lol I was bored so here's another chapter

The pic is how I imagine Dorian would have held Astria lmao

not edited

"If you are going to do this, you need to be extremely careful with her. Every second of the next few days matters. So pay attention to her and even if one little thing seems out of place, get her straight to the ER," The female doctor instructed Octavian and Zion as the nurse emerged from Astria's room.

"She's ready," The nurse muttered softly, before walking away. It was night time now and all the Crawford brothers had gathered outside of Astria's room as the nurse was changing her.

After Dorian and Octavian had their talk, a little problem had occurred. A reporter had somehow snuck past the hospital security and into the hospital. He was caught by Octavian's guards. Coincidently, Dorian was passing through the same hallway at the time the reporter was caught. Before any of the guards could explain or take the reporter away, Dorian punched him.

The guards fortunately separated the angry Crawford from the bloody reporter before it got too out of hand. Octavian later came in to sort everything out.

Since then, Octavian refused to let Dorian out of his sight until they were home and he had calmed down. All the brothers were relieved to hear that the doctors were ready to let Astria go for today so that the ER could be handled better with the paparazzi gone.

"Alright, all of you listen," Zane called out to his brothers, "Like Mable said, the next week is quite critical for her. She will have chills, colds and coughs. Fever is normal as well. She needs to be under supervision as much as she could be. But her meals and any type of nutritional intake needs to be supervised for the next 72 hours. I've informed Jess and Amelia to keep her room ready for when we arrive. And now, Sarah should be arriving with the wheelchair soon. You can head in and take care of her sweaters and stuff now that she's changed," He finished with a nod and Zion and Octavian rushed in at once. Dorian followed them reluctantly as Zane returned with the lady doctor to take care of the other patients.

Zion gave Astria a small smile which was returned with a weak one from her. He helped her sit up with a few groans that escaped her lips. Apologies fell from his lips while he helped her sit up comfortably, lending her a little support to sit straight.

Octavian came forward and doused her in a couple sweaters and jackets while Zion brushed out her hair, gathering it all up in a ponytail when Dorian interrupted, "Keep it down, it will help protect from the winds outside," He said, nodding before going back to scrolling on his phone.

Zion shrugged in reply but did as he was told. Astria watched her brothers' moves and words with a woozy mind. All she wanted was to go back to sleep but now she couldn't even do that. But she was grateful for everything Octavian, Zion and Zane were doing. She never expected Dorian to be here, much less say anything in her favor.

She let out a quiet sigh before following Ocatvian. He procured something from the humongous bag of clothes and retrieved some socks and boots. Her eyes widened comically as she extended her hands with great effort, "I'll do that," She whispered to Octavian.

"You can barely sit. I'll do it, don't worry," He said, bending down on one of his knees and taking her foot in his hands. Zion and Dorian exited silently, saying they're going to check on the nurse and the wheelchair.

Octavian very gently slid on the fluffy sock on her left feet which was soon followed by the boot. The boot was lined with fur on the inside and guaranteed to keep her feet warm.

Watching her own brother put shoes on her feet like she was a two year old who couldn't do anything woke something in Astria. A humongous wave of embarrassment hit her at her own helplessness. She couldn't even do menial jobs like putting shoes on. She always knew she was quite pathetic from the start but this was a new low, even for her.

Lost in her heart-breaking thoughts, she did not notice Octavian putting a cute, grey beanie on her head, making sure a ears were covered as a miniscule smile rose on his face. He came back down to her level only for the smile to be turned upside down when he saw tears rolling down her sister's cheeks. His brows furrowed in confusion as he fussed over her, "What happened? Was I not gentle enough? Do I need to call a nurse? Does anything hurt?" He asked.

"No," She whispered before looking down at her pale hands. She rubbed them together, feeling Octavian's gaze on her, "It's just, I've wasted so much of your time and now you have to do this dumb stuff. I'm so sorry for the past twelve hours. I don't know what happened," She wanted to continue but her need for breath overtook and her breath came out in short pants. This frustrated her even more. The fact that she couldn't even talk without ending up sounding like a dying fish.

