CSV-DSM Part 2

Two hours later: (Late Afternoon)

The entire group appeared in front of their new house, Peter waiting for them with a table of cookies. "Welcome home!" Peter giggled as he saw the wide-eyed expressions on the newer people's faces. "I figured we could start small with your new house; it's only four floors, and has a footprint of 1.65 acres ... it's a nice little cottage, with 35 bedrooms, 35 full bathrooms, and 16 half baths!"

"I told you feeding him lithium cookies was a bad idea, Kyle!" Tyler giggled, earning him a raspberry from his husband.

"Warm cookies, Guys!" Glen announced from over at the table, which immediately got the attention of the munchkin patrol. With them distracted, the parents that were left tried to recover at least a speck of sanity.

Responding to the lost looks of the adults present, Evan and Cleiton walked over to Peter. "Hey Petey, this is my twin brother Cleiton. Would you mind explaining in words that won't fry a Universal Translator just what you've done this time?"

Peter nodded, aware of things about the group that they didn't know about themselves, yet. "I set it up for family blocks, with common areas to reduce duplication. Each head or heads of family has their own private study-slash-library; it is attached to the master bedroom. Barrett and Haden are the only exception, as they look to the two of you. For the families that tend to need away time, their section has their own family room; I didn't give Glen one, since his family is closely tied with yours, Cleiton. Evan, same thing; you and Jimmy are needed by Haden and Barrett. Hac's gonna hang with Colin a lot, so he's covered there."

"That somehow makes sense," Cleiton admitted.

"The first floor," Peter continued, "has a 'public' area for official business; it is secured from the rest of the building. The rest of the floor is common areas, with formal and family dining rooms, a huge living and rec room, and plenty of space for the little guys to run and play. They have a playroom as well, and there are offices for each of you with titles. The second floor has two common study rooms for projects, along with three family spaces; Glen's, Andrea's, and your's, Cleiton. The third floor has the rest of your rooms, Cleiton, as well as Haden and Barrett's, Hac's, and your's, Evan. It also has a small wing for a visiting family or if you add another one to the household. The Sheiraen family office is up there as well. There's a fourth floor above Hac's area, giving him four more bedrooms than what he's got on the third floor. Oh, there's a huge secure garage on the first floor for the outdoor toys and any vehicle projects that anyone wants to do!"

"No basement?" Cleiton queried.

"Just mechanicals," Peter explained. "The turbolifts get you to everything in Colin's basement, plus you have the permanent arches to walk over like it's attached; I thought you guys might like the extra isolation since there are a lot of young boys here that are new to these things."

Evan and Cleiton exchanged glances, then Evan stated "Good planning; with that in place, we can ensure they don't get themselves into any situations that could hurt them."

Noticing that everyone else was at the table, obviously counting on his two companions giving them a summary, Peter quickly put them in a bubble. "I just gave us some privacy; Cleiton, Evan's been in bubbles before, so he can explain it to you. You guys are kinda doing what my brother did when he became Northeast's director; you're both trying to absorb every detail of what is happening around you. There's a reason that Cory lets me run wild building things; he knows that I use my Mikyvis skills to make sure what is needed is there when it is needed. All he does is giggle at whatever I came up with, he doesn't worry about why."

"You trying to tell us to delegate?"  Evan asked.

"Actually, it's more that you need to trust the rest of the Clan to do their part," Peter explained. "Amanda's got food; do you really think that you need to know what she's making every meal?"

Both boys shook their heads.

"Apply that to most of the things around you; I do housing, JJ makes sure everyone is secure even if they don't see it, Kyle makes sure there are people watching to make sure that you can relax and not worry about predators. You guys just make sure that your family's needs are being filled; don't worry about the details of filling them, there are a whole bunch of us who enjoy fixing the details for you. If you need something, just tell Kerry; he'll get whoever handles it to take care of it for you."

"That must be why Bento told me to just let the Clan handle operations of the family holdings," Cleiton mused.

