I would just like to be a bit soppy and say thank you so much for reading my story! Writing is something I love a lot and to know people are enjoying what I write makes my day! There are a few of you who are dedicated readers/reviewers (you probably know who you are) so the most enormous thank you to you guys because without you I probably wouldn't have continued to write the this story after the first chapter let around write 25! Also I hope you all completed your 2015 relations, I can't even remember mine to be honest haha. *raises glass* To2016, let's make it even better than the last year and certainly full of Casualty fanfics! Happy New Year!

Cal wiped his tired eyes as he watched the second pass by on the clock. Ethan was lying in bed just by him sleeping soundly. The surgery had been successful in the fact the tumour was removed but they didn't know if there would be anymore damage until he woke up and was assed. He didn't know how much more sadness he could take, so much of his little brother getting hurt. This time he'd make sure he was taken care of and little Matilda too. She hadn't even had a proper first christmas and had spent a lot of her time lately in the creche. The door suddenly opened and Cal looked up to see robyn, out of her scrubs and ready to go home and party. She walked over and passed him a chocolate bar and bottle of water.

"Eat the chocolate, you'll feel better." She smiled weakly.

"It's not even scientifically proven but I won't say no to a bit of chocolate." Cal said as he took the things off her and put them down on the small table next to the bed.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Robyn said as she opened her bag and pulled out a big brown book. She handed it to Cal smiling fully this time. "Ian gave it to me, he found it outside the flats after Ethan fell."

Call thanked her then opened the book after she left with a small wave. The first picture was of him, Ethan and their mother, the year they gained a step dad. Ethan was right. The bruises stood out painfully in the bright light, all black and blue. Suddenly he heard a crinkling sound and looked up to see Ethan sneaking the chocolate off the bedside table.

"Oi nibbles!" he chuckled at the sight of his brother ginning and tearing open the foil of the chocolate before taking a big bite out of it. Then he noticed the same blue bruises all over him like in the photograph. He sighed and dropped his head back down. Turning a page he noticed the next picture of Him and Ethan at a school football match smiling at the camera. He looked back at the bed expecting his mind to play tricks again but all the saw was Ethan lying down, pale faced and silent except for shallow breaths that rattled in his chest.

"Look Matilda! Daddy's putting up the tree!" Ethan said to the baby his arms.

"Since when did you start calling me daddy?" Cal joked.

The pair laughed and there was a little giggle from Matilda.

A hour later Cal and Ethan sat on the sofa, with Matilda in Cal's arms, looking at the tree in delight. Though slightly wonky it looked truly magical as it was covered in colourful lights, all the old family ornaments, gold tinsel and was crowned with a sparkly star. The newest bauble hung at the front of the tree in the middle more centre of attention than the star. It read Matilda's first Christmas.

Cal awoke with a sudden start and rubbed his aching neck.

"You alright?" he heard a familiar voice ask.

"Yea i'm fine.." Cal began but trailed off. He followed his eyes up and saw Ethan awake and sat up in bed. "You're awake?!" he almost shouted in surprise.

"Yeah I woke up and you were asleep, we couldn't bare to wake you. They assed me too, and i'm okay." Ethan smiled.

Cal could of jumped with glee then he realised. "We?" he asked looking around for someone else in the room.

"Hello." a girl said as she stepped out from behind Cal and gave a little wave.

"You're not are you?" Cal asked astonished.

"Yes it's me!"

Cal sat down on the sofa and patted Ethan's back. It was the day after their step dad had been taken to prison and his mum and Ethan couldn't stop crying. He didn't know if it was relief or if they just kept replaying the events in their head from the years with their abusive step dad.

"You know I never liked him." Cal said. Ethan looked up at him in surprise with red puffy eyes. "I hated him but never stood up to him. It was always you and mum who were brave and you were punished for it. You're the one with courage not me, i'm just a coward. Running and hiding as always."

Suddenly Ethan through his arms around Cal with such force he nearly fell backwards despite Ethan usually being the weaker one. He hugged Cal with all his might. "Courage isn't a matter of not being frightened. It's being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway." Ethan said though sobs. He let go and sat back normally.

"Where's the cheesy quote from this time?" Cal said with a smirk.

"Doctor Who."

"Well it's a good one and you did do what you had to do. You stood up to him, as did mum and now he's gone. I don't think you'll ever realise how grateful I am for that." Cal smiled.

"Yes it's me!" the girl said.

Cal was brought back from his flashback to the present day and he shook his head almost to get rid of the memories.

"You alright?" Ethan asked a worried frown.

"Yea i'm fine but can I talk to you?" Cal asked.

The girl took the hint and left swiftly leaving the brothers alone.

"Courage isn't a matter of not being frightened. It's being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway." Cal said with a small smile. "I am still thankfull for what you did Ethan and i'll never forget it."

Ethan was bombarded with memories but the one of him and Cal sat on the sofa hugging stuck out like a sore thumb after Cal's quote. "Come here." He said.

Call rolled closer to the bed and was so surprised as Ethan leaned over as gave him a hug. It was quite awkward with one of them wired up and stuck in a hospital bed an the other lower down and in a wheelchair but that was okay and they both wanted it to last forever.

Cheers erupted downstairs and they stopped hugging and looked at the clock. It was midnight. Ethan took the water bottle from the bed and Cal frantically looked in his bag for a drink of some sort to. He pulled out Matilda's milk bottle for it was the only thing he could find. He laughed to himself and they both tapped their bottle together although Cal did not drink his for obvious reasons.

The door opened and the girl stepped back in the room. She walked over to Ethan's bed and took his water bottle to make a speech.

"To 2016. Hope shines for us in it like a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel of hard times and mostly Ethan getting himself hurt from what i've heard." She giggled to herself. "Just like the old times eh? It will be better than ever but let's not forget the joyous memories from last year to. It wasn't all rubbish was it? So to the past and the present, Happy New year!" Tania said and leaned down and kissed Ethan. Cal smirked and pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the midnight kiss.

Ethan smiled. He'd finally found the girl he'd always loved again and she loved him.