Hey Brother

[Stefan Archer]

This is an open topic, but, mostly for those who know Stefan, friends and such, that would fit into the plot that I'm creating, and I'll be posting with Tybalt after this guy, so if people want to join they can do so after that!

Christmas time was always a tricky time of year. It was an odd time, a time for family and reflection. To spend time with loved ones and just be happy with how life had turned out for that year. For Stefan, it was a time of mixed feelings. He liked it, since he'd been able to celebrate it. He enjoyed giving things to others, he enjoyed decorating and just making the house look festive. But, he had a slightly more removed attitude towards the holiday for himself. Stefan liked giving gifts, but he wasn't so good at receiving them, and the time of Christmas brought with them, those memories of holidays with his dad. The break between terms in school. Those four years of them, each one worse than the last. Knowing the hell he would return to had always left Stefan on edge in the final weeks of school. He had always worked hard to make them less obvious, but it was always clear. He ate less and less. Took food with him when he left to go home. He would flinch more, be more startled by small sounds. Every so often, his mind would wander to his father, and his hands would start shaking. He had grown in that time to truly despise the holidays, knowing what awaited him had never brought the sort of joy the season was meant to bring. Stefan's father was dead now, and had been for close to 5 years, give or take a few days since Stefan wasn't sure which of the days his father had died on. That holiday had been a blur. A blur he had awoken from just under 2 months later. Not his best holiday to say the least. But, his father had been dead 5 years, and the Christmases he had spent since that fateful year had been steadily getting better. It had helped that he worked hard to banish those memories from his mind. Ignoring them always seemed to work best for him. So, he busied himself. Invited folks round, Kate, his extended family, her family, their friends. He didn't care how many or how few ended up attending, just as long as he didn't have to think, or have the time to let his mind drift to those years before. One thing that he could barely stop were the nightmares. This time year brought them back full force. He would just work and work until he practically collapsed so that he wouldn't have to sleep and run the risk of those nightmares, but Stefan wasn't invincible, he couldn't just stay awake during the entire season. Instead he just to work himself so much during the day that he was so tired that he all but passed out. This generally meant that he used his wand less, and did a lot more by hand. But even this didn't always work.

The two days following Christmas was always quiet. Stefan had invited over many people, and they were currently spread out around the house sleeping. He had completely transformed his old parent's bedroom into one that himself and Kate used on certain occasions. Though he preferred sleeping in the living room, that bed was more comfortable. He had taken the time to unlock his old bedroom, fixing the window a few days before, making it look like the final room that needed done over. This was where he had chosen that they would sleep during this time in his home. But, this was a mistake, and Stefan knew it. It wasn't obvious that it was his old room. Aside from being very bare, and having very little personal belongings. Mostly it just looked like the house had previously. There were slightly more suspicious dents and stains in the process of being removed, but that room was a difficult place for Stefan to be. It held too many memories, contained too many ghosts of his past. It wasn't easy for him. But, apart from Kate, Sara, Tara, and Elvera no one else really knew about his past. And of that, it was only Kate who knew some of the details. Even at that, Stefan wasn't particularly open about his past. He was uncomfortable with talking about the details. Since, for the most part Stefan still believed it was his fault. That most of it could've been avoided had he been better, better behaved. This being said, on the early hours of the 27th December, no later than 2am, just an hour or so after everyone had finally gone to sleep for the night, the teen was in grips of a nightmare, that left him sweating, shaking, and most of all muttering under his breathe, words he now only ever utter in his sleep. Pleas with his father to not. To stop. Desperate pain filled pleas. The nightmare itself, was a memory, a mishmash of old memories, settling on the ones from that fateful Christmas that had completely altered Stefan's life. He remembered it, as clear as day in his mind. Well, as clear as his pain hazed mind could. It wasn't the day his father had attempt to kill him, but before that. When he'd made the decision that enough was enough. He remember waking up on that morning, the day he was meant to meet Kate, and just feeling like death was the only option if he didn't leave. But his mind was not stuck on that morning, it was repeating the day before. He couldn't at this point remember what he'd done wrong to deserve it. But his father just kept going. Stefan had pleaded, groaned, cried out and desperately trying to reach out to his dad, both mentally and physically hoping he'd come to his senses about what he'd been doing. It was one final kick, that brought Stefan flying out of his nightmare.

