Point of View: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Present Day

Patton and I sat across from each other in silence.  We were still inside the pillow fort - the cookies eaten, no more fighting between us, and...

It was w r o n g.

"Hey, Dad," I started.

Patton's head tilted to the side in confusion at the hesitation in my voice.  "Yeah? What's up kiddo?"

"Are... are you going to forgive Logan anytime soon?  You guys... that was a big fight," I admitted.

Patton immediately frowned at Logan's name.  "No," Patton said, but he wasn't looking at me.  "How could I?"

"Is this really because he didn't let you go to the Dark Palace and get killed?" I asked, still a bit dumbfounded.  If I had been in Logan's position, I would have made the same call and I don't blame him for making it.

Patton sighed, bangs falling over his eyes and he didn't bother to fix it.  "That's definitely a part of it, kiddo.  Not that only thing, but yes, part of it," Patton paused, looking up at me.  "But you think he made the right call that day."

"Yes," I admitted.  "It could be even worse, Dad.  I don't think he should've just let you go walk to your death."

Patton pointed a stern finger at me - stopping me on my tracks.  "That's the problem," he said climbing out of the blanket fort and leaving me behind.  

Stunned, I sat there for a moment before following him quickly.  I climbed out, hurried standing to see Patton, fingers wrapped tightly on the edge of a light, wooden, rounded table - so tightly, his knuckles were white.  

"Wait what did I say?" I asked, clueless.

Patton frowned at me,standing to face me, crossing his arms over his chest.  "I know I act like a kid a lot of the time, but I'm still an adult.  I'm still able to make my own decisions, Virgil.  And I could have lived with the consequences of going to the Dark Palace, whatever might've happened there.  But the fact that I am now forced to live with Logan's decision?  Because he didn't think I was smart enough or because act like kid -" Patton let out a sigh of frustration.  "I'm not stupid."

"No one said you were," I said softly.

Patton shook his head.  "You didn't have to kiddo."

"Dad I -"

"Don't apologize," Patton said, waving a hand.  "It's true.  You think that I can't make the 'right' choices - that's why Logan is in charge of most of the decision making.  Because I don't act like an adult most of the time doesn't mean that I can't be responsible for my decisions.  I'm the person you guys come to when you feel sad - and don't get me wrong, kiddo, I love making you guys smile.  But... that's not all I can do, I hate that you guys see me that way," Patton said, eyes watering.

"Dad," I whispered.  "Of course we know that.  I'm sorry if we made you think that," I apologized, feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"Nothing to be embarrassed about, you all do it," Patton said, sighing again.  "I - I just wanna prove myself... ya know?  And whenever I get the chance, you all treat me like... a kiddo.  Even though I'm older than all of you.  And even though I'm not helpless, you call treat me like I am."

"Why... don't you try and talk to him, work this out between you too?  You guys can be honest with each other.  He only wants the best for you, Patton.  He would never intentionally hurt you."

Instead of making Patton feel better, it apparently made him feel even worse.  "Why are you trying to make me forgive him?!"

"What does being mad at him accomplish?" I tried, hiding my clenched fists in my jacket pockets.

"Is makes a point!" Patton yelled, his own hands forming fists at his sides.  "He is not in charge of me, his is not in charge of any of us and it is just - just mean for him to think as such!"

"Patton - he was doing what he thought was right.  Can you really be so mad at him for that?"

"Yes!" Patton said, burrowing his hands in his hair.  "Can you really NOT be mad at someone who takes away your options? Your freedom?!"

"I thought Roman was the dramatic one," I said instinctively, voice bitter, before remembering and sharply inhaling.  "Patton I -"

"Stop, Virgil.  Just - Just stop," Patton said, leaving his room and slamming the door shut behind him.

Quickly I chased after him, watching him head for the Commons.  I jogged after him, apology written on my face.  "Patton wait - " I said, setting a hand on his shoulder.

Patton quickly pulled out from under my hand, spinning to face me.  "What Virgil?"

"I'm sorry, I don't want to fight with you, Dad," I whispered, feeling the tears pressing harshly on the back of my eyes, ready to spill at any moment.

Patton softened at my expression.  "I - I don't wanna fight with you either, kiddo."

I quickly stepped forward, wrapping my arms around his stomach, resting my on his shoulder as Patton's arms quickly came behind me.

After a few moments, I pulled away.

"Hey... um, Dad?"

"Yeah, kiddo?"

"I - I think you should talk to Logan."

Patton's expression hardened.  "No."