"You're getting the picture," Peter smiled. "Tracy and Karl are heads of a bloodline too, one that is actually about the same age as yours; the only thing is that theirs ran continuous through the cycles. Don't tell them, though; the bloodline's traditions from the start of the 4th cycle drive them crazy as it is. You guys can compare notes though; the four of you are in a rare position, so you'll be able to support each other. While you four are the tops of your line, you're all part of a larger family; a family that follows traditions from long before any history that we're aware of - the history of Vulcan. You have support above you; use it, and count on it without knowing how it is doing what you need."

"Thanks, Peter; I think you just explained why our families were trying to get us together with Clan Short before the battle happened," Cleiton stated.

"I'm not tellin'!" Peter laughed. "Before we go back to real time, I'm supposed to tell you that good things can come from being interrupted."

"That's one detail I think I'll leave in the unknown pile!" Cleiton laughed. "Thanks for the advice, Peter; something tells me that both of us might sleep better tonight."

Peter just grinned, then stated "Bubble Off!"

**********

After the tour:

"I'm amazed that Peter somehow knew just who would want to sleep in what room!"Amanda commented as her and the rest of the parents talked while the kids watched "Never Ending Story".

Evan and Cleiton exchanged grins before Evan replied "That's why he's in charge of that stuff, so that we don't need to deal with it."

"You guys seem a lot more relaxed than you were earlier today," Ardell observed.

Evan nodded, "Peter took the time to give us a few tips; he didn't want us to learn the hard way like his brother did."

"I'm not sure if that makes me relieved or worried!" Ardell quipped.

"Today's Thursday," Colin advised, "Relieved."

"Amanda?" Cleiton joked, "By any chance, do you know who we need to contact to trade those two in for sane parents?"

"I'm pretty sure they don't qualify for trade-in," Amanda replied. "It looks like you're stuck!"

"You're going to fit in great!" Hac grinned. "I just hope you can take it like you give it!"

"I keep scorecards," Amanda sniggered. "I've already asked Kerry to print me a new book."

Just then, Jasper walked over and crawled onto Amanda's lap. After pulling him into a cuddle, she softly asked "You getting a little too much people time with your brothers and cousins, Jasper?"

"Yeah," Jasper admitted.

"Would you like to come into the kitchen with me and help decide what we want to make for dinner?" Andrea suggested.

"Can I?" Jasper asked, obviously surprised that he was being offered one-on-one time.

"Of course;" Andrea replied. "That's my quiet place, I'd love to share it with you!"

"Thanks, Mommy!" Jasper smiled as Andrea stood up with him still attached to her, then headed for the kitchen.

Evan glanced at Haden and Barrett, all his questions answered by the smiles on their faces as they watched Andrea and Jasper. Obviously, she had just been added to their very short trusted list for how she was taking care of Jasper's needs.

 "I'm gonna make the rounds of the rest of the boys," Cleiton told Evan and Kaique as he began to stand up. Just as he finished standing, his commbadge beeped.

"Cleiton, this is Julio. You got a minute? I kinda need a hand with some new arrivals one of the parents found."

Peter's parting words flashed in Cleiton's head as he reached for the badge. "Give me a few seconds, Julio. I'll have Kerry bring me over."

"I'll check the boys," Kaique offered, surprised when Cleiton shook his head no.

"You, me, and Evan," Cleiton stated. "Jimmy? Do you mind checking the kids? Hac's group trusts you more right now."

"Good point," Jimmy agreed. "Go on; Julio's not known for calling in help often."

Cleiton nodded. "Kerry, we're ready; me, Kaique, and Evan."

**********

The three arrived to find a 20-ish man with a pair of twin pre-teens cursing Julio in fluent Portuguese. After less than a minute, Cleiton had heard enough. Speaking his native tongue, Cleiton growled "Silence! What family has allowed one as disrespectful as yourself to care for their youth!"

"Avo Bento will NOT be pleased to hear of this transgression," Kaique added, his tone clearly stating it was a promise.

The man turned to challenge them, only to freeze before a single word left his mouth. Both teens in front of him were a familiar sight in the news, as they were both known for their charity. He hadn't missed the name drop; the station of the teens made it almost certain that they had the access that allowed them to follow up on the threat.

"Kaique," Cleiton stated, "Take the boys to Doctor Mike to ensure they are healthy while Evan and myself instruct this 'person' on proper social graces."

"As you wish, Patriarch," Kaique responded, fully aware that Cleiton was holding back due to the young ears overhearing.

