In the morning Papa brought me down stairs, still in my pjs, to have breakfast with 'the gang'.

Papa introduced me to them.

"Guys, don't think I told you last night. But this is Gradient."

They cooed over me as they said their names.

One with tears like Papas, but in black, let me shake his finger since my hands were to small. "I'm Killer.... You've got a strong soul, like your Pops. I can sense it."

One with a red marking under his eye gave me a head pat. "I'm Cross. Maybe after dinner tonight I can show you my secret chocolate stash... with your Papas permission of course."

I nodded with a shy smile.

Papa gave him a playful growl. "Only if I'm invited." Cross hissed about him eating all of his last stash.

One with a sly grin, he bent down and gently tapped my nose."I'm Dust. Ever get hurt come to me. I'm the gangs medic."

One with a large hole in his skull reached out a long claw and a twisted grin. "I'm Horror."

I smiled and grab his claw, which was twice the size of my hand, to give it a good shake.

He looked surprised, glancing up at Papa then back to me with a smirk. "Most little kids would run away from me. But what could I expect from the The Destroyers offspring."

I furrowed my brow and look up at Papa who chuckled dryly. "I'm not anymore. Haven't destroyed in years. And unless Ink breaks our truce, then I won't till the day I die."

Horror huffed sadly. "What a loss... Anyway I made breakfast, and it's gonna get cold soon. Kills, go wake up your sleeping beauty."

Killer rolls his eyes and runs off.

Papa picks me up and sits down at the table. I'm in his lap.

Horror places a big stack of pancakes in front of us and the others.

He sets a bowl of fruit, a bottle of whipped cream, and a jug of syrup in the middle for us to share.

"Thank you Horror, this looks great."

"Don't flatter me E." Horror blush's.

Nightmare walked in looking very annoyed. Mumbling about waking him up when he only had an hours sleep.

"Maybe if you didn't stay up so late you could have a good nights sleep!" Killer snapped, sitting down.

They began bickering, which made me worry.

Papa notices and pats my head.

He whispers, so only I can hear. "Don't worry, they aren't like me and Ink. Bickering is as bad as they'll get."

He smiles as I nod and speaks a bit louder. "Now. What do you want on your pancakes, Gray. Lot'a fruit and a little syrup?"

"Lot'a Fruit and a little syrup." I confirm with a smile.

Papa chuckled a bit. "Thought so."

He scooped up some fruit. Strawberries, bananas, honeydew melon and a bunch of berries. Then poured a little bit of syrup.

I happily dug in. Papa ate a bit from the sides giving me a goofy grin as he did.

I didn't mind.

The cakes were to big for me to finish.

And it's the first time I've seen Papa eat in a while.

It's the first time I've seen Papa smile so much.