Chapter Text
Ash ripped off his jacket and handed it to Amy, whose teeth were chattering loudly. He turned back and banged on the door.
“Mum! Come on, let us in!” he shouted. The silhouette of their mother slowly faded away through the foggy window on the back door, and Ash knew she’d gone to lock the front door too. He sighed defeatedly and leaned his head against the cold wood.
“Ash?” Someone tugged on his sweater sleeve. He looked down and met eyes with his youngest brother, Mark. Kneeling down, he cupped his brother’s cheek with his hand.
“Yeah?”
“I’m cold, can we go inside?”
Ash bit his tongue and glanced over at Joe. He was standing next to Amy, wrapping his sweater tighter around his small body. Mark was only wearing a thin long sleeve shirt. Ash quickly tugged his own sweater off and put it on his younger brother. It didn't matter that he was now standing there in just his t-shirt, as long as his siblings were safe, nothing mattered.
“Hey, kid!” Ash flinched at the shout, whipping around to see where it came from. He was met with the sight of his neighbour, Sam, standing by his fence, staring at the four boys in the snow.
“Are you alright?” the man asked. Ash looked around and shrugged.
“Your mum locked you out again?”
Nodding, Ash subconsciously pulled Mark closer.
“Why don’t you come in?” Sam asked. “Warm up, while I make some calls?”
Ash knew what kind of calls he’d make. He knew it would result in his brothers all being separated. But he also knew it would mean his siblings would be safe.
So he nodded, and told his siblings to come with him. The four trudged into the warm house, dragging snow into the hallway.
“Brush the snow off your feet,” Ash said, demonstrating as he wiped the snow off of his socks. His siblings followed suit, and together they stepped into the living room. Sam gestured for them to sit down. Ash opted to stand as his brothers took up the space of the couch.
“Do you guys want hot chocolate?” Sam asked. The two youngest boys nodded excitedly. Ash followed the older man as he walked into the kitchen.
“I know what calls you’re making,” he said, once they were out of earshot of the kids.
“I know you know,” Sam confirmed, moving to put the kettle on.
“They’re going to separate us.”
“I know.”
“So what, you’re just letting that happen?” Ash threw his arm out to the side, nearly knocking over a glass stood on the counter next to him. “They need me, Sam!”
“What they need, Ash,” Sam turned around to face the teenager. “Is a safe, stable place that they can call home, where they are provided and cared for, and loved.”
“Why can’t I give them that?” Ash’s voice broke, but he quickly covered it up with a cough.
Sam continued to make the hot chocolate as he spoke.
“You’re only fourteen, Ash. You can't provide for four people all alone, and you’re not of age yet.”
Ash knew he was right.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.
“I know you want to,” Sam said. “And I really wish you could, but you’re just a kid.”
“I’m not a kid!” Ash exclaimed. “I’m the furthest from a kid, I had to stop being a kid when I was nine!”
Sam looked at him, a pitying look in his eyes Ash always saw in the eyes of his teachers.
“I know,” he said. “I’m sorry, but technically, legally, you’re a kid.”
He held out two mugs, which Ash grabbed. The two walked back into the living room, where the kids were eagerly waiting for their hot chocolate.
Ash sat down in a leaning chair while Sam went back to the kitchen to make his calls. Mark and Joe eagerly sat there and burnt their tongues on the hot drink multiple times, while Amy waited patiently for the drink to cool down. Ash wasn't planning on drinking his.
“Ash?” Amyasked quietly.
“Yes?”
“Is he calling the police?” Amy’s voice fell into a whisper.
“He’s calling child protective services,” Ash replied. “They’re gonna help us.”
“They’re gonna separate us.”
“Yeah.” Ash knew it was best to be blunt with Amy. Although she was only eleven, she was the smartest out of the siblings. There was no use trying to sugarcoat anything.
“But I’m gonna get you guys back to me,” Ash said. “No matter what.”
“And if you can’t?”
“I will.”
Amy looked over at their youngest brothers.
“They need to be together,” she said. Ash nodded, looking down at his hands.
“I don’t really have an influence on that, but yes, we should make sure that they can stay together.”
Just then, Sam stepped into the living room and locked eyes with Ash.
“A police officer is on their way with a social worker,” he said. Ash nodded, and Sam left.
“Mark, Joe,” Ash said, getting the attention of his two younger brothers. “In a bit, some people are gonna show up here and they're gonna help us, alright?”
The two five year olds nodded.
“It’s important that you stay calm, and don’t panic. You have no reason to be afraid, okay?”
They nodded again, the previous gleeful looks on their faces long gone.
Minutes passed, where the four sat in silence, the only sound being the slurping of their hot chocolate. Then the doorbell rang. Mark and Joe both flinched, and Amy Looked as if she might throw up. The door opened and silent conversation carried through the hall.
Then footsteps, and three people stepped into the living room. Sam, a police officer, and a woman in a suit. Sam and the police officer stood to the side and talked silently, while the woman sat down with the four boys.
“Hi there, I’m Cara.” she said. “I’m here to help you, what are your names?”
“I’m Ash, this is Amy, Joe, and Mark.” Ash said, gesturing to each of his siblings as he said their names. Cara smiled at all of them.
“Do you mind telling me what happened tonight with your parents?” she asked.
