(Quick note before we begin, I'm from Texas which means I say 'y'all' a lot. For some reason my phone autocorrects 'talk' to 'y'all' sometimes and I haven't figured out how to fix it yet. So anywhere that the word 'y'all' is and it doesn't make sense, it's supposed to say talk.

Please point it out so that I can fix it, thanks.)

An awkward silence hung over the dinner table. It's been weeks since everyone had been there. The dark sides and light sides made up and had started to have dinner with each other. Every other week or so, all the sides would come out and eat dinner with their host. Although, that hasn't been happening recently.

Thomas' eyes darted around the room.

Virgil was anxious as always, but more so than usual.

Roman was usually staring down at his plate or the walls.

Logan was neatly eating, however Thomas could see and sense his stress.

Janus and Remus sometimes held eye contact with each other, Thomas, or Virgil.

Patton refused to look at anyone except Thomas.

Thomas slammed his fork down into the table and stood up quickly, "Okay what is going on here?!"

The sudden loud movement caused Virgil to jump a bit. But instead of Patton comforting him like usual, Virgil calmed himself down by fidgeting with his silverware and playing with his fingers. Patton gave him a very brief, loving look before quickly looking away.

     "May we talk about this after dinner, Thomas?" Logan asked.

     "If dinner is going to be like this from now on, no! No one is talking and half of you aren't even eating!" Thomas exclaimed. He gestured over to Janus, Roman, and Virgil who shrunk down in his hoodie.

     "We can talk about this later, kiddo," Patton started.

     "Yeah, when I'm not here," Virgil muttered. It was quiet, but Thomas still heard it considering Virgil sat right next to Thomas.

     Virgil stood up, leaving his untouched plate, and left without and excuse. Everyone looked at each other. "I'll go uh- check on him," Janus said.

     "Me too!" Remus exclaimed. If you had just met Remus, you would think that he's as cheerful as ever. However knowing him as long as Thomas has, you would hear that slightly sad tone in his voice.

     The two sides got up, this time the two took their plates and Virgil's over to the sink. Janus gave Thomas a little nod towards the three remaining sides and then sunk out.

     "What was that all about? Did you guys start isolating Virgil again?" Thomas asked.

     "No. He's doing that to himself. He's acting like a teenager that refuses to grow up!" Patton exclaimed.

     Thomas almost gasped, "Patton! I expect that kinda of talk from Roman, not you!"

     Roman started to sound fake offended. "Not anymore Princey, you're doing good," Thomas told Roman to boost his ego.

     "Now Patton why do you think that?" Logan asked.

     "Because he is rebellious! He plays loud music, he refuses to come out for videos unless he is absolutely needed, he sits on top of counter tops I mean who does that?! He doesn't leave his room for days on end and when he does come out, he doesn't speak to anyone and only comes out for food. He runs from his problems and he gives Thomas panic attacks only because he himself can't control his own panic attacks. I mean the man is 31. You would think that he could at least learn how to use his abilities!" Patton ranted.

     "But Patton, Virgil is literately supposed to be a ball of angst. He represents Anxiety and Thomas sees high schoolers to have the most anxiety!" Roman defended.

     "Yes. Didn't we discuss this in the Embarrassing Phases video?" Logan asked.

"We did! Do we need to revisit that or..." Thomas asked.

"I just don't understand why he can control himself! Sure he protects
Thomas, but why does protection need to come with anxiety attacks?!" Patton exclaimed. Patton stood up quickly and sank out.

Thomas sighed and sat back down, "Janus, Remus?"

The two sides popped up, "Yes?"

"Sit down, we are going to talk about what to do with this little feud that is going on between our resident dad and teenager."

"You're lucky we got him to sleep before you summoned us. He would be more panicked to be alone," Janus said.

"Why? Isn't he always alone?" Logan asked.

The two former dark sides panicked and looked at each other, "Uh...."

"Did snake boy say alone, he meant uh- on the phone! Anyways it took summoning Remy to put Virgil to sleep," Remus said really quickly.

Thomas gave the two questioning glances, "Sit down and tell us why Virgil doesn't like to be alone."

The two standing sides gave in and sat down at the table. "It's not just alone, he loves that. It's being alone in his room specifically that scares him," Janus said.

     "But why? Virgil spends all his time in his room alone," Roman pointed out.

     "It's because he is Thomas' source of anxiety and insecurities," Janus started.

     "Which means that any bad thing that is said to Thomas or harmful thought goes straight to his room to haunt him. You can find some real mean ones too," Remus said.

     "So wait, he's stuck with those thoughts in his room 24/7? Why didn't we hear them during the Accepting Anxiety vids?" Thomas asked.

     "For him, the thoughts are full force all the time, for the sides, it's a gradual process. It didn't effect you because Virgil was protecting you from those thoughts," Janus informed.

"Which meant he got the full blow," Roman muttered out.

     A thick silence fell over the room.

     They were all thinking.

     "We need to fix our father-son duo," Roman exclaimed, standing up.

     "And how do you propose we do so?" Logan asked.

     Roman sat back down, obviously he didn't have a plan. Then he immediately stood back up, "We could lock them in a room for 24 hours!"

     "Kinky! Remus exclaimed before being hit with Janus' cane.

     "Okay, we can lock Virge, Pat, and Thomas in a room for 24 hours!" Roman revised.

     "A threesome! Kinky! I want in!" Remus exclaimed before being hit once again, this time Logan had thrown a book at his face.

"Actually, that could work!" Thomas exclaimed.

"And we could do it in the mindscape so that there could be a viewing room for us," Logan added.

"How are we supposed to get those two in a room together?" Remus asked.

"Perhaps Remy or Emile would be willing to help. I know they would also want the duo to make up," Janus said.

"Good idea! So. It's a plan right?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah. It's a plan!" Roman exclaimed.

"What's a plan?"

Everyone turned quickly to find Emile trying to keep Remy up.

"Oh my gosh! What happened?!" Thomas exclaimed. He ran over and helped Emile get Remy to the couch where the sleepy side immediately passed out.

"Well, lets just say our lovable Anxiety takes a bit too much power to keep asleep. He woke up several times and after a few questions, we found out he hadn't slept for 3 to 5 days," Emile said sadly.

"That's unhealthy!" Logan exclaimed.

"Yeah. Well blame the room voices. Anyway, Remy knocked him out so he should be asleep for a day or two, help him get back his lost sleep. This however took up too much energy and now here we are," Emile finished.

(That went so fast paced and short- it wasn't supposed to- oh well. Apparently this is fast paced now. I might upload all three chapters I have written like right now- so be ready...)

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