Barley was worried for his little brother. Ian was now skipping meals and locking himself in his room more frequently. He hadn't given Barley any update since he went in and cussed out everyone at the school, but really, who could blame him? Two idiots put their hands on him.

"Ian, dinner's ready," Barley knocked on the door, but Ian didn't respond. His mind briefly wondered back to his own time in high school, where he was bullied frequently for pretty much existing. He tried to open the door and was relieved to find it unlocked.

"I'm not in the mood to talk, Bar," Ian said and Barley sat beside him.

"Okay, we don't have to talk," Barley responded, simply. "But we can if you want. We can go downstairs and eat. We can sit here in silence. It's up to you."

"I'm not hungry."

"That's fine," Barley lied. It wasn't fine, but it's not like he could just force Ian to eat. How would that help the situation? He knew Ian would eventually eat, but for now, patience.

They sat there for a few minutes. Ian was laying on his bed, his back to Barley, but Barley knew Ian knew he wasn't going anywhere.

"What's so wrong with me anyway?" Ian asked, his voice filling the cool winter air with pain and tension. Barley sighed.

"Nothing is wrong with you. High school is just hard."

He wished his mom were here. She used to make him feel better when it was all too much. Now, it was Barley's turn to do that for Ian. Even though he had been the sole caretaker for the last few years, it still felt new to him. He wondered if there would ever be a time when this got easier.

"Kids are so hard to talk to, Bar. I don't know how. It's like I freeze up and then they make fun of me for being different, but I don't know how to be like them."

"You don't have to be like them," Barley immediately responded, and he felt Ian roll his eyes at that one. "Ian, yes, you are different, but at the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with that. High school is a time where everyone is figuring themselves out, and honestly, if you peak in high school, there is something seriously wrong with you."

Ian didn't respond.

"No one knows who they are and deep down, everyone is different, Ian. You just have to be one of the few that aren't afraid to admit that."

"But I don't want them to make fun of me anymore."

"I know, bud, trust me, I get it. And I wish I could say it's going to get easier and it will, but there's always going to be something in life. You just have to learn to find the joys in it, too."

"Joys? What joys were there when you had to throw everything away for me just for me to turn out like this?" Ian said, his voice laced with venom and Barley felt his heart sink at that one.

"Ian. You are my greatest joy in life. Come here," Barley said as he pulled the younger one into a hug. "It was hard, trying to figure out what to do, but I'm so glad I was able to keep you and I'm so, so thankful you weren't in the car that night. Bud, I miss Mom and Dad every day, but don't for a moment think you weren't the biggest blessing of my life."

Ian didn't respond. Instead he sobbed against his older brother, who rocked him back and forth, trying to sooth him.

Hi guys! Here’s the new Masterlist.

Onward 

EIGTBO:

Still in effect:

Intro

Nightmare

Snow Day

Sick

Stress

Funeral

Camping

Tickle Fight

Hospital

Lost in the Grocery Store

Someone from the Past (I know Jenny is still in it, but she’s not the main focus).

Cuddles

A Family Full of Love

Fracture

Birthday

Overworked

Bullying

Cruel 

No longer in effect:

Fellow Dad

Jenny and Leo

Nightmares featuring Jenny

The Future

Quests of Yore

Protect

Waking Up

Kirk in EIGTBO

Said You Wouldn’t Come

IWLG:

Drew

The Breakup 

Kidnapped

Returning Home

Nightmares

Prank Gone Wrong

Kirk

Finding Ian

Safe for Now

Break In

Always Watching

Safe House

Safe House 2

Safe House 3

Missing

Barley Finds Out

The Beginning

Still Missing

You’re Safe

What He Did

A Mother

No Magic

WHIH:

Potions

Stalked

Fire and Almost Dying

Watching His Brother Almost Die 

I’m Fine

Barley Will Always Fix It

Panic Attack

Stand Alones:

Always Help You Up

Bullied

Sick with Little Barley and Little Ian

Fainting

Fighting Trent

Big Hero 6

Embarrassment

Letterkenny

Good Buddy

Barley had secretly been dreading his birthday for weeks now. He got felt his stomach tie up in knots at the idea of his first birthday without his parents. It had been the first “big” thing his parents would miss, since Ian’s birthday wouldn’t be until September. He hadn’t told anyone about it, mostly because his friends were worried about him enough raising a child. He didn’t want anyone to think he was starting to fall apart or not be able to handle Ian.

