A week had flown by far faster than Vaughan had anticipated. And with it, frustration had grown in its wake.

That first night he had sent himself to bed with the firm idea that he would start in earnest on his next book, and have it penned out within a months' time, finished in only a few if he applied himself. But that had not even come to light in the least, the papers at his table blank, the only ones filled with words crumpled in the overflowing rubbish bin.

To make matters worse, his original assumption that a week would have been enough to adjust to the new setting showed he had  vastly overrated his ability to acclimate to the busy household.

Not only where there many family members visiting, but also staff for the household, and various other tutors for the boys. Math, history, French, German, and science where the majority of the boys week all surrounded by constant football practice and Keaton was even into fencing.

"Thank goodness I haven't been drug into their practice!" he breathed, recalling how Elliot had pressed for his involvement, and it had been Myles who had thankfully dispursed any of those attempts. Their football practice time was one of Vaughans free times, and it was to stay that way unless Vaughan said otherwise.

He had agreed hurriedly to the arrangement, knowing he never would.

On the matter of relations, the family seemed to have mixed levels of interacting with him. Mostly none spoke with him, aside from Bradly and Elliot, and over the week Vaughan developed the keen sense that he was regard with something between suspicion and hesitant curiosity.

Even Bradly seemed to be withholding back information, which irritated Vaughan, though he couldn't fault them for wanting to keep their lives private. But he had felt, at least, Bradly had been more likely to make friends with him than anyone else in the household.

If only hadn't been thrusted into their lives so unwillingly, that was.

Keaton had ended up apologizing to Vaughan since then, and had kept his ire behind a sour face, and tight lip. It was clear that the boy out of everyone disliked him the most, and Vaughan was certain he would gray before the winter holidays.

With this, Vaughan had found himself pulled from one thing to another often with Myles by his side, much to Elliots delight, his protests in vain as they went unheard.

He was actually growing suspicious that it truly amused the other man, much to his frustration.

Many of these times he would also find himself squashed in between many of the vising family members, some of whom where more affronted by his presence, making it so he found himself subconsciously clinging to Bradly as one of the few adults who was genuinely easy going.

The week had proven to not really relax himself around Myles and if anything, he was constantly hyper vigilant to the others presence. He blamed this as to why he had been unable to write his book, even if it had been a long-standing issue before their meeting.

The past few days he had sat the boys down in the classroom and bounced back and forth between the two working with grammar and reading, quickly feeling out their boundaries and struggles.

He spent most of this time focused on Elliot, who was lost within a sentence, and words where rarely spelled correctly. This was primary  time Vaughan felt that Elliot was a difficult child, for he became unfocused and interrupted constantly.

Ironically this also was when Keaton was at his easiest to handle, which wasn't saying much since the other boy seemed to loath him with an anger flashing behind his eyes all the time, leaving Vaughan wondering what it was about him that could have riled the boy up so. But at least writing or reading he and the other where forced to interact as much.

Vaughan had just finished with their hour of lessons, happier than the boys he felt at being able to give up the painful teaching.

Sighing, he began straightening papers, and taking the written assignments the boys had given him he sat down pushing up glasses on his face to look through Keaton's work first. It was still relatively early in the day yet, the midday sun catching some of the jeweled charms in the window, giving the room an added bit of heat as Vaughan sat at the oak desk to the far end of the room opposite of some sort of a wall made up of detailed world maps, the rest of the room made up of various desks long desks and chairs, some still scattered with unfinished art projects. 

He bit his lip making his way to the bottom of the boys paper.

The boy was a natural when it came to being able to fill up a page and meet a word count- or in this case page count. He was able to do this without even changing the size of the written text he handed in, unlike his brother.

It didn't take a genius to know Elliot struggled greatly.

His words where of varying sizes, grammar was nonexistent, and spelling a struggle to make out.

And to add to it all, eventually the boys' pages where littered with doodles of one thing or another. Superheroes generally, saving cities and towns from what he could gather.

He made it halfway through Elliots paper before, having to put it down with a great sigh, taking off his glasses to rub wearily at his eyes.

"Just how am I going to help this boy if he insists on drawing when he should write," he stated, having stopped abruptly on the second page when seeing half of it filled with what he could tell a villain being pummeled by a caped hero saving a damsel in distress.

