Chapter 28: Get Back Up

"Mommy, what's wrong with Uncle Peeta?" Thomas asks as his mother peels potatoes for dinner as her son playing with some of his toy soldiers at the kitchen table. Sybil sits on the floor, banging pots with a wooden spoon.

It had been approximately a month since the sinking and things were no better for her brother or the tiny child at her feet. Peter and Sybil had basically moved in with them, which was fine if her brother's emotions didn't cast a gloomy shadow over them all. Even her son, Thomas had noticed, trying to play with his favourite uncle like they used to, but only getting a "not today" or a "not right now" as an answer. She could tell her son was becoming worried and even a bit depressed himself, something she didn't want for him or her brother.

Holly swallows hard. She peels a few more potatoes before she answers. She was hoping she wouldn't have to talk to her son about the concept of death until he was much older, but then her brother lost his wife and now he has to raise her sister by himself.

"He's very sad Thomas," Holly says.

"But why?"

"Well…he got hurt on the ship and then Aunt Emma…she went to heaven to be with Jesus…"

"Oh…" Thomas says. "Is heaven a good place mommy?"

"It's an amazing place, you remember about our times going to church and the pastor speaking about where good people go?"

"Uh huh…"

"Aunt Emma was a good person so she gets to be with Jesus."

Sybil bangs loudly on a pot, babbling loudly that interrupts them.

"Is Uncle Peeta going to stay with us forever?" Thomas asks.

"I don't think so honey, but he's going to stay with us for a little while until his leg gets better."

"Okay…"

"Besides, you like having Sybil around to play with don't you?" Holly asks, adding the potatoes to a big pot of stew on the stove.

"Yes Mommy, but she can't really play yet. She can't walk and you have to be careful what you leave around because she'll eat it"

"That's because she's just a baby. Babies need special attention when they're young because they are so small and don't know any better of what not to eat. They can't run or feed themselves yet. You were once a baby too."

"I was?"

"Yes you were, you were a precious little thing."

"Did I drool and make messes too?"

"More than your fair share honey…"

"But now I'm a big boy, I can count to thirty-six, run, colour and say my ABCs."

"Yes you can, now can the big boy please put his toys away and help Mommy set the table for Daddy when he comes home?"

"Okay…"

Thomas gathers his toys and puts them away and gathers the spoons and forks.

Holly continues stirring the pot of stew on the stove and looks down at the little girl at her feet. Sybil is clanging away on the pot and screeching. Holly feels as if the little one is banging out her frustrations on the piece of kitchen wear. To lose her sister in such a disaster and her parents even earlier, it will undoubtedly affect how she grew. She knew Peter would do his best to be a father to her, but he is only one man and he's still quite young to be put in this position. She knows he will have to deal with Emma's company as well. In this situation, Peter would be the heir to the company, but since there is no documentation that the couple married and that most of the witnesses are most likely dead, it would be hard to prove. It is not like Peter wants to run the company anyways, he's so depressed, Holly can barely stand it. She feels so sad for her brother. He mostly stays in the spare bedroom upstairs all day and when he does get up, he never comes downstairs. Holly has to bring him his food and she often sees him just staring out the window, as if waiting for Emma to walk through the door. He's also made no contact with Emma's father's company to at least tell them that there is still one living heir left. It would be a lot for a tiny 7-month old child to inherit everything.

Her heart broke as Thomas often tried to engage his uncle in play or when she brought Sybil to him, he would merely smile and send them away again. Holly begins to wonder if she'll ever see her real brother again. One that was happy could crack a good joke and would dance until his legs fell off. This disaster has changed him and not for the better.

Holly had heard from her parents just a day before, but Peter barely spoke to them at all. They too could tell that their son was gone, his happiness went down with the ship. It's not like he could go anywhere anyways, Carl would drive him to the hospital and back for inspections on his leg and Peter was supposed to take it easy for approximately another two weeks to make sure everything healed. Peter wobbled around on a crutch if he moved at all.

Holly picks up Sybil and puts her in Thomas' old high chair that Carl had brought up from the basement. She felt like a new mother all over again, taking care of Sybil, feeding and clothing the young child. She adored Sybil and thought of her as her own daughter, but the extra work was hard on Holly. She had a rambunctious three-year-old to keep in line already, plus all the housework and helping her brother get around. She was almost at her limit, she knew Peter had to get on his feet soon, so she may never see her brother's smile again.

Carl comes into the house from the factory covered in grease and smelling like melted steel. However, Thomas runs over yelling and jumping into his father's arms. Carl comes into wash up at the sink from the steel factory, kisses Holly while Thomas grabs his father's hat to wear on his head.

"How are you?" he asks, putting Thomas down grabbing the soap.

