A/N Alright, so this is the sequel to Twist of Fate…and it's from Kevin's Point of View…in case I don't make that obvious enough! Also, the sequel is NO WHERE NEAR as good as the original. I'm sorry for my lack of updating this weekend, I had prom so I've been busy, I'm going to try to update most if not all of my stories today.

It had been a year. Exactly one year, and I'm pretty sure that's how I knew that everyone was still awake. One year since Joe had been admitted to the hospital with injuries so frightening that I cried. One year since initial statements were made. One year since Nick had shown up at my dorm at four in the morning telling me that Joe was in trouble. One year since we'd called the cops…since they'd rescued him…one year of lawsuits and tears and confusion.

I sat on my bed just thinking about everything. The truths had come out in the law suit…they had to, it was Joe's only hope. After the police broke into the house where Joe was being held hostage, chaos ensued. Five of the thirteen gang members had been shot, the other eight, including Joe, had been arrested. Joe was the only one who was in the hospital though, paying for his crimes with pain caused by people he had chosen to associate himself with. That was when I found out things about him that I had never thought could be possible. He was facing murder charges, kidnapping charges, assault and battery…he was facing the death penalty. In a way it was lucky that he had been tortured because it made him a good witness – and testimonies in a case like that are practically guaranteed immunity…he was. Nick didn't want to press charges against Joe and the only way to do that was to lie…or more leave out bits of the truth. I remember before Nick made his statement to the police he pulled me aside; told me that Joe had done things to him…that Joe had told him to keep them a secret, but he had to tell someone and if not me, the police…and that would be the end.

I was scared. Scared because I was helpless. If these seven boys got off our entire family would be in danger and all I could do was hope that Nick and Joe's testimonies were enough to condemn them. The trial had been three months ago and it had been agony. I sat in the crowd while my younger brothers told the majority of their story, faced cross examination, and cried on the stand. Thank god it was enough. No one got death, but they all got life in prison, three of them with no chance for parole. I put my college education on hold. I needed to be there for them even if I hadn't gone through all that they had. I would lost my scholarship, but I could continue my education elsewhere…or reapply in a couple of years for the same financial aid…I don't know, it didn't really seem to matter anymore.

Joe and Nick were in therapy. Intense therapy. Our parents blamed themselves. Joe blamed himself. Nick blamed God because we were able to make him see that there was no way he could be held responsible. He had been kidnapped and abused…I saw it as my fault. If I hadn't gone away Joe wouldn't have done this…he wouldn't have been like this. Then again had he not been there, Nick would have been killed. Destiny is a funny thing. Nick and Joe both needed me...Joe because he was used to me being there, I was his dependable character since dad had worked so much and Nick…Nick needed someone who wasn't a parent. Our parents got together with me, leaving Nick and Joe out of more drama, and we came up with a living plan. Nick, Joe and I would live with dad because Joe and I had so far…Mom would be allowed to come and visit whenever she wanted, but dad was not required to be near her. They were still on the outs, though this had made some of their old arguments seem petty, unimportant.

Anyways, tonight I sat on my bed knowing that next door Joe's light was on and across the hall, Nick's was. There was no way we would be able to sleep. I knew that it was only a matter of time until one of them knocked softly on my door, looking for someone to talk to or to hold. In one year I had never seen Joe look Nick in the eyes. At first I didn't think anything of it, he felt guilty for what he had done; but Nick forgave him for everything, tried to make Joe see that it wasn't his fault. After that, Nick kept trying to get Joe's attention, to get through to him but Joe said that he couldn't handle it. They hardly acknowledged each other now and that scared me.

"Kevin?" There it was, the quiet whisper and the gentle knock on my door. It was Nick, I could tell from his voice.

"Come in." He opened the door and walked over to where I sat.

"I can't sleep."

"I know." He sat down and put his head on my shoulder.

"I don't think that I can do this anymore." He sniffled softly.

"It'll be ok Nick." I put my arm around him. "You're safe, no one's going to hurt you, I'll take care of you, I swear."

"I wish I'd grown up with you in my life…" he sighed.

"I wish that you had too." I had told him this many times, but he liked to hear it, it comforted him to feel wanted and I understood that.

"I want to be forgiven…"

"Nick, you didn't do anything to him, why should have to beg for his forgiveness?"

"You don't understand." Nick shook his head. "I did do something…something I can't forgive myself for, it's not his forgiveness that I want." Nick gulped.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"You'll hate me." Nick turned away slightly, shaking.

"I won't." I shook my head. "After all that Joe did I still love him…"

"I know…" Nick sighed. "I just…this is different because this wasn't really a choice that I made, it's just sort of something that happened."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." I rubbed his back comfortingly. I was dying to know, but pressuring him would be the worst thing to do.

"When he let me go…he took me to a park and told me to go find you, he begged me to hate him and I…I couldn't hate him." Nick looked at me, a few quiet tears staining his cheeks. I didn't say anything; he wasn't finished. "I kissed him Kevin…not for long, he pushed me away, told me that it was Stockholm Syndrome, that I would hate him soon enough but…I don't…" Nick sighed and I pulled him closer. "I fell in love with him Kevin."