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Yes, I finally got off my lazy fluffy butt and wrote this! =^_^=

There is to be no lynch mob you hear! I am under the VAST time limit I set myself, go and check for your self.

I hope this is a worthy swansong for the series. Enjoy! After the pointless disclaimer of course.

Warning: The following story contains descriptions of an adult nature. Those under the age of 18 should not read this story, for fear of how it might affect your fragile little mind. Yes, I am patronising you but you know who you are so leave now, I'm not joking (that was a joke by the way, after all these years I will admit that ^^). This story contains incest and should more than likely be avoided by people who dislike such things that come under that title. I cannot be held accountable for you actions beyond this point.

**

In the swirling vortex of Mark's poor rattled brain he could not hear one single coherent thought. Entire days would pass and he would have no recollection of what had transpired. Stuck, trapped, utterly lost within himself. No happy thoughts. No merriment. There was only the black and empty feeling that made him physically sick to the stomach. If he'd been eating properly then he probably would have retched up his lunch.

Mark should have been enjoying his last week with his brother, but alas his emotional state did not allow for that. He had spent the week in solitary misery and doing a poor job of hiding it. And now it was Friday, and Charlie was leaving on Sunday. The teen fox knew this very well and it just proved to hurt him more; losing his brother again. He wondered if he could go with him. Travel around with him and see the sights that he has seen.

Charlie hadn't spoken of what his plans were going to be after he left again. Whenever Mark had asked, Charlie would simply shrug and reply: "plenty more places out there to see." Mark wished for his brother to settle down, find a decent job and a nice mate, but he was glad that his big brother was enjoying himself.

The hot summer days were noticeably fading away along with the summer holiday. School would soon be in session again and the monotony of life would continue on as usual. A brisk chill was in the air, sweeping through the trees and shaking the leaves. The sun was hidden behind a cloudy sky, only peeking out to say hello when there was a brief gap in the creamy pinkish blur. Far out was a large cluster of dark, foreboding clouds providing a backdrop for the horizon.

Mark sighed so long and loud he ran out of air and had to take a deep breath to refill his lungs. He sat meekly on the seat of the swing with his head hung limply, staring at his feet. His paws gripped the chains either side of him, yet there seemed no will to actually hold himself steady, as if he welcomed falling flat on his face.

"You've done nothing but mope and sigh all day," Mist said.

His ears twitched but Mark made no attempt to answer.

Mist kicked her legs carelessly, more in boredom than anything else. The swing she was sat on made a feeble endeavour at motion though didn't quite get the hang of it.

"Come on, what is bothering you?" She asked for the third time today. "You could have said no if you didn't want to come out to the park," she huffed.

He made a sideways glance at her and his wilted tail flicked just once. Honestly, Mark thought that spending some time with a friend would help him take his mind off of his problem, but it hadn't worked so far. He had gone from sulking around in his room to sulking around outside. He supposed the outdoors was a pleasant change of scenery, though it did little for his demeanour.

"It's not like you to be down," she continued admirably. "Is it because school is starting again soon?" She asked, trying to eliminate some variables. "I know your brother is leaving on Sunday, but I'm sure he will be back to visit sooner or later," she attempted a smile, desperately seeking to turn a bad situation on its head. Still nothing. Just the bleak, sagging fox she had been with for the best part of her afternoon. It upset her to see him this way, and a depressing thought slipped through her subconscious. She wondered if maybe he didn't want to be friends again.

"It's just... I don't know," Mark sighed, scuffing a shoe over the wood chippings below.

Wow. Five whole words, Mist thought. "You know you can tell me," she sounded almost pleading.

"It's just, hard to explain," he said to his feet.

"Well don't explain it, just tell me, maybe I can help," she offered.

Mark turned his head and looked at her.

Those sullen, characterless eyes pierced the membrane of her emotional armour and cut deep into the fabric of her soul. He was crying out for help. She could see it. Feel it. Sense his silent wail of desperation. But he said nothing. Not one word. Not even a whisper.

Mark supposed this was mildly better than hanging around the house. After the argument at the dinner table a week ago there had been a lot of tension in the household. Liz and Derek barely spoke to each other and had been sleeping in separate beds. Mark knew that all parents fought and it had certainly happened before. But he couldn't help having that cubbish thought of whether his parents might split or not.

He shook his head violently without thinking, obscuring that malevolent memory that persisted to haunt his dreams and scratch at the very surface of his mind's-eye. He hated it so much his fists clenched into tight balls of rage.

Mist was watching him the whole time in an anxious stupor, too concerned for her friend's wellbeing to look away. Maybe he really didn't want to be friends with her after all and just couldn't work up the courage to say it. No, that can't be it. There is something deeper. This is not like him. It must have something to do with Charlie. Problems at home, it could be. Mist processed this over and over while she stared helplessly at her fox friend.

"I'm sorry, Mist. I didn't mean to make your day hell; I've just had a lot on my mind. I promise I will tell you about it someday but I can't say anything until I know exactly what it is I am saying." Mark finally spoke with a sigh. He stood and gave his friend a dishevelled smile, weak and lifeless. "Thanks for inviting me out; it's nice to know I still have friends." He touched her shoulder and presently padded away, tucking his paws in his pockets. He hoped that would be enough to satisfy her.

Mist looked on, mouth open a snap to convey her confusion. He may as well have said "riddle me this" before uttering that speech because it was as much a puzzle to her as flying was to a mouse.

The teen-fox dragged his feet into the house, kicked off his shoes and headed up the stairs. Still lost in his head he went on autopilot, drifting his way into the room his older brother had commandeered for the last month. He flopped onto the bed finding some peace in the fresh scented fabric of the cotton sheets his mother had obviously cleaned recently. He sighed for perhaps the billionth time that day, closing his eyes, the heavy swirl of thoughts wearing him down gradually throughout the afternoon. He hoped a nap might clear his mind, but even Mark knew he was kidding himself.

**

His ears perked up and twisted in the direction of the door. He heard the distinctive sound of a door being forcefully opened and slamming into a wall. Then came horrifying shouting and shrieking, making Mark shiver in terror. He hated shouting and anger; it was the worst thing he thought conceivable. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to imagine he was somewhere else altogether, somewhere peaceful and not full of abhorrence. It was something he so rarely came across in his family, but when it happened, he just wanted to disappear.

There was a loud thump, another even louder one soon followed, shortly pursued by two distinctive screams of alarm. Then, everything went silent.

Mark stared down at the cub's body he found himself in, sorely wishing to escape this nightmare, however, he had no control, he could only sit inside this child he knew to be himself and watch as the horror unfurled before him. He would have to relive this nightmare, this memory, this scar born of trauma at the rotten core of his own being. Maybe this time it would drive him mad and he could spend the rest of his waking life in a padded cell where all he had were his memories.

The silence was unnatural and seemed to last an eternity. The hard press of the door behind him became intolerably uncomfortable. He didn't even realise how tense he was as he had nearly curled over, clutching his knees to his chest in adolescent fear. What had happened? Why was daddy so angry? Why was mummy crying? Why was he sent in here out of the way? Mark didn't know how to answer those questions his mind replayed like a broken record.

With whatever strength he could muster and mental willpower he could fathom, Mark slowly pushed himself from the floor and stood on rickety legs. He quaked as if it were below freezing. He had to go and investigate; he had to know what was going on even though he didn't want to know the answer. Slowly and tentatively as if approaching a dangerous animal he opened the living room door and padded out into the hallway. There were clear sounds of sobbing coming from up above and the murmur of an angry voice, though he could make out no actual words. Mark felt the icy fingertips of fear crawl devilishly up his spine as he reached the bottom step. He went stiff, unable to put himself into motion. The slam of a door made him jump and whimper ever so quietly. The thudding of heavy feet on carpet and creaking floorboard reverberated throughout the deathly silence of the household. There was more slamming and unrecognisable noises.

The fox cub took a deep breath and began his ascent up the stairway, not knowing what would greet him at the top. The weeping became much clearer and the soft voice of his mother could be heard, broken by sniffles of despair. Mark reached the top and peered around the corner to find no sign of life. The door to his sister's room was ajar and the anguished sounds seemed to be coming from there. With his bravery waning he struggled on until he was pushing his sister's bedroom door open and poking inside.

His blue fox brother was sat uneasily on the floor, one paw behind himself as support, the other clutched over his left eye. As Mark took the time to examine his brother he saw that he looked dazed and pained, his muzzle crumpled like an old tin can. Hazel was with him, her arms held tightly around his chest as she whimpered and sobbed against him, her face buried in his shoulder, though Mark could see the glint of tears running down her cheeks and chin. His mother was sat on the bed with her head in her hands, rocking precariously back and forth in a disturbing manner.

Mark's mouth opened and formed to make a sound, but it closed again; his rattled mind unable to conjure complex things such as words at this moment.

The thudding of heavy footsteps along the corridor made Mark jump. He noticed Hazel grip her sixteen-year-old brother even tighter, if that were at all possible. Mark had the good sense to move aside and stay out of the way as his father strode into the room, a suitcase in one paw, his other paw clenched into a fist. Mark was sure his claws were digging into his paw-pads. He looked up at his daddy and saw only a visage of anger, if he were old enough he would have noticed the true hate and oddly fear.

Derek's petulant fury made his voice quake as he spoke directly to Charlie. "You are out of this house! I never want to see or hear from you again, you are no longer my son and no longer a part of this family." Derek paused to take a harsh breath. "I don't care where you go, or who with, I don't care what happens to you. If I find you here ever again I swear I will ring the police or take matters into my own two paws. I will make you suffer, don't you dare doubt I won't." Derek threw the hulking suitcase at his ex-son's feet and presently walked away without so much as a backwards glance or note of pity.

Mark's blood ran like molten ice in his veins and he felt sick to the stomach as a rising knot of discomfort worked its malevolent way up his throat.

The blue fox said nothing and simply slid his paw from his face, revealing the already swelling purple bruise around his left eye. Even an eight-year-old could tell exactly what had happened and the thumps he heard earlier took on a whole new horrific form as he came to understand what they had been: Charlie being hit and then falling to the ground.

"Brother..." Mark whimpered so quietly he wasn't sure he had uttered it.

Charlie smiled up at him, a grim and loving visage of distorted pain. He held out his free arm to his brother, ushering his little brother to come close. "Come here, Marky, give your big bro a hug."

Mark padded over cautiously at first then practically ran. He fell into his brother's arm, letting out huge sobs of grief, so confused by all this. He simply didn't understand what was going on, nothing made sense but it hurt nonetheless.

"Did daddy hit you?" he sobbed into his big brother's shoulder.

