Chase was currently running after a small Anti around the living room yelling.

"Get back here! Just try 'em on, dude!"

"NO! Get away from me!"

"Come on! It's not that bad!"

"NO! You can't make me!" Anti leaped over the couch, only to crash flat on the floor.

Chase was quick to hover over him, "But they fit you! I know they do! Now put it on!"

Anti laid on his back trying to scoot away, "I'm not some fucking doll you can play dress-up with, you freak! Get it away from me!"

He kicked Chase in the face, knocking him back on the floor as well.

"It's just a shirt!"

"It's fucking yellow! I HATE yellow!"

Chase growled, "Little shit- Laundry day is tomorrow! Can't ya just put up with it for today?"

"NO!" Anti tried to bolt again but suddenly started to float in the air, "Hey what the fuck?!"

"Need help here, Chase?" Marvin smirked, walking in, ruffling Anti's hair while he was floating.

Chase sighed, "If ya could. Don't have any other clothes clean that'll fit him."

The magician raised a brow at the shirt, "Yeah it definitely doesn't suit him. How about this instead?"

He flicked his wrist and suddenly the shirt in Chase's hands turned a bright red, "That better?"

Chase hummed suspiciously, "Not from your black magic book again, right?"

" .. .. no"

But the exhausted father seemed to buy it for now, "Okay. How about now, Anti? You can't just run around half-naked all day"

"Why not? Side-kick does"

Marvin snorted, "JACKIE . . . . is always working out and doesn't want to get all his clothes sweaty. YOU have no excuse" he then addressed Chase again, "Why not just go to the mall and get him more clothes? Then you wouldn't have this problem"

Chase shrugged, " . . . . lazy?"

"Sounds right." Marvin snickered and dropped Anti on the ground, using magic to force the shirt on him, "All good?"

Anti glared death at them both but instead of yelling more, he just ran off to the kitchen. Probably to try and steal more brownies that Jameson had made for them all.

Chase groaned, "Man, it's like having a teenager. Hope my kids don't get to be like this"

Marvin just shrugged, "Look, if you want, I can go and get him more clothes. I honestly don't know how long it'll be until he changes back. Don't tell Jackie I said that"

"I won't . . . .. But I hope it won't be much longer. He might not act like it but I think he's really starting to get depressed. I know that look in his eyes better than anyone."

"Maybe he's . .. homesick"

"Maybe" Chase grit his teeth, "Fucking Jackie . . . he never thinks before he acts. What the hell are we gonna do when he DOES go back to normal?"

"I don't know. No sense worrying about it now, though. I'll head out and get those clothes. I'll borrow Jackie's card for good measure, huh?"

"Alright. Don't worry about that part yet until this weekend. I'll go myself and get a new one since you left the other one on the street before. I don't want you going back in that fucking store"

"I'm not helpless, Chase. I can fend for myself, you know" However, his words were appreciated.

"I know" Chase shrugged, "Still . . .. I don't like idiots like that. The idea of someone saying all that crude stuff to you. . . . it makes my blood boil. You're my brother . . . You don't deserve that shit"

" . . . . ." Honestly Marvin didn't know what to say but his heart swelled at his words, "TH-thanks, Chase. . . . I really appr-"

'Ding-dong'

"Hm?" Chase finally stood up, looking towards the door, "Who's that, you think? Were we expecting someone?"

Marvin shrugged, "Beats me. Everyone else usually just comes right in"

"I'll check it out. Can you go see if Anti's getting into trouble or not while I do?"

"Sure thing"

Meanwhile, Anti was scooting one of the kitchen chairs over to the stove. No one was in the kitchen at the moment (so he thought), so he decided to put his plan to action!

"That's good enough" he grinned, climbing up the chair, just in reach of the brownie pan. He was nearly drooling at the sight of the chocolate goodness!

"Eheheheheh!!!" he giggled to himself, 'James thought he could leave these here unwatched! And with Schneep downstairs and Red riding hood in the garage, these brownies are as good as mine!'

Jackie, however, had peeked into see Anti trying this little mischievous plan of his. He didn't know why he ducked out to not intervene but he didn't leave. Peeking carefully again, Jackie watched Anti enact his plan, 'Idiot, what does he think he's doing? Where's Marvin or Chase? Or Jameson for that matter?'

He watched though as Anti grabbed the pan with both his hands, not thinking of when they could have possibly came out of the oven.

Jackie winced, hearing Anti's sudden shriek but before he fell onto the floor, he found himself moving forward . . .

Only for Jameson to run in, just seeing it happen, bolting for the kid.

Jackie watched Jameson as he cared for him. Anti had a pained look on his face and for some reason, it tugged on Jackie's heart.

His hands were red and he could just see the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes. But the hero had to hand it to him, he didn't let himself shed those tears. He was tough and whether he hated him or not, he had to respect that.

Jameson took a bandage out from the junk drawer and lifted Anti onto the sink to run his hands under cold water to ease the pain.

