Warning: The end of this ch is a bit of a tear jerker
Falling asleep on his bed one sunny afternoon, drifting in and out consciousness Atem started to dream about the day that Yami was brought home
~Atem's Dream~
"Would you please go and get Atem for me, we have a big surprise for him" his Mother asked a nearby servant. Making her way up the stairs the young lady found the young tanned boy sitting in his room playing. "Your Mother has a surprise for you Master Sennen" the young servant smiled as she picked the boy up who was not yet old enough to walk, making their way out of his room and carefully down the stairs, at the bottom Mana deposited the young Sennen into his Fathers awaiting arms.
Looking at his Mother and then to the young boy that sat on his Mother's knee, Loretta started "Atem, this is your new little Brother Yami, he's going to be living with us, look, you two even look alike" Loretta smiled as she watched her Husband Aknamkannon bring Atem closer to Yami so they could interact. "I think they like each other already" Aknamkannon chuckled watching his Son smile and giggle with Yami ~Dream end~
In the meantime Yami was trying to get his elder brother to wake up, the boys had Piano lessons with their favourite teacher Mahad and even though he was their favourite, he was never too fond of them being late for practise "Atem...Oi, Atem wake up, you're going to make us late for practice again and if Mother finds out, she won't be happy" Yami said giving his brother a shake to wake him out of his slumber
"Please, Father...Just five more minute" Atem droned sleepily, turning his back to his brother and falling asleep again "Argh come on Atem...I need to get Mother, that will wake him up" Yami smirked as his dark violet eyes narrowed slightly. Just as Yami was about to walk out the door the call of a deeper voice was heard "Yami, Atem, Mahad is here" which instantly woke the sleeping tanned Sennen from his dreams.
"Coming Father" Atem called back, his voice sounding deeper than normal from being asleep mere moments ago "You better not have been asleep Atem Horus Sennen" his Mother threatened "Busted" Yami whispered just loud enough for his brother to hear.
Tidying his spiked mane up, Atem stepped in front of Yami "Big Brothers first" Atem jeered "Be my guest, Mum is waiting to growl at you for making us late anyway" Yami chuckled spotting his Mother standing near the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips and her sapphire eyes narrowed "Please apologise to Mahad for keeping him waiting" Loretta growled eyeing her eldest Son "We are sorry to have kept you waiting, Sir" the boys chimed bowing in unison
"Lets get on with our lesson shall we?" Mahad asked raising an eyebrow at Loretta who shook her head watching the boys take their music books and head to the separate part of the lounge. Sitting with her husband at the table Loretta sighed "What are we going to do about those two, one minute they are getting along just fine and the next thing they are trying to kill one another" she said looking to her husband for advice
"In a few days time it's their 16th birthday, maybe once they hit 16 they will no longer behave like that" Aknamkannon smiled at his wife, placing his hand on top of hers "I just hope you are right" Loretta mumbled looking down into her cup of freshly made coffee.
Hours passed and finally both boys and Mahad came out of the other living room "That was very good you two, you have improved greatly Yami, well done" Mahad said smiling at the teenager "Thank you Sir, I do try and practise what I have learned after school" Yami nodded to his teacher "Suck up" Atem whispered pretending to cough "I heard that Atem Sennen, now both of you thank Mahad for his time and then go upstairs to wash up for dinner" Loretta ordered
"Yes Mother, Thank you for coming Mr Mahad" the boys bowed "No problem boys, I will see you again next week, just try not to have an afternoon nap next time, hey Atem," Mahad said winking at Atem bringing a pale pink blush to his cheeks. "Ok you two go and wash up now please," Loretta said as she nodded to her Sons and then sighed as they turned to leave
"Everything ok Loretta, you look stressed" Mahad asked as he walked over to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder "I'm just wondering Mahad, how were the boys with you today" Loretta asked looking into Mahad's Stoney grey eyes "They were good actually and I'm really surprised with how much Yami has improved but Atem seemed to be a bit distracted" Mahad said frowning with concern "Probably just a teen thing. You know how it was." Loretta giggled.