"No, I just fell, Marky, that's all." He took a deep breath and kissed the top of the young fox's head. Charlie looked up at his mother whose eyes were red and sore from crying so much.

"Now, little bro, you've got to do something for me okay? I want you to be a big kit and look after your mum and your sister; I know I can count on you." He smiled a fake smile for the benefit of little Mark. "I love you little guy." He embraced his brother with both arms, holding him so tight and protectively the kit was running out of air.

Hazel was still hugging Charlie around the midsection, her muzzle and face pressed into his shoulder as she wept. The blue fox let the kit go and turned to take his sister into his arms. She tilted her muzzle up and gazed into his eyes, racked with shaky sobs, her cheeks stained and matted with joyless tears. Charlie kissed her on the lips and for that moment her weeping subsided as she kissed him back. How was she to live without him?

"I love you so much sis," he whispered so only she could hear, at least that is what he hoped.. "It was worth it, wasn't it? The time we spent together." She sniffled in reply. "This is it okay? If I ever see you again, god willing I will, you know we can never have what we had. Please, for me sis, find someone special and love them like you loved me, no looking back and no regrets." He kissed her again.

With a bit of difficulty he detached Hazel from his body and stood up with a grimace; the fall had obviously bruised something around the hip area. He looked over at his mother, fighting back the tears that had been welling up for a long while now.

_"Mum... I'm so sorry, you no I didn't mean to hurt you or--" he paused and sighed, continuing, "--or Derek."

Liz thrust up from the bed like a coiled spring and threw her arms around her son, sobbing as if he'd just been given the death sentence._

"Charlie, please, you don't have to go, I don't care what you've done, I know how much you love her, we can work this out, I can talk to your father and persuade him, you can't go, you can't!" Liz rambled, stuttered and spoke so fast her words jumbled into nonsense. She knew in the back of her mind Derek would never allow Charlie to stay here and arguing about it would only cause suffering for everyone.

"Hey, hush up you," he tried to sound cheerful, "you know I'm a survivor."

"Yes... but what will you do? I could ring Mrs Abernathy, I'm sure your friend John would take you in for a while." She sounded hoarse.

"No, I don't fancy sticking around this town. Hey, it'll be like a holiday," he grinned his Charlie grin, though inside he was torn apart. Truthfully he did not know what he was doing, he was acting on impulse with only his feelings to guide him and in his current state of mind he had no idea where it would lead him.

"How can you be so casual about this?" she shouted was sudden fury, ripping from his arms and taking off out the room.

Charlie sighed and moved to pick up the suitcase loaded with clothes he imagined. The two young foxes stood miserably. Mark caught the glint of tears running down his big brother's cheeks but they were quickly removed with a paw. The blue fox padded out the room without another word. The two kits followed anxiously, they did not know what else to do; Hazel was still weeping and rubbing her sore eyes.

As Charlie reached the front door Liz appeared from out the kitchen. She handed her son a wad of cash and a slip of paper.

"Auntie Josephine's address is on there," she told him. "You take care of yourself, and keep in contact, I don't care what your fath... Derek says, he can't stop me from speaking to you."

They embraced once more for no longer than a second, parting with not another word. Charlie left his former home and did not take a single glance back for fear of losing his nerve and retreating to where he was no longer welcome.

Liz felt a tug on the hem of her blouse and looked down to see Mark.

"Where is he going, mummy?" he asked.

"Baby... your brother is just going away for a little while, okay?" she lied.

"Charlie, don't go," he whimpered. Little Mark ran for the door but was held back by the paws of his mother. "Charlie! Don't leave! Charlie!"

**

"Charlie!"

Mark jerked up in bed with a breathless gasp, clutching at his chest, feeling the adrenaline surge through his veins at a frightening speed as if he had been falling. He erratically wiped at his forehead, unable to suppress a whimper as his paw became damp with a cold sweat. His whole body felt muggy like he'd just been running in terror from a wild, bloodthirsty animal, knowing it was right behind him ready to pounce and tear him apart. He couldn't quite believe how fast his heart was racing.

The nightmares were getting worse, much worse and much more vivid and terrifying. The things he had tried so hard to block from memory and had done relatively successfully for all these years were coming for him. His own personal monster in the closet was consuming his world. His dark thoughts were invading him even in his sleep.

The radiant light through the nearby window had drained and pacified into a pale orange glow; the night was clearly drawing in as it had been doing earlier now that the summer solstice was over. The room was still fairly light however, just enough to see the detailed carvings on the headboard of the bed. Mark realised he'd been asleep for quite some time; it had only been mid-afternoon by the time he fell into bed.

The fox's ears quirked as his vivid dream remained strong at the forefront of his mind. Every nightmare he had was bringing him a clearer and clearer picture and this was the most lucid one of them all. What had Charlie said to Hazel that horrible day? He heard it all but he didn't remember listening. It was the strangest feeling, like some kind of outer body experience where somehow he intuitively knew exactly how everyone was feeling. Was this a memory or was it really a dream? The events certainly played out in a classic dream like way; there was no fluidity, scenes seemed to jerk forward in time and skip like flat stones across a still pond.

Mark was drawn abruptly out of his thoughts as the door opened casually and his blue fox brother took a step in, jumping vaguely when he saw Mark. However Mark himself did not shift.

"Oh, hey Marky, didn't expect to see you here," he smiled.

Mark looked up at him and shook his head, bringing his breathing under control. "Nah, thought I'd come in here for a lie down, nice and peaceful in here."

"Too right it is, I can remember wanting this room when we moved into this house but you turned on the puppy eyes and I knew I had to let you have it," he grinned and chuckled.

Mark cracked a real smile for the first time since the café. It was only then that Mark noticed his brother was only wearing a pair of boxer shorts. He figured that his clothes were dirty and had gone straight in the washing basket. Mark felt his cheeks burn a little in the smallest of blushes.

Charlie noticed his brother looked a little pale and clammy, but he didn't think much of it, it was rather warm in the room after all.

"Well I best hop in the shower, don't want a smelly blue fox hanging around the place do you," he grinned. He grabbed his towel from the desk and headed towards the door.

"Charlie," Mark said timidly. He sat up in bed and crossed his legs.

"Huh?" Charlie turned back around to face him saying: "yeah, Marky."

Mark squirmed a little and looked down at his feet, but was too committed now to say nothing. He asked: "what do you think love really is?"

Charlie blinked, taken off guard. "Love? Gee, Marky, you don't half come out with some tough ones don't you? You wouldn't rather know the meaning of life or something?" He tried to make a joke, as usual, although Mark clearly didn't find it at all humorous. Charlie seemed to recall talking about this when he discovered he was going out with Mist. So why would he have to reiterate himself? He figured he probably wasn't clear enough the first time.

"It's something you learn with time, bro, I don't think I could really tell you because it means something different to everyone," he said.

Mark looked sullen and his ears lowered a little. Charlie knew that was not the answer his little brother was looking for. He chucked the towel back on the desk and sat next to his brother. Mark looked up at him with a sad expression. Charlie smiled down at him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him against his side.

"The one thing I do know to be true for everyone though is that love is something you just know you've fallen into. When you're around that special someone you find the whole world is like a butterfly's wing: colourful and vibrant. It's just a unique feeling inside you," he explained.

Like a spark catching on a stream of oil a flash of flame lit inside Mark's mind as he was stricken by the sharpest of epiphanies he'd ever had. Mark could feel it. He did feel it. Whenever he was around Hazel it was like he was floating on a bed of clouds. Everything seemed to be so vastly enhanced when they were together. All those times he said 'I love you' to her, he meant it with his whole soul. At that moment he made a promise never to question their relationship again. He had been extremely selfish to question it in the first place. He loved her and she loved him that was the truth. That was the ultimate conclusion he could draw.

"Thanks, Charlie, I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes," his voice sounded very light. He pressed his cheek against his brother's shoulder and rubbed it slowly against his fur.

His big brother smiled dotingly and let his arm stroke down the length of Mark's. "Hey, you managed to cope for five years without me and then I come home to find you've done so much growing and I missed it," he sighed.

Mark let out a sombre little whimper of pain and wrapped his arms around his brother in a tight hug. He pressed his nose into Charlie's shoulder and gave it a nuzzle, his paws gripping tight not wanting to ever let go.

"But you're still growing up Mark, things change when you grow older. You may not like it or even realise it, but they do and will change. Sometimes its gradual, sometimes it's instant. Some things you get a totally new perspective of as you learn to look at them more closely." He said with another Charlie patented grin. "But, as long as I can do this..." he trailed off and bent forward, wiggling an arm under Mark's legs and resting the other on his back. Mark meeped as he was lifted up and placed in his brother's lap, Charlie's arm acting as a back rest to hold him up. Charlie lowered his muzzle and smiled lovingly, finishing his sentence thusly: "then you'll always be my little brother."

Mark's cheeks burned fiery red as he looked up at him, feeling five all over again as he was cradled by his older brother. Charlie's eyes seemed to dazzle a shining blue. The blue fox slipped a paw onto his brother's tummy and gave it a rub up and down. Mark blushed harder and giggled, squirming a little as he murred pleasantly. Charlie remembered Mark's soft spot, the one place guaranteed to make him squirm like a cub.

Mark had spent most of his young life living as if he were older than he really was. The trauma of losing his brother had left a hole in his heart and it taught him to grow up. But when he was with his brother that hole was filled and his childhood seemed to flood back to him. He knew he was a teenager, yet at this moment he couldn't help acting five years younger. It was like travelling back to a time when they would play together and just have fun as brothers. It brought the child out of him that had been hidden deep within him for those long years.

Charlie chuckled and stopped rubbing his belly, just letting his paw stay there. "Now then, how about you tell me what brought all this on?" He asked.

The little fox snapped out of his daze and mumbled something to his brother. "I um... it's nothing," he lied.

"Dear oh dear, you know me better than that to fall for such an obvious lie. Come on, you know you don't have to keep secrets from me, I'm you're big bro," he smiled reassuringly. "Is it something to do with Mist? I haven't seen her around recently," he said.

"Well... kinda..." he coughed.

"What does 'kinda' mean, hmm? Is there anything wrong," he asked.

Mark nodded and sighed, feeling safe enough with his brother to tell him. "We split up... we weren't even together that long and its over," his ears drooped.

"Aw, I'm so sorry to hear that, but these things happen," he gave his brother a squeeze. "Do you mind if I ask why?"

"Erf... erm... we just didn't get along," Mark replied.

"Again with the lying?" He smirked. "Cross my heart and hope to die I won't tell another soul, I promise," he raised his paw and made a cross over his chest.

"Well it's um... another girl," he whimpered.

