Wow guys it's been a while (I was preoccupied with school) I did a fanfic like this before, but I deleted it because frankly I just didn't want to write it anymore. Well now I'm back and I'm ready to write! I'll bet you all remember my crazy crack pairings and this one just happens to be one of my favorites! Please no flaming. Thanks guys!

-Warning: Language. I'm not cursing every other word, but I will have a few words from time to time.

(Elmore Junior High, Elmore. 11:54 am)

Nicole gazed dully out of the frost covered window. Crisp snow had fallen only hours ago, coating the front lawn of Elmore Junior High. It was once again the time of week when she would sit for an hour and a half, attempting to repress her horrid outbursts through Steve Small's anger management course. Dozens of other adults sat with her in the classroom, closely following his methods. Teachers, office workers, even Mr. Rex attended from time to time by poking his head through the window and sitting outside to listen.

She drummed her fingers on the desk irritably. Steve was giving a lecture at the front of the room, but Nicole's mind was wandering elsewhere. She thought of her children, of their terrible grades. They were always in trouble with something and as they grew in age it only continued to escalate. A few days ago, she had caught Gumball spouting out what Nicole called "hate words," even though she used them quite frequently herself. Darwin wasn't any better. He was losing his childlike innocence quicker than she had guessed he would, skipping class with Gumball so they could both go and do Gawd knows what with Tobias and Joe. Nicole sighed. Anais was the only one who was partially normal in the family. Her intellect grew by the hour and she had taken to burying her nose in a book any chance she got. She was involved in several scientific clubs along with competitions and expected her mother to drive her to each and every one. This was a hassle of course, seeing as how Nicole had to juggle work and finances on top of everything.

As she thought about all of this, an eerie thought began to stir inside of Nicole. Her pink fluffy husband…Richard. He had done absolutely nothing to help her with the children or the finances and it was getting to the point where tax collectors were breaking down their door demanding a payment that they didn't have. She was constantly requesting him to clean up the house while she was at work, but he never did. She didn't mind coming home and cleaning, but coming home to him asleep on the couch in front of the television infuriated her immensely. The more Nicole began to think about what he had never done for her, the faster her fingers drummed on the desk. She gritted her teeth and began to tap her foot on the floor as well. She loved Richard with all her heart, but he had done nothing to ever benefit her or the children. Now on top of it all, he hadn't paid their mortgage and there was the potential that they could lose their house.

Nicole growled and jumped up, nearly knocking her desk over onto the floor. "When are things going to get better? Why won't he help me?!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

Steve, who had been in the middle of explaining meditation, stopped speaking and turned to her. "Now Nicole, do you remember what I said about yelling in class?"

Nicole ignored him and continued to rant. She stomped to the front of the room. "I can't do everything by myself!" she swept her hand furiously across Steve's desk, causing a sea of papers to go flying.

"Nicole!" Steve barked, now furious. "Do you want me to make this like boot camp? Because that's the way things are going sister! Now sit down!"

The anger in his tone was enough to regain Nicole's attention. She swallowed then whirled around and looked at the rest of the adults in the room. They were all watching her intently with a mixture of different expressions across their faces…mainly disgust. Nicole looked down. All at once emotion flooded over her and she felt her face grow hot. Slowly and without confidence, she trudged back over to her desk and slumped down. She crossed her arms across the smooth wooden surface and laid her head down. Slowly her body became overcome with rigid sobs and she dare not look up.

Steve's anger subsided and he watched in surprise as Nicole's tail fell to the floor without as much as a single twitch. He had known her since grade school, and it took a lot to bring tears to her eyes. Mr. Rex gave Nicole a sideways glance then pulled his head from the window before trudging off heavily. The rest of the attendees took this as their queue to leave as well, packing up their notebooks and pens then filing out of the room without uttering a word.

Nicole didn't move. Instead she shook her head repeatedly. Steve frowned and walked over to her before sitting in the desk directly in front of her.

"Why do you have to get yourself in trouble?" He asked.

Nicole refused to look up. "I can't do it by myself!" she cried from the desk. "I just can't!"

Steve was confused. She wasn't making any sense. "Can't do what?"

Nicole flew to her feet and grabbed her purse from the floor. She hastily wiped the crystal like tears from her cheeks and strode briskly towards the door. "Just forget it!"

"Wait." Steve followed her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We have a problem."

Nicole pushed him away. "Will you just leave me alone?" she asked almost begging.

Steve shook his head. "The man is cutting our funds."

Nicole blinked. "Huh?"

Steve sighed. "The school's funding was cut and I can't keep the class." He explained slowly.

"What?" Nicole breathed, momentarily replacing her worries with this one. "No! You have to keep the class! This is the only place I can be myself!"

