"Come on Alex, lets get up the band is going to be around for practise soon," Nat said gently as he helped his brother up.
By the time Nat and Alex were in the living room the rest of the band were there with there instruments. Alex went and sat down at his drums, while Nat talked to the band.
"Guy's you need to be careful around Alex, he's not coping well with the fact that mom's gone." Nat whispered.
"You mean dead," Josh said tactlessly.
"Shut up Josh," Nat said angrily.
Josh pushed Nat.
"Don't tell me to shut up"
"Don't push me," Nat said pushing Josh back.
Josh pushed Nat over, so then Nat tripped Josh over, until they were fighting on the floor. Alex picked up his drumsticks and threw them at Nat and Josh, neither paid attention to them, So Alex stood up and ran back to their room, he grabbed Ted E Bear and climbed onto Nat's bed before crawling up into the roof through a small panel.
"Guys!" Cooper yelled causing Josh and Nat to stop fighting. "You upset Alex,"
"Where did he go?" Nat said now worried about his brother.
"To your room," Cooper said, as Nat stood up and ran to the room.
"Alex?" He asked unable to see him.
Alex didn't answer, but Nat heard sobbing coming from the crawl space in the roof. Nat climbed on to his bed and poked his head through the crawl space. He saw Alex curled up tightly holding on to his bear. He had grown more attached to thing over the last couple of days.
"I'm sorry, Alex" Nat said, he wanted to climb up there but there was no room.
"Nat what are you doing?" Jessie called out, she was always around when the band practised.
"Trying to get Alex down, me and Josh had a fight and we upset him," Nat answered back, before he turned to Alex. "Come on Alex, I can't help you if you are up there.
Alex slowly climbed down and sat next to Nat on his bed. Jessie climbed up and sat on the other side of Alex and put her arm around him.
"What's the matter little buddy?" She asked quietly.
"I just wanted to know mom," Alex said as tears ran down his cheek.
"You were just a little guy Alex, but your mom loved you and will always be with you," Jessie said softly. It was hard on everyone although Alex was too young at the time to understand.
"I don't remember anything about her," Alex said sobbing.
"I remember the funeral… you weren't there because your dad…" Jessie said before she realized she had said the wrong thing.
Alex sobbed harder and buried his head into Jessie's shoulder.
Nat got off the bed and went to get his dad.
"Dad you need to talk to Alex about mom." Nat said as he found him doing laundry.
"Alex, has been pushing me out, it's you who he tells everything." Mr Wolff said.
"Alex pushing you out? You never let Alex say goodbye to mom," Nat said angrily. "You pushed him out dad!"
"He was too young, you wouldn't understand," Mr Wolff said defensively.
"You need to make me but more importantly Alex understand dad. Alex needs you dad, if you don't do anything, you will lose all meaning to him," Nat argued.
"What do you mean, Nat" Mr Wolff said, he knew he was backing into a corner.
"You never share mom with anyone, you keep her to yourself. You need to share her with us dad, she wouldn't want you to do this. Mom gave Alex that bear to remember her, but you're not giving Alex any memories," Nat said on the verge of tears.
"It hurts too much to share it, I don't want to hurt you boys," Mr Wolff said silently crying.
"Your hurting us by not talking about it. I at least remember mom, but Alex has a large empty spot. You need to talk to him before he tries to fill it up with something else," Nat said.
Mr Wolff knew his back was against the wall. He would have to face his demons.
"How about I talk to you both tomorrow night, so then I can find some of your mom's stuff to share." Mr Wolff said defeated.
Nat just nodded, and went back to his room, Jessie had given Alex a can of lemon lime soda to cheer him up.
"You know Alex, your mom gave you your first can of lemon lime soda the day she died," Jessie said as Alex drunk it.
Nat couldn't shake of the feeling that Jessie had told Alex the wrong thing.