Darren's POV

"Darren?" I heard a voice say. I looked up. Bianca was standing at the door. She had a remorseful look on her face. Anthony and Ryan looked at each other and left us alone. Bianca walked towards me. "I'm... sorry," she said, "I shouldn't have snapped at you." "I felt like I needed to prove something to them... just... something about the way they acted to me all those years ago... made me feel like... like they had to be proven wrong about something..." I said quietly. Bianca kissed me softly. I kissed her back and smiled. After what felt like forever, we pulled apart. I lay my forehead onto hers. Bianca smiled and curled her fingers through my hair. "I love you, Darren," she said. "I love you too... more than anything," I said, and kissed her again.

Tammy's POV

-the next week-

"Guess who's birthday is tomorrow?" Dad asked me, coming downstairs from putting Will to sleep. I laughed. "I dunno. Francis'?" I joked. "No silly," Papa said, "It's yours!" he poked my nose playfully. "I'm honestly surprised you remembered, since I was gone for five years," I said. "How could we forget the birthday of the most important little girl in the world?" Dad said. I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a little girl anymore, Dad!" My fathers both laughed. I noticed how they smiled. They always looked into each other's eyes as if they had all eternity to spend together.

"So, we got four tickets to a special place for us and a guest," Papa said. "Can I take Connor?" I asked immediately. "Don't see why not," Dad answered and kissed my cheek. I smiled widely. "Where are we going?" I asked. Dad and Papa looked at each other and then at me. They grinned. "It's a surprise. But we will be going overseas," Papa said. A single thought registered in my head. "France?" I asked. It was obvious. Papa knew French, Dad knew a little bit of French, Julia and her family were French. They nodded. I smiled again.

I sat in my room later with Francis in my lap. I was petting him softly, and texted Connor.

T: Hey Connor <3

C: hi

T: So, my dads want to take me to France for my birthday! Which is gonna be awesome!!!

Note to self, I thought, Add more exclamation points

C: wow, cool!

T: they said i could bring someone with me also... so... 

C: You could bring Will

T: no, you goofball i'm bringing you!!!

C: great! <3

C: For real, though, what about Will 

T: My dads said their friends Julia and Thomas could take care of him

C: That's cool... I should ask my parents about all of this...

T: Okay...

I waited for about two minutes before getting another response

C: they said yes! My mom said I probably needed some time away from... He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

T: Joseph?

C: HE MUST NOT BE NAMED

T: Hahaha, right. Just checking... does she know what happened...

C: No. But she sensed some kind of conflict between us... the day he insulted you, I totally told him off

T: Awesome, what did you say

C: Quote, unquote?

T: Quote unquote.

C: "You may be my brother, but speak to my girlfriend like that ever again, and it'll be the last thing you say. She's the best thing that's happened to me in these times that our parents have been suffering with each other."

T: Awwwwwww <3 I swear Connor i'm blushing right now...

C: I'm such a sap

-the next day-

The only thing I remember from the airport is that I was dead-tired from waking up at 5 AM, I walked like a sloth, and then Connor reminded me it was my birthday and I had a burst of energy. I was told that I slept the entire way to France. I was leaning on Connor's shoulder when I woke up. "Hey, sleepyhead. We're here," he said and kissed my forehead. I got up and grabbed my suitcase.

After we got off the plane, I stared wide-eyed at how huge the airport there was. I looked around in awe. Papa had to stop me from running all over the place. Dad looked over at a woman who was looking down on her computer typing rapidly. She had headphones on and looked pretty professional, but still somewhat casual. Dad tiptoed over to her, slowly took her headphones off, and shouted in her ear, "BOO!" The woman jumped and looked up. Dad started laughing. The woman had sky blue eyes and fiery red hair. "My God, Ryan, you scared me!" she yelled. Dad laughed more, he couldn't keep it in. "Just because I'm older and more mature doesn't mean I won't kick you in the crotch again, and in an airport, no less," she said, which shut Dad up. "Who's this?" I asked. "Julia's younger sister, Ana," Papa said. "I met these two goofballs on Ryan's birthday. He turned eighteen, and as a gift, I kicked him in the crotch," Ana said, smiling. Dad was not smiling. Connor was stifling his laughter. "Anyway, what took you guys so long anyway?" Ana asked us further. Dad and Papa went on to explain the entire trip, while I wandered around and looked over the sights.

We went from Limoges, where Ana lived and we were staying, to Paris, where we looked at and explored the Louvre and got a glimpse of the Eiffel tower. By the time we got back to Ana's house, I was more tired than when we'd gotten on the airplane.

