A/N: ooh another chapter straight away. This is especially for the, I think, six people who like this fic enough to consistently drop a vote when they get each chapter. I can't give you much to show how much I appreciate knowing that you're enjoying it - but I do a happy dance for every notification I get because it's so warming to be made aware. (I won't tag you, but only because I don't want to put you on the spot if you hate it now 😂 )

Anyway, I love all my readers but to a writer, feedback is life, so, for you guys, here's a resolution to one of the mysteries that's brewed.

Nikolai

I'm nervous when I go to meet Ellis at school. I could have done this at the house, but, for all the wrong I feel about the situation, it felt even more wrong to break this to Ellis in his home. And perhaps there is a little motivating factor in not wanting Master François to know too soon.

I managed to get a good seat, a comfortable couch tucked into the corner, and Ellis brings our drinks over. I take a sip too fast, almost sending the whole thing over myself at the shock of the burning liquid.

"You know they make coffee hot these days?" Ellis grins as he takes a far more careful sip of his own. An old Red Hot Chili Peppers song comes on and Ellis bobs his head, quietly singing along. "I don't ever want to feel like I did that day, take me to the place that I love, take me all the way."

"You have an incredible voice, Ellis. You must get it from your mother."

"What?!" he sounds panicked. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," I try to soothe him, but it's purely selfish – I'm simply trying to avoid saying what I need to say; what I came here to say. "It's just, well, I know your musical ability didn't come from your father."

"How would you-?"

"Will you tell me about your family?"

He just gives me a strange look and shrugs.

"As long as you promise to tell me what's going on after. I don't talk about my family much, but the therapy's helping, so I guess this would be good practice. My younger sister is Aliena and my younger brother is Stanis; he'd be almost seventeen now, and she's fifteen. I haven't seen them since they were eight and nine. Or my mother. So...that's it."

"What about your father?"

"Never had one. Or- I presume there was a sperm donor, I know that much about science regardless of my lack of education."

"What do you mean?"

"Just that. I don't have education. Music, dance. That's it – the main extent. I'm not smart like you, Nikki."

"I had no idea." And it's the truth. Ellis is smart, he just maybe doesn't realize it yet. I want to take it further – to ask him of he's thought of extending his education. Maybe I could help him, even. But then I remember he might not want my help. At all. For anything. And I have to get brave and quit procrastinating.

"I have to tell you something, Ellis. And I want you to know, and to remember; no matter how you feel after I've told you; you're my friend, and I love you as such, and even if you hate me, it won't change."

"You're scaring me, Nikki," he's wide eyed, his big blue eyes glistening.

"I'm your brother." I shouldn't have done that, so harshly, but I couldn't keep leaving him hanging. "My father is your father."

He's completely silent for a long, long moment, until he closes his mouth and blinks, sharply.

"You've known the whole time?"

"Yes. Will you let me explain?"

He just shrugs his broad shoulders, his lips a thin line.

"My father didn't know you existed until a few months ago."

"How did he find out?"

"An anonymous letter. I heard him and my mother discussing it. As soon as I knew, I had to come find you. It just gave your name and said you were in New York. I had no idea how hard it would be."

"So you knew I was at the restaurant, that night we met? It was a set up?"

"No, no it wasn't. It was a crazy coincidence. I went to the Conservatory to look for you. I'd seen a picture in Minsk, had some insane idea I'd just spot you. But I hadn't eaten, and it was cold. I gave up and just wandered for miles. I started to feel weak and dizzy – and then you and François found me. Like it was fate or something."

"Why didn't you tell me? It's been months."

"I was scared how you'd react." I'm more ashamed of that than anything. To be so selfish because of my own feelings: it's inexcusable.

Ellis goes silent again. Just sips his coffee, gazing vaguely out of the window, his lips still tight. My mind can't be so quiet, I feel sick that my cowardliness might make me lose my closest friend. If only I'd told him at once, maybe our bond would be even stronger by now. Maybe he's about to tell me he never wants to see me again, maybe he'll be angry enough to want to hurt me-

"Okay. I get it."

"You- what?"

"I get why you didn't tell me. I still wish you had. But- it might have been for the best. I wasn't- things weren't that great for me when we met. I might not have been strong enough to deal with it. And I don't know how Suzu would have reacted."

"We still don't."

* * * * *

Ellis promised to help me break the news to Master François. At the house, he's in the den with Master Gray and Master Dexter. I really wish Landon was here. He gave me the courage to tell Ellis. When I told him the truth he hugged me, stroked my hair – told me it would be okay and Ellis would be happy at the news. I'm not sure he's quite there yet, but I think he might be soon. Master François might be a different matter.

"Can we help you, boys?" He has a deep voice, and I feel as though I can hear a growl, even if he doesn't know yet.

I tell him, everything, Ellis clinging to my hand the whole time, and I appreciate that more than anything.

"I knew there was something. How do you feel about this, Ellis?"

"I'm not sure yet, Suzu. I think it's going to be alright though."

Master François seems like he's thinking, but I'm surprised it's Master Dexter who speaks next.

"Where did the letter come from?"

"I don't know, Sir. My father didn't know either." I don't know why Master François sends a look to Master Dexter, but an understanding passes over his dark features.

"Ellis, I think Nikki has been suffering under keeping this secret for so long. You both look tired, why don't you go have a nap together."

"Yes, Sir." Ellis takes my hand again, drawing me out of the room.

"That went well," Ellis rubs his hand up my back. I'm shaking, though.

"I'm sorry, Ellis."

"Don't be. Not anymore. There's no need to feel pain for what is past. I forgive you. I know you had your reasons and nothing is anything that you can change."

He cuddles me to him as my shaking eases and we lay back on the bed. I feel a new layer in our friendship; that we can be brothers too, and I fight down the sadness that threatens to rise at the thought that we've missed this by being kept separate our whole lives.

François

As soon as Nikolai tells his story, I have a huge sense of relief. I'd sensed something was wrong a short while ago, filling my own mind with potentials, that he was somehow working with someone trying to find my weaknesses – someone who would realize very quickly that Ellis is my only one. I'd kept him around with the idea that I'd get to the bottom of what he was hiding, where I could keep an eye on him. I'd known he wouldn't actually hurt Ellis though; that was clear. But he'd never done anything suspicious – no hidden phone calls or secret meetings – and I'd been in the dark still.

This means that I have a good explanation for some of Nikolai's strange behaviors, but I still don't have an explanation what's been happening – maybe I'm even more uncertain now. The phone calls haven't stopped; there's at least two per week, even if I always hang up quickly now that Dex has established they can't be traced.

I find the pair of them curled up on Nikki's bed, sound asleep. It's the cutest thing, and I feel an overwhelming happiness for Ellis, who has thought a family was completely lost to him, and it makes me wonder whether we can find the rest of them.

A/N: I like Ellis' reaction here - I think it fits well with the loving and forgiving guy he is, as well as giving an indication of some of the emotional strength he's regaining now. (And remember, he has zero bond with family, so he's almost not even that invested in the news right now)

I'm less certain about Frankie's justifications - he let Nikki live in his house even though he felt like there was something shady about him. I need to do something about that, but I have *no idea* right now, which is why, at the moment, we're going to suspend disbelief and just put it down to Frankie's inbuilt arrogance of him feeling like he has things under control - that, at least, is in-character.