[Samuel x Roman]

r o m a n
"Oh my God, London, no, you do not mix different types of Doritos."

Several months had passed since Samuel's diagnosis and it was now Roman and London's birthday. The twins were now twenty-one years of age. Roman was excited to be celebrating the event, even if the age of twenty-one wasn't too significant in Australia. Really, though, Roman would be happy to celebrate any age.

This year's party was going to be a relatively small affair. Their close friends were coming to Roman and Samuel's apartment, and they were going to eat and chat and socialise and it was going to be great. Plus, they had ordered lots of pizza. Currently, Roman was pouring out snacks into bowls and setting them on the coffee table.

"Why not?"


"It's sacrilege. You disgust me."

London made a face at her brother behind his back just as the doorbell rang, and opened to reveal Matthew and Elissa. The latter was wearing an absolutely gorgeous pink dress that showed off her figure and hugged her body, ending at the mid-thigh. She also wore strappy silver heels, silver jewelry and had her hair curled and tied into a side ponytail.

She swept the room away. Roman himself wore black skinny jeans and a Nirvana T-shirt, with all black piercings. London wore a cute purple sundress and white ballet flats. The twins looked gorgeous too, but Roman could tell that London felt insecure.

"Hey," Elissa chirped, kissing Roman on the cheek and handing him his present. "Happy birthday." She then did the exact same thing with London and gave her a warm smile.
 
The next couple of months Samuel slowly started to feel a lot better and by the time Roman and London’s birthday came around he was feeling mostly like himself again, which was good because this day was all about Roman… And all about London, but it was Evan’s job to give her kisses and hugs and make her feel special, which Samuel had seen him do plenty of already.

The celebration this year was a lot smaller than the ones previous years, Samuel honestly preferred smaller gatherings so he sure as hell wasn’t complaining, plus there would only really be people Samuel was familiar with, like their old housemates, and Ellisa and Matthew who had just recently come in through the door.

It was funny how Matthew had gone from not being allowed close to the apartment to being at Roman’s birthday party. But he clearly wasn’t there for Roman with the way he was looking at his girlfriend, seemingly unable to take his gaze of the gorgeous girl. Samuel supposed he had reason to though, Elissa looked stunning, even Samuel could see that. Although, in Samuel’s eyes, not as stunning as Roman in his all-black attire.

Samuel had decided to be a nice boyfriend and match his outfit to Roman’s outfit by at least wearing a black T-shirt, he had paired it with some beige chinos and a pair of white socks with a single black stripe around the ankle though, so he still looked about the same as usual.

“oh yeah, happy birthday,” Matthew seemed to remember why he technically was there, just like his girlfriend he turned to London as well, there were no cheek kisses from him, though, instead he held out a hand, like he always did when greeting new people, “you too, Happy birthday. I’m Matthew, Samuel’s friend and I’m dating Elissa,”

It hit Samuel that Matthew hadn’t really met London and Evan properly yet. He felt like his friendship with London and Evan and his friendship with Matthew with Gabi were very different from each other and thus they had been somewhat separated. Not that Samuel didn’t ever mention either of them to the other, it was just how things had ended up happening.

The fact that they didn’t know each other was shown by Evan peering suspiciously at Matthew. The guy had been baffled about how anyone could actually dislike Roman, say what you want about their relationship but Evan clearly respected Roman and they were friends so Samuel didn’t blame him too much for not being sure what to do with Matthew, and thus also Elissa, whom he was giving a look that Samuel found hard to read but didn’t pay much mind to.
 
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London had not met Elissa nor Matthew. He had told her about the both of them, but they had just not gotten around to meeting yet. Luckily, London was a sociable person who loved meeting new people, so she happily shook Matthew's hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, I'm London," she returned.

Elissa came up to Matthew and handed him a can of soda from the fridge, which Roman had told her to help herself to. She thus claimed her boyfriend's attention, so London turned away and to her own boyfriend, only to see that he was looking at Elissa. She couldn't see his face, so she didn't know what he was feeling, but when London looked to Elissa, she seemed to decide that her boyfriend was checking the other woman out. Roman was watching the entire time, and he knew his twin like the back of his hand, so he knew what she was thinking.

