((Thanks for 7k views and 400+ votes guys it means so much to me!))

((CW: mature themes))

    •'No good deed goes unpunished'•

(Two weeks later-Tuesday morning)
(Fubuki)
"Good morning, is Taiyou ready?" I asked politely as my neighbour ushered the young boy out of the door, saying thanks even though I do this every morning. I smiled down at the young boy and he gave me a shy smile back, sticking out his hand for me to hold.

"Okay, now we're all ready to go aren't we?" I said, the five kids at my side smiled "Alrighty then, let's all hold hands okay, and stay in the middle of the pavement okay Hina? No veering off towards the road." I warned and they all nodded their heads quickly before following my instructions. This is how my day always starts. Living on a street full of families with young children I thought it would just be nice to offer to take some of the kids to school, besides it's nice to see their happy, smiley faces in the morning-it always brightens my mood.

"Alright, bye Taiyou, I'll see you tomorrow okay?" I assured and he waved shyly at me before disappearing off into his classroom.
"-Yes! He so cute Afuyo, he really really is!" I turned around to see my blonde friend being practically dragged by Arata's daughter, with Anaise trailing behind him. I smiled, happy that he was settling in well, from what he's told me it's been going great.

"Uh morning Shirou." He said rather breathlessly when Joseline finally came to a stop. "Morning Fubuyi!" The two girls said in unison and I laughed, patting them both on the head, I must have just missed Nagumo. Joseline tugged at Afuro's jeans "His name is Tamal! He's so cute and Ana's baby brother, and he's from India!" She said before her friend shook her head "JoJo! Daddy and Papa sayed he is from Bangladesh, there is a difference!" She explained and Joseline clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry! I always forget!"
"It is okay JoJo I still love you." She said before hugging her friend tightly.

"Okay now that that's sorted let's get you two to class." Afuro stated, before giving me a quick wave and walking off with them. I smiled and began walking back home, humming to myself. "I'm definitely in the mood for some cake when I get back-ooh, blueberry sounds good..." I mumbled myself, almost tasting the delicious treat. 'Huh?'

I stopped, seeing someone sitting on one of the swings in the park. It was Handa. 'What's he doing around here?...Poor guy, I should really go and speak to him, I'll visit him later today, it is my day off after all...'

"Hey Handa, how are you feeling?" I asked. He had bags under his eyes and a tired expression on his face. "May I...may I come in?" He blinked a little before closing the door in my face. I could hear him rummaging around inside, a few moments later he invited me inside "Uh, sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting anyone..."

I just smiled walking inside and showing myself into the living room, he hurried past me, gathering up the pillow and blanket that lay on the sofa 'He's been sleeping on the couch...'
"Uh, can I get you something to drink?" He asked somewhat hoarsely, sounding as though he'd only just got up. "Just a water." He scurried away. I took a little look around, the room looked so bare, there were no pictures anywhere. Then I noticed something; a crumpled beer can in the corner of the room, sticking out from underneath the sofa. Taking a closer look I noticed bottles, and more cans, looking as if they'd been kicked over there in an effort to hide them. My nose crinkled up to the faint aroma that seemed to be everywhere. Alcohol.

There was a glass on the coffee table, a half-empty bottle of wine sitting beside it.

Handa came back with my water, setting it down before quickly snatching up the glass and the bottle, laughing awkwardly.
"Uh...did you need something?" He asked, holding the bottle behind his back.
"Uh! Oh I just wanted to talk to you, see how you're doing, just help out. I bought some cake, it's really good I made it myself, you want some?" I replied, pushing the parcel towards him, he stared at it. "I'm not hungry...but thanks...I guess."

"Oh, well that's okay, I'll just leave it with you and-"
"You know I'm not really in the mood for cake Fubuki." He sort of snapped, before sighing apologetically.
I frowned. "I see."

