I avoid Starbucks for the next few days, a little mortified by my last interaction there. Work provides a pleasant distraction, and so would my brothers, if any of them actually bothered to answer my texts. They've been oddly silent, all of them, for the last few days and I'm beginning to get concerned.

But more pressing things are bothering me at present. Namely, the incessant tap emanating from my door.

I groan when I realise that ignoring it will not make it stop, rolling over into my pillow.

I glance at the clock, noting distastefully that it's barely 7am.

Who the hell is at my door this early? I know for a fact that it isn't Ledger, who frankly does not operate during early morning hours, and it won't be Everett unless there's been an emergency.

That thought alone spurs me out of bed.

I pad towards the door, grumbling the whole way there as I wipe the sleep from my eyes. I hadn't got in till 1am last night, having foolishly decided to go for a drink with my colleagues after the show. I won't be making the same mistake again.

I swipe at the door when the knocking begins again, sweeping it open with a violent glare. But my irritation seeps away as quickly as it came, surprise left in it's wake.

"What?" I mumble, completely perplexed at the sight of all five of my brothers in front of me.

"Surprise!"

Luka's voice is practically a scream whilst the twins are dazzling their palms at me in incredibly enthusiastic jazz hands. Amyas and Everett look tired, humouring our youngest siblings.

"What...why are you all here? Is mum okay?" I ask, glancing between them before settling on Everett.

His expression softens.

"We're here for your birthday, Grey." He says gently.

My birthday? I wrack my brain, trying to remember the date.

"It's my birthday?" I ask quietly.

Amyas and Walter look a little disturbed whilst Everett's lips settle into a firm line. Wrong thing to say.

"Oh, uh, come in!" I say, stepping back hastily.

I'm all too aware that I'm in my pyjamas and I look to my eldest brother pathetically, pleading with him.

"Go shower and dress, I'll keep them occupied." Everett murmurs and I exhale in relief.

"Thank you, Rett." I mumble, throwing my arms around him.

He holds me for a moment before I'm dashing off to my room.

I shower and dress in record time, pulling on a pale blue pullover and black jeans. It's nothing special, but I take the time to do my hair as usual before facing the chaos waiting for me.

When I reach the living room I am unsurprised to find Walter reading and Luka and Westley peering through my things. Amyas is flicking through my collection of theatre programmes whilst Everett reclines on the sofa, his eyes scanning a text on his phone.

"I thought you said you'd keep them occupied?" I grumble, removing my antique clock from Westley's hands. For someone so athletic, he is incredibly clumsy.

My eyes narrow as Everett smiles.

"A much harder feat than at first I thought." He says wisely.

"So, what's the plan?" I ask, flopping down on the sofa, very aware that Luka is trying to pocket my new wrist watch.

I'm glad that my birthday has fallen on a Sunday, it means that I don't have to rush this time with my family.

"Well, I thought that we could do presents, then go up to..."

"I need coffee." Westley proclaims, interrupting Everett and Walter peers up from his book in agreement. He's only saying that because he knows he won't have to pay for it, and the rest of my brothers agree predictably.

"Not a bad shout." Amyas admits and I smile.

"Sure, we can head to..." I say, pausing as I slap Luka's hand away from my things.

"Hey!" He cries.

"I don't know why you try it on, Grey always catches you." Everett mutters, shaking his head.

"He has the nicest stuff." Luka says, shrugging.

"I saw a coffee place round the corner." Walter says, trying to diffuse the impending argument. It doesn't work.

I laugh under my breath, smiling as Luka argues with Everett. I put my shoes on carefully, tying the laces and nudging my brothers out the door before a full on brawl can erupt.

I slip my hand into Luka's pocket as we leave, retrieving my sunglasses and placing them back on the table where they belong before closing the door.

The twins have sandwiched Luka, bothering him incessantly as we walk, whilst Amyas shows Everett his latest painting. I smile to myself, feeling warm in the familiarity of their presence. I trail behind my brothers, laughing at the stupid argument that Westley and Luka are having as we stream through the doors, effectively dominating the coffee shop.

"You are always stealing my shirts. How can you think Grey has the nicest stuff?" Westley asks. Loudly.

"He has the best sense of style." Everett reasons.

"What?" Luka cries.

"That's not even an opinion, it's just a fact." Amyas muses, glancing at the menu.

I feel my cheeks heat up as I sidle between them, approaching the till. Nothing is ever going to get ordered unless someone takes charge.

When dark blue eyes find mine, I feel a little more flustered than usual, something unusual trampling in my stomach. I do my best to squash it, trying not to read too much into the sensation. Unfortunately, this only succeeds in making me breathless. I hadn't anticipated Blue working today. I hadn't anticipated him, or this feeling, at all.

"Hi, Blue." I say meekly.

