Tony adored his daughter Tali and was grateful to have her in his life. She brought a joy to his life he had not felt in a long time. Together they made a perfect family albeit unconventional. Tali's mother had died when she was only two and Tony had been going it alone ever since. Everybody talked about the one member that was missing. What most did not know however was there were actually two members missing.

Nine years had passed since the last time Tony saw his first born, his only son. The marriage was short lived and rocky since before he put the engagement ring on Jeanne's finger. Everybody tried desperately to warn him that it was a bad idea and that he was only marrying her because there was a baby involved. Unfortunately he was still in love with Jeanne at the time. At least he thought he was. The divorce was ugly and bitter. Bad enough that the presiding judge was sure that Tony and Jeanne would come to blows in the courtroom. For that reason additional security was called. Tony kept his cool. Jeanne not so much. She called him every name in the book. That day was a blur but it ended with Tony saying a tearful goodbye to his six month old son on the courthouse steps. Before Jeanne walked away.

Tony had looked for Jeanne and Liam numerous times over the past decade. He came up short every time. Any time he got his hands on a phone number or email address. It would change as soon as he tried to make contact. He finally found Jeanne's Facebook page about six months before. Liam looked just like him but he had Jeanne's blonde hair. According to the page Jeanne was married to another doctor. They had apparently been trying to get pregnant for sometime but with no luck. Until about four months before Tony found the page. According to the ultrasound it was a girl. Apparently Jeanne's new husband had a son who was right around Liam's age. Tony tried to find out more but within hours Jeanne had a post claiming that her ex was stalking her and she was taking the page down. She left the name of a friend who had her information but Tony knew better than to try and contact the friend.

Liam climbed out the window of his bedroom window and pulled himself into the nearby tree. It used to be easier when the biggest limb came right to the window. Until his step brother Scotty got scared by the sound of the branches hitting the window and Randolph cut the limb back. He could still get out onto the tree but it took more precision and upper body strength. From his spot he could hear Miracle cry and see the glow of Scotty's tablet. He would get his ass beat if he stayed up playing on his tablet. If he had a tablet that is. When his parents bought the tablet the boys were supposed to share it but of course Scotty just had to have it all the time. Even though Scotty also had a free Mac from the STEM school he attended, but that was for school. Liam was stuck with the Dell his mom had before she was born. Half the buttons were missing and there was a crack in the corner. Even baby Miracle had a baby tablet. Even though she was only four months old. Apparently she was some sort of genius. Liam wasn't the smartest kid in the world. He was lucky to get a B- most of the time but he was pretty sure somebody who was terrified of their own feet wasn't exactly a genius. Not that she wouldn't be. She was the child of two geniuses. Surely she would be something special. If Scotty was a genius Miracle probably was too. Liam was just slow. That was how he was described. Scotty and Miracle were geniuses. Scotty was taking high school level math and English and Miracle was testing eight months in certain fields. Whatever that meant. Liam was slow. That was what he heard any time his parents were asked. They didn't mention that he was on the travel basketball team and that he had won a photography contest. Not that his parents came to his games or shows. They declared it a waste of time and money. He got a scholarship for the travel team and did odd jobs for neighbors to pay for his art club dues. His parents wouldn't let him use allowance. Not that he got much. Everything went to Scotty. It hurt to be so unimportant.

Liam was pretty lost in thought. By the time he snapped back the sun was starting to shine. His heart raced. He swung back to the window and was met with glass. Scotty must have closed it. He wrapped his legs around the branch and hung out. Knocking on the window with one hand and holding onto the house with the other. Scotty sat up in the bed and set his tablet down. He got up but instead of opening the window he flung himself down on the floor, covered his head, and began kicking feet.

"KIDNAPPER! KIDNAPPER! KIDNAPPER!" Scotty screamed.

Liam rolled his eyes. Scotty was ridiculous. As if anybody would kidnap that pest. Randolph's ancient incontinent bulldog Douglas would be a better kidnapping victim than Randolph Scott Merris Jr. and that dog was as psychotic as he was old. The door open and his parents rushed inside. Mom went over to Scotty and held him close. Liam heard her sing one of Miracle's lullaby to him. Randolph swung the window open. Liam tried to shrink back but it was too late. Randolph grabbed Liam by the collar and drug him violently across the tree. Liam choked from how tight his shirt became around the neck and his legs were scraped bloody by the bark. Randolph flung Liam hard onto the floor.

"So you think it's funny to scare your brother do you?!" Randolph demanded.

"No sir I just went out there to think." Liam explained.

"So bullying and sneaking out?! We are having some real trouble." Randolph spat.

"Scotty and Miracle were keeping me up." Liam explained.

"Miracle has a severe ear infection! We were getting ready to rush her back to the hospital when you pulled your stunt! And Scotty was studying!" Randolph snapped.

"What?" Liam asked, Scotty had been playing Angry Bids.

"Studying is when you look over your books and do research online to prepare for a test." Jeanne explained in a condescending tone.

"I know what studying is." Liam hissed.

"Your report card says other wise. Well you are a mess. Have a shower in the pool house and make it snappy. The bus arrives in an hour. You will have dry oat bran and water for breakfast, and we will discuss the rest of your punishment after school. You have tutoring today. You will stay the entire time and if I hear one complaint there will be trouble." Jeanne declared.

"Yes mam" Liam replied, before heading out to the pool house to wash the blood from his legs and hands.

A/N: What do you think? New chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and please review.