watching the interaction.

Dark took the last cup of coffee and was now staring at Anti seemingly caught off guard.

Anti was no better, however, but for a different reason. It had been a while since he had seen Dark in regular clothing but wearing an Unus Annus shirt? He looked so  . . . .  normal. Besides the cane in his other hand. Weird.

"Dark." Anti acknowledged.

He could hear Jackie behind him snort, "Smooth"

Anti elbowed him making the hero grunt softly.

"Anti" Dark nodded in response, "I see you're back to normal"

"Just as smooth" Wilford giggled lightly only to be completely ignored.

"You too. Feeling . . .̸b̶e̵t̶t̸e̸r̸?̸"̷

He nodded, "Yes. I am. Thank you"

"The two stared at each other in silence. Both oblivious as to what to do next. Perhaps they should just hug it out already?" the Host said blandly in his narrating voice.

Anti's eyes widened and he bit his lip. Things couldn't get more awkward here.

Dark sighed, sensing the atmosphere, "I mean it Anti. Thank you. If it hadn't been for you, I'd be dead. A lot of people would be dead. I owe you my life, my friend" with a minuscule smile, Dark offered his cup of coffee to him.

There were a few sharp intakes of breathe and Anti looked around at everyone with a glare, making most of them look away and pretend they weren't gawking.

Seeing as Dark wasn't going to let him refuse, Anti took the cup and grinned, "Thanks man. You sure you didn't turn into Mark? You sure do look like you could fit the bill now"

Dark's eye twitched, feeling a bickering on the rise, "Someone's feeling as perky and annoying as ever, I see"

"Not as perky as you. I saw that smile, y̴a̵ ̶l̶u̷g̶!̴ Ya gonna stop traffic that way!"

"So will you, you and your neon flare-ups. Got your temper under control yet, turtle-boy?"

"At least I don't scare kids"

"Okay now that's a low blow, asshole"

"Kids, kids! Knock it off, already!" Mark came around and pat Dark's back with a smile.

"Yeah yer supposed to be making up, not starting a new fight!" Sean appeared by Anti and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, slightly shaking him affectionately.

"Maybe they should kiss and make up?" Anti knew that was Marvin and he'd get him back later for that. His glare flared, making several people edge back a tad.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Dark grumbled at Mark who seemed as chipper as always.

"Nah! I feel fine! Don't worry about it, bub!"

"I wasn't worried. And don't call me that"

"Aw, I know you care" Dark rolled his eyes. He could tell his life was going to just be insufferable now.

"Mark, leave him be" Amy came to the rescue, "He could still kill you, you know. Or maim you"

Dark smirked at Amy's words, "Maiming sounds nice." Mark promptly backed off a few inches.

Before Anti could comment, the coffee was removed from his hand suddenly. Chase had appeared out of nowhere and was now sipping it!

"̶H̷e̸y̵!̴ ̶That was mine!"

"Technically it was Dark's first, bro. You weren't drinking it, anyways. Needs whiskey" he mumbled the last bit to himself and Sean rolled his eyes at the tasteless comment.

After the talking and bickering finally died down, Sean made the decision that they should make their way home. Now that Marvin's energy was back up to normal, he could take them all back home even if his arm was in a sling. Dark had apologized for what he did under the void's control but Marvin wouldn't hear of it. It was okay, he'd heal it himself at home with a potion.

Awkwardly, everyone started saying their good-byes. It had been a while since they all saw each other and now that they were all splitting so soon, it felt odd. 

Chase, however, was the only one to notice Dark and Anti had disappeared outside. He wasn't that much of a mood-killer though and decided not to tell anyone of their absence until they were just about to leave.

Dark, meanwhile stood outside with Anti. The two felt weird standing together and not bickering but it wasn't bad.

"You really have that picture still in your desk?" Anti grinned at him.

"Of course I do" Dark said in complete sincerity, "You were the first person I really . . . . connected with, Anti"

"What about Wilford?"