London turned away and went to the fridge to get herself a drink. Roman was about to go after her when a knock came to the door, and since he was host, he had to go answer it. Bella, Elliot, Blake and Matilda stepped inside, all dressed in nice clothes for the party and bearing gifts.

They all said happy birthday to Roman and set their gifts on the table. Elliot was the first to notice Elissa and he gave her a discreet, appreciative look before turning to his own girlfriend and kissing her on the top of the head. The three girls also noticed Elissa, and how lovely she was. Elissa did not notice, she was speaking to Matthew in a hushed tone.

London noticed, though, and she bit her lip and wiped away a tear as she turned and made her way down to Roman and Samuel's bedroom. Roman immediately took Samuel's hand and practically dragged him over to Evan. He flicked Evan on the shoulder irritably.

"London's upset."
 
More guests arrived, all familiar faces so Samuel smiled and greeted them all happily. After another little while, Gabi came knocking as well. Since Matthew was coming with Elissa, and because she tended to bring a lot of fun to any occasion, they had invited her too and she was currently taking the moment to catch up with everyone, occasionally smiling over at Matthew and Elissa. Samuel knew she was very happy for her friend, and Samuel was too. However, it was it was kind of funny how Elissa seemed to grab everyone’s attention even if it was for different reasons. Samuel wasn’t too surprised, when he first had met her she had had his attention too.

Evan, who since giving Elissa that first look, had been giving London lingering looks with an expression Samuel could tell was mild concern between looking at Elissa with that unreadable expression. When London suddenly hurried out of the room he had been looking at the girl who got all of the attention.

“shit, yeah I thought so,” Evan mumbled, not seeming to mind Roman’s tone at all, things were different when London was involved, “come on,”

They headed over to Samuel’s and Roman’s bedroom. Despite it maybe being more of a matter for Evan and Roman to take care of Samuel followed them. Roman had dragged him along in the first place so he just continued to follow him, but at the end of the day London was his friend and he wanted her to be okay.

“London, baby, are you okay?” Evan asked softly only to find his girlfriend in tears so he hurried over and quietly pulled her in for a hug.
 
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Roman's heart broke to find his sister sitting on the end of the bed, gently shaking with silent tears. She looked up when the four men entered and her eyes followed Evan as he came to sit beside her. She let him pull her into a hug but did not return the embrace, instead glowering at the floor and wringing her hands together.

"No, I'm not," she mumbled.

"What's wrong?"
Roman asked her worriedly. He let go of Samuel, knelt in front of his sister and took both of her hands in his own. She moaned in protest but did nothing else to stop him. "London, is it about Eliss --"

"Oh my God, stop it, Roman, stop acting like you understand," London quietly whined, shaking off her twin's hands. "You don't and you never will because no one ever looks at anyone else when you're in the room. You've never been outshone by anyone and I am everyday. So don't act like you get it because you never will, and neither will she. I will always be the ugly twin."

Roman was silent. He knew his sister was very insecure, but he had thought that since she had had Allison and had found Evan, who absolutely adored her, that she had gained some confidence. Apparently whatever improvement she had made had been overridden at once when she saw how Elissa was admired by everyone. Roman dropped his hands and tried to think of the words to say.

London squirmed until Evan let her go. "And you don't realise how many people think I'm not good enough for you," she said to him, unable to look at him. Her gaze was fixed on her hands in her lap. "You'd probably be better off with someone like Elissa, you were looking at her anyway," she finished in a voice barely above a whisper, before she sniffled and started crying again.
 
Samuel placed a gentle hand on Roman’s back when London insisted he didn’t understand, he knew it was hard for Roman to see his sister like this. And that honestly this could be something that Roman couldn’t fully relate to, sure he had things he had expressed he was insecure about but Roman was gorgeous and he knew it.

Samuel could relate. He and London were both insecure people with very confident boyfriend’s, which usually worked out well but sometimes didn’t. He knew London felt this way to another extent than he ever had due to the relationships she had been in in the past, but he knew somewhat what she was feeling, in fact, he had even felt similar to this when they had first met Elissa, and what London was feeling right now was definitely something she didn’t deserve to feel.

