"Alright big guy, nice and easy-oof!"

Anxiety ended up with Thomas draped over his chest, much to the mortification of the Host.

"Jeez Tommy, at least buy me a drink first!" Teases the Emo.

A red faced Thomas simply smacks at his chest, "shut up!" He squeaks, which only makes the Side beneath him chuckle more.

"It's fine Thomas, besides, it's only fair, I used you as a pillow yesterday"

"True, who knew you were a cuddler? It was kinda cute actual- ahhk, you're crushing meee! Ok! Ok! I give! I won't say anything about it Anxiety, I promise!"

Anxiety then released him from his jokingly tight hold, "good, I'll hold you to it Sanders"

Thomas laughs, "you're already holding me, what more do you want? And you say I'm the one who has to buy you a drink? I think not sir, I demand at least two glasses of the finest red wine-"

Anxiety huffs out a laugh. "If you day so Princess. Sheesh, I see where Roman gets his Dramatics from"

"Thank you! A Thank you!", says the Host in the best 'old school radio announcer voice' he could manage, "I'll be here until the sun comes up!"

The Dark Personality snorts and shoved Thomas' shoulder, "go to sleep, you dork"

"Yeah", mumbles the Manifestor, a yawn suddenly breaks its way through, "I'm seriously feeling really drained."

Anxiety winces and bites his lip, "um...about that. 'skinda my bad on that one"

Thomas looks up at him, only for the Emo to turn his face away. "Why did you challenge Patton? I don't know what it was about, but I do know a challenge when I see one and that definitely was one"

The Dark Personality sighs, "I...I had to..."

"Explain"

"I don't know ok? There was something...something told me that if I didn't check, I would regret it!"

Thomas looked confused, "regret what?"

"Patton's the Prominent ok? He has the ability to remove others from play, either split them up or force them to reincarnate. He said, he knew that he had to destroy the Dragon Witch's weapon, he didn't. Instead she might have access to that thing and if it hits one of us? Game over. If a Side doesn't come back, who knows what damage that would do to you?"

"Ok, I get that, I guess? But still why the challenge?"

Anxiety sighs, "He's never split a Personality, if push comes to shove, he has to. Something told me he wouldn't and I can't allow that. As Personalities, we're you're first defense. If one of us is corrupted and needs to be taken down, its Patton's job to do it. If he can't then it puts you at risk and I already told you-"

Thomas finishes for him, "when it comes to me, you don't take risks, right." The Manifestor sighs, "so because Patton says yes, you believe him?"

"I mean, he wouldn't challenge me back if he wouldn't, it's Patton. Besides, I was just checking and the Old man didn't let me down, so its all cool"

The Manifestor blinks. "Oh, ok. Good."

"Mhm, now go to sleep", mumbles Anxiety yawning. It seemed as if the challenge had worn him out too.

Thomas found it the appropriate time to tease the other. "You're just saying that so you can cuddle me without feeling embarrassed~"

"You know what?! Come here!"

"Hey wait! I was kidding!-"

Thomas blinked. "Holy shit."

One moment he was sprawled oddly and the next he was being manhandled and now definitely cuddled by Anxiety.

"What? You did ask for it", the Emo's voice was very smug.

Thomas couldn't help but laugh.

He actually couldn't complain, being held by the embodiment of his very fears should have felt terrifying, but instead he felt safe. Maybe this was what Janus was talking about? "Maybe this was how Anxiety felt yesterday?

"Go to sleep Sanders, I can practically hear you thinking"

"...yeah...ok..."

It wasn't long after that Thomas had fallen asleep.

Anxiety peered down to check.

He snorted softly and pulled his Host closer to him.

Thomas was literally safe in his arms and that calmed his anxiety down greatly. What? His core function was Self-preservation and he dared someone to try to harm his Host. He'd defend Thomas with his life, if he had to.

---

It's late into the night when they feel it.