Octavian sighed audibly as he knelt down infront of her and looked directly in her eyes, "I don't mind doing any of this Astria, okay? None of us do. Helping you is, was and will never be a problem or a burden to any of us. All we have to say is that you need to take better care of yourself, but we will get into that later. Stop overthinking it, you're fine," Hd muttered softly as he wiped her tears away with the pad of his thumb.

Astria sniffled loudly before nodding softly in reply. At that moment, Zion and Dorian burst in through the doors with the same nurse, Sarah, behind them. She was fiddling with her fingers, clearly intimidated by the presence of three powerful men in the same room.

"They don't have a wheelchair to spare," Zion muttered, pointing at the cowering girl.

"The car pile up patients were a lot, he ER is flooded right now and almost all of our resources are used up. Wheelchairs included. We have asked the other branches for help but it will take about two to three hours for everything arrive," The nurse spoke up softly, explaining the situation to the siblings. She was only hoping to make out of this alive.

Octavian sighed as Zion came over and took Octavian's place, bending down in front of Astria as he softly put on some gloves. "We can provide a stretcher if you like," Sarah suggested.

"No, it will draw too much attention. If any of the media is there by chance, it will be a disaster," Dorian muttered.

"I can walk," Astria said softly.

"No, you can't," Her three brothers replied in unison, making her pout and look back down at her feet.

"They're right, Miss Crawford. You are too weak to even be able to stand up on your own," Sarah said, giving her a small, sad smile. She just shook her head at her helplessness before focusing back on her boot clad feet.

After a few minutes of silence, Octavian broke it, "The car is near the backdoor, right?" He asked Dorian who nodded back in reply. "I'll carry her there," He finished, advancing towards Astria whose eyes were wide.

"No," Astria whispered, "You don't have to," She croaked out, trying to inch away but she could not move by herself. Octavian just shook his head before taking the muffler from her side and wrapping it around her.

She flinched at the cloth around her neck before settling down, hoping she didn't draw any attention. Each of her brothers' eyes narrowed at her before they put on their infamous emotionless face so that Astria doesn't notice.

"Come on," Octavian muttered before looping his arms under her armpits. A few groans escaped her as he pulled her up into his arms. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, hoping she wouldn't fall off. "I'm sorry if this isn't comfortable but this is the most convenient way to carry you across the parking lot," Octavian whispered softly to her.

Astria shook her head slightly, she didn't want to seem like an ungrateful brat when they are ready to do literally anything for her. "It's alright," She whispered softly, resting her head on his shoulder. Octavian wrapped on of his arms around her waist as the other one held onto a bag of Astria's essentials.

"Dorian," He called, "Let's get going," He said, walking right outside the room, with Astria in his hands. Astria rested her eyes for a little as they were starting to get droopy. She was for sure very comfortable in the hands of her eldest brother, with warmth radiating off of him. She sighed contentedly, squeezing him a little.

Soon they were outside the safe warmth of the hospital. The harsh chilly winds blew right into Astria's face and the brothers' back. She whimpered lightly, snuggling her face up against Octavian's neck, "Is' too col'" She slurred, too tired from everything and even breathing was taking too much of an effort.

Octavian tried rubbing her back softly as she hung onto him like a koala. "I know, baby, I'm so sorry," He apologized softly, "Just a couple more minutes," He said and walked as fast as he could.

He rushed over to the black car as he heard the noise, outside the hospital, rise. He knew it was Zion trying to distract the paparazzi while they escaped. Dorian opened the door to the car and revealed the seat covered in a soft white comforter.

Octavian set Astria on it and wrapped her up. She sighed, happy to be back in warmth, safely cocooned in the warm comforter. Octavian slid in beside her while Dorian took the driver's seat.

The car started with a low hum of the engine which became constant as did the speed. Astria let her eyes drop, allowing herself to be swept away by the dark abyss of slumber.

***

Astria's eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was the matte black ceiling of her room. She sighed as she felt something cool on her burning forehead. She craned her neck a little to see Octavian sitting right beside her, dipping another washcloth in a bowl of cool water. He turned to change the cloth on her forehead only to be met with bright blue eyes shining up at him.

He gave her a soft smile before continuing his actions from before. "Octa-" He eyes shone up at the words that barely escaped Astria before she stopped herself, "Mr. Crawford," She corrected herself and saw Octavian's face fall.

He just shook his head before dumping the washcloth in the bowl, resting another one on her head. "I don't get why you insist on calling me Mr. Crawford," He muttered.