"Did you just come to give me cake or-"
"-You know, drinking won't help with the pain." I couldn't help myself, I could smell the alcohol when he first opened the door, he must have been drinking all day.
He glanced at me, placing the glass down. It was silent for a good minute.

"Everything's going to be fine Handa." I said, placing a hand on his shoulder, he laughed bitterly. "Everything'll be fine, you sure of that Fubuki?" I smiled at him, making a move for the bottle but he swiped it away from me.
"You don't know anything about it Fubuki!" He exclaimed suddenly, shooting up angrily. I waved my hands trying to calm him down. "I'm just trying to say that you need to look after yourself! You'll put yourself in hospital if you keep acting like this! It won't do you any good- after all, alcohol is a depressant you know? He'll wake up soon, I promise, and everything will go back to the way it was."

I stood up, making my way over to him. "I understand Handa, things are really tough right now and you need someone to tell you everything will be alright. I'm here for you okay?" I put my arms out but he ignored the gesture, swatting me away and gripping the bottle tighter. I frowned. "Don't shut me out Handa, I only want to help-"
"-Really? Correct me if I'm wrong but I've never known you or your husband to ever care about someone like me. You two are the only ones who haven't even bothered to get Max a fucking card and yet now you're happy to just charge into my life and telling me how I should live it? Acting like you're my guardian angel or something and like you know best?!

You keep saying 'he'll be fine' but you don't know anything, I asked the doctors, he's not made any progress at all, heck I wouldn't be surprised if he's gotten worse! And even if he does wake up, the first thing he'll probably do is break up with me!" Tears were beginning to prick in his eyes. I didn't understand what he was talking about, and from the look on his face he didn't intend I find out. I placed a hand on his shoulder. "We-I'm sorry we forgot to get him a card, and I'm sorry we didn't come to visit sooner, we've just been really busy, you understand that?"

"Yes I understand, I'm not an idiot! Kaze's busy too, but he still comes to see me, same with Fudou! I'm not saying you had to come and visit, I'm just saying a phone call would have been nice or even just a letter-I'm sick and tired of everyone just avoiding me!"
I was beginning to get kind of frustrated now, I didn't come here to get shouted at. "Well what do you expect when you treat everyone like this? I can't seriously be the only one who's neglected to see you."

He stamped his foot. "That's not the point! Max and I, we've always been in the background, no one has ever given so much as a second thought to us, think about it, when was the last time you said 'Hey Handa, want to go out for a meal sometime, a movie? No, because everything's always been about you or Gouenji or Endou or someone else more important!"

This wasn't about Max at all, this was about him, his own insecurities, he must have kept this in for so long-and now he was throwing it all at me. "Then, let me change that Handa."
"I don't want your help! I don't mean anything to you so stop acting like I do!" He shouted, stalking off into the kitchen, I followed him, grabbing his arm and snatching the bottle away.
"Give that back." He growled but I shook my head. "You've had enough Handa, look I can see you shaking!" He was shaking like crazy and for half a moment I wondered if he was drunk, but he couldn't be, his movements were much to sharp for that, his words too.

'You should have seen him Shirou, that guy can just drink and drink and drink...' I thought back to my husband's words-he was right. Was Handa an alcoholic or something? "You have a serious problem Handa, you need help-"
"I know you're like the mother of the group and I know everyone loves you, but I don't want you coddling me just to make you feel better about yourself! Don't try and act like my mum just because you don't have one!"

The bottle fell from my hands, shattering on the floor, staining my jeans with the blood-red liquid. We both just stared at each other. I waited for him to apologise, to say something, but nothing happened; he just brought a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Is that all you can do? Sigh? Do you have absolutely no heart at all Handa?" He stuffed his hands in his pockets, refusing to look at me. I could feel my fists clenching "You're talking like Max is dead, but he's still alive Handa, you have no right to talk about him like that, completely giving up on him, on yourself and on me! You have no idea what it's like to be lonely, to have your entire family die and not be able to do anything about it; I get that you're upset but the point is, he's still alive you idiot!

