Chapter Text
So long has passed. How long exactly, was unclear. It felt like an eternity, but frankly that didn't matter. Not here, not ever. So much has changed too. The entire town they had resided in was not the same as it used to be; Especially their block...the street block of Mr. and Mrs. Watterson...
Gumball woke up with a mighty yawn. As he finished stretching his body, he then wiped his eyes before looking over to the opposite side of the bed.
'Empty. I guess she's up already...'
He then got out of bed and made his way downstairs for breakfast. As he waddled his sleepy body into the kitchen, he made himself some toast, as usual, along with pouring himself a glass of orange juice. As he sat down and ate his breakfast, he couldn't help but feel happy. He had checked their garden crops yesterday and knew they would be ready any day now. The "Mighty Food Fest" Games would soon begin, and oh how READY HE WAS!
Hopefully this weather holds up for when we need to pick everything...' He thought as he finished his toast and drank the last bit of his orange juice.
With that, he cleaned his plate and cup before deciding to go look for his lovely wife.
His...Wife...
Oh how he loved thinking that...even after all these years...
As Gumball went upstairs, he entered his room and pulled out a make-shift walky talkie.
*Beep* "This is Papa Bird to Mama bird. Are you there? Over." *Beep*
No reply.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
"Shucks." He said to himself before looking out his window and across the street.
'Maybe she's busy in there...'
He then got a brilliant idea...
"Nothing like the element of surprise every now and then~"
With that, he opened his window, and grabbed a pulley wheel attached to handles. He placed it outside and above the window and onto a metal cable. He looked down the line and saw the other connection right about the window on the opposite house. He smiled a bit. He was excited to build this zipline connection with his wife a while back. They always had fun going on it. And still do.
He stepped out onto the edge before holding on tight and going down the line. The wheel made a small noise as he zipped across. He finally slowed himself down enough and placed his feet on the other house's window ledge, coming to a full stop. He then slowly opened the window before carefully climbing in. As he placed his zip line wheel off to the side and closed the window gently, he made his way out of the room and into the hallway, facing the opposite door in front of him. Taking a small but deep breath, he knocked on it.
"Come in~" A lovely and cheerful voice called out to him.
Opening the door, he stepped in.
There, sitting in a chair by the corner of the empty room and next to the window, sat his wife; and she was painting a picture on an easel.
Nicole Watterson...
His dearly beloved...
"I see you decided to start painting again." Gumball noted as he made his way over to her.
"I have started again indeed; and I think it's coming along quite nicely...don't you think?"
Gumball took a closer look by her side. It was a lovely landscape made of various shades of green, scattered browns and deep blue skies with white, fluffy clouds that came out nicely in his eyes.
"Well done Hun! I'm impressed. Although, it could use a few 'happy little trees'..."
Nicole smiled.
"Oh I plan on adding one or a few down the line...especially for you, sweetie~"
Gumball smiled back.
"Oh I feel so touched~"
Nicole set down her paint brush.
"Anyways, why didn't I hear you come in the front door? Did you take the zip-line?"
"Of course, I took the zip-line. How could I resist? After all, the inner pirate in me calls from within; begging me to use it..."
Nicole giggled.
"Your...inner pirate?"
"Yarhar! I have come for Booty!" He said in the his most stereotypical pirate accent he could muster as he started to wrap his arms around her waist as he hugged her from behind in the chair.
"Ugh, really?" She said, rolling her eyes and broadening her smile.
"Really~, Öoo~ speaking of purrrrrfect booty, it seems I have found some..." He said, bringing a hand down her side and gently tapping her left buttcheek.
Nicole swatted his hand away with her tail before shaking her head and sighing cutely.
"You...are so insufferable~"
"I know I am...and you love me for being so~"
He responded.
Nicole turned around to face him before sticking her tongue out at him.
Gumball chuckled at that.
"That was SO uncalled for Gummybear."
"Oh was it? Well, so was your discovery of my 'Treasured possession' just now." She said in retaliation, before picking back up her brush and continued her painting.
