"What?" Knelt beside the bed, Ethan leaned in close to him.

"If it’d been my non-dominant arm…" he laid his hand over his eyes, a tremble came to his lips and tears wet the sheets beneath him. "I’m useless like this. Should have let me die, then they would at least be taken care of."

Ethan had fallen back, hands behind him catching himself, at the suddenness of the slap. 

"When I married you," she continued. "Did you think I was considering the money? Mama and Papa were going to marry me off once they found out about the baby, told me to pretend she was his. That he needn’t know. I didn’t humor the idea for a second. I knew it’d be rough and now it’s just going to be a bit harder, but just like we’ve made it thus far, we’ll keep on moving forward."

The mattress creaked as she slipped onto it. She grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it. "As long as the three of us are together, we can do it." 

A potted plant from the windowsill crashed onto the floor. They all turned to look in the direction. Ethan felt the grumble low in his gut when he saw Vergil. He had his hand clasped to his mouth as he looked at the mess he’d created. "I am so sorry, I realized I’d come at a bad time and meant to leave, but…uh, sorry, again."

"What are you even doing here?" Ethan stood up.

Vergil held up his hands in a ‘hold on’ gesture and went around the house and through the front door.

"Who is that?" Dana pulled Tim’s hand in her lap.

"My step brother," he grumbled.

"Mama’s worried about you. I heard you were over here, don’t worry about the how. I have my ways," he interrupted just as Ethan was opening his mouth to ask. "Wanted to make sure before I barged in." He turned his attention to the family. With a smile to rival an actor on stage, he said, "Ladies, gentleman, pleasure to meet you, my name’s Vergil. I’m very grateful for your taking care of my beloved brother."

"He’s rather been taking care of us. He’s a hero." She said, wiping the sweat off her husband’s brow. 

"He sure has been getting into the habit of that." He smiled easily as he walked over to them and lifted their hands held together and squeezed them before bringing them to his lips. "But what more could I ask for than that my brother has companionship as great as this?" 

Their eyes glistened further with tears. Dana placed her other hand on his and tapped it gently with affection. 

Ethan wrapped his arm around Vergil’s shoulder, startling him into dropping their hands. Then he leaned over and placed his hand on Tim’s shoulder. "My brother’s presence tells me I must be getting home. Take care, Timothy. Know that if any of you need anything, I will be there."

"Thank you, friend. I apologize for my inconsideration and ungratefulness. You brought me back to my wife and daughter, to my world, and that is enough."

Ethan all but dragged Vergil out of the cabin. Outside a carriage waited. The driver cleaned under his nails until he looked up and noticed the brothers. 

The ride back home was accompanied by a silent tension which was awkwardly broken by Vergil’s soft voice. "Mind telling me what has you looking like you’re about to reach over and snap my neck? I doubt it’s because I intruded in on their personal moment."

Ethan slouched back and crossed his arms, "You’re really not going to tell me how you found out where I was?"

"Only as much as I already have. I have my means, so don’t concern yourself with them. I came home to find mama mad with worry so, I went to find you."

"You’re sober."

"What?"

At first Ethan had mistaken the soft flush on his skin as a mark of the drink, but his movements were controlled and his voice clear, concise. The pinkened skin was from exerting himself in some way. 

"What were you doing out late?"

"Where am I usually," he turned his head to look outside the window where there was only the dark woods. He pushed his hair behind his ear. The flush on his skin had deepened, moving along the edge of his ear. He ran his tongue beneath his canine, one of the tells of his shyness. He hadn’t done that since he was a boy. Ethan thought he’d ridden himself of any shame. 

"A woman, then."

He looked over and tsked in annoyance, but said nothing else. 

A laugh escaped from Ethan, "A woman you’re not supposed to be touching. After the last woman’s husband came knocking on our door, I thought surely you had no space for embarrassment."

He breathed in heavily and exhaled long, "You wouldn’t be laughing if you knew who it was."

"Yes, I’m not inclined to know whom you spend your nights with." He shook his head, "But she must have taken quite a bit of your attention to keep you sober. Actually, I’d rather not think how she kept it.”

"I’d rather you not falsely think I lied with her. It makes me…uneasy. She isn’t that sort of woman and is only a friend of sorts whom I share an interest with."

"Yet, you keep her identity a mystery and you meet quietly in the night."

"I’m not thought of highly. Though I needn’t tell you that." He didn’t say it with a smile, Ethan wished he had as not to feel that sting in his chest. Vergil appeared much more thoughtful than he normally caught him, more bare. Whoever he had spent the night with left him in a vulnerable place.