Disclaimer: I still own nothing associated with Glee.

This chapter is unbeta'd and ridiculously short, but I couldn't keep it to myself anymore. So, I'm going to commence ruining your day with the angst in this chapter. I apologize in advance for this...

The Plan That Actually Worked
Chapter Six: Someday, Maybe

The next day started much the same was as the day before. Stacy bounded in the room to wake the sleeping couple up for breakfast. Sam grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down; she cuddled against his side, squeezing herself between Sam and Rory. Rory propped himself up on his elbow to watch as Sam laughed quietly with the little girl in pink pajamas.

"I wish you didn't have to leave, Sammy," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Oh, Stacy," Sam soothed. "I'm not leaving yet. I'm going to be here for Christmas and New Years."

"But I don't want you to leave, Sammy. I want you and Rory to stay forever."

Rory smiled at the little girl as Sam answered. "We'd love to stay forever, but eventually we have to go back to school."

"But we'll come back to visit, Stacy," Rory added when he saw her face fall. Her face brightened up immediately. Sam kissed his sister on the top of the head before rolling out of bed to head toward the bathroom. Stacy readjusted, scooting closer to Rory's side and resting her head against his chest.

"Rory?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, love?"

"Are you and Sammy going to get married?"

Sam peeked around the corner and into the bedroom to see Rory's reaction.

There was silence for a beat before Rory answered. "Someday, maybe." Sam could see the corners of Rory's mouth pulled up into a smile.

Stacy nodded against the boy's chest. "Do you love Sammy?"

Rory's face beamed. "Yes, I do."

"Good," she answered matter-of-factly. Rory laughed quietly at her stern tone before kissing the top of her head.

"I love him, too," Sam replied as he walked back into the room, dropping down on the bed next to Rory. "Tell mom that we'll be right out for breakfast."

"Okay, Sammy," she said happily, throwing herself off the bed and heading for the door.

Sam quickly bent down and pressed his lips to Rory's. "I love you so much."

As it had countless times already that night, thunder shook the Evans' small house. Stacy and Stevie were cuddled into the couch next to Sam and Rory. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the dark living room. Stevie whimpered nervously as the lights flickered, the power threatening to go out at any moment. He buried his face in Sam's shoulder as the older boy tried to comfort him. "It's just a thunderstorm, Stevie," Sam said soothingly, sliding his hand across his little brother's back.

The weather was freakish; Sam had never heard of a thunderstorm happening in the middle of winter. The snow was piling up and lightning periodically cut across the sky. The weatherman had warned that the storm was going to be bad, so Sam's parents had gone down into the basement to gather supplies just in case the power did go out.

Rory's phone vibrated on the cushion beside him, and he picked it up eagerly, a smile breaking across his face. He quickly replied to the text message and looked at Sam.

"Seamus wants me to get on Skype with him," Rory's chirped, his voice an octave higher than usual with excitement. The Irish boy eased Stacy from his lap and walked toward the computer in Sam's room, pressing the button to power on the monitor.

Soon, the chiming sound of an incoming Skype call came through the small speakers. Rory smiled broadly and answered. His breath hitched in his throat as he suddenly saw the bright face of his little brother, his blue eyes sparkling with joy.

"Hi," Rory said quickly, his voice cracking in odd places, a grin stretched across his face.

"Hi, Rory!" the younger boy said excitedly.

"Oh my God, Seamus, I miss you so much! You'd love America," Rory said hurriedly. "I wish you were here to see it all."

Sam came into the room, bustling around and changing into his pajamas before dropping into a chair next to Rory, lacing their fingers together. He suddenly worried that Rory may not want his brother to see them together.

"Is this okay?" he whispered. Rory smiled and nodded.

"It's fine, Sammy."

"Who's that, Rory?" Seamus asked, confused.

"Seamus, this is Sam," Rory introduced, turning the camera toward Sam. "Sam, this is my little brother, Seamus."

"I'm not that little, Rory," Seamus replied indignantly. Sam smiled. Rory and Seamus had the same petulant pout, the smaller boy's features crinkling adorably in the same way his brother's did.

"Seamus, I have to tell you something," Rory said nervously.

"What?" Seamus asked, curious.

"I want you to hear it from me before you hear it from da, okay?"

"What is it, Rory?" Seamus' voice was nervous.

"Sam and I are boyfriends. Like, boyfriends boyfriends."

Shock flitted across the boy's face, all the color draining from his cheeks.

"Say something, Seamus," Rory begged anxiously.

"I heard da saying something about...but I didn't think..." It was easy to see the pieces falling into place in Seamus' head. "Rory, are you...gay?" There was no judgment in the younger boy's voice, only worry.

Rory just nodded, unable to find his voice.

