My Own Space Here (Moreaus/Boys)

[Andy Moreau]

Andy couldn't feel himself breathing, but he must have been, because he didn't pass out. It was all new. But then, the Moreaus were young and they'd never had foster kids before, so it was an investment. But it still could have been second-hand, and it still could have been a crappy metal bunk with a ladder that threatened to break every time it was used. And there were two dressers, not one, and Tam had gotten to pick things out. The Moreaus were willing to take things back if he didn't like them, and he had actual permission to decorate.

He made his way up the short stack of stairs which doubled as drawers, and tears rose up in his eyes. "This is really for me?" he asked softly. The bedspread was a beautiful, an elegant Indian design in cream, blue, and purple, and he could see from the turn-down that the other side was matching stripes. The sheets were new, so new, and thick and soft and perfect. There was more than one pillow. Who needed more than one pillow? But it was beautiful and inviting.

Andy climbed onto the bed and left his shoes on the top step, afraid of getting the bed dirty. He caught up what was probably the biggest stuffed dragon he'd ever seen, all reds, magentas, and deep pinks, and wrapped his arms around it.

So do you like it? Tam called up. Andy choked on a little sob as he nodded. "Yeah, I like it." He couldn't quite look at the Moreaus with how overwhelmed he was, but he hoped they heard his little thank you and knew it was for them.

[Matthew Moreau]

The couple glanced between one another, but mutually decided to let Andy have his space for the moment. "You're welcome. I hope it'll feel like home now." Andy had a place to sleep free from Tam, and there was space to keep his things, so he didn't have to limit his possessions to a bag and a trunk. Matthew and Rhys had decided to treat this like a permanent thing rather than running under any assumption the two boys would leave.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy nodded, though he hardly knew what home should feel like. He was completely confused by the treatment he got from the Moreaus, and the part of him that wanted to hope was shouting. Why shouldn't he just enjoy this?

He looked around the room from his new vantage point above it all, and things started sinking in without any effort on his part. This was a room made just for him and Tam. It wasn't someone else's stuff they'd inherited, and nothing in it was generic. They'd put up a spell just to keep Tam off the top bunk, which meant that even when he was gone, the bed would still just be his.

"Can I stay tonight?" Andy asked. Tam started begging immediately.

[Matthew Moreau]

"Of course you can," Matthew said, nodding and slipping his hands into his pockets. "I've talked with Dare, and he said you can floo over to the tower to get to school quickly when you need to. I think him and Michael wouldn't mind you using one of their fireplaces to get here, too. They use ours sometimes, so I suppose it's only fair."

[Rhys Moreau]

Andy didn't seem all too eager to talk, so Rhys stepped in. "Tam, why don't you come with us? We'll get dinner started, and Andy can investigate his wardrobe." He quieted any potential arguments from Matthew with a brief glance. He knew Matthew had been anxious for today, but the man had to learn that not everyone responded well to the same style of support.

Matthew hesitated again, then nodded. "Yeah, come on, we'll need you to stir things." Spells for self-stirring pots were easily ignored when there was an overeager kid they could put to use while making him feel important. He pushed away from the wall and led the way out of the room.

[Andy Moreau]

Tam hadn't wanted to leave his brother, but the temptation of cooking was too much. Bye Andy I'll be in the kitchen cooking dinner for us! He knelt to hug his shark, then bounded up and caught Matthew's hand to drag him away.

Andy watched them go, and just before Rhys would have disappeared too, he spoke. "Seriously, like... thank you." He didn't know what else to say.

[Rhys Moreau]

Rhys paused and looked back at Andy, then smiled. "You're welcome, I'm very glad you like it," he said. He gave another smile, then headed out the door to catch up with Matthew and Tam, pulling the door to behind him to give Andy a little bit of privacy.

[Matthew Moreau]

In the kitchen, Matthew was pulling things out and setting up the oven. "Get your stool, Tam," he said, getting a small pot ready. It wasn't a lot, but Tam always seemed happy to be included. His left hand dealt with one thing while his right directed other items to a spare bit of counter they used for prep. "He seemed to quite like his surprise, so let's keep it up by making a really good dinner."

