Collins.

2.

Five years later.

William walked home miserably, his nose leaking blood and his eye swelling closed. He'd been beaten up yet again by his classmates for the apparent crime of being too short, too scrawny and much too weak to fight back.

William trudged up the steps to his porch and sat on the swing, his lower lip trembling before a few tears spilled out, he quickly wiped them away.

"William?"

William looked up, seeing his mother. Her hair so blonde it was almost white pulled back into a ponytail and her worried blue eyes looking down at him, "You alright angel?"

The boy shook his head and Jane sat beside her son, wrapping an arm around him and allowing the boy to cuddle into her side, tears spilling and small whimpers coming from the boy as he cried into his mothers side, the woman rubbing his back gently while the other hand rubbed her bloated stomach, being pregnant yet again.

"William? How do you feel about having a baby brother? or sister?" Jane said in an attempt to take her sons mind off of whatever was troubling him and the boy sniffled, looking up at his mom,

"I...I'd like a baby brother" He said with a tiny smile, thinking about getting to play with his future possible brother, "why mommy?"

"Mommy's having a baby" she said, gesturing to her stomach and William's brown eyes grew wide and awestruck, looking up at the woman,

"Can I talk to them? Pretty please?"

Jane chuckled, "of course you can".

William smiled, putting a hand on his mothers stomach gently and speaking quietly, so only the baby could hear,

"Hey baby, I'm your big brother Will! I know I'm supposed to find you dumb and irritating but I'll love you bunches. I'll always protect you too, I promise! I'll protect you from the big dumb monsters and mean people"

William beamed up at his mom who smiled back before looking back at her stomach, "I'll keep you safe forever and always...I promise, even if it hurts me, I'll keep you safe. I'll love you forever"

Jane stroked her sons hair gently, "That's a very big promise Will..."

"I'll keep it" the boy said in determination, "I don't want my brother or sister hurt!"

Jane smiled and kissed her sons forehead, "Go wash up William, I'll have dinner on the stove soon".

William nodded and got up from the swing, heading inside and Jane looked down at her stomach, sighing softly before heading inside after her son.

~~~Few months later~~~

William sat on the couch, listening to his mothers screams from upstairs while his father sat beside him, reeking of whiskey, petrol and sweat having just come from work to find his wife in labor. Calling the midwife who had been living in a house down the road, she was over in less than a minute and now Williams sibling was being born.

"Better be fuckin worth it" David grunted and William swung his legs, staring down at his shoes before the screams died down and a few minutes later, the midwife came down, her weathered face smiling gently at them.

"Its a boy" She said and William perked, running up the stairs quick as he could and into his mothers room where she was clutching a bundle of blankets.

When Jane saw her eldest, she smiled tiredly, "Come see your brother William"

The boy walked into the room, peeking at the bundle and smiling, the baby was tiny from what he could tell. Soft blonde tuffs of hair sprouting from his head and the baby gurgled, opening his eyes a bit and William smiled wider at the sky blue eyes.

William heard heavy boots and looked up, his father up above him and looking down at the baby with a scowl,

"Name it Malo" He said simply before turning and walking away, William looking down at the baby and slowly offering a hand, a tiny hand grabbing hold of his finger and refusing to let go making the older brother smile.

"Hey Mal" William whispered, "Welcome to the world"

The baby just gurgled.

~~~Seven Months later~~~

William sat up in the rocking chair in his brothers room, staring tiredly at the crib where his baby brother slept peacefully while his parents screamed from down below. A bottle smashed and William winced, getting up and leaving, quietly closing the door so that Malo wouldn't be disturbed before he walked down the stairs, quiet as a mouse and peeked into the kitchen. David and Jane having a stand off almost, Davids face red with rage while Jane looked perfectly horrified.

"Don't David! Don't you talk like that!!" She yelled, "You ain't a hunter anymore!"

"I ain't a ganker cause of those little fuckers upstairs!!" David roared, "You made me quit that life the moment you got pregnant with that first little weakling!! There's things out there that can hurt people Jane, people like our sons"

Jane shook her head, sounding tearful as she spoke, "David please...please don't talk like that, our sons are safe, they're safe so long as you don't go lookin' for no trouble"

David glowered at his wife, going over and grabbing a fistful of her hair so tight it made her gasp and William whimper as he watched, David's eyes flaming with a hellish rage,

"I've had just about enough of your nagging" He snarled and his other hand went to the counter, grabbing hold of a large knife and Jane screamed, her scream cutting off into a loud shriek as David plunged the knife again and again into his wife's chest. Wine red blood splattering against David's face and dripping down Jane onto the floor. William stood with his mouth wide open, frozen to the spot as the knife clattered to the ground looking like a twisted Christmas ornament. Red and silver reflecting as Jane fell to the ground, her mouth wide open and blood leaking from her chest and mouth, blue eyes dulling slowly until they where unseeing. David glanced over and saw his oldest, grunting before walking over,

"Go pack your shit and get your brother"

"...M-mommy-"

"Mommy's sleeping" David growled, "now I said go get your fucking shit"

William raced upstairs and grabbed his suitcase, packing as much as he could, making sure to leave room for Malo's things which he packed quickly before looking over into the crib, Malo's sleep hadn't been disturbed and William scooped his brother into his arms and grabbed the suitcase, heading downstairs.

David was waiting by the car, bags already piled into the back and David grabbed Williams and Malo's suitcase, chucking it in the bag before getting into the front, William climbing into the backseat with Malo just before his father drove off.

Malo woke up and let out a cry, William looking at his dad and he felt panic settle in, looking down at his brother and gently rubbing his chubby cheek.

"Oh nono please don't cry" William said, "Please don't..."

Malo didn't listen and his lower lip trembled, William quickly thinking before starting to hum a lullaby, singing softly to Malo who slowly closed his eyes again and William breathed easier, looking out the window as their father took them to god knew where.