Dark shrugged, "He's family. Of course that's different. And we were never as close as people thought anyways although he'd argue for Damien's sake"

"I'm glad you weren't actually an asshole the e̷n̶t̷i̵r̴e̷ time"

"You have such a way with  words" Dark deadpanned.

"You know what I mean"

"I do. . . . . why did you really come after me, Anti? And before you say your default answer let me remind you that you had NO reason to save me. You had NO obligation to try and help me and no motive to. So why? Tell me"

Anti shuffled in place a little, "I don't know, really. I guess it was just a hunch. That day at the party . . .  after the incident. You had a look in your eyes. Like you were sorry. Since then I never told anyone what really happened until just a couple days ago."

"Why?" Dark didn't get it, "Why would you just keep that a secret? You could have ended things sooner, you know. Told Mark and then he-"

"And then he would have eliminated you." Anti finished, "Well maybe I didn't want that, Dark. You  . . .  you don't realize that the only way I'm human. . . is because of you. Watching you. Being around you all that time before. You made me corporeal. I guess back then I thought I owed you, too."

"You never owed me a damn thing. No matter how many times I said you did. I was a goddamn monster for how I treated you. Hell, I made you nearly ruin Mark's whole career getting you into trouble, sending you into the void. I truly am sorry, Anti"

"And I forgive you, Dark." taking a breathe, Anti reached his hand out, "Friends?"

Neither was ever the best at bonds. Neither was any good at reaching out. So Dark did them both a favor and took his hand, "Of course. Always."

-888888888888888888888888888888888-

About a week later, things were back to normal in both the Iplier and Septic households.

Anti and Jackie were in Henrik's office getting patched up from sparring. Apparently neither one knew how to stop and they ended up beating the fuck out of each other. Nothing new there, really. At least they were laughing about it now. 

Henrik rolled his eyes as the two were smirking. Jackie snorted, "I'd say I won that fight. . .again"

"Says the asshole that's sporting lightning burns"

"Hey, I ended up pinning you, didn't I?" Jackie shoved him lightly.

"I totally let you"

"Take that back" Jackie growled at him, "You'd NEVER let yourself get pinned like that! Although maybe by someone ELSE" Henrik whopped him upside the head before he could go further.

"Brats, shut zhe fook up! I vill ductape your mouths shut if I have to!"

Anti rolled his eyes dramatically as he finished patching them up, "W̴h̴a̷t̴e̴v̸e̷r̷ ̶d̷o̶c̵"̴

Jackie chuckled, "I'm gonna go find Chase. Good fight, dude. Next time, don't hold back" he ruffled Anti's hair and before the glitch could attack, he ran off.

"̷A̵s̶s̷h̸o̵l̴e̷"̵

"You are free to go, too, Anti" Henrik told him, "I finished with you as vell"

Anti swallowed and bit his lip, "Actually, Hen. There was something I've been meaning to talk to you about. . . "

Henrik didn't look at him but acknowledged his words as he wrote something down on his notepad, "Yes?"

He took a breathe, knowing this was going to get emotional as fuck, "It's about . . .  when I was in the void. Fighting that thing. When it took control of me, you know?"

Henrik listened, putting the notepad down on his desk, "Yes. I remember. Go on"

"It's about Olivia, Hen"

All movement stopped and Anti was afraid  the doctor would snap, the air was suddenly so thick.

"Vhat did you just say?"

"Olivia, Hen. I saw her. I̶ ̶u̴h̶ ̶.̴ ̵. momentarily died and I-"

Henrik was suddenly in front of Anti gripping his shoulders, "VHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?! Olivia. . . .she"

Anti took hold of Henrik's hands on him but made no move to shove him off, "We were in limbo." Anti smiled at the memory of the little girl giving him encouragement to fight, "She helped me get back"

Henrik had tears slowly coming down his face and his breathing was ragged, "My little girl." He whispered, "She  . . ."

"She's okay, Henrik" Anti rubbed his thumb on the back of the doctor's hand gently, "She said she's happy"

Henrik let out a garbled sob. The grip he had on Anti was more so that he wouldn't fall now but Anti had him.

