I found myself facing yet another dilemma. I stood in front of the Smith's house, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to just walk in and scare the shit out of them.

       Shave an a haircut.. two bits! I thought while knocking, smiling at my stupid joke. I adjusted the black uniform around myself, realigning a few of the medals that came with the uniform. Some were given to me for my bravery in standing up like that, a few were for being next of kin to two dead members, and a couple more had belonged to my parents, left behind when they'd died. I felt.. a little stupid, actually. But important all the same.

       I stood patiently, hearing the knob turning as I made one final adjustment to my hair. The door was answered by a very exhausted-looking Rick, his eyes widening as he saw me. 

       "Waddup, my dude? Can't keep me away just 'cause I took the job." I chuckled. He mumbled something and stepped to the side, letting me wander in. "Already have urp all those medals?" He commented, shutting the door. "Yea, well, sometimes they make me feel dumb but eh." I laughed. 

       Rick hummed in response and wandered to the living room. I followed after him, finding the Summer and Morty watching tv with their mother. "Who was at the door, dad?" Beth questioned as Rick sat on the couch. "Somebody really eugh weird," Rick laughed.

        "I happen to resent that," I stated dramatically. Summer should've gotten whiplash with how fast she turned. "Jesus, is your head still attached?" I questioned. She practically hurdled the couch, pulling me into a hug. "Fragile, fragile, fragile!" I yelled as she tackled me. 

        "Alright, Summer. I just remembered I have to talk to (Y/N), so if you could just let go," Beth laughed, prying Summer off of me. "Come on, (Y/N). We can talk in the kitchen." I followed Beth curiously, glancing back to find curious eyes watching us.

       "So I see you're doin' well with the new job," Beth commented as we sat at the table. I shrugged, "Some of these I don't deserve. I did betray the government within the first few days and all." Beth nodded and shrugged playfully, "I mean, they do give you an aura of importance." I wasn't sure how to take that so I simply smiled.

       "Alright," Beth sighed, leaning across the table, "I have to tell you right now, they're getting suspicious. I wanted to talk to you because I want you to tell dad. I'm not saying go in there right now holding a banner, but I want you to tell him soon. You're starting to show, and you can't hide it after that." Beth looked worriedly at me and I sighed, laying my hand on my stomach absentmindedly. 

       "I just don't know how he'll take it. He's convinced I hate him, I'm convinced he hates me." Beth smiled warmly, grabbing my free hand, "Then we're gonna fix that. I want you to start hanging out with him some more, to fix everything. You have, at the very most, half a month before you're completely screwed. It'll be harder to explain, then." I nodded, "Alright. I think I can take a bit of time off. Talk about most boring decision ever, really. I don't even do anything. I could probably work from home if I wanted." I chuckled. Beth stood from the table, "You should. It's been, what, three days? We already miss the crap outta you."

       I laughed, standing as well. "There a reason he looks so dead, by the way?" I questioned. "He's been doing something weird in the garage. If you help him out, he'd probably show it to you." I shrugged, wandering back to the living room with Beth.

       "So," I leaned over the back of the couch, gaining the attention of Summer and Morty, "I might be back for a little while." I pursed my lips, watching Summer grin. "And, maybe, if you wanna have a movie night, we could totally do that." Summer stood quickly from the couch, soon followed by Morty. "Gotta have my key back, though, 'cause I gotta make sure you're taking care of my hovel." Summer laughed, "It's in my room. I'll go grab it."

       While Summer ran to her room, I stole her spot on the couch, plopping down near Morty. "H-Hey, (Y/N)." He smiled, and I returned the gesture. "Wassup, Morty?" 

       "I-It was really weird wi-without you around, you know?" I shrugged and sighed, "It's weird without you guys, too. Boring as hell. But you should see some of the things I've done! It's all coming together, and I love it."

       "Here's your key, (Y/N)!" Summer cheerily thrust the object into my hand. It felt weighty, and it'd only been three days away from home. "Hot diggety dog, I'm bouncin' out for a bit. I'll come grab you folks later, after I set everything back up." With a light laugh, I stood from Summer's spot and made my way through the house. 

