“Well…” I smiled from the seat of the rental car, “what do ya think?”
“This… is your childhood home?” Sebastian whispered, staring at my parent's house.
“Mhm.”
“Why would you ever leave? It’s beautiful,” he happily sighed, his gaze never staying in one place for long.
The home my parents owned and I was raised in was a single story, all of the interior white with different pops of color throughout as both Grayson and Hunter hated the starkness when they first moved in. Down a wide driveway was a shop painted the same mint as the exterior of the home and above that was a two-bedroom apartment that Silas and I would stay in during visits. My parents had originally planned to move to the farm that Hunter was essentially raised on, however, after a long talk with my grandparents Layne and Sawyer they decided it was best to stay in their home until Layne and Sawyer needed to move in with them, more than likely in the next few years. The backyard was two acres, gated off from the neighbors as time passed and people built homes near my parents. I had always dreamed of owning the ranch that Hunter sold to my grandparents, but I had never mentioned it, wanting them to give it to Silas as he needed it more than I did and always planned to move back to Livingston, Montana.
The last week had moved quickly as Sebastian and I got ready to come to a spur-of-the-moment family reunion in Montana. He was incredibly nervous to meet my family but as time went on and I reminded him that Silas and Serenity would be here, he calmed, now excited to see everything and meet everyone. His pneumonia was finally under control, he could breathe easily and the fever was gone, I just had to ensure that he properly rested which was why we had been working from home the last few days and came to realize that we both preferred this as we never left our pajamas other than when we took Aldo to the roof for fresh air and restroom breaks.
“Well I had to branch out sometime,” laughing, I slowly climbed out when a string of expletives came from the garage, my head snapping over as Sebastian jumped out of the car. We shared a look before racing off to the garage, difficult for me as my leg brace was too tight, “what in the hell?”
“I’m fine,” Hunter grumbled, holding his right hand tightly, “just smashed it with the hammer. Hey kid.”
“Hey Dad,” I smiled, checking over his hand before hugging him tightly, doing my best to hold back tears, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Not comin’ home more often.”
“Then do it, Ollie. Ain’t no reason ya can’t. You have the easiest job as far as gettin’ to work outta the office. You and Nita.”
“Yeah,” I nodded as he roughly patted my back, “Oh. Dad, this is Sebastian Aubert. My assistant, roommate, and best friend. Bas, this is Hunter Hope.”
“Bonjour,” Sebastian whispered as Hunter let go of me, “I thought that Oliver was large my goodness. You are very big.”
Hunter let out a loud laugh and gently ruffled Sebastian’s hair, “I know. Oliver took after me. Always been tall. But I’m a lot wider than my son. Got bigger shoulders from a life of buildin’ stuff around the town and fixin’ houses. It’s nice to meet ya, Sebastian. Welcome to Montana.”
“Merci,” Sebastian giggled, touching the top of his head and Hunter looked at me a bit confused.
“Ain’t my business to share why he reacts like that, Dad,” shrugging, I walked out of the garage, Aldo staying with Hunter who was cooing loudly at him, Sebastian chasing after me, “I won’t tell them anythin’ about you that ya aren’t comfortable with ‘em knowin’. I want you to do it,” I whispered to Sebastian as I led him into the house, “Dad!”
“Why are you yelling?” Grayson yelled back from somewhere in the house, “You literally just arrived Oliver Tyler and you’re yelling in my house? Go back to Denver if you can’t be respectful.”
“Oh shut up,” I grumbled as Grayson came from the master bedroom leaning heavily on his cane, “Dad? Ya haven’t used that in years.”
“I fell,” he shrugged, “I was out at the ranch taking care of Papa and slipped when I was mopping. Knocked my knee out of place so I have to have it repaired. That’s all. I can walk though, I’m fine. It’s so nice to see you,” he reached up and patted my cheek softly, “come home more okay?”
“You and Dad are broken records,” laughing, I bent down to kiss the top of his head before turning him to Sebastian, “Dad. This is Sebastian. Bas, this is my other father, Grayson.”
“Bonjour,” Sebastian fidgeted for a moment.
“Hello,” Grayson smiled brightly as Sebastian came over to us, “Oh you’re so cute look at you!”
“Merci,” Sebastian finally smiled, chewing on his sleeve, “I love your home. It is welcoming. I have never felt any place like this.”
“Oh… your parents' home isn’t inviting?” Grayson gently pushed a piece of Sebastian’s hair away and gasped, “Your eyes…”
“Um…” Sebastian turned his gaze to the floor.
“They’re so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it in person.”
“Huh?” Sebastian gasped loudly and looked at Grayson again, “what did you say?”
“You have beautiful eyes,” Grayson smiled as I sat at the kitchen island.
