Through The Ups & Downs
Couple; Harrison X Briana
Rating; Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! In addition, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character Ella (Eira) Solveig. She belongs to a good friend, ShadowSpirit020.
37) Brothers & Best Friends
{Normal POV}
[Archian General; 3rd Floor-#316 on 8/28/2016]
Three weeks had passed since Briana and Harrison's one-year anniversary; it was one they would never forget. From the moment they left the hospital to making love that night for three hours, it had unforgettable. Truthfully, Harrison and Briana felt like it actually made them stronger to wait the year to have sex. It was more meaningful that they took their time, went through some good and bad, but made it through together. Today was the big day where Dr. Eretson was supposed to let them know if Nate's cancer was in remission and if he could come home finally. However, unlike the days before, ever since the transplant and the week following that day; not everyone would come at the same time to the hospital. Viviana, Spencer, Harrison, and Briana were there daily. The other friends would stop in every few days at different times to visit with Nate, wanting to make sure that Nate didn't lose his support system as he was still battling cancer.
The Haddock family and Briana, of course, were gathered at the hospital in Nate's room waiting for Dr. Eretson to come in and let them know if today was the big day or not. The time was 8:30 am, bright and early so they could hopefully bring Nate home that afternoon after all the discharging was done and they were given instructions for at home care. Finally, Emmett knocked on the door and walked in a moment later.
"Good morning, Haddocks! And the young lady who I assume is the future sister-in-law that Nathaniel keeps mentioning," Emmett said with a chuckle as Harrison's eyes widened and Briana blushed a deep shade of red. Harrison saw his parent glancing at him curiously.
"So, do I get to go home?" Nate asked softly, perhaps a little nervously as well. The poor boy had been stuck in the hospital since the middle of May and it was now almost the beginning of September 2016. Four long months and three of them had been spent in isolation during the worst of the cancer and right after the transplant.
"Well, let's take a look, shall we?" Emmett smiled to Nate as he began looking over the folder. After what seemed like an eternity of holding their breaths, the doctor smiled broadly. "You get to go home," Emmett said.
"Really? I can bring my baby home?!" Viviana almost burst out into happy sobs.
"Yes, Mrs. Haddock, you may. Nathaniel's white count is up to acceptable levels, all his organs are working perfectly, the skin tone and energy have returned to normal. Nate can move without pain, there's no nausea or vomiting. I believe the best news, though, it that according to this; your cancer is in remission!" Emmett informed. Viviana and Spencer hugged, both overwhelmed at the news. Harrison hugged Briana, then Nate who whispered a thank you to his older brother. Had it not been for Harrison's bone marrow, Nate might not have survived this long.
"Thank you, Dr. Eretson. Thank you so much," Spencer shook the man's hand, Viviana hugged Emmett. Both parents hugged Nate next, and thanked Harrison afterward. For the next half hour, Emmett explained that for three months, he wanted to see Nathaniel every two weeks and after that, they would move the appointment to once a week. This was all just to make sure the cancer stayed in remission and if by chance it came back, they would be ready to catch it right away. While Viviana and Spencer handled the discharge paperwork, a nurse came in to unhook the machines from Nate. Harrison helped Nate out in the bathroom with changing because with Nate bed ridden for so long, the boy was stiff and locked up from sitting. When all that was squared away, the Haddocks and Briana left.
[Haddock Household; 2:45 pm]
Harrison and Briana arrived to his parent's house finally at 2:45 pm. There was a coming home/beating cancer party being thrown for Nate. However, Harrison and Briana had to pack up their things at the hotel first, then speak to Major General Wright about when they were due back. The date would be September 2, 2016. It was in a week and it would suck to tell everyone, but orders were orders and both were needed to come back for other situations. Reaching Harrison's family home, everyone had already arrived; even Glenn and Aaron had come out for the celebrations. Getting into the backyard, Harrison and Briana saw everyone present except for the man of the hour, Nate.
"Hey, we're here. Sorry it took so long," Harrison greeted with a wave.
"Oh, it's alright, son. I don't think we'll be having the party after all," Viviana stated with a sigh.
"Why? What is wrong? D-Did Nate have to go back to the hospital?" Briana asked cautiously, but she only mentioned something like that because everyone looked miserable.
"No, dear. When we got home at 10:30 am, Nate said he just wanted to take a nap in his bed while called everyone to tell them the good news. We mentioned the party for him and he just doesn't want to come out of his room now," Viviana informed sadly.
"Anyone ask why?" Harrison wondered.
"Said he didn't want to," Spencer replied. "And he's got the door locked,"
"I'll talk to him," Harrison stated as he went for the house, and then to Nate's room. Once there, Harrison knocked twice. "Nate? Hey, it's me, your older brother. Can I come in, buddy?" he asked. The lock clicked once as Harrison opened the door and walked in. "Hey, what's the matter? You're missing your own party," Harrison questioned when he saw Nate lying on his bed, face down in the pillow.
