Aquaria thought about what she liked most about Varian and tried to decide. In her eyes, everything about him was absolutely amazing.

"His heart. He's always trying to help everyone even when he keeps messing up. He never gives up on trying to better Old Corona. He's really smart too. He's the reason I fell in love with science. We're lab partners and he is so passionate about alchemy and the science of absolutely everything."

Monty listened as they mixed the cookie dough. He could really tell that she liked him more than she thought she did just by the look on her face and the way she spoke.

"He's so kind to everyone but I'm his only friend. All the other kids in Old Corona make fun of him, but they never even take the chance to get to know him. He's the best friend I could've ever asked for. He's so loving and whenever he's sad it breaks my heart. He is always trying to make his father proud of him, but he doesn't realize that his father is already so proud. Even though he makes mistakes, I know his father is always so proud of him. I know I'm always proud of him. He makes me so happy," she ranted with a soft sigh.

"When my Aunt Iduna and Uncle Agnarr passed away, he didn't push me. He gave me space, but let me know that he was there for me. If there is ever a time where I'm upset, he knows exactly how to cheer me up. I sang him a song when I was eight and it always helped him sleep so he learned it. He always sings it to me when I'm upset and I do the same for him. His voice is amazing." She thought about him singing to her and her smile grew.

"He sounds like he's something special," Monty said to her and she let out a little laugh as she nodded. "I'd like to meet him one day. He sounds like he deserves a special gift of free Monty cookies whenever he wants."

"I'm sure he'd like that. He only comes to Corona on my birthday though. I wish he could come more often, but I know that his dad is protective. He lost his mom when he was young so his dad doesn't let him come often because he's afraid. I completely understand it and I still get to go to Old Corona almost every day to see him," she explained and he hummed.

"Well, then on your fifteenth birthday I expect you to bring him here," Monty said with a smile and Aqua giggled.

"Of course. Oh, and he can be very stubborn. He likes to stay up working on his projects until he's passed out at his desk." Aquaria giggled as she thought about all the times she had tried to make Varian go to bed and he promised that he would, but she'd find him asleep in his lab the next day.

Monty chuckled and started rolling the cookie dough into balls. "Now he definitely sounds like a teenager," he joked.

They finished rolling the dough into balls and put them in the oven.

🧪

Varian was cleaning up his laboratory when he saw that his picture of him and Aquaria was missing.

He had picked everything up that had been on his desk since it had flown all over, but he couldn't find the picture.

"No! Where is it! It has to be here somewhere!" Varian didn't want to lose that picture.

He searched for hours and racked his memory, wondering if maybe he had taken it somewhere.

Quirin came in to check on Varian and found him frantically searching every nook and cranny of the lab.

"Varian? Is everything alright?"

"No! I-I lost my picture that Aqua drew of her and I! It was on my desk before the accident, but now I can't find it!" Varian kept searching.

"Can't you just have her draw you a new one?" Quirin asked gently.

"I don't want her to draw me a new one," he said as he quickly shook his head. Varian knew that Aquaria could always draw him a new picture, but it was special to him. He wanted the original, not a replacement.

"But a drawing is replaceable, son," Quirin said as he walked over to Varian.

"It's not just a drawing, dad... it's special to me... i-it's like how you've never replaced mom's engagement or wedding ring. Of course, they're replaceable, but even if there are no physical differences in the new ring, it's still not the same ring," Varian explained as he looked at his dad.

Quirin hummed, looking at it differently. He was right, yes the object is replaceable,  but the feeling of it wasn't.

"I'm sorry, son. Have you checked your room? Maybe you took it there and just don't remember," Quirin suggested and Varian hummed.

"Maybe you're right! I'm gonna go look!" He ran out of his lab to go check his room.

Quirin decided to help check Varian's room for the drawing.

After they searched the whole room, Varian wanted to cry.

"It can't be gone... I can't believe I lost it..." He hugged himself and Quirin wrapped his arms around his son to comfort him.

"I'm sure it'll turn up. Would you like me to help you check your lab again?" Quirin offered, hating the sight of his son so upset.