Gumball kissed her cheek and rubbed her shoulders before remembering why he wanted to find her.
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that our lovely crops seem to be reaching maturity. I was hoping you could help me pick them for our much anticipated 'Mighty Food Fest'."
Nicole's ears perked up at that.
"Oh how wonderful! I'll help you as soon as they are done. I'm just as excited as you Gummypuss!"
"Awesome!" He replied happily.
Ah, the "Mighty Food Fest", one of Gumball's favorite activity to do with Nicole...ever since their reception party of having a food fight, they craved to do it again. So, in celebration of their milestones and as a "mini-anniversary" of sorts, they decided to have a large food fight, accompanied with various places to duck and hide in their backyard. Of course, they would replant all their crops when it was all said and done, and would have to wait until next harvest, but it was TOTALLY worth the wait. And since this place seems to make crops grow quite fast, they don't have to wait very long.
Gumball decided to do his yoga stretches in the opposite corner of Nicole to give him plenty of room to do so. He had forgot to do them earlier, but thought the warm company of his wife would help ease his mind a bit.
"Say, you wanna do some karate after I'm doing painting this one little spot here Gummypuss?" She asked him, drawing his attention.
"Sure, I'd love to. Especially now that I've loosened myself up."
"Alright. Then we will do that." Nicole responded cheerfully, knowing she would be able to stretch her own legs soon enough.
——
Once Nicole had finished her painting for the day, the two went downstairs and out onto the blacktop road.
Nicole stretched her body before striking a defensive pose.
"Come on tiger, show me what you got~"
"You dare challenge a master?" He responded tauntingly, striking a similar pose.
Truthfully, Gumball wasn't really a 'master' yet, but after having trained with Nicole for several years, he was about as good as her, give or take a few moves.
The pair started throwing moves at each other, resulting in many blocks and grunts. After a few minutes, Nicole grew impatient. Although Gumball was strong, she knew he still had weaknesses. It was time to try to throw him off guard. Nicole did a false leg kick before hitting his side and bringing her arm up and over her head, ready to strike. As she brought it down heavily and quick, Gumball blocked it just in time. As a result, the ground quaked and cracks formed on the pavement below.
Nicole was quite impressed by his sudden speed, and was amazed by how hard she had struck him, causing the damage.
'Perhaps I should strike less hard...'
"Sorry about that Gummypuss. I guess I got carried away."
Gumball lowered his arms before shaking them and smiling up at her in return.
"No worries. I thought you did quite good." He replied.
Although he wasn't expecting her to strike like that, and as hard, he did enjoy the surprise move from her. It seemed like she was almost predictable in her moves now, at least in his eyes. She's taught him everything he needed to know, and then some more. They truly seemed equal in strength and agility.
Gumball wiped his brow before stretching his body once more.
"Well, thanks for the fun. I think I'm gonna amuse myself elsewhere for the time being."
Nicole smiled before making her way over to him.
"You're welcome Sweetie. I'll see you at sunset then."
With that, she raised his chin and kissed him passionately before parting.
"Don't be late~"she said, smiling with a hint of smugness.
Gumball rolled his eyes cutely at that.
She had never let that go. He had been late like ONE time because he was working on a project just a little past sunset when she came looking for him. Ever since then, she teased him nearly every time they were parting ways like this for the day.
"You're insufferable~" he said, shaking his head and giggling to himself.
Nicole flicked her tail at him before smiling herself.
"I know I am~"
"Touché..." Gumball replied before making his way towards the neighboring house.
Ah, his own personal space...ever since Nicole created her own, Gumball craved one as well. Soon enough she helped set him up one. Now he's got his own personal 'Mancave'. Well, 'man-house', considering it's size, but he wasn't caring about specifics. A whole house to do stuff he liked? Heck ya!
He made his way inside and shut the door behind him as he kicked off his homemade shoes. Oh how he loved this place...
