Rain pattered against the frosted windowpanes, sounding almost like small pebbles hitting the glass. A warm fire however, took away from the outside weather, rippling in place as another log was thrown into it, and a teen boy poked at it with a fireplace poker. He stepped back, sighing, as he cast a glare over to a plaid chair where a four year old girl with curly red hair lay fast asleep, a knitted blanket thrown across her tiny body.

The boy sighed, walking over, and tucked the blanket just a snug closer to the girl's chin. She gave a small moan and turned aside, gripping tightly at a stuffed bear. A little smile crossed the boy's face, until a haggard coughing sound from nearby turned his attention to where a woman was sitting on a stool, next to a bed in the darkened corner of the room.

She seemed to sense his attention and looked back at him, giving him a weak, yet sad smile.

She said nothing else.

The coughing sounded again, and she looked back down at the individual who lay in the bed. An old man, whose worn, thin hand was held in her own, as she gently carressed it. The man looked up at her, reaching his own hand up to touch her face. The smile she'd put on her for her son became thin, as upon closer inspection, you could see she was struggling to hold back tears.

"Hey, Dad...how you holding up?" Her voice almost broke as she spoke, causing the boy to look over again. He turned his gaze to the fireplace.

The man didn't speak at first, he only cupped his hand around the woman's face, pressing his thumb against the tear trickling down her cheek. Though weakly, he nodded.

"My granddaughter." His voice came out hoarse as he spoke. "Let me see her now."

"Now?" The woman gulped back her tears. She spared a glance back to where the little girl was asleep. She bit her lip, and looked back at the old man.

"She's asleep, Dad...I don't know if-"

"Please, Carrie Anne." The man coughed again, more violently this time. "Just let me see her. I haven't given her her present yet..."

Carrie Anne's upper teeth remained pressed on her lip. After a whole moment, she looked back to her son, who was standing at the fireplace. He looked over at her, not saying anything.

"Wake your sister. Grandpa wants to see her." she said.

A look of worry suddenly crossed the boy's face, but he still didn't say anything. He only nodded back, headed over to the plaid chair, and placed his hand on the girl's shoulder. Gently shaking it.

"Hey...Pep, wake up." he prodded.

Her green eyes opened, blinking sleepily.

"Hm...wha...what?"

"Gramps wants to see ya."

The girl blinked again, rubbing a sleepy tick out of her eye. Yawning, she slid out from underneath her blanket and got up, carrying her teddy bear close to her. She took timid steps, slowly approaching the bed where her mother and grandfather were. Her mother spared her a tiny glance, a sad smile, then rubbed her back, not saying anything as she halted at the bed. The light bounced off her pigtails like fire sparks.

Her tiny pink lips remained sealed.

Her grandfather's eyes had shut, but as her footsteps ceased, he opened them again and turned his gaze towards her. A weak smile appeared on his face, and he released his daughter's hand, reaching out.

"Hello, sweetheart..." The little girl stared down at his hand, before slowly taking it in her own. It looked so small compared to his, smoother and less worn out from years of work. He squeezed her hand, gently, as he fended off another cough. Carrie Anne bit her lip again, and continued to rub her daughter's back.

The girl ran her finger against the lines in her grandpa's hand, not looking him in the eye. No words were exchanged between either of them for a good two minutes. Finally, the little girl looked up, with big round eyes, at the old man in the bed.

"Grandpa, are you going to get better soon?" she asked.

Her voice held so much innocence, it was almost impossible to give her the answer that wouldn't upset her. The honest answer, which was not anything positive. The honest answer, which her brother and mother already knew. The answer, which was no.

But her grandfather didn't tell her this, he didn't even answer directly. He only hesitated, before reaching under his blanket, pulling out a sealed envelope. He held it up, and out towards the little girl. She bent her eyebrows in confusion.

"What is that?"

"Your present, my dear. Go on, take it."

It took another minute, and a glance at her mother, which resulted in a nod, and so the little girl took the envelope. She turned it over, looking at the fancy purple seal on the back which had the initials P.T. on it. Being a child, and being curious, she started to tear at it, trying to open the crisp paper from where it was sealed, but her grandfather's wrinkled hand grapped her wrist, stopping her.

