Okay, so there were a lot of things I wanted to talk about in these chapters concerning REQD but I just don't have the space for (this is an 7451 word chapter)
So I'm really sorry about that

QUESTION : Based upon anything about setting in this book, where do you guys think this book takes place?

Anyway...hope you enjoy this shitty chapter

TRIGGER WARNINGS : death, angst, suffering, sadness, epilepsy, seizures, cancer & chemotherapy, PTSD, talks about Quinn's trauma 

Evan POV
My wedding day was something I've looked forward to ever since being adopted.  Maybe I did with my birth parents too, but I just don't remember. 

I spun a bit in the mirror, running my hands down the beautiful wedding dress.  It was pretty close to my dream wedding dress.  Ball gown style that was longer in the back and covered in pretty lace.  A flower crown of white gyp flowers, pink peonies and roses.  A long lace veil hung down to just past my waist off the flower crown.

While I was sad this wasn't truly my wedding day, and I won't be able to get married to my boyfriends anytime soon, I've still been excited for today.  I left the bathroom and headed into the bedroom. 

Quinn was standing there in his dress.  We both paused upon seeing each other.  For a few seconds everything was silent.

"You look beautiful,"  I breathed.  He was wearing a pretty dress with a ruffled skirt and lace top.  His flower crown had silver shadow roses and a veil of lace. 

"Not as much as you,"  Quinn responded with a blush. 

I ran to him and hugged him tightly, Quinn instantly returning the hug.  We shared a few sweet kisses, just holding each other.  We swayed slightly together.

"I wish this could be real,"  I couldn't help but mumbled. 

"Me too,"  Quinn whispered. 

I pulled away and wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes.   Then I held out an arm for Quinn.  We looped arms and then turned to the door.

"Are you ready for this?"  I asked. 

"Absolutely,"  He said with a nod. 

I led the way and opened the door.  We headed down the hallway and then the stairs.  We paused again at the doors to the backyard.

Damien and Remus were standing at the cliff edge together.  Both were wearing suits.  My heart sped up a bit and a little excitement filled me.  This would be my wedding day, but it's not allowed.

I took a deep breath and grabbed one of the door handles.  Quinn grabbed the other and we opened the door together. 

We held hands tightly and then started walking out onto the patio.  Right as we reached the stairs down to the grass, Remus and Damien turned around.

My breath caught in my throat.  They were both so handsome.  They had matching traditional suits.  But Remus had on a bow tie instead.  There was a beautiful sunset over the ocean.

Remus bent over a bit and put his hand to his nose almost instantly.  I couldn't help but laugh a bit.  Even as Remus dealt with a nose bleed, Damien ignored him, just staring at us. 

We started walking forwards together towards Damien and Remus.  I smiled brightly but I could feel Quinn shaking against me. 

The second we were within arms length, Damien pulled the two of us in for a hug.  He was shaking a bit too.  Remus joined the hug and for a while we just all hugged each other.

"You two look beautiful,"  Damien mumbled, looking us up and down when we all pulled apart.

I smiled brightly while a blush dusted across my cheeks.  Quinn blushed too, but looked down in embarrassment.  Remus grabbed Quinn's chin and made him look up. 

"Don't be embarrassed baby,"  Remus told him.  "You look beautiful." 

"Thanks,"  He mumbled.  "Evan's prettier though."

"How about,"  Damien interrupted.  "You all look beautiful."

"Nah I look sexy,"  Remus purred. 

"Whatever you need to tell yourself,"  Quinn laughed. 

"You're so mean,"  Remus whined.  He picked Quinn up and spun him around, making Quinn let out little shocked screams. 

But then he set Quinn down and just hugged him tightly.  They swayed back and forth a bit, Quinn holding onto Remus's arms. 

"I wish we could all actually get married,"  Quinn mumbled. 

"Maybe one day,"  Damien said, trying to remain positive, even though our situation was bleak.  Just living together could be incriminating in our situation. 

He pulled me into my arms and rested his hands on my hips.  Damien moved us closer to Remus and Quinn and for a while we were all silent. 

"I want to punch the government in the face,"  Remus growled randomly.

"Which branch?"  Damien asked.  "Or section?"

"Ugh...uh...I don't know!"  Remus stuttered.  "All of them!"

"Unfortunately you can't do that,"  Damien sighed, resting his chin on top of me head. 

"But it's not fucking fair!"  Remus exploded.  Damien pulled Quinn into his arms next to me.  "Why the fuck can straight and gay people get married but we can't?!"  He yelled, flailing his arms around angrily.  "What's so wrong with four men being married to each other?!"

