A/N:

KNOCK KNOCK.

I know this isn't really an improvement in matters of updating more frequently, but I promise I'm working on it.

I don't think the show gave us much input about Eric's background, which currently serves as my benefit but might change later on. However, I'm pretty damn sure I'll stick with the way I'm writing it now. On a side note, for the sake of this story I chose the ages 16 and 30 for the Beale siblings. (Although yes, I do realize that Barrett and Paula are both a few years older than that. Especially him, since he's like... 38? I think? But if I made them any older, it wouldn't have fit anymore.)

Anyway, here's a bit of input from Eric's POV and general background story.

KTF CLM

To say that Eric Beale was nervous would be terribly underestimated. Truth be told, as they grew up his younger sister had been the one girl he actually felt comfortable and calm around. They were family. When things got rough, the siblings could always count on each other. Always.

Until they eventually went separate ways.

The mere realization that he barely had a clue what had been going on in Leona's life since then hurt worse than a kick in the gut. And yes, after living alongside her for years he knew that feeling very well. It wasn't like she ever meant to hurt her brother, she was just generally more forceful than she often intended. And way stronger than anyone ever expected, even the one who knew her best.

Or rather, the one who had known her best.

Eric sighed, unsuccessfully attempting to calm himself down while his fingers drummed a random tune on the steering wheel. It had been almost ten minutes since he arrived at the airport and parked the car, but he was still sitting in the driver's seat. He had ten more minutes before he would definitely have to go. Leona had been looking forward to this for a long time, and she would be counting minutes if not seconds.

And really, he was more than happy to get a chance to spend some time with his sister. No matter what happened, she was still pretty much the most important part of his family. As far as he was informed, neither of them had talked to either of their parents in what seemed like ages. And sincerely, he had ceased to care too much. Of course, it still hurt sometimes to know that they both chose other priorities. It wasn't such a surprise that their mother hadn't given it a second thought that an argument about her almost constant absence had started the hell that ended in a messy divorce. Well, things hadn't run smoothly for a long time. But Eric was pretty sure that hit the final nail into their relationship's coffin.

And after that? All traces of their mother's existence vanished from their home and lives within merely hours, leaving them wondering if she had ever truly been there. Lynette Lorentz, formerly Beale, was merely a stranger from their past. Neither of the siblings had ever expected much support from their father, and he stayed true to his reputation. But at the time, it still seemed like he could handle living with a kid. Of course, Eric had moved out and went to college years before the divorce. He was fourteen years older than his sister, and therefore he wasn't around much anymore.

Leona was six years old back then, and he was twenty. The tech operator would lie if he said he hadn't regretted the lack of actual help he could offer the girl.

She had just turned ten when their father got married again. A marriage that was doomed before it started, because the man had been a real wreck since he and his first wife split up. Sincerely, it had been an honest to God wonder that it somehow survived until Leona was twelve.

From then on it had been a matter of months until Michael Beale broke down completely and gave his daughter away, to his brother Malcolm.

And through all of it, Eric was rarely by Leona's side. But instead of blaming him, the way he was sure he deserved it, she called him all the time and kept on telling him it was okay. That she was proud of her older brother for getting out there and doing something with that grand IQ of his.

Although she did occasionally nag him about that 'professional blackjack player' thing. Even more so since he moved said occupation from Vegas to LA.

Which brought his mind back to his current problem.

Leona always put all her trust in her brother. She counted on him more than anyone else to do the right thing, even if he did it a little clumsily at times. She never smiled brighter than when he reminded her that he was the one person who saw her for who she really was, and never underestimated her. And most of all, she was leaning onto the reassurance that it was mutual. That they knew each other so well, and that they could talk about anything.

And now? Ever since he got this job, he had been lying through his teeth every time she even just asked him if he had anything new to tell her. He had tried to sneak in little truths and wrap them up in his cover story, but he just wasn't that stealthy. So he usually avoided telling her much about his life altogether, which obviously bothered his sister immensely.

