After so long of feeling like I've been living in limbo, things finally start to feel normal again. Not one hundred percent normal, but normal enough that I don't seem to notice the distance. It's felt like that for a while, but I've always questioned whether or not my mind is playing tricks on me. It's finally at a point I know that this is real. My dad's around more. My mom's not as busy with work, finally taking the chance for the six of us to be a functioning family again.

But in the back of my mind I'm waiting for the ball to drop. For something to happen that disrupts the calm, something to change the pace and send my life back into a storm instead of clear skies. A part of me knows it's going to happen. I just don't know when.

"Vee!" Isaac shouts my name, getting my attention from my daydreams.

"Sorry," I frown, and look over at him. "What did you say?"

"We were asking if Felix is coming over later," Riker answers my question as he drives up to our gated entry, leaning through the window to type in the code.

"Oh, uh, no," I shake my head and tuck a piece of loose hair behind my ear. "He had a meeting with the guidance counselor after school, or maybe it was plans with his friends...I, uh, no."

"Are you okay, Vee?" Isaac asks, turning in his seat to look at me.

"Yeah, no," I swallow. "I'm good. He's meeting the guidance counselor and mentioned he might be hanging out with Gavin later."

"Alright," he chuckles as we reach the front of the house when my attention is immediately drawn to Greyson, sitting on the front steps outside the door. "What is he doing?" Isaac asks.

"Good question," I frown, climbing out after him when he pulls the passenger seat forward and Riker jumps out of the driver side.

"Grey, what are you doing out here?" Riker asks first, walking towards the house.

"World war three is taking place inside," he points behind him, answering the question while simultaneously confirming my thoughts.

They aren't working.

"They're fighting again?" Isaac frowns, sitting down next to him. "I thought things were finally getting better. What are they fighting about now?"

"Who the hell knows?" Greyson growls, rubbing her hands over her face. "I walked out as soon as I got in there and heard them shouting. Think it's got something to do with the party dad's label is throwing and the fact that he didn't run it by mom before he agreed to host it here."

"Seriously?" Riker groans. "What? Are they five-years-old?"

"It's pathetic, I know," he sighs. "I just couldn't handle the screaming on my own."

"We're here," I hold my hand out for him, squeezing his hand tightly. "We'll face this together, just like everything else."

Riker nods in agreement. "Alexander siblings for the win."

"You guys are such losers," Isaac rolls his eyes. "But you're right. Let's do this."

I nod my head and hold my other hand out for Greyson, pulling him up to his feet before stepping into the house. Just like Greyson had said, the house is ringing with the echoes of their shouts. Shouts of meaningless words, trying their hardest to find something worth wild. Even though that thing is right in front of their faces.

I lean in through the arch leading into the kitchen, pausing to see them red with anger. False anger that they're letting fuel them, as if the reasons are of any substance. My chest dropping into my stomach when I realize just how destroyed our family is, and now it's sending me spiralling.

All over again.

"Do the two of you ever stop shouting at each other?" Greyson asks, fed up with them finally and it gets their attention.

"This is none of your business," our mom directs her finger at us. "Go to your room."

"Really?" He crosses his arms. "You're telling me to go to my room when I seem to be the only adult around here? The two of you are acting like children and we're sick of it."

"Greyson," our dad warns. "Please, just listen to your mom."

"Oh, so that's something you can actually agree on?" He asks. "Funny."

"Grey," I reach for his arm.

"No," he shakes his head. "This has gone on long enough. You've left us in the dark for too long and it's about time you tell us what started all of this."

"That's between us."

"No," I argue. "It's between all of us."

Our mom exhales slowly, taking a deep breath. "I will not tell you again. Rooms. Now."

"So you can keep yelling at each other?" Riker questions.

"Now!" She shouts.

"You know what?" Riker asks. "No. This seems like a good time as any to let you know that Lena's pregnant."

The room falls silent as we all turn to look at Riker, the news shell shocking all of us.

"What?" I ask.

Riker hums, "Seems like if we're going to fight. Let's fight about this."

"Guys, will you please give your mom and I a second along with Riker?" My dad asks, stepping next to my mom and we don't argue this time but instead of retreating to our separate rooms we all land in Isaac's.

"Did you know?" Greyson asks, his question directed at Isaac.

Isaac shakes his head with a frown rested on his lips as he plops down on the armchair, running his fingers through his hair. I don't know what to think by the news. I never, ever expected this to happen to any of us. Especially Riker and Lena.

"Oh my god," I whisper as I sit down, pulling my feet up onto the cushion. "What are they going to do? What about their futures?"

"They'll figure it out," Greyson assures us as he sits down next to me. "It's Riker, guys. He's smarter than all of us and he'll...they've got this."

I nod, but it feels force because we don't know that. We don't know if Riker's future is shot because of this, or what's going to happen to them. Does one of them go to school and the other gives up their dreams of becoming a lawyer, or a doctor? This is the last thing I expected to happen to them. Every decision they've ever made has been calculated because the only thing that matters to them is their future, and the success of their careers.