Julio was glad that he had the language dump, because he was certain that he was about to witness Cleiton exert his newfound position in Brazilian society in his native language. He had to restrain a chuckle when Kaique had called Cleiton 'Patriarch'; the man's face had immediately paled, showing that he was fully aware of what that insinuated as far as Cleiton's role in his bloodline.

Having heard Cleiton's request and Kaique's reply, neither of the youngsters argued about going with Kaique. Once they were gone, Cleiton let loose. "The ancestors of your ancestors are crying in shame at your imprudent actions! You curse and scream at one that Bento Dias de Andrade considers an equal? Is this how you treat those who are to assist you? You dishonor your blood, you dishonor your countrymen, you bring shame upon all who worked to raise you. As Grandson of Bento Dias de Andrade, under the authority given to me as his heir, you are ordered to submit to a full telepathic scan, immediately. For the good of your name, you better pray that the telepath finds something that explains this unacceptable behavior."

Evan called Colin the second he knew a scan was ordered; Colin appeared with Hac seconds later.

"Deep scan," Evan ordered, "I want to know everything, right down to which teat he preferred as a newborn."

Switching the conversation to Ancient Seminole to ensure privacy while the scan was going on, Julio asked "Why the read of the head?"

"The head may be weak of the Spirit," Cleiton replied. "One does not talk in forked tongue unless Spirit is wounded."

"I shall follow your wisdom," Julio replied. While there were not words for what needed to be said, Julio understood enough to figure it out; Cleiton thought there might be more wrong than just a bad attitude, and he was counting on the telepaths to figure it out.

Just then, Hac turned to Cleiton. "Patriarch, it appears that the subject was exposed to an unusual effect from something as he was trying to go retrieve his nephews. Permission to escort him to have Dr. Morrison do a detailed medical scan?"

"Granted," Cleiton replied.

"Wait here with Julio for the boys, I'll go with Hac and Colin," Evan stated.

"Okay bro; thanks!" Cleiton smiled.

Once it was just the two of them, Julio asked "What tipped you off?"

"The expressions on the little guy's faces," Cleiton explained. "It was easy to see that they'd never seen him like this; when I chewed him out, it proved it, because his shock should not have been bad enough for him to remain silent at what I said. The chewing out was actually exactly how I would be expected to handle it in Brazil; while it might not be proper here, it proved the issue enough that I could order an investigation to find the source."

"Good point; it surprised me when he didn't try to defend himself, not that you gave him much chance!" Julio nodded.

"Mattering on his family, you might just be hearing apologies for the next twenty years!" Cleiton laughed. "Even before the battle, my family was on the 'do not make them mad' list. I never use that power unless it's the only option; the usual response to it being used will drive you nuts after a while."

"Speaking of Family," Julio stated, "legally, under orders of Bento, you and Kaique are married; when you figure out the ceremony, let me know and we'll make it public. Vulcan determined his logic was valid that as a Patriarch of a bloodline, you need to show your family how you expect them to perform. He got Evan and Jimmy too."

"Thanks for the heads-up," Cleiton replied. "The four of us will discuss the details, just before we decide how to get even at Grandma and Bento's wedding."

"I wanna be in on that one!" Julio snickered, "I owe Grandma a few thousand paybacks!"

**********

"Johnny and his family's cleared them, and Ty handled languages," Kaique announced as he returned with the two young boys. "Julio, Cleiton, this is Martim Gil Monteiro de Borges and his twin, Diogo Rodrigo Monteiro de Borges. They are both freshly ten, and have been given a clean bill of health."

"We are honored to meet you, Sirs," the pair stated in unison.

"I'll let the 'Sir' pass, this time!" Julio smiled. "Welcome to Des Moines, guys. You don't have to be formal with me unless there is a specific reason. You're part of our family now, no matter what surname you use. Cleiton and Kai will help you both with keeping what you know as proper social graces while still fitting in with the more relaxed way I do things; believe it or not, you're going to be teaching me as much as I'm teaching you!"

"Go find a ball, Director, before I call Grandma," Cleiton threatened with a grin. "It's time that you learned how REAL Futball is played!"