"I wish I was better," is the answer.

"Has he done anything today?"

"Not yet," Holly sighs. This had been what Carl asked every day he came home and the answer was always the same.

"He needs to get outside more," Carl says.

"He needs to get back on his feet…" Holly says.

"He can't Mommy, his leg is hurt," Thomas blurts.

"It's a metaphor buddy," Carl explains. "What Mommy means is he needs to get back into the world again, go back to work and such."

"Oh…" his son says, before sitting down at the table.

"Can someone come and help me please?" a voice from the top of the stairs calls.

"I got it," Carl says and leaves the kitchen.

Peter had been trying to come down to family meals now, despite how much of a struggle is was, at least he was moving a bit more.

Holly serves the stew into small bowls for the children and then the adults. Carl and Peter hobble into the kitchen and Peter sits down in the same chair he sat in the night he came here. Peter looks the same as he did before, his blonde hair messed around a bit and dark circles under his eyes. Holly knew that her brother was having trouble sleeping, she could hear him cry and move around constantly in his bed. She can only imagine the kind of nightmares he might be having. She begins to ponder about whether her brother should see a head shrinker, something to help him get through this and get his life back together. She knew this was not good for Sybil to not be with her guardian for extended periods of time.

She brings the soup over and then sits down.

"Are there peas in her mommy?" Thomas whines.

"There are some, but I want you to have as many as you can count okay?"

There's a long silence as the family eats. Peter manages a little bit of food but picks at most of it. Carl attempts to tell everyone about his day at the factory, but her brother only feigns interest.

Holly decides to speak up.

"Peter…" Holly says.

"Yes?"

"I think you should go back to the office tomorrow."

"What? Why?" he says, showing a surprised face.

"Because…it is not good for you to be inside all day and plus, the business is probably falling apart without you."

"There is no point Holly…like I've said before since there is no documentation to prove that Emma and I were married and all the witnesses are gone, I don't have a single claim to the company. Everything goes to Sybil."

"But nobody knows that Sybil is alive… You never called them or sent a telegram to indicate such a thing," Holly points out. "How could they know that there is an heir to the company? Besides, you still work there as an employee don't you?"

"She makes a point Peter," Carl nods. "I can help you get there and everything."

"Peter we love you and we love you being with us, but we don't want you to fall apart because of what happened. You still have a job and you need it to care for Sybil. I know this is hard for you, but please…"

Peter looks down at his stew. He knows that she's right. Emma may be gone, but the world keeps on turning. He knows he's been neglecting Sybil and has not helped his sister in any way to care for her home. He's been living rent free and the guilt of this adds to his list of worries. He knows deep down that Emma would not want him to wallow forever in self-pity and grief. Sybil needs someone strong to care for her and so far he has failed miserably, leaving the infant to his sister. He knew it was time to start that transition back into life, Sybil needed him.

"You're right Holly…" Peter says after a long pause. "You were always right, it's one of the things that annoyed me growing up and made me want to pull your pigtails every time you were right." He manages a small smile.

"She's always been right," Carl adds with a grin. "She was right when she said that we would be perfect as a couple and here we are five years later…"

Holly smiles too, happy to see a little bit of her brother is back for the moment.

"Emma would never want me to be like this for so long and I owe her enough to try and help her father's company, at least a little bit. The least I can do is run it until Sybil comes of age."

Everyone looks over at the tiny tot, making a mess with her bowl of stew. The sauce was smeared on her face, the peas were on the floor, she had globs of spices in her hair and potato mush in between her fingers.

"Oh, Sybil…" Holly groans in amusement. "You're going to need a bath."

"I'll do it," Peter says with a smile.

With Carl's help, he takes his "daughter" from her seat and brings her up to the tub. Filling it with warm water, Peter undresses Sybil and places her in.

The little one splashes everything around her, including her guardian. She screeches often as Peter washes her hair and body with soap. Thomas comes in and puts some toys in for her, happy to help.

Holly and Carl watch as Peter plays with both children. The brother she loved was back. She knew he didn't go forever. It would take some time, but he could soon move along, not past Emma, but just enough to function as a father to Sybil.

Holly leans against Carl as Peter teaches Thomas how to squirt water with his hands.

"I think you did the right thing…" Carl whispers.

"You think so?" Holly mutters. "Because I feel a bit guilty."

"Don't, he's a man now, Holly. He has to make his own decisions and he has to be a father to Sybil. He had to get back on his feet. He's not a baby anymore and you can't shelter him forever."

Holly smiles. She knows Carl is right…for once, she loves her brother, but he has to regain his footing and fly off again. She chuckles to herself and watches as Peter shows Thomas how to blow bubbles with a straw.

"No matter how old he gets; he'll always be my baby brother."