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Either forgetting to, wanting to get back to proofreading them and then getting distracted by gaming or life.But here's one that's been mostly done for a while. A quick proofread a little while ago and I deem this to be done.\n\nThis has a dream sequence of where Felix does unsavoury things to Elijah and Tobias. Things such as rape, blood are a factor. For that scene alone it will be marked as adult (Sexual themes), although it has blood it isn't real.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "I've been doing a terrible job at uploading stories yet again. Either forgetting to, wanting to get back to proofreading them and then getting distracted by gaming or life.But here's one that's been mostly done for a while. A quick proofread a little while ago and I deem this to be done.

This has a dream sequence of where Felix does unsavoury things to Elijah and Tobias. Things such as rape, blood are a factor. For that scene alone it will be marked as adult (Sexual themes), although it has blood it isn't real.", "writing": "It was Monday and Nathan and the kids were at school. Nathan spent a long time working with other kids in the room while Felix and Eliza listened to Ms Baker. Felix kept zoning out, hearing some of the kids throwing a fit made Felix disassociated from everything. It wasn't as bad at first when he and Eliza first joined; but two classmates' crying, whinging and yelling was now affecting him bad. Ms Baker noticed Felix zoning out, immediately tensing and getting agitated whenever she snapped him out. Once the bell rang for lunch and all the kids left, she turned to Nathan to have a word.\n\n``Felix's performance has been low, has everything been alright at home?'' She asked concernedly yet sternly. \n\n``Yeah, it has. I think Felix is just having a rough time focusing.'' Nathan replied looking worried.\n\n``You're not wrong. Just, forgive me for my tone, but I have heard him mumble curse words every time I got him back in the real world.'' She sighed and rested the back of her hand against her forehead. ``I know he and Eliza are troubled students, it's just-''\n\n``I understand, I'm sorry for his behaviour and language. It's a slow work in progress.'' Nathan crossed his arms as he exhaled. ``I will have a talk with him when he comes back into class, just to see how he actually is. Because I have asked him how he is going, he says he is alright, but it can be hard to tell with how volatile and swift his mood changes.''\n\n``I appreciate it. All I need now is my sandwich and a nice coffee, then I'll be ready for the next lesson. Want to join me?'' Linda said as she stretched and groaned.\n\n``Certainly.'' Nathan smiled as he went to grab his lunch container. Sitting with the twins and Danny, Eliza and Felix sat and ate with them under the shade like normal. Eliza sat extra close to Felix this time with Mary under her arms and her tail coiled around Felix's; she has been extra clingy since yesterday. \n\n``Are yooo alriiiight?'' Eliza asked Felix, her words slurring and prolonged.\n\n``It's those fucking two kids in class, they just won't shut up.'' Felix grumbled, his eyes felt sore and tired as he blinked hard. ``I can't concentrate, at all, and Ms Baker gets grumpy at me for fucking not following her.'' Eliza rested her head against Felix, silent but noticeably worried as she began to shake.\n\n``Ohhhh... am I botherrrrrring youuuu tooooo?'' She asked concernedly.\n\n``Eliza, talk through Mary. You're not feeling well.'' Felix said looking at her, almost looking annoyed at her.\n\n``-We're scared. We're worried. We feel bad-.'' Eliza said as she spoke through Mary.\n\n``I know, I'm sorry if I worry you too. It's just, I blank out whenever they get too loud, I think. Then I just get agitated more. You're not doing anything to me, so don't you dare blame yourself.''\n\n``-Alright-.'' Danny and the twins couldn't help but listen to them speak, Danny frowning with worry as the twins looked confused. The bell rang and the pair split to go to their preferred playgrounds. As Felix and Eliza got to the oval to play soccer, they ran into Adrian and Jasper, who had a few others hanging out with them.\n\n``Hey Felix! Eliza!'' Adrian called out waving out them, he then turned to the others. ``These are the two new kids we were telling yous.'' Along with the emu and kookaburra was a dingo, a crocodile, a sugar glider and a red belly black snake. Eliza and Felix walked over, both feeling a little put on the spot and tense; however not nervous.\n\n``Ello, my name's Karla.'' Greeted the dingo, she herself looked like a tomboy of the group.\n\n``I'm Jack.'' Greeted the snake, who looked the most relaxed of the bunch.\n\n``I'm Tracey.'' Greeted the crocodile, she smiled widely but pleasantly.\n\n``And I'm Robin.'' Greeted the sugar glider, he looked nervous out of the bunch.\n\n``Hey,''\n\n``Helloooo!'' Felix and Eliza said after another. \n\n``We don't know anything of you guys.'' Felix added.\n\n``That's cause Jasper never said anything.'' Karla replied with a bit of sass looking at the kookaburra.\n\n``Well, we were having too much fun playing soccer with you four away.'' Jasper complained back.\n\n``Don't yell at him, yeah?'' Jack added, looking at Karla. ``But yeah, we were like, away.''\n\n``I got suspended for bunching a girl.'' Karla grumbled.\n\n``I caught the flu.'' Jack added, putting his hands in his pockets.\n\n``My mum took my family and I to see my grandma. Then we had car problems and couldn't make it back for a few days.'' Explained Robin.\n\n``And I was on every day you two weren't here, apparently. Not that I would be out here anyway, I'm terrible with soccer.'' Tracey explained.\n\n``You need to use your tail, Tracey.'' \n\n``But I want to kick it, not smack it with my tail. I could bloody pop it that way.'' As Eliza listened to the other kids' reasons and introductions, she couldn't help but smile in anxious filled hope. While Felix listened as best, he could; all he wanted to do was play soccer.\n\n``Can we play soccer now?'' Felix said offhandedly.\n\n``Lets!'' Karla shouted and immediately ran down to the field. Jasper, Adrian, Jack, Robin and Tracey ran after her with Felix and Eliza just behind them. As they played together with other kids, Felix finally found something to distract himself and focus on something. Each of the other kids kicked the ball between each other and passed it to both him and Eliza. When the bell rang all the kids started going back to class, with Felix, Eliza and the others trailing behind to chat while they had time.\n\n``We smashed them! Eat it, Sarah!'' Karla shouted to the distance and doing a vulgar gesture with her hands.\n\n``We are like a proper team now.'' Jasper said with cheer.\n\n``You two are cool.'' Jack added as he looked at Felix and Eliza.\n\n``Thanks!''\n\n``You guys are alright too.'' Eliza and Felix replied after another.\n\n``You two should eat with us during lunch. We sit undercover at the drinking fountains.'' Tracey added.\n\n``Wait, what class are you two in again?'' Robin asked, looking unsure.\n\n``We're in the special class.'' Felix replied flatly.\n\n``Yeah, they might be in the class with the weird kids but I envy them. Mr Skye is one of their teachers AND their father.'' Adrian added with a smile. \n\n``The nice teacher?'' Robin asked amazed.\n\n``The special needs class?'' Karla asked confused, ``You two don't look disabled or crippled.''\n\n``Last week was our first every time at school.'' Felix's eyes narrowed more, his fists slowly getting into a tight clench. \n\n``Hey no need to get angry, I was just wondering.'' Karla said with a huff.\n\n``We like it.'' Eliza said, breaking the tension with a toothy smile.\n\n``So, you two are adopted siblings? And Mr Skye is your father? That sounds cool.'' Jack said with a relaxed smile looking at Felix and Eliza.\n\n``I remember the time I got in trouble and they sent me to detention. He was there and I had to write out a bunch of stupid stuff of why I was there, what I did wrong and what I need to do to be better. And he gave me a lollipop as well. Best part was Mrs Moore's angry face as he gave it to me.'' Karla began to laugh. ``Got angry at him for giving me something because I'm a `rotten, nasty girl' and it was so funny. It was the best damn lollipop I've ever had too.'' As they all walked, the time between them having to be in class got thin. Then all the kids split as they rushed to get back to their classrooms. \n\n``They're nice.'' Eliza said to Felix along the way, he didn't react at all. ``Right? They're nice?'' \n\n``Yeah, they're alright. We'll see.'' As they arrived in class, Nathan stood near the front door greeting the kids in with a pleasant smile. \n\n``Hey kids. Eliza, please sit in your seat for now, I need Felix to talk to me.''\n\n``What on earth for?'' Felix said agitated, Eliza frowned as confusion came over her.\n\n``This won't take long, Felix. I just want to have a heart-to-heart conversation. Is that ok?'' Nathan explained carefully.\n\n``Fine, whatever.'' Felix grumbled as he followed Nathan into a different room while Eliza walked to her seat. Felix sat on a beanbag on the ground and crossed his arms as Nathan sat on a chair nearby to face him.\n\n``I'm really sorry for how sudden this is. I just wanted to know if everything is ok?''\n\n``I'm fine, geeze.'' Felix huffed and leaned into the beanbag. Nathan nodded slowly and exhaled. \n\n``Are you sure? You haven't been focusing well today.'' Nathan's soft and caring voice weakened Felix's tough stance.\n\n``It's those two fucking kids. They complain, bitch, moan, cry and shout all the damn time.'' Felix growled. \n\n``I see.''\n\n``I can't focus and I just, fucking blank out apparently and I get Ms Baker in my face. Everything just disappears from me.''\n\n``That does sound very annoying and frustrating.'' Nathan hunched over slightly on his seat towards Felix, concern all over his face. ``Is it Brittany and Lance?''\n\n``Yes, those two.'' Felix looked at Nathan, feeling perhaps that he could do something about this.\n\n``I'm sorry, honestly. They can be quite a handful when they get riled up, and I can definitely see how they do not help you concentrate. What I think I'm going to do is teach them and some of the other kids away from you and Eliza. See if that helps a lot.''\n\n``It probably will.'' Felix crossed his arms tighter feeling tense. A moment of silence passed as Nathan gathered his thoughts, he looked around trying to figure out what he was going to say was said right.\n\n``Are their tantrums, or crying, hurting you the most?'' Nathan asked concernedly, feeling deeply worried about Felix's past coming to harm him.\n\n``Hurting me?'' Felix looked at Nathan alarmed with fury in his eyes, before he took a moment and thought about it. He sighed and relaxed in a state of defeat. ``I guess so, now that you bring it up.'' Felix's touch and angry stance switched a despaired and uncomfortable state, Nathan's concern grew further.\n\n``I had a hunch, and I've been afraid to ask because I was afraid it would also affect you.'' Nathan clasped his hands together and exhaled more. ``For now, I'll take the difficult kids and teach them in the side room. If you need me, don't hesitate to knock and ask, alright?'' Felix looked at Nathan, discomfort grew over him, but he nodded as he tried to not think about what Nathan had said. Felix returned to his seat while Nathan came back inside, put a small video on to distract the class and took Ms Baker aside to talk to her in private.\n\n``How did it go?'' She asked.\n\n``Felix is really struggling with the noise, the crying and tantrums from Brittany and Lance. He zones out completely and loses track of time entirely. I suspect he just can't handle it, then gets agitated when you snap him out of it.''\n\n``Well, I'm not entirely surprised he would get agitated. I can understand the noise will affect him, but I didn't think to that extent.''\n\n``And I have an idea for the rest of today. I will take Lance, Brittany, George, Mack, Ben, Lisa and Claire to the side room and teach them there. I'll manage quite well there and it will give Felix more ample time to focus once more.''\n\n``Alright, that sounds good. Thanks for this, Nathan.'' \n\n``It's no problem.'' Nathan and Linda went back into class and stood waiting for the video to end. When it ended, Ms Baker and Nathan explained the change of plans while putting a fun and new spin on it. The kids going with Nathan was met with general excitement and followed him into the other room; Felix exhaled in relief as he saw the others left. For the rest of the lessons before second lunch, Felix was able to concentrate and even relax a little. Even Ms Baker was happy with the result, spurning the idea that they needed to have separate classrooms like they should have had already. The school is still relatively new compared to the others, initially it was trying to be both a highschool and a primary school; but so far, the highest grade so far is 7. Next year is the integration of year 8 and year 9. The school still intends to treat year 7 as the final year of primary school kids, making giving them a good celebration complete with a school dance; much to the demise of the students. \n\n``You two are doing really good now.'' Ms Baker said to both Felix and Eliza, before putting a sticker on their books. She walked away and checked on the remaining kids, leaving Eliza chuffed about the sticker that had stars and said `One smart kid'. She turned to Felix and kicked her feet excitedly, smiling widely at him. Felix smiled back, not because he was happy per se but because Eliza was happy. The rest of the kids however weren't as happy, especially the twins who didn't like the change but mostly because their dad was in a different room. Two other kids complained and whinged about ``Why do they get to go? I want to go.'', but eventually settled down. Lunch came and the kids all rushed out to go eat. Felix and Eliza went to the oval once they were done eating, catching up with the rest of the kids that they met. During play the ball hit Felix in the face, but then he managed an incredible kick that sent the ball from across the field between the two trees that acted as goals. Other kids were ecstatic at the display, some laughed, but most were amazed by how Felix kicked the ball.\n\n``That was deadly!'' Karla shouted, the rest of the that Felix and Eliza met cheered and ran up to Felix.\n\n``That was fucking incredible.'' Eliza exclaimed as she bumped into him, Felix laughed in a slight daze and genuinely smiled for the first time today. When the school bell rang, Felix and the others walked out of the oval, all of them were still talking about what had happened.\n\n``Did that hurt?'' Jasper asked looking up at Felix.\n\n``It did! But then I just, fucking kicked it and it just flew.''\n\n``I wish I could have done that.'' Karla huffed.\n\n``I'm glad I didn't, my snout is really sensitive to touch. But that kick was something else.'' Jack added.\n\n``You two should really join us at lunch, you never said where you two eat during it.'' Asked Tracey.\n\n``We sit with our brothers.'' Felix said casually, ``We're still really new to this school and don't know where things are.''\n\n``Can we be friends?'' Eliza asked smiling hopefully looking at the others.\n\n``Of course we can.'' Jasper said happily, ``We were already friends though.''\n\n``Yeah, you two are cool.'' Karla added.\n\n``I'll show you where we sit so you can join us.'' Robin said as he began to rush up ahead, ``Follow me quick.'' Felix walked faster while Eliza jogged as they followed Robin. ``We eat right there.'' Robin explained as he pointed at the spot.\n\n``Ahh I see. We can come one day I guess.'' Felix replied.\n\n``Am I alllllowwwed?'' Eliza asked with a nervous slur, Robin looked at her with a sense of sympathy; she sounded sad and worried to him.\n\n``Yeah. Both of you two, don't worry about it.''\n\n``It's just that we got in trouble being in a playground last week. Well, *I* got in trouble.''\n\n``Which one?'' Asked Robin.\n\n``The one next to the office. I think the principal's office?''\n\n``Ohh. Yeah, I see why.'' The bell rang the second time, getting Robin alerted and ready to run. ``I got to go, sorry for delaying you. Bye!'' Robin ran off as Eliza and Felix quickly walked back to their classroom. As they got to class, Nathan exhaled in relief and crossed his arms.\n\n``I was beginning to worry about you two.''\n\n``Why?'' Felix asked.\n\n``You two are late.''\n\n``We're sorwyy.'' Eliza added.\n\n``That's ok. Just try to come back in time next time.'' As Nathan went back inside, Ms Baker got the other kids to go into the other room with her, leaving Nathan in charge with the class for the afternoon. She and Nathan swapped to see how the kids react, but also to do with Nathan helping the twins; who were delighted about it. The afternoon flew fast as school came to a close and sound of cheering from some kids as it was time to go home. Felix, Eliza, Elijah and Tobias waited together in their eating spot while Nathan collected his things, filled documents and helped Ms Baker lock up the classroom. In the car along the way home, the twins chatted between each other as Felix rested his head against the window.\n\n``I hope today has been good. Better with the other kids being in a different room too.'' Nathan said as he looked back at Felix.\n\n``It was. Lunch was really fun too.''\n\n``Oh that's great, tell me about it.''\n\n``Felix did a maaaassssiiive kick, kicked the ball into the goal from far away.'' Eliza explained excitedly.\n\n``After it smacked me in the face that is.'' Felix smirked.\n\n``Oh wow, I hope you are alright.''\n\n``Of course, I am.'' Felix replied.\n\n``And how far exactly did you kick? I know the field the kids play on so describe it to me.''\n\n``The goals we were against was at the back corner, with the big trees.''\n\n``Ohh, `those' trees.''\n\n``And the ball smacked me when I was at the football goals, whatever those are called. Like, just a bit further away from it.''\n\n``Ahh yes, the school rugby goals. Also, that far? Bloody hell that was some kick, Felix.'' Nathan said amazed. \n\n``It wassss. We were cheering, an-an-and there were a couple of kids laughing too. It was so cool.'' Eliza's excitement was really felt in the car. ``We have friends now too.''\n\n``That's awesome!'' Nathan's joyful delight was not mistaken for anything else, as he braked at a red light he turned around with a big smile. ``I am so glad to hear that. This is one of the reasons I wanted you two to go to school.''\n\n``I know.'' Felix rolled his eyes momentarily and smirked before relaxing once more resting his head against the window. He watched as the terrain and houses passed before him, then frowned as he felt that something was wrong. Once home, everything was the same as Felix and Eliza played the xbox together. As the night ended, like how it normally does, Felix's anxiety kept acting up; particularly whenever the twins were in his sight. Once in bed for the night the feelings lingered, even though Felix tried to repress it as much as it could. As he finally fell asleep more of the horrible, unwanted and sickening feelings reached the surface. It was a Saturday, Nathan and Rita wasn't home; Felix assumed they had to go and left him in charge. Felix kept Eliza busy with the xbox and then tracked down the twins in their room.\n\n``Hey.'' Felix smiled with hidden sinister intentions.\n\n``Hello.'' The twins replied, Felix closed the door and approached the twins who were sitting on their bed.\n\n``I got a game for you two, it's fun. I played it a ton when I was younger.'' \n\n``What is it?'' Elijah asked excitedly.\n\n``Lay on your bellies, on your bed.'' The tension intensified as Felix watched the twins followed his orders. ``Now I'm going to pull down your pants.''\n\n``Why?'' Tobias asked looking over his shoulder.\n\n``Because it's part of the game.'' Felix said, he felt adrenaline rise as he pulled their pants down after another, seeing their underwear and their tail sticking out under the elastic.\n\n``I don't like this.'' Tobias remarked.