DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

"Sure?" Lex said, surprised Ashton asked.  He was used to his partner just coming.  He glanced at Layla for confirmation as he headed for the elevator.

True grinned as he rolled up.  "It sounds like you're home."

"Up to you man." Ashton said. "I'll come if you want me to, or I can just as easily head home and get tackled by Shuni."

Gaster laughed. "Really? What gave it away?" He carefully disengaged Shuni and Paul enough to pull an envelope out of his coat pocket and handed it to True. "Before I forget... as thanks for watching your brothers while I was at the lab."

"Whatever you want to do.  You're never unwelcome," Lex told him seriously before getting out and heading for the door.  He fell silent.  Finally.  He was leaving.  He was walking out under his own power!

True shook his head.  "Nope.  Give it to Geena as a raise, if you want, but I refuse to get paid for looking after family."

Ashton nodded and followed Lex. Layla walked with them, limping just a little but overall pretty good. "Which ice cream place were you thinking of?" She asked curiously.

Gaster raised an eyebrow. "You might to look inside it before you try to give it away. It isn't money...."

"The closer one," Lex told her, indicating the direction to go.  "It's not too far out of the way going home."

True hesitated then finally took the envelope.  He opened it carefully and looked inside.  His jaw dropped.  "Seriously??"

Layla nodded compliantly and walked with the two guys. "What do you think you'll get?" She asked Lex.

Gaster smiled when True saw the music festival VIP tickets and the note with information for a reservation at a nicer restaurant later in the day the tickets were for. "Half figured you wouldn't accept money, and thought you might like that better. There's two there because I thought maybe you could invite Kat to go with you, but that power is up to you."

"Rocky Road," Lex said instantly.  "I haven't had it since I was a kid.  You?"

"I-I-we... this... um-" True stammered, staring at the tickets with round eyes.  The music festival!!  He'd been dying to go to that.  "Thanks!"

Layla smiled thoughtfully. "I don't know yet. I've always liked Moosetracks."

Gaster smiled at True warmly. "It's no trouble. I figured that might have been a better way to show how much I appreciated you watching them instead of flat money."

"Never had it," Lex admitted.

True rolled closer and pulled Gaster in for a tight hug.  "Thank you," he whispered.
Shuni caught the envelope as it fell.  "What's a music festival?"

"It's vanilla or sometimes chocolate ice cream with other chocolate swirled in it." Layla explained to him. "Caramel ice cream is also pretty good."

Gaster smiled and hugged True back before he tried to explain it to Shuni. "It's a big convention of sorts with many different people going to play and listen to all different kinds of music. Ours usually also has people selling instruments and albums, as well as a few producers scouting for the next stars."

"Sounds good," Lex told her.  "Let's eat it in the park.  Sound good?"

"Do you think they will see how good True and Kat are?" Shuni asked excitedly.
True laughed.  "We'll just be going to watch, Shuni, not sing.  They won't hear us."
"Oh," Shuni said, sounding disappointed.

Layla smiled a bit. "I think that sounds good."

Gaster chuckled softly. "Shuni, it's meant to just be a fun and relaxing day for Kat and True. Although if they wanted, I can always see if I can arrange an audition with a producer, all right?"

"You should do that!" Shuni said eagerly.
"No, he shouldn't, Shu," True smiled.  "He has other things to do like keeping everybody in this family healthy."

Gaster smiled. "Thinking on that tangent, what did you have in mind for dinner, Shuni?"

"Homemade pizza!" Shuni cheered.  "I need to find out what everyone wants on their part."
"I don't care as long as there's no onions," True said.

Gaster smiled. "What about a 'Build Your Own Pizza' night?" He suggested. "I can help you prepare everything for that, after I take a nap."

"I don't know how to do that, but I like that idea!" Shuni agreed eagerly.  "Do you want to sleep with Hugs?  He's lonely without Layla.  He misses her."

Gaster chuckled. "If he decides to snuggle with me and Tesla, I won't complain." He said as he ruffled Shuni's hair. "Now if it's all right, a nap sounds like the perfect way to waste away a Sunday afternoon."

"For you a nap is never a waste," True said dryly, gently nudging Shuni back.  "Go sleep before you fall over."

Gaster laughed tiredly and thanked True again before the good doctor went to lay down, more than ready to sleep in his own bed for the first time in days.

Tesla hopped up onto Gaster's bed while he was getting ready to lay down and glared at the doctor through narrow, glowing eyes, tail twitching slow and deliberate.  He had been gone a long time.  He had been neglecting the cat.  What made him think he could rest in peace?

Gaster took off his shoes and put his coat away before he went to the bed and Tesla. "Hey buddy. Miss me?" He said as he tried to pet the cat a bit before he got onto the bed, not bothering with covers right now.

Tesla moved away from Gaster's hand, turning his back on Gaster.  Did he really think he could be forgiven so easily?

Gaster sighed and frowned. "Suit yourself." He said as he laid down. "I would have thought you'd want all the pets and scratches..."

Tesla stalked with great dignity to the end of the bed and curled up neatly.  Nope.  Not forgiven yet.