“B… but the… I am confused. When… I was old enough to see the letter that my parents left with me at the orphanage, they said they left me there because my eyes reminded them of le diable. They called me a démon and said that my eyes were like this because I was born with sin… in my heart. That is why they left me with a church…”
“That’s the furthest thing from the truth. Did anyone at the church tell you anything different?”
“Non,” he chewed his lip and I pulled him to me, having Sebastian stand between my legs.
“There is nothing wrong with you,” Grayson gently cradled Sebastian’s face, “you have heterochromia. It’s genetic, Sebastian. It means that someone in your birth family had it as well. Did you know that? It doesn’t mean you were born in sin or any of that. It just makes you unique. It’s so rare. It means your eyes are just as special as you, kiddo. That’s all.”
Sebastian was softly crying and Grayson carefully wrapped him into a hug, squeezing as I rubbed Sebastian’s back. I knew that this would happen as soon as we were here, I had been prepared for Grayson of all people to break through the closely guarded walls that Sebastian kept up around everyone except for me.
“Je ne me suis jamais sentie aussi en sécurité,” Sebastian whispered, gripping Grayson tightly, “Merci, Monsieur Hope.”
“My name is Gray. None of that Mr. Hope nonsense. I won’t stand for it. The minute you walked through the door you became family. Okay? We always have room for more family in this house,” Grayson laughed softly, “Um I don’t mean this rude, Sebastian, but at what point do I mention that I realized.”
“Realized what?”
Grayson whispered something in Sebastian’s ear and he shot back, “It’s not obvious. That’s not how I know. It’s this,” Grayson softly touched his own throat above the massive scar that ran from nearly ear to ear, “oh I don’t mean the scar! You have no Adam’s apple.”
“Oh. Is it…”
“Nope,” Grayson shrugged, finally letting go of Sebastian to sit next to me, “It doesn’t matter to us. Sid and Lauren both are. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I didn’t feel that you wanted to tell me.”
“Everyone knows that I have met. Oh except Hunter.”
“I doubt Silas realized,” I snorted, “he ain’t good at noticin’ that sorta thing.”
“Where is your brother anyway? How are you the first one here?” Grayson huffed and the front door swung open with gusto, Silas suddenly bouncing in, “Speak of the Devil and he will appear.”
“I love you too, oh dear father,” Silas snorted, “I didn’t come alone though.”
Lincoln was suddenly pulled through the door looking incredibly nervous as Hunter came in behind them, fury in his eyes as he stared at Silas.
“Dad is gonna kill ya,” I laughed in a sing-song voice, “Hey Bas?”
“Oui?” Sebastian tilted his head up to look at me and I ran my thumb down his nose.
“Wanna see somethin’ really funny?”
“Mhm.”
“Go ahead then Si,” I turned to look at my brother and he glared before sighing.
“Dad. This is Lincoln,” Silas gestured to him, “Lincoln, that’s Grayson.”
“Oh, you finally brought someone home to meet us!” Grayson wiggled happily, “are you dating? That would make me so happy! Silas has never brought a partner home before.”
“Uh well,” Lincoln cleared his throat, “not… exactly?”
“They’re married,” Hunter continued to glare at Silas, “been married for four years and Silas ain’t tell either of us.”
“Watch Gray,” I whispered in Sebastian’s ear and we both moved our gaze to my father.
Grayson’s expression shifted from happiness to confusion, back to happiness, and finally to rage, “Are you fucking kidding me, Silas Hunter Hope?”
“Dad,” Silas took a small step back toward the front door as Grayson got to his feet.
Grayson was nearly as small as Sebastian, only two inches taller but he was far more aggressive than anyone ever expected, something that startled most people when they were on the receiving end of it.
“You got married. You finally settled down and didn’t think to call and tell us so we could plan you a fucking wedding,” Grayson snarled and Silas hid behind Hunter who easily picked him up and set him back in front of him, “I waited years for you to settle down finally. I got to attend one wedding for my children. One! Winifred. Nita is getting married soon thank God. You knew how important that was to me and you didn’t bother to call? What the hell! Why the fuck not!”
“He was worried about how you would react to my age,” Lincoln called softly.
“And how old are you exactly?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Oh we are the same age,” Sebastian giggled.
“Oh how nice,” Lincoln smiled.
“So you’re ten years younger? I don’t care about that my parents are nine years apart! I care about no one bothering to tell me that you were married!” Grayson shouted as Silas cowered, “Is there anything else anyone wants to tell me before I freak out!”
“Oh, I have something!” a familiar voice suddenly called, “Daddy move you’re so big!”
Hunter shifted and Serenity came in with Garett, “Oh. Nita. Hi baby.”
“Hey Daddy,” Serenity smiled, hugging Hunter, “Winnie and Sid are here too but my news is more important than her so whatever.”
“She’s literally our sister,” I rolled my eyes, sliding my hand around to rub Sebastian’s thigh out of view as I couldn’t resist touching him.