\n\n``We're not even gotten to the best part, don't back out now.'' Felix scowled, he saw the discomfort and fear in their eyes. Felix pulled their underwear down and licked his finger, ``Here it comes.'' And a sudden shriek came from Elijah.\n\n``No!'' Elijah cried as he tried to roll away.\n\n``No you don't.'' Felix growled as he grabbed Elijah back as climbed over the twins, he held Tobias down with the weight of his leg. Felix \n\n``No!''\n\n``We don't like this!'' Elijah and Tobias yelled, but Felix continued to finger Elijah's ass.\n\n``This is the game I had to play; you'll get used to it if you stop struggling.'' Felix grunted as he felt Elijah clench up like he's never felt before; it was invigorating. Eventually Elijah squirmed out of Felix's grip, fell of the bed and hit his head on the floor. ``Shit! All you had to do is stay still dammit.'' Felix didn't let Tobias go as he looked down over to where Elijah was laying, he cried as he rolled on the floor with mild concussion. \n\n``Elijah!'' Tobias screamed as if he was stabbed, Felix turned his attention to Tobias and began to resume the fingering. Tobias cried and screamed as Felix roughly fingered him, he kicked and squirmed as best as he could but Felix would not relent.\n\n``This only hurts more if you keep this up, I should know!'' Felix growled; Tobias's resistance felt incredible to him. Tobias's cries continued for a while longer as Felix refused to stop, his heavy breathing and erect penis adding to his relentlessness. Then as fast as a sudden fall, Felix saw blood on his fingers and woke up in hyperventilation covered in sweat. He climbed out of bed, shivering and almost weeping as nausea rose swiftly. He stumbled to the toilet and hurled up everything he had, before collapsing beside the toilet, still hyperventilating and began to break down. He cried, wailed, loud enough for Eliza to wake up. She rushed out of the bed, falling on the ground but moved quickly to where Felix was to see him hysterically crying. Nothing of what Eliza had said made it to Felix, but he see how deeply upset and worried she was. Eliza grabbed some toilet paper, wiped Felix's mouth, then threw it in the toilet before grabbing Felix's arms to pull him out. Felix cooperated as he felt Eliza pull him out and guided him back to his bed. Felix continued to cry out of control as he sat on his bed, Eliza holding onto him trying to reassure him.\n\n``What was dream?'' Eliza asked for the 5th time, her words finally being heard and understood by Felix.\n\n``I don't want to talk about it.'' Cried Felix shivering and coughing. ``Please don't go.'' He wept as he held her closer. Soon they went back to lying down, although it wouldn't be for hours that Felix would fall asleep. When morning came, Felix woke up feeling somehow worse; no tears came out but he felt cold, sick and dead inside. Eliza had already left to go for breakfast, leaving him to sleep a while longer. He pulled himself out of bed and stumbled down the hallway to the dining room, pulled himself around the corner and stood as he saw the rest eating. Upon seeing the twins his heart broke even more, so he turned back to go to bed.\n\n``Felix, are you alright?'' Nathan asked with great concern, ``Eliza told me what happened last night.''\n\n``I don't want to talk about it.'' Felix snapped as he headed straight back to his room. Eliza looked at Nathan with great concern, matching Nathan's in the process. \n\n``What's wrong with Felix?'' Tobias asked, both he and Elijah were oblivious to what was going on.\n\n``I think he had a nightmare.'' Nathan replied softly, ``After breakie, you three should go and watch the tele. I'm going to check on Felix.'' \n\n``Nightmares are bad.'' Elijah said with a frown.\n\n``They're the worst.'' Tobias added.\n\n``Yeah...'' Eliza said softly as her throat clenched up with worry. Elijah and Tobias finished their breakfast, excused themselves from the table and headed to the front living room to watch the TV. ``-We want to come with you-.'' Eliza spoke through Mary.\n\n``Alright, let's go check on him.'' Nathan got up from the table with Eliza and Mary following behind. Nathan knocked on Felix's door and opened it slowly, both Nathan and Eliza saw Felix lying down facing the wall. ``Felix?''\n\n``What?'' Grumbled Felix, trying to hide his emotions.\n\n``Are you ok?''\n\n``-We are worried-.'' \n\n``I don't want to talk about it, piss off. Leave me alone.'' Felix flipped the blankets over him to hide.\n\n``Alright. But do you want something to eat? It may help you feel better.'' Felix didn't respond at first, Nathan swear he could hear a whine.\n\n``Fine.'' Felix sighed and groaned, he got out of bed once more and with hunched shoulders walked out of his room. Eliza stuck with Felix while Nathan went to make breakfast for Felix. Eliza sat extra close to Felix at the table as he ate, Nathan left the room to give some privacy; as well as in hopes that Felix will open up to Eliza. Felix didn't, but at the very least embraced Eliza close once he was finished. Eliza eventually went and sat with the twins, still immensely worried about Felix. \n\n``Did he talk to you?'' Nathan asked softly, Eliza shook her head sadly. Nathan checked his watch; this was around the time that Felix would go and smoke on the wall. He stood up and went to see if Felix had headed out to the wall, and after a peek he saw that Felix did in fact go to the wall to smoke. Nathan sighed, took a deep breath and headed outside to talk to Felix. Once as Nathan walked outside, Felix took the cigarette out of his mouth with a scowl.\n\n``Leave me alone! I just want to be alone.'' Nathan continued to walk as Felix yelled at him, he sat on the wall near Felix, feeling great concern.\n\n``Talk to me, Felix. What is going on?''\n\n``I don't want to talk about it.''\n\n``I understand that, but whatever you are going through won't get easier if you keep it to yourself. No matter what happens to you, you can tell me anything and I will listen.''\n\n``That's the problem, I don't want to talk about it because you WILL listen to me. Talking about it won't fucking help.'' Felix began to cry as his frustration got worse, he wiped his tears off and then faced away.\n\n``Let me help you, Felix. I can't help you if you keep everything to yourself. Neither can Eliza.'' Nathan spoke as calmly as he could, even though he was fighting back tears himself. ``I don't like seeing you like this.''\n\n``And what makes you think I don't?'' Snapped Felix.\n\n``I didn't say that.''\n\n``But like- oh for fuck's sake.'' Felix growled; he snapped his head at Nathan with a frustrated look. ``Just go away.''\n\n``Felix, I am not going to leave you alone until you tell me what's wrong. I won't let you keep doing this because it is dangerous.''\n\n``I'm not your son!''\n\n``You are to me! And I won't allow you to keep hurting yourself, just because you don't want to tell me something.'' A moment of silence was felt as both Nathan and Felix stared at each other, Felix began weeping and sucked his cigarette deeply out of spite.\n\n``Fucking fine then! I dreamt that I raped Elijah and Tobias, are you happy now?'' Felix's throat clenched, his chest heavy and his eyes felt sore with pain. Nathan's eyes widened with grief and great worry; his chest also felt as heavy as the sun.\n\n``I can see why that has affected you so bad, Felix.'' Nathan nearly choked on his words, holding strong as best as he could. Felix's anger turned to distress once more, and sadness flooded his face.\n\n``That's what I fucking dreamt; it was horrible. It was fucking horrible! Do you hate me now?''\n\n``Felix, I can never hate you. That was a dream.''\n\n``A dream where I raped them.''\n\n``Yes, but-''\n\n``I forced myself on them, stuck my finger up their arse, I felt them squirm and heard them scream and cry! I can't be around them anymore, I'm going to do it someday I know I fucking will. I can't stay here; I need to fucking die or go to jail!'' \n\n``Felix, it was a dream. It's ok.''\n\n``It's not ok!''\n\n``You're not feeling ok yes, but you've done nothing wrong.''\n\n``But I will someday. I fucking know I will. I'm going to turn into a fucking monster, like him! Like the others before!''\n\n``No, you won't.'' Nathan's words just cut Felix deeper and deeper. ``You are not like that Felix; and I believe in you. You've done nothing but look after and save my boys, you're their big brother.''\n\n``You don't know that; you can never know that.'' Felix replied doing his best to contain all his emotions with seeping tears.\n\n``I do. Because you know what it's like. You won't do it to others.'' \n\n``You don't know that... how do you even believe that?'' Felix mumbled trying to hold back even harder.\n\n``I just do.'' Felix began to cry uncontrollably once more, Nathan moved over closer to put an arm around him. ``I don't hate you, Felix. I can never hate you. I love you and Eliza with all my heart.''\n\n``Do you even care that I dreamed about raping them?'' Felix sobbed.\n\n``The thought does not rest well in me, Felix. But you have done nothing wrong. You've done nothing to them.''\n\n``I've been having awful thoughts about them, feeling and seeing myself doing things to them. I'm afraid of doing it. I can't look at them now, because it will keep happening.'' Felix wept. \n\n``I can see why, Felix.'' Nathan rubbed Felix's shoulder as he pulled him closer. \n\n``What is going to happen now? What is going to happen to me? What am I going to do?''\n\n``Well, it would be best that you spend the day with Eliza. You and Eliza will have a day off entirely, no learning with me and the twins; you two can go and play the xbox together. But don't be afraid to rest either, you missed out on a lot of sleep. I can give you something to ease your anxiety if you want, a small tablet that I take on the hard days.'' Nathan paused and thought to himself. ``Actually, I think I should see if I can get us, Eliza as well, to see the doctors. See if they can prescribe anything to help.'' Nathan's words were doing their magic once again, Felix felt such reassurance and calm despite how shit he felt. ``Do you think that will help?''\n\n``I guess.'' Felix coughed and sniffed.\n\n``We'll work this out.'' Nathan removed his arm around Felix and got off the wall. ``I'm going to call for an appointment for you and Eliza. This is something we should have done long ago, I'm sorry about that.''\n\n``Alright. I'm going to my room after this.'' Felix said as he stuck his cigarette back in his mouth.\n\n``Alright, that sounds like a plan. Do you want me to send Eliza to join you?''\n\n``She'll join me eventually anyway.'' Felix looked away as he sat feeling like stone, Nathan nodded with concern and walked back inside. Nathan went and grabbed a cordless phone and turned to see Eliza staring up at him.\n\n``Hey, sweetheart.'' Nathan said softly, unable to hide his emotions.\n\n``-Is he ok-?'' Eliza spoke through Mary.\n\n``No, no he's not. That dream he had was really bad, I think he will tell you soon.''\n\n``-Tell me-.'' Eliza demanded without hesitation, Felix walked back inside and looked over at them.\n\n``It would be best if he told you himself.'' Nathan looked up to see Felix, ``Do you agree with me, Felix?''\n\n``No. Tell her, please.'' Felix said as he continued to walk to go hide in his room. Nathan inhaled and nodded softly before looking back at Eliza.\n\n``Alright, come with me, we'll talk about it in my room for some privacy.'' Eliza eventually nodded at him before they walked to Nathan's room to discuss. As Nathan explained what Felix had told him, Eliza began to cry, pressing her face into Mary. She did not allow Nathan to comfort her, shifting away as he tried to consul her by placing a hand on her. \n\n``Ww... w-w-weee d-d-d... dooon't... un-da-stand.'' Eliza spoke in a complete mess; she knew it was bad; really bad in fact. But she couldn't comprehend what she was hearing about Felix, it was all wrong and made no sense; much like her experiences in the past. Nathan grabbed a tissue on the bedside counter and passed it to her, who grabbed it after a short while to blow her nose on it. \n\n``I'm sorry, Eliza.''\n\n``Heeeeeeee mussst... haate himself... sooooooooOOOO mUUUCH.'' Eliza cried more. ``I go be with him, n-now!'' \n\n``That's a good idea. He will need your company.'' Nathan followed Eliza down to Felix's room, once at Felix's door Eliza ran and jumped on the bed to hold Felix. Nathan closed the door behind him to make the call for the kids to see a doctor. Good luck came as he got an appointment in the afternoon, he wasn't sure if he would be lucky to get one on such short notice. He went back to the twins, who were watching the TV still, but Elijah and Tobias clung onto each other; the crying and strangeness of the morning wasn't a secret from them.\n\n``What's wrong?'' Elijah asked with sadness and discomfort over his face. Nathan sat down next to the twins, smiling as comforting and considerate as much as he could. \n\n``Felix had a really, really, really bad dream.'' Nathan tried his best to explain. ``The sort of nightmare that makes him not want to do anything today. Remember the time you two dreamt each other died?'' The twins nodded back without hesitation. ``That's sort of what Felix's dream was.'' The twins moved over and climbed onto Nathan's lap, Nathan held them close and rested his head between theirs. Elijah began to cry while Tobias looked paralysed; Nathan expected today would be filled with so many tears, it broke his heart. ``Let's have a cry for now, but afterwards we should watch some Backyard Science. It will do us good.'' Nathan nuzzled the top of his boys' heads before kissing them comfortingly on the forehead.\n\n``Ok.'' The twins replied in unison. In Nathan's head all he could think of was what Felix told him, he worried for him and he worried for the twins, not to mention Eliza. But the horrifying thought of what Felix dreamt of, to hear what he did to the twins in his dream; it scared him. But most of what he felt was fear for Felix's wellbeing; he was a boy that acted tough and indifferent for a lot of the time, but he is incredibly fractured mentally. Nathan couldn't let Felix go without proper help, and he had to do all he could for him. He held Elijah and Tobias tight; he knew they were fine and healthy, but it was reassuring nonetheless. Nathan knew it would be hard to look after 2 adopted kids, he knew it would be hard to help 2 kids who were sexually abused a lot; but now he began to doubt whether he could even help them as well as he wanted to. But he did know something, he would go far and beyond for them and not look back; he will not give up on them.\n\nEliza held onto Felix, her crying had stopped but was sniffling and shivering. \n\n``Let go of me, so I can roll over and face you.'' Felix mumbled; Eliza let go momentarily for Felix to roll over. Felix embraced Eliza close, who hugged him tight back, and Eliza resumed her sniffling.\n\n``Aaarrreeee youuuu okaaay?'' Eliza slurred while stuttering; she was really struggling to speak.\n\n``I will be.'' Felix breathed in deeply and exhaled. ``I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you. I just- I just couldn't.'' Felix said defeatedly.\n\n``It's ok...''\n\n``It was the worst thing I've ever dreamed.'' Felix's voice felt weak. ``I'm afraid to even mention it, because it paints me like *him*. I'm turning into him and it fucking scares me. I... I feel ashamed, Eliza.'' Felix felt tears from his eyes, and on him from Eliza crying into him. \n\n``You good, you good though.''\n\n``I don't fucking feel like I am. I wasn't myself; I was someone else but it still felt like me.''\n\n``It was just a dream. Just like dad said.'' Eliza shivered, her words were surprisingly well spoken, considering how hard it has been for her to speak. \n\n``...Thank you for being here.'' Felix and Eliza laid for a while; Felix fell asleep momentarily afterwards, even though his heart was pounding. Eliza could feel Felix's heart, pound against her chest, she didn't know if she liked it or hated it. At the very least she knew his heart was beating, and it was against hers.\n\n``N-no problem.'' Felix drifted off to sleep, his heart still pounding but his mind wandered off. Yet, he felt alright, almost calm as he rested. It didn't last long, or at least it didn't feel like it did, as he was woken up by Nathan knocking on the door.\n\n``Felix, Eliza? I'm sorry to wake you, but I wanted to give you two a warning that we'll be leaving in an hour. I got lunch prepared on the table; and don't worry about the twins Felix, I got them to eat together earlier.'' Spoke Nathan softly and considerately. Felix blinked, then he groaned before letting go of Eliza to roll onto his back.\n\n``Fine.'' Felix mumbled as he rubbed his eyes, Eliza rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed looking dazed and sleepy. Nathan left as he came and went to the dining table. Eliza pulled Felix's arm, tugging him to get out of bed; something Felix only relented after the 4th try. They walked to the dining room and saw cut fruit and biscuits in the middle on plates, with a few cups next to a jug of juice. \n\n``Help yourself to whatever is on the table.'' Nathan said as he went to the kitchen to clean, Eliza and Felix sat at the table and mindlessly began to eat.\n\n``What's going to happen to me?'' Felix said bluntly, Nathan looked over from the sink and shook his head with a comforting smile.\n\n``Nothing wrong is going to happen to you, we're gonna see a doctor and see if we can get you two something to help take the edge off.''\n\n``I don't like drugs, drugs are bad.'' Eliza said after swallowing a cut up piece of banana.\n\n``Not all drugs are bad, some are quite helpful.''\n\n``Can't we just say no to drugs?'' Joked Felix in a deadpanned tone.\n\n``Yeah, can't we?'' Eliza added, Felix turned to Eliza with an amused smile.\n\n``I was joking.''\n\n``Oh.'' Eliza went back straight to eating. As Nathan finished, he came back and sat at the table with them.\n\n``I will say, if you really don't want to take medication-''\n\n``No. I'm scared.'' Interrupted Eliza after she finished drinking.\n\n``Wait a minute, Eliza. If you really don't want to, *after* the doctor tells you what it is, then you can say no.''\n\n``Ok.'' \n\n``Yeah, alright.'' Eliza and Felix replied.\n\n``We would then have to find more ways to assist you two, because you two need all the help you can get.''\n\n``But why?'' Eliza looked at Nathan, almost concerned.\n\n``Because you two deserve it.'' Nathan said as he stuck a piece of banana into his mouth. ``You really don't like your nightmares, and you get really scared, clench up and can't speak well during those moments. Those aren't normal, Eliza.'' As Nathan said that, Eliza looked down as if she was in trouble.\n\n``I'm sorwy.''\n\n``Don't be sorry, Eliza. It's not your fault, at all.'' Nathan said comfortingly and warmly as possible. ``Here, have some grapes. They're nice and juicy. Make a nice pop in your mouth.'' Nathan smiled sweetly as he passed a small container of seedless grapes. \n\n``I'm sorwy I'm like this...'' Eliza said after she took a handful.\n\n``That is not your fault at all, Eliza. You have done nothing wrong, and if you think you have, or someone tells you otherwise, you come and tell me.'' Eliza looked at Nathan, smiled before looking down and away to eat once more. ``Same to you, Felix. I care about you two so much, just like how I care about the twins and Rita.''\n\n``I know.'' Felix said as he grabbed some strawberries to eat.\n\n``I mean it, I really do. I know you don't really believe it, but in time I hope you will.'' Nathan looked down as he said it, grabbing some apple pieces to eat. Eliza and Felix froze for a moment, looking at Nathan with different feelings from each other. Eliza felt hope yet uncertainty, feeling happy and loved while feeling a lingering doubt deep inside her. Felix however felt discomfort and followed by distrustful sadness; he really wanted to trust Nathan completely but after all he's been through, he just couldn't. Too many times his trust was abused, he couldn't just `believe and trust' Nathan or Rita; yet he wanted to, hence why he cooperates with them. Yet a thought crossed his mind as he began to eat once more, it came out of nowhere but it made sense enough. Although Nathan was irritating and frustrating when he forced himself to open up about that dream, it felt nice to not be hit or yelled at; he really expected Nathan to freak out but, he didn't. Even if it means he has to go to a shitty doctor appointment, he could tell that Nathan cared about him; he just didn't want to acknowledge it. \n\n``I do.'' Eliza said after a while of considering.