The sun had set as it had a million times before, and with a cuppa and a sad smile, all those living in the small house embarked back up the stairs to their own solitary thoughts and troubles.

All except two.

On most nights, Eli and Ilios would lag behind, sharing secrets of the day or reading aloud Edgar Allan Poe by candlelight in their most sinister voices. 

Tonight was diffrent, long after dinner, Wade had made his way from his room to join the pair.

Wade to Ilios' shock, took a seat beside her. "What's it like, out there today?"

"Sunny, spring just around the corner. Birds are tweeting every which way." Ilios stated simply giving an inquiring glance to Eli. 

"I've never felt more like a blind man in my life," Wade sighed, "It's driving me mad. Living off here in the dark like some sort of cockroach. Seeing shapes and faces in a haze."

"You're no bother to us." Ilios laughed. "Eli sometimes forgets your here, cept we can hear you pacing in the night. 

Wade shrugged. 

"It's not that bad down here," Eli said placing a hand on his brothers back, "Not when you know where to look." 

"I've seen everything down here that's to be seen," Wade moaned, "I've gone mad." 

"You don't look at things," Eli whispered to his brother, "You look at the people." 

"What are you two whispering about?" Ilios said a bit bitterly that she was left out. 

"Was that David upstairs?" Eli inquired with a knowing smile, "David Larabee?" 

Ilios blushed beet red, "Yes. How do you know about David?" 

"Please, you think I believe that you could only draw from the rooftops. You were always with David." 

"With him or just staring at him." 

"How long have you known?" She hissed in a whisper. 

"The moment you plopped yourself down beside him on that couch three years ago during Swan Lake." Eli smirked. 

Wade frowned internally, he had known about David Larabee from the very beginning. It wasn't some secret or interesting fresh news. Ilios had met the young man during her time with madam Giry and the two had wreaked havoc on the older cast playing pranks and telling jokes.

"And how?" Eli smirked picking up a book and looking it over, "Has Peter been recent?" 

Ilios busied herself and shrugged, "It's not like he visits anymore. Why should I know?" 

Wade suddenly took an interest. 

Eli was right-Peter hadn't been around for quite some time, had he?

"Nothing in the papers recently," Eli noted. 

Ilios looked away in a confused haze, she had been trying to figure out all this for herself. She didn't need her brothers prying.

"How did David get that nasty black eye," Eli asked slowly, his eyes fixed on his sister. 

"Someone punched him." 

"That's not surprising." 

Wade gave a small scoff of a laugh at his brother and shook his head, baffled. What was Eli getting at?

"Why'd he get punched? Besides the obvious reasons."

Ilios pursed her lips bitterly, "It was from someone defending my honor actually." 

Wade looked at her curiously, "Who?" 

"No one." 

Wade glanced to Eli, a glimmer in his eyes, "Come on Ilios. Please?"

Ilios ignored him and picked up a small letter tucked into the mail pile. It was white with a crisp gold lining.

She ran her finger across her name, no return address.

"Who's that from then?" Eli asked knowingly. 

He always knew.

Ilios frowned and cut open the letter, placing her book aside.

"I heard once that iron strong leaders are those forced to be ordinary. Forced away from those they love." The letter read, "That heroes rise from the smelted glowing ashes, their wings turning and facing the smokes up towards the heavens. But you know that don't you? You wrote it."

Ilios smiled at the familiar handwriting.

So here was Peter writing at last. The pain of his departure was still freshly imprinted upon her heart. His mind appearing so broken and despondent in his somber tone that she barely recognized him. 

She had half a mind to reprove him, or rather not write him back at all for the cruel disassociation he had given her family for no apparent reason.

But she wouldn't deprive his only sanctity and warmth with her cold words of disapproval.

"But I know a hero, great as any, in fact perhaps even greater by the sevenfold. She never rose from the flames amongst her. No, she was quite content with little, yet yearning for more. I've been a fool Ilios. A blind fool that's caused pain to the both of us. You never did any wrong. I've come to terms. I understand now. I'm sorry. 

Yours,

Peter.  "

Ilios reread the paragraph. Her Peter?

"He's not mine," She scoffed, "he's all of ours.",

"Hm?" Eli asked with a small smile.

"Nothing..." She murmured

"All good news?" Wade asked with a hopeful shrug.

"Peter's fine, that's good enough news for me."

Eli nodded, he's grown more mature in these past few months if that was possible, and both Ilios and Wade were at a loss as to what was the cause of it. 

He took his paper promptly at nine and wore his eyeglasses like a scholar all around the house. He was always seen with at least one hand on his head as if he had a migraine over every little mark in his accounts book. 

He'd grown quieter, were that even possible, shyer. 

But not in silence, in his willing spirit to listen. If anything he had become a confidant to them all, a thing long since deemed impossible, due to his solitary nature. 

"Is David still here?" Ilios said, Peters words running over and over in her mind. 

"I think so," Wade stated, "But why-"

"I got to go," Ilios muttered angrily, throwing the letter into the fire before Eli had a chance to read it contents. 

"Ilios?" He said worriedly, "Are you alright." 

She grabbed her coat and put it on stiffly, "I intend to be. Don't worry." 

"That's all I ever get to do," Wade moaned to himself. 

It wasn't like he could talk to Winnie, she didn't seem to understand anything that wasn't plain fact. 

She was a funny one, his sister. 

"Be back before 3 or I won't be able to save you from Fathers wrath," Eli warned opening the door for her.

She nodded and gave a few words of thanks and assurance before taking her leave. 

"What was that about?" Wade asked impatiently. 

"She's realized something that's all. She's about to sort it." He looked cynically to his parent's bedroom, "I best prepare Mother." 

"Mother?" Wade said in surprise, "Why?!" 

"Because Ilios will kill her for getting rid of Peter." Eli shrugged smoothing out his suit.

"What?" 

Eli gave a small cock of his head and gestured for Wade to follow, "And you say you know everything around here. You're thick sometimes Wade. Thicker than Winnie. Get a move on!" 

Wade blushed insulted red and followed begrudgingly after his older brother. 

Onwards, he supposed was the only other way to go.