“Listen, London,” Evan said in a serious but mild tone, “I could tell something about her made you upset, that was why I was looking it her,”

That made sense. Samuel had seen Evan check girls out before London and the looks he had given Elissa was closer to the suspicious look he had been giving Matthew than anything. It had been a look of “you’re upsetting my girlfriend and I need to know why,”

“Besides, she’s not even my type, cus my type is the girl who’s the prettiest in the room but who doesn’t even know it and who is the kindest girl alive and who is the best mother and whose smile lights up the entire room and make everyone who sees it warm inside because it’s so beautiful.” Evan had wrapped one arm around London’s shoulder now, something that wouldn’t be as overbearing as a hug until she was ready for that, “and anyone who thinks I’m too good for you are so fucking wrong, London, I’d be nothing without you, without you I’d just be some stereotypical stupid jock but you make me into a better person,”

He placed a small kiss on the top of her head before continuing.

“I love you London, you’re absolutely perfect being you,” He assured her and then added in a slightly more joking tone, because it wouldn’t be Evan talking if he didn’t try to brighten up the mood, “And you’re way cuter than Roman, he’s lame,”

Samuel didn’t jokingly argue against it, now wasn’t the time and in all honesty, London was equally as gorgeous as Roman.
 
r o m a n
Roman silently nodded along with everything Evan said, never taking his eyes off his sister. Sometimes Roman hated himself for what he was doing to London. He knew it wasn't his fault, but he couldn't deny the fact that he was largely responsible for London's insecurities. He was the one who caught people's attention. He was the one who people looked and admired, and London often got overlooked, standing beside her brother.

But he could not disagree with her more. London was beautiful, she was kind, she was humble and she was amazing. She was his best friend, his twin, his other half, and his soul ached when she was upset. He took her hand when Evan put an arm around her shoulders, wanting to reassure his sister as much as he could without making her uncomfortable.

London and Roman both chuckled at Evan's final comment. "It's true, you are much cuter than me," Roman honestly agreed. "At least you can fit in most doorways."

London gave another teary chuckle and put an arm around Evan's middle. She leaned her forehead against his broad chest and sniffled. "Sorry ... I'm just ... ugh, I feel stupid."

"Don't feel stupid," Roman insisted. "You're absolutely lovely."

London gave him a weak smile, pulled away from both men and dried her tears off her face. "Ugh. My makeup is ruined."

"Come here, I'll fix it."

While Roman was carefully reapplying London's makeup, London asked Evan, "Can you please get Allison for me? I think she's playing with the bunny." Roman knew her baby would help her calm down.
 
"Kay," Evan pressed another kiss to London's head and headed of to go get the their daughter.

Samuel decided to take the moment to share his opinion now that London was a little calmer and the two people who was most important to her had said what they wanted.

"You know London, you aren't really being stupid," Samuel said calmly as he watched Roman fix his sister's makeup, "I felt about the same way when we first met Elissa, and also like, super jealous but that's because I'm more of an asshole than you,"

Samuel knew his insecurities manifested the self a little differently than hers in that he got jealous so easy.

"But it's like, people like Roman, Evan and Elissa are all very confident which makes their good looks easier to notice, and people who aren't are going to get easier overlooked, it doesn't really say anything about what they look like, you're proof of that because you're honestly really pretty, even I can see that and I'm really fucking gay,"

The last part was a little more joking but still true nonetheless, it was possible that Samuel was biased since London looked so much like Roman though.

"Did Samuel just come out of the closet? We already know you're gay mate," Evan chose that moment to come back, he was carrying Allison on one arm and Lola on the other, the little two year old was still petting the bunny adorably.

"One cute child for you," Evan said and Allison down next to her mother, "and one cute bunny for you," he placed the bunny in Allison's lap.

"She didn't want to leave the bunny," he explained, Allison kept petting the little creature.
 
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London listened to Samuel, taking in his words and the points he was making. When Roman pulled away to pick up a different eyeshadow palette, London turned to Samuel and gave him a big smile. "Thanks. It does help, to know that someone gets it, even if it sucks that you do."

Roman agreed. He wished Samuel and London would both see themselves as the stunningly beautiful individuals they were, but he also knew that that would take time and practice to achieve. He'd talk with Evan and figure out a way to help them, because this kind of thinking should not and would not continue.

London lit up when her baby girl was brought to her and sat beside her on the bed. London pulled Allison into her lap and kissed her on the top of the head. "I love you so much, princess," London murmured to her little girl.

