AN: Going away for the weekend so I don't know if I'll have time to post a chapter then but hopefully this will suffice for a few days. Enjoy!

After Alastair did his little freak out he did grudgingly congratulate Roxy on her accomplishment. In the end, she didn't get expelled and time went on.

It seemed like the one hiccup in Roxy's young life was over when Alastair called up James one day and said, "I think Roxy's hiding something."

Halfway across the world and in a rather dank place with a mission that wasn't going so well, James grumbled out, "Well hello to you to."

"I'm being quite serious. She's been closing off about things and is being very cagey," Alastair muttered.

"And that is exactly what I want to here after not speaking to my boyfriend in a week. Come on, at least say something nice like you missed me or something."

"Our father was the one who first brought it to my attention and when I asked her if things were alright, she stumbled over her words," said Alastair as he either purposely ignored James' words or honestly didn't hear them. "I need your advice on what to do."

"How about you say hello to me first?" grumbled James.

"Fine. Hello, hi, hope it's going well, kisses, whatever the hell couples say to each other. Now what do you think I should do?"

Though Alastair couldn't see, James rolled his eyes. "Well have you pushed some? Like with asking about what's going on and everything? Roxy is a tough kid; you needn't handle her like china."

"But how should I go about it?"

"Well for starters, I know it will go against your primary programming, but you should be really open and compassionate to her."

"Very funny. But what if it turns out to be…I don't know. Just something horrible. She's my little sister and—"

"And she isn't stupid. Whatever it is, it's probably not that bad and she's just over thinking things. Or she could be so odd around you because whatever it is could have to do with you."

"Somehow that doesn't make it better."

"Alastair, just trust her, alright? Confront her, be stern but gentle, and just go for it. Now I have to go but I will say, as you so wisely did a second ago, kisses and whatever the hell couples say to each other. I love you. See you later."

"Later," Alastair responded with a sigh as he rubbed his eyes in exhaustion.

James had basically told him what he knew he needed to do, but that really didn't make it any easier. Nevertheless, there really wasn't anything else to do if he wanted the situation resolved so the next time he got a chance, he went out to visit his father and Roxy.

The dinner went rather well, because the moment he mentioned he was coming over his father insisted on staying for dinner, but the moment their dad left the room, that awkward air came forward again along with a worry growing in Alastair's stomach.

"Roxy, will you please tell me what is on your mind."

"Nothing. Except dessert of course."

"Please don't skirt around the subject. I'm no fool and neither are you so—"

"I would complain about you two arguing but seeing as you've never done it before, I suppose it's high time that sibling rivalry kicked in," their father suddenly said as he walked in again. "What is it? Fighting over the last roll?"

Alastair rolled his eyes and replied no as Roxy remained eerily silent. Alastair thought about pushing some more but he felt that with their father there, she would be even less likely to talk. Instead he carried on casual conversation, noticing how Roxy started to act like nothing had happened.

When their father excused himself for the night, both remained silent and kept from talking until he was definitely out of earshot, and then Roxy was suddenly booking it to her room.

"Hey!" Alastair shoved his chair out from under him and followed her out the room and down the hall. Having unexpected this scenario, it took a moment for Alastair to get into the right mindset but he eventually caught up with her at the top of the stairs, taking them two by two certainly giving him an advantage.

He grabbed onto her shoulders and steered her around so that way she was looking at him and said, "Roxy, you are not moving from this spot until you explain to me what is going on. You…" Alastair trailed off as he thought back to exactly what James' words had been and then let out a lengthy sigh. "You are seriously worrying me, alright? And I know whatever I'm imagining is probably not even close and way worse to whatever is wrong, but you are honestly freaking me out."

She frowned and looked down at the floor, conflicting emotions running through her. Finally she muttered, "Can we at least not do this in the hallway."

"Of course. Just go wherever you'd feel most comfortable," Alastair replied, the worry in his chest only growing though he was pleased that he was at least getting somewhere.

