A/N: Sorry the update took a little longer than usual, but I didn't have access to my computer for a few days and couldn't write the chapter. Anyway, thanks for reviews and I hope you like the new chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
During the next few days Ethan, Zoey and Susie visited Matt, keeping him company and talking to him, asking him to wake up. Zoey and Ethan had also in turns taken Ryan to see his brother every day. Now after the third day of Matt's coma Jennifer informed them that they were going to try and wake him up, which is why they were sitting on their usual place outside the hospital room, anxiously waiting for news.
It was half an hour since the healers had disappeared into the room, when Jennifer came out.
"The awakening was a success and Matthew is awake, but we needed to inform him of his parents and he's too distraught at the moment for us to allow too many people to visit him. However, he expressed a desire to see his brother, so I would like you, Ethan, to take little Ryan to see him." Jennifer said.
Ethan nodded and took Ryan from Zoey's lap before entering the room. He saw Matt lying awake on the bed; tear-strikes clear on his face.
"Hey, little brother. How are you feeling?" Ethan asked as he walked over his bed.
"Hi, Ethan. I don't know… confused, sad, afraid… I feel like someone's pulling a huge prank on me. I – I guess it just haven't really sunk in yet." Matt said quietly, tears forming in his eyes. "I just… I can't believe they're gone."
"I know." Ethan said and hugged him. "But you know we're here for you; Zoey and me, and even Susie. She wouldn't have left your side for a second, had we not forced her to go home to sleep and eat."
Matt gave a faint smile.
"No 'ky Mat'." Ryan babbled as he crawled on top of Matt, and it made him cry even harder.
"H-How am I going to take care of Ryan? I don't know how to be a parent for him."
"Ryan will be just fine. Zoey and I will help you. And I'm sure Susie will too. You can come and live in the apartment above the bakery or move in with me at my beach house. Everything will work out."
Matt nodded hugging his little brother.
"Have you seen them?" He asked after a while.
"Yes, I was the one they asked to confirm their identities." Ethan said.
"They looked peaceful."
Matt nodded again the tears running down his cheeks.
"I just miss them so much." He cried.
"I know. I do too." Ethan said as his own eyes filled with tears too and the two brothers in everything but blood cried for their parents.
"C-Can I see Susie?" Matt asked after he had calmed down.
"Sure, I'll go get her." Ethan said moving towards the door. "Do you want me to take Ryan?"
"No, I want him with me for a while." Matt said looking at the small toddler on top of him.
Ethan nodded understandingly. "I'll come and see you later, okay? I need to go to the orphanage… you know…"
"Yeah, say hi to the kids for me."
"I will." Ethan said with a faint smile and exited the room.
"He wants to see you." He said to Susie, who quickly stood up and vanished into the room, leaving Ethan with Zoey.
"How is he?" Zoey asked.
"As good, as can be expected in this situation." Ethan said sighing.
Zoey nodded.
"I need to go to the orphanage and inform them of Jared's d-death. I need to find a replacement for him as soon as possible." Ethan said.
"Who were you thinking?" Zoey asked.
"I will have to ask Will if he would be willing to take the post… I know he's young, but he knows what he's doing and his personality is good for the job. Jared taught him well and since he was his assistant all these years, I don't need to explain him anything." Ethan said. "Hell, I think he knows more about what's going on at the orphanage than I do."
"True, Will is a good replacement for Jared." Zoey said. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, I was thinking of asking Fred, if he'd like to come. We haven't seen each other since Sunday." Ethan said a longing look on his face.
"Poor Ethan… You've been away from your boyfriend nearly three full days." Zoey mocked him teasingly. "You must miss him so much."
"It's good for you to say, you saw your boyfriend just yesterday and the day before, when you ate lunch with him." Ethan countered.
"George and I aren't dating." Zoey said becoming flustered.
"Oh right, you just meet him for lunch every day." Ethan said rolling his eyes. "Really Zoey, he likes you and you like him, what's the big deal? Just ask him out, if he doesn't have the guts to do it himself."
"Just mind your own business, Ethan." Zoey said blushing.
"Whatever you say, Zoey, whatever you say."
It was a half an hour later when Ethan found himself at the WWW shop, refreshed and in clean clothes.
"Good afternoon, Ethan. What brings you to our brilliantly amazing shop?" George asked as he entered.
"Hello George. I'm here to see Fred… is he in?"
"Sure, he's in the back." George said and Ethan nodded gratefully before making his way to the back. He found Fred stocking shelves and making an inventory of their products.
"Hello there handsome." He smirked, leaning to the doorway.
Fred looked up his face brightening when he saw Ethan watching him work.
