One shots

Thundermans Oneshot 11: Super Mom Phoebe

This was requested by @Jonathon on AO3. This is an AU of sorts, and I hope I wrote it well sorry it took like a month. I hope you like it. As always, I don't own the characters. Happy reading loves!

It came as a surprise to Max when he received a text message from his twin sister, after close to six years going without speaking much, inviting him to a party she was throwing for Chloe's twelfth birthday.

Six years ago, when Chloe had been roughly six, a villain attack had called Thunderman and Electress out of retirement-and left them dead. The Hero League had arrested the guilty party, but not before leaving five children orphans, Phoebe and Max barely eighteen.

Phoebe had been left as guardian of their three younger siblings, with Blobbin as their financial support until Phoebe could manage, not that Blobbin was ever going to stop helping out, knowing him.

Max had tried to stick it out and help his sister, but he wasn't much use when he was so full of grief. He'd ended up running off, leaving behind even Dr. Colosso, and writing a small note as the only explanation of his disappearance. He knew Phoebe was crushed, he knew her too well not to. But he couldn't stay.

He'd found himself a home in Metroburg again, making a life for himself as a hero. It sucked that he couldn't make the Z-Force without Phoebe, but she'd been forced to give up that dream to raise Billy, Nora and Chloe. The Z-Force had understood, and had even send condolences for the losses of Thunderman and Electress.

Max had been there for that. It had been one of the tipping points for him. Condolences for the deaths of two famed heroes, but not for the deaths of their parents? For the loss of Phoebe's future? For the loss of all her dreams and goals? For the loss of Max's?

Phoebe had never reached out in all that time. But here she was, texting him about a birthday party being thrown for their baby sister. Inviting him. Asking him to be there. 

How could he say no?

He texted back with a yes, asking if there was anything he could get Chloe as a gift when he realized he had no idea what his littlest sister even liked.

She sent him some links for things he could purchase, and that had been the extent of their conversation.

And yet, he'd shown up anyway, arriving a week later to his old home in Hiddenville, where he'd been avoiding returning for over half a decade.

He knocked on the door, and smiled weakly when a familiar blonde woman answered, 24 instead of 18 now.

"Heeeey, Cherry." Max greeted nervously. "Long time, no see."

Unlike her bubbly teenage self would have, Cherry didn't immediately forget all about every bad thing Max had done and grin at him before babbling off a greeting of her own. Instead, she frowned at him, tight lines appearing around her lips, where ordinarily dimples and smile lines would crease.

"Max. Welcome back. Come on inside, the party's starting in twenty minutes." Cherry replied, tone clipped and cold. "We're just finishing setting everything up."

"Okay, cool." Max muttered awkwardly, following her in.

The house looked the same as it had when he'd left, six years ago. The same family portrait hung on the wall, the last one they'd taken and hung up, despite having newer ones, though not that new now, somewhere upstairs. The same old furniture was out, included the couch with Hank's favorite cushion and Barb's beloved pillows.

An older looking Billy and a very teenage Nora stood together placing some colorfully wrapped gifts on a side table.

"Look who's here, guys." Cherry announced, smiling largely at them, with all the warmth she'd spared him.