Chapter 23: Group Hugs

Logan lost his father in a car accident last week and now he was outside of the church where the funeral was in tears while his three friends had him in all of their arms. They didn't know how they managed to do that, but they did. Each boy had some part of Logan in their arms even though Kendall had most of him.

The blonde had his arms around the sobbing boy while Carlos and James stood in front of Kendall but were behind Logan, on each side of him with their arms hugging the boy. Carlos had his face buried into Logan's shoulder wing and James had his chin resting on top of the shorter boy's other shoulder, gently rubbing circles into the raven haired boy's arm. Kendall was completely flushed against Logan while said boy had his wet face buried into his warm chest.

The taller boy holding Logan could feel his shirt dampening but he didn't care. He just rested his cheek on top of Logan's head that was tucked under his chin and stayed silent. James and Carlos were silent as well and the only noise that was being made was the sobbing of their broken hearted friend.

Logan, whose eyes were clenched together with tears streaming down them, was balling Kendall's shirt up in his fists and pressed closer to him. He could feel the chests of James and Carlos press into his back and melted. He really loved his friends, his brothers. They always had him backed up in any kind of situation and for that he was grateful. Being in their arms right now, in this warm soft group hug made Logan feel like everything would be okay.

Even though it wouldn't, because life without his dad would never be the same, the smart boy knew that he'd at least move on from this tragedy with some help and hugs, group hugs to be exact, from his friends.

Kendall would never forget the time when he walked into his house to see his father punching his mother in the face. He would never forget the part that came after that; when his father stormed up to him, gave him a rough shove while growling, "It's all your fault!" before storming out the house and jumping into his car never to be seen again.

Kendall could never forget his mother lying there, just lying there in a broken heap on the floor bawling her eyes out. Her son had knelt down beside her, confused and scared, and rubbed her back shakily. Kendall was only eleven when that happened and yet, he could remember it clearly when its date came up. July 30, 2006 is the day his father left him and his sister and his mother. Today was July 30th and the blonde was a mess.

"It's all your fault!" his father had angrily hissed at him before disappearing out of his life. Kendall truly did believe that it was his fault, whatever fault that was. His mother was a zombie today, not doing anything but lying dead in her room on her bed. She'd already gone through 3 boxes of tissues. Katie wasn't herself either. Even though she was 4 when her father left and was at a friend's house, she still felt like a part of her was missing though she wasn't that fond of that 'part' since it was her dad who left her mother miserable each year on the thirtieth of July. Not only that, but the girl thought that it was her fault as well. Maybe if she wasn't so whiny or a girl, then maybe her dad wouldn't have walked out on them.

The Knight family wasn't the only people who knew about this day. James, Carlos and Logan were very aware of what happened. Every year Kendall would break down and not be himself for a few days, even a week. So they were always by their leader's side when he broke down.

Like he was doing right now. A broken mess in Logan's and Carlos' arms. Shaking and crying into the Latino's shoulder, clutching tightly to the small boy's shirt while Logan sat beside him with an arm around his shoulder. The three boys were in Kendall's shared room with James. They were perched on the blonde's bed, sitting on the edge of it.

Logan bit his lip when Kendall let out a painful sob and began shaking even harder. Where the heck was James? He was the one who calmed Kendall down the most but neither boys knew where their tall friend was. The smart boy prayed that the brunette boy didn't forget. Because if he did, someone's butt would get a darn hard whooping.

"Shh, Kendall." Carlos cooed softly, gently rubbing the taller's back. "Shh shh shh." Kendall didn't though. He sobbed and cried and pushed himself harder into the smaller boy's body.

Logan rested his head against Kendall's upper back and sighed. The blonde had been hard core crying for almost 20 minutes and it was breaking his heart. He really wanted to tell Kendall that it was going to be okay but he knew the blonde wouldn't listen. Besides, if Logan was upset like his friend and someone told him that everything was going to be okay, he'd punch them. Because it wasn't going to be okay. Ever. Sure you'd move on but there would always be that nagging pain in the back of your heart.

Carlos was just re-adjusting himself so that he wasn't almost off the bed (since Kendall's weight was on him) when the door banged open, making then all jump. James stood there panting in the doorway with a white plastic sack in his hand. He dropped it as soon as he saw his broken friend and rushed over.

Kendall was doing the same, jumping off the bed and running to the taller boy. James wrapped his arms around the younger's shaking form and closed his eyes tightly. "Oh god, I'm so sorry, Kendall." the hazel eyed boy said quietly, gently leading the crying boy back to his bed and sitting at the head of it. Kendall was pulled flushed against James' side and tucked his head in the crook of the brunette's neck and sobbed. James felt his heart break and he held the blonde in his arms tightly.

Carlos hopped up beside his two friends and settled himself protectively behind Kendall and rested his head on his shoulder. Logan somehow squeezed on there two and rubbed the blonde's arm. The raven haired boy leaned in and whispered into James' ear, "Where were you?"

