SMG4 in Schmigadoon! [An SMG34 Fanfic] - Chapter 9 - BStroobery (2024)

Chapter Text

SMG3 continued to sit on the swing, looking down at the photo in his hands.

He would never be SMG4's true love. That's what this place was saying to him. Over and over and over again.

He took a shaky breath, putting the photo back in his pocket as he felt tears begin to prick at the corners of his eyes.

He knew what he had to do. Even if it would hurt him, he had to do it.

He had to break up with SMG4.

Then SMG4 would be safe. He could go find his real true love and get out of here before Farmer McDonough kills him.

He was literally the only reason why SMG4 was still here. If he had never told SMG4 that he loves him while he was drunk, then SMG4 would have most likely found his true love and gotten out of here to where he can be safe.

Sure, SMG3 would still most likely be stuck here, but he could always at least try and cross the bridge with Danny first before cutting his losses and accepting his fate of being trapped in this town alone forever. Right?

SMG4 stepped outside, smiling towards 3. "Hey... you ok?"

3's head shot towards him before he turned away quickly. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Sure," 4 said with a sigh before sitting down beside him on the swing, wrapping an arm around him. He noticed 3 tense up before slowly relaxing into the affectionate touch. "Want to talk about it?"

3 shook his head. How was he going to do this? He looked towards 4, who gave him a look of concern that was so filled with warmth... the look in his blue eyes as they looked at him with worry and a want to ease whatever was troubling him. It made his heart melt in a way he hated.

Why can't it be him?

"I won't judge you," 4 said, wrapping his other arm around 3's waist as the man leaned against him. "I love you, man..."

3 could feel the urge to cry get stronger as he heard 4 speak those words.

You'll love them more than me, he thought as he buried his face in his boyfriend's shoulder, wrapping his arms tightly around him. You'll love your true love more than me...

Would SMG4 forget all about him when he found his true love? Would this just be a thought in the back of his mind whenever he spends time with them? Thinking back to this moment and wondering what he was thinking when he said those words to 3?

"I love you too," 3 mumbled out. He hated this. He hated this so much. But breaking up with SMG4 would help him.

He'd be free to find his real true love and be happy with them, to head back to the Showgrounds and show them his memes, they'll actually laugh at his jokes and find them funny (3 found them funny too, but like hell would he admit he actually likes the idiot's jokes), they'll care for him openly and do all of those things from those cringy girlfriend ASMR videos (yeah, like hell 3 would do that sh*t either. Not to mention that he'd likely never get to a point where he felt he could be SMG4's boyfriend in public. He cares too much about his villain reputation to dare admit he's dating a hero), and they'll make him happy.

Happier than he could ever be with SMG3.

That's what 3 had to keep telling himself.

4 would be happier with his real true love. Not him.

SMG4 rubbed his boyfriend's back softly, listening to him cry as he tried to think of the right words to say to hopefully ease whatever was on his mind.

"It's going to be ok," 4 said in a quiet soothing voice as he pulled 3 closer to him. "We'll make it through this. As long as we're together, nothing can stop us. Right? I mean... it's the case of things before. Like when we faced 0 or Niles or Marty or Mr. Puzzles... we stuck together and we made it out. We'll make it out of this one too. I promise..."

3 was about to protest, but found himself unable to as 4 gently placed a hand on his cheek, lifting his face to look at him as he gave him a warm smile that made the purple meme guardian's heart skip a beat. 4 then leaned in, connecting their lips in a warm, soft, and loving kiss.

Maybe I can enjoy one more night with him... f*ck it. I'll break up with him tomorrow, SMG3 thought as he returned the gesture.

4 pulled back, still cupping 3's cheek and giving him that same warm and loving smile. "I really do love you, SMG3..."

"And I love you, SMG4," 3 said as he leaned in closer. "I love you so much..."

"Come on," 4 said as he stood up, "let's head back inside. We've got to make a game plan to keep Mildred from winning the election."

3 nodded, taking 4's hand in his own as they walked inside.