"You're on!" Julio replied, grinning at the shocked looks from the twins. "Kerry, grab a SOCCER ball and get out here!"

"Guys, you're with me," Cleiton smiled. "Kai? You mind taking Julio's side? That should give them a little bit of a chance at keeping up!"

"Barely!" Kai laughed. "I'm in, let's see if those two have any skills!"

As Kai went over to compare notes with Julio and Kerry, Cleiton turned his full attention to the twins. "What names do you use with family, guys?"

"I use Gil, and my brother uses Dio, Sir," the twin on the left stated softly.

Fully aware of just where the boys were coming from, Cleiton used his subvocal to ask Kyle to join him in his head. Once Kyle verified that he remembered the right procedure, Cleiton stated "The Houses are One."

For the first time since they'd arrived, the twins made eye contact with Cleiton. "The trees sing sad songs," both boys replied in return.

"From the fires of the Phoenix, the Dove shall emerge," Cleiton stated.

"Justice brings Hope," the twins stated.

Cleiton nodded. "Sanctuary is given. As Patriarch of Family Ramos, it is declared that the Monteiro de Borges family is now under my guidance and protection. Kerry, please notify Bento of this.

"I had him tied in real-time, Patriarch," Kerry replied. "He is making the required notifications now, and I have already filed the official notice with Vulcan."

"Thanks, Kerry; and the next time that you call me Patriarch with only family present, I am going to discuss program updates for your core with Haden and Barrett, understood?"

"No fair!" Kerry laughed before turning back to plotting with his teammates.

By this time, Cleiton had another issue that was more pressing; two boys who were now securely attached to his side, releasing tears that had been held in since the attack. "Let it out, little brothers," Cleiton softly instructed as he rubbed their backs. "I've been there too, it is okay to cry."

Kerry, Kai, and Julio exchanged glances at the statement that they had just overheard. At Kai's nod, Kerry quickly sent an update out; with six words, Cleiton had just merged two families into one.

Thirty minutes later, the rest of the group returned to find a spirited game of three-on-three soccer going on. "I told you that Cleiton would look out for your cousins, Filipe," Hac grinned.

"Remember, no titles!" Evan reminded their guest. "They have a weapon, and both Julio and Cleiton won't think twice about nailing you with the ball."

Just then, Cleiton head-butted the ball into the goal, despite Kerry's best attempts to block it. "SCORE! Twenty to seven, we won again!" Gil announced as him and Dio tackled Cleiton in celebration.

"Next time, we get some little guys on our side too!" Julio laughed "At least we got seven this time!" Julio spotted the arrivals, and led Kerry and Kai over to meet them. "If we put together a World Cup challenge, those three are already on the team," he giggled. "If it wasn't for Kai, we'd have been wiped out!" As he came to a stop, he became serious as he looked directly at Colin and ordered "Report?"

Colin nodded. "This is Filipe Pedro Monteiro de Castelo, he is twenty-three years old. He was employed as a janitorial specialist at a chemical processing complex. A combination of the weapons being used against the complex and the reactions of chemicals being mixed while exposed to extreme temperatures led to his being exposed to compounds that were toxic in large doses as he was evacuating the area. Once he was clear, he immediately located a shower and non-contaminated clothes, which allowed him to survive until today. He found his cousins trapped in the remains of their house, and was picked up with them as they tried to find safety. His body has been purged of the contaminants, and after a swim on Archnania he has been declared as restored to full functionality. The effects of his exposure destabilized multiple systems in his body, leading to swings in emotional control as the most visible issue."

Julio nodded, then turned to Filipe. "Filipe, as your actions previously were attributed to the effects of what you were exposed to, the matter is closed. Your actions from this point forward will determine your future. Cleiton has declared your cousins as members of the Family Ramos; that is permanent. As their cousin, and more importantly, the one who rescued them, you have multiple options for staying as part of their lives. That is between you, Evan, and Cleiton; both Evan and Cleiton speak for me in those matters."

Filipe nodded. "Thank you; may I ask how it is that my cousins can treat one such as Cleiton as they are doing?"

"They have learned that he's just like them," Julio explained. "That's something that you need to learn as well; unless he's having to speak for his family, Cleiton's no different than any of us. Also, they know that he's going through the same losses that they are, so they have bonded as brothers with him."