'What were you thinking?' he signed to him, 'You're lucky these aren't too bad of burns. Marvin can help heal this.' he swat the back of his head lightly, 'Silly boy'

"Shut up" he mumbled, trying hard not to let his voice crack. Anti pushed Jameson away and jumped onto the floor, "I'm fine . . . don't need. . . .your help"

'Just please find Marvin. Otherwise it'll sting worse'

Leaving him to his own devices, knowing he couldn't force Anti into anything, Jameson turned to the brownies and started to cut them.

Anti tried desperately to keep himself from whining. It really did hurt bad but he wouldn't show it. Not in front of any of them.

Just as he was about to walk back into the living room, though, he heard Chase and Marvin still talking.

"I'm not helpless, Chase. I can fend for myself, you know"

"I know . . . Still . . .. I don't like idiots like that. The idea of someone saying all that crude stuff to you. . . . it makes my blood boil. You're my brother . . . You don't deserve that shit"

Anti didn't know what they were talking about but obviously someone had been messing with Marvin. He had a guess as to why but Anti really didn't understand the 'why'. Did people really have nothing better to do than make fun of how someone projected themselves? At least Marvin was honest about who he was. . . . The thought of someone making fun of him for it made Anti upset for some reason.

"TH-thanks, Chase. . . . I really appr-"

'Ding-dong'

Anti heard the doorbell but he was still sort of lost in thought until Marvin was suddenly in front of him.

"Oh hey. What are you up to, brat?" Marvin smiled down at him, "Spying, are you?"

"Huh?" Anti was knocked out of his musings, blinking, "N-no!" he clenched his fists only to wince and shake again.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

"Sure it's nothing. Then show me" Before Anti could tear himself away, Marvin grabbed his hands. At first he was surprised but sighed deeply, "You tried grabbing the brownies, didn't you? This'll serve you right, huh?"

"Shut up! I didn't-"

Marvin snapped his fingers, conjuring up a small container, "There's nothing I can do spell-wise but this cream should sure help. Made it myself" he started to unscrew the lid.

"Ew . . . I don't want your 'cream', glitter-boy"

"Haha" Marvin ignored the quip and took a dollop of it, smearing it on Anti's hands. Immediately, the pain started to ebb away and Anti relaxed.

"See? Should be healed by tonight. Try not to grab hot things in the future, though, huh?" Marvin pat his shoulder, "Rub it together like lotion until it dries away. I'm gonna go see who was at the door"

But Anti didn't want him to go just yet for some reason, "Who was making fun of you?"

Marvin blinked but quickly smirked, "So you WERE listening. Don't worry about it. It's nothing."

"I don't worry! . . .. Who were they? Tell me and you won't owe me anything for turning me into a kid"

"I'd say we're even now with me helping you with these burns. Don't worry a-"

Anti pouted but Marvin could tell he was pissed. Anti just grit his teeth and hissed slightly under his breathe. Marvin could hear him, though clearly.

"They deserve to die"

Marvin didn't know whether to be worried or happy that he felt that way but instead of getting upset over his anger, Marvin smiled lightly, "Look who's got a soft-spot for us after all"

"I don't-!"

"Sure." Marvin ruffled his hair and walked away. Anti denied following him. He was just going in the same direction.

"DADDY!" "DAD!"

Anti halted in his steps, seeing two children hugging Chase in the foyer.

He recognized the kids to be Chase's but he didn't care much of their presence there at the moment.

And Stacey . . . . . She had the nerve to smile at Chase so happily.

'Must got a boy-toy lined up. How long they gonna be here?'

He saw how happy Chase was and something in Anti burned and it wasn't his hands.

"I'm happy you're still able to watch them this weekend" Stacey smiled cheerfully, "I needed a little break to go see my sister"

Chase's smile ebbed away and he rolled his eyes but tried to speak nicely, "It's fine. You KNOW I'll always take the opportunity to spend time with my kids"

"I know, I know. I'm glad you seem to be doing a bit better, too" she winked.

"Yeah, whatever. Anyway . . . I-"

"But the living room seems to be in a bit of a disarray" she nit-picked, "Could have cleaned that up before we got here"

Marvin waltzed in dramatically, "Yeah well you DO know there's other people living here, right?"

Stacey glared at Marvin, "Marvin . . . . how nice to see you again"

"Likewise" he didn't really mean it, "Hi kids! It's been forever!"

"Uncle Marvin!" the twins attacked their uncle with a big hug, laughing and smiling.

Anti's eye twitched.

Chase smiled at the sight of their excitement, asking about the magician and where the other uncles were.

Until Stacey cleared her throat. That was never good, "Uh . . . can someone tell me who THAT kid belongs to?"

They turned to where she was staring to see Anti watching the scene silently, glaring back at Stacey just as fiercely.

The harpy scoffed at Chase, "Did you CHEAT on me!? Is that why we didn't work out!? Chase Brody, I demand an explanation right now!"