Charlie couldn't help but laugh and give his brother's tummy a tiny teasing tickle, which only proved to make Mark wriggle and giggle. "A regular Casanova we have here," he grinned. "You're sounding too much like me here, Marky. So come on then, spill, who's the lucky girl?"

Mark suddenly went completely quiet, averting his gaze to anywhere else in the room that wasn't Charlie. Could he really tell his brother such an immense secret? He knew his brother was honest and honourable, so surely he would not repeat it to anyone. Besides, Mark had told someone before, one more person couldn't hurt, right?

"I... I... it's... I can't, Charlie," he sighed and looked down. "We're just not ready for anyone to know about us."

"Hey, don't worry about it bro, tell me in your own time," he smiled.

Mark looked up at him and smiled back, his tail giving a gentle happy wag. Looking into the eyes of his elder brother made him feel so warm and joyful inside, the same sort of feeling as devouring a whole wedding cake, just without the illness afterwards. Mark's cheeks began to show a blush as he remembered back to an evening not so long ago. He had wanted to do it back then and he had the very same sensation that made him want to try it again now. He kept gazing into his brother's eyes, trying to find some sort of similar feeling in them. And there was. It was very familiar in fact, yet he had not noticed it before this moment. He saw the same look in Hazel's eyes, a look of passion and of love. But surely this could not be, not in his brother. How could this reaction be welling up inside him like this? He didn't much care anymore. Like a caged bird that longed to fly and be free, so too did Mark's adoration for his older brother.

"Hey, you best be getting ready for bed," Charlie said.

Mark just blinked at him. It was almost as if his brother reached inside his mind and foresaw what he was about to do. The young fox felt a heavy sinking sensation in his chest right down to his stomach for a brief moment. It soon cleared when he thought about his sister.

"Sure, just hurry up in the shower so I can brush my teeth," he replied with a grin.

"Promise I won't take too long," he grinned back. Charlie leant forward and placed a light 'family' kiss on his brother's forehead. He chuckled when Mark looked up at him slightly bewildered and embarrassed. "Now scoot," he patted Mark's back.

The orange fox hopped off the bed. "Seeya later, bro," he said.

"And the same to you," he smiled.

Mark left the room and padded down the hallway a few steps. He turned to see if Charlie was about to go to the bathroom and shower but he didn't see any sight of him. With the lightest of pawsteps and a mischievous mind he crept back to the door. He peeked through the gap he left in the door and had to suppress a tiny gasp. It brought back memories of peeking before, the thrill and the rush of it building anew.

Charlie had taken down his boxer shorts leaving him totally bare, stretching on tip toes facing the door leaving little to the imagination. He found himself oddly turned on by his naked brother and the excitement of it all made the experience that much better. With a restrained childish giggle he headed back down the hall, making sure he had enough time to get inside his sister's room before Charlie came out of his. A thought passed through Mark's head as he was walking: 'why would he get undressed and then cross to the bathroom?' He shrugged it off taking no further notice. He pushed open the door to his sister's room and padded in.

"Hey, sis," he announced cheerily, his revelation keeping him in high spirits.

"Oh... Mark..." she said, sniffling lewdly.

The foxes ears quickly perked up and the sinking feeling returned. "Hazel, are you all right?" He asked hopefully. Hazel just lay there on the bed, facing away from the door with her head on the pillow.

"Sure, I'm just fine," she sniffled again.

Mark padded over to her and sat down on the bed behind her, bunching up his knees to hug to his chest. "You sound like you've been crying," he stated.

"You know exactly what's wrong with me, since it's your fault," she snivelled.

"I... my fault?" he questioned confusedly, very unsure of what exactly was his fault.

"You could have just told me you were going out with her all along, I would have understood... but this? Breaking up with her and then getting back together again, how do you think that feels Mark? If you had loved her as much as you do me then you wouldn't be getting back together. Is that all our relationship is to you, brother, just a game?" She sobbed.

Mark was only thirteen and had already experienced enough emotional traumas to last him a life time. He had come through each of them baring a scar, but he had battled through nonetheless and this one would be no different.

"Hazel... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Mist, but I couldn't risk losing you. And I'm sorry I ever started dating her, it was a terrible mistake and I don't know how I am going to make that up to you, it all just happened so fast. I don't know how you have come to think that we're back together, but it's over now, over for good; we're friends again and nothing more." He spoke calmly and clearly.

"Come on, Mark, you expect me to believe that," she said scornfully.

"Well, yes, I do actually," he said.

"So you just happened to go out with her last week and come home not acting yourself, like you didn't even care about me anymore," she snorted, getting quite frustrated.

"I expect you to believe me because you know me better than I know myself. I am not about to lie to you about this and I have no reason to. I admit I sullied your trust once, but you know me well enough to understand that I could never do it again."

"So why weren't you at all happy when you came home, you should have been jumping for joy," she retorted.

Mark took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second, sighing out his held lungful of air. "It's because... it's because I wasn't sure if I was old enough to be in a proper relationship with someone." He sighed again.

He felt the bed tremble as his sister shuddered, another light sob sounding out. "You want to end it with me, too?" she asked miserably, her ears hugging the back of her head.

"Not at all, sis, it's exactly the opposite. I've realised that I am ready for this. I hate myself for ever doubting my love for you, I hate myself for not being honest and I hate myself for rushing into a relationship with someone else. I was scared, Hazel, scared that we would lose each other if things got out of paw and we continued on this path. I love you with all my heart, truly." He took a moment to stare into her eyes, making that unique link that only two lovers can enjoy. "When you love someone so much and care about them to the point that you are willing to put everything at risk just to be with them, you can't let rules stop you. Something so powerful as love cannot be kept inside. It needs to be shared with the person you hold dear and whom has a special place in your heart. Hazel, you are my soul mate; you are my love, my lover and my whole world. I cannot imagine life without you and if people can't understand or accept that, then fine. Let them be intolerant because I will never stop loving you the way I do now. I will never see us separated no matter what." He came to understand what love was at that moment, prompted by his big brother.

There was a long moment where neither sibling said a word. Both had fresh tears brewing and glistening wetly like a fine gloss over their eyes.

Hazel was the first to speak, her voice light, she said: "oh, Mark, I'm sorry I doubted you," she sniffled, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her muzzle in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I betrayed you," he replied through a whisper, holding her tightly in his own arms.

"No, really it is okay... I'm the one who forced this upon you; of course you were going to be scared."

"You didn't force it upon me, it takes two to be in a relationship, remember." At the same moment they both pulled away to look at one another once more. "This relationship is the best thing ever to happen to me," he smiled.

Hazel smiled back. Her brother was such a sweet and loving individual. It was wrong what he did, but she did understand. She had jumped to conclusions earlier. She just loved her brother so much she feared losing him more than anything in the world. She'd been through loss before and she never wanted to feel that kind of pain ever again.

"I can't believe I jumped to such a stupid conclusion," she huffed.

"I was acting weird, I know you love me, sis, don't feel bad because you got scared. We were both scared and both reacted badly to our fear."

Hazel looked into her brother's eyes and said: "just promise me that you'll tell me everything from now on, no more secrets, that way we can work out our problems together."

"Yes, of course I promise, lover." He kissed her lightly on the lips as an act of impulse.

The slightest of blushes glowed through her furry cheeks. She giggled sweetly at her sibling, then returned the kiss with her own, holding it a little longer. Her tail swayed slowly behind her, feeling her anxiety float away and her heart fill with passion.

Mark too felt something similar along with his sister. He did love her! He wanted this relationship to work truly and deeply. He had been blind to think that this wasn't what he wanted. Nothing was going to tear them apart.

He jumped a little as he felt a mischievous paw explore along his thigh. Mark looked at his smiling sister and could see the deviousness in her eyes he had seen so many times before. He knew what was on her mind, it was pretty obvious really.

"I can't believe you made me go for this long without sex," she said lushly. Hazel couldn't contain the burning desire between her thighs for a moment longer. She needed her brother to quench the fire in her loins. She'd been suppressing it long enough and now with her mind at ease she could release her inner beast.

Mark could feel the instantaneous stir in his groin where his arousal was swelling within him. There was indeed only one thing pulsing in his mind that second: the driving urge to make love to his beloved sister.

"Aw, is my poor sissy all pent up?" he teased. He was probably just as horny as she was.

She growled at him in a playful but no less serious manner. She groped at her brother's loins, grinning as she felt a slight bulge already.

"Me all pent up? And what about you brother? I doubt that is a gun in your pocket." She gave a squeeze to the bulge, eliciting a moan from the teen fox.

Mark leant in and nipped at Hazel's neck causing her to yip lightly and shudder. He growled lustily and nibbled at her delicate neck fur, his paw roaming up her thigh and then down to her hip. He knew she loved having her neck teased. He let out a pleasured noise as Hazel groped at the swelling bulge in his trousers.

Hazel glanced at the part-way open door. They could hear the shower running quietly down the end of the hallway. It wouldn't take a lot for someone to hear them with that door open. She grinned and said: "first one to close the door gets to be on top."

Mark smirked and immediately thrust his sister to the bed and swung around.

Hazel was quick to recover and she dived on her brother, grabbing him around the neck and pulling him back against her breast, though not hurting him.

Mark yelped lightly, trying to keep the noise down as he tugged at Hazel's paws.

"Let me go. I'll be kinder to you if you cooperate and let me go," he said.

"You're going to be my plaything tonight brother." She grinned wider. Hazel swung her brother suddenly and threw him against the bed, darting for the door.

Mark jumped up and grabbed her just before she reached the handle, holding her around the waist and pulling her back against his body. She struggled gleefully in his arms, but he held her tightly.

After a minute or two Hazel began to pant and Mark slowly relaxed his arms, carefully manoeuvring around her so he could stretch out a paw and reach for the door to close it.

Hazel would have none of that and she smirked devilishly, reaching a paw down between her brother's legs and grasped hold of the prominent bulge again, making Mark yelp and flinch. In that same moment she swung him around and slammed her back against the door, effectively closing it and winning the game. She proceeded to lock the door afterwards.

The teen fox looked at his sister and huffed, panting just lightly. He complained and said: "that's cheating."

"All is fair in love and war," she simply replied and continued by saying: "now get on the bed like a good little boy."

Mark felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment, but he secretly loved it when Hazel acted dominantly over him. Though he figured it wasn't that much of secret since he didn't make much of an effort to conceal the fact. He obeyed as ordered and hopped up onto the bed, sitting in the centre.

The vixen approached from the bottom of the bed and slunk her way seductively up to her brother. Her hips swayed along with her tail and she made sure that Mark got a good look down her cleavage. She spread his legs and pulled his top of swiftly, running her claws down his bare chest, eliciting another delighted moan. She progressed downwards to unzip his trousers and slide them with ease off his legs, leaving just a tented pair of boxers.