"We were low on some things so I ran to the store only to remember what date it was when I saw a People's magazine." James murmured with his chin on top of Kendall's head. "I really am sorry, Kendall. I feel awful."

The blonde in his arms croaked out something that sounded like "Don't" but no one was sure. Kendall took a shuddering breath before closing his eyes and pressing more closer to James. The emerald eyed boy could feel Logan and Carlos' comforting touches and sighed before hiccuping. Even though he would never get over what happened those five years ago, Kendall knew that with his friends by his side, he'd be okay. He'd be just fine. Especially when they all held him liked this in a comforting group hug.

"Guys, hurry up!" James told his friends as he fast walked through the airport.

"We are but you're walking way too fast!" Logan complained as he jogged after his long legged friend. Even Kendall, who was just a inch or two shorter than James, was having trouble keeping up with the boy.

"No I'm not!" the brunette huffed before letting out a happy laugh. "Look! There's the gate!" he pointed to gate C14 before jogging over to it. Logan rolled his eyes but smiled. He really couldn't be mad at his friend for being excited to see their friend who'd been gone for a month in Mexico.

When Kendall and Logan finally reached James, the plane was already being unboarded. Now the three boys were just waiting anxiously for Carlos Garcia, their friend who'd been out of their lives for one freaking long boring month. It took some long minutes of waiting but it was worth it when Carlos ran out the door, frantically looked everywhere for his brothers.

He saw them the same time they saw him and suddenly the airport was filled with teenage boy screams and soon people were moving and ducking out the way as four teens ran past them to get to each other. Well, three were trying to get over to the one but whatever. James reached Carlos first who jumped on him happily, wrapping his legs around his waist.

"Oh my gosh, I missed you!" the happy Latino boy yelled and James hugged him tightly, too choked up to say anything. Call James dramatic but he really had missed Carlitos. So much. It was like a fourth of him was gone for a painful month. But now Carlos was back and everything was good. The tall boy suddenly fell to the ground whn he felt a heavy body collide with his.

"CARLOS!" Kendall yelled and Carlos, who fell down too, scrambled up to jump on the blonde.

"KENDALL! Man, I missed you so much." the short boy sobbed and pressed closer to his tall leader. Another body came to press behind Carlos and the boy sniffed (making Kendall chuckle) before turning around to face a grinning Logan. "Logie..." the boy whispered and Logan opened his arms that Carlos immediately walked into.

"Welcome home, buddy. You were missed greatly if you couldn't tell." Logan joked and heard Carlos' muffled laugh against his shoulder. He also felt some wetness there and raised an eye brow even though he was still grinning. "Are you crying?"

Carlos nudged his other shoulder with his hand before mumbling, "Shut up."

Logan laughed and James, who got back up with help from Kendall, stepped up to the two short boys before hugging them both. Mostly Carlos, but Logan was hugged too. Kendall quickly joined the group hug, squishing Carlos in the middle. The Latino freed his arms and made sure they wrapped or touched all of his brothers before giving a small sniffle.

"I missed you guys so much."

"We missed you too, Carlitos." Kendall said with bright eyes. James nodded.

"Dude, never do this to us again. This whole month without you was killing me."

Carlos laughed and Logan's heart swelled. He really missed that child like laugh. It was so bright and cheerful and ugh, was he tearing up now too?

"You didn't miss me Logie?" Carlos looked up with a teasing smile on his face as he stared at Logan.

"Of course I did, man. A part of me felt empty but now it's all good since you're here." the raven haired boy grinned at his friend's face before pulling him into a hug, pressing the shorter boy's face into his neck. "You're not aloud to leave ever. Understand?"

"Damn straight." James nodded with his arms still around his friends.

"Never again." Kendall agreed and Carlos laughed and he nodded against Logan.

"I have no objections." he chuckled and he didn't. At all. He loved Mexico but it just wasn't his home. Even though he enjoyed his time there for a month, he was still homesick and couldn't wait to get back home. Home with his best friends, his brothers. In their arms, having them hug him, hold him. That was home.

"Hello?" six year old Kendall said, picking up the house phone. He heard a sniffle and frowned. "Hello?"

"K-Kenny?"

"Jamie! Whas wrong wich you? Why're you crying?" the blonde asked his friend James who was also six, concern laced in his voice.

"R-remebuh Mister Scaley?" the sad boy on the other line asked and Kendall nodded his blonde head.

"Yes! Is he okay?"

"N-no," James hiccuped before croaking out, "Remebuh G-Gracie? M-my mommy's c-cat?"

Kendall nodded while Mama Knight walked in and asked who he was talking to. The boy just held up his index finger, signaling for her to be quiet before walking out the room. The woman tried not to laugh and silently followed him. She found him leaning against the wall in the hallway, one tiny leg crossed in front of the other. "Yeah, I do."