He woke with a gasp, barely able to keep his breathing in check. He had thin sheen of sweat. He rubbed a hand against his eyes, as he reminded himself it was just a dream. It was no longer real. He shakily stood up from the bed. Leaning a hand against the wall closest to him. Barely able to stop the tears which streamed from his eyes as his mind replayed the dream to him. He quickly left the room, going quickly to bathroom, and managing it before he lost the contents of his stomach. Once he was sure he was done, Stefan cleaned up after himself and after quickly rinsing his mouth, he quietly made his way downstairs. Heading straight to the kitchen, where he did the only thing he could manage, make a cup of tea. His hands were still badly shaking, tears were now only threatening to fall. He just went through the mundane motions of making tea for himself. Just trying to calm down. He didn't want to wake any one. Once the tea was made, the teen opened the backdoor in the kitchen and walked to the table which had been set up in the middle of the garden. The sky was overcast, but it looked like it wouldn't rain, he was a little underdressed, wearing his pyjama shorts and a t-shirt that was fairly old and worn, but Stefan didn't mind. He placed the cup of tea on the table, and just took a deep breath of the morning air. Rest his elbows on the table, he put his head in his hands, and just took the time to breath. It had been five years, Stefan hadn't thought it would be easy. He still had bad days, but this was different. It was different because he had others in his home, he was tired but completely awake at the same time. The dream had just been so real. He had felt the bad, tasted the blood, heard the anger. But he was no longer a fourteen year old boy nearing the last time he could deal with it. He was nineteen and he didn't have to deal with it. Yet, even five years down the line, the thought, and memories of his father brought fear to the teen. What if this was the dream. What if his father wasn't really dead. Five years down the line and he was still at times like this unable to really process that his father could never hurt him again.
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[Tybalt Archer]

Christmas with the Archer's had become different in recent years. Tybalt had always been big on the holidays, he knew it was hard for his parents at time, but there was nothing better to him than reminding each other that they had one another and were not alone in this world as his parents sometimes thought, but since moving to New Zealand and Hogwarts, Ty had found that his Christmases got better each year. The gifts didn't matter to him, he liked getting things sure, but for him this wasn't the point of the festival. He liked being with his family, helping his ma in the kitchen, playing with his little sister, hanging out with his dad talking about old muggle things that his father had a fascination for. Their research into the family they'd lost in New Zealand was no longer necessary, while they didn't know the gritty details of what followed his uncle leaving the family in America and moving here but it didn't matter. Because in their massive move, the family had found Stefan, and well, Ty was happy for the company of what felt like an older brother. Someone he could look up to, though he was sure that part of this looking up was due to the fact that his cousin was living alone, which while Tybalt loved his family it was a little hard to deal with them non stop, and a place of his own was one of the first things that he wanted when he left school. Tybalt was glad therefore that following his return from school, his parents had announced that they would be going to his cousin's for Christmas. It was easier for his family, and it was nice, to get out of the city and just be away from the prying eyes of muggles. They had only intended on staying for Christmas day itself, but this had quickly not happened. There was just something that Tybalt and his parents found natural about this new family. It was nice. It was different. He had spent his time mostly playing with Lydia, teaching her how to fly in the backyard, which had been nice. She was improving greatly, something he was very much pleased with. He had enjoyed it a lot. It was a nice and welcome break from his slightly odd and stressful term. The young Gryffindor wasn't sure what had happened, but he'd gotten sick, and it had taken a while to shake it off. By the time he had, it had left feeling a little depressed, but he felt better now, with his family. He was happy to see them. Happy to spend time with all the little extensions of it. It was a nice and welcome change. People who just got along. Rather than constant studying and house arguments. The change had been welcome, and his usual excitement for life had very quickly returned. He was really looking forward to his next set of classes. Ready to remind folks that Ty was a good, brave Gryffindor.

