Takes place when TJ is 15 he didn't get shipped off to boarding school till he was outed.

TJ knew he was late, he lost track of time at Felix's he did partially blame Felix, distracting him by starting to kiss him deeply. TJ shook his head clearing his mind of those thoughts he could always revisit them later. TJ slunk by the oval office, he paused so slightly hearing his mom and dad fighting, they'd been doing that more and more lately, because of the job they said. They always said that even when it wasn't true. TJ was far from perfect and they wouldn't hesitate to remind him of that fact, no matter how hard he tried he wasn't good enough, he wasn't good enough for them not in comparison to Doug. He listened closely hearing his mom yell.

"You said that last time." He heard his mother say or his dad's protests.

'Last time?' TJ thought hearing his dad speak,"I haven't done anything since I held this office. I've been good just like we talked about."

TJ felt dread settle into his stomach at that wondering how many woman his dad has slept with,'Come out, TJ. Bring the heat off your family by time so Mama can divorce him. It's what Dougie would do.'"You haven't been good. You're just a rotten and lying bastard."

TJ heard his dad protest more,"That is 17th century Qing dynasty! Now, Mao gave that to NIxon…..!"

TJ heard a crash and took all his will power to burst into the room. He turned on his heel and began to walk away to the East Room, it was Saturday. It wouldn't be unusual for him to fall asleep in that room but he didn't want to take any chances of being found out that he broke curfew and he slid upstairs to the east room where he was staying, his mom didn't budge on the idea on keeping them in their old rooms. TJ sank into his bed kicking of his shoes and groaning as his spine loosened. He glanced at the clock it's red lights flashing,'12:45. Shit. Hopefully Mama didn't notice. Nana probably did. Dougie maybe if he pulled his eyes from his phone long enough.'

TJ heard knocking at his door and buried his head in his pillow pretending to be asleep. He heard the door crack open and felt the bed dip. He heard his brother speak,"You're late."

TJ rolled over glaring at his brother,"Doesn't matter I wasn't missed."

Doug looked at him conflicted knowing that since TJ was the first son he had all eyes on him, even more so because he liked to party. Doug was aware of the fact that whenever he messed up TJ would come crashing in taking away his parent's negative attention. Doug was also aware of the fact that it was killing TJ, someone who just wanted to be liked by everyone, held too many secrets but wouldn't tell him anything,"You were."

"By you and Nana. I doubt they noticed." TJ said venomously.

"TJ…. Dad's the president." Doug started to say his voice slightly whiny.

TJ rolled over again facing the wall,"Doesn't matter. They missed another one."

Doug froze,"That-that was tonight?"

TJ didn't respond to that but sighed his voice tired,"Go to bed Dougie."

"TJ I-" Doug started but was cut off by TJ's watery voice.

"Go to bed."

Doug left TJ's room giving his big brother one last look. TJ was curled up his shoulders tense. Doug shut the door but hesitated out of it hearing his brother's soft muffled sobs.

(You can not tell me then didn't miss at least one of TJ's performances.)

Doug headed down stairs feeling miserable for missing one of TJ's concerts. He sat at the kitchen counter as his mom cooked breakfast and his dad was next to him dealing with paperwork, his Nana walked downstairs and poured herself a mimosa. His mom looked up at him,"Did your brother come home last night?"

Doug shrugged, he didn't want to be in between the feud between his mom and his brother because no one would win,"If he did, he didn't make himself known."

TJ sauntered into the kitchen in his pajamas, a black Green Day shirt and plaid pants, he sat next to Nana kissing her on the cheek, his mom stopped making breakfast as she spoke,"WHat time did you come home?"

TJ shrugged,"Dunno."

TJ started to shovel the cereal into his mouth wanting to escape the kitchen as soon as possible. His dad spoke making TJ swallow the cereal before answering,"So TJ when's your piano recital."

TJ's voice was cold,"Yesterday."

Bud looked at his son, trying to stare a hole into his cereal bowl,"That can't be right."

TJ looked up at his mother before standing up and leaving his movements slightly jerky as if he was going to run but kept stopping himself.

TJ quickly threw on pants and shoes and bolted out of the house. He didn't stop till he was hidden under a grove of Sycamore and Elm trees. TJ hesitated before starting to climb one of the sycamore trees he made it about halfway up before sitting down and letting out gasping breaths. He doesn't know how long he sat there trying to get a handle on himself and failing before he heard his Nana's voice,"THere you are, you little shit."

TJ looked down at his Nana before looking back up at nothing prompting his grandmother to speak,"Either you come down or I send your brother up after you."

TJ thought for a second before swinging of his branch and skilfully dropping down, when he reached the ground he dropped to a crouch ignoring the way it hurt his legs,"Did you mean to miss it?"

His Nana looked at him before hugging him tightly,"No sweetheart we didn't other things just got in the way."

