A/N: The point of this is to explore, right? Right. Onward.

Week 9 - UDC 1 - To be inside the building for the Early Service...

41. rebirth

It had been years since he'd last sat in a pew, Pete reflected as he slowly walked into the building behind Nick and his parents. Years since he'd sat in a church much like this one with his first set of foster parents for his mother's small service, and just thinking about that made him start to sniffle.

A hand on his shoulder and he looked up to find Nick back at his side, frowning in question. "You okay?"

Was he? Pete wasn't sure. Right then, he didn't have an answer and shrugged instead. He wanted to be honest, to tell him, but was now the time?

42. scars

Nick glanced around the inside of the chapel as they followed his parents to their seats, wondering what had made Pete wordless and wanting to cry. Was it as simple as being here? Maybe it was.

They sat and he glanced at the shorter boy again, then pulled him into a hug. "First time in a church?"

"No," Pete whispered at him. "First time in a long time. I think, not since Mom."

Now that made sense and he could feel his father's attention shift to them and then his arm was on Nick's shoulders, tousling Pete's hair slightly in support.

43. disease

Walt noticed that the boy had pulled the hymnal out of the pocket of the back of the pew in front of them and was looking at the songs and nodded. Just entering the building might have made him want to cry, but he wasn't a stranger to the song books, it seemed. That was good to see. He leaned closer to Nick. "What do you think, so far?"

Nick smiled in response and nodded at the song book.

On his other side, Helen nudged him to pay attention and Walt smiled. Maybe they could gift Pete a bible. Maybe.

44. agony

It was the standing to repeat things together that he didn't understand, and he almost didn't, because he remembered that part from his Mother's small funeral. They'd done mass just like this, with almost the same words, and previous to that for his Grandfather's service, too.

If it hadn't been for Nick's arm across his shoulders, he'd have tried getting away from the reminders. He stayed rooted to the spot, however, even if he didn't feel like repeating things with the congregation.

45. healing

When the service was over and she got her first good look at him since entering the building, Helen frowned and then snagged Pete's arm and led him back to the pew where they'd been sitting. "Sit with me?"

"I..."

"Pete," she insisted, and sat herself. She patted the space next to her and he did, finally. "You two, get back over here. We're having a moment."

"I thought we were having one all service," Walt spoke up and pushed Nick down the row in front of them, sitting down and facing them. "So... better or worse than the last time you were in a church?"

Pete frowned at him. "Can it be both, Mr. Bradshaw?"

"It sure can, Pete," Walt told him with a slight smile, which Nick seemed to share the sentiments of.