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Since becoming little the day before, Brian had been trying extra hard to show everyone how grown-up he could be. He noticed how Dom and Mia always smiled when he managed to do things by himself, like putting on his shoes the right way or remembering to wash his hands without being reminded. Their proud faces made his chest feel warm and fuzzy, and he wanted more of that feeling.
The sound of Mia's footsteps and the rustle of the laundry basket caught his attention as he sat playing with his cars in the living room. Peering around the corner, he watched her heading toward the laundry room, and his face lit up. This was perfect - a chance to help!
"Mia!" he called out, scrambling to his feet. "Can I... can I help you with the laundry?"
Mia turned, adjusting the basket on her hip. "You want to help me with the chores?"
Brian nodded enthusiastically. "I'm big enough! I can carry things and everything!"
"Well, come on then, my big helper," Mia smiled, and Brian beamed at the title.
In the laundry room, Brian watched intently as Mia sorted the clothes. "The white things go together," he recited proudly, remembering what she'd explained before. "And the dark things go in... in different piles!"
"That's right," Mia praised. "Want to help me put them in the washing machine?"
Brian's eyes widened with excitement. "Can I press the buttons too?"
"Let's start with loading it first," Mia suggested, amused as she opened the machine's door.
Brian carefully transferred each item from the basket to the washing machine. He struggled a bit with the sheet, getting tangled up at one point.
"I’m a ghost now!" he giggled, hiding under the white bedsheet.
"Oh no, the house is haunted!" Mia laughed, pretending to be scared as she dramatically backed away, her hands raised in mock terror.
When everything was loaded, Brian looked at the control panel. "Which button, Mia? Is it... is it this one?"
"Close! But first we need this one," Mia guided his hand to the correct button. Then, Brian clicked on the other one, and the machine hummed to life, and Brian jumped back slightly before breaking into a proud grin. "I did it!"
"You sure did!" Mia ruffled his hair. "Want to help me with something else?"
Brian nodded eagerly. "I can do lots of things!"
They moved to the kitchen, where Mia had a stack of dishes waiting to be cleaned and dried. She handed Brian a dish towel, showing him how to dry each item carefully. He took the task very seriously, inspecting each plate and cup with intense concentration.
"Be extra careful with the glasses," Mia reminded him. "If they fall, they might break."
"I know," Brian said, holding a glass with both hands. "I'm being super duper careful!"
He managed well until he got to the silverware. Feeling a bit impatient, he tried to dry a handful at once, and several spoons clattered to the floor. His lower lip trembled slightly, but before he could get upset, Mia quickly intervened.
"Hey, that happens to everyone," she assured him. "Even Dom drops things sometimes."
"Really?" Brian's eyes widened in disbelief. "But Dom's so strong!"
"Being strong doesn't mean you never make mistakes," Mia explained, helping him pick up the spoons. "It means you keep trying, even when things don't go perfectly the first time."
Brian nodded, absorbing her words. He would be strong too, and he would keep trying.
Later, as they prepared for lunch, Brian insisted on setting the table. He counted out exactly three places - one for him, one for Dom, who was working on his car in the garage, and one for Mia.
"Perfect," Mia praised, watching him arrange each ustensil with careful precision. "You're getting really good at this."
Brian's chest puffed up with pride. "Maybe tomorrow I can pour the water all by myself!"
Mia bit back a smile. Everyone in the house knew that Brian and liquids weren’t the best mix. “We’ll see, sweetheart. One step at a time."
After lunch, Brian spotted the small watering can by the window and remembered it was time for the plants to drink. Mia usually did it around this time.
"I can water the plants!" he announced proudly. "I remember which ones need lots of water and which ones only need a little bit!"
Dom, who had just finished cleaning up from lunch, exchanged a glance with Mia. "You sure about that, baby?"
"Uh-huh!" Brian nodded vigorously. "The big leafy one drinks lots, and the little spiky one only needs tiny sips!" He demonstrated with his fingers how much water each needed.
"Alright," Dom agreed, unable to resist Brian's enthusiasm. "But let's fill the watering can together, okay?"