"You get first shot at raising them," Kai stated. "While it will be an adoption, their names are not to change; Cleiton stated that their bloodline will not be lost."

"Your Grandparents and all who followed them, except for you three, did not survive; they were one of the many targeted families." Hac explained. "Bento Dias de Andrade is aware of your status, and with the help of Clan Short is in the process of stabilizing the combined assets of your lost family for you. Between him and Cleiton, you can rest assured that your family's legacy will be maintained in your name."

Shaking his head, Filipe quipped "No matter how hard I try, it seems the family businesses chase me down. All I wanted was to get a position where I can just be responsible for maintaining a facility or two; I really don't care about all the other stuff."

"Cleiton and I will worry about the other stuff;" Kai stated. "We've been trained for it. Unless you reject it, your cousins accepting brotherhood to Cleiton included you in the joining of families. We have a thirty-five bedroom house with a section that is waiting for you and your cousins to take residence; and to be honest, we would appreciate a family member taking charge of the day-to-day requirements of maintaining the place. That is between you, Evan, and Cleiton though."

"Cleiton says to come on over, he's kinda stuck," Evan quipped with a grin. "Filipe? Cleiton and I are twins, and he's already heard the discussion through me. He knows the details of what happened to you, so you're not on trial with him."

"He's the one that realized what was happening to you," Julio added, "He did what he did to verify it, then sent you for help."

"If that's help, remind me to never make him angry!" Filipe stated as they headed over to where Cleiton was pinned to the ground.

As soon as they reached him, all of them realized what Cleiton's issue was; he had a boy under each arm, both of which were sound asleep on his shoulders. Softly, so it didn't disturb the boys, Filipe stated "I must apologize for my earlier actions; it seems that I was unknowingly poisoned by things that contacted me as I was evacuating."

Replying softly as well, Cleiton acknowledged, "Accepted, and the matter is not to be raised again unless needed to assist someone in the same situation."

"Understood, thank you," Filipe replied. "How are my favorite Terrors?"

"Recovering," Cleiton smiled. "They were out within seconds of snuggling into my sides. While I fully expect that they'll be coming to me to assist with their loss, what are your thoughts on Kai's offer? Know this; as far as adoption goes, you are surrounded by people who can make it permanent with just one word. If the boys agree, it will be done. Just like Amanda, who runs our kitchen, you won't be an employee, you'll be part of the family."

"Your section of the house is right around the corner from the upper section of ours," Kai added. "That means that you and the boys would have quick access to us as they, and you, recover."

Filipe nodded. "I think we need to wait for the boys to give their input."

**********

Cleiton was brought out of the light nap that he'd slipped into by the feeling of two sets of lips giving his cheeks a light kiss. "Ahh, I see that my little brothers have recovered from the game," Cleiton smiled.

"I wish you were our big brother," Dio mumbled.

"Wish granted," Cleiton stated warmly. "Things are done different here; under Vulcan law, an oath of brotherhood is legally binding. In the eyes of the entire Federation, the two of you are my little brothers ... forever."

That statement earned Cleiton a double-hug that put his ribs at risk for cracking. After they relaxed the hug, Cleiton filled them in. "Okay guys, your cousin was really sick because of things he was exposed to trying to get out of where he worked. He's been fixed now, apologized, and has accepted a place living in our house to help maintain it. As your cousin, he gets offered the first chance to ask you if you'll accept him as your caregiver; no matter what your answer, you will be living in the same house as me and almost all of the other people that you met here. You have a bunch of nephews and cousins that are going to love having you join the family."

"How long do we get to stay there?" Gil asked uncertainly.

"Forever, little brothers," Cleiton stated as he gave them a squeeze.

After another hug and a quick check to make sure nobody was wearing any grass, Cleiton escorted Gil and Dio over to their cousin, Filipe. Filipe immediately noticed the guarded expressions on their faces, expressions that he'd never seen before when they interacted with him. "Guys, what you saw wasn't me. Those chemicals were killing me; they were destroying glands inside me, which was causing my brain to not work right. Thank your new big brother; he saw it, and sent me away in a way that I had to let them fix me. I'm sorry that you had to see that; all I can tell you is that your new brother is making sure I'm never in a place that could damage me like that ever again."