In a house full of people, Ty was a pretty light sleeper. He'd always been, it wasn't clear to him why. Some days the slightest shift could wake him, on other days a siren next to his ear wouldn't manage it. The lighter he slept however the better he felt. It was at times disjointed sleep, but he felt better. On that morning, Tybalt had just been drifting off, when he began hearing an odd noise. His family had taken the master bedroom, Tybalt was sleeping on the floor, happy to too. But, when he was beginning to wake, he realised the noise had stopped. It had been like someone was talking. Perhaps it had been his sister talking in her sleep. Tybalt closed his eyes again. However, this was short lived, when he heard one door open, and then the bathroom door opening. He stayed silent, hearing someone throw up, albeit fairly quietly. Tybalt waited another few minutes, thinking that he shouldn't bother this person, but finally his curiosity got the best of him, and he pulled himself quietly out of bed. Grabbing his glasses as he glanced one last time over the room, and headed out. Quietly making his way downstairs, he noted that the kitchen light was on, and there was someone moving around in the room, he wondered who it could be, at this time of night. But, as he moved forward to head into the room, there was no more movement. Tybalt was a little nervous, was it someone robbing them? The house was protected by magic, it would impossible, surely? Discarding those thoughts from his mind the boy walked slowly into the kitchen, to as he had thought, find it empty, then he realised the door out to the garden was open, and Ty made his way to it. Noticing that his cousin sat with his head in his hands at the table. Now, Ty found this odd, but he was not blind or stupid. He was aware that Stefan hadn't exactly had the perfect life, he knew that most people didn't end up living alone at 16. Tybalt had just never asked because he didn't think he should. But, his cousin, needed someone, clearly. He retreated into the house, and from the cupboard under the stairs grabbed a blanket. It wasn't cold outside, but it wasn't exactly roasting. He made his way back to where his cousin was still sitting, coughing slight as to not startle him, before placing the blanket around his shoulders. Plopping himself down on the chair in beside his cousin. "You alright?" he asked, with a small smile, not sure what else he could do in such a situation. "I heard you being sick"
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[Stefan Archer]

In the silence of the incredibly early hours of the morning, the teen was beginning to feel a lot more at ease, he wasn't sure why it was about fresh air, open air that just made him feel so much better no matter the situation. He still felt on edge. His mind was working to fade out the memories of what he had dreamed, but it worked hard and it was difficult. It wasn't clear how long it would take for him to feel normal, well, his version of normal. Able to better push those memories to the bottom of his mind. Put back up the strongest wall he could muster between those awful memories and the ones he was creating with his family, with Kate and his friends. It had certainly been nice of them to come, and a welcome distraction. He had spent his time cooking with his aunt, Elliot. Who showed him a series of ways of making different foods. As well, as foods that he had previously never heard of. It was funny, Stefan was out of school a year and a half, and was learning more than he had during the time he'd spent at it. Obviously his lessons took a different nature in the world outside that school. He learned to manage a home, keep it clean, gardening, cooking. Learnt how to read a lot better, his writing had greatly improved too. The hours he spent in that part time job at the local bookstore had helped his reading, his confidence, financially. Stefan had loved going to school, but he was better out of it now. He could grow at his own rate without any fears. Of course there had been that point when Kate had been travelling the world, and he had spent almost every day worried out his mind for her. Apart from the brief problems with the earthquake when he had come too close to losing her too, Stefan was glad to have graduated. Hogwarts had saved life, that much was true. But, leaving Hogwarts had opened his future to endless possibilities. He was better off now, and he knew that. But it was when those memories crashed through his wall, and just brought him right back down that were the hardest. He couldn't escape the odd thought of his father, or upbringing throughout the day, but it was always fleeting. Only now, in the moments like that, where he was launched full force back into that state of fear, and sadness. He had always wanted this, a life that didn't involve his father, and the pain that that had brought him for years, but it wasn't easy to walk away from such things. That much he had learned. He had now learned. Well, Stefan had never had delusions that it would be easy, he had just thought that five years after it was over with his father he would be better. The teen was in many respects better, but he was still working through an absolute ton of issues that couldn't just be washed away.

