Before the chapter starts I just want to mention that it's kinda upsetting. If you feel any discomfort whilst reading, I advise you skip this chapter.

Your POV

A knock at the door echos throughout the flat, causing me to jump off Dan's lap and run out of the living room.

"Dan, they're here!" I shout to a probably confused Dan as I try not to fall in my rush down the stairs.

I reach the door, panting, and open the door to reveal the only three people from home I miss more than Tess.

My family.

"Y/N!" Alex shouts as he wraps his small and thin arms around my neck. I pick him up and spin him around, frowning at his concerning weight.

I used to never be able to pick up Alex. I've never had the muscle for it. Now, I can pick him up as if he were a pillow, and I can feel his bones like he has no skin covering them.

I put him down and force a smile, not wanting to show my fear. "I've missed you so much. How's my teddy bear?"

Alex scrunches his nose up. "I'm good. And you said you would stop with the 'teddy bear' thing," he folds his arms, causing me to laugh.

"I lied," I give him a cheeky smile and turn to Mum and Dad. They too have changed since I last saw them. Wrinkles have appeared, grey hairs are even more noticeable, they have dark rings under their eyes and their eyes themselves have changed. The warmth they used to have has been replaced by sadness. I hug them both and invite the three of them in.

We reach the living room where Dan is still watching anime. He looks up and smiles warmly at my family.

"Hey, Alex," he says while standing. He walks over to my little brother and ruffles his hair before turning to my parents. "Hi, I'm Dan," he shakes both of their hands. "Y/N's boyfriend. Nice to meet you."

I try my hardest to stifle a laugh but a little chuckle escapes. Dan looks at me and pouts. "What?" He whines.

"Hi, my name is Dan," I make brackets with my hands. "Nice to meet you." Alex and I burst into laughter, Dan shoots me a death glare and my parents give the three of us confused looks. "I'll let Dan and Alex explain it to you," I say as I take their bags and walk down the hall.

I place their bags in the spare room next to mine and make sure that everything is ready for them. Once I'm done, I take Alex's bag to gaming room (Dan's idea). I quickly set up the air bed and rush back down to the living room.

"Here she is," Dad smiles as I walk in. "Just think; twenty-four years ago I was holding this girl on my arms, dreaming of what fantastic things she'll do when she grows up. Now, here she is, living in the city she's always loved and dating a famous guy," he winks and I roll my eyes.

"Oh, please. It's not like he's Gerard Way or Tyler Joseph," I smirk at Dan, who launches a pillow at my face.

"I still have no idea who those people are," my mum shakes her head.

"Okay, then, it's not like he's Leonardo Décaprio."

"Ahh, okay," she laughs.

"Anyway, what would you like to do now that you're here?"

"I was thinking maybe Alex could stay with Dan and the three of us go get a drink?" Dad suggests.

"Okay," I agree as I pick up my purse and put some shoes on. "Dan, how about you take Alex to your flat? You and Phil have way more video games than I do." Alex's eyes light up as Dan nods his head. "Let's go."

~Time skip~

I sit at a table in Starbucks, with my parents, drink in hand. Since we left the flat, the sadness had returned and I can't take it anymore.

"Arse you two going to tell me what's wrong?" They exchange glances and look down at the ground.

"We just miss our daughter, that's all," Dad speaks up.

"Bullshit," I snap. "There's something else going on. There's something up with you two, and there's something up with Alex and I need answers now," I demand.

My mum looks up, eyes glistening with tears. "Yes, there is something wrong with Alex."

"What?" I plead.

"We don't know," she chokes, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"What do you mean you don't know?" I'm almost shouting at this point. "There's almost nothing left of my little brother. Why, when he was the perfect weight, has he gotten thinner? If it's some little bastard telling him lies, I swear-"

"It's not that. He just started getting sick whenever he ate even half-a plates worth of food to the point where he can't eat that much without vomiting it up anymore," Dad sighs as Mum begins to sob.

Something inside me breaks.

"How long has this been happening?" I ask with no expression.

"The start of August," my dad's voice is just like mine. August. It's halfway through September now.

Hot tears fall down my cheeks. "I think we should go," I mutter as I stand and throw my half empty cup in the bin with a loss of appetite and leave.

~Time skip~

"You two go in, I think I might just go to Dan's for a bit," I unlock Dan's door then hand my parents my keys and walk inside, shutting the door before they can say anything.

I walk upstairs and into the living room to see the three boys versing each other in Mario Kart. I walk to the couch and sit next to Dan, staring at Alex, who sits on the ground in front of me. It's then I break.