\n\n``Hm?'' Nathan looked at Eliza with hope in his eyes.\n\n``I trust you. You're not a meanie. You're nice.'' Eliza smiled shyly, almost doubting her words as she spoke. Nathan smiled widely in endearment, making Eliza feel a little better. ``Your smiles are nice too. Not like Noah and Hanna's. They had a mean smile.''\n\n``A mean smile?'' Nathan's smile disappeared into a concerned look.\n\n``Yeah. It was like, like, not nice. But it was like, like, a smile.'' Eliza's head got fuzzy as she got lost in trying to explain.\n\n``It was a sick smile, the sort of smile that didn't say ``I love you'' or ``I care''. It was fake, it happened when they wanted something.'' Felix said, looking away at first before looking back, his eyes serious mixed with tiredness. Nathan nodded, inhaled deeply as he listened and when he exhaled, he grabbed a sliced bit of banana, took the skin off around it and handed it to Eliza.\n\n``Those are the worst kind of smiles.'' Nathan said seriously, ``I've seen my fair amount of those, but not the ones you two have seen.''\n\n``Like I said, your smile is nice.'' Eliza smiled at Nathan once more, causing Nathan to smile back.\n\n``I love it when you two smile too, certainly adds more colour to the house.''\n\n``Toby doesn't smile, so I can be like, like the one that, that smiles.'' Eliza grabbed some grapes as she stumbled and stuttered her words. Nathan chuckled and squinted his eyes in endearment.\n\n``You are so right. Although I swear, I see him smile from time to time.'' Nathan grabbed another piece of apple, ``But then again, you can tell he's smiling by just looking at Elijah. They're like a mirror.'' \n\n``Really?'' Eliza said in amazement.\n\n``I believe so. I really hope so.'' Nathan began to chuckle once more; he checked his watch and then took a drink from his cup. ``Alright, you two got some good time to chill out and play the xbox.''\n\n``Oh!'' Eliza grabbed her cup and downed the rest of her juice in a rush.\n\n``Not too fast, Eliza. You don't want it to go down the wrong tube.'' \n\n``I'm fine.'' Eliza exclaimed after catching her breath back, making a loud `aah' to go with it. Felix too finished eating and downed his drink, although much more controlled that Eliza. Both of them went to the lounge and booted the xbox up, Nathan smiling as he watched. As Nathan got up, picking up plates and empty cups, he began to wash them all until the twins wandered out carrying theirs.\n\n``Hey boys.'' Nathan said lovingly, ``Thank you so much for bringing your bowls and cups.''\n\n``You're welcome.'' Tobias replied plainly while Elijah was smiling up at Nathan. ``What are we going to do now?''\n\n``Well now, I gotta do these dishes quickly and then we'll go play outside. Have a run around the backyard, but best of all-''\n\n``Pushing us on the swings?'' Elijah shouted excitedly jumping up and down.\n\n``That's right.'' Nathan chuckled to himself. The twins left quickly to go outside, passing Eliza and Felix without saying hell or waving. As the twins began to play outside, Felix finally relaxed on the couch as Eliza handed him the controller. Shortly after, Nathan walked outside with a friendly wave to Felix and Eliza; even though neither of them took notice of it. After a short while Eliza looked at Felix as if she had to say something, but she didn't know what. She heard the laughing and yelling outside and felt like joining in, but she didn't want to leave Felix alone. Because Felix was most certainly not going to join. Felix paused the game and handed it to Eliza, sensing she wanted to play.\n\n``Hey Felix?'' Eliza said with her throat clenching up.\n\n``Speak through Mary, what's wrong?'' Felix replied.\n\n``-We want to go and play outside. But we don't want to leave you-.'' Eliza's voice croaked, Felix looked at Eliza with tired, detached eyes and sighed.\n\n``Sorry. I don't know how to fix that.'' As Felix said that Eliza looked down sad, before looking back conflicted and bothered.\n\n``-Come with us-.'' Eliza using Mary to pat Felix's arm, trying to plead to him. Felix then knew it was a losing battle, he really didn't want to go near the twins but Eliza, he couldn't just deprive her. Felix groaned loudly, desperately, something that caused Eliza to move back a bit shuddering; she's heard Felix make this sound many times when Noah forced him to have sex.\n\n``Fine. Let's go.''\n\n``No!'' Eliza squealed, ``-No, no, no. We stay. We stay-.'' Eliza began to panic, feeling increasingly dreadful. \n\n``What? What's wrong?'' Felix looked concerned but sounded bothered.\n\n``I'm sowry. -We're sorwy-.'' Eliza began to play the game, jittery and clutching Mary under her armpit. \n\n``Talk to me, what did I say? What did I do? I don't know what I did to make you freak out.''\n\n``-Your sound-.'' Eliza shuddered more almost to crying point. ``-Baaad memories-.'' She began to sniff. Then it hit Felix what she was referring to, repressed memories of his time at Noahs, and even the Mr and Mrs Woods who were just as `touchy' as Noah. He didn't even realise the sound he made, the defeated, distressed and desperate groan of `giving in'. His heart sank, he didn't mean to do this and now he was frozen staring at Eliza, helpless.\n\n``I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to- I didn't mean to affect you.'' Felix's voice broke and horror rushing over him. Eliza looked at Felix, now feeling awful herself. The laughing and screaming outside from Elijah now cutting in between the two as the back sliding door was opened; it was Nathan.\n\n``Hey you two, I wanted to quickly check in on you.'' Nathan said as he slid the glass door shut behind him. He was met with yet another thickly tense moment, as both Felix and Eliza looked miserable. ``What happened, what's wrong?'' Nathan said concernedly as he moved over to sit over on a near couch.\n\n``Just more trauma crap.'' Felix mumbled as Eliza nodded with him.\n\n``Can I do anything to help? What would you two like?''\n\n``For the nightmare to end.'' Felix mumbled yet again, Nathan didn't respond at first as he sat in silence feeling unsure of what to say or do. ``And I'm not talking about killing me. Or killing myself. I just want it to end.'' Nathan nodded as he hunched forward on the couch.\n\n``I know, I mean I hoped so. That's why we're going to the doctors, to see if we can get anything for you two. As well as getting you two to see your psychologist this weekend. For now, I can do my best to make you two comfortable and help you two relax.'' Nathan carefully, considerately and warmly spoke; even his eyes looked concerned. ``If you want, you can talk to me. But I understand if you don't.''\n\n``I don't. Not now, maybe later I don't know.'' Felix crossed his arms, trying to gain back his stoic personality back online.\n\n``Alright.'' Nathan nodded smiling slightly.\n\n``Eliza wanted to go outside and play.'' Felix said offhandedly, wanting her to play and have fun with the twins.\n\n``Do you still want to go outside?'' Asked Nathan, which Eliza nodded back. ``But you don't want to leave Felix alone?'' Eliza nodded back once more. ``That is a tough one, but perhaps it's simple to fix. Felix, you could watch from Eliza's room, since her window shows much of the backyard.''\n\n``But I want to play this. I can't just sit and watch, I need to do something.''\n\n``That's true. But I think I have something for you.'' Nathan got up and walked away quickly to his room, coming back with a gameboy colour. ``Rita found this in one of our draws, we have only one game but, it's something.'' Nathan handed it to Felix, who looked at it with some wonder.\n\n``Yeah, this will work. IF this works.''\n\n``Oh, it definitely works, even has fresh batteries in it. So, you can play it on Eliza's bed, in view of Eliza. So, you two can wave and talk a bit.'' Felix looked at Nathan with conflicted appreciation, he still wanted to play the xbox, but this would indeed give him something to do. Felix looked at Eliza and nodded, half smiling at her to give her a sense that it's alright. Eliza's face lit up and put the controller on the cabinet in front of her before turning around to go outside. \n\n``Thanks for this. Hell, you even got a pokemon game in it.'' Felix said as he stood up.\n\n``Rita found the game on the side of the desert road; I'm surprised it works.'' Nathan got up as well and headed outside, smiling at Felix comfortingly. Felix headed to and then sat on Eliza's bed as he watched them play outside. Every so often he looked up to check on Eliza and occasionally waved as she walked past; thankfully the game did work and surprisingly well, even if the cartridge was scratched all over. Eventually the others stopped playing outside, with Nathan and the twins going to watch some educational tv while Eliza came to join Felix. As Eliza sat on her bed, she moved close to Felix to watch what he played.\n\n``Is that good?'' She asked excitedly.\n\n``Honestly, yeah. It has charm and the Pokemon I chose is so cool.''\n\n``You chose a Pokemon?''\n\n``Out of three, yeah. I think all Pokemon games have that. I chose Totodile, he's a water type but I mostly chose him for how cool he is. He's like a little crocodile, see?'' Felix showed Eliza, who looked at it with great interest. \n\n``What were the others?''\n\n``I can't even remember. But there was this plant thing, which some dickhead stole and it sucks because it's strong against water.''\n\n``What a bitch.'' Eliza sounded grumpy and flat, causing Felix to smile.\n\n``I know right?''\n\n``Can I play?'' \n\n``I think this game only has one save slot.''\n\n``What? That's bullshit.'' \n\n``I know right?'' Felix smiled even more, he loved hearing Eliza swear; she clearly picked it up from him and that made him proud. ``Maybe we can ask Nathan and Rita for us to have the other one. We can share for now though.''\n\n``That would be so nice.'' Eliza laid on her bed looking up at Felix.\n\n``I was thinking Eliza. If we have a bad night and you wet my bed, or hell if I do, we can go to your bed to sleep in.''\n\n``That's a good idea.''\n\n``Cause like, your room is not bad.'' Felix paused and laid down next to Eliza. ``But I understand you wish to sleep with me. I've been wanting to keep you close too.'' Felix spoke softly, Eliza smiled rested her head on Felix's shoulder.\n\n``Thank you.'' She spoke softly.\n\n``No problem.'' Felix held the Gameboy up once more allowing both him and Eliza to look at it as he played. The two became completely engrossed in the game that they were startled when Nathan lightly knocked on the door.\n\n``Hey Eliza, Felix. It's time to get ready.'' Spoke Nathan gently. ``Put on your socks and shoes please. If you need help, just ask.''\n\n``I can do it.''\n\n``Yeah, we don't need your help with that.'' Eliza and Felix grunted as they sat up on the bed to get ready.\n\n``Just wanted to make sure.'' Nathan smiled sweetly before leaving. Felix and Eliza helped each other put their socks and shoes on, they were mostly silent due to rising stress and anxiety. Felix kept the Gameboy colour with him as he and Eliza went to go to the front living room to wait. Both the twins and Nathan were already there, with Nathan helping to tie their shoelaces. Felix pretended to not care, when he in fact cared a lot, and sat on the couch silently with his muscles tightening. Eliza sat close and leaned against him, then grabbing his hand as she waited patiently. \n\n``Is it alright I bring this?'' Felix asked holding out the Gameboy.\n\n``Sure, you can.''\n\n``Alright, cool.''\n\n``Just make sure you keep it in your pocket when you aren't using it. We don't want to lose it.''\n\n``Duh.'' Felix mumbled, Nathan looked up and let Felix's bad mood slide; no point in antagonising Felix over something minor. Once everyone was ready Nathan locked the house, took all of kids to the car to buckle up and put a small esky with cold bottles of water in it; just in case someone needed fresh cold water. The drive down the long desert road to get into the main city felt strangely shorter than Felix expected, the Gameboy was a great distraction. When they arrived and got inside the clinic, the aircon was a nice cool yet not cold temperature. \n\n``Alright boys,'' Nathan said towards the twins. ``We're going to be waiting for a bit, maybe a while, and the appointment might go for a while too. So go into the kids waiting room, is that alright?''\n\n``Yes.'' The twins replied in unison and immediately headed to a room around the corner. Eliza and Felix were able to see a bit of it from where they stood, it had that `childcare' room feel that had all sorts of books, toys and even had a TV that played kids movies. Nathan stood and chatted with the receptionist behind the desk, checking Eliza and Felix in for their appointment; they were a little bit early. They sat down on some chairs in the corner as they waited, Felix playing the Gameboy with Eliza watching right next to him. Nathan grabbed a magazine and began to read it; it was gossip crap. \n\n``Felix and Eliza?'' A voice came, causing the three to look up; a white cat with a kind grandmotherly smile met them.\n\n``That's us.'' Nathan replied, he looked at his kids and then stood up; giving them a sign to stand up too.\n\n``Wonderful. Hello, good to meet you two. I'm Dr Brennan, come this way.'' She greeted them before walking down the corridor. Nathan, Felix and Eliza followed her down to her room, where she stood at the door gesturing them to come inside. Once inside they sat down, Nathan telling Felix to put away the Gameboy for now. ``Alright, how can I help you?'' The doctor asked. Nathan spent the next 5 minutes explaining the situation while the doctor listened concernedly. That Eliza and Felix were adopted, were sexually abused over a period of time and that they need help.\n\n``They see a psychologist for now, Dr Wyld.''\n\n``Oh, that's wonderful, she's very good. I'm amazed you got in to see her, her bookings tend to be very packed. That's very lucky.'' As Nathan heard that, he felt light in the head; he had no idea how lucky that was. \n\n``Well, I'm glad it happened then.''\n\n``As for what I can do, there isn't much I'm afraid. Most we advise is consistent therapy, which both Eliza and Felix have. But they do have PTSD, so I can prescribe Fluoxetine. It will be a low dose, because they're young but this will be a trial. To see how it works and if they have any serious side effects.'' Felix and Eliza listened, although they didn't fully understand they did catch on having to take meds.\n\n``Are they going to be annoying?'' Felix asked.\n\n``Well, that depends on you. You'll take it in the morning, preferably with some breakfast.''\n\n``That's manageable. I can do all the organizing so you two don't want to worry about it.'' Nathan added with the doctor nodding with him.\n\n``Alright.'' Felix sighed.\n\n``It won't fix everything and will take a week or two before it gets to its full effect. This will just help you manage your anxiety and emotions.'' The doctor smiled, she began typing on the computer on her desk and began to print out the prescriptions. Once it was printed out, she handed it to Nathan then began to type on the computer. \n\n``When we get home, do they take it? With some lunch I mean.''\n\n``Oh, that will work out well too. Good idea. Alright, I'll need to book a follow up appointment. Is next week fine? Or maybe we make it two weeks.''\n\n``I think two weeks are just fine.'' Nathan replied after checking with both Eliza and Felix to see if they had any preferences.\n\n``Alright, sounds good. The next appointment is a fortnight from now, is that alright?''\n\n``Yeah, that's all good.''\n\n``Excellent. Well, I hope it goes well. Take care and I hope your next visit with Dr Wyld goes well.'' And with that, the appointment was over. Nathan led the kids out to go to the front desk to sort out payment, and once that was done, he went to pick up the twins. The wait at the pharmacist was a bit tiresome for all of the party, but once it was done it was time to go home.\n\n``Dad I'm thirsty.'' Elijah complained,\n\n``Same.''\n\n``Me too.'' Felix and Eliza followed up.\n\n``Ahhh, good thing I got this esky in the boot.'' Nathan replied, feeling good about himself. He gave each of the kids a bottle of cold water to drink while helping the twins into their seats. The trip home wasn't as quiet as the trip over, with the twins chatting across the car to Nathan about what they did. The Gameboy's sounds also added to the general noise of the car. As they arrived and went inside, Nathan went to get Eliza and Felix some yoghurt to eat to have their new medication. Once they were done, they headed straight to Felix's room to lie down. While the twins went to play outside in the backyard. For the rest of the day was relaxing and cooling down, no further incidents that caused heartbreak occurred. The day after, with new meds with their breakfast, Felix and Eliza felt relatively normal; a good sign for all. Class was going mostly well for Felix except for when he looked at the twins, feeling sick in the gut for what he dreamed yesterday. When lunch came, Felix turned to Eliza and reminded her of the place where their friends sat and ate. They headed over and when they got closer, Jasper saw them and beckoned at them. As Felix and Eliza joined them, it felt nice to be included; even for Felix despite how cautious his trust was. It was so much simpler as well when the bell rang for play, all of them walked down to the oval to play while chatting. It felt genuinely nice for Felix and Eliza, but something felt wrong for Felix and he didn't know what. Playing on the oval was a blast for all, especially for Eliza who managed to score a goal against a much taller kid. Eliza was soaked in appreciations from the rest of the group, or `mob' as Karla put it. Perhaps they all did so because of how young Eliza is compared to the rest of them, not that Eliza minded at all. When they got back to class, they heard some crying, Elijah and a depressed looking Tobias was found at their desks with Nathan consoling them. As more kids came in, Nathan had to make sure everyone was alright before coming to check on Felix and Eliza.\n\n``Hey you two, how was lunch?'' Nathan asked with a soft smile.\n\n``It was great.'' Eliza smiled widely, ``But what's wrong with Elijah and Tobias?'' Nathan looked over at the twins before facing Eliza and Felix, squatting down and began to speak quietly.\n\n``I'm glad you ate with your friends, but the twins were heartbroken when you two didn't join them.'' Nathan explained, Felix felt suddenly sick in his gut when he listened. He could never win, could he? He wanted to eat with the mob, but he understood well enough of why the twins were hurt. ``Are you alright, Felix?'' Asked Nathan, Felix then realized he was disassociating; it felt like a minute had passed when he heard that.\n\n``Yeah, I just hate myself now.'' Felix grumbled, Eliza looked at him with a concerned and worried look. \n\n``Felix, it's alright. You aren't expected to join the twins. Yes, it makes them happy, but they will have to get use to you having your own friends and that means you two having your own life.'' Nathan explained. ``They're possessive. They can't have everything that they want, it's a part of life.'' As Felix heard Nathan say that, he felt some tension leave his shoulders; he felt relieved.