“Mum!” I yelled, carrying Fern inside as Kipling closed my stroller and set it by the door, “Is Dad home?”

“Why are we yelling?” Rian peeked in from the back door, “Oh! Hey, Kip.”

“Hey,” Kipling smiled with a nod, “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s out here, come on.”

We joined them on the back patio, and I set Fern in her swing, wanting to get her energy out before her nap. Kipling took the string and slowly started pulling as I sat next to him, chewing on the sleeve of my sweater, as I knew the conversation we needed to have with Dara was going to change things for everyone.

“I didn’t expect to see you two together; it’s been years since you’ve just hung out,” Clara smiled.

“We tried,” I shrugged, “Dara blocked it.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just wait for him.”

We sat in the yard for about thirty minutes before Dara came in, walking onto the back patio and freezing when he saw Kipling sitting next to me.

“Hey, Day,” Kipling smiled, pretending things were fine, his arm on the back of my chair.

“Hey, Kip,” Dara cleared his throat, sitting at the end of the table, “Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I own the place, my other barbers can manage without me for a few hours. Since you took the day off and all that.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“How was your day?” Clara smiled, but you could see that she had picked up on the tension between the three of us.

“It was fine. Didn’t do much.”

“Couldn’t find an apartment?” I whispered, “Emily didn’t like any of them?”

Dara turned to me, his eyes wide, and I took a sip of water, my throat burning, “No. She didn’t.”

“Mmm,” I hummed.

“Kip told you.”

“He assumed I knew,” I nodded, looking over at Fern to find her still happy in her swing.

“Who is Emily? Why are you moving?” Rian jumped in, his normal accent thicker than usual due to the anger I knew was brewing in his chest.

“Oh, I can tell you,” Kipling laughed, “Emily is his girlfriend of three years. He wants to live with her and leave Ren to struggle on his own to figure things out. Wonder why he stayed so long, pretending to take care of Fern.”

“I do care about her!” Dara shouted, slamming his fist into the glass table, “I made a promise to Edward and I kept to it because I don’t break my damn promises. But I got freaking stuck here and I don’t want that anymore.”

“I never told you to stay,” I whispered, my voice shaking, “I never needed you to give up on your life for me. You made that choice, Dara. You drove off Kipling, who actually wanted to be here. Did you tell your parents that? Hm?”

“Keep your mouth shut, Ren.”

“No,” Rian stood up, and Dara shrank in his seat, “You tell me, Dara Rian O’Connor. You tell me why you’re interfering in your brother's and your best friend's lives.”

“Because… Because… I…” Dara stuttered out, and I started to laugh, looking up at the sky.

“He doesn’t have a real reason. He just gets in the middle of shit,” I threw my hands up.

“You stole Edward!” Dara screamed, and I stared at him in shock, “You took my best friend from me when you moved here. Then he went and fell in love with you, and I got stuck without both of you. You took Eddie from me, and I will never be more thankful to know that he was in the middle of breaking up with you when he died.”

“Breaking up with me?” I scoffed, slamming both of my hands on the table and getting to my feet, “He wasn’t breaking up with me. I was ending things with him because he kissed his partner! He cheated on me then knocked me up the next damn day! But I loved him so damn much I was going to happily co-parent Fern, you dipshit. You don’t know a damn thing that Eddie and I went through.”

“I told him to do it,” Dara snorted, “He was debating if he should test things out with someone else since he’d only been with you. I told him it would be fine, hopeful you’d find out. I want you gone, Ren. Out of our lives. No one here wants you or Fern.”

“Liar,” Clara was crying but cleaned her face on a napkin, “You’re a damn liar, Dara. We want Ren, we wouldn’t have allowed him into our family if we didn’t. We’re Fern’s grandparents and happy to be that.”

“I want Ren around,” Kipling whispered, gripping my shoulder as I had started to cry, thinking I would lose their family, “I have never wanted him out of my life.”

“He’s our son, no different than the two of you,” Rian continued, “But you’re not only hiding a girlfriend of years, but acting like we’ll throw Ren onto the street because you’re letting your true jealousy show. You’re willing to ruin his life, try and alienate him, because he took your friend?”