Dan immediately pauses the game and wraps his long arms around me. I don't into his chest, soaking his shirt with tears.

I can't even look at my own brother without wanting to break into tears. The thought of him barely being able to eat something without throwing up is horrible.

Dan releases me and I notice a really light weight on my lap. Another, smaller pair of arms wrap around me and I look down to see Alex. I hold him tight, never wanting to let him go.

"I love you, Alex," I cry.

~Time skip~

As Phil and Alex watch TV, I pace around Dan's room, explaining the situation.

"So, Alex is anorexic," Dan mumbles.

"He is, but he's not. He's always been thin, he didn't need to be scared about gaining weight," I respond, my lip quivering. "And Alex is, like, the most popular kid in his school. There's no way someone would cause him to starve himself. Anyway, as I said, he doesn't force himself to throw up, it just happens." I sit down on the bed next to him and rest my head on his shoulder.

"He has been to see a doctor, right?" Dan asks, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"I don't think so. He would be having treatment now if he did," I whimper. A tear slides down my cheek and onto Dan's shoulder, soaking into his t-shirt.

"You should talk to him about it."

I sigh. "It's not that easy, Dan. He's my brother, and he's just like me. He's not going to want to talk about it.

"At least try," he says softly and reassuringly kissed the top of my head. I nod and take in a deep breath, stand, and make my way out to the living room, Dan close behind me.

I silently enter and sit on the coffee table, right in front of Alex. I look over at Phil and he nods, turning the TV off and standing up to leave the room.

Once the two boys leave, Alex speaks up.

"Are you okay, Y/N?" His large, green eyes stare into mine with a concerned look.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. But I know you're not well." His eyes darken and he looks down. "And don't you dare tell me you're alright. Talk to me about it."

He sighs and still avoids eye contact. "I just started to feel sick whenever I ate. I thought it was just a faze and that it would blow over, but then I started throwing up and growing thinner. I swear, I'm not anorexic."

"I believe you. Have Mum and Dad taken you to see a doctor yet?" He slowly shakes his head. "Why not?"

"They don't have the money," he mutters. I look at him in shock.

"What do you mean? What happened to Dad's store?"

"It was shut down." My heart sinks. "Another machanic opened up down the street and Dad's didn't make enough money, so the mayor got rid of it."

I shake my head. "They can't just do that."

"Well, they did. He's been working part time at the bakery with Mum but it's very low pay." I lean forward and hug him.

"I'll talk to Mum and Dad. And I'll pay for that appointment."

~Time skip~

"How the fuck am I going to get that money?" I whisper shout, not wanting to wake anyone up. "I work at a cereal cafe and only earn enough to pay rent and feed myself for a week."

"You could save up," Dan suggests. I glare at him.

"There's no time to just 'save up'. My little brother is sick and needs help now!" I snap. Taking a deep breath, and try to sort out the situation. "Maybe I can just ask John for a pay rise. He'll be kind enough to do that, I mean, I have a good reason-"

"How about I pay for it," Dan cuts me off. I stare at him in disbelief.

"Dan-"

"No, I'll pay for it. You can argue all you want, but Alex is my brother now, too. I care about him just as much as you do."

"But I don't need you to. I'll ask John for that raise, book an appointment and problem solved."

"Uh-huh. And what about medication and future appointments?" I open my mouth but stay silent. "You can't just rely on yourself to do everything. I'm paying, and that's that. Now come get in bed, as much as I love you, I hate watching you pace around the room like this." I stop, only just realising I've been walking around my bedroom for the past half an hour.

I walk over and climb into bed next to Dan. I turn my lamp off and turn to face him as he wraps his arms around my waist.

"Don't worry so much. I'm here, and I always will be."

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A/N

This authors note is necessary because... it's necessary. I just need to go over a few things.

1: The thing that's happening to Alex is kinda also happening to my uncle. He's not actually anorexic, he has no fear of gaining any weight. He's recently just felt sick when he eats and has lost a lot of weight. Like, I could probably pick him up and I am really weak.

2: And I know this is an emotional subject but, Carrie Fisher. I'm not sure how many of you watch Star Wars, but I have been watching it since I was born and Carrie Fisher was my number one idol. I always wanted to be just like her. And, sadly, she passed away yesterday morning. Carrie Fisher, may the force be with you.

That wasn't the only sad thing about her death. Debbie Reynolds, her mother, also died today. The two will always be in my heart, and hopefully, in yours. We will miss them.