Fixing A Broken Compass

Not So Happy Birthday?

"Your absence walks through the door every single day."

Miles stuck out his tongue as he carefully attempted to put the icing on the cake he made.

It was the twins's birthday.

Currently, they were snuggled up in bed sleeping. He was glad they were staying asleep. Willow bless her soul was too.

So it was him and Reggie up at the crack of dawn. Miles didn't mind because he had to ice his stomach and knee anyway. Sleep was practically nonexistent given his bruised body. He tried but he just couldn't get comfortable.

Besides that with as many kids as there were in this house, there was always noise. Leaving Miles to quickly become an early bird.

Taking care of two little kids though? Miles' schedule had been completely flipped. He hated that he hadn't been able to come up with a perfected routine yet for his younger siblings. Everything seems to be going haywire at every turn.

He would do better for them.

They needed structure.

Today Miles new they all needed an escape. As much of one as they could muster. So he was getting started on making the twin's birthday cake. Their dad always baked them each a cake on their birthday.

Miles helped but his track record in the kitchen wasn't the greatest...He'd often be left with the spoon and the bowl of batter as he chirped happily to his dad. His mood soured slightly and his movements paused.

Reggie babbled happily glancing up with curious eyes to Miles making grabby hands. Miles had put him in the pack and play in the kitchen a few toys in there and some music going. He reached down kneeling to his brother for a second.

His heart physically ached. With his parents passing Miles felt like his heart broke. His younger siblings were the only thing keeping him going.

"It's just us bubby," Miles's voice was quiet and cracked slightly. Once he knew Reggie was content he moved to start brewing coffee before getting started on the mess around him.

He cleaned up the kitchen but it was back in disaster mode with floor and cake batter everywhere.

Miles wasn't too mad about it though he'd clean later. He still needed to clean the rest of the house but today would be a good day. Today he was going to focus on the twins.

It would be their first birthday without their parents.

Miles...wasn't sure what they wanted.

He knew they were both pissed at him after yesterday. They didn't argue per se but they didn't not argue?

They were upset that he hadn't said anything before their practice. Miles...honestly hadn't thought twice about it. He was more concerned that they were going to be late because of him. That made them more upset.

Parker shut down.

Damien was angry.

Willow wouldn't leave his side and Reggie couldn't really. So after spending an hour getting nowhere with the twins they went to their rooms and Miles took the littles to his parent's grave.

Willow liked visiting. He was surprised he wasn't sure if the girl would be too sad but even in sadness they sat in the grass in front of the grave stone holding tightly onto each other.

It made his heart feel even more cracked with each visit but he thought maybe it would help her cope. Maybe she'd find her voice again?

Miles...Miles just wanted to make sure today was good with his siblings. He was heartbroken thinking about everything and he knew that the twins would be too.