“Yes,” Dara shrugged, “I’m petty after all. So what are you gonna do about him? I think it’s about time he left.”

“Oh, I am,” I nodded, and Clara gasped, “Don’t worry, Mum. I’m not going to disappear from your life, I just won’t be here every minute of every day.”

“He’s moving in with me,” Kipling nodded, and I smiled at him, “I’m bringing Ren and Fern into my home, the way I wanted to when Edward died. But Dara sidelined me and pushed Ren into living here. Not that I think it was a bad idea, he needed you both,” he gestured to his parents and they nodded, “But I offered and Ren agreed until Dara made it clear that he didn’t like that idea.”

“It’s a stupid ass idea and I don’t support it. So not only did you steal Edward for me, but you're stealing my brother, too,” Dara scowled, and I rolled my eyes.

“We’re in our twenties, Dara. It’s time to grow up sometime,” I laughed, going over to pick up Fern as she was starting to whine.

“You don’t get to talk to me that way.”

“I can talk to you any way I want. I’m not the one who tried to ruin your life. You’re trying to rip me away from the people who love and care about me because you think I stole Eddie from you. He loved you, Dara. You were his brother, too, and he trusted you to be here for me.”

“Then why the fuck did he ask you the same exact thing?” Dara glared at Kipling, who let out a laugh, “Oh. Oh, because…”

“Exactly that, yeah,” Kipling nodded, and I stayed where I was in confusion, “He knew, and he trusted that I would be the same.”

“Do you have somewhere to go?” Clara whispered, and we all looked over to find her staring at Dara, “Because I have to ask that you leave my home. I’m not comfortable having you here anymore, Dara. We didn’t raise you this way. You’re still welcome at dinners on the weekends and to come visit whenever you want, but you… Your lies will break everything. How dare you try and hurt Ren or Kip this way? They’ve done so much for you and vice versa. You let jealousy fester in your heart, and it made you wicked. You hid your girlfriend from us. We all thought you were in love with Ren. Hiding being bisexual or something. You helped raise money to get him top surgery!”

“No, I didn’t.”

“No, he didn’t,” Kipling whispered, “I did. I paid for all of it. I just gave Dara the money so Ren and Eddie wouldn’t know.”

“B-But why?” I gasped, and Kipling smiled, running a hand through my hair when he came close.

“I made you a promise,” he whispered, leaning down to press his lips close to my ear, “Don’t you remember?”

“Oh,” I whispered, caressing the side of his face, “Of course I do, Kip. You promised to help me be Ren in whatever way I needed. But you didn't have to pay for my surgery.”

“I'd do anything for you. Now,” Kipling laced his fingers in my hair, his hand on the back of my head as he glared at Dara, “We’ll be leaving tonight. I'm going to help Ren pack a bag for him and Fern, then I'll slowly start bringing their things to our house. You no longer have a chair in my shop, Dara. Come the end of the month, I won't be renewing your rental.”

“You can't do that!” Dara gasped, turning to Clara, “Mom, tell him he can't do that!”

“It's his shop,” Rian interrupted as I closed my eyes, focusing on how wonderful Kipling's hand felt in my hair, “It's not up to us. You thought Ren would be left with nothing due to your bullshit. You're the one leaving with nothing. I agree with your mother.  Pack a bag and leave our home. She might be welcoming, but I'm not.”

“I'm your son!”

“And you always will be,” Rian crossed his arms, “But trying to destroy your friend, someone who loves you very much, is wrong and misplaced. If you had these concerns, you should have told Ren and Eddie. You let your jealousy fester.”

“Which confuses me because you came over all the time,” I muttered, opening my eyes and finding Kipling still standing in front of me, keeping Dara at a distance, Kipling's grip increasing and lovely, “You saw Eddie every day, even when we were dating. I never stopped your boys' nights, and I didn't join. I wanted you two to have your friendship since I came into it later. But we've been friends for 16 years, and I don't want to lose that. I don't care about what you were trying to do. It hurts, but I forgive you. I don't want you to lose your home or your job. Kip, please…”

“No. I can't,” Kipling whispered, “I was already planning to get rid of Dara.”