"The world isn't fair,"  Damien said gently, trying to calm him. 

Remus sighed and just joined the hug.  For a while, the four of us just held each other.  Swaying back and forth to some imaginary music. 

Then I started crying, just soft silent tears, shaking slightly.  Quinn followed, leaning his forehead on Remus's shoulder to hide the tears.  Before I knew it, Damien was crying too, a few tears rolling down his cheeks.  With the rest of us crying, Remus started too. 

We just held each other and cried, all thinking and silently wishing for the same thing.  I wish we could get married.  It hurt...it hurt my heart that I can't get married to the loves of my life and who I would consider my soulmates. 

I don't know how long we stayed there but eventually we stopped crying.  We all silently comforted and kissed each other, wiping tears from each other's cheeks. 

I just wish we could get married.  Without the threat of being punished for it.  The idea of being arrested and then separated form each other just because of our love simultaneously sickened and terrified me. 

Then we kinda pulled apart, still holding hands in a circle.  Earlier today we all had our last names legally changed to King.  We got wedding rings.  But none of this feels official. 

"Are we going to have sex tonight?"  Remus asked randomly, shocking me from my depressing thoughts.  "All four of us." 

"Is that all you care about?"  Damien asked with a laugh.  "Sex between all four of us."

"It's not all I care about.  I just wanna know if it's finally gonna happen because I'm hella excited to try something like that,"  Remus explained.  "And I want a distraction from this depressing anger that makes me wanna commit murder."

"Let's not for that,"  I advised. 

"I know I'm ready to do that,"  Damien said.  "Are you two okay with this happening?"  He looked back and forth between Quinn and I. 

"I think I'm ready,"  I mumbled, my entire face beating up in embarrassment.  "I don't really know how this works so I don't know what I'm getting myself into."

"Don't worry baby,"  Damien told me.  "Remus and I know what we're doing.  You're not going to get hurt or anything."

"Quinn?"  Remus asked. 

"I think I can handle it,"  Quinn mumbled.  "I...I do want to...I'm just scared to...I don't know why though."

"You'll be okay,"  Damien said, him and Remus instantly going to assure him.  "We won't hurt you, we promise that.  What are your boundaries when it comes to this?"

"Vanilla sex,"  He mumbled embarrassedly.  "Please just don't tie me down."

"Done and done,"  Remus said, accenting it with a kiss. 

"What's that?"  I mumbled. 

"You'll see,"  Damien answered.  "We need a safe word.  So if either of you two want to stop at any point say...blueberry or stop."

"Are you two ready?"  Remus asked.  We both nodded 'yes'. 

"C'mon,"  Damien said, herding the three of us back to the house. 

We all headed back inside, Damien locking the door behind us.  Remus led the way upstairs, Quinn and I following behind him. 

Once we were in our bedroom, Damien went right to work with Quinn, making out with him and undressing him.  Remus grabbed my hips and started kissing at my neck. 

And we all know what happens now. 

~~~magical time skip~~~

Damien POV
I awoke slowly, almost instantly aware that Quinn was naked and sleeping next to me.  But then I smiled upon remembering last night.  Images of Quinn and Evan's faces while being fucked filled my mind.

That was amazing last night.  I let out a sigh and opened my eyes again.  Remus and I made eye contact, he was smiling too.

"Morning,"  He mumbled. 

"Morning,"  I responded softly. 

Evan and Quinn were still dead asleep, probably exhausted.  I trailed my eyes down the hickies and bite marks down both of their necks and shoulders. 

"That was amazing last night,"  I mumbled. 

"Agreed,"  Remus said.  "Theirs asses felt amazing.  Nice and tight.  I haven't fucked someone in so long."

"I thought you've never topped before,"  I mumbled. 

"Topped Issac once.  I paid for that in so many punishments,"  He sighed.  "I liked this better."

"I'm glad you're here and now with him,"  I said, reaching an arm across the other two.  Remus grabbed my hand and held it tightly. 

For a few seconds or so we just held hands in silence with our eyes closed.  But then Evan started to stir.  I opened my eyes and then Evan awoke. 

"Good morning baby," I said softly with a smile.  Remus and I let go of each other.  Remus pressed kisses to the top of his head and I gently ran my hand down his cheek. 

"Morning,"  He mumbled, his voice soft from being overworked last night. 

"Feeling okay?"  Remus asked.  "You're ass is probably gonna hurt bad today."

"It feels kinda weird and painful,"  Evan mumbled. 

"That's okay so far,"  I told him.  I wanted to press kisses against his face but I didn't want to wake Quinn who was using my arm as a pillow. 

"'m tired,"  He mumbled his eyes closing again. 

Remus wrapped both arms tightly around Evan who was starting to fall back asleep.  I'm glad I don't have to work today.  Sadly, tomorrow I do.

I got a call from Emile yesterday about a case he wants me to take on.  It has to do with a friend of his and a severely abusive relationship that friend had.  I quickly took the case after reading through the case file just because of how much some of the instances reminded me of what Remus went through with Issac. 

Quinn started to stir in my arms, his head moving a little bit.  But then he jolted up violently and scrambled towards the foot of the bed. 

It woke Evan back up and shocked me.  But then I quickly pushed my self up to help him, the other two quick behind me. 

"What's wrong?"  I asked, gently pulling him into my lap.  There was tears in his eyes and his hand was clamped over his mouth. 

"I just...I...the feeling down there, the soreness...I felt it and thought I was back there..."  Quinn choked out.  "I'm sorry..." 

"It's okay,"  I said, laying him back down.  He was shaking badly now.  "You're not back there.  You're safe and here with the three of us."

Evan pulled Quinn to him and then I laid down and wrapped my arm around his waist.  Remus then flopped down on top of the three of us.  Evan and Quinn let out little squished squeaks.

I laughed a bit and threw my arm around his waist to keep Remus there.  I let out a sigh and closed my eyes again.  This was nice. 

