It had been more than a couple of months since Marcus had moved into the Banks' home. He was slowly getting used to the rhythm of the house, making himself comfortable in his new environment. The family had been kind and welcoming. Mister Banks was a busy lawyer but always made time to check in with him. He had been a source of guidance, teaching Marcus lessons in both life and law, and even appreciated his help around the house, especially when it came to fixing things that needed attention. Mrs Banks was a caring and nurturing presence, often taking the time to chat with Marcus about how his day went. She had a calm and grounded way of making him feel at ease, as though he truly belonged in their home. Will, as usual, had an exuberant personality, full of humor and wit, which made Marcus laugh even when he didn't feel like it. Carlton, the competitive one, had shown a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but Marcus respected him. He respected how determined he was to prove himself, even if it sometimes came with a bit of arrogance. Ashley, the youngest, was a bit shy at first, but Marcus had grown fond of her, helping her with her homework whenever Will wasn't around. And then there was Hilary. She had seemed distant lately, especially after the incident in Nicky's room, but Marcus had slowly realized that beneath her confident, sometimes aloof exterior, she was kind-hearted and cared a lot about her family. The problem was, she still seemed hesitant to be alone with him sometimes, which left him wondering if she would ever get past that.

As for school, university life was going pretty well. He took back his law studies where he left them in New-York and was on track to take the bar exam the following year. He had even met a few guys in his classes and got along pretty well with them.

It was a Saturday morning when Ashley approached Marcus, asking for help with her math homework. Will was usually her go-to tutor, but with him out of the house, he stepped in. They were sitting at the kitchen table, Marcus doing his best to explain a geometry problem to her.

"I'm sorry, Marcus, but I don't get the part where you have to calculate the figure's surface..." Ashley said, clearly frustrated.

Marcus smiled gently, though his tone was patient. "I don't think you don't understand, you're just not listening to me, Ashley. You have your mind somewhere else."

Ashley lowered her eyes and blushed, feeling caught. "Well, you're right. I'm sorry."

"Okay, you know what?" Marcus said, closing the notebook. "Let's talk about it! Once you get it out of your mind, you'll feel better, and you'll be able to focus more on your homework. Deal?"

"Deal!" Ashley said, perking up slightly.

"Okay, tell me everything."

Ashley hesitated, glancing at Marcus before speaking up. "Well... The school has a winter homecoming every year, and I really want to go, but there's a problem..."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "A problem? What do you mean?"

"Two boys have asked me out..." Ashley confessed.

Marcus blinked in surprise. The youngest Banks sibling was just as popular as her older sister. Who would have thought?

"I don't know what to do, Marcus. I don't want to hurt anybody," Ashley admitted. "Michael is nice, but he's just my friend! Whereas Tevin..."

"I know you mean no harm, Ashley, you're a very gentle person. But I don't think you're asking for advice from the right person."

Before Ashley could respond, Hilary walked into the kitchen, barely whispering a "Hey" as she went straight for the fridge. Marcus winked at Ashley, gesturing toward Hilary with a nod, as if to suggest she should ask her sister for advice instead. Ashley gave him a knowing look before turning to Hilary.

"Hilary?" Ashley asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Hilary turned around, arching an eyebrow. "Yes, Ash?"

"I need to talk to you..." Ashley started hesitantly.

"I can't right now, I have to go to work," Hilary replied, quickly grabbing something from the fridge.

Ashley sighed in frustration. "Oh I see... What about tonight?"

"I can't, I'm busy tonight," Hilary responded without looking up.

"But, Hil, it's important! And you promised an all-girls' night a few weeks ago," Ashley pleaded.

Hilary's frown deepened. "Ash, I'm sorry, but it won't be possible tonight. Can't you just talk to Mom about it?"

"NO! I don't want to talk to Mom about it! I want to talk to you, but you're never available for me anymore! You just don't care about how important it is! It's like you vanished these past weeks, and I miss you. I miss my sister! Is that so difficult to understand?" Ashley's outburst shocked both Hilary and Marcus, who had been listening quietly.

Without waiting for a response, Ashley stormed out of the room, leaving Hilary frozen in place, looking stunned and a bit hurt. For a long moment, there was an uncomfortable silence before Marcus stood up and closed Ashley's notebook, walking toward the kitchen counter where Hilary stood.

"What?" she asked, her voice sharp, as if daring him to say something.

"You should talk to her," Marcus suggested gently.

"Please, that's none of your business," Hilary replied coldly.

"Well, it kind of is... I am the one who told her she should talk to you about it," Marcus replied, his voice firm.

Hilary raised an eyebrow. "So you know what this is all about? Tell me."

Marcus nodded, crossing his arms. "Yeah, I think she's in love and doesn't know how to handle her feelings. I mean, she's just a kid."

Hilary's face dropped as the words hit her. "You mean, my little sister is in love for the first time, and I didn't even notice?" she asked herself more than Marcus.

"Yeah, I think so. That's why I told her to talk to you about it. I mean, girl to girl, you know. I didn't feel like it was mine to tell her about relationships."

"Maybe you should have," Hilary muttered, feeling a deep regret. "Because she obviously won't talk to me now."

Marcus smiled, "She won't be angry for long. Kids never are. She just wants you back in her life. She misses you."

Hilary's gaze dropped to the floor for a brief moment. It was rare for her to show vulnerability in front of anyone, but Marcus could see the guilt in her eyes. He knew she was sorry, and for some reason, he felt an urge to reach out and comfort her. But it was clear that was a boundary he couldn't cross.

