HELLO PEOPLE! I'm super happy to announce that I'm working on this story again (I knew this would be the one I'd come back to), mainly because I haven't logged onto Fanfiction in about three months and when I finally did I was bombarded with amazing reviews, so thank you eternally for that, it was a definite reminder that this story was just waiting to be added to.

In saying that, this chapter is kind of small, but incentive for me to keep going.

Also, please understand: I'm not as committed to Fanfiction as I used to be thanks to the workload of uni. Like I'm always writing Alvon drabble, but my focus on specific stories is constantly jumping around. But anyway.

Hope you enjoy, thanks for being patient!

A

Oh, Simon, that was amazing… Alvin lay in bed that night, thinking over the evening, the things that were said, the way Simon showed how much he supported Alvin – the way Simon couldn't stand the horror film.

He's got quite a grip for a nerd… Alvin chuckled to himself delightedly. I'll never forget his face… all frozen… and how when it finished he turned to me like I was insane to like something like that… he's never watched a full scary movie before… that was great…

And dinner… Alvin blushed on the thought. Simon had made him dinner that night, even putting a rose in the middle of the table. He seriously treated this evening like our first date…

Alvin sighed contentedly. 'He even kissed my cheek…' he still felt the warmth, replayed it in his head over and over. He'd dream about that for months.

Only three months… because he's letting me kiss him properly then… Alvin tried not to flail in excitement like some fangirl. He didn't even mind that Simon's feelings weren't the same. To him: Simon had practically admitted he had a crush on him, and the way he said he'd stay with him… it certainly seemed like something more than brotherly care was going on. Alvin wouldn't push it to be said, obviously, or he might risk Simon getting defensive and the flame would extinguish…

No, he would let it be until Simon figured it out himself.

It would be terrible to confront Simon, too, and risk being wrong just because of his own private wishful thinking.

And he had to stop thinking that Simon would return the feeling. He had to remain ashamed and careful not to assume Simon was okay with any kind of affection from him. Which was difficult when all Simon was telling him to do was to stop being ashamed.

Alvin's nights were scarcely full of nightmares, now, and if they were; it revolved around Dave's disapproval or Theodore's sudden fear, and then on to life sentence once more. Simon wasn't a threat anymore.

The eldest boy relished the way Simon put aside time just to be with him, an hour maximum of casual conversation – the two hadn't done that their whole lives.

It was ironic as well as slightly sad that they hadn't acted more like brothers until it was too late, until Alvin was already surpassing one love with a stronger one.

But Alvin wasn't protesting either way, and he was relieved that Simon wasn't.

A

When two weeks more went by, that relief began to turn into confusion. Alvin had expected some kind of spat between them, a day or something where Simon would second-guess the way he handled Alvin's feelings, and they would have an argument where Alvin would have to re-affirm his promise of never violating Simon; he would have to justify himself again.

Simon's trust was either encouraging, or suspicious.

Alvin felt he had to test it. Something. Anything.

What did he feel?

Alvin pursed his lips as he peaked open the hobby-room's door, his sapphire eyes trained on his younger brother's form at the very opposite end. Simon was setting up his telescope by the window, and Alvin quickly remembered him rambling on about Venus earlier that week.

Nerd… Alvin smiled fondly, and rested his head on the doorframe for a moment, wondering if he dared ruin the peace they had right now.

But I have to do something… nothing stupid… well, you know… if I can help it… Alvin scoffed to himself and walked just a little further into the room, closing the door behind him purely so he could have something to lean against.

'You alright there, stealthy?'

Alvin felt himself grin and blush at the same time. 'Just wondering where you were.' He returned.

Simon turned to Alvin curiously. 'Oh?'

'You're surprised that I want to spend time with you?' Alvin returned, raising a brow.

'No, I'm surprised you admitted it.' Simon sent a smirk Alvin's way. 'I was looking forward to hearing another "coincidence" that made us end up meeting in the same room…'

Alvin shook his head with a shrug. 'We live together, it happens.' He retorted, stepping further in, allowing his pace to be slow and his body language shy. 'So, what're you up to?' He mused.

Simon had turned back to the telescope, fitting his eye to it and adjusting a few more levels. 'Just need to set this thing up again, you can barely see the moon through it right now… Theo must've dropped it when he packed it away last time…'

'Who needs a telescope? All the stars are in your eyes.'

