Anti was just as shocked as everyone else. Nobody expected Dark to just collapse like that. But then again, the void did take a lot out of him.

Mark stood over Dark alongside Wilford looking worried, "Doctor Iplier! We need to get him to your office, now!"

Anti watched it happen in a blur as Mark and Wil helped each other carry an unconscious Darkiplier out of the room. A few of the other Ipliers followed but some of the more timid ones stayed behind, choosing to rest in the living room to wait and see what was to happen.

Anti could feel Sean rub his back, "Hey it's okay, Anti. I'm sure he'll  be fine."

"He probably exhausted himself" Henrik nodded, "Nothing a good nap and an IV von't fix."

"Right" Anti mumbled. He vaguely felt Jameson poke his shoulder. Slowly he finally turned his gaze from the door and faced him.

'You want to wait and talk to him?'

Jameson knew him almost too well at times.

"I'm pretty sure we can." Jackie squeezed his shoulder, "Unless Sean needs to get back home to his girlfriend and cat-child?"

"Well that's gonna have to wait anyways" Marvin rolled his eyes, "Unless you know of someone else here that can teleport. And not you, Anti! You've expended too much energy, too"

"It's fine" Sean shook his head, "We all need some rest. I'm sure Mark and the other Ipliers won't mind us staying here for the night. I'll call Evelien later"

Anti glanced out the window to see that the sun was already setting, 'Oh' he thought to himself, 'Has it really only been a day out here since Wilford came to us for help? Time really was warped there. It feels like a week has passed.'

He felt Chase tug him into the living room to an empty couch and sat next to him with Jackie on his other side. It seemed none of them would leave him alone so he was stuck with them. Not that he minded. He was so tired, he could sleep for weeks. Henrik groaned as he sat down on the floor in front of the couch cleaning his glasses off with a sigh.

Anti remembered Olivia's words but decided he'd talk to him later. Now wasn't the time and he felt so exhausted physically and mentally. Instead, he laid himself down across Chase and Jackie's laps with his head on Chase's legs and draped his hand over Henrik's shoulder. Jameson and Marvin managed to squeeze themselves on either side of Chase and Jackie and Sean chose to sit by Henrik, leaning his shoulder on where Anti's hand was. Really it was a cute scene. The  true meaning of family sitting on that couch. Anti fell asleep with Chase gently running his fingers through his hair.

Some of the Ipliers couldn't help but to feel jealous themselves. None of them were ever so close as that. Wilford seemed to like everyone but that was just it. Wil liked EVERYONE. Dark had always hated emotions in his presence so for years it created a rift between them all.

Maybe now things could be different.

Meanwhile in Dr. Iplier's office, Mark, Amy, Wilford, Google, Eric and Yandere watched the doctor work in helping Dark.

Mark was so conflicted with his feelings but after everything that's happened he finally understood the man in the bed sleeping. At least more so. All his life he was told he was emotionless and had to kill Mark to gain those. He was told all his life that if he ever even tried to feel, his auras would hurt those he felt were close to him. The void had controlled him for so long. Mark sighed at the thought, finally understanding why Dark always hated him so much and the others didn't. He thought he was meant to kill him.

And he knew that as soon as Dark woke up there would be a lot of explaining to do. On Mark's side at least. He could have done better. He could have helped him.

Amy hugged his side and put her head on his shoulder, "It's not your fault, Mark"

Mark smiled lightly, "You always know what I'm thinking Ames." he pecked her head, "But really, I could have tried harder. I was too late and didn't realize. I could have helped him"

"Nah" Wilford butt in, "Darky's always been stubborn" he laughed and nudged Mark's chest, "He got that from Celine" he mumbled.

Mark closed his eyes and nodded, "I'm sorry Wil. I know it must be hard-"

"Sh" he merely hushed him and Mark got the idea. Even though Wil was somewhat sane at the moment, he still didn't want to talk about his old friends and ex-lover. Understandable. 

"Probability is high that Dark will wake up in the morning" Google predicted out of no where, "You should probably go home and rest and come back in the morning"

"Google's right" Dr. Iplier deadpanned, "Something I never say but in this case. . . ." he trailed off.

Mark shook his head, "No. I've left him for too long. I won't do it again."

"I'll protect him in his sleep" Yandere stared at Dark almost possessively with a shiv in hand and Eric shuffled slightly away from them in fear.

