Chapter Text
After they return from their latest adventure the crew is greeted by numerous questions mainly by two discovered Warriors.
Beth: "Where did you find him?"
Chris: "We have been looking everywhere. Is he ok?"
Beth: "Does he know about his mother?"
Chris weeps, "Does he know his daddy loves him?!"
The sound of claws dragging along a chalkboard makes everyone cringe into silence. "Sorry, but you two weren't letting us get a word in." Cake says.
Danny: "Look we all have questions but Conner is safe and healthy."
"Yeah, so tell us how you ended up on Cyclopia?"
Chris takes a deep breath, "You all know by now that we were searching for Conner."
"And that you got lost. Which reminds me." Wallow sends a message to the Courageous Battlers.
"Desperate for leads Chris insisted on seeking a medium and that led us there." Beth said "And just as I predicted no Conner."
"But your dad was there."
"Yeah years ago and because of him we got captured."
"And saved by the people that found and took in your baby." Cake argued.
"Whatever. The point is we're no longer lost and neither is Conner. Now Chris can finally meet his son and we can start working on getting our team back on track."
"Uh, Beth how exactly do you think this will work with Conner?"
"Well, if he's not adopted then obviously Chris would take him in."
"Does Conner already have a loving family?" Chris asked.
"No/Yes." Fionna and Cake stare at each other. "What do you mean by that?"
"Look guys Conner is-"
"Incoming Call from Mr. Kirkman."
He answers, "Danny we just got Wallow's text and Chris! It's you oh it's always been Wankershim!"
"Hey, Dad! Guess what Danny and Wallow-"
"Saved you and now you can meet Conner," his mother added.
"Oh right, you've met him already. So, what's he like?"
"Sweet and curious just like you were as a baby, honey."
"Okay..." Weird response. "So is he with you or-?"
"He's on Earth, sweetie. Oh, wait till you meet Gary and Marshall Lee."
"Who are they?"
"Our friends."
"And Conner's foster parents." his dad adds. "Oops got to go sport! Trouble. See you soon." they logged off.
"I'm glad to see my parents. Plus them meeting Conner saves time."
"Yeah so about Conner's living situation."
"You're not taking my baby!" Cake hissed.
"Cake!"
Danny: "Sorry about that man. Whenever Marshall and Gary are working Cake is their go-to babysitter."
Wallow: "And after we found out about the Plum incident she's grown very protective of him."
"I see." Chris kneels to her level. "Thank you for protecting my boy I know I did a poor job but I assure you I only want the best for him."
Cake relaxes but keeps her eyes narrowed, "We all saw the video Cake no one can fake heartbreak like that." Fionna tells her.
Des: "Hell before I dated Jay I always thought crying was for wimps." They all look at her. "My dad was a Narissitic Gang leader. And a coward."
"I hear that," Beth said. and shares a smile with the brassy Red-Headed rebel.
Cake speaks, "Okay blue eyes I'll give you a chance but if this ends in us losing Conner forever I'm coming for you."
"Don't worry after Plum we're very selective with who we let in our social circle," Beth assured.
Danny: "Rest assured Tezuka these guys are on the up and up."
Wallow: "Expect maybe Dr. Ziodberg but that's because he's not a human specialist."
Z: "Alright already. I'm taking a course as requested by law now can we please continue to discuss Conner being taken from us." At his words, Cake wails dramatically into Fionna's arms. Everyone glares at the tactless crustation.
"I try to be involved and this is where it gets me."
Giovanna: "Everyone calm down. We won't know what to expect until we meet with Marshall and Gary concerning Conner so let's all just sit back and enjoy the quiet ride home." she turns the radio on and blasts some rock and roll.
At the Robot Body Mo Express Building, the ship lands in the hanger area. Once inside the passengers exit and look around. "Welcome to my home away from home. Robot Body More Express." Giovanna says.
Ellis: "Cool, I'm heading home. Come on Nibs. Later guys."
"Later," they all say as he and Nibbler head out.
In the meeting room Marshall Lee, Gary, and Hana are seated by Conner who is in a highchair. "Guys you're here," Fionna says as Gary goes to her.
"Fionna we just heard is it true you found Conner's-?" he paused as soon as Chris walked up the stairs. "Hi."
"So it's true Conner is going home," Gary says as Marshall rubs his arm.
Hana: "Not if you let me handle it."
"No!" both men said to the calculating She-E-O.
"I'm sorry to interrupt and seem needy but can I see my son," Chris asked.
"Oh right." Gary takes Conner out of the Chair and brings him over to Chris who just has a confused look.
Beth: "Is this a joke?"
"What? No."
"Chill Beth this lil nugget is Conner Kirkman," Wallow shows them the charts that prove it.