"How I've missed this," she cooed as she bunched up his boxers around the swelling.

Mark gasped lightly and looked down at his sister as she removed his underwear, leaving his twitching sheath and peeking tip unprotected and at her mercy.

"I'm so going to make you pay for betraying me," she growled out her words. They both knew she meant it in a playful manner.

Mark gulped at the thought.

She placed her whole paw over his cock tip and painfully slowly moved it down, pushing back his sheath and unleashing her brother's stiff member into her paw. She squeezed her paw around him with every quiver of his pulse, murring constantly as she once again held his full member.

She whispered: "like that bro?"

"Y-Yes, sis," he meekly replied, biting his lip as he was enthralled with pleasure. Not even he had touched himself for a good long while.

She grinned once more, gradually stroking her way up and down his rigid shaft, gripping tighter every so often, loving how this would make him gasp. She placed a paw on his furred chest and pushed him back against the bed, swinging a leg over to straddle his thighs, her paw stroking his length faster and faster.

Mark lifted his hips and arched his back a little, grasping delicately at the sheets, panting through his nose as his sister pawed him off, feeling every twitch and ripple of pleasure, then Hazel suddenly pulled her paw away. The teen fox whined pitifully, his stiff flesh quivering with need.

Hazel just smiled down at him, shushing him in a motherly tone. Presently she hooked her paws around her t-shirt and whisked it off. She beamed toothily down at her brother as she reached around herself and unhooked her bra, pulling that off too, her supple breasts bouncing erotically. She smirked widely as she saw Mark's cock jerk laboriously at that point. Her trousers followed and soon her panties; the floor now strewn with clothing.

She sighed contentedly, murring and saying: "there, now isn't that much better, brother? Don't you just feel the relief?"

Mark of course was feeling the exact opposite of relief. His loins felt as if they would explode at a moments notice. He tried to raise a paw to his member so he might paw off, but it was quickly swatted away and a finger wagged as Hazel declared him a naughty boy.

"There will be none of that from you," she cooed.

She wiggled and scooted down his legs, her head coming to rest near his groin. She kissed teasingly over his lower belly, pecking and nibbling her way down and around his sheath, not touching his ardently pulsing shaft. Her claws tickled their way up his inner thighs, narrowly missing her furry sac before travelling back down.

The poor teased teen fox writhed with pleasure, every muscle in his body tensing with every kiss and nibble, every slight touch on his sensitive body.

Hazel murred at the sight of a drop of fox pre trickling down her brother's member. She poked out the tip of her tongue and stroked it sensually from sheath to tip in one long lick, collecting up her brother's pre with delight, her tail giving a happy wag. Her ears perked as Mark moaned then gasped breathlessly as she reached his tip. She smiled and swirled her tongue around it, occasionally flicking across his cock pit to lap up more droplets of pre. She lifted herself up somewhat then scooted up his leg a little more.

Mark's head jerked up so he could look down at the new feeling engorging his cock. He flushed a deeper red at what he saw: his length was engulfed by his sister's velvety breasts. He looked at her lustful grinning muzzle and gave a subservient whine. All he could do was flop his head back down on the pillow as Hazel began to work his shaft.

She murred deeply in her chest as she grasped her breasts and squished them together around her brother's member. She thought: he looks so cute when he is in ecstasy. She ground and moved her breasts in circles around the rigid pole, enjoying the way it felt in her cleavage.

The fox began to buck his hips, thrusting his cock between his sister's breasts, groaning out loudly as he felt the soft mounds press and pleasure all around him. His back arched further and he tilted his head back letting out a long, gasping cry of bliss as he felt his sister's tongue flick across his tip. He didn't know how much longer he would last like this.

Hazel cupped the underneath of her bosom and lifted them up as her brother's hips went down, then pushed and squeezed them tightly downwards as his hips came up. She rolled her tongue around his tip as much as possible, teasing it all over, stroking it roughly then all of a sudden switching to soft laps. She watched Mark's expressions carefully and saw his face screw up cutely and felt his hips buck and grind faster. She knew what was coming and smirked mischievously.

Mark let out a frustrated little noise of pent up lust as the soft breasts and lapping tongue stopped their work and left all together. He flickered his eyes open and lifted his muzzle as much as he dared, watching Hazel as she turned around and scooted backwards. His nose twitched as his sister's sex came closer and closer to his muzzle. He could make out every detail by the time it was hovering over his nose. Her glistening, perfect lips were spread slightly open like a morning flower. Her whole mound was puffy and faintly redder than usual.

"Lick it brother, taste your sister, please her," she whispered seductively.

The teen fox needed no further instruction. He gripped the top part of her rump and pulled her down close enough for his muzzle. With the first stroke of his tongue he was entranced by her taste and subtle texture. God it felt good to be here again.

Hazel bit her lower lip and smiled pleasurably, her tongue lolling from her muzzle somewhat as her brother pleased her cunny. Her muscles tensed with each eager lap, her juices wetting his lips and chin as she placed a paw over her muzzle to softened a cry of delight. She pushed her hips downwards and pressed her dripping sex against his nose, grinding around, smothering the fox in her rich scent.

Mark wriggled the tip of his nose inside his sister's swollen lips, lapping roughly at her pussy for a minute longer before shoving his tongue unceremoniously into her cunt. He loved the way her walls would squeeze around him, spurring him to dig his tongue in deeper, driving it hard, lapping and gulping down all she had to offer, feeling her shudder above him. His claws stroked down over her rump and he grasps her cheeks, pulling them tenderly apart to expose her delicate pink pucker.

The vixen growled pleasantly at her brother, rewarding his initiative by opening up her muzzle and engulfing his cock in her maw, reaching about half way before stopping. He bucked up and moaned into her cunny, impelling her to bob her head and suckle his firm length. She wrapped a paw around the base to keep him steady, quickly sucking along his cock.

Not to be outmatched Mark forced his tongue in deeper, pushing his lips and nose firmly against her pussy, his maw dropping open so he could pant erratically for breath as he tongue-fucked his sister. Her hot lips drooled juices into his maw which he gladly swallowed down.

Hazel stretched out her tongue and rubbed it along the underside of Mark's shaft as she bobbed and suckled, her muzzle sinking a tad further each time. Her tongue rippled over his length, eliciting deep groans from her brother. She muffled a raspy moan around his cock as she felt a dull claw make a criss-cross over her tailhole; her tail flicked right up, giving her sibling full access to her sensitive behind.

It was not long before Mark was streaming pre into Hazel's muzzle which she would suckle off him gleefully. He ran his thumb-claw around her pink ring teasingly as he pulled his muzzle away, much to Hazel's protest. He panted for a moment before grinning and aiming a little lower, wrapping his lips around the nub of his sister's clit. She let out a loud, yet muffled yelp around Mark's cock. He suckled and nibbled the receptive flesh, taking joy in how she would shudder all over as he did.

She could feel deep inside her sex that burning desire that her sibling's tongue hadn't even touched. She needed him now and she needed him badly. Hazel reluctantly tugged her hips away and pulled from his cock, spinning around so they were face to face.

She panted and said breathlessly: "I love you so much brother."

"I love you too sister," he replied, panting the same as her.

She leant in to kiss him passionately on the lips, locking them together, moving her lips against his. They both murred deeply, always enjoying a smooch.

Mark lifted his arms and stroked down his sister's sides, dragging his claws over her hips and back up again, making rough furrows in her fur. He wiggled his tongue against her lips which she willingly accepted, her own tongue flicking over his, enticing him in to her muzzle. Mark could taste himself inside her muzzle and so too could Hazel taste her own juices on his saturated tongue.

The vixen moved back slightly, keeping the kiss held firmly. She broke it for a second to moan as her wet cunt found its prize. She mashed her lips against her brother again, sticking her tongue into his muzzle and curling it with his. She ground her hot lips around his cock tip, teasing herself as much as him; each sibling exchanging groans into one another's mouths.

Hazel pulled away and sat up, straddling her brother's waist properly. She drew her claws through his chest fur, growling lustily down at him, her burning desire ever increasing. She sat back and lifted up, whimpering with a deep craving as she felt her brother's tip press against her puffy lips. She took it slow at first, sitting back and sinking down, gasping softly as she felt her brother's cock stretch and spear into her cunny. She loved that sensation: having Mark's hard erection squeeze into her tight space.

Her moist innards washed over him as he penetrated her deeper and deeper little by little, then inch by blissfully slow inch as pure lust began to take over the sibling foxes. His shaft became more engorged and things became tighter as he slipped in deeper. Mark could feel his sister's pussy grip around his shaft tightly, so used to being filled by him but finding it amorously enjoyable nonetheless. She moaned in pleasure as she hilted him and paused for a moment taking the opportunity to breathe deeply.

Mark's claws gripped firmly at her hips as he held her steady. He slowly ground his groin against hers, shuddering at the feeling; his cock twitching deep within her.

Hazel gripped and tugged at the bed sheets and screwed them up into tight balls in her paws. Just having him buried to the hilt did wonders for that burning sensation, but she needed more now. She rose back off of him, instinctively stopping with her lips around his tip. Hazel dropped herself back down upon him, gasping and moaning as he pressed within her depths in one swift motion. She was quicker this time and he slipped inside her much faster. She bounced up and down upon him, every hilt bringing her new waves of pleasure as she pumped his cock.

The teen fox nearly lost it there and then as he thrust his hips upwards into her, trying to keep in time with her coming downwards. His lust steadily became more unbridled as he was being pushed to the limit. Mark groaned and grunted with pleasure each time she hilted his member within her love tunnel. The familiar intensifying sensation of approaching climax built in his groin and he couldn't disregard it for much longer.

Hazel moaned out loud in pure ecstasy not caring at this perfect moment whether someone had heard her or not. A wash of her juices soaked her brother's groin as she gripped the sheets closer in her paws. The wet slapping sound of their coupling filled the room along with their pleasured, though still subdued moans and heavy pants.

Mark was gritting his teeth and grunting heatedly as his length was hilted over and over. His claws dug into his sister's skin as he pulled her downwards and thrust upwards, slamming into her hard off the bed now, watching through bleary eyes as Hazel arched her back and tilted her muzzle back, moaning at the ceiling like a bitch in heat. Mark had to tug a paw away and bite onto it, muffling his bliss into it as he finally let loose.