~~~~MaGiCaL tImE sKiP~~~~

Quinn POV
I sat down my drawing tablet, Remus practically having to pull it from my hands to get me to stop working on my current project.  Damien turned off the lights and headed back to the couch with popcorn. 

He sat down, wearing just sweatpants and no shirt.  Remus was dressed the same.  Evan and I were just wearing oversized sweaters and boxers.  I curled into Damien's side, Evan then sitting down next to me and Remus sitting at his other end.

Remus pulled the big fluffy blanket over the four of us and started the movie.  We were watching the movie 2012.  It's about the end of the world and it's one of my favorite movies. 

About a half hour into the movie, Remus started laughing for no reason.  We all turned to him in confusion considering what was happening in the movie right now.

"What are you laughing about?"  Damien asked. 

"I just realized,"  He continued to laugh.  "We have this big ass couch, but we all cuddle together right here in the corner."

We all looked around and then started laughing.  He was right about his observation.  We were sitting in the curved corner of the couch with an ottoman pressed against the couch so we could basically lay down.

"You're right,"  Evan laughed.  "That's actually really funny."

Damien sighed and then pressed play on the movie again.  We made it about another half hour before we were interrupted again. 

"Oh my goodness all of you!"  Evan exclaimed.  "Stop looking at me I'm fine.  I'm not going to seize from this movie." 

"We're just making sure you're okay,"  Damien told him. 

"It's not even flashing that bad,"  Evan hugged. 

"We're just worried,"  I mumbled. 

"And it wouldn't be the first time you did so we're just making sure,"  Remus added, resting an arm around Evan's shoulders. 

It was true that a lot of movies tended to make Evan seize.  Not bad ones, just enough that we'd have to pause the movie and help him.  Usually it would just be myoclonic seizures or he'd have an atonic seizure when we got up to go to bed. 

Damien pressed play on the movie...again.  We lasted about another half hour.  Then Damien and I started criticizing and making fun of the movie for anything.  Remus would join in too and make fun of characters, all while Evan told us we were being rude.

