A/N: This title is a play on the T.V. show, "According To Jim". Thank you, to those of you who reviewed!

4.12 According To Delia

----December 5, 2004----

"I think this should go here." Delia replied, as she promptly held up a string of Christmas lights with one hand and pointed to the main window with the other. She had been coming over to the new apartment ever since her Father agreed to letting Ephram live there and for the past week, she'd been helping Madison and Amy with decorating for Christmas.

"I think that's a good idea." Amy affirmed. She pulled up a small step ladder and climbed to the top. "Can you get the cup push pins for me?"

Delia skipped merrily over to the counter, grabbed a plastic cup, and skipped back to Amy. "Here." She said, as she held up the cup.

Amy reached down, grabbing a push pin and the string of lights.

"These are going to look so cool!" Delia exclaimed, as she intently watched Amy and then held up another push pin, once the first had been stuck into the wall.

Amy took the second pin and began to poke it into the wall. "I think you're right. I bet Ephram will love it."

Delia wrinkled her nose. "He's being a grump this year."

"He's probably just stressed." Amy replied, coolly.

"But it's really bad this year! He snaps at like, everything!" Delia handed another push pin to Amy.

"Well, he hasn't gotten much sleep, either."

Delia shrugged. "I guess.."

"He'll get better by Christmas, I know it." Amy soothed, as she stepped to the lower step on the ladder, then took another push pin.

"When are you guys gonna get a tree?" Delia inquired.

"I don't know." Amy confessed. "We might not even get one, this year."

Delia's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "No way! It's Christmas! Isn't it like a rule that you have to get a tree or something?!"

Amy laughed and pined the last bit of the string of lights up, then she stepped off the ladder. "No, you don't have to have a tree to celebrate Christmas." Amy replied. She knelt down next to the electrical socket and plugged in the lights, making a beautiful colored glow around the window.

Delia stared at the window. "It looks really pretty." She trotted back over to the table and set down the cup of push pins. "Hey, I'm gonna go check on Kelly and Julia." She said, proudly. She had taken it upon herself to check her nieces every half an hour, if not sooner.

Ephram burst through the front door, with a frown upon his face. He had full bags hanging from both arms and a few around his neck.

"Oh, sweetie!" Amy mumbled, as she tried to hold in laughter.

"I can see you laughing." He replied, glumly.

"I am not!" Amy frowned.

"Inwardly."

"Well..."

Ephram waddled over to the table and released the bags in his hands and around his arms.

Amy padded over to Ephram and pulled the bags off his his neck, placed them on the floor, then wrapped her arms around his neck. "What's wrong?"

Ephram sighed and relaxed into Amy's arms. "Everything."

Amy pressed her lips tightly to Ephram's. She closed her eyes, as did Ephram, savoring the passionate kiss. When she pulled away, she caressed his cheek with her fingers. "Can I make it better?"

"No." Ephram sighed.

Amy pulled Ephram to a seated position, on a chair at the table. "Explain."

"It just....I'm so tired, Amy. I'm stressed, over-worked, and we still don't have enough money."

"Ephram! I'm trying to find a job and you know that!"

"I'm not blaming you! I'm just saying.."

"I know, I know." Amy sighed, as she cupped Ephram's hands with her own.

"With my piano job and Madison singing at various clubs, there's only so much money." Ephram explained, gently. "And we go through like five packs of diapers a week, at the minimum! Then there's food and..and..." His voice trailed off.

Amy wrapped her arms around Ephram, once more. "Like you said, it will all work itself out. And I believe that it will! You're doing great, Ephram. Julliard still wants you and you're keeping your grades up!"

"Doesn't matter. I mean, if I keep going like this, then I might not be able to keep my grades up. And how will Julliard work? I mean, we barely have enough money now! I'd have to move there. So would you and Julia. And what about Kelly?" Ephram said, exasperated. He placed his palms to the sides of his head and squinted his eyes, trying to clear his mind.

Amy began to gently rub Ephram's temples. "Oh Eph, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize...."

"It's okay, Ephram." Delia spoke up, from the doorway.

Ephram looked up to see his little sister. "Delia...I.."

Delia held up her hand, silencing her big brother. "No, let me say something." She crossed the room to her brother's side. "Ephram, the entire time I've known you, you've always kept everything together. You're like, Dad's pride and joy! After Mom died, you were like a Mom-Brother." Delia paused, trying to decide her next words carefully. "I know you can handle all this stuff, 'cause you were already doing it before Kelly and Julia came." She placed a comforting hand on her older brother's back.

Ephram felt his eyes sting and he reached up, embracing his little sister, and just held her for a few moments. "Thank you, Delia." He managed to whisper, into Delia's ear. "I love you."

Delia relaxed into her elder brother's arms. "I love you too, Ephram."