Learning How To Be A Brother

Garrett was meditating after he'd got up and dressed in Naruto gear, goggles on his head, sandals and Leaf Village gloves on his hands.

He felt calm in his space.

Shrek was with Snowgre. He needed to talk to him about Garrett. He knew the other day hadn't gone very well but maybe talking to him would help him. He hoped it would.

"So last night were you thinking about Garrett?

He was a little depressed last night according to Puss. I know it's hard for you to accept him as your brother but...." Shrek said.

"But what?" Snowgre asked him.

"He moved all the way from Japan, Osaka to be reunited with you. Besides that, his Mom died so to him, you're the only family he has right now." he finished.

Snowgre was sad but shocked hearing that his brother had came here all the way from Osaka just to be with him and was alone.

Shrek saw the look in his eyes.

He then started making breakfast which was pancakes and eggs.

Snowgre was quiet as Garrett came into the kitchen along with Fiona.

"Good morning honey." Fiona said kissing Shrek on the lips.

He smiled at that.

"Hey Garrett how did you sleep?" Shrek said to him.

"Good.... sort of." the teen answered scared seeing Snowgre there. He sat beside Fiona. She along with Shrek and the triplets made him feel safe and made him feel at home.

Snowgre saw red rims around his brother's red eyes.

"He must've cried himself to sleep last night. I... never knew yesterday upset him that much.

Maybe I should tell him how I feel about having him back in my life." Snowgre thought as Garrett was quiet.

The triplets watched as Garrett was skate boarding outside while waiting for the bus.

"Garrett that's so cool, what you do!" Meatballs said.

"R-Really? You think so?" he asked him.

"Yeah you're better than Tony Hawk!" Spam answered.

Shrek smiled watching them... They were helping Garrett come out of his shy and quiet shell like he did with Snowgre and Artie. He knew that in a few days Garrett would be starting high school, the same one Snowgre attended.

Garrett was showing the triplets how to do moves on a skate board but stopped seeing Snowgre get on the bus for high school.

"Garrett you okay?" Felicia asked him.

"Y-Yeah I guess." he answered as the school bus turned up.

"We've gotta go.

See ya later." they told him leaving.

Garrett sighed sitting outside. Shrek saw him and felt sorry for him. He knew how it felt to be alone.

"Does Snowgre hate me? I've been trying to get him to like me but he doesn't want to get to know me. Maybe I should've stayed in Japan.

But I couldn't because nobody would care for me and I would've been taken to a shelter." he said sadly.

The elder ogre was at a loss hearing Garrett say that.

"I-I don't think he hates you. It's just he's been alone most of his life until he came here.

Maybe things will get better.

You need a friend." he told Garrett.

"I don't know. Back home I barely knew how to make friends. Only Shai liked me for who I was and I liked him for who he was. We used to spend every day just shredding down streets on our boards, playing video games in the arcade, just having fun you know?" he told him.

Shrek nodded.

"Don't worry you'll get to once you start high school next Monday. You're going to love it. Plus Snowgre goes to the same school. It'll give you time to bond with him." he answered.

Garrett looked sad at that.

"Yeah right, if he ever talks to me. Do you mind if we don't talk about Snowgre for a while? Talking about it makes me sad. I like you guys, you're making me part of the family but Snowgre.... he hates me and wishes I wasn't back in his life." he told him looking away.

There was silence for a moment but was broken by sobbing from Garrett.

He then felt somebody hug him. It was a boy his age with brown hair, green eyes and was slender.

!Hey it'll be okay." he told him.

"W-Who're you?" Garrett said wiping away some of the tears.

"This is Artie. He's from Fiona's side of the family. He was like you, alone until he found family." Shrek said to him.

"R-Really?" Garrett said softly.

Artie nodded. "Yeah I was all alone living in a place called Worchester Academy where nobody cared about me and hated me. Until Shrek came along and told me I was to be the new King of Far, Far Away. I've been part of the family since then.

So what's your story? " Artie explained.

Garrett sighed before speaking.

"I'm Garrett Onima. I lived in Osaka in Japan most of my childhood was spent in a home for kids who were abandoned. My real mother was slayed by hunters. The cops took me to the shelter when I was four. For the rest of my childhood, nobody wanted to be with me or be my friends until Snowgre's Mom showed up. Apparently my Mom was her relative and she felt like she had to take care of me so she adopted me. Snowgre and I were close while growing up until..... we were split up. He was sent here but I stayed with my Mom until....." Garrett told them.

"Until what?" Artie asked curious.

Garrett took a deep breath.

"Until one day she got ill when I was fifteen a month ago. I was really scared for her and visited her. She was very ill and they couldn't fix her so she passed away a few days but before that, she told me to come here and live with you guys. She knew you'd love me like she did.

I wish Snowgre would too." Garrett said breaking down.

Shrek and Artie were shocked but amazed by how strong Garrett was being and had been since coming here.

But unknowingly to him, Snowgre had been listening to his brother's story.

He remembered how Garrett had been adopted by his mother and they used to play every day at being samurai warriors until he was sent away.

In his room Garrett was meditating on his bed. Snowgre opened the door a little and heard Hawk Nelson playing in the back ground.

Garrett seemed at peace in his happy place where ever he was.

"I can't talk to him, not right now. I know I've been mad at him ever since Mom sent me away but I understand why she did it. She knew she was gonna be sick and couldn't look after us both.

I'm..... sorry." he thought closing the door.......