Movie night are insanity for us.  We just can't be quiet and they rarely go without incident.  But it's still nice to just sit and cuddle for a couple hours.

~~~magical time skip~~~~

Remus POV
I sighed and sat down in my car. My entire body was sore from today's work. We finally finished this demolition project and I couldn't be happier.

But none of my pent up anger was released while demolishing this building. My crew was being bitchy about working in the snow and it pissed me off. It's been a long day, I'm hungry, I'm tired and I just want to cuddle my boyfriends...or husbands...or whatever I can consider the loves of my life.

I slammed my hand on the steering wheel and then started the car. Then I started coughing pretty badly so I quickly hit my fist against my chest. Probably just a cold or some shit.

I pulled out of the demo site and started driving home. But I have a half hour until I get home and with the snow, the traffic will probably be bad. Maybe if I stayed on the back roads it wouldn't be as bad.

My phone dinged with a text so I pulled it from where it was sitting in a cup holder. It was from the group chat just labeled; 💚🖤💛🤍.

💕Damien💛 : shitty day at work, what's for dinner?

Me : same

Me : and I'm hella hungry

💕Evan🤍 : Quinn and I got a pizza.

💕Quinn🖤 : against my wishes, I wanted pizza rolls

Me : fuck yes pizza it better have sausage on it

Me : and I could go for a different type of sausage after dinner

💕Evan🤍 : What does that mean?

💕Damien💛 : I'm assuming you're referring to sex?

Me : yeah the fuck did you expect

Me : I got a shit ton of pent up anger today so I need some ass to feel better

💕Quinn🖤 : would this help?? maybe before dinner tho

I smiled at my phone as pictures loaded from Quinn and Evan. Both pictures of their lingerie laying on the bed. It was a Christmas gift from Damien and I last year. They were identical pairs, except Quinn's were black and Evan's were white.

Me : oh fuck yes

💕Damien💛 : I second what Remus says.

💕Evan🤍 : Should we be ready for you two when you get home??

💕Quinn🖤 : or ya know food

Me : you could suck my dick maybe that'd help with your hunger

💕Quinn🖤 - oh my god stoooooppp

💕Evan🤍 - Quinn's blushing, it's adorable.

💕Damien💛 - I bet it is. I'm about five minutes from home.

I looked back up at the road and smiled upon realizing I was just under ten minutes from home. I was already hard in my pants so I'll be glad to see the two bottoms waiting around in lingerie when I get home.

Me : same

💕Evan🤍 - Well?

💕Damien💛 - I'm up for it, would you two get ready for us?

Me - put it on

Me - put it on

Me - put in on

I smirked, sticking my tongue out slightly while spamming the group chat with that same sentence. The other three started complaining but I was having fun being an annoyance.

I pulled into the driveway, eventually pulling up to the house. Damien's car was in the driveway and he was leaning against it in the snow. I parked next to him and got out.

"Watcha doing here and not inside with the bottoms?" I asked, leaning against the car next to him.

"Waiting for you," Damien responded. He took a swing of the bottle of whiskey in his hand and then handed me the bottle.

I greedily drank from it but then handed it back to Damien. The other three only allow me to drink alcohol on special occasions. It felt good but then I remembered I was getting clean for the other three.

"Let's go wreck some asses," I said happily, pushing myself off the car. "I'm gonna jackhammer them both in the ass."

"Yes, lets," He smirked.

I unlocked and opened the front door. I threw my work bag on the floor and then took off up the stairs. Damien followed after setting his stuff gently on the floor.

He caught up quickly and we headed down the hallway. The bedroom door was creaked open a bit and I could hear kissing sounds and shuffling.

I smirked and pushed the door open, Damien and I standing in the doorway together. Evan and Quinn were sitting in the middle of the bed both in lingerie with their legs locked around each other and hugging tightly. They were making out and grinding against each other.

"Having fun without us?" I teased.

The two broke apart with a gasp. They looked over at us, obviously just now noticing our presence. I couldn't help but laugh a bit as the both blushed all the way down to their chests.

"Strip, both of you," Damien purred to the other two, walking into the room. I shut the door and followed him to the bed. He started undressing and I followed quickly.

Tonight was going to be fun.

~~~depresses magical time skip because I'm tired and stressed~~~

Damien POV
I awoke slowly, blinking and few times and rolling over. I smile when I saw the full bed next to me. I stretched my arm out over my three boyfriends and pulled them closer to me.

Almost instantly the alarm went off. I groaned, not wanting to leave the warm bed and the other three. Then Remus grabbed his pillow and threw it over at my bedside table where the alarm clock was.

"Stop doing that," I said sternly when it landed on my face. I sat up and threw the pillow back at him.

"Turn that bullshit off!" He yelled into the mattress. "I refuse! I refuse to go to work!"

Evan stretched and rolled over onto Remus. He pressed kisses to the back of Remus's head. Quinn stayed buried under the blankets, squeezing his eyes shut and curling into himself.

"Wake up," I told him, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him up. Quinn instantly flopped back down onto the bed.

He turned away from me with an annoyed grunt and hugged Evan's waist. I sighed and turned the alarm off.

I swing my feet out of the bed, instantly regretting putting my feet on the cold floor. I sighed again and turned around to the other three.

Evan was sitting up, running his hands through his hair and fixing his shirt that had become all twisted up in his sleep. Quinn was laying off his back now and rubbing his eyes. Remus was still facedown on the mattress.

I stood up and headed over to the closet. I looked at the calendar on the wall and sighed when I realized I had a trial today. I grabbed my designated suit I always wear to trials from the closet.

