Building The Strongest Family

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the meticulously manicured lawns, illuminating the familiar facade of the mansion that stood both imposing and inviting.

Arthur caught up to Ashley, his eyes darting around as he nodded thoughtfully.

"What are you looking for, like something bad might happen?" Ashley tilted her head, curiosity dancing in her gaze.

"I'm just relieved the house is still standing! Seems like my second uncle really took good care of you—you didn't burn it down after all!" Arthur chuckled softly.

"Fuck you!" Ashley's eyes widened in mock outrage as she shot him a glare.

Just then, the front doors burst open with a rush of energy.

"Big brother!"

Liz, his thirteen-year-old sister, came sprinting down the steps, her sneakers skidding on the gravel as she launched herself at him. Arthur barely had time to brace himself before she collided into him, wrapping her arms around his waist in an enthusiastic embrace.

"You're back! You're back!" she exclaimed, gazing up at him with wide, excited eyes.

Arthur ruffled her already messy hair affectionately. "Miss me?"

"Obviously!" Liz beamed before switching gears instantly. "You have to see what I did to my room while you were gone! I redecorated everything! And I got a new gaming setup—"

Ashley leaned against the car with a smirk. "She's been planning this ambush since you left; I swear she had a countdown on her phone."

Liz stuck out her tongue at Ashley before turning back to Arthur with pleading eyes. "Are you staying for dinner? Please say yes! Alfred made your favorite!"

As if on cue, the front doors opened again and Alfred stepped out, his polished shoes clicking against the stone steps. The elderly butler stood tall and dignified, silver hair neatly combed and suit immaculate as always.

"Welcome home, Master Arthur," he said warmly.

Arthur nodded appreciatively. "Good to be back, Alfred."

Alfred's sharp gaze swept over him briefly; he noted the slight weariness in Arthur's posture and the dust clinging to his shoes from travels unknown. But instead of asking questions, he simply said with a knowing smile, "Dinner will be ready in an hour. I trust you'll join us?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Arthur replied enthusiastically.

Still clinging to his arm like a lifeline, Liz tugged him toward the house eagerly. "Come on! I have so much to show you!"

Ashley pushed off from the car and followed them inside while throwing a teasing glance at Arthur. "You know there's no escaping now; she's been waiting weeks for this grand tour."

Arthur allowed himself to be swept along by Liz's infectious excitement as they entered the mansion—the interior just as he remembered: elegant yet understated with a faint scent of lemon polish wafting through the air.

Liz tugged Arthur into the grand living room, where a colorful chaos of sketchbooks and game controllers sprawled across the coffee table. "Look!" she exclaimed, flipping open one of the sketchbooks to reveal pages bursting with surprisingly detailed drawings. "I've been practicing! Ashley said I'm getting better, right?" 🎨

Ashley flopped onto the couch with a smirk. "She's not terrible."

Liz huffed in mock indignation. "That's not what you said yesterday!"

"Because yesterday you drew me with three arms!"

"It was abstract!" Liz shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Arthur took the sketchbook from her hands, thumbing through the pages. Despite the playful banter, it was clear that her skills were improving. "These are really good, Lillian."

"Really?" Liz's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Really," he confirmed with a smile.

She snatched the book back and hugged it tightly to her chest. "Okay, okay! But that's not even the best part! Come upstairs! I have to show you my room!"

Arthur raised a hand in protest. "Hold on—let me at least drop off my bags first."

Alfred, who had quietly followed them in, gestured toward the stairs. "I've already taken your luggage to your room, Master Arthur."

"Thanks, Alfred," Arthur replied gratefully.

Ashley stretched out on the couch and grinned mischievously. "Don't think you're escaping this tour, Arthur. She's been planning it for weeks!"

Liz grabbed his hand again, her excitement palpable. "Exactly! So come on!"

With a laugh trailing behind them from Ashley, Arthur let himself be pulled along by Lillian's infectious energy as they bounded up the stairs.

For the first time in weeks, he felt as if the weight of his travels was beginning to lift.

This… this was home.

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The moment Arthur stepped into his sister's bedroom, he was nearly blinded by neon.

"Ta-da!" Lillian threw her arms wide, bouncing on the balls of her feet as Arthur took in the transformation.

The once-subdued cream walls were now a galaxy of glowing stars and planets, their soft blue light pulsing gently.

A massive gaming setup dominated one corner, twin monitors suspended on articulated arms, a high-backed racing chair in electric purple, and a keyboard that changed colors like a living rainbow.

"You... redecorated," Arthur said slowly.

"Understatement of the century," Ashley muttered from the doorway, arms crossed. "She bullied the contractors for three weeks straight."

Liz ignored her, dragging Arthur toward the desk. "Look! This is the new Obsidian X-9000 rig, 64-core processor, liquid cooling, holographic display toggle... "

"...which you absolutely did not need for Minecraft," Ashley interjected.

Lillian stuck out her tongue,"It's for competitive Minecraft.

She tapped a key, and the starfield on the walls shifted into a deep forest scene, fireflies blinking between digital trees.

"The smart walls were Alfred's idea. He said it'd 'stimulate creativity.'"

Arthur ran a hand along the desk, where tiny hand-painted figurines,dragons, spaceships, a suspiciously familiar-looking scowling man in a suit,lined the edges. "You made these?"**

"Yep! Sculpting club at school." She picked up the grumpy figurine and wiggled it at him,"Recognize anyone?"**

Ashley snorted,"Wow. Even in clay form, you look like you hate fun."

Arthur plucked the figurine from Lillian's fingers.

The likeness was unsettlingly accurate, right down to the crease between his brows. "I don't frown this much."

"You literally just did it right now," Liz said, grabbing his cheeks to stretch his face into a smile.

Ashley's phone buzzed."Ugh. Oscar's blowing up the group chat again about quarterly reports."

She shoved off the doorframe."Try not to corrupt her any further, Arthur."

"No promises," Arthur said as she left.