Author Note: It's been a long time since I've written anything and I don't think I have ever attempted a multi-chapter fic like this. (I have one M/M one I was writing a long time ago but I didn't have it planned out like this one), anyway, I'm excited about this and I hope that you guys enjoy it.


His family meant well, they really did, but he wasn't sure how much more of them he could stomach. It had been years since he'd lived at home with his mother and younger siblings and he was continually reminded of why. For one, he was sharing a room with his younger brothers, which he didn't mind except he always felt like he was in their way. Well, in their small house he was always in somebody's way. In fact in an attempt to avoid being a nuisance he was sitting in the kitchen window sill, halfway out and halfway in, the sounds of car horns and shouting mingling with the measured piano practicing that was coming from within.

His mother, who always talked while she cooked was puttering around the kitchen putting together dinner. Poking her head from behind a cupboard door she called to Tom's brother, "Michael, I need you to run down to the store for me."

Tom bent his body, bringing his head back in the house, "leave him ma, he's studying. what do you need? I'll go."

She shook her head, "never you mind, you just relax." She leaned over and patted his leg before turning towards the hallway, "Michael!"

Tom sighed. Knowing it was pointless to argue with her, he headed out of the room, passing Michael in the hallway. Tom's teenaged brother was almost as tall as him now but he was thinner than Tom and full of an innocence and energy that Tom could only wish of having again.

His youngest brother Ralph was in the bedroom when Tom walked in but neither boy said anything. Tom didn't even bat an eye as the army men were quietly picked up off the floor and the nine year old took them out to the living room. He didn't blame the kid, they had hardly known each other before and now Tom was sullen and moody and he knew it, he just didn't know how to fix it.

Pulling some papers from the drawer he leaned back, looking them over. It might not fix things but it would at least get him out of the house.


As the president finished his speech with a hearty "I am pleased to announce the 1946 academic year open" Sybil grinned. She was so excited to be here, it might not have been her first choice of schools but she was a college student. She cheered with all the other girls and looked around knowing these girls would be the ones with her through it all.

The crowd spilled out onto the lawn surrounding the old hall, Sybil longed to join the girls to her right that were introducing themselves. She was just about to speak up when she heard the familiar voice of her mother, Cora, ring through the crowd, "Sybil, Sybil dear, there are some people you just have to meet before we meet your sisters for lunch."

Her mother being a member of the board was one of the reasons Sybil was attending this school, the school that Sybil had been calling a school for weddings since Mary had been a student. She shouldn't complain, for a few uncertain years Sybil wasn't sure she wanted to attend college, of course she wanted to learn but it had seemed so pointless while there was so much good work to be done otherwise.

By this time Cora had managed to make her way through the throngs of students to Sybil's side. Taking her by the arm she led her to a group of faculty and staff from the school. The names were all a blur as Sybil shook hands politely with a couple teachers as well as the dean himself, a tall older man with a wide smile. She was relieved that she and her mother were excused from the typically expected small talk by their waiting lunch reservations.

The restaurant was fancy, one of those places that everyone who is anyone goes, Sybil couldn't be sure if her mother, or sister Mary had chosen it, but it made sense of either of them. Both Mary and Edith were there when the host led them into the table near the center of the restaurant. It smelled divine and her stomach growled, reminding her of her missed breakfast.

It wasn't long before her mother and Mary were engaged in a conversation about who was getting married and other things when her mother spoke up to all of them. It was pointless to Sybil really, all the who's who business. There was more to life than parties and weddings. She turned to Edith halfway behind her menu and rolled her eyes.

Edith had always seen a little more eye to eye with Sybil on these kinds of things and she smiled, "at least you will be able to get away from this at school, it's all I'll hear all year."

Holding back a smile Sybil tried to give her sister a sympathetic look, it was most of what her mother talked about, anybody living with her received a constant stream. "I'm sorry Edith, you'll have to…"

As if she knew what they were talking about Cora looked across the table expectantly, and Sybil's voice trailed off with a smile. Luckily she didn't need to make an explanation because all focus was then drawn to the waiter that arrived to take their orders.

Back in the dorms Sybil set about unpacking her things. With her family in town it had been impossible to get away much before now but since classes started the next day Sybil had finally convinced her it was time for her to go and behave like the other college girls.

She had just put her the last of her things in place and pulled out one of her school books to look over when laughing could be heard from down the hall and soon the room was filled with girls.