You still have a chance to be with him, I never got that chance! If you're so desperate to kill yourself then why don't you just do it, you're already half-way there and it's not like you'd miss any of us since you seem to have it in your mind that we all hate you! So don't listen to me, poison yourself with that stuff, see if I care!" I yelled, I didn't care; I was angry, upset, hurt. Tears fell from my eyes and I didn't stop them, he looked up at me.

He sniffed and wiped his eyes, I thought he was going to apologise. But then his eyes hardened.
"Go to Hell."

(3pm)
(Endou)
"Is Kaze here?" I stepped back a little. "I called him five times but he's not picking up." Handa stated and I fixed him a confused look but let him inside anyway "Well yeah, because he's still at work...he's teaching right now." I stated and he stopped "Oh." Had he not even realised what the time was?

This is the fourth time he's done this now; shown up out of the blue, asking for my husband. He turned to me. "You don't mind if I just wait until he comes back? Do you?" He stated. I sighed but gave him a sympathetic smile. "Sure, okay."

(A little later)
(Nagumo)
I think I'm starting to get the hang of this parenting thing, I don't know why I was so worried-I haven't dropped Tamal once yet! "Papa, Papa can I hold him?" Anaise asked, jumping up and down on the spot in front of me in anticipation. I smiled "Sure thing Little Lady, do you remember how the nice lady showed you?" She nodded her head furiously and climbed up to sit next to me on the sofa, making grabby hands at him.

I laughed and carefully handed him over, watching as her whole demeanour changed, she was so gentle with him, supporting him correctly and cooing softly at him. Tamal opened his eyes blearily, looking up at his big sis that was practically beaming at him with joy. He yawned a little and stared at her, he wasn't a very vocal baby, that's the first thing she'd told us about him, he doesn't cry that often, more so pouts or just stares at you until you can figure out what's wrong.

"I love you so much Bean. You are so small!" Anaise said before giving him a big old kiss on his mouth. "Do you love me too Bean?" She asked and he just stared at her before stretching his little hand out and patting her cheek. I smiled, he does that a lot. He likes to pat people, especially Suzuno. He wriggled a little, a sign which I now know meant he wanted to be put down. Anaise put him down carefully, watching as he just stared around the room before crawling off, sometimes stopping and sitting, before taking off again at his slow pace. "Babies are weird." Our daughter muttered before
standing up and following after him, making sure he didn't hurt himself.

I smiled, glad that they were getting on so well.

(4.40 pm)
(Endou)
"I did something awful, really terrible today." Kazemaru hadn't even taken off his coat yet. I poured Handa another glass of orange juice as my husband took a seat next to him, looking so worn out from work. "What happened Han?" He asked, 'Han' glanced at me before sighing. "Something really bad, to Fubuki." He answered, leaning back into the sofa and hugging a pillow to his body.

"I-I wanted to tell you, before the rumour mill started up. I didn't want you to hear if from Gouenji." He admitted. 'Okay, that means it's bad.'

He wasn't kidding. He told us -Kazemaru- what happened, every once in a while glancing at me like he wished I would just leave already. I didn't really know what to say, hearing what he'd done, what he'd said...I probably would've reacted the same way Shirou did. Kazemaru sighed, pulling Handa into his side and wrapping his arms around him. "It's okay, this is okay." He cooed and I pursed my lips slightly- 'was it though?'

I looked down into the jug of fresh-smelling juice. 'He's hurting, he lashed out.'
'That doesn't mean you can just excuse what he said.'
'He's been through a lot-'
'-Shirou was just trying to help, he was just trying to offer him some support.'
'But-'

I tried to shake the thoughts away, knowing now wasn't the time. Handa came to Kazemaru, because he trusts him, because they're close. He'll help him out with this. I need to respect that. I should really just stay out of it.
'Maybe I should call Gouenji? Try and...smooth things over a little?'
No- that would not go well, Gouenji must be livid right now.
'-And he has every right to b-'

"Hey Kaze, I'm gonna start making dinner okay?"
My husband looked over at me from where he was giving Handa a tissue to wipe his tears. I hadn't even realised he'd started crying.
"Hm? But it's not even five yet." I needed an excuse to get out of that room. 'I should give them some privacy.' "I'm hungry."
"Oh okay then." He looked down at Handa.  "Would you like to stay for dinner Han?"