“Whatever. I’m pregnant. Finally. After five years of IVF.”
“You’re… pregnant?” Grayson whispered, his rage at Silas suddenly dispelling, “We’re… going to be grandparents?”
“Mhm. I’m 21 weeks. Couldn’t really hide the bump anymore,” she turned to the side, cupping her dress to show a very obvious bump that I had clearly missed as we no longer saw each other in person regularly, “it’s a girl.”
“Oh… my God,” Grayson smiled, a tear rolling down his cheek, “Oh Nita… that’s wonderful.”
“Thank you. So why are we mad at Silas? I mean we always are, you’re the literal worst.”
“Hey! Oliver is the one with anger issues!” Silas grumbled, grabbing Lincoln, “I still haven’t forgiven you for breaking my nose.”
“That was 16 years ago, ya need to get over it at this point,” I snorted, “Silas. Tell your twin why they’re mad.”
“Well uh… I’m married. To,” he gestured to Lincoln who waved, “for a few years now.”
Serenity dropped her water bottle as Garett froze, both of them staring and Winifred suddenly popped up, Sidney right behind her holding something shocking.
“I can’t handle this anymore,” Grayson slammed his forehead into the counter as Hunter blinked in confusion, staring at Sidney.
“Who… is this?” Hunter continued to stare.
“Dad. Dad. Siblings and not… this is our son,” Winifred giggled to the infant that Sidney had on his hip, “we just adopted him from Bulgaria. His name is Mylo Grayson Piarris. Mylo, say hi.”
“Hi,” Mylo waved and I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I stared at my new nephew, entirely surprised by his sudden appearance in our lives.
“We just picked him up a few days ago,” Sidney smiled, kissing Mylo on the cheek, “but we’ve been in the process since the day he was born. We weren’t allowed to take him until he was one though so Winnie and I have been going to Bulgaria regularly.”
“He’s beautiful,” Sebastian smiled, “oh what a lucky boy you are…”
Mylo had deep brown hair and eyes, his top two teeth poking through as he gave us a wide smile. Mylo looked incredibly similar to Sidney, other than the shade of their skin as Sidney’s was a beautiful sepia tone and Mylo was a bit more pale, closer to me.
“Lucky to have found a family,” Sebastian continued, flicking his gaze to the floor and I gently squeezed his leg, “I apologize.”
“No one is upset with you,” Grayson shook his head, “it’s okay.”
“Why are you sad?” Winifred called, taking Mylo from Sidney and coming over to us.
“I… was in a similar situation. That is all. I was raised by priests and nuns in an orphanage in Beauvais, France. No one ever adopted me. So when I say that you are a lucky boy,” Sebastian smiled, gently rubbing Mylo’s cheek who cooed softly at him, “You absolutely are. It has been a long time since I have been around an enfant. When I turned 18 I was forced to leave the orphanage as I did not want to go to the convent. I had renounced my faith after all.”
“Isn’t a convent where nuns go?” Silas looked around confused.
“Oui. I am transgender. I was born Maria Aubert. That does not leave this family. I am very protective of my personal life but Oliver promised none of you would judge so I feel safe here.”
“Well of course not,” Winnie giggled as Mylo reached for Sebastian who immediately took him, “it’s nice to actually meet you, Sebastian.”
“Everyone can call me Bas. But merci, Winifred. It is nice to meet you as well. Oh,” Sebastian giggled when Mylo kissed his nose, “Bonjour à toi aussi, mon beau. Oh, j'adorerais être père. Peut-être un jour? Qu'est-ce que tu en penses?”
Mylo wiggled, chewing on his fist as he smiled at Sebastian clearly loving the attention.
“What did he say?” Grayson whispered and I shrugged.
“Non parlo francese. Parlo italiano, ricordi?”
“Wait…” Sebastian looked at me in shock, “I knew you spoke Italian but I did not expect you to be fluent.”
“Si,” I laughed, “Parlo italiano da quando avevo 19 anni. It’s about the only time my accent don’t come out.”
“It’s beautiful,” his cheeks turned red and Mylo started to reach for me, “he wants you.”
“Nope. No, I’ve never held a baby,” I shook my head, holding my hands up as the family moved around the house, taking various seats in the living room.
“It is okay,” Sebastian smiled gently and set Mylo on my leg, “place your arm around his back and the other on the front. Cradle him. He’s big enough to hold himself up. He wants his oncle.”
I did as Sebastian asked, my nerves through the roof but as soon as Mylo smiled and a bit of slobber escaped him, I laughed gently and kissed his forehead, “You’re so cute. Winnie? Can he walk?”
“Mhm,” she smiled, wiping a tear away.
“Okay. Aldo is gonna be really protective. Treat him like a pup.”
“That’s fine.”
I smiled at Mylo and he gripped the front of my shirt, blowing bubbles.
I want to be a dad.
It’s not too late.
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