       When I got to my own house, it was weird. It didn't feel different or anything, it just felt weird. Like I wasn't supposed to be back already, that kind of weird. I shrugged and unlocked the house, walking into my living room. It was funny, the first thing I noticed. The bracelet Rick had given me still sat on top of the entertainment center. I'd left it there when I left, I guess. 

        I moved around, setting things back up. Most of my stuff was still here, just not all of it. My garage was still set up the same, and I was thankful for that. 

       Moving through the living room, I set the furniture back in place and adjusted everything. It had all been moved around to maintain a level of homeliness in the air, and I was glad. Sighing, I made my way up to my room. The bed and desk were still there, a few outfits hanging in my closet. I was thankful when I found a pair of leggings and a nice, light blue, sweater. It fit loosely, with small sequins running across the bottom. The color was soft and comforting, the material feeling just the same. I threw my phone into the pocket lining the front of the sweater and made my way back downstairs after shutting the window in my room. "No wonder it was so cold in here," I muttered. 

        Once I was back downstairs, with everything set up, I figured I could tinker in the garage for a little bit. When I walked in, I opened the large garage door, deciding to let the room air out before winter set in and I couldn't anymore. With all of the chemicals sitting around, it's better that way.

       When I made my way to the desk, I paused as I looked around. My portal gun sat on top of the wood, along with new, hand scrawled blue prints, and a note. "Weird," I inspected the portal gun and went over the blue prints. It was perfect, absolutely flawless, better than either object was when I'd first had them. 

       I set the objects down and grabbed the note before a heavy fall breeze could take it away.

(Y/N),
       I don't know when you're gonna come back, but I know it's gonna be before the first week is up, I guarantee it. Can't stay away for too long, huh?
       Your portal gun is completely flawless, but I bet you already knew that. You built it yourself, after all. Your blue prints, in case you forgot, were in my lab coat the entire time after you'd given it back. I don't know why, but they were in one of the pockets. I had to redraw them for you after Morty knocked my flask over onto the desk.
       You never let me talk to you, and I guess I understand why. So I figured this would be the best way to tell you, being that you always seem to run away. 
       I'm sorry for everything I have put you through. I know you've been a little off, and I know it's because of me. I meant it, when I left. You don't get to decide whether or not you've hurt somebody. I know I hurt you, and I didn't mean to. That's the kind of person I am. I'm an ass throughout my entire being.
       Thank you for looking out for the family, for bringing me back. I guess that was a little overboard, but I couldn't spend time knowing you were across the street wondering why I never came upstairs to apologize, thinking I'd never be more than a narcissistic ass. I want to say I'm sorry now, for leaving you up there. And I'm sorry for taking and breaking you. I guess you're glad you don't have a tag in your arm, though, huh? Probably don't want anything to do with me.
       Anyways, now you can come back and see the dweebs on your own, whenever you want. Just be careful, sometimes you can wind up in the wrong dimension, even with the proper coordinates. I don't want anything back for this, I just knew you wouldn't sit and listen to me talk this long. Whether or not you read up until this point is really your choice, but I hope you did. I'm really sorry, (Y/N). I cannot express that enough. I don't know how to fix anything, and I don't think you'll let me. I'm not going to try, at this point, because it's very clear you're done. I overdid it with everything, with parading around with those girls like it would make me feel better. It didn't, it made me feel worse. And I realized, after the run-in with that Fourth Dimensional Being, that you're done. I get it now, I really do.
       I suppose I should stop before this turns into the worst confessional of my life. I'm sorry, a million times over.

Forever yours once again, Rick.