\n\n``Alright. Thanks for not blaming me.'' Felix said bluntly and tiredly; he was seriously expecting Nathan to grill him. The fact that Nathan didn't, filled him with such gladness; but he still felt like a piece of shit. Class resumed normally and Felix did his best to not dwell on it too much. When he accidentally or purposely looked over at either of the twins, they shied away making Felix assume that they couldn't forgive him. At that point, he felt angry and stubborn, which drifted away soon after. When lunch came once again, Felix and Eliza headed to join their friends. While he sat and ate, Felix couldn't shake a horrible feeling out of him; in fact, it kept growing. The dream, how upset they were that he didn't join them, it felt like they blended together. He couldn't stop thinking of them, worrying and feeling like shit at the same time. He began to think it was the meds, they're messing with his brain and making him feel worse than actually better. Once they all got down to the oval to play, Felix was still dwelling on the creeping feelings that he couldn't shake. But now, it was paranoia. A gut feeling that something bad was going to happen, something that he is going to regret letting happen, but what? It didn't help that every time someone asked if he was ok or why he was so silent that he would growl or snap; except for Eliza. \n\n``Are you ok?'' Eliza asked.\n\n``There's something wrong, really wrong.'' Felix muttered, he found himself constantly looking back into the school as if he could envision the playground where the twins were.\n\n``Wrong?''\n\n``I'm worried, I feel like shit. I want to check on the twins.'' Felix sighed.\n\n``Hey Felix, what's wrong?'' Jasper asked leaving the field.\n\n``Oh, hey.'' Felix bluntly said. ``I'm wanting to go check on my brothers. I don't think I'll play this lunch.''\n\n``I see, can I join you two? Honestly, I don't feel up for soccer too, but I wanna hang out. Is that ok?'' Jasper asked eagerly.\n\n``Yeah sure, whatever. What about you Eliza?'' \n\n``Yeah, of course. I can't leave you.'' She replied.\n\n``Alright.''\n\n``Hey guys!'' Jasper called out to the rest of the mob, ``We're not up for soccer. We'll be walking about. Have fun you guys.'' Jasper explained, the rest waved back with acknowledgement before focusing back on the game. The was Jasper sorted that out, was much appreciated by Felix. Felix, Eliza and Jasper headed back into the school. Along the way Jasper talked, sometimes Eliza replied and sometimes Felix replied. It did get a bit annoying for Felix however, but he did his best to not lash out or sound annoyed. He just couldn't stop thinking about the twins, and he knew he was being paranoid. But there was this pit inside him that couldn't let go of it, he wanted to make sure they were ok.\n\n``You've done nothing but look after and save my boys, you're their big brother.'' Echoed Nathan in Felix's mind. As they got close to the playground where the twins were, screams were heard. Not the sound of fun and excitement, but literal screaming. Felix rushed over with Eliza and Jasper following from behind. There Felix could see Elijah screaming as other boys were over him and Tobias. \n\n``What the fuck!'' Felix exclaimed and then made a mad dash over, Eliza followed as fast as she could while Jasper stopped observed from afar. There were 3 boys messing with the twins, all obviously too old for the area, and yet there was no teacher attending to it swiftly. Felix's blood boiled and as he got over there, he punched one of the kids across the face, knocking them over onto their arse. What then happened felt like a blur for Felix and Eliza, but for onlookers like Jasper and other kids they witnessed everything. As Felix punched the first boy out, one of them grabbed him from behind to hold him still for the other boy to punch him. Felix leaned and pushed his weight back against the kid holding him, then using his tail for balance and the other boy's relatively stable stance, he kicked forward and pushed the other kid back by 2 metres. The kid who held onto Felix refused to let go cursing in the process, until Eliza jumped and clung onto him with her arms around his neck; to Jasper it looked like Eliza was his backpack. Eliza made the boy let go of Felix as she bit into the boy's neck viciously while digging her fingers into him fiercely. Once free, Felix went over to the first kid he punched, who only now was back up standing and already throwing a punch. Felix took the punch to the jaw but punched the kid as hard as he could in the gut. The boy fell over and Felix began to relentlessly drag him about by the backpack he was wearing. Eliza, still clinging onto the same boy, wrestled and managed to make him fall onto the ground. She was no longer biting but now was punching the boy's head as he was unable to shake her off. Eventually Felix pulled, or rather he ripped, off the backpack and with a great swing he chucked it onto a nearby roof. The boy crawled away as the other boy, who Felix launched with his feet, came to push Felix over to pummel him. Felix was initially pushed, he quickly bent down to grab some sand and then threw it at the boy's face. Felix then shoved the boy back, causing him to fall flat on his back. It was at this point that the teachers finally took notice of the mess that was going down. One of the teachers on the playground duty came over and tried to pull Felix off, only to be elbowed in the face by a savage Felix. As Felix began to punch the kid he was now on top of he began to express exactly what he had to endure as a young kid.\n\n``Fucking take it you piece of shit! You can't take a punch? Huh? What are you, a little bitch? Maybe you fucking deserve this!'' Felix growled as he continuously punched the boy in the belly and chest. Nathan then sprinted onto the scene and grabbed Felix to pull him away; he heard his boys screaming and was horrified to witness what was happening now. Felix elbowed Nathan in the nose and screamed, ``Fucking let go of me!'' \n\n``Felix, stop this! You need to stop, Felix!'' Nathan called out to Felix. It took a moment but Felix recognized it was Nathan, and relented. Letting go of the boy he was then pulled away a bit by Nathan who held him close. ``Eliza! Stop, come over here.'' Nathan called out, getting Eliza to finally let go of the boy she clung to. Eliza rushed over to Nathan side, ``Calm down, breathe.'' Nathan repeated over and over to Felix. During the entire time, Elijah screamed in horror as Tobias looked completely broken across his face. The three boys who came to mess with them crawled away only to be stopped by some teachers. Then the principal came, one teacher now telling everything she witnessed.\n\n``You three boys, to the office NOW.'' He called out, ``As for you two, come and sit inside as well. I'm very disappointed in you two. Mr Skye, you'll be needed too.'' Nathan looked back and nodded back before tending to Felix, who no longer was resisting. Jasper came running over to the principal, explaining he saw everything; Danny, who was with the twins, also came over and told the principal he saw everything. The principal turned to the teacher who told him about the incident, ``Gather all and any kids who witnessed what happened so we can get to the bottom of this.'' The teacher nodded back at him, Jasper and Danny stayed with her as she called out for any other kid who wishes to be a witness. Nathan let go of Felix, toppling a bit as he tried to stand up; he saw blood coming from his nose, which he wiped off quickly with a tissue he had in his pocket. Nathan got Felix and Eliza to follow him to the office and had them seated outside the principal's room. Felix was completely silent while Eliza tried to explain to Nathan. \n\n``Eliza, breathe. Take deep breaths and calm down.'' Soothed Nathan to Eliza, blood still coming out of his nose. The other teacher with Jasper, Danny and 2 other kids walked in. She knocked on the principal's door to ask when they were needed. Danny looked at Felix and Eliza, he felt so awed about what happened; and how cool Felix was during it. Eventually they went inside and explained what they witnessed. Jasper explained he saw the three kids bullying the twins and said they were from his grade, explaining that Felix and Eliza sprang into action too. The other 2 kids explained the three boys just walked into the playground when the teachers weren't looking, kicking sand at the twins and calling them names. Danny explained that they also did certain actions that he didn't understand, explaining that one thrusted his lower area towards and at the twins while mocking them. As the kids gave their story, the teacher left the room to speak with Nathan.\n\n``Mr Skye, your boys are still crying in the sand pit.''\n\n``Can you please watch these two, I gotta get them. I couldn't take them with me.''\n\n``No worries.'' Nathan got up and rushed outside to get to the twins, Elijah still crying with a teacher crouched down with him to keep the twins company. Nathan came and swooped the twins up, carrying them up trying to comfort them.\n\n``Thank you for keeping them company, Julie.'' Nathan said out of breath, she smiled back and nodded before getting up to leave. Nathan carried the twins to the office, Elijah now no longer vocally crying, Nathan kissing their foreheads while whispering comforting words. When Nathan came back inside, the three boys who started the incident were moved to a different area in the office with one of the staff calling their parents. Felix looked up at the twins, who were quivering and in shock, in Nathan's arms. Felix looked down quickly after, feeling dead inside. Jasper, Danny and the two other kids then left the principal's room. Jasper didn't say anything at first, but he turned around as he was about to leave.\n\n``I told them what happened.''\n\n``Thanks. Sorry you had to see this.'' Felix said monotoned. Jasper looked sad and walked to class, wishing he could do more to help. Danny, who was coughing more and more as time went on, hung around in the waiting room as the other two kids left to go to class.\n\n``How are you doing, Danny?'' Nathan asked with a strained and worried smile.\n\n``I'm fine. Hard to breathe.'' Danny eventually answered.\n\n``Do you have your inhaler?'' Nathan asked with concern.\n\n``I do, it's in my bag.'' Danny realised what he needed to do; he was still in shock about everything to not think about his own wellbeing. Grabbing and using his inhaler he slowly recovered from the incident. When a teacher came up to escort Danny back to class, he handed her a slip from the principal; he was to go home. Danny waved at the twins, Eliza and Felix as he headed to the front desk area to wait for his mum. Then it was time for Felix and Eliza to face the principal. He called them in, Nathan too, for this was a serious incident. Felix and Eliza sat on their chairs but hardly reacted, especially Felix. Nathan put the twins down, putting them in a spot that they can face the wall.\n\n``What I have heard, from the tales of my staff and the students who witnessed what happened, you two went too far.'' The principal started off strongly and sternly. ``What those boys were doing was unacceptable, what you did is inexcusable. You don't bite kids, throw sand in their eyes, you don't throw bags onto roofs, you don't pummel and bash anyone. No teeth were broken but the sheer lack of control and violence is completely unacceptable. What do you have to say for yourselves?'' It was very clear of how mad and disappointed he was; Eliza couldn't make any eye contact while Felix was able to just barely. \n\n``I'm sorry.'' Felix eventually answered.\n\n``You should be.'' The principal replied half snapping in the process. He sighed and took a moment of silence as he thought. ``I know, from what little I've heard, that you two have had a rough life.'' He looked at Nathan.\n\n``They've had a really rough life, Mr Andrews, yes.'' Nathan added softly, the principal nodded and breathed in deeply.\n\n``I'm going to give you two one more chance. If you two ever do what you did again, you will be expelled. I will not have uncontrollable and violent students in my school, but I will give you another chance in good faith that you won't do it again. Do I make myself clear?'' Felix and Eliza nodded softly, enough for the principal to notice. \n\n``They saved us.'' A voice came from behind, the voice was hard to hear but it was Tobias talking to the wall. ``We were scared, hurt. They saved us. They're good, they saved us.'' Tobias never looking back as he spoke. \n\n``I believe it. But there must be consequences.'' The principal exhaled deeply. ``You two will be suspended for a week.'' He then looked at Nathan, who nodded back in agreement.\n\n``That is generous. I will sort out plans with my wife and see that Felix and Eliza will still learn.''\n\n``Very good, I trust you will, Nathan.''\n\n``I wish I got there earlier. I was in the classroom when I heard screaming, I knew it was the twins and I ran as fast as I could over.'' Nathan added.\n\n``You still got Felix off the boy, so thank you for that.'' With that all said and done, the meeting was over. Nathan took the kids to the car and drove them home; the car was eerily quiet along the way. At a stop light, Nathan looked back with concern to Felix and Eliza. \n\n``I want to talk about what happened back there.'' \n\n``I don't.'' Felix replied.\n\n``I know that Felix, but we need to talk. We'll talk once we are back home, alright?''\n\n``Fine.'' And the rest of the car drive was silent. Once home, the twins headed straight to their room to lie down, while Felix and Eliza headed to Felix's room. Nathan followed behind, much to Felix's irritation, so he can talk to them in there.\n\n``Alright. Firstly, I want to say. Thank you. Thank you for aiding the twins, again.'' Nathan caught Felix completely off guard. ``Not to say I am not disappointed in you two however, but. Thank you.''\n\n``I'm sorry I'm such a fucking disappointment.'' Felix mumbled.\n\n``You're not a disappointment. I said I am disappointed, there is a difference.''\n\n``I'm still a disappointment.''\n\n``Felix...'' Nathan sighed and rubbed the edges of his eye sockets. ``I am so thankful that you came to save the twins. So very thankful. Before we left, the principal told me that those boys were delinquents, bullies, and you thoroughly terrified them. One piece of good from this, is that those boys will not be bullying the twins or hopefully anyone else again.''\n\n``But I still went fucking nuts.''\n\n``Yes, well... that did happen. But we will move on from this. Both of you will move on, it's not the end of the world by any means.'' Nathan exhaled and then smiled vaguely. ``I got suspended quite a few times as a kid. For smoking, vandalising and fights. So, I know what it's like.''\n\n``You got in trouble a lot?'' Eliza asked with wonder.\n\n``Boy, did I? Of course, education was much stricter back then but that doesn't change what I got up to.'' Nathan thoughts trailed and suddenly he felt great grief rise; he remembered Corey.\n\n``Anyway. You can't do that again. At least, please don't. I can imagine how tempting it is to go far out with it, but you two can do better.''\n\n``What were we supposed to do then?'' Felix grumbled.\n\n``There's never a straight answer with that, I'm afraid. But perhaps you could have just pushed them away instead punching them. Call out to get the teachers to step in, they won't get you in trouble immediately with those other boys being in the playground. Just...'' Nathan paused and began to collect his thoughts, he then looked at Felix. ``Don't throw bags on the roofs. Don't punch others in the face'' He turned to Eliza, ``Don't bite people, or dig your nails into their flesh.'' Nathan shook his head and sighed, then smiled pleasantly. ``Anyway, thanks for looking out for the twins; they are a big target at school, in life too. Thank you, Felix. Thank you, Eliza.'' Eliza smiled slightly back before looking down in shame, Felix nodded and sighed. ``Now I can't be home when the twins are at school, they won't function without me. I'm going to talk to Mum once she gets home, she is going to have to stay home and watch over you two.''\n\n``Alright.'' Felix paused and hunched over looking at the floor. ``I'm sorry.''\n\n``That's all I want to hear.'' Nathan smiled sincerely. The door suddenly opened as the twins wandered in. ``Boys?''\n\n``Thank you.'' Tobias spoke, his voice was stilted and the volume was strangely loud; it also felt rushed like, almost uncontrolled. ``For saving us.''\n\n``You were scary.'' \n\n``But you saved us.''\n\n``They were really mean.''\n\n``Very mean. We were scared and upset.'' Elijah and Tobias spoke after another, Elijah looked like he was about to cry once more and his voice sounded just like Tobias's stilted and strangely loud. Felix and Eliza looked up at the twins, and then began to smile. \n\n``Thank you, boys, that was very nice of you to say.'' Nathan smiled sweetly. ``They still are in trouble for what they done though.''\n\n``We know. You scared us too. But you beat up those mean boys. That's good.'' Tobias and Elijah then moved to hug their siblings before leaving to go lie down in their room.\n\n``Like I said before Felix, you've done nothing but look out for them.'' Nathan smiled in great proudness. ``Alright, I've said all I wanted to. We'll talk more later on, but for now just rest, right after I take your Gameboy. You two won't be having a holiday after all.''\n\n``Aww. I'm sorry.'' Eliza moaned, pouting.\n\n``I know you are, but there has to be consequences. Once your suspension is over, you'll get this back.'' Nathan grabbed the Gameboy from Felix's bedside table.\n\n``Alright...'' Eliza folded her arms looking down. Nathan crouched down and hugged Eliza, rubbing her back comfortingly; Eliza needed that hug, she felt awful. Nathan let go of Eliza and looked at Felix, who shook his head; he really didn't want to be touched or acknowledged right now. Nathan smiled at Felix, respecting his wishes and left the room closing the door behind him. As Nathan walked down the corridor, he sighed to himself, worrying greatly about the future of Felix and Eliza; he just wanted them to be happy and not getting into trouble. Felix laid on his bed with his hands behind his head as he exhaled, trying to not let his emotions get a hold of him. Eliza copied Felix by lying next to him, hands behind her head and exhaling, causing Felix to look at her with some mild amusement.\n\n``I feel awful.'' Eliza frowned at Felix.\n\n``Sorry for dragging you into that. You didn't have to follow me though.''\n\n``I can't be without you. Besides, those guys were fucking mean.'' Eliza spoke plainly. ``I still feel awful though...''\n\n``Because of what we did?'' Felix asked as he rolled onto his side to face her.\n\n``No. Because of Dad.'' Eliza looked away, genuine sadness across her face. \n\n``Because we disappointed him?'' \n\n``Yeah...'' Eliza grabbed Mary and held her close, pressing her face into it.\n\n``At least we weren't yelled at.'' Felix rubbed his face, snout and nose into his pillow as he felt his body ache.\n\n``And now we're in trouble.''\n\n``To be fair, this is the best punishment we've ever had so far.'' Felix's blunt words hitting not only Eliza but himself. ``Holy crap... that's right.''\n\n``Punishment would be yelling,''\n\n``And punches,''\n\n``And stupid `play time',''\n\n``Yeah, fuck that...'' Felix closed his eyes momentarily as he breathed deeply, his nerves acting up but none of it amounted to anything. All of this was true, and that was surreal, and not to mention so relieving. \n\n``I'm glad we live here...'' Eliza rolled onto her side, looking like she was going to cry out of happiness.\n\n``So do I.'' \n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "It was Monday and Nathan and the kids were at school. Nathan spent a long time working with other kids in the room while Felix and Eliza listened to Ms Baker. Felix kept zoning out, hearing some of the kids throwing a fit made Felix disassociated from everything. It wasn't as bad at first when he and Eliza first joined; but two classmates' crying, whinging and yelling was now affecting him bad. Ms Baker noticed Felix zoning out, immediately tensing and getting agitated whenever she snapped him out. Once the bell rang for lunch and all the kids left, she turned to Nathan to have a word.

