Dia was packing the last of her personal belongings, when her adopted brother Dean came into the room. "Hey little sis." He spoke quietly, handing her a glass of non-alcoholic wine. "So, you've finally done it. Not only have you finished Pre-Med school, (which you put yourself through), you're also finally able to move out on your own. The movers will be here in the morning." He sipped his own. Dia nodded and smiled sadly at Dean. "I won't be too far away, you know. Just ten minutes away."

Dean smiled. "I know. This house is emptying out, though, with Drew, Dria (even Dari) and now you, Dia, moving on to a phase - and a new apartment. Won't be too long before, Dani moves on as well..."

Dia smiled... "Not for a while yet!" She said ruefully. "Besides, as some move on, more fill in their place in the house - you haven't forgotten your two younges,t have you? Den and Dell, almost five years old?"

Dean laughed, "Of course not. Den likes to stay near home, and Dell, loves the outdoors. And yet, they are so much alike." But then his smile vanished, and it was as if he was seriously contemplating something, his eyes looking off into the distance.

Dia looked worried. "Dean? Dean what is it?" Her brother frowned then nodded as if he had decided upon something. He sat down upon a little gray stool and pulled up the desk chair for her. "Sit please, Claudia." Oh no! If he is using my given name - it must be serious! What is it? she thought, frightened as she took the proffered chair.

Dean looked at her and then pulled a yellowing envelope out of his inner coat pocket, but his hand bounced a bit before giving it to her, as if he wasn't sure she was ready. "Mom found this in Dad's possessions after he died, he had intended for you, and she asked for me to pass it along when you were ready."

Dia felt a twinge of sadness at the mention of her late adopted parents (Dean was their natural child and she was their niece and his cousin - but they had raised her as their own).
The envelope had her name written on it in cursive.

She carefully opened it to find an Egyptian birth certificate, translated to English - her own. However, what startled her more was the part that was circled in red.

"Dean, I was born in Egypt." He gaped at her. "You didn't know?" "No. Dad brought you home after a World Health Organization task (he never told Mom and me where, anyways) and one day he brought you home, all paperwork done and that was. That was how he was. Here and there he'd leave tidbits, like you were his niece and so forth."

"There's more. Dean." He raised an eyebrow.... and she showed him the circled part - "Dean - alive or dead - I have a twi-

Just then Di, Dean's wife burst in. "I'm so sorry! I don't to interrupt but -" The look on Dis's sister-in-law's face, told her something was very wrong. "What is it Di?"

"My Mother just called." Dean and Dia snapped to attention. "Dear, your mother never calls - she disowned us years ago -" "She has cancer- final stage. Mac and Daisy died in a car accident a few years ago." Daisy was Di's sister. "She's been raising their twin sons (about 15 years of age), who, besides me are the last of the line. I ... I said ... I said we'd take them in..."