This idea came to me during my vacation, and since I've been in the mood for a Carlos-centric fic, I've been dying to start it. This story is a pre series fic, so it takes place in Minnesota.

I know this chapter seems like one large piece of drabble, but it'll get better at chapter two and so on. Promise!

But right now, Enjoy!

By the way, I don't own BTR. Duh.

Growing up, Carlos always got the same question: "Why is your dad so old, and you're only 16?" Carlos would give them the same answer. He would tell them that he has two older brothers, ages 29 and 25. Once he said that, he'd get another question: "Why are your brothers so much older than you?" If he had some patience left, he'd explain it.

Everyone knows that Carlos' mom is Sylvia Garcia, and she's way younger than Carlos' dad. The truth is, Sylvia is not his first wife. Juana Alvarez married Manuel Garcia and gave birth to Omar Garcia and Rafael Garcia four years later. They were happy. As a family, they got along great.

That was until one day, when Manuel and his partner were told to report to a major car accident. By the way it sounded, Manuel expected to see blood and gore. By now, he could handle it. What he couldn't handle, was driving to the scene and finding his wife's dead body being put on a stretcher, about to be placed in a body bag. His sons were only 9 and 5 at the time, so he couldn't think of a way to tell them.

The chief told Manuel to go home and not come to work until his wife had been buried. Manuel remembered crying all night, hiding from his sons. The next morning, when they asked where their mother was, he lost it. He told them of what happened and the three of them broke into tears. Manuel could tell that Omar had taken it the hardest. No one could blame him. From that time on, Manuel was just a shell of his former self. Juana was everything to him and just like that, she was gone.

Two years later, Sylvia came into the picture. He met her during a lunch break him and his partner took. He ran into her (literally) just outside a fast food restaurant. Of course, he said sorry, helped her off the ground and left, thinking he'd never see her again. Only to bump into her at that same restaurant, this time not working, a week later. The rest is history. At first, Manuel and Sylvia didn't think they should start a relationship because of the age difference. But soon that was ignored, and in no time, Sylvia had become part of the family.

Carlos was born when Omar had just turned 13, and Rafael, 9.

All his life, Carlos knew that Omar hated him. Omar's day wasn't complete unless he had injured Carlos in some way. If it wasn't for Rafael, Carlos can't say where he'd be today. Rafael was always Carlos' protector. Carlos never told Kendall and James the truth of what went on at home, and by the time Logan became a part of the group, Omar had moved out, so Carlos saw less of him. Any time Carlos did see him, he felt like a little kid all over again.

Omar's leaving wasn't peaceful either. Manuel had kicked him out. Carlos never told his parents of what went on between him and Omar. They found out after Rafael spoke up.

Carlos will never forget the day when he was six years old, climbing the large tree in their backyard. When he was almost to the top, he gasped in shock. Sitting on a branch close to him was Omar, trying to clear his head of the past week. Carlos knew what had been bothering him. It was Manuel and Sylvia's anniversary. They wouldn't be home all day because they went out to celebrate. Carlos decided to ask Omar a question that had constantly bugged him for years. "Why do you hate me and Mom so much?"

That question pretty much set off a time bomb. Omar began shouting at Carlos, talking about things that he really couldn't comprehend. Carlos can't tell anyone that he knew how he went from being in the top of the tree to the ground in just a few seconds. He couldn't tell because he really didn't know how it happened. Pain racked his little body as he felt the cuts and bruises that formed from the fall. Omar climbed out of the tree and walked away in anger.

The next thing he remembered was waking up at a hospital. The Diamonds and Knights were there along with the Garcia family, except Omar. Omar was no where to be found.

His parents repeatedly asked what happened. Carlos' only response was that he fell out of the tree.

Thankfully, he had no broken bones. But Carlos had never been injured this bad from falling out of a tree. His parents later gave up on the issue, feeling that if Carlos didn't want to tell, there was no way of convincing him otherwise.

It was only a week later when Carlos had come out of the hospital. Rafael felt the need to let his dad know of what he thought really happened. But first, he had to confess about everything he already knew.

Once Manuel was by himself, reading a newspaper in the living room, Rafael spoke up.

The fifteen year old mustered up all the courage he could in order to talk. "Dad. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Manuel put the newspaper down. "Sure, mijo. Have a seat." Rafael sat next to his father. "What's wrong?"

Rafael sighed. "Dad. I haven't been completely honest with you." Manuel raised an eyebrow, begging Rafael to continue. "It's about Omar...and Carlos. I have a feeling that the reason why Carlos fell out of the tree had something to do with Omar."

Manuel was speechless. He knew Omar didn't get along very well with Carlos and Sylvia, but would he resort to physical violence? "What do you mean?"

Rafael played with his fingers. "I-I know what Omar does to Carlos when you and Mom aren't around." Calling Sylvia "mom" had become natural to Rafael. Unlike Omar, he accepted her. "I know every time you see a new bruise on Carlos, he tells you that it's from a playground accident, or it's a sports injury. Well he lied." Rafael sighed once again. "They're from Omar. Omar always hits Carlos. And these aren't hits you normally give to your little brother. Omar uses his fists. Repeatedly until I make him stop or until Carlos starts crying and begs him to stop." Rafael hated the look in his father's eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. Carlos begged me not to and honestly, I was afraid that Omar would do something to Carlos if anyone of us told you. I'm sorry."

Manuel shook his head. He put his hand on Rafael's back. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Some cop I am. Something was going on in my house and I ignored it. Don't worry, I'll make sure nothing happens to you and Carlos. But Rafael, your mom and I can't let Omar continue to do this to Carlos."

Rafael nodded. "I understand, Dad. Just do it fast, okay?"

And that's what happened. Carlos was asleep when the conversation between Omar and their father started. But he definitely woke up when Omar began yelling, because it was then that Carlos knew what had happened. Dad found out.

After Omar walked out the door, Carlos saw him only twice for the next ten years. He and Rafael never broke contact. When Rafael decided that it was time to move out, Carlos cried. He won't lie about that. But he realized that it was okay, because Rafael was still living close, and he always made sure that him and Carlos still hung out and talked.

Carlos had never forgotten about Omar. He hoped that one day, Omar would change and not be mad at everyone anymore, but he gave up on that thought a long time ago.

So when Carlos one summer day was heading out to go meet up with Kendall, James, and Logan, his heart almost beat out of his chest when he heard a very familiar voice say, "Hey, little brother."

Like I said. Drabble. But be patient with me. It won't be drabble for long. I hope.

Anyway. For now. You know the drill. You've read it. Now review it. I take requests also, so if there's something you're dying to see, lemme know. :)