Mama Knight watched her son talk to whoever was on the phone, his voice getting louder and more concerned. "We'll be right over, Jamie! Pwomise! Be strong okay? We'll see you in a minute!" with that the blonde hung up and turned around to see his mother there.

"Who was that, honey?" the woman asked and Kendall ran up to her, tugging on her skirt.

"James! Gracie, his mean ol' cat ate his special fish, Mr. Scaley!"

The woman 'ohed' softly and Kendall nodded before continuing. "He needs me, mama! And Carlos and Logan so we gots to go pick dem up right now! Jamie says that he needs a hug so we hafta go give him one!"

"Alright, go get your shoes on sweet pea. Can I have the phone please?" Kendall gave his mother the phone before rushing out the room to get his shoes on. Mama Knight dialed Brook's number so that she could inform the other mother that she and Kendall would be on the way to comfort James. At least Kendall would.

"Hello?"

"Brooke? It's Jen."

"Oh hey Jen! How are you?" Brooke Diamond asked as she hugged her son closely. James was sniffling and shuddering in her arms.

"I'm good, thank you. But I heard things over there weren't that good. Kendall told me that your cat ate James' fish?"

Brooke sighed before covering her son's ears. "Yes, it happened an hour ago. Poor baby is heart broken. I promised to get him a new one, but Mr. Scaley was very special to him. His father gave it to him before walking out, you know?" Brooke sighed. "Honestly though. It's just a fish."

Mama Knight nodded. "But it was from his father so..."

"Yes." Brooke replied before removing her hand off her son's ears. "Any who, did you need something?"

"Actually, yeah. I was wondering-"

"Mom, we gotta go now! And I need da phone to call Carlos and Logan!" Kendall said loudly, reaching up to get the phone from his mother.

Mama Knight chuckled. "Is it alright if I stopped by with Carlos, Logan and Kendall? To comfort James?"

"Oh, not at all!" Ms. Diamond replied and Mama Knight nodded.

"Great. Oh, I have to go. The phone is being taken away from me by my son." Brooke laughed before saying her goodbyes and hung up.

"Gimme gimme!" Kendall demanded and Mama Knight rolled her eyes before giving the phone to her impatient son.

"Please, Kendall. We say please. Remember your manners dear." but the blonde wasn't listening. He was too busy talking to Carlos, telling him about James' emergency.

"Doncha worry, Kenny. Logie's over here with me so you can just come over herruh and pick us up togethur."

"Great! See ya lata Carlos!" Kendall said his goodbye before hanging up and running to the door. His mother was already there on her cell phone, talking to Ms. Garcia. After Carlos' mom promised to tell Ms. Mitchell what was happening, Mama Knight hung up and exit the house with her son.

~BTR~BTR~BTR~BTR~

"If it makes ya feel better Jamie, my daddy ran over Missus Whiskers with his car." Carlos told a sad crying James sadly. The boys were cooped up in James' room on his bed in a group hug. James was in the middle of course, with Carlos and Logan on either side of him while Kendall was leaning up against his headboard, holding him in his lap.

"Don't say that Carlos!" Logan said and Kendall shook his head.

"No, he's right. That would have been worse. I'm still sorry about Missus Whiskers, Carlitos."

"Yeah, me too. But we're here for Jamie now! Who just lost someone special. Did ju guys have a funroll yet?" Carlos asked and Logan frowned.

"A funroll?"

"Yeah, funroll. You know, where that guy talks for hours and there's a basket where you keep ta body in and stuff. A funroll."

James realized first what Carlos was trying to say and broke out into a fit of giggles. After he did that, Kendall gasped. "Oh! You mean a funeral?"

Logan shook his head. "It isn't a 'funroll' Carlos. It's called a funeral."

"Funroll funeral, I don't care." the small boy leaned over James' curled form leaning against Kendall. "Didja have one yet?"

James shook his head, his heart breaking again. "N-no." he whispered and Kendall rubbed his back.

"Didja want one for him?"

James shrugged. "He's gone. What's da point?"

"We could still say some words if you'd like us to." Logan said softly, rubbing James' arm. James nodded.

"Yeah, that would be nice. Lata though, okay? I like just staying like dis with you all." and James was. His fish died and he was sad, but his friends were here holding him and making him feel better. They'd have a little ceremony for the dead fish later. Right now though, the boy just wanted to be in the group hug his friends had him in.

A/N Lookie at me on a roll here. X) I'm really trying to get story finished so I can focus all my attention on my Kames oneshots. Just watch though when I start a different story. Seriously, just pm and yell at me until you feel like I've had enough or something. I'm really sorry.

Now, about this chapter... surprisingly I really didn't like the Kames I had in it. I really liked the first one and the third one. How about you beautiful people/person? Chapter 24 will be posted tomorrow even though it's finished, =P

And then chapter 25 is going to be so much fun to write. I'm super excited for it and it actually may not be funny to other people but it's damn hysterical to me. XD

Okay, review! If you want to, but they make me super happy. =3 Night lovelies.

-Jaya