"Well I better get going, now" Mahad nodded to her "Thank you, Mahad." Loretta nodded back "anytime Mrs Sennen" Mahad grinned cheekily as he left the house. Later that evening at dinner time Yami sat playing with the food on his plate as everyone sat eating, noticing his change in mood Loretta softly placed her hand on his, making him look up at her. "What's wrong Yami," Loretta asked as she put her knife and fork down "Mother? Can I ask something?" Yami asked copying his Mothers actions
"You can ask me anything, what is troubling you?" she said giving him her full attention "I look so different from my family. Why is that?" he asked "Aknam, I think its time we told him the truth, he's old enough to know" Loretta said looking at her Husband who nodded "Know what?" Yami asked, curious. "When Atem was born, he was actually a twin but sadly his twin brother didn't survive long after birth. Seeing how alone he was and in the fact, your Father and I still wanted two boys, we went to an adoption agency where we found you" Loretta said trying to smile as tears filled her eyes.
Dropping his knife and fork in shock, Atem gasped "Yami and I are not real Brothers, it can't be true...We...We've grown up together" "I'm sorry Atem, I should have told you sooner, but I didn't want to upset Yami when he found out the truth" Loretta said hiding her eyes from her Son's view "I was at an adoption centre, w-why...D-did my real parents not love me...W-whats wrong with me that my parents wouldn't want me" Yami stuttered, his eyes shaking with sadness and confusion
Turning to her son and embracing him, Loretta rested her chin on top of his head "Your parents did love you Yami and believe it or not the same thing happened to your Mother that happened to me, she also had a twin die at birth, but because your Mother and Father were so grief-stricken over the death of your Brother they put you up for adoption, thinking it was the only right thing they could do for you" Loretta explained gently rubbing her sons back as he sobbed into her chest
"Mother? Could you tell me more about my real brother" Atem asked as he moved his chair to sit next to Yami to help comfort him "I can't really tell you much Atem but we named him Heba and he looked a lot like you, I never got a chance to see the colour of his eyes but you both shared the same hairstyle" Loretta informed her son who had his hand resting on Yami's back
Later that night, hours after the boys had gone to bed Atem began to have a nightmare, ~Dream start~ he didn't recognise the place or any of the people that rushed past him but as he walked down the long white hallway he heard the scream of a very familiar voice 'my Mother' he thought as he followed the sound. coming to a door where the screaming was located he looked through the small glass panel on the door, his eyes instantly widening at the sight.
A tan skinned women with long black hair lay on the bed screaming in agony as she struggled to give birth, continuing to watch on he saw a small baby being picked up near the end of the bed who had a striking resemblance to him 'that's me' he said to himself as he continued to watch on as his exhausted Mother began screaming in pain again, her breathing laboured and sweat beading her brow "You can do it, Loretta, keep pushing" a deeper voice encouraged as the top of a second small tri-coloured head appeared between her legs making Atem wince.
Watching on further he saw the second baby born but the atmosphere in the room this time was different, all the nurses that had been there attending his Mother had solemn looks on there faces even his Father who carried the small baby over to his Mother 'Something is wrong, that baby isn't crying' Atem said still watching the scene unfold "I'm sorry my dear, he didn't make it" his Father said handing the small quiet bundle to his wife.
"D-Do you think we should still give him a name, how are we going to tell our other son when he grows up, if his twin brother doesn't have a name" Loretta said quietly and sadly as she gazed at the baby in her arms "Your right, we do need to tell our son one day so I think we should name him Heba" His Father said as he gently caressed the babies soft face with his thumb "What about our other Son, he needs a name as well" his Mother said as he saw her looking over at the baby warmer "Atemu" his Father said proudly "...But we will shorten it to Atem..." ~Dream end~
Atem jerked awake from his dream, sitting bolt upright in bed with his hand on his chest feeling his heart rapidly beating in his chest "What my Mother told me at dinner time was true, I survived and my Brother didn't" Atem sighed as he laid back down in his bed and tried to get comfortable "I wish there was something I could've done, my Mother almost died having me and Heba, I wish I could've met you before you died, my Brother" Atem whispered as a single tear ran down his cheek with his eye's slowly closing.
Sorry for the sad ending but it will get happier, I promise =)