Title:           Family (still) Matters
Author:          ChurchClothes
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/SWBd3qmi
First Edit:      Sunday 31st of July 2016 08:56:10 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Sunday 31st of July 2016 08:56:10 AM CDT

"Uh huh."
>"Anon, didn't you hear me? I said I have a message from Rara-"
"No I heard."
>You sigh and put the phone back in your pocket.
>"I'm sorry, I didn't want to sound so mean, but Rarity wanted me to give you a message- oh so that's what she meant!"
>She lets out suddenly, seemingly proud of having finally figured it out.
>Almost immediately she dropped down.
>"I'm sorry Anon."
"I'll go talk to her. Thank you Pinkie."
>"Are you sure? I could do it for you if you want."
>She gives you a look of genuine concern.
"Yeah, I think it's best I discussed this with her, face to face. Thanks again. I mean it, I appreciate what you've done."
>You pat her shoulder.
>"Oh, alrighty then. Bye Nonny. I'll, uh, see you around."
"Yeah."
>Without another word, she left you leaning on the outer wall of the little building, but not without giving you a few final glances.
>You didn't lie.
>You really did appreciate her efforts.
>The last thing she wanted was for he friends to be upset with each other.
>Especially if those two friends also just so happened to be siblings.
>Of course she knew that things were a little more complicated that a little grudge.
>But she knew better than to get too involved.
>So she did her best to relay messages to one another.
>It was working pretty well.
>At least until now...
>But you'd deal with that later.
>Right now, you've got something to do.
>You pull out your phone just long enough to get a look at the time.
>4:27
>Damn.
>It's always the last few that take the longest.
>Even now, with so little time left, you can hear the different keys on the instrument moving one after.
>It was far from perfect, but it was definitely no novice work.
>You hear the occasional incorrect note, but other that, it was a treat to your mistreated ears.
>Just hope they start a new song soon.
>You're getting just a little sick of Yankee Doodle.
>As the song ends you snap out of your tired trance.
>Quickly, you check again and see that it's just past the time for her to be let out.
>You briefly consider going in after the first few minutes.
>But just as you get up, out comes your little sister, Sweetie, papers in hand.
>She yelled back to her instructor as she approached.
>"Bye Ms. Tavi!"
>Her high pitched voice wasn't exactly the most pleasant thing to hear up close, but you didn't even flinch.
>Can't say the same for her teacher though.
>Regardless, she forces a smile while covering her ears.
>You just shake your head.
>"Hey Anon."
>Thankfully she's gone back to a normal volume now.
>You're not sure you would've survived another yell at this distance.
"Hey kiddo. You got everything?"
>"Yep!"
>You nearly started walking.
>Of course you immediately remember what happened last time.
"You sure?"
>She stopped, seemingly right before saying yes.
>She pauses for a moment before perking up.
>"Oh shoot, I'll be right back.
>She says before shooting back inside the building.
>You took the opportunity to check on any notifications you may've gotten.
>Nothing.
>Well whatever, it was a good way to pass the time.
>Proven by the fact when you put it away she was already back.
>"Okay we can go now."
>She beams at you.
>And... that's a face you can't say no to.
>Good thing she didn't do that first.
"Come on then."
>You say, leading her to the car.
>She skips to whole way there.
>It was innocent enough, beyond that even, but it really hurt you to see it, knowing what she has to deal with.
>She doesn't know it yet, but she will eventually, and in a way you're glad she can still do things like this.
>You're grateful for that at least.
>You open her door, letting her hop in the exact center of the back seat.
>And after letting her close it, you hop your own.
>The engine comes to life in its usual sputter.
>It works and that's all that matters, not like you could afford any better.
>You'll let the ac work on the way there.
>It wasn't that long a drive to their house.
>And you weren't in any particular rush.
"Hey Sweetie?"
>"Huh?"
>She was already getting into her sheet music, humming it quietly, for once.
"Do you want to go straight home?"
>She looks up, you see her confused face in the mirror.
>"Where else would we go?"
>She seems genuinely unsure.
"I was just going to ask, you want to go see mom?"
>She goes completely silent.
>Worryingly so.
>Even if she wasn't as outspoken as she was, you'd be concerned.
>But she was, and that scared you.
>Thankfully she finally said something, even if it wasn't anything positive, it calmed you.
>"Do- Do we have too?"
>The nerves were blatant in her voice.
>You knew she was scared of your answer.
>But what could you do?
"I mean, I guess not. Was just asking."
>She goes quiet again.
>"It's okay, I kinda just want to go home."
>She was definitely playing it off.
>Looking at her reflection, you see her hanging her head just slightly.
>You wanted to remind her that your mother cared for her, but you knew if would only put more pressure on her.
>The last thing you wanted was to see her miserable, besides you'd be pretty much lying if you said it.
>You were almost certain your mother didn't even remember anything besides the television at this point.
>But that's not important right now, you have a little sister to cheer up.
"Hey."
>You see her look up.
"You hungry?"
>As you focus on driving, she gives her answer.
>"What are you getting?"
"What do you want to get?"
>She goes silent for a moment.