He woke up to someone opening his door and placing something on his bedside before crawling up in the bed beside him. He didn’t even have to open his eyes to know that it was Ian, and he smiled as he felt his little brother hug him tightly.

“What are you doing up, kiddo? Normally I’m the one getting you up,” he said with a slight chuckle as he scooped the child up in his arms. Ian laughed as he sat on his lap. Barley looked over and saw a bowl of cereal on his nightstand.

“I made you breakfast. Happy birthday, Barley!” Ian said and Barley smiled and hugged the child again.

“Thank you, Ian. That means a lot,” he said as he ran his hand through his little brother’s thick, curly hair. “I love you so much, kiddo.”

“I love you, too. And Mrs. Lara helped me make you a card, too!” Ian said as he handed his brother an envelope. Barley pulled Ian to a hug and they both looked at the card together. A picture of him and Ian fell out and, in Ian’s handwriting, were the words:

Happy birthday, Barley. You’re my best friend in the whole world. Thank you for everything you do. Love you!

“Mrs. Lara helped me with the spelling and everything so I wouldn’t mess it up. I really wanted it to be perfect,” Ian said, and Barley wiped his tears away and kissed the top of his baby brother’s head.

“It’s absolutely perfect, Ian. I love it so much,” Barley responded. “And I love you, too. Now come on, let’s get ready for the day.”

Ian actually didn’t make a mess in the kitchen like Barley worried about. Nothing seemed too out of place. Both brothers got dressed and ended up going to the park and walking around. Ian held Barley’s hand and stayed close, knowing the oldest one always felt most at ease in a public setting when Ian was nearby.

After, the came home and Ian helped make the sandwiches for lunch. They relaxed and watched a couple of movies on the couch, bringing out all the blankets and pillows in the house and curling up together.

He missed his parents. It was hard raising Ian, even if he wouldn’t give the child up for anything in the world, but that didn’t mean it was easy. He wished his parents were still around. They did such an amazing job raising him, but Ian wouldn’t have that experience.

His brother curled beside him, wrapping both arms around the oldest in a hug as he watched the TV screen. Ian was such a kind-hearted soul. Even at such a young age, his little brother truly did love the world and wanted to make everyone around him smile. He had to be doing something right in order for that to happen, right?

“Barley?” Ian said.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for everything you do. You really are the best big brother ever. And you’re my favorite person in the whole world,” Ian reminded him, and Barley felt the tears sting his eyes again.

“You’re my favorite person, too,” he said, voice cracking with emotion. “I love you, so, so much, Ian. And you have made this the best birthday ever.”

“Mrs. Lara did a lot with the card.”

“No, Ian, you just being you is enough to give me the best birthday. You are absolutely amazing, and I love you,” Barley said and hugged the child tightly.

Barley could hardly keep his eyes open by the time he got off his shift and put everything back in the supply closet before walking over to Ian’s classroom to pick up his brother for the day. His body and mind ached and he knew the moment he got home, exhaustion would try its best to take over, but he had to help Ian with his homework, play with him and then cook them dinner before tucking Ian into bed and finally getting some sleep himself.

Thank the gods he didn’t have to do anything else after that. He didn’t have to work at the factory tonight so he would be able to get some sleep.

He picked himself up and hid the tiredness as he walked to Ian’s classroom when he heard one of the mothers, Karen, talking to someone. Partially out of curiosity and the rest simply wanting to avoid the devil woman, he stopped and decided to wait for her to leave the room before he grabbed Ian.

“Are you sure your brother treats you, right?” he heard her ask and that caught his attention right away.