Once they finished, Brian approached the first plant with intense concentration. He carefully tilted the watering can, but water splashed over the edges of the pot, creating small puddles on the windowsill.
"Oops," he mumbled, looking worried.
"That's okay," Mia quickly assured him, already reaching for a cloth.
Brian continued his mission.
"You're doing great, baby," Dom praised, watching Brian's face light up at the compliment.
As the afternoon wore on, Brian found more ways to help. He attempted to fold some blankets, creating lumpy but earnest bundles. When Dom was organizing tools in the garage, Brian insisted on helping, carefully placing each wrench exactly where Dom indicated.
"You're being such a good helper today," Dom commented, watching Brian meticulously line up the screwdrivers.
"That's 'cause I'm getting bigger," Brian explained matter-of-factly. "Soon I'll be able to help with everything!"
Dom's heart squeezed at the statement, both touched and slightly concerned by Brian's determination to prove himself. "You know you don't have to do everything all at once, right?"
"But I want to!" Brian insisted. "I want to be useful and... and independent!" He pronounced the word carefully, clearly having heard it recently.
Later that day, after dinner, Brian's eyes were starting to droop despite his protests that he wasn't tired at all. Dom noticed him trying to stifle a yawn while helping to clear the table.
"Think it's bedtime for helpful little boys," Dom suggested gently.
"'m not little," Brian mumbled through another yawn. "Did lots of big kid stuff today."
"You sure did," Dom agreed, pulling Brian into a warm hug. "And tomorrow you can do more. But even big kids need their rest."
Brian snuggled into Dom's chest, his earlier insistence on being grown-up temporarily forgotten in favor of the comfort of Dom's arms. "Will you read me a story?"
"Course I will, baby," Dom pressed a kiss to Brian's forehead. "Go get ready for bed, and I'll be right there."
As Brian trudged upstairs, Mia turned to her brother. "He's really trying hard to prove himself today."
Dom nodded. "Yeah. Just hope he doesn't try too hard."
Neither of them could have guessed just how prophetic those words would prove to be the next morning.
:::
The sun had barely risen when Brian's eyes fluttered open. He was curled against Dom's chest, warm and safe in their bed, but today was going to be different. Today, he was going to show everyone just how grown-up he could be.
Very carefully, he wiggled out of Dom's embrace, holding his breath when Dom stirred slightly. But Dom just mumbled something and kept sleeping, his face peaceful in the early morning light.
"I can do everything by myself," Brian whispered to himself, padding quietly to the bathroom. He remembered to put toothpaste on his toothbrush, even if a bit dribbled into the sink, and managed to wash his face without getting water everywhere - mostly.
He attempted to button his shirt by himself and felt frustration rising. Just as he was about to give up, he took a deep breath. “Big kids don’t cry; they keep trying," he reminded himself. With renewed determination, he tried again. It took several attempts, but he finally succeeded, and a sense of pride filled him.
He made his way downstairs. The house was quiet and dark, the only sound being his soft footsteps on the floor.
First, the curtains. He pulled them open one by one, letting morning light flood the rooms. In the kitchen, he decided to clean up a bit, just like Mia always did. He found the spray bottle under the sink and began spritzing the counters enthusiastically, though he forgot to wipe them afterward, leaving puddles of cleaning solution everywhere.
"Dom always makes coffee first thing," Brian muttered to himself, eyeing the coffee maker. But the thought of handling hot water made his tummy feel funny. He remembered the one time he'd touched the coffee pot when it was hot, and Dom had been so worried…
No, he needed a different plan for breakfast. That's when he remembered the little bakery they sometimes visited, the one with the special muffins everyone loved. His face lit up - it would be the perfect surprise!
Brian crept back upstairs to Dom's room, where he knew Dom kept his wallet in the bedside drawer. The drawer made a small squeak as he opened it, and Brian froze, but Dom's breathing remained steady.
Carefully counting out what he thought would be enough money - Letty had been teaching him how banknotes worked - Brian tucked the bills into his pocket. A small voice in his head reminded him that he wasn't supposed to take money without asking, but this was different; this was for a surprise!