"No, no don't open it yet." His voice sounded more weak and hoarse than ever. "Have patience."

She said nothing, only lowering the envelope.

"But what's inside, Grandpa? And why won't you tell me if you're gonna get better or not?"

The question again. It was unavoidable, it seemed. Her mother, released the hold she had had on her lip for so long opened her mouth to speak, to reply, but her grandfather spoke first.

"Oho...my sweet girl, I'm sorry. Grandpa's very tired...I'm afraid it'll be awhile." he said. "But don't worry...don't-worry, about me. Right now, it's important you listen to what I say."

Silence. Fire crackling. The girl hugged her bear tightly, watching her sickly grandfather, her big eyes wide open and attentive, yet sad. She knew what was going on, she wasn't that young to not know. Adults just didn't wanna tell her anything. But because she was obedient, she listened, not saying anything.

"There will come a day when you feel crushed by the burden of modern life." His words caused her brother to look over. He stayed by the fire, however, and kept his arms crossed.

"And your bright spirit...will-will fade, before a growing emptiness..." The rain seemed to be falling harder outside. "When that happens, my girl, you'll be ready for this gift. Promise me you won't open it until then."

Though her young mind couldn't quite understand such fancy talk, she nodded.

"Okay, Grandpa. I promise." she said, almost in a whisper.

Another weak smile appeared on the old man's face. He touched her cheek, shaking his head.

"Good girl...now, let Grandpa rest."

They say that the first snowflake of Winter is supposed to be mean good luck, or good fortune. Or at least, that's what his grandpa had told him long ago. He didn't know if that was true now or not, but despite being past the age of believing anything anyone told him, a part of him wanted it to be true.

This was the first thought in Pepper's mind as he looked up just in time to have a snowflake melt onto his freckled nose. He blinked, rubbing his nose with his mittened hand and looked up to see more snowflakes descending from the sky, which resembled something akin to a thick grey blanket.

It hurt his eyes, but he couldn't help but continue to stare.

More flakes fell, hitting more of the freckles on his face. He looked down, holding his mitten out to catch a rather large looking flake. One small glance was all he got before it melted into the purple yarn. One small sigh escaped his lips and he reached back over, picking up the rake he'd dropped onto the ground before the flakes had arrived.

Leaves from that previous autumn scattered the ground, and the snow obviously hadn't wanted to wait. The whole reason he'd been out here was to rake, not get distracted by the snowflakes like he was a little kid again. He was supposed to have had this finished before lunchtime.

The claws of the rake caught onto a row of leaves as he brought the rake back, the leaves going into the tiny pile he already had. More flakes kept coming and a rough wind blew past him, almost knocking his beanie off his head. His cheeks were freezing and felt numb, and he almost wanted to stop raking again and rub his hands against his cheeks to thaw them.

The front door of the house behind him opened and shut, as an older woman with greying reddish-brown hair ran out onto the porch, wrapping a grey sweater across herself as her feet hit the decaying wood. She grabbed onto the pole and shouted over the wind.

"Pepper! Lunchtime, honey!"

He perked up and looked back, nodding.

The rake hit the ground and he followed her back inside. She walked back to the kitchen while he kicked his boots off beside a pair of bigger black boots and a pair of red ones. His coat was hung on the rack, yet the beanie remained on his head as he walked into the kitchen, where his mother was now setting a plate of cut-up sandwiches on the table. As she turned, he smiled coyly and snatched one, before darting over to the fridge. A gasp emitted from his mother as she turned back around to see a sandwich missing.

Her glance moved to the fridge where Pepper was taking out the milk jug.

"Okay, I doubt you were that hungry." she scolded, although her tone was light. "Couldn't you have waited?"

Pepper popped the cap off the milk, swallowing the bite he'd taken from his sandwich. As a response to his mother, he only gave a half shrug.

"I am that hungry." he insisted, taking a swig from the milk jug. He was stopped halfway as his mother came over, holding a glass. She took the jug from him and filled the glass halfway before handing it to him. His shoulders drooped and he took another sip, now rummaging through the cabinets.

"Do we have any chips?"