"She's been watching over you. O̴v̴e̵r̸ ̶a̶l̵l̷ ̸o̷f̸ ̷u̶s̴,̶ she said"

"I swear to god, Anti you better not be lying to me"

"Why would I lie about little Olive?"

Henrik suddenly engulfed Anti in a harsh hug, holding him tight, uncaring of his wounds anymore. Anti grunted a little but held his brother close.

Henrik sobbed in his arms but Anti still offered kind words, "She said she doesn't like you feeling so sad all the time"

He snuffled in Anti's shoulder, "Cannot help zhat" he mumbled and Anti pat his back as he slowly moved away. Henrik pulled up a chair and sat down, a few tears still falling, "I miss her zo much, Anti."

"I know you do, Hen. But you know she doesn't want to see you like this. She wants you to be happy. When's the last time you saw your wife and Noah?"

Henrik looked ready to fall apart again but Anti wasn't giving up, "Maybe you should . . . go visit them?"

The doctor grit his teeth, "I do not zhink so. She vould not vant to see me. I've been away too long."

"I bet you're wrong. She's loved you forever, Hen. So what, you two divorced? You two had two kids together. Still have one. Love is love, right?" not that he'd know anything about that.

Henrik swallowed and took a deep breathe, "If zhat Rick vill let me-"

"̴F̷u̴c̸k̴ ̵h̸i̷m̸!̸ ̸They're YOUR family, not H̴I̵S̶!̸"̸

Henrik looked surprised for a moment but his face finally relaxed into a smile, "You are right, Anti." he nodded, "Alright fine. I vill talk to her." he nudged Anti uncharacteristically, "Now get out of mein office, ya fiend. I have a call to make"

Anti walked out feeling happier than before. The impending conversation had weighed down on him all week but the spar with Jackie pepped him up for it.

Walking into the living room, his spirits plummeted, however, when he noticed Chase was outside putting a suitcase in his car. His breathing picked up and memories rushed into him, remembering that day a few weeks ago Chase tried to leave. The father only stayed really because Anti went into a panic and threatened to kill himself!

As he got closer to the door, he noticed JJ was helping him and Anti burst out with fire in his eyes, "̵E̶x̵c̷u̷s̴e̴ ̷m̵e̵!̴?̴ ̶The fook is going on here?!"

Chase dropped the suitcase and it landed on his foot, "Fook! Dammit, Anti. What?"

"What you mean, w̸h̵a̸t̵!̵?̵ You're leaving again!?"

"Anti, listen-"

"No, you listen! You can't just leave!"

"Why not? I don't LIVE here anymore, Anti. I have a house of my own, you know. This doesn't mean I won't still visit you guys"

"Have you told the others besides Jameson or are you just gonna leave a f̶o̷o̶k̸i̷n̴g̵ note?"

"Fuck, Anti." he sighed.

Jameson tugged on his sweater collar looking uncomfortable but helped get the suitcase in the car.

"Thanks JJ" Chase commented and turned back to Anti, "Look, you don't have to like it  but I can't stay here man. I mean look what happened a couple weeks ago when I found out Stacy was in town, bro. I lost my goddamn mind. I could have. . . I could have-"

"No you wouldn't have" 

"The drive-by" Chase reminded him, "I made a huge mistake that day. I should be in prison for what I did. I don't blame Stacey for fearing me. I'm scared of myself. That's why I can't be here. I want her to feel safe, you know?"

Anti understood. He really did. But he couldn't just let Chase leave again. He just started feeling whole. If Chase left then . . .  he'd miss him. Sure they've had some rough patches here and there but they've grown past that now.

With a deep sigh, Anti turned away, "Fine then. B̴y̵e̵"

He got up to the door only to feel arms around him, "Hey now brat" Chase kissed his head, "You didn't think I was gonna go without a hug, did ya? I already said good-bye to the others and Sean last night."

Anti couldn't do it, though. His heart hurt. He just let Chase hug him until he gave up. The man gently pat his shoulder and got in the car, driving off.