"I'm not the right person to tell you what to do, or to talk to Ashley about love... I'm sure you'll figure this out," Marcus said with a soft sigh.

Hilary let out a nervous laugh, glancing at Marcus as if to gauge his thoughts. "Do I look like the kind of girl you'd ask for advice about love?"

Marcus stayed silent, unsure how to respond.

"That's what I thought," Hilary said, before turning and walking out the door to head to work.

When evening fell, Hilary returned home after work to find the boys lounging on the couch, watching TV.

"Hey, evening, Hil!" Will greeted her as he noticed his cousin walking in.

"Hey, guys. Do you know where Ashley is?" Hilary asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

"She's in her room," Will replied, shrugging slightly. "But I'll tell you, she's been in a bit of a mood today..."

Hilary nodded, her expression thoughtful. She glanced at Marcus for a brief moment, seeking some unspoken reassurance that this was the right thing to do. With a deep breath, she headed upstairs, her mind a little heavy with the conversation ahead. She gently knocked on Ashley's door, her hand hovering for a second before hearing the barely audible reply, "Come in."

Hilary pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside. Ashley was facing away from her, sitting on her bed, clearly avoiding eye contact.

"What do you want?" Ashley asked, her voice flat, colder than usual.

Hilary closed the door softly behind her, her voice calm but firm as she took a few steps into the room. "Didn't you want to talk to me?" she asked, her tone smooth but tinged with a quiet determination. It was the kind of voice she used when she wanted to break through someone's wall, to make them listen.

Ashley echoed Hilary's own words from earlier that day, "I thought you were supposed to be 'busy' tonight."

Hilary softened her expression, meeting her sister's gaze. "I rescheduled my plans," she explained gently, walking over to sit on the edge of Ashley's bed. "I felt it was important, given how you've been acting today." She took a moment before continuing, her voice sincere. "Ashley, I'm sorry if I haven't been there for you lately. I didn't realize how distant I've become, but I want to make things right, if you'll let me."

Ashley was quiet for a beat, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. Then, slowly, she turned to face Hilary. "I'm sorry too... for yelling at you this morning," she said, her voice softer now.

There was a long pause, and then without warning, Ashley pulled her sister into a tight embrace. Hilary was taken aback for a moment, but she held her sister back, feeling the weight of her emotions. They stayed like that for a few moments before Ashley pulled away, wiping at her eyes. "I'm really glad you came. I didn't want to talk to Mom about it... and I don't know who else to turn to."

Hilary gave her a gentle smile. "What's it about?" she asked, hoping to guide Ashley into the conversation.

Ashley hesitated, then glanced down at her lap, suddenly nervous. "Boys..."

Hilary feigned surprise, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Boys? Ah, boys equals problems," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "But seriously, tell me about it."

Ashley, her cheeks slightly flushed, looked up at her sister, then down again, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her blanket. "Well... have you ever been in love, Hilary?"

Hilary's heart skipped a beat, the unexpectedness of the question catching her off guard. She froze for a moment, her mind racing. The question felt too big, too loaded. She didn't know how to answer immediately. What was love, really? She thought about the men she'd been with—crushes, flings, and relationships that never quite lived up to the idea of true love. And Kyle... He wasn't love. It was complicated, and she knew it wasn't something she could ever admit to Ashley, not like this.

As she looked at her younger sister, eagerly waiting for an answer, Hilary knew she couldn't let Ashley down again. Not now.

"Of course, I have!" Hilary said with more confidence than she felt, offering a reassuring smile to mask the discomfort bubbling inside her.

After her conversation with Ashley, Hilary stepped outside, needing a moment to breathe. She spotted Marcus sitting on the porch steps, staring up at the night sky.

"Hey," she said softly, walking over to him.

Marcus glanced up, surprised but pleased by her presence. "Hey."

She sat down beside him, smoothing her skirt as the evening chill wrapped around them. For a while, neither spoke, the quiet hum of the night filling the space between them.

"I wanted to thank you," Hilary said at last, her voice gentle but steady.

Marcus frowned slightly, turning to look at her. "For what?"

"For earlier," she replied, meeting his gaze. "What you said—it made me realize how much I've been missing the mark with Ashley. I didn't see how much she needed me until you pointed it out." She paused, her voice softening. "It helped me see a lot of things I've been ignoring lately."

Marcus nodded, his expression warm but unreadable. "I just said what anyone else would've."

Hilary gave a faint laugh, shaking her head. "No, you didn't. You didn't have to say anything, but you did. And it mattered."

She studied him for a moment, seeing Marcus in a way she hadn't before—not just as the quiet and reserved presence in their home, but someone who truly saw people. Without thinking too much about it, she leaned in and hugged him. It wasn't long, just a brief, heartfelt embrace, but it felt... different. For the first time, they were close—not just physically, but emotionally. Hilary felt the tension in her chest ease as Marcus held still, his arms hesitating before returning the gesture, just as sincere.

"Thank you," she murmured softly as she pulled back, her gaze lingering on his.

Marcus nodded, his voice quiet but certain. "Anytime."

For a moment, their eyes held, and Hilary felt a flicker of something unspoken pass between them. Then, with a small smile, she stood, smoothing her blazer. "Goodnight, Marcus."

"Goodnight," he replied, watching as she walked to the pool house.

He remained on the porch, staring at the stars, struck by just how much things had shifted between them in that brief moment.