[ Looking up from the tablecloth, Alex wraps his arms around himself, giving his brother a befuddled look. ]

Not a dream? But this place... It looks like something out of Grandpa's stories.

[ That's part of the logic he's using. Another part of him is afraid that if it isn't a dream, that he'll have to acknowledge that the brother in front of him is real too. And just after what he'd done at the mall...

And his heart aches. Part of him wants this to be his brother. He's already been missing him, so much so that it hurts. He still loves Edward so much, but fear is holding him back and making it hard for him to reach out and touch like he so desperately wants to.

Color forms under his cheeks and tears begin to form in his eyes. Tears he's determined to not let fall. ]

It has to be a dream, because otherwise... [ He chokes. ]