Alright, just a quick warning, this chapter is a little bit sad. It shows some insight on Spraypaint's past, and has a bit of fluffy fluff at the end. And it's really short. *facedesk* Next chapter should be longer, and it involves Spain, Prussia, and Greece's cats!

Chapter 4

Just a Dream

I was curled up into a tight ball, letting my older twin brothers hug me comfortingly. We said nothing, just sat in a corner and held each other. I was nine, I can remember, and in the room just below us, I heard them screaming at each other again.

"You're the reason we're living in this dump! If you would just get off your lazy ass and get a job, maybe we could live in an actual house!"

"Do you think jobs just grow on trees, Rebekah? I'm trying to find one, and you know I am! I'm actually attempting to support my family instead of working six hours a week at a dead-end job!"

"Oh, please, Jerald, you wouldn't give a damn if one of those kids woke up with their heads cut off!"

"Are you trying to say I don't care about them? Those children are my life, I'd do anything for them!"

"Oh? Is that why you hit Pichu?" I winced, at the insult and memory both.

"That was an accident, Rebekah, you know that!"

"Right, an accident because you were drunk off your ass and she didn't get out of your way quick enough!" I had started crying at this point, silently, as I buried my face into Samuel's shoulder.

"Drunk? You're mad at me for being drunk once? What about you? Going out every weekend and not coming home until the crack of dawn, leaving us to worry about you! This is New York, you stupid bitch! Anyone could just pick you off the streets!"

"I wish they did, Jerald, because at least then I wouldn't have to come home to your penniless, worthless, lazy a-"

SMACK

Time froze. I felt my brothers hold their breath, waiting for the next bout of yelling, waiting for any indication she wasn't hurt.

But it never came.

The next sound they heard was the door to the apartment slam shut, then muffled sobbing. Samuel and Emmanuel glanced at each other, then Emmanuel carefully got to his feet. Samuel did the same, picking me up and placing me on his back at the same time. They went downstairs to where the living room was, only to find our mother, crying into a pillow.

The twins had tried to comfort her, but the minute she noticed me, her expression turned sour. "He left because of you. Never forget that. You are the reason we have these fights, and now he's gone and it's all your fault."

And she was right.

I had my arms wrapped around Samuel, bawling into his shoulder. It took me a while to realize it wasn't my older brother, but Canada. He was sitting next to me on the bed, holding me while I cried like a two-year-old.

I was shaking, convulsing slightly from the sobs. Canada said nothing, and I was glad, because I didn't want to talk at all.

I eventually stopped crying, slowly falling back asleep from exhaustion. My good hand was clutched around the fabric of Canada's nightshirt, muscles tense even though the rest of my body had relaxed. I didn't want to let go; I didn't want him to leave.

Carefully as to not wake me, I could tell, he fixed the sheets so they once again covered me, the lay down on the bed, above the comforter. Canada had shifted his arms so he was hugging me now rather than simply holding me.

I moved so my head rested in between his jawline and his neck. He rested his chin on the top of my head

The darkness of the room finally reached me, and I closed my eyes, and let myself fall asleep to the sound of Canada's steady breathing.

I told you it was short. I seriously squee'd so much writing this. This is possibly one of my favorite chapters. Be sure to R&R, and I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can!