The interior was filled with various tools and sketches that he had created over the years. The air was still somewhat thick with bits of sawdust from his last project. He was getting quite good with his hands and measurements.
After having suffered a lack of motivation for learning SO long, it seemed like he had finally found it. Perhaps being able to go at his own pace had made it better. No, scratch that. It has made it a MILLION times better. Who was he kidding?
Making his way past his projects, he went upstairs to his master bedroom. Inside, he had numerous shelves of various books that he had found and thought were interesting to bring home and read. It was basically a library at this point; not that he was complaining. He frankly enjoyed books now, considering there was no deadlines or distractions to pull him away; well...besides his very eye catching wife.
Picking up his marked book on his nightstand, he plopped down onto his comfy cushioned bed and opened it up and started reading. He was on book two of a sci-fi series he was liking so far, and it appeared to be getting good...just how he liked it.
The hours soon ticked by and the sunlight pouring in his room started to fade and glow a red-orange color. Gumball knew it was time to head back. Shutting his further marked book, he set it aside before getting up slowly and stretching his limbs.
'I wonder what my Gummybear has been up to?' Gumball thought as he made his way towards the other spare room across from his.
He then opened the window and picked up his zipline pulley before attaching it to the line. He then got out of window and shut it before going down the line. He then reached his home and placed the spare pulley aside as he entered through the other window.
He then smelled something good in the air. It smelled like...steak...
'Steak?...STEAK!'
Gumball quickly rushed downstairs and towards the kitchen. There, in a lovely apron and all, was who he was looking for.
"Ah, just in time~" She said as turned around with a plate now full of deliciously cooked steak.
Gumball started to salivate heavily as she set it down on the dinner table. He quickly rushed and helped set up their silverware and to get their drinks for the night. He couldn't wait to eat.
Nicole soon sat down with their plates and handed one to him before setting a big piece of steak on hers. As she cut the meat and tasted it, she felt her mouth overflowing with flavor that made her curl her toes. She loved eating steak, and judging by Gumball's face as he took a big bite, so did he.
As the pair finished their VERY large helping of meat, Gumball raised his glass of milk in the air.
"May I propose a toast, M'lady?" He asked politely, raising his pinky.
Nicole giggled at this before raising hers.
"So, what shall we toast to?" She questioned.
"Our prosperity and good health of course!" He replied, smiling wider.
Nicole returned the smile with one of her own before raising her glass a bit higher.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
They then both downed their milk.
Wiping his mouth and setting down his drink, Gumball suddenly gave her a mischievous grin as he rested his arms on the table.
"You know, I still am a bit hungry..."
Nicole gave him a curious look.
"Is that so? What else do you want?"
Gumball trailed his eyes briefly up and down her before replying.
"Are you by chance on the menu tonight?~"
Nicole instantly turned red and felt her body warm up. This prompted her to dramatically toss her crumpled up napkin at him as a result. This caused Gumball to drop his act and laugh hysterically.
"Hahaha, you are so easy to get flustered~"
"Speak for yourself..." she said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head before smiling off to the side.
Wiping a tear from his eye, he cleared his throat before sitting back in his chair.
"Well, Gummybear, since we seem to be in such high spirits, how about a dance?"
"A dance? Here? Now?"
"Come ooooon~, we haven't danced in a while, and last time we did, we had SO much fuuuuuun~" He whined, giving her his best 'puppy dog' eyes, all while clasping his hands together in a begging fashion.
Nicole let out a deep sigh before before getting up from her chair and put away her and Gumball's plates.
"Okay, okay, fiiiiiine~, but you owe me mister for that terrible flirt back there..."
Gumball pretended to act hurt by that statement by gasping and clutched his chest dramatically.
"A-a terrible flirt? Ouch, you know that really hurt me on the inside. I thought I ALWAYS make the best flirts..."
"Uh huh, and I ALWAYS tell the best jokes~" she shot back sarcastically, before smiling and walking over to him, outreaching her hand to him.