Chase's kids looked over at the other kid but they didn't seem to have any opinion about him yet.

"Uh . . . look! He's not my kid, Stacey! It's not what it looks like!"

"Yeah sure! I don't believe you! I thought we were just getting on the right track and you've been lying to me all this time?!"

"It's not like that! Just liste-"

"Hey what's all the fuss about?" Jackie entered the room with a big smile on his face.

"UNCLE JACKIE!"

The kids raced to their uncle next, giving him a great big hug.

"Hey there kiddos!" Jackie hugged them back and then addressed Stacey, "Sorry about this. He's mine. Had an illegitimate from a while back and his mother left him with me. He won't be any trouble, I promise!"

"Oh . . ." Stacey seemed to buy it, "S-sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. He DOES look like you, I guess"

Anti, meanwhile, was absolutely livid. Jackie came up to him and pat his head. It looked anything BUT fatherly or nice but it seemed to fool THEM, "It's fine. He's new to the family but he's doing well settling in. I'm sure being around his cousins will be good for him"

Anti twitched again but didn't say anything. No matter how much he hated this lie, he didn't want to cause trouble for everyone right now. That would come later. And honestly, he didn't know what he'd say anyway.

"I'm sure it will! Sorry again for the misunderstanding" Stacey smiled wide, "I'll see you all Sunday night! Have fun, kids!"

With that, she was gone.

And Henrik and Jameson appeared suddenly, "Is she gone?"

"UNCLE SCHNEEP! UNCLE JJ!"

The kids seemed excited to see them all but before Anti could run off, Jackie gripped his hair to stop him, leaning down to whisper to him.

"I swear. . . you do anything to hurt them . .. you're fucking dead. You hear me?"

Anti tensed but nodded, "Not like I wanna be around them, either. Let me go!"

"Not so fast. That means you need to stay out of trouble, too. I don't want you influencing them. They're good kids"

"Whatever . . ."

Jackie grabbed Anti's hand, squeezing it slightly. It made him wince but Anti refused to show the pain, "You get them hurt in ANY way . . . it's on you and you'll receive far more than a fucking time out" suddenly his face changed as the other kids came closer, smiling, "Now you play nice, alright? It'll be good for you to spend time around kids your own age physically AND mentally" he smirked at Anti's glare.

"Hi!" Chase's daughter was the first to speak to him, "I'm Kallie and this is my twin brother Sammy! What's your name?"

Anti thought for a moment that he probably shouldn't use his real name but Jackie answered for him, "His name's Andy! Don't mind him. He can be a bit shy sometimes. Say hi, Andy"

". . . . hi" he mumbled curtly.

"You wanna play hide and seek with us later?!" Sammy suddenly shouted, "Kallie and I know all the best hiding spots. . ."

"Yeah! It'll be fun!" Kallie hopped up and down, "Or tag if you don't like hide and seek. . . or Simon says or Statues! You pick!"

They were so excitable. Much more happy than the last time Anti saw them . . .. . of course that had been in a time when Chase and Stacey were living together and fighting all the time.

"Uh . . . . okay. Hide and seek is fine" he could find the best hiding spot and keep away from them for as long as possible.

"Cool!"

"You can play after lunch" Chase stopped them, "And one of us will be watching you kids"

"Aw but dad!" Sammy whined, "We can play by ourselves!"

"I said what I said. Now Marv's gonna go out but he'll be back soon and then we can all have lunch and THEN play games, okay?"

The twins wanted to whine and pout again but kept quiet, Kallie pulling out a Nintendo switch from her bag, "You wanna play this with us then for a bit?"

Anti was surprised and looked to Chase for permission. He didn't want Jackie to murder him.

Chase nodded and Anti followed them both to the living room to play Minecraft.

Jackie nudged him, "Didn't know your kids were coming this weekend"

Chase sighed, "Honestly with everything that's happened in the last week . . .. I kind of forgot."

"Seriously?"

Marvin rolled his eyes, "Go easy on him. Caring for Anti is hard work, enough."

'A LOT of hard work' Jameson pinched the bridge of his nose.

Henrik just crossed his arms, "Ve'll just have to keep a close eye on zhem all. Do zhat and ve should be fine. We're lucky he can't glitch or reach silverware without assistance"

"Good going with posing as Anti's 'dad', Jackie." Chase commented, "Thought I was screwed for a moment, there"

"Don't mention it. Ever. Honestly, I'm a little offended the bitch really thought I was like that."

"What?" Marvin teased, "Are you NOT a player?! But he DOES look like you, I have to admit! I mean he looks so cute in his little red shirt!"

Before Jackie could attack him playfully, Marvin stuck his tongue out and teleported out, "Have fun with your little bastard, Jackie!"

"Damn magician" He just rolled his eyes.

'Should've kept my damn mouth shut' he looked over to Anti playing the game with the kids, 'He better watch himself . . . . I'll for sure keep my eye on him this weekend. That's a promise'