Trigger Warning: Mentions of depression, abuse, PTSD, brief mention of injury/blood

Remington was still sitting with Larisa when Sebastian returned from his run, and he said nothing as his brother noticed him. 

Sebastian looked at Larisa for an explanation, and she said, "Don't look at me. I'm not the one you should apologise to." 

"I already apologised to him." 

"Sorry, Remington. Like I said, he's a stubborn fucker." 

Remington wanted to leave but he didn't know how to say that, and after the way Sebastian had shouted at him, he was scared of saying anything in front of the man. It was a horrible feeling, to be afraid of his own flesh and blood, and he didn't know if Sebastian was even aware of what was going on in his head. 

"Why is he here, anyway?" 

Larisa sighed. "Just apologise for God's sake." 

"I already have." 

"No, you haven't, and we all know that. Just like you haven't apologised to Andy, either." 

"What do you mean? Yes I have. "

"I know you're lying." She looked at Remington and her expression softened. "You okay, sweetie?" She asked. 

Sebastian scoffed. "He's not your fucking kid, Larisa, Jesus Christ. He's twenty-seven." 

"You know what," Larisa said drily. "Emerson has a lovely spare room. Go on. Piss off." 

"What the hell! You're kicking me out for not wanting to baby my twenty-seven year old brother? What the hell, Larisa!" 

Remington pulled his sleeves down. He was beginning to shake, and when Larisa noticed, she quietly said, "Why don't we walk back to Andy's together? Give Sebastian a chance to fuck off," but Remington stayed still and silent. If he moved, someone was going to hurt him. 

"Why are you here?" Sebastian asked in a harsh voice. "I'm not going to apologise, because I did that, and you went off on one about how I don't care about you, which just isn't true." 

"Shut the fuck up for once," Larisa snapped, though kept her voice level. "You've been nothing but horrible to him this entire time, and I'm sick of it. I've tried endlessly to understand where you're coming from, but all I can see, Sebastian, is that your brother is dealing with shit that he needs help with, and you're constantly bullying the one person who has helped him throughout this entire thing. Just because you're his big brother does not make you right, stop acting like it." 

"I'm not bullying anyone, Larisa. Andy's not a good person, I've told you what he's done. All I'm trying to do is..." He trailed off at the sound of Remington sobbing, and watched the singer slide helplessly from the chair and onto the ground, where he pulled his knees into his chest and hid his face against them, his hands finding his hair. 

Sharing glances, Larisa and Sebastian weren't sure what to do. Sebastian was taken aback at how sudden the crying was, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at the way Remington was trying to conceal himself under the table. He said nothing more. 

Remington was tired and frightened and there had been too much commotion for one day. He wanted to be left alone but he also didn't want to be on his own. The confusion was exhausting, and he had a horrible longing for Holly, for her to take him roughly by the arm and yank him out from where he was hiding. He thought about what she'd say if she were there, what she'd do to punish him for being so pathetic. 

"Hey, sweetie," Larisa tried after a minute. "It's okay. Can you come out from under there?" 

That only made Remington more upset, because he knew that he had to do what she wanted. Slowly, he peeled his hands from his head and crawled out. He stood up and experienced a dizzy spell, realised he'd hardly eaten, and repeatedly wiped at his eyes because the tears would stop and if they didn't, the punishment would be worse. 

"Let's go back to Andy's, okay?" 

Remington nodded like he knew she wanted and followed her out of the kitchen, trying to stay as far away to Sebastian as he could. They walked without speaking down the street and round the corner, and when they made it to the house, Larisa rang the bell and smiled at Remington as they waited. He flinched so hard when the door opened that he almost lost balance, and the sight of Andy made his entire body ache for physical contact. He hadn't felt anything like it for years. 

"What's going on?" Andy asked, observing Remington's swaying state. 

"Sebastian," was all Larisa said, and gave a quick smile before she turned away. 

stepping to the side, Andy said, "Come in, honey. You don't have to wait for permission." 

Remington stared at him. 

"It's cold out there." 

There was a long pause, then the younger broke into sobs again, keeling forwards until Andy had to take him by the shoulders and guide him over the threshold. He let go as soon as Remington was safely inside but was tightly hugged before he had a chance to ask what had happened, and he held Remington for some time, wondering when and how he would possibly break the news of not being single. 

"I'm sorry," Remington cried into him. "You're gonna...you have to punish me now." 

"No, honey. Just hugging. I promise. It's okay." 

"You hate me..." 

"Of course I don't. Look, we'll talk about what happened earlier once you've had something to eat and are feeling a little better okay?" 

"Okay," he whispered. He felt again the longing for her harsh grip on his bruised, bloodied arm.