[Synopsis: Mother's Day can be a rough time for people who've lost theirs. MrEgg and PoopyFarts know that much...But it comes as a surprise to them that Mother herself is sort of in the same boat as they are.]

[Location: Lobby Dropship]

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"I've been savin' up for months, dude," Veteran told his best friend. "And yesterday, I finally got that music album she's been talking about for so long. On vinyl. Man, I can't wait to see the look on her face..."

"That sounds awesome!" Player praised him. "Man...I wish I'd come up with an idea as good as that."

"Well, what'd you do for your mom?"

"I...I just got her this dumb cookbook and a stuffed sloth...Because she said she liked sloths one time."

"Dude, that's-"

"I know. I'm a disappointment."

"Nah, man. I was gonna say that sounds perfectly fine. Besides, it's really the thought that counts, right?"

"I guess so..."

It was the day before Mother's Day, and the crewmembers were discussing the plans they'd come up with to give their mothers the best day they could ask for.

"Hey. She's gonna love it," Veteran assured him, giving him a friendly pat on the back. "Promise you, okay?"

"Well...If you say so," Player shrugged, deciding to take his word for it. "...TheGentleman. Doesn't your mom live overseas?"

"Yes, she's back across the pond in Manchester. Ever since I was a boy, there was always this one vintage silk robe that she always wanted, but never seemed to be able to get her hands on...Guess what I did?"

"What?"

Contrary to his usual sophisticated disposition, he held back an excited giggle.

"I found it. It took a lot of digging, but I finally found it, and I promptly ordered it and had it shipped right to her address. I checked the tracking; it should arrive at my parents' home tonight...!"

"What're you gonna do for Mother's Day, MrCheese?" Veteran inquired TheGentleman's associate.

"Well, same thing I always do, really. I head on over to her place, help her make a cheesecake, and I stick around for the evening...Except this time, I think I'm gonna bring TheGentleman along! She hasn't met him yet, but I've told her a whole bunch o' stuff about him and she's excited to finally meet him!"

"Looking forward to it, MrCheese; I'm quite sure your mother will be impressed," the black crewmate assured him, adjusting his top hats and puffing his chest out proudly. "...What about you, Captain?"

"I drew her a picture! Check it out, bestie!"

He held up a piece of paper for his(supposed) best friend to see; the drawing of Captain and his mother wasn't exactly what one would call "crudely" drawn, and Player could tell he put quite a bit of effort into it, but it was apparent that the white crewmate didn't really have a knack for art...He didn't even bother to pick another drawing medium besides crayons.

"What do you think?"

"Um...Okay," Player responded. "Maybe draw in a background, though, before you give it to her. To, uh...make it pop a little more."

"I can totally do that!"

"Preferably with colored pencils."

"Ooh, mixed mediums, eh? Creative thinking there, Player!"

"Pfffffrrt..."

A sad-sounding, flatulent sigh sounded off from one of the corners of the dropship...PoopyFarts was sitting there on the floor hugging his knees, a forlorn expression across his visor.

"...Poor PoopyFarts," Captain sympathized.

"Why? What's the matter with him?" Player inquired, not sure what their brown-clad friend was upset about.

"Well...I only found this out when we had that round with TheGentlebot. You remember that, right Player?"

"Yeah...That wasn't fun."

"Before we voted to cast him into the lava pit, when I made my remark about his less-than preferable language, he revealed to me that his mother is...well...no longer with us, to sugarcoat it."

"Oh..." TheGentleman remarked. "How unfortunate."

"Owie...That must stink pretty bad," MrCheese nodded.

"I'm...not really sure how or when she passed away," the white crewmate continued, suddenly sounding a lot more serious. "But by the looks of it, he had to have gotten to know her pretty well. My dad died when I was too young to remember him much, so on Father's Day, I do feel a little left out, but...I never got to know him well enough to really miss him, and be sad about it."

Player looked over at PoopyFarts again; he could see his visor grow moist with tears before he hid it away in his hands.

"God. That's awful...I guess I should be thankful I've still got both of my parents."

"Yeah, life never guarantees you anything," Veteran replied. "Not everyone is fortunate enough to have both parents in their life...And even if they do, they're not always fortunate enough that they'll be good parents. We're the lucky ones, Player."

"Seems that way...I wonder if anyone else we know is in the same spot as PoopyFarts?"

Right after Player made the remark, the sound of someone else joining the lobby sounded off, and a familiar pink figure with an egg cracked over his head trudged across the dropship floor...He didn't look any happier than PoopyFarts.

"MrEgg! Welcome aboard!" TheGentleman greeted, not noticing the frown on his face just yet.

"'Ello, TheGentleman..." he waved lightly.

"I say, old chap, you look a bit out of sorts. What troubles you, friend?"

"Oh, it...It's nothing. Just a little tired, I suppose."

Player and Veteran looked at each other for a moment, the silent communication between them borderline telepathic.

Veteran, you don't think...?

It could be.

Wow...

"MrEgg?" Player addressed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

He looked up at his red-clad friend for a minute, a sparkle of appreciation in his visor.