Steve held up a hand. "Let me finish. Principal Brown has a solution." He strode across the room and began to clean the papers from the floor, but continued to talk. "Other schools around the country have the same program, and are doing really well actually. He wants me and a representative to go on a three month tour to collect funds from these other schools…If we can get them to like us."

Nicole frowned and nodded slowly. "Alright…who's the representative?"

Steve stood back up. "That's the problem. No one wants to come." He paused. "Will you?"

Nicole seemed a little taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Will you come on the tour with me? I don't like it any more than you do."

"Gawd Steve I don't know…Christmas is coming up and I have to work."

"Think of it as a vacation. You really need one."

Nicole sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. A vacation across the country away from her family? With Steve?The two of them clashed so often the whole thing would be a disaster. But then again, a vacation away from everything did begin to sway her a little.

Quickly and without thinking, she spoke. "Sure."

Steve clapped his hands together and smiled. "Excellent." He paused. "You didn't sound so sure there. When you come to a decision just email me."

Nicole nodded but didn't reply. She slowly turned back around and walked, almost jogging, out of the building. In the parking lot she threw open the door of her car, slammed herself down in the driver's seat, then rested her head down on the steering wheel.

"Why? Why did I do that?" she moaned to herself. Steve's methods weren't that helpful, and Nicole had no intention whatsoever of traveling with him alone. Three months was a horribly long time to be away from Elmore and, however refreshing it may be, she felt like she had dived to her doom. Nicole sighed heavily and looked up. She stuck her key in the car's ignition and turned it. It took a minute but the sputtering hum of the engine sounded and she was able to leave the parking lot.

The way home was not much better. Nicole thought of how she was going to tell Richard she would be leaving, which probably wouldn't be easy. He would be left with the children and be expected to take care of them. Nicole's thoughts were interrupted by a loud honking from the car behind her. She gasped and looked up at the street light she had been stopped under only minutes before. It now flashed florescent green, and she had no idea how long it had been that way. The car behind her honked again and Nicole slowly inched forward before taking off.

(Watterson Household, Elmore. 7:23 pm)

Nicole sat in silence as her family ate dinner. She had avoided them since she got home, taking any chance she got not to say a word to anyone. As soon as she had walked through the door she began cleaning the back deck and scrubbed down all of the lawn chairs. She then put out fresh bird seed in the front lawn's bird feeder, took a slow walk around the block twice, came back home, and took a long shower before bleaching out the bathtub. Cooking dinner closely followed. Everyone had tried to talk to her many times, especially Richard, and they were beginning to notice something wasn't right.

From across the table Darwin watched her intently. "Everything ok Mrs. Mom?" he asked in a cheery voice.

Nicole looked up from her plate and nodded.

Now it was Anais' turn to pipe up. "Mom? What's wrong? You haven't said anything to anyone." She supposed.

Richard and Gumball nodded in agreement and Nicole blinked. She sighed.

"You all know how I tell all of you to try hard and make the right decisions?" she began.

Everyone nodded and she continued. "Everyone makes a bad decision once in a while. Even I do." She rubbed the back of her neck.

"So…did you make a bad decision?" Gumball asked slowly.

Nicole sighed and looked up. Richard hadn't said a word yet, and he seemed confused. She smiled. "No. It's nothing honey." She lied.

Gumball and Darwin seemed convinced, hopping up and throwing their plates in the sink before walking outside. Anais remained skeptical.

"Are you sure?"

Nicole was beginning to become frustrated. "Yes, I'm sure." She replied half growling.

Anais blinked and got up, catching her mother's point. She placed her plate in the sink, being more careful than her brothers, and then went upstairs to finish her homework.

Richard smiled at his wife and leaned across the table. "Did you make any desert honey?" he asked in anticipation.

The worry had returned to Nicole's face and she shook her head. "No…But Richard I need to talk to you."

Richard cocked his head. "Why? I've been good this week."

Nicole gave a small smile then got up. She went and sat down in the chair beside her husband and sighed. "It's not you…It's what I did." She mumbled.

"What'd you do? It can't be that bad."

"I'm going on a…um…vacation."

Richard's ears perked up in excitement. "A vacation? Really?! When are we going?"

Nicole looked down at her lap and began to twiddle her thumbs. "You're notgoing." She explained almost plainly. "Steve asked me to go with him on a three month tour to collect funds for one of his school programs."

Richard's happy expression had faded. Now he wore a look consisting of a thorough mix of disappointment, worry, and slight anger. Still, when he spoke, his voice was calm.

"Which Steve?" he asked not meeting his wife's eyes.

Nicole swallowed. "Steve Small honey…"

Richard nodded slowly. Nicole knew all too well that he loathed Mr. Small. Their rivalry went back to junior high, even grade school, when Steve would make fun of him for wearing a cape.

"It's only for three months, and it'll help keep the anger management program." Nicole said, attempting to spark a bit of reason inside her husband. "I'll call you every night."