Next I headed to the bathroom and turned on the light. All three of them groaned when the bathroom light filled the once dark room. Quinn pulled is pillow over his face.

I started by shaving the stubble off that was on my chin. Then I started getting dressed into the suit. Once I had the dress pants and grey button up on, I brushed my teeth and combed my hair.

Evan appeared in the doorway with his uniform for work. He works at an arboretum which is basically the perfect job for him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his head against my back. He yawned once and then pulled away.

"Make sure to wake the other two," I said softly, pressing kisses across his forehead.

I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and then left the bathroom. Quinn and Remus has cuddled up and looked like they were asleep again.

Carrying the suit coat in my hands, I left the bedroom. I headed down the hallway, turning lights on along the way. The sun still hadn't come up yet today.

I grabbed all the pill bottles from one of the cabinets in the kitchen. I sat my medicine on the counter and then got a glass of water. I set out everyone else's medicine so no one would forget, especially Remus.

Evan has to take four different anti-epileptic medicines everyday. Remus has his ADHD medication and nicotine supplements. He would be clean by now but every month of so we catch him smoking again. Quinn has anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants. And I have my medicine for my compulsive lying.

I grabbed the cereal from the cabinet and started pouring bowls of cereal for everyone. I started brewing coffee and boiled water for tea. Evan was first downstairs, smiling and energetic already

I handed him his cup of tea and pressed another kiss to his forehead. He sat down at the table and started braiding his flower crown for today.

Quinn was carried downstairs by Remus. He was still in pajamas since today wasn't a work day, but he wakes up with us anyways. He only works part time at the cafe and spends his other days drawing shit that sells for hundreds of dollars.

Remus has recently been promoted to the demolition boss for the crew he worked for. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. I motioned to all the medicine on the counter, making both of them sigh.

Evan will take his pills because he's responsible. It's the opposite for Remus. Quinn just hates taking pills and gets anxious that he'll choke on the pill. I sat down at the table and started eating breakfast.

I wish today was a lazy morning, but I still enjoy spending time with the other three before work. Life is nice right now.

~~~MAGICAL TIME SKIP~~~

Damien POV
"I'm tired," Quinn whined from the passenger seat. "I don't wanna work anymore. Why can't I quit?"

"You told us to not let you quit the job," I reminded him. "Besides, you're working at Emile's cafe, how bad could it be?"

"There's people and I have to socialize and I got hot coffee dumped on me once," He complained. "And I'm tired and I hate working and I just wanna stay home all day."

"We all just want to stay home and be lazy but we can't," I told him. I took one hand off the steering wheel and slid it into Quinn's hand.

"I'm old enough, let's just say I'm retiring," Quinn joked.

"You're only fifty years old," I laughed.

Quinn laughed a bit and then went silent, just staring out the window. I picked him up from work today but I can't tell what mood he's in today. He's joking around a bit but he keeps having bouts of silence.

I turned the car into our driveway.  While a long driveway is slightly annoying, especially in the winter, I'm glad we aren't close to the street.  But as I got closer to the house, I could see flashing lights reflecting against the trees. 

Both of us tensed up so I sped up the car a bit.  My heart dropped as I reached the house.  There was a cop car and an ambulance in the driveway.  Remus's car was there and I could see him crying on the front porch stairs. 

I quickly stopped the car and jumped out.  I ran over to Remus, my heart pounding painfully in my chest.  Quinn followed me quickly. 

Remus was sobbing violently, shoulders shaking with each sob.  It unsettled me even more to see Remus this upset. 

"What happened?"  I asked, terrified of the answer. 

"Evan...seizure..."  Remus choked out before another sob racked his entire body.  "Evan had a seizure...and he broke his neck...he's dead...Evan's dead."

Those words hit like a bag of bricks.  For a few seconds I just stop there, my entire body going numb.  Everything went silent and I could only hear a ringing in my ears. 

A person carrying a gurney appeared at the door.  He backed down the steps next to us and I just about fainted in shock. 

Evan was laying on the gurney, eyes wide open and glossy dead.  His neck was bent at an old angle, bones pushing out against his skin on the right side.  He was completely still and not breathing. 

I had to turn away but I turned just in time to see Quinn collapse to the ground, sobbing and shaking violently. Remus just stared numbly, tears rolling down his cheeks at a high pace. 

I sat down on the steps next to Remus and pulled Quinn into my lap.  I started sobbing into his shoulder, having trouble processing what had happened. 

Evan was only forty nine years old. His doctor said the seizures will become more deadly the older he gets but I didn't think it'd be this soon.

If only I had got home sooner. Or maybe if it just didn't go to work at all today. Or just if any of us could have stayed home with Evan today. Maybe he wouldn't have died. We could've helped him and then he wouldn't have broke his neck.

A part of me didn't want to accept it but after looking at Evan's dead body for a while, it started to solidify in my mind. Evan is dead.