       I set the note down on the desk, laying the portal gun over it to stop the paper from floating away. I sighed, digging around for my desk key. I found it on the far side of my desk and opened the drawer, finding my blueprints. I rolled the portal gun blueprint up and tucked it away. I really didn't know how to feel right now. He just told me, in a letter written however long ago, that he was done trying, but didn't specify what he was 'done trying'. 
       With a sigh, while carrying a whole 'nother part of Rick, I went about and grabbed my little Weebo. I set it across the street after watching Rick wander into his garage and laid on the floor again, watching as Weebo hovered through the camera. I led the device through the garage, watching Rick move around silently. He opened a portal, to my surprise, and I wondered how well Weebo would work in other dimensions. The device was designed to be manned from any distance, so it would probably work with minimal glitches. Sighing heavily, I guided Weebo through the portal before it closed, praying the magnetic goop wouldn't screw with the circuitboards. 

       Through the camera, I was very surprised to find Rick wandering across what seemed to be an empty, very small, planet. I kept Weebo above, and behind, Rick, while the device followed silently. The camera displayed everything that I aimed it at.
       Rick wandered up to a small house that appeared awfully run down, wandering over to it. There was a frisbee on the ground and he picked it up just before stepping onto the porch. He threw it and took a sip from his flask before he spun around, the white object having circulated the entire planet in a few seconds. He caught it and threw the frisbee a few more times before sighing and wandering into the small house. I guided Weebo to follow, sneaking in through a busted window and relocating Rick. He went and sat on a very beaten up couch, grumbling as he did so. He seemed to be thinking, like this was his thought spot. He sighed and leaned his head back onto the couch, almost catching sight of Weebo. 

       He sat there is silence for roughly fifteen minutes, and I'd almost though he'd fallen asleep until I became acutely aware of the droplets running down his face. He looked so peaceful, but he was crying. No sobs or screams, just quiet, frequent tears. Eventually, he sat up and wiped his face with his sleeve, wandering over to a table. He leaned against it and stared down while I guided Weebo over to see what it was. Rick started talking while I glanced over what he was looking at. There were two small dolls, as it were, each roughly two centimetres tall. They were both metallic, almost crude representations. A closer look showed that one was definitely Rick. The other was a bit left undone, as it were. Rick grabbed the unidentifiable object and reached into his pocket, grabbing a small device. He used it on the doll and set it back down.

       Now, as I looked at it, I realized it was a representation of me. It was weird, and I didn't know how to feel about it, but he seemed sad. He started talking again, and I was afraid he'd known Weebo was there for a while, but he was speaking to the doll, as it were.

       "I was gonna give these to you," he mumbled. "Put em on that bracelet. That damn crystal.." Rick mumbled something more that I didn't catch. I realized now that they weren't metallic. They were definitely shiny and almost metallic, but they were made from the crystal. 

        "I want, more than the world," Rick grabbed the representation of me and stared at it, "for you to be happy and perfect." He wiped at his eyes again and I realized once more that he was crying. "I gotta leave," he mumbled. "I shouldn't be here anymore." He grabbed the other representation now, "I'll put you two on the shelf, I guess. Isn't that where my failures go?" He muttered, stupid and sardonically. "Thanks for two days," he mumbled, dropping the objects in his pockets. He glanced out the window and sighed heavily once more, watching now as the sun set on this planet. I could see, from my spot on the garage floor, that the sun had definitely already set here. I turned my attention back to the screen, watching now as Rick created another portal. I guided Weebo quickly back through it and got the device out of his garage after seeing him place the figurines on the shelf. The way he placed them was almost like the objects were apologizing profusely, something that really tugged my heartstrings. 

       Instead of bringing Weebo back to my garage, I sent the device up into the sky. I sent it up as high as I dared put it and aimed the camera towards the sky, searching for the constellations and locating each one. 

        In my peripheral vision, I saw two forms wandering across the street. Summer and Morty stepped into my garage and stared down at me. "Hold on," I mumbled. Weebo quickly fluttered back down and hovered near the duo. "Grampa said he was gonna come over, but he's gotta go visit BP." 