Outside, the morning air was cool and fresh. Brian stood on the porch, suddenly feeling very small in the big world. But he squared his shoulders - he was a big kid now, and big kids weren't scared.
The bus stop signs were confusing, full of numbers and words that jumped around when he tried to read them. After several minutes of trying to make sense of them, he decided walking would be better. He was pretty sure he remembered the way - turn at the big tree, then past the park…
As he walked, the streets started looking less familiar. Had they passed that blue house before when driving? Everything looked different on foot. People hurried past him, some giving him curious looks, but Brian kept his eyes down. Dom always said not to talk to strangers, but wouldn't asking for directions be okay? He wasn't sure, and the uncertainty made his throat feel tight.
"I'm not lost," he whispered to himself, trying to hold back the tears. "It can’t be too far."
:::
Dom stirred awake, his arm reaching instinctively for Brian. Finding empty space instead of Brian's warm presence, his eyes snapped open. Brian's side of the bed was cold - he'd been gone for a while.
"Brian?" Dom called out, trying to keep the worry from his voice. No answer.
He checked the bathroom first - the damp towel thrown haphazardly over the rail and toothpaste smears in the sink showed Brian had been there. Dom's heart rate picked up slightly as he moved through the upstairs rooms, calling Brian's name with increasing urgency.
Heading downstairs, he noticed the open curtains and the bits of mess in the kitchen.
He checked the backyard, the garage, everywhere he could think of. His chest tightened when he saw Brian's shoes missing from their usual spot by the door.
Racing back upstairs to grab his phone, Dom noticed his bedside drawer wasn't completely closed. His stomach dropped as he yanked it open - his wallet was there, but he could tell it had been disturbed.
"No, no, no," he muttered, checking the contents. Some cash was missing. Brian had gone outside, alone, with money, in his little headspace.
Dom burst into Mia's room without knocking. "Mia! Wake up!"
Mia jolted awake, taking in Dom's panicked expression. "What's wrong?"
"Brian's gone. He took money from my wallet and left the house. He's still little, Mia. He's out there alone…" He ran a hand over his head, his usual calm completely shattered.
Mia was out of bed instantly. "Okay, breathe," she ordered, though her own voice shook slightly. "He can't have gone far."
As Mia quickly pulled on shoes and a jacket over her pajamas, she surveyed the kitchen. "Dom, look at this... he was trying to be helpful. All the cleaning, the opened curtains..."
"He's been so determined to prove he's grown up," Dom's voice cracked slightly. "I should have seen this coming. But what’s the plan with the money?"
"Wait," Mia said, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You know how sometimes one of us goes to buy breakfast instead of making it? He wants to be helpful, and he wouldn’t have dared to turn on the stove. What if he’s trying to buy breakfast?"
Dom's eyes widened, and he quickly headed for the door. "Come on. We'll go on foot - he has to be somewhere between here and our usual bakery."
They dashed out of the house, urgency fueling their steps.
:::
Brian had finally spotted a familiar storefront. Relief flooded through him as he recognized the cheerful yellow awning of the bakery. He'd made it! He'd felt scared a few times, and it had taken time - and, though he didn't want to admit it, a few tears - but he had done it all by himself.
Inside the store, the smell of fresh baked goods made his mouth water. He carefully selected the muffins - chocolate for Vince, blueberry for him and Mia, caramel pear for Dom - his favorite, and the special banana nut one for Letty. The lady at the counter smiled at him as he approached.
"That's quite a breakfast selection," she commented kindly.
"It's... it's for my family," Brian managed, proud that his voice only wobbled a little. He concentrated hard on counting out the money, trying to remember everything Letty had taught him about numbers.
Just as he stepped out of the store, plastic bag clutched triumphantly in his hand, he heard it - Dom's voice, calling his name. His heart leaped with joy as he spotted Dom and Mia down the street, searching frantically and looking exhausted.
"Dom!" he shouted excitedly, all thoughts of danger forgotten as he darted forward into the street.
