Hinawa welcomed both boys with big hugs, just as she said she would. A doctor was brought in and he tended to Claus's injuries, and Lucas's scrapes and bruises too, even though he insisted he was okay. Hinawa and the doctor had both insisted on him being tended to anyways, and when he tried to protest, Claus had joined their side, even using the "I'm five minutes older than you" card, so Lucas had just given in. Other than "Mom", the order that Lucas let the doctor help him had been the only thing Claus had said since reaching the castle.
Afterwards, both boys were shown to a hot spring and given new, clean pairs of clothes…
When the twins were alone again, Lucas happily let go of thoughts that refused to come anyway and relaxed and floated in the water…until he noticed Claus just standing on the edge of it, staring rather suspiciously at the water.
"…what are you doing?"
Claus flushed, but didn't say anything.
Lucas paddled closer and looked up at him.
"…it feels nice?"
"Yeah, it's great Claus. It makes you feel all relaxed and alive again!"
Claus continued looking at the water suspiciously.
"Hey Claus…are you okay? You've been acting kinda weird- kind of out of it…you haven't been talking much- and usually, you talk a lot more than me, so…"
Claus flinched, ever so slightly, then sighed. He sat down, knees under him on the ground. "I…I guess I feel like I'm dreaming." Slowly, he reached forward and stuck one finger in the water. "I-I don't really remember anything. I remember you…I remember Mom…I remember Dad, and I remember Boney…oh and Grandpa. That's it though."
"You don't remember Tazmily? Or pulling the needles?"
Claus shook his head and withdrew his finger from the water. "I remember a golden glow- a sudden feeling of warmth…that's all." he kept staring at his reflection in the water- Lucas's head dropped slightly, so he could see it too. Two ten year old boys, one with red hair and one with blonde, both with hazel eyes and skinny ten-year-old limbs-
Lucas suddenly remembered the forest and chasing after Claus- and how, for a just a moment, one of his eyes had seemed to be red-
Claus slowly shifted, moving his legs- stuck in first one foot than the other- relaxing a bit. The reflection disappeared in the ripples.
Lucas rested his head on his arms on the side and watched his brother.
Noticing his gaze, Claus kicked unhappily at the water. "I feel- like I'm dreaming…I don't know…if this is real…or not. It's weird…like I keep expecting to wake up."
"…it's weird." Lucas agreed softly. "But it's real too. We're not making this up- it's real."
"You keep saying that…but I…" Claus shook his head.
This was all backwards- it was Claus who comforted Lucas, not the other way around…if Lucas had been the one feeling this way, how would Claus have comforted him?
Lucas splashed his brother.
Claus sputtered and stared at him like he'd suddenly sprung into a song and dance.
"You're thinking too much." Lucas said softly. "We're here now…and we're together. Isn't that what's important?"
For a brief moment, Claus just stared at him- and then he grinned and leaped into the hot spring, causing Lucas to sputter in turn. "You're right Lucas." and then he hugged him briefly- "Thanks." and then he was diving around the spring as easily as if he was a fish- and things between the two were, once again, back to normal…
After that, they ate- in a corner of the castle, just Lucas and Claus and their mom- there was lots of food, a small feast just for them, and they were all together, and while Claus was still quieter than usual, he still laughed and talked and relaxed with them.
"It's gotten late." Hinawa observed as they finished dessert.
Lucas looked out the window- dark clouds were beginning to cover the rosy sky. "Wow, it got dark fast."
"It did." Hinawa agreed, "day and night exist here, but they don't necessarily work the way you're used to. But since night is already here, you should stay here for tonight."
"Okay." Claus said quickly.
Lucas hesitated- just a bit- trying to find the right words. He was happy to stay- it was just that… "Okay." he said quietly, "but we should leave early tomorrow morning."
Hinawa nodded, sadly, but she smiled too, and Lucas smiled back- just a little. "You're right Lucas- it would probably be best if you leave early tomorrow morning…I'll prepare your supplies tonight."
Claus said nothing- he turned to his mother, then to his brother, both smiling but sad- he looked like he wanted to protest, but he only sighed- and then, as if thinking about something, smiled slightly. "Hey Mom…I know we aren't little kids anymore…but can you still sing to us before we go to sleep?"