Roman, thankfully having been alone, shot up gripping his core. The pain, fear and heart break coming from it made his head spin and his eyes water.

Remus, having no such luck, shot up the same way; utterly dislodging and terrifying the once sleeping Janus.

Anxiety shot up for a different but much the same reason, the terror in the air was practically palatable to him. Poor Thomas looked up at him confused.

Roman, Remus and Anxiety said the same thing, at the same time but in three separate rooms: "Remy."

Quickly they moved and headed towards the Aspect's room.

Roman and Remus and Janus get there first, followed a second later by Anxiety and Thomas.

All of them piled up at the door frame only to wince.

Remy was sitting up, eyes wide and completely Gold.

What little Dream Sand he had left was swirling around the room like a silent cyclone. Nothing was being touched or damaged but the Sand was obviously distressed and very unwilling to part from its Master.

Before anyone can do anything Patton gasps, breaking the silence. The group before turns to see both Morality and Logic behind them, apparently, all of them running into one room was not as quiet a venture as they thought.

The Sand, having heard Patton, aims straight for him, hissing viciously. It suddenly splits off grabbing the first group and barring Patton-- and subsequently Logan behind him-- out of the room.

Remus and Roman were the first to rise, and head to Remy on the bed. Deceit and Anxiety shoved each other's body off of them until they could stand as well, before going on either side of Thomas and picking up their dazed Host.

The three standing, couldn't hear what the Twins were saying but they managed to get the Sand to clam down and Remy was no longer glowing.

All that was left was a hyperventilating Aspect on the bed.

"The- the Girls! They were-!" He stammers, choking on his sobs, "and- and Thomas! Where's-? Where's Thomas?!"

The Manifestor unable to resist Sleep's blind call, goes to him before Anxiety or Deceit could warn him.

The speed at which the Aspect had grabbed Thomas onto the bed left and after image in the Sides' eyes.

Thomas couldn't even blink as Remy began frantically checking him over; poking and prodding at his face and arms and legs and then back again at the face for good measure.

"...you're ok...", he whispers out on a sob, relived, yet oh so broken.

It was enough to make the Host's eyes water.

"Yeah, I'm ok. I'm fine", says Thomas now rubbing the Aspect's back. "I'm right here".

Remy nods numbly, he lets go of Thomas' face but maintains a grip on the Host's hand. The Guardian's body is still shaking as he cries and he can't stop even if he wanted to; he's thankful no one's making him explain either.

Biting his lip, Anxiety makes his move, he comes up carefully to the bed and sits in front of Remy.

"Hey, I know I'm like the last person you expect but I know a bit about panic, want me to help you?"

Sleep nods as he sobs out a chuckle, of course Anxiety would know about panic, that was literally his thing.

"Alright, just focus on me for a bit, ok? Follow my breathing, inhale for 4 seconds-"

Remy tried but his breath stuttered and picked up again.

"Hey, hey easy", says the Emo calmly, "you'll get it, just try again, nice and easy'

Remy shakily inhaled, he managed the 4 seconds.

"Good", commented Anxiety, "now hold hold your breath for 7 seconds

This, of course, was much trickier and it took the Aspect three tries to get it, but he did.

"Alright, see? Almost there, now out for 8 seconds"

Two tries to get it.

"Nice, you did it. Now let's put it all together, ok?

In for 4... hold for 7 and out for 8..."

This time Remy managed it on the first try.

Here Janus finally moved, he sat on the bed next to Remy--as far from Anxiety as possible-- and held the Aspect's free hand. Gently and wordlessly, he rubbed the circles with his thumb. Something Patience used to do for him and no doubt did for the Dream Keeper.

From the door frame, Patton and Logan could only watch as everyone else comforted the tired Aspect.

----

After a few more moments, the group in the room decided that it would be best if they all went out side.

Thomas and Anxiety leading the way, with Roman and Remus, holding up their cousin; Janus just a step behind.