>You get a little concerned.
>Usually when she thinks about something, she hums or makes some form of noise.
>Another moment and she makes a little tune.
>Maybe you're just being silly...
>"Chicken nuggets?"
"If that's what you want?"
>You turned it into a question towards to then end.
>"Mmhmm!"
"Alright then."
>You take a few different turns and end up at the place.
>After going into the drive thru, getting her food along with something for yourself and mom, you continue on the route to their house, slower though.
>Don't want to die because you were eating a burger.
>You can hear Sweetie happily munching in the back.
>You circle around a block a few time.
>Okay, maybe it wasn't safety.
>You wanted to get the most out of your time with her, even it was just her sitting next to you.
>But you know when to stop.
>At least you'd like to think you do.
>You finally make the right turn and pull up into their street, slowing down until you stop just in front of the house.
>His car's not there, so you assume dad isn't home yet.
>Probably for the best.
>You didn't wrong him in anyway, well not directly, but you wouldn't be surprised if he held some form of vendetta.
>You'd talked to him before of course, he seemed fine, but the estrangement showed well.
>While he may be absent, someone was definitely home.
>And she did not look happy.
>"Are you gonna go inside?"
>She asked it so hopefully.
>It really did hurt you.
"I don't think so. Go on ahead I need to talk to Rarity."
>You lean back and look at her.
>She looks sad, obviously but what could you do?
>"Okay..."
"I'll see you tomorrow, alright?"
>She nods.
"Just make sure you don't forget anything."
>You say in a mocking tone.
>She giggles just a little.
>At least she's smiling again.
>"Bye Anon."
"See you around kiddo."
>She gets out, making sure to close the door and takes off inside the rather large house, waving to you right before disappearing behind the door.
>You wave back, hoping she saw, though you know it's unlikely she did.
>After that, you just lean back and try to relax.
>Of course you don't get much time to, as you remember Rarity standing in the driveway.
>You take a few breaths and roll down the window.
>She gets the message.
>You hold your breathe as she approaches.
>"You're late."
>She never was one to sugarcoat anything, especially with you.
>You almost joke with her.
>But you know better.
"I just stopped to get something to eat, no need to get mad."
>"No need to mad?"
>She says without her usual uppity demeanor, obviously mocking you.
>She scoffs.
>"You received my message I presume."
"Yeah? Listen can't we just sit down and talk about this? I don't think this is best way to go about discussing it."
>As you finish saying it, you genuinely believed she'd at least consider.
>But there's not a single moment of silence as right as you finish saying it she starts.
>"Absolutely not, I've already said what I needed to say, I only hoped you listened."
>Now the silence comes.
>You wanted to say something, but you knew it wouldn't be very thoughtful, and saying something like that right now would only hurt you.
>"Although I suppose I should've mentioned this too."
>She leans into the car.
>"I would prefer you continue what you have arranged with her."
>You remain silent.
>"Anon, she still needs a male in her life. You know how father is."
>You did.
>Hardly home.
>When he was, he would spend it watching tv and drinking.
>A hard worker for sure, they wouldn't be in house like that otherwise, but he was hardly a father.
>At least that's what you heard.
>"As much as I don't want to admit it, she does need you."
>Heh.
>"I apologize if I came off as spiteful, but you really do need to think of what's best for her."
"Yeah..."
>The silence is maddening.
>"Anon dear listen to me, I don't think it's best to leave Sweetie unattended, get home safe, will you?"
>You stop thinking and look at her.
"Yeah, I uh, see ya."
>She backs away as you shift into drive.
>As she walks something just sort of takes priority in your mind.
"Wait Rarity!"
>She turns around, almost terrified.
>Perfect.
"What's wrong with my hair?"
>Immediately her frown turns into an embarrassed huff.
>You hear her scream "Pinkie!" as you laugh and peel out.
>You didn't stop either.
>The look on her face was just that good.
>As amazing at it was, you do calm down eventually.
>But that does get you thinking.
>Was she right?
>You thought you were doing a pretty good job with Sweetie.
>Giving her advice when she asked, taking her where ever she needed, or wanted to go.
>Well unless you had a reason to suspect something.
>You figured you'd know if she was doing anything she wasn't supposed to.
>Even now you still don't think she'd do anything like that, but you would never be certain without prying, and you could never do that.
>...
>Maybe you really aren't good with kids.
>Sometimes you'd ask mom, but she was never any help.
>Speaking of whom.
>You pull up to the little house, on the street sandwiched right between the worst part of town and the richest.
>Making sure to lock the car, you take the paper bag and get to undoing the various others on the front door.
>It was actually more like two.
>Taking your first steps in the house, you instinctually turn to the recliner in the middle of the living room.
>As you've gotten to expect, there's your sweet ol' mom.
>She's just staring at tv.
>You've gotten used to it.
>Sometimes she'd just clock out like that.
>First time it happened, you nearly crashed getting her to the e.r.
>It was for nothing though, they just told you she was find, must be something upstairs.
>You looked for a psychiatrist, but you didn't have insurance and there was no way you could even begin to come up with that kind of money.