``Felix's performance has been low, has everything been alright at home?'' She asked concernedly yet sternly.

``Yeah, it has. I think Felix is just having a rough time focusing.'' Nathan replied looking worried.

``You're not wrong. Just, forgive me for my tone, but I have heard him mumble curse words every time I got him back in the real world.'' She sighed and rested the back of her hand against her forehead. ``I know he and Eliza are troubled students, it's just-''

``I understand, I'm sorry for his behaviour and language. It's a slow work in progress.'' Nathan crossed his arms as he exhaled. ``I will have a talk with him when he comes back into class, just to see how he actually is. Because I have asked him how he is going, he says he is alright, but it can be hard to tell with how volatile and swift his mood changes.''

``I appreciate it. All I need now is my sandwich and a nice coffee, then I'll be ready for the next lesson. Want to join me?'' Linda said as she stretched and groaned.

``Certainly.'' Nathan smiled as he went to grab his lunch container. Sitting with the twins and Danny, Eliza and Felix sat and ate with them under the shade like normal. Eliza sat extra close to Felix this time with Mary under her arms and her tail coiled around Felix's; she has been extra clingy since yesterday.

``Are yooo alriiiight?'' Eliza asked Felix, her words slurring and prolonged.

``It's those fucking two kids in class, they just won't shut up.'' Felix grumbled, his eyes felt sore and tired as he blinked hard. ``I can't concentrate, at all, and Ms Baker gets grumpy at me for fucking not following her.'' Eliza rested her head against Felix, silent but noticeably worried as she began to shake.

``Ohhhh... am I botherrrrrring youuuu tooooo?'' She asked concernedly.

``Eliza, talk through Mary. You're not feeling well.'' Felix said looking at her, almost looking annoyed at her.

``-We're scared. We're worried. We feel bad-.'' Eliza said as she spoke through Mary.

``I know, I'm sorry if I worry you too. It's just, I blank out whenever they get too loud, I think. Then I just get agitated more. You're not doing anything to me, so don't you dare blame yourself.''

``-Alright-.'' Danny and the twins couldn't help but listen to them speak, Danny frowning with worry as the twins looked confused. The bell rang and the pair split to go to their preferred playgrounds. As Felix and Eliza got to the oval to play soccer, they ran into Adrian and Jasper, who had a few others hanging out with them.

``Hey Felix! Eliza!'' Adrian called out waving out them, he then turned to the others. ``These are the two new kids we were telling yous.'' Along with the emu and kookaburra was a dingo, a crocodile, a sugar glider and a red belly black snake. Eliza and Felix walked over, both feeling a little put on the spot and tense; however not nervous.

``Ello, my name's Karla.'' Greeted the dingo, she herself looked like a tomboy of the group.

``I'm Jack.'' Greeted the snake, who looked the most relaxed of the bunch.

``I'm Tracey.'' Greeted the crocodile, she smiled widely but pleasantly.

``And I'm Robin.'' Greeted the sugar glider, he looked nervous out of the bunch.

``Hey,''

``Helloooo!'' Felix and Eliza said after another.

``We don't know anything of you guys.'' Felix added.

``That's cause Jasper never said anything.'' Karla replied with a bit of sass looking at the kookaburra.

``Well, we were having too much fun playing soccer with you four away.'' Jasper complained back.

``Don't yell at him, yeah?'' Jack added, looking at Karla. ``But yeah, we were like, away.''

``I got suspended for bunching a girl.'' Karla grumbled.

``I caught the flu.'' Jack added, putting his hands in his pockets.

``My mum took my family and I to see my grandma. Then we had car problems and couldn't make it back for a few days.'' Explained Robin.

``And I was on every day you two weren't here, apparently. Not that I would be out here anyway, I'm terrible with soccer.'' Tracey explained.

``You need to use your tail, Tracey.''

``But I want to kick it, not smack it with my tail. I could bloody pop it that way.'' As Eliza listened to the other kids' reasons and introductions, she couldn't help but smile in anxious filled hope. While Felix listened as best, he could; all he wanted to do was play soccer.

``Can we play soccer now?'' Felix said offhandedly.

``Lets!'' Karla shouted and immediately ran down to the field. Jasper, Adrian, Jack, Robin and Tracey ran after her with Felix and Eliza just behind them. As they played together with other kids, Felix finally found something to distract himself and focus on something. Each of the other kids kicked the ball between each other and passed it to both him and Eliza. When the bell rang all the kids started going back to class, with Felix, Eliza and the others trailing behind to chat while they had time.

``We smashed them! Eat it, Sarah!'' Karla shouted to the distance and doing a vulgar gesture with her hands.

``We are like a proper team now.'' Jasper said with cheer.

``You two are cool.'' Jack added as he looked at Felix and Eliza.

``Thanks!''

``You guys are alright too.'' Eliza and Felix replied after another.

``You two should eat with us during lunch. We sit undercover at the drinking fountains.'' Tracey added.

``Wait, what class are you two in again?'' Robin asked, looking unsure.

``We're in the special class.'' Felix replied flatly.

``Yeah, they might be in the class with the weird kids but I envy them. Mr Skye is one of their teachers AND their father.'' Adrian added with a smile.

``The nice teacher?'' Robin asked amazed.

``The special needs class?'' Karla asked confused, ``You two don't look disabled or crippled.''

``Last week was our first every time at school.'' Felix's eyes narrowed more, his fists slowly getting into a tight clench.

``Hey no need to get angry, I was just wondering.'' Karla said with a huff.

``We like it.'' Eliza said, breaking the tension with a toothy smile.

``So, you two are adopted siblings? And Mr Skye is your father? That sounds cool.'' Jack said with a relaxed smile looking at Felix and Eliza.

``I remember the time I got in trouble and they sent me to detention. He was there and I had to write out a bunch of stupid stuff of why I was there, what I did wrong and what I need to do to be better. And he gave me a lollipop as well. Best part was Mrs Moore's angry face as he gave it to me.'' Karla began to laugh. ``Got angry at him for giving me something because I'm a `rotten, nasty girl' and it was so funny. It was the best damn lollipop I've ever had too.'' As they all walked, the time between them having to be in class got thin. Then all the kids split as they rushed to get back to their classrooms.

``They're nice.'' Eliza said to Felix along the way, he didn't react at all. ``Right? They're nice?''

``Yeah, they're alright. We'll see.'' As they arrived in class, Nathan stood near the front door greeting the kids in with a pleasant smile.

``Hey kids. Eliza, please sit in your seat for now, I need Felix to talk to me.''

``What on earth for?'' Felix said agitated, Eliza frowned as confusion came over her.

``This won't take long, Felix. I just want to have a heart-to-heart conversation. Is that ok?'' Nathan explained carefully.

``Fine, whatever.'' Felix grumbled as he followed Nathan into a different room while Eliza walked to her seat. Felix sat on a beanbag on the ground and crossed his arms as Nathan sat on a chair nearby to face him.

``I'm really sorry for how sudden this is. I just wanted to know if everything is ok?''

``I'm fine, geeze.'' Felix huffed and leaned into the beanbag. Nathan nodded slowly and exhaled.

``Are you sure? You haven't been focusing well today.'' Nathan's soft and caring voice weakened Felix's tough stance.

``It's those two fucking kids. They complain, bitch, moan, cry and shout all the damn time.'' Felix growled.

``I see.''

``I can't focus and I just, fucking blank out apparently and I get Ms Baker in my face. Everything just disappears from me.''

``That does sound very annoying and frustrating.'' Nathan hunched over slightly on his seat towards Felix, concern all over his face. ``Is it Brittany and Lance?''

``Yes, those two.'' Felix looked at Nathan, feeling perhaps that he could do something about this.

``I'm sorry, honestly. They can be quite a handful when they get riled up, and I can definitely see how they do not help you concentrate. What I think I'm going to do is teach them and some of the other kids away from you and Eliza. See if that helps a lot.''

``It probably will.'' Felix crossed his arms tighter feeling tense. A moment of silence passed as Nathan gathered his thoughts, he looked around trying to figure out what he was going to say was said right.

``Are their tantrums, or crying, hurting you the most?'' Nathan asked concernedly, feeling deeply worried about Felix's past coming to harm him.

``Hurting me?'' Felix looked at Nathan alarmed with fury in his eyes, before he took a moment and thought about it. He sighed and relaxed in a state of defeat. ``I guess so, now that you bring it up.'' Felix's touch and angry stance switched a despaired and uncomfortable state, Nathan's concern grew further.

``I had a hunch, and I've been afraid to ask because I was afraid it would also affect you.'' Nathan clasped his hands together and exhaled more. ``For now, I'll take the difficult kids and teach them in the side room. If you need me, don't hesitate to knock and ask, alright?'' Felix looked at Nathan, discomfort grew over him, but he nodded as he tried to not think about what Nathan had said. Felix returned to his seat while Nathan came back inside, put a small video on to distract the class and took Ms Baker aside to talk to her in private.

``How did it go?'' She asked.

``Felix is really struggling with the noise, the crying and tantrums from Brittany and Lance. He zones out completely and loses track of time entirely. I suspect he just can't handle it, then gets agitated when you snap him out of it.''

``Well, I'm not entirely surprised he would get agitated. I can understand the noise will affect him, but I didn't think to that extent.''

``And I have an idea for the rest of today. I will take Lance, Brittany, George, Mack, Ben, Lisa and Claire to the side room and teach them there. I'll manage quite well there and it will give Felix more ample time to focus once more.''

``Alright, that sounds good. Thanks for this, Nathan.''

``It's no problem.'' Nathan and Linda went back into class and stood waiting for the video to end. When it ended, Ms Baker and Nathan explained the change of plans while putting a fun and new spin on it. The kids going with Nathan was met with general excitement and followed him into the other room; Felix exhaled in relief as he saw the others left. For the rest of the lessons before second lunch, Felix was able to concentrate and even relax a little. Even Ms Baker was happy with the result, spurning the idea that they needed to have separate classrooms like they should have had already. The school is still relatively new compared to the others, initially it was trying to be both a highschool and a primary school; but so far, the highest grade so far is 7. Next year is the integration of year 8 and year 9. The school still intends to treat year 7 as the final year of primary school kids, making giving them a good celebration complete with a school dance; much to the demise of the students.

``You two are doing really good now.'' Ms Baker said to both Felix and Eliza, before putting a sticker on their books. She walked away and checked on the remaining kids, leaving Eliza chuffed about the sticker that had stars and said `One smart kid'. She turned to Felix and kicked her feet excitedly, smiling widely at him. Felix smiled back, not because he was happy per se but because Eliza was happy. The rest of the kids however weren't as happy, especially the twins who didn't like the change but mostly because their dad was in a different room. Two other kids complained and whinged about ``Why do they get to go? I want to go.'', but eventually settled down. Lunch came and the kids all rushed out to go eat. Felix and Eliza went to the oval once they were done eating, catching up with the rest of the kids that they met. During play the ball hit Felix in the face, but then he managed an incredible kick that sent the ball from across the field between the two trees that acted as goals. Other kids were ecstatic at the display, some laughed, but most were amazed by how Felix kicked the ball.

``That was deadly!'' Karla shouted, the rest of the that Felix and Eliza met cheered and ran up to Felix.

``That was fucking incredible.'' Eliza exclaimed as she bumped into him, Felix laughed in a slight daze and genuinely smiled for the first time today. When the school bell rang, Felix and the others walked out of the oval, all of them were still talking about what had happened.

``Did that hurt?'' Jasper asked looking up at Felix.

``It did! But then I just, fucking kicked it and it just flew.''

``I wish I could have done that.'' Karla huffed.

``I'm glad I didn't, my snout is really sensitive to touch. But that kick was something else.'' Jack added.

``You two should really join us at lunch, you never said where you two eat during it.'' Asked Tracey.

``We sit with our brothers.'' Felix said casually, ``We're still really new to this school and don't know where things are.''

``Can we be friends?'' Eliza asked smiling hopefully looking at the others.

``Of course we can.'' Jasper said happily, ``We were already friends though.''

``Yeah, you two are cool.'' Karla added.

``I'll show you where we sit so you can join us.'' Robin said as he began to rush up ahead, ``Follow me quick.'' Felix walked faster while Eliza jogged as they followed Robin. ``We eat right there.'' Robin explained as he pointed at the spot.

``Ahh I see. We can come one day I guess.'' Felix replied.

``Am I alllllowwwed?'' Eliza asked with a nervous slur, Robin looked at her with a sense of sympathy; she sounded sad and worried to him.

``Yeah. Both of you two, don't worry about it.''

``It's just that we got in trouble being in a playground last week. Well, *I* got in trouble.''

``Which one?'' Asked Robin.

``The one next to the office. I think the principal's office?''

``Ohh. Yeah, I see why.'' The bell rang the second time, getting Robin alerted and ready to run. ``I got to go, sorry for delaying you. Bye!'' Robin ran off as Eliza and Felix quickly walked back to their classroom. As they got to class, Nathan exhaled in relief and crossed his arms.

``I was beginning to worry about you two.''

``Why?'' Felix asked.

``You two are late.''

``We're sorwyy.'' Eliza added.

``That's ok. Just try to come back in time next time.'' As Nathan went back inside, Ms Baker got the other kids to go into the other room with her, leaving Nathan in charge with the class for the afternoon. She and Nathan swapped to see how the kids react, but also to do with Nathan helping the twins; who were delighted about it. The afternoon flew fast as school came to a close and sound of cheering from some kids as it was time to go home. Felix, Eliza, Elijah and Tobias waited together in their eating spot while Nathan collected his things, filled documents and helped Ms Baker lock up the classroom. In the car along the way home, the twins chatted between each other as Felix rested his head against the window.

``I hope today has been good. Better with the other kids being in a different room too.'' Nathan said as he looked back at Felix.

``It was. Lunch was really fun too.''

``Oh that's great, tell me about it.''

``Felix did a maaaassssiiive kick, kicked the ball into the goal from far away.'' Eliza explained excitedly.

``After it smacked me in the face that is.'' Felix smirked.

``Oh wow, I hope you are alright.''

``Of course, I am.'' Felix replied.

``And how far exactly did you kick? I know the field the kids play on so describe it to me.''

``The goals we were against was at the back corner, with the big trees.''

``Ohh, `those' trees.''

``And the ball smacked me when I was at the football goals, whatever those are called. Like, just a bit further away from it.''

``Ahh yes, the school rugby goals. Also, that far? Bloody hell that was some kick, Felix.'' Nathan said amazed.

``It wassss. We were cheering, an-an-and there were a couple of kids laughing too. It was so cool.'' Eliza's excitement was really felt in the car. ``We have friends now too.''

``That's awesome!'' Nathan's joyful delight was not mistaken for anything else, as he braked at a red light he turned around with a big smile. ``I am so glad to hear that. This is one of the reasons I wanted you two to go to school.''

``I know.'' Felix rolled his eyes momentarily and smirked before relaxing once more resting his head against the window. He watched as the terrain and houses passed before him, then frowned as he felt that something was wrong. Once home, everything was the same as Felix and Eliza played the xbox together. As the night ended, like how it normally does, Felix's anxiety kept acting up; particularly whenever the twins were in his sight. Once in bed for the night the feelings lingered, even though Felix tried to repress it as much as it could. As he finally fell asleep more of the horrible, unwanted and sickening feelings reached the surface. It was a Saturday, Nathan and Rita wasn't home; Felix assumed they had to go and left him in charge. Felix kept Eliza busy with the xbox and then tracked down the twins in their room.