'I'd better not miss Venus…'

Alvin watched innocently when Simon finally froze and looked up at him, an adorable squint going on because his glasses were on top of his head.

'What was that?'

'I said: all the stars are in your eyes.' Alvin made himself smirk a little. 'Keep up.'

Simon rolled his eyes and went back to the telescope. 'That was the cheesiest thing I've heard all year.' He chuckled.

'Well you know, Venus was the goddess of love,' Alvin went on suavely, 'they say you can find your soulmate when the planet passes by…'

'Shame I'll be too busy studying it…' Simon bit his lip in concentration, adjusting more knobs.

Alvin smiled, but mentally sighed. I'm getting seriously friend-zoned here… 'You know, I think I like you better with your glasses on. You just look so smart and handsome…'

'They get in the way with things like this.' Simon replied in robot-like instinct.

'Si?' Alvin raised a brow, waiting for Simon to look at him. When he did, Alvin allowed himself to throw some caution to the wind. 'I'm trying to flirt with you.'

Simon smirked and went back to his telescope. 'Oh, I'm painfully aware of that, Alvin.'

Alvin's heart skipped in the rejection. Well okay, then… 'Sorry for bugging you.' He sighed, and turned to leave, pursing his lips in thought.

It wasn't much of an experiment, but with the fact that Simon had deflected all of those flirts – consciously – Alvin could assume that Simon was making sure romantic ramblings remained one-sided between them. Maybe if he had feelings for Alvin, he'd banter with him for the fun of it; but no. No, this made Alvin feel a little more uncomfortable, and he hoped he hadn't made Simon feel that way, too.

'Alvin?'

The eldest hummed automatically and looked through the bedroom door where Theodore was.

'What was tonicisation again?' Theodore continued cluelessly. 'For Music?'

Alvin shrugged and walked into the room. 'It's when you shift to another tonic for a little while. Another key.' He explained, and collapsed on his bed a moment later, staring at the ceiling.

'Thanks…' Theodore wrote down the note before focusing on Alvin's downcast form. 'Are you alright?'

'Yeah… just trying to figure out something with Simon…' Alvin suddenly realised that he hadn't told Theodore the good – or bad? – news about Simon knowing and accepting his feelings.

He sat up with a smile and turned to Theodore, ready to speak when he was cut off.

'So are you two comfortable about everything now?' He asked hopefully. 'Simon said not to talk about it in front of you.'

Alvin slowly frowned, blinking and shifting his eyes. 'Did… so, Simon already told you?' He figured. 'That I confessed my feelings?'

Theodore nodded. 'A while ago, now.' He reminded. 'He told me you were "unclear", and asked me to tell him clearly.'

'But I…' Alvin shook his head slowly. 'I don't think he could have interpreted what I said… any other way…' He thought back to that emotional evening, trying to remember why on Earth Simon would go to Theodore afterwards. 'Wait… he told me… that you told him I was gay, so when did –?'

'I never told him that!' Theodore said in offence. 'I avoided him almost that whole first week, we didn't talk until the day you and he did.'

Alvin looked at his lap with a frown, trying to figure out why this sounded wrong.

He wasn't sure; maybe Theodore's memory was a little jumbled. The time-frames sounded out of place: Theodore had known a lot longer than a week before Alvin confronted Simon…

T

Theodore was sorry to say that Alvin was starting to get on his nerves after the fifth repeat of the question "but why would he ask you to clarify?".

The youngest was trying to read this English book before class on Wednesday.

'Did you tell him you were in love with him?' Theodore mused, hating to sound so bored but not able to help himself. 'That's what did it when I told him.'

'I repeated that too much, trust me!' Alvin was on the edge of his bed in protest.

Theodore pursed his lips and decided to focus some attention on Alvin. 'What's the problem?' He asked sincerely.

Alvin shifted indigently. 'I don't know… I'm just hoping Simon actually understands this properly…' he stood with a heavy sigh and started to pace.

'Then why don't you go and talk to him about it?' Theodore suggested, opening his book again.

It took a moment for Alvin to respond, and Theodore almost thought he'd left until he looked up and the eldest was still there, standing still.

His sapphire eyes were trained on his reflection, shifting in uncertainty.

'I don't want to ruin anything.' He replied honestly.

Next chapter is being written :)

Thank you for all the support!