Roman finished her makeup and they all went out to rejoin the party, Allison still holding the sweet bunny. Two of London's friends had shown up while they had been absent -- a sweet British-Indian girl named Samira and a brunette Russian named Elisavet. London lit up when she saw them and hurried over to them, still holding her daughter and the bunny.

Roman turned to Evan and gave him a small pat on the shoulder. "You did good," he told him quietly, before pulling away and leading Samuel to the fridge before anyone else could see and think they actually liked each other.

Elliot and Matilda came up to them next. "So the asshole is shacking up with my teammate's sister," Elliot said, his tone amused, referencing Matthew and Elissa.

"He's not that much of an asshole anymore," Roman defended his sort-of friend. "Hey, Tilly."
 
"Hello! Happy birthday again!" Matilda said with a sweet smile, "I hope you're having a good birthday so far... Is London feeling better?"

She lowered her voice a little at the lest part. She wasn't trying to pry or gossip, she was merely making sure the other girl was okay.

"Seems like it," Samuel smiled and Matilda looked a little relieved, it was sweet how she cared for her friends sister.

The two couples proceed to catch up a little and talked about maybe doing another double date or something fun like that at some point. After that the party continued on, London seemed happier and Evan was making sure to give her more attention than before.

A couple of hours had passed when Samuel heard a knock on the door. All guest that were invited had already arrived so Samuel decided to let Roman talk to his friend's while he went to open the door for him.

When he saw who he was he seriously considered closing it in the persons face. Brooklyn.

"No you're not ruining today for them," he said, keeping his voice down and the door half shut to try to spare Roman from noticing his brother, "leave,"
 
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The next few hours were spent by Roman socialising with his friends, holding Allison and refusing to let anyone else do so, and consuming an impossible amount of snacks and pizza. Really, he ate a whole margherita pizza by himself. Elissa joked about how she was envious of his inability to get fat, while she was sitting there, looking like a perfect goddess.

Roman was chatting with Bella when he noticed Samuel had gotten up to open the door, and was now appearing to be trying to close the door in that person's face. Curious, Roman left Allison in the hands of her father and went to the door to see who was there.

And he regretted it immediately. Roman actually tried to close the door in his brother's face, but Brooklyn stuck his foot in before he could do so.

"Roman, stop it, I just want to talk to you."

"You've had the last two years to do that," Roman snapped. "Move your foot."

"No. I don't want to ruin your birthday, Jesus Christ, just come out here so I can talk to you for a second."

Roman rolled his eyes, opened the door and stepped out, pulling Samuel along with him. He figured that if he let Brooklyn spout whatever bullshit he wanted, he would leave, and then Roman could go back to his party. "How did you even get my address?"

"I called Mum and she told me."
Brooklyn sighed, and he couldn't make eye contact with his brother. "I ... I broke up with Indie."

Roman's eyes widened and he was actually silent for a moment. He was also shocked, and that was evident on his face. He hadn't been expecting that at all. "What?"

"I broke up with Indie," Brooklyn repeated, finally forcing himself to look at his little brother. "A few days ago."

"Why? You seemed pretty set on her."

"Yeah, well, I was, but ..." Brooklyn shifted uncomfortably, as if it was hard for him to admit that he was wrong. "Well, I guess I finally realised that you were right, and she was using me."

Roman lifted an eyebrow. "And it only took you, like, five years to realise that! Bravo."

Brooklyn scowled but he didn't deny it. "If it makes you feel better I found out she was cheating on me too."

"No, Brooklyn, that does not make me feel better at all, that hurts me, because you're my brother and I actually care about you."

Brooklyn seemed to be at a loss for words at that comment. Like he hadn't expected his brother to actually care about him after all the shit he had done. Brooklyn licked his lips and looked past both Samuel and Roman, at the door, behind which the party was still going. "Happy birthday," he said quietly.

"Thanks." Roman pushed a hand through his hair. He couldn't believe what he was about to say. "Do ... do you want to come in?"

Brooklyn's eyes met his brother's. "Really?"

"Really." Roman turned to Samuel. "Are you or Evan going to kill him?" he asked, remembering how angry they had both been on that night where Brooklyn had shoved Roman.
 