~~~~MaGiCaL TiMe sKiP~~~~

Quinn POV
I stared numbly ahead of me at Evan's garden. I've been getting worse since Evan died. Relapsed into cutting but stopped when Damien caught me. I've had more episodes in the past three weeks then I've had since high school.

Virgil dying last week made everything worse. He was in a car accident. It seems like our friend group just can't escape violence. Remy being murdered and then Emile killing himself. Evan dying from a seizure and then Virgil dying in a car crash. And on top of all that, Roman seems to be showing signs of Alzheimer's.

Tears pricked at my eyes. Evan and I were the first together in this relationship. He was always there for me, even from the start when I pushed him away because I was afraid of everyone. Evan saved me in a sense. When I was in the hospital after being rescued from dad, Evan never gave up on me. He refused to let me waste away and be lonely. I love him so much.

Nothing fucking feels right anymore. It's all if the entire relationship if off balance. The bed feels empty with only three of us there. It feels wrong and weird having an empty seat at dinner. There's still a closet full of his clothes, there's still his music room now fallen silent, all his plants all over the house and his stuffed bunny still in our bed. Nothing's right anymore.

Virgil was my best friend. He was always there for me during high school. I don't know what I would've done without him. He understood me since we had both had abusive fathers. I wish I spent more time with him before he died.

A hand was rested on my shoulder, making me jump in shock. I looked up to see Damien standing there. He gently wiped the tears off my cheeks and then pressed a kiss to my forehead.

Then he turned to Remus and the two looked around at all the extensive gardens around the yard.  The animals weren't too bad, I know how to take care of all of them.  But Evan grew so many plants that are delicate and needed certain care that we didn't know about.

"What are we going to do with all the gardens?"  Remus asked the dreaded questions.  "Should we actually try to care for all these gardens or just let them get overgrown."

Damien sighed and looked around again.  We all fell silent.  I didn't both saying anything, just drawing my feet up onto the chair with me. 

"I feel like it'd be rude to Evan's memory to let all his gardens become overgrown and destroyed,"  Damien said.  "But I don't know if we can care for all this."

Both my knees were shaking and the voice in my mind just kept getting louder.  I stood up and just started walking out towards the beach and cliff.

"Where are you going?"  Remus asked.

"Just walking, I don't know,"  I snapped.  "I can't just sit there and think, I need something to do."

"Baby we're all upset right now and grieving over Evan, so don't snap at us,"  Remus reminded me. 

"Sorry,"  I whispered, curling into myself a bit.  I kept lashing out at Damien and Remus.  Nothing mean, just raising my voice at them and getting overworked about random things they do.

"It's okay,"  Damien said.  "Just be careful and stay within sight and don't go down to the beach or near the cliff and come back soon."

I nodded 'yes' and then started walking along Evan's gardens.  It was mid winter so there was a snow everywhere and it was annoying to walk through. 

Evan death changed all of us.  It made me more unstable, Remus more subdued, and Damien extremely overprotective.  I think in his mind, he believes that if he's protective, nothing bad will happened to Remus or I. 

I headed out to the cliff even though Damien said not to.  But they can both see me so I'm fine.  I stood at the edge of the sea cliff, looking down at all the jagged rocks and ocean below.  There was a beach but it's high tide so it was closer to the rocks.

For a few minutes, I just stood at the edge. Vertigo took over my mind and I wanted to jump. Maybe it's just grief talking but that sounded fun

I moved sway from the cliff edge and sat down on the swing. It was hanging from a big oak tree a couple feet from the bed. The swing was here for aesthetic mostly, we rarely if ever used it.

But I started swinging anyways. I kicked my legs and pretty soon I was up pretty high. It was a big swing so it's pendulum was pretty wide. I was out over the cliff edge at some points.

The tree branch creaked loudly so I slowed down a bit. I looked down beneath me every time I swung out over the cliff edge. But I didn't care.

I kept swinging. Higher and higher and higher. The tree branch was creaking badly and I could feel it moving from my weight. I don't even know why it's moving like that, I don't weigh that much.

