He had to figure out a place to stay. Shout was a nice person but he didn't want to invade on his home. He wasn't as close to him as he was the other detergents and he definitely could not face Tide. While Snuggles walked through the pouring rain, he tried to think of Oxi and the kiss instead of his mother. He wondered for a while if Oxi might like him, then he remembered that Oxi was with Tide. God, I'm so stupid... Oxi is with Tide, and I just made things more complicated than they already were. Snuggles thought to himself. He decided to go to Oxi's house anyways. None of the other detergents ever understood him like Oxi did. Oxi was there when the news of the crash came a year ago. Oxi was the shoulder he could cry on, a person he could always go to in times of need.
When he started getting closer to Oxi's house he wondered if it was a good idea. What if he is mad about the kiss? What if Tide is there? Did he tell Tide? Would he do something like that? The closer he got to Oxi's house the more he slowed down, until he was just standing there in the rain, about half a block away. He saw that Oxi's room light was on. Reading 'til midnight. Again. Snuggles thought to himself, and smirked. There's the door. Snuggles thought coming to the front porch. He rang the doorbell. Oxi came to the door.
"Uhhh..." He didn't know if he could do this. He was too embarrassed about earlier. Before he could turn around and run, however, Oxi replied in a flat voice, "What did you do?"
Don't look down, don't look sad. "I was... I was wondering..." He looked down anyway. There was just silence again.
"Why did you do that? Why would you do that." Oxi began to get upset. "You know how I feel Snuggles. You of all people should know that would hurt me-"
"My mom kicked me out." Snuggles interrupted. He held his breath and awaited his response.
"Why?" Oxi said voice laced with concern. There was still a hint of anger in his voice which didn't make the situation much better.
"Because she saw me for what I really was..." Snuggles replied reluctantly. "I don't have anywhere to go. I don't have a family anymore. I don't have any other friends. If you want me to go, fine. I didn't mean to hurt you. I immediately regretted it all, I swear."
"Even the kiss?" Oxi questioned.
Snuggles didn't know how to respond, should he say yes or no? If he said yes it might hurt Oxi more, but if he said no, it might hurt their friendship. "Uhh... I'm not sure..." Snuggles replied slowly.
"Neither am I." Oxi replied looking down.
"WHO'S THAT OXI DEAR?!" Mama Oxi screamed, immediately ruining the moment. "WE DON'T NEED COOKIES, WE ALREADY BOUGHT FIFTY BOXES. Oh? Snuggles?" She said in realization. "Well come in, come in. OXICLEAN!!! I raised you better than to let a guest stand out in the rain like that. Please forgive my son, sometimes he forgets his manners." She said giving Oxi a death glare that only a mother could deliver. "Snuggles, why aren't you home?" She started looking for something to dry off Snuggles.
"His mom kicked him out" Oxiclean said noticing Snuggles speechless look.
"WHAT!? Why would she ever do that to such a nice young gentleman?" She was very shocked.
"Apparently, my 'kind' aren't allowed in the household." Snuggles could feel a sob begin to build in the back of his throat.
"Kind?" She questioned.
"Snuggles came out." Oxi answered. It hurt Snuggles even more to hear the hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Ohh... Ever since Oxi and Tide began dating, a lot of people started coming out too. I'm so proud of my son for being so brave." Mama Oxi said looking at Oxi.
"S-so... I was wondering if I could stay here for a while, if it isn't too much trouble... I swear I'll get another job and pay rent. It won't even be like I'm here." Snuggles said sheepishly.
"That is absolutely no way to treat a child. You don't have to pay for anything. But, if you are going to live in this house, you need to do chores like the other boys do. Right now, I am your legal guardian and I will treat you like a son." She said leading the boys further into the house.
"But mom..." Oxi said quietly. "We don't have a guest room."
"Well Snuggles here isn't a guest now is he. From now on he is family. He will sleep in your room on the floor until we get another bed."
"But MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!"
"No buts Oxi! Snuggles needs a place to stay! So you will share your room until we can find him a more permanent solution. My word is final!"
"Mama?" Oxi's toddler brother waddled into the room.
"Just a second Gain, mommy is talking to the big boys right now. I'll be there in a minute." Gain ignored her.
"What's your name?" Gain asked adorably to Snuggles, already attached to his leg. He held his little toy giraffe to his chest and looked up at him with big eyes.
"I'm Snuggles!" He held out his hand for the two year old to shake. "What's yours?"
"I'm Gaim," He said, pointing his chubby finger at himself and pronouncing it incorrectly. "And this Jaffy." He held the little giraffe out for Snuggles to see.
"It's very nice to meet you Gaim. And you too of course Jaffy." Snuggles said smiling.
Awww, he mouthed to Oxi and his new mom,
"Are you here for a sleepober?" Gain asked.
"Snuggles is going to be staying with us for a while Gainey, think of him as your new brother." 'Momma' replied.
"NEW BROTER, NEW BROTER!" he yelled dancing around the room suddenly he stopped. "Why? Why aren't you with your mommy?" Gain asked.
Because my mom is an evil witch that can't accept me for who I am. Snuggles thought to himself. "She didn't want me anymore." Snuggles said forcing a smile.
Gain looked a bit sad and then smiled again, "Well, I'll be your new mommy." He didn't understand the concept of parents yet. "Your old mommy is evil." He stated proudly.
"Yes, Yes she is..." Snuggles said to himself
"GAIN?!" His mom yelled. "WE DO NOT SAY THOSE WORDS IN THIS HOUSE. YOU TOO SNUGGLES." Even though he was being disciplined, he really felt at home. Oxi playfully punched him in the arm. They smiled and laughed... Until Gain started having a coughing fit.