Even if he took aside the feeling of guilt chewing on his brain and spitting out barely functioning nerves, he still knew better than anyone else how smart and stubborn Leona was. She had always been inquisitive and intelligent, and she never gave up once she set a goal for herself.

There was absolutely no doubt that her current mission had a lot to do with making him talk, and he was afraid she would spend a grand part of her vacation working on that.

Or in other words, Eric was totally screwed.

He took in a deep breath, trying to somehow mentally prepare himself for everything that was about to happen despite the fact that he knew that really wasn't possible. Climbing out of the car, he silently told himself to think good thoughts. And at the realization that he was merely a few steps away from almost running out of oxygen because his little sister would hug the hell out of him, he even managed an honest smile. Still nervous, but also impatient to see her again, Eric made his way into the building and through the halls.

It didn't take him long to spot the four of them, a few steps apart from the rest of the arriving and awaiting crowd. Malcolm and Beth were talking quietly, but what had gotten his attention so quickly was the 'discussion' held by his sister and their cousin. He couldn't quite hear what it was all about, but the mood obviously wasn't too amazing. Leona and Tyler talked at the same time without even considering that the other might have something interesting to say, and entirely oblivious to anything around them. Their voices constantly seemed to grow louder, so things definitely weren't getting better. And hell, Eric clearly recognized the teenager's expression. Her arms crossed in front of her chest, high heels set so firmly on the ground that she could leave the floor behind with a few holes, blue eyes sparkling dangerously as if she might shoot flames or lasers out of them... Yep, that was most definitely the kind of look Leona Beale got seconds before someone forcefully had to keep her in check because she attempted to snap another someone's wrist.

High heels taken aside, it always had been. He remembered her glaring down a girl nearby the playground when she was a kid, for a ridiculous and long forgotten reason. Some things never changed. But comparing the seemingly angelic little girl with bouncing blonde locks from back then to the confident and strong young woman over there, he decided for himself that there weren't nearly enough of those things. As proud as he was of his sister now, he missed the only innocent soul there was throughout his own teenage years.

But she was gone, and in her place was someone who could cause severe damage if he didn't stop her now.

True to his habit, Eric gained their attention with a loud whistle. Curious heads turned to look at the source of that noise, namely Eric himself, but all he could mentally take note of was a loud squeal; followed immediately by the sound on heels rapidly hitting the linoleum floor until she reached him and threw her arms around his neck.

"Eric!"

Damn, she had gotten tall. She was never small for her age, but now there was no denying that she wasn't wearing those shoes to increase her height. And as expected, she had gotten stronger too. While her face was buried in his shoulder, her arms tightened around his neck. Enough for him to be extremely grateful for their aunt's calm, and lightly amused, warning.

"Honey, I know you missed him. But you won't have much of him anytime soon if you hug him into unconsciousness now."

Within split seconds the girl had jumped back a wide step, a sheepishly apologetic grin crossing her face.

"Sorry. It's just-"

"Don't even worry about it, Dandelion. I know."

He stepped forward to close the distance between them again, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. They were both smiling brightly as she rested her head against his chest, so many words left unsaid and still so clear to one another.

And right in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the existence of other people in the room, not the argument Leona had dropped on the spot seconds ago, and not even the secrets that hang in the air between them. Or the voice in his head, reminding Eric that he had to be careful with every word he said to her.

At least it didn't matter until Beth spoke up again.

"Alright, kids. Mal and I thought we should take a cab and get to the hotel right away with Tyler, so you two can have some time to catch up now. How does that sound?"

Before Eric could even think of a reaction, his sister already took the lead.

"Great! I might as well stay with my brother tonight, and tomorrow we can all meet at the beach after breakfast."

Malcolm and Beth both nodded, and there was an enthusiastic spark in their son's eyes as soon as the word 'beach' reached his ears.

Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Leona turned her head to sent Eric a beaming grin. That on its own might've told him that she simply wanted to spend time with her much missed brother, but the determined look in her piercing blue eyes gave away that she had every intention to start chasing her goal as soon as possible.

And by the time she grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the direction he had come from, he already knew that he was about to fall into a load of trouble.