I wrote this weeks ago, and I've been hecka excited to share it with you. Also I was listening to SU again.

Take a moment, remind yourself

To take a moment and find yourself

Take a moment and ask yourself

If this is how we fall apart

But it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay

You've got nothing, got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here

~Steven Universe

"Seto? Why don't you come in now?"

The little boy, who sat cross-legged and with his arms folded, spun in his seat to face the wall.

His father chuckled quietly. "Come on, kiddo, you can't stay in the waiting room forever. Don't you want to meet your little brother?"

"I don't," confirmed the boy grumpily.

"Then…don't you want to see your Mama?"

Slowly, Seto turned back to face his Dad. "…Can I?"

The man held out his hand, and his son raced over to take it. Together, the two walked into the room, where little Seto clung to his father's side, as he eyed the bundle in his mother's arms with a degree of contempt.

He felt angry and betrayed that his parents had decided to go ahead and have another child – and a son, at that. Already, he'd decided that he didn't like his new brother. Seto loved his parents, and knew very well that he was the center of their universe. He had no desire to compete for that role with some other kid.

"Come sit up here, Seto," the woman urged, tapping a spot on the bed next to her, but Seto insistently shook his head.

"I don't want to," the boy sulked.

"Aw, kiddo." His father scooped him up. "What's the matter with you?"

Seto sniffed, and hid his face in his father's jacket. For months now, he'd been fighting the idea of having a sibling, something his parents were far from oblivious to. "You won't need me around now you have a baby," he mumbled, voice barely audible through the material of his Dad's clothing. "He's smaller than me and probably cuter, so you'll love him more."

"Come here, precious." The woman held out her arm – the one that wasn't holding the baby – and her husband set their oldest son down by her side. Seto instantly curled up against her, but refused to even look at his new brother.

"That isn't how this works," she promised. "Your Daddy and I love you each as much as the other. And I promise, once you give the baby a chance, you'll love him too."

"I won't," insisted the stubborn little boy, much to the amusement of his parents.

His mother giggled, and his father ruffled his hair.

"Look," she went on to say. "I know how you feel. I have a little sister, you know."

"I know," he answered. "Aunt Lamia. What about her?"

"Well, don't think I was any happier about it when she came along than you are now. But you know, in time I learned – as will you – that there is no greater gift in life than a sibling. You have an automatic best friend. Someone who you can play with, and share stories with; and someone who you can take care of and love forever, and who will love you back just the same, no matter what. Why don't you just hold him, and give him a chance?"

Seto was uncertain, but he trusted his parents more than anyone. Still, he was an intractable little boy, so he didn't give over easily. "Alright, but I won't like him any." He held out his arms with a hefty sigh, but nothing could have prepared him for what was placed in them.

"How…how am I ever going to play with him? He's so tiny!"

"So were you once," his father said. "He'll grow, don't worry."

Seto didn't look like he quite believed that as he turned his focus down to the baby, really looking at him for the very first time.

He was indeed small. But his eyes were wide, and matched the colour of their mother's perfectly. Everything about him seemed so defenceless, so very fragile, and Seto found himself even breathing carefully all for the sake of not hurting the newborn, though his mother's arms supported the baby's weight under his own.

"So," he said after a full minute of frankly boring nothing. "What does he…do, exactly?"

"Not much yet." His father leant on the side of the bed next to him. "But like you did, he'll eventually learn to talk and walk and do everything else people learn how to do – and it's our job to help him with that."

Cautiously, Seto pulled an arm free and poked the small human in the cheek. He was very soft and squishy. It weirded him out a little. "Why is he staring at me like that?"

"Maybe it's because he loves you," his mother suggested.

Seto's eyes widened. "He…does? But he's never even met me before."

"Maybe not, but he'll recognise your voice from the womb. Babies can hear before they're born. I bet right now he's thinking, 'hey, that's my big brother and I love him!'"

Seto looked at each of his parents, then down at his new little brother. Those blueish-gray eyes continued to stare up at him, and the more they did, the more he could feel his resolve to hate this adorable little human melt away; and where stubbornness and anger once was, another feeling that Seto liked a lot better slowly took over.

"What's his name?" Seto asked.

"Mokuba," their parents answered together.

"Mo…ku…ba…" Seto repeated slowly. The baby began to fuss in his arms, but Seto shushed him calmly. "Don't worry, Mokuba. Whatever the problem is, I'll take care of it. I promise. I am your big brother, after all."

Almost as though he understood, the baby settled, his tired eyes slipping shut as his brother spoke to him. Seto watched in awe as the child fell fast asleep.

"Did you see that?" he whispered excitedly. "He heard me!"

"He most certainly did," their father encouraged, kissing the boy on the top of the head. "Why don't I just put him in his cot? Then you can have time with us all to yourself."

"Uh…actually, can I hold him a while longer?" He tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. "I mean, I did promise."

"Of course, sweetheart," his mother whispered, nuzzling Seto in the side of the head and kissing his cheek, earning a smile from her son.

Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. Maybe it would be nice to have someone around to love and take care of. An automatic best friend, his mother had said. Someone who'd love him no matter what, forever.

Carefully, so as to not jostle the sleeping infant, Seto leaned down and kissed Mokuba on the tip of his tiny nose.

Forever and ever.