"S-sure... I don't want to stop looking..." Varian nodded and they went back to his lab to search it again.

They went inside and Varian went over to Aquaria's desk by his, hoping that maybe he had put it on her desk when he was picking up her stuff that had also gone all over the place from the incident.

He saw her journal and was tempted to look at it, but he respected her privacy so he kept looking, going to the other side of the lab to look.

The door was still open and the raccoon ran in with a picture frame in its mouth. Varian heard the raccoon scutter across the floor and he looked over.

"Shoo! Get out of her-" Varian gasped when he saw the picture frame in its mouth as the critter scampered up his desk.

Varian ran over as the raccoon sat down in the center of his desk and set the photo down in front of its paws.

Varian picked it up and turned it over to see the glass shattered but the drawing was still perfectly fine.

"Oh my stars!" Varian cheered as he picked up the raccoon and hugged it tightly. "I love you! Thank you so much!"

Quirin looked over and raised an eyebrow before he heard someone walk into the lab.

"Varian?" Aqua walked in and looked at him after hearing what he had exclaimed.

"Aqua! Hey!" Varian smiled at her brightly.

"Why are you hugging a raccoon?" She asked curiously as she walked over with a covered basket.

Quirin walked over as well, not having seen the raccoon with the picture since he had been searching still.

"Well I decided it was time I get back in the lab, but I couldn't find the picture you drew me when I started cleaning up the lab. I've been searching for hours and this little guy must've found it! He brought it back and I'm so happy!" Varian explained as he put the raccoon down and waved the picture in the air.

"Oh that's right! I was still holding it when I went after you! I completely forgot it was in my pocket. It must've fallen out when I was running," Aqua said as she looked at it. She saw that the glass of the frame was shattered and she frowned. "It must've broken when it fell out of my pocket."

"I don't care about the frame. It was quick to make and I can always make a new frame. It's the picture I care about," he said with a smile.

"Well then, this little furry hero deserves a treat," Aqua said, smiling as she walked over to her desk with the basket she had brought. She set the basket on her desk before she pulled back the cloth that had covered the top of the basket and pulled out a plum.

The raccoon made a little squeaking noise and scurried over to her desk. She giggled and gave him the plum which he quickly started to eat.

"Maybe I was wrong about the critters. I'm gonna keep him," Varian said as he pet the raccoon.

Quirin hummed and said, "I expect you to care for him and clean up after him then."

"I will, dad. I promise," Varian said with a smile.

"Alright. I'll be back at the house," Quirin said before he walked out of the lab, shutting the door behind him.

"What should I name you?" Varian hummed in thought as he looked at the raccoon. "Rocket! No, that won't work. Barry? No..."

Aqua tried to think of a name along with Varian.

"What about Meeko? Hmm, nah, doesn't suit him." Aqua hummed as she kept thinking.

"Flynn Rider!" Varian exclaimed but the raccoon seemed to shake his head.

"He doesn't like it," Aqua pointed out.

"Oh, come on! I'm no good at naming things..." He huffed and kept thinking.

"Hmm, what about Ruddiger?" Aquaria suggested and Varian looked up.

"That's actually perfect. How do you like it?" Varian looked at the raccoon. He chittered happily and Aqua giggled. "Ruddiger it is," Varian confirmed with a smile.

"I brought some snacks. I helped Uncle Monty bake cookies today and he gave me some to bring to you," Aqua said as she pulled the plate of cookies out of the basket.

"Uncle Monty's cookies? I haven't had any in years!" Varian exclaimed as his smile brightened.

"I know. That's why I brought you some. Since the incident, you haven't been in the lab until today so I thought that these would cheer you up," she explained as she set the plate down. Varian lifted her off the ground and spun her around before setting her back down, hugging her close.

"You are the best friend in the entire world! Thank you!"

She blushed, but giggled as she hugged him back, resting her head on his chest. "You're very welcome, Varian. I'm so glad that I get to call you my best friend."

Varian smiled as he looked down at her in his arms before saying, "I'll always be your best friend no matter what happens. I promise."