He glitched inside the house and went up to his room to pout. He knew Chase wouldn't just give everyone the cold shoulder again like last time but it still hurt. 

'He only feels like that because of the incident' Anti thought all cuddled up in his bed like a burrito, 'He went absolutely bat-shit crazy after Stacey and him divorced. Not many people know they were actually divorced even at the party but kept up the illusion for everyone else's and the kid's sake.'

His mind wandered in silence for a while.

Until an idea struck him.

-88888888888888888888888888888888-

He shouldn't do this. He knows he shouldn't.

It was a stupid idea.

But it wasn't that crazy.

He had to try.

He couldn't live with any of his brothers feeling so sad anymore. 

He HAD to fix things.

Anti knocked on the door in front of him and immediately he felt like he wanted to just RUN.

But before he could, the door opened.

"You're. . . . Anti, right? Antisepticeye?" she asked, "Why are you here?"

"Just Anti is fine" he tried controlling his glitching, "I uh . . I need to talk to you about something important, Stacey."

A few days later Chase was back home at the log cabin he had been staying in before. He wanted to do nothing more than laze about and do nothing but something inside him urged for something. 

He started to clean up and by the end of the day, the cabin was spic and span! It made him feel good and he smiled at his work. By the TV was the shoebox he kept full of pictures. Sitting down with a sigh, he opened the box and looked through the memories, adding more into the pile of him and his brothers from the last couple months.

So much had happened in such little time, making Chase's smile fall just a little. He didn't think he would, but he missed his family so much. Anti even more so since their reconciliation. But that last hug had been so bitter and cold. He felt so bad for leaving but knew Anti was better off now than before.

Sitting up, Chase looked through more old pictures of him, his wife and his kids. He had been so stupid the last time he saw them that night, demanding Stacey like that, yelling and crying. 

It was NOT one of his best moments.

But he was better now. He'd BE better.

'Ring!' 'Ring!' 'Ring!'

Chase was jogged out of his thoughts by his phone going off. With a small sigh he looked at the caller ID.

He nearly dropped it when he saw the number! Freaking out slightly, he cleared his throat, "Um . . .uh. .. Shit. Fook it." he answered the phone, "Uh hello? This is Chase?"

He thought maybe he read the ID wrong until she answered him.

"Hey Chase. This is Stacey. Can I talk to you?"

-88888888888888888888888888888888888888-

Anti sat on the top of the clock tower overlooking the town with a small smile and a black eye.

He both felt bad for what happened the other day and happy. He hoped Stacey would call him eventually.

He swung his legs back and forth lightly.

"Ehem" a grunt alerted him from behind, "Hey Glitch"

Anti snuffed at him, "Hey ̸h̷e̴r̵o̶. Finally found me, huh?"

"You got yourself into a lot of trouble, you know. Stacey called the police after you left her place."

"I thought she would. She's smart."

"Why did you do it, Anti?" Jackie sat down next to him, "You could go to jail, you know"

"You wouldn't let that happen"

"You're right, I guess. I had Marvin put a spell on Stacey to make her think you ARE in jail. No worries."

"Cool"

Jackie snorted, "You did a good thing, Anti. Telling Stacey you had possessed Chase into doing it? Taking the blame for it all yourself? You really are-"

"̸D̷o̴n̷'̸t̷ ̸s̴a̴y̷ ̴i̷t̵"̸ Anti whined at him.

Jackie just chuckled, "Chase called and told me Stacey called. Chase says thank you by the way. Stacey wants to give him another chance. They're going out to dinner tomorrow night and the kids are staying at the Septic house if ya want to see them for a bit"

"I probably shouldn't  since they'll probably tell Stacey they saw me. . . .ah, but what the hell, they're kids and we all look alike, right?" he laughed, "̴A̵l̴r̷i̴g̶h̷t̷!̸ ̴Uncle Anti ready to babysit!"

"Oh jaysus, no fooking way in hell" Jackie laughed, "Uncle Anti ready to encourage chaos more like"

"̸W̴h̵a̵t̶e̷v̷e̵r̸.̷ ̶Same difference." he waved it off, glitching as he laughed.

