Mark loaded the bags and dogs into his mother's car, while Jack helped her with the babies. He was so tired that keeping his eyes open was becoming a challenge. He kept rubbing his eyes and yawning. If it hadn't been for the cold snowflakes hitting him, he thought he'd collapse. Once everything was packed up, Jack coaxed him into sitting up front with his mother. Jack then sat in the back to keep an eye on the babies in the car seats that his mother bought recently. As she drove out, Mark asked her in a tired tone. "You've been shopping? Mom, we've talked about this..." His mother waved a dismissive hand at him, saying coolly. "I did not. I'm using all your old baby stuff. It will help them feel comfortable at my house when you visit." Mark reached into the back to yank a tag off one of the car seats. Jack chuckled to himself and Mark held up the tag for his mom to see. Looking it over, he smugly retorted. "Really? I don't remember my car seat having this." His mom snatched the tag, guiltily mumbling out. "Ok. I might have replaced a few items from your youth... but I had too. The others were unsafe."

Mark gawked at her, saying startled. "Unsafe? You raised Thomas and I in them!" His mom glanced at him, saying a little impressed. "I know. I'm amazed you survived. You had nothing these new ones have. But don't worry. I'll do it right this time. Nothing but the best for my grandbabies!" Mark's jaw dropped at her statement, causing her to ask perplexed. "What? You turned out fine." Jack's laughter grew from the backseat. Shaking his head, Mark said lightly. "So... What? You'll be a better mother this time around? Was I just a test?" His mother chuckled, telling him innocently. "No! Of course not! That was your brother. He did without more than you did. Then you surprised us, and you got a little more than him... but the selection was horrible back then." Mark narrowed his eyes playfully, listening to her add with a simple shrug. "Don't worry. This time will be perfect. I got all the practice that I needed." Jack lost it, causing Mark to chuckle and cover his eyes with his hand.

His mom patted his thigh with a laugh of her own. When their laughs settled a bit, she told him with a bright smile. "My failures as a parent made you stronger. So, I did something right. But I can do better now." Mark shook his head, blushing as he looked out the window. Seeing his hometown covered in a nice layer of snow, his heart ached. He missed this place. The memories here were so strong. Everything felt warm and welcoming. There just was nothing like the feeling of going home. He was filled with excitement and a sense of belonging. Some of the stores had changed from what he remembered, but it still felt like home. Part of him was so happy to be back that he didn't want to leave. It made him wonder if he'd move back like his friends had. With Youtube taking a backseat in his life, he didn't see why he'd keep living in California after it ended. His eyes drifted to the rearview mirror, seeing Jack staring out the window behind him. He knew Jack wanted him to move to Ireland, but the older he got... the more he wanted to stay closer to home. There were memories here that he didn't want to lose.

His mom pulled up into the driveway, telling him in her bossy mom voice. "Mark, get the bags." Mark turned his eyes to her, asking bluntly. "Why me?" His mom hopped from the car, then leaned back in to say just as bluntly. "Because you are my youthful muscular son. That is why." Mark pointed to the back, stating out. "Jack is just as capable-" His mom raised a hand, butting in firmly. "He's not my son. He's a guest. You don't make guests carry the bags. Besides, he's going to help me take the babies in out of this cold." Mark opened his mouth, but she waved her hand more, uttering out. "Ah! Not another word. Get the bags." Mark groaned, sliding out of the seat. From the other side of the car, his mom told him in a cool voice. "Don't roll your eyes at me, Mark Fischbach." Mark paused in his tracks, watching Jack chuckle with a bright grin. She hadn't seen him roll his eyes, but she always had a weird way of knowing. Moving to the back, he opened up the trunk and started to remove the bags.

