The doorbell kept ringing, the time between presses getting closer and closer together until it was an endless buzz. I was rushing as fast as I could while pulling my pants on, my sock-clad feet sliding across the wooden floor. "I'm coming, jeesh!" I shouted, knowing they already knew I was on my way since I'd responded to their text before they started ringing the bell.
    Yanking open the door, I glanced down at the two redheads staring up at me, each with a wide grin. Robin tackled my leg in a hug and I nearly lost my balance.
    "'Drian!" Thomas yelled, hugging me so tightly I think my kidney got bruised.
    "Hey, hey! He can't play with you if you kill him on his doorstep," Seamus scolds, grabbing his brothers by the back of their shirts and tugging them backwards away from me. The twins looked up at him, stuck out their tongues and pulled free, running past us into the house.
    "I almost forgot what it was like to have them around," I chuckled quietly.
    "I wish I could," he scoffed, giving me a cheeky grin.
    We wandered into the kitchen, where I was busy baking some breads and cookies. Mom was going to be home for the weekend and was out getting Nanna, who would be staying overnight. She was looking forward to being out of SACM, even if it wasn't long-term yet. I smiled at that thought. 'Yet' can be such a wonderful word, full of hope and promise for things to get better. Nanna isn't ready to go home yet, but that still means that someday she will.
    "Ooh, I see you've been busy," Seamus declared, taking a bite out of a chocolate chip cookie.
    I nod, pulling another tray out of the oven.
    "Adrian, come play trains with us!" Robin shouts from the living room.
    "Almost ready! Few more minutes, please!" I shout, sticking a pan of lasagna into the oven and removing the last tray of cookies. Once the timer is set we head into the other room, where I'm immediately dragged over to the train table by the excitable twins.
    We play with trains and watch some cartoons until Mom texts me that she's home with Nanna and needs us to get the door and help bring in groceries. Thomas grabs a reasonably sized bag and carries it in without issue. Robin grabbed the gallon of milk and a big bag full of canned goods, which he basically dragged to the door until his twin took it from him.
    "How are things going, Seamus darling?" Nanna asks as he helps her up the front step. She's much healthier than she has been, but her body is still weakened by the vigorous cancer treatments and days of mandatory bed rest between those treatments.
    "Goin' alright, Nanna M."
    "Are you still at the restaurant?"
    "Aye, and Melvin is still as much of a prick as ever."
    I smile, watching Nanna and Seamus laughing and chatting. It feels so good to have everyone here. Well, not everyone - Kai had a sports event and couldn't make it, and Seamus only brought the twins, but the house was still much fuller than it has been in months.
    All of us somehow manage to cram into the kitchen, still talking and laughing, the twins playing and weaving around everyone's legs. I pull the lasagna out to cool and take a seat near Seamus at the table, chuckling while he scolds his brothers for trying to sneak cookies before dinner. Nanna interjects that it's always time for cookies and splits one in half, handing part to each of the kids. They give their brother a mocking grin as they bite into the treat before rushing out to play with their trains again.

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    "Look, look Rosie! I lost a tooth!" Robin shouted at my mom whilst pulling at his lips to show off his missing tooth.
    "That's very cool, Robin!" My mom replied, placing a small slice of lasagna on Thomas' plate.
    Robin grinned and pointed at Thomas, "He's only lost one tooth, I lost two!"
    Thomas glared at his brother, "Well, I was born first!"
    The two boys started bickering and I held back a giggle. Back in Freidberg we would regularly have dinners together, either at our house, at Kai's, or over at Seamus'. During the summers we'd have picnics and go on camping trips, until Seamus and I started working regularly.
    "Oy, pass the salt, brat," Seamus shouted at Robin, interrupting the kids' argument. He stuck his tongue out but passed the salt shaker. Nanna took that momentary pause in bickering to start a new conversation, which we were all grateful for.

    After dinner the boys were sent up to bed and us adults sat around the table chatting. Mom pulled out the Scrabble board and Nanna showed us that she still had game, beating us thoroughly.
    "Lucky break," she stated, a twinkle in her eye.
    "So, Adrian, how are classes going? I feel like I've barely talked with you since I left on my trip." Mom asked, rubbing the back of my hand.
    "It's ok, Mom, we've both been busy. And my classes are going fine."
    "Oh, Sugarplum, how did things go with your partner?" Nanna inquired.
    "A partner? Adrian! You didn't say you found a boyfriend! Baby, what's he like? When do I meet him?" Mom's eyes were wide and her face practically glowing.
    "Oh, uh, not - It's not that kind of partner, Mom," I responded quickly, feeling my face getting warm. "We're just working on a project together for Creative Writing."
    Mom laughed sheepishly, pushing some of her blonde locks away from her face. "Sorry for jumping to that conclusion, honey. I suppose I got a bit too excited."
    I duck my head, feeling both awkward and very loved. "It's okay, Mom," I mumble softly.
    "He thinks he's hot though," Nanna piped up, smiling at Mom from across the table before taking a sip of her tea, winking at me. My ears started to burn.
    "Nanna," I whined as she and Mom shared mischievous grins.
    Seamus chuckled at my situation, enjoying my embarrassment as much as he was enjoying the cookies I'd made. I shot him a dirty look, which only made him smile wider, until a chunk of cookie popped out of his mouth and landed on the table. Gross.
    "Tell us how it went, darling," Nanna softly patted my cheek, finally giving me a break from being picked on.
    "I think it went well. I met his roommate, which was unexpected," I frowned and bit my lip, recalling how very unnerving that had been. "But, they weren't bad to be around. He even bought us pizza. A-and we got most of the project done. We're getting together tomorrow to finish it."
    "Oooh, another date," Seamus joked, winking at me. I gave his shoulder a playful shove, pouting as he, Nanna, and Mom started laughing again.
    "And how about you, Nanna M? How's the nursing home treating you? Keeping the staff on their toes?" he asked after the laughter died down.
    "Oh, you know how us old folk are," Nanna giggled, her eyes gleaming. "I have my own room, and Adrian set up that player you sent me, Amanda Rose. Thank you again, it truly helps pass the time."
    Mom just smiles, taking her mother's hand in her own. "I've heard you also made a friend."
    Nanna nods and starts telling us about Mrs. Hebrum and the fun they've been having. We kept talking until Nanna shows signs of needing rest, at which point we say goodnight and head to our rooms. Seamus, Robin, and Thomas are all sleeping in my room, the two boys on a futon and Seamus and I sharing my queen sized bed. It brings back memories of our teen years. He, Kai, and I were constantly spending the night at each others houses, to the point where all of our parents basically saw the three of us as their kids. I'm not convinced that Seamus' dad would really have notice if Kai and I permanently started living there, though. I'm pretty sure he lost track of how many kids he had after the first five were born.

------
    I was woken up by someone landing on my stomach and judging by the sound of it, Seamus was given the same wake up call. After regaining our ability to move and breathe, the four of us headed down for breakfast. Nanna was sitting on a stool next to the stove, making eggs.
    "Good morning, boys!" She exclaimed happily, accepting hugs and kisses from all four of us. "Adrian, be a dear and grab me a serving tray. Robin, Thomas, please set the table." She handed Seamus an apron and instructed him to make pancakes. Soon, all of us had eaten until we didn't have room for more, and made our way to the living room to watch the twins put on a puppet show.