Upon exiting the room, the Twins suddenly exclaim something wordlessly and grab Logan and Patton after passing the still distressed Remy to Janus; the Aspect smiles sadly up at him, much to the Serpent's surprise. Still, he responds in kind with a gentle nod, placing his hand on the left side of the younger's shoulder.

On the opposite side, Remy was still holding onto Thomas'

hand and the Host himself wasn't feeling to inclined to let the other go, not when he was still shaking like that.

Anxiety behind Thomas had a loose hold on Remy's Jacket, not enough to crowd him, but just enough to let the Aspect know he was there. Briefly Anxiety and Deceit glared at each other but only barley refrain from hissing at each other in a silent unspoken truce to avoid upsetting Remy and or Thomas.

Both halves of Creativity dash passed them through the hall, practically pulling poor Patton and Logan with them.

All four of them were dragging various blankets and pillows and such.

By the time Deceit, Sleep, Anxiety and Thomas made it to the living room all the things were already set. It wasn't exactly a pillow fort, being that it lacked any sort of 'roofing structure', but it did look very soft and quite comfortable; so a nest, would probably fit the term.

Gently they coaxed the still shaky Aspect to sit.

The Twins now separating to remain on ether side of Remy; Remus on the left and Roman on the right.

Thomas sit in front of Roman to hold onto Remy's ankle, something that visible helps calm the Aspect.

Anxiety, of course, is right beside Thomas, offering Remy a thumbs up and tiny ball of shadow for him to fiddle with.

Sleep gave him a grateful smile and proceeded to roll the little ball between his fingers.

Logan sat quietly behind Anxiety, not able to reach but there in as much support his presence could offer.

Janus was beside Remus, making him the Side closest to the hallway; he had kindly dropped his caplet around the Aspects shoulders.

As much as Patton wanted to hold Remy, he knew the Dream Sand would not permit it, so he moved to sit beside Roman but Sleep's Sand still chased him. So Logan switched, now sitting next to Roman.

At first Patton was slightly nervous to go near Thomas with Anxiety there, but both of them smiled at him and even with all the guilt he felt, he couldn't help but smile softly back.

Janus gave him a look, but no one else could tell. Nor was it important in that moment.

Currently it was all about the contact, the presence and the unspoken but innate knowledge that they were all in this situation together and that each of them would do anything to protect Thomas.

---

Remus, of course, is the first one to speak.

"What if you could pop off your limbs and organs like Legos?"

"Oh noo!" Snorts Roman, though no one can tell if he's being genuine or not. "Now, all I can imagine is little kids playing and going 'pass the arm, pass the arm, stop the arm!' And you know they're gonna swap, because they're kids"

"Oh shit! Even better! Kids sitting in a circle, one kid outside dropping hands into the other kids laps, just like: 'hand, hand, hand... foot!'- then they toss a foot at another kid and that kid snaps on the foot and chases after the first kid"

"Oh my god!' Whisper shouts Thomas, "you two can't just ruin Duck, Duck Goose for me like this-!"

"Dodge ball is just dodge the limb!" Starts Remy much to his cousins' delight and Thomas' despair.

"Noooo!"

"Amputees can get limbs from cadavers", pipes Anxiety with a shrug, "no more ghost pain if they got a healthy limb fully attached"

Patton brightens, finally finding a positive he could join in for the conversation. "Oh! Oh! You can replace spines! No more need for wheel chairs if you got working limbs and you're not paralyzed anymore"

Janus of course decides it would be a wholesome prank to to burst that bubble. "What's to stop some one from just stealing spines?" He shrugs nonchalantly, "Like bad back? Let me just-" he snaps and gestures to the doors with a palm, "swap and run"

Now Patton gasps affronted. "Noo!"

The others are not even bothering to hide their laughter

Logan clears his throat. "I mean, that would be possible in a hypothetical world like this. And wouldn't cancer and other similar diseases still be a problem?"