"What do you want?" He asks icily, his eyes roaming past my face to the small gathering behind me. Whatever sincerity he addressed me with the last time I was here has clearly gone out the window, and I feel strangely dejected at the thought.

"Can I get a coconut..."

"Not you. Of course I know what you want, you fucking bore." He interjects, tapping at the till.

"Excuse me?"

I freeze in place, my eyes closing briefly as it dawns on me how stupid this was. I really should have warned Blue. Or taken my brothers elsewhere. I'm so used to it by now, I hadn't even thought about how my brothers were here with me, or how Blue would have no idea the danger he was in.

When I peer over, Everett's expression is thunderous.

"Rett..." I murmur, but it's no good.

"No. Who the fuck is this guy?" He asks, his eyes never leaving Blue.

"Blue's a friend." I say.

My blood runs cold when I hear Westley scoff.

"Yeah, some friend. He verbally abuses you every day." He mutters, arms crossed against his chest as he glares at Blue.

I whip round to stare at Amyas, betrayal seeping into every inch of me.

"Am? What the hell?" I whisper.

He looks sheepish, glancing at Walter who is glaring at Westley.

"I told you that was a secret." He whispers, smacking the back of his twins' head.

"He's fucking around with Grey!" West argues and to my dismay, all my brothers seem to agree on this being a cardinal sin.

"You all knew about this?" Everett asks, his voice venomous as he stares down Amyas and the twins.

"Since when?" Luka demands.

In my eyes, Luka is and always will be my baby brother who ate sand and followed us around with stars in his eyes, looking at us like we were gods. However, at seventeen years of age, he stands as tall as Everett, a titan amongst giants. He looks alarmingly like Everett too, and has inherited the same fierce protectiveness of our family, despite the fact that he and I aren't particularly close, and I am his older brother.

His chubby cheeks are long gone, replaced with sharp cheekbones, and his vivid green eyes are capable of hateful menace. Which is exactly what Blue is on the receiving end of now.

The poor boy looks like he's about to shit himself, and it would be amusing if I didn't care quite so much about him. I curse my stupid kindness for the thousandth time.

"Luka, not now." I demand.

"Grey." Everett reasons, teaming up with Luka predictably but I shake my head.

"Go and sit down. I'll order." I say. No one moves for a moment and I place a hand on my hip, raising a brow.

None of my brothers argue with me, reluctantly traipsing after Amyas who leads them away with a slightly wary expression.

When I turn back to Blue, I smile sheepishly.

"Sorry about them." I say quietly.

Blue glances at my brothers for a split second longer before sneering.

"What made you bring your posse in with you today? Have you hired them to hang out with you?" He asks, but he doesn't sound nearly as confident.

"No, they're just visiting." I say cheerfully.

I reel off their orders, knowing what each of my siblings will want better than I know myself, and I make sure to do it before Blue can snipe at me again. This mercifully keeps him busy for a little while as I regain my composure.

I tap my card against the reader, shrugging off the distasteful looks that Blue shoots at me and my brothers every now and then.

When he brings the drinks over, I thank him.

"Whatever." He mutters, turning away.

"I'm sorry." I say and this stops him.

He turns around, a curious look in his eyes.

"Why?"

"I should have warned you." I say sheepishly.

"About what? The gang of neanderthals that you associate yourself with?" He demands, his eyes suddenly intense and fiery.

My blood boils a little at the insult to my family.

"Don't." I mutter sharply.

He steps back slightly, his brows raised a fraction.

I look down and take a deep breath.

"My brothers can be a little over protective. Especially today." I say quietly, glancing at them.

The twins are leaning on Everett as they watch Luka and Amyas thumb wrestle. Surprisingly, it looks like Amyas is winning and this is causing a heated irritation in our baby brother. Luka has inherited West's distaste for losing, and is, consequently, awful to play games with.

Everett glances up suddenly and waves me over, looking somewhat frantic.

"Come on birthday boy, you're not getting any younger!" He calls and I laugh. He's not fooling me. He's desperate for a distraction. Any distraction.

I turn back and pick up our tray, smiling at Blue who has a somewhat crestfallen expression on his face. Oh, right, almost forgot.

I shift the tray into my right hand and dig into my pocket. I grin triumphantly when I find the fiver that I stuck in there yesterday. To be honest, I feel like he deserves it for putting up with the entire Hayes clan.

I tuck it into Blue's tip mug before turning away. I balance the tray like a pro, weaving between the little nest of chairs my brothers have set up. We seem to take over slightly whenever we're all together.

"Okay gang, I've got a hot chocolate for Luka, because you're a sweetie," I say fondly, pinching his cheek even though I know he'll hate it.

He growls, batting me off but doesn't argue as he snatches his drink. He hasn't learnt to love coffee yet, or maybe he's just too young to need it.

"Espresso for Everett," I say, handing him his tiny cup and saucer.