Jack pulled the babies out to put them in their carriers, then carefully started to take Sally up to the door. His mother hugged Barry to her chest, setting the carrier on the bags as she told him. "Here take this too. And leave your overnight bags in the car." Mark blinked, leaning half in the car when he asked her. "What? Why?" His mom patted his back briefly, bouncing Barry in her arms as she replied sweetly. "The babies are staying here. You're not." Mark jerked up so fast that he hit his head and cursed. His mother covered Barry's ears, snapping out. "Mark! Language!" Rubbing his throbbing skull, he winced out. "What do you mean we aren't staying? Where are we supposed to-?" His mother shrugged off her purse, pulling something out, while telling him. "The house isn't that big, Mark. I turned Thomas's room into my little nail salon so that I could practice. And your room... I converted for the babies." Mark gawked at her, trying to let her finish. "I can't have you sleeping on the couch together. Or the floor. So, you two will be staying here."

She handed him an envelope and he snatched it, before blurting out. "Mom, I... I don't understand. Why didn't you tell me this?!" His mom patted his cheek, telling him coolly. "Because you never would have come otherwise." Mark pointed the corner of the envelope at her, firmly growling out in an undertone. "Mother. You expect me to leave you with the infants all night?! No!" She blinked at him with an unfazed expression, before stepping closer and whispering to him in a firm but light tone. "Mark. I'm a mother of two sons. I can handle two babies. I want time with my grandchildren while they are small. Trust me. These years go by so fast... I don't want to miss them. And you need a break." Mark shook his head, starting to say something, but she stopped him and told him in a low voice. "Mark, I know the look. For one week... Just take a step back and let me do this. Unwind yourself before you break." Patting his chest, she stepped back, adding with a warm smile. "Help me get them settled and then go to the hotel. I'm sure you both want to sleep." She turned on her heel, rubbing her nose to Barry's to make him giggle.

Putting the overnight bags back into the trunk again, he closed the trunk and released Henry and Chica from their crates. Then he took the rest of the bags inside. The house was warm and cozy with Christmas decorations everywhere. Over a fake fireplace in the living room was there old Christmas stockings. His mom led Jack on to the bedroom, but Mark drifted into the living room to look at the stockings. He touched the new stockings with the babies' names on them. Then he touched Jack's and his old stocking. Then Thomas's and his mother's. Stopping where his dad's stocking should be. His eyes fell to the box with Christmas decorations nearby, stepping closer to remove his dad's stocking. From the doorway, he heard a familiar voice tell him softly. "She's still deciding on whether she wants to put it up or not. Although, we both know that she'll put it off until the night before." Mark set the stocking down, turning to face his older brother. The moment their eyes met; Thomas walked in casually to hug him.

Mark hugged him tightly, asking over his shoulder. "How have you been, Jason?" Thomas pulled from him, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he told him. "I've been good. Busy. Did I surprise you?" Mark smirked, gesturing off toward the bedrooms, saying playfully. "So that story about your room being turned into a nail salon?" Thomas chuckled, wincing a little as he said. "Half true. It is more... girly than when I left it." Mark chuckled, letting Thomas tell him in his calm casual voice. "It means a lot to mom that you brought the kids here." Mark checked the hall to make sure she wasn't near, before asking him seriously. "Is she alright? I know this time of year is..." Mark couldn't bring himself to finish. Thomas put a hand on his shoulder, telling him warmly. "Like I said. She's happy the kids are here. I think she's more worried about you though." Mark exhaled, moving more into the living room as he said aloud. "I'm fine. It's been a long day and a longer year... Did mom tell you about-?" Mark gestured off and Thomas answered softly. "Ya. She told me about them. And about what you plan to do with him."

Mark tensed, afraid to look at Thomas. He had rarely seen Thomas over the years. They were both always so busy and working on opposite schedules. He'd never told Thomas about his relationship with Jack. Hell, he had never told Thomas anything. His mother always shared the information between them. Talking about it now with him felt awkward. He had never seen Thomas react to the news. He'd always taken his mother's word for it. Thomas moved closer to him, telling him in a warm voice. "You're so much like mom." Mark rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "You look more Korean than me." Thomas sat down on the arm of a chair, retorting with a soft chuckle. "I wasn't talking about in looks. Mom always drags her feet when making decisions until she has no choice but to leapt into it. How long are you going to drag your feet with him?" Mark turned to face Thomas, uttering out. "It's complicated." Thomas raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest as he shot back. "You've been saying that since the first grade. You always make a mountain out of a pebble."

