At around 8, Mike declared that he was tired and was going to bed early. The others didn't object as Mike hadn't been resting much lately.

Once he was gone, Peter turned to the others.

"What's gonna happen if Mike goes off for that tournament thing?"

"I don't know, Peter," Micky sighed.

"We let him and cheer him on." Davy said with a nod. "If he wants to go, we should let him."

"What if he gets hurt while he's away?" Peter asked with wide eyes. "And we won't be there to help him?"

"It'll be okay Peter. If he gets hurt bad enough we'll get a call." Micky said.

"I don't want to get a call saying Mike's hurt." Peter said.

"I didn't mean it like that." Micky said "I just meant…never mind."

"I doubt they'd let him go if he's too hurt, Peter," Davy said, trying to be reassuring. "The paramedics or managers or whatever would let him rest if he needs it."

"But Mike doesn't rest." Peter said "not unless you threaten him."

Davy let out a laugh.

"They'll make him rest," he said with a smile. "We can go and ask and tell them that if something happens, he needs to rest."

"Okay," Peter said, "Promise?"

"Promise." Micky said.

"Speaking of rest," Davy said with a large stretch. "I'm about ready for a kip myself."

"I might join you in a little bit," Micky said as Davy headed upstairs. "You ready to go to bed?" He asked, turning toward Peter.

"I think I'm gonna stay up a little if that's alright."

Micky frowned but nodded.

"Sure, but if you need anything. Just ask."

"Okay," Peter whispered and Micky slowly made his way upstairs.

Peter watched Micky as he went up stairs and into the bedroom and then made his way out onto the deck and sat down thinking. Why did Mike like going and getting beat up? But he said he wasn't getting beat up and that someone tripped him. Mike never hid anything from them. He had avoided topics but he always told them sooner or later. Even if it was difficult to talk about, like when he got a letter edged in black and he said that his Ma died. He packed up and left for the funeral and didn't come home for two weeks. He didn't talk to them for another week but one night Peter woke up and heard noises coming from downstairs. Micky and Davy heard it too and they went to investigate. Mike was downstairs curled up in the corner of the couch as small as he could get himself bawling. They went down to comfort him and Mike finally talked about his family. He told them how hard it was for his Ma and Pa to bring up five kids on what his Pa could bring home. His Ma took laundry in or would help at the county store if they needed help, after his Pa died when Mike was seventeen, but more often than not they relied on what their relatives could give them. His Ma was a stickler for education and said every one of them was going to get at least a high school diploma and at eighteen he graduated and he joined the air force to send money home for his family. He talked about summers on his Aunt Kate's ranch with his Uncle John and his cousins. And how although they didn't have a lot of money especially after his Pa died, his Ma always let them go to Pas's sister Kate's house for a month in the summer. Peter pulled himself out of that memory when he heard a noise and looked around. Mike was standing next to him holding a blanket and two mugs.

"What are you still doing up Pete?" Mike asked, "It's past 11."

"Is it?" Peter asked, shocked.

"Yeah, here, I made you some tea." Mike said as he gave Peter one of the mugs.

"Thanks Mike." Peter said, taking it and giving it a sip.

"You're welcome." Mike said, sitting down gently next to Peter. "Now, what are you thinking about?"

"Just…things." Peter said with a shrug and Mike couldn't help but smile at him.

"Just say it, Peter. You can talk to me."

Peter nodded and looked down at his cup.

"You usually don't hide many things from us…" he said quietly, fiddling with the handle of the cup. "Why can't you tell us what you do every night?"

Mike sighed and wrapped his arm around Peter.

"It's not that I don't wanna tell you. I do, it's just that I don't want you to know."

Peter looked at him, confusion clear on his face. Mike let out another sigh and closed his eyes.

"Look, it's just that…I don't want y'all treating me any differently or judging or—"

"But, Mike! We'd never do that!"

Mike nodded slowly.

"I know that, it's just…it's…it's embarrassing and I don't want you to know."

Peter frowned but nodded in understanding.

"Does it make you happy?"

Mike smiled.

"Very, yeah."

"Things that make you happy shouldn't be embarrassing, Mike," Peter offered with a smile of his own. "You should never feel ashamed of what makes you happy."

"Yeah…" Mike muttered, taking a sip out of his own mug.

"What are you drinking?" Peter inquired, knowing Mike wasn't one for the herbal tea Peter liked and the black tea that Davy's grandfather sent him had as much caffeine in it as the coffee Mike loved.

"Hot lemonade." Mike answered. Peter nodded.

"Is it good?"

Mike took another sip and nodded then sighed.

"I guess another reason why I don't want to tell you guys is because you'll make me quit."

"No one can make you do anything you don't want to do Mike." Peter said. Mike hmmed and they both went quiet as they listened to the waves crash on the shore.

"Hey, Mike?" Peter asked after a while. "You don't have to tell me what it is but I'm curious, how did you find it?"

Mike smiled slightly and shrugged.

"Mostly by accident, I was out looking for jobs…and it was offering money so I thought I'd give it a try. It's an absolute thrill, Peter. I know you're worried and I get hurt, but it's great. Really it is."

Peter smiled as he watched Mike talk about it. Mike wasn't a very expressive person but he seemed ecstatic over whatever it was he was doing. And Peter couldn't help but feel a similar sense of joy himself just seeing it.

"You really do like doing whatever it is don't you?" Peter said as he took a sip of his tea.

"Yeah, I really do." Mike smiled "Do you think my answer would change after the second time you asked the question?"

"No." Peter answered "but, it's peculiar to see you this excited about something. I wanna make sure it's because you like doing it and not someone else's excitement rubbing off on you."

"Ahh, that makes sense." Mike said, nodding through a yawn "Well, I'm going to head to bed. You coming?" He asked Peter.

"Yeah, I'll be right up." Peter said, taking Mike's mug as Mike locked the patio door.

"Okay." Mike yawned and headed up to bed. Peter followed after washing both his and Mike's mugs when he entered the bedroom Mike's soft snoring was heard Peter climbed into his own bed and was soon fast asleep.