Hello readers! It has come to my attention that I have totally forgotten Scout the Pug in the last chapters! I like to believe he lived a fulfilling life but didn't get to live long enough to meet the Stewart kids. I realize I forgot him in the "Darkest Rainy Days" drabbles, so just pretend he was on a vacation. It has also come to my attention that people want to know if Amelia and Finn are to have Psi powers and honestly, I have no idea whether or not I should. So I'm going to post a little poll on whether they should or not. Please vote! If I get enough votes, I might do a chapter about their powers manifesting next week. You can also comment, I read all of those anyway. Let me know!
Also, I know that today's technically July 5. I also realized that I don't have any Liam angst, so here you go. If you can't tell, i'm terrible with author's notes. By the way, we have almost reached 10,000 views! I can't believe it! Thank you all for following through and reading/reviewing, I can't express how grateful I am.
OreoDragon5683: If I get enough votes on the poll and decide to come out with a chappie, I'll put and answer all your questions in one, mass, informational chappie. :)
Summary: It's days like this Liam misses Cole most.
Not too many years after IAAN and Psi had died down and life had begun to return to something like what it was before, the United States had re-adopted the tradition of celebrating July 4, America's independence day. Most commonly associated with fireworks, barbeques, and most often, beer, the national celebration is usually peppered with red, white and blue.
One of the more underrated aspects of this holiday are the reunions of families from throughout the country, joining for a few days in the year to celebrate, catch up, and simply be with each other for a day.
It was days like this Liam Stewart missed Cole Stewart the most.
The aching feeling of loss was almost always there, a chain of grief-tinged remembrance locked around his ankle, not debilitating but always there, always reminding him of what had been lost. Many days, it was easy to live on, to laugh and smile and joke-other days, the worst days, it was hard to function, to do anything, every sound, touch, sight a blaring reminder of his brother. Those days, Ruby was always there, carding a gentle hand through his hair, or, more rarely, singing a soft tune or lullaby. But those days were far and few in between, so there wasn't much to worry over.
Besides, Liam was supposed to be the goofy leader, the shoulder to lean on and the one to have a strong face and stronger resolve in times of danger.
Right?
"C'mon Gramps, throw it like you mean it!" Vida called from one side of Liam and Ruby's backyard, a mitt outstretched.
"I am!" Chubs huffed, throwing the baseball with a pathetic amount of force. The ball barely went halfway to Vida before plummeting and rolling lazily through the grass, coming to a stop several yards away from Vida, who was giving Chubs an i/not amused/i look. Dramatically sighing, Vida made a show of stepping forward and picking up the ball, before tossing the ball into the air and spinning and catching the ball behind her back.
"Would you like to try again, love?" Vida asked in a thick, obviously fake, British accent.
Next to him, Ruby and Zu snickered at Chubs' inability to throw a baseball without looking like a five-year-old, Zu absentmindedly scratching Scout behind the ears.
Liam forced himself to laugh, smile not reaching his eyes, old memories resurfacing forefront in his mind. It was one of his Bad Days, when guilt was almost too much to bear.
Standing, Liam shook himself, trying to free memories with it. "I'm going to get some more iced tea." Liam announced. Ruby gave him a concerned look (she always knew when he was having a Bad Day) but he quickly flashed her a weak smile, and disappeared inside.
Splashing water on his face from the kitchen sink, Liam hunched over the sink for a few extra seconds before wiping a heavy hand over his face and drying them on a towel. Looking out the window facing the backyard Liam watched Vida toss the ball over to a clumsy Chubs before an old memory of before Psi washed over him.
"Here, throw it like this." Cole said, mimicking throwing the baseball. He was trying to teach a very young Liam how to throw a baseball, prepping him for his first baseball practice.
A determined look set on his face, Liam scrunched up his nose and tried his best to copy his brother's movements. The ball sailed a good few feet before dive bombing to the ground, still far from its target. Frustrated, Liam threw down his glove and stomped over to the curb before sitting with his arms crossed over his chest.
Cole sat down next to him, trying to read his furrowed brows and pursed lips. "Hey what's wrong?"
Liam tore the baseball cap off his head, handing it to Cole. He curled a agitated hand through his blonde head, speaking angrily. "I can't do it! I'll never be as good as the other kids because I'm too stupid to even throw a ball! I'll never be able to play and it's all because I'm not good enough!" Even as a young child, Liam wasn't afraid of speaking his mind.
"Hey, hey, that's not true. Don't you know that the other kids also don't know how to play? Nobody's perfect the first time they try something." Cole said soothingly.