“Yeah! He hangs out with me and helps me with homework. And he tucks me in every night and makes my favorite food!” Ian said and Barley felt his blood boiling. How dare this woman question Ian, a child, like that?

“He doesn’t hurt you?” she asked as Barley stepped into the classroom, fuming.

“Ian, come on, bud,” Barley called without hesitation. Ian turned around and stopped looking at that woman, but before he could walk away, Karen grabbed Ian’s arm and pulled him back.

“Ian, dear, I need you to answer the question,” she said. Barley walked over before the teacher could get involved, and lifted Ian in his arms. Immediately his brother wrapped both of his arms around Barley’s neck and hugged him tightly.

“What kind of question even is that?” Barley snapped at Karen. She rolled her eyes.

“A child shouldn’t raise a child. Especially not you, Barley, you are just too reckless.”

“That’s enough, Karen. Barley, I am so sorry, you and Ian can leave,” Mrs. Jones, Ian’s teacher, said, as she stepped between them.

Barley wanted to argue. Normally he would avoid conflict at all costs, but he wanted to tell this woman about herself, but Ian’s grip tightened, and Barley could feel the side of his shirt damping, meaning his little brother was in tears. He glared at Karen once more but went to leave.

“You’re just going to let them go? How do we know Ian is safe?” Karen snapped and other parents in the room started whispering.

“Barley is a better guardian than you are, Karen. Where is Hunter right now, anyway?” a mother, Lisa, shot back and Barley looked over at her gratefully as he made his way out of the room. He got Ian to the van and then sat him down in the passenger seat and dried his tears.

But Ian looked at him and started crying again.

“It’s okay, bud, it’s alright,” he promised and hugged the child.

“No, it’s not. She was so mean to you, Barley! Why are people so mean to you?” he cried, and Barley sighed and rocked him back and forth.

“Ian, bud, I know this is what you’re used to, but typically in families, well, you have a mom and a dad, that’s what people are used to. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, brothers and sisters raise their younger siblings, or grandparents do, or some people even adopt,” Barley explained gently. “And it’s so amazing what a family can be outside of what’s normal, but people aren’t used to it. They think that you would be better off if you had a mom and dad looking out for you.”

“But Mom and Dad are gone.”

“I know, which is why I’m the one doing the job.”

“What’s adopt?”

“Adopting is when kids who don’t have anyone to take care of them and parents who don’t have kids come together and create a family,” Barley answered.

“But I have you.”

“Yes.”

“Those people don’t know you, Barley. Why do they say things like that?” Ian asked, looking at his brother with wide, innocent eyes.

“Because we are outside of the normal. But, honestly, Ian, it doesn’t matter what they say about me.”

“Why not?”

“I have you,” Barley answered, simply. “I know we are figuring a lot out, but the greatest blessing is that I get to keep you. You mean absolutely everything to me, and I love you so, so much. There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you, kiddo.”

“I know, Barley. That’s why I don’t get why they asked if you hurt me,” Ian said.

“I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to understand how their minds work, but it doesn’t matter, okay? Because I got you and you got me. That’s all that matters, okay?” Barley said and Ian nodded and wiped away the remaining tears. “Good. Have they asked you stuff like that before?”

Ian shook his head.

“No, but some kids think it’s weird I don’t have a dad or mom.”

“And what do you think?”

“That I have the best big brother in the whole world! I told my friends how you always help me with my homework and tuck me in and none of their moms or dads do that. I feel bad for them,” Ian said.

“Their parents love them in their own way. Even Karen loves Hunter,” Barley said, hating how he would defend that demon, but he knew it was important than Ian understood there were different types of love.

His little brother nodded, and Barley got him strapped in and then went to the driver’s side. He looked up and saw Karen with Hunter’s hand, looking both ways before they crossed the street. She was carrying her son’s bag and so into whatever Hunter was saying that she didn’t pay him any mind.

He shook his head and went into the van.

Love was weird, but he still wished Karen would mind her own business.

The night went as usual. Homework, play, tucking in and then Barley himself went to bed. However he woke up to something moving his bed slightly. He opened his eyes and saw Ian trying to climb up on Barley’s oversized bed. He chuckled and scooped his brother up with one arm and sat him down beside him.

