Hello everyone! Sorry this is so late. The thing is, I write chapters and then I am not too happy with them. So I rewrite them until they are perfect to me. I don't know how you guys will feel about this chapter. It is very short, I do realize that, but I find it to be sweet. I really hope you all enjoy this!

And to everyone here in the U.S., I would like to wish you a happy Memorial Day! In remeberance of what this day is for, I dedicate this chapter to all the people who have died while fighting in any war.

The eyes I thought I would never see again, full of light and need of acceptance, stare back at me. Greg moves his arm a bit but ends with a moan.

I can feel my smile fading as I watch my little brother feel a pain I wish I could take from him.

"What happened?" Greg asks with a look of confusion.

"You were in a car crash with Mom and Dad and…" I trail off, looking at the door not wanting to see his face.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" He smiles with a hope I don't feel. If I thought telling Manny was hard, Greg would fully understand.

"Greg…" I feel those stupid tears wondering in the back of eyes, waiting to come out. I couldn't cry, not now. I was going to stay strong.

"What's the matter?" Greg's smile disappears.

"They…well…they're gone…"

"What do yo…No, they can't be…" I move closer to him. He stays quiet for another moment.

"No!" He says forcefully. "You are lying to me! Is this another one of your stupid tricks?" He moves away from me; he's afraid of me.

"Greg, I'm not playing a joke on you. I have never been more serious in my life. They are dead. Ok?" I stood up and began pacing. I was mad that he would think I would make a joke out of this. "I would never make you believe something this terrible! God, I don't even believe it yet…" I turn around and look back at my brother who is staring at me in shock. Tears flow down his face in sobs.

I quickly run to him and sit on the edge of his bed. He sits up a bit and lets his face fall into my chest. I couldn't believe he thought I would ever let him do such a thing. More surprisingly, I can't believe I let him. I put my arms around him while one of my hands gently strokes his head.

"Shhhh… its okay little brother. I got you. No one will hurt you…" I mutter comforting words to the young boy who is clinging onto me for dear life.

After his tears stop, I call in a nurse who checks up on him. She doesn't say anything but just nods then leaves. As I stand at the end of his bed watching him intensely, I can see Greg's eyes drooping, begging for sleep.

"I think you should get some sleep…" I suggest.

He stubbornly shakes his head. "No, I don't want. Not yet."

But he looks exhausted. "Greg, go to sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up."

He nods in agreement and tries to settle into the uncomfortable, hospital bed. I give him a small, sad smile and turn my head to look out the window at the nighttime sky.

"Rodrick?" I hear a weak voice from behind. I turn my head to look a Greg sleepily looking back at me.

"Yes?"

"Can you…ya know…" he stops mid-sentence.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask.

"Can you lay down next to me like you used to when we were younger?"

I smile at the memory of Greg coming into my room when it used to be upstairs after having a bad nightmare. I would have him lie next to me as I would comfort him. This soon stopped after I entered middle school and wanted nothing to do with him.

"Of course I can." He scoots over to one end of the bed so that it is big enough for me to lie next to him. I carefully lie down and smile at him. He smiles back, weaker. He snuggles up against me and I let me arms fall around his thin body.

"Thanks," he whispers, his eyes closing. His breathing soon becomes deeper and his body relaxes.

"Anytime," I breath, kissing his forehead, holding him as close to me as possible.

I swear my hear grew three times in size today.

Thanks to everyone who answered my question from the last chapter! Award time! Potatoe Cake gets the Under My Skin Award because I had a friend who used to do the same thing so I feel you pain. A reviewer who goes by the name of m gets the Hopefully A Happy Ending Award because they are pretty hopeful that this story may end up happily (can't tell you if it will or won't. Maybe I'll do a poll an you guys can decide!). Pippin didn't really answer the question but I just want to say that getting yelled at really can ruin your day. Lola Ride gets the Please Update Soon Or I Will Find You Award because I am pretty sure she used all 10,000 charecters to tell me to update. Thanks for the encouragement! Aubz63 gets the Random Award because bet friends can be very random. Mine is.

This Chapter's Questions: What is one thing you did when you were younger that you would never in a million years do now?

My Answer: I used to walk out of my room and lie in front of my parents door way. They used to have to step around me to get out in the early morning hours. Hehe.