"You see there," Remington said, one week prior to Emerson being kicked from the band.

Andy followed Remington's finger, humming. "Yes, I see there," he purred, the side of his head touching Remington's.

"I want it."

The man raised an eyebrow. "It's a cloud."

"I know and I want it."

"Why's that, kitten?"

Remington smiled. "It looks soft and I wanna hug it," he explained.

Andy leant back on the grass. "I see."

"Mhm."

"Is this you asking for a hug?"

"Yes. Yes it is." He rolled his hoodie sleeves up and looked at his husband with a gentle smile.

The older smiled, too, and opened his arms. "You better come get a hug then, princess."

For a while, the two stayed in the garden, Remington's head on Andy's chest, until the alarm on the younger's phone let them know that he'd have to have something to eat soon. Remington whined and sat up.

The next day, Remington walked into Abigail's and spoke before even sitting down. "Emerson's hiding something from me," he said, "and I need to find out what it is."

Abigail closed the door and sat down. "Why do you feel he's hiding something?"

"He just-he just is."

"Okay. Tell me how you're feeling."

"I dunno. Not bad, just...he's hiding something and I need to know what it is!"

The woman, as usual, filled a glass with water. "Let's slow down, okay? We'll talk about Emerson hiding something, I promise, but first I want you to tell me how you've been feeling. How's it been going at home?"

Remington sighed "I feel-I don't know-like my head is kinda full, but like, full of things I don't really understand. It's like there are people inside scribbling all over everything."

"Sounds like you're confused, Remington."

"But I'm confused about why I'm confused, if that makes sense."

"Have you been doing a lot recently?"

"No, not really. Andy's been in the studio a bit so then I'm at home on my own. Maybe I'm just not good at being on my own." He picked up the glass. "And it's been more than a month since I made myself sick and that's just-it's a long time."

"That's great, Remington, a month is great progress."

The boy looked down. "I know, but...doesn't mean I don't still wanna do it."

"You're not expected to not get urges. Getting them is okay. Acting on the urges is what I want you to work on and you are. You haven't acted on them for a month and I'm proud of you."

"I thought they would go away."

"And they will. Just not yet. You need to keep at it."

"But it's so hard," Remington complained.

"I know. And you're doing fantastically well."

"So...can we talk about Emerson and how he's a liar now please?"

That evening, Remington and Andy played around with Instagram filters for a while, and ended up making out on the couch for a good half hour, until Remington's phone ringing interupted them.

"Greetings," he answered, playfully hitting Andy's hand away.

"Hey bub. D'you think I can come over?"

"Why? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, kinda. No."

"What's wrong?"

Sebastian had sighed then. "Emerson," he answered.

"Oh, right. Sure, come over. You can just let yourself in."

"Thank you. See you soon."

When Sebastian arrived, Remington gave him a hug and asked what Emerson had done this time. Sebastian told him about what Emerson had said to him on the phone earlier, about how the drummer had been dumped by Shy and kept begging for the guitarist to go on that tour with the other band with him. Sebastian said no, obviously, and recieved a string of insults from Emerson, until he hung up and called Remington.

The three watched television and, when they went to bed at past 1 am, Sebastian took the spare room, closing the door and sighing heavily. He was surprised at how calm Remington had been earlier, how he didn't shout or start crying. He thought about Shy, about how fed up she must have been for her to actually leave Emerson. The two were written in the stars. Perhaps Remington was right; Emerson must have be hiding something.

Remington sat in bed that night and watched Andy close the curtains as he spoke. "D'you thing Emerson's okay?" He asked, because no matter how mad he may have been at his little brother, Emerson is still his little brother and Remington can't not worry.

"I don't know," Andy answered, "there must be something going on, though."

"I want things to go back to how they were," Remington said, and sighed. "Can you please come here? I need a hug."

"I'm comin'."

Remington felt better in Andy's arms. "I just-Abigail told me that I shouldn't pressure Emerson into telling me what he's been hiding, but..."

"But you need to know or it's gonna drive you crazy," Andy finished. "I know. And you will find out what he's hiding, kitten. But she's right. You can't pressure him. That won't help."

"Why is life so hard?"

"Go to sleep, princess."

"Will you be here forever?"

"With you?"

Remington hummed.

"'course I will."

"Shy probably said that to Emerson and now she's gone." He rubbed his eyes. "I want everyone to be okay, Andy. Not just me, or you, or Sebby. Everyone."

"I know. That's why you're my favourite. Sleep now, okay?"

"I can't."

"Why not, hon?"

"Just can't."

Andy kissed his head. "What's your number?"

Remington yawned. "Twenty something. Dunno." He sat up and slid out of bed. "'m checking Sebby's okay," he said, and left the room. The boy knocked on the spare room door and waited for his brother to tell him to come in. When he did, Remington opened the door and closed it behind him.

"Hi, bub," Sebastian smiled.

"Are you okay?"

The older watched the younger sit on the bed. "Been better. Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Can't."

"Same."

Andy went to see where Remington had got to when he didn't return to bed for nearly an hour, and found the boy fast asleep in the bed with Sebastian, who was sleeping, too. He smiled at the precious sight and closed the door on his way out. The two brothers; they were together and they were proteced from the world.

They were safe.