“Our mum locked us out again because Mark and Joe got D’s on their science assignment, Amy didn't do the dishes and because I’m apparently responsible,” Ash said bluntly.
Cara nodded. “Again?” she asked.
“She does it often,” Amy said. “Mostly just individually, but sometimes it’s all of us.”
“She’s bipolar, also has some pretty severe anger issues, has a tendency to throw shit. At us.” Ash said. Cara nodded again.
“Do you like being at home?” She was asking Mark, Joe and Amy now. Mark and Joe shook their heads, and Amy just shrugged.
“What if we went back to your house, got some of your things and left? How does that sound?” Cara asked.
“Don't think our mum would approve of that,” Ash stated honestly.
“We can talk to her,” Cara assured him. Ash sighed, but nodded. Standing up, he reached a hand out for Mark to take. Amy took Joe’s hand, and together they followed Cara and the police officer to their house. The front door was already open, and shouts could be heard from inside the house. Two police cars stood in the driveway.
As they entered the house, the shouts were directed at them.
“Ashton!” Their mother yelled. “You called the fucking cops?! What’s wrong with you?”
“Go upstairs and get your things, clothes, bathroom stuff, a few special things.” Cara said, stepping in front of the four, blocking their mother from view.
Ash grabbed Mark and pulled him up the stairs, followed closely by Amy and Joe. Ash led Mark and Joe into their shared room, starting to help the twins get their most important things in their backpacks. They dumped their school supplies onto the bed and Ash helped roll up some changes of clothes. Amy grabbed all their toothbrushes and toothpaste. As Mark and Joe debated over what plushies to bring, Ash glanced out the window to see their mum getting crammed into one of the police cars.
Amy ran back and forth between her and Ash’s room, packing both of their bags. Ash only made sure that a blue sheep stuffed animal got stuffed in the bottom of his bag.
When the twins were packed and ready to go, Ash knew that they’d be taken away. And sure enough, when he led the two boys down the stairs, a second social worker stood there waiting for them. Ash pulled his brothers close.
“Stick together, okay?” he whispered. The two nodded. Ash reluctantly let them go, and met eyes with the second social worker.
“Make sure they’re not separated,” he said sternly to her. She nodded and led Mark and Joe out of the house. Cara sent Ash a pitying look as he turned around.
Amy stood halfway down the stairs, staring at her older brother with tears in her eyes, two bags held in her hands. Her own, and Ash’s. Ash walked up the stairs, met Amy, and wrapped his arms around her thin frame. The brunette reciprocated the hug, grabbing onto the back of Ash’s t-shirt.
“I’m sorry,” Ash whispered, a lone tear falling from his eye. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Amy mumbled back, voice muffled as her face was shoved into Ash’s shoulder. “You did what you needed to do.”
Ash let go of his younger sister, took his bag, and together they followed Cara to her car. They got into the back seat, and sat silently as Cara started the car, and they pulled out of the driveway.
After about an hour, they pulled into the driveway of a different house. This one was white, with flowers in every window sill.
“Amy, this is where you’ll be staying.” Cara said softly. Ash knew it would come to this, but still felt his stomach drop when he realised they’d be separated.
Amy stepped out of the car, Ash following soon after. The two stared up at the house as the front door opened, a tired looking woman stepping out onto the steps. Ash looked at Amy, and saw her hands were shaking. He quickly stepped forwards and wrapped the younger girl in a hug. Amy dropped her bag and clung onto Ash as if her life depended on it.
“I’ll get back to you, Aims,” Ash whispered as his brother sobbed. “I promise.”
He willed himself to hold back his tears, wanting to remain collected in front of Amy.
“You better.” Amy sobbed. “You better fucking come back.”
Ash reached up to ruffle her hair.
“Like I said, I promise.”
Cara then asked Ash to wait in the car, and led Amy into the house. The tired lady put a hand on the brunette’s back as the front door closed.
That’s when Ash let his tears finally fall. He sobbed quietly, rubbing the tears off his face as soon as they fell. He was taught all his life that he shouldn't cry, and it had rubbed off on him even though he knew it was wrong.
But he let himself cry, just this once, for himself, for his siblings.
When Cara came back, he’d collected himself and dried his tears. As the car pulled out of the driveway again, Ash looked through the back window to see Amy standing there, looking back at him. He kept his eyes trained on his sister until Cara made a left turn.
“She’ll be okay,” Cara said. “Allysa’s a great foster parent.”
“Amy’s not an easy kid,” Ash mumbled. “What about me? Where am I going?”
Cara smiled and nodded. “You’re going to a very nice man, Phil Watson. He has a kid, her name’s Elodie”
“He have any history of mental illness?” Ash asked. He knew it was probably a very weird question, but since his mother was bipolar he wanted to make sure he wouldn't end up in a similar situation.
“He does not,” Cara assured. “He’s a good man, Ash.”
Ash nodded but didn't say anything further. He didn't speak when they arrived at Phil’s house, or when he met his daughter, or when Cara left. He didn't speak as Elodie showed him around the house, or as they ate dinner together.
The first time he spoke after he arrived, was at night, long after everyone had gone to bed. He sat on his bed, staring out at the night sky.
“Please be safe,” he whispered, a message to his three younger siblings, scattered like the snowflakes falling onto the already white roads.