Well, it seemed like he had all the time in the world now

True. He sighed and closed his eyes, letting himself think back to calmer times. He didn't know what to think about. So, he gripped his bracelet tightly and thought back to the christmas when his brother had given him the bracelet.

Was it the best Christmas ever?

For little Vexin at that time, Heck yeah!

He'd not woken up yet that morning, so his teen brother had come romping around their living area as he kept hollering carols and hymes as he shook Vexin from his bed. "Come on, Vexy! It's Christmas, wake up and small the mistletoe!" He laughed, blue eyes joyful as he ruffled Vexins blond hair. He gasped and giggled, rolling out of bed once his brother put him down. Vincent shoved Vexins glasses to him before picking him up and dashing over to where they had their little christmas tree.

"Woah!" Vex gasped as his brother put him down facing the little tree. It had some lights on it and little ornaments, a few boxes under the fragile branches. "It's all glowey!" Vexin giggled, clapping his hands as his brother nodded, sitting on the ground by his brother on his legs. "Wanna wake ma' and pa' ?" He asked, grinning happily. He always had that dashing grin around his little brother. Vexin nodded. "Yes!" He said, throwing his arms up in the air as his brother hopped to a stand and swooped him up into his arms. He spun him around before dashing over and letting Vexin jump on their parnents bed to wake them. Their mother and father gasped and woke up in shock, their father not seeming to change in to much of response as their mother laughed happily and cuddled her little boy. "Oh, goodness. Goodmorning sillies." "Up, ma'!" Vincent wooped, jumping up and down as he shook the floor. Vexin nodded, agreeing with his brother. They got their parents out of bed and dragged both to the little tree, grinning happily. "Ooo, star! I made a star!" Vexin said happily, tugging on Vincents pants a bit. The older boy smiled to his brother as he bent over for him. "Go get it, alright? We'll put it on the tree." He said, laughing happily as Vexin dashed over and clambered under his bed to get the little star he'd drawn and cut out for the baby tree.

That's really nice of younger Vexin to make a star for the tree instead of just using one bought from the store

Yeah, he had enjoyed making it.

He grabbed it gently and wiggled his way out from the bed and dashed back over to his brother. He held it up to him, bouncing with joy. "Aw, nice lil' bro. We'll put it right at the top." Vincent said, gently taking it and bringing Vexin to the tree. "Up here." He said, gently nestling the paper star into the top branches of their little tree. "There we go, right where it looks the best." He said, smiling as he put his hands on his hips and admired it. Vexin clapped happily, smiling joyfully. "I made it sparkly, with glitter! The light makes it look really colorful!" He said, hugging his brothers leg. The older boy smiled, hugging him. But he had to let go as he had a coughing spree, having to turn away from Vexin. "Vincy?" Vex asked, worried for his brothers cough. It had gotten worse recently. His mother got the older boy a paper towel and he coughed up blood into it before being able to breath. "...Uhg, I'm fine dude. Don't worry 'bout me, see? I'm all better already!" He said, grinning to Vexin and giving a wink. Being innocent and trusting, Vex nodded and smiled. "Yay!"

Oh, poor Vexin. Could his parents do anything about Vincent's condition?

No, they couldn't. And it had turned for the worst.

After a bit of light banter and games with sparkly things and such, the two boys sat by the little tree with one another as their mother went to the counter and leaned on it. She sighed, looking at her two boys. Vincent nuzzled his little brothers hair gently in a loving manner as the little boy looked at the little box his brother had given him. "Open it, Vexin." Vinc said softly, gently guiding his little brothers hands with a sad smile. Vexins eyes widened in wonder at the metal bracelet with rainbow colors melted into it. "Ooo!" "This way, I'll always be here for you. With you." He said, tone a bit sad, just as sad as his mothers gaze as she watched her dear boys. "But, you are with me. Always! You're my brother, and you'll be here with me forever!" Vexin said innocently as his brother gently helped him slip it on. "I know ..." He gently held his brothers hand in his own, sighing. "...But...promise me, you'll never forget me?" he begged softly to him. Vexin looked up at his brother in confusion. "I promise, how could I? You're my brother." "I know ... "He gave him a soft smile. "Thank you, Vexy." He hugged his brother and they hugged for a while, Vexin just happy with his brother while Vincent wanted to give the best of himself to his brother with what time he had left.

(Oh the feels...I was not ready for that)

So Vincent knew he was dying, then.

Yes, he had known. He had known all to well, but he'd not told Vexin in fear that it would break his little brother in spirit.