I heard the branch break as I swung out before I felt it. My stomach jumped and I screamed. And then I was falling. I turned forward just in time to see the sharp rocks rushing up towards me.

Damien POV
Remus and I were talking when I heard the first scream. I snapped my head up looking for Quinn. But I couldn't see him anywhere. The scream continued and it sounded like it was going down. Then I noticed the swing was gone.

"No, no, no, no, no, no," I repeatedly mumbled to myself. I took off running to the cliff, Remus right on my heels.

I came to a stop right at the edge. Remus stopped next to me but then started coughing violently. I stared down with a hand clamped over my hand.

Quinn was lying at the bottom of the cliff. His entire body was managed and bloodied. He was bent backwards as if his back broke. But his eyes were wide open and his mouth was open in a continuous silent scream.

I collapsed to my knees, already crying. No, please. Not again. Not so soon after Evan. This can't be happening.

~~~~mAgIcAl TiMe SkIp~~~~

Remus POV
I leaned against Damien's shoulder as the coughing fit finally passed. The harsh white lights of the hospital didn't help. I felt breathless and not in the good way.

Damien wrapped his arm around me and I tried to move closer to him. He's my only source of comfort now that Evan and Quinn are dead. It's been about twenty years since and I'm pushing seventy three but I can't move on.

I was the one that found Evan's body. I saw Quinn's body mangled and broken after falling down a cliff. The house feels empty with only two of us there, especially in the bed. It feels too big and empty now.

The doctor walked out of a nearby room after about forty minutes. He motioned for us to come back into the room. I sighed and pushed myself up, Damien keeping an arm around my waist for balance.

It took a couple months of nagging from Damien to go to a doctor about my cough. I've had this cough since about Evan died which was twenty years ago. So the doctor scheduled me to see an oncologist.

I sat down in the chair across from the desk where the doctor was sitting. Damien sat in the chair next to me and reached for my hand. I grabbed his hand quickly, actually scared in this moment.

"Mr. King," The doctor said. "I'm sorry, I have some bad news for you."

My heart dropped and I took a deep breath, which then caused another couching fit. Damien gently rubbed my knuckles, trying his best to comfort me.

"What's wrong with me?" I asked with a sighed.

"Unfortunately you have stage 3C lung cancer," He told me in a sympathizer voice.

My heart jumped in fear and it took me a second to register what the doctor just told me. Damien gave with a worried look. I stared at the floor in utter shock. I haven't felt this feeling since Evan and Quinn died.

"What...what does that mean?" I asked worriedly. "For me?" The doctor pulled a photo out of a folded and slid it across the table to us.

"The tumor started in your left lung, but because it's sat there for so long, it's been able to spread. It's now in both lungs, your lymph nodes and all the tissue surrounding your lungs," The doctor answered.

"What about treatment?" Damien asked. "Will he need surgery...or chemo?"

"Unfortunately with stage 3C lung cancer, we can't do a surgery to remove the tumor because of how much it's grown," He answered. "We can try chemotherapy but the survival rate with stage 3C is very low to begin with."

"How bad is it?" I asked softly.

"There's only a 1% survival rate for stage 3C lung cancer,"  The doctor told me.  "But your health can help your survival chance be higher.  Do you have a history of smoking or drugs."

"Yeah,"  I sighed.  "Smoking cigarettes and vaping and doing weed and shit."

"Well, that makes your survival chances a lot worse,"  The doctor sighed.

"I've been clean since I was like thirty though,"  I said quickly. 

"Your lungs have still been damaged,"  He shrugged.  "It helps your chances but it also depends on how long you smoked."

I just sighed and lowered my head to look at the floor again. I blinked a few times when tears started to sting in my eyes.

I'll be okay. I'll be okay. I repeated the mantra in my head, trying to convince myself. I'll be okay.

~~~mAgiCaL tiMe sKip~~~~

Damien POV
Three years and two months since Remus was diagnosed. I gently rubbed my fingers over his knuckles. Things have only become worse.

Remus was lying on the hospital bed hooked up to a respirator. The doctors don't expect him to live past this week. The chemo didn't work, the tumor was too big and had spread too far.

He looked different now. All his hair was gone and his skin was sunken in and had a grey-ish tint to it. I let out a sigh and tears pricked my eyes.

His heart monitor beeped slowly. I watched every bump on the line silently. Wishing he would get better. Hoping his heart wouldn't stop.

Slowly, Remus opened his eyes. There were dark circles under his eyes now. He coughed violently for a few seconds, his entire body shaking. It was weird seeing Remus so broken and frail.

"Hey," I mumbled. He smiled a bit.

