jerry989: Thank you for the review.

Guest: Thank you for the review, I'll post a chapter about Will and Ruby leaving to go traveling together.

This chapter was prompted by brony9 with the: prompt: Ethan cooks the boys Christmas Dinner, but when Cal gets upset, can Ethan get to the bottom of what is bothering Cal? Also, Cal is younger and Ethan doesn't have the gene.

The Secret Life Of Casualty.

Chapter 632

Ethan looked at the flat, Christmas songs were playing on the radio, the table was covered with a crisp new tablecloth, with crackers set for each of them, Cal was working that morning, but was coming home at lunch time, so the boys could eat Christmas dinner and exchange Christmas presents, as both boys had been working over the holiday, with today being their first day off, they had decided to make today, the 5th of January, their "Christmas" Day

After he'd finished setting the table, Ethan headed to the bathroom to have a shower, turning the water on, he took his glasses off and put them on the side of the sink before stepping in to the warm water. He shampooed and conditioned before turning the water off, stepping out and wrapping the towel around him, heading to his room. In his wardrobe, he pulled out a crisp white shirt he'd brought and a new pair of jeans and put them on, styling his hair.

At 12: 00, Ethan heard Cal walk in, whistling to himself.

"Something smells good, Nibbles" Cal announced, walking in to the kitchen

Ethan smiled. "Thanks. It'll be ready soon. "

Cal nodded. "I'll go for a shower"

Leaving the small kitchen, Cal headed to the bathroom, still whistling to himself. A few minutes later, Cal walked back in ton the kitchen wearing jeans and a new shirt, similar to his brothers.

Ethan placed two plates down on the table: both were stacked with potatoes, pigs in blanket sprouts, carrots and turnips and Yorkshire Puddings. Ethan dug in, excited to sample his first Christmas Dinner he'd cooked himself but Cal was picking, like a child would.

"Cal, you OK?" Ethan asked, noticing that Cal hadn't touched the lunch which he'd worked hard to cook that morning.

"Yep," Cal replied, but he looked down, not at his older brother. He then got up, going to his room at the end of the hallway. Ethan, concerned, followed him. He knocked on the door, when Cal didn't say anything, he walked in.

"Cal, look at me" Ethan said, standing by the door "What's wrong?"

"I miss mum" Cal said. Ethan was shocked to hear Cal say that: he'd never mentioned her before. He sat on the bed beside his brother.

"I do, too" Ethan replied, glancing at the picture of Matilda, before she got sick, it had been taken at Ethan's graduation from university, Matilda was in the middle with Cal on one side of her, Ethan the other side. "How about we put flowers on her grave?"

Cal nodded. "I'd like that"

Ethan smiled. "Come on, we don't want lunch getting cold. "

Picking up the plates, Ethan warmed them up in the mircowave,

Both boys met in the living room were a small Christmas tree stood in the corner, cards from their colleagues, Charlie and Duffy, Adam and Jess, Will and Archie were on the mantlepiece.

"Ready?" Ethan asked.

"Yep," Cal nodded. He'd hidden Ethan's Christmas pressie in his side draw. As Cal was the youngest, he got his first.

"I hope you like it, Cal" Ethan said as he handed him a package, the package looked rectangular shaped.

"Thanks Ethan" He said as he unwrapped it, it was the new game for the PS5, which because it was exspensive, the boys had gone halves on it. Hitman 3" he added in excitement, he couldn't wait to play it.

Ethan coughed quietly.

"Oh, right" Said Cal, realising that in his exicement about his new game, he'd forgotten about Ethan's present. He handed Ethan a package. Ethan took the package from his brother and unwrapped it to reveal a book, the book was a classic called Moby Dick, Ethan had read a few chapters of the book back in high school, in the library, but he hadn't managed to read the full book so he was glad of the chance to re-read it again.

"Thanks Cal, I'll enjoy reading this."

"That's alright, Nibbles. "

Ethan scowled, he hated being being called Nibbles and Cal knew that. "Come on, Nibbles, I'm only teasing you. "

"I know," Ethan replied, putting the book on the coffee table, ready to read when he was in bed. Christmas pudding was next, Ethan had tried making Mary Berry's Christmas pudding. He put it on the table with a jog of custard.

After their pudding, they put their coats on and Ethan picked up the car keys and they stepped out of the flat, being careful of were they stood as the grounds were icy with sleet and snow. Ethan got in the drivers seat while Cal got in the passenger side, driving to the cemetery, stopping to get flowers on the way, Cal choose the flowers: white lillies.

"She'll like them" Ethan smiled, as Cal got back in to the car. It only took them a few more minutes to reach the gates of the cemetery and they both got out, Cal holding the flowers, as they made their way in silence to their mothers resting place. Ethan read the words that were on the grave:

Matilda Hardy.

Mother to Caleb and Ethan.

Cal had been a wreck after her death and as the older one, although feeling his mums loss as well, Ethan had planned the funeral with Charlie's help. Cal put the flowers down, while Ethan bowed his head in respect for their mum. A tear trickled down his cheek. Ethan handed him a tissue from his jacket pocket. "It's clean" he said.

Cal took it as he pressed his fingers to the stone. As they walked away, Ethan put his arm around his brother, getting back in to the car.

Arriving back at the flat, Ethan made them both a hot chocolate with whip cream while Cal set up his PS5, ready to play his new game.

"Enjoying the game?" Ethan asked.

"Yep," Cal nodded as he concentrated.

All 10:00, Cal stopped playing the game as Ethan locked up and bidding Cal, goodnight, he went in to his room with his new book and got in to bed, opening his book to start reading.