He really didn't want to break up with this man, but he had to. It was for his own good.

SMG4 deserved to be with his real true love, to find that happiness he deserves, even if that happiness comes at the heartbreak of SMG3.

He knew 4 would be distraught at first, but he'll just forget all about him in the end. He'll find happiness elsewhere. Yeah...

The two looked towards Florence as she walked back into the living room.

"Aloysius?" She looked at the man and smiled. "I'm glad you made it back ok... I'm sorry for running off. I just... thought you would tell me sooner."

"Wait... you knew?" The mayor asked, looking at the woman with wide eyes.

"Oh, trust me, I know," she laughed, "I'm not stupid."

Aloysius smiled and hugged her close.

SMG4 smiled at the two, squeezing 3's hand as he turned to look at him.

3 smiled back at him, giving a squeeze in return.

That night, the two laid in bed, side by side, wrapped in each other's arms.

3 watched 4 sleep, running a hand through his hair and pushing it out of the sleeping man's face. His heart ached, knowing what he had to do in the morning.

He just had to keep reminding himself of how this would help the other. SMG4 would be happier without him... right...?

But the warmth in his eyes when he looked at him... the way he held him, the way he would kiss him...

He knew SMG4 loved him. He knew it.

But it was wrong.

SMG4's true love is out there somewhere, right? They had to be, because clearly SMG3 is not his true love. As much as it pained him, as much as he wished it could be him, he knew it wasn't true.

Tears ran down 3's face as his thoughts spiraled. He didn't want to do this. But he had to. This way SMG4 could get out of here and be safe.

He sighed, letting go of SMG4 and standing up, walking outside and looking up at the stars.

"Funny," Aloysius said as he walked up beside him with a cup of tea, "I had a feeling someone else was unable to sleep tonight."

3 nodded towards him. "Um... yeah..."

"Something bothering you?" The mayor asked, handing a second cup towards 3.

"I... what even is true love anyway?" 3 asked, looking out into the rolling hills as he held the hot cup in his hands. "I don't understand..."

Aloysius nodded, following 3's gaze before sitting on the bench swing, patting the side beside him.

3 sat down, taking a sip of the tea.

"True love is... difficult," Aloysius said with a laugh. "But it sure looks like you've found it with SMG4."

3 shook his head. "Then why can't we cross that damned bridge?" He asked. "What's keeping us here?"

The mayor shrugged. "Well... perhaps the thing keeping the two of you trapped in this predicament is your own doubt?"

"Hm?"

"Well, true love isn't something that happens over night," he laughed. "It's something that takes time. True love is... it's that spark you feel towards another person, that warmth that radiates off of the two of you when you're in each other's presence. I know from watching you and SMG4 interact that the two of you are the lucky ones. True love isn't something everyone finds."

"Are you trapped here too then?" 3 asked.

"No," Menlove laughed. "I just choose to live here in Schmigadoon. I've lived here my whole life. It doesn't make sense for me to leave." He paused. "Why are you and 4 trapped here?"

"I... I'm not his true love," 3 admitted. "I... I don't know how you can think that I am when I'm clearly not... he... we... we would've been able to get out of here if I was really his true love..."

"And you know he's yours?"

3 looked towards the mayor, tears pricking his eyes once more as he thought. "I... I don't know... I... I love him... so much... I... I think that-"

"Don't think," Aloysius said, smiling as he put a hand on the other's shoulder. "Just feel. I think you're making this more complicated than it needs to be. He loves you, and you love him. What more is there? Everyone else can see that this is true love."

"Not everyone," 3 sighed. "That damned leprechaun..."

"Leprechaun?"

"The one that trapped me and 4 here... he seems to... he said we need to find out the definition of true love to get out of here now, but... I don't know... we tried crossing the bridge to get out of here, but... it... it didn't work. This isn't true love," 3 explained. "And now SMG4 is being hunted by Farmer McDonough, and might be killed... I... I don't want him to die... so... I... I think it might be best for me to break up with him."

