Tuesday evening

[alec_leads]

Alec closes the door to his room and leans back against it. He's always heard about how your life can turn upside-down in a blink of an eye. He never thought it could actually happen to him. Even when Romilda died, the basics were the same.

But now...

He sits down on his bed. Maybe Mom and Dad just had a bad fight. Mom could have misunderstood. Nothing makes sense.

(Except it all totally makes sense and he just doesn't want it to.)

He picks up his phone and calls Ginny.

Comments

[ginginevra]

"You should never have had to do any of that," she says, resting her head on his shoulder.

[alec_leads]

"I didn't know what else to do. I love them. All of them."

He wipes his eyes.

"We weren't always like this. We used to be- to be a family."

[ginginevra]

And now she's back to not knowing what to say, so she just kisses his cheek and keeps hugging him.

"I'm so sorry," she says again.

[alec_leads]

Words aren't going to help much, but hugs? Alec feels a little better already and a lot less alone.

"I'm so glad you came over."

[ginginevra]

"Of course I did. You're my guy."

[alec_leads]

That gets her more of a smile. He kisses her on the forehead.

"You're my girl, so that works out perfectly."

He sighs. Everything still sucks, but it's bearable. Ish.

[ginginevra]

"Is Alyce in her room?"

She should see if Alyce will talk to her, too.

[alec_leads]

He shakes his head. "Rehearsal. She wouldn't talk to me before she stomped off. Locked her door, wouldn't respond."

He shrugs. "She's always been close to Dad. Closer than to Mom."

[ginginevra]

"Okay. Maybe I'll be here when she gets back." She sighs and cuddles closer. She's worried about Alyce, but she doesn't really want to leave Alec right now, so she doesn't really mind that Alyce is gone for the time being.

[alec_leads]

"Poor Neville," Alec says with the ghost of a chuckle. "I don't mean to brag or be mean, but you got the easier-going of the Carrow twins."

[ginginevra]

"Man, I love Alyce, but I would not want to date her," she replies, laughing a little herself.

[alec_leads]

Now Alec does laugh. Out loud.

He needed that!

[ginginevra]

Ginny grins at him. At least she can make him feel a little better!

"Neville's so easy-going. I'm sure he'll be able to help her."

[alec_leads]

He nods, trying to be serious.

No luck. He has the giggles now. He rests his head on her shoulder and laughs.

"Sorry. I can't stop."

It's not hysterical laughter, at least! It's purely stress relief.

[ginginevra]

She kisses the top of his head and squeezes his shoulders. She doesn't mind at all.

[alec_leads]

When he calmer down, he feels a lot steadier.

"I guess... it should surprise me more, but it doesn't. Now that I know for sure. I didn't like to think about it, you know? But even when Dad is home, it's kind of like he's not. I'm tired of my mom crying. I want her to feel better, to smile and laugh with us again."

[ginginevra]

"Yeah," she says, because what else do you say? "I hope she can soon."

[alec_leads]

He frowns.

"It's just- aren't the parents supposed to take care of the kids? And not the other way around? It's not fair."

He hates being angry at his mom because he feels so badly for her. He doesn't want to be angry with his dad, either. Anger doesn't help make things better, or so he has observed. He'd rather do something than fume, but he doesn't know what to do.

[ginginevra]

"No, it's not fair, it sucks," she says, rubbing his back gently.

[alec_leads]

He sighs.

"Sorry. I'm not much fun right now."

But he's so, so, so glad she's here with him.

[ginginevra]

"You don't ever have to apologize for that, Alec."

[alec_leads]

"Thanks. I'm used to filling in the quiet. It's hard to be sad and still."

[ginginevra]

"I know. You don't have to do that, either. I mean, we can do whatever you want. Watch a movie, or talk about something else, or be quiet, or - I don't know, anything. Okay?"

[alec_leads]

"A movie would be awesome. Something funny with a happy ending. We'd have to go down to the living room. Is that okay?"

[ginginevra]

"Can I kiss you first?"