TJ nodded against his grandma, his voice was soft and sounded slightly strained,"Did Dad ever cheat on Mama?"

His grandmother hesitated for long enough for TJ to know that she was lying,"No, what makes you say that?"

TJ shrugged,"Context. Will I have to go back inside soon?"

"No." Nana said wrapping an arm around TJ,"They got called into work. Do whatever you want but be home before curfew this time."

TJ smiled at his grandmother before heading away from her,"Will do."

(Lalalalala)

Felix opened his door smiling at TJ,"Hey stranger."

TJ grinned at Felix kissing him on the lips lightly,"Hiya handsome."

Felix wrapped an arm around him and kissed him again,"Did ya lose your tail?"

"Didn't have one." TJ said as he was pulled into Felix's house,"Your parents home?"

Felix's shut the door behind him,"Nope, god bless stupid people."

TJ rolled his eyes,"You know what we need?"

Felix smiled,"I like the way you think."

TJ laid next to Felix who was busy giving him a hickey,"Hey be careful. Your mom won't kill you but mine will kill me."

Felix responded by gently nipping the flesh on TJ neck before kissing it again and moving to a new spot, TJ spoke his voice soft causing Felix to stop kissing him,"What is this?"

"Nothing. You made it clear last night that you don't want a boyfriend. So we're not exclusive. TJ, what brought this on?" Felix's eyes had mith in them but went serious,"Is something going on with your parents."

TJ shook his head too quickly,"Nope, we're fine."

Felix stared at him long and hard,"Alright."

Felix looked at the clock over TJ's shoulder,"If you want to get back before your parents know you're gone you should go."

TJ glanced at the time,"I hate it when you're right."

(TJ was getting it on *Cheesy porn music starts playing*)

TJ sat in his room reading The Swimming Pool Library, he heard a knock at his door and shoved the book under his pillow and grabbed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,"Come in."

TJ looked up and saw his mother standing there,"Thomas can we talk?"

TJ sat up,"Is something wrong?"

His mom sat down,"The press has pictures of you kissing another boy."

TJ flinched at that and didn't meet his mother's eyes, but she continued talking,"We weren't able to stop them. I'm sorry, sweetie."

TJ looked up and tried to smile but it was only there for a split second,"It's okay. You did your best. Comes with being a Hammond. This is a good thing."

His mom looked at him confused,"How so?"

TJ spoke his cheeks burning slightly,"It'll distract them from the fact Dad cheated on you."

Elaine froze,"You heard our conversation?"

TJ's cheeks got redder as he nodded,"Why did you stay?"

Elaine brushed hair out of TJ's face,"It's complicated honey. Do you want me to stay with you?"

TJ shook his head,"I'm fine."

TJ let his calm demeanor slip as he gasp. He felt like his life unraveled in the past two days. 'My name is TJ Hammond, I play piano, I'm the second rate child, the screw up, the black sheep, and I'm gay.'

Doug walked into his room,"What's going on with Mom and Dad?"

TJ hesitated,"The press got some pictures of me kissing someone."

DOug looked indifferent,"So?"

TJ shot his brother a dirty look,"Another boy, Douglas."

Doug looked unfazed for a second before it dawned on him,"Oh. Oh! What are mom and dad doing?"

TJ shrugged,"I don't know I just want to be left alone."

Doug nodded as he got up and left TJ alone, knowing that wasn't the only thing that was bothering him but TJ wasn't going to tell him.

TJ looked at the photos his mom left on his desk, they were pictures of him kissing another boy, not Felix and TJ was thankful for that. It was Sebastian Wilson, and TJ couldn't believe he'd been stupid enough to think he could come out on his own terms. That he could be "normal" for just a couple days longer,'Get used to it TJ you're a Hammond you can't be normal. Just don't ruin anything for Mama she doesn't deserve that.'

(Line break)

"TJ mom and dad want us in the living room." Doug said knocking on his brother's door. He didn't know if TJ was there, after he was outed TJ stopped hanging out with Felix, the only one who could keep him level, and started to hang out with the kids who did drugs and constantly partied. He was out more often than he was home and when he was home he was cranky and hungover.

TJ opened the door having bags under his eyes,"Come on."

TJ sat down next to Doug, with their parents across from them. TJ's mom began to speak,"Boys do you remember Sarah Latham?"

TJ shrugged as Doug nodded,"Yeah why?"

TJ's gaze narrowed on his father,"Let me guess, she's saying you slept with her?"

Bud's eyes narrowed at his son while Elaine continued speaking,"It's true, Tommy."

TJ's heart sank at that, he got outed for nothing, he couldn't even draw attention away from his family and that made it worse,"So we're going to make a statement and then never address it again right?"

Bud nodded and TJ continued speaking,"Then I don't know what you need me for."
TJ got up and left the living room, leaving Doug to look after his brother as Elaine looked up sad and Bud looked angry.