“What’s wrong, kiddo?”

“I just missed you,” Ian said and cuddled up by Barley. The older boy smiled and hugged his little brother back. “So, we aren’t a normal family?”

“Not really, no.”

“But we have a lot of love.”

“We do,” Barley agreed.

“I think we have a great family.”

To simply say that Barley adored his little brother was an understatement. Ian was everything to him. Ever since his parents’ deaths, he vowed that he would do his absolute best when it came to raising the child. Ian would always know that he was loved and safe when his big brother was around.

But, there were still things in this world that Barley couldn’t protect Ian from, no matter how desperately he wanted to. When kids would say something to him as a child, it was easy for Barley to step in and speak with the parents and teachers about the issue to quickly resolve itself. No one bullied Ian as far as he knew.

Until Ian came home at 13 with a busted lip.

“Ian? What happened? Are you okay?” he asked the moment Ian walked through the door. His brother took off his hood to reveal a black eye with the lip.

“It’s nothing, Barley. Just had a bad day,” Ian responded, with a tone that Barley had never heard before. It was emotionless, like there was nothing there. Like the teenager was numb. Whatever was going on, it didn’t start today. No, this was built up over time.

But something threw Ian over the edge today. Before Barley could question him further, he slipped past quickly and ran up to his bedroom. Barley heard the door slam.

His first thought: fight whoever made his little brother hurt so badly. His second thought: calm down and talk to Ian, otherwise he would never figure out what was actually going on. He decided to give Ian about 5 minutes to take some deep breaths and cool off before he made his way up the stairs and to the bedroom.

Barley knocked on the door softly and opened it without waiting for a response. Ian was sobbing against his pillow. He sat down beside the younger one and ran his hand through his hair.

“What happened?” he asked again. Ian looked up at him, but just as quickly looked away. “Ian, what happened? I can’t help what I don’t know.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I think you need to talk about it,” Barley shot back just as quickly. Ian sighed and sat up.

“I got in a fight,” he said. “These guys wouldn’t leave me alone and one thing led to another and yeah… I ran home as fast as I could.”

“Do you know them?”

Ian was silent.

“Ian.”

“I can’t have my big brother show up and try to fight my battles, Barley, it’ll make it worse.”

“You don’t know that. Ian, look in the mirror! Whoever did this can’t get away with it,” Barley responded.

“It was these guys named Chris and Matt. They’ve been messing with me for months but today they caught me after school and Chris grabbed me from behind and Matt kept kicking and hitting me. I managed to get away and just kept running,” Ian said, and Barley felt his heart sink at the idea of what those boys did.

No one was going to get away with this. Barley pulled Ian into a hug and allowed his brother to sob on his shoulder.

“What’s so wrong with me?” his brother whispered through the tears.

“Nothing. The world can just be cruel. But it’s going to be okay, I promise. I’m going to take care of it,” Barley promised.

The next day, he took Ian to school and went straight to the principal’s office. He hardly slept the night before. All he could do was continue to play Ian’s assault in his mind and he cried behind his closed door.

Ian went to class like normal. Everyone was staring at his injuries, whispering about him as he walked past.

First period went well, besides his teacher, Ms. Rinx, looked at him with nothing but concern and asked him if something was going on. He told her it was fine and left before she could continue.

He went to his locker, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach, when he was shoved against it. He looked up and saw Matt.

“Hey, didn’t know you could run that fast,” the older boy said. “Come on, Ian, lighten up.”

“Please leave me alone.”

“What’s the matter? Not happy to see me? You didn’t tell anyone about yesterday, did you?” Matt asked. “Because if you did, we would have a problem, freak.”

“I-I-…” Ian didn’t know what to say. He had told Barley, and he knew his brother wouldn’t be able to do nothing about the situation. Matt must have seen through that because he glared at Ian.

“You did, huh?” he said. He roughly grabbed Ian’s shirt and dragged him into the boy’s bathroom as the bell for second period rang. The bathroom was empty as he was shoved against the sink.

