"You know, for a short time after mom and dad died I was mad too." I said into the now tranquil air of Ender's room. I was sitting on the wooden floor with my back to the wall, rocking him back in forth in my lap.

"Why were you mad?" He asked, seeming a little shocked by my revelation.

"Same reason as you; because they left us. I was thirteen and stuck taking care of my five year old brother by myself. My childhood was over and I had to grow up and become an adult in a matter of minutes. I was in charge of you and a business and a house and it was a lot to handle, and I was so angry at them for leaving me alone that I didn't come to terms with the fact that they had died."

I let my head hit the wall lightly as I spoke. For a long time I had kept those feelings and thoughts buried deep inside me, but now that Ender was in the same position I was back then, they came bubbling to the surface.

"What made you realise they were gone? Like really gone?" His voice came out in mournful words as he asked questions no ten year old should ever have to ask.

"Your first day of school." I answered. "When I was that age mom had picked out my first day outfit, and then dropped me off at my classroom. But this time it was me dropping you off and picking out your clothes and filling out the paper work, signing my name as your guardian as well as your sibling. And I realised that from that point on I was responsible for raising us and keeping us alive because mom and dad were no longer here to do that for us."

He was quiet for a few moments as he let that sink in.

"But you're not mad now." He said finally.

"No. No, I'm not."

"Why?"

"Because I understand now that I cant control the fact that they died. It wasn't my fault, I had nothing to do with it, it was out of my ability to stop it. I know that they loved us with all of their hearts and they would have wanted us to keep going. I miss them terribly, but they would have wanted us to live our lives, so that's what I'm doing."

He nodded along as I spoke.

"I'm sorry I screamed at you." He apologised.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I yelled back, I don't like fighting with you."

"Me either."

We sat there a little longer, soaking up all of the emotions we had released into the world. Finally I spoke.

"Are you okay?" I checked and he nodded standing up.

"Yeah. I'm fine now. I understand that it was out of my control and I have to accept that they're gone and keep living."

The words that came out of his mouth made me beam with pride. He had quite the mature viewpoint for a kid and I knew he was going to be okay. We all had moments where we felt like the world was just falling apart but we got back up and kept going because it was either let the world crush you or survive.

I stood up too and pulled him into a hug.

"I love you." I kissed his head and he smiled back up at me.

"I love you too, Car."

I ruffled his hair quickly.

"Alright. So you still have dinner downstairs if you want it." I offered and he grinned eagerly.

"Yes, I'm starving." He said dramatically before dashing to the kitchen, me chasing after him.

After I had re-heated his food, we both curled up on the couch to watch cartoons while he ate. A Tom and Jerry re-reun was playing and I was only barely watching it, but the light from my phone kept distracting me.

Sighing, I reached over and grabbed it checking to see that I had a few texts from Ashton and a missed call as well. Remembering I had put my phone on silent when we were at the therapist's office, I turned on the volume and read what he had sent.

'Just finished work, I'll call you in a few!'

'Hey, call me back!'

'Carter?'

I quickly responded so he didn't get worried.

'I was talking with Ender, sorry!'

I set my phone down for a moment and glanced at Ender who was intently staring at the screen.

"Hey bub, want to talk to Ashton?" I nudged his shoulder with my elbow and he turned to me, his eyes lit up and a grin on his face.

"Yes!" He cheered.

I called Ashton back and put it on speaker phone.

"Hey babe!" Ashton's cheerful voice came through the speakers causing an instant smile to appear on my face.

"Hey! It's Ender and I." I let him know that Ender was on the line too.

"Ender, mate! How are you?"

"I'm good! We are coming to Sydney in ten days!" Ender exclaimed. He had drawn a countdown on the small chalkboard that leaned against the back wall of the kitchen counter.

"I know! I'm so excited!" Ashton said merrily.

"Me too!" Ender beamed and I wished Ashton could see his smile. "How are Michael, Calum and Luke?"

"Oh they're great! Michael is asleep and Calum is eating but Luke's right here." Ashton said.

"Hi!" A deeper voice elongated the word in a childlike manor and I laughed.

"Hi, Luke." Ender and I both said at the same time.

Some random giggling and shuffling was heard in the background before everything got quiet.

"Hey, I've got to go but I'll text you later okay?" Ashton's voice came through.

"Yeah, sure." I grinned.

"Alright. Bye you two!" He giggled his infectious laugh and Ender and I both said goodbye before hanging up.

I was glad that tonight had ended on a good note after the emotionally stressful events from earlier.

Quickly we both got ready for bed and I went to sleep knowing that I would see Ashton in ten days and my brother and I were on good terms again.