"A well-spoken concern," came a voice from in front of him and he muffled a scream shooting a blurry gaze up to the large blotchy figure that was Myles.

"M-Myles," he breathed, cheeks heating in an irritating form of embarrassment.

It wasn't the first time the boys uncle had visited, and honestly his visits where becoming something of an expectation. Though generally he would manage to come in during lessons to watch quietly, or at the end to greet the boys to bring them to football practice," I figured you would be bringing the boys to football."

Blessedly, Myles had been home to deter Elliots pleas for Vaughan to attend. Vaughan couldn't send enough silent thanks to the stoic man.

"Amelia felt well enough today to go," he grunted shrugging as Vaughan slipped his glasses on to see the movement all the clearer," I think... I think she wanted time alone just her and the boys."

Vaughan felt himself somber.

It was no great secret that Ameila was very ill, and for the past few days had been confined to her room, not joining family meals or activities. The boys went to her to say good night and that seemed to be the extent of their visits with their mom.

Elliot more than once had voiced his missing her.

He looked up, seeing the knit between the brows of the taller man, the clenched jaw and felt his heart twist. He knew that worry and had expressed that pain himself before.

"Hey," he said softly, touching the man's forearm.

The hard gaze that had been glaring across the room faltered and Myles blinked to the smaller man down in surprise," That. . . isn't easy. I can see none of it is. . . and I do not even fully know what is wrong but. . . I can take some guesses. It is good they're with their mother."

Myles eyes lit with a burning fire that was always smoldering, always ready to alight anew, always intense and he gruffly pulled from Vaughans hand, back turning to the other," It is what those who value family above all else feel. It is only natural."

Myles had insinuated over the past week that it seemed Vaughan did not value family at all, citing Vaughans upbringing supplemented mostly by household staff. Vaughan  didn't want to admit his buried memories of missing his parents, of wishing his older brother was somewhat closer in age so as to play with him, or of the times he just became so used to raising himself that he hadn't the need for anyone to feed him cloth him or assure he was doing his studies.

Shaking off the thought, and focusing on what seemed to be an unspoken challenge but not wanting to provoke the already defensive man he bit his lip on any sharp comments and said as gently as he could," I know. We all have family we worry about Myles. If there is anything I can do to help-"

"You're doing your part well enough," grumbled the taller of the two, trudging to the door," just. . . "

The man seemed a loss for words and waved his hand around in a gesture to the classroom before he left.

Confused and a bit put out Vaughan sighed. He glanced down to the boyish drawing of the caped superhero, silently pondering.

It looked an awful like Myles.

+++

Vaughan found that he was not able to focus on Elliot's paper after that, and once writing down his finishing remarks on his reread of Keaton's, he allowed himself to make his way outside where a nearby sitting area was set up in a gazebo, one of the few places some perennial roses grew around.

It was the one place in the whole manor that made Vaughan feel at ease, missing home and his own extensive gardens even more. The air was rather still today, with the glaring sun hot making the shade of the gazebo all the more comfortable, Vaughan allowed himself to relax as he gazed on the spread of lawn, broken only by statues and spiraling rock gardens, and a distant robins song.

It was so tremendously unlike his own busy gardens, permanently diverse plants to enjoy, a variety of styles, years of build up- a mish mash of different generations dreams added to it- some big and some small. This place, in comparison, was colorless with shades of ranging white to black rock, marbled stone statues, meticulous grass kept at a bright green, tall dark iron gates a sinister gloom in the distance.

It was almost sterile. He couldn't see the appeal.

Sipping at a glass of cool lemonade, he relished the shade and his discarded jacket as he peered thoughtfully across the expanse of rock gardens and statues, the sound of running water coming from a constant bubbling fountain.  The gazebo held two benches, and a small table with two more chairs, and he took it upon himself to lounge upon one of the cushioned tops now, book sitting untouched by his drink while he found himself lost deep in thought.

Xavier was to arrive just before dinner that night, it was nearly 2 now, so he had a few hours of silence before the boy arrived seeing as how the Arya boys where, blessedly, at practice with their uncles and he was left to his own devices that afternoon.

A spare room had been converted for Xavier, down the hall from his own, and he was confident Xavier would adjust faster than he ever would, forever being a boy that took change without much question.

