Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. please don't sue me I'm poor.

After paying the taxi driver Athelstan went back to the cottage and went into his room. Everybody was in classes right now so he was alone. He unpacked his belongings and started to look through the photo albums he had been given.

There was so many fond memories in the albums. School plays, charities and so much more. He closed the album unable to look at it anymore. He picked up the safety deposited box and studied it. The key was taped onto the bottom of the box. He took the key and opened the box. Inside the box there was two envelopes one of them had the number one on it and the other had the number two on it. Athelstan guessed it was the order that they should be opened in.

He took the first letter and opened it. It read: Dear Athelstan if you are reading this then I am dead and you have taken the things I have left you in my will. I'm sorry for leaving you my friend, I know we had many things we wanted to do but life just got too much for me. Athelstan you remember my dream of working with big cats like lions and tigers well in order to realise my dream I had to get money. So I did something that my parents would have frowned upon if they knew, I placed bets on sports. Yes I know gambling is wrong blah, blah, blah I didn't care and I'm glad I didn't care because I won. I won £100,000 and after a smart investment I managed to double it. I put the money in my bank, the one I wouldn't be able to touch until I was twenty one. I thought it was a good idea at the time but I guess I was wrong. I should have kept some on the side, if I had maybe I would not have suffered so much. Well it doesn't matter now anyway. You know how sad I was when you left right? I always wondered how you would survive in such a different school. When I won all that money I did keep a little bit of it and was going to send it to you Athelstan but I didn't know the best way to send it to you, I really didn't trust the post. And then all that shit with my family happened so I put it in the safety box for you, I know you will use it wisely. Goodbye Athelstan.

Athelstan felt tears in his eyes again but wiped them away. He opened up the second letter and pulled out a wad of cash. He counted out £5,000 cash. How much more was Abel going to give him? There was nothing else in the box and Athelstan wondered if he could make this money last for the rest of high school. Abel was always looking out for him, even in death it was like he was offering a helping hand.

Athelstan was tired he put the letters and cash back in the safety box and locket it again. He put away the photo albums and books back in his suitcase and went to bed. Despite everything that had happened he managed to go to sleep.

Ragnar and his team had finished their football practice and were heading back to their cottages. Everyone was still thinking about Athelstan, especially Ragnar. Nobody could focus on practice and in end called it quits.

Entering the cottage Ragnar said he was going to go to his room and he would eat later. He went into his room and to his surprise found Athelstan. He wondered why Athelstan was back so soon and thought he was dreaming at first. He cautiously walked up to Athelstan and stroked his hair...he was real he was really there, but why? What about the funeral? Ragnar didn't want to wake him but he needed to know. He gently shook Athelstan until he woke up.

Athelstan was awakened but the feeling of someone shaking him. He woke up in a daze and looked to find Ragnar above him "Morning" he said in a slur

"It's the evening but I'll take it" Ragnar said "What are you doing back so soon?" he asked

Oh shit he was going to have to explain, wasn't he? Athelstan sat up and invited Ragnar to sit next to him "The funeral is over and so is the will reading" he replied

"But what about your father or your friends family?" Ragnar asked

Athelstan snorted bitterly and said "Ragnar they don't...they didn't care"

Ragnar stiffened and his mouth gaped "What?" he said highly confused

Athelstan took a deep breath and calmed his nerves "Ragnar nobody cared because they found out Abel was gay so they just threw him away, like he was nothing. His parents kicked him out and left him to live on the street, nobody would help him. That's why he killed himself. And to top it all off my father did nothing to comfort me when I needed it and he got wanted me gone as soon as possible" he explained, he wasn't sure how he kept his voice so steady.

Ragnar looked at Athelstan in pity and understanding. He knew what it was like to have an unsupportive father "Athelstan I'm so sorry..." Ragnar started but Athelstan interrupted him

"You don't need to be, it's not your fault and if my father doesn't want me there, fine it's his loss" Athelstan almost spat

"Athelstan if you need any help or comfort everybody is here for you, even me" Ragnar said

Athelstan didn't say anything he just sat closer to Ragnar and leaned on his shoulder. He felt better when Ragnar wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly.

Ragnar held Athelstan close and said "If you want to cry you can, I won't judge you"

"I don't think I can anymore. I think I've cried enough, I can't go on like this. Abel wouldn't want me to keep going like this. I'll start going back to classes tomorrow" Athelstan said firmly

"A-Are you sure?" Ragnar asked

"Yeah"

Athelstan and Ragnar stayed like this for awhile until Ragnar's stomach gave a loud growl, making Athelstan giggle at him. Ragnar blushed and said that he was hungry, Athelstan said he was as well and offered to make pizza again. Ragnar said everyone would like that and they went down to the stairs.

Everyone was shocked when Ragnar appeared with Athelstan. No one expected him back so soon. Athelstan explained what had happened and everyone was saddened by the news. They all offered him support which he was grateful for. He made the pizza with Lagertha and Gyda's help and everyone sat down to enjoy it.

"Lagertha may I borrow your laptop?" Athelstan asked

"Of course, what for?" She asked

"I just need to see if there was anything in the newspapers about Abel's death" he replied.

She nodded and said it was fine.

After they ate everyone sat down and watched some TV. Athelstan sat in between Lagertha and Ragnar whom sat closer to him than usual. After four hours of television everyone went to bed for an early rise in the morning.

Lagertha took Athelstan into her room so he could use her laptop. She didn't watch as he types away on her laptop she knew he needed some privacy.

Athelstan was grateful Lagertha let him use her laptop, he'd never had one of his own. He did want to search about his friend but he also wanted to search for something else. He was going to search for a way he could put the money Abel had left him to good use. After about an hour he had found what he was looking for, he made a few small investments that would increase his money. As for news about Abel there wasn't much. Just the typical news about how a body was found, when it was identified and how he died but nothing else. Athelstan wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

He thanked Lagertha and went back to his room. He saw Ragnar sit up when he entered.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Ragnar asked

"Yeah" he replied. He got changed and got into bed.

"Athelstan?" Ragnar said

"Yeah"

"Are you going to be ok?" he asked

"I don't know. We'll just have to see" Athelstan replied truthfully. He could have lied and said yes he would be but he was so uncertain of himself.

"Oh...Let me know if you need help, ok?" Ragnar said

"I will. Good night" Athelstan replied

"Good night" Ragnar said

Sleep didn't come easy for Athelstan but somehow he managed to drop off into a dreamless sleep.