“Who the fuck did you tell?” Matt demanded.

“My brother was asking me questions. I came home with a busted lip and black eye, I can’t just hide that from him,” Ian responded. Matt went to hit him, but Ian threw the punch first. He hit the older boy in the nose and Matt staggered away.

“You’re going to regret that, you fucking bastard,” Matt said in a low tone and grabbed Ian and slammed him against the mirror. Ian groaned and felt his back practically snap with pain, but before it could go any further, the door to the bathroom opened.

“What’s going on here?” a hall monitor snapped. Matt released Ian and before he could comprehend much, they were both in the office. But Barley was there, too, and he was livid.

“Ian, are you okay?” he asked as both boys walked in the office. He didn’t answer, just sat beside his older brother and crossed his arms.

The principal, Mr. Tikek, questioned them for about an hour and called Chris in. Parents were called, people were yelled at, and every name in the book was thrown around by the adults of the room.

Matt’s father was screaming at his son for being an idiot and tried to yell at Ian for being a wimp, then Barley got up and dared him to address the younger Lightfoot. Chris’s mom was mortified and cried when the principal told her that her son held another boy down while his friend beat him up and asked Chris over and over again why. Tikek tried to calm Barley and Matt’s father down, but it took longer than Ian would have liked.

Since Ian admitted to hitting Matt first in the bathroom, he was suspended for a day. Chris was suspended for a week, and this would go on his permanent record, with his mother promising this would not happen again. Chris would be suspended for two weeks, with possible expulsion.

Barley sat on the couch, reading over Quests of Yore. He used to love playing that game in high school, but truthfully he didn't have the time these days. Suddenly he felt a small pair of arms around his neck and felt his little brother on his back.

"I got you!" he called.

"Oh, no, an intruder!" Barley said, dramatically.

"Pst, no, Barley, it's me, Ian," his 6-year-old brother said and Barley laughed.

"Well does Sir Iandore wish to challenge his big brother?" he asked.

"Yes!"

"Very well, young warrior!" Barley said. He stood up and bowed to Ian. His brother jumped on him and managed to get his arms around him, but Barley had to ease to the ground so Ian had a fair play.

The kid was full of energy, Barley noticed, as he ran behind him and climbed on his back to cover his eyes.

"Oh, no, I've been blinded!" he says and smiles at the sound of Ian's laughter. He got up and Ian climbed to his shoulders and folded his arms on top of his head. "Are you resting in the middle of a battle? Do I bore you that much?"

"Yep," Ian answered and Barley purposefully looked offended.

"I'll show you boring, you little punk," he said with a smile and pulled Ian off him. He laid him on the couch and started tickling him. Ian laughed and tried to get away. "Say you love me."

"I-I love you!"

"Do you admit defeat?"

"Never!"

"And why not?"

"Because I can do anything I put my mind to! I never accept defeat!" Ian responded, through the laughter. Barely smiled.

"Good answer."

Barley let Ian go and he, in return, tackled his older brother. He held on to Ian as he pretended to go down.

"I have been defeated. Completely unethical, but you have won, Sir Iandore," he said and played dead. Ian giggled and stayed on his chest.

"You're silly," he said.

"But are we having fun?"

"Yes."

"Well then, I'm okay with being silly if it makes you happy. There's nothing wrong with that," Barley responded. Ian smiled and hugged him.

"I love you, Barley."

AU where Barley has to raise Ian. Barley is 19 and Ian is 5. Let me know if you guys like this, I’m debating on doing more with it!

Barley took a deep breath, his hands covering his face as he tried not to cry. The bills were overdue, and he just got done working overtime. He worked third shift at a packaging factory and then during the school day as a janitor. It was the only way him and Ian could get by since his parent’s sudden passing, leaving his five year old brother in his care. A horrific accident that caused Barley to wake up in tears on the occasions he would sleep more than two hours.

