And I'm back folks. I hope you're all enjoying this and I'm pleased to see I haven't kept you waiting for months as I usually do. Being as I'm making an effort to be far more organised that I usually am I hope that this has an impact on how often I can update.

Anyway on with the show…

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter Two

By Rosa241

Jeff POV:

I can't help chuckle as I watch the smirk crossing my mothers face and the pout currently covering my fathers. Those two may be elderly but sometimes they act just like the boys. Looking at my fathers pout I'm reminded of Alan and another bubble of laughter escapes.

"Well that will teach you to try and steal my cookies. These are for the boys." Dad scowls as he rubs the hand she struck with the wooden spoon just moments before. There's a glint in her eyes as she plates up the cookies and puts them out of reach. Shaking his head dad turns to me as he speaks.

"So how're those boys really doing?" Rolling my eyes at his questioning I can't help but smile. All the years I was growing up he called mother a worry wort but as soon as his grandsons came along he was exactly the same.

"They're fine. Gordon's still a little sour about the black eye but he'll be fine in a little while."

"I hate to say it but a black eye might teach that boy a little about restraint. Lord knows he finds torturing those brothers of his far too enjoyable sometimes." And don't I know it. Part of me wants to defend Gordon but deep down I know my dad's words ring true. Gordon's not a mean person in any way shape or form, he'd never intentionally hurt anyone. Heaven only knows how upset he'd been when he'd found out what was going on with Virgil at school. The 10 year old just doesn't know when to call it quits sometimes but he'll learn.

"Virgil's gotten over Gordon's teasing and he's starting to get over the bullying too. Honestly I think the summer couldn't come soon enough for him, a break from school and a break from what's happened is exactly what he needs." Both my parents scowl as they're reminded of the heartache my middle child has been through recently.

"I presume those boys are leaving him alone." My mothers sharp tone leaves me in no doubt of her thoughts on the situation.

"Both of them were suspended for two weeks and thankfully they've left Virgil alone since coming back. Although truth be told I think that's got more to do with the beating they got from Scott and John than from being suspended." Mom's eyes are still hard and no doubt she's disapproving silently at the thought of the violence that took place. It's no secret that she's never approved of violence no matter what. Dad on other hand smirks devilishly as he mutters a sharp 'good' which is, thankfully, not picked up on by moms keen ears.

"At least its over." She mutters as she wanders out of the room and heads upstairs.

It's late now and the boys have all been in bed for a while. Alan had managed to make it a few minutes past his normal bedtime before his yawns had finally gotten the better of him. Mom had whisked him straight upstairs and took great pleasure in tucking him into bed. Considering the amount of time she'd been up there I'm fairly certain she'd spent time watching him sleep before finally coming back down.

Gordon had been the next to drop and had actually managed to fall asleep on his Grandfather before he'd been ordered upstairs. Virgil hadn't been long to follow which was no surprise given how much the little musician liked his sleep. John had finally given in an hour ago, after the stars came out of course, and Scott had headed up with him. I know full well that Scott only went up so that he would have enough time to check on his younger brothers before sleep took over him as well. Truth be told I'm not far off needing to head up to sleep myself but it's been nice. Usually this is the time when I miss Elizabeth the most, when the boys are asleep and I'm left by myself.

"Stupid John." The voice of my oldest brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present.

"What are you doing up kiddo?" Dad's about the only person who can still get away with calling the sixteen year old 'kiddo'. Most of the time the use of that word got you a sharp glare and a swift reminder that he was sixteen and practically an adult.

"I'll give you three guesses and your first two don't count." He sighs as he wanders over to the sink and pours himself a glass of water.

"John." Dad and I say in tandem. John was the only one in the family who had taken after my mother in terms of snoring. He'd always been the same ever since he was a toddler.

"I swear he's part pneumatic drill or something." I can't help chuckling despite the frown on my oldest sons face. "It's not natural. No one should make that sound."

"Your grandmothers been making that sound ever since I married her." It's true. For as long as I could remember my mother has snored away at night, quite how dad ever gets any sleep is beyond me.

"Well you could always have switched with Virgil and shared with the kids." Dad's snort of laughter is nothing more than explosive at the thought of Scott and Gordon sharing a bedroom. Even if only for a week.

"Me and Gordon in a bedroom together for a whole week? Are you looking to lose a son because I may actually kill him one of these days." I can't help smiling at that. Scott's all talk, he'd never do anything to actually hurt any of his brothers. "You can smile all you want but it's true. The more time I spend with him the more I want to ring his annoying little neck."

Sighing I can see the hint of truth in Scott's words. Of course he wouldn't hurt Gordon but that doesn't mean he's not getting fed up with his brothers actions of late. I've spoken to him of course but right now he's going through an awkward phase and is doing anything and everything to disobey me. Lord knows I've grounded him enough times lately. Problem is Gordon just isn't getting the message, he's always been the same. He'll push and push until someone snaps and things get out of hand. Even then all he does is switch targets, what it's going to take to get through to him is beyond me. As if reading my mind dad speaks.