Jackie swung his arm around Anti, squeezing him into a small hug, "You're a hero, Anti. I love you, man and I'm so fucking proud of you to be able to call you my brother"

There was silence as they watched the sunset and at first Jackie thought he might have broken the glitch only to look and see him tearing up just a little.

"Thanks Jackie. Love you, too, I guess"

They watched the sun go down and the stars come out. Before, Anti would be freaked out by the dark again after spending so much time in the void but after everything that's happened he couldn't help but to smile.

All his secrets were revealed and everyone forgave him for all the wrong he's done.

The enemies were gone.

Dark and him were actual friends.

His family was safe and back together and happy.

HE was happy.

Bonus:

"̶I̷m̶m̶a̷ ̷g̴o̵n̸n̵a̶ ̴g̶e̸t̶c̸h̵a̸!̵"̸ he glitched around the house taunting the children.

They screamed at their impending doom, laughter louder.

"Uncle Anti, no!" Kallie shouted, "I didn't get to hide, yet!"

"I counted ta thirty ya little brat! ̸T̵o̷o̴ ̸b̶a̷d̴!̸"̶ he grabbed her and pulled her up on his shoulder with Sammy and Noah at his sides, "Now let's find Mr. Brody, shall we!? W̵h̷i̷c̶h̵ ̷w̵a̸y̷?̴!̸"̶

"That way!" she pointed, "I saw him run into the kitchen!"

"Fair play, lass!" ̷he ran with the kids on him and burst into the kitchen where most of the other egos were either hiding or getting ready for dinner, "̷B̸O̶O̷!̴"̶

Sammy ran to Chase and hugged his legs, "Gotcha, dad!"

"AH!" Chase practically screeched while he was cooking the pasta, "Ya got me, ya stink!"

"Daddy!" Kallie whined and Anti picked her off of him so she could run to her dad for a hug, too, getting jealous. Chase laughed and kissed them both on their heads, "Wanna help daddy cook?"

Anti grinned at the sight and turned to see Noah had climbed up in his own father's lap, helping him try and beat Jameson at a game of Chess.

Marvin and Jackie were in the living room entertaining the newest additions to the family with Henrik's wife, Eliza and Stacey. After getting back together with Rick out of the picture, Henrik and her felt their passions rise like newly weds and together they had a little girl they named Sophie.

But that wasn't all. The same happened for Chase and Stacey and they had their third child, Liam, shortly before they remarried. 

Anti's heart filled as he walked into the living room to gush at his littlest niece and nephew.

He blushed red with the others, however, when Eliza huffed, "So when are the rest of you handsome boys going to get a girl and have kids?"

Stacey, having forgiven Anti a long time ago, giggled, "I'm thinking Anti plays for the other team, Eliza. I've seen Dark come and go quite often"

"Lay off, Stace!" Chase called from the kitchen, "You know he's sensitive about those accusations!" The women giggled at that.

"̷B̸e̷t̸t̷e̴r̸ ̸w̸a̸t̸c̷h̵ ̵i̴t̷"̶ ̶Anti teased back, "Might just steal your kids again"

Jackie nudged him, "NO" he warned.

"Could always adopt" Marvin suggested like a menace, "Don't Dark like kids, too?"

"I f̸o̷o̷k̴i̷n̴g̵ ̶hate you guys"

"YOU LOVE US!!" Sean and Evelien chorused from the kitchen as well.

"̸F̴o̵o̸k̵ ̷o̴f̸f̷" Anti mumbled and glitched in embarrassment, 'Yeah I do. I love you assholes'

"Unc' Anti!" little Sophie cried out making his whole heart melt.

'I love you guys'

Welp! That's it! I hope you guys all enjoyed this story and I hope the ending was what you all wanted/waited for :) 

Thank you all so much for all of your support and amazing comments. 

Let me know if I left anything out that you wanted answered.

I already have a new story in mind. I'll let you all know like always when I start it! When I do, they're be a new chapter on this book with the description and Title. I hope to see you guys on the next story, too!  💚💚💚