"Oop, there it is!" Claps Anxiety, "can't say the Black market wouldn't be doubly interested in stealing limbs and organs-"

Roman raises a brow. "As if they aren't already?"

"Oh, you're right!"

Remus shoves at his brother, "you and Anxiety can take your flitting somewhere else! I was still thinking about the Lego thing. Now think about it, trans peeps can just swap bodies! Like need a dick? Here! Now pass them tits, it's time to juggle!"

Anxiety falls onto Thomas lost in mortified laughter; the Host himself couldn't stop laughing. Even Janus and Patton attempted to hide their laughter behind their hands.

Roman face palms, trying so hard to hide his smile. "Oh my goodness gracious, Remus shut up!"

The Duke of course, pays his brother no mind. "What if you dropped them? Would they be bouncy?"

Logan sighs, likely the only one who didn't find it funny. Adjusting his glasses, he cuts in, " as they are mounds of human flesh, they are highly unlikely to bounce as high as you'd imagine and are in fact very bruisable so I would not recommend-"

Remus pouts dejected, ceasing his pretend juggling motions and crossing his arms.

Feeling slightly bad for dimming the mood twice, the Secondary Personality sighs once more, "but, they are still flesh and as such they would...jiggle."

Immediately the Duke gasps, and it's an utterly delighted sound. His eyes wide and grin absolutely beaming. "Yay!" He exclaims, clapping his fingertips rapidly together. "One point for Jiggle physics!" The addition of the Remus' waggled eye brows only served to send every single one of them into another peal of laughter.

---

Everyone's laughter peters out and it goes fairly quiet.

That is, until Roman and Remus whisper something to Remy, causing the Guardian to giggle.

It's so child like and so clearly brought by genuine glee filled exhaustion, that it brings a small smile to the other's faces.

The Twins then look at each other with narrowed eyes...

They whisper something else to the tired Aspect.

Then they gasped, both halves of Creativity pointing at each other.

"Jinx!"

"Double Jinx!"

"Triple-!"

"Oh my God! Shut up, or it'll never end!" Giggles Remy again, batting at the both of them. This of course caused another bout of laughter throughout the room.

Soon enough, the Aspect's exhaustion finally gets the better of him and he nods off; though looking much more peaceful and relaxed than anyone can recall seeing him. Body slack yet each had limply clutching onto both Remus and Roman's sashes.

The Duke gently pokes the Aspect's cheek, an oddly soft look as he watches how the muscle squishes beneath his touch-

A stream of Dream Sand rises from Remy's jacket and lightly pushes Remus' finger away from its Master. The Duke simply sticks his tongue out but doesn't prod at his cousin anymore.

Roman rolls his eyes and asks the Sand stream if it could wake them if Remy was having another nightmare. The stream split oddly and gave what was definitely a salute.

Satisfied with that Roman turned to the others. "I guess that's mission accomplished. You guys can head to bed-"

Dream Sand suddenly shot up, mimicking a miniature firework as is silently "exploded" and began to rain down on everyone. The moment anyone was touched by the particles, the drowsier they became.

"And I guess that means we're all staying out here tonight", mumbles Janus around a yawn. With that the snake lays down completely. "Good day everyone"

Shrugging slightly and accepting their fates, everyone else followed suit; for only moments later did their breaths even out as they slept.

In calm bliss they slumbered on, deep and serene in dreams as Sleep himself was.

----

It was roughly around 3am that she stepped out of her room. Tip-toeing silently as she headed down the hallway. The moment she turned the corner, she froze. Everyone was in the living room.

The resident fae took one look at them and smiled.

All of them were slumbering quite contentedly and she wouldn't dare wake them.

Quietly Fairy Godmother moved towards Patton at the far right side of the pile. Sneaking carefully around Janus and Remus who were on the far left, thus subsequently closer to the hallway, she made her way in front of the Prominent.

Before she could do anything, both Anxiety's Shadows and Sleep's Dream Sand rushed at her, hissing softly yet threateningly.

