One, two three, four, and maybe ten.

Kiel had lost count of the many families that had toured the house that day. Each with a spouse and at least one to three kids. It made him sad seeing all these happy families looking for a home to share together as one. He was never given the chance to live a life like this, but forced into a rushed adult hood and growing up alone.

Him and Archer stayed out of the way most of the day giving Mr. and Mrs. Winters privacy as they showed the house to clients. They sat in the empty study on the floor, reading books that were forgotten or haven’t been packed by the movers. They had also gone shopping a few hours before hand for furniture and other things for the new house. At around 3 o’clock they walked to the main room to find Mr. and Mrs. Winters. There they stood walking a couple and their small four year old child to the door. After saying their goodbyes the Winters walked back over and greeted Kiel and Archer.

“Hey boys,” Mrs. Winters pipes up with a smile and Mr. Winters gives a silent nod of acknowledgment. “Hey guys.”

“Hi mom,” Kiel speaks softly. “Was that the last of the clients?”

Kiel’s dad nods once more. “Yeah, it should be and I think we already have a client in mind,” He looks over to his wife and she smiles agreeing. “Yes dear I do think so too.”

“Who is it?” Kiel and Archer both ask simultaneously and tilt their heads.

“The family that just walked out, the couple with the four year old boy,” Mrs. Winters replies.

“Yes they seem very nice, just starting their family from what it sounded like. They have a girl on the way too,” Mr. Winters says.

“Oh a happy family,” Kiel plasters a fake smile that only Archer can differentiate between fake happiness and sadness.

Archer gently rubs Kiel’s shoulder, silently asking if he was okay. Kiel nods and sighs softly, as he thinks back to his own family. His family whom he wished loved him like that young couple loved their growing family. But Kiel was also glad that his parents never had another child, because if they did it would hurt him even more to see a sibling or someone he loves also gets hurt by the same person he does.

Archer continues to rub Kiel’s shoulder and speaks up. “I think me and Kiel are going to continue moving our stuff into the new house.”

“Oh that sounds fun!” Kiel’s mom smiles. “Do the two of you have some stuff already moved?”

“Yeah his room and clothes are over there except for his bed which I think we will move today or tomorrow,” Archer nods.

“I never asked, will you and Kiel be living together?” Kiel’s dad pipes up.

“Um…yes I am still his caretaker even if the two of you aren’t paying me and I want to make sure he gets off on a good start at life,” He states.

“Oh that’s lovely Archer,” She smiles but there’s a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“Well someone has to help him,” She plasters a fake warm smile.

Archer gets irritated by her comment and thinks to himself. Why would he even say that if she and her husband could have helped Kiel at any point in his life or even take him with them! He sighs and his shoulders fall from being tense.

Kiel was feel Archer’s tight hold on his shoulder pulse but then relax a bit. He looks over in his direction.

“I think its time we get going,” Archer’s hand tenses against Kiel’s shoulder again and his voice is laced with irritation towards Mrs. Winters.

“Oh yes dear both of you should go, before it gets too dark for you to move,” Mrs. Winters says.

“Lets go,” Archer grabs Kiel and starts to leave. Kiel stumbles a bit and looks at Archer and sees how irritated and angry he is.

“Archer,” Kiel trips again but catches himself, Archer doesn’t respond.

“Archer!” He whines.

“ARCHER,” Kiel trips and falls.

Archer looks over instantly and curses. “Shit.”

He helps Kiel stand up feeling very guilty for not hearing Kiel before he fell. Kiel steadies himself and sniffles softly.

“Are you okay?” Archer asks wiping a few of Kiel’s tears that had fallen.

“Yeah,” Kiel sniffles again. “I was trying to tell you I was tripping.

“I know I know I was irritated and in my head, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I guess. Um we should get going,” Kiel says softly wiping the remainder of his tears.

“Yeah come one lets get out of here,” Archer ruffles Kiel’s hair and the two of them leave.

They make it over to the new house and start to organize and unpack a few things. Archer unpacked some of the new furniture and also organized that too. The two of them went for a few hours and once the sun had set, they finished up and ordered pizza. Kiel and Archer sit on the floor in the living room full of unpacked boxes and eat.

“I think this is going to be a good thing,” Kiel says with a mouthful of pizza.

“What do you mean?” Archer swallows and tilts his head.

“I mean being able to get away form my parents and live with you,” He smiles wide.

“Oh yeah me too,” Archer chuckles and ruffles Kiel’s hair once a again.

“Me to Kiel me too. We will make some great memories in this new chapter.”

“Yeah maybe we could get a cat,” Kiel’s eyes light up. “Can we, can we!”

Archer sighs. “How about we work on actually living in a house and making sure we don’t die before we get a pet or any kind of living thing.”

“Oh yeah that makes the most sense,” Kiel smiles and takes another bite of pizza.

Sometime after they finish eating and clean up the mess they made before heading back to the Winters’s house. Once they get home they wash up get changed and go to bed.