Protecting Their Young (Moreaus/Jameses)

[Andy Moreau]

Andy wasn't thinking about anything deeper than dinner when he showed up at the ice cream shop that evening. He visited irregularly on weekends to see his brother, and maybe to reassure himself that he hadn't gone crazy and hallucinated things. He dropped his bag at the foot of the bunk, reached up to touch the stuffed dragon's toes, then headed for the kitchen.

"I'm here," he said.

Andyyyy! Tam dropped the spoon he'd been mixing with and jumped off the step-stool before mauling his brother. I'm gonna be six!

"Not for like, three months," Andy reminded him.

I can read an' I can count to a hundred an' the teacher said I'm improved! An' I can make salad, see?" He bounded back to the counter and reached for the huge bowl he'd been working on, which Andy took from him.

"Good job," Andy said. It looked like they'd just been waiting for him. "Sorry I was late, the Knight Bus was taking a whole Quidditch team home or something." The bus had started moving before he'd even found an empty seat.

[Matthew Moreau]

"No worries," Matthew said as Rhys turned to finishing setting the table. "You got here just in time." Although Mag waited until Tam had greeted Andy, the dog soon trotted up to give his own slightly slobbery hello. At least it was restrained to a hand. "How have you been? Classes going well?" Gavin? He couldn't help but be curious, though for now he kept his peace.

[Andy Moreau]

"I guess," Andy said. He gave Mag a good scratch between the ears, then headed for the sink to wash his and Tam's hands. He pretended quite firmly that he didn't sense any kinds of curiosity about Gavin, no matter how many letters had asked point blank. He'd pretended not to see those questions too.

He searched for something to say to avoid that prodding into his love life, but the one he chose was only marginally better. "I'm exploding stuff less." Dammit. Now he'd referenced his accidents. He pinkened as he took his seat, then reached for the salad. Maybe if he could get food in his mouth fast enough they wouldn't make him talk.

[Matthew Moreau]

"That's good," Matthew said, settling into a chair and nudging Mag away to silently beg for scraps further away from the table. "You'll have complete control in no time, I'm sure." He wondered briefly how O.W.L. exams would work for someone in Andy's situation, but opted not to mention those horribly stressful tests.

"Have you thought about if you're staying the summer on campus?" Rhys asked, thankful Matthew had managed not to leap into the questions that had been hounding him since New Year.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy's gaze flickered between Matthew and Rhys, then dropped to his plate. He could shove a forkful of dry salad in his mouth, but he needed to tell them anyway. "I kinda... I mean..."

Tam bounced in his chair. Summer holidaaaay! We're gonna go to the park with Mag and all sorts of stuff!

Andy let himself be quiet while his brother exclaimed, and it was only after he had managed that bite that he gave Rhys a curious and hopeful look. As much fun as school was, and as much as he should probably stay to catch up more on his magic, he wanted the time with his brother. Would they want him, though?

[Rhys Moreau]

It took a moment, then Rhys smiled. "Of course you can stay here if you want, it isn't really even a question. We just weren't sure if you'd want to, you know, with learning all of the new things and, well, any friends you've made who may be staying." Matthew managed to keep his mouth shut. It would be an insane summer with two kids there all day every day.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy stared down at his plate and pushed half a cherry tomato around, trying to get it to roll instead of slide. "I don't really have any friends," he mumbled. "I mean, there's Gavin..." Oh damn, he'd said Gavin. His eyes widened, but he didn't look up and he floundered for something to say. "His parents told him he only got one year, though. So like, he'll probably be going back to prep school and stuff, and his tutors and big house and sports and girls..." he trailed off. He jabbed his fork into a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.

[Matthew Moreau]

"He talked his parents into letting him stay over the Christmas holidays," Matthew pointed out. Once magic had its claws in someone, it tended not to let go easily. "But I'm sure you could head over there anytime, anyway, I'm sure we'll be over there some visiting Dare and Michael." There, was that suitable for Rhys? He flicked a glance at his husband, who looked less exasperated than he anticipated.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy's gaze hardened slightly, and when he'd finished his bite, he dropped his fork to the table with a clatter. "If you want me to stay there, just tell me to stay," he said. He pushed his chair back and stood, then stormed out without a glance back.

Tam's eyes were wide as he listened for slamming doors. Andy wouldn't leave without him, would he? Andyyyy!

Andy had retreated to the bedroom and it took him a moment to find his bag. He hadn't left it by the door this time, hadn't even paid attention to whether the handle was up. He reached for the zipper and started digging. Maybe he could manage a locking spell and they'd leave him alone.

[Matthew Moreau]

"Tam, it's okay, just stay with Rhys," Matthew said, and though he was sure Rhys was a little apprehensive about letting him go on his own, he wasn't held back. At the bedroom door, he didn't enter. Instead, he stayed outside and knocked lightly on the frame, peering in. "We don't want you to stay there, Andy. You can stay wherever you like. We'd enjoy it if you stayed here, but if you wanted to stay at the school or visit it that's okay, too. That's all."

[Andy Moreau]

"I don't want to stay at the school!" Andy growled. "I don't have any friends, I suck at magic, and Gavin's leaving! I miss my brother! Rhys said I could stay and then you're telling me no, really, I can stay at school if I want! I don't want to, and maybe I don't want to stay here, either!" Andy finally located his wand box and opened it to pull the thing out. Then he headed for the door, fully intending on slamming it in Matthew's face.

[Matthew Moreau]

Matthew braced the door, wondering why it was he never could manage to say the right thing to Andy. They'd been warned it could be difficult, but he really hadn't expected it to actually be hard. "I'm sorry for making it seem like I want you to stay at Hogwarts instead of here. We'd like for you to stay here, and I'm sure Tam would be over the moon."

Maybe all they needed was more time spent as a family to avoid confrontations. A weekend here and there wasn't cutting it. He chose not to comment for the moment on the possibility of Andy attempting to leave or about the confidence issues. One thing at a time, Matthew.

[Andy Moreau]

Andy pushed at the door, trying to close it anyway, but he was no match for the tall, muscular Matthew. He gave up with a grunt and a huff, then turned and stomped toward the bunk. He dropped his wand in the middle of the floor, then stomped up the bunk's stairs and threw himself onto his bed, pulling his stuffed dragon against him. Then he put on his fiercest glare. How the heck was he supposed to argue when Matthew had just apologized and said everything he wanted to hear?

"Why are you guys so nice?" he demanded. "What's wrong with you?" There had to be something wrong with them!

[Matthew Moreau]

The questions took Matthew by surprise and confusion briefly flitted over his expression. "I...are you expecting us to start being monsters?" he asked, then realized that was probably exactly what the kid was waiting on. At that thought, he ran one hand over his buzzed hair, then slid the other one into his pocket.

"We aren't. We aren't going to hit you, I won't pull my wand on you, we aren't going to kick you out. We just want the two of you to be happy." He'd just turned 25, he felt barely out of puberty himself half the time, and he was bound to make a few mistakes. "Between what you two have gone through and what Rhys has gone through, there's enough pain to last a lifetime. Neither of us plan to add more."