Letting out a shaky breath, the teen willed for the memories to leave. He wanted to go back to bed, and maybe not sleep, but at least try and rest. He couldn't have his family knowing how bad things had been. How the uncle that his cousin's parents had loved had become the terrible person that Stefan had lived with. At first he wanted to scream at them, ask them where they were while he suffered through the worst possible starts to a life, and yet, when he'd met them, they'd greeted him warmly, opened their arms to him, and he couldn't destroy that memory of him. His father's control over his life lessened with every day, not telling people what happened was possibly the most difficult to over come, but this would be the last thing that his father had control over. A cough behind the teen startled him. Flinching slightly, he looked up briefly, just as a blanket was wrapped around him. Placing his head back in his hands he gave a long sigh. Just telling himself to calm down. His dad was dead after all. When the person sat, Stefan looked up. He was curious as to who else was up at this time. It turned out to be the last person he thought, well, the second last. His younger cousin. Stefan had definitely warmed to the guy. He was a nice person, kind and warm hearted. Like his parents. Stefan forced a smile to the younger Archer he spoke. He smiled at the concern, a little more genuinely this time. Despite what his father had been, he realised that not all Archer's were bad. Although, at this point Stefan barely trusted himself to speak. He didn't know how to tell his cousin that he was fine and actually sound like he meant it. He nodded his head, which quickly stopped when his cousin continued, there was no getting out of that. Stefan looked down at his hands, they were shaking. He closed his eyes briefly, and the images washed over him again. Reopening them, he reached out to the cup of tea and gave a small sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Was all he managed to utter out as he took a quick sip of his tea. having to hold it in both hands so he wouldn't accidentally pour it over him self as his hands continued to shake, just less obviously now. He looked away from his cousin, obviously avoiding his question, Stefan really didn't want to talk about it with his younger cousin. He knew that his cousin had never known Stefan's father, but he didn't want to tell him about it. "It's the anniversary of my father's death. 5 years today." He wasn't sure if it was the actual day, just knew it was now at some point. In any case, it had been about five years, this seemed like a reasonable enough excuse for his actions. Sitting out in the middle of the night, with a distant look in his eyes. Being sick, being awake. He met his cousin's eyes and gave him a small, but obviously forced smile. He reached out, and placed a shaking hand on his cousin's shoulder. "I'm sorry I woke you little cousin. Just head back to bed, I'll be alright."
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[Tybalt Archer]

It would be easy enough for the teen to just head back to bed, as soon as he had wrapped the blanket around his cousin but something made him stay. It wasn't that he was feeling like he'd be the right person for his cousin to talk to, but they were family and family meant a lot to the young Gryffindor. He also realised, that while his cousin was warming up to his parents, he would completely move past any questions of his life. Brief answers were all his parents got. Now, they had their ideas, and created a story for him, but Tybalt being only fifteen was no privy to such information. His parents still though him pretty young, and well, this meant that they didn't actually get to know what his parents were thinking. Possibly for the better. Tybalt had picked up little things. Which weren't tells per say, but Tybalt was creating his own story, of his family. The lies, the deceit and the rediscovering. His family would have chapter after chapter of stories to tell, and things to come clean about. Tybalt wasn't much of a liar, he didn't do it often, and generally felt bad when he did do it. So his story to his parents about the passing year had been a little different to what had actually happened. But, he didn't feel the need to worry over something that he was feeling much better about. He was smiling to himself and just feeling better. So, this was better, it was good. He was feeling like anything would at this point be possible. He could face the next term with the usually determination that he usually had. He had many plans for the Club he ran. It was hard to get people to go to things, but he knew it would be fun, whatever he chose. He had many ideas about it, but for now, he had to focus his attention on the holiday he was spending with his family, the close parts and the extended parts of it. People whom he missed during the school term, because despite his friends and such it was nice to have people to come back to once the term was over. He enjoyed his mother's home made meals, and his dad's desperate attempts at cooking, though he could really only make one thing. Coming home from school, was the best feeling for the teen. He missed his friends, but his parents were incredible people. They looked after him with a happiness, that he hoped he'd always have. He knew he was endlessly lucky to have them, even if they'd had some issues before coming to New Zealand, all was right, and all was good between them. He was lucky to have them, he knew this. He was eternally grateful to them. Tybalt was realising more and more, with the people he met at school, and his cousin that he was an incredibly lucky guy, despite what he'd always thought.