"Because we're not on first name basis?" Astria replies but it came out as a question.

"You're my sister," He exclaimed, looking back at her.

"But you treat me like an employee," She blurted out. Her eyes were wide as she blamed him.

"What have I done to make you feel like that?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he adjusted the cloth on Astria's forehead.

"You keep glaring at me everytime I'm near you or in front of you. You're always so detached, it's like you would be anywhere rather than with or beside me," She replied in a weak voice. She couldn't even talk right now, but the drugs she was under encouraged her to spew her suppressed feelings out to her eldest sibling.

"I don't glare at my employees," Octavian defended.

Astria sighed at his comment, deducing the conversation to one conclusion, "So, I'm worse than your employees?" She asked.

"Of course not, you're much more important to me than them. Why would you ever question that?" He questioned, his eyes narrowed at her as he moved the hair out of her face.

"I just told you," She exclaimed, her volume increasing a few notches, "You just gla-" She was cut off by her own coughing. She tried to complete her sentence through the coughing fit. Her throat throbbed with pain as she gasped for air, holding Octavian's hand.

Octavian sat her up, rubbing her back with one hand while holding her hand with the other. He quickly retracted one of his hands as her cough got worse. He pushed a glass of water against her lips as he supported her weight with one hand and helped her drink the water.

Astria slouched against him as the fit calmed down. She took a few short breaths that came out as pants. Closing her eyes, she rested her head against Octavian's shoulder.

"Maybe we can continue this conversation for later, yeah?" Octavian asked softly and Astria nodded in reply, "So, for now, you'll call me Octavian, or anything you want," he said, looking at Astria's face who still had her eyes closed. His eyes narrowed as he watched a little smirk gow on her face as she hummed. He let out a little huff when he realized what she was planning to do. "But you can't call me by any type of formal title or anything like that," he finished with a small smirk of his own.

"You ruined my plans," She said as her bottom lip stuck out a little in an unintentional pout. She still refused to open her eyes but didn't want the conversation to end. She loved having such a free conversation with her brother as if everything was normal. She loved it even if it was under the influence of drugs.

"I've been through that stage kid, I know what you try to do every single time you try to find a loophole," he muttered, chuckling a little to himself, "Now, do you want to lay down again?" He asked, feeling satisfied as he looked at the completely relaxed face of Astria.

Octavian had never seen her this relaxed. Since the moment she was back with the brothers, she was tensed and on the edge everytime he saw her. It upset him to know that his sister needed medicines and drugs to even relax. A teenager should never have that kind of pressure on them. But his sister did and he wanted to try and help her get rid of all the burden she has been carrying on her fragile little shoulders.

"I-" But before she could accept or deny the offer, the door burst open and Amelia and Jess burst through. Astria's eyes snapped open at the commotion. She settled down again, slumped against Octavian, as she watched Lydel's mom and Jesper's mom in amusement. Both started fussing over Octavian should have told them that she woke up while Amelia pulled the curtains.

Astria groaned, squinting, as the bright sunshine reached her eyes. She pressed herself more against Octavian, trying to hide from the bright light. After a few minutes of the two ladies fussing, Astria finally got used to the light and fully opened her eyes just in time to see Gwen walk in with a tray that held a bowl with soup in it, some cutlery, a small plate with pills and a glass of water.

"Miss Abernathy, Miss Dawson," Astria smiled to the other two ladies sorting things out in her room, "It's great to see you both again," She said in a soft whisper. Her voice couldn't get any louder even if she tried. She just didn't have enough energy in her to do literally anything. Jess and Amelia froze at her words.

"What did you just call us?" Jess asked her eyes narrowed at the young girl pressed against Octavian, taking support of him to sit up straight.

"Ah, I forgot to tell you her new interest in titles," Octavian mused, accepting the tray from Gwen and thanking her.

Gwen glanced at everyone's silent and grim face watching the nervous girl's every move, "I hope you feel alright soon, Miss Crawford," she said, shooting a small smile in hopes of easing the little girl's nerves.

Astria flashed a smile right back, eventhough it was a small nervous one, she did return the gesture. "I hope so too," she whispered and Octavian dismissed Gwen after thanking her once again.