The vixen's eyes shot open as she felt the hot blast of her brother's seed rushing into her depths. She rode his cock hard, feeling every spurt of his delicious seed filling her. It rose in her like a tsunami, her loins tightened and her body stiffened. She bit around the back of her paw as her cunt closed in around her brother's throbbing member. She screamed a stifled howl as her climax hit her, threatening to send her tumbling off the bed it was so fierce. Her pussy gripped and milked her brother; drawing out every spurt he had to offer.

Mark felt the grip of her inner walls tighten immensely as they sucked at his member begging him for more. He cried out his elation once more as he coated her walls in his thick seed. His breathing became shallow and hurried as he pounded her through his orgasm. With his remaining strength Mark lifted off the bed and caught his sister in his arms, bucking and grinding, his cock rippling and jetting her full of cum. He buried his muzzle in her cleavage to muffle his deep groans.

Likewise she threw her arms around him and held him tightly, pressing her muzzle against his head. For a long moment the two of them just bucked and ground against each other, panting harshly, just trying to regain some breath.

Mark's painfully stiff shaft with continuing to throb hard within his sister, even though his load was already spent. He could feel her walls tense and relax around him in soft spasm as she came down from her climax. They held each other for so long that evening, neither of them wanting this blissful moment to end.

**

Mark supposed that it was a universal feeling to hate being woken at an inappropriate time and in an improper manner. His nightmares had thankfully lifted, even if it was just for a few hours he had found peace, though it was a mere respite to the torture he had been under. Sleep was such a precious thing and after a week of carrying a heavy burden the young fox found the weight lifted. He hoped this would be the end of his nightmares, but deep down he knew it was false hope. He had to get to the bottom of these evil dreams if he was ever to find true peace and rest. This very thought brought him back in a loop to his original grievance: being woken. He fought and struggled against it, but it was no use, he was awake, there was no arguing about that fact, especially not with himself.

Mark found himself in a very comfortable place as he awoke. The bed was warm and inviting, which really slowed down the whole waking up process. He noticed the familiar, tantalising scent of his sister, so close to him every breath was filled with the delightful aroma. He lay spooning her, holding her tight in his arms. It was that single moment in time that made him wish the whole world would stop dead in its tracks so he could remain in this loving position with his dearly beloved.

His ear gave a strong jerk, picking up noise, chatter maybe? Raised voices? What ever it was, it was the sound that woke him.

As the young fox's senses roused from a slumber far too short he began to feel the heavy ache of his arm that Hazel had been sleeping on and a moist, uncomfortable sensation localised around his groin. The noise continued and it certainly became apparent that it was voices, though who's and where they were was still a mystery. For a moment he fretted he was dreaming again, but this was far too lucid not to be real.

Reluctantly he shuffled away from his sister, carefully working his arm out from under her. Hazel barely stirred and simply rolled over slightly, gripping the sheets tighter for a second. Mark smiled down at her, stroking a paw over her arm. She smiled and murred briefly at the affection, shifting once more into a more comfortable position as if searching out the warmth of her brother's body in her sleep.

Mark moved off the bed, reaching under it to grab a fresh towel they always kept there in case of emergencies. He towelled off the worst parts of his matted groin realising he hadn't been asleep long enough for the sticky fluids to dry or at least not completely. All the time his ears twitched at the voices. Being closer to the door allowed him to discover that it was two male voices and it was coming from downstairs. He didn't bother to dress properly and just slipped his navy blue dressing gown on. He would always wear it on those mornings where showering and changing seemed too much of a chore.

Presently Mark moved out of the room and padded as silently as possible down the hallway in the direction of the stairs. The voices came in much clearer now. They were of a hushed anger; the kind of tone one used when one was having an argument but did not wish to wake a sleeping child.

Mark knelt just out of view at the top of the stairs. He could hear quite well in this position. He made out the voices of his father and his brother Charlie. Mark's ears sank a little at the thought of these two at each other's throats. He wondered how many times they might have had these disputes behind the families back. He leaned in and listened closely.

"You're just lucky I even let you stay here for this long, I cannot wait to see the back of you once more," Derek scorned

"You really think this is fair on the rest of the family? Do you really think it was fair on them five years ago?"

"You value your importance to this family too highly, boy. Everyone has gotten along just fine without your interference." Derek paused for a moment bringing up old memories of his wife and two youngest children weeping for days after he booted Charlie out. Liz told him that day that the only reason she would stay with him was for Hazel and Mark's sake. But he did what was best for his family, right? He could not let what happened go unpunished. He had to cutaway the tumour that was Charlie so that his family might stay healthy.

Right?

"Maybe I do, but maybe you shouldn't have put your feelings above the rest of your own family. There were other ways of working it out and you know that as well as I do and you may very well have done more damage to this family than I ever could." Charlie stood his ground fiercely.

"You know what you did was wrong, you know very well that you screwed up in such an unimaginable way it has torn this family apart." He scoffed.

"I tore this family apart? If you could have just accepted what happened and accepted what we had then there wouldn't have been a need to throw me out."

"It was wrong. How is any father supposed to react and cope with that situation, I did what was needed to be done to protect her and stop you from poisoning her mind."

Mark couldn't help but peek around the corner to have a look. He instantly wished he hadn't; the two male foxes looked imperiously furious.

"I can't believe you're trying to take the moral high ground here, dad." That received a low snarl from the old fox. "Auntie Joe told me everything about you and her."

Mark saw how Derek's fists clenched, clearly ready to give Charlie another black eye. The young fox fought back a whimper. Both older foxes were motionless for a long while, merely waiting to see who would make the first move.

"That... was different." He sounded more subdued and meek, but furious at the same time.

"How is it different?" Charlie pressed.

"We ended it before anyone got hurt or before we were discovered, it would have been only a matter of time before someone found out about you two and you landed in prison. I was protecting you as well."

"You were protecting yourself." Charlie retorted.

Mark suppressed a gasp as his brother glanced up at him seeing through the shadows and making direct eye contact. It was only for a split second but a second too long. Mark felt a frozen paw grip and tug at his heart at the fear of being discovered spying. The blue fox said nothing; he simply looked back at his father then presently turned and left the house, perhaps for good this time.

The young fox retreated swiftly back to his sister's room before Derek noticed him and took his rage out on him. Mark was starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together and contemplated something that hadn't even occurred to him. It was such a fragile thought as if it might blow away in the gentlest of breezes. But it was definitely there. Mark slept uncomfortably for the rest of the night, even though he was snuggled warmly with his beloved his mind kept reeling with that same thought.

**

Mark. Mark for the love of god, please wake up.

How was this possible: being woken from slumber before he was ready, again? It wasn't right, nor was it fair.

You have to wake up, Mark.

No I don't. I have to stay sleeping. Go away.

With very weighty eyes and a hefty mind Mark tugged, pulled and grasped at consciousness, clawing his way unwillingly into the waking world once more. He was not best pleased; especially since he was being shaken unpleasantly hard by the shoulders. He sensed a desperate, almost hysterical presence as if; if he didn't move that very instant a train were going to splatter his napping body across the tracks. Mark wasn't sure how long his sister had been crying in his ears or shaking his shoulders, but that soon became elementary as he awoke to her distressed visage.

"Sis? What's going on?" he managed to mumble, taking hold of her arms to stop her from shaking him further.

"Oh god... Mark... it's..." she cut herself off, sobbing hard, her cheeks wet with tears; her eyes were bloodshot and sore, framed by dark, tired circles. She embraced her brother tightly, muzzle resting on his shoulder.

A million thoughts came flooding at once, cascading through his synapses like a dam that's burst open. What could be upsetting her this much? Mark cringed and his heart thudded at the thought that they might have been discovered somehow. Oh Christ no, that hadn't happened, surely? He felt oh so very sick and worn at that moment; his head thumped with a dull pain like someone was hitting him with an overly stuffed pillow. Did Mist tell someone? Did that person then tell someone else? How many people new by now? He never should have said a thing, not even to save his friendship with her.

'No, calm the hell down' he told himself.

He supposed his father would be the one waking him if they'd been discovered. He put that thought aside for now. He had to try and stay calm and focused, which was exceedingly difficult with little sleep behind him.

A flash of memory struck him. He thought back to last night (or was It this morning?) and remembered the argument between his father and brother. Had Charlie done something he'd regret? Maybe he'd killed his father in a fit of rage or maybe it was the other way around. Mark dragged himself from his thoughts, giving his sobbing sister a gentle shake.

"Sis? Hazel? Please, just calm down. What has happened?" he dared to ask, not sure he really wanted to know the answer.

She snivelled and wept a minute longer, presently collecting herself so she stood a chance of making any sense. "It's Charlie" she stuttered uneasily "he's had an accident... he's in the hospital." She immediately began to cry again.

Mark felt a stabbing, jerking pain directly through his heart like someone was trying to wrench it from him. The words echoed through his ears and his lips parted as if to say something though no words sprang to mind. This had to be some kind of sick joke. This is the kind of thing that happened to other people, not his brother, not his family. How could Charlie be put through so much?

At that moment their mother came into the room, breathing shakily whist rubbing her eyes with a tissue. She blew her nose into the same Kleenex and shoved it into her pocket. Mark had only ever seen his mother in this state once before and it terrified him more than anything in the world to see her this way now. It meant that something was seriously wrong.

"Kids, we've got to get to the hospital right now, okay? Dress quick and come downstairs" she uttered in as collected manner as she could manage then left to get ready herself.

Hazel had not budged an inch since she first hugged her brother and was still sobbing. The full reality of the situation had not hit Mark yet as he was still somewhat in shock and disbelief. Was this just another horrifying dream? It certainly seemed that way. He let out a whimper. His head throbbed with pain. This was all too much and too confusing. Both the waking and sleeping world were both so full of pain, his tired little mind was having trouble distinguishing between what was consciousness and what was not.

A few minutes passed before either sibling moved. Hazel pulled herself away from her brother, taking an erratic breath before stepping bravely back onto the floor. She scooted around her room, taking off her gown and pulling out random pieces of clothing from various places. Mark stared blankly for a while longer.

"Mark, go get dressed, Charlie needs us." She drew a deep breath holding back more tears.

It was only a couple of minutes later that Liz, Mark and Hazel were gathered in the car. It was still early as dawn had not long since broken. The horizon hid a good half of the sun though enough light spilled onto the earth to bathe it in that peaceful, welcoming glow. The air was already warming and the humidity rising. It would appear that it was to be a beautiful day on the closing end of the summer months.

"Mum? Where is dad?" Hazel broke the silence that had plagued the car.

Liz did not reply and simply concentrated on driving. She tried to keep her speed down so as to avoid another accident today, but the urgent motherly need to get to her son was overpowering and she found herself unable to control her right foot on the accelerator. Fortunately there were not many other drivers on the road yet.