Tybalt stayed silent after he'd spoken, he was watching his cousin, barely taking his eyes off him. He had noticed his cousin nodding, but as he'd continued, he knew that it was a lie, a simple lie. Because Tybalt was not the most versed in the ways of the world but he knew that his cousin wasn't ok no matter what his cousin said. His eyes drifted down as his cousin reached out to the tea that sat cooling on the table that they'd been eating at, just a few hours before. He could tell, even in the darkness that Stefan's hands were shaking. Noting this, Tybalt just looked back up, ignoring it. It wasn't his place to say anything. Maybe it was just the cold. Though, Tybalt didn't think it was that cold. At least not cold enough to cause shaking. His cousin spoke so softly that Tybalt almost hadn't heard him. He gave a small smile, finding it funny that his cousin worried about such things. Tybalt wasn't the one who'd been sick. He didn't care about being woken up. He noted that he cousin wasn't actually telling him, if he had been the one to be sick or not. Ty knew that it was, but it meant his cousin still hadn't actually admitted that he wasn't ok. The young Gryffindor had no idea what to do or say, he wanted to tell his cousin that it was alright, but it didn't really feel like the right thing to do. Instead he stayed silent. Maybe that's all his cousin needed. Silence, and the company of someone who stayed as silent. Letting the slowly coming day be the thing to break the silence. But, he was proved wrong, when his cousin spoke again, Tybalt didn't know much about his uncle, just that he'd been dead a while. And while Ty had just accepted it, he came to realise that this meant his cousin had been about his age when his father had died, and with his mother already dead years before, at the age Ty was at now, his cousin had been alone. Tybalt knew that his cousin had come to the house, about two, possibly three years before. Which left, two years unaccounted for. It occurred to the teen that it was exactly that that his parents spoke of. Ty looked sympathetically at his cousin, sorry that he'd lost his dad at a young age. The gryffindor had no idea what he would do if he lost his day. He had been about to reply, when his cousin placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke again. Ty shook his head, "I'm alright Stef. You don't need to apologise" He said with a small smile, his a little bit more genuine than his cousin's. "I'll stay with you right now" He fell silent. "It must've been hard to lose your dad." Tybalt looked down at the grass below them and then back up at his cousin. Tybalt had lost his elder brother, almost ten years ago, and he missed him everyday, but at this point, he struggled to really remember him.

"I can't imagine losing my dad. Or my ma" Tybalt glanced up at the house. Not sure what else to say. He knew that his parents worried about Stefan, like they worried about most things parents did. He wasn't sure why they worried about Stefan that much though. Stefan had his own place, he had a job, a girlfriend. Everything with Stefan worked. It was good. Tybalt looked back at his cousin, he wondered if he'd get more out of Stefan considering there were no adults around. As he thought about what it would be like to lose both his parents, he shuddered slightly. Maybe, being around his family, just made Stefan miss them more. "Do you miss them?"
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[Stefan Archer]