The world seemed to slow down as several things happened at once. Dom's face, which had lit up at Brian's voice, transformed into pure terror.
"BRIAN, STOP!" he screamed as he launched forward.
The screech of brakes rang out. Brian froze mid-step, turning his head to the left as the car approached, but Dom didn’t stop running. He reached Brian in what felt like milliseconds, wrapping his body around him protectively just as the car jerked to a halt mere inches away. The heat from its engine radiated against Dom's back, and Brian's plastic bag fell to the ground.
"Oh my God!" The driver's door flew open. "Are you crazy, running like that?! I almost-"
Dom's heart was pounding so hard he could barely hear the driver's words. He kept Brian pressed against his chest, one hand cradling the back of his head. Brian remained unnaturally still in his arms, shock apparently having taken over.
"I’m sorry," Dom managed to say, his voice rough. "He's... he doesn't always understand..." He trailed off, struggling to explain without hurting Brian's feelings or revealing too much to a stranger.
The driver's frustrated expression softened as she took in the scene - the way Dom held Brian, the obvious care in his movements despite his shaking hands. "It’s okay, as long as you’re both safe... Just be careful, alright?" she said quietly, understanding dawning in her eyes.
Mia reached them then, her face pale. "Let's get to the sidewalk," she suggested, her hand joining Dom's on Brian's back.
As soon as they were safely away from the street, Brian began to tremble. His eyes fell on the dropped bag, where one of the muffins had rolled out onto the pavement, and his face crumpled.
"I... I just wanted..." his voice hitched, tears welling up. "I wanted to be big like you, Dom. But I messed up, and now you're mad at me, and... and the muffins are ruined, and-"
"Baby, no," Dom's voice was soft but urgent as he cupped Brian's face in his hands. "I'm not mad at you. I was scared. So scared of losing you."
"But I did everything wrong," Brian's lower lip trembled. "I took your money without asking, and I got lost, and... and I'm not a big kid at all!"
"Listen to me," Dom said firmly, wiping away Brian's tears with his thumbs. "Being grown up isn't about doing everything alone. It's about knowing when you need help, and being brave enough to ask for it."
Mia picked up the bag, salvaging what she could. "Look what you did, sweetie. You found your way, and you remembered everyone's favorite flavors! And look, most of them are still okay," she said with a smile, showing him the slightly squashed but intact muffins.
"Re - really?" Brian hiccupped, looking hopeful, as he leaned heavily against Dom. "I was scared," he admitted in a small voice. "When I couldn't find the store at first. But I thought big kids don't get scared."
"That's not true at all," Dom said, pressing a kiss to Brian's temple. "Everyone gets scared sometimes. I was terrified this morning when I couldn't find you," Dom admitted. "And just now, when I saw that car..." He had to pause, the memory making his throat tight. Brian had run because of Dom.
"I'm sorry," Brian whispered, burrowing back into Dom's neck. Dom held him tightly, cradling his whole world in his arms. "I won't go out alone again. I promise."
"How about this," Mia suggested, running a soothing hand through Brian's hair. "Next time you want to surprise us with breakfast, you can wake me up. We'll go together, and you can be my special helper. Would you like that?"
Brian nodded eagerly against Dom's shoulder.
"For now, let’s go home." Dom pressed another kiss to Brian's head, then lifted Brian's hand to his lips. "Too many adventures for one morning."
As they walked home, Brian held tight to Dom's hand, carefully looking both ways before crossing any streets. Dom kept him close, his other hand occasionally brushing Brian's hair or cheek, as if reassuring himself that Brian was really there and safe.
"Dom?" Brian asked quietly as they neared home.
"Yeah, baby?"
"Even if I'm not ready to do everything by myself... am I still growing up a little bit?"
Dom smiled, his heart full of love. "You grow up a little more every day, Bri. But you know what?"
"What?"
"You don't have to rush it. Big or little, I love you exactly as you are."
Brian's answering smile was brighter than the morning sun, ant that was all that mattered.
:::
END