"That is a terrible idea," Menlove said.

"But what choice do I have?" 3 asked, looking towards the man with exasperation. "I can't let him die! It's my fault he's trapped here! If I never told him that I... if I never confessed to him, then he'd be free to find his real true love and get out of here before he's murdered!"

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do! I've thought about it, and it's the only thing that makes sense! I love him, and I can't let him die if there was a way to avoid it! I'm being selfish and... and I can't do that to him!" 3 shouted, standing and balling his fists at his sides, tea cup falling to the floor and shattering. "I have to let him go before he gets hurt! It's the only way he'll be safe!"

"SMG3..." Aloysius' blue eyes looked at the man with immense sadness. "You're overthinking things."

"Am I? Then how come we can't get out of here? Huh? If this was true love... we... I... I'm just lying to myself, Aloysius..." 3 turned away as the tears he was holding back finally broke free, running down his cheeks. "I love him... I love him so much... no matter what happens, I just keep finding my way back to him... but it didn't work... so... what if he's not my true love after all? If he's not mine... then that means that I'm not his..."

"Or perhaps you're putting too much faith in a stupid bridge," Menlove said with a sigh as he stood up. "Get some rest. Sleep on it. But remember that I'm sure SMG4 feels the same way towards you. Don't overthink things. Go with your gut. What is your gut telling you?"

3 looked away. "That... that breaking up with SMG4 is seriously going to hurt us both..."

"Then don't do it," the mayor said before ushering him inside. "Now, go to sleep. I'll clean up this mess out here. Remember. Don't overthink this. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the right ones."

3 nodding, walking back into the bedroom and finding SMG4 lying awake in bed.

"Hey... you're awake...?" He asked nervously as he sat on the bed beside him.

4 nodded. "You are too... seriously, what's bugging you?" He asked as he sat up, looking at him.

"I... just overthinking stupid sh*t, Aloysius helped," he said before lying down. "Um... we should get some sleep if we're gonna go talk to Emma Tate tomorrow."

4 watched as 3 rolled over and shut his eyes. He looked out the window facing the back of the house, where he's overheard some of SMG3's conversation with the Mayor. He looked back towards 3, putting a hand on his shoulder as he flinched away from the touch.

"I love you," 4 said quietly.

SMG3 didn't give a response.

4 looked away, lying down, their backs now facing each other. SMG4 could only really think about one question on his mind from what he had heard:

Why does SMG3 want to break up with me?

The morning was slow as SMG3 avoided talking to SMG4.

4 sighed, grabbing a small breakfast of a small bowl of oatmeal and fruit before heading outside to sit in the sun.

SMG3 took a deep breath, walking outside and sitting beside 4 on the porch. "Um... hey... can... can we talk...?" He asked quietly.

"What about?" 4 asked blankly. He knew what was coming...

"I... I think that... maybe... we should... you should... see someone else," 3 said quietly.

4 remained silent, watching the sunrise with a vacant stare.

"SMG4...?" 3 asked nervously, reaching towards the other man. "Um... I... I'm sorry, but... it's for the best that we-"

"What did I do?" 4 snapped, swatting his hand away and watching 3 flinch backwards. "What did I do wrong? Huh? What happened to we'll both be stuck here and that's fine as long as we're together? Because if I did something to make you hate me-"

"You didn't do anything!" 3 said, feeling his heart aching at the sight of in front of him.

4 shook his head, standing up and wiping away his tears before they had a chance to fall. "Then why the f*ck are you breaking up with me then? If I didn't do anything, then what? Was all of this some stupid lie that you went through for some... some... some stupid villain sh*t or something? To get back at me for sh*t I did in the past?" He glared down at SMG3, who remained seated on the porch steps. "Is that it? Huh? Was this some stupid revenge scheme to get me to fall in love with you just so you could rip my heart out? Because goddammit, if it is-!"

"No!" 3 said, standing up. "No... 4... you don't understand."

"What don't I understand?"