Mark narrowed his eyes on Thomas, chuckling back. "Now who sounds like mom?" Thomas chuckled heartily, then yelped as their mom swatted his ass, yelling out. "Jason Thomas Fischbach! Sit in the seat properly or stand! The arm was not designed to support your butt!" Thomas jumped up, moving closer to Mark as he mumbled out to him. "Sometimes it feels like I never left." She brushed off the arm of the seat, then told Thomas seriously. "Sit like that on your own furniture. Don't break mine." Thomas nodded, answering promptly. "Yes, mom. Sorry." Jack flashed a smirk to Mark, patting Sally's back against his shoulder. Mark smirked back, his smile fading as his mom asked him sternly. "And you! Did you tell Jack that you feed Barry at night and let him sleep in the day?" Mark stood very still in shock. Why was she so mad at him for that? Thomas scooted around behind Mark, patting his back as he mumbled out to himself. "I'm just going to get out of the line of fire. Thank you."

His mom put Barry in a play crib in the living room, while he stammered out. "Ya... but I-" His mom exhaled loudly, turning to take Sally from Jack as she told him more calmly but no less firm. "Mark, that's not good. You NEVER feed a baby at night. It promotes bad habits." Mark shrugged, saying honestly. "Where did it say that? I read those baby books and none of them-" His mom set Sally in the crib with Barry, then told him casually. "You're not going to find that in there. It is common sense, Mark. You don't eat at night because...?" She gestured for him to answer. So, he stated aloud nervously. "Because I can't burn it off? But babies don't-" His mom raised a hand to stop him, slipping in. "Yes, they do. Mentally and physically they are very active. They take in everything around them. If you are feeding him at night and putting him to bed so you can sleep... You are not stimulating him. You want your son to grow up a lethargic idiot?" Jack snorted, then apologized.

Mark shrugged, rushing out before she could stop him again. "Mom, he cries when I try to keep him up." His mom crossed her arms, glancing down at Barry. Barry was laying on his back chewing on a water ring. His eyes were red from crying... but he seemed calm now. His big eyes looking around at everyone. Mark rolled his eyes, saying embarrassed. "Well, see... That's not fair. He's not normally like this. He's normally a little monster!" His mom chuckled, saying with a smirk. "I said the same thing to your father when you stopped crying in HIS arms. Karma sucks, don't it?" Mark huffed as a smile spread over his face. She gave a toy to Sally, telling Jack a little distracted now. "You should go and check into the hotel. Get some rest. I'll text you if we need anything and when I get dinner ready. Ok?" Jack shrugged, giving her a smile. Mark moved closer, trying to slip in seriously. "Mom, I really don't like the idea of you being here alone with them. Why not put Thomas up in a hotel?"

His mom straightened up, turning to face him as she said nicely. "Mark. Thomas's bed is a single. Your old bed was barely able to hold you both... You'll be happier in the hotel. And you don't need to worry. I can handle them just fine. We're going to have lots of fun. Now go. Before I kick you out." Mark looked to Thomas, asking in disbelief. "You have anything you want to say or add in this, Jason?!" Thomas's eyes widened like a deer in the headlights. Slipping from the room, Thomas uttered out. "I'm staying out of this." Mark looked to Jack for help. Jack shrugged, telling him softly. "I am tired, Mark. Can't we discuss this after some sleep?" Mark tossed his arms up, grumbling out. "Fine. But don't say that I didn't warn you." His mom blinked at him with a sarcastic look, saying lightly. "Noted. Now go before they give your room away." She walked over to put her car keys in his hand, and he shook his head with a heavy sigh. Kissing his cheek, she told him sweetly. "Are you ok to take my car? Or should Thomas drive you over there?"

Inhaling deeply, Mark grumbled out. "I'm good. But if anything happens. And I mean ANYTHING. You call me. Ok?" She nodded, then patted his chest until he was forced to move to the door. Jack followed him out and Mark dragged his feet all the way to the car. His mom waved, then closed the door to keep the cold out. Climbing into the car, he reluctantly started driving to the hotel. While beside him, Jack was practically glowing with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. He was slightly glad that Jack found his misery amusing. To Be Continued...