--

It felt like my eyes had only been closed for minutes when my alarm woke me up but I dragged myself out of bed and put off a shower until I made a pot of extra strong coffee and drank two full cups.

Ender made breakfast while I showered and got ready, then we made our way out to the shop to get the day started.

The day passed by like any other day, with unchanging yet never boring tours, the one bratty child that always messed with their mask under the water, and me explaining to the kids that the sea horses won't bite them.

I was standing in the back of the shop after the second to last tour group of the day had left and was waiting on the arrival of the next when the door opened. The chiming of the bell was all I heard and checked my phone, figuring the group was early.

Jogging out into the main room I was met with one person not a group. It was Dylan from the
I.T. shop, and I had forgotten he was coming today.

"Oh hey!" I greeted him as I walked into view.

"Hey!" He gave me a slight wave and then placed his hand on the computer monitor. "I'm assuming this is the computer you were talking about?"

"Yeah, how could you tell?" I teased.

"I could hear it's growling down the dock." He joked back and I rolled my eyes.

The pounding sound of feet against wood boomed through the room and Ender bounded in from the back changing rooms.

His face changed from one of a grin to one of discomfort when he saw who was there.

"Who's this?" Ender asked in a mousy voice.

"This is Dylan. He's here to fix the computer." I replied.

"Oh. Okay." He mouthed and then went to the radar reader in the back, but not without looking back at Dylan a few times.

Dylan shifted awkwardly and the swung his backpack that was on his shoulders around so he could pull out a clear pouch that carried small tools and wires.

"Well I'll get to work then. Is there a time you need this fixed by?"

"Just as soon as possible would be great." I smiled then moved back a few steps so I could see Ender. "Hey End, I'm going to head out to the boat, would you get the group ready and bring them out to me when they arrive?"

"Yeah." He nodded and went back to looking at the colours on the radar reader.

"Okay then." I shot him a 'what is your problem?' look and then returned my attention back to Dylan. "If you need anything ask Ender and he'll help you out." I volunteered Ender and I saw his little shoulders droop when I said that.

"Thanks." Dylan nodded and I did the same before grabbing my radio and leaving.

I thought about Ender's attitude while I was giving the next and final tour of the day. I wasn't sure of the real reason why he was being so cold to Dylan, a person he barely knew, but I had a feeling it was probably because of Ashton.

Ashton and Ender had grown so close that maybe Ender saw him as a threat, which was insane because the guy was only here to fix my computer. Besides I'd only talked to him for what, maybe ten minutes at the most? When it came to Ashton there was definitely no competition.

When the tour was over I checked the customers out using paper instead of the computer since Dylan was still fiddling with the wires in the back.

"Thank you, have a great evening!" I called out to the group as they left and then dumped my radio out onto the counter, exhausted.

"How's the computer going?" I peered over Dylan's shoulder so I could see what he was working on.

"Good. You had some rusted wires and a few loose screws but it should be alright." He answered as he pulled a tiny screwdriver from the pouch and began to screw the backing of the monitor back on.

"Carter!" Ender rushed in from the back of the shop so I assumed he came from the house.

My eyes widened at his outburst and I practically had to catch him when he stopped short.

"What?" I laughed as I steadied him.

"Ashton called and he said he has a surprise for us!" Ender exclaimed.

"Really? What is it?" I asked.

"It's a surprise, I don't know." Ender chuckled.

"Okay smart one." I swatted at him. "I'll call Ashton back soon." I assured him.

Ender nodded and then ran back into the house.

"Dork." I laughed as I watched him run off.

"So he can smile." Dylan joked as he watched Ender run off too.

"Yeah." I laughed. "I bet Ashton just made his day."

"Who is Ashton?" Dylan chuckled.

"My boyfriend." I smiled, picturing Ashton's cute dimples and hazel eyes.

"Oh." Dylan laughed again. "Is he new to Haven, I haven't heard of him before?"

"No he lives in Sydney, we met when he was here for vacation." I explained.

"That's awesome." Dylan gave me a genuine smile. "Well, I think I'm all done here." He had been messing with the computer as we were talking and now the blue login screen was glowing and I smiled with relief.

"Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver."

"No problem." He smiled again. "If you could just sign this." Pulling a piece of paper from his backpack, I quickly signed. He placed it in his bag with all of his tools and then slung it back over his shoulders.

"I'll see you around, Carter." He smiled as he walked to the door.

"Yeah, you too." I waved to Dylan as he left and then closed down the shop before practically running back to the house. I was so excited to see what Ashton's surprise was I could hardly stand it.

Ender was sitting at the bar eating a banana when I hurried in and he dropped it on the counter and ran to grab my phone.