"He's really being that annoying huh?" Scott sighs and nods his head.

"He's even driving John crazy and star boy has the patience of a saint." Dad scowls at the nickname before speaking again.

"Why don't you let me talk to him?" Truth be told Gordon is a carbon copy of my uncle Richard, dad's younger brother, and the red head worshipped the ground his grandfather walked on. If anyone stood a chance at getting through to Gordon it was his grandfather. "Leave it with me. I'll get through to the boy."

Scott POV:

Okay so now I remember why John and I stopped sharing a room. His snoring is just not normal, I swear to god there's something wrong with him there just has to be. Thankfully I'd managed to get to sleep in the end and managed to stay asleep. Usually I was the first up, after dad of course, but today I could already hear the patter of feet downstairs. Making the most of the extended lie in I rolled over and closed my eyes.

For a while I allow myself to drift into a light sleep and relax. Schools been a nightmare since I found out about Virgil's bullying, thankfully it seems like mine and John's message had gotten through to them and they've left him alone. That doesn't mean I'm haven't been worried about him. I've pretty much spent every minute with both eyes on my younger brother, between that and the insane amount of homework we got towards the end of the year I'm basically exhausted. It's over now though and I can't help but smile to myself. Weeks of nothing but rest and relaxation.

The sound of the door opening breaks me from my thoughts and I look up just in time to see a familiar blond blur race onto the bed.

"Scotty!" He yells as he jumps onto the bed and lands firmly, and quite accidentally, on my chest.

"What?" I breathe out as he wiggles slightly.

"Grandma says you have to get up now." Silently cursing my grandmother I can't help but sigh, so much for peace and quiet. "Gordie was gonna come and jump on you but dad sent me instead." Sending a silent thank you to my father I sit up, grabbing hold of the four year old as he tumbles off of me. Having Gordon land on me would have been much more painful.

"Alright alright. Let's go." Scooping up the four year oId I place him on the floor before stretching and stepping out of bed. "Time for breakfast sprout."

As we walk out of the room his tiny hand takes hold of mine and I can't help smiling as I wrap my fingers around him. Sometimes having four younger brothers sucks but sometimes it's so worth it.

"I see you finally joined the land of the living. Nice hair." Scowling at Virgil's words I get Alan seated before leaning over and giving the musician a good slap. "Ow!"

"That's what you get for disrespecting your elders." He glares slightly but I can see the grin fighting to break out. It's so nice to see him happy. Everything with the bullying left him so depressed and scared that it made my heart break. No one deserves to be treated the way that he had been recently, my only hope is that those morons remember my message and leave him alone. Glancing round at the rest of my family I can't help smiling.

Virgil turns back to John and they continue arguing about something I've clearly missed. I can hear Dad and Grandma laughing in the kitchen as Gordon talks Grandpa's ear off about swimming yet again. I'm pretty sure that they had the same conversation when we arrived yesterday not that Gramps would let on if that were true. Alan, despite having only just gotten to the table, has managed to get himself elbow deep in syrup and is making a rather spectacular mess. Shaking my head I take my own seat, thankfully not next to Alan, and dig in.

"So what's the plan for today?" Dad questions as he joins us. Taking one look at Alan he sighs before grabbing the tissue's Grandma offers. "Alan sweetie you're supposed to be eating the pancakes not dressing yourself in them."

"Grandpa said I have to help him with something really special today." Sensing the question about to erupt from John I give him a quick kick before shaking my head. Although he glares at me he gets the message and says no more. Thankfully John's knows enough to recognise when it's best to let something go. If Gramps can get through to Gordon then it'd help everyone. The only person whose nerves he not currently jumping all over is Alan's which isn't really saying much given that I'm pretty sure that Gordon could do anything and it wouldn't get on the kids nerves.

"What about the rest of you?" Dad says attempting to steer the conversation away from Gordon's words.

"Hadn't really thought about it. What do you guys want to do?" John shrugs his shoulders and, like always, sits himself on the fence. Sometimes I really wish he'd make a decision. Virgils eyes are firmly glued to the window and in an instant I know that whatever we do it'll be outside. Truth be told I wouldn't mind getting out there myself.

"Well I believe a certain little boy promised me that he was going to help me make that cake today." Alan's happy smile is certainly contagious and he's practically bouncing up and down in his chair. Maybe syrup on his pancakes was a bad idea…

"Yup! We're gonna make a chocolate cake and it's gonna have sprinkles and marshmallows and…lots of other stuff too!" Beside him I can see Dad fighting back a groan which makes me smile. This place will look like a bombs gone off by the time Alan and Grandma are done with it. Alan could make a mess in an empty house, letting him lose with baking ingredients was asking for trouble. So long as I'm not the one clearing him up I don't rightly care how much mess he makes.

"Maybe we can head down to the pond?" Virgil finally offers as his gaze filters out to the window once more.

Now that sounds like a plan.

A bit of a slow chapter, to be honest I'm not very happy with it, but staring at it won't make it better. Things will definitely pick up next chapter I promise.

Until then,

Bye x