Samuel listened to Brooklyn and Roman's conversation but didn't interrupt because he honestly didn't think he would ever forgive Brooklyn and when Roman actually invited the man in Samuel was not only a little surprised but realized he really didn't want him there. He didn't trust him at all, didn't trust that he would behave for longer than this small conversation.

But he supposed he was making an effort and it would be wrong not to give him a chance.

"Only if he does something he deserve to be killed for," Samuel said somewhat bitterly and looked over at Brooklyn, he wasn't going to pretend to like him just because he now knew he was wrong.

Almost as soon as they walked in Evan noticed them, he had taken over carrying Allison when Roman left and was now walking up to them. Angrily.

"What is he doing here?" Evan simply and cooly.

"He..." Samuel was about to say apologized but it hit him that Brooklyn hadn't actually done that, admitted he was wrong yeah, but not actually said he was sorry, "he broke up with Indie apparently,"

That was not enough for Evan.

"Is he going to apologize to London?"
 
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"That's a good question," Roman noted, turning to look at his brother. "Are you? And are you going to apologise to me?"

"I didn't come here just to share my relationship status with you," Brooklyn replied haughtily. His tone of voice greatly resembled Roman's, and they had never looked more like brothers.

London came over, after muttering to Elliot to keep everyone else distracted. Elliot began to tell a loud anecdote that caught everyone's attention and the five adults went into a far corner to speak privately. London took Allison and gently told her to go and sit with Matilda.

Once the child was gone, London straightened up and glared at Brooklyn intensely. "This had better be good. I went three years without seeing you, Brooklyn, I can cut you out of my life again if I fucking need to."

Brooklyn looked between the twins, his younger siblings, but rested his gaze on London first. "I'm sorry," he said to her. "I'm sorry for calling you a slut and demeaning you for getting pregnant with you were young. I know you didn't mean to do that, and it was stupid of me to be jealous of all the attention Allison was getting."

London continued to scowl. Brooklyn turned to Roman. Roman raised an eyebrow.

"And I'm sorry for ... for everything." Brooklyn's voice was quiet. "I'm sorry for Indie -- I might not have meant to sleep with her that first time but I knowingly dated her after that, and some part of me might have done it to get back at you. That is unforgivable, I know. But I truly am sorry. I'm sorry for never having time for you and for treating you the way I did. You probably think I hate you -- I don't, you're my baby brother and I love you. I was just always so angry because I felt I was insignificant when I was with you. You're the talented one, the star, you always have been and I've always been jealous of you." He turned back to London. "And I was jealous of you too, because you were 'Roman's twin, Roman's sibling' and I was overlooked. And I always blamed you both for that, but I know now that it wasn't your fault. And I'm sorry."

Brooklyn stopped, and cast his eyes down to the ground. Roman and London looked at each other and Roman knew they were thinking the same thing. One small apology didn't make up for twenty-one years of appalling treatment, but Brooklyn had meant what he had said. That was obvious.

"We're not going to say that we forgive you,"
Roman said to his brother, "but we accept your apology." London nodded in agreement.

"And you can stay, but you're on thin ice," she added, before taking Evan's hand and pulling him back to the party. Roman was about to do the same for Samuel, but Brooklyn said something.

"I'm sorry for what I said about your dad all those years ago," he said to Samuel. "I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I'm sorry."
 
Samuel stares blankly at Brooklyn for a moment before saying anything and when he did it was in a pretty emotionless tone.

"Okay," Samuel didn't actually care much about what Brooklyn had said, he usually hated any reminder of his dad, but Brooklyn's words back then hadn't had anything to do with Samuel, they had been thrown out because he had been defending Roman and because Brooklyn had believed Roman didn't deserved defending. This was also why he couldn't really accept the apology. He had seen what Brooklyn had done to Roman, the state of anxiety he had put him in several times and Samuel didn't think he would ever be able to forgive him for it.

It was okay that Roman and London at least accepted his apology to give him a chance though. To Samuel Brooklyn was a polite conversation at the breakfast table, angrily storming out when his sister needed him and repeatedly hurting Roman after that. But to Roman and London he was a brother, someone they had grown up loving and looked up to.

Samuel didn't think Brooklyn's apology had been a bad one at all. He had apologized, used words he clearly meant, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to keep acting like he had in the past. Samuel would believe the man's apologies when he saw evidence of them.