Vaughan wondered if it where a result of having lost his parents so very young.

"I see you found this gazebo. Marrow told me you probably would, you know- because the roses."

Blinking away from where his gaze had been unfocused on a particular setting of rocks that with them grew some spindly plants, he knew not the names of, he looked to where Bradly approached from the house, smile plastered widely across his face.

"Oh," Vaughan found himself inwardly sighing at the arrival of company but found he couldn't hold it against his newfound companion.

The young spirited man was quite agreeable, and despite his carefree nature and free given opinions, the pair where able to sit in a comfortable silence while Bradly fussed away at an art pad. He was rather good, which Vaughan told him once, and he had beamed with pride. 

"I came to warn you, the boys are home from football practice a bit early. Something about preparations for this game Saturday," Bradly said, a grin filing his cheeks as it always seemed to easily do.

Vaughan sighed," Oh."

There went any pretense of a quiet afternoon before his young mischievous nephew arrived.

"Elliot is looking for you," continued the warning from the brunet and Vaughan glared at his grinning face.

"Thank you," he grumbled huffing

Bradly laughed openly now," It is quite adorable how the boy likes you this much so soon. Though he has always been easy to get along with others, I suppose, but he quite wishes to have you at ever single activity. Perhaps he is lonely, after their nanny left. From what I understand, they had been close."

It had been on one of their afternoons in one another's company, watching Arjun and Kabir discussing something in the dining room in hushed tones while various members of the family milled about after lunch had finished, that he found out Bradly had only recently returned to the Arya estates for employment after having been gone for some time. He hadn't specified why, but Vaughan felt there was something heavy behind the reasoning.

"Yes," Vaughan didn't try to correct that, no, he was not in fact the new nanny, and felt an unwelcoming squeeze at his heart when he thought of the thank you card the boy had scrapped together just the day before which sat on his desk in their classroom," I can see that. He is a good boy."

Before either of the men could continue their conversation, a high pitched squeal run out and Vaughan had enough time to look up and stand before Elliot was propelling himself into his arms, still fully clothed in his grass stained football uniform.

"Oh my-"he began but Elliot pulled his head away, flushed cheeks and eyes sparkling up to him.

"Oh Uncle Vaughan!" he breathed," I'm so excited! Xavier comes today! Do you think he will like me? What does he like playing? Does he like super heroes?"

"Elliot your annoying Mr. McClellan ," Keaton had been following at a far more subdued pace behind his brother, addressing the boy in Vaughan's arms while studiously avoiding eye contact with the new English teacher.

Vaughan fought a twitch in his eye.

He had said on more than one occasion that he didn't mind being called Vaughan, or at least Mr. Vaughan if any formality must be displayed. It was apparent Elliot was more than willing to give him the title of uncle, so rash that, but Keaton obviously did not hold similar sentiments.

Upon seeing his distaste at being constantly addressed as Mr. McClellan, Keaton had put forth his best efforts to ensure his constant use of it.

It made Vaughan want to use a very colorful choice of words to describe the boy.

"Hardly annoyed young man," Vaughan chewed out around a forced smile, and Keaton glared giving him a little pleasure in knowing the boy despised being called young or anything of that nature," in fact I was just thinking of how only in a few hours my nephew would arrive. I am sure there is much-"

"Mama wants to bake cookies for him," Elliot interrupted and Vaughan blinked," She wanted me to make sure he has no allergies."

"Oh no- no allergies. Cookies you say-"

The boys eyes shown and he began pulling at Vaughan's arm, "Yes yes! Come! Lets go bake them!"

"Oh," Vaughan stuttered," I couldn't-"

"Please!" large eyes blinked up at him with a pout on his lips," Mama doesn't bake cookies with us anymore- like ever! Could we please!"

Vaughan felt that unwanted pang in his chest when he thought of the young mother and her discolored skin and tired eyes, bone weary chill always surrounding her as she wrapped herself in layers of clothes in the summer. He thought of all the things it could mean, and what it could be, and of what it would mean for the boys.

"Of course."

Once again, as he had found himself every day that week, he was carted away from his solitude in favor of joining the eccentric family. Keaton rolled his eyes sighing as if the agreement was the heaviest news he had heard in a long while and began trudging forward while his brother cheered.