"Okay," Dio replied for both of them. Their faces relaxing said more than the one word; they accepted his apology in their hearts.

"Okay, now I'm going to get to ask something that I've wanted to do ever since your Father took up professional drinking," Filipe stated seriously. "Terrors, would you like to move in with me and let me be the dad that you deserve?"

"Are you gonna drink?" Gil asked bluntly.

"While I've got the suspicion that I don't even have that option here, I have no intentions of finding out," Filipe stated honestly. "Just like you, I will only have alcohol as part of the food in a meal, or in a social situation which would also require you guys to have it; in such situations, my limits will match yours."

Hac expanded on Filipe's answer, just to ensure that the two boys understood. "There are situations in formal settings where wine or champagne or other similar local beverages are either part of the meal, or are part of a ceremony. Italian meals are known to be served with a wine; it is part of the meal, and is drank sparingly. Filipe gave you an honest answer; if he'd said no, then he would have broken his promise sooner or later out of necessity."

"Thanks, Uncle Hac," Gil replied. "Fil, we're okay with the things Uncle Hac just said, so we'll agree to what you said."

"Are you going to take us back to Brazil?" Dio asked next.

Filipe shook his head. "Both of you have too many bad memories from there. I've learned a lot of things already from Hac, Colin, and Evan; you're safer up here, you don't have reminders of the bad memories, and any friends that you want to have visit can be transported up here instantly. Your Grandpa Colin told me that he'll handle the details; that way if one of your friends is having trouble, we can help them get away from it."

Dio's eyes grew wide at the possibility. Turning to Colin, he asked "Grandfather, could you check on Salvador Sancho Leal de Lemos?"

Just based on the surface thoughts of his new grandson, Colin knew this could get ugly. "Hac, you're with me. We're making a house call. Bring extra clothes."

By Colin's tone, Hac was sure that this wasn't going to be a normal Clan intervention; in fact, Hac was sure that the authority being used was well above him. "Yes, Sir," Hac replied, quickly ordering what he needed from Klaus over his subvocal.

Within seconds, both of them seemed to shimmer. When they stabilized, everyone who didn't know them well stepped back in shock. Colin had transformed into 'Nightmare'; he was in his full tactical suit, topped by his robe with the multi-jurisdictional crest on it. Hac's attire was a close match to Colin's, with one important difference; his suit had strategically placed Velcro to provide quick release if needed.

"Nightmare to Kerry; Level Three, Deploy." Colin ordered in a cold growl.

"Oh, shit!" Julio whispered after making sure he didn't wet himself. "Dio, don't worry about Salvador; you just released a force that makes Special Forces members wet their pants on anyone that has hurt him."

Taking a chance, Cleiton asked "Brothers, does the code 'Furry Godfather' apply in your old family?"

Three scared faces told Cleiton that while it applied, it was not a comfort, but a warning. "Fear not; as you are now one of the protected. Your Grandfather Colin can hear thoughts, including the ones that are just bouncing on the surface. He activated your Furry Godfather; I can promise that Justice will be absolute on those who are found to have hurt Salvador."

"Kyle just joined them for emergency medical services," Julio stated. "That tells me one thing; Gil and Dio are about to get a new brother."

"Hac says to tell you that Sal has suffered like Colin, Director," Kerry stated with barely controlled anger.

"Understood." Julio growled. "Make that confirmed. The remains of those that hurt him will never all be found."

"The questions that you have can not be answered outside our home," Cleiton explained. "Once they are answered, you will probably wish that you didn't ask. Brothers, have you decided on the question that Filipe has asked you?"

"Since you live there too, we'll accept," both boys said in unison.

Julio stepped forward to make it official. "Filipe, I think the boys might be hedging their bets, since there hasn't been time for you to prove your recovery. Don't take it personally; abused kids never accept things quickly. Martim Gil Monteiro de Borges and Diogo Rodrigo Monteiro de Borges have requested that they be adopted by Filipe Pedro Monteiro de Castelo. Filipe, do you accept their request?"

"I accept," Filipe replied.

"Do you swear under oath to provide and support them to the standards of Family Clan Short and the House of Ramos, requesting assistance or guidance whenever needed?"