Having no delusions that his younger cousin would not know about what stefan had gone through, he wasn't even inclined to really think about telling him. They were similar, the two of them, yeah, but where Stefan had never really had a real childhood, and did things that children did. There was no point in his life where he was surrounded by good to realise that there were a lot of bad things in the world around him. Whereas, he could tell, that while his cousin was by no means stupid, that he was still a child in the sense that he himself had never been. Which was why he had sort of desperately hoped that Tybalt would've just gone back inside and leave Stefan to his thoughts. He did appreciate the company, and it was a lot easier to rid the thoughts from his brain if he didn't actually just have his thoughts. He could refocus slightly on making sure that Tybalt never thought anything was wrong, and just pretending that losing his parents was the most difficult thing he had had to do. His mother had died when he was too young to remember what she really looked liked, and his father, what had followed hadn't been great that was for sure, it wasn't easy to deny that Stefan had suffered much worse at his fathers hand, and then later at the hand of the foster parents, and living on the streets, losing his father had been difficult. It had been as simple too. Which probably wasn't what his cousin, or his aunt and uncle wanted to hear. He kept his hand on the shoulder of his cousin, while taking a second sip of his tea, just keeping it as steady as he could manage. Though this wasn't very good on his part. He placed it back on the table, but kept his hand around it. He didn't mind the hot sensation against his hand. It felt nice, comforting. He was suddenly glad it was Tybalt out here with him, rather than anyone else. At least to begin with. Where others might push for more, his cousin had no idea, and therefore Stefan believed he didn't know that there was more to push for. Stefan was left knowing that not saying much wouldn't bother his cousin. He did wish that Kate was with him. She always knew what to say. He didn't however want to wake her. He loved Kate, so much, but waking her up just to deal with his issues weren't how he imagined this day. Or any day. He didn't like the idea of burdening her with what had happened. Though out of all the people he knew, she knew the most. He couldn't ever bring himself to wake her. If he didn't accidentally, he didn't like it either. But much in the same way he didn't like the fact that he had woken up his cousin. And that his younger cousin was losing sleep over an issue that Stefan knew himself, he could overcome.

Flashing a smile at his cousin, Stefan realised he was now lucky with this family he had built for himself. While they were related, Stefan had been so wary of it, that he had almost not agreed to meet up with him, but he was glad he did. "Thanks" He admitted in a low voice. As much as Stefan wasn't happy that he'd woken up his cousin, he was grateful for the company. As the memories pushed and pushed, trying to get some ground in Stefan's mind, having his cousin, made it easier for him to push back. It helped feel a little more normal, like they were just cousins, friends, sitting outside because neither could sleep, and not for the reasons that Stefan knew. He gave a small smile as Tybalt spoke again. From what Stefan had seen his cousin was close to all his family. It was refreshing, and it meant that Stefan could see how it would be hard for Tybalt to lose his father, or even his mother. Stefan had really grown fond of Elliot. She always knew what to say to him. How to act with him. A part of him, wondered if she knew, if she had figured it out. Branson, on the other hand he was more wary of. Mostly just through his experience with men, but Branson had proved to be very unlike his father. They were good people. A little deluded by the man they'd once known but good people all the same. He removed his hand from his cousin's shoulder and smiled sympathetically. Stefan didn't really want Tybalt to think about losing his parents. If life was a little kinder to the younger Archer, it would allow his parents to live to see both their kids graduate school. Stefan imagined that they would. They weren't bad people, and bad things happened to bad people. It didn't exactly explain everything that had happened to him, since Stefan was sure that he was a good person. In any case, stefan just allowed the silence to surround them. Let the younger of the two cast out such thoughts from his brain. Then he spoke again. Stefan froze slightly. He glanced at his hands, and then out to the garden. Did he miss them. He missed his mother, though he'd never really known her. And sometimes he missed his father. He didn't understand it for the most part. He missed his father, though his father had been anything but kind to him. He wasn't sure what he missed about him, Stefan just knew that in some twisted way, he missed his father. "Well, it's difficult to say, my mother died when I was two, so I don't have any memories of her, I do miss her. But, I never knew her." He said with a shrug, pausing, looking back to his cousin.

