2029-A Dramatic Plot twist occurs! (Fixed Future)

Zephir felt bad.

And he wasn't really sure why.

He shrugged. "I dunno. Never had a brother before."

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Darien nodded. "And something he said...he was crying and he said something about no one was ever looking for him."

He smiled. "Little Darius is such a great kid. I think he'd be a good influence on poor Zephir."

"I'm your brother!" Darius perked up eagerly.

=-_-=

"That's horrible," Diana said shaking her head.

"I hope he doesn't become a bad influence on Darius."

Zephir's unpleasant feeling in his stomach grew, and he still wasn't sure why.

"...Sure." He felt his mouth smile, of it's own accord. "And I'm your big brother."

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Darien paused. "Hm...I hope not too..." He pushed open the door and saw Zephir smiling, although at the sight of the adults, Zeph's face became serious once more.

Darien glanced at Diana and whispered in her ear. "I think he likes Darius."

"I think so too," Diana whispered back.

"Daddy! Mummy!" Darius said, unlike Zeph, Darius lit up when the adults came back in the room. "Zeph's my big brother!

Darien smiled. "Is he now?" Though he couldn't help wondering how Darius was going to fare when it emerged Zephir was in fact, not his brother.

Zephir felt the urge to smile, and squashed it by swallowing another sandwich, almost whole this time. He coughed slightly, but managed to swallow it.

He swallowed again and resolved to eat in smaller bites, taking another sandwich.

"Uhuh," Darius said nodding.

"Hey there little guy," Diana said patting Zeph's back as he choked on the sandwich. "Take it easy."

"Here," Diana summoned a cup and filled it with some pumpkin juice. "Drink this up." She offered it to him.

Darien ruffled his son's hair affectionately.

Zeph swallowed, and cautiously accepted the cup.

He sipped it, then downed the remainder in one gulp. "What was that?" He asked Diana, gazing into the empty cup and wondering if it would refill... ((lol))

"That was pumpkin juice," Diana said refilling the cup. "Would you like some more?"

"Daaaaaad!" Darius said wrapping his arms around Darien's outstretched hand. "Can you make me go fly again?"

"...Yes...Please?" Zephir stared into the cup eagerly.

Darien laughed. "Sure."

He gently swung his son around, grinning. "And very soon you can learn to fly a real broom and play Quidditch!"

Diana waved her wand and it filled up immediately.

Darius was laughing, enjoying himself immensely. "Quich! Quich!" Little Darius couldn't say Quidditch properly.

Diana was smiling up at the pair but then cast a worried glance. "Careful Darien, you might drop him."

"Daddyyyyyy won't drop meeeeee!" Darius said confidently.

Darien laughed. "Of course I won't." He smiled, proud of his son's faith in him.

Zephir sipped at the juice - he'd never trust his dad not to drop him. As if he'd even attempt to swing him around, unless he was trying to lob him out of a window. His little face turned sombre, a slight downward tilt at the corners of his mouth.

It just wasn't fair.

(((awww poor boy)))

"Something wrong?" Diana asked Zeph slightly worried for the boy.

Darius then proceeded to attempt to hug Darien's head. "Daddy!"

Zeph shook his head sharply. "Nah." His voice was quiet, distracted as he pondered what his life could've been like with different parents...with Darius' parents.

Darien laughed, ruffling Darius' hair playfully. "Darius!"

Diana looked at the boy still worried, wondering what could make him so distracted... he was just a young boy, he should have been care free and happy. But he seemed to be the furtherest thing from that. Diana's musings were broken by Darius.

"Mummy?" Darius said. "Can we go to the park?"

Diana looked up at Darius. "Why don't you ask your father?"

Darien grinned. "Of course...If that's okay with your mother." He glanced at Diana.

Zephir drank the remaining juice and scoffed another sandwich, unconcerned about this 'park'.

"Sure thing, but wear your jumper, I don't want you to catch a cold." Diana said to Darius.

"Do you want to go to the park too Zeph?" Diana asked.

Zeph considered. "Sure." He replied after a pause. "...Please."

Darien nodded. "Let's go."

"YAyyyy! Parkkk!" Darius said happily. Running down to get his coat. "Letsss gooo!"

Diana laughed, "Alright, let's go. Darien?"

Zephir blinked, and followed Darius down the stairs, much more slowly.

"Ladies first." Darien smiled.

Diana followed the boys down the stairs.

Darius had already put his coat on.

"Park!" He said eagerly.

Darien grinned and opened the door...

Diana opened the door and held it open for the rest of the group.

Zephir slipped back into the house, loitering to wait for Darius.

Darien ushered Darius in front of him with a gentle push on his son's back.

Darius smiled at his father then hurried into the house.

"Hey Mummy! Daddy! Uncle Nick is here!" Darius said as he pasted by the fireplace.

And sure enough, Nicolas was in their living room with Aurora by his side.

Darien did not disguise the annoyance that crossed his face for an instant.

Zephir followed Darius, casting a suspicious glance at the two strangers...Uncle? Darius' uncle? He stuck close behind Darius, watching the small girl carefully. Girls had a tendancy to be very odd, in his opinion.