"I-I don't want to go out there," Nate mumbled.
"Why not?" Harrison sat on the edge of the bed now and rubbed his brother's back.
"Because I look horrible. Yeah, I'm not pale or look like death anymore, but-," Nate paused as he sat up and took the bandana off, his head showing little to no hair. It had started to grow back after first two weeks since the transplant, but it still looked like he had a short buzz cut and you couldn't really see the autumn colored hair that used to sit on Nate's head. In the hospital, Nate never showed anyone how much of his hair was gone, he always wore a hat or bandana. Harrison understood now, Nate was ashamed to go out in front of everyone with no hair because he thought he looked ugly or everyone would stare at him.
"Nate, it'll grow back. It's already starting to," Harrison pointed out.
"Harrison, I know everyone knows I had or…still have cancer, not sure how to word that, but…" Nate stopped and sniffled a few times. "They don't know I lost all my hair in the chemo treatments, no one has seen and I…don't want everyone to stare at me. I'm the only one with no hair and I don't want to be out there with everyone looking at me," he looked down sadly.
"Hey, we can think of something," Harrison tried.
"No, just…tell everyone to go home and that I'm still tired or something," Nate hid his face again. Harrison sighed, what could he do to fix this? Harrison raked a hand through his hair while trying to come up with an idea, he realized how long it was getting and then it hit him like a pile of bricks.
"Well, I suppose that it's one of those times where I get to say, this is what brothers are for then," Harrison stated in a low voice with a sigh as he left Nate's room and went downstairs, then into the half-bathroom to grab something. Heading outside now, Nate was right behind Harrison wondering what he had meant. Nate was standing at the sliding glass down and looking at Harrison. Nate was wearing a hat as expected and Harrison motioned for Nate to come closer, as he did so, Harrison took off his shirt and tags and pulled something out from behind him; a pair of buzzers.
"Harrison?" Nate asked with confusion. Nate didn't understand as Harrison knelt down so he was closer to Nate's height and flipped the buzzers on, and then, Harrison did something that no one would have expected. Harrison put the buzzers to his hairline and moved them back slowly, taking off his own hair. Everyone's eyes widened in shock, even Nate's. Harrison had short hair from his army cut in 2015, and maintained to keep the back a number three buzzer shave, then scissor cut on top, but kept it longer. However, with this cut, Harrison was shaving it right off to barely anything at all. "Har-Harrison! What are you doing? Stop!" Nate exclaimed.
"No," Harrison answered him, he just kept buzzing his hair. Harrison shaved his hair off his head, then went around to make sure it was even. Afterward, Harrison shut the small machine down and set it in the grass while looking at Nate.
"W-Why did you do that? Y-You love your hair, why did you take it all off!" Nate yelled at him.
"You said you didn't want everyone looking at you, right? Well, look around, kiddo. Everyone is looking at me, not you," Harrison said as Nate saw everyone looking in shock at Harrison's shaved head. Harrison smiled and that was all it took for Nate's lower lip to quiver a bit, then he threw himself at his older brother and cried. It was this moment where Nate's hat came off and everyone was able to see that Nate's hair was gone and likely from the chemo treatments. After a few seconds, Nate pulled off his brother's shoulder and wiped his eyes. Harrison put a hand on Nate's shoulder now, "I did this because we're brothers, Nate. Moreover, if you have to go through this, then I will too so you don't have to face it alone,"
It was now that everyone understood what went down. Nate was embarrassed and ashamed from losing all his hair to the chemo treatments, so much that he didn't want to be outside with everyone looking at him as the only hairless person there. Harrison decided to remedy that by shaving off his hair so Nate would not have to suffer alone. Viviana was in tears, so was Briana, Addilyn, Hailey, and Regina at the single act of compassion and thoughtfulness that Harrison had done for his little brother, shaving his head so Nate wouldn't feel like the odd one out. Spencer was just in shock, maybe even a little emotional too. Aaron and Glenn only smiled and nodded their heads, proud of what Harrison had done.
"Well, thanks for that, Harrison," Syrus started.
"Make us all cry why don't you?" Olivia and Chelsea sobbed together.
"Y-You didn't have to do this for me," Nate told him while trying to form a smile.
"Hey," Harrison stood up and brushed the hair off his body, then he lifted his hand to Nate's as the two connected. "This is what brothers are for," he winked.
"You're the best brother in the known universe," Nate replied.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Now that the guest of honor has come out of his room, we can get this party started!" Harrison announced as Dexter nodded and flipped on the music. First thing Harrison did was take out his cell phone from his pocket, slip off his shoes and socks, and then jump into the pool to get the remaining hair off. Afterward, he climbed out and Briana handed him a towel to cry off with. Nate didn't seem interested in anything else, he just sat next to his brother smiling the entire time. One thing was for sure, and everyone there couldn't ever deny the bond Nate and Harrison had, the bond of true brothers who were not only family, but best friends too.