Close your Eyes

Pale sunlight filtered through the curtains, caressing tan skin and outlining a strong jaw. The peaceful warmth was accompanied by the early morning chitter of birds and the soft whoosh of the first few commuters driving along the roads. Wakefulness crept up on him gently bringing him back to the land of the living.

Tadashi yawned, stretching his arms up and above his head as he revelled in the moment taking time to enjoy the first real full night of sleep that he'd managed to get since first stumbling into this odd future timeline. Hiro was safe and sound, asleep in his bed and all was right with the world.

Thoughts of breakfast began to filter into his mind. Flapjacks with warm melted butter and golden syrup dribbling down their sides. Maybe he should get up and make some as an early morning surprise for both Hiro and Aunt Cass. Decision made Tadashi twisted in a bid to slip out of bed only to have his graceful movement ruined when his shirt caught on something causing him to half fall off the couch with a muffled yelp of surprise. His hands connected with the wooden floor holding him up off the ground as his feet remained on the couch, tangled with the blanket beneath which he'd been sleeping. Tadashi blinked in surprise.

Lying beneath the arch he now unconsciously had formed with his body was Hiro. He was fast asleep and his fist was clinging to the hem of Tadashi's white night shirt. When had that happened? Better question yet, why was Hiro sleeping on the floor with no blankets or pillows to even make the spot more comfortable? Hiro was probably the best person to ask but he was clearly dead to the world and if there was one thing his baby brother needed at that moment it was sleep which brought Tadashi to an entirely new predicament… How was he going to get up without waking Hiro?

"Tadashi have you seen Hi… ro?" Aunt Cass stumbled to a halt at the sight that met her gaze as she walked into the living room.

"Hey, Aunt Cass." Tadashi replied keeping his voice down. "Mind giving me a hand here?"

Aunt Cass rushed to his side, carefully stepping over Hiro to help lift Tadashi up into a seated position on the couch without waking Hiro. Hiro shifted, mumbling something indistinct when his arm moved up along with Tadashi, fist still clinging to the white fabric. "Why is Hiro sleeping on the floor?" Aunt Cass asked on a whisper adjusting Tadashi's pillow to make him more comfortable in the awkward position he was now sitting in.

"I don't know." Tadashi cupped the back of his own neck. "I woke up and found him there when I tried to get up. He must have snuck in some time during the night."

Aunt Cass nodded glancing down at Hiro once more. "He looks so uncomfortable." She commented. "I'll go fetch his bedding."

Tadashi reached out and grabbed her hand before she could turn and leave the room. "You don't need to do that. Let's just give him mine. I'm already awake and I don't need it anymore." He offered looking down to get a better look at what his brother was doing. Hiro was lying parallel to the couch, curled in on himself. His knees were leaning against the couch and his head was pillowed on his right arm. His left arm was reaching up still clinging to the hem of Tadashi's shirt.

Aunt Cass nodded before reaching over to lift the bedding off of Tadashi. Leaning forward, she carefully draped it over Hiro. The soft blanket drifted down, gingerly settling onto the slim form curled up on the floor. Hiro sighed and shifted into the blanket reacting to the residual heat and familiar scent that encased him. The subconscious stress lines around his eyes faded away as he drifted deeper into restful sleep.

Satisfied, Aunt Cass stepped back sharing a wry smile with Tadashi. "Looks like you're stuck." She commented on a whisper just as Mochi made his way into the room. He took one look at the setup before sauntering right over to the makeshift bed on the floor. Climbing onto the duvet he walked a few circles before settling down to sleep on top of Hiro's hip.

"It would appear so." Tadashi whispered back once Mochi was done, a soft smile on his lips as he took in the scene. Glancing back up, he looking around the living room. "Mind passing me a book while I wait for sleeping beauty to return to the land of the living?"

"Sure thing, honey." Aunt Cass walked over to the bookshelf, absently reading the titles before pulling one out and handing it to Tadashi.

Tadashi's eyebrows quirked up at the title: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. "You picked up a book on parenting?"

Aunt Cass gave him a sheepish smile. "I figured it was about time. Hiro went through a lot when you died and I didn't know how to help him. I thought it might help. I also bought this." She pulled out another book holding it out so Tadashi could see the title: I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping & Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One.

Tadashi's chest ached as he read it, the sudden reminder of what his family had gone through while he was gone hitting him hard. "Did it help?" He asked softly.

Aunt Cass shook her head shelving the book once more. "I never got round to reading it. What with everything that was going on at the time. Fortunately I didn't need to." Aunt Cass stood and ruffled Tadashi's hair playfully. "I've been blessed with two young men who are strong enough to face and overcome anything life throws at them. What more could I ask for? Now read your parenting book so I can get breakfast started." She winked at him before heading to the kitchen to do exactly that.

Tadashi watched her go before cracking open the book and beginning to read, savoring the warm sunlight, the rhythmic sound of his brother's breathing, the deep rumble of Mochi's purr, the peaceful morning and the sheer joy of being alive.

- BH6 - BH6 - BH6 –

A/N: There, some Hiro, Tadashi fluff for everyone! This chapter seriously did NOT play out the way I expected it to. I didn't expect Tadashi to stay on the couch or Aunt Cass to walk in. Also Aunt Cass bought a book on PARENTING! O.O

RazzlePazzleDooDot: Thank you for the rant. I LOVED it and I really appreciate your kind words. It really brings me joy to know someone loves my story as much as I do. Tadashi isn't going to bring the contents of the diary up with Hiro. What was written in there was actually very private. He doesn't think Hiro will be too happy to know he read it so he is keeping the fact that he has it a secret from his brother and watching over him instead. Hiro is grown up, he was forced to grow up very quickly by the things life threw at him but somewhere deep inside he will always be the snarky brat we all know and love. Tadashi did recognise Hiro in the photographs. He was simply trying to deal with the subtle changes that made his brother look older, changes he missed due to being gone for three years. Wasabi was only confirming what Tadashi could see for himself.

Kiki Anderson: And you shall, as soon as Tadashi figures it out

Ern Estine 13624: All will be revealed in good time XD XD XD

Anony mouse101: Here's the Mochi moment I promised was coming XD.

shooting2stars: I wonder, who indeen :P. Baymax has come to the rescue many times thus far. He is simply AMAZING! Hope this chapter was a sweeter moment for you.

CrazyBlueOwl: Maybe XD. Or maybe not. Looks like you've logically tangled youirself into a knot!

Guest: Hiro fell asleep next to Tadashi. I love it! Very much! Hope you love it too.

Cosmickatsu: You are so fortunate that you can buy stuff like that. I'm a little jelly... I have a Baymax plushie that I managed to find by accident in a chinese mall this side and the Baymax and Hiro figures that actually are meant to be used for the Disney Infinity game (even though I don't have the game). It's pretty much all I was able to find here merchandise wise and my brother really struggled to get me the Disney infinity figures. No worries, youir name didn't confuse me since your avatar remained the same and I love conversation based reviews. I hope youi enjoyed the Tadashi moments both the original and the new ;)

Dreamer: Hold on to your theories. There may be a grain or two of truth in them. I agree with you. Time travel makes my head spin. I've been really focusing hard on trying to write this story in a manner that makes sense. I wanted to write time travel in order to keep the original story relevant and to bring Tadashi back but I didn't want to leave it at - oh he travelled through time. I wanted the time travel to be logicl in order to fit in with the main scientific theme of Big Hero 6 which is why I'm trying so hard to interlink the various things that happened. PS: I really enjoyed Full Metal Alchemist way back when I first watched it. Are you watching to original anime or the remake?