They were soon at the hospital near the centre of town. In comparison to their home town this place was a city with tall building closely huddled together shadowing the roads at this early hour. The buildings seemed to impose dreariness; the fumes from the numerous cars giving the stone and brick houses a grey-washed appearance from years of exposure. Traffic was beginning to build as daily life for the town dwellers whirred into motion. It was a Saturday so there was no work to speak of for the '9 to 5ers' but there was shopping, visiting relatives, taking the kids out and a whole worlds worth of tedium to conduct.

Mark had always hated hospitals, then again, who could like them? The odour of various cleaning fluids and the stench of the wards was enough to put him off. Corridor after corridor, door after door, all painted a somehow off-white colour. The floors squeaked loudly with every pawstep and an unclean feeling seemed to seep into his very fur.

The two siblings followed behind their mother, staying silent as she asked at reception where Charlie was. Neither Mark nor Hazel knew what awaited them, but their mother was saying nothing, maybe she herself did not know. They walked at a speedy pace, avoiding the various nurses and occasional doctor padding along the halls. Most of the patients were asleep, but there was still the odd eerie groan and grumble coming from some of the wards they passed.

Up a lift to another ward floor and down another long corridor brought them to a newer area of the hospital (newer meaning: post-World War Two). It looked a little nicer, though the same foul stink lingered and permeated Mark's senses. This section of wards was smaller than the rest and in a cross pattern of corridors with another reception like area in the middle where patients coming to the ward would be processed. Each room was private, meaning Charlie would not be sharing with anyone. That couldn't have been a good sign. Mark felt a lump in his throat as he looked around, waiting for his mum to finish getting a brief from one of the nurses at the main desk.

"Yes, we checked him in two hours ago, he's in room sixteen, just down the hall" the stoat nurse told Liz, pointing west.

"Is he okay? What happened? Will he be all right?" Liz questioned rather frantically.

"I'm afraid there is no easy way to say this, but your son has received a nasty blow to the head. The paramedics found him unconscious and he has been that way ever since." All three were listening intently, hearts pounding and stomachs churning. "Fortunately he has not received any major injuries; a paw fracture and numerous cuts, we've dressed them already and scheduled stitches for tomorrow. We are going to be running blood tests, an electrocardiogram and a CT scan over the next few days. We are also going to keep him under a surveillance period of seventy-two hours, after that he will have to be moved to another ward." The stoat nurse was pleasant, though seemed a little cold; Mark supposed it was the nature of the job.

The stoat looked down at the two children, then back up at Liz, muttering something to her. The two adults padded away from the children, though Mark and Hazel understood in an instant they weren't supposed to follow. That made them especially nervous.

"I'm very sorry to tell you this, but your son is comatose. It isn't as bad as I could be, however. He is responding to some external stimuli and he has opened his eyes for a good minute or so, so it isn't deep, but it is impossible to say how long he will be in this state. There is a chance of brain damage, but that is unlikely in this case, I'm simply giving you all the facts. I'm sorry this is a lot to take in. Of course we won't know the full extent of his physiological and psychological injuries until he wakes up, which could be days, weeks, sometimes, though rare, even months, I'm afraid." The stoat looked sympathetically at the dishevelled mother. "It was a bad accident, according to the paramedics, I know it doesn't sound like it but he is lucky it wasn't worse." The stoat placed a gentle paw on Liz's shoulder.

"Thank you," Liz uttered in reply.

The three made their way down the west hallway, silently counting off the numbers ten through to sixteen. The door was closed so with a heavy heart and lump in her throat, Liz took the first step.

The blue fox Charlie was laid out on his hospital bed; the head area was raised up so he was sat partially upright. He was not surrounded by fancy equipment or machines that ticked, buzzed or beeped; it was just Charlie, all alone on that hospital bed, motionless, if Liz didn't know any better she'd say he was dead.

Mark could feel his heart groan with pain and his stomach twist and turn so much that he quickly scanned the room for a waste bin, just in case. That was his brother lying on that bed, not someone else's, not some actor on television but his own flesh and blood. He glanced between his sister and mother through bleary eyes and saw how hard they were trying to stop themselves from bursting into tears.

Liz presently padded over to the bedside of her son, making a distressed noise as she saw his injuries. Most of his left arm was bound tightly in bandage though spots of red still showed through in places. His forehead was dressed in more bandage, a deep red patch covered a large proportion of the dressing. It still looked wet as if it were fresh blood. His left cheek was badly bruised and swollen slightly so much so that it showed up prominently even through his blue fur. He had various other bruises over his chest and arms. Charlie looked as if he'd been attacked and brutally beaten with blunt objects. His once cheerful smile and joyful demeanour had been stolen from him.

"Oh, Charlie, my Charlie," Liz cried, slumping over the bed.

The siblings had joined their mother at her side, looking over the stricken body of their beloved brother. Mark only just noticed that Hazel had hold of his paw and was squeezing it so tightly it was falling numb.

They had not been there five minutes when Charlie opened his eyes in a flash. It was not natural, not as if he'd just awoken from a dream; it was an unearthly awakening.

Liz immediately said: "Charlie! Charlie, sweetie, its mum, can you hear me?"

Charlie didn't respond. He didn't even look at her. His eyes were cold, still, staring out at nothing. And just as if nothing had happened, his lids slid closed again, thankfully in a much more natural way this time.

**

It was sometime later and after much considerable heartache that the three left Charlie's bedside. The comatose fox had opened his eyes two or three times, but nothing else, it was as if his family were ghosts, whispering soundlessly to him.

Mark and Hazel would have stayed with their brother all day and all night until he was better again, but visiting times had long since ended, they had been lucky enough to get in that early though these were special circumstances. The mother vixen knew her cubs needed rest, more than once Mark had dozed off on the visitors chair and they couldn't stay indefinitely. She would take them home where they could all get a good meal since all three had skipped breakfast; all they had had for lunch was the hospital shop bought sandwiches. Liz would return again in the evening in the second lot of visiting hours.

"I need to ask you a few questions about your son."

Liz barely registered the voice of the nurse next to her. She blinked at him a few times, clearly bemused.

"I need to ask you a few questions, is that okay?" he reiterated.

Liz just nodded.

The otter male gave a smile then brought up a clipboard from his side, resting it in the crook of his arm to write on.

"Just routine questions about-" he peered down at the clipboard "...Charlie and his home life."

Liz nodded again. The only thing on her mind was her son; however that did not mean she wanted to answer a battery of questions, though she knew they had to keep clerical records of their patients.

"Please, ask away." Liz gave a small sigh.

Mark and Hazel were at their mother's side again, they seemed lost and confused. They glanced between each other, the nurse and the corridor leading to Charlie's room.

The nurse took a long pause, obviously trying to form a delicate way of saying the next bit. He hadn't planned on saying anything about it, but he felt it was his duty to. He cleared his throat and said: "This is not our department to investigate this matter, neither is it anyone's priority right now, but it is evident that your son had been drinking quite heavily." He paused again. "The police will be getting involved when Charlie comes too."

It was a little while before either one said anything. Liz was still in trauma and bemusement. She herself was tired and her whole body just ached. She wasn't sure if she wanted the warts and all facts right at this moment in time.

What could make Charlie do such a thing?

The otter went on to say: "the other driver has already given us some situational information about the accident, but we need to know more about Charlie." He was trying to move the conversation on to his questions.

"Who was the other driver?" Liz asked curiously.

"Oh, yes," he said forgetfully, "he was the one who told us who your son was. A Squirrel by the name of Adam Colt. He looked about the same age as your son. He gave us Charlie's name and it was easy enough to hunt you down from that."

Liz knew who Adam Colt was: she and his mother went to the same book club every other Wednesday. Adam used to be in the same class as Charlie back in secondary school. She knew they were never proper friends but they were at least civil to each other.

"Is he all right?" Liz asked in a concerned manner.

"Yes, he is, for the most part. He has a broken arm and a few nasty grazes but he has pulled through okay. We've got him in a different ward at the moment, um-" he flipped through a few pages on his clipboard "ward nine."

Liz made a mental note to visit Adam this evening before she did Charlie and to make time to go see Adam's mother to say her apologies.

The nurse began his questions.

**

The rest of Saturday had moved so slowly Mark was convinced time had stopped altogether. Almost every thought was of his brother. It was torture to him and indeed the rest of the family wondering when Charlie would come to. Would Charlie be okay? It was a constant plaguing thought than ran through everyone's mind.

Derek was seldom seen over that last twenty-four hours, though nobody seemed to care much.

It was Sunday morning and both siblings were huddled up on the couch. Neither had really slept through the night and what little sleep they did get was troubled and fitful. They clung to one another for reassurance and comfort, holding each other face to face. Neither was sleeping, though neither had their eyes open. They could not bring themselves to do anything; even eating seemed to disgust them.

For the better part of two days now Mark had had practically no sleep and he knew eventually that his body would give up on him and he'd fall into a coma-like state from lack of it. His eyes squeezed tighter shut at the very thought of coma, his body gave an involuntary shudder. He felt his sister's grip clench harder as he did so.

With a start the two siblings jerked in each others arms as the door bell let out a clanging chime, slicing through the once silent house. All fell still again as the reverberation died away. Both siblings toyed with the idea of leaving it unanswered but it could be important.

Mark groaned groggily as he released his sister, shuffling back away from her. Hazel clung to him for a moment before reluctantly loosening her grip.

He padded uneasily out into the hallway. His ears went flat and he scowled as the horrid, noisy chime rang out loud once again. He opened up the door, blinking slowly at who greeted him.

"Hey, Mark," the black wolf in the doorway said.

Jimmy was the last person Mark expected to see, not that he was expecting anyone. His former friend was looking mainly at his feet, kicking and moving a stone about with his shoe. The black wolf had all the earmarks of a sorry-for-himself individual: shuffling feet, avoiding gaze, lowered ears and nervous posture.

"Oh, hey Jimmy, I didn't expect to see you," Mark replied.

"I wanted to apologise for the way I acted the other day," he said.

"No, its okay Jimmy, I understand and I don't blame you at all." Mark let out a tired sigh.

The black wolf looked at Mark properly for the first time. It was in no way a stretch of the imagination to say that Mark looked terrible: unwashed, shabby, with dark circles around his eyes like he was sporting the look of a panda. He decided he wouldn't mention it straight off.

"So yeah, I just wanted to say that if you still want to be friends and all... well... yeah, you know, that would be cool, but only if you want to." He looked at his feet again.

Mark cracked a smile, a rarity these days. It did feel good thinking at least some things were returning to normality. He quickly sank back into misery as his thoughts were once more consumed by that of his brother.

"That would be nice Jimmy, thanks."