``Hey.'' Felix smiled with hidden sinister intentions.

``Hello.'' The twins replied, Felix closed the door and approached the twins who were sitting on their bed.

``I got a game for you two, it's fun. I played it a ton when I was younger.''

``What is it?'' Elijah asked excitedly.

``Lay on your bellies, on your bed.'' The tension intensified as Felix watched the twins followed his orders. ``Now I'm going to pull down your pants.''

``Why?'' Tobias asked looking over his shoulder.

``Because it's part of the game.'' Felix said, he felt adrenaline rise as he pulled their pants down after another, seeing their underwear and their tail sticking out under the elastic.

``I don't like this.'' Tobias remarked.

``We're not even gotten to the best part, don't back out now.'' Felix scowled, he saw the discomfort and fear in their eyes. Felix pulled their underwear down and licked his finger, ``Here it comes.'' And a sudden shriek came from Elijah.

``No!'' Elijah cried as he tried to roll away.

``No you don't.'' Felix growled as he grabbed Elijah back as climbed over the twins, he held Tobias down with the weight of his leg. Felix

``No!''

``We don't like this!'' Elijah and Tobias yelled, but Felix continued to finger Elijah's ass.

``This is the game I had to play; you'll get used to it if you stop struggling.'' Felix grunted as he felt Elijah clench up like he's never felt before; it was invigorating. Eventually Elijah squirmed out of Felix's grip, fell of the bed and hit his head on the floor. ``Shit! All you had to do is stay still dammit.'' Felix didn't let Tobias go as he looked down over to where Elijah was laying, he cried as he rolled on the floor with mild concussion.

``Elijah!'' Tobias screamed as if he was stabbed, Felix turned his attention to Tobias and began to resume the fingering. Tobias cried and screamed as Felix roughly fingered him, he kicked and squirmed as best as he could but Felix would not relent.

``This only hurts more if you keep this up, I should know!'' Felix growled; Tobias's resistance felt incredible to him. Tobias's cries continued for a while longer as Felix refused to stop, his heavy breathing and erect penis adding to his relentlessness. Then as fast as a sudden fall, Felix saw blood on his fingers and woke up in hyperventilation covered in sweat. He climbed out of bed, shivering and almost weeping as nausea rose swiftly. He stumbled to the toilet and hurled up everything he had, before collapsing beside the toilet, still hyperventilating and began to break down. He cried, wailed, loud enough for Eliza to wake up. She rushed out of the bed, falling on the ground but moved quickly to where Felix was to see him hysterically crying. Nothing of what Eliza had said made it to Felix, but he see how deeply upset and worried she was. Eliza grabbed some toilet paper, wiped Felix's mouth, then threw it in the toilet before grabbing Felix's arms to pull him out. Felix cooperated as he felt Eliza pull him out and guided him back to his bed. Felix continued to cry out of control as he sat on his bed, Eliza holding onto him trying to reassure him.

``What was dream?'' Eliza asked for the 5th time, her words finally being heard and understood by Felix.

``I don't want to talk about it.'' Cried Felix shivering and coughing. ``Please don't go.'' He wept as he held her closer. Soon they went back to lying down, although it wouldn't be for hours that Felix would fall asleep. When morning came, Felix woke up feeling somehow worse; no tears came out but he felt cold, sick and dead inside. Eliza had already left to go for breakfast, leaving him to sleep a while longer. He pulled himself out of bed and stumbled down the hallway to the dining room, pulled himself around the corner and stood as he saw the rest eating. Upon seeing the twins his heart broke even more, so he turned back to go to bed.

``Felix, are you alright?'' Nathan asked with great concern, ``Eliza told me what happened last night.''

``I don't want to talk about it.'' Felix snapped as he headed straight back to his room. Eliza looked at Nathan with great concern, matching Nathan's in the process.

``What's wrong with Felix?'' Tobias asked, both he and Elijah were oblivious to what was going on.

``I think he had a nightmare.'' Nathan replied softly, ``After breakie, you three should go and watch the tele. I'm going to check on Felix.''

``Nightmares are bad.'' Elijah said with a frown.

``They're the worst.'' Tobias added.

``Yeah...'' Eliza said softly as her throat clenched up with worry. Elijah and Tobias finished their breakfast, excused themselves from the table and headed to the front living room to watch the TV. ``-We want to come with you-.'' Eliza spoke through Mary.

``Alright, let's go check on him.'' Nathan got up from the table with Eliza and Mary following behind. Nathan knocked on Felix's door and opened it slowly, both Nathan and Eliza saw Felix lying down facing the wall. ``Felix?''

``What?'' Grumbled Felix, trying to hide his emotions.

``Are you ok?''

``-We are worried-.''

``I don't want to talk about it, piss off. Leave me alone.'' Felix flipped the blankets over him to hide.

``Alright. But do you want something to eat? It may help you feel better.'' Felix didn't respond at first, Nathan swear he could hear a whine.

``Fine.'' Felix sighed and groaned, he got out of bed once more and with hunched shoulders walked out of his room. Eliza stuck with Felix while Nathan went to make breakfast for Felix. Eliza sat extra close to Felix at the table as he ate, Nathan left the room to give some privacy; as well as in hopes that Felix will open up to Eliza. Felix didn't, but at the very least embraced Eliza close once he was finished. Eliza eventually went and sat with the twins, still immensely worried about Felix.

``Did he talk to you?'' Nathan asked softly, Eliza shook her head sadly. Nathan checked his watch; this was around the time that Felix would go and smoke on the wall. He stood up and went to see if Felix had headed out to the wall, and after a peek he saw that Felix did in fact go to the wall to smoke. Nathan sighed, took a deep breath and headed outside to talk to Felix. Once as Nathan walked outside, Felix took the cigarette out of his mouth with a scowl.

``Leave me alone! I just want to be alone.'' Nathan continued to walk as Felix yelled at him, he sat on the wall near Felix, feeling great concern.

``Talk to me, Felix. What is going on?''

``I don't want to talk about it.''

``I understand that, but whatever you are going through won't get easier if you keep it to yourself. No matter what happens to you, you can tell me anything and I will listen.''

``That's the problem, I don't want to talk about it because you WILL listen to me. Talking about it won't fucking help.'' Felix began to cry as his frustration got worse, he wiped his tears off and then faced away.

``Let me help you, Felix. I can't help you if you keep everything to yourself. Neither can Eliza.'' Nathan spoke as calmly as he could, even though he was fighting back tears himself. ``I don't like seeing you like this.''

``And what makes you think I don't?'' Snapped Felix.

``I didn't say that.''

``But like- oh for fuck's sake.'' Felix growled; he snapped his head at Nathan with a frustrated look. ``Just go away.''

``Felix, I am not going to leave you alone until you tell me what's wrong. I won't let you keep doing this because it is dangerous.''

``I'm not your son!''

``You are to me! And I won't allow you to keep hurting yourself, just because you don't want to tell me something.'' A moment of silence was felt as both Nathan and Felix stared at each other, Felix began weeping and sucked his cigarette deeply out of spite.

``Fucking fine then! I dreamt that I raped Elijah and Tobias, are you happy now?'' Felix's throat clenched, his chest heavy and his eyes felt sore with pain. Nathan's eyes widened with grief and great worry; his chest also felt as heavy as the sun.

``I can see why that has affected you so bad, Felix.'' Nathan nearly choked on his words, holding strong as best as he could. Felix's anger turned to distress once more, and sadness flooded his face.

``That's what I fucking dreamt; it was horrible. It was fucking horrible! Do you hate me now?''

``Felix, I can never hate you. That was a dream.''

``A dream where I raped them.''

``Yes, but-''

``I forced myself on them, stuck my finger up their arse, I felt them squirm and heard them scream and cry! I can't be around them anymore, I'm going to do it someday I know I fucking will. I can't stay here; I need to fucking die or go to jail!''

``Felix, it was a dream. It's ok.''

``It's not ok!''

``You're not feeling ok yes, but you've done nothing wrong.''

``But I will someday. I fucking know I will. I'm going to turn into a fucking monster, like him! Like the others before!''

``No, you won't.'' Nathan's words just cut Felix deeper and deeper. ``You are not like that Felix; and I believe in you. You've done nothing but look after and save my boys, you're their big brother.''

``You don't know that; you can never know that.'' Felix replied doing his best to contain all his emotions with seeping tears.

``I do. Because you know what it's like. You won't do it to others.''

``You don't know that... how do you even believe that?'' Felix mumbled trying to hold back even harder.

``I just do.'' Felix began to cry uncontrollably once more, Nathan moved over closer to put an arm around him. ``I don't hate you, Felix. I can never hate you. I love you and Eliza with all my heart.''

``Do you even care that I dreamed about raping them?'' Felix sobbed.

``The thought does not rest well in me, Felix. But you have done nothing wrong. You've done nothing to them.''

``I've been having awful thoughts about them, feeling and seeing myself doing things to them. I'm afraid of doing it. I can't look at them now, because it will keep happening.'' Felix wept.

``I can see why, Felix.'' Nathan rubbed Felix's shoulder as he pulled him closer.

``What is going to happen now? What is going to happen to me? What am I going to do?''

``Well, it would be best that you spend the day with Eliza. You and Eliza will have a day off entirely, no learning with me and the twins; you two can go and play the xbox together. But don't be afraid to rest either, you missed out on a lot of sleep. I can give you something to ease your anxiety if you want, a small tablet that I take on the hard days.'' Nathan paused and thought to himself. ``Actually, I think I should see if I can get us, Eliza as well, to see the doctors. See if they can prescribe anything to help.'' Nathan's words were doing their magic once again, Felix felt such reassurance and calm despite how shit he felt. ``Do you think that will help?''

``I guess.'' Felix coughed and sniffed.

``We'll work this out.'' Nathan removed his arm around Felix and got off the wall. ``I'm going to call for an appointment for you and Eliza. This is something we should have done long ago, I'm sorry about that.''

``Alright. I'm going to my room after this.'' Felix said as he stuck his cigarette back in his mouth.

``Alright, that sounds like a plan. Do you want me to send Eliza to join you?''

``She'll join me eventually anyway.'' Felix looked away as he sat feeling like stone, Nathan nodded with concern and walked back inside. Nathan went and grabbed a cordless phone and turned to see Eliza staring up at him.

``Hey, sweetheart.'' Nathan said softly, unable to hide his emotions.

``-Is he ok-?'' Eliza spoke through Mary.

``No, no he's not. That dream he had was really bad, I think he will tell you soon.''

``-Tell me-.'' Eliza demanded without hesitation, Felix walked back inside and looked over at them.

``It would be best if he told you himself.'' Nathan looked up to see Felix, ``Do you agree with me, Felix?''

``No. Tell her, please.'' Felix said as he continued to walk to go hide in his room. Nathan inhaled and nodded softly before looking back at Eliza.

``Alright, come with me, we'll talk about it in my room for some privacy.'' Eliza eventually nodded at him before they walked to Nathan's room to discuss. As Nathan explained what Felix had told him, Eliza began to cry, pressing her face into Mary. She did not allow Nathan to comfort her, shifting away as he tried to consul her by placing a hand on her.

``Ww... w-w-weee d-d-d... dooon't... un-da-stand.'' Eliza spoke in a complete mess; she knew it was bad; really bad in fact. But she couldn't comprehend what she was hearing about Felix, it was all wrong and made no sense; much like her experiences in the past. Nathan grabbed a tissue on the bedside counter and passed it to her, who grabbed it after a short while to blow her nose on it.

``I'm sorry, Eliza.''

``Heeeeeeee mussst... haate himself... sooooooooOOOO mUUUCH.'' Eliza cried more. ``I go be with him, n-now!''

``That's a good idea. He will need your company.'' Nathan followed Eliza down to Felix's room, once at Felix's door Eliza ran and jumped on the bed to hold Felix. Nathan closed the door behind him to make the call for the kids to see a doctor. Good luck came as he got an appointment in the afternoon, he wasn't sure if he would be lucky to get one on such short notice. He went back to the twins, who were watching the TV still, but Elijah and Tobias clung onto each other; the crying and strangeness of the morning wasn't a secret from them.

``What's wrong?'' Elijah asked with sadness and discomfort over his face. Nathan sat down next to the twins, smiling as comforting and considerate as much as he could.

``Felix had a really, really, really bad dream.'' Nathan tried his best to explain. ``The sort of nightmare that makes him not want to do anything today. Remember the time you two dreamt each other died?'' The twins nodded back without hesitation. ``That's sort of what Felix's dream was.'' The twins moved over and climbed onto Nathan's lap, Nathan held them close and rested his head between theirs. Elijah began to cry while Tobias looked paralysed; Nathan expected today would be filled with so many tears, it broke his heart. ``Let's have a cry for now, but afterwards we should watch some Backyard Science. It will do us good.'' Nathan nuzzled the top of his boys' heads before kissing them comfortingly on the forehead.

``Ok.'' The twins replied in unison. In Nathan's head all he could think of was what Felix told him, he worried for him and he worried for the twins, not to mention Eliza. But the horrifying thought of what Felix dreamt of, to hear what he did to the twins in his dream; it scared him. But most of what he felt was fear for Felix's wellbeing; he was a boy that acted tough and indifferent for a lot of the time, but he is incredibly fractured mentally. Nathan couldn't let Felix go without proper help, and he had to do all he could for him. He held Elijah and Tobias tight; he knew they were fine and healthy, but it was reassuring nonetheless. Nathan knew it would be hard to look after 2 adopted kids, he knew it would be hard to help 2 kids who were sexually abused a lot; but now he began to doubt whether he could even help them as well as he wanted to. But he did know something, he would go far and beyond for them and not look back; he will not give up on them.

Eliza held onto Felix, her crying had stopped but was sniffling and shivering.

``Let go of me, so I can roll over and face you.'' Felix mumbled; Eliza let go momentarily for Felix to roll over. Felix embraced Eliza close, who hugged him tight back, and Eliza resumed her sniffling.

``Aaarrreeee youuuu okaaay?'' Eliza slurred while stuttering; she was really struggling to speak.

``I will be.'' Felix breathed in deeply and exhaled. ``I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you. I just- I just couldn't.'' Felix said defeatedly.

``It's ok...''

``It was the worst thing I've ever dreamed.'' Felix's voice felt weak. ``I'm afraid to even mention it, because it paints me like *him*. I'm turning into him and it fucking scares me. I... I feel ashamed, Eliza.'' Felix felt tears from his eyes, and on him from Eliza crying into him.

``You good, you good though.''

``I don't fucking feel like I am. I wasn't myself; I was someone else but it still felt like me.''

``It was just a dream. Just like dad said.'' Eliza shivered, her words were surprisingly well spoken, considering how hard it has been for her to speak.

``...Thank you for being here.'' Felix and Eliza laid for a while; Felix fell asleep momentarily afterwards, even though his heart was pounding. Eliza could feel Felix's heart, pound against her chest, she didn't know if she liked it or hated it. At the very least she knew his heart was beating, and it was against hers.

``N-no problem.'' Felix drifted off to sleep, his heart still pounding but his mind wandered off. Yet, he felt alright, almost calm as he rested. It didn't last long, or at least it didn't feel like it did, as he was woken up by Nathan knocking on the door.

``Felix, Eliza? I'm sorry to wake you, but I wanted to give you two a warning that we'll be leaving in an hour. I got lunch prepared on the table; and don't worry about the twins Felix, I got them to eat together earlier.'' Spoke Nathan softly and considerately. Felix blinked, then he groaned before letting go of Eliza to roll onto his back.

``Fine.'' Felix mumbled as he rubbed his eyes, Eliza rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed looking dazed and sleepy. Nathan left as he came and went to the dining table. Eliza pulled Felix's arm, tugging him to get out of bed; something Felix only relented after the 4th try. They walked to the dining room and saw cut fruit and biscuits in the middle on plates, with a few cups next to a jug of juice.

``Help yourself to whatever is on the table.'' Nathan said as he went to the kitchen to clean, Eliza and Felix sat at the table and mindlessly began to eat.

``What's going to happen to me?'' Felix said bluntly, Nathan looked over from the sink and shook his head with a comforting smile.

``Nothing wrong is going to happen to you, we're gonna see a doctor and see if we can get you two something to help take the edge off.''

``I don't like drugs, drugs are bad.'' Eliza said after swallowing a cut up piece of banana.

``Not all drugs are bad, some are quite helpful.''

``Can't we just say no to drugs?'' Joked Felix in a deadpanned tone.

``Yeah, can't we?'' Eliza added, Felix turned to Eliza with an amused smile.

``I was joking.''

``Oh.'' Eliza went back straight to eating. As Nathan finished, he came back and sat at the table with them.

``I will say, if you really don't want to take medication-''

``No. I'm scared.'' Interrupted Eliza after she finished drinking.

``Wait a minute, Eliza. If you really don't want to, *after* the doctor tells you what it is, then you can say no.''

``Ok.''

``Yeah, alright.'' Eliza and Felix replied.

``We would then have to find more ways to assist you two, because you two need all the help you can get.''

``But why?'' Eliza looked at Nathan, almost concerned.

``Because you two deserve it.'' Nathan said as he stuck a piece of banana into his mouth. ``You really don't like your nightmares, and you get really scared, clench up and can't speak well during those moments. Those aren't normal, Eliza.'' As Nathan said that, Eliza looked down as if she was in trouble.

``I'm sorwy.''

