Inspired by a photo of a young child with their mother on a beach: Previously posted on my new tumblr page. I'm fictivekaleidoscope on there. :)

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World: TAG.

Title: Memories.

13 years had passed since they had lost their mother. No, it wasn't a number that would stick out to anyone else, but for his family every year was commemorated. Rescues, where possible, would be transferred to the GDF or local rescue services and they would spend the day together. All sharing a memory from their childhood. Ones that would bring out a smile, a brief moment of laughter, and of course the crushing tears.

Once the sun had set they would then go their separate ways. Virgil to his piano, John would sit outside and gaze at the stars, Scott would pour himself a whisky and then sit in the lounge listening to the melodious sounds drifting through their home, and Alan would retire to his room.

For him, his time would be spent with a walk down to the beach, he would remove his clothes, place his rucksack near the shore, and under the moonlit sky he would dive into the ocean and swim. When ready he would clamber out, a towel would be pulled out of the bag, he would wrap it around himself, and let the one memory he had never shared with his family to flood his heart and mind.

His earliest. He had been 3. His elder brothers were off playing a sports game with their father and Alan hadn't yet been born. It was just him and his mother on the beach and she had taken him for the very first time out into the sea. The waves had scared him, and he'd become convinced that a sea creature he had spotted was in fact a monster come to take him away. Tears had been shed, and he had found himself back on the sands. A thick warm towel was wrapped around him and she had held him in her arms. No judgement, just reassuring words being whispered to him, and eventually, thanks to her actions he had once again ventured out into the ocean.

To the place, that they both equally loved.