"Hello to you too." Fred said as he walked over him sliding his hand on Ethan's waist. Ethan kissed him briefly.
"You busy?"
"No, not really. We have been training new assistants for us, so that we have more time to manage all the paperwork and concentrate on inventing new products… why, did you have something in mind?" Fred asked.
"I was wondering if you'd have time to accompany me somewhere and eat lunch with me after that."
"Sure, I can take a break. George will be fine with Patrick and Jules." Fred said. "Just let me go change." He continued before leading Ethan to their apartment above the shop.
"So where are you taking me?" Fred said as he led Ethan to his bedroom while unbuttoning his shirt.
"Now, that would be telling." Ethan said not being able to take his off of his boyfriend's very well-toned body as he discarded his shirt. He wanted to run his hands down his abs and taste every inch of that hot body, but had to restrain himself – this was not the time.
"Like what you see?" Fred winked at him as he tried to find a clean shirt from his closet.
"You have no idea." Ethan muttered huskily, which made Fred grin even wider.
"Now if you're ready, we need to go." Ethan said clearing his throat as he tried to collect himself. Fred put on a new shirt, still grinning widely as he approached Ethan.
"I'm ready."
"Bloody tease." Ethan muttered before taking hold of him and Portkeying them out of the shop. They appeared in front of a huge Manor that was surrounded by woods and a small Quidditch field.
"Welcome to the Marauder's orphanage." He said.
"You have one here too?" Fred asked in amazement.
"Yeah. It worked well in Britain so I thought why not here too." Ethan said.
"Wow, this is amazing." Fred said. "I have visited the one in Britain with George a few times – we donated stuff for them – but this is something else. This place is huge!"
"Yeah. I found it among the Potter properties and thought it was perfect place for children. The location is perfect, not too close or too far of the city and there's a beach nearby where the kids can spend time in. Jared and I designed the yard, with the Quidditch pitch, the playground and little huts in the woods. The woods and the beach are surrounded by protective charms so that smaller kids can't get lost or get into the water without supervision." Ethan explained.
"It's a perfect place for kids to grow up." Fred agreed. "So, Jared worked here?"
"Yeah, he was the Head of the place, only sending me reports and stuff." Ethan said. "That's why we're here. I need to let everyone know what happened and ask if Jared's assistant, Will, would take the post as the new Head."
Fred nodded understandingly and took Ethan's hand as they walked towards the huge house. When they were nearly there the door opened and two small children – boy and a girl – came running towards them.
"Ethan! Ethan!" They yelled and the girl jumped on Ethan, who caught her, hugging her tightly.
"Hi Ella, hi Justin. How have you been?" He asked putting the girl down and ruffling the boy's hair.
"We're good." They said in unison.
"Who is that?" The boy, Justin, asked pointing at Fred.
"This is Fred." Ethan said. "Fred these little monsters are Ella and Justin. They're both five and have been here for a year."
"Hello." Fred said to the two kids, who regarded him curiously.
"Is he your boyfriend, Ethan?" Ella asked excited.
"Yes, he's my boyfriend." Ethan said laughing as he took Fred's hand.
"Do you make babies with him?" Ella asked curiously.
"Err… no." Ethan choked and his and Fred's faces turned red. "Erm…What gave you the idea?"
"Mila said she caught Lucy and her boyfriend Jonas making babies and when I asked Evan how babies were made he told me to ask you." Ella said seriously. "How are babies made, Ethan?"
"I… err… I – I will tell you when you're older." Ethan said flustered as Fred was dying of laughter beside him. Ethan quickly ushered the kids inside and dragged Fred with him, wowing to get back at Evan someway.
"Mr. Summers, you're here." A tall blond man said coming down the stairs.
"Hello, Will." Ethan greeted the young man and introduced Fred to him. "And please call me Ethan."
Will nodded.
"So what brings you here today, Ethan?" He asked.
"I'm afraid I have bad news." Ethan said grimly. "Jared was in an accident over the weekend and passed away along with his wife."
"Oh my god!" Will exclaimed horrified. "What about Matt and Ryan? Are they okay?"
"Matt was in a coma for a few days, but is now awake and should recover, and Ryan was unharmed." Ethan said.
"What are we going to do without Jared? I can't manage the whole orphanage by myself. We need a new Head." Will said sadly. Jared had been like a mentor for him and they had worked together for a long time.
"Yes, we do. What do you think of becoming a new Head?" Ethan asked him.
"Me?" Will asked surprised. "You'd want me to become a new Head? Even though, I'm only twenty."
"Yes. Though you're young, you know what you're doing and the kids like and trust you, just like they did Jared. I'd much prefer if they had someone they know, leading the orphanage. I will help you manage everything until you find yourself a new assistant… that is if you accept the post." Ethan said.