"Because he hates himself." Luka mutters as Everett snorts.

"Sorry, I can't hear you over the mountain of cream and sugar that's drowning your drink." He says.

"Oh yeah? Gimme yours then, I'll down it." Luka taunts.

"Chamomile tea for Amyas," I murmur, placing his cup in front of him and ignoring Luka and Everett.

"An americano for West and a chai latte for Walt." I say, placing them with a flourish.

"What did you get, Grey?" Walter asks, leaning forwards to cradle his mug.

I glance at my empty tray, a little sheepish.

"Oh, I forgot to get one for me. I'll be right back." I mumble, turning back towards the counter.

I stop suddenly, surprised to find Blue in front of me. He has a tray in his hands, and on the tray is a mug and a muffin.

"You forgot your order." He mutters, glancing at the coffee.

He almost looks embarrassed as I frown. We both know I didn't order what he's holding.

"But I..."

"Just take it, Grey." He mutters darkly, his eyes meeting mine again and I smile.

I reach out and take the coffee and muffin, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Happy birthday." He says, so softly I barely hear him, and I feel the tips of my ears turn pink with pleasure.

"Thank you, Blue." I say, my smile beaming.

He stares at me for a moment. His mouth opens, but as his eyes drift to something behind me, his lips snap shut again. Instead, he turns and walks sharply back to the counter.

It takes only three seconds for Luka to speak, which is two seconds longer than I had anticipated.

"How come Grey gets a muffin?" He whines and I laugh as Amyas smacks his hand away from my treat.

"Because it's his birthday." Everett says monotonously, his tone that of a middle aged father. He pulls out his wallet, offering me twenty quid for our drinks, but I shake my head, waving him off. Everett sighs, his disapproving expression quickly morphing into irritation as West tries to pluck the money from his grasp instead.

"I didn't get a muffin on my birthday." Luka points out.

"You were in Greece for your birthday." Amyas says.

"So?"

I smile, grabbing a knife from the table and splitting the muffin into six. I separate the pieces out, placing a morsel into Westley's hand.

He doesn't even notice, his hand raising to his mouth immediately to chomp on the muffin. I watch this action with intrigue, idly wondering if this tactic would get him to eat anything. I'll have to experiment with that one day.

"So, you don't get a muffin, brat." West says, his words garbled by muffin.

"Ew West, swallow first." Walter moans as I place muffin into Amyas' hand. Amyas smiles at me, mouthing a soft 'thank you'.

"Don't call Luka a brat, West." Everett mutters.

Walter smiles as I place a morsel of muffin into his hand, opening his mouth to thank me when he's cut off by Luka's incessant voice.

"Yeah, West." He taunts victoriously as I place muffin into his hand.

"I never said he was wrong, Luka." Everett quips and I chuckle as I pop the second to last morsel of muffin into Everett's hand. He looks down at it curiously before glancing at me.

"What the fuck?" He mutters.

"DoN't SwEaR, Everett." Luka says, mimicking our mother as he shoves cake in his mouth.

"Grey, this is yours. We don't want you to share." Everett says.

I glance at my brothers, each of them pausing mid-chew as they glance at Everett guiltily.

His expression flattens into disappointment.

"Really? Come on, guys." He mutters despairingly, shaking his head.

I pop my piece of muffin into my mouth, humming in delight.

"It's really good, Everett." I mumble and my brothers nod eagerly.

He sighs, a small smile on his lips as he takes a bite.

"Shit, that is good." He mumbles.

There's a moment of blissful silence and I relish it.

"So can we get muffins now?" Luka asks, leaning obnoxiously close to Everett's face.

I laugh as our eldest brother effortlessly shoves Luka away from him with an effective, forceful smack to the forehead.

"Buy your own muffins, you little turd." He growls.

"It tastes better when it's someone elses'." Luka whines, undeterred and West smirks.

"It always does." He says sympathetically, patting Luka on the knee.

Walter and Everett's faces contort into grimaces as Amyas laughs.

"You're disgusting, this is why Grey never invites you to stay." Walter mutters, which of course, incites rage in Westley and joy in Luka, who seems to thrive off chaos and dysfunction. He suffers terribly from youngest sibling syndrome.

I shake my head fondly, leaning back in my chair. My hands cradle my coffee as I lean against Amyas' shoulder, carefully watching the carnage ensue. I find that it doesn't matter that I can't get a word in edgeways or that the conversation is 86% bickering. It doesn't matter that it's unexpected or chaotic, this birthday is the best of many for the simple reason that they're all here, and I feel so loved.

_

A/N

This is, without doubt, one of my favourite chapters. I LOVE writing scenes with all the brothers, it's so much fun. Also it means I get to revisit my beloved Everett <3 If any of you want to see more of him, go and read Heterochromic Haze :)

Which brother is your favourite?