        I sat up, watching Rick across the street as he grabbed something and threw it in his pocket. "Guys, I know I said movie night, but we're gonna figure out what Rick's been talking to BP about so much," I muttered quietly, guiding Weebo back across the street. Summer and Morty sat beside me, near the wall where Rick couldn't see us and get suspicious. They each sat on one side of me and I held the remote in a way that both could see the camera. "Woah," Summer whispered. "He just went somewhere else. I know, super creepy, but I'm curious."

       Summer shrugged and Morty appeared as though he didn't know if he wanted to see something so private. I sighed and led Weebo to follow Rick, watching as he fired a portal. "Here's another prayer," I mumbled, leading Weebo through the portal. "If I get caught," I warned, "you two are gonna sit here and pretend you were screwing around with my stuff." Summer and Morty nodded with shrugs and I laughed. "You guys rule."

         I led Weebo to follow Rick up to BP's door, sneaking in through a window. I found Tammy and quickly activated my mic and camera. "Tammy," I whispered, "if you see me, pretend you don't." She looked around quickly and her wide eyes settled on me. She gave a very concerned okay, staring at Weebo for another minute before she settled back into watching her show. I laughed, switching cam and mic off before hovering in a corner.

       "Tammy," BP stated, "I am going to talk to Rick again. It seems he is still having trouble." I hovered behind him and Tammy stifled a laugh, turning serious. "Sorry, dog commercial," she explained. "That's fine."

       Carefully, I followed Rick and BP down the hall to the dining room. They sat at the table and I kept Weebo far enough away to see and hear but to not be seen nor heard.

       "BP," Rick began with a sigh, "I can't keep doin' this. You're the one who's good with emotion and all that, not me. I can't keep this up." I stared, confused, while Rick took another drink from his flask. The camera glitched for a minute and I jumped, worrying about Weebo before the device regained itself. "Across space, holy shit," I mumbled, keeping Weebo in the air.

       "Rick, you are my friend. It bothers me to see you in such a situation." BP did the most awkward shoulder pat I've ever seen in my life. "You must not worry so much. I assure you, she does not hold a heavy dislike towards you."

       "You should urp  shoulda seen her when she was talking to me earlier." Rick laid his chin in his hands and stared at the table. "I assure you, once more, she does not hate you. The last time she was in here, the only time she personally spoke to me, we had a discussion heavily involving you. I cannot confess the content, as she is a dear friend of mine, but I assure you she still cares heavily for you." Rick and I sighed at the same time, bringing a chuckle to the air on my end as I watched.

       "I went back to that house, BP. I eugh I grabbed the charms, and they're on my shelf now. I gave eugh her that note you said to, said I was done. I can't fix it anymore. I hate the stupid Council for this, it's all their fault. If they eugh hadn't set it up, I wouldn't have met her, wouldn't have fucked her life up." Rick leaned his head against the table.

       "You did not mess her life up. I think you made it better, from her personal perspective." Bird Person was making me antsy. "You must understand that she is young. She is your universe's (Y/N), I understand that, but you have not told her how you feel, regardless of the system."

       "There'd be no urp point anymore. She works for the eugh Federation, too, away from home. She's the President, got then off my urp ass." 

       Bird Person stared intently at Rick, "And you are telling me that means nothing? She risked her career for you, Rick, to bring you back, even if she says it was just for the family." BP let out the creepiest yawn I'd ever seen, "I must be returning to my bed now, but I will tell you this. You will start to see in nearly a month." 

       I glared at BP on the screen and watched as Rick appeared confused. "What's that urp mean?" BP stood, "You will find out soon enough." Rick shrugged and opened a portal. "Thanks, BP."

        I led Weebo back through the portal and quickly over the street, back into my garage. I wandered around, setting the device on the charger while the two teens stared at me with wide grins.

       "What?" I cleaned my desk up, tucking the portal gun and note away. "I told you," Summer grinned triumphantly. "Yea, well, I have no choice anyway."

       Summer stared curiously and I waved it off, cleaning up. I shut my garage, finding Rick doing the same and glancing over curiously. I waved and shut the garage. "Alright, regular movie night time."