And finally (three years later...), the completion of this tale! I hope you guys enjoyed it! :)

For the second time that day, Wilbur Robinson trudged up to the observatory.

Dad was home, and he'd come up here soon enough.

What would he say?

What even was there to say?

Wilbur would apologize.

That was the first step.

Apologize for what he could be - what he knew he was capable of. He was dreading it, but the image of the Robinson mansion caving onto those terrible flames was still bright in his mind.

That couldn't happen. He wouldn't let it.

He wouldn't let it.

Footstep sounded on the staircase.

"Wilbur? You up there?" Dad's voice asked, just out of view.

"Yeah, Dad," he answered, stilling his fidgeting. He took a deep breath.

Cornelius reached the top and smiled broadly, knowingly. "So, how was your adventure?"

"Good," Wilbur murmured reflexively, mouth dry. "I mean..." He shook his head a fraction. "I mean, I'm...I'm sorry, Dad."

His father's eyebrows rose slightly, gently. "Son - "

"I'm really, really sorry," Wilbur rushed on. He looked away, through the crystal-clear glass of the observatory, because couldn't bring himself to look Dad in the eyes right then. "I'm sorry about the house, and whatever else I did - "

Cornelius laid a hand on his shoulder. "Wilbur, you haven't done anything in those forks yet. You don't have to apologize for any of that."

Wilbur still didn't look up. "But I could do it, Dad." He swallowed. The hand on his shoulder was warm, certain, and entirely lacking condemnation. "Easily - I could do it easily."

Cornelius shook his head. "I don't think so," he said quietly.

Wilbur ignored that. "Dad, I'll try, okay? I know I mess up, and I make the same stupid mistakes, but I...I'll try, Dad. Really." The image of the flames pulsed in his memory. "I can make you proud of me." He had meant for that to sound flippant, but it didn't. His voice cracked.

"Wilbur, do you know where I was today?"

"Um, at a meeting?"

"Yes - with Lissie's dad, Mr. Meterson. We were discussing some apprenticeship opportunities at Robinson Industries."

Wilbur felt his face get warm at the mention of Lissie's name, but Dad didn't seem to notice (or, at least, he graciously pretended not to notice).

"We were thinking Lissie might be ready in a year or two, and...if you'd like, you could start this summer. Now, it's up to you - "

"Dad," Wilbur cut in, incredulous. He finally looked his father in the eyes. "Are you sure you want me to...? After everything...?"

"Before everything?" Dad was teasing, Wilbur realized.

He looked down again.

Realization dawned in Cornelius' eyes. "Son, I'm not perfect, but I want the best for you. I didn't send you off to those forks because I'm disappointed in you - I want you to choose the best paths, and I didn't know of a better way to show you. But no fork is set in stone; you know that. And I think this apprenticeship thing is a good next step, but I don't want to make the decision for you."

Wilbur thought. A week ago - no, even earlier today - he would have rolled is eyes and made some lame excuse about being too busy with Chargeball and school and general not-work, but now...yeah. He did want to. And the weird thing was, he now realized he had wanted to for some time but never thought Dad would want him around the offices.

"Yeah, well," he said slowly. He looked Dad in the eyes and grinned. "I'd love to, Dad."

"All right then! You'll do great, son."

Wilbur beamed.

"Oh, wait." Wilbur fished into his back pocket and pulled out the Fork-Finder. "Here you go."

Cornelius took is and nodded. "Pretty cool, isn't it?"

Wilbur smiled - a real smile. "Yeah. It is. You're pretty great, Dad."

"You are, too, son."

...MTR...

Alone in his observatory, Cornelius punched the buttons of his handy-dandy Fork-Finder and waited.

He was fairly certain of the results, but he held his breath anyway.

And then, under the prescribed date:

One Path detected: No Forks foreseen.

Cornelius Robinson smiled so hard his face hurt.

THE END