"I'm doing this for your own good!" 3 snapped. "Farmer McDonough will-"

"Kill me, I know. What? Are you saying I should go back and marry Betsy or something to protect my own skin then? Just tell me! If you hate me just say so-!"

"I'm doing this because I love you, you idiot!" 3 snapped, eyes shut tight in a futile attempt to keep himself from crying. "I f*cking love you! It's my fault you're stuck here! If I hadn't... if I never said anything to you, you would have gone and found your real true love by now and gotten out of here!"

"Oh come the f*ck on!" 4 snapped. "Seriously? That's what this is about? What part of I don't give a flying f*ck about this true love bullsh*t do you not understand? I love you! You love me! We're happy together! Why the f*ck do you think this would be a good idea?"

3 opened his eyes, looking towards 4. "You're such a f*cking idiot!" He shouted, grabbing 4 by his shirt collar and pulling him forward. "I'm doing this to protect you! You'll be better off without me! Admit it! You'll find someone better and forget I ever existed!"

"But I don't want someone better!" 4 snapped before his face fell, showing how truly heartbroken he was over this whole ordeal. "I want you."

SMG3 stared at him as his own anger fizzled away, just leaving the confusion, stress, and heartbreak behind. He let go of 4 and stepped back. "Well, you shouldn't... you should be with your real true love... not wasting your time with me..."

"SMG3..."

"I'm sorry, 4..." 3 said quietly, grabbing his hat and walking away. "I... I'm going to go talk to Emma Tate... I..." He stopped, taking a deep breath before he continued walking. "I'm sorry it has to end like this, man..."

4 stared at him in disbelief as he disappeared down the hills. "You... You son of a bitch!" He snapped. "Are you f*cking kidding me? In one ear and out the other! I seriously don't give a f*ck if you're my true love you motherf*cker!" He turned and punched a tree out of frustration before grabbing his now throbbing hand. "Jesus f*cking Christ!"

4 took a deep breath before storming back inside. "Ok. I'm going to dig up dirt on Mildred and I don't want to talk about the sh*t that just happened outside," he said harshly to Aloysius and Florence. "Where can I find Mildred and Howard's daughter?"

SMG4 grumbled to himself as he walked through the fields, following the directions that Florence had given him to the little shack where Mildred and Howard's daughter lives.

"Stupid SMG3... so... so stupid," he grumbled to himself. "He doesn't listen! He never f*cking listens! I... ugh. Fine. Fine then. Maybe I will go find my true love and be happier than I was with him."

He slowly came to a stop, letting his arms fall to his sides.

"Who am I kidding? I... don't think I'll be happier without him..." He looked up towards the clouds. "f*ck... even the sh*tty memories were fun..." He took a deep breath before continuing on his way. "Gosh... I hope he's ok... I... I should really talk to him after I figure out some more sh*t about Mildred and..."

SMG4 stopped talking as he came to a very small run down shack with two people sitting in front of it in rocking chairs. One was a black man in sailors garb, and the other was a young white woman with brown curly hair, wore a green and yellow floral print dress, and a yellow sun hat. And she was clearly very pregnant. As in, could burst like a balloon at any moment pregnant.

"Hello," he said, walking towards them. "Um... my name is SMG4... I'm here to talk with Nancy Layton...?"

"That's me," the girl said with a smile. "I'm Nancy. And this is my boyfriend Freddy."

"How d'ya do?" Freddy said, waving at 4 as he set down his guitar.

"Now," Nancy said, "I know... we're not married."

"But we want to be!" Freddy interjected. "But her folks won't allow us."

"What?" 4 asked. "Why?"

"Due to me being a sailor and on account of how we curse do gosh dang much," he continued. "Oh. Pardon my French."

4 snickered. "Trust me, buddy. I've heard and said worse."

"So... what is all this about?" Nancy asked, looking up at 4 curiously as she rubbed her belly.