"Whatever," Samuel shrugged and turned to his boyfriend, "let's go back to having fun,"

Samuel did as Roman had started and they headed of to join their friends, Brooklyn ended up in a chair by the kitchen table rather than in and around the couch like the other. Save Gabi and Matthew the people here were all London and Roman's close friends, depending on how much Roman had shared with them they weren't going to just forgive him like that either.

There was one person who didn't have any ideas about the man's wrongdoings, though, and that was innocent little Allison who was sitting in front of her parents on the floor playing with Lola again.

The little girl looked up at the tall man curiously, then she looked at Roman, her expression changing to a confused one, then to London, slowly making the connection that the three were similar looking and that there was something familiar in Brooklyn's features.

Then she did what any child would do and pointed to Brooklyn why loudly asking, "Mummy who is he? He looks like you and uncle Roman,"
 
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r o m a n
The reactions that Brooklyn earned by appearing were mixed. Elliot straight-up glared at him until Roman had explained to his friends that his brother had apologised. Then, his expression had turned suspicious. Bella absolutely refused to accept Brooklyn being anything other than a piece of shit and therefore continued to glare at Brooklyn even when Elliot had stopped. Blake obviously still disliked Brooklyn but did not make such a big deal out of his presence. Elissa knew nothing of Brooklyn, so she just gave him a smile and a wave after introducing herself.

Roman went to the fridge and pulled out a can of orange soda, setting it in front of Brooklyn without a word. He remembered that that was his brother's favourite. Brooklyn gave him a surprised look as Roman handed him an almost-empty box of meatlovers' pizza -- also one of Brooklyn's favourites -- before he turned back to the rest of the partygoers.

Brooklyn didn't make an effort to actually join the circle of friends, because it was clear that Roman and London were the only people who actually wanted him there, and he was the kind of person to realise when he wasn't wanted and to take what he could get when it came to his siblings. However, he did look up from his can of soda when Allison pointed him out. It seemed to occur to Brooklyn at the same time as it did to the twins that this was the first time Brooklyn had seen Allison since she was a tiny baby.

"That's your Uncle Brooklyn, sweetie," London explained, reaching out to rub her daughter's arm affectionately. Even if Brooklyn left a bitter taste in her mouth, Roman knew that his sister was always slightly dismayed that Allison did not have a relationship with her eldest uncle. Family was important to all of them, which was why the rift between the twins and Brooklyn had always made them a little sad. "He's mine and Uncle Roman's big brother."
 
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"Uncle brook.. lyn," she tested out the name, seemingly finding it a little difficult to say. Then she looked back at her mother for a moment as if to ask of she had gotten the right idea. When she got confirmation she went back to looking at Brooklyn.

In Allison's eyes an uncle was someone like Roman and Samuel who was there to care for her and love her unconditionally, she didn't understand that her mother and youngest uncle had a complicated relationship with him and was just going to assume that this was another person like Roman that would play with her and bake with her and had cute animals at his apartment. So, she stood up, grabbing Lola who stayed calm due to being used to it, and walked over to Brooklyn. There she held out one arm and made a grabbing motion.

"Up, please," she said, like she would when she wanted to sit in anyone in her families lap. It was sweet but Evan was peering over at what was happening with a bitter expression. He seemed to be at the same page as Samuel about the whole thing, but he obviously wasn't going to stop his little girl from getting to know her uncle or stifle her curiosity because that was important for a child to have.
 
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Most of the party guests seemed to be having their own conversations but Roman and London were avidly watching Allison as she wrapped her head around the fact that this man was her uncle. London nodded when she looked for confirmation. Allison then seemed to decide that Brooklyn's uncle status automatically meant he was a lovely person and trotted over to him, asking to be picked up.

Roman personally found the little girl's innocence sweet, and smiled a little as Allison immediately accepted Brooklyn as her uncle. However, he hoped and prayed that this would go well. Brooklyn had the tendency to disappear. Roman did not Allison to form a bond with her elder uncle only for him to vanish and leave her wounded.

Brooklyn looked at the little girl in shock. He then looked at London, as if he were asking if it was okay. London bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, before she nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on her daughter.