He looked at the clock. 7:30 a.m. He had to get Ian up and ready for school. He took a moment to collect himself before he went up the stairs and to Ian’s room. His little brother was hugging a stuffed dragon, sleeping peacefully. The sight did bring a smile to Barley’s face. Truthfully, he would work even more hours if it meant Ian was safe and sound in his guardianship. Yeah, he was 19 and didn’t really know a lot about kids, but he had always been around Ian and helped raise him even before this.

“Hey, buddy, time to get ready for school,” Barley broke the silence and kneeled down by the bed. He ran his hand through Ian’s hair and his brother’s bright eyes opened.

“Barley,” he said and held his arms out for a hug. It was their morning tradition. Barley needed it more than Ian did, but he wrapped both arms around the small child and held him tightly.

“Did you have good dreams?” Barley asked and Ian nodded. He didn’t know Barley worked nights, at least he never told him. He’d always been able to put Ian to bed before he left. “Good, come on, let’s get ready.”

They brushed their teeth together and Barley made faces and Ian would laugh.

He let Ian pick out his clothes. His little brother found it as a way to be a little more independent. He would always pick out bright, colorful shirts and blue jeans. But he still needed Barley’s help tying his shoes.

“Bunny ears,” Barley repeated, just as he did every day. Then he scooped Ian up in his arms, causing him to bust out laughing. “Alright, do we have homework?”

“In the backpack all done!”

“Good. I’ll stop by with lunch later,” Barley said, and picked up the two pieces of toast he made after putting his uniform on. One for him and one for Ian. With grape jelly, because Ian didn’t like strawberry for a reason Barley could never wrap his head around.

Then they drove to school in the van, listening to music. Ian would tell Barley about his dreams from the night before, if he remembered any of it, then Barley would have him go through “morning affirmations.”

“I am brave. I am kind. I am smart. I am strong. I can do anything I put my mind to. I am safe and I am loved,” Ian said. He always made sure to put emphasis on the last two, and Barley didn’t know if it was for him or his brother, but he loved it anyway.

“Good, and remember, you are a true warrior, and nothing can stop you or your dreams,” Barley said as they pulled into the school building. He heard a rumor that the other kids would make fun of Ian for having a janitor for a brother, but Ian took his hand anyway as they walked through the hallway. He stopped by Ian’s class.

“Love you, Barley,” he said and gave him a hug once more. After returning it, Barley ruffled his hair.

“I love you, too, now, learn something. I’ll see you for lunch,” he said. Ian walked through the door and Barley made his way towards the hallway.

Barley is reading a book or watching TV and just taking a break from paying the bills and all of a sudden, Ian comes out of nowhere and starts to hug barley, nestling his head on his chest and curling up on him, barley starts to worry and asks if he was ok and Ian just nods and says that he just wants to be with him and hug him, to which barley smiles and hugs him back.

Barley turned the page of his Quest of Yore book. It was a Thursday afternoon in summer, meaning he didn't have to work at the school and for once he got some time off. As everything started to settle, Barley didn't have to work as many hours and he was grateful for it.

He felt something move up the couch and looked over and saw Ian. His little brother got over to him and hugged him. He didn't say anything, just hugged his older brother tightly.

Then Ian climbed up on his lap and curled against Barley. He laid his head on his chest. Again, no words. There was a change in the atmosphere. He couldn't quite pick up on it, but Ian seemed so somber.

Why was he being so affectionate? Was he sad? Did he think Barley was upset? Is he not feeling well? Ian always became more clingy when he was sick.

"Hey, bud, are you okay?" Barley asked as he put the book down and then put a hand on Ian's back to prevent him from falling over.

"Yeah, I just wanted to be with you," the child responded. Barley smiled to himself and returned the hug. Ian, with anyone else, didn't really seem to like affection or anything like that. He was reserved, and while Barley didn't want to question it, he wondered why Ian was so hesitatant about other kids.

"I'm always here," Barley responded.

He thought back around the time his parents passed away. Truthfully, he didn't think he was going to make it. He wanted to give up himself, but now, here a couple of years later, Ian seemed to make everything worth it.

"I love you," Barley told him.