"Call him, call him, call him!" Ender chanted with a mile wide grin on his face.

"Okay, okay!" I giggled as I pressed his contact name in my phone.

The phone rang twice before Ashton's heavenly tone graced my ears.

"Hey!" He greeted me cheerfully.

"Hi." I giggled. "So what's this surprise that Ender told me about?"

"Are you ready for it?" He chuckled.

"Yes!" I laughed harder and he did as well.

"Okay, hold on a second." I heard a shuffle and then a second ringing from my phone. Ashton's contact picture was showing and it said, 'Ashton Irwin would like to FaceTime with you'. I hit the button to accept the call and then Ashton's face appeared on my screen, the whitest smile I had ever seen.

"Surprise!" He grinned and I held my free hand over my mouth.

"I wanna see! Let me see!" Ender yelled excitedly and I moved the phone so that we were both in the little box in the corner.

"This is so cool!" I felt ecstatic that I could actually see him in real time. I had owned a smartphone for a while now but the only things I knew how  to do on it were text, call, and take photos.

I watched Ender run off out of the corner of my eye and figured he was going to play or find something to show Ashton.

"Nice surprise, huh?" Ashton smirked and I nodded.

"Yes! I can't believe we haven't thought of this before."

"I know. " He chuckled. "God, It seems like ages since I've seen your face."

"I know. Same here, you look more scruffy."

"Scruffy?" He barked out a laugh.

"Yes, scruffy." I pulled my eyebrows together as I tried to think of a way to explain. "Your face just looks more...scruffy."

"I think what you're saying is I need to shave." He laughed again.

"No you said that. I just said you looked scruffy." I giggled and he closed his eyes as his body shook with laughter.

A moment passed by after we stopped laughing of us just simply gazing at each other across the screen.

"Hmmm, I miss you." Ashton hummed.

"I know, I miss you too." I replied.

"Even though we talk everyday, it still feels like I'm missing out on so much of your life and mine. I just want to be there." Ashton let out a half grumble half whine tone to his last sentence. I could tell this three week break was becoming quite more annoying than we had imagined.

"Only a week and two days, Ash. We can make it." I gave him a soft smile.

"I know, baby. We've got this." He mirrored my expression.

"So tell me about work, how are the boys?" I asked to change the subject. I wanted to get us onto another conversation to distract both of us from the sadness of not being together.

He went on for a few minutes updating me on each of the guys, also mentioning that he was currently in Perth.

"Well, I can't wait till you come to Sydney, Carter, it's going to be so much fun." Ashton said when he got to the end of his updates.

"I'm so excited too. I've been texting your mum and she seems pretty excited as well."

"Oh trust me, she most definitely is." He grinned.

"Carter, my monster truck isn't working!" Ender suddenly called out from his room and I glanced up towards where his voice came from.

"What was that?" Ashton gave me a confused look.

"Ender needs my help." I sighed. "I'll talk to you later." I pouted.

"Alright. I'm glad we got to do this." He softly smiled.

"Me too. I wish I could talk to you longer."

"Smile, Car. It's okay, you have things to do, I understand. I promise we'll talk later." He tried to cheer me up.

"Okay." I nodded. "Bye, Ash." I made sure to smile a little more.

"Bye, Car." He winked and then we ended the call.

I raised one corner of my mouth in an awkward smile and dropped my phone to the counter before heading upstairs to Ender's room.

He was sitting on the floor of his room, his dark hair was flipped at an odd angle as he fiddled with the truck in his hand.

"It stopped moving." He frowned when I walked in and picked it up from his hold.

A screw had been knocked loose underneath the truck from most likely being run into things so the inward wiring was hanging down on one side.

"Okay let me go get my tool kit and we will fix this up." I assured him and went to find everything I would need. When I got back I flipped the truck over so I had direct access to the loose screw on the underside of the truck and tucked the wiring back in carefully so I could tighten the screw that was about as long as my fingernail.

I set the truck back onto the wooden floor and Ender snatched the remote control and began to drive the truck around the room.

"Thanks, Car." He nodded at me while keeping his focus on the toy.

"Sure, dinner in 30." I told him and then went downstairs to fix us something to eat.

After a dinner of Chicken Marsala, that our mother used to make all the time, Ender and I both cuddled into the sofa while watching our old Tarzan VHS. We put a container of neopolatin ice cream between us and took turns eating spoonfuls.

By the end of the movie we were both drowsy and could barely keep our eyes open but somehow managed to get up to our rooms so we could crash.

But before I could fall asleep, I received a goodnight text from Ashton and replied with one of my own. That night truly was a good night.