Nero yawned and stretched, slowly sitting up in bed. He saw his father and uncle sitting in the chairs by his bed. He rubbed his eyes and was then handed his bottle of orange juice and a panini. Nero accepted the juice but not the sandwich. He screwed off the cap and gulped down the juice, finishing the bottle. Vergil tried to hand Nero the panini again but he just shook his head.
"You need to eat." Vergil said firmly. Nero just groaned lightly, hesitating a second before saying "I feel sick."
"Maybe you'll feel better if you eat." Dante said, Nero sighed and took the offered panini, unwrapping it and reluctantly taking a bite. The young teen chewed for what felt like forever, not wanting to swallow. He kept chewing until the bite of food had lost all flavor and was undesirable. 

Once Nero swallowed he did feel a bit better. He took one more bite before quickly swallowing to yawn. Vergil rubbed Nero's back and said "Try and finish it, we'll sign out and then we can go home, where you can sleep in your soft, warm bed." Nero quickly took another bite, wanting to go home. The bed he was in was hard, cold, and just plain uncomfortable. Plus the hospital itself was freezing and the antiseptic smell was what was making Nero feel sick. It took a few minutes but Nero managed to finish his sandwich. He looked around for his cructhes and spotted them across the room.

"What kind of dumb ass put my crutches all the way over there?" Nero said in a miffed tone. He tried to stand but ended up falling, landing face down on the floor. He groaned and muttered "Damn it." Vergil picked up Nero and said "You really need more rest, and orange juice." Nero rested his head on his father's shoulder and fell back asleep.

When Nero woke up, he was back in his tree house. His backpack, the container of beef, rice, mushrooms and gravy, and his frozen clothes on the branch. "No..." Nero said quietly,
"This can't be real. I went home. I was back with dad and Dante." He shivered at how cold he was. He had to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He did something drastic in an attempt to really make sure he wasn't dreaming; he smashed his elbow against the wall of the tree house.

The young teen cried out as searing pain shot up through his arm and spread to his entire upper half. Nero started to cry, not just because of the pain, because he thought he was finally home. He tried to bend his arm, it was excruciating but he could move it, so it wasn't broken. Nero was gonna go home, he can't stay here. But his dream, Vergil wanted him to come home. What if he doesn't want him to come home now?

Nero quickly pulled out his phone and sent a text to Vergil, saying "Dad, I'm sorry, I want to come home." Nero didn't wait for a response, he immediately started climbing down the tree, forgetting about what happened in his dream. He couldn't grasp one of the branches but with his other hand he was able to not fall. He whimpered as he dangled by a tree branch.
"I want to go home." Nero said softly as hot tears started to run down his cheeks. He tried to reach and grab another branch, but as he tried to grab one, he almost lost grip of the branch that was keeping him up. The young teen hung from the tree, wanting to let go. The cold hurts and it's making him weak and tired. He closed his eyes for a few moments, contemplating what to do.

Nero's eyes immediately shot open when he felt his grip becoming loose. He tried to reach and grab the branch with both hands but as soon as he tried to grab it, he let go. Nero screamed as he fell, landing on his leg. He cried out in pain, remembering his dream. He just needs to call his dad and him and Dante will be coming to get him. Nero tried to find his phone, reaching around until he felt something hard beneath him. He quickly grabbed it and saw it was his phone, the screen was completely smashed and it wouldn't turn on.

Nero just laid there, staring at his phone before letting out a heartbreaking cry. He threw his phone against a tree, it completely shattering.
"Damn it!" He screamed and turned onto his stomach. 'I'm gonna get out of here. I'm gonna get home.' Nero thought as he started to drag himself along the frozen ground. He was determined to get home, to see his dad and uncle again.

Nero dragged himself 17 feet before stopping to catch his breath and blow hot air into his hands. Clutching the frozen, snow covered ground had hurt and numbed his hands, he could barely feel them. The young teen covered his nose and mouth, breathing in the cold air was starting to hurt. He braced himself and started to drag himself along again. Though he could only drag himself 10 feet before giving up. He was so cold, so very cold. He doesn't hurt anymore, he's too numb to feel anything. He laid on the ground with his face buried in the snow. His tears burned his face before freezing and sticking to it. He closed his eyes, wanting to sleep, knowing he won't wake up. He knows he has hypothermia, and if you have hypothermia, your heart rate slows down, and if you fall asleep it will slow down even more until it finally stops.

"Dad, Dante. I'll see you soon." Nero said quietly, waiting for death, waiting to see his family again in heaven, his own personal heaven. He could feel himself slowly slipping away. Then, everything went black.

Nero woke up with a start, he looked around, seeing he was in the backseat of his father's car. Nero covered his face and started to cry, trying to keep it quiet. But Vergil, he could tell when something was wrong, especially when it concerned Nero. He looked behind him and saw Nero covering his face and shaking slightly with sobs. Vergil immediately pulled over and got out, telling Dante to take the wheel. Vergil got in back seat and had Nero sit on his lap, holding him close and saying "Shh, it's okay. I'm right here, daddy's here." Nero clung to Vergil, holding him as tight as he could, and considering his condition, not tight at all.

The young teen buried his face in his father's chest and started to cry noisily. Vergil rubbed Nero's back, softly humming a lullaby.
"It's okay, just try and take a small nap till we get home." Vergil said softly, causing Nero to let out a hoarse cry of "No!" Dante could tell something was wrong so he stopped at Market Basket, he quickly got out, saying he was going to get some things for a late night snack. Vergil was left to comfort Nero. He rubbed his back and said "Shh, it's okay, you're okay. Just take a nap. And when you wake up, I promise that me and Dante will be here for when you wake up." He kissed his son's forehead and adjusted himself so he was laying down and Nero was on top of him, using his chest as a pillow. Nero slowly calmed down and closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort his dad was providing. He slowly slipped into a peaceful sleep.