Author's Note:

I know a lot of fic writers here prefer to phonetically spell out Gru's accent. I've chosen not to do that. While I don't necessarily mind it when reading someone else's fanfic, I find it a bit of a distraction for me personally during the writing process. I can imagine his accent in my head without having to hyper-focus on spelling it all out. My own philosophy is that it's most important to get the characterization down right. This is my first time writing Felonious Gru, so by all means, critique away if you think I'm getting something wrong on that front. In any case, I hope you enjoy the story.


Chapter One: Frozen in Time

The Gru household was emptier these days.

Dru had left over two months before with virtually all the Minions- only Dave and Jerry had remained behind. One or two phone calls aside, his brother hadn't been heard from since. Whatever Dru's plans for villainy were, they either hadn't come to fruition yet, or they hadn't been particularly impressive, because the AVL hadn't sent anybody after him.

Probably the latter Gru thought to himself as he descended the elevator towards his old lab. Dru- he talks big, but he's still a novice.

Whatever hint of a smile was on his face faded away when he emerged into the lab and saw the carbonite block containing Dr. Nefario.

He still wasn't sure how it had happened. The doctor had been away on vacation somewhere in the South Atlantic when they had last heard from him. Next thing Gru knew, the block had turned up on his front porch with a "return to sender" note from he knew not whom. The address had been untraceable, even for the AVL.

His hands clasped firmly together behind his back, Felonius Gru approached the carbonite. He stopped a few feet away, observing the doctor's frozen features, which were somewhere between disturbed and baffled.

Not so different from me when I first saw you like that.

The sudden sound of soft footfalls made him turn his head. A pajama-clad Edith stood behind him, likewise staring at the carbonite block. Gru turned to face his daughter, noticing that her expression was…sad.

"Of all the little children who'd show up and stare pensively at anything, you are the absolute last I'd expect," Gru said.

"I felt like it," Edith replied.

"Can't sleep?"

Edith nodded. "A slow day, ya know? Slow night."

"Doesn't 'slow' mean you get bored and fall asleep quickly?" Gru asked.

"Nah. Not this time."

Gru sat down cross-legged on the floor and beckoned Edith towards him with one finger. She quickly hopped into his lap.

"You miss him too, don't you?" he said.

"Yeah. He was always there. Then…"

"Then he wasn't."

"Something like that."

Gru sighed. "No. Exactly like that, Edith."

Edith folded her arms across her chest. "Fine. Exactly like that."

Gru gazed down at his daughter's pouting face. A part of him wanted to smile. There she goes again, trying to hide her feelings. She's terrible at it.

He couldn't smile, though.

Of all the girls, it was Edith who had grown the closest to Dr. Nefario. It was hardly surprising, given their mutual penchant for mayhem. After all, what were the doctor's inventions if not a child prankster's dreams given life? After her adoption was formalized, Edith had spent a lot of time messing with Nefario's supplies before he had agreed to teach her how to craft inventions herself.

"What can I say, Gru?" Nefario had explained after Edith's first controlled chemical explosion. "She's going to touch it all anyway, so I might as well curate the experience."

Not that Edith's various knick-knacks were ever so refined as to be of much practical use. The most useful things she had -the katana and suit- had been designed by Nefario alone, with no input from her. They had been a surprise birthday present after all.

But since Nefario had been frozen, Edith hadn't worked in the lab at all.

Gru glanced quickly to his right. Her little corner was still there, the few vials and gears still there gathering dust.

"You know, Edith," Gru said. "It's been a while since you did any experiments."

"I haven't felt like it." Edith relaxed her arms, dropping them to her sides.

Gru was silent for a moment.

"Maybe you should try," he finally said. "For his sake."

"Maybe," Edith said. She yawned. "Mmm…tired…" She wrapped one arm as far as she could around Gru's body.

"Edith?" Gru said. "Edith?"

There was no response apart from gentle breathing. Edith was out cold.

Gru lifted Edith carefully so that her head was resting on his left shoulder. He held her gently but firmly with his left arm, leaving his right arm free to press the elevator button as he stood up to leave the lab.

Once back above ground, Gru carried Edith up the stairs to her bedroom. Pausing briefly to make sure that Margo and Agnes were asleep, he laid Edith in her own bed. As soon as he did so, he noticed that her sherpa hat had slid off, exposing her shock of blonde hair. He turned around to retrace his steps and find it, only to see it that it had fallen off on the bedroom floor.

Retrieving the hat from the floor, Gru held it over his daughter's head, about to put it back on. Then he paused.

Don't want to wake her up.

Edith's left hand lay outstretched on the bed's edge. Laying the hat atop her chest, Gru folded her hand atop it. Then he drew the blanket over her and tiptoed quietly out of the bedroom.


He returned to the lab. But this time, rather than the carbonite block, he found himself staring at the lab supplies.

It wasn't just Edith who had lost her enthusiasm for invention. Gru himself had barely touched the tubes, vials, and chemicals for the past few months. He'd told himself it was because he had no time. The AVL kept him busy most days, and when he wasn't at work, he was spending time with his wife and children.

Except for tonight when I can't sleep. Can't dream.

Can't even dream…

"Coming to bed?"

Gru turned. It was Lucy, clad in a dressing gown, looking somewhere halfway between bleary and awake.

"In a moment, dear."

Gru turned back to the lab equipment. I didn't even hear her coming. I'm losing my touch. Or maybe I'm finally tired…

"Maybe try making something in the morning? It's Saturday tomorrow. We've got the day off."

"What would I even make?" Gru said.

"Something unexpected," Lucy replied. "Something fun. For his sake."

Gru gave the carbonite block another long glance. Then, suddenly feeling very tired, he returned his attention to Lucy. "I think I'm ready for bed now," he said.