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Taiga patted Tim's head from where he'd been placed on Daren's shoulders, "you helped Yuki by being in love with Daren, silly!"

Daren flushed and quickly let Tim go, "Taiga!" he put Tetsu down and then lifted Taiga off his shoulders and put him on the ground as well. "Tim is in dating with Jason, remember? the doctor?"

Taiga frowned, "why is he dating someone else when he loves you?"

Daren rubbed his face, "he doesn't love me, he loves Jason."

"you love him." Tetsu said simply, his eyes serious.

Daren paused before shaking his head, "i love him as a friend."


"but you told the lady-" Taiga protested

"i said that so she would leave us alone. i didn't want her to try and pick us up, though i might have gotten Tim an in for his work." he smiled at Tim, "Sorry about that, i thought it would be the easiest way to get her off our backs."

Taiga pouted, "he loves you! i know it, and you love him, so he needs to leave the doctor and move back in with you."

Tetsu nodded and put his hand on Daren's arm, "you won't make it hurt. it hurts when bad men do it, but you won't make it hurt."

Daren's eyes widened a little before he pulled Tetsu into a hug, "thanks." it was all he could say at the moment, at least to this one child he wasn't a monster.

Tarte shook his head and gathered the twins, "come on you two. your mom just got a call, there's someone else coming and we don't want Daren and Tim all flustered."

Daren stood up and nodded, "sorry." he stepped back and away while Tarte took the boys to Anna. "sorry again, Tim. any idea who's coming?"

Daren shook his head and went to study the painting on the right. this one was of people Daren didn't recognize, he wasn't sure if it was random people at a park or if they were just imagined, but it was what looked to be a middle aged woman and a teenage girl playing basketball. you could almost see the sweat dripping down their faces as they panted for breath. the woman's hair was falling out of it's ponytail and matted to her cheek with sweat. the girl's braid looked like it once had been neatly made, but was showing the wear of the game. it was titled 'Loser Does the Dishes' and he had to smile, shaking his head.

"Rachel! Amanda! glad you could make it!" Anna said hurrying to hug the women when she saw them.

Daren froze, his entire body tensing at the words. oh god. oh god, oh god, oh god- he couldn't escape, the only exit was past them. what did he do? he slowly moved away from the art, knowing they would go there eventually and moved to a bench behind Tarte and the kids, sitting down so he was hidden behind their bodies.

Hanna saw him and sat down next to him, taking his hand into hers. she smiled at him, seeing he was scared, and put her head on his shoulder. she closed her eyes and went limp, pretending to sleep so that Tim's moms wouldn't yell at him when they saw him. at least she hoped it would work that way.

Taiga looked from Tim to his moms to Daren and then back. he walked up to Rachel, deciding she would be the easiest to deal with right then. "All three of them!" he pointed to them all, "and a lady already bought one! Yol-Yol-Yolanda! something. she designs stuff."

Tetsu stood beside his brother, his hand slipping into Tiga's, "Yolanda Fernanta."

Ame moved to Tim and looked up at him seriously, "breath through your nose, it helps." she smiled at him.

Yuki had been placed on the ground now that he had some coloring back and he went to Tim to give him a hug for the supplies. he signaled 'thank you' before smiling at Amanda and showing her what Tim had bought him.

Ame took Tim's hand, "how about a drink of water. there was a fountain around the corner, want to come with me to take a sip?"

Taiga nodded, "she was really nice! she said Tim and Daren should be a cou-" the air whoosed out of his stomach as Tetsu elbowed him.

"she really liked the painting and thought they were together," he looked at Rachel with his normal blank stare, "she thought we were their kids too." his eyes trailed to the painting and he smiled, just the hint of a smile, though, "i wouldn't mind."

Yuki shook his head, signing that Tim and Daren had arrived separately. "he said that they didn't come together so he doesn't think so," Anna interpreted. she smiled at her friend, "It was really kind of him to do so." she hadn't seen Daren this scared in-well, ever. it frightened her a little.