"Please, Dad.  Take this from someone who cares about you.  Just talk to him."

"I won't," Patton said through gritted teeth.

"Why?" I finished exasperated.

"Because if I talk to Logan... I'll forgive him," Patton admitted.  "And I don't want to forgive him."

I blinked at that.  "Pat - but - like - how?" I couldn't even imagine that.

"I don't want to forgive him - that would make it seem like everything he did was okay, like it was something that didn't hurt me, and that it was something I can just pretend didn't happen and move on."

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. "Patton - it was you who said that we need to work together," I argued.

"That was before I realized that we aren't much of a together anymore."

"Pat -"

"Virgil," Patton countered, but his voice was soft and he was smiling a little.  A weak one, but genuine.  "I appreciate what you're trying to do, kiddo - I really do.  But please - from what I remember you aren't on the best of terms with Logan either.  You go and talk to him.  Get on good terms with him."

I shifted, before nodding.  "Later," I said and Patton merely nodded.

Together we walked the rest of the way to the Commons in relative silence.  But it was comfortable silence, now that we had cleared the air.

"Uh, hey?"

"Hay is for horses," Patton replied, a glimpse of a smile of his cheek and I rolled my eyes.

"Patton?"

"That' my name, don't wear it out," Patton said, smile growing as I fought back a smile of my own.

"Morality?" I said sterner this time.

"Hm?"

"... I love you, Dad."

"Luv ya too, kiddo," he said as we walked into the Common Room.  

Patton immediately twisted to me, looking confused.  "Kiddo... do you smell something burning?"

Both of us quickly ran into to the kitchen to find Logan, muttering curses under his breath as he pulled out a tray of... very burned cookies.

Patton softened at the sight.

Logan would only be making cookies for one reason, and one reason only.

Logan sighed, turning around and froze, seeing us standing only a couple feet away.  His eyes locked immediately on Patton and his emotions have never been so visible before.

"Um, hi," he said quietly, eyes flicking down to his shoes, shoulders rigid.  "I - I was trying my best to - to find a way to apologize and I thought - "

"I appreciate the thought, Logic," Patton said, voice so cold that I twisted to face him surprised.  "But you know that this can't be fixed just with some cookies."

Logan looked shamefully at his feet.  "Yeah," he managed.  "I - I am aware."

Patton walked over to Logan, reaching forward and gently squeezed his hand causing Logan to gasp at the unexpected contact.  "But I do appreciate that you're trying, I do."

Logan nodded slowly.

"But... you're going to have to give me some time," Patton said.  "Give me time, some space.  I'll be able to forgive you... eventually.  Can you do that for me?"

Logan nodded again, firmer this time.

Patton gently pulled away and manuevered past Logan, jumping swiftly onto the counter in one bounce.  Both of us gasped at the obvious lack of effort as Patton balanced on the small ledge, reaching into the very top of the cabinets, pulling out a small box.

He easily jumped back down - surprisingly not managed to kill himself in the process - and opened the tan colored box, and yanking something out from inside.

A... snicker-doodle cookie?

"Here," Patton said holding the cookie out to Logan,  who took it hesitantly.  Patton came and handed one to me, which I also accepted for walking out of the kitchen and into the Common Room.

Logan and I both stared at each other mystified.

"Hey, um, are we okay?" I asked finally.  "You... were pretty mad at me."

Logan sighed, adjusting his glasses slightly.  "I don't hold grudges, Virgil.  I was furious with you, but I merely needed some time to... cool off, so to speak.  So provided you are no longer upset with me, then I guess we are... as you said, 'okay.'"

I gave a small smirk at that, adjusting my hoodie.  "Yeah, it's cool."

Logan suddenly tilted his head at me.  "You aren't wearing your headphones," he observed.

I immediately tensed at that.

"Is something wrong with them? If they aren't working, I'd be more than happy to fix them," he offered.

I hesitated.

Finally I opened my mouth to respond when I was cut off from a loud yelp from Patton.

In seconds the both of us were racing over to see Patton, who hadn't made it very far, standing wide eyed in the Common Room, eyes wide and locked on -

Oh my god.

A big smile.  "Yay! It's Vee!" Ollie yelled, racing over to me and wrapping his arms around my stomach, Sparks quickly following, barking cheerfully.

Oh my god.

__________________

OLLIE IS BBAAACCCKKKK YAY X3
You guys remember him?

Sorry for the fake chapter yesterday XP. So to make up for it, I gave you guys a moderately happy one (well, happy for this book anyway) to make up for it X3

- Max :)