" I asked the label to cancel tonight's show and any future shows and events they were planning." John stated calmly.

" Why? You Can't Just Do That!" Clay shouted.

" Actually I can! I am our current manager right now. " John declared.

" You know that's not what I meant." Clay snarled.

John sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. He was already bombing this announcement and change.  Why was he so awful at delivering changes and news? Poor communication skills. He really needed to work on how he talked with his brothers and his timing.

" Okay. I know. I should have talked with you guys first before doing it but, I had good reasons for why I did it. We have been Brozone for years. We work almost everyday. Most days you're exhausted. We're fighting all the time. The pressure of meeting the fans and label's expectations. It's like we're Brozone all the time. Even at home. It's ruining us. You- I- we..." John paused. " We need a break from being Brozone."

Silence fell on the boy band but, this time it was different. The wind calmly pushed the studio pod windows slightly open. The distant chirps of critters and bugs faded away. The unaware Bergens miserable yelling, complaining and groaning became completely tuned out to the small group of trolls. The soundproof studio still blocked most of it despite the open window. Whatever could still be heard was pure background unintelligible sound.

Spruce uncrossed his arms slowly as his blue eyes stayed open wide and his nose crinkled. His lower lip dropped down exposing perfectly rounded white teeth. Spruce kept staring at John in disbelief. Why was John Dory talking like this? He was never this considerate before after their fame and financial problems got to his head. As far as Spruce knew JD never thought that deeply about their well being.

This new found display concern and reflection introduced the side of his older brother that Spruce forgot about. The humanity or rather the trollity of John Dory Timberlake. Vulnerable, flawed, caring and thoughtful. Not just bossy, perfectionistic and self centered. It was like that 2D perception had been reanimated once more into 3D right before all four younger band mates and brothers' eyes.

Floyd's mouth twisted and brow creased while his widened pink eyes relaxed. His line of sight remained fixed on their leader as his hand reached out for the open windows. Pushing them closed again effortlessly it solidified the quiet. Beating of his heart was louder than anything else. While Floyd knew something was off he didn't expect any of this moment from John. He thought maybe John was still reflecting and lost track of time but, making sudden changes for them was not expected.

Clay's eyes narrowed while his fingers nervously pulled and toyed with his sweat wrist bands. His breathing slowed down. All aggression went down the drain from his body. Everything felt heavier and yet lightened? The acknowledgement made the sixteen year old feel both heard and seen for the first time in years but, also perplexed.

" I'm sorry for forcing you to meet those expectations. Your not perfect. I'm not perfect either. I was just a raging perfectionist. Please hear me out. I got us 3 months. The merch sales are more than enough to keep us afloat for 3 months. We might have to cut corners here and there to pay the bills. " John placed his right hand on his heart.

" Please tell me this isn't a sick joke." Clay begged.

" I'm not joking,Clay. I would never joke about this. No promos,no events,no shows, no rehearsals, no label and no fans for three months. Your free. Our time off is paid for. We..." John trailed off. " You all- most of you all need to just be teenagers again. "

It was true. While John was a twenty year old adult his brothers weren't. Spruce was only eighteen and had graduated high school recently. Clay was only sixteen and Floyd was fourteen. Both still needed to attend school. All three teens spent more time with their family as a band following the label's whims that there wasn't much time to live outside of Brozone. Parties, education, friends, personal social life and hobbies were put on time limits.

John turned his hands into fists gripping the sides of his white pants. Grimacing and grinding his teeth, regret and self hatred filled his being. JD knew what it was like losing his teen years. He lost it three years ago to lost of his parents and raising his brothers with the help of Grandma. He promised himself back then that he wouldn't let anything happen to his brothers and yet he did. He let himself strip Spruce, Clay and Floyd of their teen years. Today that mistake will be undone.

" What has gotten into you?" Spruce whispered.

" I grew up. I started thinking about the bigger picture. Our family. The band. Everything. Okay? Apologizing didn't change anything. We still fought all the time after being tolerant from making up for a while. Something needs to change and I am making that happen. I'm giving you the chance to feel normal again instead of driving you crazy! "

More of the eldest's truth laid bare. It wasn't just John's truth but theirs too. As much as they would like to blame it all on JD, they couldn't when faced with this reality. They all did simply fight over the same old things, storm off, make up and tolerate each other until the cycle repeated. That wasn't healthy. Toxicity was just being fueled by the sweeping of problems under the rug into someone tripping on it. Something truly needed to change or else this loop would continue until they all became estranged for the rest of their lives.

Clay looked around catching Spruce's gaze then Floyd's gaze too. Little Branch closed his colouring book storing it into his blue hair. His ears twitched paying attention to every word cause body language was still confusing to him. However despite how little he could somewhat tell something was serious about his brothers' current fight turned talk. Reverting their attention back to Dory, Spruce sighed letting out pent up emotion. Clay bit down his dry lower lip harshly. Floyd scratched the back of his neck softly biting the inside of his left cheek.

John continued with great remorse. " I'm sorry. For everything. I'm not walking away. If I do then smack some sense into me before it hits me when it's too late. "

" JD, Shut-" Spruce paused. " Thanks... Apology accepted. I'm sorry too for snapping at you so much. Looks like I stink at talking too."

" Yeah me too. I'm sorry. I hadn't been very cooperative lately when it came to the band and stuff either. I suck as much as you do." Clay claimed apologically.

" Thanks for thinking about us so much. We appreciate it. I do..." Floyd stated.

The tension and weight of years of resentment, miscommunication and stress lifted off all four older siblings' shoulders. Especially John's shoulders relaxed like ten pounds had been removed from him. Not just from his shoulders but, from his heart too. Unsure what to do or say now, the leader formed a small smile and nodded his head.

" So... Now what? We have no show to practice for..." Clay awkwardly swung his hands into his pockets.

" I don't know." John admitted picking up Branch.

" Hmm... Wanna ditch this studio and do something?" Spruce suggested with no specific ideas himself.

Branch's colouring book peeked out of his sapphire hair falling out. Acting swiftly Floyd moved forward and caught it. The book opened itself mid catch showing a coloured in image of a movie character and the other a blank page of a different character making an Ice Cream Sundae. John glanced down at the book and so did Spruce and Clay. Branch copied wondering why everyone was looking down noticing they were looking at his colouring.

" I did that." Branch said proud.

" Nice job, B. " John praised.

" Yeah. It looks great." Clay patted Branch's head.

Floyd smiled closing the colouring book and handed it back to his baby brother. It went into Clay's hair just cause he was close by. Spruce chuckled adoringly as Clay allowed himself to be a storage unit. The mood had lightened amongst the family until it was sweet as pie.

" How about we get some ice cream then catch a movie?" Floyd suggested.

" Sure." John agreed.

" I'm down." Spruce followed.

" Count me in." Clay chimed.

" Yay!" Branch cheered at the mention of ice cream.

Finally for the first time in three years things felt truly good. Not half baked or like pure tolerance. The positive feel good moment going on after their make up was one hundred percent genuine for once. Everything felt right in the world. Everyone was happy. Grinning ear to ear all five brothers nodded then walked out the studio pod not looking back. Today was going to be about relaxing and having real fun as a family unit. That was all that mattered.