Liam huffed, but was a little more convinced.
"Besides," Cole added, smiling "none of the kids will be as good as you when I'm done with you."
Now Liam gave a lopsided grin, playfully punching Cole in the arm.
"C'mon, let's go ice pops before training again." Cole told Liam while standing up, slipping the cap back onto Liam head before ruffling it affectionately. He held out a hand to Liam.
Liam straightened the cap before taking his brother's hand, racing off to get the frozen treat.
"Liam, are you okay?" Ruby's worried voice pulled him out of the memory, head snapping up to meet the voice. Scout could sense the uneasiness in Liam's figure, licking his ankle timidly.
"Y-yeah. Sorry, I just…" Liam let his voice trail off, Ruby giving an understanding glance before interlocking her hand with hers.
"We better get going. It's almost dark and we don't want to miss the fireworks." Looking out the window, the sun was dipping past the horizon, a blazing fire among a sea of pink and orange.
"Right." Liam stated, wiping his palms on his jeans. He followed Ruby out the door, ignoring the yapping Scout who was locked in the house. (Last year, the fireworks had scared the poor pug and Liam and Ruby had to chase him through the streets as he ran blindly through the town.)
"Took you long enough." Vida said in typical Vida fashion, but didn't comment otherwise. He was sure the other's probably knew something was up-they were practically after all. The fact they didn't push him on it was just because they were just that awesome.
"Where is the fireworks again?" Zu asked, cocking her head to one side.
"At the park, we'll just walk." Ruby supplied, gathering her picnic blanket to sit on.
"Let's get going." Chubs stated, and off they went.
On the way to the park, the group engaged in playful, light banter. Liam half-listened adding in a comment here and there, but not really tuning into the conversation. The others didn't seem to mind, and it occupied his mind from the all-encompassing memories.
"We're here!" Vida chimed, cartwheeling across the park grass. Chubs muttered something about showing off athletic-ness and attempted to copy Vida, but collapsing mid-cartwheel, Vida chortling at his failure.
"Don't worry Chubsie, some people aren't as athletically fit as me." Vida boasted, strutting her short-covered legs. The two then proceeded to try to oneup each other, racing down a sidewalk.
"I'm going to make sure they don't get arrested." Zu said in exasperated fondness, before walking after them. Ruby snorted at that, and Liam wondered who the true adult of the trio was.
"Let's go get a spot." Ruby suggested. Liam nodded. Ruby wove through a mass of people who already had their blankets set up in the open field, kids running around and throwing light up discs. Most of the town came to watch the fireworks, from rowdy teens to elderly couples.
Reaching an empty spot, Ruby lay down the picnic blanket and lay herself out on the spot. Liam sat next to her, picking at blades of grass idly.
Ruby knocked her shoulder against his lightly, concern deep within her virescent eyes. "You okay?"
Liam thought about denying it for a hot second, but decided that Ruby was too smart for that. "I just...miss him sometimes."
Ruby nodded understandingly. "Me too." She sat up, legs folded beneath her, sundress pooling around her. Gently, she guided his head into her lap, and carded her fingers through his hair. "A girl once told me, 'We all lost a part of ourselves during IAAN, but it's what made us, us.' Wherever Cole is, I'm sure he's watching us."
A soft click sounded behind Liam and Ruby, causing them both to turn their heads. Vida moved a polaroid camera from her face, giving a cheshire smile. "Aww, look at you two. Scooch over, the fireworks are about to start."
Liam sat up and moved over, Zu, Chubs and Vida joining them on the blanket.
A few minutes later, the lit up, blues, reds, whites, peppering the sky. Liam was distantly aware of more clicks from Vida's general direction, but was too riveted by the fireworks and Ruby's illuminated face to care.
Back home, Liam and Ruby looked through the pictures Vida gave them on their bed, Scout snoring loudly at their feet.
Picking up another picture, Liam inspected it closely. Vida must've taken it while the fireworks were going on, for their faces were illuminated with pink and white. Liam smiled, looking at Ruby's entranced face and his own relaxed one. He was about to set it down before something in the corner of the frame caught his eye. A white, almost translucent orb floated next to Liam and Ruby's interlocked fingers.
Liam wasn't a superstitious person-he didn't believe in ghosts. He knew that it could very well be speck of dust or water on the camera lens, or some light from the fireworks.
But in that moment, Liam liked to believe that Cole was there, watching over them.
On a totally unrelated note, if you didn't read the Author's Note, I have a poll up for whether Amelia and Finn should have Psi powers or not. Please vote! See you next week! :)