Richard looked back up at her. "Who else is going?"

Nicole froze. She was afraid he would wonder that, and now she didn't have the luxury of weaseling out of the conversation. "Um…no one." She replied, not trying to let her emotion get the best of her.

Richard frowned. "You did make a bad decision." Then without another word he hopped up, placed his dish in the sink and went into the living room to watch television.

Nicole sat alone at the table, dumbfounded by what he had just said to her. That was it? Wasn't he supposed to give her advice on what to do? She turned in her chair, stood, and stomped into the other room. Richard was in his usual place on the couch, watching a monster truck rally. When she stopped in front of the television, Richard frowned.
"Hey…I was watching that." He whined, trying to look around her.

Nicole was now seething with anger. "Look at me!" she barked.

Richard's attention snapped into focus and he looked up at his wife. "Yah?"

Nicole threw her hands on her hips. "That's all the encouragement I get? 'You did make a bad decision?' Richard what the hell?!"

Richard frowned. "But you said you did." He pointed out.

Nicole flattened her ears. "I don't care! I can say that and onlyI can, but I need your help!"

Richard yawned and began to change the channel, looking at the screen from around Nicole's waist. "You shouldn't have said you would go."

"I did it on accident!" Nicole retaliated. "Steve was desperate, Richard! Shit happens!"

Richard shrugged. "So?" was all he said.

Nicole couldn't' believe he wasn't taking this seriously. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead she turned on her heel and trudged towards the stairs. As she did, Richard spoke up again.

"Why were you talking to Steve in the first place?" he inquired.

Nicole narrowed her eyes and tried to squint through her rage. "Because he's helpful!" she lied to herself. "At least he listens to me! And you know what Richard? I'm glad I'm going with him. It will get me out of here!"

Richard didn't reply, and Nicole wasn't sure he was even listening. She stomped up the stairs loudly, threw open her bedroom door, and began taking off her clothes. Richard usually didn't do this, and he was taking things way too far. She pulled off her shirt and skirt then threw on her nightgown. All she had wanted was his advice and of course he only had another stupid thing to say. She pulled her laptop from the nightstand to her right and flicked on her lamp before sitting down comterably on the bed. She smoothed back her ears and sighed.

I can't get mad at him…Nicole told herself. He's trying…Yah he's trying. I know he is. As she continued to try and motivate herself, her doubts escalated. She punched in her computer password then clicked on the internet icon.

Richard loves me. He would never hurt me on purpose…and I would never hurt him. I love him with all my heart.Nicole gave herself a small smile and opened her email. She began to regret everything she had said to her husband, even though he wasn't listening to her anyways. She had been so mean…

A creak at the door alerted her and her ears pricked up. Richard yawned and trudged through the doorway. He loosened his tie and threw it on the floor before laying down next to Nicole on the bed. He turned out the lamp and threw the covers over himself.

Nicole cleared her throat. "Richard are you forgetting something?"

Richard rolled over and looked up at her. "Huh?"

"Your clothes?"

"Oh yah…Thanks honey!" Richard hopped up and left the room to the bathroom where he would change.

Nicole looked back at the computer. Without the lamp the unnatural glow of the electronic computer screen cast an eerie blue glow across the room, causing almost sinister shadows to appear and dance on the walls. A chill shot down Nicole's spine and she shivered. She clicked on the email button and began to type:

Steve,
I'm not sure how you did it but you've persuaded me to come with you. Don't let it go to your head, because this is one of the worst decisions I've ever made. When are we leaving?
Nicole

Nicole almost thought she was being too harsh, but remembered who she was talking to and sent it anyway. Several minutes later Richard came back into the room with his pajamas on, just as Steve replied. He sat down and read the email over his wife's shoulder.

Nicole,
Thanks for finally making a decision. I'll enjoy the company. We leave in three days. Only one thing; you better come.
Steve

Nicole looked up and saw Richard reading. He seemed to be struggling a bit with the words but pieced it together fairly quickly. He glanced over at her then quickly rolled over.

Nicole sighed. "What?"

Richard shrugged. "Nothing."

"No Richard. What's wrong?"

"What he said."

"What's wrong with what Steve said?"

"…He'll enjoy the company."

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Don't be overprotective. He's not even a friend." She explained before shutting the computer and setting it back on the nightstand.

Richard wrapped his arm around her waist. He swallowed. "I love you honey…"

Nicole noticed the insecurity in his voice as his tone wavered. "I love you too Richard. Never doubt that."

Geez I'm watching Family Guy and Meg is having a slumber party when Lois walks in making sex comments, Chris is peeing behind the couch, Peter gets stuck in the stairs, and Brian walks in drunk (lol luv Brain :3)…Sorry I got off topic and just started typing what I saw. Well anyway please don't flame. Thanks!
~With love,
Salem