“Huh? Why?!” Dara shoved Kipling's back, but Kipling continued to stare at me, rubbing behind my ear with his thumb.

“You've been stealing from me. Or my clients, rather. You're overcharging for services, taking money from the register when you feel like your tips aren't enough, and taking products from other barbers. You're not only a liar, trying to keep me away from Ren because of your anger at him, but you're a thief, too. I'm giving you a break by not reporting you to the police or the board of cosmetology. It gives you the opportunity to find a job at another shop. If you change your ways, I won't warn them. Ren, I'd like to go to my place before Fern needs dinner. Go pack.”

“Are you sure?” I smiled and Kipling gripped tightly, my heart thudding against my ribs.

“Go pack,” he repeated.

With a nod, I took Fern inside to my room, setting her in her bouncer to watch me pack, but it took me a little while to make sure I had everything. Fern was giggling, bouncing happily as she followed me with her eyes.

“Well now,” Kipling's voice came from my open door, and I smiled, folding a sweater, “Are you that happy to see me, Doll?”

Fern squealed, and I watched as Kipling knelt down in front of her, spinning a small rattle for Fern.

“Apparently. She doesn't get that excited to see me,” I scoffed, “I’ve packed most of my clothes. All the furniture belongs to Mum and Dad. All I'd have left are my bathroom things and Fern’s room. I paid for most of her things, but I should pay your parents back for her furniture.”

“We won't take it!” Clara shouted from the hallway as she walked past, “We'll keep the crib here so she can spend the night with Grammy and Granda. Also, to have a place to nap when you're at school.”

“Oh, but… she won't have a bed.”

“Sure she will,” Kipling laughed, “When I was under the impression you were moving in with me, I set up an entire nursery for her. I never took it down.”

“Kip… why didn't you tell me?” I gasped.

“No idea. Come on, let's pack her bags and we can go eat dinner.”

“Wait, where is Dara?”

“Outside with Rian. I told him he can't come inside until you leave. He's been talking to his girlfriend this entire time. Guess she's letting him stay,” Clara rolled her eyes, “it pisses me off that we haven't met her yet.”

“Dara has always been secretive,” Kipling shrugged, picking up Fern and following me to her room, “If I had a partner, you'd be the first to know, Mom.”

“I know,” Clara giggled, “Ren, do you want help?”

“I'd love it,” I nodded.

We took our time packing up Fern's things, Kipling holding Fern as Clara helped me gather everything I'd need. Kipling traded me, taking the bags downstairs as I carried Fern. I walked onto the back deck to see Rian, Dara in the corner, fully ignoring that I was there.

“We're leaving now,” I smiled, making Fern wave, “Say bye to Granda.”

“You don't have to,” Rian sighed, getting up and cradling my face, “Dara is leaving, I don't want you to think you have to.”

“We're still family,” I sniffled, “I want to go with Kip. I was supposed to before Eddie died, but I didn't. We both know he'll take good care of Fern and me, and I'll be here all the time. I'm going to use some of my money to get a car and a car seat for Fern. I can afford it. That way, Kip can stay at the shop instead of driving me around town.”

“I'll take you tomorrow,” Rian smiled, kissing my forehead, “No matter where you are, no matter what happens, remember you're our son. This is our granddaughter,” he rubbed Fern's cheek and she babbled before smiling, “We’re so proud of you for being ready to move forward again. Kipling will absolutely be there every step of the way.”

“I know.”

I turned to Dara, and he glared as I slowly walked over to him, “I'm sorry. I don't know what I did wrong. But I do love you, Day. You're my best friend. I hope someday we can fix this. I'd like to meet Emily. I'm happy for you.”

“I won't apologize right now.”

“I didn't expect you to.”

“Renny?” Kipling leaned out of the back door, and I nodded, “Ready to go?”

“More than ready.”