"Yeah, I was just about to get a bag down. Could you do that while I get a bowl?" His mother was taking another plate down from the other cabinet.

"Sure." Pepper reached around until he pulled down a rather large bag of potato chips and opened it, taking a few out for himself before setting it down on the counter. He looked at the kitchen entranceway, seeing the snow falling, but also noticing the empty living room as well.

He looked back to his mother.

"Where's Cole?"

"He's not up yet? I thought he was taking a shower." The chips rustled as they hit the plastic bowl. "At least, I thought he was. I could have sworn I heard the water running in the bathroom earlier."

"He probably fell back asleep. Want me to go check on him?" Pepper reached over and popped another chip in his mouth before taking another sip of his milk. His mother sighed, pulling the bowl away and walking over to the table with it.

"No, just let him sleep. He's been sick, hun, I think he needs the rest."

The bowl hit the table with a clunk. Pepper swallowed, remaining where he currently stood. With a sigh, he ignored his mother's request and sat his glass down, walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Though she called after him, he continued walking down the hall, until he had made it to his brother's room. A bunch of signs and posters adorned the door, even one being a "Keep Out" sign, but he knocked anyways.

"Cole?"

No response.

Another knock.

Finally, he grabbed the doorknob and opened it, marching straight towards the bed where a crumple heap of blankets was. A crumpled heap, or his brother. It could be either or. As he pulled the blankets off and discovered nothing but sheet underneath, it turned out to be exactly what he thought it was.

A thud alerted him and he looked to see his brother at the computer, slumped against his desk. Trying his best to avoid another sigh, Pepper walked over and tapped the older boy's shoulder, trying to wake him. Nothing. Noticing a can of beer nearby, he picked it up, opening the tab, and started pouring it down Cole's neck. This seemed to work, causing him to startle, yelping and nearly falling out of his chair.

"Crap!-Pepper!" Another beverage can hit the ground, clunking against the wood and rolling into a trashcan. "What the he-seriously, what the heck!"

"Sorry, sorry!" The younger, smaller boy shrunk back. "It's just-you know, lunchtime. I thought you were hungry."

"I already ate."

"No you didn't. You were out cold all morning."

This caught Cole off guard, and he shot a look back at his little brother. A sour look, yet a knowing, and guilty one at that. He grunted, turning his head back to the computer screen where a screensaver had taken up most of the screenspace that had previously had a webpage up on it. He moved his mouse, covering his mouth with his hand.

Pepper stood behind him, in silence. He grabbed at his arm with one hand, watching as his brother exited from the webpage he previously had up. His eyes met the cans of beer in the trash, but he didn't say anything about them. Why should he, when it was already a familiar sight to begin with? It wasn't like that, or the plastic bags with white powder he had stored away in his underwear drawer were a secret.

"Hey."

"What?"

His voice came out in a snap, causing Pepper's eyes to widen. He took a step back, gripping at his arm tighter.

"You coming downstairs?" His own voice was a whisper now.

Cole sighed, pressing his fingers to his forehead.

"God I-I don't know. Just go ahead. I'm not hungry."

That was a no then.

But he didn't leave just yet. He only stood behind his brother, watching as he brought up some basic sports website, watching in his reflection as he rubbed his finger against his chin. He didn't look back at him, and Pepper didn't dare say anything else. So he left, slowly walking out and shutting the door behind him.

"Hey, leave that open."

He heard his brother's voice as he started to descend the stairs. But he didn't go back.

"Hey, Pepper-"

He kept walking.

He could open that damn door himself for all he cared.

It was 12:00 at night. Pepper knew he should be in bed, asleep, but instead he was up, sitting at the kitchen table, in nothing but a baggy t-shirt and Batman PJ pants. A cup of cocoa that his mother had left out for him sat in front of him, but it had gone cold by now.

Part of him wondered if it was his insomnia keeping him up, or the fact that Cole wasn't home yet.

It was Friday, and Friday night Cole would be stuck working the late shift at a local burger joint downtown. Then after that, he'd go out with some co-workers, who he probably didn't even like, and spend another several hours at some crappy bar downtown, and then spend another hour getting messed up on crack in some stranger's car. He knew how it was by now, that's the way it'd been for several years now.

