Authors note; Thanks too all my reviewers. Glad people like this story. So here's the next chapter;

The ride home had been made in complete silence with Ryan squashed between Seth and Alex. Sandy and Kirsten stayed focused on the road in front not knowing quite what the polite conversation was for this particular situation.

Alex and Ryan were now sitting side by side on the bed in the pool house. Unsure of where to begin Ryan stayed quiet, he knew if Alex was going to start a conversation for the first while it would be one way. Alex was actually quite like Sandy in that respect if he had something to say it was best to let him get it off his chest.

He was one of those people who always knew what to say to make a situation seem less stressful than it actually was. Ryan had really wished during the whole Oliver debacle that he could have picked up the phone and called his big brother for advice. He had always known what to do in any situation....

Flashback

Six year old Ryan sat perched on Alex's knee while he carefully cleaned the cuts around his eye, cheeks and lips. He rocked Ryan slowly back and forth while keeping his baby brother's hand clasped in his own so that he could feel whenever he was being too ruff.

He hated to see his brother in such pain, sure Trey and Ryan had been through the normal childhood scrapes, but this was inflicted on purpose and Alex was not happy. He had clearly instructed Trey to wait for Ryan outside the school gates; he was going to give him hell for leaving Ryan to walk home alone.

"He little man does that feel any better?" Alex whispered into Ryan's bright blonde locks. Mom had been on a continual drinking binge since Dad got sent to prison three months ago. She was currently sprawled out on her bed with her lasted conquest and the last thing Alex or Ryan wanted was for her to wake up.

Alex felt Ryan's head bob up and down once, "Do you wanna tell me about it?"

This time the little head moved slowly form side to side, "Come on, maybe I could help. What are big brothers for huh?"

"It's not my fault." Ryan had never been big on talking, not even as a baby, he preferred to observe rather than contribute.

"What isn't your fault?"

"They said it was my fault but it wasn't."

"What Ryan? What wasn't your fault?"

"Callum he tripped... over my bag. He hit his head and his nose started bleeding. It wasn't my fault but Sam kept saying it was so he...so he..."

"Oh so it was an accident but this Sam boy didn't believe you. So then what happened?" With Ryan you had to take your time, making sure he knew that he was making everything clear and asking questions always gave him the opportunity to talk more.

"Sam waited after school he said...he said that I would get what I deserved. I couldn't see Trey he was supposed to wait for me. He wasn't there so I came home and they got me." Little crystal tears began to roll down his freshly bruised cheeks.

"Hey it's OK. You'll be OK." Alex began to turn circles on his back while the other hand ran gently through his hair. "Do you know why people become bullies?" Alex waited but he wasn't expecting an answer.

"People like Sam who pick on others are just jealous. They aren't happy people and because they aren't happy they don't want other s to be. Sam knows you have two big brothers' who would do anything for you and he doesn't like that. When he teases you, what you have to do is pay no attention. I know it's hard but you just remember that whatever he says can't hurt you because we love you.

Love is like a barrier Ryan. Whenever there is someone in the world that loves you, you always have something that a bully doesn't."

End Flashback

How Ryan wished that was true, he had encountered many bullies in his life and he had always tried to remember his brother's advice. Bullies may not have people who love them but the one person who loved Ryan had disappeared from his life.

"You know I had to leave don't you?"

"Yeah."

"You know I would have stayed if I could."

"Yeah."

"But you're still mad."

"Yeah."

Alex twisted from his position taking Ryan's hand like he had done all those years ago, "I took as much as I could Ryan really I did. AJ was just one step too far. I never wanted to leave you there but I was eighteen years old what was I supposed to do? Mom would never have let you leave, I couldn't support you, and I had no job, no house...."

"You don't have to justify yourself Al. You did what was best it was a difficult position to be in maybe I would have done the same."

"You might not believe me but I keep track of you. Both of you all of the time. I called didn't I, sent as much as I could I know you probably never saw any of it..."

"It wasn't about the money Al. We needed you, I needed you. It got a lot worse when you left. Mom kept drinking AJ moved in for good." Ryan tailed off Alex didn't need to hear the details he probably already knew and had been through it all with Dad.

"You scared me you know. I kept calling Marianna she said you had left but she didn't know where. I thought you were on the streets Ry, dead even."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry I can see why you chose this place over me. You have a chance here to make something of your life. I had to make my own breaks in life you've had it handed to you Ry. Grab it. Don't let it go because you can do anything you want."

The silence returned each man considering the words that had been shared, contemplating where there relationship could go from here.

"I had better go. My hotels an hour away and I don't really know the roads. Maybe we could meet again you could show me around your new home."

"Don't go." Ryan whispered. "Stay here with me. Like you did when we were kids."

Alex crossed the room, gathered his brother in his arms and began to rock slowly until they fell asleep.