"I don't feel good," Remus mumbled.

"I know baby," I whispered, wishing I could take it from him. Remus laughed a bit but then ended in another coughing fit.

"This is what I get for being a dumb teenager," He laughed before coughing. "Never should've smoked anything."

"You'll be okay," I mumbled, tears in my eyes.

"You're lying, don't cry over me," Remus told me. "I know I'm on my deathbed."

"I'm sorry," I choked out, blinking away my tears.

"You didn't do anything," He assured me, squeezing my hand with what little strength he had left.

"I should've done something to save all of you," I cried. "I should've stayed home that day to help Evan. I should've put up that damn fence or taken down that swing. I should've taken you to the hospital earlier."

"Don't blame yourself," Remus mumbled, taking a few deep breaths. "None of it is your fault. You couldn't stop Evan's epilepsy, it was too severe. You couldn't stop Quinn from swinging, that was his choice when he knew it wasn't safe. You couldn't stop me from being dumb."

"I just wish I could've done something," I admitted. I wiped all my tears away forcefully.

"Oh Damien," He laughed gently. "Ever the silent bad bad boy that hates everyone and everything tm."

I laughed a little bit at that, glad that Remus was acting a little bit like himself. I squeezed his hand tightly, wishing this was under better circumstances.

"Did you know you can't spell Janus without anus?" He whispered, a smile on his lips.

I sighed this time. I cousins count all the times I've heard people tell me that. Remus loves teasing me about the name Janus, but in a loving way. Then tests filled my eyes. I'm going to miss this so much.

Remus started coughing again and for a few seconds his heart monitor went flat. My heart jumped in my chest and I quickly stood up. But Remus stopped coughing and continued breathing.

I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead and then sat back down on the chair. Remus took deep breaths again. His breaths were so raspy and loud, it sounded painful.

"You know I love you," Remus said softly with a smile.

"I love you too," I told him. I held his hand with both of mine and pressed my lips to his hand.

"I know I'm going to hell," Remus laughed. "I'm gonna miss everyone."

"You don't know that," I said gently.

"I'm going to hell," He repeated. "I've been a bad person."

"You got better," I tried to convince him.

"Evan and Quinn are probably in heaven," He sighed. "I'm gonna miss them in the afterlife. I don't know about you though. Could be either or."

"You're not going to hell Remus," I told him sternly.

"Promise?" He laughed.

"Promise," I vowed. I pressed another kiss to his hand but stiffened as it went limp. I looked up right as Remus went into cardiac arrest.

"No," I whispered. "No, no, no," I repeated it over and over while slamming my hand on the button to call a doctor multiple times.

I started crying and held his hand tightly between my own. I'm all alone now.

~~~mAgiCaL tiMe sKiP~~~

I awoke slowly, blinking and few times and rolling over. I frowned when I saw the empty bed next to me. I stretched my arm out over nothingness.

Even almost fifteen years after Remus died, I haven't become used to waking up alone. The bed is empty. The house is cold and silent now.

I sighed and pushed myself up. On stiff joints and old bones I stood up. I pulled on my bathrobe and headed downstairs. I looked out the large window by the piano when I was on the walkway to the stairs.

The sun had barely risen over the horizon. A beautiful mist was spread out across the ocean. I walked down the stairs and headed to the kitchen.

I brewed myself a cup of nice black coffee and looked outside. The world was peaceful and quiet. I poured myself a mug off coffee and then opened the sliding door.

I slowly made my way down to the beach. I let out a sigh and sat down in my beach chair. It's so lonely nowadays. I'm the only one in our friend group that's still alive. I'm pretty sure Emery died a couple years ago too.

Last I heard, Jackson died in jail. Beaten to death by other inmates. While Issac was released after serving his sentence, it wasn't long till he was back there for another attempted murder after a string of robberies.

I sighed upon realizing how truly alone I was. I miss Evan, Quinn and Remus so much. Sometimes I'll sit in the art room and run my fingers across Quinn's paintings. Sometimes I'll sit in the music room and play on Evan's piano. We never did find out it it was really haunted.

I leaned back in the chair a bit and dropped my coffee. The mug didn't break but I faintly heard the coffee splash against the sand. It was cold out heat in the mist.

Everything else faded away while I listened to the crashing of waves against the shore. I took a few shaky breaths and just thought over my life. Despite all the bad in it, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love Quinn, Evan and Remus so much.

I closed my eyes as the sun started to shine on my face. But it was still slightly cold in the mist. I took one last deep breath of the ocean air and then everything faded away.