"I'm sure," he insisted lightly. "But thank you for asking."

"No problem. If you ever need anyone to talk to, just come to us, okay?"

Veteran flashed him a thumbs up, and MrEgg actually managed a small smile in response.

"...I will. Thank you."

"Is something the matter?"

Someone else had joined the lobby at that point. The familiar cyan crewmate and her two children had spawned right behind MrEgg, facing the rest of the crowd.

"Yeah, PoopyFarts and MrEgg seem kinda down, y'know?" MrCheese answered her.

"PoopyFarts?" the pink crewmate echoed, turning to look at the crewmate sitting in the corner. "What's wrong with him?"

"Well, Mother's Day is tomorrow, and his is pushin' up daisies, so I can see why he's in a bad mood."

"Oh...Is...that so, now...?"

"Yeah. Poor guy..."

"Huh..." MrEgg hummed as his expression fell again. "...What a coincidence."

"'Coincidence?'"

It took MrCheese a minute to put two and two together, but Mother caught on right away.

"Oh, my goodness gracious, I...I had no idea, you two, I..." she stammered. "...I'm so sorry."

She placed a comforting hand on MrEgg's back, then motioned for the two of them go visit PoopyFarts, who was still sitting curled up on the floor.

"PoopyFarts?" she addressed softly, sitting on his left side as the pink crewmate parked to his right. "MrCheese told me the problem...Are you doing okay?"

He shook his head no, and started to sniffle.

"Oh, there there..."

They both enveloped the brown crewmate in a warm hug.

"I understand..." MrEgg told him, on the verge of weeping himself. "I...I know what it's like to lose a mother. It's a horrible feeling and an awful thing to go through, and I'm so sorry..."

He held him tighter, hiding his own face into his side in attempt to stop the flow of his tears...Even Mother had misty eyes at that point, but even so, she continued to comfort them.

"...I know what it's like too. Just know I'm here for you, okay, PoopyFarts? I'm here...And I'm here for you, too, MrEgg."

The latter crewmate rose his head and wiped his face dry once he processed what Mother had said.

"Y...you, too?"

She nodded lightly.

"Yeah. Me, too...It's been a while, and I'm doing better regarding her passing, but I still miss her, all the same."

"...I had no idea," MrEgg told her. "I...I'm sorry about that."

"Oh, I'm okay. I'm more worried about you two. H-here, let me sit in between you boys so I can see you both at once."

She got up and switched spots with PoopyFarts, now able to bring both of them into her hold...They both leaned up against her and curled up into themselves, Timmy heading over to sit in his mom's lap as she got in between the two older crewmates.

"...Is there anything I can do for either of you?"

"Just...stay, please...?" MrEgg asked her. "I guess we could use the company."

"Pfrrt."

"I can do that," she smiled. "...You know, you two. Being one of the older ones in this lobby, I sort of see myself as...well, you know...a parental figure to all of you. Not just to my own children."

"Really...?"

"M-hm. So, even though your mothers aren't in your lives anymore, you've still got me to turn to if you ever need me."

"Pffrrt...?"

The cyan crewmate reached out and delicately wiped away one of the tears streaming down PoopyFarts's face, gently stroking his cheek with her thumb.

"Thank you, Mother," MrEgg squeaked. "...That really means a lot."

When she was done drying PoopyFarts's tears away, she turned to face MrEgg again and gently stroked the back of his head.

"...I have an idea," Mother told them, snapping her fingers. "Why don't the three of us stick together for the rest of the day? When we're done with the group here, we could meet up at my place and spend some time together."

"That does sound nice...What say you, PoopyFarts?"

"Thbbt!"

"I take that as a yes," MrEgg grinned.

"Timmy, Franklin?" Mother addressed her two sons. "How about it?"

They both exchanged glances with one another, seemingly in thought about the ordeal, before finally nodding in response.

"It's settled, then."

She stood back up, reaching out to the other two crewmates to hoist them back onto their feet...As soon as they were standing again, she brought them both into one more hug and planted a peck against each of their foreheads.

"Love you two~."

PoopyFarts went bright red at the gesture and hid his visor in his hands again, a smile plastered across his face. MrEgg only turned slightly pinker than he already was, his eyes growing slightly misty again.

"I...I forgot just how much I missed those," he remarked, sheepishly scuffing his heel against the floor. "...Thank you."

"You're very welcome, sweetie."

"Awwwwwwww...!"

The collective reaction to the heartfelt scene came from all five of the other crewmembers.

"What a wholesome display!" TheGentleman applauded.

"Yeah, dudes. Looks like Mother just straight-up took you in," Veteran smirked, finding the situation somewhat amusing.

"This calls for a celebration!" Captain announced. "And what better way to celebrate than with a good old-fashioned round of Among Us?"

"Sounds good to me," Mother nodded. "Care to start up the game for us?"

"Easier done than said," he agreed, starting up the countdown. "Alright, gang. Time to lock and load!"

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I wrote this within two days time, and I'm sorry if it seems a little rushed, but I really wanted to get this out today, because, well duh. XD

Aye, it's Mother's Day! Hope you have a good one, fellas!