Chapter Text
Nicole stood in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the kids. It had become such a menial task for her by this point, having done the same thing for close to 17 years now. It was especially difficult for her now since she was the only one taking care of the kids, since Richard was currently not present.
Following a bizarre incident at the end of last year, he had been taken away by scientists for experimenting. Nicole chose to ignore this because it just made her feel lost and lonely without her husband around.
It also surprised her how much she actually missed Richard.
Nicole sighed. Things were so much more of a struggle on her own. She had hoped that her kids would help her, as they had all grown up and matured over the last couple of years, but it hadn’t quite panned out that way. Even when they did help, she was still the one looking after them; they expected her to be there for them, and she just had to be. They still depended on her.
All except for one, she knew…
And only she knew it.
Nicole sensed rather than heard the footsteps approaching the kitchen. She turned around and saw Gumball, slumped over and looking extremely tired.
“Mum, do you have the milk?” he asked.
“Yes, sweetie. It’s right here.” She handed Gumball the carton of milk and a glass for him to pour himself. He took the items and sighed…
Before dumping the contents of the milk cartoon on his head.
Somehow that made him more awake. “Ah, that feels better. Thanks mum!”
“Why didn’t I see that coming?” Nicole muttered. “Gumball, you know we can’t afford for you waste all the milk on your morning routine. We go through it faster than a cow produces it.”
“Sorry mum,” he apologised. “Is breakfast ready?”
Nicole handed her son his bowl of breakfast before calling out upstairs. “Here you go, Gumball. Darwin! Anais! Breakfast is ready!”
In a complete blur of motion, Darwin and Anais were down the stairs and sitting at the table awaiting breakfast. As Gumball sat down beside his brother, Nicole placed the other bowls in front of them…
Darwin and Anais weren’t pleased.
“Dry cereal?” Anais detested.
“Where’s the milk, Mrs Mum?” Darwin asked.
“Well we did have milk, but because someone made a fuss about their morning,” Nicole said, a subtle hint of anger in her voice. “I’m afraid we don’t have any left.”
Anais looked at Gumball and frowned. Gumball, who still had milk dripping from his face, looked back at his sister and was confused by her expression. “What?”
Anais grabbed Gumball by the head and proceeded to completely wring it out and pour the milk that was covering him into the bowls of cereal. When she was done, Anais let go and pointed at the bowls, inviting Gumball and Darwin to start eating their breakfast.
Darwin looked uncertain. “Suddenly… I’m not so hungry.”
“Yeeeaaah,” Gumball uttered… as he corrected his eyes being on the wrong side of his head. “I prefer my breakfast not to contain traces of me in it.”
Anais’ frown became sterner and she angrily started eating into her breakfast… occasionally ejecting bits of blue cat hair from her mouth like leaves escaping from a blower.
Nicole pinched the bridge of brow and sighed. “Gumball, you really need to start growing up and acting your age.”
“Hey, why are you pointing the finger at me?” Gumball asked. “Anais was the one who assaulted me just now.”
“I’m not reprimanding you, darling,” Nicole said. “I’m asking you to do me a favour. I need you to take responsibility for more things around here. Especially since you won’t have me around pretty soon.”
“Wait, what?!” Gumball exclaimed in shock. “You mean you’re leaving us?!”
“It’s only for a few days, Gumball. The company has a big business summit to attend, and Mr Yoshida asked me to go on our behalf. And hopefully this time when he says business summit, he actually means going somewhere to talk about productivity and business practices and not stuffing me in the broom closet for 18 hours. That is definitely not one of my favourite endings…”
“So why are you singling out Gumball for this?” Darwin asked. “You know he’s the last person you would trust with… well, anything.”
“Darwin’s right, mum,” Anais said as she put her breakfast down. “Gumball’s completely irresponsible. You should leave this house in the care of someone who knows what it’s like to take care of helpless losers.”
“Hey, that was uncalled for!” Darwin shouted back.
“This is more than just me asking a favour of Gumball, kids. This is something important he needs to do to set him up for the rest of his life,” Nicole stated, before turning her full attention Gumball. “Sweetie, I know you probably don’t feel like it, but you’re not exactly a kitten anymore. And you can’t depend on your parents forever. Pretty soon you’ll be on your own. You need to be ready for whatever life throws at you.”
“Yeah, well, based on some of the things I’ve had to deal with so far, I reckon I’m already ready,” Gumball proudly said.
“Gumball, dear, this is far more serious than anything you’ve dealt with so far. This is your future I’m talking about. And if you don’t start taking responsibility, you won’t be prepared for it. Which is why I’m placing you in charge while I’m away.”
“Hold on a second,” Anais interrupted. “You seriously want to trust Gumball with taking care of us?”
“I don’t see why not,” Gumball replied. “After all, I’m the oldest person in this house… If you don’t count mum, that is.”
“Yeah, but can you even act responsibly?” Darwin asked, sounding more interrogative than curious.
“Of course I can!” Gumball claimed. “I mean think about it. I have a job-”
“You work a part-time shift at Joyful Burger,” Anais retorted.
“At least it pays… I have my own car-”
“Technically, its Mr Dad’s car,” Darwin corrected.
“Well he’s not here, so it counts as mine… I’m in a steady relationship-”
“You’ve been in the same relationship with Penny for five years!” both Darwin and Anais pointed out.
“OK, are you two just going to keep on pointing out the obvious?” Gumball said with annoyance. “I’m trying to prove that I can be responsible and you’re just raining on my parade!”
“That’s because we don’t think you can do it,” Darwin claimed.
“Yeah! You’re more likely to completely ruin this house within 24 hours of mum leaving,” Anais finished.
“Kids, please, have at least a little faith in your brother,” Nicole pleaded.
Darwin and Anais looked at each other and started giggled… before chuckling… before laughing. Gumball and Nicole gave them disapproving glares each.
“Off to a good start already,” Gumball said.
“I can trust you, right Gumball?” Nicole asked, a hint of motherly worry wavering her voice.
“You can trust me, mum!” he answered. “I’ll take care of everything! I promise.”
Nicole began stroking the arm of her son affectionately. “Thanks Gumball. I know everything will be safe in your hands.”
“Don’t you mean you hope?” Gumball asked, surprised by his mother’s choice of words.
“No Gumball. I know.”