Assistance Required

Spring Break Part 1

Sun March 14

Virgil woke up slowly. He looked around confused. He remembered falling asleep, but he was sure he was on the couch. Now he was in a bed wearing the clothes he was in yesterday. How he got here, he was sure Roman had something to do with it. He couldn't complain too much. The bed wasn't bad and he had his pillow. He noticed his bags were leaning against the wall nearby.

He rubbed his eyes and tried to take in his surroundings. He was in a queen bed in a small room. He noticed a closet in one corner and more bags leaning on the other wall. He slid out of bed and opened the door. A savory smell hit his nose as he walked out of the room closing the door behind him. He found himself in a small hallway with four doors and an opening to stairs below. He found the bathroom and made a stop before making his way down the stairs.

He found Patton happily chatting with Logan and Janus from the kitchen. They all looked up as he entered the room.

"Virgil!" Patton said excitedly. "You're awake!"

"Probably what happens when you fall asleep at five in the afternoon," Janus muttered.

"Be nice," Patton scolded.

"Patton started making breakfast. I suggested he wait until more people were awake but he insisted we start now," Logan said as he took a sip of coffee. "I did make coffee though if you wanted some."

Virgil just shook his head as he sat down on one of the barstools next to Janus.

"Well, now half of us are awake. So it's the perfect time for breakfast!" Patton said excitedly as he flipped a pancake.

"Patton, you started before I woke up," Logan said. "I was the second person to wake up!"

"I was just making the batter," Patton said.

"You two arguing woke me up," Janus muttered.

"We did? I'm so sorry!" Patton said.

"You're fine. I'd probably wake up soon anyway. I always wake up early on vacation."

"Oh, good morning!" Roman said as he walked in. "I wasn't expecting so many people this early."

Roman stopped behind Virgil, placing a hand on his back. Virgil leaned slightly into the contact. He was still trying to wake up and it was a comforting gesture.

"I'm making pancakes!" Patton said excitedly as he poured more batter into the pan.

"It seems a little early. It's only 7:30," Roman said as he checked the time on the stove.

"Patton was too excited to wait," Logan said taking another sip of his coffee.

"We're all here for a whole week like a big family! Of course, I'm excited!"

"What about the ski trip, that was kind of like a family trip too," Roman offered.

"Yeah, but the meals were provided. I didn't get to cook for you guys. I haven't had a chance to show off my cooking yet! Virgil was asleep for dinner last night!" Patton said.

"We just had pizza," Janus said. "There's some still in the fridge if you want it for lunch. We also got deli meats for sandwiches."

Virgil just nodded again as he leaned into Roman.

"Do you want to go back to bed?"

Virgil shook his head.

"I'll wake up," he muttered.

"Okay," Roman said rubbing Virgil's arm.

"I'm surprised Remus isn't up yet," Janus said. "He usually wakes up before Roman."

"Well, he usually has trouble falling asleep the first night of vacation. He gets excited about new places and activities," Roman explained. "So, I'm not surprised he isn't awake yet."

"Patton, are you sure we need this many pancakes?" Logan asked staring at a large stack of pancakes on a plate.

Patton glanced at them before adding another one to the pile.

"Do you think it's too much?"

"It's just breakfast, Patton. You don't have to overwork yourself."

"I'm just making pancakes. I'm not overworking myself!"

"What's Patton up to now?" Thomas asked as he yawned.

"I'm making pancakes!"

"For the army?" Thomas asked as he noticed the pile on the plate.

"Well," Patton paused as he looked over them again, "I might have gone a little overboard."

"He woke up before me," Logan said.

"I was excited!"

"Geez, Patton! How long have you been awake?!" Thomas asked as he sat down next to Virgil.

"I don't know. I wasn't really paying attention. I was just excited! I wanted to cook for you guys!"

"And we appreciate it, Patton," Logan said. "But we can still fend for ourselves. We just started and it's your vacation too. You don't have to make us all breakfast."

"I know, but I like cooking! Pompom and I always did a lot of baking."

"Pompom?" Janus asked.

"Yeah, she's one of my moms."

(I heard the name "Pompom" for kids to call nonbinary parents and I thought it was adorable and I wanted it in my story.)

"You call her 'Pompom?' That's so cute!" Thomas said.

"Yeah, Mom and Pompom. It took almost a year before I was okay with calling them that after they adopted me." Patton paused for a second as he stared at the empty frying pan. "It's kind of weird to think about how much has changed over the years. I remember being terrified of them when I first moved in with them but now I can't picture anyone else as my family. Other than you guys, but that's a little different." Patton smiled as he turned off the stove and shrugged. "I guess that's just life, though."

"It's too early for philosophical statements about life," Janus said.

"Why were you so scared of them?" Thomas asked.

Patton tapped on the counter with a small frown.

"I don't really like talking about my life back then," Patton said quietly. "But I'm happy now! And that's all that really matters! I have two moms who love me and I have all of you guys!"

Logan stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Patton's shoulder casing Patton to look up at him. Logan tilted his head slightly raised his eyebrows. Patton smiled at him.

"I am happy, Logan. I promise," Patton said.

Logan gave him a small nod and a smile.

"We should probably wake up the others," Logan said.

"I'll get Joan!" Thomas said excitedly as he got up and ran up the stairs.

"I almost feel sorry for Joan," Janus said watching Thomas go up the stairs before standing up. "I can get Remus."

"Now I feel bad for Remus," Virgil muttered.

"Oh hush, Emo!"