His lips pulled into a smile at the boys antics.

As it where, Vaughan enjoyed baking and being in the kitchen just as much as he loved eating his creations. So, the invitation wasn't the worst thing to come his way, all things considered.

They made their way to the kitchen, Bradly whistling alongside them as Elliot spoke a thousand words a minute going through twice as many topics before rounding back to his original, leaving Vaughan to catch up. Keaton was in front of them studiously back to ignoring him, which for some reason irritated him.

"What about you Keaton," he found himself asking," do you like baking with your mother? Or baking at all?"

The boy huffed, not turning to him as he continued to trudge forward," Why does it matter to you. After all, you're just an English teacher."

The way he pronounced teacher was in a pulled out jeering manner, that reminded Vaughan all too much to his childhood encounters with others his age. Least to say those had not been his favorite times.

Biting the inside of his cheek he bit back any growl that formed in his chest in irritation and instead smiled to the boys back," Well, as someone in your lives, teacher or no, I am rather interested in who you are as people. It is only natural."

The boys shoulders had stiffened and his pace became more resembling a march but Bradly piped up next to them, ever the one to smooth over tensions," Ah why, I recall when you where just a wee tyke! Baking away with your mama while your brother be resting. I also seem to recall more dough went into you than the oven."

"I like cookie dough!" Squealed Elliot swinging off of Vaughan's arm," But Keaton always gets mad if I eat it."

"Because its bad for you stupid," snapped the older of the two whirling around, and Vaughan could see immediately that there was far more than simple anger toward his brother behind his glassy eyes.

"Take that back!" Elliot had let go of his arm and had caught up with his brother, leaving Bradly and himself to catch up," I am NOT stupid!"

"Oh yeah? Dummy head- we wouldn't need a new English tutor if it weren't for you! "Keaton snapped and Bradly caught Elliot before he could lunge forward.

"I- I- No uh!" Elliot shot back," we would-"

"Yess so," pushed Keaton," It is because you're too stupid and slow and never just listen and do your work!"

Elliot stopped his foot, face growing more twisted, eyes becoming glassy," Take that back Kee!"

"NO!" Keaton roared fists clinched at his sides as he glared to his younger brother," ALL YOU ARE GOOD FOR IS MAKING MOM WORRIED ABOUT YOU, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE HER EVEN SICKER!"

"YOU ARE THE MEANEST BROTHER EVER!" Elliots eyes were welling up with angry hot tears and Vaughan stepped in between them unsure of how to fix this.

"Boys!"he shouted once, twice, and then three times before they settled.

He glanced to the doors they were not quite to, glad to see no movement in the windows, no notice from anyone else had been made, "Please. If you truly are so pleased to be with your mother- for once making cookies since it has been so long- then do not fight!"

The boys stood, huffing and shaking, before Elliot began to sob.

Whatever Keaton had been meaning to say seemed to flow out of him as if released from an overinflated balloon, and he slumped forward," Elliot," he said, kicking his foot.

"You-your mean! Why are you always so mean!" Elliot buried his face in Vaughan's waist.

Bradley sighed and patted Elliot's back," Ah, boy. Sometimes, people say mean things. My brother has done much the same. But I still love him. I think I heard Keaton about to apologize, listen to what he has to say wont you?"

A particularly sharp look sent a somber nod of the head from the older brother and Elliot wiped his tears hiccupping.

"I don't know why I said that. It was mean, and I shouldn't have . I am sorry Elliot," Keaton said robotically.

Vaughan could tell that Elliot had not quite swallowed the apology but grabbed him, picking him up despite his protesting back and took his handkerchief out to dab at the boys eyes.

" Now now. Your brother is trying to fix this. And it is never easy to say an apology, but I suggest you clean up those tears or I worry your mother would not want to bake cookies. You don't want to make cookie baking time full of tears do you?

At Elliots shake of the head he lowered the other, his shoulder twitching in protest as he did, and smiled," Very well. I for one love to bake cookies. Oatmeal raisin are my favorite."

The comment made Elliot blink and then his face twisted into a scowl as he wiped his snotty nose on his sleeve," EW! Oatmeal RAISIN? Not CHOCOLATE CHIP?!?!"