"Now now, Miss Crawford," Jess called, drawing Astria's attention towards them after Gwen closed the door behind her.

"You don't have to call me that," Astria whispered while looking down at her lap.

"You called us Miss Abernathy and Miss Dawson. So, we should call you Miss Crawford, right?" She asked her.

"No, of course not," Astria replied.

"Then why should you call us by our surnames?"

"Because you are noteworthy and powerful personalities?" Astria asked as if it was the most obvious.

"You're more powerful than us Astria," Amelia said, sitting down on one end of the bed, "If we, among these three families, started going by who is more powerful than the other and started using this type of formal speech we would have no one. We've seen you, all of you, grow up. Raised almost all of you like our children. Just because you weren't here for a little time doesn't mean that you are any less than Lydel or Jesper to us. Okay? Call us by our names, aunt or whatever you want to call us."

"Are you sure?" Astria asked a few moments later, still refusing to look up.

"Look at us, sweetie," Jess muttered softly. Astria looked up after a moment of hesitance and gazed upon the soft faces of the two ladies, "Do you think I would like it if Lydel called me Miss Dawson in spite of me literally taking care of her half the time since she was a little kid? Or how do you think Amelia would feel after Jesper called her Miss Abernathy after he spent more of his childhood in her house than his own?" She asked.

"But they were with you, they grew up with you. I, on the other hand, am seeing you after ten years. I am talking to you after ten years. I didn't know what to do," She whispered, her voice breaking a little at the end.

"Aw honey, just call us Amelia and Jess or aunt, yeah?" Jess asked, to which Astria replied with a nod. Amelia just stood up and walked over to the teenage girl. Astria's eyes followed her movement until Amelia gathered her into a hug. She held the little girl close as Octavian moved a little to the side.

Astria just sighed and hugged back Amelia tighter. There was this motherly warmth radiating from her that just help Astria put each and every thought behind and just relish and just relish in the embrace of the lady.

Amelia's hug reminded her of when she was a child and she would get hugs from her grandmothers, aunts and of course, Jess and amelia. Her mother's hugs never really brought her comfort. She rarely hugged her and even when she did, it always seemed as if she was forced to hug her daughter. Eleanore's hugs always made her feel uncomfortable and what she hated most was when the twins would jump into Eleanore's arms as if it was the best place to be.

It always made her feel that maybe she wasn't good enough for Eleanore to love. Maybe she needed to be better, she needed to be as witty and funny as the twins, she needed to be as strong and athletic as Dorian and she need to be as calm, smart and calculative as Octavian. She needed to be a perfect blend of all of her brothers, she needed to be perfect if she wanted to receive love in return.

But Amelia, Jess or her grandmothers always made her forget such thoughts. She just melted right into their embrace and never wanted to leave the safe place created by the ladies' arms surrounding her.

Unknowingly, a few tears escaped her eyes, flowing down her cheeks and staining Amelia's dress. Her brows furrowed in concern as she caressed the teenage girl's head, "Hey, hey, Ria? It's alright. What happened sweetie?" She asked softly. Octavian looked up at Amelia in question to which she replied with a small shake of her head.

"It's nothing," Astria mumbled, pulling away and wiping any liquid that had escaped her eyes, "Nothing," she whispered with the smallest smile ever.

After years of feeling out of place, unloved and unwanted, she finally felt the love and comfort of a mother she had been craving, the solace she had searching for, the comfort she wanted, she felt it and she wanted more now. She wanted to stay here, longer than she was supposed to. She hoped that her coming days in this mansion would pass like this, filled with love, comfort and acceptance. But she doubted if it would be possible with Dorian living two rooms away from hers.

***

A/N

Umm so yeah, as said at the beginning, I was bored and I have pre-written chapters ready. I wanted to read your comments lol. It's always to so fun to read what you guys think and I love reading the. So, thank you for commenting!!

Now, coming to the chapter, this wasn't my favorite chapter but I did love the scenes showing Astria's bond with everyone here, which is pretty much the whole chapter. So, tell me in the comments if you liked it or not.

So, if you liked the chapter, please vote and share, comment and tell me about your favorite part of this chapter!!

QOTD: favorite Fandom or universe??
AOTD: I would prolly say marvel or hp.

Sibling meme lol

Toodles

~Ash