``Don't be sorry, Eliza. It's not your fault, at all.'' Nathan said comfortingly and warmly as possible. ``Here, have some grapes. They're nice and juicy. Make a nice pop in your mouth.'' Nathan smiled sweetly as he passed a small container of seedless grapes.

``I'm sorwy I'm like this...'' Eliza said after she took a handful.

``That is not your fault at all, Eliza. You have done nothing wrong, and if you think you have, or someone tells you otherwise, you come and tell me.'' Eliza looked at Nathan, smiled before looking down and away to eat once more. ``Same to you, Felix. I care about you two so much, just like how I care about the twins and Rita.''

``I know.'' Felix said as he grabbed some strawberries to eat.

``I mean it, I really do. I know you don't really believe it, but in time I hope you will.'' Nathan looked down as he said it, grabbing some apple pieces to eat. Eliza and Felix froze for a moment, looking at Nathan with different feelings from each other. Eliza felt hope yet uncertainty, feeling happy and loved while feeling a lingering doubt deep inside her. Felix however felt discomfort and followed by distrustful sadness; he really wanted to trust Nathan completely but after all he's been through, he just couldn't. Too many times his trust was abused, he couldn't just `believe and trust' Nathan or Rita; yet he wanted to, hence why he cooperates with them. Yet a thought crossed his mind as he began to eat once more, it came out of nowhere but it made sense enough. Although Nathan was irritating and frustrating when he forced himself to open up about that dream, it felt nice to not be hit or yelled at; he really expected Nathan to freak out but, he didn't. Even if it means he has to go to a shitty doctor appointment, he could tell that Nathan cared about him; he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

``I do.'' Eliza said after a while of considering.

``Hm?'' Nathan looked at Eliza with hope in his eyes.

``I trust you. You're not a meanie. You're nice.'' Eliza smiled shyly, almost doubting her words as she spoke. Nathan smiled widely in endearment, making Eliza feel a little better. ``Your smiles are nice too. Not like Noah and Hanna's. They had a mean smile.''

``A mean smile?'' Nathan's smile disappeared into a concerned look.

``Yeah. It was like, like, not nice. But it was like, like, a smile.'' Eliza's head got fuzzy as she got lost in trying to explain.

``It was a sick smile, the sort of smile that didn't say ``I love you'' or ``I care''. It was fake, it happened when they wanted something.'' Felix said, looking away at first before looking back, his eyes serious mixed with tiredness. Nathan nodded, inhaled deeply as he listened and when he exhaled, he grabbed a sliced bit of banana, took the skin off around it and handed it to Eliza.

``Those are the worst kind of smiles.'' Nathan said seriously, ``I've seen my fair amount of those, but not the ones you two have seen.''

``Like I said, your smile is nice.'' Eliza smiled at Nathan once more, causing Nathan to smile back.

``I love it when you two smile too, certainly adds more colour to the house.''

``Toby doesn't smile, so I can be like, like the one that, that smiles.'' Eliza grabbed some grapes as she stumbled and stuttered her words. Nathan chuckled and squinted his eyes in endearment.

``You are so right. Although I swear, I see him smile from time to time.'' Nathan grabbed another piece of apple, ``But then again, you can tell he's smiling by just looking at Elijah. They're like a mirror.''

``Really?'' Eliza said in amazement.

``I believe so. I really hope so.'' Nathan began to chuckle once more; he checked his watch and then took a drink from his cup. ``Alright, you two got some good time to chill out and play the xbox.''

``Oh!'' Eliza grabbed her cup and downed the rest of her juice in a rush.

``Not too fast, Eliza. You don't want it to go down the wrong tube.''

``I'm fine.'' Eliza exclaimed after catching her breath back, making a loud `aah' to go with it. Felix too finished eating and downed his drink, although much more controlled that Eliza. Both of them went to the lounge and booted the xbox up, Nathan smiling as he watched. As Nathan got up, picking up plates and empty cups, he began to wash them all until the twins wandered out carrying theirs.

``Hey boys.'' Nathan said lovingly, ``Thank you so much for bringing your bowls and cups.''

``You're welcome.'' Tobias replied plainly while Elijah was smiling up at Nathan. ``What are we going to do now?''

``Well now, I gotta do these dishes quickly and then we'll go play outside. Have a run around the backyard, but best of all-''

``Pushing us on the swings?'' Elijah shouted excitedly jumping up and down.

``That's right.'' Nathan chuckled to himself. The twins left quickly to go outside, passing Eliza and Felix without saying hell or waving. As the twins began to play outside, Felix finally relaxed on the couch as Eliza handed him the controller. Shortly after, Nathan walked outside with a friendly wave to Felix and Eliza; even though neither of them took notice of it. After a short while Eliza looked at Felix as if she had to say something, but she didn't know what. She heard the laughing and yelling outside and felt like joining in, but she didn't want to leave Felix alone. Because Felix was most certainly not going to join. Felix paused the game and handed it to Eliza, sensing she wanted to play.

``Hey Felix?'' Eliza said with her throat clenching up.

``Speak through Mary, what's wrong?'' Felix replied.

``-We want to go and play outside. But we don't want to leave you-.'' Eliza's voice croaked, Felix looked at Eliza with tired, detached eyes and sighed.

``Sorry. I don't know how to fix that.'' As Felix said that Eliza looked down sad, before looking back conflicted and bothered.

``-Come with us-.'' Eliza using Mary to pat Felix's arm, trying to plead to him. Felix then knew it was a losing battle, he really didn't want to go near the twins but Eliza, he couldn't just deprive her. Felix groaned loudly, desperately, something that caused Eliza to move back a bit shuddering; she's heard Felix make this sound many times when Noah forced him to have sex.

``Fine. Let's go.''

``No!'' Eliza squealed, ``-No, no, no. We stay. We stay-.'' Eliza began to panic, feeling increasingly dreadful.

``What? What's wrong?'' Felix looked concerned but sounded bothered.

``I'm sowry. -We're sorwy-.'' Eliza began to play the game, jittery and clutching Mary under her armpit.

``Talk to me, what did I say? What did I do? I don't know what I did to make you freak out.''

``-Your sound-.'' Eliza shuddered more almost to crying point. ``-Baaad memories-.'' She began to sniff. Then it hit Felix what she was referring to, repressed memories of his time at Noahs, and even the Mr and Mrs Woods who were just as `touchy' as Noah. He didn't even realise the sound he made, the defeated, distressed and desperate groan of `giving in'. His heart sank, he didn't mean to do this and now he was frozen staring at Eliza, helpless.

``I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to- I didn't mean to affect you.'' Felix's voice broke and horror rushing over him. Eliza looked at Felix, now feeling awful herself. The laughing and screaming outside from Elijah now cutting in between the two as the back sliding door was opened; it was Nathan.

``Hey you two, I wanted to quickly check in on you.'' Nathan said as he slid the glass door shut behind him. He was met with yet another thickly tense moment, as both Felix and Eliza looked miserable. ``What happened, what's wrong?'' Nathan said concernedly as he moved over to sit over on a near couch.

``Just more trauma crap.'' Felix mumbled as Eliza nodded with him.

``Can I do anything to help? What would you two like?''

``For the nightmare to end.'' Felix mumbled yet again, Nathan didn't respond at first as he sat in silence feeling unsure of what to say or do. ``And I'm not talking about killing me. Or killing myself. I just want it to end.'' Nathan nodded as he hunched forward on the couch.

``I know, I mean I hoped so. That's why we're going to the doctors, to see if we can get anything for you two. As well as getting you two to see your psychologist this weekend. For now, I can do my best to make you two comfortable and help you two relax.'' Nathan carefully, considerately and warmly spoke; even his eyes looked concerned. ``If you want, you can talk to me. But I understand if you don't.''

``I don't. Not now, maybe later I don't know.'' Felix crossed his arms, trying to gain back his stoic personality back online.

``Alright.'' Nathan nodded smiling slightly.

``Eliza wanted to go outside and play.'' Felix said offhandedly, wanting her to play and have fun with the twins.

``Do you still want to go outside?'' Asked Nathan, which Eliza nodded back. ``But you don't want to leave Felix alone?'' Eliza nodded back once more. ``That is a tough one, but perhaps it's simple to fix. Felix, you could watch from Eliza's room, since her window shows much of the backyard.''

``But I want to play this. I can't just sit and watch, I need to do something.''

``That's true. But I think I have something for you.'' Nathan got up and walked away quickly to his room, coming back with a gameboy colour. ``Rita found this in one of our draws, we have only one game but, it's something.'' Nathan handed it to Felix, who looked at it with some wonder.

``Yeah, this will work. IF this works.''

``Oh, it definitely works, even has fresh batteries in it. So, you can play it on Eliza's bed, in view of Eliza. So, you two can wave and talk a bit.'' Felix looked at Nathan with conflicted appreciation, he still wanted to play the xbox, but this would indeed give him something to do. Felix looked at Eliza and nodded, half smiling at her to give her a sense that it's alright. Eliza's face lit up and put the controller on the cabinet in front of her before turning around to go outside.

``Thanks for this. Hell, you even got a pokemon game in it.'' Felix said as he stood up.

``Rita found the game on the side of the desert road; I'm surprised it works.'' Nathan got up as well and headed outside, smiling at Felix comfortingly. Felix headed to and then sat on Eliza's bed as he watched them play outside. Every so often he looked up to check on Eliza and occasionally waved as she walked past; thankfully the game did work and surprisingly well, even if the cartridge was scratched all over. Eventually the others stopped playing outside, with Nathan and the twins going to watch some educational tv while Eliza came to join Felix. As Eliza sat on her bed, she moved close to Felix to watch what he played.

``Is that good?'' She asked excitedly.

``Honestly, yeah. It has charm and the Pokemon I chose is so cool.''

``You chose a Pokemon?''

``Out of three, yeah. I think all Pokemon games have that. I chose Totodile, he's a water type but I mostly chose him for how cool he is. He's like a little crocodile, see?'' Felix showed Eliza, who looked at it with great interest.

``What were the others?''

``I can't even remember. But there was this plant thing, which some dickhead stole and it sucks because it's strong against water.''

``What a bitch.'' Eliza sounded grumpy and flat, causing Felix to smile.

``I know right?''

``Can I play?''

``I think this game only has one save slot.''

``What? That's bullshit.''

``I know right?'' Felix smiled even more, he loved hearing Eliza swear; she clearly picked it up from him and that made him proud. ``Maybe we can ask Nathan and Rita for us to have the other one. We can share for now though.''

``That would be so nice.'' Eliza laid on her bed looking up at Felix.

``I was thinking Eliza. If we have a bad night and you wet my bed, or hell if I do, we can go to your bed to sleep in.''

``That's a good idea.''

``Cause like, your room is not bad.'' Felix paused and laid down next to Eliza. ``But I understand you wish to sleep with me. I've been wanting to keep you close too.'' Felix spoke softly, Eliza smiled rested her head on Felix's shoulder.

``Thank you.'' She spoke softly.

``No problem.'' Felix held the Gameboy up once more allowing both him and Eliza to look at it as he played. The two became completely engrossed in the game that they were startled when Nathan lightly knocked on the door.

``Hey Eliza, Felix. It's time to get ready.'' Spoke Nathan gently. ``Put on your socks and shoes please. If you need help, just ask.''

``I can do it.''

``Yeah, we don't need your help with that.'' Eliza and Felix grunted as they sat up on the bed to get ready.

``Just wanted to make sure.'' Nathan smiled sweetly before leaving. Felix and Eliza helped each other put their socks and shoes on, they were mostly silent due to rising stress and anxiety. Felix kept the Gameboy colour with him as he and Eliza went to go to the front living room to wait. Both the twins and Nathan were already there, with Nathan helping to tie their shoelaces. Felix pretended to not care, when he in fact cared a lot, and sat on the couch silently with his muscles tightening. Eliza sat close and leaned against him, then grabbing his hand as she waited patiently.

``Is it alright I bring this?'' Felix asked holding out the Gameboy.

``Sure, you can.''

``Alright, cool.''

``Just make sure you keep it in your pocket when you aren't using it. We don't want to lose it.''

``Duh.'' Felix mumbled, Nathan looked up and let Felix's bad mood slide; no point in antagonising Felix over something minor. Once everyone was ready Nathan locked the house, took all of kids to the car to buckle up and put a small esky with cold bottles of water in it; just in case someone needed fresh cold water. The drive down the long desert road to get into the main city felt strangely shorter than Felix expected, the Gameboy was a great distraction. When they arrived and got inside the clinic, the aircon was a nice cool yet not cold temperature.

``Alright boys,'' Nathan said towards the twins. ``We're going to be waiting for a bit, maybe a while, and the appointment might go for a while too. So go into the kids waiting room, is that alright?''

``Yes.'' The twins replied in unison and immediately headed to a room around the corner. Eliza and Felix were able to see a bit of it from where they stood, it had that `childcare' room feel that had all sorts of books, toys and even had a TV that played kids movies. Nathan stood and chatted with the receptionist behind the desk, checking Eliza and Felix in for their appointment; they were a little bit early. They sat down on some chairs in the corner as they waited, Felix playing the Gameboy with Eliza watching right next to him. Nathan grabbed a magazine and began to read it; it was gossip crap.

``Felix and Eliza?'' A voice came, causing the three to look up; a white cat with a kind grandmotherly smile met them.

``That's us.'' Nathan replied, he looked at his kids and then stood up; giving them a sign to stand up too.

``Wonderful. Hello, good to meet you two. I'm Dr Brennan, come this way.'' She greeted them before walking down the corridor. Nathan, Felix and Eliza followed her down to her room, where she stood at the door gesturing them to come inside. Once inside they sat down, Nathan telling Felix to put away the Gameboy for now. ``Alright, how can I help you?'' The doctor asked. Nathan spent the next 5 minutes explaining the situation while the doctor listened concernedly. That Eliza and Felix were adopted, were sexually abused over a period of time and that they need help.

``They see a psychologist for now, Dr Wyld.''

``Oh, that's wonderful, she's very good. I'm amazed you got in to see her, her bookings tend to be very packed. That's very lucky.'' As Nathan heard that, he felt light in the head; he had no idea how lucky that was.

``Well, I'm glad it happened then.''

``As for what I can do, there isn't much I'm afraid. Most we advise is consistent therapy, which both Eliza and Felix have. But they do have PTSD, so I can prescribe Fluoxetine. It will be a low dose, because they're young but this will be a trial. To see how it works and if they have any serious side effects.'' Felix and Eliza listened, although they didn't fully understand they did catch on having to take meds.

``Are they going to be annoying?'' Felix asked.

``Well, that depends on you. You'll take it in the morning, preferably with some breakfast.''

``That's manageable. I can do all the organizing so you two don't want to worry about it.'' Nathan added with the doctor nodding with him.

``Alright.'' Felix sighed.

``It won't fix everything and will take a week or two before it gets to its full effect. This will just help you manage your anxiety and emotions.'' The doctor smiled, she began typing on the computer on her desk and began to print out the prescriptions. Once it was printed out, she handed it to Nathan then began to type on the computer.

``When we get home, do they take it? With some lunch I mean.''

``Oh, that will work out well too. Good idea. Alright, I'll need to book a follow up appointment. Is next week fine? Or maybe we make it two weeks.''

``I think two weeks are just fine.'' Nathan replied after checking with both Eliza and Felix to see if they had any preferences.

``Alright, sounds good. The next appointment is a fortnight from now, is that alright?''

``Yeah, that's all good.''

``Excellent. Well, I hope it goes well. Take care and I hope your next visit with Dr Wyld goes well.'' And with that, the appointment was over. Nathan led the kids out to go to the front desk to sort out payment, and once that was done, he went to pick up the twins. The wait at the pharmacist was a bit tiresome for all of the party, but once it was done it was time to go home.

``Dad I'm thirsty.'' Elijah complained,

``Same.''

``Me too.'' Felix and Eliza followed up.

``Ahhh, good thing I got this esky in the boot.'' Nathan replied, feeling good about himself. He gave each of the kids a bottle of cold water to drink while helping the twins into their seats. The trip home wasn't as quiet as the trip over, with the twins chatting across the car to Nathan about what they did. The Gameboy's sounds also added to the general noise of the car. As they arrived and went inside, Nathan went to get Eliza and Felix some yoghurt to eat to have their new medication. Once they were done, they headed straight to Felix's room to lie down. While the twins went to play outside in the backyard. For the rest of the day was relaxing and cooling down, no further incidents that caused heartbreak occurred. The day after, with new meds with their breakfast, Felix and Eliza felt relatively normal; a good sign for all. Class was going mostly well for Felix except for when he looked at the twins, feeling sick in the gut for what he dreamed yesterday. When lunch came, Felix turned to Eliza and reminded her of the place where their friends sat and ate. They headed over and when they got closer, Jasper saw them and beckoned at them. As Felix and Eliza joined them, it felt nice to be included; even for Felix despite how cautious his trust was. It was so much simpler as well when the bell rang for play, all of them walked down to the oval to play while chatting. It felt genuinely nice for Felix and Eliza, but something felt wrong for Felix and he didn't know what. Playing on the oval was a blast for all, especially for Eliza who managed to score a goal against a much taller kid. Eliza was soaked in appreciations from the rest of the group, or `mob' as Karla put it. Perhaps they all did so because of how young Eliza is compared to the rest of them, not that Eliza minded at all. When they got back to class, they heard some crying, Elijah and a depressed looking Tobias was found at their desks with Nathan consoling them. As more kids came in, Nathan had to make sure everyone was alright before coming to check on Felix and Eliza.

``Hey you two, how was lunch?'' Nathan asked with a soft smile.

``It was great.'' Eliza smiled widely, ``But what's wrong with Elijah and Tobias?'' Nathan looked over at the twins before facing Eliza and Felix, squatting down and began to speak quietly.