It feels like an eternity has passed by the time the door opens and Riker steps inside, not at all fazed by the conversation with our parents. I immediately jump up and run over to give him a hug, squeezing him tightly.

"It's okay, Vee," he runs his hand over my back.

"How can you be so calm about this?" Isaac asks. "You just dropped the bomb, of all bombs, Riker. Why didn't you tell any of this about this?"

"Because I lied," he tells us as I return to my spot on the couch and he plops down on the armrest of Isaac's chair. "Lena isn't pregnant."

"What?" Greyson asks with wide eyes. "Why did you-?"

"It got them to stop arguing with each other, didn't it?" He hums.

"Lena's going to kill you when she finds out what you did," I warn him.

He shrugs, "It was her idea."

"I can't believe you," Isaac shakes his head. "Mom and dad are going to kill you when they find out you lied about all of this."

"No, they'll be relieved and then maybe they'll realize how stupid they're being and finally work their shit out," he argues.

"It's kind of ingenious," Greyson shrugs. "Worth a try, at least."

"Yeah, I guess if it gets them to make up," Isaac sighs and settles back into his seat.

I want them to work. I've fought harder than anyone for this to work, but I'm beginning to realize I may have been kidding myself. Maybe they aren't meant to be together forever. Maybe they're relationship truly is on it's last strings.

"I don't think it's going to work," I admit. "And maybe it's better we come to terms that our parents aren't meant to be with each other anymore."

"What?" Greyson asks. "Stevie, you're the one that got them to stick it out."

"Yeah, and I was wrong to do that," I get up, walking towards the door. "This is it. It's better they call it quits now before our whole family implodes."

"Vee," Riker frowns.

"It's not worth it anymore, Riker," I frown. "I guess, you guys were right. They really aren't meant to be with each other."

Before they can argue with me or try and convince me otherwise, I step out into the hall and head for my room. I don't know when I lost my belief in them, or why I'm suddenly feeling like this is the end of my family being one but at some point, I just stopped believing they could make this work. Over the last few months, all they've done is argue. There was one moment of clarity when I actually thought they might be able to work out their problems. The night we had Felix over was a glimpse into what we once were, but now that's all over.

Now we're nothing but a broken family.

When I get into my room, I immediately change out of my clothes and pull on the oversized shirt I stole from Felix our first night together. His scent gone from it, but knowing it's his already has me feeling better as I crawl into bed losing all motivation to do anything else. My heart in pieces.

I lose track of time as I hug my pillow to my chest, staring at the family photo sitting on my nightstand. It used to be easier. Our house never used to be so tense and I'm beginning to see I took for granted what I had before. When Robyn's parents divorced, she always said at least my parents still love each other and I used to think the same thing but I never appreciated it. I never appreciated the time I had with them, together and now I may never be able to.

"Nicks?" Felix's voice floats into the room and I sit up slightly, turning to see him in the doorway with a sad smile on his face.

"What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?" He hums softly as he steps into my room, shutting the door quietly behind him. "Greyson called. Said you needed me."

I smile weakly, nodding my head. "My parents are done."

"Are you sure about that, baby?"

I nod, "They fight so much and I'm so tired of fighting for something they don't seem to care about anymore. I used to think they were the perfect couple."

"Couple's fight."

"All the time?" I whisper, not realizing my eyes are filling with tears until he reaches out and wipes them away. "I think, it's just time I give it up. They don't fit together anymore."

"Come on, Nicks," he smiles gently. "You really going to give up on them now? After all this time? Because let's face it, you're sunshine."

A laugh falls from my lips, "I'm sunshine? What does that even mean?"

"It means you give everyone around you hope. You believe in people when they don't believe in themselves," he explains. "You keep us all going and if you give up, then the rest of us are doomed."

"That's a lot of pressure," I mumble.

He shakes his head, "Stevie, you're an optimist. You believe in the good. When everyone else sees the dark, you somehow manage to find the light and you do it so effortlessly that I don't even think you notice how much you help the people around you. You changed everything for me. You believed in Greyson and gave him the courage to go for what he really wants. You were Isaac's strength when he was struggling with his sexuality. And you never let Riker lose hope in anything. Don't you see how much you affect all of us?"

"I didn't do anything," I whisper.

"You do," he shakes his head. "You're the sunshine in our lives when all we're surrounded by is darkness. Don't lose hope now. Your parents will work it out."

I swallow before nodding and lying back down. "Will you lay with me?"

He doesn't say anything and instead kicks of his shoes before laying down next to me, opening his arm to let me snuggle up to him. I find peace in his arms as I rest my head against his chest, loosely draping my arm over his waist.

"I won't give up," I mumble.

"Yeah?" He asks quietly.

I nod my head, "Because you're my sunshine."

He keeps me going when I don't want to fight anymore, and at this point in my life. I really don't know what I'd do without him around. I've become dependent on him and for the first time in my life, it doesn't scare me to say I need him.

a/n;

Happy Tuesday, lovelies! I'm sad to say there is only six chapters left of this book before it's over and it hurts my heart to think about but hopefully you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I've loved writing it and thank you for all the love.

:)