For AK

Scott walked into the kitchen, intent on grabbing another coffee, only to see Alan, sat at the table in tears. The eight-year-old had a spread of bits and pieces before him, some of which had been grouped together, and there was a piece of paper in his hands.

He came right over and folded his baby brother into a hug and Alan clung to him tightly, fresh tears spilling. Scott couldn't make out the words, but whatever was on the table was definitely causing him grief.

After a few minutes Alan loosened his hold and offered Scott a watery, miserable smile. Scott reached out an plucked a tissue from the ever-present box and gently wiped his brother's eyes.

'Want to tell me about it, Allie?'

He was rewarded with a small nod. Alan gestured at the pile of bits on the table and passed Scott the paper.

'I gotta build this model for school but I don't understand the diagrams.'

Scott looked at all the pieces laid out. This seemed quite advanced for an eight-year-old, and he was beginning to understand Alan's frustration. The instructions weren't very clear at all.

'How about we try to build this together? Would you like that?'

Alan smiled a genuinely happy smile, and he nodded more vigorously. Scott chuckled and pulled up a chair to the table, but he didn't sit down.

'Before we start, I think we need hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to sustain us. What do you think, sprout?'

If he thought Alan's nod was vigorous before, it was nothing compared to the bobbing head he got this time, and Scott outright laughed. He handed Alan the cookies and a plate, pretending he didn't see when Alan sneakily ate one, while he made the drinks.

Drinks and snacks ready, Scott and Alan poured over the diagrams on the instructions. Between the two of them it didn't take too long to decipher, and before their delighted eyes a model of the very first moon lander began to take shape.

Both boys were vaguely aware of their other brothers passing through the kitchen at various points, but they were absorbed in their task.

Three hours later and a complete model sat on the table before them. It was quite a large one, and Scott was so proud of how Alan had worked with him to get it done. Alan placed the box beside the model and took several pictures, and Scott noticed the recommended age was 12+. No wonder Alan had found it a little difficult to start.

It was Alan's yawn that made Scott realise it was late and neither of them had eaten a proper dinner, and to both their delight Virgil had left some pizza for them with a note saying the rest of them were in the den.

The pizza didn't last long, and they made their way into the den where the others were already halfway through a movie. Trying not to disturb everyone too much, Scott took the empty couch and Alan sat next to him, wiggling under Scott's arm and flinging his own across his brother's stomach. Scott subconsciously tightened his hold, hugging his brother closely.

They were both asleep before the movie finished.