"But enough about what we are good and bad about...let's have some fun."
Gumball smiled before taking her hand.
"Heck ya!"
——
As the two danced together in the living room, they were encompassed by the final glimmers of sunlight as it poured through the windows. To them, this was the perfect moment for such an occasion. As they soon transitioned into a slow sensual dance, Gumball leaned up against her as she held him lovingly. He was enjoying this VERY much. He always loved this type of closeness to her...
Looking off to his side, Gumball saw their intertwined hands, and mangled in between, were 2 rings. One from when he had given her it from when he had proposed to her; for a second time actually, and the other ring, well...
Gumball smiled.
He remembered THAT process very well. After Gumball returned to the house where he had crafted the ring and shown Nicole how he had made it, Nicole wanted to help him make a ring for himself. She thought it was only fair, which seemed totally reasonable to Gumball. After all, it was customary for each of the "newly-weds" to have a ring of their own.
Gumball and Nicole soon got to work, and it went ALOT smoother and quicker to make it, in comparison to his first time. With twice the amount of hands, there was less trial and error, and more precision. Soon enough, together, they both poured the liquid metal into the stone mold and placed it into the oven. After it cooled and was taken out and polished, it gleamed just as bright as Nicole's. They had done it...
Gumball placed it on his ring finger and liked the snug fit it had. It was perfect...not just in size and shape, but having had made it WITH Nicole, together, it seemed to complete his desires. Now they were equal. United as one...
Gumball held Nicole's hand a bit tighter remembering that moment they shared...he would always remember her sparkly look in her eyes that day...it was magical.
Nicole leaned back a bit and looked down at him.
"You lost in thought again?"
Gumball looked up at her.
"Yeah...how could you tell?"
Nicole smiled a second before responding.
"Just a hunch. I noticed you slowed down a bit and thought something was up."
"Oh...sorry." Gumball replied sheepishly, looking away for a second.
Nicole stopped them before tilting his chin up towards her, giving him a truly warm look.
"Sweetie, it's okay. I'm not upset." She said, parting a hair away from his face.
Gumball gave her a reassured look.
"Thanks."
They then stretched before Nicole led the way upstairs to go to bed since it was getting late.
As they slid into bed after changing and going to the bathroom, Gumball scooted over into Nicole's arms as she embraced him and held him close as they snuggled into each other.
He then reached and kissed her hand gently before rubbing it sensually.
"Thanks for the dance..."
She tightened her embrace on him a bit.
"You're welcome Gummypuss~"
As Gumball was just about to drift into sleep, he heard Nicole's voice.
"Gumball?"
He opened his eyes.
"Yeah?" He asked.
Nicole shuffled a bit before speaking again.
"What did you think about when we were dancing?"
Gumball reached over and held her hand.
"I was remembering back when we forged my ring together..."
Nicole clasped her other hand on his.
"Ah, I see...I remember that as well. You seemed so excited receiving it. I was excited for you too. I'll never forget that look on your face when you put it on for the first time..."
Gumball moved her hands over to his lips and kissed them again.
"I'll never forget such a magical moment..."
Nicole kissed his forehead before placing hers against it.
"I know you won't. I won't forget either..."
Gumball leaned closer and kissed her lips passionately.
"And I especially won't forget our...first night together."
Nicole giggled before kissing back.
"I wouldn't doubt that in a MILLION years in any case~"
"Come here you~" he said, pulling her closer and caressing her body, eliciting a moan from her in pleasure.
He then nibbled her ear gently before whispering sensually in it.
"So, about that 'favor' I still owe you for my terrible flirting..."
Nicole caressed his neck in return before smiling to herself.
This was going to be another long night...
———
A metallic ringing sound emanated from the machine as it started to whir to life. A red light above the control system turned on. A few switches were flicked and the whirring intensified and grew louder.
The monitor suddenly lit up a few words.
|BEGINNING RETRIEVAL|
The operator of the machine sat back in the cushioned chair they were in.
"Time to bring you two home..."