"But how? Conner was born over ten years ago," Beth said.
Wallow: "We think it had to do with the time hole Plum threw him in. Most likely paused his aging till he got out.
"Fortunately the crew had a rescue mission on Vergon 6 where we found him and Nibbler."
C/B: "Vergon6?!"
Beth: "The planet with the hollowed-out core!"
"Don't worry we got there just in time," Danny assures her. "See." Conner giggles at the attention.
Seeing the tears in Chris's eyes Gary gives Conner to him. Chris thanks him and looks down at the tike in his arms with love, concern, and regret. "I'm sorry I didn't give you a better mom." Conner feels the emotions and starts squirming. "Uh, Chris ease up on the waterworks."
"I can't help it. I'm happy I finally get to hold my beautiful baby boy. But I'm mad that Plum put us through all this hell and I might be taking him away from two great people who have a better relationship than me and his mom ever did."
"I understand that but right now we need you to CALM THE FLIP DOWN SO WE CAN STOP HOVERING!" Danny screams from atop the ceiling along with the others each clutching onto the table.
Conner makes grabby hands while Chris looks up. "Oh, my GiB! I'm so sorry." he halts and everyone falls back down. Cake acts as a parachute so they don't crash. Sadly the same can't be said for everything else.
"Okay, so it's agreed you two will work for us to pay for the damages the crybaby made," Giovanna states in Chrs' direction, "Giving you plenty of time to figure out Conner's living arrangements. Any questions?"
Beth: "Uh, we have other jobs to do. We're heroes for hire."
"And now we're hiring you in exchange for avoiding a lawsuit! Now start cleaning this place up!" Hermes slams his case shut and storms past Cake and Conner. "Here you go, little man. A new rattle." Conner accepts and coos joyfully.
Chris: "Sorry about that whole episode everyone you see I have these powers that-"
Des: "Go bonkers due to your intense emotions." she finished for him.
Jay: "Danny and Wallow explained it to us when we got locked in your hideout. Pretty cool that you are the first human Emotion Lord."
"Thanks but as you can see I still have a long way to go."
Cake: "And until you do Conner is staying in our care."
Gary turns to her, "We never said that."
"It was implied."
"Cake." Fionna picks up Conner. "Oh, fine but I'm sleeping over."
"Here." Fionna, hands Conner to Chris but the baby keeps his eyes on Marshall and Gary. Which makes Chris stare at them and sigh.
Marshall: "Sorry man we didn't mean for your boy to imprint on us."
"It's okay I knew this was a possibility. I just didn't expect him to still be a baby."
"At least this means you have a chance to be a part of his major milestones."
"Unless he already did and this Peach person erased it."
"Zoidberg!" Everyone scolds him.
"Moving on. I know your parents offered to cover but you haven't gotten any assignments in our absence but what if we get one but can't because we're delivering pizzas or crappy furniture?" Beth asked.
"Danny and Wallow have been working on installing a teleport pad in the office."
"Yeah, but it still needs work. You up for it Tezuka?"
"Yeah, it'll be done quicker."
"Excellent and since we've been getting your messages here you can also do any missions that require your help. Following UOOPP protocol of course."
"Messages?" Danny ponders, he and the Warriors rush to hear the messages left on the answering machine.
"Bravest Warriors! Help! Our Planet be overcome by a horrific order!" (beep)
"Fixed that," Wallow stated.
"Danny it's your mother quit playing spaceship on that mud ball and come home to meet-" Danny deleted it.
"No new messages."
"Okay so maybe this won't be so bad," Beth said.
"There you go." he looks at the time, "I gotta head home. See ya later." he's beamed to the base.
"What the Wallow!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about our teleporter. So, do you two still want to stay there or..."
"Beam us now."
"I'm gonna stay the night I don't want to be away from Conner right now."
Beth waves everyone goodbye as Wallow teleports her to base.
"Good to be back. Hey, where's Danny?"
"Oh, he got an apartment with Fionna and Cake. Oh and that Fred guy."
"Oh yeah, he mentioned that. I still can't believe he forgot how he crashed and hasn't seen the ship."
"At least he's safe and the whole ordeal led us to Conner and you guys."
"Yeah, but I can't help but worry and now we dragged innocents into our complicated moop."
"Hey don't beat yourself up you kept your promise to Chris and now we're all together. You did well Tezuka. Now sit back I made sure to get some Butter lettuce when you returned." he leaves to get her favorite food. Beth smiles as collapses on the couch.
Faraway. "Beth is right to worry for the future remains unknown. Our Galaxy is in disarray and needs time to heal. With young Con reunited with his sire the point the fate of the balance comes into place. Especially when another player from the past arrives.