Vaughan inwardly sighed in relief as the boy began to rant to him about the superiority of chocolate chip cookies and he must try his mothers as for hers where the best. As they began to continue walking to the house, he looked up and saw Keaton already slipping through the threshold of the door, leaving them far behind.

+++

Oatmeal raisin was in fact a cookie Vaughan enjoyed occasionally, especially in the winter with a strong espresso, but it was far from his favorite. He didn't correct this though, as for the statement had done its job in disgusting the younger boy, pulling all his attentions to loud complaints of Vaughans cookie of choice until they entered into the kitchen.

"What is all this fuss!" laughed Arya turning from where she had been setting out mixing bowls and ingredients for what most certainly was chocolate chip cookies.

"MOM!" Elliot finally detached himself from Vaughan, and he did his best not to sigh too audibly as the tension left his back," MOM you have got to hear what Mr. Vaughan said his favorite cookie was!"

Bradly chortled slipping past Vaughan to pop open the bag of chocolate chips and pop a few in his mouth," Dreadful, it is ma'am."

Despite the fact Elliot had treated him like an indestructible jungle gym, he held his mothers' hand delicately, looking up earnestly to the thin woman and nodding vehemently to Bradly.

"Was it something like peanut butter," she scrunched her nose," it couldn't possibly be something so terrible as that?"

"Oh, no mom, it's OATMEAL RASIN! Gross! We HAVE to have him try your cookies, they're the best!"

Arya laughed and looked apologetically to Vaughan," Well. Only if he would like to. He looks rather, um, tired."

Bradly sniggered past another handful of chocolate knowing full well the mistreatment Vaughan had endured to placate the distraught boy.

Vaughans cheeks heated as he attempted to smooth the rumpled long sleeve shirt and the jacket he now carried over his arm.

"Um," he truly thought for one moment of taking her up on the offer of escape, but then remembering Keaton and Elliots spat, and concerned as to where the other boy was, he decided against it," No, I would be delighted to bake cookies with you. Perhaps when Xavier arrives he will be agreeable to one or two, if only to bribe for good behavior."

Amelia grinned thankfully, and then glanced around, frowning before grabbing a dish towel to toss in Bradly's face as he went for another bite of chips," Stop it or none will make it into the mix!"

"Right-o! Sorry ma'am" Bradly grinned sheepishly," I have a devil of a sweet tooth. Something else my brother and I have in common."

"That is probably the first thing that you two do have in common that I have seen," Vaughan commented while going over to the sink, removing his watch from his right wrist to wash his hands, ignoring the fact that his left cuff had became wet under the stream of water.

Amelia hummed frowning," but where is Keaton. I thought he was excited to bake cookies."

"We had been hoping that he would have been in here," Vaughan began, grabbing the discarded dishtowel from Bradly before Elliot broke him off huffing.

"Who cares! He's mean!" Elliot pouted.

Amelia raised a brow and the two men looked to each other.

"Now lad," Bradly crouched down," remember Vaughan here had you two make friendly. And before you begin your caterwauling, know that I am a younger brother as well. That being so, my brother did a great many things to upset me that have come and passed and I realized after that it was of no great deal. It just seemed it at the time."

Elliot seemed further put out by this and sighed," Yes Bradly. "

"Well I would feel terrible starting without him for something that we do as a family, I don't think I possibly could without us all present" Amelia trailed off.

The boy looked to her with a fire in his eyes that reminded Vaughan that he was indeed related to Myles, "I'll go get him. If he's not in his room, he's probably in the secret spot."

"Great. Go with him Bradly, make that stubborn mule of an uncle come too. For goodness' sake," she waved them out the door, smile breaking across her face only once their retreating backs where up the main stairwell.

Grinning to Vaughan she shrugged," I think it's the best way for those two to stop the fights they have. They truly are stuck together, like glue, its just been recently that there has been a divide. I think Keaton is just becoming more of a preteen, all those moody hormones and all that."

"I can see that," he smiled, sitting on a stool.

"I was making tea," she nodded over to the kettle that had been forgotten next to the sink," would you like some?"

He smiled, "Delighted."