The memories of his father came back even stronger. A new anger to them, playing in his mind. "As for my father, sometimes." He paused, "My father was very sick for a long time, when I left for Hogwarts, it made things worse, he could barely look after himself. My father hadn't been my father for a few years by the time he died. It's difficult to say whether or not I miss him" It wasn't exactly a lie. His father hadn't been sick, but he hadn't been in his right mind, Stefan was sure. It had been a lot more than the last years before his death. it was lies wrapped up in partial truths. He gave a small shrug, "Just today it's a little hard" He looked away from his cousin, briefly glancing at the house and then at his cousin. Wondering what his cousin would tell to his parents. "Your parents are good people, I'm better off without mine."
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[Tybalt Archer]

Tybalt Archer was generally a pretty hyperactive kid. He had spent so long, with so little confidence, and friends, that he was making up for it now. By his general craziness, but the difference between Ty and others that were perhaps like him, he knew when situations really demanded him to not be. He knew that his cousin didn't want a cousin who jumping up and down. Who was saying silly things, and being all round, just a little bit rowdy. Tybalt knew exactly what he needed to be in this situation. He was smiling, but it wasn't a true smile. It was a little awkward smile that meant he wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do. Where, despite how much he knew about people and how to act around them. He was completely at a loss there and then. It was difficult to know whether to ask a lot of questions, or to just step back, and let things flow. From the moment he'd sat down, the teen could tell that this wasn't something he was used to dealing with. He was glad that his cousin wasn't forcing him to go back to bed. His parents always told him, that he should do what Stefan asks since this was both his house, and because he was older. Ty was glad when it seemed that he actually wanted him to stay, though, it wasn't too clear why he wanted that. The gryffindor just kept silent, thinking over, the question that he'd asked. He wondered what it would be like at this time of year without any family, had his cousin spent Christmases alone, with no family. It was a sad affair, Tybalt couldn't imagine doing such a thing. He couldn't imagine being alone at such a time of year. He was glad that he'd persuaded his parents into staying longer. They were a family, and they had plenty of holidays to make up for. When, Tybalt had been about to tell his cousin that it wasn't necessary for him to reply to such a question, it seemed obvious that he'd miss his parents. But, then again, he hadn't met Stefan's parents. He hadn't know them. From what his father said, Mason had been the one who'd mostly inherited their grandfather's anger, which Ty's father always brought up with a heavy sigh. As if that was the most terrible thing, Tybalt knew his grandfather as an incredibly strict man, had Stefan's dad been the same? Tybalt didn't know. He just listened to his cousin's response. As he spoke, Tybalt glanced up at the house. He couldn't imagine not having his mama around to help him. Growing up with out her, seemed like something that would be impossibly hard. Maybe not knowing her made it easier, but still. He looked at his cousin, with a sad smile. It was to the young Gryffindor an impossible task to have grown up without a mother. He knew plenty did it, but, for him, it was something he was glad he had never had to face.

As his cousin continued, Ty kept his eyes on him. Mason had been sick? He hadn't known such a thing. Was that why the house had been in such a state when they'd first come. Had things been that hard for them. A sudden surge of anger raged within Tybalt. For the first time, he felt pure anger towards his grandfather. His grandfather was not a nice person, he was a horrible person, letting his youngest son just go into the world, and ignoring him, cutting him off. When all he'd done was get married. If he hadn't done such a thing, just maybe Stefan wouldn't have lost his mother, and his father wouldn't have been sick. If they had, Ty's family could've helped him. They were family, and his parents had always taught him that family stick together. This hadn't been sticking together. If they had, Tybalt wouldn't have to have this conversation, his cousin would not look like he'd seen one too many wars. "I'm sorry Stefan. It must've been pretty hard" He managed to say without screaming. Keeping his voice as calm as possible. He cursed his grandfather. He cursed the Archer's, and all their lies and secrets. He wished his parents had done more, tried harder. They had been too wrapped up in their own world to bother. "We can share my parents!" Tybalt shook the anger from within him. He knew it would help nothing, his parents were good people, Tybalt knew this. Stefan felt like a brother to him, so why not. "We can be brothers" He said with a small encouraging smile. Not sure if his cousin would even want such a thing. Tybalt just wanted to make up for all the missed years, and while they probably wouldn't adopt Stefan, because the guy was an adult, and that just didn't happen to adults. It could be unofficial. "My ma sees you like a son," He added. Hoping that his case for brotherhood was coming across well. He was getting excited, so he paused for a moment to came himself. Maybe, Stefan would be open to the idea of him as brother.
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