"Well," 4 said, "I was actually trying to dig up some dirt on your mother! She's running for Mayor and I will be damned if I don't try and stop her. She's... hell, my boyfriend kinda... I'm blaming that bitch for my boyfriend breaking up with me."

Both Nancy and Freddy gasped.

"Sir, even I don't use that kind of language," Freddy said in shock.

"Dude, add it to your vocabulary if you really wanna piss off your future mother-in-law," 4 laughed. "Anyway... so... this is definitely something. Never knew you were pregnant."

"Mama kind of... hid me away to avoid a scandal," Nancy said with a sigh. "But... what else can I do?"

"Quit hiding and stick it to your mom?" 4 asked, shrugging. "I mean... I'm literally here to cause a scandal, so..."

"Well, please don't," Freddy said, standing up and attempting to escort 4 off the property. "I'd rather stay in her family's good graces if I wish to be her husband someday, so thank you but no thank you, jerk-*ff."

"Freddy, was it?" SMG4's blue eyes looked back at the man. "I curse more like a sailor than you do."

The two stopped once they heard a loud gasp, quickly turning around and seeing Nancy standing up with a large puddle of liquid underneath her.

"Oh goodness!" Freddy shouted, rushing to her side in a panic.

"Um... what... what is happening...?" 4 asked, hoping that this was not what was happening to just make his day even worse.

"The baby is coming!" Nancy shouted, holding her belly as Freddy tried to help her inside.

4 looked around frantically. They were truly out in the middle of nowhere. He took a deep breath. "Alright! Guess I'm helping deliver a baby..." he said quietly as he followed the two of them into the shack. "If the gang could see me now..."

SMG3 looked up at the tiny school house. "Damn. What? All ages learn here? That's a little stupid..." he said before walking inside quietly.

Emma Tate looked over at SMG3 and waved at him. "Hello. What brings you to my classroom?" She asked, causing the room full of little heads to turn and face him.

"Um..." 3 looked around. "I... was wanting to learn something, actually."

"Oh? And what is that?" She asked.

"I'm... trying to figure out the definition of true love, and was told that the schoolmarm was who to ask..."

Emma rolled her brown eyes and turned her body to the man. She was wearing a dark blue and white flannel dress and crossed her arms. She was very conventionally attractive, in SMG3's opinion. He was kind of jealous of her looks, if he was being completely honest...

"Did Mildred Layton put you up to this?" She asked harshly. "Because if so, this is a sad attempt on her part. Just because I'm 28 and unmarried doesn't mean she can throw every eligible bachelor in the area at me in hopes of finding me a husband! And you of all people? She must be getting mighty desperate."

SMG3 shook his head frantically. "No! No no no! I am literally looking for the definition!" He looked around at the classroom as the students began giggling at him. "Wha- What's so funny?"

"You move kinda funny," one of the kids laughed. "And talk funny too."

"It's an Australian accent, you little-" 3 quickly cut himself off before he began cursing out a small child. "Anyway... can you help me?"

Emma looked 3 over before smirking. "Alright. I'll help you. With a cost."

"A... cost?"

"My door has been jammed for quite some time," she said, gesturing towards a back door in the corner of the room. "Fix it, and I'll help you."

3 looked at the door before grumbling. "Damned side quests..." he said under his breath before looking around. "Alright. Where are your tools?"

Emma pointed back towards a tool box before returning to teaching the class about Latin prefixes and suffixes.

SMG3 sighed, walking towards the tool box, grabbing it, and making his way to the door, crouching in front of it. He looked over the doorknob, giving it a few twists from side to side before grabbing one of the tools. "Ok... so... what would be best for this?" He asked himself quietly.

He grabbed a ruler from the desk, attempting to pry the door open and see what was wrong with the hinge, in case that was what was wrong with the door. He prodded at the mechanism before giving an annoyed huff, putting the ruler back down and reaching into the tool box.

"Hinge is stuck tight," he sighed. "Got any oil or something to loosen this thing?"

Emma looked back at him and shook her head. "Only in the oil lamps."

"Could I borrow one then?"