Brooklyn set aside his can of soda and very carefully picked up the little girl. He sat her on his lap and carefully supported her with one arm, never taking his gaze away from her. He seemed to be in awe, maybe of the girl's cuteness, or maybe because this was the baby he had been jealous of for years.

"Hello, Allison," he said to her softly, before offering her a sip of his drink.
 
Allison happily accepted the drink and Samuel wanted to scream something about not giving the small child sugary soda, but that honestly didn’t have anything to do with whether or not Brooklyn was good or bad, it was just Samuel’s morals. He said nothing about it and watched the events unfold.

“Hello uncle Brookyn,” She said once she had gotten a sip, she seemed to have decided to skip out on the l since the letter being placed after the k was messing things up for her, she was obviously very good at speaking but she was still only two so it was okay that she made those tiny little mistakes. Samuel would probably always let her say Sammy but it had stemmed from it being easier to say.

Then Allison grabbed the bunny she still had in her lap with both hands and held it up to her uncle’s face. Lola wriggled a little uncomfortable but seemed to accept her fate.

“This is Lola,” she continued while making her voice even squeakier and a little quieter, this was how she imagined the small animal would talk, “hello, hello,”
 
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"Oh, hello, Lola," said Brooklyn, tickling the bunny's belly with a small smile on his face. He clearly didn't want to mess it up with Allison. This was the only member of his family who didn't remember the shit he had pulled over the years -- she was like a clean slate, a chance to show that he wasn't the piece of shit everyone seemed to think him to be.

"She's very cute," Brooklyn affirmed, taking the bunny carefully and holding her to his chest for a moment, before deciding to return the creature to his niece's lap. London and Roman both watched him attentively, but after a little while, they relaxed, determining that Brooklyn wasn't going to make the child cry or do anything else shitty. So, they sunk back into their seats, leaned against their boyfriends and enjoyed the rest of the party.

Over the next hour, people started to leave, wishing the twins happy birthday and thanking them for the party before walking out of the front door. Elliot and Matilda were the last to leave, and it was obvious that Elliot probably only wanted to stay to beat the shit out of Brooklyn. After Roman reassured him a thousand times that everything was okay, he left, and Roman finally closed and locked the front door.

Brooklyn looked up at him. He was still holding Allison, only now they had moved to the floor, where he was reading her a story since she was pretty close to falling asleep. London had let this happen because Allison had shown that she liked her eldest uncle and trusted him simply because he held the same title as Roman and Samuel.

"Do you want me to leave too?" Brooklyn asked, pausing the princess story.

Roman licked his lips and glanced at his sister. "Do we want him to leave?" he asked her, moving back to the couch to sit next to Samuel.

"Well, he hasn't shoved you or called me a sl -- a nasty name today," London said somewhat bitterly, leaning against Evan. "So I don't know."

Brooklyn bit his lip. "I know I don't deserve anything from any of you, but I genuinely want to try to fix things. At least get to a point where we can sit in the same room and not glare at each other."
 
The party continued on without anything bad happening. Brooklyn seemed to have decided to at least be a good uncle despite being a shitty brother and was being pretty good with Allison. Samuel could still see Evan glance over at them suspiciously ever so often. After a while the party had to come to an end, leaving only the two couples, Allison and Brooklyn there.

Now that they were alone and everyone seemed calm Samuel decided he could actually put his thoughts into the matter. Or well, a version of his thoughts that he actually felt wouldn’t prevent the three siblings from moving forward from this. He just wanted Brooklyn to know that if he wanted to fix things he would have to fix things.

“You know you gotta prove that, though, right?” Samuel wasn’t using a hostile tone, partly because Allison was there and almost asleep, partially because he didn’t want to ruin things for London and Roman, “An apology is good and all but at the end of the day it’s just words and they won’t mean anything unless you show you regret it. Like, if you go back to treating them like shit I literally won’t want Roman to talk to you, and that’s not me being a possessive jerk, that’s me looking out for his wellbeing because I don’t want you hurting him again,”

Usually this was a given with an apology, you use the words to explain that from now on you are going to act differently, but Brooklyn and shown time and time again that he was incredibly immature and childish and Samuel wouldn’t put it past him to apologise only to be back to his old ways and act like a whiny child when people didn’t like it.

He seemed to have matured a little though, so maybe he should get some credit for that. Probably not from Samuel though.