He looked at my husband and then at me, dabbing his eyes. "Uh...no...I wouldn't want to intrude on you guys, I should be heading back anyway..." he said, looking away from me quickly. I mentally sighed as he got up, thanking Kazemaru for everything before leaving the room. Suddenly, he turned back, as if forgetting something, he picked up his glass, downing the rest of the juice before handing the glass back to Kazemaru.

"You sure you don't want me to drive you back? It's supposed to rain." Handa glanced at me "No, no that's okay, I'm fine to walk. Thank you Kaze...thank you for having me Endou..." He mumbled, opening the front door and leaving before my husband could protest.

"Mamoru?"
"Yes?"
"I've got a very bad feeling about this." He said before walking off.

(1am)
The two men were awoken to soft cries coming from the baby monitor. It wasn't often that Tamal cried, but when he did, everyone knew about it. The white-haired male stirred, pushing himself up and switching on the lamp. "Haruya..." he said with a yawn, the redhead reaching up to find his glasses.

"I'll go." He said softly, kissing his husband on the cheek.
"You sure?..." the other mumbled and Nagumo nodded, getting up and making his way to their son's room.

He picked the boy up so gently, cradling him in his arms as if he were a delicate China doll-he was to Nagumo. "Shh, Papa's got you, I'm here now, everything's fine..." he stated softly, pacing round the room slowly as the child's cries turned to soft whimperings. "Are you hungry? Let's get you some milk eh Bean?" He whispered to the 'Bean' his daughter always referred to.

He walked carefully downstairs, a confused look on his face when he noticed the kitchen light was already on. "Fuusuke?" He enquired, stepping into the lit room. "No Papa." Anaise was standing on a step-up stool, carefully measuring out the precise amount of formula as the kettle bubbled away, something she'd seen her fathers do many a time.

"Anaise, what are you doing?" He didn't need to ask why she was up, he knew by now how much of a light sleeper his daughter was. "I heard Bean crying so I told him I was going to make him some milk." The girl replied, placing the lid back on the formula tub. "I want to help you and Daddy look after him, so you are not always so tired." She said, turning back to her dad with a smile on her face.

"That's very considerate of you Little Lady but I don't want you to; you need to sleep so that you can be prepared for school, not to mention it's dangerous, I don't want you falling or getting scalded okay?" He said softly. The girl frowned momentarily but then nodded in some understanding, she knew that if her parents told her not to do something, they were saying it for a good reason. "Sorry Papa."
"That's okay Anaise, I know you didn't mean any harm. Hey, how's about you hold Tamal while I do the milk, that sound fair?"

The girl grinned, stepping off the stool and gently taking hold of the precious child just as the three were joined by a fourth. Suzuno yawned and made his way over to the rest of his family, kissing the foreheads of his beloved son and daughter and of course, the man that made his heart flutter. "Mind if I join in on this family time?"

A little ways away a couple were asleep in their bed, cuddled up so tightly together, the memories of the previous afternoon fresh in both of their minds. Elsewhere, a husband tossed and turned with worry as the love of his life slept soundly, anxious about what was to come. And just beyond, in the house that the world had seemed to turn away from, the brunette finally found the peace he had been searching for all day. Falling to the floor in a crumpled heap, his coping methods lying strewn around the room. But at least there was one, one place where hope and light and life seemed to radiate from, bathing all in warmth and happiness. At least for Haruya, Fuusuke, Anaise and Tamal things seemed to be going...well, just fine...