"I would be honored to be the new Head." Will said.
"Good, it's settled then. We'll try to find you some help as soon as possible. You don't have anyone in mind, do you?"
"Well, I guess we could ask Miranda if she would like to do it." Will mused. "She's been trying to look for a job and she has helped me and Jared sometimes, while she lived here."
"Perfect, you should call her and ask her if she would like to do it." Ethan said. Miranda was one of the first orphans brought into the Marauder's orphanage. She had been living in a muggle children's home since she was six-years old, but had never fit in due to her magic. When she was thirteen Jared and Ethan had found her while looking for magical orphans and taken her in. Now she was eighteen and living on her own, but often visited the orphanage and her 'siblings'.
Will left to call Miranda and Ethan turned to Fred.
"You want me to give you a tour?" He asked.
"Sure, lead the way." Fred smiled and Ethan led her around the huge Manor. There were dozens of rooms in the Manor: bedrooms, playrooms, TV-rooms, music rooms – everything you could ever imagine. Ethan introduced him to all the kids they met and a few staff members too, who were playing and keeping an eye on the kids.
There were nearly fifty children of different ages living in the orphanage and more than twenty men and women in the staff. Fred couldn't believe that Ethan could remember everyone's name, but he did, always greeting them with a correct name and exchanging a few words. Ethan was very popular among them and everybody wanted to speak with him. All the kids really loved him.
"You know, I'm getting a bit jealous here with all the attention everybody gives you." Fred said pouting as they walked alone around the yard.
"There's no need to be jealous. I only have eyes for you." Ethan smirked at him and kissed him deeply. Fred responded eagerly and they kissed for a long time, before they were interrupted by a high-pitched voice.
"Are you making babies now?"
Ethan and Fred parted and saw little Ella staring at them curiously with her big brown eyes.
"No, we're not." Ethan said before bursting out laughing with Fred following.
"Will said to come and get you." Ella said clearly disappointed that she still wasn't told how babies were made.
"Okay let's go back inside." Ethan said picking Ella up from the ground and sitting her on his shoulders as she laughed.
They re-entered the Manor and saw that Will had gathered all the kids and staff to the lobby – it was time to give them the bad news.
Ethan took a deep breath and stepped in front of the crowd thankful of the support Fred provided him.
"I'm here today as the bearer of bad news." Ethan said grimly. "I'm sorry to inform you that Jared was in a car accident over the weekend along with his family and has passed away with his wife Annie." Ethan paused and the children – who understood what he was saying – yelled protests and cried over the man, who had been like a father to all of them.
"I would like to ask a few moment of silence in honor of Jared and his wife." Ethan said tears forming in his eyes, and a deep silence fell upon the room apart from quiet sniffling from the children.
After a few minutes Ethan started talking again.
"I can fortunately inform you that Jared and Annie's sons Matt and Ryan survived the crash and are recovering. I am sure many of you would like to attend the funeral and pay your respects to the man, who has helped us create this wonderful place, so I'll make sure to inform you when it has been decided." Ethan said.
"As Jared's successor, the new Head, I have decided to appoint Will. Will, if you'd like to say a few words." Ethan said and stepped down.
"I know we all will miss Jared and hope that he was still here among us, but I promise to continue the work he started, to make this place a good place to live and help those who need it. Thank you." Will said and everyone diverged. Ethan and Fred said goodbye to everyone and Ethan Portkeyed them back to the city.
"You want to get some lunch?" Ethan asked Fred.
"Sure. What did you have in mind?"
"There's a good restaurant near your shop."
"Let's go there then." Fred said and they walked in to the restaurant and ordered the day's special.
"How are you coping with everything?" Fred asked.
"I'm sad and I miss Jared and Annie, but I'm glad Matt is okay." Ethan said. "I have learned over the years that it doesn't really help if I just keep mourning the people I have lost. The pain is still there, but I need to move on or I will sink into depression and can't do anything. I will always miss them and wish they didn't have to die, but I'd like to think that they're still with me, even though I can't see them." He continued. "And I need to be strong for Matt and help him get through this and take care of Ryan."
"What about you? You can't just be worrying over everyone and not let anyone take care of you." Fred said.
"That's what I have you for." Ethan smiled the love shining through his eyes as he looked at him.
"You better not forget it." Fred said smiling too as he took his hand.
"I could never forget you, not even if I wanted to."
A/N: Well there it was. A bit shorter than the last one, but couldn't help it. There will most likely be one more chapter to this story and maybe an epilogue, since I'm running out of ideas and I seriously need to start writing Sky.
Please review and tell me what you think of the chapter/story. Thanks.
- Dalnim