"I swear to all that has been stated," Filipe stated.

"By order of House Ramos, surnames shall not be modified to preserve heritage," Julio continued. "As Director of the Family Clan Short Division in Des Moines, Iowa, I declare this adoption final. Any and all interests or claims to the youth or their holdings are nullified and are assigned to House Ramos. My word is given."

"Right about now is when you tackle your new dad, bros," Cleiton whispered just loud enough for them to hear.

Not wanting to disappoint their new big brother, the twins launched in unison and took Filipe to the ground before crushing him with their soon-to-be-famous twin hug.

Just as the new family found their feet again, Kyle popped in, stating "Bubble live" before healing a couple of bruised ribs that Filipe suffered. Once that was done, he stated "Sal won't let go of Hac until he's out of Brazil; that means that all of you will get to see Hac in his full glory. Filipe, Gil, Dio? You're gonna see a walking nightmare, but you need to remember that that particular nightmare is sworn to protect you with his life. You earned that the second that Cleiton declared you family. I'm modifying Time right now; from outside the area that I've sealed, we are moving so fast that nobody can see anything. An hour in here is less than a second outside."

"Is this one of those things that you'll explain when we get home?" Filipe asked Cleiton.

"I'll try," Cleiton admitted, "but the chances of our minds accepting it are slim!"

Any further conversation was silenced as Colin and Hac re-appeared. Hac was still in wolf form, and had an undersized ten-year-old dark skinned blond being held securely in his arms. Colin turned to Dio, and asked "Dio, Sal is now an orphan. As the one that ordered his rescue, what are your wishes for his future?"

"If Dad agrees, I would want him as our brother," Dio replied, his confidence boosted by being asked.

Filipe decided to quicken the process. "If Sal agrees with Dio, I accept under the same oath as I just gave for Dio and Gil."

Colin nodded, then turned to Sal and Hac. "Sal, you're in the middle of the United States now. Dio and Gil moved here and just accepted their cousin Filipe as their new dad; would you like to become their brother?"

"I don't have to go back?" Sal whispered.

"Never again," Colin reassured him. "You have other family to take care of anything back there for you now."

"Besides, you have a furry Godfather to protect you," Filipe added as he joined them. "I don't know what was done to you, Sal; but I did see the pale faces of those that had an idea. None of us have a reason to return to the bad memories that we have of our previous life in Brazil, especially not you, Gil, and Dio. One of your new Family big brothers, Evan, told me that instead of trying to make us act like Americans, we have our own place where we can observe the good things from Brazil but get rid of the bad things."

"When would you be my new Dad?" Sal asked.

"Within ten seconds of you asking," Filipe replied with a pointed glance at Colin. "Your old surname has been disgraced; do you want the one that your new twin brothers kept, mine, or the one of our overall family?"

"Can I be Salvador Hac Monteiro de Borges, Daddy?"

"Absolutely, son," Filipe replied as he carefully received Sal from Hac to give him a welcome cuddle.

"Kerry, log it," Colin ordered. "Salvador Sancho Leal de Lemos is to be known as Salvador Hac Monteiro de Borges, and is adopted by Filipe Pedro Monteiro de Castelo."

"Done," Kerry replied.

As it was now safe to do so, Hac returned to his normal form and quickly had Kerry provide him a robe. Once covered, he returned to Filipe and Sal. "Furry Godfather?" Hac asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, to all three of my new sons," Filipe stated with resolve. "Your honor was proven when Sal took your name as his middle name. The mention of 'furry Godfather' within the family we came from was a signal to make peace with God, as someone within the family had done something so bad that the family was to be wiped from the Earth. Knowing what I do now, that tells me that there were sections of the family that were doing things that I would prefer not to be aware of. It is my guess that those things would draw your anger; my sons need to be guided to be angry at those same things, yet be generous with good things."

"Ardell's never gonna let you live this one down, bro!" Colin laughed. "Good choice, Filipe; once you know the family history, you'll know just how good of a choice it was."

Watching as Gil and Dio joined Filipe and Sal to turn it into a family cuddle, Hac grinned. "Knowing Kerry, it's already logged anyway."

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To Be Continued ...

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