Ame nodded, "not everyone was this at ease when they came to live with us. Mom and Dad helped, but it was easier for them if someone closer to their age was the one to help out the most." she leaned against the wall, "i guess i mean that i'm used to helping glue broken people back together."

Tetsu moved to Rachel and took her hand, looking up at her seriously, "Grandma?"

Taiga laughed and hugged Rachel's leg, "GRANDMA!"

Anna looked over at the exclamation, "What are you two doing?" she shook her head, "come on, leave her alone. it's rude to call someone so young grandma!" she walked to the boys and crouched down, "apologize!"

Ame walked alongside Tim, "same to you, Timothy. don't take on the world, let us help you." she smiled and walked to her father, taking his hand. Tarte looked down at his little girl and kissed the top of her head, knowing she was more of her mother than she cared to admit.

Daren patted Hanna's shoulder, "you don't have to pretend," he said softly, finally back in control of himself. "thank you."

Hanna lifted her head, pouting, "but you were such a good bed!" she sighed and slipped off the bench, "fine, but you owe me a nap later!"

Daren chuckled, "deal." he watched her go to Ame and Tarte before standing up. his shoulders were still hunched, but at least he wasn't hiding anymore.

Taiga started to laugh, his legs kicking, "GRANDMA, GRANDMA, GRANDMA!"

Yuki grinned and signed 'grandmother' to Amanda before hugging her while his sister let out a cheer.

"can't wait for christmas!" Hana laughed.

"I like a good pair of socks," Ame said, nodding.

A tiny smile slowly grew across Tetsu's lips. he hugged Rachel's neck as the smallest of laughs bubbled up and his entire family stilled, staring. it was the first time any of them had heard him laugh, ever. Anna started to cry and Tarte gently pulled her into his arms. Taiga looked up at his brother in shock before he wiggled up to Tetsu's eye level and grabbed his hand.

Tetsu's smile faded as he looked at everyone, realizing he was suddenly the center of attention. he hid his face against Rachel's chest, embarrassed.

Daren watched in shock, not sure he really saw what he was seeing. he moved forward and gently kissed the back of Tetsu's head, "you should laugh more, it was beautiful."

Tetsu slowly turned his head to look at Daren, "it is ok?"

Daren nodded, "of course it is. thank you for sharing it with us." he looked at Rachel and inclined his head, "thank you." he still couldn't meet her eyes, but at least he had spoken to her.

Daren glanced up, meeting her eyes for a second, and gave her a tiny smile. "thank you." he knew he was getting a second chance with her, he would do everything he could to not ruin it.

"Chinese!" Taiga nodded, "i'll show you my mad chopstick skills! Daren taught me!"

Yuki nodded, rubbing his stomach. he wanted Chinese as well.

"Twin Dragon," Tetsu piped up, naming his favorite Chinese place.

Anna smiled, "guess that decides it. shall we head to the cars before we cause any more trouble? If you two don't know where it is, you can follow us." it always took a bit to herd her kids, but the promise of chinese food and them hurrying for the doors. Tarte stopped by the receptionist's desk to softly apologize for the ruckus, but the old woman just laughed and waved it off. it was their slowest time of day anyways.

Daren trailed after, grateful for the second chance, but scared he'd ******** it up like he did everything else.

Daren followed Anna and the family to their cars, giving Tim time with his mothers. call it cowardice, but he didn't want there to be a chance of his getting caught alone with them. he took his leather riding jacket from his saddle pack followed by his gloves and his helmet. once they were all on and his visor in place, he really did look like secret service, or a leader of a biker gang. he got on and waited for everyone to get into the cars and going before pulling out behind them and following the group to the restaurant. Tetsu and Taiga were out almost before their van was turned off, the boys bouncing on their feet as they waited for the rest of their family to get out of the car as well.

Daren pulled in next to them and put his things away before taking their hands and walking with them across the parking lot to the door, waiting there. Anna, Tarte and the rest of the crew weren't far behind, Anna counting heads as they entered the building. "Our family is seven, plus you three and Daren, so eleven people." she smiled at the host who grinned back and asked them to wait while they got a table ready. "haven't had a dinner party this large in a long time!"