~8 years before his death~

"Emerson?" Sebastian asks knocking on his bedroom door.

"J-Just come in..."

Sebastian sighs and enters Emerson's bedroom. He sits down next to Emerson and wraps his arms around him.

Emerson lays his head on Sebastians shoulder the only sound that was heard was his shakey breaths and heartbreaking sobs. Sebastian knew their dad had hurt Emerson. He saw the same hand imprint on Emerson's wrist that had been on both his and Remingtons many times before.

Sebastian didn't know what he could even say to make him feel better. He honestly didn't even know if this was the first time Emerson had even gotten hurt.

Emerson was only eleven he shouldn't be scared to come home from school every day, yet that was the reality for all of them around that age. They knew it was only a matter of time before Emerson would get hurt, but they always tried to keep him in his room during arguments or away whenever their dad seemed to be in a bad mood. Sebastian trusted himself and thought he could keep Emerson safe. Both Remington and Sebastian didn't want him to get hurt but it was nearly inevitable.

"What happened? What did he do to you?" Sebastian asks. He wanted to know yet he also didn't know if he could deal with the answer.

"S-Sebastian he- he grabbed me, and he just started yelling at me... I got scared and I tried to get away, then he dug his nails into my wrist and told me to stay. He just started to hit me, repeatedly... Then he just left once he was finished, he hasn't come back for hours..."

"You're safe now, Emerson," Sebastian says placing his hand on Emerson's head. He runs his hands through Emerson's hair trying to make him feel at least a little calmer.

"He's not going to be gone forever," Emerson sighs.

"He's not, I know he's not... But he's gone for now, he can't hurt you..." Sebastian says trying to reassure him.

"He's hurt me before, what's going to stop him from hurting me again?" Emerson asks.

"Emerson, nothing we do can stop him from wanting to hurt you, but Remington and I can at least try and keep you away... I can't promise that we'll always be able to protect you, but we always try to, I hope you know that."

Emerson nods, "I know, I know you guys are trying."

The door opened once again. This time it was Remington who was there... He saw what was going on, the marks on Emersons wrist and just how broken he looked...

It hurt seeing Emerson had gotten hurt as well. It hurt knowing how much of their childhood was taken away because they all lived not knowing if things were going to be okay. Not knowing if they could enter their home without being yelled at or hurt.

Remington didn't know if he should even be in the room. He couldn't do anything to help, but he couldn't just leave. They both already noticed him.

"I'm sorry, are you guys in the middle of som-"

"Sit," Sebastian says cutting Remington off. He pats the spot next to him signaling for Remington to sit down by him and Emerson.

Remington nods and sits down. They were both aware of what's going on Remington didn't know the whole story, but he didn't have to. He saw the bruises on Emersons arm and the red marks on his wrist, that told most of the story.

"Will this ever end?"

"It will, you just have to wait, I know it's hard, but things will get better. We have each other, we always have and always will." Sebastian reassures.

"He's right Emerson, for now the least we can do is be there for each other." Remington says.

Emerson nods. Sebastian looks at Emerson who was still holding onto him. He rubbed Emerson's back trying to comfort him. Remington couldn't help but feel helpless, he could only watch as his younger brother began to fall apart and as his older brother lost sight of who he was.

Sebastian lost himself a while ago. At age 14 he stepped up and began acting like a dad towards his two younger brothers. He missed out on being a normal teenager because he wanted to protect his brothers from their own father. He rarely went out, he barely talked to others in school. He didn't want to worry others with his troubles or give anyone a reason to be concerned. He couldn't stand the thought of his brothers getting hurt. That was the only thing that ever scared him. Knowing he couldn't protect them.

When he became aware that Remington was being hurt, he tried his best to protect him. It became too much, he knew he couldn't take the hits every single time, because it only got worse, after three hospital trips he gave in. He fell apart trying to protect Remington, and now he felt like he failed. This feeling of failure made him dedicated to at least protect Emerson. He really thought he could protect Emerson. Yet he got hurt anyway.

"Is this the first time it's happened?"

Emerson could only shake his head. He didn't know how long Emerson had been getting abused but not exactly knowing made things worse. He also didn't know exactly how bad things really were for Emerson. He could either give himself false hope or he could think of the worst possibility. Either way, he's probably lying to himself. He doesn't know everything. So why try making any situations up in his head. Whatever he thought wouldn't be any better then what was actually happening.

All three of them were aware that things were going to be hard. It would be years until things begin to improve, but things will improve only to fall apart again.

"Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't we just be a normal family with two loving parents. Why can't we be happy?"