Chapter Text
The final episode- it was never meant to be the final. Not the Real One, at least. He Knows in a way that he always seems to, that this fun wasn't supposed to end so soon. That didn't stop it from ending, all the same.
Wally watches the sun set slowly, the beginning of stars peaking over the ends, surrounded by friends and family, as they pack up their 'last' picnic together. He'll surely experience it again. The air is static and cool against his skin, as he sits on the slightly damp grass, leaning his chin against his hand, a fond smile curling at his lips. Regardless, he loves his friends. Regardless, time is still moving in its odd cycle.
Maybe this time… tomorrow will come.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, buddy?" The grass crunches next to him, as Barnaby swings to sit next to him. "Looks like it might be something."
"Mm, no, nothing." Wally muses. He glances over, but avoids that kind gaze. It makes him feel bad to lie. "Wasn't today nice?"
"I'd say so! It's been a while since we've had everyone gather together like this." Barnaby said, which was true- it was a whole 56 episodes since the last 'full get together' of the whole cast.
All of their neighbors all together, right in view of Home so they didn't miss out on too much, and only missing one Neighbor.
Or thousands, depending on how you see it.
His Favorite neighbor. Too bad with no audience, no cameras, no plots left to sing and dance… that neighbor isn't real anymore. Nobody to observe their fun and games anymore. It's just them, in this world that once seemed so big. (Not anymore.)
"I wonder," Wally murmurs, watching all his friends laugh and play, "What tomorrow will be like."
"Guess we'll find out!"
"..."
"Wally?"
"... yes, I suppose we will. Won't it be nice?"
Cycles cannot last forever, ultimately. One day, all of this would end. Should Wally pray for an eternal cycle, so that his happy days will never end? Or wait idly for its inevitable end… that's a scary thought. He just wanted tomorrow to come for real, that's all. He doesn't want things to end or stay the same. He wants it to continue.
It's almost night, and it's not good to stay up late- it's bad for your sleep schedule! So everyone starts to wave goodbye and wishes him well and goodnight, and Barnaby still looks a bit worried. Oh dear.
Good old Barnaby doesn't fuss, though.
"How about I walk you home?" He offers Wally instead a warm paw, and without giving him a chance to answer, he finds himself sat upon fuzzy shoulders.
Wally laughs, a quiet thing these days, but he does try and stay on script. These things are Important, after all! And that's a capital I. "I won't say no to your offer. Do you have a reason?"
Barnaby hums. "You seem a bit down today, that's all! Are you feeling alright?"
"Oh, certainly." How terrible of him to worry his poor neighbors, his best friend! Shucks. "How can I feel bad in such a lovely neighborhood? Every day is such a delight."
It's not like he's lying, he loves them so much. It's just. Repeating. Constantly.
everydayeverymontheveryyear-
But that's Okay!
"Well," Barnaby sets him down right in front of Home's doors, "if you, by chance, ever don't feel okay, that's okay too. Either way is fine."
"I'll keep that in mind, friend." Wally lingers, looking at such a sincere neighbor fills him with joy.
Home clicks and shutters a happy greeting, though no one but Wally could hear the bittersweet joy. Home knows it All, after all. Wally and Home are two peas in a never-ending purgatory pod!
The two part with a wave and a grin, and Wally watches the door swing shut.
Safely inside, Wally settles down on the couch, and looks up at the colorful ceiling. "Oh, Home…" His grin turns down just a bit at the edges. "Another four years has ended, what a delight to always be able to enjoy this world."
A long, sad groan echoed through the floorboards.
"Mm. I know. Maybe tomorrow will come this time! One day it will."
Nothing is forever, after all.
"... what happened, dear Home? Is it something we did?"
They used to get new episodes weekly, right on time, each day was new and exciting, with new information to learn and enjoy. His Neighbor, not his neighbors, used to observe quietly behind him, as they learned together and played together. They weren't there, but they were, and he could always tell when it was an Episode, because his bestest Neighbor was right there waiting! It was so much fun.
Then, one day, after four years of love and friendship, things got… a bit funny.
Wally has always been a bit Too Aware for his own good, but he enjoyed his role as the Lead, so it was okay! He was everyone's best and friendliest neighbor, and helped everyone with their problems. And then, on a day just like today- literally- his Neighbor just sort of… vanished. All at once, they're absence was felt so strongly, he nearly found himself in tears after he realized. Perhaps, he reasoned, they were just taking a break? The last week was always so busy.
Until. Until he woke up, and tomorrow was not tomorrow, but instead tomorrow was Four Years Ago. Which, wasn't that a turn of events? His Neighbor never came back to visit, and the tone of the Episodes never came back either. Not in the right way.
The days still stayed the same, still repeated their plot lines, but they were fundamentally different- in a way that Wally struggles to explain. At first, he tried to explain himself, talk about it, but… well, after the second four years, Wally decided that was much too stressful to endure.
No, no, it was okay, because Home knows and he knows, and gosh, he made his friends so sad and worried. Wally hates to do that! That's not his role, not his purpose (he still has one of those, of course), and it makes him feel just awful to see those fretful faces. It's best to keep some things to himself, just like how Wally knows this world is both Real and Not-Real, and how things are meant to happen in specific ways.
And on the third time he's experienced Year one and Day one, Wally realizes what must have happened.
Home whistles a low note, wind whipping through an open window.
"Oh, I know. I know. It's late and time for bed- but how can I sleep with thoughts like these?" Wally asks, leaning back on the couch's arm and reaching a hand up towards Home's ceiling, like they could reach back out to them. They would if they could. "Tomorrow will not be tomorrow. I know this."
It's best not to hope, really. He can't help it, not always, but he knows. Wally 'sleeps' right there on the couch, because he'll wake up in his bed anyway, because that's where he's Supposed to Be that morning.
…
…
And Wally is right, he Always is, because that's kind of his job too. Not in the same way he's the Lead, but not entirely different. It's a new same old day, and he didn't want to be right.
"Good morning, Home. Ready for another four wonderful years?" The words don't come out as sincere as he hoped. At least Home will never judge him for it… they've had their own Moments, after all. It'd be hypocritical! Which is bad.
A creak and a click and a suspicious pop from upstairs, and Wally sighs. He really is so very tired.
"Yes, I agree. Maybe this time, the day can start a little later."
Surely, it can't hurt to sleep in, Wally can always join in on the fun a little bit later. His friends will be okay to start the day without him. Just a little bit later. Not too much.
It's not like anyone's watching anymore, anyways.