[Andy Moreau]

Was Andy crying? Tam asked. He dragged his step stool to the counter and climbed onto it, still just able to reach things without considerable effort. He isn't stuck on the top is he? I could show him where the stairs are.

In the bedroom, Andy was only just uncurling himself from a stuffed dragon that smelled only like fresh plush. He let his fingers stroke the slightly silky-feeling sheets, turned the comforter down a bit further to look at the stripes, then set the dragon in the corner against the wall. He peered over at the shelf so perfectly reachable, and the little Hello Kitty clock silently counting down the seconds. He looked over the top of everything, looked at the rug on the floor, then made his way to the foot of the bed.

He opened each drawer in the bunk's steps, opened every drawer of both dressers, the closet and the wardrobe. The clothes he'd left behind were neatly folded and hung, though his brother's looked as though he'd attempted to fold them himself. He found a full-length mirror on one of the wardrobe's inner doors and paused when he caught sight of himself.

He'd gained weight.

He pulled up his shirt to see that his hip bones had faded a bit, that the angles of his face had softened. His skin wasn't dry anymore, and he realized that he hadn't been fighting his hair as much as usual. Even it looked softer and shinier. He'd thought that the dark smudges beneath his eyes were in his genes, but he could hardly see them anymore. He needed to look at Tam.

[Matthew Moreau]

"If he was, I think it was the happy kind of crying," Matthew said, "and he'll be able to get down, I promise." As Rhys took up the job of cutting up various items, Matthew added a few things to the bowl in front of Tam, instructing him to stir. "Sometimes, people cry when they're happy. I cried a little at our wedding, you know." He only cast a little glare toward Rhys at the chuckle he heard.

[Andy Moreau]

People cry when they're happy? Tam asked. That didn't make any sense at all, though at least Andy's super long day of school had ended. Matthew said Andy had to go back in the morning, but that was what you did when you were in school. Tam was in school now, so he knew all about that.

When Andy came into the room, Tam was concentrating fiercely on mixing the contents of a bowl into one glob of content. Andy stood awkwardly at the door, not wanting to interrupt. He'd forgotten his backpack in the bedroom somewhere, had hung his coat from a hook on the door, and had pocketed a tiny model unicorn he'd found in a play set, lifting and lowering its head. He didn't say a word to announce himself, but watched quietly.

[Matthew Moreau]

"Yeah, crying is just a way of showing emotion, like smiling or laughing," Matthew said as he started to work on other things. With three people in the kitchen, dinner prep took much less time. Though it took a moment for Matthew to notice Andy, he smiled when he looked toward the older brother. "Want to join us? I'm sure we could find something for you to do."

[Andy Moreau]

"Um, I'm still not supposed to use my wand outside class, but like... I could do something little."

Andy, look how good I mixed this, Tam declared, waving his brother over.

Andy looked into the bowl and saw a mass of lumps half-buried in something far too thick for a five year old's arms to finish. "Yeah, it looks good," he said. "Can I try?" With that, Andy had something to do, and Tam was free to direct. Don't stir it too much! he teased.

[Matthew Moreau]

"Since Rhys is a muggle, we do more things by hand than a regular wizarding household would," Matthew said. "Just about everything here you can do without a wand, so don't worry about that." He looked over at Rhys, but his husband was too busy putting together a dish to really notice any glances or secretive smiles. "When you're done, put lumps of it on this tray, and it'll make some really great bread for us."

[Andy Moreau]

"You're making your own bread?" Andy asked, surprised.

I'm making it! Tam said. You and Matthew are just helping a little. Can I show you how? I know how much to put on the tray!

Andy held the bowl while his brother wielded the spoon, digging out globs of dough and flicking them down with great splats. They were all somewhat similar sizes, but none were even and the spaces between them varied. Andy watched.

His brother had gained weight, too. His hair was so long now that the ends curled around his shoulders, something Andy didn't remember seeing before. Still, the boy's clothes fit. They weren't too tight or too short. His brother looked healthy.

Tam finished the tray and dropped the spoon back into the bowl. Whatcha lookin' at, Andy?

"You need a haircut." It was the only thing he'd found that wasn't perfect.

Nuh-uh, Tam argued. They said I could have it however I want, and I want it long like yours.