"It's not that I'm afraid something will happen to him in his sleep" Mark defended, "It's just-"

"You want to be there for him" Amy finished and Mark just nodded.

"Yeah" 

"I'll wait with you" she smiled softly and Wilford smiled warmly at the love the two shared. It reminded him of him and . . .

"A-are you sure he's gonna be okay, doc?" Eric bit his lip, "It sounds like he went through a lot."

"Trust me" he answered while patting Dark's knee, "I'm a doctor and I know what's best. He'll be just fine. Just needs rest."

Everyone was quiet for a while but as the minutes passed, Google finally walked out. 

As the sun set and the room got darker, Dr. Iplier turned on a night-light for them and brought in more beds.

It wasn't long before Yandere and Eric fell asleep on each other and Wilford looked on at them affectionately. Next, it was Amy that fell asleep on Mark's shoulder, leaving just Mark and Wilford awake and watching. Dr. Iplier had left them be to go to his own room.

In the silence, Wilford spoke to Mark, "When you made us, did you know we'd be this way?"

"Huh? What do you mean, Wil? What way?"

"For a lack of better wording: Fucked up. I mean look at us. Every single of the Ipliers are mad in some way. Besides maybe the doctor and Eric."

Mark swallowed, "Honestly, no. And I don't think any of you ARE actually. . . . fucked up. You're just you."

"Hm. And what about Dark? You didn't even create him."

"Doesn't matter" Mark hummed in thought, "He's made up of two great people. Damien and Celine"

"Just Damien now"

"Nah, I don't think so" he argued, "I think part of Celine still lives on within him. I bet it"

Wilford smiled, "I hope so. I miss them"

"Thought you didn't want to talk about them?"

He shrugged, "Sometimes you can't avoid those things. That's why life's a little mad, I guess."

Mark mocked in his voice, "Sometimes life needs a little bit of madness. Wouldn't you say?"

"I do believe I would, old boy!" they both chuckled.

When their laughter died down, they were left in silence once more and Mark sighed, "Hey, Wil, do you think Dark'll-" 

"Khhhahahagh"

Mark looked back up to see Wilford with his head to the side snoring. He had fallen asleep suddenly.

The YouTuber laughed softly, realizing he was the only one left now awake. But honestly, he wasn't tired. The whole day had gotten his adrenaline pumping so much, he was far from being tired.

Before he knew it, the hours drifted by like nothing. A couple more and it would be dawn.

Mark had moved Amy in the middle of the night into one of the beds so she'd be more comfortable but didn't have to worry about Wilford. At some point, he had fallen onto the floor to sleep and Mark decided to just leave him be, seeing he was comfortable.

Mark may have almost fell asleep himself soon now. . .  until a little movement caught his eye.

Dark took a deep breathe and swallowed, still somewhat asleep. He yawned and tried to stretch until he realized he felt an IV in his arm. Blinking open his eyes carefully, he saw he was in the dark in Dr. Iplier's office but he wasn't alone. He felt multiple people in the room but he only felt one pair of eyes on him. He looked up to see Mark staring back at him.

"Hey there" he smiled.

Dark grunted but didn't really respond.

"You passed out earlier. Must have been exhausted, huh?"

"How long?"

"Most the night" Mark yawned, having caught it from Dark's, "You feel better?"

Dark didn't answer the question but just stared at him squinting.

"I know you're confused" Mark smiled in understanding, "Ask your questions and you have my word on my mother's life I'll be completely honest"

"Why haven't you killed me yet?"

The question caught him off guard, "Uh . . what? Why would I kill you?"

"I nearly killed you multiple times."

"Are you sorry?"

"Why should I be? You made me this way, Actor" he growled out, finally managing to sit up.

Mark glared at him, "Do not disrespect me but calling me by that bastard's name, Dark. I am not him"

Dark glared back into Mark's eyes but wasn't so trusting still, "And how can I be so sure of that?"

Mark blinked, "I guess you just have to take my word for it. But if you want, I'll tell you what happened to him?"

"Tell me"

"He's dead"

Silence filled the room once more.

Dark blinked, "W-what?"

"He's dead, Dark. Actor's been dead for years now. I ended him."

"Wait. But. . .explain." he needed to know, "How?"

Mark gripped his own knees and breathed out with a grunt, "As soon as he left the void, actually. Right after he left Damien and Celine in that cabin. He came out of the void. I was there and in my anger . . . . I destroyed him. Erased him. He killed and hurt so many people I cared about. I couldn't let it go"

Dark couldn't believe it. But the utter pain in Mark's eyes made him see the truth. 

