Simon's POV

It was now time for Harry's mother to prove herself. She had friends of hers, her AA mentor, and co-workers lined up to take the stand. Ethan was starting to get upset, I could see it. It wasn't long before he was crying.

Harry looked back, and Ethan tried to smile.

In the middle of one of Harry's mother's witnesses statements, Harry interrupted.

"May I go to the bathroom, Sir?"

"Young man, please do not interrupt again, however, yes you may. If it is urgent."

Harry got up, and as he passed our row, he shot me a look.

"Come on Behz, calm down bub," I said as he cried. I took him out of the courtroom and headed towards the bathroom.

Harry was standing there. As soon as we entered, Behz and Harry grabbed each other.

I knew they'd sort each other out, so I quickly exited the bathroom. Afterall, I needed to be there for Rosie, Josh, and the twins.

Ethan's POV

I held onto Harry as tight as I could. We were both sobbing.

"I-i can't lose you bro," I said to him.

"I c-can't l-l-lose y-y-you, Behz."

We held each other for longer.

"I-I-i'm scared."

"I know, i-i really know. Don't let it break you. You are stronger. Plus, we are going to be fine. I promise."

"You can't though Eth," he said weekly.

"Well it will be over my dead body, mate."

We sat down against the wall, and I wrapped my arm around him.

"Bro?"

"Yeah,' I replied.

"I can sleep over every night if I'm not legally allowed to stay with you lot."

I smiled at him and his innocents, even though I was only a single year older.

"Yeah, yeah you can."

"It is now time for each of the childen to make their statements. Lucas Lewis please come up.

Greg grabbed Lucas and sat him down where he needed to be seated. He kneeled beside the chair, holding Lucas's hand.

"Hello young man."

"Hi there!" he said with a smile.

"Is it okay if I ask you a couple of questions?"

Lucas nodded his head.

"So, where is home for you?"

"My house and my brother's house," he said simply.

"Who owns your house?"

"Dada silly," he said with a giggle.

"So where do you want to live, with Dad or Mum?"

"I no see Mum for a long time," Lucas said, making a large space between his arms, "So dada. I love my dada and he does everything for us."

Greg smiled at the little boy.

"Thank you young man, you may be seated."

Henry's speaking went very similarly, however Rosie's did not.

"Hello Rosie."

"Hi," she said, looking down.

"So where do you live currently?"

"I live with my father at (insert random address)."

"Do you like living there?"

"Yes of course."

"Do you feel supported?"

Rosie chuckled, "Yeah of course. I have about a hundred people at all my school events. For example, my dad, all the boys, and the twins have come to every single one of my footy matches. They were quite the cheerleaders."

"Do you feel you have enough space at home?"

"Sometimes it can get loud and that, but the library is a five minute walk away. I can focus better there and so I do much of my studying there. However, I love my room and it is perfect. And yeah, I defo have enough space."

"Where do you want to live?"

"With my Dad of course, not the lady who claims to be my mother who left me a god knows what age to pursue her alcoholism. Not her. I wanna be with my brothers and my dad. My real family."

"When you say brothers who do you mean?"

"The boys who support me through everything. Simon, Josh, JJ, Harry, Vik, Ethan, Tobi, slightly littler Josh, Henry, and Luke."

"Are they like brothers to you?"

"In every way. I didn't even mean to call them brothers then, but it is how I see them. No way about it."

"Thank you, Rosie. You may be seated.

Next it was Josh Jr. 's turn to go.

"Hello Josh."

"Hi," he said, quietly. He was shy in these kinds of situations.

"Where do you live?"

"Same place as my sister."
"Do you feel supported?"

"Yeah. Having this many people around you who you love and love you is great. Like I have so many people to turn to for everything. And, yes, the same with Rosie with school events."

He was smiling and speaking a bit louder.

"Do you feel you have enough space at home?"

"Yes."

"Where do you want to live?"

"With my dad," he said and did not explain further. His mood and disposition explained itself.

"Do you enjoy the company of your mother?"

"I did when I was little, but I learned to live without her. Then, I understood why I had to live without her. Because of that, I lost the care I once had for her. And after what she did to my little brothers, she also lost my respect. We have no bond and we have no mutual connections, so no, I don't enjoy her presence in my life. At all."
"Thank you young man. You may be seated."

"You are Harry Lewis, yes?"

"Yessir," Harry said back.

"You are the oldest Lewis child?"

"Yes, as far as I am aware. Though, I don't know what my whore of a mother gets up to."

Josh and Simon immediately shot him a look as did his Dad.

I stood up.

"Sir, may I please say a quick word to Harry?"

He gave me a skeptical look before saying, "Yes you may."

"Harra, take this seriously. Any rude comment you make sounds bad and that. Trust me, bub. I know making jokes and playing things off is your coping mechanism, but you gotta face this. Just for now. You are stronger, remember that. Also remember that it could be worse. Okay?"
Harry was starting to tear up, "O-okay. But Eth-"

I wiped his tears with my finger.

"You got this," I whispered as I walked away.

AN/

How we feeling? Only two more chapters in act on! I am currently writing act three, so let me know your predictions. Enjoy!
See ya on the dark side.