"No," Emma said. "They're for emergencies. It's best to be prepared, right class?"

The classroom full of students nodded, smiling over at SMG3.

3 groaned, standing up and looking back at the doorknob. "Well, know anywhere I can find some oil in this town then? Because seriously, this thing is stuck pretty tight."

"Should be some at the hardware shop," the schoolmarm said, grabbing some money from her desk and handing it to 3. "Best you not spend your own money on fixing my problem."

3 nodded, heading out the door and walking towards the store.

SMG4 looked over at the young couple holding their newborn son, sighing in relief that the ordeal was over. He looked down at his hands and clothes that were covered in blood and some other bodily fluids he didn't know the name of. Amniotic fluid? That was the name for the water inside a uterus, right?

There was no way any of this was sanitary.

He looked back over at the couple again.

"Hi," Freddy said, tears welling up in his eyes as he led the newborn's hand. "I'm your daddy."

"Let's name him after you," Nancy said, smiling at her boyfriend. "Freddy Jr."

"I like that," he laughed, kissing her forehead. "Look at this beautiful thing we created..."

SMG4 smiled. "You two are really cute together," he said. "And... um... glad I could help?"

"I'm sorry that you had to help us," Nancy said, adjusting herself. "We might have some spare clothes around here... no bathtub though..."

"Meh." 4 shrugged. "I'll just head back to the Menloves' house and wash up there. I have spare clothes there anyway."

"That's mighty far from here," Freddy said. "It's the least we could do after you helped us."

4 shook his head. "No need. Besides... I... I'll let the two of you be with your kid."

"You have any kids?" Nancy asked.

4 nodded. "Yeah... I... I have a son... kinda... his name is Beeg. I do miss him sometimes..."

"Did he pass?" Freddy asked quietly.

4 shook his head. "No, he's still around and causing mischief for my friends, I'm sure... but... he's back at home. My home outside of Schmigadoon that is. I wonder how he's doing without me..."

"I'm sure he misses you too," the woman said, smiling.

4 shrugged. "I don't know. Pretty sure he hates me. He fights back every time I try and give him a bath. It's only once a week and he acts like I'm trying to kill him or something."

"That's kids for ya," Freddy laughed. "But Nancy is right. A boy would miss his father, especially if that father is someone like you, Sir."

"Thanks..." 4 looked out the front door before standing up. "Whelp... I... should get going. Especially if I have to wash up. Heh..."

"Safe travels," Nancy said, looking down at the boy in her arms. "We'll see you at the election."

"You're coming?" 4 asked.

The two nodded, smiles on their faces.

"My mama is a fool to try and hide away this beautiful baby boy," Nancy said. "We'll be there."

4 smiled, nodding at the two before waving goodbye and beginning his trek back to the Menloves' house. He just tried to ignore the red that stained his blue and white outfit. Thankfully this route didn't take him through town.

Although, he did pass by someone he kind of wished he didn't have to see so soon right now...

"Jesus Christ, what the hell happened?" SMG3 asked, looking him over. "You look like you just escaped a murder scene..."

"Miracle of childbirth," 4 sighed. "Congrats to Howard and Mildred. They have a grandson now..."

"Woah..."

"Listen... 3..."

3 turned away. "I don't want to talk about it... I... I meant what I said."

"Well... then let me know what you find out about true love so we can get out of here and forget about this whole ordeal then," 4 laughed. "Maybe... maybe we could hang out...? Go get something to eat? After this whole thing is over, since you're focused on getting us out of here."

"Getting you out of here," 3 mumbled before shrugging. "If you still want to once we get out of here... I... sure..."

"Great," 4 said. He would have put a hand on 3's shoulder, or attempted to hug him, if it weren't for the dried bodily fluids along his arms, and on the rest of his body. Who knew childbirth could be so bloody?

"Yeah... anyway, gotta go... fix a door..."

"Good luck."

"You too..." 3 walked away, keeping his eyes locked on the ground. "I love you," he whispered, praying 4 didn't hear him.