He nodded, "Alright. . .  So that was another thing the void lied to me about then? This whole time . . . . my purpose in life was to kill Actor. . . but he's already been dead. That's about right." he closed his eyes to take a breathe out of habit.

Mark noticed, "It's okay, Dark. You can let your emotions out, you know"

"I don't want to hurt anyone here"

"You won't. Remember? Another of the void's lies. I'm sure Damien's gotten that through to you before?"

Dark narrowed his eyes at him, "He mentioned it to me in the void. How did you know about it?"

"I guessed" Mark shrugged, "And Damien was one of my first creations. I have a stronger connection to him than any of the others. I know he's still around"

"No, he's gone" Dark shook his head, "I can't feel him anymore"

"That's because you're different than before, Dark. You've discovered yourself. I saw that purple aura on you when you came back. Mix red and blue and what do you get? Purple's all you, though, bud. However the red and blue part of you is still there. You just have to accept it. Let it flow through. Let yourself feel"

"I can't do that"

"Yes you can"

"I never have"

"That's a lie. You've always been able to feel. The void has just always caught you when it was less convenient for it to make you THINK you couldn't feel emotions." he tapped his head smartly, "See? Big brain"

Dark rolled his eyes but thought about his words carefully, "But I don't FEEL anything. I don't feel any different! But I know I should! Damien's gone. Celine's gone. Anti probably hates me and -" he growled at himself.

"Damien's not gone, Dark. And neither is Celine." Mark argued, "They're with you"

"Oh don't give me that ethereal bullshit!" Dark hissed at him, "I don't feel them and that's that! They're gone! And I'll never feel anything because I'm just a fucking heartless monster!"

"No you're not"

"Yes I am! I mean look what happened. Look what I've done! So many people almost got killed because of me and because I wasn't strong enough! So many people have suffered BECAUSE of me!"

"Dark-"

"I always call others useless or worthless. Pathetic and disgusting with their stupid emotions always getting in the way, but look at me . . . . I'm worth less than nothing! I was CREATED from nothing! Of course I don't feel anything! I'm nothing! Fuck, I'm sorry! I'm fucking sorry all of this is all my fault! I-"

"DARKIPLIER!"

Mark came forward and held his hands on Dark's shoulders, making him stop talking. Mark slowly brought Dark's hand to his eye level to make him see.

"You DO have feelings, Dark. Damien and Celine were always a part of you. Your soul is purple. Your emotions are Damien's blue and your wrath and firepower is Celine's red. I know this, Dark. Just look at you"

Dark was. He was looking. His hand was glowing blue but not just his hand. His whole body. But not only that. He felt something wet suddenly on his face and at first he thought there was a leak somewhere but he realized he was crying.

He was crying. Dark wiped his eyes and let out a shaky breathe, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

And that was another feeling! He let out a small shaky smile, finally realizing.

These WERE his emotions. He WAS feeling!

Damien's aura felt so warm around him like a light fire in the cabin. Soothing. 

Finally, Dark looked up to Mark's eyes. The two shared a smile together before Mark finally dove in for a hug.

It threw Dark off a small bit but he didn't push him away. He didn't exactly hug back, either, though. He was still new to anyone else but Wilford giving him affection. It was odd.

But then again Mark didn't care. Even if it was a bit awkward, he owed Dark this and knew he appreciated it at least to SOME degree.

Finally, Dark lightly pushed him away but gave a very brief smile, "I see why everyone likes you now"

Mark grinned, "Yeah, I know, I'm amazing, right?"

"And moment ruined."

"Yeah, no, I tend to do that. You didn't answer my question earlier by the way. You feeling better?"

"I'm fine. Perhaps you could go get the doctor to get this IV out of me? And then you should probably get some sleep. You look fucking terrible"

"Gee thanks"

"You're welcome."

Feeling a bit less awkward, Mark left as per Dark's request to find the doctor, leaving Dark alone in the room with the other sleepers.

While he was by himself for the moment, he took the chance to try and delve into his own thoughts.

'Damien? Are you really still there?'

Silence

'Please answer.'

Still nothing.

'Please, Damien! I don't want to believe that void killed y-'

'I'm here, Dark. Sorry about the delay but I'm still here, my friend. Mark was right'

.

. 

 . 

Dark smiled, 'Good. I'm happy'