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Chapter 9: A New Beginning

"Look who I found," Walt said as he carried Oswald inside the house, setting him down on the floor as he shut the door.

"Oswald!" Lillian exclaimed as she rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "You had me worried sick! Don't you ever do that again!"

"I won't, Mom... I'm really sorry..."

She sighed. "Thank goodness you're alright," she said, stroking his head.

"Where's Mickey?" asked Walt.

"In his room. He won't come out... He's really upset..." she replied in a worried tone. Walt sighed and turned to Oswald, who gave a nervous smile and began whistling innocently.

"Oswald, I know that whistle."

"I know, isn't it catchy?"

"Oswald, you make that whistle when you know you've done something wrong."

"That's a common misconception."

Walt gave him a stern look. "Oswald."

"Yes, Dad?" Oswald responded with an innocent smile.

Walt rubbed Oswald's head. "Remember what we talked about earlier?"

"Which part?"

"About Mickey."

"What about him?"

"It wouldn't hurt to talk to him..."

"Hmm... yeah, you're right... Go right ahead, Dad. I'll be right here."

"Oswald, why don't you talk to him first."

"Nah, I insist you go first."

"Oswald, come on, you promised..."

Oswald sighed, finally giving up the 'playing dumb' act. "Oh fine already..." he mumbled, heading up the stairs to Mickey's room. He was still a bit reluctant, but he wasn't going to break his promise. Perhaps he had judged Mickey a bit harshly.

He cautiously approached the bedroom door and knocked. "Hello?"

"Go away!" Mickey shouted from inside the bedroom.

Oswald sighed. "Look, I just want to apologize to you."

"Yeah, right!"

"Just let me come in and talk to you, okay?"

"Fine!" Mickey shouted back. Oswald cautiously opened the door and stepped in.

"...I um..." Oswald sighed. "I'm sorry for punching you..."

Mickey glared at him with tears in his eyes. "What did I ever do to you anyway?! Ever since Dad brought you back home, you've been nothing but mean to me!"

Oswald groaned and looked away. "It... it's a long story..."

"I didn't do anything to you!"

"Yes, you did!"

"What did I do?!"

"You stole my life, that's what!" Oswald shouted.

"What are you talking about?!" Mickey shouted back.

"Just who do you think you are anyway?! Calling my parents 'Mom' and 'Dad,' being my dad's main star, being a big hit and helping him out and being close to him... It's not fair!"

"They're my parents too! All I'm doing is living my life! I'm sorry for what happened to you, but that isn't my fault! I wasn't there! So stop blaming me for something someone else did!"

"Oh, just forget it! Like I could ever expect you to understand!"

"Understand what?! Understand that you were betrayed by someone you thought you could trust, who took away everything you loved?! You really think I can't paint a picture to a story, Oswald?!"

"You still don't get it!"

"Then tell me what I don't get!"

"How would you feel if you finally got to see your family again after years of separation, only to find that they found someone to take your place who is better and more successful and more useful to them than you ever were?! And then you were forced to share everything that used to be special and just between you and them with a complete stranger?!"

Mickey paused for a few moments before responding.

"...Oswald... I would never try to take away anything from you, and I'm not taking your place! I'm just another family member, that's all. I'm not your replacement, and I am not better than you either... You just had a bad start, that's all. I'm sure that when Dad gets your full rights back, your old life will be back to the way it was. I was never trying to be anything more to you than a brother, but every time you looked at me, all you saw was someone to compete with. Never once did you ever look at me as a new member of the family!"

Oswald looked away. "...You just don't understand..."

"I never meant to make you feel that way... All I wanted was for you to accept me as part of the family..."

Oswald finally sighed. "I...I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry for not understanding," Mickey replied. "I would never want to hurt you..."

"Sorry for punching you and being mean to you..."

Mickey smiled. "I forgive you. Sorry for being mean to you as well."

"It's fine..." Oswald responded awkwardly.

"Are we okay now?"

"I guess..." Oswald said, a bit unsure, rubbing the back of his own head with his hand. Mickey smiled a bit. "I, uh... guess we should start over then..."

"I would like that," Mickey replied.

Oswald held out his hand. "So... truce?"

Mickey took his hand and they shook. "Truce."

"Alright," Oswald said, giving a small smile. Mickey smiled back.

"I guess I'd better go talk to Mom and Dad."

"I guess so..."

"Everything okay?" Walt asked as they came out. They both nodded and Walt smiled. "I'm proud of you two."

"Yeah, yeah, don't get all sappy," Oswald responded in a joking way. Mickey giggled as Walt rubbed Oswald's head. "But I'm the favorite, right?" Oswald said, making a cute, innocent smile at Walt.

"Wow, Oswald, you're really gonna make Dad chose?"

"You're just jealous that I'm the favorite because I came first!" Oswald stuck his tongue out at Mickey.

"Suuure, I am."

Walt sighed.

"Right, Dad?" Oswald looked at Walt.

"I love you both the same."

"Oh come on!" Oswald whined.

"Don't be rude, Oswald," said Walt.

"Should've known I'm not special anymore," Oswald muttered.

"That's not true!" Walt exclaimed in response. Oswald didn't respond and looked away from him. Walt crouched down, gently taking hold of Oswald's chin and turning Oswald's head to face him so that he could look him in the eyes. "You are more special to me than you'll ever know," Walt told him sincerely.

Oswald looked into his eyes, slowly smiling as the last of his doubts vanished. Walt pulled him into a tight hug and Oswald returned the hug. Then suddenly, the phone rang. Walt ended the embrace and went to answer it.

A few moments passed, then Oswald's ears perked up as he heard a jazzy tune coming from the piano.

"What are you playing?" Oswald asked, walking over to the piano.

"I don't really know," Mickey replied as he continued to play. "I found it in the attic. It's called Trolley Troubles Tune."

"What?!" Oswald exclaimed in shock. "I didn't know Dad made a tune for that!"

"It's catchy."

"It sounds like he made it to go with my first cartoon!" Oswald listened, trying to imagine the music going in sync with the cartoon.

"I like it!"

Oswald tapped his foot to the beat, then began swaying to the music, dancing as Mickey lightly laughed a bit at him. It was a sweet and much-needed release.

"Thank you, Sir," Walt said, hanging up the phone. "YES!" he shouted, running over and grabbing Oswald, then tossing him up in the air and catching him. "I WON!"

"WAH!" Oswald exclaimed in surprise and laughed as he was suddenly thrown airborne. "What?"

"The judge granted me full ownership of you and your cartoons! We can start making new cartoons with you!" Walt explained, grinning.

"That's wonderful, Dad!" Mickey responded.

Oswald gasped. "Really?! YES!" He grinned widely, hugging Walt tightly around the neck.

"Oof! Easy, Oswald, don't choke me now," Walt said lightly, with a smile.

"Oh, sorry," Oswald replied with a smile as he let go. Then they suddenly looked at each other and laughed simultaneously as they both thought back to Oswald's first day when he had nearly choked Walt with his tie.

"You're just out to get me, aren't you, My Little Rabbit?" Walt joked playfully.

Oswald giggled. "Darn, foiled again." Walt laughed along with him.

"Mom, did you hear that?! Oswald's back in cartoon business!" Mickey exclaimed as Lilly came into the room.

"Oh, that's absolutely wonderful!" she exclaimed, giving both Walt and Oswald a kiss and hug. Mickey watched them and smiled. Oswald hugged both his parents, snuggling against them.

"See? You really are lucky," said Mickey.

"Of course I am." Oswald smirked, sticking his tongue out at him.