4 smiled, watching 3 walk away. "Gosh you're so stupid..." he laughed to himself, continuing towards the Menloves'. "I love you too..."

SMG3 walked back into the school house, sitting down in front of the door and adding the oil to the mechanism, attempting to pry it open again. "God f*cking dammit!" He snapped, standing up after the oil did nothing but stain his clothes. "You! Mother f*cker!" He kicked the door, attempting to pry it open again.

Emma shook her head, looking at the students who had their mouths agape as they watched and listened to 3's angry rant towards the door.

"Can you please watch your language?" Emma asked, crossing her arms as she looked at him.

3 turned to her, glaring at her despite her lack of response towards his anger.

"This door is so f*cking... what the heck?" He looked towards the kids before returning his glare towards Emma. "This thing is stupid. Alright? I quit! That is it! I f*cking quit! So long! Find someone else to fix your damned door!"

Emma shook her head, crossing her arms. "Wow. Giving up so soon?" She asked, music beginning in the background.

"Oh god... what did I start now?" 3 grumbled.

"When you've got a job to do," Emma sang, "you must try with all your heart. Life's profoundest joys go to girls and boys who finish what they start." She walked towards him, tapping his shoulder with her ruler. "When faced with work the shirkers shirt because it's no longer fun. But the chaps for whom the whole world claps are the chaps who keep at it till the job is done." She walked around, moving between the desks as the kids heads went side to side with the beat of the music. "Oh, at times you'll want to say, 'I've got nothing left to give,' but a life that's lived partway, is no way to live."

"So here's a slide over good advice that I'm obliged to impart, you must always try your best with all of your heart," Emma sang before the children began to gather around SMG3, music still going in the background as they spoke to him.

"Ms. Tate is right!" A girl said. "How can you live a life partway?"

"Or be half a friend?" Another child chimed in.

"Why are you giving up, Mr. SMG3?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Um... it's a door?" 3 asked, looking amongst the kids before Emma's younger brother chimed in.

"Is it?"

"Yes?" 3 said.

Emma then chimed in, singing with the children echoing her. "When you've got a job to do, you must try with all your heart. Life's profoundest joys go to girls and boys who finish what they start."

"S-T-A-R-T!" The kids shouted, holding up the letters on little chalkboards.

"When faced with work, the shirkers shirk because, it's no longer fun," Emma sang.

"F-U-N!" The kids shouted, holding up the letters on their chalkboards again.

"But the chaps for whom the whole world claps are the chaps who keep at it till the job is done," Emma continued. "Oh, at time's you'll want to say," the children began echoing her again, "'I've got nothing left to give,' but a life that's lived partway is no way to live!"

"Is no way, to L-I-V-E," the students added.

"So here's a slice of good advice that I'm obliged to impart, you must always try your best, when life puts you to the test, you must always try your best, with all of your heart!" The whole group sang.

"H-E-A-R-T," the kids chanted, "heart!"

SMG3 looked amongst them all. "Again, just a door."

Emma shook her head before turning to the class. "Alright, let's get some quiet reading time in while Mr. SMG3 and I have a chat outside," she explained before dragging 3 out.

"I'm so f*cking confused," 3 huffed as he stared at nothing.

"How many times have you left when the job became difficult?" Emma asked, crossing her arms as she looked him over. "Or is there something else?"

"Someone else might be better for your stupid door job," 3 huffed. "Look, I'm just trying to get out of here. I know nothing about doors."

Emma nodded. "Well, why don't you just... see what works for you? The door is a job that I think you'll get the hang of with time."

"I don't have time," 3 said. "SMG4 is... if I can't find a way to get him out of here before Farmer McDonough..." He sighed, looking down. "I..."

"Well, then don't overthink this. Perhaps the simple solution has been in front of you the whole time?" Emma asked, walking back inside.

SMG3 stopped, looking at the grass. This wasn't about the door...

SMG3 walked back inside, looking at the door. What the hell could that simple answer even be?