As she began the makings of the tea he sat in the warm kitchen, eyeing the array of cookie making things on the far counter, the nice china on the table ready for serving. The summer heat made the preheated oven uncomfortable, making him decide to discard his jacket over the chair he chose at the table.

He eyed the marble white of the dining area with deep blue runners on either side of the dining table while she spoke over her shoulder," How has your first week gone?"

"Oh," he said, straightening up," Very well. I believe I am all settled in. I am becoming accustomed to the boys different learning styles and can see great promise in Keaton's ability to articulate when needed."

He mentally sighed that Keaton at times articulated rather too much, or just too unkindly, when speaking to him, but he held that judgement back," Elliot seems to struggle to find words and his spelling will take some work, but I think we will find a way. He is very eager."

She sat across from him, resting her chin on her hands with a smile," I'm so glad to hear you speak of both of them with promise. They so do remind me of Myles and myself when we where children."

"Oh?" he found himself instantly curious at the mention of the brooding man," Do they really? Did Myles have difficulty learning to write as well?"

Her barking laugh made him sit back as she slapped her knee.

"No, oh no!" she wiped a couple of tears from her eyes and grinned," I was the one always having trouble writing. It was Myles that was always the golden student, not me."

Brows shooting up Vaughan had to quickly correct the shocked expression from his face," I-I'm sorry. It just seemed, well with how much you love to read- well what I mean to say is with how Myles seems to prefer not to talk. Well. At any rate. That was not what I expected."

She was laughing again, and he gave her a few moments to catch her breath.

"Oh no," she said," Myles used to be such a talkative little boy."

"I can't imagine," Vaughan murmured as the kettle sang and she stood to put together the tea.

As she puttered about the kitchen setting the cups and saucers in front of them she spoke," Well. We all grow up I guess. Myles, he grew up hard. We all take things in life differently, and, well, I guess that he became very quiet. Which is sad because-"

She sat down looking to her steaming cup frowning.

Vaughan could not help but lean forward.

"Why is it sad how quiet he is now? Is he truly unhappy?" he asked interest perked.

The thought of the brooding tall man wouldn't leave his minds eye now, and while he could see sternness and silence, he didn't seem truly unhappy. Images of him, expression soft when speaking with his nephews, eyes trained to his sister whenever they where near one another to ensure she wasn't in need. Was there sadness wrapped behind those gentle gazes?

Amelia  looked as if she was about to comment when a voice from the doorway split through their conversation," Ah, gossiping I see. Are we sure he's not the new nanny?"

If there hadn't been the underlying tone of amusement and the barest hint of a grin on Myles face, Vaughan would have snapped at him. As it where, the rare to see relaxed demeanor gave him pause, and the most unwelcome thought of how pleasant the face looked when it wasn't in a scowl.

As if to correct the noticed change, the grin slid from Myles' face when he caught sight of Vaugahns open gaze, and Vaughan felt his face flush at being caught.

"Ah," Amelia grinned at seeing her two sons trailing behind their uncle with Bradly," There are my two boys! I wanted to bake cookies since little Xavier will be joining us today and surely has been missing his Uncle."

"And we're going to be best friends, too," Elliot was already scrambling to the chair next to the counter to wash his hands. Keaton scoffed and reprimanded him for not rolling up his sleeve before helping him do so.

The group had made quick work of the gathered ingredients, mostly the boys and their mother, with Vaughan happy to tidy up the mess in their wake and admonish Bradly at his sneaking. Bradly in turn would cackle and do something to harass Vaughan in turn- a pulling of one of his curls, stealing the cookie he had just pulled to eat himself, and even began throwing flour at him which in turn became a small food fight that the boys and their mom participated in.

Vaughan was happy to see even Keaton laughing and throwing a handful of flower to dust Vaughan's face, though he was certain the opportunity to do something to him was too great to turn down.

Through the motions of it all, Vaughan couldn't help but continue to spy Myles gaze, watching the trio of loved ones with the barest hint of a smile on his lips.

A smile so rare, but caught when the children and their mother where around.

And when those fiery eyes turned upon him as he looked up from behind little Elliot's shoulder while cleaning the boys face, he tried to imagine the man as a young chattery carefree spirit.

It proved impossible, and he turned back to the boy, cheeks heated and frowning as he studiously ignored the silent man in the corner.