Eyes just a bit wet, Hinawa leaned over and hugged first her eldest, then both of her sons. "Yes, I can do that."
OoOoO
"I believe the morning sun
Is always going to shine again
I believe a pot of gold
Waits at every rainbow's end-"
Lucas loved every song their mother sang to them, but this was his favorite. This was the song that Lucas sang to himself whenever he was alone or scared.
"You can call me Pollyanna
Think I'm crazy as a loon
I believe in silver linings
And that's why
I believe in you-"
He and Claus had been tucked into bed- a bed just like the one at home- warm and soft, and two pillows side by side.
"You may say I'm a fool
Feelin' the way that I do
I believe in friends and laughter
And the wonders love can do
I believe in songs and magic
And that's why I believe in you"
Their mother's hands hovered over them- descending, now and again, as to reassure them that she was still there.
"You may say I'm a fool
Feelin' this way about you
There's not much I can do
I'm gonna be this way my life through
'Cause I still believe in miracles
I swear I've seen a few
And the time will surely come
When you can see my point of view
But I believe in second chances
And that's why
I believe in you…"
Her song finished, Hinawa trailed off, then asked, very softly "Are you boys asleep?"
Lucas didn't answer- imprinting every word and movement in his memory and also trying to keep from crying- he didn't want to spoil this moment here, this moment now…
Claus didn't say anything either- maybe he was asleep already. Lucas doubted it, but...
Hinawa waited a moment, then sighed, softly, tenderly, and gently kissed first Claus, and then Lucas, on the forehead. "I love both of you so very much…I want you to stay here with me forever…stay here, and be safe…but I know you're needed- the world needs you- both of you. And more importantly, you have people waiting for you in the real world…people who love you just as much as you love them…I love you, my sons…I know you can do it- I know you can find your way to the Dragon- I know you will win…just be careful, alright?" One final kiss-one for each of them- and then she was gone.
Lucas waited a moment, listening after her, half hoping she'd come back- when she didn't, a small sigh escaped, and Lucas snuggled deeper into the bed, under the covers.
"Lucas?"
Startled, Lucas opened his eyes. "Yeah Claus?"
His twin lay silent next to him- after a moment, Lucas turned over and looked at him, wondering if Claus was asleep after all and he'd just imagined it.
He hadn't. Claus's eyes were fixed down, staring into space.
"Claus?"
"…Lucas…I really can't remember anything…"
"My memory's all messed up too Claus-"
"No, it's not that." his eyes darted up to met Lucas's and he looked scared- Lucas could count the number of times he'd seen his big brother scared on one hand. "I really can't remember anything other than you and Mom and Dad and Boney and Grandpa…you actually have memories, you just can't reach them all, right?"
It was Lucas's turn to look away- he didn't know what to say …something was tugging at his brain…he hesitated a moment, trying to find the words, trying to sort things out- "I think- I think you got hurt."
"…I got hurt?" repeated Claus, sounding confused- and then his eyes widened as he got it. "You think that when I got hurt- I hit my head, and that's why my memories are more messed up than yours?"
"It makes sense, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so." said Claus, looking relieved. "Thanks. Night Lucas."
"Night Claus." Lucas said, smiling back- and he shut his eyes and tried to go to sleep- but a thought hit him, keeping him awake long after his brother had drifted off to sleep.
"I've been bad."
Claus had said that- in the forest, when Lucas had been chasing him. He'd said that- why? And now…now he didn't seem to remember that he'd said it at all…
Lucas got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach- he squeezed his eyes shut-
"Lucas, let's switch places-"
It sounded like his brother's voice- but it wasn't.
Lucas pressed his face into the pillow and tried to suppress tears he didn't understand.
"It's Claus-"
His father's voice.
Lucas ruthlessly shoved them all away, opened his eyes and stared at his brother's sleeping face, lying there peacefully.
Whatever had happened before, this was real- and this was what was happening now.
They were safe and they were together.
Comforted, Lucas sank into sleep.
That night, despite the fact that they were dreaming, both twins slept deeply- a lot more deeply than they'd slept in a long time.
A/N:
Aw, look, Hinawa's singing Lucas's theme song! Okay, technically Pollyanna is just from the first Mother game but I can't hear the song and not think about Lucas. And Claus can have Paradise Line as his theme song, so it all works out. ^^
