The days passed crudely. Tubbo's body was becoming very pale and his lips were an odd shade of color, but the brothers knew they needed to bury his body at their house.

So they rode on. They followed the river, the one they had first followed when running from the soldiers.

Dream and Sapnap- Tommy didn't know the other two names, but he knew they were dead too. He almost felt bad for them, and he would have if they hadn't killed Karl. The Queen had forced them into their job.

Tommy could feel more tears rise to his eyes when he thought of Karl, because Karl led his mind to Tubbo, and he couldn't not cry when thinking about his adopted brother.

It was cold- freezing. Tommy's jacket had been covered in blood so he hadn't used it anymore, and his arms were left bare. He almost liked it- it reminded him that he could still feel things, no matter how numb Tubbo's death made him.

Tubbo. He missed Tubbo.

After almost a week of traveling they made it back to their house.

The horse weaved through the now-familiar trees, Tommy's mind flashing him with memories of his brother. It was nearly too much to bear- he felt as if he would collapse on himself in his own grief. He remembered separate memories for each tree, how Tubbo had once found a rabbit nest under the big one, and the one right there was where a bee nest had been.

He was crying again. His eyes and face was red from crying so much. He was surprised he hadn't run out of tears because at this point he could make a lake out of them.

His eyes fell onto his house, his heart giving a sharp jab. There it was, just as they had left it, but with a broken window. There was smoke coming out the chimney, and-

Smoke? Someone was in their house!

"Someone's in there," Tomym said, his voice weak and tired. It missed the old ferocity it used to have.

Wilbur and Techno looked up. "There is," Wilbur agreed, the state of his tone not much better than Tommy's. "I'll go knock on the door."

"Let me come," Tommy replied. "Do you think it's Phil?" There was hope in his voice. It could be Phil. What if it was Phil? Oh, please be Phil!

He got off his horse, suddenly a bit eager. Maybe Phil would make things better. Maybe- maybe he would make some of the pain go away. Maybe-

"It's not Phil," Techno said suddenly. Wilbur and Tommy turned to look at him. He was getting off his horse, carefully getting Tubbo's body, which make Tommy make in a shaky breath and force back more tears.

Gone.

"Don't get your hopes up," he said, not looking at them.

Wilbur and Tommy didn't ask how he knew. They didn't want to know how. Tommy was petrified of the answer, because he might break if he knew what it was.

Tommy turned, heading toward their door. Despite his best efforts tears came to his eyes, rolling down his cheeks. He remembered everything he and Tubbo had done right here.

Tommy closed his eyes, raising his hands to the door and knocking. He make sure to knock twice- knocking three times would have carried too much terrible deja vu.

He opened his eyes, the light blues waiting. He could hear Wilbur behind him.

The door opened.

And there stood Phil.

__________

Tommy didn't know if he believed it at first. After everything, there was Phil? Just waiting for them at home?

Then his father opened his arms and Tommy collapsed into them, crying and shaking so hard he was vibrating.

He sobbed into his chest and he felt Wilbur hug Phil as well, like a small group hug. When they pulled away Tommy saw that Phil had tears shining in his eyes.

"Boys," he said with a smile. "I've been waiting so fucking long."

Tommy pulled back, tears rolling down his face. Phil needed to know. "T-T-Tubbo is dead," he gasped, leaning against the door frame. "He's- Techno has-" he couldn't make out the last words because of Phil's expression.

He rushed past his sons and to Techno, who looked like he was seeing a ghost. "Phil?" He asked, his eyes wide. "But- I saw the soldier stab you," he said.

Phil shook his head. "They can't kill me that easily," he replied, then he saw Tubbo in Techno's arms.

Tommy had never seen anyone look so shocked, sad, and angry at once. He took the boy from Techno's arms, holding him to his chest. "No, no," he muttered, looking down at Tubbo's very pale face.

Tommy found himself shaking harder. Phil was back but Tubbo was still gone.

Phil fell to his knees, much like Tommy had when he saw Tubbo dying. He hadn't ever seen his father cry, but at that moment, he had.

__________

They had made a coffin for the young boy along with two holes in the ground, one much bigger than the other.

They were for Karl and Tubbo. The brothers hadn't wanted Karl to be completely forgotten, even if his corpse was.

In Karl's hole lay some flower seeds that Tubbo had collected before. They hoped that it would mark his grave forever. For Tubbo they had a much deeper hole, big enough to fit the entire coffin he was lying in.

Tommy found it hard to believe this was actually happening. After everything.

His coffin was lying on the ground. His wound had been properly cleaned and he was in a comfortable position, his hands laying crossed on his chest. They would have put flowers in it but it was winter, so no flowers were blooming.

Their graves were pretty far from the house but not too far- a five minute walk. It was Tubbo's favorite place- a small meadow that always had his favorite flowers during summer.

Tommy didn't think he would ever be able to move on. Tubbo would always be at the back of his mind, wouldn't he? Tommy wouldn't ever be the same.

He could barely bring himself to walk into his room. The cards were still on the floor, Tubbo's bed was still messy, and all his things were there. It was like he was still alive and had just gone on a trip. But he wasn't coming back.

The family stood around the deceased boy, beginning to say their goodbyes. They shouldn't keep his body much longer or it was going to begin to smell. Tommy almost choked at the thought of that.

"I... I don't know what to say," Techno began, taking in a shaky breath. His hair was still in the super messy braid- maybe he didn't take it out because that was the last time Tubbo had ever put it up. Tears were rolling down his face, and it was an odd sight because Tommy rarely ever saw him cry. "You... you were the peacemaker of the family. Well, usually. Ah... I remember when you- when you first saw a bee," he gave a small smile. "You were two. I remember when you pointed at it. You were always in love with nature. I'm- I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Tommy gulped, realizing he was next. He opened his mouth, nothing coming out for a second. "Tubbo," his voice shook. He could feel the emotions rising on the inside, seeming to drag a dagger through his heart. "I never- I never thought-" he could feel his mind pressing in, and he thought about how this would be the last time he ever saw him. "I- here," swallowing, he took out a small figure of a small bee figurine Tubbo got when he was three. He remembered when Phil had brought it back from a trip. He leaned down over his coffin, his knees on the soft dirt. Gently, he took Tubbo's cold hand and opened it, placing the small figure inside. Tears were falling down but at this point it was normal. "I wish you could come back, bud," he barely whispered.

Tommy stood up again, taking a small step back. He could feel Techno put one of his arms around his shoulder, holding his younger brother close to him.

They looked over at Wilbur. His expression was guarded, his hands in his pockets. His hair was falling over his right eye, the dark curls hiding most of it. Tommy could still see the tear-streaks, though. He seemed to prepare himself for a second before he spoke. "I've- I've made some mistakes," his voice wavered, "but this is by far the worst. If only I had hidden you before I went to the door. I-"

"Shut up, Wilbur," Tommy growled. "This isn't your fault."

Wilbur looked over at him, gingerly meeting his gaze. He didn't reply, not with words or with a nod, and just looked back at Tubbo.

Tommy looked back at Tubbo as well, finding himself slightly suprized to see some color had surfaced to his face. It must be because the sun was flickering through the leaves onto him.

No. Something was wrong. His purple lips were gaining color as well as his pale skin. Then, suddenly, his eyes fluttered open.

__________