Short, I know, only to bide you over until my exams are over.
"Hey, where's Alex?" James asked walking into the kitchen the next morning with a yawn, Ben smirked and held up a finger, James then heard thuds as he came down the stairs.
"Hey. Morning." Alex grinned sitting Alice and Tilly in their seats before getting them some cereal.
"Alex!" They both exclaimed,
"Yes?" He hid a smile.
"You said we could have pancakes." Alice told him with a grin slipping off her seat, she walked up to the fridge and got out the eggs.
"Just teasing you." Alex grinned and took the eggs. "Who wants pancakes?" He raised his voice,
"ME!" Three voices yelled from upstairs, two teens appeared pulling on socks and jumpers in the doorway. "Us." They repeated as James laughed.
"And me!" Zara called from upstairs.
"James? Ben?" Alex asked turning back to the side.
"Yes please." James grinned.
"Stupid question Al." Ben ruffled his hair and Alex shot him a mock glare.
"THOMAS WILLIAM!" Alex shouted.
"Alex, you shouldn't have to ask!" Was the responding shout.
"So that's seven for pancakes." Alex grinned pulling out a bowl, a few seconds later his grin grew.
"No, it's nine." Alice said slowly.
"Why do you say that?" Alex asked seriously,
"Because, there are five of us and four more." Alice stated slowly,
"And that makes nine, there are nine of us for breakfast." Tilly finished, Alex grinned and ruffled their hair.
"Correct, just checking." He laughed pouring the mix into the pan,
"That is impressive adding for one so young." Zara remarked sitting opposite the twins.
"We know all our numbers bonds, Alex is the best teacher." Alice replied,
"When he remembers to speak in English or French." Tilly added.
"And if the French he speaks is slow and not too advanced." Alice finished.
"You speak French?" Zara was shocked, the two twins nodded in unison then Alice said something in French, Tilly finishing the sentence.
"Holy-"
"Language." Alex, Ben and Tom snapped cutting off James' exclamation of shock.
"That's impressive." Zara cut in.
"Thank you." The twins replied before tucking into their pancakes, Zara waited until they had all finished before indicating to Alex they needed to talk.
"Come on, teeth." Tom ushered his sisters up the stairs the rest of the group following silently excited, yet worried, about the mission.
"What's up?" Alex asked starting the dishes,
"Your friend Tom and his sisters," Zara leant against the counter wringing her hands.
"What about them?" Alex was now worried,
"I want to offer them a place at Cherub." Zara finally stopped beating about the bush.
"And you are asking me because...?" Alex queried.
"They respect you and from what I have seen I feel I can quite safely say Tom will come to you for advice before replying." She explained.
"But they are not orphans." Alex frowned,
"They have no parents so to speak. From what I gather they are bright, intelligent children who would benefit from the stable environment we can offer. Tom will be late doing his training but as he is only scraping 14 I should be able to pass it, a new round starts next week." She watched Alex as he remained silent finally bringing an end to her babbling.
"Say something." She finally begged.
"Thank you." Alex's voice was quiet,
"I'm sorry?" Now the mother was confused, she hadn't done anything worthy of thanks in her opinion.
"You are offering them something I could never give them, thanks. If they take it, could I still visit?" Alex explained.
"Certainly." Her answer was swift. "I was planning to ask you if you wanted to teach." She added a sheepish look on her face.
"I'll think about it." Alex chuckled.
"Alex!" That was the only warning he got before a small figure flew into his arms, he held the sobbing Alice confused.
"Don't go." She whispered, voice breaking.
"Hey," Alex ran a hand through her hair talking quietly to her calming her down, it wasn't the first time she had done this but it never failed to break Alex's heart as he had done it many times with Ian, minus the tears, as 'tears are a sign of weakness.' Another life lesson taught to him by his adoring uncle.
"What's up?" Ben queried seeing the dark look flash across Alex's face. Alex raised an eyebrow and Ben grimaced. "Ian." He guess, Alex nodded once.
"Come on, lets get you ready. What do you think you'll be doing today?" Alex's voice faded as he walked up the stairs again.
"They're close." Lauren commented,
"Yeah, Alice and Alex more so than Tilly and Ben. I swear sometimes she loves him more than she does me." Tom sighed amused.
"He's a rarity." Ben teased, "Much more interesting."
"Yeah. Hence the tears." Tom sighed, "She's like Alex in that respect. Not the tears, but the glum attitude for days afterwards. It was always clear with Alex when Ian was or wasn't home." Tom chuckled, "For one, when he was home he always ran out school to see him more, if he turned up on my doorstep a few hours later you knew he had vanished again."
"I can't imagine him doing that." James sounded surprised.
"He never voiced his disappointment but it was there, in the silence, the l looks, the frowns. He's pretty easy to read once you know how." Tom confirmed.
"I'm still learning." Ben laughed.
"So am I. Sure before he turned 14 I could read him like a book, now... not so much." Tom shrugged.
"Tom, can I have a word with you?" Zara suddenly asked, Tom nodded and vanished with Zara. He reappeared a few minutes later shock and deep through all over his face.
"Ben." He pulled his guardian from the room, Zara frowned.
"I assumed he would ask Alex."
"He's busy." Kerry guessed.
"Tilly." Ben appeared and gathered the girl in his arms, he left the room again. "How would you like to move and attend a school with your brother and sister? The school the others come from?"
"If they are there and you come too then I don't mind." Tilly replied after thinking it through surprisingly well for a child.
"Alex!" Tom called,
"Yeah?" Was the responding shout,
"Ask." Upstairs Alex turned to Alice a smile on his face.
"How would you like to go to the school Lauren, James and Kerry come from?" Alex asked, "Tom would be there and Ben and I could visit you." Alex asked, a shocked faces met him then arms wrapped around his legs tightly. Then Alice ran downstairs and both twins launched themselves at Zara.
"THANK YOU!" They both exclaimed in unison. Then they both paused and turned to Alex and Ben.
"You are leaving again aren't you. Today." Tilly asked quietly.
"Afraid so." Ben crouched and pulled Tilly into his arms, Alex perched Alice on his shoulders, "But we have time to take you to school."
Please review, I am trying not to write until my exams are done. Please try not to encourage me, because I know I will procrastinate...