Ana told us that Dad and Papa could have the guest room closest to the stairs, while Connor and I got the one farthest from the stairs. Great range, Ana. "Hey, you two, before you doze off, a couple things," Dad started. "Go ahead," I said, though I mostly tuned my overprotective parent out. "One, if you need us, you know where we are. Two, we're getting up early tomorrow, so no complaining, Tammy (he looked at me pointedly. I rolled my eyes). And three, this goes for both of you, try not to have too much fun while you're alone here," he finished and smirked. "DAD!" I yelled reproachfully, my face flushing bright red. I saw Connor in my peripheral vision, and he was blushing to no end. Dad laughed. "I'm kidding. 'Night, you two," he said, and left. I rolled my eyes again. "Parents," I mumbled under my breath. "I know, right?" Connor asked. He made me smile. I went to the bathroom to change into a tank top and shorts. Connor had already changed into a similar outfit when I got back. I sat down on top of the bed. "Go to sleep, Tammy..." Connor sighed. I lay down and looked out the window, which was open a crack. I felt the wind float through. I shuddered a bit.

"I'm cold, Connor," I complained. He put his hand over my torso and pulled me closer to him. Not long after, we were in a spoon cuddling position. I felt his chest rising and lowering against my back. "Happy birthday," he whispered to me. His voice sounded lower than usual and somewhat gravelly. I blushed lightly. "Thanks... and, Connor...I love you," I said in a barely audible voice. "Love you too," he said back.

I woke up the next morning discombobulated. Partially because I was confused as to where Connor was. And partially because I looked at the clock, which said 9:00 AM. I snuck through the house and looked into my fathers' guest room. They were asleep, cuddled together in a mess of arms and legs. If they didn't have different skin tones, you wouldn't be able to tell which limbs belonged to which man. "So much for waking up early," I said to myself. I walked downstairs and yawned. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Connor greeted me. "More like beauty sleep, which I constantly need more of," I grumbled. Connor laughed and kissed me on the cheek. "I miss my rabbit... I miss my baby brother... I'm ready to go home," I gushed. "I wish I could say the same. I have no idea if my parents' conflict has been solved, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named... well, he's... unnamed," Connor said, sighing and putting his face in his hands.

I turned his face towards me and kissed him. Connor kissed back instantly. "We're way too young for this," he murmured against my lips. "I don't care. I don't want to wait on love," I mumbled back. 

When I went back upstairs to check on my parents, I saw Papa in Ana's room, talking to her. "...I don't know how he'll take it... I know he won't be upset, but... I don't want to make him confused either..." he was saying. "If anyone's brave enough to do it, you are! You know Ryan's going to be ecstatic!" Ana said. Papa sighed. "Okay, you're right. But can I at least handle it when we get back to America?" he asked. Ana nodded. "I'll miss it, though," she said. 

What... what were they talking about? I saw Papa walk out after a bit more talking. "Morning, Tammy..." he said subconsciously. I waved. He went back to his guest room and shook Dad awake. "Lemme go back to sleeeeeep," Dad groaned and pulled the covers back over his head. "Nooooooo we have stuff to do today," Papa said back. They started play-arguing, and the "heated" disagreement ended in Papa giving Dad a shower of kisses all over his face and shoulders. When I couldn't stand to watch anymore, I checked my phone to see if anyone had messaged me yesterday. I got a picture from Julia and Thomas. Kyle and Will were chasing Francis around. I smiled at that. I then looked and my smile immediately faded... Joseph texted me...

J: Tamara...

J: Tamara, I know my brother's with you. My parents can't hide everything from me. Why is he with you?

T: Because he chose to be and your parents gave him permission.

J: I didn't say he could go anywhere with YOU.

T: I don't care. Connor doesn't belong to you. He's free to do what he wants

J: Where are you

T: ...

T: Overseas.

J: Where's my brother?

T: Downstairs. Now, if you could stop talking to me, that'd be appreciated. Goodbye.

I deleted Joseph from my contacts and blocked him. I had enough of his acts. He wasn't happy with me and Connor being together, so what? I went back to Connor. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named-" I started. "He texted me too.. you probably blocked him, right?" he asked. I nodded. "I would too, but my parents would serve my head on a platter if I blocked my own older brother," Connor continued. "Wait, you're younger? By how much?" I asked. "Seventeen minutes," Connor said, laughing to himself.

I completely forgot the conversation Ana and Papa had been having.

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I wrote all of this in like two hours you people better be impressed