"Da said I wasn't allowed to talk to you anymore, but he wouldn't tell me why. He just called you names. I tried to defend you, but he said that I shouldn't try and protect you because of what you were, what you are," Seamus said, shaking his head sadly. "Rory, you're still my big brother. It doesn't matter to me, but you know what da will do if you come home." The younger boy's face twisted in horror as some scenario played itself out in his mind. He shook his head to dispel it.

"Rory, what are you going to-" Seamus' head turned abruptly toward the door behind him, a terrified expression on his face. The door cracked, and Rory's face fell; it was a stern looking older man. Sam could feel the tension rolling off Rory as he watched the scene playing itself out an ocean away.

The man walked into Seamus' bedroom, immediately recognizing that his son had defied his orders, and pulled the boy roughly out of his chair and slapping him hard across the face. Seamus stumbled backwards, his eyes still locked on Rory. Sam squeezed his hand tighter.

Rory felt his stomach do a sick flip as he watched his father "disciplining" his brother.

"Stop!" Rory yelled, desperate to distract his father; it worked. "Go find mam, Seamus!" The boy took his brother's advice and skittered out of the room, obviously on the verge of tears.

His father dropped into the computer chair angrily. "I thought I told you, boy, you will not curse this household with your sick lifestyle."

Rory was shaking beside Sam. "Yes, sir. I just had to talk to Seamus. I miss him."

"You will keep your perversion to yourself. Do not talk to my son again," Mr. Flanagan spat. Rory recoiled as though he'd been slapped.

"Hold on," Sam piped in, furious and unable to listen to anymore. "You can't keep Rory from talking to Seamus. That's his brother."

"Sam," Rory warned quietly.

"Listen to me, whoever you are-"

"My name is Sam. I'm Rory's boyfriend. And, no, you listen to me. There is nothing wrong with Rory, but there is something seriously wrong with you," Sam's words came out in an angry rush. "I love your son more than anything in the world, and I will not stand for you talking to him like that."

The lights flickered dramatically behind Sam as he lit into Rory's father.

The angry man interrupted Sam to direct his ire at Rory.

"Alright, boy, I don't know what your sick obsession is with Seamus, but you will never contact him again. I will not have you infecting him with your disease. It just makes me sick to think about what you might have done to him while we trustedyou to watch him."

Rory's mouth dropped open in shock. Sam couldn't believe what he was hearing. The blonde wanted to defend Rory against the hateful attack, but he couldn't find any words. He just clutched Rory's hand tighter. The boy was frozen beside him, his eyes wet with tears. His father continued his rant.

"You will never set foot inside my house again. You will never call here again. If I ever find out that have tried to speak to my son again, I'll-"

In that moment, the power flickered again quickly before finally going out altogether, plunging the pair into darkness. Sam was almost glad for the interruption. He was glad to have Rory away from the hatred being spewed by his father. Rory just sat, staring at the now blank screen, obviously in shock.

"Rory," Sam said anxiously. No answer. "Baby, look at me." He didn't.

The pale moonlight reflected from the wetness gathering in Rory's eyes. Sam could see him trying to blink it away. He stretched his arm out and pressed a hand against Rory's cheek, turning the boy's head so that they were facing. "Rory?"

"He doesn't mean it," Rory protested feebly. "He can't mean it."

"Baby, your mother will talk to him, and..."

"She won't change his mind. How could he think that I'd ever...? It's n-not fair," he whispered brokenly, emotion beginning to overcome him.

"Rory," Sam said quietly, pulling Rory into his arms. "Seamus loves you more than anything. You're his big brother. He will never stay away from you. You're his hero, baby. No matter what."

Rory squeezed Sam tightly, burying his face in his shoulder, sobbing. Sam lifted Rory from the computer chair and led him to their bed. "Lie down, Rory," Sam whispered, turning down the bed and helping his boyfriend get in before climbing in beside him and covering them both with blankets. Rory curled into his side and cried, his tears soaking the front of Sam's shirt near where he had the fabric gripped tightly within his fist. Sam placed his hand over top of Rory's, opening the hand clenching his shirt and lacing their fingers together.

Though he was calm on the outside, inside Sam's fury was boiling over. There was nothing that Rory cared about more than his little brother, and his father knew that. He had used Rory's love for Seamus against him, used it to hurt him. Watching the broken boy sobbing against his chest only fueled Sam's hatred for Rory's father. How could anyone intentionally hurt someone as sweet and pure as Rory?

There was really nothing to be said. Sam couldn't think of any comforting words to fix the damage that had been done, so he just held Rory tightly, rubbing his palm across his back, until he cried himself to sleep.

Sam didn't know how, but somehow he'd find a way to make this right.

A/N: I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me.