The fairy reared back, only for a second, before shushing and batting the Sand and Shadows away. "Oh do be quiet!" She huffed in whisper, "I'm just placing sheets on them, it gets far colder at night".

Neither Sand nor Shadow felt inclined to move from in front of her so she simply retrieved the sheets from out her cloak.

"Here then, do it yourselves since you seem so keen!...well I'll be!-"

Fairy Godmother could only blink as the Sand and Shadow worked together to cover each one of the males on the blanketed floor. Once finished they separated, the Sand hovering undoubtedly very smug over Sleep, the Twins and Deceit; The Shadows doing the same over Anxiety, Thomas, Logic and Morality.

She nodded at them, still absolutely dumbfounded. "Understandable, have a good evening"

The Fae then turned to the kitchen to get the glass of water she had come for in the first place. After that she headed back to her quarters, deciding then and there that it was probably for the best that she went to bed again.

Upon closing her eyes, she thought it odd how familiar the mix of Shadow and Dream sand were. She shook the thought away, surely it was of no importance.

-----

AN//: Hey guys how's it going?

Sorry this one was kinda short, I've got one heck of a head cold and a fever of uh..103.5? Heh. (The discord fam is gonna kill me XD)

Yeah, so...I ended up having to pull 7 consecutive all nighters to make sure that my thesis work was properly formatted and that I'd also have my weekend free for writing and hang out time with friends. I took like hour naps between classes but I was legit nocturnal for the span of a week. I wish I was joking, the discord peeps know and have read me my receipts XD.

Anyway special thanks to Blu for helping me at like I-don't-even-know-what-time with my laptop that froze in the middle of a school assignment and the subsequent panic attack I had because of it. You're a life saver fam.

Another special thanks to Spinel1567, who had been delivering glorious commentary on every chapter as they caught up from beginning to end this week. You made this week of all nighters hilarious especially since we were both up passed 3am till sun up.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK:

BY MayaTL

"I was about to click 'next chapter' and my brain malfunction for a good 10 seconds when I realized there is no such button yet.

I have now been awake for 5 hours past midnight and it may turn out to be the worst decision of my life so far, but once I started reading I physically could not stop until I was all caught up.

Worth it.

The following was written in a half-asleep delirious state of mind and is entirely unfiltered, emotional poetic bullshit. Proceed with caution.

Okay so. There is so much lore in this story that I'm honestly, truly, continuously in awe of your worldbuilding skills. Unfortunately, even though it pains me, I simply don't have the mental space to learn all of it-all my comments are mostly surface-level, but I hope they bring you some amount of joy.

Still an incredible story. A Fandom Legend. An icon. It's basically written in stone at this point.

Next update will officially mark the 60 Chapter Milestone! I've never stuck with an unfinished work for as long as I have this!

It's more challenging than I thought, when there seems to be no end in sight-and consequently no stress-relief in the aftermath of a well executed climax, which really just means my privileged brain is too used to reading complete stories right off the bat and is trying to compensate for the lack of instant fulfilment-and plot-related things keep piling up until it's almost overwhelming...

But when I think about what it will feel like, to one day in the future look back on this work and see a complete story, full of meaningful history at every turn, and to know that I was here to witness its journey to completion? I know it be worth it.

I will cherish the day when I am be able to click on the first chapter all over again, knowing what lies ahead, and witness a world come to life a second time."

Let me tell you that one, I cried, thank you, thank you it means more than you know. And two, long Comments like these immediately make my day and I hoard them like a dragon for the positive vibes.

That is not to say I don't appreciate short one or any comment in general, its just to let those peeps that are "afraid to ramble" know that its more than ok and to please come ramble at me in the comments about the chapter, your theories and even Sanders Sides in general!

PUN OF THE WEEK:

By Merlin:

> Janus holding a wine glass: some people are like slinkies

> He takes a sip: completely useless but they make you smile when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Oh my god XD.

See y'all in the comments and the discord!