The wolf looked at him again; casting a curious eye, though he looked pleased enough with his friend's acceptance.

He said: "I just want to put this all behind us, Mist explained to me the problem and I guess I came to my senses."

Mark's ear twitched but he quickly put aside any thought of Mist giving away his secret.

"Are you okay, Mark?" It had been a question bubbling on his tongue for a few minutes now.

There was a short answer to that but Mark owed Jimmy more than a mere no.

"Honestly Jimmy, no, not in the slightest." He sighed.

Even attempting to utter it out loud just made Mark's stomach turn in on it's self.

The black wolf looked at him with intrigue but also a fair amount of worry.

"What is the matter?" he asked quietly.

"It's my brother... he's in the hospital after a car accident." He did all he could to stop a plaintive whimper escaping.

Jimmy's ears perked then flattened in the same instant. He bit down on his lower lip and chewed it a little, feeling incredibly mournful as well as supremely uncomfortable.

"Oh my god Mark, I... I-I'm so sorry... I had no idea... is he going to be okay, I mean, is he okay?" he stuttered.

Mark could feel fresh tears build in his eyes as he whispered indistinctly: "No... he's in a coma."

The pair stood there for a minute or two unable to think of something to say to one another.

Jimmy finally said: "Does Mist know about this?"

Mark shook his head, taking in a long, shaky breath clearly on the verge of tears.

"You're the first one to find out," he said.

There were another couple of minutes of awkward silence.

"Thanks Jimmy" Mark said.

His friend looked at him with a blink of sudden confusion and said: "Thanks? Thanks for what Mark?"

"Thank you for being my friend for all these years and being there for me. I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye and under different circumstances you can bet that I would be jumping for joy knowing that you still want to be my friend, even after what I did to Mist-" Mark paused and gave a shudder at that thought, then continued, changing subject suddenly "... they don't know when he'll get better... he's just lying there..."

Mark began to weep now; he had held it back long enough but it was like holding back a tidal wave with sandbags. The wolf stepped inside the house, having previously been standing on the front doorstep, and embraced his fox friend. Mark gripped at the wolf, unloading tears onto his shoulder.

Jimmy glanced up at the figure of Hazel standing further along the hallway. She looked just as miserable, if not, more so than her brother. The wolf held onto his friend for a long while, trying not to cry himself and be brave. He was at least glad that he had his friend back.

"Oh god... I didn't want anyone seeing me like this... I'm so sorry Jimmy." Mark sniffled wetly.

"Don't be sorry Mark, its okay to cry and you know that, I'm here for you and I know your sister is too," he replied softly.

Presently Hazel approached as Mark backed away, unhooking his arms from his friend and wiping the tears away, shuddering through an inhale.

"I'm going to get out of your hair," Jimmy stated.

"No, you don't have to Jimmy."

"This is not the right time for me to be here. Just keep me updated with any news, please?" he asked politely.

Hazel nodded and said: "Of course Jimmy, thank you for dropping by, I'm sorry this wasn't the best time." Her lips curved up in a small smile.

Jimmy nodded back and left the siblings to their grief.

**

It was getting late in the evening when the sun was considering turning in for the night that Derek closed the door to room sixteen. Visiting time was over, though Derek was able to persuade the staff easy enough that he needed to see his son. He had told them he'd been out of town on business and had only just arrived home. The truth was of course much different.

He looked glumly over at the hospital bed where Charlie lay, unmoved and lifeless. He was receiving intravenous therapy that was keeping the fox hydrated.

Was it grief or guilt that brought him here? He couldn't honestly say which. Maybe it was a mix of both.

Derek pulled a chair over and sat at Charlie's side. He passed both paws over his face, leaning back against the chair.

"I didn't want this to happen, you know that" he spoke as if Charlie could hear. "I was angry with you, but I never wanted this for you."

He silenced for a long moment, staring intently down at the paws in his lap.

"You were too much like me in my youth: bloody reckless. I always knew you were a good person and I was..." he paused, looking up at the face of his son "... I was always proud of you."

He reached out a paw and gently grasped hold of his son's.

"I just wanted what was best for you, isn't that what every parent wants for their children?" He wasn't sure who he was trying to convince.

"It is hard for me, you've always none that... it is hard for me to show how much I care about other people, especially family." He sighed long and loud. "It's a flaw, I know, I can admit that, but I still do not think what I did was totally wrong."

He shuffled in his chair, glancing over at the closed door, then back at the blue fox.

"I do love you as a son... I don't think I have ever said that to you and while I still think what I did was right all those years ago I can admit that I did not show you enough love and that is my fault."

The essence of tears was forming though the old fox would never shed them.

"I do wish things could have been different and I was a more involved father for all my children... but when I look at the man you have become without me, well I can honestly say I am still proud of you."

He stroked the bottom of his chin and gave his son's paw a squeeze. He blinked in surprise as the paw gave a squeeze back, barely noticeably but it had happened.

Charlie's eyes opened and he looked directly at his father. His expression changed slightly; he looked disorientated and confused.

"Dad?" he mumbled unclearly as if his muzzle were stuffed full of cotton wool.

"Yes, son, it is me, I'm here," he said all at once.

He leaned forward as Charlie's eyes seemed to flutter and his grip became tighter for a moment. It was clear that Charlie was fighting to stay conscious, whether he knew he was or not; it could well have been a subconscious effort.

"Son, listen to me, you've got to take it easy okay? You'll be all right," Derek said.

The blue fox drifted back off into the darkness, his father's words blurring and melting away until he was unconscious once more.

Derek thought to himself: 'at least he is on the mend.'

He sat up with his son for a few hours, quietly reading the paper and finishing a crossword or two. He was always alert and by Charlie's side when he awoke for those brief periods of semi-coherence.

**

It was not two days later that all four of the family foxes were rushing about the house, gathering shoes and phones and other items they felt they would need. Both Derek and Liz had called into work to request to their respective bosses the next few days off.

Only minutes ago had they received news from the hospital.

Derek drove frantically and expressed his distain for other drivers by beating on the horn. Liz calmed him some and placed her paw on his knee. He seemed to settle and relax a little more.

The night previous the two of them had sat together as husband and wife where Derek had proceeded to spill his heart. He had told her exactly what he said to Charlie and added in much of what he was feeling. Liz was taken back by this sudden outpour of emotion, but it gave her hope, hope that Derek would one day forgive their son. At the end of they day she had always loved him.

Just as it was on their first trip into the hospital the family of foxes padded quickly through corridors and up stairs until they reached the specified ward. They had been told over the phone that Charlie had been moved to a different ward.

Derek was the first to enter scanning the larger room made up of six beds. He spotted his son within seconds and went rushing over; the others followed.

Liz flanked around to one side of the bed whilst Derek and the two kids took the other.

It did not seem as if Charlie had budged from the position he'd spent much of the last few days in. His eyes were closed; his arms were rigid by his side and his face expressionless.

Derek and Liz exchanged meaningful glances. Liz placed a paw on her son's arm and shook it gently, saying: "Charlie? Charlie, can you hear me?"

For a few seconds nothing happened and the family looked on anxiously. Had he relapsed already?

Charlie's eyes blinked gradually open and his eyeballs rolled in their sockets as he struggled into consciousness. His awakening seemed much more natural this time as if he was being drawn from a very heavy night's sleep. He fixed eyes on his family and for a moment did not recognise them, which worried him because he knew he should recollect these people. After a seconds worth of worry the fog of his mind cleared to a degree and he was able to focus on them. He smiled weakly, but it was definitely Charlie's smile.

"Hey guys," he said in a hushed, raspy voice. He cleared his throat and his eyelids faltered for a moment; closing before opening again.

"Hey Charlie," Liz replied with a smile. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

Charlie gave a subdued chuckle, looking slowly between his family members. He was almost surprised to see Derek there. Charlie certainly felt as if something heavy had landed on his head and it took most of his waning strength to keep from falling to sleep. He didn't remember much. The last thing he can remember was having an argument. Much of his body, though especially his head, was in agony.

"What happened?" he asked plainly.

Derek said unexpectedly: "you were in a car accident, son, but you're going to be okay."

He looked directly at Derek, blinking in a way that looked painful. 'Son?' Was he dreaming?

"Heck... that's going on the list of dumb stuff I've done." He winced at a surge of pain. "I don't half ache." His eyes closed again.

Nobody was sure if he'd passed back out again. Charlie seemed to wake up once more, squinting and lifting a weak paw to rub at his face, snorting as he stroked close to his head wound. He tried to sit up further but immediately flopped back against the stale hospital bed, his head spinning wildly. Mark thought that he even turned a little green.

"The doctor said for you to take it easy," Liz patted her son's shoulder.

"No... yeah, sure... of course." Charlie was speaking in an almost slurred manner as if he'd forgotten how to speak at all. He looked over at his two siblings and smiled, saying: "so what, no hug?"

Instantly Mark scooted up further along the side of the bed and leant in to wrap his arms carefully around his brother's neck.

Charlie responded in kind; placing one arm around his little brother.

Mark nuzzled at his brother's neck, holding back tears of grief. He was glad his brother was getting better but it felt like a knife to the heart seeing Charlie weak and disorientated as if it weren't his brother at all.

"Nice to see you missed me Marky," Charlie said.

Mark chocked on air as he swallowed down his sorrow. It was a minute or two before the young fox detached from his brother and shifted out of the way for Hazel. They embraced in a similar fashion before letting each other go.

"I'm glad to see you're on the mend," Liz said. She held her son's paw in hers, giving it a squeeze which he lightly returned.

"Me too." Truthfully he felt worse than he looked, though he knew time was a great healer. His lids closed again. "I'm going to go back to sleep... too tiring being awake," he announced. His mind weighed heavily and his injuries caused him too much pain to stay awake. Within a short span of time he had fallen back into slumber, leaving his helpless family, watching and waiting.

**

"Oh man, it is so good to be home!" Charlie exclaimed as he breathed in the cosy scent of his old house.

Mark raced towards his big brother and they embraced in a tight hug, each of them wagging their tails and laughing with joy. Hazel joined the two of them, connecting in a three-way clinch. Derek and Liz looked on with pleasant smiles. They looked at each other. Derek extended an arm and wrapped it around his wife's shoulder, pulling her close and kissing her on the head. It reminded him of the old days.

"I'm so glad you're back brother and all okay," Mark said into his brother's fur.

"And I'm glad to be out of the place and with your guys again." He smiled.

"All right you two give your brother some air," Liz chuckled.

After another tight squeeze the three let go all at the same time.

Charlie still had a bandage around his head and arm, but at least the swelling and bruises had paled away considerably. The doctor's had given him a clean bill of health as long as he stayed away from alcohol, cars and heavy machinery for the next month at minimum.