As Alastair let go of her shoulders, she turned and began going down the hallway in the same direction she had been and went into her room. Going in there, Alastair realized that he hadn't actually set foot in the room for some years. The last time he'd done so, Roxy had probably been seven and the place, though always neat, had been covered in toys and picture books with Winnie-the-Pooh sheets. All that was gone now and once again, Alastair was hit with the simple fact that his little sister was growing up, something he would have to get use to.

He decided to lean against the wall, opposite where she sat on her bed, giving her room which she seemed to appreciate. Letting her go first, Alastair remained silent, mentally steeling himself for whatever was to come.

"Are you a good man?"

The words were extremely odd and had Alastair frowning as he commented, "I'm not sure what you mean sis."

"Just…I know it's weird but can you please just answer it? I need to see…need to hear you say it," Roxy responded. "Are you a good man?"

"I believe I am. Probably a little cold for most people but I do the best I can with every situation I'm given. Everything I do is for others. I'd like to imagine that's what it means to be a good man," Alastair answered truthfully. "Why do you ask? Do you think I'm not?"

"Yes-I mean no! I just…there have been a lot of puzzle pieces that I've been gathering up over the years and after you got hurt, I finally started to put them together. I obviously still don't know the whole picture and it's stupid for me to assume but…but the worst just came to mind," Roxy replied.

"What do you mean by puzzle pieces?"

"Just that things don't always add up with you. Your explanations, when you say you've been one place but the evidence doesn't support it. And I know James is in on it to so don't even bother trying to deny it! I know that you're not tailors, or at least not completely," said Roxy in a rushed breath.

"Is that all?" Alastair softly asked as Roxy took her moment to breath.

"Recently I've been…I know it's wrong but I've been listening in on your conversations. Hearing repeated words that don't make sense, listening to you talk like an officer in a war. I know you work for somebody but I didn't…I don't know who they are, or what they do," Roxy's voice dropped until she was silent again, only to rise back up and continue. "I want to believe you're the brother that I grew up with but there's suddenly a huge chunk of your life that has been a lie and I…I'm afraid."

"Of me?" asked Alastair, the thought hurting more than expected.

"No, I know I can kick your ass." It was a small shot at humor and though it did earn a chuckle from both siblings, their expressions both darkened again and Roxy added, "I'm just afraid of…afraid of what it might mean."

"Oh, Roxy," Alastair murmured as he finally moved from his leaning position and sat beside her on the bed, "you're to damn smart. You know that? Everyone else has found out because something obvious was shoved into their face. But you, you looked for what others just glanced over or didn't think twice about and clearly, damn the consequences, I'm going to have to explain more to you than anyone else."

"Wait, about what? Who knows?" asked Roxy. "So was I right? That you're not really a tailor that you're…you're some sort of solider or spy or something?"

"I suppose spy works the best," Alastair said, the unease inside himself finally drifting away. "I work for an international organization who's purpose is to help the planet and keep people safe without the issues of governments getting in the way. And that is mostly certainly more than anyone else has heard."

"Who else knows?"

"Lily and our brother."

"How?" Roxy questioned curiously.

"Lily was around after James had a…difficult day at work. Explaining things to her was the quickest way to calm her and James down. Kenton…well let's just say he might have bumped into me on a job."

"You can't tell me the story? It sounds like it would be an interesting one."

"It is…but I can't. I'm sorry that you grew worried and unsure. I'm sorry I kept this from you. I should have assumed that you'd figure it out sooner rather than later and should have explained everything to you."

"No, I'm sorry for letting my imagination get out of hand. I didn't have all the facts and just made up the worst ideas instead," replied Roxy.

"No need to be sorry," Alastair said as he gave her a tight hug. "We're both at fault and the important thing is that now we both know better. No keeping secrets from siblings."

"Except government classified ones," Roxy responded with a small grin and then hugged Alastair back twice as hard.