``I'm glad you ate with your friends, but the twins were heartbroken when you two didn't join them.'' Nathan explained, Felix felt suddenly sick in his gut when he listened. He could never win, could he? He wanted to eat with the mob, but he understood well enough of why the twins were hurt. ``Are you alright, Felix?'' Asked Nathan, Felix then realized he was disassociating; it felt like a minute had passed when he heard that.

``Yeah, I just hate myself now.'' Felix grumbled, Eliza looked at him with a concerned and worried look.

``Felix, it's alright. You aren't expected to join the twins. Yes, it makes them happy, but they will have to get use to you having your own friends and that means you two having your own life.'' Nathan explained. ``They're possessive. They can't have everything that they want, it's a part of life.'' As Felix heard Nathan say that, he felt some tension leave his shoulders; he felt relieved.

``Alright. Thanks for not blaming me.'' Felix said bluntly and tiredly; he was seriously expecting Nathan to grill him. The fact that Nathan didn't, filled him with such gladness; but he still felt like a piece of shit. Class resumed normally and Felix did his best to not dwell on it too much. When he accidentally or purposely looked over at either of the twins, they shied away making Felix assume that they couldn't forgive him. At that point, he felt angry and stubborn, which drifted away soon after. When lunch came once again, Felix and Eliza headed to join their friends. While he sat and ate, Felix couldn't shake a horrible feeling out of him; in fact, it kept growing. The dream, how upset they were that he didn't join them, it felt like they blended together. He couldn't stop thinking of them, worrying and feeling like shit at the same time. He began to think it was the meds, they're messing with his brain and making him feel worse than actually better. Once they all got down to the oval to play, Felix was still dwelling on the creeping feelings that he couldn't shake. But now, it was paranoia. A gut feeling that something bad was going to happen, something that he is going to regret letting happen, but what? It didn't help that every time someone asked if he was ok or why he was so silent that he would growl or snap; except for Eliza.

``Are you ok?'' Eliza asked.

``There's something wrong, really wrong.'' Felix muttered, he found himself constantly looking back into the school as if he could envision the playground where the twins were.

``Wrong?''

``I'm worried, I feel like shit. I want to check on the twins.'' Felix sighed.

``Hey Felix, what's wrong?'' Jasper asked leaving the field.

``Oh, hey.'' Felix bluntly said. ``I'm wanting to go check on my brothers. I don't think I'll play this lunch.''

``I see, can I join you two? Honestly, I don't feel up for soccer too, but I wanna hang out. Is that ok?'' Jasper asked eagerly.

``Yeah sure, whatever. What about you Eliza?''

``Yeah, of course. I can't leave you.'' She replied.

``Alright.''

``Hey guys!'' Jasper called out to the rest of the mob, ``We're not up for soccer. We'll be walking about. Have fun you guys.'' Jasper explained, the rest waved back with acknowledgement before focusing back on the game. The was Jasper sorted that out, was much appreciated by Felix. Felix, Eliza and Jasper headed back into the school. Along the way Jasper talked, sometimes Eliza replied and sometimes Felix replied. It did get a bit annoying for Felix however, but he did his best to not lash out or sound annoyed. He just couldn't stop thinking about the twins, and he knew he was being paranoid. But there was this pit inside him that couldn't let go of it, he wanted to make sure they were ok.

``You've done nothing but look after and save my boys, you're their big brother.'' Echoed Nathan in Felix's mind. As they got close to the playground where the twins were, screams were heard. Not the sound of fun and excitement, but literal screaming. Felix rushed over with Eliza and Jasper following from behind. There Felix could see Elijah screaming as other boys were over him and Tobias.

``What the fuck!'' Felix exclaimed and then made a mad dash over, Eliza followed as fast as she could while Jasper stopped observed from afar. There were 3 boys messing with the twins, all obviously too old for the area, and yet there was no teacher attending to it swiftly. Felix's blood boiled and as he got over there, he punched one of the kids across the face, knocking them over onto their arse. What then happened felt like a blur for Felix and Eliza, but for onlookers like Jasper and other kids they witnessed everything. As Felix punched the first boy out, one of them grabbed him from behind to hold him still for the other boy to punch him. Felix leaned and pushed his weight back against the kid holding him, then using his tail for balance and the other boy's relatively stable stance, he kicked forward and pushed the other kid back by 2 metres. The kid who held onto Felix refused to let go cursing in the process, until Eliza jumped and clung onto him with her arms around his neck; to Jasper it looked like Eliza was his backpack. Eliza made the boy let go of Felix as she bit into the boy's neck viciously while digging her fingers into him fiercely. Once free, Felix went over to the first kid he punched, who only now was back up standing and already throwing a punch. Felix took the punch to the jaw but punched the kid as hard as he could in the gut. The boy fell over and Felix began to relentlessly drag him about by the backpack he was wearing. Eliza, still clinging onto the same boy, wrestled and managed to make him fall onto the ground. She was no longer biting but now was punching the boy's head as he was unable to shake her off. Eventually Felix pulled, or rather he ripped, off the backpack and with a great swing he chucked it onto a nearby roof. The boy crawled away as the other boy, who Felix launched with his feet, came to push Felix over to pummel him. Felix was initially pushed, he quickly bent down to grab some sand and then threw it at the boy's face. Felix then shoved the boy back, causing him to fall flat on his back. It was at this point that the teachers finally took notice of the mess that was going down. One of the teachers on the playground duty came over and tried to pull Felix off, only to be elbowed in the face by a savage Felix. As Felix began to punch the kid he was now on top of he began to express exactly what he had to endure as a young kid.

``Fucking take it you piece of shit! You can't take a punch? Huh? What are you, a little bitch? Maybe you fucking deserve this!'' Felix growled as he continuously punched the boy in the belly and chest. Nathan then sprinted onto the scene and grabbed Felix to pull him away; he heard his boys screaming and was horrified to witness what was happening now. Felix elbowed Nathan in the nose and screamed, ``Fucking let go of me!''

``Felix, stop this! You need to stop, Felix!'' Nathan called out to Felix. It took a moment but Felix recognized it was Nathan, and relented. Letting go of the boy he was then pulled away a bit by Nathan who held him close. ``Eliza! Stop, come over here.'' Nathan called out, getting Eliza to finally let go of the boy she clung to. Eliza rushed over to Nathan side, ``Calm down, breathe.'' Nathan repeated over and over to Felix. During the entire time, Elijah screamed in horror as Tobias looked completely broken across his face. The three boys who came to mess with them crawled away only to be stopped by some teachers. Then the principal came, one teacher now telling everything she witnessed.

``You three boys, to the office NOW.'' He called out, ``As for you two, come and sit inside as well. I'm very disappointed in you two. Mr Skye, you'll be needed too.'' Nathan looked back and nodded back before tending to Felix, who no longer was resisting. Jasper came running over to the principal, explaining he saw everything; Danny, who was with the twins, also came over and told the principal he saw everything. The principal turned to the teacher who told him about the incident, ``Gather all and any kids who witnessed what happened so we can get to the bottom of this.'' The teacher nodded back at him, Jasper and Danny stayed with her as she called out for any other kid who wishes to be a witness. Nathan let go of Felix, toppling a bit as he tried to stand up; he saw blood coming from his nose, which he wiped off quickly with a tissue he had in his pocket. Nathan got Felix and Eliza to follow him to the office and had them seated outside the principal's room. Felix was completely silent while Eliza tried to explain to Nathan.

``Eliza, breathe. Take deep breaths and calm down.'' Soothed Nathan to Eliza, blood still coming out of his nose. The other teacher with Jasper, Danny and 2 other kids walked in. She knocked on the principal's door to ask when they were needed. Danny looked at Felix and Eliza, he felt so awed about what happened; and how cool Felix was during it. Eventually they went inside and explained what they witnessed. Jasper explained he saw the three kids bullying the twins and said they were from his grade, explaining that Felix and Eliza sprang into action too. The other 2 kids explained the three boys just walked into the playground when the teachers weren't looking, kicking sand at the twins and calling them names. Danny explained that they also did certain actions that he didn't understand, explaining that one thrusted his lower area towards and at the twins while mocking them. As the kids gave their story, the teacher left the room to speak with Nathan.

``Mr Skye, your boys are still crying in the sand pit.''

``Can you please watch these two, I gotta get them. I couldn't take them with me.''

``No worries.'' Nathan got up and rushed outside to get to the twins, Elijah still crying with a teacher crouched down with him to keep the twins company. Nathan came and swooped the twins up, carrying them up trying to comfort them.

``Thank you for keeping them company, Julie.'' Nathan said out of breath, she smiled back and nodded before getting up to leave. Nathan carried the twins to the office, Elijah now no longer vocally crying, Nathan kissing their foreheads while whispering comforting words. When Nathan came back inside, the three boys who started the incident were moved to a different area in the office with one of the staff calling their parents. Felix looked up at the twins, who were quivering and in shock, in Nathan's arms. Felix looked down quickly after, feeling dead inside. Jasper, Danny and the two other kids then left the principal's room. Jasper didn't say anything at first, but he turned around as he was about to leave.

``I told them what happened.''

``Thanks. Sorry you had to see this.'' Felix said monotoned. Jasper looked sad and walked to class, wishing he could do more to help. Danny, who was coughing more and more as time went on, hung around in the waiting room as the other two kids left to go to class.

``How are you doing, Danny?'' Nathan asked with a strained and worried smile.

``I'm fine. Hard to breathe.'' Danny eventually answered.

``Do you have your inhaler?'' Nathan asked with concern.

``I do, it's in my bag.'' Danny realised what he needed to do; he was still in shock about everything to not think about his own wellbeing. Grabbing and using his inhaler he slowly recovered from the incident. When a teacher came up to escort Danny back to class, he handed her a slip from the principal; he was to go home. Danny waved at the twins, Eliza and Felix as he headed to the front desk area to wait for his mum. Then it was time for Felix and Eliza to face the principal. He called them in, Nathan too, for this was a serious incident. Felix and Eliza sat on their chairs but hardly reacted, especially Felix. Nathan put the twins down, putting them in a spot that they can face the wall.

``What I have heard, from the tales of my staff and the students who witnessed what happened, you two went too far.'' The principal started off strongly and sternly. ``What those boys were doing was unacceptable, what you did is inexcusable. You don't bite kids, throw sand in their eyes, you don't throw bags onto roofs, you don't pummel and bash anyone. No teeth were broken but the sheer lack of control and violence is completely unacceptable. What do you have to say for yourselves?'' It was very clear of how mad and disappointed he was; Eliza couldn't make any eye contact while Felix was able to just barely.

``I'm sorry.'' Felix eventually answered.

``You should be.'' The principal replied half snapping in the process. He sighed and took a moment of silence as he thought. ``I know, from what little I've heard, that you two have had a rough life.'' He looked at Nathan.

``They've had a really rough life, Mr Andrews, yes.'' Nathan added softly, the principal nodded and breathed in deeply.

``I'm going to give you two one more chance. If you two ever do what you did again, you will be expelled. I will not have uncontrollable and violent students in my school, but I will give you another chance in good faith that you won't do it again. Do I make myself clear?'' Felix and Eliza nodded softly, enough for the principal to notice.

``They saved us.'' A voice came from behind, the voice was hard to hear but it was Tobias talking to the wall. ``We were scared, hurt. They saved us. They're good, they saved us.'' Tobias never looking back as he spoke.

``I believe it. But there must be consequences.'' The principal exhaled deeply. ``You two will be suspended for a week.'' He then looked at Nathan, who nodded back in agreement.

``That is generous. I will sort out plans with my wife and see that Felix and Eliza will still learn.''

``Very good, I trust you will, Nathan.''

``I wish I got there earlier. I was in the classroom when I heard screaming, I knew it was the twins and I ran as fast as I could over.'' Nathan added.

``You still got Felix off the boy, so thank you for that.'' With that all said and done, the meeting was over. Nathan took the kids to the car and drove them home; the car was eerily quiet along the way. At a stop light, Nathan looked back with concern to Felix and Eliza.

``I want to talk about what happened back there.''

``I don't.'' Felix replied.

``I know that Felix, but we need to talk. We'll talk once we are back home, alright?''

``Fine.'' And the rest of the car drive was silent. Once home, the twins headed straight to their room to lie down, while Felix and Eliza headed to Felix's room. Nathan followed behind, much to Felix's irritation, so he can talk to them in there.

``Alright. Firstly, I want to say. Thank you. Thank you for aiding the twins, again.'' Nathan caught Felix completely off guard. ``Not to say I am not disappointed in you two however, but. Thank you.''

``I'm sorry I'm such a fucking disappointment.'' Felix mumbled.

``You're not a disappointment. I said I am disappointed, there is a difference.''

``I'm still a disappointment.''

``Felix...'' Nathan sighed and rubbed the edges of his eye sockets. ``I am so thankful that you came to save the twins. So very thankful. Before we left, the principal told me that those boys were delinquents, bullies, and you thoroughly terrified them. One piece of good from this, is that those boys will not be bullying the twins or hopefully anyone else again.''

``But I still went fucking nuts.''

``Yes, well... that did happen. But we will move on from this. Both of you will move on, it's not the end of the world by any means.'' Nathan exhaled and then smiled vaguely. ``I got suspended quite a few times as a kid. For smoking, vandalising and fights. So, I know what it's like.''

``You got in trouble a lot?'' Eliza asked with wonder.

``Boy, did I? Of course, education was much stricter back then but that doesn't change what I got up to.'' Nathan thoughts trailed and suddenly he felt great grief rise; he remembered Corey.

``Anyway. You can't do that again. At least, please don't. I can imagine how tempting it is to go far out with it, but you two can do better.''

``What were we supposed to do then?'' Felix grumbled.

``There's never a straight answer with that, I'm afraid. But perhaps you could have just pushed them away instead punching them. Call out to get the teachers to step in, they won't get you in trouble immediately with those other boys being in the playground. Just...'' Nathan paused and began to collect his thoughts, he then looked at Felix. ``Don't throw bags on the roofs. Don't punch others in the face'' He turned to Eliza, ``Don't bite people, or dig your nails into their flesh.'' Nathan shook his head and sighed, then smiled pleasantly. ``Anyway, thanks for looking out for the twins; they are a big target at school, in life too. Thank you, Felix. Thank you, Eliza.'' Eliza smiled slightly back before looking down in shame, Felix nodded and sighed. ``Now I can't be home when the twins are at school, they won't function without me. I'm going to talk to Mum once she gets home, she is going to have to stay home and watch over you two.''

``Alright.'' Felix paused and hunched over looking at the floor. ``I'm sorry.''

``That's all I want to hear.'' Nathan smiled sincerely. The door suddenly opened as the twins wandered in. ``Boys?''

``Thank you.'' Tobias spoke, his voice was stilted and the volume was strangely loud; it also felt rushed like, almost uncontrolled. ``For saving us.''

``You were scary.''

``But you saved us.''

``They were really mean.''

``Very mean. We were scared and upset.'' Elijah and Tobias spoke after another, Elijah looked like he was about to cry once more and his voice sounded just like Tobias's stilted and strangely loud. Felix and Eliza looked up at the twins, and then began to smile.

``Thank you, boys, that was very nice of you to say.'' Nathan smiled sweetly. ``They still are in trouble for what they done though.''

``We know. You scared us too. But you beat up those mean boys. That's good.'' Tobias and Elijah then moved to hug their siblings before leaving to go lie down in their room.

``Like I said before Felix, you've done nothing but look out for them.'' Nathan smiled in great proudness. ``Alright, I've said all I wanted to. We'll talk more later on, but for now just rest, right after I take your Gameboy. You two won't be having a holiday after all.''

``Aww. I'm sorry.'' Eliza moaned, pouting.

``I know you are, but there has to be consequences. Once your suspension is over, you'll get this back.'' Nathan grabbed the Gameboy from Felix's bedside table.

``Alright...'' Eliza folded her arms looking down. Nathan crouched down and hugged Eliza, rubbing her back comfortingly; Eliza needed that hug, she felt awful. Nathan let go of Eliza and looked at Felix, who shook his head; he really didn't want to be touched or acknowledged right now. Nathan smiled at Felix, respecting his wishes and left the room closing the door behind him. As Nathan walked down the corridor, he sighed to himself, worrying greatly about the future of Felix and Eliza; he just wanted them to be happy and not getting into trouble. Felix laid on his bed with his hands behind his head as he exhaled, trying to not let his emotions get a hold of him. Eliza copied Felix by lying next to him, hands behind her head and exhaling, causing Felix to look at her with some mild amusement.

``I feel awful.'' Eliza frowned at Felix.

``Sorry for dragging you into that. You didn't have to follow me though.''

``I can't be without you. Besides, those guys were fucking mean.'' Eliza spoke plainly. ``I still feel awful though...''

``Because of what we did?'' Felix asked as he rolled onto his side to face her.

``No. Because of Dad.'' Eliza looked away, genuine sadness across her face.

``Because we disappointed him?''

``Yeah...'' Eliza grabbed Mary and held her close, pressing her face into it.

``At least we weren't yelled at.'' Felix rubbed his face, snout and nose into his pillow as he felt his body ache.

``And now we're in trouble.''

``To be fair, this is the best punishment we've ever had so far.'' Felix's blunt words hitting not only Eliza but himself. ``Holy crap... that's right.''

``Punishment would be yelling,''

``And punches,''

``And stupid `play time',''

``Yeah, fuck that...'' Felix closed his eyes momentarily as he breathed deeply, his nerves acting up but none of it amounted to anything. All of this was true, and that was surreal, and not to mention so relieving.

``I'm glad we live here...'' Eliza rolled onto her side, looking like she was going to cry out of happiness.

``So do I.''

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