"Cup of tea Charlie?" Derek asked.

Charlie smiled and said: "yes please dad."

"Count me in dear." Liz kissed her husband's cheek.

It still felt odd to Charlie actually calling his father 'dad' but he was quickly getting used to it. They had had a heart to heart while he was still in the hospital and many bridges were mended. There were a few gaps that still needed work but all in good time.

"Remember what the doctor said hun: no strenuous activity and plenty of rest." Liz recited then smiled and continued: "so I think you best park yourself on the couch young man."

Charlie saluted his mother comically and hooked his arms around his two younger siblings. He still felt rather ill and weak, though the painkillers were helping dull the overall ache. He was well enough to be out of the hospital at least.

The blue fox flopped back onto the familiar feeling couch cushions, murring lightly at the feel of something comfortable. Mark and Hazel fell either side of their brother, wriggling up against his side. He chuckled jovially and hugged them both.

Both the younger siblings were ecstatic to have their big brother back. It felt like an age since they had seen him near enough back to his old self again. They never wanted to leave his side again.

"I'm ordering pizza tonight guys, hope that is okay with you Charlie," Liz said.

Charlie just stared at his mother, finally saying: "I would kill for pizza!" He laughed. "Do you have any idea how nasty hospital food is?"

"Well of course I do, I gave birth to all three of you remember?" she mocked the three of them; the two boys cringed.

"Okay, okay, just no more labour stories please," Charlie pleaded.

Liz poked her tongue out at him childishly and disappeared to grab the phone.

Presently Derek padded in clasping three mugs of steaming hot tea in his paws. He placed one on a coaster on the coffee table and handed one to his son.

"Cheers dad," Charlie said cheerfully, graciously taking the hot drink.

Derek smiled and sat in his usual seat, letting out soft groan as he rested his back.

A minute later Liz joined them, telling them all that the pizza would take half an hour. She took a seat and rested herself.

Mark looked around the room at his family. He smiled brightly. It felt like such an odd thing to do and his cheek bones ached as if they'd forgotten what a true smile was like. He loved each and every one of them; of course, he loved his sister the most. They all had their flaws but who didn't? He had his family with him and that was all that mattered. Things were finally starting to work out right.

**

It was one of the closing days of the summer; a final swansong for the hot days and free time out of school. The sun was giving its last hoorah before its brilliance was smeared by the onset of autumn and winter.

Woodward Park was filled with the sounds of laughter as the children enjoyed the last few days of freedom. It always felt odd knowing you'd have to be getting back into the school routine.

With a loud squeal of joy the misty catgirl leapt to her left, narrowly avoiding her wolf friend. She poked her pink tongue out at him as he turned and growled playfully.

"Nyah, nyah! You can't catch me!" she mocked.

Jimmy grinned and pushed his feet off the ground rushing at Mist once more.

Mist squeaked and fled again, her friend catching her up for a moment before she managed to gain enough speed to level the playing field. Moments later Mark leapt out of nearby bush and straight into Mist's path wearing a cheeky grin on his muzzle. She yelped out loud and ground to a halt, turning only to be captured in soft arms. She thrashed helplessly as both males set upon her, pulling her to the ground.

All three laughed hysterically. They panted and regained their breath for a minute or two.

"Ha! Told you'd I'd get you!" Jimmy proclaimed triumphantly.

"Well you had help!" Mist giggled back at him, batting at his nose.

To which Mark said: "well those are the rules for boys versus girls, cat and mouse."

"I just don't see why I had to be the mouse!" She exclaimed pretending to be indignant.

Jimmy replied: "we won the coin toss, so there."

After a short while Mark sat up from the grass and said: "come on Jimmy, we've got to find Hazel now!"

The wolf grinned and nodded standing and lifting Mist with him.

"You can follow if you like, mouse." Mark smirked.

Mist just pouted at him and light-heartedly thumped him on the arm.

"I'm going with Jimmy since he was the one to actually catch me." She wrapped her arms around his right arm.

"Hey you, don't go getting any funny ideas, I already have a girlfriend." He said teasingly.

Mark and Mist exchanged an awkward glance. It was still early days yet and the pain was lingering, though time would naturally pave over the cracks. They had promised never to speak of it again and just pretend it never happened believing it to be the best way to deal with it.

"Fine then, you go that way and I'll check this way," Mark said, indicating with a finger to his friends.

Presently they went their separate ways, scanning the tree line in either direction. They had of course designated one area of the park as their play area otherwise a single game could take an eternity.

Mark sighed out his joyful relief and smiled to himself. He could finally enjoy being a kid again. For now his troubles had passed him by, but he knew very well that there were to be tough times ahead. It would seem that things had gone back to the way they were: Mark was with his best friends again and Charlie had gone back into the big wide world. Although of course things had changed. He was now in a committed relationship with his own sister. He took comfort in the fact that he had his friends, his loving sister and his big brother to support him.

The nightmares that had been plaguing him had passed by, at least for now it seemed. Mark came to the conclusion that some things were best left buried. To reawaken hidden memories or reopen old wounds could be too painful for one mind to cope with. He supposed that one day he would get to the bottom of it, though he already had a suspicion or two. What fragments of memory that had awoken seemed to connect into a sketchy tale of love and loss. But he did not dwell upon it and let the issue go, freeing the proverbial caged bird. If being in love with his sister had taught him anything it was that secrets were just that. Secret.

The teen fox was brought jerkily out of his thoughts as he was grabbed and yanked roughly into the nearby wooded area. A paw closed over his muzzle so he could not call for help. It all happened so fast he barely had time to struggle before strong arms were holding him against the ground on his back.

A familiar face grinned down at him and he smiled instantly back.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" he laughed at his sister.

"It looks like the hunted has become the hunter." She'd always wanted to use that cliché.

"Okay fine, so the mouse caught the cat, yes very good now let me up," he protested.

"And why should I do that?" She straddled his waist.

He blinked at her slowly, a small grin etching its way across his muzzle.

Hazel kept her brother's arms pinned as she leant in and pressed her lips against his, murring softly. Her tail swayed lazily behind her and her eyes slipped half closed as she felt the warmth of his lips against her own. She let his arms go after a minute and placed them on the ground.

Mark lifted his now freed arms and stroked down the sides of her torso reaching down as far as his hips before wrapping his arms closely around her. He rolled and Hazel gave no resistance, ending up with him on top. He broke the kiss for a moment to muzzle at her chin.

"I love you sis," he whispered.

"I love you too bro," she replied, smiling.

The word love had had little meaning to Mark, it was just one of those things he heard about, but never got close enough to really understand. That was until he discovered that love was not something you could learn or fully understand. Mark knew that love was something much deeper than words, something altogether more perplexing and for it to be impossible to wholly define love itself. Whatever it was, he knew he had found it in Hazel. Although the sad truth was always there; he knew all too well that this type of love was considered wrong, maybe not to him or her, but the rest of the world frowned upon it. Despite that knowing, he would give up everything he had, even life itself to be with her... and maybe that was what love was, wanting to be with someone to the end of time itself.

**

Epilogue

Derek paced back and forth in the downstairs hallway, staring down at the phone in his paw. It had been several days since Charlie had left to pursue a career in whatever popped into his mind next. Derek smiled and chuckled quietly to himself at that thought. His son may not have chosen a career path but there were still many years left to do so. Deep down he had always known that, though he could never admit it out loud. He'd told Charlie that he was welcome to visit any time as he knew that the family needed him. He hadn't totally forgiven him for what he did, but at least he was taking healthy steps in the right direction.

He glanced down at the phone again, shuffling his foot like a nervous child. Was this a step he was ready to take? After all, it had only been a few days. Baby-steps, pace yourself, is what Derek would repeat to himself. He hadn't made up his mind yet whether or not he'd fully be able to accept Charlie back into the family. He promised, for the sake of his wife and Mark and Hazel, that he would try.

Was it an omen or a blessing that Charlie had that accident? Was it guilt that drove him to reconnect with his son? In a way, yes, Derek could do nothing but admit that without that argument Charlie would have been safe. Although wasn't it a good thing that they were brought together by the accident? Derek of course felt ashamed that it took such a thing for him to even recognise Charlie as one of his own children.

A thumb stroked over the rubber buttons on the keypad of the handset, plotting out the dialling sequence in his mind. He knew the number off-by-heart, though again it would not be something he'd admit. Charlie was a good child, as were all his children. Yes, as a youngster and teen Charlie was free spirited, independent and at times rebellious, but he was never bad. He respected his parents and would usually follow instruction. He was always a kind and doting brother. A little bit too doting, maybe.

Derek shook his head. He took a breath and keyed in a phone number. He knew it was natural for a father to worry about his children and how they'd turn out. Would they be smart? Would they be dumb? Would they be obedient or unruly? Would they be gay or straight or perhaps both? Would they be a success or a failure? At the end of the day everyone was an individual in his or her own right. Though that didn't stop a parent from helping to mould and shape a hardworking and honest member of the community.

He placed the handset to his ear and muzzle, listening to the ringing tone as a connection was attempted. He just didn't want to see the same thing happen to Charlie as it did to him in his youth. The bond between family members, especially siblings, was strong and when hormones were thrown into the mix things could get complicated. Derek could admit he went too far with Charlie. He was enraged and hadn't thought it through. He was too stupidly proud to forgive his own son for what happened. He was a hypocrite after all. He knew what secret bonds could lie between brother and sister, what deep seeded emotions could run beneath the surface.

"Hello?" a voice came from the other end of the line.

Derek took another deep breath before replying, "Hi, sis, I was wondering if we could talk."

**

I hope you enjoyed this final chapter and indeed the series as a whole ^^

As always feel free to comment and voice your opinion and as always I will reply ASAP. I don't doubt there will be questions playing on your mind *Smirks*

I'm sure I have mentioned this countless times but this was never originally intended to be a series. Turned out okay in the end, right? x3

In anticipation of a couple of questions that may or may not be asked:

Firstly, I might produce a second series, but that is a big darn might and it will be a long time down the road. Please do not ask or beg (because I know there are some thinking it) if I will be scribbling up another series. This is not self-indulgence or arrogance on my part because I have been asked before xD (Okay maybe it is a little self-indulgent, but so is pouring melted chocolate on your naked body and I only did that like once!)

Secondly, my writing does not end here! I have plenty more ideas to come and new avenues to explore. So stay tuned or logged in, which ever suits you best.

Lastly I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who encouraged me throughout the two plus years it took to finish this. *Big snuggles to those awesome furries* And yes, a simple comment does count as encouragement, since you guys made this series happen. Luffs to you all <3