It probably wasn't good for him to say he was used to it, but he was used to a lot of things in his life by now...and this was one of them unfortunately.

Not to mention that the minute it had hit 12:00, he wasn't fourteen anymore. Officially, he was fifteen now.

Happy birthday, right? Spending a night in the cold kitchen all by himself.

No, no, he probably had presents hidden somewhere, and in the morning his mother would surprise him with his favorite food for breakfast, and then bake him a cake in the afternoon. It was another routine he was used to, and considering his family's money state, it was the only thing he could afford.

The front door cracking open alerted him, and he craned his neck back to see Cole stumbling in from the cold, stomping snow off his boots. He took his scarf off and shook snow from it, throwing it onto the hat rack, but stopped mid-taking his coat off when he saw his little brother in the faint light of the kitchen. He stood, frozen almost, for a minute, then began walking over to him.

"Pep, what are you doing up?" he hissed. When his brother didn't answer, he cracked a grin and gave a soft cackle, sitting down next to him. "Are you going for the fourteen year old insomniac's Hall of Fame record, again?"

Pepper didn't answer. He just kept staring at his brother, then poked at his cocoa cup.

Cole's grin faded, and he leaned back in his seat, beginning to tap the table. There was no alcohol on his breath, but his fingertips were yellowed, probably from smoking.

Finally, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small package and putting it in front of his little brother. Pepper eyed it, bending an eyebrow. He pushed his cup aside and picked it up, turning it over in his hands, before tossing it back down again.

"Trying to make amends for earlier?" he said almost bitterly, causing his brother to look startled. Though he didn't respond right away, he instead leaned back and rubbed the back of his head, letting out a long sigh.

"Pep...I-no. No, just-" He rubbed his eyes, letting his hands slide down his face. Pepper watched, waiting.

"I...didn't mean to act that way towards you, I'm sorry."

"That's not what I meant."

Pepper would be surprised at how cold his voice sounded if it weren't for how many times he had this conversation. His brother didn't seem surprised either, he just seemed annoyed more than anything, and groaned, letting his hand smack the table. Not loud enough to startle, but enough to cause the cocoa cup and package to jolt a bit.

"Yeah, I-I know..." He ran his fingers through his hair now, avoiding eye contact. "The beer cans, the, the half-drank ones...I can explain that, okay?"

"No you can't. You always say that but you can't." Pepper looked away now too, a fly buzzing at his ear. He swatted it, and looked down at his lap. "Just say you have a problem and we'll all be happy."

"It's not that simple!" Cole smacked the table again, this time causing Pepper to jolt. He looked at him, but his expression remained blank. Almost immediately, an expression of guilt was on Cole's face, and he grunted, now rubbing his forehead.

"I...got, I got fired." he said.

The blankness on Pepper's face melted into a shocked one.

"What? When did-"

"This morning. My boss, she, heh, well, she texted me to let me know someone else was taking over my position." He leaned his chair back, kicking his feet up on the table. "I got my last paycheck tonight. That's the only reason you got your present early, I didn't wanna be tempted to spend it on other things...you know what I'm sayin'?"

Pepper's eyes fell on the package again. He looked at it, then looked at his brother. His brother looked at him, ceasing his foot tapping, then cracked a smile and laughed.

"Hey no feeling sorry for me, it's not like there's not anymore jobs at there." he stated. "You shouldn't be worrying about me."

"It's kinda my job, you know. And mom's." Pepper shrugged. "I don't know...we're your family, after all."

"That doesn't mean you have to worry all the time though. Hey, I'll be fine, we'll be fine, just wait and see. Mom's still got a job, and I promise the first thing I'll do in the morning is apply for another position somewhere else."

Pepper eyed his brother.

"Promise?"

"Pinky promise."

His eyes went back to the present. He picked it up, silently, before tearing back the red ribbon holding the paper together. The paper fell loose as he tore at it, revealing a little box underneath. He sat the box down, opening the lid, reveal a small, porcelain bird inside. He carefully pried it loose from the tissue paper, running his finger in awe over the smooth blue wings.

"Huh..."

His gaze went up to his brother, a smile on his face.

"I'm gonna keep you to that promise."